The King's Bastard - By Rowena Cory Daniells Page 0,91
a master.
'I thank you.' He didn't want to actually say no, the acolytes master could make his life miserable. 'I will think deeply on this.'
'You do that. Meanwhile, take this youth with you.' He nodded to the Overhill boy. 'Escort him to Master Wintertide when we reach the abbey.'
Fyn nodded. By ordering him to mind the new boy, Firefox was reminding him how little control he had over his own life.
Young Overhill shifted uneasily. Fyn took pity on him. 'What's your name?'
'Joff of Overhill, but... I suppose I'll have a new name at the abbey.'
'Not until you are ready to become a monk.' Fyn led him towards the waiting sleds. 'I haven't chosen my monk name yet. Come on. We'd better strap on the sled.'
'Ho, Fyn, what was that all about?' Lonepine asked when he returned.
'I'm to watch out for Joff,' Fyn explained.
'Good.' Lonepine grinned. 'We can take turns pulling the sled.'
'Will you take up Master Firefox's offer?' Joff asked Fyn.
'The master offered you a place? Why didn't you say?' Lonepine demanded.
Fyn shrugged. He didn't want to talk about it here, where anyone might overhear.
'It would be a wise move.' Lonepine winked. 'Then you won't have to compete with me to be weapons master!'
Fyn laughed and mock-punched him, but his heart was not in it.
Piro waited in her mother's private chamber down one end of the solarium. Listening for the distinctive chink, chink of her mother's walk, every second step punctuated by the heavy ring of keys she wore at her waist. Keys for chambers, keys for account cabinets, keys for chests and keys for cellars. She was hoping her mother had the key to her problems.
After taking off her head-dress and cloak, Piro sat in front of the fire to get warm. Her cheeks still stung from standing on the battlements in the cold breeze to see the last of the monks glide off across Sapphire lake.
Staring into the flames, Piro wound her cap's red satin ribbons through her fingers. Her eyes felt gritty from lack of sleep and loud sounds made her jump. The dream about Byren was only one of many nightmares. Since looking into the Mirror of Insight her dreams had been haunted. Every night as soon as she drifted off, she saw wyverns rampaging through the castle corridors, eating in the great hall, drinking and laughing while her people went in fear of them. She dreaded falling asleep.
Piro was desperate enough to turn to her mother. How did the queen hide her Affinity? How could she have let her own father ride to his death? The more Piro thought about it, the more she realised she did not know her mother, had never known her.
'What are you doing, sitting here all alone?' her old nurse asked, bustling in with an armful of freshly laundered linen. She began folding things, slipping lavender bags between the layers as she tucked them away in various chests.
'Where's mother?'
'With your father, entertaining the Merofynian ambassador. He'll be going back soon. When next we see him it will be the Jubilee and Isolt Kingsdaughter will be with him.' The old nurse frowned at Piro. 'You must be on your best behaviour next time you see Rejulas -'
'I can't face him, Seela. I don't know what to do. My Affinity is getting worse!' Piro gestured wildly, cap swinging by its ribbons. 'Rejulas handed me a slice of perfectly good sweet bread with cream but when I tried to eat it I nearly choked. Father later ate the whole loaf so there was nothing wrong with it. If the Affinity wasn't trying to tell me to beware Rejulas, what does it mean?'
'It means you can't trust what you see, hear or feel. Ahh, Piro!' Seela's face creased with sympathy. 'To be god-touched is not a pleasant thing. Your mother's had to live with it all these years, never knowing if the nightmares she has are visions or simply bad dreams. As for Rejulas, I know what you're like. You went into the trophy chamber all churned up with anger and resentment. No wonder you couldn't eat.'
'No. It wasn't me. It was a message from the gods. I'm sure of it.'
Seela rolled her eyes.
Piro put her hands on her hips, cap dangling. 'I'm going to ask mother.'
'No, don't trouble her.' Seela closed the chest and came over to Piro, taking the cap from her and smoothing the crumpled ribbons. 'I didn't tell her about your Affinity. Don't disappoint her.'