a soldier,” Uachdaran continued. “No taste in lads, but decent manners.”
“I plan on speaking to her about both, Your Majesty.”
The king scowled at him, then turned his scowl on her. Sarah felt a little faint, but since Ruith was obviously not going to be of any help, she stiffened her spine and returned the king’s look steadily.
He grunted at her. “Sarah of Doìre.”
“Aye, Your Majesty.” She had given her name at the front gates, so it was no surprise that he knew it already.
He squinted at her from a steely eye. “I daresay I should have kept young Mhorghain here a bit longer. Would have saved me time in advising you both of the wisdom of avoiding entanglements with mages—especially such a pair as you both seem to have taken up with.”
“I’m not entangled,” Sarah protested, though she found herself squirming under the words. Nay, she wasn’t entangled, but that wasn’t because she had other entanglements to contemplate, nor because she wouldn’t have had anything to do with Ruith if things had been different.
Uachdaran only snorted at her. “You shouldn’t hedge, gel. You’re not good at it.” He pushed himself up off his throne and bounded down the steps with the energy of a youth, which he most assuredly was not. “Show me the sword you’ve brought, young Ruithneadh, and let’s see what Soilléir has foisted off upon me.”
Sarah watched the king’s face as Ruith drew the sword and laid it across both his palms where Uachdaran could see it plainly.
The dwarf king froze, just as Soilléir had done.
And then the moment was gone, just as it had been with Soilléir, as if it had never been there and nothing about the blade had startled the king. He stroked his chin thoughtfully, then looked up at Ruith.
“Nice steel,” he said.
“Not as fine as something you would make, of course,” Ruith began respectfully.
“You would be surprised at what comes from my forge,” Uachdaran said. “Including this blade.”
“Indeed?” Ruith asked in surprise.
“Indeed,” Uachdaran said, in a perfect mocking imitation of Ruith’s tone. “There isn’t a blade that leaves my smithy without my inspection and my mark. Even the Sword of Neroche,” he added with a twinkle in his eye. “And that gel’s blade that Mehar of Angesand is so fond of. I added a little something of my own recently while the interested parties were off having tea.”
“I had no idea,” Ruith managed.
Uachdaran snorted at him. “You would think with all the prying into my private affairs you did in your youth that you might have learned a few details about my most powerful magic, but perhaps not.” He pointed with his nose to the darkness behind them. “Go have a rest, children, then come to supper—if you’re not too high for simple fare.”
“We would prefer it,” Ruith said promptly, “but, Your Majesty—”
Uachdaran stopped in mid-step and turned back around. “Eh?”
“Don’t you want the sword?”
“It served its purpose,” Uachdaran said with a shrug. “You keep it.”
Ruith frowned. “Then there was a message you understood ... or ...”
Uachdaran pursed his lips. “If you haven’t the wit to discover that on your own, little lad, then you’re not worthy of that blade. Go put your wee thinking cap on, Ruithneadh. The answer will come to you in time.”
Sarah waited with Ruith as Uachdaran turned and strode out of his grand audience chamber. Ruith resheathed the sword, then turned to her. He still looked a little winded.
“The king loves a good riddle.”
“Apparently,” she agreed. She managed a smile. “Are you going to solve it?”
“Among other ones, aye, if I have the chance.” He took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. “We have dinner and a bed for the night, at least. We’d probably best take advantage of both whilst the offer still stands. I might do a little investigating—”
“Don’t,” she interrupted quickly. “Please.”
He smiled and drew her hand through his arm. “I won’t—at least not until we’re ready to leave. For now, I think we should take the king up on his invitation for a nap and something to eat.”
Considering we’re likely not to enjoy the like again for some time was what he hadn’t said, but she was sure he’d thought.
She walked with him as they were escorted back out of the hall and through other passageways that were no less full of tales of glory and glittering things than the first set had been. She would have paid more attention, but the truth was, she hadn’t slept well, even at Buidseachd,