was frightened on the journey here. I’m not anymore.”
“I was scared, too, that Andrade’s Fire had lied. I’ve been in the shadows these last days—all my life, it seems now. But I thank the Goddess she’s sent me a Sunrunner.”
“I think we’d do better to thank Andrade,” Sioned replied mischievously.
“Stop looking at me like that or we’ll never be able to pull this off!”
She schooled her face into solemn lines. “Better?”
“Much. But I can still see things in your eyes. Are they in mine, too?”
Casting him a sidelong glance, she said, “If they weren’t, I’d do everything in my powers to put them there, Rohan.”
It was the first time she had ever spoken his name aloud, to anyone. He looked away and muttered, “This isn’t going to be easy.”
“No.”
“I’ll send word by my squire—he’s twelve, with black hair and freckles, and his name’s Walvis. You’ll like him.” He paused. “Sioned?”
“Yes, my lord?”
“The dragon today—that was nothing. You are everything.”
She did not dare reply. But as he lifted her into her saddle and the Fire sped through her again, she looked into his eyes and felt all apprehension vanish. She rode to Stronghold between Ostvel and Camigwen, dazed and happy and not minding at all that no welcome had been prepared for her, that her position was very nearly impossible, and that a difficult role had been assigned her with only the sketchiest of explanations from a man she didn’t even know, a dangerous man who could do such things to her. As he rode home with his tokens of a dragon slain he did not look at her, not even after they were in the huge inner courtyard of the keep. There was no sign from him that he was aware of her existence. But she knew. She knew. They both did.
Chapter Six
It took all afternoon, a cool bath, and a visit from Lady Andrade to restore Sioned to sanity.
She effaced herself during the welcome given Rohan, standing apart with Camigwen and Ostvel. The latter had sent her escort to find the Sunrunners already at Stronghold and ask them what was going on. Sioned heard him give the order and was vaguely annoyed; Rohan would let everyone know what they ought to know. They ought to trust him, as she did.
His people not only trusted him, they obviously adored him. Their fondness he would have won as a child, and she suspected he had confirmed their respect today by killing the dragon. Of wariness or strict formality in his royal presence, there was no sign. Sioned was grateful for that. A court strangled by etiquette or silent through terror of the master’s wrath would have indicated very unpleasant things about its ruler.
“Do you have any idea who these people are?” Cami whispered at last.
“I think so,” Sioned answered. “The blonde lady who’s been crying must be Princess Milar.”
“Oh, wonderful—what powers of observation!” Cami said impatiently. “Anyone with eyes could see she’s twin to Andrade— speaking of whom, she didn’t look very happy when she went by us just now.”
Sioned pretended she hadn’t heard the remark. “The black-haired woman must be Lord Chaynal’s wife.”
“Who else but a wife would scold a husband so?” Ostvel asked wryly, but beneath his light tone was a nervousness Camigwen shared and Sioned did not.
Princess Tobin was indeed giving her husband the rough side of her tongue. She had not been told about the hunt and was raging at him in full view of everyone. The servants unsuccessfully hid smiles and winks at some of the language that passed her lovely lips; her temper seemed to be a known commodity and when it was not directed at any of them they could enjoy it. Lord Chaynal endured his wife’s blistering comments about his probable lifespan and undoubted ancestry while he uncinched his saddle and checked his stallion’s hooves for stray stones. Then, having discharged his duties to his horse, he turned his full attention on his wife. Taking one long braid in each hand, he pulled her to him and shut her up with a kiss.
Two small boys came running into the courtyard, dodging horses, grooms, and castle servants. They clamored to be shown the spoils of the dragon hunt immediately. Their gray eyes proclaimed them to be Lord Chaynal’s sons, and Sioned smiled as he released his breathless wife and swept the twins up for a fond hug.
Rohan was the center of his mother’s and aunt’s attention, bearing patiently with the former’s anxious inquiries about