chair. ‘Sit down.’
With a curtsy to her uncles, Lilli did so. Both Burcan and Tibryn considered her for a long cold moment.
‘It’s time you married,’ Merodda announced. ‘You’ve been out of fosterage for what? Two winters now?’
‘It’s been that, Mother.’
‘Very well, then. We’ve been discussing the matter. We need to determine how best your marriage could serve the clan, you see.’
They all seemed to be waiting for her to say something. Lilli pushed out a watery smile and clasped her hands tightly to hide their shaking. After a moment Merodda went on.
‘Your uncle Tibryn wants to marry you to one of his allies in Cantrae, up in the Northlands. Tieryn Nantyn.’
‘He’s so old!’ Lilli regretted the blurt the moment she’d said it and shrank back, expecting her mother to slap her.
Instead, Merodda laid a warning hand on her shoulder and squeezed, but not painfully hard. Tibryn glowered, his mouth set in a thin line under his heavy moustaches.
‘Worse than that,’ Burcan snarled. ‘He’s a brutal man who’s already buried one wife.’
‘So he did,’ Tibryn said levelly. ‘But who’s to say he had somewhat to do with her dying? Or have you been listening to women’s gossip?’ His eyes flicked to his sister and then away again.
‘And why shouldn’t she listen?’ Burcan snapped. ‘Lilli’s her only daughter.’
‘Your Grace?’ Merodda broke in. ‘To have her only daughter sent so far away would grieve any woman in her old age.’
‘Oh ye gods!’ Tibryn rolled his eyes to heaven. ‘You should have been a bard, Rhodi! The poor old woman and her daughter!’
‘Don’t be such a beast! I do want Lilli near court. You’re my eld brother and the head of our clan, but surely I’m not forbidden to speak as a mother?’
‘The gods could forbid it, and it wouldn’t keep you quiet.’ Tibryn allowed himself a short bark of a laugh. ‘So why would you listen to a mere mortal man? Nantyn is important to me. So far all the northern lords have held loyal to us, but this talk of the Usurper’s pardons is troubling a lot of hearts.’
‘There are other ways to bind a man to his gwerbret,’ Burcan said. ‘There’s that bit of land in dispute twixt him and me. I’ll cede it if you think it necessary.’
Tibryn turned toward his younger brother, seemed to be about to speak, then hesitated. Burcan looked steadily back at him.
‘If the matter vexes you as much as that,’ Tibryn said at last, ‘then very well.’
‘My thanks, Your Grace.’
‘And mine, too,’ Merodda put in. She let Lilli’s shoulder go and leaned back in her chair. ‘My humble, humble thanks.’
Tibryn made a snorting sound, no doubt at the thought of Merodda being humble. Lilli realized that she’d been holding her breath and let it out with a small sigh.
‘Who else, then?’ the gwerbret said. ‘If we’re not to send her off to a northern lord, where’s the best place for us to spend this coin?’
‘I’ve been thinking,’ Burcan said. ‘Perhaps it would be best to keep it in the clan. All things considered. Do you want your niece and her child held hostage one day by someone who just went over to the Usurper? Turning Lilli over might be a good way for a new man to prove his loyalty.’
‘True enough.’ Tibryn paused to swear with a shake of his head. ‘There’s your lad Braemys.’
‘Hmph, well,’ Burcan said. ‘I was thinking about one of the conjoint lords –’
‘Why? If we’re keeping her close to the clan’s hearth, then let’s do so. Some of our distant cousins would slit my throat gladly if it came to saving their own necks with the Usurper. They’d do the same for you.’
‘I can’t argue with that, but –’
‘But what?’ Tibryn waved the objection away. ‘A cousin marriage is a grand way to keep land in a great clan, anyway. Lilli will bring her late father’s land as a dowry, of course, since her brothers are dead, too. I’d like to see Braemys have it. The holding will be worth keeping in the Boar’s hands.’ He turned to Merodda. ‘As the Regent’s son, he and his wife will be living at court much of the time.’
‘Just so, Your Grace.’ Merodda favoured him with a brilliant smile. ‘Brother? You look troubled.’
Actually, Lilli decided, Burcan looked furious enough to choke her; then the look vanished in a wry smile.
‘It makes a man feel old, seeing his youngest son marry,’ Burcan said and smoothly.
‘Happened to me, too.’ Tibryn nodded. ‘Well, let’s consider the matter settled. Rhodi, how about pouring some of that mead?’
‘Of course.’ Merodda got up from her chair and started toward the table, then glanced back. ‘Lilli, you don’t have any objections, do you?’
‘None, Mother. I’ve always known I’d marry where the clan wished.’
‘Good,’ Tibryn said. ‘Good child. Braemys is a well-favoured lad, anyway, and a good man with a horse.’
‘And what about you?’ Merodda turned to Burcan. ‘Does this suit you well enough, brother?’
Burcan raised bland eyes.
‘Well enough,’ he said. ‘We’d best start discussing the dowry and the bride-price.’
‘Oh come now,’ Tibryn said. ‘The land she brings should be enough for any man, Burco!’
‘Very true.’ Merodda turned to Lilli. ‘You may leave us now.’
Lilli rose, curtsied, and gladly fled. She hurried down the stone staircase to the first turn, then paused, looking out over the great hall, roaring with armed men in the firelight. Braemys had left Dun Deverry some days earlier, she knew, gone off to his father’s lands to muster their allies, but then, his father would have to be the one to inform him of the betrothal, anyway. Perhaps Uncle Burcan would send him a messenger; more likely the matter would wait until her cousin returned to court. She wondered if he would be pleased instead of feeling merely relieved she wasn’t someone else.
Lilli did however spot Lady Bevyan, standing by the royal table with two of Queen Abrwnna’s serving women. Smiling, Lilli trotted down the steps and made her way over to her foster-mother, who greeted her by holding out one arm. Lilli slipped into that familiar embrace with a comfortable sigh. With nods and farewells, the serving women drifted away.
‘My, you look pleased!’ Bevyan said. ‘The talk with your mother wasn’t as bad as all that, then.’
‘It wasn’t. They’ve settled my betrothal, and it’s not to one of Uncle Tibryn’s awful vassals.’
‘Good!
