his, all battle-hard and callused. ‘If our prince objects to my kissing my betrothed farewell, then bad cess to him.’
Clasped tight in his arms she felt safe, as if his embrace could shut out the entire war-torn world around them. Oh dear Goddess! she prayed. Let him come home to me!
On the morrow, Prince Maryn rode out at the head of his army to settle things once and for all with Regent Braemys. At the head of the line of march rode a pair of young lads carrying the red wyvern banner of Dun Deverry and the three ships banner of Cerrmor. Behind them rode Prince Maryn with Nevyn for company, and directly after, his silver daggers. The rest of the army arranged itself behind, each warband headed by its own lord in order of rank. At the rear came the provision wagons, servants, grooms with extra horses, and chirurgeons, all guarded by the foot soldiers – spearmen, mostly, under Oggyn’s command – owed to the prince by the various free cities in his dominions. All in all, they numbered over four thousand men, less than the summer before, but still one of the largest armies Deverry had ever seen.
Thanks to the carts and their slab wheels, this massive force could make about twelve miles a day on flat terrain. In the hilly country that lay ahead, they would be lucky to manage ten. Since clever manoeuvres were out of the question, the prince had decided upon a simple strategy. In his message Braemys had announced his intention of riding to Dun Deverry by Beltane. Maryn saw no reason to doubt him; Braemys had not the men to take the dun or even besiege it successfully. Maryn’s vassals had agreed that they should lead their army east towards Cantrae, over two hundred miles away. Somewhere, when the gods and their Wyrd decided the time was right, they would meet Braemys and his men upon the road.
‘Which is not to say,’ Maryn said, ‘that the little pisspot won’t try some sort of trick. Last summer we saw how clever he can be.’
‘So we did, your highness,’ Nevyn said. ‘It’s a good thing I can scout for you.’
‘Just so.’ Maryn turned in the saddle to give him a tight smile. ‘And I thank the gods for it.’
Since Nevyn had never seen Braemys in the flesh, simple scrying was impossible, and he was forced to resort to the etheric plane for his scouting. Every night when the army halted, he would assume the body of light and travel as far east as he dared. Below, the land would seem to burn with the vegetable auras of trees and grasses, pulsing with spring life. The streams and rivers swelled up into silver veils of elemental force, glittering and dangerous to a traveller such as he. To avoid them he flew above the dirt roads, but even they sported a faint russet glow. When the astral tides turned with the spring, the very earth came to the edge of life.
Yet, no matter how far Nevyn ranged, he saw nothing of Braemys and his army. He began to wonder if the message had been a ruse, if Braemys intended to stand a seige in Dun Cantrae. If so, taking it would cost another long effort and a good many men’s lives. We’ll bridge that ditch when we come to it, he told himself. After all, there was naught else he could do but wait.
The army had been gone only a few days when Bellyra went into labour. Lilli waited with the other women – the serving lasses, the cook, the swineherd’s wife, and the like – down in the great hall while the midwife and the princess’s serving women tended Bellyra during the birth. Out of habit they sat by the riders’ hearth, even though with the nobility gone except for young Prince Riddmar, they might have sat where they liked. Despite the size of the hall, the men left on fortguard went back to their barracks, as if they felt themselves in the way of these women’s matters. The young prince trailed after them.
‘I do hope it goes easy for her highness,’ said the cook.
‘She’s delivered two before,’ Lilli said, ‘and not had trouble.’
‘Huh!’ The cook snorted. ‘I had my first three easy as boiling barley, but my fourth? A lad, it was, and he cursed near killed me. I told him about it, too, I did, every year after.’
Despite the cook’s fears, the birth went fast. Bellyra’s labour had begun just after dawn, and not long after noon a triumphant Elyssa hurried down the staircase. She paused about halfway and called out, ‘Another healthy son for the prince! Our lady fares well.’ Everyone answered with cheers and loud good wishes. Elyssa paused for a moment, smiling at them, then came down to the floor of the hall. She hurried over to the table where Lilli was sitting.
‘Lilli?’ Elyssa said. ‘Could you spare me a moment?’
‘Of course.’ Lilli jumped up and curtsied. ‘What shall I do?’
‘Just come walk with me a while.’
Elyssa led her outside to the main ward. In the hot spring sun flies hovered, jewel-bright as they darted back and forth. Over by the watering trough a groom curried a dun palfrey, who stamped a lazy hoof and flicked his tail whenever a fly tried to land upon him. Otherwise the dun seemed wrapped in silence like some enchanted fortress. For a moment Elyssa stood staring at the cobbles; then she looked up with a little shrug.
‘I see no reason to mince words,’ Elyssa said. ‘Are you minded to forgive the princess her fit of temper?’
‘Me forgive her?’ Lilli heard her voice crack. ‘I’m the one who’s done her harm.’
‘You’re not. It’s Maryn who’s paid her the hurt she feels. In her worst moments she’s blamed you, certainly, but when she’s herself again she knows where the fault lies.’
‘Truly?’
‘Truly.’ Elyssa gave a firm little nod. ‘Now, you know about the awful sadness that takes her after she’s given birth.’
‘I do. Is it happening again?’
‘Not yet. The other two times, at least, she’s done well for the first few days.’ Elyssa looked away, frowning. ‘I wish the midwife understood it. Neither she nor the herbwoman can say aught but “it passes, it passes.” So it always does, but ye gods! the cost it takes while it lies upon her!’
‘It’s terrible, indeed.’
‘So, I was wondering somewhat. Bellyra told me about that brooch of your mother’s, the one that had some sort of evil spell upon it. Nevyn said that a thief would feel uneasy or suchlike from the handling of it. Is there such a thing as a spell that would cheer someone up, like, rather than cursing them?’
‘There is.’ Lilli thought for a moment. ‘I wonder if I could make such a thing? I think I know how, but I’m not sure I have the skill. I’m but an apprentice.’
‘I know, but I thought mayhap you’d try.’ Elyssa reached into the folds of her kirtle and drew out a small silver ring brooch. ‘This belongs to her.’
‘I’ll gladly try.’ Lilli took the brooch and clasped it in her hand. ‘The worst I can do is naught. You can’t curse someone by accident or suchlike.’
‘I did wonder about that.’ Elyssa suddenly smiled. ‘It’s good to talk with you again. If the princess’s grief comes upon her, it would be a splendid thing if you’d come to the women’s hall. Any distraction would be a boon.’
‘Even her getting enraged at me?’
‘Even that, but I doubt me it would happen.’ Elyssa paused, glancing at the sky, when the sun had started its slide towards evening. ‘Is it too late in the day to send the messengers off?’
‘To
