Shall we stop and eat soon? Jill said. Weve got cheese, even if that whoreson piss-pot bastard wouldnt sell us any bread. I hear water running nearby.
Sure enough, the road took a twist and brought them to the deep, broad Belaver, which paralleled the road. At the bank they found a grassy clearing that sported a tall stone, carved with writing. Since Rhodry knew how to read, he told Jill that it served notice that no one could hunt without permission of the tieryn at Bringerun. After they watered their horses, they ate their cheese and apples standing up, stretching after the long mornings ride, and idly watched the river flowing past, dappled with sun like gold coins. All at once Jill felt uneasy. She walked away from the river and stood listening by the road, but she heard nothing. That was the trouble: the normal forest noise had stopped.
Rhodry? Wed best be on our way.
Why?
Dont you hear how quiet it is? That means theres men prowling round, and Ill wager theyre the tieryns gamekeepers. Wed best stay on the public road if we dont want trouble.
They mounted and rode out, but as they let the horses amble down the road, Jill realized that she was still listening for something, hunting horns, barking dogs, some normal noise that should accompany gamekeepers on their rounds, but she heard nothing. In about a mile the bird-song picked up again.
As they rounded a bend, they met another party of riders ambling toward them. Two women led the way, a pretty lass in a rich blue dress and an older person in grey who seemed to be her serving woman from the deferential manner in which she spoke. Behind them on a pony rode a page carrying a big basket and bringing up die rear, a swordsman on a warhorse, their escort. Since he was wearing no mail, they could see the blazon, a stag leaping over a fallen tree, embroidered on the yokes of his shirt. Jill and Rhodry pulled off the road to let the lady past, a courtesy which she acknowledged with a sunny smile and a wave of her gloved hand.
My lady? Rhodry called out. May I ask whom we have the honour of seeing?
Lady Ylaena of Bringerun. The page answered for the lady as was his place. Sister to Tieryn Dwaen.
Rhodry bowed from the saddle with such a bright smile that Jill felt a stab of jealousy. She would never have pretty dresses and soft, pale skin like Ylaenas. On the other hand, she could knock Rhodry all over a stable-yard if he ever tried to betray her, an advantage that the lady would lack in dealing with her eventual husband. Once the noble party had ridden by, they returned to the road.
No doubt theyre meeting that hunting party we heard, Rhodry remarked.
But his words caught Jill like an omen. Although she tried to talk herself out of it, she felt trouble round them like a cold wind. Theyd ridden no more than half-a-mile when she surrendered.
Rhoddo, weve got to turn back. That ladys in danger. I know it sounds daft, but I know it as well as I know the skys blue. If we meet them, and Im wrong, we can make up some tale about having lost a bit of gear in the road or suchlike.
Jill could hear her voice shaking, and it was this fear that convinced Rhodry. As they turned back, she wished that they could dismount and put on their mail, but she somehow knew that there was no time. Suddenly they heard a woman scream, and then a shout and the clash of metal on metal. With a howl of unearthly laughter, Rhodry drew his sword and kicked his horse to a gallop. Sword in hand, Jill raced after him.
As they charged up to the clearing by the river, Jill saw a welter of horses and ill-armoured men: two attacking the Stag rider, who was already bleeding as he swung his sword and yelled; two more grabbing the reins of the ladies horses, and one last beating the helpless page about the head. Rhodry charged straight into the mêlée and killed a man from behind, then swung on another. Jill galloped past and cut at the man struggling with the reins of Ylaenas terrified palfrey. When she sliced him across the back, he screamed and dropped the reins.
Ride! Jill shouted at the lady.
When Jill shifted her weight in the saddle her battle-trained horse swung round to the rescue of the serving woman, whose screams echoed above Rhodrys berserkers laugh. Jill ducked her enemys clumsy blow and slashed him across the throat.
My apologies, Jill said. You poor bastard.
For the briefest of moments he stayed upright, staring at her in disbelief, then fell dead over his horses neck. Jills stomach churned; for all that she was good with the blade she carried, she hated killing. She had no need of sending another man to the Otherlands that day, however, because the rest of the bandits were already racing down the road to the north.
Let them go! Rhodry called out. We cant leave the women.
When Jill turned back, she found him dismounted and pulling the Stag rider down from his saddle. Although the serving woman clung to her saddle peak and sobbed, Ylaena dismounted and ran to the page.
Get down, Larro. Let me see what that man did to you.
Shaking too hard even to weep, the lad swung down and threw himself into her arms. Jill dismounted and joined Rhodry, kneeling beside the Stag rider. His face slashed with bloody cuts, he tried to speak, then died in Rhodrys arms.
Ah horseshit. Rhodry laid him down gently. I didnt think they had brigands in this part of the kingdom.
Not brigands, Ylaena said from behind them. My brother would never allow such a thing, not if he had to call in every alliance he had to chase them from his lands.
They rose, Rhodry hastily wiping his blood-stained hands on his brigga.
I owe you my life, silver daggers. Will you escort us back to my dun? Ill see that youre well-paid for it.
My lady will have our protection for the honour of the thing. Rhodry made her a bow. But wed best hurry. Those cowards might realize that theres only two of us and come back.
Between them Jill and Rhodry got the dead men tied over their saddles. When they rode out, the lady, her serving woman, and the page each led one of the extra horses to leave Jill and Rhodry free in case of attack, her at the head of the line, him in the dangerous rear-guard. As they trotted down the road, Jill turned constantly in her saddle and peered into the trees, but apparently the attackers were the cowards Rhodry had called them, because their terrified procession came free of the forest without any more trouble. Out on the open road among the settled farms they were safe. With a sharp sigh of relief Jill sheathed her sword, then fell back to ride beside Ylaena.
Ill take the reins of that horse, my lady. You shouldnt have to lead it like a caravan guard.
My thanks. Ylaena handed them over. You know, I think its the strangest thing of all that another lass would save my life, but you have my heart-felt thanks.
Tieryn Dwaen stood by the hearth in his great hall and shook with rage. Rhodry had never seen a man as furious as this slender, dark-haired young lord, whose right hand clenched and unclenched on his sword hilt for the entire time that it took for Ylaena to tell the tale, sitting in her brothers chair with Lord Cadlew behind her. When she was done, the tieryn turned to the silver daggers.
And how can I ever repay you for this? I never dreamt theyd dare harm my womenfolk, the bastards!
They, Your Grace? Rhodry said. Who?
Someones been trying to murder me. Its just that I never would have thought in a thousand years that Beryn would take his vengeance out on my sister.
Ylaena covered her face with both hands and wept, while Cadlew patted her shoulder.
Dwaen, he growled. I want blood for this.
So do I. Lots of it.
They werent going to kill me. Ylaena struggled with her voice to steady it. I heard them yelling. Dont harm the ladies, they said. They were just going to take us somewhere.
And what would they have done then? Cadlew snarled. When you ride to war, Dwaen, me and my warband will ride with you.
If it comes to war. I intend to let the gwerbret settle this by law if ever I can.
Cadlew muttered some inaudible frustration.
In the great hall every man in the warband and every servant in the dun stood round, straining to hear. Dwaen yelled at them all to get out, then asked Cadlew to escort Ylaena up to the womens hall. He himself took Jill and Rhodry to the table of honour and insisted on pouring them mead with his own hands.
My lord? Rhodry said. I was just up in Ebonlyn, and someone tried to hire me to murder a noble-born man. Im beginning to wonder if the man was you.
Mayhap it was. Let me tell you my tale.
While Dwaen told him of the previous attempt on his life and Beryns probable motive, Rhodry grew more and more baffled.
By the pink asses of the gods, Your Grace, why doesnt he just challenge you to an honour duel? You could have the matter settled before the gwerbret even heard of it.
Ive spent many an hour wondering the same thing. Rats in my bed? It sounds like old tales of witchcraft and suchlike. I cant believe Lord Beryn would stoop so low.
Lallyc, the captain of the tieryns warband, trotted over and knelt at his lords side.
Your Grace? None of the men recognize those two dead uns, and here we spent plenty of time with Beryns men before the murder.
Well, I never thought Beryn would send men from his own warband. Dwaen gave him a black-humoured grin. He might as well hire a herald to proclaim his intent as do that. But I cant think of another man in the world whod want me dead. Unless, captain, Im just being vain?
Not in the least, my lord, Lallyc said with a firm nod. Ive never known you to harm anyone. Why, you wouldnt even cheat in a horse race. Besides, if anyone else felt injured, theyd know they could come sit by our gates and starve in safety. I cant see you breaking the holy laws by driving them away.
True enough. Well, looks like Ive got a hire for you, silver daggers.
When Cadlew returned, the two lords worked out what struck Rhodry as a sensible plan. If Dwaen rode to the gwerbret in Ebonlyn, he would be vulnerable out on the road, because his rank only allowed him to bring an honour guard of fifteen men into the gwerbrets presence, fewer than Beryn kept in his warband. If Cadlew accompanied him, however, the young lord could bring ten men of his own, and since it seemed clear that Beryn had no intention of murdering Cadlew if he could help it, having him along would doubtless be the best protection Dwaen could have. They could also bring the two silver daggers in addition to the honour guard, because Jill and Rhodry qualified as witnesses.
Ill take Laryn, too, Dwaen said. But I dont want to risk bringing Ylaena in to give evidence.
Your Grace? Rhodry put in. But will she be safe here as long as theres a traitor in the dun?
She wont, and thats true enough. Ah by the hells! To think that I got into this stinking mess out of regard for the laws and naught more!
As she considered Dwaens peculiar story, Jill grew more and more sure that the traitor had to be a servant, not a rider, because members of the warband had no business being anywhere near the tieryns chambers. A servant seen near his bedroom, however, would be taken for granted. All afternoon she wandered round the dun and introduced herself to the various servitors, the head groom, the blacksmith, the pigkeeper, and finally, the cook, each of whom told her they thanked the gods daily for giving them places in the dun of a lord who was, for a change, so generous and just. Jill found it very hard to believe that any of them would ever betray their master.
Jill left the kitchen hut to find a battle brewing. A pair of kitchen maids were standing by the well, their buckets forgotten beside them while they took turns sneering at a blonde lass who had her hands set on her hips and her mouth twisted in sheer rage.
Youve got a man in the village, said one of the mockers.
And what business is it of yours?
None, Im sure, but youd best be careful, you with one bastard already.
Youre naught but a slut, Vyna, the other mocker joined in, and she was a severe sort with squinty eyes at that. I dont see how you can carry on like that, with never a thought for the consequences.
Dont you call me a slut. Vynas voice was dangerously level.
I will! said Squinty Eyes. Slut! Slut! Slut! Leaving your baby behind you!
Scarlet with rage Vyna charged, grabbing the maids hair with one hand and slapping her across the mouth with the other. Shrieking, the third lass joined in, all of them pulling each others hair and scrabbling with their nails at each others faces. Jill ran forward and intervened just as the cook came waddling and yelling out of the kitchen. While the cook bellowed for peace Jill grabbed the pair of lasses and knocked them apart so hard that they cowered back by the wall. Vyna stood sobbing, her dress torn, the tears running down her face.
My thanks, silver dagger, the cook said. As for you two, get on with your work. Youve tormented the lass enough, and Im sick to my guts of hearing it.
Jill caught Vynas arm and led her to a private spot among the various huts and storage sheds. Snivelling, the lass wiped her face on her apron and stammered out thanks.
Most welcome. I hate seeing two against one in a fight.
Theyve been on me and on me ever since I came here. Dont they know how much it ached my heart to give up my baby? I miss him every day, but I had no choice.
Where did you leave him? With your kin?
I didnt. My Mam wouldnt take me in. Vyna stared down at the ground, and her voice dropped. But I was lucky, I suppose. I used to work in another dun, and the lady gave me the coin to put my baby in fosterage to a farmers wife she knew.
I see. It wasnt Cadlews dun, was it?
It wasnt. What made you think so?
Oh, just an idle wondering. He and the tieryn seem such close friends.
They are, but theyd never notice the likes of me. Here, my thanks again, but Ive got to get back to my work.
She turned and ran across the ward, dodging among the huts as if to hide from Jill and the world as well.
Jill went upstairs to the womens hall, which filled half of the second floor of the broch, a spacious sunny room with two Bardek carpets on the polished wood floor and a profusion of chairs and cushions scattered about. Ylaena and the dowager Slaecca sat together near a window, sewing on an embroidered coverlet that draped both their knees part of Ylaenas dowry, Jill assumed. Jill bowed to the dowager and knelt beside her chair.
Now youre not to trouble your heart, my lady. Lady Ylaena can tell you that I dont carry a sword just for the pretty scabbard, so no ones going to harm you.