Once the chamber was reasonably clear, Rhodry looked around for Jill, but he found her gone. Blast her! he thought. Whats she up to now? Since Dwaen was quite obviously safe, he left his hire and went after her. As he was walking down the stairs, he smelled something, a familiar scent a hint of cinnamon and musk, exactly that which had hung round the man whod tried to hire him for murder. Rhodry threw up his head like a hunting dog and raced down the spiral at a dangerous pace. For a moment, at the foot of the stairs, he caught the scent again, but the great hall was packed with gossiping people. By the time he made his way to the door out, he could find neither scent nor sight of the man who, he could assume, had to have been Bavydd of Cerrmor.
After a short search Jill discovered Lord Beryn and his men out by the stables. Silent and miserable, they were unsaddling their horses, and when she approached they all stared at her in angry bewilderment, as if they couldnt decide whether she was the cause of their lords trouble or his saviour from it. Beryn himself, however, raised one hand and flapped it in dispirited greeting.
My lord, I know Ive brought you great grief, but Ive come now to bring you a little solace. May I speak?
Why not, silver dagger? I cant think of one wretched thing you could do to hurt me any worse.
Youve lost your only son, and I know its a grievous thing to think your clan will die when you do. But Ive come to tell you that your son sired a son before he died. Its the child we spoke about in the malover, Vynas babe. The childs a bastard, of course, but he could be legitimized.
Beryn wrenched himself half round, then began to shake, like a spear stuck in the ground with a smack that then quivers itself still. At last he turned to her again.
I remember when the lass was sent away. Didnt take any notice at the time. Some womans matter, I thought. Why didnt my lady tell me about the child?
Would she have told you anything that would have pleased you?
Ye gods. For a long moment he was silent. The little bitch.
Here, my lord, how could the poor lass have turned your son away?
Not the lass, you wretched imbecile of a silver dagger! My wife. He began to pace round and round in a tight circle. Is the babe healthy?
He is, my lord. His names Bellgyn.
Round and round, and always he stared at the dirt beneath his feet. Jill made him an unnoticed bow and slipped away.
On the morrow, as soon as the dun came awake, the gwerbret summoned the two lords and their retinues to the table of honour in the great hall. Coryc rose, carefully impassive, and gave Beryn a nod of greeting.
I have a formal announcement to make, my lord, Coryc said quietly. I intend to ride to your dun to question your lady on this matter of justice. If his lordship wishes to ride to her defence, then he has my guarantee of safe conduct out of my city and on my roads.
Beryn snorted profoundly.
When you ride, Your Grace, I want to join your hunt for this piss-poor bastard merchant. Beryn jerked his thumb in Rhodrys direction. This silver dagger tells me that hes sure Bavydd was in town last night. Ill bet hes fleeing south right now. A boon, Your Grace. If we catch him, let me have him.
Coryc hesitated, looking Dwaens way as if the tieryn were his own conscience, there to testify about Bels laws.
Its not for me to say what his grace may or may not do, Dwaen said. My fathers death was more than I could bear in silence, but this time Ill no longer push my rights before the law. Whatever you want done with the merchant, Your Grace, do.
Then your boon is granted, Lord Beryn, Coryc said. And wed best get ready to ride.
All that day the warbands pushed their horses hard and arrived at Dun Ebonlyn in early afternoon, where they stopped to eat and to tell Lady Ylaena the news. As the men were filing in, Jill saw Lord Beryn turn his men out of line and stop beside the gates. When she pointed him out to Dwaen, the tieryn rode over and made Beryn a small bow from the saddle.
His lordship is welcome in my dun, Dwaen said. If he can bring himself to enter it.
Slouched in his saddle, Beryn considered the offer. In the strong afternoon light, he looked exhausted, his eyes blood-shot, his cheeks slashed with deep wrinkles from a life out in the sun and wind. Finally Beryn sighed.
His grace is most generous, Beryn said. My men and me can eat out in your ward. Ive no desire to distress your lady mother and sister with my presence at your table.
As his lordship desires, but Ill have food from my stores brought out to you.
My thanks. That much Ill accept from you.
The two men looked at each for a moment, neither smiling nor scowling.
I have a small matter to lay before you, Beryn went on. Your silver dagger here tells me that kin of mine is sheltering in your dun.
Vynas baby, Your Grace, Jill put in. Madryc sired the lad.
Dwaen caught his breath in a little whistle of surprise.
Ill want to claim the lad, Beryn said. Formally and legally, once we settle this other matter. Hes the only blasted kin Ive got left.
Never would I stand in your way, my lord, provided the lass agrees.
Beryn scowled, started to speak, then merely shrugged and rode on inside.
Beryns men found a place to sit in the curve of the inner wall. Servants hurried out, bringing bread and cold meat for the men and the best oats for their horses. Beryn sat down on the cobbles in the midst of his warband and bellowed for ale. Jill hurried to the kitchen hut, where she found Vyna piling bread into a basket. On her back the baby slept in a cloth sling.
Cook? Jill called out. Lord Beryns men need ale.
Men always need ale, the cook said. Pages! Where are you, lads? Run and get a small barrel.
In the resulting confusion Jill could draw Vyna to one side.
Ive got some important news. Lord Beryn knows about your baby. He wants to claim him and raise him as his heir.
Vyna froze.
Can you bring yourself to give him up? Jill went on. You know that Dwaen would never let the lord take him against your will.
Vyna laid the basket down and wiped her eyes on her sleeve.
Hed have everything in life this way, Jill said. Even a title, and youd have a chance to find a man of your own.
Vyna turned and walked blindly out of the kitchen hut, the baby swaying and bobbing on her back. Jill ran after her, catching up to her near the well just as Lord Beryn himself came hurrying over with a chunk of bread in his hand. Her head high, Vyna refused to curtsey; she stood her ground and let the lord look her over.
I do remember you, truly, Beryn said. And thats the baby, is he?
He is, my lord, Vyna said. My child.
Beryn had a thoughtful bite of bread and went on considering her. He towered over her, a strong man still, grey hair or not, his narrow eyes utterly cold and not a trace of a smile on his face, but Vyna stared back at him with her mouth set like a warriors.
Youll swear the childs my sons? Beryn said.
Hes mine first, my lord, but your son had somewhat to do with getting him.
A strong-minded lass, arent you?
Ive had to be, my lord.
A strong-minded lass, arent you?
Ive had to be, my lord.
Beryn finished most of his bread, then threw the crust away.
Well, youll be better off in a dun than youve been in the kitchen, he said. After weve attended to this other matter Ill ride here and fetch you and the lad.
Me, my lord?
Well, think, woman! What am I going to do with a babe in arms? Id only have to find him a nurse anyway. Might as well be you.
Lord Beryn turned on his heel and walked back to his men. Vyna covered her face with her hands and sobbed aloud.
Hush, hush, Jill said, patting her shoulder. There, see? No ones even going to take him away from you. But I dont envy you, shut up in that dun with his lordship there.
Id put up with the Lord of Hell if I had to for my baby. Hes better than that, I suppose. With one last sob, she wiped her face on her sleeve. Im more afraid of what everyones going to say about me than I am of him.
I doubt me if youve got much to worry about. Lord Beryn would take it as an insult if anyone mocked the mother of his heir, and Ill wager no one insults his lordship lightly.
Once the men had eaten, they changed horses, then rode out fast, determined to reach Beryns dun by sundown. A few miles down the road they met a single rider, coming fast on a grey gelding. With a yell, Lord Beryn pulled out of line and galloped to meet him with the rest of his escort streaming after. A river of men and horses surrounded the rider and swept the noble lords into the eddy as well. Rhodry, of course, stayed close to Dwaen.
It gladdens my heart to see you, my lord, the rider said to Beryn. I was riding to Caenmetyn with a message for you.
Indeed? Beryn leaned forward in his saddle. Then spit it out, lad.
Somewhats wrong with your lady. After you left, she was all upset, like, but well, we figured that she would be, with you gone off like that to face well, trouble and suchlike. He gave the gwerbret a nervous sidelong glance. But anyway, in the middle of the night, that merchant comes to the gates on a foundered horse. Bavydd. Do you remember him, my lord?
Very well indeed. Go on.
And he says he has news from Caenmetyn, and so of course we let him in. We all thought it was good of him to ride so fast with the news for your lady. So anyway, Bavydd stays for a bit, and Lady Mallona tells us not to worry, because the malovers gone in your favour. And so we cheered the merchant and then all went to bed. In the morning, the gatekeeper tells us that Bavydd rode out not long after we left the great hall, on a horse your lady gave him, to make up for his, like. But now the Lady Mallonas shut up in her chamber, and none of her women can get her to answer the door. So we thought about climbing up and going in through the window, but we couldnt do that, not into your ladys chamber, so we thought wed better get you a message and ask what to do.
Beryn looked Rhodrys way with expressionless eyes. Rhodry merely shrugged, supposing, as the lord doubtless did, that the lady had chosen to cheat the gwerbrets justice and die on her own terms. Beryn turned back to the rider.
Well, here I am. Lets ride and get back there.
Behind its low walls, Beryns dun was a straggly untidy place, a low squat broch, a dirt ward crammed with stables and storage sheds. When the warband streamed in through the gates, it filled the ward and turned it to a riot of confused servants and dismounting riders. Shouting his name, Beryns fort-guard mobbed their lord, then told him the same story all over again, while the chamberlain bowed to the gwerbret and apologized repeatedly for the humble lodgings. At a whispered order from Dwaen, Rhodry stuck close to Lord Beryn, who barely seemed to notice he was there.
Should we get a couple of axes and break down the door, my lord? a rider said. Take a while, but well get it in the end.
My lord? Rhodry stepped forward. Im good at climbing. If youll give me permission to enter your ladys chamber, I can go up the broch and come in through the window easy enough.
My thanks, silver dagger, Beryn said. Come round here. Ill show you which window it is.
As they hurried around the broch, Beryns narrow eyes showed no more than a flicker of distaste for the discovery that inevitably waited for them. He pointed out a window on the second floor of the rough stone broch, then ran inside to wait in front of the ladys door. Rhodry took off his spurs and sword belt, handed them to Jill, then jumped to a windowsill and started up from there. Since little ledges and flat flints stuck out all over the wall, the rough stone was easy climbing. At the window, he found the shutters closed, but he pushed them open with one hand and clambered inside.
The dimly-lit chamber reeked with the sickly odour of vomit and some sweetish drug. On the canopied bed lay a figure, huddled up, clasping its stomach with both hands. Rhodry strode over and pulled the blanket back to find a stout man, naked, his skin bluish, his broad face contorted and blue from his last agony. He lay in a pool of vomit and urine, and his blood-shot eyes stared up sightless at the embroidered blazons on Lord Beryns bed. Rhodry stepped back fast.
Gods preserve us! Shes a ruthless little bitch!
He ran to the door and unbarred it to let Lord Beryn and the gwerbret in. At the sight of the corpse in his bed Beryn swore aloud. He began to shake, a tremor of rage that left him speechless and scarlet-faced. Behind him came Coryc with Dwaen and Lord Cadlew, with Jill trailing behind. Corycs careful mask of sympathy shattered at the sight.
Bavydd! Coryc said. It has to be! Oh by the hells, then wheres Lady Mallona?
Your Grace, if I may speak? Jill broke in. Ill wager shes wearing Bavydds clothes and riding one of her husbands horses. It must have been her that the servants saw leave the dun last night.
And shes heading south for Cerrmor, Beryn snarled. Ill wager on that.
Cerrmor? the gwerbret said. Why would she do that?
Where else can she go? Beryn spoke so quietly that it was frightening. Her wretched brother had a wife and children there, and Bavydd must have kin. I know my wife, Your Grace. She could fool the gods themselves when she gets to lying. But shell never reach Cerrmor. I swear it by the Lord of Hell himself. Shell never reach it alive.
Yelling for fresh horses, Beryn ran down the stairs. Although the gwerbret hurried after him, Dwaen hesitated, motioning to Jill and Rhodry to wait with him.
Think well catch her? the tieryn said.
Who knows, my lord? Rhodry said. Shes got a days start on us, but only one horse. Huh. Ill wager she can steal others. I wouldnt put anything past her.
Not after this. Dwaen shuddered. She must have been driven mad, the poor woman. Maybe she started hating her merchant, seeing him as the man whod led her into these crimes or suchlike. The source of her dishonour, that kind of thing.
His grace is much too kind, Jill broke in. Ill wager she wanted to save her own skin and naught more. But she hasnt ridden south.
The men turned to stare at her. Rhodry was struck by how odd she looked, pale, yes, as might be expected, but cold sweat beaded her forehead, and her eyes stared across the room as if she were seeing someone standing there. When Rhodry glanced, he could see no one.