Ciara's Song by Andre Norton & Lyn McConchie

Author:Andre Norton & Lyn McConchie [McConchie, Andre Norton & Lyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Unknown
ISBN: 9780446606448
Publisher: New York : Aspect, c1998.
Published: 2008-06-25T14:30:00+00:00

her. As if they waited and watched to be sure what kind of opponent she'd

be when the time came.

After that—her eyes blinked back tears—after that there'd been her daughter. The suggestion that the girl had been in the way of a powerful clan. There'd been nothing but the word of a suspicious servant. But an Aiskeep servant, devoted to her mistress and trustworthy. Yet what had the suspicions amounted to, after all? The idea that a large, wealthy, and powerful clan had a young wife poisoned so her husband could swear his Keep to them without objection? One Keep against the scandal that would erupt if poisoning had even been suspected? There were things a clan did not lightly risk. Open that gate and others were free to follow. It was unlikely, she thought. Yet the servant had listed the details. The ague from which her mistress died had had unusual symptoms. It was odd that they had rid themselves of the servant with quite such haste. Odder still that the grieving husband should be swearing his Keep to another clan and so very hastily in such secret. She had a sense of something moving here, but her mind refused to put the puzzle pieces together. There was a vague link. Tanrae had been Aiskeep's friend, Ciara's savior. Sersgarth had been Aiskeep's neighbor. A daughter of Aiskeep was strangely dead.

Well, worrying over it would not help, she decided. She'd done enough of that lately. Better to fix her mind on something she could remedy, like the way Aisha spoiled those brats of hers. She rose, taking Trovagh affectionately by the arm.

"I'm for our bed, my love." He followed, glad she seemed to have found peace.

Kirin paid another visit, this time to speak with his wife. He found her infuriatingly unhelpful.

"I'm not becoming involved. I have to live here while you play at lords all over Kars. Your mother picks on me, your grandfather thinks I'm a fool, and you pay me no attention." She burst into tears. "I'm with child again, too. Go away and do whatever you want. Just don't expect me to help you."

Kirin went. He rode back to the city convinced that a dukedom in Estcarp would be a boon greater than he'd thought. He could find some

way of ridding himself of Aisha, and taking a younger, prettier wife.

Perhaps a girl of Estcarp who would be properly grateful to be wed instead of taken as mistress. He'd take his sons in hand, too. They seemed more unruly and ill-mannered each time he saw them. A tough Armsmaster and a few beatings should cure that.

Once in Kars he was angered all over again to find Pagar was still on the border. The week it would take to ready the army had already stretched to two. Still Kirin could not legally join without causing an outcry. He must persuade Pagar to intervene before it was too late. He rode on to find him there. On the border his duke was triumphant.

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