Kate Forsyth - Rhiannon's Ride 02 by Shining City

Author:Shining City
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2011-12-23T11:44:08+00:00

The Interrogation

“No’ Neil!” Elfrida screamed. “No’ my Cuckoo?”

Bronwen turned slowly and stared at her in bafflement. “No,” she said. “No’ Neil.”

Neil came hurrying out of the garden, throwing an exasperated glance at his mother. “What is it? What has happened?” he demanded.

Bronwen saw him and her face crumpled. She ran to him and he enclosed her in his arms. She began to weep, stammering incoherently.

“What in Eà’s green blood has happened?” Lachlan demanded also, striding forward, his wings spreading. Iseult was close behind him, her hand going automatically to thereil at her belt.

The Blue Guards had closed ranks about the dance floor, responding to the slightest jerk of Captain Dillon’s head.

“It was an accident,” Donncan said. His voice shook slightly. He looked towards his father with frowning eyes and lifted his bloody hands in what looked like a gesture of appeal. “Indeed, I didna mean to kill him.”

“Who? Who’s dead?” Lachlan demanded.

Donncan looked at Bronwen, shuddered, and looked away. “Mat.”

“Mathias o’ the guards?” Captain Dillon demanded. “Mathias Bright-Eyed?”

Donncan nodded. Captain Dillon sent some of the guards off at a run, seizing lanterns from the poles to light their way, then came to stand before Donncan, searching his face with hard eyes. “What happened, Your Highness?”

“He attacked me,” Donncan said, outrage firming his voice. “Without any warning at all. He just came leaping out o’ the darkness and punched me!” He indicated his bruised face with one hand.

“Is that so?” Captain Dillon responded with a quick glance at Bronwen. Even though his voice was carefully neutral, Donncan flushed vividly.

“Aye, that’s so,” he said furiously. “I do no’ ken why! He pulled a knife on me!”

“Is that what happened, Your Highness?” Captain Dillon asked Bronwen.

She gave a great shudder but nodded.

Iseult had come flying forward and was examining her son frantically. “Are ye hurt?” she demanded. “He did no’ stab ye, did he?”

“Nay,” Donncan said. “He tried, but I used his own arm to swing over and away, like so.”

He demonstrated, and Iseult nodded. “A good response,” she said approvingly. “What happened then?”

“I slipped as I landed. There was wine or something spilled on the grass. He was trying to recover, maybe to try to stab me again. The knife just twisted when I fell… . It went straight in. I’m sorry! I never meant … it all just happened so fast.”

Neil had drawn Bronwen to sit down and had wrapped his plaid about her shoulders. He passed the Banprionnsa a glass of wine, but Bronwen’s hands were shaking so much she could not take it. Instead, Neil held it to her lips. Bronwen’s chattering teeth rattled on the rim, but she managed to gulp a mouthful and her shivering eased a little.

“Can ye tell us what happened, Bronny?” Neil asked gently.

“It was just as Donncan said,” she whispered.

“But what possible reason would Mathias Bright-Eyed have for attacking His Highness?” Captain Dillon asked coolly.

“He … he was jealous,” Bronwen said, her voice catching. “He thought … he wanted …” She could not go on.

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