Lady of Light by Diana L. Paxson

Author:Diana L. Paxson [Paxson, Diana L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, General, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Usernet, C429, Kat, Extratorrents
ISBN: 9780671455972
Publisher: Pocket Books
Published: 1982-01-02T08:00:00+00:00

VII

Ascending the Mountain

“To our future Queen—may your reign be memorable!” Caolin’s voice was cool and dry, like Segunda wine. As he lifted his silver cup men cheered his words up and down the long table; goblets repeated its flash in the candlelight.

Faris detached her fingers from the crumpled moonlight silk of her gown and clasped them carefully on the table. Jehan laid his hands over hers and, stiff-lipped, she tried to return his smile.

“I feel like a moth plucked into the full light of the sun,” she murmured. The attention of those who had come from all over Westria to see her pledged to the King beat against her awareness. Now her oath was given, and she would never be free of that scrutiny again.

“Are you already regretting your pledge?” teased Jehan. His fingers tightened on hers, then he pried open her hand and brought it palm-first to his lips. The contact shocked through her body as though she held a coal. Did he think this would answer her fear? She pulled her hand away.

He released her fingers instantly, but his darkened eyes held hers. She saw in his face all the lines of pain that the slow healing of his arrow wound had begun to smooth away. And yet he had gone through the banquet without complaining, and when he swore to make her his wife, his voice had rung against the vaulting of the Hall.

Swiftly she raised his hand to her cheek and was rewarded by an easing in his face as though a window had been opened to the sun. She closed her eyes, turning her lips against his hand, knowing that she could bear a lifetime of judgment in strangers’ faces more easily than one glimpse of pain in his.

“I pressed you to this hurried wedding—have I been selfish?” he whispered. “I have kept the Kingdom waiting so long for a Lady, and I wanted them to honor you! See, even the Ambassador from Normontaine is here. I cannot even complete our marriage until my wound heals. But tomorrow we will go to the Mountain, and the College of the Wise—I promise it will be peaceful there.”

She reached out to him. “If you are with me…” she began, but the rest of her reply was cut off by the introductory rattle of the musical consort’s drums.

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