Sara Reinke - Tiralainn 03 by Book of Dragons

Author:Book of Dragons
Format: epub
Published: 2013-06-25T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

RAPTIO

"His name is Vaughan Ultan,” Aedhir said, tilting his head back and draining his tumbler of brimague. He glanced at Rhyden, his brow raised. “The man I punched in Tiralainn. The one Iona left me for."

They had been sitting in the pub, the Pauper's Pyre for several hours, making their way in joint and concerted effort through two bottles of brimague. They were both pleasantly befuddled by the liquor, their postures relaxed, their tongues loosened in amicable discourse.

"I suppose I could say Lord Ultan is the cause of all of my troublesome lots in life,” Aedhir remarked, exchanging his glass for his toitin case. He pulled a toitin out and slipped in it his mouth. “Though that would be unfair. I am the only one to thank or blame for my circumstances, as Iona so kindly pointed out to me. I cannot rightly condemn the man for finding something worthwhile in the woman to love. I am guilty of that myself."

"Iona was not his to want or find,” Rhyden said quietly. “She belonged to another. She was your wife, Aedhir."

"Not to hear her account of the matter,” Aedhir said. He struck flints to light his toitin and blew out a sharp puff of smoke. It wafted about his head in a dim haze as he poured himself another two-fingers worth of brimague. Rhyden had never seen a man drink with as much determination or tolerance as Aedhir. Rhyden had to consume quite a bit of brimague to feel any of its effects; his Elfin healing kept the liquor flushing through his system nearly as swiftly as he swallowed it. He had downed nearly a full bottle on his own, and Aedhir had matched him glass for glass.

"That is what she told me in her letter, the one she left to tell me she was gone. ‘We married in the folly of youth,’ she told me. ‘Though you cannot call the arrangement between us marriage in its proper sense. Vows exchanged without legal documents to seal them means naught in our newly restored, civilized society.'” Aedhir shook his head and laughed softly, without humor. “I have the bloody damn thing memorized, can you believe it? Every line and measure, seared within my mind.” He offered a shrug and inhaled upon his toitin. “Does anybody ever truly belong to another, Rhyden? Can legal vows and official documents bind someone's heart forever? I do not think so."

Rhyden took a long drink of brimague. “You are right,” he said. “It is love that binds us."

"And sometimes it throttles us,” Aedhir said, letting smoke curl forth from a small part in his lips. “And sometimes, it just fades away. I used to think it was right nice of Vaughan, the way he would make time for Iona while I was gone ... see to matters around the house and grounds for her. And he always seemed fond of Aelwen, bringing her presents, doting upon her.” He smirked. “You can imagine how foolish I felt when I realized just how deep his affections ran.

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