The Lord-Protector's Daughter by L. E. Modesitt Jr

Author:L. E. Modesitt, Jr.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates
Published: 2008-08-18T04:00:00+00:00

…of all the thousands who strove on that battlefield, when the Ancient appeared to Mykel, few indeed saw her, for their eyes could not encompass her. A larger group, two score or so, beheld Mykel surrounded by an unworldly green glow. The others saw nothing….

Mykella nodded to herself. Even back in the times of Mykel the Great, few could see the soarers. That didn’t help her any, but it made her feel a bit better.

“Where would you rather go, Mykella?” asked Rachylana, turning to her older sister, “Dereka or Southgate?”

“There’s no point in expressing a desire,” replied Mykella. “We won’t be allowed to choose anyway. Father and the envoys will work it all out, and we’ll be told that it’s our duty and destiny, and to make a good household wherever we’re matched.”

“They say that the Northcoast women can have lovers besides their husbands,” ventured Rachylana.

“I’m certain they can,” replied Salyna. “Many of them are trained in arms. That happened because they needed women as well as men to hold off the Squawts and the Reillies after the Great Plague. The women there were smart enough to keep training their daughters in skills with weapons.”

“You would know that. Is that where you want to go, then?”

“It won’t happen. Lady Cheleyza is from there, and Father will want to make ties elsewhere.” Salyna looked down at her needlework.

“You handle the needle as if it were a dagger,” prodded Rachylana.

“You need finesse with both.”

Mykella went back to concentrating on her book.

Before long, Rachylana slipped away.

Mykella extended her Talent senses, but Rachylana had left and was not standing outside the parlor door, listening. No one else was, either.

After several moments, Salyna lowered the needlework frame. “What’s the matter?” she asked Mykella quietly. “You’re avoiding talking to everyone again. Is it Kiedryn? Are you still worried about the missing golds?”

“I can’t help but worry. I think it’s more than the golds, but I don’t know what, and I can’t seem to find out what it might be.” Before Salyna could say more, Mykella asked, “Did you find out anything about Berenyt?”

“Her name is Clyena, and she’s the sister of one of the Southern Guards in Berenyt’s company. She’s a maid for Lady Cheleyza.”

That didn’t surprise Mykella. “Cheleyza probably introduced them, or made sure Berenyt noticed her. I’d wager Clyena is overpaid as a maid.”

Salyna nodded. “Or she gets clothes or food for her family or something like that. But isn’t it safer and better that way?”

“I suppose so, but do you think Berenyt will stop seeing others after he’s matched and married?”

The blonde shook her head. “Is there anything I can do?”

“Not now.”

“I’m going to bed. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“In the morning.” Mykella smiled. “Thank you.”

Salyna returned the smile, then turned and left.

Mykella forced herself to read another full page of the ancient, and generally boring, history before standing and making her way from the parlor back to her chamber. There she waited until the corridors seemed quiet before raising her concealment shield and slipping out her door.

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