The Red Wyvern: Book One of the Dragon Mage (Deverry Series-Act Three: The Dragon Mage 1) by Kerr Katharine

Author:Kerr, Katharine [Kerr, Katharine]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9780307573872
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2011-08-02T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THREE

With the prince gone on campaign, Bellyra ruled Dun Cerrmor as his regent. Every morning she sat at the head of the honor table on the dais with her women around her while the servitors came up to receive her orders concerning the daily life of the dun. Often enough she had to settle some squabble or legal matter as well, though any major dispute, especially those involving the noble-born, would have to wait until Maryn returned in the fall. He was still gwerbret of this rhan and thus the only person entitled to hold full malover. During these sessions Lilli merely listened and watched, though the other women put in plenty of opinions.

“Once he’s truly the king of all Deverry,” Bellyra said one morning, “he’ll have to elevate one of his loyal lords to the gwerbretrhyn of Cerrmor. He’s not looking forward to sorting that out, I tell you.”

“No matter who he chooses,” Elyssa said, “the others will grumble.”

“That’s true enough,” Degwa put in. “A lot of jealous children, that’s what they are.”

“Oh now, please!” Bellyra tried to look stern and failed. “After all, there’s a lot of coin at stake too. It’s not all hurt feelings.”

“Just so, but—” Degwa hesitated. “Who’s that at the door?”

Escorted by pages two armed men, dusty and road-stained, were striding into the great hall. One of them carried a silver message tube in one hand.

“From my lord, I’ll wager.” Bellyra’s voice caught. “May it be good news.”

As if he’d heard her, the messenger raised the tube and shouted across the hall.

“Good news, Your Highness, the best! The prince your husband has taken the Holy City and invested the dun itself.”

Bellyra whooped with laughter and rose, tossing her arms in the air as if she were going to dance a few steps. When Elyssa scowled, the princess recovered herself and managed to arrange a solemn face. As the messenger mounted the steps, Lilli watched him, wondering if she felt glee or dread, then realized that the truth mixed both.

The tube held several long letters, tightly furled. While the princess waited for the royal scribe, the news of their arrival spread and the great hall filled. Every servant and man on fortguard crowded in to hear the tale. When the scribe took the letters and snapped them out to smooth them, the crowd pressed close to the foot of the dais.

“Get up on the table, Maen,” Bellyra said. “So everyone can hear.”

Obligingly Maen climbed, then read in his best public voice. As Lilli listened, she felt her soul split in half. One Lilli gloated over every victory; the other grieved for the young king in Dun Deverry and for all the lords whom she’d known there. Every now and then the letters would mention some lord slain or grievously injured; a fair number of Deverry lords had been captured and were being held for ransom. Although they described Tibryn’s death in some detail, Lilli found that she couldn’t squeeze out a tear for him, uncle or not.

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