Kerr, Katharine - Deverry 16 - Sword of Fire by Kerr Katharine

Author:Kerr, Katharine [Kerr, Katharine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: DAW
Published: 2020-02-18T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

“We need to get back on the road,” Travaberiel said. “I’ve spoken to Graelamala. She and the horses will stay here, but Jenandar, Joh, and Benoic will come with us to Mandra. The horse fair will reach there eventually, and they can rejoin her alar then.”

“Sounds good,” Cavan said. “I take it that Joh’s almost as good with weapons as a man.”

“Almost?” Travaberiel laughed, one sharp bark. “Better than most. I wouldn’t cross her. Benoic’s a braver man than me, I tell you.”

Alyssa had to smile at Cavan’s shocked expression. They were standing outside their borrowed tent while they talked. All around them the fair went on, as noisy and busy as always, just as if a dead man hadn’t been fetched out of the river only the day before.

“I’d like to make a start today,” Trav continued. “But first we’ve got to go talk with my father. I’ve got that letter from Rommardda to deliver. Cavvo, come with us, will you?”

“Of course. Just in case.”

Travaberiel led the way through the elven encampment. In front of his tent, Maelaber, who looked look so much like Trav that no one would ever doubt the relationship, was sitting on a leather cushion. He was talking with a pair of friends who squatted in front of him. They stood up to leave after exchanging a few polite greetings with Trav. Maelaber also got to his feet, saw Alyssa, and nodded her way.

“Speak in Deverrian, will you?” he said to Trav. “Let’s not be rude.”

“You’re right.” Trav made her a half-bow from the waist. “My apologies!”

“I’m studying Elvish,” Alyssa said, “but I’ve not got much beyond introducing oneself and chatting about the weather.”

“Useful enough, but limited, truly,” Trav said with a grin. “I was just telling my father here that I’ve got a very important letter for him.”

“We’ll leave you to the reading of it,” said one of the friends. “We’ll see you at the feast, Maelaber.”

Once they’d left, Maelaber took Alyssa and Trav inside his tent for privacy, but Cavan insisted on staying outside on guard.

“Someone might want to eavesdrop,” Cavan said. “I want to get a good look at him, in that case.”

“True enough, and my thanks.” Maelaber opened the tent flap. “If you two will just come inside?”

They sat on leather cushions under the smoke hole for the light while the elder herald began to read Rommardda’s letter. He looked up with a frown and what sounded like a curse in the Westfolk language.

“The last thing I’d ever want in life,” he said, “would be to rule Aberwyn. Ye gods! Has she taken leave of her senses?”

“Read it all first,” Trav said, “then we’ll talk.”

Maelaber scowled at him, but he did finish reading. “Very well, she’s not taken leave of her senses, but I shan’t go along with this anyway. My claim? Hah! It’s much too tenuous to stand up in any court, no matter how impartial, and thank the Divine Ones for that, too.”

“All we’re asking,” Travaberiel said, “is for you to pretend you’re interested in reopening the matter.

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