Modesitt, L.E - Corean Chronicles 07 - The Lord-Protector's Daughter by Modesitt L.E

Author:Modesitt, L.E [Modesitt, L.E]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, Epic, Fiction, General, Fantasy Fiction, Magic, Corus (Imaginary Place)
ISBN: 9780765361387
Publisher: Tor Fantasy
Published: 2008-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

25

After an uneventful dinner, where Eranya chattered about how wonderful the formal dinner would be on Octdi, and how she loved meeting people from all across Corus, Mykella and her sisters retired to the parlor. Because Mykella did not wish to talk, she claimed a history she had not read before. Salyna addressed her needlework.

Rachylana talked. "… you'd think we'd made Father miserable. He seems determined to have us all matched and married off in the next year… and who in her right mind would want to go to Dereka? At least in Southgate, you wouldn't freeze, Salyna."

"I'd rather not go either place at the moment."

"You can't stay here."

"Why not? We all don't have to marry rulers or heirs, do we? I'm certain there must be a Seltyr or High Factor's son who might actually be intelligent and able to converse and who might feel gratified to have me. rather than obligated."

"Father won't allow it. You know that."

"He's never said that."

"He doesn't have to. That's the way things are."

Mykella's eyes had been flicking across the words of the history, as she half-read, half-listened, when she stopped and re-read the section in the middle of the page.

… 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 Reil-lies 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.

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