With a chuckle Amos said, ‘Probably not, Martin, probably not.’Īs the ship put in at the quayside, Fannon and Gardan dismounted. ‘The older I get, the more I wonder what I’ve missed.’ Tends to make them a brooding, solitary lot.
Never at home long and spending days, even weeks, alone. Foresters, like sailors, make poor husbands. ‘You’ve never been in love, then, Martin?’ I’m willing to wager young Roland is hauled up before the altar sooner than Anita.’ ‘Though it will be some time before he owns up to it. And he’ll be glad to be caught.’Īmos laughed. If she’s made up her mind, and I think she has, she’ll have him snared within the year. Anita’s young, but not so young he’ll be able to ignore her attentions for very long. ‘And it’s a good bet he’s not even aware why he feels so cheerful. Martin blew a puff of smoke from a pipe, which was quickly carried away on the wind. ‘The Prince seems unusually cheerful tonight,’ said Amos. Near the helm Martin and Amos shared a wineskin and spoke low. He watched the stars above and, for the first time in years, whistled a happy air. He went up on deck the fog had lifted, and once more they were running before a light breeze. When he finally bade her good night and closed the door, he was abruptly aware the idea of a state marriage was causing him only a little discomfort. When the sailor was gone, Anita began to eat.Īrutha spoke of little things with Anita, finding himself once more captivated by the girl’s open, appealing manner. As the seaman placed the food on the table and poured a cup of wine, Arutha watched Anita. The conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door, and a seaman entered with a steaming bowl of chowder, hard bread, and salted pork on a platter. And never, never shall anyone force you to do anything against your will.’
When this war is over, you’ll go home in safety I promise you. It may prove dangerous because of the Tsurani for a time, but we’ll see that through, somehow send you down to Carse, perhaps. Finally he said, ‘Anita, you will stay at Crydee as long as need be. ‘A rich merchant’s beautiful daughter, if we’re lucky, which we usually are not.’ He couldn’t manage a light tone and sat back. We second-born as a rule are left to get by as best we can, an old widowed countess, or a rich merchant’s daughter.’ He tried to make light of it.
‘That is usually the province of eldest sons. It’s only I’d never given much thought to marriage, and certainly not for reasons of state.’ The wry grin reappeared. ‘And I suppose we’re not to be consulted in the matter!’ His voice rose. Now, with Guy set upon having me, I suppose the King is in agreement.’Īrutha became suddenly irritated, though he wasn’t certain why. You’d be ideal, for the King would not likely object. Father wanted my claim to the throne bolstered, and Lyam’s too dangerous a match, being the older. our marriage?’Īrutha looked at Anita, her green eyes flickering with reflected candlelight, and something else. ‘Now, what is this about our fathers’ plans for. Things did get quite frantic soon after you left for Rillanon.’Īrutha swallowed hard, finding his mouth suddenly dry. Anita said, ‘Didn’t your father ever mention it to you?’įor want of anything clever to say, Arutha merely shook his head.Īnita nodded. It took all his control to retain his composure. She grieved for a long time when he was lost.’ Fighting back a gloomy mood, he said, ‘Now, why did a Princess of Krondor want to sneak a look at a distant and rural cousin?’Īnita watched Arutha for a long moment, then said, ‘I wanted to see you because our fathers thought it likely we would marry.’Īrutha was stunned. ‘He was a kind lad, given to doing brave things, and he was very special to my sister. ‘He was lost in the first year of the war.’ I’ve forgotten his name, but he said he was apprentice to a magician.’ There was a boy there who held me up to see. ‘I thought you looked nice then as well, though a bit stern. ‘I remember sneaking a peek at you during Father’s court dinner, when you were last in Krondor.’ She stopped her combing, and Arutha marveled at how she looked so young one minute, so womanly the next. He didn’t know why, but he was inexplicably happy. ‘I must look a mess,’ she said.Īrutha suddenly found himself fighting the urge to grin. He went on deck and ordered a seaman to the galley to fetch something for the Princess, then returned to find her combing her hair. He said, ‘I’ll have something sent down, though it will be plain fare, I’m afraid, even compared to what you were given by the Mockers.’
0 kommentar(er)
