Moons' Dreaming (Children of the Rock) (69 page)

“
With what?
”

“
Being a brat. Now,
”
she continued,
“
what do you mean, you
’
ll give me my memories?
”

“
I was there,
”
he repeated.
“
Part of your childhood. I also heard a lot about what happened in your village. Jeyn remembers, too. And Aage. When you were little, you really liked him. I remember it used to surprise him.
”

Curiosity lit her eyes.
“
I used to surprise the wizard?
”

“
By crawling into his lap and asking for stories. You weren
’
t afraid of him. You and Jeyn were the only children in Raisal who didn
’
t run away when they saw him coming.
”

“
Run away from Aage?
”
Feather was bemused.
“
Why? He
’
s the best-looking man in Raisal.
”

“
I
’
ll ignore that,
”
Chasa said dryly. To his delight, it made her blush again.
“
Children don
’
t notice sexuality. All they see is his frown.
”

Behind them the door opened. Feather reluctantly looked away from him.
“
Yes, Dektrieb?
”

“
I
’
m sorry to interrupt.
”
The depth of sincerity in the man
’
s voice added to Chasa
’
s sense of triumph. He didn
’
t mind the interruption now. Feather had finally responded to him as a person. It was the start he needed. He stepped aside graciously to allow his betrothed to go back to her work. Dektrieb nodded politely, and Chasa hoped his answering grin didn
’
t look as idiotic as it felt.

They
’
d made a start!

He sobered again at once. Now, for the next step.

The target dummy swayed close as the guards on the wall heaved on the line. Sene ducked under the heavy wooden arm, caught his balance, and swung. His sword whacked against the padding with a satisfying thunk. He jumped back, lowering his sword.

“
Enough!
”
he called to the corporal in charge of the practice yard.

The girl grinned down at him.
“
So soon, Your Majesty?
”

“
Yes, so soon,
”
he growled, and pulled off his helmet to aim a mock glare at the pretty youngster. She laughed.

“
Not bad, Dad.
”

Sene tossed his helmet to one of the nearby guards, then turned. Chasa was watching him from the entrance gate.

“
How long have you been there?
”
Sene asked.

“
Not long.
”

His son was still dressed in a quilted vest over a white shirt, tucked into a pair of cream trousers. Sene shrugged out of his padding, feeling all the more sweaty and grimy next to his son
’
s elegance, and walked toward the gate.

“
Thought you were going to join me.
”

“
Something came up. Dad, I need to talk with you.
”

“
Excellent.
”
He took Chasa
’
s arm and escorted him out of the yard.
“
I
’
ve been meaning to talk to you, too.
”

Chasa gingerly extricated his sleeve from Sene
’
s grip.
“
You need a bath, Dad.
”

“
You didn
’
t come down here to tell me that. Never mind. We
’
ll talk in the bathhouse.
”

Chasa followed him past the stables to the stone bathhouse. A servant stoked the fire higher, then began to draw water for the king
’
s bath.

Sene stripped off his clothes and tossed them into a corner.
“
It
’
s about Feather, son. I notice that you two aren
’
t exactly getting along.
”

Chasa remained standing near the doorway.
“
Oh, really?
”

“
Yes. You know how Jeyn felt about the marriage I
’
d arranged with Daav. He
’
s a good man, and a good friend. But he
’
s my friend. She was right to decide not to marry him. I was pushing her to do something I wanted. She was wise enough to know what she wanted.
”

“
Are you saying I don
’
t have to marry Feather?
”

Sene paused before moving toward the tub of hot water. This was difficult for him to say, but he
’
d been giving it a lot of thought.

“
No, you don
’
t. Not if you don
’
t want to. I
’
m very fond of the girl, but that shouldn
’
t effect your decisions on such an important matter.
”

His son took several steps toward him. He did not look relieved, which was what Sene had been expecting. In fact, he looked angry.

Chasa met his gaze firmly.
“
I want to marry her. I want you to leave her alone. That
’
s what I came here to talk to you about.
”

“
What?
”

“
I want her. I
’
ve wanted to marry her since we were children. You sent her away. I never wanted her sent away. I never thought it was a good idea, what you and Jenil did to her memories. You know why she doesn
’
t come near me? The sound of my voice frightens her, that
’
s why.
”

“
What do you mean, doesn
’
t come near you?
”

“
You wouldn
’
t have noticed.
”
Anger, and hard sarcasm, roughened the boy
’
s voice.
“
Every time I try to come near her, you get in the way! If you want her for yourself, fine. Let
’
s get it out in the open.
”

“
For myself!
”
Sene sputtered.
“
What are you talking about? She
’
s a child! A baby! My foster
daughter, by the gods!
”

“
You don
’
t treat her like a child.
”

“
I treat her exactly as I do you and Jeyn. I enjoy her company. She makes me laugh. My behavior toward her is beyond reproach! The way I express my affection
—”

“
The way you express your affection,
”
Chasa interrupted him,
“
has made her fall in love with you.
”

“
Nonsense!
”

“
Truth. The question is, are you in love with her?
”

Sene remembered the bath behind him, and belatedly sat down in the tub. Warm water was supposed to be soothing. His whirling mind needed soothing. He looked at Chasa through the rising steam. The boy was furious. He
’
d never seen his son furious before. Or jealous. This was jealousy! If it hadn
’
t been such an unthinkable situation, he might have been amused.

It was unthinkable. Feather was clever, a bright, stimulating person to share conversation with. He liked her skepticism, and her intelligent questions, and her acid wit. He
’
d begun to think she was too much for Chasa to handle. But love her for himself?

“
Nonsense,
”
he repeated aloud.
“
I love her, yes. But, in love? No.
”

Chasa bent toward him, bracing his hands against the edge of the heavy cedarwood tub.
“
Are you sure? Are you sure you aren
’
t seeing Mother in her?
”

“
Jeyana?
”

“
That was our mother,
”
the boy returned impatiently.

“
Feather doesn
’
t have a thing in common with Jeyana!
”

“
That
’
s not what you used to say.
”

“
Your mother,
”
Sene stated with growing anger of his own,
“
was a tall, willowy, mature, silver
-
haired beauty. Does that describe Feather?
”

“
In looks, no. But that
’
s not what attracts you, is it?
”

“
Nothing attracts me!
”

“
Then why do you spend every free minute with my betrothed?
”

“
Because you don
’
t!
”

“
Because you
’
re always there first!
”

Sene opened his mouth to shout again, then shut it abruptly.
“
Am I?
”

“
Yes.
”

Grandmother taught him to recognize the truth, to remember that he could be in error. She insisted he accept defeat with dignity. If necessary. This time, it was necessary.

“
She is like your mother,
”
Sene admitted quietly.
“
I didn
’
t see it. But you
’
re right. Jeyana was a difficult woman, and I loved her for it. Feather is very like her.
”

More like her than Chasa and Jeyn were. Loneliness flooded him. Jeyn could tease as her mother once did, but her wit never cut. His son, however, might have more of Jeyana
’
s inner strength than Sene had guessed. Chasa hadn
’
t shown it often. Sene was glad to find it there.

“
Do you want her?
”
Chasa asked.
“
If you do, we
’
ll be rivals. I
’
m not going to back down for your sake. All I ask is that you give me a fair chance with her. Give me some time alone with her. If she chooses you without ever knowing me, it
’
s not fair to any of us.
”

“
I notice you don
’
t mention duty, or the Dreamer prophecy.
”

“
That
’
s your concern, not mine. I love her! You taught me the old saying about Shapers, that once we give our heart it
’
s forever. I fell in love with her when I was six.
”

“
You waited a long time.
”

“
Too long to give up without a fight.
”

Sene forced his muscles to relax, to present as unthreatening a demeanor as he could. Easy, considering his present position.
“
I
’
m not your rival, son.
”

The boy
’
s eyes narrowed.
“
Are you certain about that?
”

“
Yes. I
’
m certain. Feather
’
s your betrothed, as long as she wants it, too. That
’
s between the two of you. I apologize for getting in the way. It really was unintentional. I
’
ll stop, now that you
’
ve brought the matter to my attention.
”