Moons' Dreaming (Children of the Rock) (76 page)

Pirse, one hand cupped over the injured eye, yelled,
“
We
’
re going to be married!
”

Ivey paused.
“
When?
”

“
At Spring Festival.
”

“
She didn
’
t mention it.
”

“
Did you ask?
”

“
Ivey,
”
Sene said.
“
Sit down.
”

“
My sister! He took advantage
—”

“
Sit!
”

Ivey stalked to Pirse
’
s chair and sat.

Chasa said,
“
Rock and Pool, Ivey, what
’
s the matter with you? Pirse is involved with your sister.
”

A muscle bunched on the side of Ivey
’
s jaw.
“
Yes.
”

“
With her consent.
”

“
Yes.
”

“
Well, then. It
’
s not as though she
’
s a child.
”

“
I
’
d rather she were,
”
the minstrel said in a tight voice.
“
She
’
s been hurt once already by his family. He played on her sympathy while she was still mourning Betajj
—”

Pirse pushed himself away from the wall.
“
I did nothing of the kind!
”

“
You
’
re the last thing she needs.
”

“
Obviously the gods feel he
’
s precisely what she needs,
”
Sene told Ivey.
“
They honor your family.
”

Feather tried to disguise her snort of disbelief as a cough. Chasa eyed her suspiciously, then said,
“
The honor isn
’
t in Keeper marrying Shaper. It
’
s in parenting Dreamers.
”

“
A Dreamer.
”
Sene eyes widened as he regarded Pirse.
“
A baby? You never mentioned the two of you were having a baby!
”

The prince lowered his hand from his face.
“
Aye. We are.
”

“
When?
”

“
Any time. I told you I have to leave in the morning. That
’
s why.
”

The king turned on Ivey.
“
Have you learned nothing from your years at this court? You should be congratulating him! Thanking him!
”

Ivey shook a few wet curls out of his eyes and glared at Pirse. The prince accepted the scrutiny, but there was a defiant glint in his unswollen eye. Feather heard the lilt of the mountains in their voices as they spoke, though they seemed unaware of those echoes of kinship.

“
She knows you
’
ll be back before spring?
”
Ivey asked.

“
Not exactly. She doesn
’
t like me traveling the mountain roads in winter.
”

“
So you
’
re going to surprise her.
”

“
Better surprised,
”
Pirse said curtly,
“
than worrying.
”

“
You might
’
ve considered that before you left her alone.
”

“
She
’
s safe at home.
”

“
Is that marriage? A baby coming and you not there to see it?
”

“
I
’
ll be there!
”

“
For how long?
”

“
I can
’
t spend my life in Juniper Ridge, though don
’
t think the thought hasn
’
t tempted me. Are the demands of marriage more important than my vows?
”

“
I never said
—”

“
When you marry, will you stop traveling from village to village with your songs and tales?
”

Ivey folded his arms across his chest.
“
Now that
’
s just daft. I could no more stop at home
…
I
’
d ask my lass to come with me if
….”
He stopped again, and stabbed a finger toward Pirse.
“
We aren
’
t discussing me. We
’
re discussing Doron.
”

“
My wife.
”

“
My sister.
”

Feather had had enough.
“
Who is better off in Juniper Ridge.
”
Startled, they both looked around.
“
Well away from either of you.
”

Jeyn hid a smile behind her hand. The king pushed his chair back and stood.
“
I can see we
’
re not going to accomplish anything else useful until you two have cooled down. Pirse, put something on that eye before it swells shut. Chasa, come with me. I want to speak to Captain Prester about rigging a ship for winter seas. If the land dragons are going to change their habits, we may soon have trouble with sea dragons as well. Ivey, go change your clothes, you
’
re wet. I don
’
t expect to see you again until you
’
re ready to be a coherent, useful, member of this council.
”

Three voices murmured,
“
Yes, Sire.
”

“
I
’
m glad we understand one another,
”
Sene said.

Pirse, gingerly touching the puffiness around his eye, departed at once. Ivey, still rather flustered, slipped out far more quietly than he
’
d arrived. Sene made certain each had gone his separate way before he left as well. Chasa shoveled the last bite of tart into his mouth and followed his father.

Feather glared at the last remaining Shaper in the room, torn between suspicion, disbelief, and a whole new level of admiration.
“
Your father couldn
’
t have planned that, could he?
”

Jeyn seemed honestly surprised.
“
Planned what?
”

“
The future ruler of Dherrica marrying your minstrel
’
s sister.
”

“
It was chance that they fell in love. Dad can
’
t arrange that.
”

“
Much as he might want to.
”

Jeyn chose to ignore that uncomfortable remark.
“
If anyone
’
s responsible, it
’
s Aage. He brought them together.
”

“
You can
’
t deny it
’
s convenient. You marry Ivey, his sister marries Pirse. Instant alliance between two ruling houses.
”

Jeyn tried to turn the subject away from herself.
“
Pirse has no throne.
”

“
And you
’
re not married yet.
”

“
No. Dad couldn
’
t have foreseen Doron marrying Pirse.
”
Jeyn eyed the last of her wine and made a face.
“
What about Rhenlan? Who marries into that family?
”

“
Don
’
t look at me. The King
’
s already chosen my husband, remember?
”

“
Pity you don
’
t have any sisters or cousins.
”

“
There are,
”
Feather said with a heartfelt shudder,
“
some advantages to being an orphan.
”

* * *

Jeyn left Feather and Dektrieb fussing over the broken support bar on the tapestry stand that Pirse had knocked to the floor, and hurried through the house to the minstrel
’
s room.

The room did not actually belong to Ivey. It was one of several guest rooms on the west side of the building, used by a variety of visitors during the course of the year. However, Ivey somehow managed to time his arrivals and departures to coincide with periods when the room was available for his use. He did not leave personal belongings behind when he went away, as Aage did. The wizard, despite his frequent travels, made no secret of the fact that he considered the royal residence of Sitrine his true home, and he treated his quarters there with a proprietary air. Ivey, however, had always claimed that the road was a minstrel
’
s only home.

Now Jeyn knew better. Ivey the ever-restless had roots, after all, with his sister in far-off Juniper Ridge.

He let her in, his expression grim. He had already changed into dry clothing.
“
Don
’
t say it. I know. That was stupid.
”

“
A little late to be lo
sing your temper about it, at least.
”

“
Right. The damage is done and the problem
’
s far away. It
’
s not even my problem.
”

Jeyn came further into the room and sat down in the chair near the fireplace.
“
Pirse has been talking about Doron since he arrived. He says she
’
s stubborn and opinionated and too self-sufficient for her own good. He loves her very much.
”

“
If he loves her why isn
’
t he with her?
”

“
Because she doesn
’
t want him to be! That
’
s what Pirse says, at least. What did Doron tell you about Pirse?
”

“
Nothing. I didn
’
t stay around long enough for a talk.
”

“
Ran off in a righteous rage, did you?
”

“
Aye.
”
His blush covered his entire torso.
“
If it was anyone else
—”

“
What have you got against Pirse?
”

“
It
’
s his family.
”

“
I admit that Dad has a low opinion of Palle, as he had of Dea and Farren before her
—
but Pirse has proved himself time and again. You
’
ve brought us the reports yourself! He keeps his Shaper vows.
”

“
It
’
s not the lad. It
’
s the family. The other members of the family.
”

“
Ivey, what are you talking about?
”

“
Palle.
”

“
When did Palle ever have anything to do with Doron? Pirse says she
’
s never been to Bronle, and Palle
’
s spent his whole life at the castle, or on the estates of other Shapers.
”

“
She was married.
”

“
Yes, Pirse mentioned that.
”

“
Did he tell you how Betajj died?
”