THREE DROPS OF BLOOD (30 page)

He liked the young lord for his restraint in pursuing the princess. He didn't shower her
with gifts and extravagant, public displays of devotion, which set him apart from the other
hopeful suitors.

Megassa favored him just for that difference. Lorkin always managed to be present
when Megassa returned to the Warhawk's fortress to report on some adventure or tricky mission,
and always smugly satisfied when another suitor gave up on waiting for the princess to decide
who would win her heart. Because Lorkin did have a legitimate, distant claim to Welcairn's
throne, Mrillis didn't want the young man to start thinking about marriage and children, and
securing a legacy for those children--such as a kingdom--until Markas was firmly established as
Welcairn's king.

The fact that Efrin still did not trust any of Timark's supporters, six years after the siege
of Tantagar, didn't seem to discourage Lorkin. Mrillis approved of that strength of character and
determination, and the fact that Megassa seemed to be a little more thoughtful after spending
time in his company. Lorkin had done something that all the hopeful stepmothers and
well-meaning, interfering ladies of the Court hadn't done--made Megassa slow down and think and
dress and speak as a princess more often than a warrior. The fact that Gynefra was torn between
disgust and approval made Mrillis laugh. She seemed to be the only one who realized what grew
between the nobleman and the princess she had helped to raise, and she laughed with Mrillis
sometimes over the blindness of everyone else.

Then there was the problem that Lorkin was on the list Efrin had made of ambitious
young men who were of the right age and possessed the dangerous combination of noble blood
and very little in the way of wealth or territory to call their own. Such ambitious young men
would logically try to marry the Warhawk's daughter, and so try to claim the throne for their son
as the Warhawk's grandson and heir.

Mrillis watched and waited, and whenever he heard a story about Lorkin, either good or
evil, he investigated it. He kept his silence about Megassa's sweetheart, because everything he
learned seemed to be good. If Efrin and Meghianna didn't know about Lorkin's claim on her
heart, then it couldn't be as serious as it appeared, could it?

The Warhawk's council considered granting Markas his majority and allowing him to
take his father's throne early--and then took so long coming to their decision, the young king was
nearly twenty when the crown finally sat on his head. No one was surprised when Efrin came to
the coronation festivities, spoke privately with the new king and then his mother before the
ceremony, and then announced at the feast that Queen Glyssani had agreed to become his
wife.

Mrillis was glad for them. The six years between the siege of Tantagar and the
fulfillment of Glyssani's vow had been hard on the courting couple. Efrin could only travel to
Moerta so many times each year, and each trip required that he spend time with the other minor
kings and kingdoms. Glyssani in turn could only come to the Warhawk's Court so many times
each year without some critic and busybody--especially noble ladies who still hoped to become
the Warhawk's queen--accusing her of neglecting her duties.

In those intervening six years, Mrillis thought he had spent more time with Efrin's
ladylove than the king did. He had more reason to visit Moerta in those six years than in the
previous twenty, and not just because Meghianna decided to be more directly involved in
harvesting star-metal and asked him to accompany her.

It pleased him that he had been invited to the naming ceremony for each of Pirkin and
Ynessa's three sons. It saddened him when he was asked to come to the funeral ceremony for
Pyris, and to officiate at the crowning of Pirkin as the new king of Goarlotte.

Pyris' widow, Lynzette, refused to speak to him. A rift seemed to develop between
Pirkin and his stepmother, making Mrillis suspect she did not approve of the invitation from the
new king. Mrillis knew he had no hope of any treaty with the grieving widow, so he didn't let her
animosity bother him. He had far too much pleasure in being a doting great-grandfather to
Pirkin's sons, and lived up to his promise of spoiling the boys whenever possible. He decided he
had known nothing sweeter, for many years, than the squeals of delight when he rode through the
castle gates and the little boys dropped everything they were doing to come running to greet
him.

Megassa begged for the privilege of acting as her father's representative during the
preparations for the wedding ceremony at Welcairn Castle that spring, and Mrillis suspected a
certain young nobleman was again in residence, despite the young king no longer needing his
kinsman's support.

When Mrillis traveled from Goarlotte with Pirkin and Ynessa, his suspicions were
confirmed when Megassa met him at the gates with Markas and Glyssani. She was nearly
unrecognizable, in a dark-hued, rich dress that made muted the golden glow from outdoor living,
giving her skin the ivory and rose complexion of a sheltered court maiden. Mrillis noted
immediately that the king's daughter kept glancing at one particular corner of the courtyard, and
when he had a chance to turn and look, found one tall, broad-shouldered nobleman who seemed
to see nothing and no one but Megassa.

Mrillis hoped Efrin would be too busy with his upcoming wedding festivities to notice
the now-visible bond between his younger daughter and the nobleman. And if he did notice, he
would be in too good a mood to object. Remembering how he had felt when Emrillian was old
enough to notice boys, Mrillis suspected that there wasn't a single man in all of Lygroes or
Moerta whom Efrin would consider good enough for his warrior daughter.

But if he makes Megassa happy, enough that she's willing to wear dresses and paint
herself and bathe in perfume, and forget everything she learned as a warrior...

Mrillis sighed as he considered the arguments both for and against the liaison. Should he
pray that prolonged time together would dim the glow of their happiness? There was a certain
romantic attraction to only being able to be together a few days every moon. Perhaps when they
were able to be together every day, for hours at a time, Megassa would realize Lorkin was only a
passing fancy. Either she or Lorkin could grow tired of the longing looks and sighs and stolen
kisses when there was nothing and no one to separate them. Unfortunately, if that happened,
someone's heart would break. Mrillis feared since Megassa didn't give her heart to anyone, let
alone lightly, it would most likely be her. And what if it was a deep, true love, a bonding of souls
such as Efrin had found with Glyssani?

That's the problem, isn't it?
Meghianna said, when Mrillis contacted her
through the Threads that night, to see if she had any insight into her sister's infatuation with the
nobleman.
Papa won't be able to say no, if Lorkin approaches him any time before or after
the wedding. Especially if he claims that he and Megassa are each other's completion.
She
sighed, the sound turning to laughter that tickled through the Threads.
Does she look utterly
silly, or is she beautiful and content?

I've seen them together twice since we arrived, and I'd have to say there is nothing
silly about your sister. Ah, yes, I remember now. She spoke of wanting someone to look silly for
her, and you responded with something on the order of Megassa needing to be silly, too, didn't
you?

Something like that, but later, I think. No, I think I shall be happy for her. Do you
think I should prepare Papa?

I really think you should. There's nothing worse than a king looking like a fish on
dry ground, gaping and stammering, when he is the center of attention as the bridegroom.
Mrillis smiled and the sound of Meghianna's laughter stayed with him long after their connection
severed.

Efrin Warhawk was prepared, to the point of calling Lorkin to his quarters only a few
hours after arriving at Welcairn Castle. He summoned his younger daughter as well, so she
arrived only minutes after Lorkin had bowed and greeted the Warhawk, and before anything
could be said on either side.

Mrillis and Meghianna exchanged glances of anticipation. Efrin had not shared with
either one what he had thought about or decided after his elder daughter revealed what Mrillis
had seen.

"Papa? You wanted to see me?" Megassa sailed into the room, so light on her feet she
nearly floated.

Mrillis expected to see sparks dancing on the ends of her braids, or for the flowers
braided into her hair to put forth new leaves and blossoms. Meghianna had already remarked on
her sister needing some new lessons on controlling her
imbrose
, because her giddy,
overflowing emotions caused magic to leak out of her everywhere. The effect was pleasant,
energizing, and tended to add subtly to the festive atmosphere of the castle.

Then Megassa saw Lorkin standing in front of the long table Efrin had appropriated as
his worktable, already filled with documents and scrolls and tablets and courier pouches. She
stopped short and her eyes widened. Her head turned sharply to stare at Mrillis, pleading and
accusations mixed in her eyes. It pleased him that she was aware enough to realize exactly who
had noticed her relationship with Lorkin and reported it to her father.

"Majesty." Lorkin bowed his dark golden head, amusement brightening his eyes. "It
seems we are caught out."

"Exactly what you are caught in, and how serious it is, that is what I want to know,"
Efrin said. His eyes narrowed a little, as if he didn't like how lightly Lorkin took the
situation.

"Papa, I don't care what you think--" Megassa began.

"No, I don't suppose you do, Megs." He smiled and held out a hand when his use of her
pet name noticeably cooled the growing temper on her face. "What I want to be sure of is what
you two think, how you feel." He sighed and nodded, pleased, when she settled onto the stool
pulled up to the end of the table, so she sat at his right hand. "I hope I'm not rushing things to say
I pray the two of you will be as happy as I intend to be with Glyssani."

"Papa!" She burst out laughing and leaped up from the stool, nearly sprawling across the
corner of the table to wrap her arms around him.

"You look stunned, Lord Lorkin," Meghianna said. She left the far side of the room
where she had waited with Mrillis, and sat down on the stool on the left end of the table. "Is there
a problem?"

"Lady." He bowed to her, barely glancing her way, as he watched Megassa kiss both her
father's cheeks before settling down on her stool again. "I'd be a fool to hope I would have the
unconditional blessing of the Warhawk. I know my history isn't good, and there are far more
worthy men who would give their ancestral estates and all their
imbrose
for a chance to
court Princess Megassa."

Mrillis gave Lorkin good marks for honesty and bravery, but he wasn't sure if all that
humility was entirely genuine. He decided to stay discretely in the half-shadows on the far side
of the room. This was more a family matter than a kingdom matter, though he didn't doubt many
would consider Megassa's marriage a kingdom matter.

"Worthiness in the eyes of a father differs from the worthiness I see as Warhawk," Efrin
said. "You've proven yourself loyal, to me and to Glyssani and King Markas. It was hard to
believe that Timark had fooled you, that you believed his lies, simply because you are known as
a discerning man who believes in the long view. However, we all make mistakes. Speaking as a
father, I have to warn you to make no mistakes when it comes to my daughter's heart."

"She has cast a spell on me, Majesty, and put me through a thousand small deaths,
making me wait," Lorkin said, shaky laughter in his voice. "I've barely noticed other women
existed, since the day she rode into Welcairn Castle almost six years ago."

"And for a long time, I pretended I didn't know he existed," Megassa said, an
uncharacteristic giggle nearly muffling her last few words. "At first, it was because I knew you
wouldn't approve, Papa. Then I decided I liked him, and I wanted to make sure he wasn't playing
games with me. Then... Well, I think he cast a spell on me, too."

"No, my sweet." Lorkin caught hold of her hand and kissed her fingertips, making her
blush dark red. "Everyone will testify I have no
imbrose
, and star-metal is dead when I
touch it." He shrugged. "That's partly why Timark trusted me so thoroughly, and I must admit,
partly why I followed him. Jealousy, now that I look back and think on what I did."

"What are your plans for each other?" Efrin said.

Lorkin turned Megassa's hand over, to kiss her palm, then released her to step back,
bowed deeply to Efrin, and withdrew two ornate bracelets of woven gold and silver, set with
emeralds and sapphires. Meghianna gasped aloud and flinched. From where he stood, Mrillis
couldn't see her face, but he suspected she felt a moment of hurt, envy, before she leaped from
her stool to fly to her sister's side and embrace her, laughing.

"With your permission, Efrin Warhawk?" Lorkin bowed deeply again.

"Do you promise to make her happy, to put her safety and joy and dreams ahead of your
own?" Efrin asked, his voice strained.

"I do swear before the Estall, on my very soul, on the bedrock where my ancestral estate
stands in the Wayhauk Mountains. I will put Princess Megassa's life and my love for her even
above my vows to the Warhawk's throne. I will swear it on Braenlicach, if you require."

Very impressive,
Meghianna remarked, glancing across the room to meet
Mrillis' gaze.
Did you notice where his ancestral estate is? On Lygroes, not Moerta. And in
territory that is more and more Encindi land and held by malcontents and rebels.

Maybe that's what attracted Megassa to him,
Mrillis offered.
She loves a
good fight and vicious challenge. They'll have to fight someone for many years. Nothing like a
common cause to forge two souls into one,
he added, as she muffled laughter by hugging her
sister again.