Malthus scowled from one of the false alcoves in the Great Hall and made no move to join the others in congratulating Kynyr. More and more they were treating Kynyr like a son and less like a guardsmon. It quickened his suspicions as he watched them.
Another heir to deal with.
* * * *
Kady eyed her swiftly emptying room as Trevor, Henry, and Todd carried her belongings out and loaded them into the wagon in front of the shop. Butterflies kept company with the child in her belly. Her feelings felt mixed and confused, and more than a little disoriented. One the one hand, Kady had felt happy and needed here. She adored Cahira, and would miss her steady instruction. On the other hand, she had gained things that she had never hoped to possess. Although Kynyr continued to refuse to acknowledge his ancestry, technically Kady had become a princess. She lived in an incredible mansion with over one hundred rooms, complete with servants, orchards and gardens, a stable of prize horses, and best of all Kynyr.
"Too many changes. So much to get used to. Seems like I barely moved in here and now I'm moving out again. A wistful note entered Kady's voice. My life has turned upside down and inside out."
"You'll have more space. Trevor grinned at her. You'll like that."
"I'll have entirely too much space. I have no idea what to do with it all."
"I'm sure you will think of something."
Todd handed Kady the cane that Kynyr had carried while his leg was healing. You'll want to carry this from now on."
"Why would I need a cane? She frowned, gazing at kendaryl gryphon on the head and the heavy hard-rock maple shaft.
"Hold the base tight and give the top a twist."
Kady did so and pulled a long slender sword from the cane. Pleasure rushed through her spiked with delight. Oh, I like this."
"You can train until your seventh month, but no sparring."
Her face brightened still more as she realized that her dearest dream would not be taken from her by motherhood. I can?"
"Since you'll be living at the house now, Trevor can walk you through your practices each day and I'll come out a couple times each week to check on your progress."
"Sounds good. Kady glanced around. Where did Iollen and Aghavie get off to?"
"They went to pick up that formal dining table you commissioned for the Great Hall. And probably a stop at the candy store, if I know Aghavie's sweet tooth. Trevor grinned.
"I'm going to find them. Kady set off.
Todd nodded at Trevor and his son trailed Kady.
* * * *
Iollen carried a burlap sack slung over his shoulder with the results of Aghavie's shopping. She had dragged him through every shop between the furniture store and the candy shop, happily spending his first wages. He watched her with fond bemusement. His act of atonement had blossomed into love unforeseen. He still slept on the sofa. If and when Aghavie decided she genuinely wanted him, they would make a real marriage of it. Until then, Iollen felt content to simply love her. He had never dreamed that anyone could ever care for a mon as maimed as he was.
She had five pence to spend and happily bought a penny's worth of this and a penny's worth of that, coming away with a significant hoard of sweets.
Old John Donegal put the candy into Iollen's shopping bag with a crinkly smile. When is the little one due?"
"Cahira says around winter solstice. He shouldered the bag again. Iollen had expected to be reviled by the community after Caimbeul punished him on the scaffold. The loss of his arm had mitigated their reactions. The Gods had punished him and now he could be forgiven. Whatever debts remained in their eyes had become paid accounts when he married Aghavie and made an honest bitch of her.
"Auspicious time for a birth."
Iollen nodded and left with Aghavie following him. He slung the sack over the side of the wagon and settled it against Kady's table.
"Hello, Aghavie."
Iollen whipped around when he heard the familiar voice. Preece."
Aghavie stood frozen like a mouse beneath the eyes of a predator.
Preece put his hand on Aghavie's belly. Which dead mon's melon is it?"
Iollen shoved Preece away from Aghavie and stepped between them. Stay away from my wife."
"You wouldn't fight me when you had two arms. You gonna fight me now, cripple? Preece chuckled mirthlessly.
"He won't. I will, said a new voice. Kady drew the sword from the cane, advancing on Preece with chill anger in her eyes.
"The bastard's whore wants to fight. He brayed contempt in a long laugh.
A hand on her shoulder halted Kady. She glanced and saw Trevor standing behind her. He motioned her toward the wagon and she obeyed with obvious reluctance.
"Cowards pick fights with bitches and one-armed myn. Trevor's hands dropped to the knives at his hips.
Iollen winced at the further reminder that he was maimed. He faltered; trying to decide whatif anythinghe could do, and turned his back on it. Walking to the wagon, he leaned against the side to hide his troubled face.
Aghavie moved close to him, putting her hand on his lower back. Iollen?"
"I'm not man enough for you, Aghavie. I'm sorry."
Preece considered Trevor with empty eyes, devoid of feeling; measuring the newcomer. Most folks know better than to mess with me."
"You're Preece Malloy? Trevor thumbed the pommel of his blades.
"Yeah. A sly twist of a sneer curled the edges of Preece's lips as he waited to see if Trevor Sinclair intended to draw steel on him or back down as most did.
Trevor spun into a roundhouse kick that sent Preece slamming into the side of a shop.
Preece's head connected with the wall hard enough to stun him. He blinked, trying to clear his vision.
Trevor strolled over and kicked him in the side. A warning. Don't mess with the Sinclairs, the Maguires, or the people under our protection. You'll live longer that way."
Preece staggered to his feet, clutching his side, and disappeared into an alley.
Depression dulled Iollen's eyes as he helped Aghavie onto the wagon.
Kady exchanged a glance with Trevor and nodded at Iollen.
The big lycan went to Iollen as the maimed wolf was climbing onto the seat. Iollen, I'll expect you in the salle this evening."
"But..."
"No buts. The salle. This evening."
"Yessir."
* * * *
Malthus sipped mead, leaning back in his chair at the Difficult Horse. He currently spent a few hours there each evening, hoping for a glimpse of the newcomers now living at the old McCain place. Preece sat silent, a dour turn to his mouth.
His present tools did not have access to the Maguire place. He needed a new one. Malthus watched Larena waiting tables, dug into his pouch and came out with a Sharani Double-Gryphon. When he and Heironim had been boys growing up on his mother's estate, they had made a game of placing spells on innocuous objects to harass the other children over imagined slights. He closed his hand over the coin and placed a come-hither on it with a thought.
Kynyr, Erskine Faraday, and Robert Morcar swaggered into the Difficult Horse and settled at a table. Large grins lit their faces.
"Drinks on me! Erskine shouted. My friend here. He patted Kynyr's back. His lady wears her apron high and the wedding is to be held at the Manor. Claw's giving the bride away himself."
A roar of congratulations went up.
Hereward winced as he filled tankards with mead and Larena began distributing them.
"My slut of a sister gets all the good things in life. Larena grumbled, setting tankards in front of Malthus and Preece. I keep my legs closed and get nothing at all."
"Maybe if you opened them to the right mon, Larena, you could have everything you wanted? Malthus smiled.
"And who would that be?"
Malthus flashed the Sharani double gryphon at her before dropping it down her bodice and whispering. Come to my cottage this evening?"
Larena blinked as the coin settled against her pal
e white skin. A blank expression crept into her eyes and faded. She simpered. I'll be there."
Preece shook his head at her retreating back. She'll never come."
"You might be surprised, Preece."
* * * *
Iollen sat at the table in his apartments with a bottle of cheap whiskey. He held the glass of amber liquor up to the lamp and contemplated his situation as if he could find it reflected in that glass.
Aghavie watched him over the edge of an embroidery hoop.
"I never was much. Iollen drank his whiskey and refilled the glass. He knew that he was halfway to shit-faced, but did not care. The confrontation with Preece had rattled him and Trevor's long talk in the salle afterward had only made him feel worsealthough he knew Trevor had not intended it that way. I'm a coward."
"You weren't a coward today, Aghavie said quietly.
Iollen ignored her. I was afraid of their jeers as much as their fists. I was afraid of Cormic Parry. Afraid of Preece. Donald Greenlea beat me bloody one night ... while Cormic held my arms so I couldn't fight back ... couldn't run. That's what I always did ... run away. They wanted to be sure of me ... sure that I wouldn't tell anyone what we were doing."
"You're not a coward. She laid her embroidery on the sofa and joined him at the table.
"Then we started pulling bitches down. You were the first, Aghavie."
"You didn't poke me. She laid her hand on his arm and he flinched away from her.
Iollen refilled his glass a third time with a bitter snort. I was too nervous to get it up. Otherwise, I would have crammed it into you like the others. I'm not a good mon, Aghavie."
"You're trying to be. That's what counts."
"Now that I only have one arm..."
"You're my husband. Aghavie drew her chair closer, and began unbuttoning his shirt.
"Don't. He stopped her, grasping her small hands in his large one. I don't want you to see it."
"It's too late for that. I peeped at you while you were sleeping."
"It's ugly."
"It is what it is. Aghavie shrugged. Besides, I married you. Not your arm."
"You're not offended?"
"Not in the least."
Iollen released her hands.
She removed his shirt. Her fingers caressed the shoulder of his missing arm. Does it hurt?"
"Sometimes. It aches. He drank his whiskey and refilled the glass. Sometimes the fingers itch ... and they aren't there.
"I can make it better. Aghavie reached for the drawstring on his pants.
"Don't. He stopped her hands again.
"We're married."
"I can't get it up. I haven't been able to since that day on the scaffolds."
"Then let me help you."
The sweet earnestness in her voice brought tears to Iollen's liquor reddened eyes and he surrendered.
* * * *
Kady sprawled in the middle of her bed, wearing the sheerest nightgown from the chest of new clothes that Cahira had given her for the wedding and attempted to look sensual, anticipating Kynyr's returning home that night. She glanced at the little clock from Iradrim, and realized that her husband to be was late. After another hour passed, Kady went from feeling aroused to irritated. By the end of the third hour, Kady heard her stomach rumble and decided that, if she had to wait up for him, tea and a snack were required.
"So much for the grand seduction, she muttered, wrapping an old brown robe over the nightgown.
She padded to the kitchen and found Kynyr at the table with Trevor, eating his way through the plate of cookies that she and Mary had baked earlier that day. Kady snatched the plate and dropped into a chair with a flounce. Some of those are mine."
"I wasn't going to eat all of them. Kynyr grinned at her.
"How many did you intend to leave for me? One? Kady made a show of counting the cookies. Kynyr walked his fingers across the table in the direction of the plate, and Kady slapped his hand. There were four dozen cookies when I went to bed. Now there's one and a half."
"I'm a growing cub? Kynyr ducked his head.
"The only thing you've got that grows is in your pants. Kady thumped him on the forehead. We'll have no talk of growing anything here."
Trevor's smile faded. I've been telling Kynyr what happened with Preece."
"Why did you stop me, Trevor? I could have handled Preece."
"Maybe. He paused, setting his blades and the whetstone on the table. It wasn't you I was worried about."
She frowned. What do you mean?"
"There's a cub in your belly now. One blow in the right place ... wouldn't have to be a hard one even ... and the cub would be dead before it's born."
"Oh. Kady looked thoughtful for an instant, and then sent Kynyr sprawling on the floor chair and all. This is entirely your fault."
The two dogs stared at her. Kynyr's lips twitched into a fresh smile of utter naughtiness. Maybe we should finish this discussion in bed?"
"I should think so. Kady grabbed a handful of cookies. These are mine. Don't touch them."
CHAPTER EIGHT
LONG NIGHT
Malthus filled glasses with wine and placed them on the table. I'm so glad you came. I have wanted to be alone with you for a long, long time."
Larena swallowed, a smile flickering uncertainly upon her face. I'm not sure about this. I mean ... I'm not a slut. You can have your coin back if you want it. I don't know what I was thinking. I'm a virgin. I just... She fiddled with a strand of her long blonde hair. She knew she was babbling, but could not stop herself. I just like to flirt. That's all. I mean."
Malthus lowered his head with a contrite expression. I didn't mean to imply that you were."
"You're married."
Contrition faded into sorrow. She doesn't love me."
"But she married you. Larena looked confused.
"Merissa... Malthus closed his eyes with a pained look and sucked in an unsteady breath. My wife is a slut. The twins she is carrying ... they aren't mine."
"Whose are they?"
Malthus refilled Larena's glass. I suspect... Malthus shoulders drooped. That they're Kynyr's. I-I caught them together."
"But, if Kynyr's sleeping with her ... why didn't he marry her? She's the Chieftain's daughter. My sister's a little bit of nothing slut."
"He can't marry her."
"Why not?"
"He's her brother."
Larena choked on a swallow of wine. That's terrible!"
"Oh, gods, you mustn't tell anyone. Claw says he'll kill me if word gets out. Malthus face tightened and then a tear slipped down his cheek. I don't know why I'm telling you all of this. I'm so lonely and it's getting so hard to keep it all inside."
Larena rose from her chair and went to the liquor cabinet. She returned with a bottle of Dragonsbreath and a pair of whiskey glasses. She poured for both of them. You need something stronger. I never knew how bad things were. You've kept such a brave face."
She pulled her chair close to his and they sat together, drinking whiskey in silence for a time. Malthus looked so broken-hearted that after a couple of whiskeys, Larena got her courage together and rose from her chair and held him.
Malthus raised a tear streaked face and kissed her deeply. Larena started to draw away from him, but an odd buzzing in her head caused her to stop and blink for a moment. She felt dizzy and disoriented; and yet, she knew she was not drunk. Although she was only seventeen years old, she had a decent capacity for hard liquor.
Suddenly, Larena wanted him more than anything she had ever wanted before in her life. His hands slipped to the fastenings on her bodice and undid them.
"Touch me. Touch me. Larena panted with eagerness and desire. She felt as if her body was on fire. Her loins ached with an violent longing to feel him inside her most intimate places.
His hand closed upon her breast and his lips upon the opposite nipple. It felt so much more intense than when she played with herself. She moaned. Malthus undressed her, kissing and licking as he we
nt.
She pressed against him as they slipped to the floor. Malthus opened his pants, and lifted his maleness free, but otherwise did not bother to undress. He loomed above her, spreading her legs with his hands on the insides of her thighs. His member looked so huge and long, that Larena wondered how he could possibly get all of it in without hurting her. She started to pull away from Malthus, but that buzzing came again in her head and she forgot everything except wanting him.
His member bumped her clit tantalizing her. Your cock is huge."
"Shall I put it in? A victorious sneer spread across Malthus face.
"Yes."
The flush of desire burning in Larena's cheeks vanished as she screamed in terror when Malthus fangs plunged into her neck. She stilled beneath him, her eyes dulling, and barely felt it when Malthus ripped away her maidenhead.
* * * *
Brother Malcolm hesitated with his fist raised to knock on the front door of the great house. The hour was late, and the family had most likely gone to their beds, but Malcolm had come too far and on too urgent a matter not to go the final steps.
Malcolm banged upon the door with all the courage he could put into it.
The door opened and an aged wolf in russet homespun held up a lantern to compensate for his worn old eyes. The hour is late, Brother."
"I'm Brother Malcolm from the monastery at St. Albans in MacLachlan. It is urgent that I speak with Kynyr Maguire. I have a message for him."
Henry nodded. If you'll follow me to the kitchen, I'll put on a pot of tea and wake the Master."
Brother Malcolm marveled at the wonderful house as Henry led him from the foyer, down a short hallway and into the kitchen.
It had nicely finished cabinets, a cast iron stove imported from Iradrim, polished counters, and a large table with a bright tablecloth in spring patterns.
Henry lit the wood in the stove, filled a kettle with water, and put it on to heat. Then he left, soon returning with a large, red-haired lycan who radiated quiet dignity and steady confidence.
"Master Maguire?"
Frank-KWar Page 10
