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Authors: C.N Lesley
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her run off, and then wandered over to a nearby rocky outcrop. High tide had left seawater trapped in a depression. Among the rock-anchored weeds, a leaf-shaped creature walked sideways, waving two raised forelimbs at another of its kind.
“Ashira, I want to talk.”
“I hear you, my lord,” she replied absently, half turning.
“Is it so difficult to use my given name?” His arms crossed behind his head to provide a comfortable rest, but his face betrayed harsh control around the mouth. “Am I so formidable?”
“No . . . Uther. You are . . . generous.” Ashira looked down at the rock pool where the two creatures were squaring up against each other, claws waving.
“A very careful description, Ashira. I’m a soldier who has spent the last ten years consolidating an initially weak position.” He squinted up at her, into the sun. “In the first four years of my rule, there were five attempts on my life. Even now someone occasionally thinks he’s going to get lucky. I haven’t had time for social visits or court attendance, and I wouldn’t have come to Menhill except by Alsar’s express command. A man does not ignore his high king.”
Ashira rounded on him, understanding now why he had chosen this isolated spot for his disclosure. “Why is Alsar interested in Menhill?”
“He’s trying to place his widowed niece.” The duke closed his eyes, wriggling for a more comfortable seat in the sand. “Childless after six years of marriage, she lost her home to her late husband’s nearest male kin. Alsar had an idea she might prove acceptable to an older man like your father, who already has an heir.”
“The Black Dragon Duke rushes off to be matchmaker,” Ashira said.
“I’m Alsar’s kin on the distaff side, one reason I still rule.” Uther smiled, seeming to enjoy the warmth on his face. “If he withdrew his support, Tadgell would be under siege within the month. My mines are all like the one you saw today: indefensible. Start a few fires on the lowest levels . . . the whole lot collapses, cutting off my barter power, even if I win. We can’t survive without the ore.”
“Will he withdraw support because you didn’t have an opportunity to speak with my father?” Ashira was sorry she’d goaded him. He was not responsible for their forced marriage.
“No consequences apart from being a laughing stock if Alsar lets the reason out.” The duke shaded his eyes, watching her. “When I sent my messenger, I said for him to tell my kinsman I wouldn’t mate a corpse to that mind-sick monster. I agree a quick union is necessary for one as willful as you, but not in such callous fashion. It was more like an act of vengeance. Just how offensive were you?”
“I tried to stay out of his way. He couldn’t accept my mother as a War Maid, and that dislike included me, though why he chose to have me trained as a War Maid when he loathed the concept is strange. Maybe he jumped at the chance to be rid of me before my brother’s bride arrived.” Ashira turned away, near to tears. Hearing another opinion on her father’s rejection reopened old wounds.
The sea creatures were now locked in combat inside their small world. A rustle of movement behind, and Uther held her close against him. This unexpected comfort loosened her self-control. She tried to swallow a sob, failed and spun round to bury her face against his chest. The duke stroked her hair as she gave way to a need for grief. His presence first comforted, and then embarrassed her. She tried to push away, stifling sobs, but with low rocks on three sides and him in front she had no escape.
His brows drew together, more in apparent concern than displeasure. “I hadn’t any intention of trading with Hald. Only the top layer was high-grade ore, the rest—dross. I believe I got the better bargain.” He flashed a wide grin. “We’ll never be able to visit. Do you mind?”
Ashira got a sudden picture of Hald’s face when he found out. A giggle
“Ashira, I want to talk.”
“I hear you, my lord,” she replied absently, half turning.
“Is it so difficult to use my given name?” His arms crossed behind his head to provide a comfortable rest, but his face betrayed harsh control around the mouth. “Am I so formidable?”
“No . . . Uther. You are . . . generous.” Ashira looked down at the rock pool where the two creatures were squaring up against each other, claws waving.
“A very careful description, Ashira. I’m a soldier who has spent the last ten years consolidating an initially weak position.” He squinted up at her, into the sun. “In the first four years of my rule, there were five attempts on my life. Even now someone occasionally thinks he’s going to get lucky. I haven’t had time for social visits or court attendance, and I wouldn’t have come to Menhill except by Alsar’s express command. A man does not ignore his high king.”
Ashira rounded on him, understanding now why he had chosen this isolated spot for his disclosure. “Why is Alsar interested in Menhill?”
“He’s trying to place his widowed niece.” The duke closed his eyes, wriggling for a more comfortable seat in the sand. “Childless after six years of marriage, she lost her home to her late husband’s nearest male kin. Alsar had an idea she might prove acceptable to an older man like your father, who already has an heir.”
“The Black Dragon Duke rushes off to be matchmaker,” Ashira said.
“I’m Alsar’s kin on the distaff side, one reason I still rule.” Uther smiled, seeming to enjoy the warmth on his face. “If he withdrew his support, Tadgell would be under siege within the month. My mines are all like the one you saw today: indefensible. Start a few fires on the lowest levels . . . the whole lot collapses, cutting off my barter power, even if I win. We can’t survive without the ore.”
“Will he withdraw support because you didn’t have an opportunity to speak with my father?” Ashira was sorry she’d goaded him. He was not responsible for their forced marriage.
“No consequences apart from being a laughing stock if Alsar lets the reason out.” The duke shaded his eyes, watching her. “When I sent my messenger, I said for him to tell my kinsman I wouldn’t mate a corpse to that mind-sick monster. I agree a quick union is necessary for one as willful as you, but not in such callous fashion. It was more like an act of vengeance. Just how offensive were you?”
“I tried to stay out of his way. He couldn’t accept my mother as a War Maid, and that dislike included me, though why he chose to have me trained as a War Maid when he loathed the concept is strange. Maybe he jumped at the chance to be rid of me before my brother’s bride arrived.” Ashira turned away, near to tears. Hearing another opinion on her father’s rejection reopened old wounds.
The sea creatures were now locked in combat inside their small world. A rustle of movement behind, and Uther held her close against him. This unexpected comfort loosened her self-control. She tried to swallow a sob, failed and spun round to bury her face against his chest. The duke stroked her hair as she gave way to a need for grief. His presence first comforted, and then embarrassed her. She tried to push away, stifling sobs, but with low rocks on three sides and him in front she had no escape.
His brows drew together, more in apparent concern than displeasure. “I hadn’t any intention of trading with Hald. Only the top layer was high-grade ore, the rest—dross. I believe I got the better bargain.” He flashed a wide grin. “We’ll never be able to visit. Do you mind?”
Ashira got a sudden picture of Hald’s face when he found out. A giggle
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