the spring sailing. And make sure you work hard at your lessons. I don’t want Seyakin complaining his new son-by-marriage is useless.”
Sullyan raised her brows. “Have you made the betrothal already, then?”
The older seaman struck his son a playful blow on the shoulder. “She couldn’t take her eyes off the young blade!” he guffawed, causing Jay’el to redden. “But her father seemed to think a courtship of two months too short a time to acknowledge a formal betrothal. And he wanted some sign of this pup’s commitment to his daughter, so I suggested he might be willing to spend the winter in the study of his talents, seeing as he’s never troubled to do so before.”
“I take it Seyakin has no gift himself?” Sullyan guessed, and Ky-shan nodded. This made Seyakin’s willingness to accept the untitled Jay’el as a suitor for Princess Kyrie easier to understand. The lord of a far-off province whose eldest daughter was likely to be taken from him when she wed Prince Aeyron would value an Artesan in the family to receive and convey messages from her, and from Pharikian at the Citadel. The more useful Jay’el could make himself, the more chance he had of convincing Seyakin he was suitable.
“We will be pleased to have you, Jay,” she said, “although you will have to be prepared to work alongside others much younger than yourself.”
The young seaman announced himself willing to do whatever was asked of him. He took leave of his father and went to renew his acquaintance with Robin.
Sullyan turned to her brother and took an emotional leave of him. “Convey my love to our father, and to Ty, Idri, and the twins. Tell Timar I will try to visit him soon. But for now, my brother, I must go. I wish you good fortune in your new-found love, and I look forward to meeting the woman who has captured your heart. My soul will be easier knowing you have found someone able to share your duties as well as your bed. Take care of yourself, and call me if you need access through the Veils in order to visit her again.”
They clasped each other tightly and parted. Aeyron still experienced pangs of uncertainty whenever she left him, and she feared he would never fully lose the dependence he felt. Hopefully, Princess Lirina would fill the empty portions of Aeyron’s soul and he would then, once more, be complete.
She returned to Drum and seated herself behind Eadan, who had waited alone on the great black stallion with no sign of fear or apprehension. Sullyan reached through her psyche and took hold of the substrate. Her touch was sure as she caused it to part, and she led the men, their number increased by one, back to the Manor.
Chapter Five
I n the darkened room, the scarecrow leaned back upon the bed pillows and gave himself up to the ministrations of the woman beside him. He felt the cool touch of her hand upon his brow and permitted himself an unseen smile.
He had finally “allowed” Sofira to persuade him into a more comfortable room than the dank, unwholesome cell beneath the palace. It suited him to accede to her request, not because he craved the comforts she offered, but because in bowing to her desires he encouraged her to believe he was responding to her care. And that bound her ever tighter.
Two months had now passed since his escape from exile, and he was beginning to understand the parameters of his new condition. Under the guise of recovery from torment—not an entirely false pretext—he was able to explore the capabilities he now enjoyed without exerting himself unduly. It quickly became clear his needs were changing. He had to improve the arrangements for the renewing of his physical strength, and easier access to the main parts of Lerric’s palace would facilitate this.
It was also more fitting to his status as Sofira’s betrothed.
Before agreeing to her pleas to nurse him, he insisted on certain strictures. He convinced her that the complete absence of daylight was
Sullyan raised her brows. “Have you made the betrothal already, then?”
The older seaman struck his son a playful blow on the shoulder. “She couldn’t take her eyes off the young blade!” he guffawed, causing Jay’el to redden. “But her father seemed to think a courtship of two months too short a time to acknowledge a formal betrothal. And he wanted some sign of this pup’s commitment to his daughter, so I suggested he might be willing to spend the winter in the study of his talents, seeing as he’s never troubled to do so before.”
“I take it Seyakin has no gift himself?” Sullyan guessed, and Ky-shan nodded. This made Seyakin’s willingness to accept the untitled Jay’el as a suitor for Princess Kyrie easier to understand. The lord of a far-off province whose eldest daughter was likely to be taken from him when she wed Prince Aeyron would value an Artesan in the family to receive and convey messages from her, and from Pharikian at the Citadel. The more useful Jay’el could make himself, the more chance he had of convincing Seyakin he was suitable.
“We will be pleased to have you, Jay,” she said, “although you will have to be prepared to work alongside others much younger than yourself.”
The young seaman announced himself willing to do whatever was asked of him. He took leave of his father and went to renew his acquaintance with Robin.
Sullyan turned to her brother and took an emotional leave of him. “Convey my love to our father, and to Ty, Idri, and the twins. Tell Timar I will try to visit him soon. But for now, my brother, I must go. I wish you good fortune in your new-found love, and I look forward to meeting the woman who has captured your heart. My soul will be easier knowing you have found someone able to share your duties as well as your bed. Take care of yourself, and call me if you need access through the Veils in order to visit her again.”
They clasped each other tightly and parted. Aeyron still experienced pangs of uncertainty whenever she left him, and she feared he would never fully lose the dependence he felt. Hopefully, Princess Lirina would fill the empty portions of Aeyron’s soul and he would then, once more, be complete.
She returned to Drum and seated herself behind Eadan, who had waited alone on the great black stallion with no sign of fear or apprehension. Sullyan reached through her psyche and took hold of the substrate. Her touch was sure as she caused it to part, and she led the men, their number increased by one, back to the Manor.
Chapter Five
I n the darkened room, the scarecrow leaned back upon the bed pillows and gave himself up to the ministrations of the woman beside him. He felt the cool touch of her hand upon his brow and permitted himself an unseen smile.
He had finally “allowed” Sofira to persuade him into a more comfortable room than the dank, unwholesome cell beneath the palace. It suited him to accede to her request, not because he craved the comforts she offered, but because in bowing to her desires he encouraged her to believe he was responding to her care. And that bound her ever tighter.
Two months had now passed since his escape from exile, and he was beginning to understand the parameters of his new condition. Under the guise of recovery from torment—not an entirely false pretext—he was able to explore the capabilities he now enjoyed without exerting himself unduly. It quickly became clear his needs were changing. He had to improve the arrangements for the renewing of his physical strength, and easier access to the main parts of Lerric’s palace would facilitate this.
It was also more fitting to his status as Sofira’s betrothed.
Before agreeing to her pleas to nurse him, he insisted on certain strictures. He convinced her that the complete absence of daylight was
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