Page 9 of Touched By Maen Llia
“It is a fine-looking town,” he said politely.
She gave a soft sound that from a man, would have been a snort of contempt. “It might have been a fine town once, but without a king to rule it, the town and the kingdom are withering, while two cousins tear it apart between them, and Brycheiniog watches for his chance to take the rest.”
Marcus felt his jaw loosen.
She glanced at him, her lips together, as if she regretted her frank speech.
Marcus realized his shock wasnotbecause of her observation, but becauseshehad made it. It was a thing that Merlin himself might have said. Direct and blunt. Also thoughtful.
He liked her bluntness, he decided. Life at court was anything but direct. Innuendo and gossip fueled intrigue, which he had no time for. A man knew where he stood with a man, or a woman, who was honest in their speech.
His response was as straightforward as hers. “That is why Merlin is here,” he said. “To determine who will be king, now that Geraint is dead, because the kingdom cannot decide for itself. Merlin grows tired of the squabbles. He says it is time for the new leader of Dyfed to be decided.”
She walked a dozen more steps, her gaze ahead. Then she nodded. “Good,” she said shortly. “Itisabout time.” She glanced at him, the fine chin up, the blue eyes direct. “My name is Catrin.”
Marcus smiled, pleased.
V
When Catrin moved into the courtyard with the rest of the women and Merlin’s company behind her, she saw Eira standing upon the verandah, her staff in her hand, leaning upon it as she watched the gate.
Eira’s gaze fell upon Catrin. Catrin was suddenly conscious of the soldier walking beside her. It wasn’t just Eira who would see the company she was keeping. It was everyone standing on the verandah with her.
The residents of the palace who had been moving toward the dining room had come to a halt to watch the new arrivals. Caron and Dai, the two cousins with the greatest claim upon kingdom, were among them. Everyone wore their best clothes for the feast. Catrin could smell roasting meats and fresh bread. The aromas wafted from the dining room, for the kitchens laid directly behind it.
The lamps along the verandah had been lit. Their flames flared and danced in the tiny evening breeze rustling through the courtyard. More lamps blazed in the dining room, spilling out across the verandah through the two sets of doors which served the big room.
Eira turned to Caron and Dai and flicked her fingers with an imperious gesture. Both of them did not hesitate to obey, for Eira was still the Queen of Dyfed, and one of them would be the new king. They moved over to her side and she murmured to them.
Both of them looked sharply at the new arrivals.
Catrin stopped before Eira, still standing upon the cobbled surface of the courtyard, while Eira stood a step higher on the verandah with the two men. Even so, Catrin’s head was level with Eira’s. Marcus stoodmuchhigher than either of them. His head was only a finger-length beneath the men’s.
“Queen Eira,” Catrin said formally. “I have brought guests to Dyfed.”
Eira measured Marcus carefully with her gaze. Then she shifted her gaze to behind Catrin, and she bowed. She bent so low the staff in her hands creaked from the weight bearing down upon it. Caron and Dai, after a heartbeat of hesitation, did the same.
Catrin spun to look behind her. She had never seen Eira bend the knee for anyone. Not even Geraint, when he was alive. She had been an imperious and independent Queen.
Merlin had moved up through the women and stood directly behind Catrin and Marcus. He, too, held a staff in his hands, although he did not look as though he needed it to help him walk. Perhaps it was merely a symbol of office.
Merlin nodded at Catrin. “Thank you for your guidance, Catrin of Maridunum. You have saved us much trouble.” He turned his attention to the three bowing before him. “Queen Eira. Caron. Dai.”
“Prince Merlin,” Eira said, her head staying very low.
A gasp moved around courtyard like the little evening breeze, in reaction to Eira’s correctly identifying Merlin. Everyone sank down into bows, or upon their knees. Every head was lowered. Catrin licked her lips, wondering if she should do the same, but Marcus was not bending. Nor were any of Merlin’s men. All the women who had gone to the Maen Llia were bowing, though…
“You honor us with your visit,” Eira said to Merlin.
“I’m not sure how I can do that if no one can see me visiting,” Merlin said, his tone crisp. “Stand up, all of you,” he added. “I would delay supper by not a minute longer, for it smells as though it is upon the very brink of readiness.”
“It is,” Eira admitted. She pulled herself painfully upright. “And it is long past time when I should sit, too.”
Merlin stepped up onto the verandah and held out his elbow. “Then we must see that you are seated as soon as possible. Come along.”
Eira smiled and took his elbow and the two walked toward the dining room, as the people on the verandah silently made way for them.
Catrin looked down at her tunic. There was no time to change and her other tunic was not any better than this one. Besides, her place was by Eira’s chair, where she could leap to help the Queen with anything she needed.
