By all that was holy, he could run.
She looked him in the eye and asked loudly for Master Rohr’s benefit, “Do you have any objections to how the race was run? After all, you managed to win despite our supposedcheating.”
Everyone there stared at her, and then at Deathan.
A glint of some emotion entered his eyes. Curiosity, mayhap. Or appreciation. Mischief?
He inclined his head. “Princess Darlei, I won by pure luck, I am sure.”
“Nay. You won by effort. Let none here deny it.” What incredible eyes the man had. Fringed by brown lashes longer than her own.
She looked at Rohr. “Surely you are pleased with your brother’s victory.”
Rohr’s expression turned sour. “To be sure, my brother ne’er ceases to surprise me.”
Oh, but Darlei despised this man.
Chief MacMurtray said quickly, “Why do we no’ move on to the pony races?”
“Yes.” Darlei put herself forward. “In which I will compete.”
“Daughter—” her father began.
“As,” Darlei smoothly overrode him, “I always do at home.” Would he deny her here before these strangers, and try to exert his authority? Cause another embarrassment?
“Princess Darlei,” Urfet said softly, and with a note of laughter in his voice, “rides better than most our men.”
“’Tis no’ appropriate,” Rohr said. “Mistress, please go and sit in the tent where ye will no’ get hurt.”
“Hurt?” She stepped up to him, not bothering to hide the disparagement in her eyes when she looked into his face. “I am not afraid of an injury. Are you?”
Rohr looked angry enough to spit, but he glanced to his father the chief.
“To be sure, ye may compete,” Chief MacMurtray said, “wi’ yer father’s permission. We are honored.”
“I would like to offer Princess Darlei my mount,” Urfet said, “since hers had to be returned back home.”
Darlei stared at him. His mount was a wild-headed creature that took all his skill to handle.
He winked at her. As they started away, he spoke into her ear in their own tongue. “You wish to win, do you not?”
Oh, she did.
Chapter Thirteen
As the ponieswere led out across the green sward, the sun came out. Darlei could see a bank of clouds far over the ocean, and the sky had been churning with light and darkness all the while. Now radiance, however brief it might be, illuminated the scene.
It showed Urfet leading his wild beast across to Darlei. He would sit out this contest, which surely he might have won, in order to offer her a victory.
She could not squander the opportunity.
Without hesitation or undue modesty, she hiked up her skirts, tying them high. Across the way she could see Rohr leading out his own mount, a light-coated pony that looked very fine.
Yes, would not the son of the chief have the best?
And there—her bridegroom’s brother, who also intended to ride, his pony chestnut brown with a black mane.
They made a fine picture coming across the green turf, the sun in Deathan’s hair.
