A call sounded along the path that traced the shore. Darlei and Deathan both turned their heads to look back. Three members of the guard, followed by Orle, puffed their way along at top speed.
“Master Deathan?” the first of them called.
Deathan surrendered Darlei’s hand with alacrity. She felt the loss of his warmth, his vibrancy, to her bones.
“Och,” he said, “we are in for it now. They are no’ happy wi’ us.”
Indeed, as Darlei turned to start back down the rise, she could see her father also hurrying. And Chief MacMurtray.
Deathan did not lend her his hand on the way down. She picked her own way carefully, even as he went before her to meet the first of the guards. They began an earnest conversation.
“Darlei!” Father caught up. His face was dark with displeasure, his eyes accusing. “What are you about?”
He spoke in their own tongue, and Chief MacMurtray, stopping beside them, gave an inquiring look.
“King Caerdoc, ye can see she is quite unharmed.” He then turned on his son and began to berate him. “Wha’ were ye thinking, going off this way wi’out a word? The princess’s guard thought her lost.”
Darlei drew a breath and stepped forward to Deathan’s side. Calling on all her dignity, she said, “Chief MacMurtray, I cannot allow you to blame your son because I went astray. I took it in my head to see what lay up this track. And, indeed, had he not run after me, who knows what dangers may have befallen me? Would you fault him for looking after a guest?”
Chief MacMurtray stared at her. His eyes were blue just like his other son, Rohr’s, but with none of the green flecks. Quite clearly, he did not know what to say, but he choked back his anger.
“To be sure, princess.”
She jerked her chin up. “If you will blame anyone, blame me.”
“Nay, but there is no blame in it. Yer woman merely came running. We did not ken where ye went and feared the worst.”
And what was the worst? That she might have run off? That she meant to cast herself into the sea? That she might take the hand of a man who made her feel—
But she still had no words for that.
She looked at Orle, who mouthed in their own tongue,I am sorry.
Father stepped up and said smoothly, “We are, to be sure, grateful to Master Deathan. My daughter is headstrong—a fault she must strive to overcome.”
Darlei lifted her chin higher. “This is to be my home. Am I not at leave to walk about here?”
“Not until ye are better acquainted, princess, wi’ the lie o’ it and its dangers,” said Murtray.
She turned on him. “And how am I to become acquainted, if I am held on a lead?”
“Darlei,” said Father sharply, “you will keep a respectful tongue in your head.”
“No’ at all,” Murtray said. He looked about rather wildly. “Mayhap Rohr or—or, aye, Deathan may be your guide. Aye, Deathan?”
For the briefest instant, her gaze met Deathan’s.
“Aye, Father,” he said.
With that, Darlei could be content.
Chapter Nineteen
Another endless supperduring which Darlei sat beside her bridegroom at the head table, sunk in gloom. Rohr did make some effort to speak to her. He talked of the wealth and riches of the holding—bragged on it, in truth. The trouble was, he did not allow her to comment, merely droned on and on, displaying no interest in her responses or opinions.
He had no interest in her. As if to prove it, he did not look at her even once.
Once or twice she did assay a thought, he spoke right over her. A recitation, it was, more than a conversation.
