What seemed to be the entire staff of the place turned out, all bowing and scurrying, to make our debarkation as easy as possible. As I watched this--from beneath the rain canopy that two eager young inn-helpers held over our heads--I couldn't help remember last spring's sojourn at various innyards, as either a prisoner or a fugitive, and it was hard not to laugh at the comparison.
We had a splendid dinner in a private room overlooking the river. From below came the merry sounds of music, about as different from the haunting rhythms of the Hill Folk's music as can be, yet I loved it too.
When we had finished, Nee said, "Come! Let's go dance."
"Not me," Bran said. He lolled back on his cushions and grabbed for his mulled wine. "In the saddle all day. I'll finish this, then I'm for bed."
"I'll go with you," I said to Nee, rising to my feet.
Nee turned to Shevraeth, who sat with both hands round his goblet. "Lord Vidanric? Will you come with us?"
I looked out the window, determined to say nothing. But I was still angry, convinced as I was that he had been spying on me.
"Keep me company," Bran said. "Don't want to drink by myself."
The Marquis said to Nee, "Another time."
I kept my face turned away to hide the relief I was sure was plain to see, and Nee and I went downstairs to the common room, which smelled of spicy drinks and braised meats and fruit tarts.
In one corner four musicians played, and the center of the room was clear save for a group of dancers, the tables and cushions having been pushed back to make space. Nee and I went to join, for we had come in on a circle dance. These were not the formal Court dances with their intricate steps, where each gesture has to be just so, right down to who asks for a partner and how the response is made. These were what Nee called town dances, which were based on the old country dances--line dances for couples, and circles either for men or for women--that people had stamped and twirled and clapped to for generations.
Never lacking for partners, we danced until we were hot and tired, and then went up to the spacious bedrooms. I left my windows wide open and fell asleep listening to the sound of the river.
We had a splendid dinner in a private room overlooking the river. From below came the merry sounds of music, about as different from the haunting rhythms of the Hill Folk's music as can be, yet I loved it too.
When we had finished, Nee said, "Come! Let's go dance."
"Not me," Bran said. He lolled back on his cushions and grabbed for his mulled wine. "In the saddle all day. I'll finish this, then I'm for bed."
"I'll go with you," I said to Nee, rising to my feet.
Nee turned to Shevraeth, who sat with both hands round his goblet. "Lord Vidanric? Will you come with us?"
I looked out the window, determined to say nothing. But I was still angry, convinced as I was that he had been spying on me.
"Keep me company," Bran said. "Don't want to drink by myself."
The Marquis said to Nee, "Another time."
I kept my face turned away to hide the relief I was sure was plain to see, and Nee and I went downstairs to the common room, which smelled of spicy drinks and braised meats and fruit tarts.
In one corner four musicians played, and the center of the room was clear save for a group of dancers, the tables and cushions having been pushed back to make space. Nee and I went to join, for we had come in on a circle dance. These were not the formal Court dances with their intricate steps, where each gesture has to be just so, right down to who asks for a partner and how the response is made. These were what Nee called town dances, which were based on the old country dances--line dances for couples, and circles either for men or for women--that people had stamped and twirled and clapped to for generations.
Never lacking for partners, we danced until we were hot and tired, and then went up to the spacious bedrooms. I left my windows wide open and fell asleep listening to the sound of the river.
( Sherwood Smith )
[ Court Duel ]
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