Lady Ilena Read Online Free Page A

it away as he follows Belert.
    Servants have opened chambers in the women's house, and we have our guests settled quickly. “Come to the Great Hall when you are ready,” I say before hurrying back to my room.
    As Machonna and I cross the central hearth area of our living quarters, I'm startled by loud voices in Belert's room. In the months I've lived here, I've never heard him yell at Spusscio, nor have I heard Spusscio's voice raised in anger at anyone.
    “By the gods, Spusscio, you're not thinking clearly.”
    “There is no thinking about this. The man is as wily as the wolf he's named for.”
    “He came to the gate and asked admission. Of course I welcomed him. You know the laws of hospitality as well as I do.”
    “He wants Dun Alyn.”
    “I will not give him Dun Alyn! He made a formal betrothal request, and we must treat that with courtesy. I do not intend to insult a neighbor by refusing to meet with him.”
    Spusscio is near the door now. I hasten to my room, butonce inside I stay near the wicker wall between it and Belert's chamber. Spusscio's voice is clear as he takes his leave. “Neighbors, indeed! I've told you how he deals with neighbors. You trust that one at your peril.”
    I can hear his footsteps as he stomps out of the building. There is silence from Belert's side of the wall for a short time. Then, as I am considering whether to take my questions to him, he calls me.
    “Ilena, will you come here, please?”
    I sit down across from him, and Machonna settles at my feet.
    “Faolan is a problem,” he begins. “He courted your sister two years ago, but fortunately she too was betrothed to someone else. He and his father before him have tried to reunite our families, as did Ogern.”
    “At first I thought that Faolan had come for Sorcha,” I say.
    “So did I, but Sorcha does not have Dun Alyn as dowry, and you do.”
    “I am pledged to Durant,” I say, “and I won't change my mind.”
    Belert smiles. “I didn't think you would.”
    “Can't we just tell him about Durant? Wouldn't Sorcha have told him already?”
    “There are customs to be followed. Since Durant is not here, and you are not already married, the betrothal requestis reasonable. We cannot take it lightly without insulting Faolan and all of Dun Struan.”
    I feel a jolt of fear and bend to pet Machonna to hide my face while I calm myself. More than one young woman has had to marry someone she didn't love in order to fulfill political strategies of the families involved. I wish Durant would arrive.
    When I raise my head, Belert looks sympathetic. He reaches out and puts his hand over mine as he says, “I do not intend for you to marry Faolan. But we must turn him down in such a way that he has no complaint about it. If there is trouble between us, it will be because of Faolan's action and not because we have violated our old traditions.”
    “I could hear Spusscio,” I admit. “He doesn't seem to care about traditions.”
    “Spusscio is not the chief of this fortress. His advice is invaluable, but he has his own reasons to hate Faolan. We will attempt to settle this peacefully. We'll meet with Faolan at half till noon tomorrow. Now let us go to dinner and show proper hospitality to our guests.”
    The Great Hall is full when I enter. Our bard is settled just below the head table and strums a peaceful melody on his harp. Faolan sits on Belert's right, and Sorcha is beside Faolan. There is no sign of the anger she showed when he handed me the bracelet; the two of them whisper together like old friends.
    I speak to the other guests from Dun Struan as I pass the table where they're seated. “Are your quarters comfortable? Do you lack anything?”
    When they've assured me that all is well and that they are honored to be our guests, I turn to the head table. Faolan is staring at me with the same bold gaze I found so disturbing at the gate. He smiles and raises his tankard to drink, still watching me over its rim. As the