Roberson, Jennifer - Cheysuli 08 Read Online Free Page A

threat."
                He lifted his chin. "That's
what they say in the baileys and kitchens."
                Rogan's eyes flinched. "You
listen entirely too much to gossip—but I suppose it is to be expected.
                Aye, you are a threat to the Ihlini.
And that is why you are so closely guarded. With so many Cheysuli here
Lochiel's sorcery cannot reach you, and so you are closely kept—but there are
other ways, ways involving nothing so much as a greedy cook desiring Ihlini
gold—" But Rogan waved it away with a sharply dismissive gesture. "Enough
of a sad topic. There will be guards, as always, but your grandsire has decided
to allow you this small freedom."
                Summerfair was more than a freedom.
It was renewal. Kellin forgot all about rumor and gossip.
                Grinning, he pointed at the purse
depending from the belt. His grandfather had given Rogan coin for Summerfair.
"Can we go? Now?"
                "We can go. Now."
                "Then put on your Summerfair
face," Kellin ordered sternly. Rogan was a plain, soft-spoken man in his
mid-forties only rarely given to laughter, but Kellin had always known a quiet,
steady warmth from the Homanan. He enjoyed teasing Rogan out of his melancholy
moods, and today was not a day for sad faces. "You will scare away the
ladies with that sad scowl."
                "What does my face have to do
with the ladies?"
                Rogan asked suspiciously.
                "It's Summerfair," Kellin
declared. "Everyone will be happier than usual because of Summerfair.
                Even you will attract the ladies ...
if you put away that scowl."
                "I am not scowling, and what do
you know about ladies?"
                "Enough," Kellin said
airily, and strode out of the room.
                Rogan followed- "How much is
enough, my young lord?"
                "You know." Kellin stopped
in the corridor. "I heard Melora. She was talking to Belinda, who said it
had been too long since you'd had a good woman in your bed." Rogan's face
reddened immediately. It was the first time any of Kellin's sallies had
provoked such a personal reaction, and the boy was fascinated. "Has it
been?"
                The man rubbed wearily at his scalp.
"Aye, well, perhaps. Had I known Belinda and Melora were so concerned
about it, I might have asked them for advice on how to change matters." He
eyed his charge closely. "How much do you know about men and women?"
                "Oh, everything. I know all
about them." Kellin set off down the corridor with Rogan matching his
longer strides to the boy's. "I was hoping I might find a likely lady
during Summerfair."
                A large hand descended upon Kellin's
shoulder and stopped him in his tracks. "My lord," Rogan said
formally, "would you be so good as to tell your ignorant tutor precisely
what you are talking about?"
                "If you mean how much do I
know," Kellin began, "I know. I learned all about it last year.
                And now I would like to try it for
myself."
                "At ten?" Rogan murmured,
as much for himself as for Kellin.
                "How old were you?"
                Rogan looked thoughtful. "They
say Cheysuli grow up quickly, and there are stories about your grandsire and
his brothers. ..."
                Kellin grinned. "This might be
the best Summerfair of all."
                "Better than last year,
certainly." The understated amusement faded from Rogan's tone. "You
do recall why you were refused permission to go."
                Kellin shrugged it away.
"Punishment."
                "And why were you
punished?"
                Kellin sighed; it was very like
Rogan to impose lessons upon a holiday, and reminders of other