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.400 Jennifer Robecson"My thanks," he said.Then recalled what he looked like."But I have nothing—"The stranger waved a hand."Your company is enough.I am not so far from my destination; I can be generous." He smiled again."You might do better to walk, then to go another step atop this horse.""Aye." Kellin smiled crookedly and slid off, gritting his teeth against the pounding in his head.It was worse, not better; but the road was hard and the horse clumsy.He was lucky his head remained on his neck."My name is Devin," the stranger said as Kellin pulled the reins over the piebald's neck."The wine I have is Solindish white; will it do?"Kellin followed."Any wine will do.I am not fit to judge its taste." A glance from Devin told Kellin he had perhaps misphrased his answer; he had meant because of his head, but Devin's quick assessment indicated the stranger believed he meant his station.He thinks me a poor man; well, for the moment, I am.He led the piebald to the water-wracked, uprooted tree at the riverbank and tied him to a branch next to Devin's mount, a fine glossy bay very like Kellin's stolen horse.A fire was built between a tumble of clustered boulders and the water's edge, hosting two speck-led fish speared and hung belly-up along two stripped branches resting in crotched braces.The lap of the river was but paces away, so the sound was loud.Devin squatted near the fire, digging through packs."Here." He tossed the wineskin."I have another; drink as you will.I will tend the fish."Kellin caught the skin as he turned from the piebald and swallowed, glad of the liquor's bite.If he drank enough, it would dull the pounding in his head, but that would be poor manners.He A TAPESTRY OF LIONSmowed Devin sober companionship, not the rudeness of a man undone by misfortune.Devin made conversation as he inspected the sizzling fish."I misjudged the distance," he said,"or I would have stayed the night in the last roadhouse I passed- The ground is a hard bed when one is used to better." He lifted one of the speared fish."Here.Trout.I daresay it will complement the wine."Kellin accepted the proffered fish-laden stick with thanks and sat down against the closest boulder.He thought Devin was indeed accustomed to better; a sapphire gleamed on one hand, while a band of twisted gold glinted on the other, Devin took the other fish for himself and sat back against his packs, blowing to cool the meat."Have you a wife?" he asked.Kellin shook his head.His mouth was full of fish."Ah.Well, neither do I—for but a four-week more!" He grinned."I am-bound for my wedding.Wish me good fortune, my friend, and that the girl is comely.I have no wish to share my bed with a plain woman!"Kellin swallowed."You have never seen her?""No.A dynastic thing, this marriage.To bind the bloodlines closer." Devin chewed thoughtfully."A man like you weds for love, or lust—or because the woman has conceived, and her father insists!—but a man like me, well." He sighed."No choice for either of us.The match was suggested by her father, and mine accepted eagerly; one cannot help but to rise in service to a powerful lord."Kellin's smile was crooked."No.""I envy you.You need not wed at all, if that is your desire—well, I should not complain; my lot is better than yours." Devin's attitude was friendly 402 Jennifer Xo6erMmenough, but all too obviously he believed Kellin lowborn."What is your trade?" i Kellin wanted to laugh.If he told Devin the truth— He grinned, thinking of the thieves."What other trade is there but to aspire to higher in life—and the coin to make it possible?"Devin's eyes narrowed consideringly as he washed down trout with wine."You are a passing fair mimic.""A mimic?""Aye.Put on finer clothing, wash the grime from your face, you could pass for a highborn man."He stoppered the wineskin."You might make a mummer."Kellin laughed, thinking of his grandparents."There are those who have accused me of that very thing.I did but playact the role, they said—then admonished me to learn my part better." He jerked his head westward- "When you came down the road, did you pass two men with a bay very like your own?"Devin shrugged."I passed many people.I do not recall the horse." His eyes brightened over the fish."Why?""The horse they have is mine.It was stolen from me." He ran a hand through tousled hair."You see, I am not precisely the man I appear to be."Kellin plucked at Tarn's grimy tunic."They took more than my horse.""And left you with that piebald horse and another's clothing?" Devin shouted a laugh [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]