Blade of Fortriu Read Online Free PDF

we’ll lay out terms that require a certain period between their arrival at Briar Wood and the handfasting. That will at least allow Ana time to get to know her betrothed a little.”
    “She despises Faolan. It is odd; Ana’s sucha sweet, good creature, with not an ill word to say of anyone, but in his case she cannot see past the nature of his work.”
    Bridei grimaced. “The feeling seems to be mutual; Faolan would not refuse a commission, of course, but he made it as plain as he could to me that nursemaiding spoiled princesses and their bride-chests over the fastnesses of Caitt territory was not the kind of task he relished.Indeed, he set out with some cogency all the reasons this was a job best suited to some other man.”
    “Spoiled?” Tuala, smiled. “He doesn’t know her very well, does he?”
    “He’s planning to put her through her paces on horseback every day until they leave. It’s plain he believes she’ll barely be able to trot from one end of the yard to the other without pleading exhaustion or a sore back.”
    “I don’tlike this at all, Bridei.” Tuala’s tone was somber. “The whole situation is fraught with uncertainty. You could surely have trusted Ana with the real reason why this has to be done in such a hurry.”
    “I acted on Faolan’s advice,” Bridei said. “In his opinion, the less she knows, the less she can tell if things go awry. It’s in Ana’s best interests.”
    “Mm,” said Tuala. “Of course, she’s clever.Men tend to overlook that when a woman is as beautiful as Ana. I expect she’s already worked it out for herself.”
     
     
    IT WAS EVENING. Ana had dressed plainly, in tunic and skirt of blue-dyed wool with cream borders embroidered in a darker blue, and had plaited her thick fair hair into a single braid down her back. Now she made her way down through the garden, past a pair of tall guards,along a stone-lined passageway where torches burned in iron sockets, and up to the oak door of the designated chamber. Outside the door stood a large man with a spear: Breth, one of Bridei’s personal guards.
    “They’re ready for you, my lady,” he said, and swung the heavy door open for her.
    The proceedings appeared to have been under way a good while; jugs and cups stood on the table, and severalpeople who had been talking ceased abruptly as Ana came in. She held her chin up and her back straight in an effort to quiet the nervous churning of her stomach.
    “Welcome, Ana,” the king said, rising to his feet. From his position by Bridei’s chair, Ban gave a token growl. “Please be seated.”
    Ana looked around the circle of faces. It was a small council and a select one, comprising the mostpowerful of Bridei’s advisers. Tuala was seated by her husband, and gave Ana an encouraging smile. The wise woman, Fola, who had arrived earlier in the day, regarded Ana quizzically down her beak of a nose. She had always reminded Ana of a small, ferocious bird. By the hearth stood the king’s druid, Broichan, a tall man in dark robes, his hair in a multitude of tiny plaits twisted with colored threads.His face revealed nothing; it was ever unreadable. Bridei’s councillors, Aniel and Tharan, sat sober-faced; the chieftains Carnach and Morleo, with Ferada’s father Talorgen, were also present. Behind the king’s chair stood Faolan. Ana met his gaze and looked away.
    “Now,” said Bridei, “I’ve set out the situation for the members of this council, and Faolan has given an account of his travels andthe intelligence he has gathered. I regret very much that we could not give you more time to consider this, Ana. If you agree to it, the kingdom of Fortriu will be very much in your debt. I wonder if, after reflection, you have some further questions for us?”
    Ana cleared her throat. She had spent the afternoon wrestling with questions that could not be asked, questions that had nothing at allto do with strategy, but concerned her personal inclinations. “I wondered if