Dreamer's Daughter Read Online Free PDF Page B

care for.” She looked down her aristocratic nose at him. “Something that wasn’t there before.”
    Good sense
was on the tip of his tongue, but he was nothing if not politic, so he simply smiled and attempted to look pleasant.
    â€œSomething dark and unwholesome,” she announced. “Find it and rid yourself of it before we wed.” She looked at his sword propped up against a chair. “Perhaps it is that thing there. I can only assume you’re still engaged in that foolishness.”
    â€œAmazingly enough, yes,” Rùnach said. “A useful skill, that.”
    She snorted delicately. “I daresay.” She paused and looked him over. “Bathe before supper.”
    â€œWhen have I ever not?”
    â€œWell, I will allow that your grooming has left nothing to be desired in the past, but I fear that after where you’ve been loitering recently, you might have forgotten how civilized people live. I shudder to think of the habits you’ve learned from Léir in that cave he continues to dwell in.” She wrinkled her nose. “Who knows what horrible habits you’ve learned from the company you’re currently keeping.”
    â€œPlease don’t disparage her,” Rùnach said evenly. “She is on a very difficult quest. If you knew what it was, you might appreciate her efforts a bit more.”
    â€œI doubt that. Don’t be late for supper.”
    And with that, she turned and marched out of the library.
    Silence descended. Rùnach was terribly tempted to simply stretch out on the sofa near the hearth and have a nap, but that seemed a poor use of his time when he had a betrothed to find.
    He counted to an appropriately substantial number to give Anna time to storm off to the kitchens, then retrieved his sword and made his way to the door. He hadn’t but left the library behind before he almost ran bodily into someone who looked rather more guilty than perhaps he should have.
    â€œDid you tell her I was here?” Rùnach asked pointedly.
    â€œWho, me?” Astar of Cothromaiche, yet another of the king’s grandsons and brother to the elegant if not irritated Annastashia, blinked innocently. “Why would I do that?”
    â€œBecause you’re a first-rate bastard, that’s why.”
    Astar grinned. “I’ve missed having you to torment. Why Soilléir didn’t see fit to tell me you were still alive, I can’t imagine.”
    â€œI can,” Rùnach said. “You have a loose tongue and no tact. And if you think I’ll be sending you an invitation to my nuptials, think again.”
    â€œI make a brilliant houseguest. Ask anyone who’s housed me.”
    â€œSìle won’t let you past the border any longer and Eulasaid is too polite to say what an absolute pain in the arse you are,” Rùnach said, then he paused. “Oh, was that too blunt?”
    Astar only laughed. “Much, which leaves me no choice but to demand satisfaction from you. Let’s go outside and wreak havoc.”
    Rùnach was tempted to pause and try to count from memory how many times Astar had said that very thing to him, mostly whilst leaning negligently against some wall or other in the poshest of salons overseen by the most exclusive of matriarchs. How the man had managed so many invitations from such notoriously discriminating hostesses was a mystery, but there was no doubt he was charming. Rùnach suspected he was also his grandfather’s best spy, but discretion suggested he keep that to himself.
    â€œUnless you’re afraid I’ll humiliate you in front of the delightful Aisling, of course.”
    â€œYou know,” Rùnach said, “I might like to maintain a bit of anonymity for reasons you don’t need to know.”
    â€œI can only imagine,” Astar said pleasantly. “But you know there are spells brooding over the lists. I’ll add to them, if your