her from the love she felt for her brother. Compelled to ease her pain, he opened his mouth but could think of nothing useful to say. So he remained silent, impotent.
She gave a muffled sound that was half sob, half laughter. 'Silly pups. They wriggle so, they'd take a tumble.'
'And fine pups they are, too,' he said, watching her face.
She smiled through her tears. 'Here, take the spotty one. He's the worst wriggler.'
Byren took the pup and she transferred the apron ends to one hand, using the other hand to wipe her face. She looked up at him, lashes damp with tears. 'Can you tell I've been crying? Not that Orrade will be able to see. Oh, Byren. I can't bear it. Father is devastated. I feared he'd have another brain spasm, when he found us on the stairs.'
Now was not the time to tell her how he felt and ask her to marry him.
She drew in a deep, shaky breath. 'I'm ready.'
They headed towards Orrade's chamber.
'Has the healer seen Orrie this morning?' he asked.
Elina nodded.
'What did she say?'
'The same, wait and see. I've been praying to Halcyon all night.' Her voice dropped as they approached the door. 'He's being so brave about it. I can't stand it.'
Byren grinned. 'That's Orrie for you.'
He opened the door, and Elina sailed in with a determined smile. 'Guess what I have, Orrie.'
Orrade lifted his head. He was sitting up in bed, a much neater bandage around his head. Someone had washed and combed his waist-length black hair, then braided it in one long plait which looked thinner than usual. Byren remembered Elina had clipped it at the back to clean the wound properly.
'And what do you have, Elina?' he asked.
'Go on, guess.'
Orrade rolled his sightless eyes towards his father and brother, who were on the far side of the bed. Unless you watched closely it was hard to tell that he was blind.
'Lord Dovecote.' Byren greeted him formally, out of respect. 'It is good to see you.'
'Byren Kingson.' The old lord acknowledged Byren with a half-bow. When Byren turned fifteen and became a man, the friendly cuff over the ear had become a formal greeting. He still missed it. But that was the Old Dove for you. Having fought beside Byren's grandfather and then his father in the last war against Merofynia, he had been ruthless in battle. The servants still whispered about how he had stood impassive while his eldest son was executed, because of his association with the Servants of Palos.
Cold disquiet gripped Byren. Sylion take Orrade and his ideals.
'I think I was too tired to explain properly last night. We owe our lives to Garzik and Captain Blackwing,' Byren said.
'It's all right. I told father about our last-minute rescue,' Orrade explained. He reached for his brother, who caught his hand in both of his and squeezed.
Lord Dovecote nodded. 'My son has told me how you refused to leave him, Byren. I am indebted to you.'
Byren said nothing, embarrassed.
As if sensing his discomfort, Elina turned to her brother. 'So, you can't guess what I have here, Orrie? Hold out your hands.'
'Why? Are you going to give me something loathsome?'
She laughed.
Byren's spotted pup wriggled, then whimpered.
Orrade turned his way. 'Don't tell me Regal's had her pups?'
Elina laughed again, then climbed onto the bed beside him, dumping two puppies in his lap. She beckoned Byren to bring the third.
He stepped up to the bed, placing the pup in Orrade's outstretched hands. His friend brought the wriggling lump of warm fur to his cheek and rubbed his chin on the puppy's back. His sightless eyes filled with tears.
Elina looked around, desperately searching for something to distract him. Her gaze fell to the pouch at Byren's waist. 'I see a glint of silver. What gift have you bought me this time?'
He looked down to discover the puppy's squirming must have worked the pouch's tie loose.
Before he could stop Elina, her hand darted to his waist pouch and she pulled out the chain. The symbol of Palos swung in an arc for all to see.
'An archer?' Elina frowned.
'Hush, girl,' her father snapped, springing to his feet.
One look at Lord Dovecote's face told Byren he knew this was no innocent representation of a bowman.
'Give me that… that vile thing!' her father ordered.
Lips parting in surprise, Elina walked around the bed to hand her father the chain with its damning pendant. Byren stood there helpless.
'What is it? What's wrong?' Orrade asked.
'Your father has found the Palos pendant. My pendant,' Byren said, then heard what he'd said and regretted it. But he could not take it back.
'Byren!' Orrade protested.
'Palos?' Elina repeated. 'But — '
'Don't do this, Byren,' Orrade pleaded.
'Servant of Palos?' Garzik whispered. 'Betrayer of Rolencia? Impossible, why would Byren betray his own — '
'Quiet!' Lord Dovecote's voice cracked like a whip.
Everyone fell silent.
Except Byren. He had to make Lord Dovecote understand. 'It is a pendant of Palos but it has nothing to do with the traitors, who tried to — '
'You've foresworn women. You've chosen to join
Byren did not look at Orrade, did not give him a chance to damn himself. 'Palos was a great leader. He nearly united — '
'Silence!' Lord Dovecote bellowed, then grimaced as if it pained him even to look at Byren. His words slurred badly. 'Your grandfather was my dearest friend. In memory of the man whose name you bear I will not reveal this to your father. But I won't have a filthy lover of men in my house!'
'It's not true.' Elina ran around the bed to Byren, catching his hands in hers. 'This must be a mistake. Tell me it's not true?'
But Byren could not, not without implicating Orrade.
Elina shook her head in disbelief.
Lord Dovecote started to stride around the bed. 'Get away from him, Elina. He's not fit to eat at our table.'
'Then banish me, not him.' Orrade's voice vibrated with anger. 'Because that is my pendant.'
'No, Orrie,' Byren whispered.
'Ha!' Lord Dovecote's eyes widened with shock and pain, then narrowed as he looked from Byren to his son. 'So that is how it is.'
Elina glanced from her brother to Byren. 'So that's why you…'
She dropped Byren's hand as if burnt, drawing back until her thighs hit the bed where she sat down abruptly.
'No, you have it wrong, father,' Orrade insisted. 'Byren was trying to protect me — '
Lord Dovecote's scornful laugh cut him off. 'Why would he do that unless he was your lover?'
He strode to the door, checked the hall and, seeing no servants, pulled on the bellrope, jerking it angrily. No one spoke as they waited for the servants to come. The old lord thrust the damning pendant into his vest, muttering under his breath, 'I must be cursed. First my eldest son, now this one!'
Orrade swung his legs off the bed, to stand in his night-shirt and bare feet. With his head wrapped in the
