“Oh, dear,” said Vaesil. “I seem to have offended a few tender sensibilities.”
“I should think you’d be quite used to that by now,” said Aedan in an offhand tone.
“Oh, well struck!” said Vaesil with a grin. “An excellent riposte! I see your diplomatic duties have improved your wit. Or perhaps it’s simply been emboldened by all your heroic actions in the field.
You were never quite so forthcoming in the old days.
That deserves a drink. Dierdren! Some of your best wine for my esteemed guests!”
To Sylvanna’s surprise, Aedan sat down at the table with Vaesil.
Frowning with puzzlement, she joined him.
“Speaking of the old days, Vaesil, how is Caitlin?
Do you see her anymore?”
“See her?” Vaesil snorted. “I married the sow. Not one of my better judgments, that, but she got with child, and as I was reasonably certain it was mine, I felt it only right and proper to do the honorable thing.
I haven’t done all that many honorable things, you see. In fact, I believe that was the first and quite possibly the last, as well. I rather enjoyed the novelty of the experience. For a time, at least.”
“So you’re a husband and a father,” Aedan said.
‘Frankly, I never saw you in either role.”
“Mmmm, neither did I,” said Vaesil, wrapping his fingers around his goblet. The serving maid brought their drinks, and Vaesil fumbled around his person, looking for his purse.
“I’ll buy,” said Aedan. He paid her, including a gratuity, and she thanked him with a curtsy and a smile, then left.
“So have you a daughter or a son?” asked Aedan.
“One son, two daughters, and another baking in the oven,” Vaesil said.
“I am beset with squalling ago children and a shrewish wife who has grown broader in the beam with the delivery of each new addition to our loving family. Ah, the bloom is off the rose, indeed. But if I get drunk enough, I can still fulfill my duty as a husband. For a few minutes, at least.”
“I am surprised she lets you,” said Sylvanna.
“Ah, you can speak! Capital! I was afraid I should have only Lord Aedan to trade barbs with.” By now, all the others at the table had left as well, without saying a word. Vaesil took no note of it after his first comment. “Yes, well, the pathetic soul still loves me, you see, despite her constant harangues about my drinking. But you see, I must drink to support my growing family. The muse requires fuel. I can no longer compose when I am sober.”
“Perhaps you will honor us with one of your recent ballads?” Aedan said.
“Perish the thought!” said Vaesil. “I do not perform them, I merely compose for others who have more appealing stage presence. The last time I tried to regale an audience with one of my compositions, I fell off the stage. Broke both my wrist and the harp.
Can’t play worth a damn anymore, not that it matters, the sort of drivel I compose these days. I couldn’t sing the stuff with a straight face, anyway. If I wrote what I really think and feel, no one would pay me for it, and I have hungry mouths to feed.”
“If you are in need-” Aedan began.
“I do not require your charity,” Vaesil interrupted him. “In truth, I am obscenely prosperous. By my standards, anyway. Caitlin’s father died a few years back and left us his blacksmith shop. I could not manage it, of course, so I took on a partner, a most industrious young chap who was fawningly grateful agi for the opportunity and has made quite a success of it. And my ballads, worthless, sentimental dog droppings that they are, are in considerable demand. I even wrote a few about your emperor, glorifying his wonderful accomplishments in fighting to unite the empire and his unparalleled heroism on the field of battle.
If I had any shame left in me, I would die of it.
But I continue to live, worse luck. Well, shall we drink a toast for old times’ sake?”
“What shall we drink to?” Aedan asked.
Vaesil considered for a moment. “To the past,” he said. “The future is too depressing to contemplate.”
“To the past, then,” Aedan said.
They lifted their goblets and drank.
“Well, I suppose I should be staggering back to my humble domicile,”
said Vaesil. “I would not wish to disgust you any further, and my wife is doubtless waiting for me, wondering if I shall make it home alive or if the morning will find her a rich widow with a handsome, muscular young blacksmith at her beck and call. If I were him, I would be building on my future by working at her forge. She’s still a saucy wench, despite having lost her girlish figure.”
“Please give Caitlin my warmest regards,” said Aedan.
“I shall do that, and I am sure it will please her to be remembered.”
He lumbered to his feet. “You wanted her, as I recall. I can remember how you used to stare at her, like a moonstruck calf. You should have tried to take her from me. I know you never could have married her, but I would have been too proud to take her back when you were finished, and she would have been much better off. Well, good night to you, my lord chamberlain and lady elf. And aga give my regards to your bloodthirsty bastard of an emperor. Tell him I shall continue to extol his noble virtues while I curse his noble name.”
He lurched off toward the door.
“What a horrid, loathsome individual,” said Sylvanna with disgust. “I have never
