LITMIR.BIZ

Скачать книгу

one with white fur on the trim. I am excited to see its design, of course.”

      From his place two chairs down, Luc snorted and then hastily tried to cover it up by pounding on his chest, like he was choking. Pierce glanced at my brother, brow arched. Luc finally quieted, waving in apology, and Pierce set his focus on me again, wolfishly grinning.

      “I should like to see you in white fur.”

      To which a second coughing fit began, this time from Jourdain, who was on my other side. Poor Father, I thought, his knuckles white as he gripped his fork.

      Jourdain spared me a swift glace, and I saw the spark of warning in his eyes. I was playing Pierce too well, then.

      I reached for the plate of bread. Pierce reached for it as well, our fingers bumping.

      “Shall I cut you another slice?” he asked with feigned politeness, his eyes, unsurprisingly, on my décolletage.

      But my eyes were on something else entirely. His sleeve had ridden slightly up his wrist, and there was a dark tattoo on his pale skin, just over the faint blue shadows of his veins. It looked like a D with the center filled in. An odd thing to permanently etch on one’s skin.

      “Yes, thank you,” I said, forcing my gaze to shift before he saw that I noticed his strange mark.

      Pierce set a slice of rye bread on my plate, and I knew it was almost time, that I had let this dinner drag on long enough.

      “May I ask why you have come to visit us, Pierce Halloran?”

      Pierce took a long sip of ale; I saw the gleam of perspiration on his brow, and I tried not to revel in the fact that he was barely concealing his worry and nerves.

      “I brought you a gift,” he said, setting his goblet down. His hand swept to the other side of the table, where two broad swords sat on the oak, resting in gilded sheaths. They were, perhaps, two of the most beautiful swords I had ever beheld, and it had taken all of my restraint not to touch them, not to unsheathe one of the blades. “I also brought one for your father.”

      Jourdain made no reply. He was doing a rather poor job of hiding his annoyance with Pierce.

      “And why have you brought us such magnanimous gifts?” I inquired, my heart beginning to beat faster. I saw from the corner of my eye that Neeve was rising from the table, a few other weavers following her. They were preparing to bring the tapestry into the hall as we had planned.

      Can you find me a tapestry whose golden ribbon can never be found? I had asked Neeve after scheming with Jourdain.

      Neeve had looked surprised. Yes, of course I can. You need the tapestry so soon, then?

       As soon as dinner tonight.

      “I hope to win your favor, Brienna,” Pierce answered, finally looking me in the eye.

      I merely stared at him; that minute dragged on for what felt like a year, and I tried not to squirm with discomfort.

      He broke the stare first, because there was a commotion sprouting on the other side of the hall.

      I didn’t have to look; I knew the weavers were bringing in the tapestry, that the men were aiding them in hanging it up so that both sides could be seen.

      “And what is this?” Pierce asked, a sly smile at the corners of his mouth. “A gift for me, Brienna?”

      I rose, not realizing that I was trembling until I walked around to the other side of the table, to stand between Pierce and the tapestry on the dais. I swallowed, my mouth suddenly going dry, and the hall grew oppressively quiet. I could feel the weight of all the gazes gathering upon me. The tapestry Neeve had chosen for me was exquisite: a maiden in the thrall of a garden, a sword resting over her knees as she sat among the flowers, her face tilted upward to the sky. She was haloed in light as if the gods were blessing her. Neeve could not have chosen a more suitable depiction.

      “Lord Pierce,” I began. “First, let me thank you for troubling yourself by coming all the way to Castle Fionn, so soon after battle. You obviously had us on your mind this week.”

      Pierce was still smiling, but his eyes narrowed on me. “I will make no more pretenses. I have come to seek your hand, Brienna MacQuinn, to win your favor as my wife. Do you accept my gift of the sword?”

      He had certainly brought the best of his House, I thought, resisting the urge to admire the swords. And yet how dull his character was in comparison to the steel.

      “I will assume that you do not know one of the traditions of our House,” I continued.

      “What tradition?” Pierce ground out.

      “That marrying beyond the MacQuinn House requires a challenge.”

      He laughed, to cover up his uneasiness. “Very well. I shall play along with your games.”

      He was making me out to be a child. I hardened myself to his insult, glancing over my shoulder to admire the tapestry.

      “Within every MacQuinn tapestry lies a golden ribbon that the weaver has hidden among the wefts.” I paused to meet Pierce’s cold stare. “Bring me the golden ribbon that hides within this tapestry, and I will accept your sword and give you my favor.”

      He stood at once, rattling the dishes on the table. By the swagger in his stride, he thought this would be very simple, that he would be able to study the intricate design and find the hidden ribbon.

      I cast a glance to my father, to my brother. Jourdain looked like he was carved from stone, his ruddy face caught in a scowl, his hand curled in a fist beside his plate. Luc merely rolled his eyes as Pierce passed, pouring himself another cup of ale and settling in his chair as if preparing for great entertainment.

      Pierce stood before the tapestry, his fingers at once going to the halo around the maiden’s face and hair, the most obvious place to hide something golden. But his five minutes of study turned into ten, and ten into thirty. Pierce Halloran lasted forty-five minutes before giving up, tossing his hands up in frustration.

      “No man could find such a ribbon,” he scoffed.

      “Then I am sorry, but I cannot accept your sword,” I said.

      He gaped up at me; the shock morphed into a sneer when there was a sudden gust of applause. Half of the hall—half of the MacQuinns—were cheering, standing for me.

      “Very well, then,” Pierce said, his voice surprisingly calm. He strode back up the dais, gathering the two swords he had brought. But then he walked over to me, to stand with his face terribly close to mine. I could smell the garlic on his breath; I could see the bloodshot veins in his eyes as he whispered, “You will regret this, Brienna MacQuinn.”

      I wanted to respond, to whisper a threat back to him. But he turned so quickly he gave me no time, hastily departing the hall, his accompanying guard rising from their tables to follow him.

      The excitement broke, and the MacQuinns who had cheered for me sat back down, resuming their dinner. I felt Neeve’s gaze; I looked to her, to see that she was grinning in delight. I tried to smile in return, but there was an older woman at her side who was regarding me with such disgust that I felt my relief melt, leaving me cold and worried.

      “Well done,” Jourdain whispered.

      I turned to see my father standing in my shadow; he took my elbow, as if he sensed I was about to drop.

      “I greatly offended him,” I whispered back, the words scratching up my throat. “I did not realize he would be so angry.”

      “What did he say to you, just before he left?” Jourdain asked.

      “Nothing important,” I lied. I didn’t wish to repeat Pierce’s threat.

      “Well, do not let him upset you,” my father said, guiding me back to my chair. “He’s nothing more than a pup with milk teeth who just had his bone taken away. We are the ones in power here.”

Скачать книгу