Dreamspinner by Lynn Kurland Page A

occurred to him to wonder if he might not have been better off to have flown to Gobhann and saved himself the weariness of travel, but he let that thought continue on to the place where all regrets were wont to gather. There was nothing he could do about it now, and he’d had good intentions initially. Hopefully he could retrieve Odo’s sword, then manage to get to sleep early.
    Though he wasn’t quite sure where he was going to sleep.
    He considered the young woman he’d left behind in what apparently passed for a chamber here. Poor foolish, desperate lass. What had possessed her to come inside Gobhann’s unforgiving walls? She had seemed determined to speak to Weger, though he couldn’t imagine about what. She obviously had no sword skill, nopack full of gold, and no sense of her peril. It must have been something truly dreadful to have driven her from her home.
    He wasn’t quite sure what he was going to do with her at present. It hadn’t taken him long to decide that the dining hall wasn’t a place to linger after the meal was over. He had given his companion no choice but to come with him—not that she seemed inclined to argue about leaving—though he wasn’t sure the chamber was much of an improvement. There had been an alcove opposite the bed with blankets tossed in it. He supposed it would have to do for her. He would have given her the bed, but he was substantially taller than she was and it was the only place he would fit. He would apologize for the lack of chivalry later, after he’d discussed with her exactly what she was and what the hell she’d been thinking to come inside such a dreadful place.
    He’d left her plotting, he was certain of that. If she hadn’t looked so green, he might have worried that she truly would run afoul of trouble. He supposed she would be fortunate indeed to simply run afoul of a garderobe before she started heaving.
    He took a deep breath, realizing that he was more worked up than he should have been over business that wasn’t his. He had his own task to accomplish, then his life to be about. He had spent far too long locked behind Buidseachd’s forbidding walls. That he had traded one set of walls for another was something he supposed he shouldn’t dwell on overmuch.
    He came out into the uppermost courtyard he had visited before. There was no moon, not that that would have mattered much given the mist that had already draped itself over Gobhann like a shroud. The chill made his hands ache, which made him more angry than it should have. He saw Master Odo’s sword lying in the midst of the courtyard, walked over, then leaned over to pick it up.
    A foot came out of nowhere to rest on the blade, denying him his desire.
    He straightened and found himself facing Gobhann’s lord. He couldn’t say he was terribly surprised to see the man there. He would no doubt have the odd question or two regarding Rùnach’s intentions. That was understandable. Whether or not those answerswould be sufficient to keep Weger from throwing him off the walls onto the rocks that were reputedly on the shore below was another thing entirely.
    Weger flipped the sword up with his foot, caught it, then looked at the blade thanks to the dim light of torches that fought to illuminate anything in the fog.
    “Nice blade.”
    “It belongs to your gatekeeper.”
    “Thought I recognized it.” He shot Rùnach a look. “Think you’ll ever be able to use anything like it?”
    Rùnach looked at him evenly, refusing to be baited. “That’s why I’m here.”
    “I usually require that my aspirants be at least capable of
holding
their weapons,” Weger drawled. “I’m not sure you can even manage that.”
    “Then throw me over the parapet and have done.”
    “And have your grandpappy sweep inside my gates and cut out my entrails?” Weger shuddered delicately. “I think not.”
    “Surely you aren’t afraid of him.”
    Weger shot him a look. “Nay, but I’m terrified of your mother and she