caves.”
“I get mine from the Rus lands,” Ianthe said with a straight face before breaking out into a grin. “You would not believe the stories I hear, too. That the stones can be used as antidotes for poison, that they cure throat, stomach, and tooth aches, that they bring good luck in battle to the wearer, even that they act as love potions.”
“I know of seers who use aquamarine globes to see the future.”
They both laughed. Then Ianthe said, “It matters not to me why they buy my jewelry, just that they buy it.”
Despite Ianthe’s protests that she had not invited Drifa as a customer, Drifa purchased three of the necklaces for Breanne, Ingrith, and Vana, and a set of delicate arm rings for Tyra.
She showed Ianthe the chest full of amber that she was going to present to the king, then asked her if she could complete a quick jewelry order for her, and dumped out a small leather pouch of tiny round amber stones the size of peas. “A necklace?” Ianthe asked.
“Nay, something else,” she said with a smile.
Ivar followed her like a shadow, which was amusing, really, since he was so big and the shop so small. She could tell by his flushed face that he was embarrassed to be bending and shifting to avoid knocking anything over. When they went upstairs to Ianthe’s private quarters, Ivar was convinced to stand outside the door.
Upon entering, Drifa clapped her hands with delight. “Oh, this is lovely.”
“Really?”
“Really.” Ianthe probably thought that being a princess, Drifa had been exposed to many more luxurious female living quarters. She had been, and the palace was a far cry from this relatively humble abode, but Drifa loved it for its beauty in such a small space.
A thick Eastern carpet covered the floor with warm colors of deep red and cream and azure blue. Situated about the room were several low couches and tables.
Of a sudden, Drifa wondered how long Sidroc had known Ianthe. And how well. Oh nay! Surely he was not involved with Ianthe back when he proposed marriage to me. On the other hand, knowing the cad, mayhap he had been.
Drifa’s attention was drawn then to a far corner where incense was burning in front of a picture painted on wood of the Virgin Mary with the Christ child. “How pretty!” Drifa remarked.
“We Greeks venerate icons. Windows to Heaven, we call them. You will see them throughout the city, and not just in the palace or churches. Some of them are plain on wood, others are crafted out of enamel or ivory, even with precious jewels on them. They can be huge, like those in the Hagia Sophia cathedral, and others are portable.” Ianthe put a hand over her mouth and grimaced. “I talk too much. Sidroc says that betimes I chatter like a monkey he saw one time in far-off lands.”
Sidroc! Another reminder that the man who had been betrothed to her for a short time, the man who threatened to take her to his bed, the man who was father to a child she loved, was this woman’s . . . what? Protector? Lover?
“I enjoy hearing all this, Ianthe. Please do not stop on my account.” Or on the advice of he-whose-word-is-worthless.
Ianthe smiled sweetly and motioned toward a back door. “Since you love plants and flowers, I thought we might dine on the balcony overlooking my humble garden.”
Drifa gasped at what she saw. The balcony on which they stood, protected by a black iron railing, overlooked a lovely courtyard down below. The area was not even the size of a large bedchamber, but every space was filled with trees, flowers, bushes, and walkways, all situated around a small fountain in the center. “Oh my gods and goddesses, this is exactly what I wanted to see here in Byzantium. The palace gardens are grand, but this is the type of setting I would like to construct back at Stoneheim. Not using the same plants, of course, since many would not survive our harsh climate. Still . . .” She turned to Ianthe and said, “See, you are not the only one who can
“I get mine from the Rus lands,” Ianthe said with a straight face before breaking out into a grin. “You would not believe the stories I hear, too. That the stones can be used as antidotes for poison, that they cure throat, stomach, and tooth aches, that they bring good luck in battle to the wearer, even that they act as love potions.”
“I know of seers who use aquamarine globes to see the future.”
They both laughed. Then Ianthe said, “It matters not to me why they buy my jewelry, just that they buy it.”
Despite Ianthe’s protests that she had not invited Drifa as a customer, Drifa purchased three of the necklaces for Breanne, Ingrith, and Vana, and a set of delicate arm rings for Tyra.
She showed Ianthe the chest full of amber that she was going to present to the king, then asked her if she could complete a quick jewelry order for her, and dumped out a small leather pouch of tiny round amber stones the size of peas. “A necklace?” Ianthe asked.
“Nay, something else,” she said with a smile.
Ivar followed her like a shadow, which was amusing, really, since he was so big and the shop so small. She could tell by his flushed face that he was embarrassed to be bending and shifting to avoid knocking anything over. When they went upstairs to Ianthe’s private quarters, Ivar was convinced to stand outside the door.
Upon entering, Drifa clapped her hands with delight. “Oh, this is lovely.”
“Really?”
“Really.” Ianthe probably thought that being a princess, Drifa had been exposed to many more luxurious female living quarters. She had been, and the palace was a far cry from this relatively humble abode, but Drifa loved it for its beauty in such a small space.
A thick Eastern carpet covered the floor with warm colors of deep red and cream and azure blue. Situated about the room were several low couches and tables.
Of a sudden, Drifa wondered how long Sidroc had known Ianthe. And how well. Oh nay! Surely he was not involved with Ianthe back when he proposed marriage to me. On the other hand, knowing the cad, mayhap he had been.
Drifa’s attention was drawn then to a far corner where incense was burning in front of a picture painted on wood of the Virgin Mary with the Christ child. “How pretty!” Drifa remarked.
“We Greeks venerate icons. Windows to Heaven, we call them. You will see them throughout the city, and not just in the palace or churches. Some of them are plain on wood, others are crafted out of enamel or ivory, even with precious jewels on them. They can be huge, like those in the Hagia Sophia cathedral, and others are portable.” Ianthe put a hand over her mouth and grimaced. “I talk too much. Sidroc says that betimes I chatter like a monkey he saw one time in far-off lands.”
Sidroc! Another reminder that the man who had been betrothed to her for a short time, the man who threatened to take her to his bed, the man who was father to a child she loved, was this woman’s . . . what? Protector? Lover?
“I enjoy hearing all this, Ianthe. Please do not stop on my account.” Or on the advice of he-whose-word-is-worthless.
Ianthe smiled sweetly and motioned toward a back door. “Since you love plants and flowers, I thought we might dine on the balcony overlooking my humble garden.”
Drifa gasped at what she saw. The balcony on which they stood, protected by a black iron railing, overlooked a lovely courtyard down below. The area was not even the size of a large bedchamber, but every space was filled with trees, flowers, bushes, and walkways, all situated around a small fountain in the center. “Oh my gods and goddesses, this is exactly what I wanted to see here in Byzantium. The palace gardens are grand, but this is the type of setting I would like to construct back at Stoneheim. Not using the same plants, of course, since many would not survive our harsh climate. Still . . .” She turned to Ianthe and said, “See, you are not the only one who can
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