He turned toward the fire only to find that one of the chairs before it was occupied. He hesitated, then walked over to sit in the vacant chair. He smiled. "Cathar. "
Cathar handed Miach a cup of ale. "You look tired."
"Iamtired," Miach said with a sigh. "Tired and heartsick."
Cathar's eyebrow went up. "Heartsick? That sounds promising."
"It wouldn't, if you knew the entire tale." Miach drank, then set the cup aside and looked at his brother. "Well? Anything interesting transpire during my absence?"
"Haven't you been watching?"
"Of course."
Cathar hesitated only slightly. "I meant, haven't you been watching the castle?"
"I assumed you would see to the castle. I've been watching the borders." He smiled. "What are you going to tell me? Has Rigaud made over the Chamber of the Throne in purple velvets? Or greens, to match his eyes?"
"He tried," Cathar admitted.
Miach managed a brief laugh. "I've no doubt he did. How did Turah fare?"
"As you might expect. He was nimble and canny and left the fighting up to me. "
"Wise lad."
"Lad? He's older than you are, Miach."
"And yet so fresh and spry still," Miach said sourly.
" I can see it was a long journey," Cathar said. "Did you not find what you sought?"
"I found more than I sought," Miach said. "I found Adhémar, as well as a few creatures I thought were gifts from Lothar but now I suspect not." He opened his mouth to say more, then shut it.
"And?" Cathar prodded. "Come now, Miach, and tell Cathar all your sorry tidings."
Miach threw him a glare. "Very well. If you must know, I met a woman."
"A woman?" Cathar said in surprise. "You had time to meet a woman?"
"Surprisingly enough. Unfortunately, she's not one I can have."
"Wed?" Cathar asked sympathetically.
"Nay, not wed," Miach said.
Cathar smiled. "Are you going to tell all, or must I guess?"
Miach looked at him in silence for a moment or two. As usual, if there was anyone he trusted inside the walls of Tor Neroche, it was Cathar. He needed a ready ear?and a sensible one. He sighed and leaned forward with his elbows on his knees.
"I found a wielder for the Sword of Angesand."
"You're off topic, brother," Cathar said with a small laugh. "What has that to do with your woman? "
"I believe she is the wielder."
"A woman?" Cathar said, stunned.
"As fate would have it."
