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She nods.
Why did I use that word?I don’t have a home. But I suppose she means where I was raised. “Uh, I was born in the capital, but I . . . moved to an outpost in the far south as an adolescent.” Wanting to change the subject, I ask, “Have you travelled south before?”
“Goodness, no, child.”
I feel myself flush. Of course she hasn’t. Tentative peace accords notwithstanding, D’heilar has been at war with the Realms for decades and decades.
“I hope it doesn’t shock you too badly,” she goes on, “to know that my grandmother got this tea set when she accompanied my grandfather on a raid across the river.”
“Really?” I say, my mortifying gaffe almost forgotten. “How exciting. Your grandmother sounds like a woman to be admired.”
“Indeed.”
Niri’s approval of my response gives me the courage to add, “I, too, would raid alongside my husband if given the chance.”
She laughs. “You’re a brave young soul, then. I hear you are keeping my son . . . off balance, Rina. Is this true?”
Feeling a kinship with this sweet woman, I take another soothing sip of the tea, hoping it’s not inappropriate to continue with our banter. “Nah, your son is too big to be pushed off balance.”
As if we’ve summoned him, Luka’s angry voice sounds from the hall. A second later the door crashes open. I have no idea what he was expecting to find, but it’s not this cozy image of us drinking tea.
“Luka?” Niri says with concern, setting her tea aside. “Is something amiss?”
His accusing eyes briefly touch on me before moving on to his mother. His expression gentling, he approaches her in the slowest, most tempered manner I’ve ever seen him adopt.
“Mother,” he greets, carefully crouching down before he kisses her cheek. “You are well?”
He throws a suspicious glance at me over his shoulder, and I roll my eyes.What did he think I would do? Stab her with her own needlepoint?
“Of course I’m well, son. I’m getting to know your lovely bride.”
I’m not sure which I enjoy more, his skepticism or her reaction to it.
“I was thinking,” Niri says, “to attend supper tonight in the Great Hall with my new daughter-in-law at my side. It’ll give me a chance to get to know her more fully.”
“What?” he chokes out. “That would be . . . unwise.”
“Why on earth? She has been here for almost an entire cycle of the moon.”
Luka couldn’t be more obvious as he wracks his brain for an excuse before coming up with, “I’m sure Madeline has informed you of the warrior chained to the hearth downstairs. It will be unpleasant for you.”
“Nonsense. I could do with a little excitement.”
“It’s also market day, Mother.”
“That’s right!” she says, even more enthused now. “Maybe Zola will be there and I can look down my nose at her from our table.”
My strangled laugh gets me another dagger-laden look over his shoulder, something along the lines ofshut up or else.
“It’s settled, then,” Niri says, patting his big hand. “We will walk down together.” Before he can argue, she changes the subject. “Now, you must feed your bride. I can hear her stomach rumbling from here.”
From between clenched teeth, he mutters, “Yes, Rina, let’s get you fed. Good bye, Mother.”
Even if he is an ass, it’s still sweet that he carefully kisses her cheek again and gets to his feet, deliberate and slow so as not to scare her. Of course, he’s not so tender when he holds out his hand to me, making a snappish come hither gesture. I make him wait, pretending to consider his offer. Finally, when his temper is on the verge of swallowing him whole, I set my tea cup down and rise to make my farewells.
“I thank you for the tea,” I say, pressing my palms to my heart, this time not caring that I’m being foreign. It’s the only way I know how to show the depths of my gratitude and I’ll damn well show it. “It was very nice to meet you.”
“And you, my dear.”
