Free The Heirs of Hammerfell by Marion Zimmer Bradley

stage. This began a veritable shower of flowers, nosegays, , and jewels; Gavin gathered them up, beaming with delight, and smiled and bowed to his royal
    patron.
    Alastair chuckled softly.
    "Why, I never heard that Queen Antonella was as fond of music as that―nor yet that she had an eye for pretty young men," he murmured.
    "Alastair I'm surprised at you," Erminie chided. "You know very well that his mother was the queen's favorite cousin, and that Gavin is like a son to her, since the royal couple has the ill fortune to be childless." She saw Alastair's derisive frown subside, but even without using telepathy she knew he was saving up this tidbit to tease his friend.
    As the applause began to dwindle, there was an exodus from boxes and stalls, young couples and
    family groups going out into the hallways to stretch their legs, or briefly outside for fresh air, or down to the elegant bars in the lower part of the house for cold or hot drinks or other refreshments.
    "I should really go and congratulate Gavin . . ." said Alastair guiltily. It was clear he was still thinking of Floria.
    "I am sure that he will be happy to see you," Erminie said. "But first, remember, I promised to present you to Lord Elhalyn and his daughter."
    Alastair's eyes brightened as he followed his mother along the corridor between the boxes and the outer hall. Many lackeys were hustling back and forth with drinks and other refreshments, for in the concert hall anything could be had from a mug of beer or a plate of sweet cakes to a beautifully catered dinner to be served in the private room behind each box. The crowded corridor was filled with the good smell of these
    refreshments, and the busy sound of people enjoying themselves; from the auditorium came the faraway sound of the orchestra readying themselves and tuning their
    instruments for the second part of the concert.
    Erminie tapped lightly at the door of the Elhalyn box. Lord Edric rose to greet her, with a smile of welcome, and bowed gracefully over her hand, just as if they had not parted less than three hours ago.
    "Greetings, kinswoman," he said. "Come join us. A glass of wine?"
    "Thank you," she said, accepting the offered refreshment. "Floria, my dear, how lovely you have grown! You remember your cousin Alastair."
    Alastair bowed over her hand.
    "A very great pleasure, damisela," he said, smiling, "May I fetch you some refreshment?
    Or you, Mother?"
    "Not at all, my boy," said Edric, indicating a table spread with a sumptuous array of cold meats, cakes, and fruits. "Please, help yourselves."
    At his invitation, Alastair took a plate and filled it with a modest helping of fruits and cakes. A servant poured him a liberal glass of wine, and he sipped at it, never taking his eyes from Floria.
    Floria herself seemed intrigued by Alastair. "Cousin, you are so changed! You were so cruel to me when we were children; I remembered you only as an obnoxious boy. But now you seem truly the Duke of Hammerfell! I could never understand the girls at
    Neskaya who thought the story of how you fled from your home as a child a romantic tale. Is it true that all your kinsmen perished in that fire? That seems tragic to me, not at all romantic."
    "It's quite true, Lady Floria," said Alastair, thrilled by her interest. "At least that is what my mother has told me. My father died, and my twin brother. I have no other kin of the Hammerfell line; all my living kinsmen now are my mother's people."
    "And you had a twin brother?"
    "I do not remember him at all. My mother and I, so I am told, escaped only by fleeing into the woods with no one but our dog Jewel to guard us. But of course I can remember nothing of this; I was hardly old enough to walk."
    Her eyes were wide as she looked at him.
    "By contrast I have led such a quiet and peaceful life," she murmured. "And now you are grown, is Hammerfell yours?"
    "Yes, if I can find a way to take it back," he said,
    and went on. "I am resolved to try and raise an army, if I