Free Hearts in Cups by Candace Gylgayton Page A

I am well-versed in arcane matters, which may
prove useful to you."
    Hollin sat with a grave
face. Essentially a private person, she had deliberately isolated herself from
her peers by spending so much of her time at Castle Lir. Her trips to Pentarin
had been restricted to attending council sessions, with little or no time
devoted to socializing, and thus she had made few friends within the city.
While she was undaunted by the possibility of facing the council members and
proposing to go in search of the prince herself, she could see the advantage of
having Lord Colin on her side, both here and on such a journey. She had been
favourably impressed with the viscount's conduct during past council sessions,
and her experience with him the last few days had confirmed her respect for his
abilities. Intuition told her that she was going to be in need of friends in
the days to come.
    "Well," she
finally replied, "the Pentacle Council has yet to accede to the idea of a
quest for the prince. But, if and when they do, I will gladly accept your
offer."
    Colin sketched a
respectful bow. "Thank you."
    "To finish our
evening on a less serious note," Dinea interjected with a smile, "I
have arranged for a musician to entertain us." While Colin went to the
doorway to summon the musician, Dinea continued comfortably chatting. "I
think you will enjoy Daffyd's playing. He came to Pentarin with us two years
ago as one of our retinue; but, as he is very talented, we gave him leave to
study here. His abilities have proven to be so commendable that last year he
was sent to Gwenth at the behest of the Duchess of Creon to teach her daughter.
He is back now in Pentarin studying and when we are in residence he frequently
plays for us." She spoke in tones of great affection and greeted him as an
equal when he entered the room. "Your grace, may I present Daffyd ap
Blewyns, apprentice to the Bard Auric de Varennes of the Royal College of
Bards."
    "Your grace does
me honour," was his reply as he knelt before her.
    When he looked up,
Hollin found herself regarding a man of about her own age. Her initial
impression of him was a mass of curling, soft brown hair. He wore a short beard
and mustache, so that his bright hazel eyes seemed to be peering from within a
thicket. There was an infectious good humour in the set of his mouth that made
him at once very attractive. He wore the blue and silver livery of House
Sandovar and carried both a small harp and a flute of carved wood. She judged
him to be not as tall as his lord but much broader through the chest and
shoulders. Looking at him, Hollin mused that without his instruments, he was
built more along the lines of a warrior than a courtier.
    Laying his two
instrument bags on a nearby table, he announced: "I have recently learned
a new song that I thought might please your ladyship. Actually, it's an old
melody that I have tinkered with." He flashed them an engaging smile as he
pulled a small harp out of its leather bag and quickly checked its tune. When
he began to play, Hollin recognized the song she had heard a few nights before
as she walked back to her own rooms after her first meeting with the de
Chantalcalms and Lord Percamber. Listening to it again, she remained impressed
by it; and by the young musician who had arranged it. After the song concluded
Hollin told him how much she enjoyed it. Pleased by her warm reaction, he
picked up his flute and played another tune, this one brisk and lively. He
continued to play for his patrons for well over an hour, utilizing both his
harp and flute and occasionally singing in a pleasing baritone. The atmosphere
engendered was so congenial that Hollin inadvertently sighed when she realized
how late it had grown and that she must make her farewells. The leave-taking
was less constrained than their greetings and there was a genuine sense of
friendship as they parted for the evening.
     
    "At first, I
thought that she was very aloof," Dinea told her husband later