Free The Forest House by Marion Zimmer Bradley Page B

Mairi, who had temporarily moved back in with her sisters until they learned what had happened to Rhodri, slept with her child; and on the outside Dieda, her loose pale hair scattered across her face, and her shift undone so that Eilan could see about her neck the chain that held Cynric’s ring.
    Rheis and Bendeigid did not know yet that the two had plighted themselves to one another. The secrecy made Eilan uneasy. But they meant to announce it at this festival, and ask the family to begin the complex negotiations regarding dowry and settlements so that they could be wed. At least Cynric had no living kin, which would make it simpler.
    The only other furniture in the room was a bench fixed against the wall and the oaken chest in which the girls kept their extra shifts and holiday garments. It had belonged to Rheis before she married, and she had always said that when Dieda was wed it would be a part of her dower. Eilan did not grudge her this, for another, equally fine one intended for Eilan was already taking shape at the hands of old Vab the joiner. And in due time there would be one for Senara. She had seen the oak planks rubbed until they shone, and the wooden pegs stained till they did not show.
    The baby whimpered sleepily and then began to squall, and Mairi sat up with a sigh, her curly hair an aureole around her face. She got up to change his breech-clout, then came back and laid him across the bed. He gurgled and she patted him.
    Eilan put her feet into clogs and said, "Listen; I hear Mother outside. I suppose we had better get up.” She pulled on her gown, and Dieda opened her eyes and said, "I’ll be dressed in a minute.”
    Mairi laughed. "I’ll help Rheis as soon as I’ve fed the babe. You and Eilan can stay here and make yourselves beautiful for the festival. If any of the young men have caught your fancy, you’d best be prepared to shine.” She smiled kindly at her young kinswoman. Dieda, with two younger brothers at home, was not accustomed to being pampered, and they all connived to spoil her a little whenever she was here.
    When Mairi and her child had gone, Dieda smiled and said sleepily, "Is it truly festival day? I thought that was tomorrow.”
    "It is today,” teased Eilan, "when you and Cynric will plight your troth.”
    "Will Bendeigid approve, do you think?” Dieda asked. "He is Cynric’s foster father after all.”
    "Oh, if your father gives his consent, it does not much matter what mine thinks,” observed Eilan shrewdly. "And if he did disapprove of the two of you being together, I suppose he would have said so before now. Besides, I dreamed last night about you and Cynric at the festival.”
    "Did you? Tell me!” Dieda sat up, wrapping the bedclothes around her, for the air was still cool.
    "I don’t remember much about it. But your father was happy. Are you sure you want to marry that brother of mine?”
    "I do, indeed,” said Dieda with a small smile, and Eilan knew she would say no more.
    Eilan said, "Maybe I should ask Cynric—he might have more to say!” and laughed.
    "And maybe he would not,” said Dieda. "He does not talk that much either. You do not want to marry him yourself, do you?”
    Eilan shook her head emphatically. "He is my brother!” If she had to marry, surely the great hulking lout who used to put frogs in her bed and pull her hair was the last boy she would choose!
    "That’s not really so, you know,” Dieda said.
    "He is my foster brother, and that is like kin,” Eilan corrected. "If Father wished us to marry, he would not have fostered him.” She reached for a comb of carved horn and began to unbraid the glistening strands of her hair.
    Dieda lay back with a sigh. "I suppose Lhiannon will be at the festival…” she said after a time.
    "Of course she will. The Forest House lies by the spring at the foot of the hillfort after all. Why?”
    "Oh, I don’t