Free The Dragon Lord's Daughters by Bertrice Small

the other way about,” Rhys replied meaningfully.
    â€œFeed us, young FitzHugh, and then we will start out again,” the Dragon Lord said.
    â€œBetter we spend the night here at Everleigh, my lords, for the hour grows late,” Rhys suggested hospitably. “Rhawn,” he called. “Fetch your mistress and have her come to greet her guests.”
    â€œI am here, Rhys,” Mary said, coming from the shadows. She was a pretty child, her dark brown hair fashioned into two plaits, and her bright eyes a clear blue. She wore a pale yellow tunic over her orange tawny gown. “I but waited until you had completed your business. You are welcome to Everleigh, my lords, and my lady.” She curtsied prettily. “Come to table. The meal is about to be served. My lord Pendragon, you will sit on my right. Lord Mortimer on my left. Lady Averil will seat herself next to her father with my brother, and you, Roger Mortimer, will sit by your father.”
    Merin Pendragon was enchanted by the little girl. The child had beautiful manners, and even at this tender age knew her duty as chatelaine. Still, she was young yet. She could die, and then her brother would inherit Everleigh despite his birth. It was unlikely anyone would challenge him for it.
    The meal was simple. The bread trenchers were filled with a tasty pottage of rabbit, onions, and carrots in a thick gravy. There was plenty of fresh bread, a crock of butter, and a small wheel of hard flavorful cheese. The pewter goblets were filled, and kept filled with an excellent ale with the hint of barley.
    â€œYou keep a good table, my lady Mary,” Merin Pendragon approved.
    â€œRhawn, who both nursed me and kept my father’s house, has taught me, my lord,” Mary replied. “I still have much to learn.”
    When the meal was over Mary bid the gentlemen good night, and taking Averil by the hand said, “You will sleep with me tonight, my lady Averil.” She led Averil up the staircase in the hall to an upper floor. “I have a fireplace in the solar,” she said, “and it is kept alight most of the year. The men will be comfortable in the hall. There are several bed spaces. They are used to rougher accommodations than are we.”
    â€œYour brother made me sleep in a tumbledown stable last night,” Averil said with badly concealed ill humor.
    â€œIf he did, it was probably the best place he could find,” Mary responded calmly. “My brother is a good man, lady.” They had reached the solar, and Mary turned, looking up at Averil. “Are you to be my brother’s wife?” she asked.
    Averil swallowed back the quick sharp retort that was on her tongue, saying instead, “I do not know. Such arrangements are the province of men; my father, your brother, and the Great Llywelyn, who is our prince.”
    â€œSo I am told,” Mary said, “but I wonder why it should be so.”
    â€œSo do I,” Averil answered her softly. Then she smiled down at the child.
    â€œI have a little sister named Junia who is just a few years older than you are.”
    â€œDoes she look like you? You are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen,” Mary said frankly.
    â€œJunia looks more like you,” Averil answered her, “but that her eyes are green. We all have green eyes, my sisters and I. Maia has red hair, and Junia’s is dark. Our brother’s hair is dark too, and his eyes hazel colored. Only Brynn and Maia have the same mother. Our father has a wife, and two concubines.”
    â€œThat is immoral!” Mary said, shocked.
    â€œNo,” Averil answered her, not in the least offended. “It was of necessity. The lady Argel was barren for several years after her marriage to my father. So Da took my mother, who is called Gorawen, to his bed. I am my father’s first child. Then the lady Argel produced my sister Maia. But after that there were no other children so Da took a