Keeva wiped her chin with her arm, then licked the butter from it. ‘Too good to waste,’ she said, laughing at Norda’s expression of disgust. ‘Now show me these wondrous knives.’
The blonde woman moved to a pine drawer and gathered up two handfuls of bone-handled blades. These she arranged on the table before Keeva. They ranged in size from about eight inches long and fearsomely sharp to two inches with rounded tips. One was curved like a tulwar, ending in two prongs. ‘What is that?’ she asked.
‘It is for cheese. First you cut a chunk, then you reverse the blade and pierce it with the prongs.’
‘They are very beautiful,’ said Keeva, examining the ornately carved bone handles.
The door at the far end of the kitchen was pushed open and Keeva saw Emrin enter. He was supporting Yu Yu Liang. The Chiatze’s face was grey with exhaustion, but he gave a wide smile when he saw Norda. Emrin was not so pleased, his handsome mouth becoming a grim line.
‘Ah, my day brightens!’ said Yu Yu. ‘Two beautiful women – and some food!’ Emrin released his arm and Yu Yu tottered, holding his balance only by leaning on his scabbarded sword. Emrin stomped to the long table, drew his hunting knife and sliced himself several pieces of meat. Norda ran to Yu Yu’s side and helped him to the table.
‘My two favourite men,’ she said.
‘You have too many favourites,’ barked Emrin.
Norda turned to Keeva and gave a wink. ‘He fought for me, you know. Isn’t that gallant?’
‘I didn’t fight for you,’ snapped Emrin. ‘I fought because of you. There is a difference.’
‘And doesn’t he look handsome with his war wounds?’ continued Norda. ‘Those dark brooding eyes, that big, swollen nose.’
‘Stop it, Norda!’ ordered Keeva. She moved round the table and took Emrin’s arm. ‘I, for one, am proud of you.’
‘For what?’ asked Norda. ‘For ramming his nose into Yu Yu’s fist?’
‘Oh shut up!’ said Keeva. ‘He has spent today guarding Yu Yu, and has even now helped him down to the kitchen. It takes a man to be able to put aside his anger for the sake of duty.’
‘Aye, he is good man,’ said Yu Yu. ‘I like him. Everybody like him. Now can we eat?’
‘You are shivering!’ said Norda, moving round behind Yu Yu. ‘You shouldn’t be up, you foolish man!’ A cold breeze filtered through the far doorway. Keeva ran to the door, pushing it shut and dropping the latch, while Norda fetched a blanket, which she draped over Yu Yu’s shoulders.
‘I had not realized it gets so cool in here,’ said Emrin. But the women ignored him and continued to fuss over the wounded man, preparing him food and a goblet of peach juice.
Emrin wandered away from the table. He could hear sounds on the stairs beyond the second door. He strolled towards it. It opened just as he reached it. The elderly Omri entered, followed by two warriors and a young man. Omri nodded towards Emrin then called out to Keeva to bring some food for Niallad and his bodyguards.
The Duke’s son halted by the sleeping child, and grinned down at him. ‘I think we tired him out at the beach,’ he said.
Keeva carved a dozen thick slices of cold ham, divided it on to three platters and offered it to the newcomers, who sat at the table and began to eat. The young noble thanked her, but the two guards merely tore into the meat. One of them, the taller of the two, a heavily bearded man with deep-set brown eyes, glanced at Yu Yu’s sword, resting on the table top. The hilt was black and unadorned, as was the lacquered wooden scabbard. ‘Doesn’t look anything special to me,’ he said, reaching out towards it. . ‘Don’t touch it,’ said Yu Yu.
‘Or what?’ snapped the man aggressively, his hand still moving.
‘Do as he says, Gaspir,’ ordered the young noble. ‘It is his blade, after all.’
‘Yes, sir,’ said Gaspir, casting a malevolent glance at Yu Yu. ‘It is all rubbish anyway. Magic swords!’
The boy Beric awoke and sat up. He blinked and stretched – then suddenly screamed. Keeva followed his gaze. A white mist was swirling under the far door. Yu Yu saw it, and muttered a curse. He groaned as he reached for his sword, dragging it from the scabbard. The blade was glowing with a shimmering blue light. Yu Yu tried to stand, but fell against the table.