As soon as Izzy relaxed, Rhi was there, her arms wrapping around her sister’s waist, her head against Izzy’s shoulder.
“You were missed at dinner,” Rhi said into the dark.
“I know. I’m sorry I didn’t come.” Izzy hugged her sister a little tighter. “I just . . . couldn’t face it. I knew you’d understand.”
“Oh, I did! I wish I could miss dinner more often.” She was quiet for a moment, then added, “Uncle Éibhear looked particularly disappointed.”
“Rhianwen—”
“Uh-oh. Full name used.”
“Exactly. So hear me well, sister. There is nothing and will be nothing to discuss when it comes to your Uncle Éibhear. Do you understand?”
“I do.”
“We can’t mention him at all?” a male voice said from the dark and Izzy quickly realized that the twins were now in her room, on her bed. Stretched out across the bottom of it.
“I thought you two were going to sleep in the trees.”
“It was less comfortable than we thought it would be,” Talwyn said around a yawn.
“So we came in,” Talan added.
“And where’s the dog?”
“Between me and Talwyn.”
Rolling her eyes, Izzy snapped at Macsen, “Good protection there, you dozy bastard.”
“Ssssh,” Talwyn whispered. “He’s asleep.”
Deciding there was no point in fighting this, she closed her eyes and tried to go to sleep.
She knew the attempt would be a waste of time, however, when the giggling started, followed by the complaining about the giggling, and then the snoring. By the gods, the snoring!
Chapter 14
“You look like battered shit.” Light brown eyes glared up at him and Éibhear quickly held up his hands. “Just an observation.”
“Well, you can take your observation and shove it up your big, fat—”
“Happy morn, Uncle Éibhear!” Rhi nearly shouted while jumping between him and Izzy.
“Hello, little niece.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “You look beautiful this fine morning.”
“‘You look beautiful this fine morning,’” Izzy sneered under her breath while Rhi showed off her dress.
“I think it’s the dress. Auntie Keita says the color brings out my eyes.”
Abruptly, Izzy stood tall and looked quite awake. “Keita’s here?”
“Aye. She arrived earlier this morning.”
“Good. Now maybe I can find out who the bloody hells summoned me here.”
“Are you still wondering about that?” Éibhear asked.
Izzy’s jaw tensed. “As a matter of fact, I am. And stop talking to me.”
“But you’re so friendly.”
Rhi pinched his arm and whispered, “Stop it.”
“But she makes it so easy.”
She sighed in disgust, and then looked behind Éibhear. “Morning, Frederik.”
“Uh . . . morning . . .” The boy frowned and they watched him stand there . . . frowning.
Finally, fed up, Rhi reminded him, “Rhianwen.”
“Right. Right.” He nodded. “Rhianwen. I just have to remember . . .” Then he flicked his hand in her general area, and Éibhear decided it was probably best not to ask what that meant.
Instead, he focused on the training ring nearby. In the ring was Talwyn and one of the Kyvich witches. A woman with black tattoos on her face and arms, and, if Éibhear was seeing correctly, several fingers missing from both hands. It looked as if those fingers had been hacked off.
Talwyn hefted a huge sword, but her right shoulder was too low. The Kyvich saw that as well and rammed her maimed hand against it. A hit that would have broken the shoulder of a strong human male.
“Straighten your shoulders, idiot! I’ve told you before!”
Talwyn readjusted her shoulders. The Kyvich walked around her, punched her in the back of her thigh. “Strengthen that leg or I’ll bleed you again.”
Without even looking away from Talwyn and her trainer, Éibhear reached out and caught hold of Izzy’s arm, yanking her back before she could clear the fence.
“Leave it,” he ordered her.
“That’s my cousin she’s slapping around,” Izzy snarled, trying to yank her arm away.
“You’re exhausted, you haven’t eaten, and you’re still mad at me, even though you lied and said you weren’t. You’ll just take it out on that poor, deformed witch.”
“She’s not deformed. She lost those parts of herself in battle. And I am not still mad at you. Just let it go already.”
“Rhi, you’re an excellent judge of liars. Has your sister forgiven me or is she just mollycoddling me while planning to beat up some helpless witch trying to assist my young niece?”
Rhi looked back and forth between them and said, “Why don’t I get you both some bread. You must be fairly starving! Be right back.” Then she was off toward the castle, moving more quickly than Éibhear had thought she’d be able in that long dress.“Release me,” Izzy ordered, not bothering to try to pull her arm away.
“Not unless you promise to play nice with the mortal enemies of your mother’s witch sisters.”
Izzy reached for the gold dagger she had tucked into her sword belt and, laughing, Éibhear released her. She didn’t pull the weapon, but she also didn’t try to go over that fence again. Instead, they stood next to each other and watched.