Page 142 of First Light
“Is it?” Duncan’s head swung around like a startled owl. “Let’s see then.”
Angus scowled. “It’s not a sword yet.”
“It’s a blade. I want to see it.”
“So do I.” Carys felt oddly territorial over this sword now that she knew where the úruisg and the blacksmith were getting their iron. “It’sCadell’s sword too.”
“Like the dragon needs another weapon,” Angus muttered. He ambled over to a blackened set of shelves piled with stones, random glass and pottery, and stacked leather scraps. He flipped down the back of one shelf and withdrew a wrapped object around a yard in length.
Carys sidled next to Duncan. “Do you know how to fight with a sword?”
“Surprisingly yes.” Duncan glanced at her. “But it’ll be better when I can train with this blade. Bronze has a different weight than steel, and I’ll have to adjust.” He reached out and took the wrapped object from Angus. Then he lifted it, holding it balanced on one palm. “We were right to add more weight.”
“Take it out of the leather, you idiot. You can’t tell anything right now.”
Duncan set the blade on the worktable and carefully unwrapped the sword. He took a deep breath and looked at Angus. “This feels… important.”
Angus huffed. “It took over three years to gather the iron for this blasted thing. Of course it’s important.”
Duncan pulled back the cloth to reveal a dull grey blade that Carys hardly thought was very impressive, but by the look on Duncan’s face, he was pleased. He held his massive arm out straight from his body, the metal in one hand.
“It’s good, Angus. It’s perfect.”
“The balance is exactly right for your height and weight.” The creature loped over to Duncan and looked the weapon up and down. “Give me two days to finish it and wrap the handle and you’ll have a blade the fae will hate you for.”
“Excellent.”
“And why are we trying to antagonize the fae again?” Carys looked from Angus to Duncan.
“Why not?” Angus shrugged.
Duncan lifted the sword and held it up. The grey blade looked more than sharp. It looked lethal, andso did Duncan.
“Because the Shadowlands is a fae realm at the end of the day, and they play with humans like we are puppets.” Duncan stretched the sword out straight, feeling the weight of the blade in his hand. “I may not have magic. But I’ll have this.”
Carys wantednothing more than to hide in Duncan’s cottage and read Seren’s final journal immediately, but she knew that after a full day being gone, her absence would be noted. So she carefully packed the last journal into her bag and walked back to the castle with Duncan and Cadell.
A messenger came running as soon as they arrived. “Lord Duncan, the king requested your presence in the south hall as soon as you returned to the castle.
“Great.” Duncan looked at Carys and Cadell. “I’ll see you later.” He glanced at the bag over her shoulder. “Be careful.”
“I will.” She looked to her left. “I have Cadell.”
I am here.
Though the dragon didn’t speak, he nodded solemnly at Duncan.
Cadell was clearly annoyed that he had to stay in human form, but he was also determined to remain near Carys, especially now that she had Seren’s final book hidden in her bag.
“Good.” Duncan’s gaze lingered on Cadell for a moment before he turned back to Carys. “Send a messenger if you need me.”
“I will.” Carys started up the stairs, glancing at the massive statue of the twin unicorns in front of the great hall. “Why does Robb summon Duncan when he obviously dislikes him?”
“I think Robb finds the cross human useful.”It is the úruisg.
She frowned. “What?”
The reason that Robb will never banish Duncan from Sgàin is because of the úruisg. Angus is fond of Lachlan’s Brightkin, and úruisg are known to be very loyal. If Robb drove Duncan away, Angus would abandon the Moray family, and Robb believes that would cause them bad luck.