Aine looked surprised but not displeased. "Gwynedd, I want you to meet Collun. He is brother to Nessa. Collun, my youngest son, Gwynedd."
The youth took Collun's hand in a muscular grip. "Welcome, Collun. Your sister is sorely missed. We must have uncovered every stone between here and Bricriu's dun in our search for her, but to no avail." The young man looked fierce, as though he took their failure personally.
"Bricriu," said Collun. "Fial wrote of him."
"Lord Bricriu took a special interest in Nessa when she arrived in Temair," said Queen Aine. "He offered to host her coming-of-age banquet. And we were all gathered at Bricriu's dun, which is less than a day's journey from Temair, when the tragedy occurred. Among all of us, I believe Bricriu took it the hardest. I am glad he has chosen this day to visit, for it will give you a chance to meet him. I am sure he will wish to lend you his assistance. As do we all."
"Yes," chimed in Gwynedd. "If there is any way I can be of service, do not hesitate to ask."
"Thank you, Prince," Collun responded stiffly.
"It grows late," said the queen, rising from her chair. "I hope you and your companions will join us tonight in the banquet hall."
"Thank you, Your Maj—Aine," Collun said, flushing and wishing he had Talisen's easy way with words.
"Oh, and Collun," Queen Aine said, a spark coming into her eyes, "I have heard an Ellyl travels with you."
"Yes."
"I have never met an Ellyl," mused the queen. "Will you tell him I am greatly looking forward to it?"
Collun nodded. He then followed Prince Gwynedd back to Fial's quarters, where they parted with another bone-cracking handshake and Gwynedd's enthusiastic pledges of assistance in the quest.
"The queen has invited us to the banquet hall tonight," Collun told his friends, who were gathered in the main room. "She looks forward to meeting an Ellyl," he added with a glance at Silien.
"Is your queen beautiful?" the Ellyl asked.
Collun thought of the tall woman with the unruly hair and the muddy hands, and he hesitated. "I think so. She is very kind."
"Dining with the queen," broke in Talisen, giving a strum to his harp strings with a flourish. "If they could only see us back in Inkberrow."
Brie spoke quietly. "I will not join you tonight, if you will excuse me."
"Why not?" asked Talisen.
"I would be more comfortable here sharing bread with Quince. Please give my apologies to the queen."
Collun looked at Brie with curiosity, but her face was shadowed and revealed nothing.
At the appointed hour, which was marked by a short fanfare of trumpets, Collun, Talisen, and the Ellyl made their way to the banquet hall. Fara had surprised Silien by choosing to stay behind with Brie.
The banquet hall was a long rectangular room alight with hundreds of candles and hung with enormous tapestries. Many long wooden tables were already lined with members of the court, who filled the room with the sound of their chatter and laughter. The queen had set aside places at her own table for the new arrivals, and she rose now to greet them.
She was much altered from when Collun had last seen her. Her wild hair was now smooth, and it flowed from her head in shimmering, flame-colored waves. It was bound at the top by a circlet of sparkling green gems that echoed the color of her eyes.
Silien bent toward Collun, saying softly, "Your queen is indeed beautiful. How could you have thought otherwise?"
Collun introduced the queen to his two companions. She was gracious to Talisen, but her eyes quickly sought out the Ellyl.
"Welcome, Silien," she said to him. "This is a moment I have wished for since becoming queen. It is wrong that our races should be separated by a conflict as old as it is foolish."
Silien took the queen's offered hand. "I cannot speak for all Ellylon," he said, "but it is an honor to meet you, Queen Aine."
Aine smiled. "Collun," she said, turning toward him, "there is someone who wants to meet you." She put her hand on the arm of a man who stood by her. "Lord Bricriu, may I present Collun, brother to Nessa."
Bricriu was an elegant man, dressed in a luxuriant cape of red and black. He wore a closely trimmed black beard, and his face held a keen intelligence. Collun had felt the nobleman's deep-set eyes on him even before the queen made her introduction.
Lord Bricriu made a slight bow, saying, "Well met, Collun." There was sadness in his voice. "I would tell you how grieved I am by your sister's disappearance, but I choose not to, for I do truly believe she will be found safe and well. You have come to Temair in search of her. I wish you to know that your quest is mine. I shall do everything in my power to assist you." He gestured to the seat beside him.
"That is very kind of you, sir," Collun replied, sliding into the offered seat.
"It is nothing. It was I who failed to keep her safe in my home." He paused. "I have an idea. Why don't you come with me to my dun? As soon as possible—tomorrow, even. Perhaps there we can begin the search anew."
The queen's son Gwynedd, who sat nearby, overheard Bricriu's words. He rose to his feet. "Hear, hear, Bricriu. Come, let us raise our glasses to Collun and to his quest." Servingmen quickly provided wine for the new arrivals, and everyone at the table drank.
Abruptly Prince Gwynedd set down his glass and leaned across the table toward Collun, his expression alive with purpose. "Collun, what would you say to an additional companion on your journey?"
Collun did not reply immediately, confused by the prince's words.
"What are you saying, son?" asked Queen Aine.
"If I am not to be allowed to join my father and brothers at the border, then I would assist Nessa's brother in his worthy quest. It was an act of infamy to abduct an innocent maid who was under the protection of the royal court. It bodes ill for Eirren." The prince's handsome face was flushed.
"What you say is true, Prince," said Bricriu, "but did not your father charge you to watch over your mother while he and your brothers were gone?"
"Nonsense, Bricriu," interrupted the queen with a laugh. "I do not require a keeper. Indeed, Gwynn and I argued far into the night over who was to go to the border and who was to stay behind—next time I will go. You must do as you choose, son, but I believe your place for now is here. Should the news from the border be dire, we would need to mount an army quickly."
"Perhaps, but no doubt you would say I was too young to fight," replied the prince, a stubborn set to his jaw. "What say you, Collun?"
Collun, his mind in turmoil, did not know how to reply. He found himself nodding, a stiff smile on his face. What else could he do? The prince was indeed generous, offering himself as companion on a difficult journey. Collun knew he should be grateful.
"That's settled, then," said the queen, darting a last look at her son. "Shall we eat?"
The food was extraordinary. Collun sampled many dishes he had heard of but never tasted and many more that were completely unknown to him. There was honey-roasted lamb served with sloe preserves; there were succulent artichokes to be dipped into sunflower oil mixed with chervil; and there was a whortleberry fool tart with buttercups on top for decoration. Talisen had three servings of the tart. The violet-and-elderflower wine was delicious, and Collun drank more than he was accustomed to. It made him sleepy. He found himself leaning back in his chair and listening with only half an ear to the lively talk that swirled around him.
Rumors of war with Scath formed the main topic of conversation. The Eirrenians feared Medb was once again planning to invade their country.
"It is unfortunate that Cuillean has disappeared. We may need him in the months to come," said Lord Bricriu grimly.
"I fear Cuillean must be dead," stated a man with a thick russet beard. "Otherwise he would be here."
"I don't know," responded a second man. "In the months before he disappeared, Cuillean used to stand in the ramparts of his dun looking out at the sea. I saw him there myself, and I say he may have built himself a boat and set out to explore the western waters."