“Huh.” Jeff stood and stretched, rising on his toes, yawning again. “You’re going to tell Thadro?”
Damn and blast. I blinked at Jeff, my early morning grogginess clearing fast. The Lord Commander had made it very clear yesterday that I wasn’t to scratch without permission. I didn’t think he’d wink at me taking off without his say-so. Or let me go even if I did ask.
“Wyln’s still out there, so Thadro’s probably not back yet,” I said, hoping furiously.
“Probably not,” Jeff said. He went over to his footlocker and began sorting through it. “So, you’re going to tell His Majesty?”
Jusson, though, was very much at home, and not only would he be less happy than Thadro about me disappearing to join Wyln, but kings were even more liberal with a headsman’s axe. “Maybe I can go and come back before Jusson misses us,” I said.
“Think so?” Holding fresh clothes, Jeff straightened and cast an expert glance at the light leaking around the curtains. “Then you better leave now before everyone else gets up.”
Sheep-biting, fornicating weasels. I ran my hands over my face again, once more brushing the feather against it. I stared at it a moment, then at the fireball waiting patiently beside the earth sphere. I thrust the feather into my robe pocket. “I’ll tell Thadro if he’s around, or Jusson if he’s not.”
Jeff nodded. “And if they say no?”
“Then I’ll have to convince them otherwise,” I said, ignoring the hollowness in my gut. I walked over to the washstand and poured water into the bowl from the ewer. I then realized what Jeff was doing. “You don’t have to go.”
“Yes, I do.” Jeff carried his clothes to his bed, dropping them on the tumbled bedclothes. Shucking yesterday’s smalls, he quickly began to dress. “I’m not explaining to either Thadro or His Majesty how I was ready to let you go off on your own.” He glanced at the window again, the light around the curtains brighter. “If you wait any longer, Finn will be here to help you with your drawers.”
With a couple of suggestions of what Jeff could do with said drawers, I too began to dress. In a very short time we were buckling on sword belts and tucking knives away. Though Cais had taken my Habbs the night before, I still had my standard-issue boots—which was just as well as I didn’t know what I would be wading through if I met up with Wyln.
No, not if. When.
Attaching the feather to my reworked braid, I took my cloak and gloves from the clothespress, putting them on before grabbing my staff. “Ready?” I asked.
Jeff nodded and, taking a deep breath, I opened the door. To my surprise, Thadro had managed to scrounge up a couple of King’s Own to guard me during my slumbers. Both jumped to attention as I walked out. I returned their salutes before taking off down the hall to the king’s chamber, where the same thing happened, one flinging the door open without inquiring first to see if I were to be admitted. Just like I’d been expected. I paused at the threshold, suddenly wary.
“Come in, cousin,” Jusson said.
I was starting to dislike that phrase. I walked in and found myself in a sitting room with doorways leading off to side chambers. Through one opening I could see a narrow bed, where I assumed either Thadro or Cais slept to be close at hand for the king. It didn’t look as though it had been used as the covers were still neatly made. But then, so was the bedding on the massive four-poster that I glimpsed through another door. A wall hanging with the royal crest was over the bed’s headboard.
Jusson, fully dressed, sat at a table where he’d apparently just finished eating breakfast, with Cais at his shoulder, ready to replenish an empty cup at a moment’s notice. Both looked fresh, as if they’d had a full night’s rest after a week of holiday, while I, with my interrupted night, felt rather brown around the edges. “Don’t either of you ever sleep, sire?” I asked.
“On occasion,” Jusson said. He pointed at a chair. “Sit.”
“Yes, sire,” I said, trying not to fidget. “However, there’s this errand I have to run—”
“We will go see this elusive elf together, cousin. After you eat.”
My fidgets disappeared. “You know?”
“Magic—no, talent you call it, right?” Jusson waved a hand, encompassing the fire and earth spheres floating over each of my shoulders. “Whatever, it was worked in my house. Of course I know.”
There was no “of course” about it. I knew that Jusson was able to detect the use of the talent around him. But that wouldn’t have allowed him to overhear my conversation with Wyln—unless he was eavesdropping on me. Just as Laurel had the night before. Feeling as private as a public highway, I held off yielding my cloak and gloves to Cais. “Beg pardon, Your Majesty, but Wyln said that I was to hurry.”
“Did he? Well, I’m disinclined to bustle about for someone who has no problem keeping me waiting.” The king once more pointed. “Sit, Rabbit.” He glanced behind me at Jeff. “You too, Guardsman. As your lieutenant is in a hurry, we won’t have time for you to eat in the guards’ mess.”
“Your Majesty,” Jeff said, his eyes wide. “It’s not proper.”
“I won’t tell if you won’t.” Jusson’s brow rose at me. “Cousin?”
We sat, Jeff gingerly, as if his chair (and the world) might collapse under him. I scowled as the majordomo produced a steaming pot of Laurel’s brew. Just for me. I used the whole honey jar to sweeten the tea, drinking it between bites of warm rolls with butter, fruit, porridge, and poached eggs with cheese, all served by Cais. Despite last night’s late meal, the food set before me disappeared fast, with Cais slipping me a second, and then a third helping. Finally having enough, I set my fork down with a sigh. I felt much better, which was surprising since I hadn’t known that I had been feeling bad. That hollow feeling in my gut had been more than worry, for now that I was full, it was mostly gone.
Smiling, Jusson pushed back his chair and stood. “Very good, cousin. Let’s go see my lord elf.”
My gut tightened again.
Leaving the table, I remember the long stretch between meals yesterday and nicked some fruit and rolls, putting them in my pocket. Then, wrapped up against the early morning elements, Jeff and I followed Jusson out the room. Out in the hallway, Jusson had shed the night guards but had picked up several daytime ones, none of whom looked surprised at the king going traveling—though I did catch a couple of side glances at the spheres floating next to me. Cais had followed us downstairs and whipped around to open the front door to bow us out. Reaching the street, I looked down it to see if the horses were coming.
“We’re not riding, cousin,” Jusson said. “It’s such a fine day that we will walk.” He glanced at the blazing sphere. “Which way?”
I also looked at the fireball and it darted off down the street. “Uhm, that way, Your Majesty.”
It was a fine day. The mountains were waking up in the early morning sun, the brightening sky once more promising to be that crisp fall blue. And while the chill of the night still lingered, more than enough warmth was generated by the brisk pace Jusson set. There were no complaints, though. It felt good to stretch my legs and apparently the guards thought so too. There was an easy looseness about their movements, their eyes bright as they looked about them. Even Jusson was enjoying himself, his cheeks slightly flushed, his own black eyes sparkling. Just another king out for his morning constitutional. For the most part we had the streets to ourselves, though we did encounter the occasional early riser, most with baskets on their arms, heading for market. They sleepily glanced at us as we approached, then their heads snapped back around as they realized that King Jusson IV, surrounded by his royal guard, was striding towards them following after a ball of flame. Hasty curtseys were dropped and bows made as we went past, heads respectfully lowered. However I did get upward glances, eyes wide as they took in my braid, feather and staff before shifting to the earth sphere that remained floating at my shoulder. More than one blessed themselves.