From Darkness Won - Jill Williamson [42]
“You were struck down in battle, sir.”
The mace. Achan ran his fingers over the side of his head. It felt swollen, tender. “How long have I been sleeping? What of the battle?”
“The battle has ended, sir. Though Sir Caleb says we leave soon to fight again. You’ve been sleeping two days.”
Two days? No wonder his stomach ached. He blinked at the boy and realized he was wearing a new red tunic and black trousers. “You have new clothes.”
Matthias smiled. “Yes, sir. Thank you for them, sir.”
“You’re welcome.” Achan took a deep breath and smelled a hint of roses on the air. “Did someone bathe in rose water, Matthias? Or was a woman here?”
“Aye, sir. Three.”
“Three women? All at once?”
“No. First come the duchess with her man, the scarred one. What happened to his neck, sir?”
“Anillo? Lord Nathak’s men tried to kill him. What of the other two women?”
“They came together.”
“Maids, you mean?”
“Oh, no, sir. Not maids. One wore a black dress. The other looked like a cornsilk doll and sang like an angel.”
Achan perked up. “One of them sang? As she worked?”
“She didn’t work. She sat with you and held your hand.”
“Did she?” Sparrow. It had to be. Hope spread through Achan, coiled around his chest like armor.
“Who was she, sir? The one who sang?”
“The woman I love,” Achan said, almost to himself.
Matthias’s snicker turned Achan’s head.
“You find that funny?”
Matthias sobered. “Do you kiss her?”
Achan sighed, fighting a laugh he suspected would make his aching head worse. “No, Matthias, I do not. We are not permitted to be together.”
Matthias seemed to mull this over. “Armas loves a lady not of his station.”
“And who is Armas, again?” Matthias spoke of so many siblings, Achan couldn’t keep them all straight.
“My oldest brother. He’s lived nineteen years.”
Right. The son who would inherit Master Ricks’s net-making enterprise. “Is the lady above or below him?”
“Oh, far above, sir. She is Lady Lathia. Her father is captain of the Brierstar.”
Achan’s eyes widened, recalling his dances with Lady Lathia the night before her grandfather, Lord Livna, had been killed. “I’m familiar with Lady Lathia. Has she ever spoken to your brother?”
“Oh, yes. They kiss when they think no one is looking.”
“Do they?” Achan tried to imagine Lady Lathia kissing a peasant man. “Does she strike him or get angry?”
“Never, sir.” Matthias wrinkled his nose. “I think she likes to be kissed.”
Achan grinned. “From your report, Matthias, I gather she does. Perhaps I can help your brother make that match. It is good for people to marry the one they love. Arman knows I will not have that pleasure.”
The door opened and Sir Caleb entered. “Ah, I see you are awake. Praise Arman. How do you feel?”
“Hungry. And my head hurts.”
“I do not doubt it, Your Highness. Why you insist on disobeying simple instructions, I’ll never understand.”
Heat rushed through Achan’s chest. “Really? You can’t imagine why I might make a decision every now and then?”
Sir Caleb’s eyes shut as if trying to control his temper. He opened them slowly. “I know you desire to be a good leader. But it’s selfish to risk your life. Er’Rets needs you.”
“Why do you decide how I serve Er’Rets?”
“I’m a Kingsguard knight, appointed by your father. And your advisor, appointed by you.”
“Advisor, Sir Caleb, not father.”
“I never meant to imply that—”
“How can you expect me to lead—to ever have confidence to do so—if you continually override me? True, I am but sixteen years of age. I have not your wit, experience, or skill with politics and war. Still, Arman chose me. And I am trying to obey His call. If you refuse to be reasonable, to accept any authority from me at all…” Achan paused, hating to say what he felt he must. “I will replace you.”
Sir Caleb’s shoulders sank. “Understood.”
“Thank you.” Achan wanted to forget this conversation had ever taken place. “Now is there something you needed?”
The knight’s tone