The Eyes of the Dragon - Stephen King [94]
As he drew his favorite pipe from the rack beside him, Anders Peyna saw that his hands were trembling.
The boy was really a man, but Arlen's use of the word was not unjustified-at least not on this night. He was cold, Peyna saw, but he also knew that the cold alone does not make anyone shudder as Dennis was shuddering.
"Dennis!" Peyna said, sitting forward sharply (and ignoring the twinge in his back the sudden movement caused). "Has something happened to the King?" Dreadful images, awful possibilities suddenly filled Peyna's old head-the King dead, either from too much wine, or possibly by his own hand. Everyone in Delain knew that the young King was deeply moody.
"No that is yes but no not the way you mean the way I think you mean "
"Come in here close to the fire," Peyna snapped. "Arlen, don't just stand there gawking! Get a blanket! Get two! Wrap this boy up before he shakes himself to death like a buggerlug bug!"
"Yes, my Lord," Arlen said. He had never gawked in his life-he knew it, and Peyna did, too. But he recognized the gravity of this situation and left quickly. He stripped the two blankets from his own bed-the only other two in this glorified peasant's but were the ones on Peyna's -and brought them back. He took them to where Dennis crouched as close to the fire as he could without bursting into flames. The deep frost which had covered his hair had begun to melt and to run down his cheeks like tears. Dennis wrapped himself in the blankets.
"Now, tea. Strong tea. A cup for me, a pot for the boy."
"My Lord, we only have half a canister left in the whole-"
"Bugger how much we have left! A cup for me, a pot for the boy." He considered. "And make a cup for yourself, Arlen, and then come in here and listen."
"My Lord?" Even all of his breeding could not keep Arlen from looking frankly astounded at this.
"Damn!" Peyna roared. "Would you have me believe you're as deaf as I've become? Get about it!"
"Yes, my Lord," Arlen said, and went to brew the last tea in the house.
Peyna had not forgotten everything he had ever known about the fine art of questioning; in point of fact, he had forgotte damned little of that, or anything else. He had had long sleepless nights when he wished that he could forget some things.
While Arlen made the tea, Peyna went about the task of putting this frightened-no; this terrified-young man at his ease. He asked after Dennis's mum. He asked if the drainage problems which had so plagued the castle of late had improved. He asked Dennis's opinion on the spring plantings. He steered clear of any and all subjects which might be dangerous and little by little, as he warmed, Dennis calmed.
When Arlen served the tea, hot and strong and steaming, Dennis slurped half the cup at a gulp, grimaced, then slurped the rest. Impassive as ever, Arlen poured more.
"Easy, my lad," Peyna said, lighting his pipe at last. " Easy's the word for hot tea and skittish horses."
"Cold. Thought I was going to freeze coming out here."
"You walked?" Peyna was unable to conceal his surprise.
"Yes. Had my mother leave word with the lesser servants that I was home with the grippe. That'll hold all for a few days, it being so catching this time of year or should do. Walked. Whole way. Didn't dare ask a ride. Didn't want to be remembered. Didn't know it was quite this far. If I'd known, I might have taken a ride after all. I left at three of the clock." He struggled, his throat working, and then burst out: "And I'm not going back, not ever! I seen the way he looks at me since he come back! Narrow and on the side, his eyes all dark! He never used to look at me that way-never used to look at me at all! He knows I seen something! Knows I heard something! He don't know what, but he knows there's something! He hears it in my head, like I'd hear the bell ringin ' out from the Church of the Great Gods! If I stay, he'll get it out of me! I know he will!"
Peyna stared