‘You were the one who came into my room!’I said loud enough that those near us turned and looked.
‘I could hear you crying,’ Torgrin said, crossing his arms.
‘Do you cry in your sleep often?’Atlas asked, his eyebrows drawing together.
I felt the heat creep into my face.I hastily rose from the table, my chair tipped over with a bang, and everyone turned to look at us.
‘Both of you, stay out of my room!’I warned.They pitied me, and it felt humiliating.I couldn’t let them think I was weak, and it was unbearable to know Torgrin had heard me cry like a child in my sleep.I spun around and walked out with as much dignity as I could muster.
Thankfully, I wasn’t left stewing in embarrassment for long.Tomas came to my room to take me to meet with Lord Warwick.
We ascended the main staircase and entered the left wing of the building.Magnificent stained glass windows dominated the hall, casting a kaleidoscope of blues and reds across the flagstones.Intricate tapestries covered the stony walls, each telling a story of ancient times.According to Tomas, they designated this area of the fortress for meetings and welcoming important guests.He pointed out two doors set in a hefty stone arch.Filling the air was the faint musty scent of age.
‘There is the library.It has its own curator.He was the only person in residence here for many years, looking after the books and old scrolls.’
I took note of the library doors as we passed.I wanted to come back and see if there were maps of Pedion.There were so many gaps in my knowledge of what lay beyond Murus.
‘Captain Torgrin spends a lot of his time in there.He reads more than anyone I’ve ever met!’
How annoying.Perhaps I would stay away.
‘Is it true you will join us at training?I heard Captain Torgrin saying you would be.’
‘Did he now?’The last thing I wanted was to be around him more often, but perhaps the sting of humiliation would ease if I pointed my sword at the man who caused it.‘I could show Torgrin a thing or two, I guess.’
‘That, I would pay a gold coin to see,’ Tomas chuckled.
Two armed guards stood in front of a closed door.It was the first time I had seen guards inside the fortress.Tomas knocked and waited until Lord Warwick gave permission to enter, then he nodded his fair head encouragingly and left me to go in alone.
CHAPTER 11
Enormous windows flooded the council room with sunlight, creating a mesmerising dance of light and shadow.The three arched windows looked out onto the training arena below.
Lord Warwick sat alone at a long oak table made for a score of people.As I took a tentative step into the room, he greeted me with an inviting smile and rose gracefully from his chair.Despite his short stature, he stood with poise and an elegance that matched his station.
‘Please sit.’He motioned to one of many chairs surrounding the long table where he must meet his officers and advisors.
Lord Warwick took the seat opposite me.‘I hope you have recovered well?’he asked, rolling his r’s like Cillian.
‘I have.Thank you.’
‘It impressed me how well you fought in the tournament.Do you mind me asking who trained you?’
‘After my parents died, a man who was once a soldier took me in, and he trained me from the age of eleven.’
‘Extraordinary!A soldier, you say?’
I nodded.
‘Who did he serve?’he asked politely, but I felt there was more behind his question than mere curiosity.
‘I don’t know.’I was telling him the truth, and I hoped he sensed it.‘It never occurred to me to ask as a child, and now he can’t tell me,’ I admitted.
‘Oh, why is that?’
‘He does not remember now,’ I replied.‘He doesn’t remember many things … not even me sometimes.’The words hurt to say out loud.
‘I’m sorry to hear this.I have heard of this happening.The mind empties and no-one knows why.’
