Page 63 of Entangled

Nineteen

“My king,” called out Hitch later that night, running across the great hall. Sebastian sat in front of the fire with Farrimond and Jocet. He’d been anxiously awaiting the return of his squire for the past few hours now.

“Hitch, did you find out anything?” Sebastian sat with his legs draped over the arm of his chair. He still cradled his tankard of ale on his lap.

“I did, and you won’t believe what I discovered.”

Sebastian slowly put his feet on the floor. “Jocet, tell the servants and others to leave. I only want you, Hitch and Farrimond to be privy to this information.”

“Aye, my king.” Jocet got up and started instructing everyone to move far away from them while they talked.

Sebastian thought that something was troubling Merrow more than just being pregnant. He felt as if she were changing her mind about marrying him, even though he hoped that was not true. It made him very uncomfortable. Even though he felt deceitful doing it, he had ordered his squire to stay back at Evandorm and try to find out what Merrow and her mother and sisters were talking about. It was the only way to find out what Merrow really thought about him.

“All right, my king. Everyone but us has moved out of hearing range.” Jocet came back to join the group.

“My king, what is this all about?” asked Farrimond, settling himself atop a bench.

“That’s what we’re about to find out. Go ahead, Hitch.” Sebastian nodded and took a swallow of ale.

“It seems you were right, my lord.” Hitch pressed his hands together, looking down at his feet. For some reason, he couldn’t meet Sebastian’s gaze. “The sea nymph is having second thoughts about marrying you, my king.”

“Really?” asked Sebastian, not wanting this to be true. “Are you certain?”

Hitch continued. “I was able to get the guard outside their chamber door to tell me this information.”

“The guard told you that?” asked Farrimond in disbelief. “So Hitch was spying on them and the guard volunteered this information? That doesn’t sound believable to me.”

“Oh, all right, so it’s not exactly true.” Hitch threw his hands in the air. “What really happened was that I got the guard drunk, then listened at the keyhole myself, although I am not proud to admit it.”

“Hitch, that wasn’t wise to get the guard drunk,” Sebastian warned him. “If you were caught, you could have been punished. We just made an alliance with them, and it wouldn’t look good for me either.”

“Well, my lord, you seemed adamant about knowing what was going on and I could think of no other way to find out,” said Hitch in his defense. “The only other thing I could have possibly done is to knock on the door and ask them myself. However, I didn’t think they’d really tell me. Plus, it would only look to Merrow as if you didn’t trust her.”

“You’re right, you’re right.” Sebastian put his feet on the floor and downed the rest of his ale. Then he thunked the tankard atop the table and stood up. “Did she…say anything else?” He was hoping to hear how Merrow felt about carrying his child, but didn’t want to come right out and say it.

“Let me think.” Hitch rubbed his chin. “I’m parched, my lord and it is hard to talk when I am too dry to swallow.” The squire’s tongue flicked out to wet his lips. Then he opened his mouth wide and wrinkled his nose, looking like a landbound fish gasping for water.

“Jocet, pour Hitch some of my whisky.” Sebastian knew it was what his squire really wanted. Hitch liked whisky more than ale. He liked it twice as much as the rest of them put together.

“Are you sure, my king?” Jocet raised a brow. “Last time he ended up so far in his cups that he stripped naked and climbed the flagpole atop the battlement. We had a hard time getting him down.”

“Just give it to him.” Sebastian waved his hand in the air, needing this information and willing to do anything it took to obtain it.

“All right.” Jocet left and came back with a bottle of whisky and a cup.

“Thanks.” Hitch grabbed the bottle, pulled the cork out with his teeth and started drinking right from the bottle, not bothering with the cup.

“That’s enough,” said Sebastian, pulling the bottle away. “If you stall any longer, I’ll throw you in the dungeon for the way you’re acting. Now speak. And leave nothing out.”

“All right, all right.” Hitch let out a belch, made a face and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. “I heard Merrow say she didn’t want to give up being a sea nymph.”

“Are you sure?” Sebastian’s heart stilled.

“Positive.”

Sebastian groaned. “It’s over. I knew it.” He raised the bottle of whisky to his mouth and took a good long draw. Then, with the bottle still in his grip, he sank back down atop his dais chair. “She’ll disappear through that damned portal now with her family during the night and I’ll never see her again.”

“I’m sure she wouldn’t do that, my lord,” Jocet tried to calm him. “After all, she seems to love you.”