Page 36 of Lord of Misrule

He stopped and looked at her and sighed. “He is supposed to be working off a punishment. A sentence, that is, which I gave him in order to keep him out of the dungeon. Isn’t that what you wished? That the child be spared from being put behind bars?”

“Well, yes, of course I didn’t want that to happen.”

“And isn’t that what we agreed upon? That he and you would work off his sentence in the kitchen until Twelfth Night?”

“I—I suppose so.”

“Suppose so?” His eyes narrowed.

“I mean, yes. Yes, that was the agreement.”

“So tell me. How much work has Parker actually been doing?”

She knew Tolin was right and that she really couldn’t fight him on this. Her son had become so infatuated with the hound and she let him play rather than work, picking up the slack for him.

“Parker is just a child, my lord. Please, don’t be so hard on him.”

“Perhaps you should be more strict with the boy.”

“I feel I am doing all that I can as a single mother.”

“I know.” He nodded and continued to walk. “That is why I decided to take the boy into my care for the rest of the time until his sentence is over.”

“What?” she gasped, stopping in her tracks. “Nay. Please, don’t take my son away from me, I beg you. He is all I have.”

“Calm down, I am not taking him away from you. Since you are his mother, I decided you need to come with us.”

“Come with you? Where?”

“I leave in an hour for a hunting trip with some of my men.”

“What? You are going hunting? But it’s winter, my lord.” Kit couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“Aye, it is. But we could use more food and the only way to get it is to hunt it down. We’ll be gone for two days, so pack appropriately.”

“Wait. What? I don’t understand, my lord. You are taking my son with you to hunt?”

“Did you not hear me the first time?”

“And I am to come with you? Why? How? I am needed here. In the castle kitchen.”

“Your sister and the other bakers will cover for you until we return. I need someone to cook over an open fire and serve those in the hunting party. That will be done by you and the boy.” He got to the door leading to the courtyard and stopped. “We leave in an hour. Be at the stables with your son and ready to go. And I warn you, don’t be late.”

He left her there blinking in confusion. Did the man really think she was going to go on a hunting trip in the middle of winter? She wanted to refuse. But even if she did, he would still take Parker with him. Nay, she couldn’t allow her son to be away from her. The poor child was scared of the dark as it was. Kit had no choice but to do this. It was crazy, but she couldn’t think of a way to get out of it and only had an hour to prepare. By the rood, would life ever get any easier?

She stormed back to the kitchen, seeing two servants carrying what looked like a large pallet over their shoulders. Several women followed carrying pillows and blankets. Then Jarvis walked by with a rolled-up smaller pallet over his shoulder.

“Jarvis, where are you all going?” she asked.

“To your room just off the kitchen,” he answered, not sounding particularly happy about it.

“Wait. Why?” She ran after them and Brenna followed with Parker right behind her.

The servants entered her family’s room and threw down the pallet. Then the women started putting the soft blankets and pillows on top of them.

“Mother, what is all this?” asked Parker.

“I’m not sure,” she answered.