AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I focused on him. “I would never avoid you on purpose, Kaye. You’re right, I should have sent a message. I’m sorry. I’ve been ill and haven’t left my room much at all these past few days. But I’m feeling much better now. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings but that was thoughtless of me. Please forgive me, little brother.”
I leaned over and hurriedly kissed his cheek.
Remarkably, Kaye was still young enough and sweet enough that the gesture didn’t embarrass him. Even though his sister had kissed him in front of the entire Rose Court and probably most of his friends, he grinned happily.
I felt my heart aching. Was he so starved for affection?
There was no way I could tell him the truth about Baudwin. I knew even honest Galahad would not demand it of me if I explained. Kaye was my little brother. He was the best of us. I wanted to shield him from the ugliness of the world for as long as I could.
I filled my plate and began to eat, listening to Kaye chatter about his day. It seemed his newest tutor was an enlightened woman who believed children learned better in small groups and not total solitude. With that in mind, she had invited a few of Kaye’s closest friends to join them and formed a study group. Every week they would have a draw and study something based on one of the students’ suggestions. This week they were learning about the importance of waterways and the ocean to Lyonesse.
I was stuffing my face with roasted herb-encrusted fish and rice when Arthur leaned forward.
“I wish to speak with you tomorrow, Sister. Come and see me in the morning.”
I nodded, trying to swallow and form an answer, but he had already begun to rise from the table.
The relaxed feeling I had began to vanish as I recalled my last private meeting with my brother. For a few minutes, I had been able to pretend we were a regular family getting excited about a trip we would be taking together.
The dining hall became silent as the king left the room. Then the talking and boisterous noise resumed.
I told myself to calm down. After all, this was different. I already knew what Arthur wished to speak with me about in the morning. He was going on a journey and Kaye and I were coming along.
CHAPTER 11
“Not going to Lyonesse?” I stared stupidly at my brother without understanding. “But Kaye said...”
“Forget what Kaye said,” Arthur interrupted impatiently. To my relief, we were alone in his meeting room this time. A few guards stood outside the door. “You are not going with Kaye. Or, rather Kaye is coming with me. But you–you are going somewhere else entirely.”
“Where am I going if not with you?”
Except for a few villages that lay a couple of hours away, I had never gone anywhere in my life. We traveled there by carriage from Camelot for a festival once or twice when I was much younger. Did that count? I was not exactly a world-traveler when it came to exploring Aercanum.
“You are going to do your king a great service.”
My eyebrows went up. He had never entrusted me with any significant tasks before, beyond watching over Kaye and standing by his side throughout ceremonies and celebrations as a kind of princess figurehead. “Me? Do you a great service? What kind of a service?”
