Disciple, Part IV by L. Blankenship

Author:L. Blankenship [Blankenship, L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fantasy, epic, fantasy romance, knight, prince, magic
Publisher: L. Blankenship
Published: 2014-03-10T04:00:00+00:00

Rafe’s screaming put some speed in my tired feet as I approached the kitchen’s outer door. Alice and Hilda looked up when I opened it. Rafe lay in his basket, a few feet from Alice. I swooped in to pick him up.

“You leave him? Crying?” Once his little head was against my neck, his wails dropped. “How long have you ignored him?”

Alice put a hand to her ear. In Englic, she asked, “Pardon, m’lady?”

Anger spiked through my worry. “I’ll not have you neglecting him!”

“Neglecting?” She rose from the stool, gesturing at a small bowl of pap on the workbench. “You’ll blame me if your baby won’t take pap when you simply vanish one morning. Nary a word, and all’s my fault?”

“I’ll do my best to keep Father Duty’s demands to a schedule,” I threw back. Rafe nuzzled at my neck, searching. With my free hand, I loosened my neckline. “Perhaps the two of you should speak on it.”

“No, no, I’ll not imply it’s any trouble.” Alice threw up a hand. “Three men bent on ruining all their knit hose in the saddle, a babe too fine for pap, and the saints’ right hand — no trouble at all, in a peasant hut that’s put on wealthy airs —”

She kept to Englic at least, and Herr Schäfer’s maid didn’t hear that. “We’re guests here,” I told her while I got Rafe settled at my breast. “Do you hear yourself? Putting on airs? Must we pardon Herr Schäfer for not being a baron?”

“Then pardon me for not nursing Rafe.” Alice dropped onto the workbench with a sigh. Beside her was a pile of sewing to be done — hose, worn to raveling at the thighs.

“Pardoned,” I said. “Is there any breakfast left?”

She picked up one leg of hose. “Only the pap.”

My stomach ground. Picking up the bowl, I drained it. And then I considered the little puddle that gathered at the bottom. “Might be your cooking’s spoiled me, but I’d fuss at that, too. Throw together one of your shepherd’s pies, next he’s hungry.”

I meant it teasingly, but wasn’t sure she’d take it thus — until she snorted. “The Orderhaus sent a boy to ask after you,” she said. “You were to tutor the apprentices?”

“Yes.” I grimaced and tried to guess how much of the day I had left. “And then another banquet tonight — quickly, sweetling, quickly.”

Rafe was gulping as fast as he could, as if I might disappear at any moment.

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