The Cost of Knowing by Allan Packer

Author:Allan Packer [Packer, Allan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781925898002
Publisher: Luminant Publications
Published: 2019-03-25T16:00:00+00:00

“Today is the day that Essanda is coming to visit.” King Steffan groaned and buried his head in his hands. With a site chosen for the battle and active planning underway, the timing couldn’t have been worse. “What was I thinking when I agreed to that?”

King Istel smiled grimly. “You might remember that I thought the idea was absurd from the beginning,” he said, shaking his head. “In any event, it’s much too late to do anything about it now. And I imagine she’ll be as safe here at Hazelwood Ford as she would be in the capital.”

When Queen Essanda did arrive at the main camp, Steffan was far too busy to meet her. The best he could manage was to send a warm greeting along with his apology. The message was delivered through Count Gordan, who had accompanied her from the citadel.

It was the early hours of the morning before Steffan was able to return to his tent. He opened the flap and stepped inside to find the tent dimly illuminated by the light of a couple of candles. He had arranged for a separate section of the tent to be set aside for his young wife, behind a canvas partition. Expecting her to be asleep, he moved through the large tent as quietly as he could.

As he headed for his own sleeping quarters at the opposite end of the shelter, he heard a voice softly call his name. He turned to see Essanda’s head appear briefly around the flap that partitioned off her room. Her head disappeared again, then a few moments later she emerged with a cloak thrown over her nightgown and a blanket draped loosely around the cloak. Even so, she was shivering slightly in the cold.

“Hello, Steffan,” she said, with a sleepy smile. “I am so happy to see you again at last.”

“I’m sorry to have woken you, Essanda. But I am delighted to see you, too,” he said affectionately.

She gazed across at him with bleary eyes, studying him critically. “You haven’t been getting enough sleep.”

“You’re right. There’s been a lot of demand on my time.”

She gave him a little frown, shaking her head. Then she yawned hugely.

“It seems that both of us need some sleep,” he told her, stifling a yawn of his own.

She nodded. “I will not distract you,” she said determinedly. “We can talk tomorrow.” She gave him another drowsy smile before heading back to her room.

“Sleep well,” he called softly after her.

He waited until she had disappeared, then he made his way to his own sleeping quarters. Too tired to properly undress, he shed his cloak, pulled off his shoes, and climbed onto his bed as he was, covering himself with a mixed assortment of blankets and coats. He lay there for a moment thinking about Essanda. She had managed to show care and concern for him, young as she was. He resolved sleepily that he would not allow her to outdo him.

Rolling onto his side, he closed his eyes. He was so tired that he drifted off to sleep at once.

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