They were silent a moment.
‘This is what comes of you showing up and playing the hero at last night’s feast,’ Lyndal said, unable to let the subject go. ‘Perhaps if you hadn’t been there she might have chosen someone else for the job.’
‘By “playing the hero”, do you meannotletting the king die? You do understand keeping him alive is my job, right?’ When she did not reply, he added, ‘It won’t be me all the time. I do sleep occasionally.’
They rounded the corner of the corridor. Clearing her throat, she said, ‘We should probably lay down some ground rules.’
When they reached her bedchamber door, he turned to her. ‘You’regoing to lay down some ground rules?’
She faced him, making herself as tall as possible. ‘Yes.’
‘Such as?’
She gestured between them. ‘Such as giving me personal space when we’re together.’
Exhaling, he took a small step back. ‘I need to know where you are at all times. If you need to use the garderobe, you tell me or the defender on duty first.’
She crossed her arms in front of her. ‘I really hope you’re joking.’
‘I never joke about garderobes.’
‘I recall at least three jokes you’ve told over the previous year involving a garderobe.’
His lips turned up. ‘Really? You remember all three?’
‘Yes, vulgar punchlines forever burned into my mind.’
‘Well, I never joke about my work. I won’t tolerate sneaking off. Like it or not—’
‘Not.’
He tilted his head. ‘Like it or not, you’re stuck with me now. Let’s just get through the next six weeks in a civil manner. I’ll respect your privacy so long as you don’t give me cause not to.’
She searched his eyes. ‘Sounds reasonable.’
Astin reached past her and pushed the door open. ‘In you go.’
Arms still crossed, she replied, ‘I’ll be sleeping in Kendra’s bedchamber tonight. I only stopped here because you did.’
Grunting his annoyance, he reached past her again, tugging the door closed. They walked side by side past the solar door that connected the bedchambers and stopped in front of Kendra’s room. He let her open the door herself this time.
‘There will be a guard patrolling the corridor,’ he said. ‘If either of you need to step foot outside this room overnight, you speak with him first. I’ll be here in the morning.’
‘Six weeks,’ she said as she walked through the door.
‘Six weeks.’
Chapter 10
‘What in God’s name happened here last night?’ Harlan asked, dropping onto the seat beside Astin.
The bodyguard looked up from his bowl. ‘And good morning to you too.’
‘“Absolute carnage” were my father’s words.’
Astin looked around the mess hall to check no one else was listening. ‘Didn’t help that I was half-cooked when I became aware of the fact.’
Harlan watched him a moment. ‘I’m glad you were nearby for Lyndal’s sake. I was going to call on her but figured she needed some sleep after last night’s festivities.’
