“I don’t mind,” he said. “Really.”
“Find who,Ser?” I asked.
“The Lord Commander, ma’am,” he replied.
“The Lord Commander?” I asked.
“Yes. You always call for him,” he said.
I sat up.
“I’m happy to go retrieve him for you.”
“No, I… I don’t need him. I’m sorry. I hadn’t realized I was talking,” I said. “What else did I say? Nothing too harrowing, I’m sure. It was just a nightmare. I was scared.”
The ends of his lips bent. “You should rest. I will see you at first light.”
“Right.” I settled. “Sorry to wake you.”
“I wasn’t asleep,” he said. He started to leave but something strange possessed me to say more.
“Willough?”
The name caught us both by surprise and I frowned.
“SerWilloughby.”
“Yes?”
“What do you mean I always call for him?” I asked.
He considered it. “You call for Elías when you dream of her.”
“Were you nearby? Or was I that loud?”
“I’m on patrol this end of things. I don’t think I would’ve heard you from where my room is, if that’s what you’re asking,” he said.
“I was, thank you.”
He nodded.
“Will you not be exhausted by morning?” I asked. “We have a ride, you know?”
Again, he nodded. “It’s not the first, nor the last time I’ll work through the night, cousin. Good night.”
He closed the door behind him, not rudely or too loudly, or reallyanything, but I went out after him. He sat on the ground, unfazed by my appearance. He leaned back into the wall and closed his eyes.
“Ahem. You can’t sit there all night. Go to bed,” I told him.
“I’m working.”
“You’re dismissed.”
“That’s not necessary,” he replied. “I’d prefer you went to bed. You’ll sleep better knowing I am here.”
“Go back to your quarters,” I insisted. “It’s fine.”
“It’s not fine. You said you were scared,” he said. “As Ser Elías would say,thatis the time a knight should be at the Princess’s side.”
