“You may leave them,” said Skyre.
She looked defeated, but sat the shoes and stockings upon the chest and came to curtsy before him. “Your Majesty.” She went out swiftly, leaving Skyre to his bride.
That room was full of unwanted memories and unruly people. The Vaich glanced scathingly at the empty bed and to the table where a tray of fresh pewter dishes sat.
He shivered.
The druid continued to watch him, chewing his biscuits unbothered. The stockings lay like a neglected offering, and Skyre passed them, resigned.
“You prove difficult, even now,” he said.
“I do not enjoy it,” the druid said simply, and returned his rolls to the tray. “I do not like to be made to wear them. You could tell the girl to let it be.”
“That isn’t how things are done here.”
“Things here are done on your word. Or so it should be.”
It was a half-truth. They both knew that.
“If you do not wear your shoes, you will be dirty.”
“What is the matter with dirt?” The druid considered him a moment. “Why do you come, still?”
“You ken why. We must be seen to take our meals together.”
“Though you needn’t come yourself.”
“Is it my escort you dislike?” asked Skyre, roughly.
“I neither like nor dislike it. But I very much dislike the shoes.”
Skyre rubbed his temple. The girl was right; the queenwaschildlike.
“I will have something… lessconfiningmade for you,” said Skyre.
The druid did not look pleased… or so he could only suppose.
Skyre approached him, which did not elicit response. He had not made peace with it. He expected the druid to flinch at his presence, to cower at his word. Every time he reached for him, he waited for him to coil back.
It never came, and there was no peace.
“I have… something for you,” he muttered.
The druid tilted his head. “Yes?”
Skyre held out his hand, and upon his palm sat the ring.
“More things to wear,” said the druid.
The Vaich tensed.
“Take it,” he said sternly, pushing the ring onto his finger, “and put on your shoes.”
Chapter thirty-four
The Map
The castle had suddenly become larger to the druid, who was now expected to be about the Vaich’s apartments. There had been some talk of moving his room closer to the king’s, but this had been met with resistance on every side.
