Page 69 of Glass and Bone
“No more baths, not without me.Please.” He sounds terrified, and I don’t really blame him.
“Okay, okay. I’m sorry.” I reassure him as he holds my wet, naked body against his chest. I don’t need them. Not anymore.
It’s not the water, Elaenor. It’s how you reach out to me that brings me to you.
*****
Two days. Two days have passed since I last saw him. The festival has been going on for two days, with jousting and food filling our courts. Tobias hasn’t left my side, fearing what I might do without him. I don’t mind his attention; he’s been kind and careful. A side of Tobias I’ve rarely seen the last two weeks. He makes sure my needs are met, in all ways. He’s gentle and tells me he loves me every chance he gets, and I believe him.
I’ve asked him about Jeremiah. The only time he leaves me is when he’s going to question him. He’ll be gone for hours, leaving Donovan, Laris, and Tano to watch over me. As if three men truly need to be present to keep me safe. When he returns, he’s tired and bloodied, but it’s not his blood he wears. He won’t tell me what is spoken between them, but I am hopeful that if it is important, he’ll share.
Tobias has caught on to my nightly wine consumption and is convinced it’s the cause for my drowning, so he has ordered it to be kept away from me, as if I am a child. All that’s doing is forcing me deeper into my coffee and sweetened cream addiction, which he is more than happy to provide. He introduced me to something called decaf, which is coffee without caffeine. I can drink it at all times of the day and not have to worry about my sleep being affected. Not that I am worried about that. I seem to still fall asleep without remembering how or when I got into bed, but when I do awake, my body feels energized and healed from the inside out. Maybe deep, dreamless sleep has been the treatment I’ve needed all along.
I’ve asked around about Erik’s absence, but all that's shared is that he is still in Chatis. I’ve asked if he will be returning, but no one seems to have an answer. I thought about writing to him, but I fear he is staying to nurse his wounds and I don’t want to rush him back to court if he’s not well. I don’t believe he would abandon me, but if his father ordered it, he would have no choice as he is still a citizen of Chatis. Those thoughts bring me to my own father. Donovan confirmed that he received an acceptance letter in response to his invitation to the festival, but he has yet to appear, even though the week-long affair is almost half over.
I nervously await to hear his voice. Hear his commanding bellows ordering me about. He has no right to bark orders as our stations are more equal than before. Even then, I think my station is higher than his. Noterra is far too powerful for their queen to bow to a king of a smaller nation. Maybe that is why he is keeping his distance? He knows he no longer has control over me, and the idea is enough to keep him away. Or something has happened to him and Erik, and I haven’t yet been informed. No matter how much I try to force it down, my paranoia still makes its appearance quite often.
I sigh as I lean my head back against the couch. Donovan is sitting at the writing desk keeping up with correspondence, or at least that's what he says he’s doing. Instead, I catch him watching me every few moments as I sit here drinking my coffee. Lydia has already been in here to get me ready for the day, so now I just wait for someone to come get me to enjoy the festivities. While I know I am not locked in our room, I still hate that I feel as if I have to wait to be called upon before I can leave. Maybe that needs to be changed. I set my coffee down and rise. Donovan’s eyes widen as he stands.
“Your Grace?” He asks, questioning my movements.
“I’m fine, Donny. I just don’t want to be cooped up watching you pretend to catch up on my mail.” He smiles, embarrassed. “Please, let us go for a walk. Do something other than wait around all day.” I hold my hand out to him, but he doesn’t take it. I roll my eyes as I head towards the door, his footsteps quickening behind me to catch up.
I push open the double doors and take a deep breath as I take in the moving bodies in the hallway. Too many people make me claustrophobic, but passing through the horde is the only way out.
“Your Grace?” Echoes behind me as the guards stationed to my room acknowledge me. I ignore them and keep walking, narrowly dodging staff as they prepare for the day's games. People I’ve never seen mixed with those I see daily, pass by. Donovan catches up to me, breathlessly.
“Your Grace, I was asked to keep an eye on you.” His voice is strained, scared. Probably of Tobias, which he should be.
“Are you unable to use your eyes outside the confines of my room?” I question, my eyebrows raising. He smiles and relaxes.
“No, Your Grace. They work just fine.” His voice is filled with amusement.
“Good, I want to go to the beach.” I smile and begin walking again.
“Your Grace, that is an hour's ride away from here.” I roll my eyes.
“Fine, fine. I just want out of this palace.”
“Out of the palace?”
“Yes, take me to the stables.” He stops and I look back at him.
“I’m not asking for a horse to run away on, I just want to be near a living creature other than you. It’s been far too long since I have last seen Sybil, I don’t want her to forget me.” My tone is humorous, but my words sound angry. He nods and leads me to the stables.
The stables are technically outside the palace wall, but you don’t always have to go through the main gate to reach them. When we finally arrive, twenty or so horses are lined up in their separate stalls. They are either eating, or staring, or doing whatever else horses do. I walk up to a black horse, her mane shining in the bright morning sun. She nudges my hand as I reach for her, letting her silky fur brush through my fingers and the smell of hay trickle in through my nose.
“That horse was the late king’s, Your Grace.” A thick accent and a booming voice behind me makes me jump. Donovan is staring up at whoever it is that has joined us, but I could recognize that voice anywhere. I drop my hand from Sybil and take a deep breath before turning around to face him.
“And now she’s mine. Hello, father.” I offer a smile as I clasp my hands in front of me.
“Elaenor.” The way he says my name makes me nauseous. It rolls off his tongue with such disgust.
“She will be addressed by her proper name,Your Grace.” Donovan stammers as he steps towards my father. I lift my hand and press it against his chest, pushing him back.
“It is alright, Donovan.” I hold my head high as I speak, so as to not appear weak in the eyes of the man in front of me. The person who made me feel like a failure, and inconvenience, to him my entire life. “You came. I didn’t think you would.” I turn my attention back to my father, King Viktor of Chatis, and the one man who has the power to make me want to shrivel up into a ball and hide.
“Did I not send word? I could have sworn I did.” He responds, his voice light, humorous.
