Dragonblade Trilogy - 03 - The Savage Curtain by Kathryn Le Veque

lead to his death. It
will surely kill him.”
    Stephen was not without sympathy.
“I cannot grant your request, lady,” he said softly. “Your father is a prisoner
of the king and only the king can make that decision.”
    Tears dripped from her chin and
onto the cranberry colored wool. “First my brothers, then my mother…,” she was
growing increasingly hysterical as she once again turned away from him. “And
now my father is gone. My family is destroyed. I have no one left.” 
    Stephen didn’t know what to say
to that. She had every right to be distraught.  Not knowing what else to do, he
gave her a few moments of crying before reaching out and grasping her elbow
gently.
    “Come along,” he said softly.
“You will feel better after you have eaten.”
    She pulled her elbow away from
him, although it was not cruelly done. “Nay,” she breathed. “I… I am not
hungry. If you do not mind, I simply wish to be left in peace.”
    Stephen watched as her small body
was wracked with sobs.  He was about to insist that she come to the hall and
eat, but he thought better of it.  The woman needed to deal with her grief in
her own way.
    He left her without a word, his
heart heavy with sorrow for her. Somehow, between last night and this morning,
he was coming to feel a great deal of compassion for the woman. It was apparent
that Life had dealt her a bitter blow at a young age, which didn’t seem fair to
him. Certainly, most people had their share of hardships, but she seemed to
have more than most. 
    As he crossed the bailey and
headed into the great hall where Edward and Tate were sitting near the blazing
hearth, he thought to take Joselyn some food so that she would have something
to eat if she became hungry.  Edward and Tate were discussing some future
strategy, acknowledging Stephen when he began gathering hunks of cheese and a
few apples.
    “How is your wife?” Tate asked.
    Stephen was picky with his apple
selection; he inspected each one closely before deciding. “She is rested but
understandably upset over the death of her mother and the departure of her
family.”
    “Did you give her the garments
you bought?”
    “I did. She looks marvelous.”
    Edward elbowed Tate, grinning. “I
told you she was a lovely girl, Stephen,” the king said. “So now you agree with
me?”
    Stephen looked at the young king.
“I never disagreed in the first place,” he replied, tucking the cheese and
apples into one hand and hunting for a nice piece of soft bread with the other.
“Wait until you see her this morning. She looks like a goddess.”
    Tate just grinned and shook his
head. “It sounds as if you are not entirely displeased with your marriage,
then.”
    Stephen shrugged. “Time will tell
once we’ve both had a chance to settle in to it.”
    “Why did she not come down to
join us for the meal?” Edward wanted to know. “Is she too worn out from your
wedding night?”
    Stephen fought off a grin at the
crass question. “I never touched her,” he said honestly. “When did I have time?
From the moment we were married until this very second, I have been mostly away
from her seeing to my duties as both husband and garrison commander.  If this
pace keeps up, we’ll both be old and gray before I have enough time to property
consummate the marriage.”
    Tate wriggled his eyebrows and
stroked his chin in a weary gesture. “If I were you, I would make time. You
cannot leave her untouched.”
    “I know,” Stephen nodded
patiently. “I will do my duty as soon as I am able and not a moment sooner.
Besides, last night was not the right time. She was… well, understandably
distraught.”
    Tate thought on the burning woman
he had gored, his good humor fading. “Indeed,” was all he would say.  The trio
fell silent a moment before Tate spoke again. “Speaking of wives, I must return
soon to mine.  I am anxious to see my children.  The baby turned four months old
yesterday and I have not seen him since he was