Such orders cannot come from me. A pause. Don’t waste time in anger. Think, and you’ll see why it must be so.
I understood, but knew also that I would not leave Shrewd in this dingy, smelly room any more than I would abandon him to a dungeon. There was half a ewer of water, stale, but mostly clean. I set it to warm by the hearth. I wiped his bed table clean of ash and set out the tea and pastry tray atop it. Rummaging boldly through the King’s chest, I found a clean nightshirt, and then washing herbs. Leftover, no doubt, from Cheffers’s time. I had never thought I would so miss a valet.
Wallace’s pounding ceased. I did not miss it. I took the warmed water scented with the herbs and a washing cloth and set it by the King’s bedside. “King Shrewd,” I said gently. He stirred slightly. The rims of his eyes were red, the lashes gummed together. When he opened his lids, he blinked red veined eyes at the light.
“Boy?” He squinted about the room. “Where is Wallace?”
“Away for the moment. I’ve brought you warm wash water and fresh pastries from the kitchen. And hot tea.”
“I … I don’t know. The window’s open. Why is the window open? Wallace has warned me about taking a chill.”
“I opened it to clear the air in the room. But I’ll close it if you like.”
“I smell the sea. It’s a clear day, isn’t it? Listen to those gulls cry a storm coming …. No. No, close the window, boy. I dare not take a chill, not as ill as I am already.”
I moved slowly to close the wooden shutters. “Has Your Majesty been ill long? Not much has been said of it about the palace.”