Lucia novel · Chapter 4 of 24

Chapter 4: A Wife Follows Her Husband

My father was waiting in the courtyard when we came down, with six guards behind him.

He had not slept either.

"You are not going to the border," he said.

"I am going with my husband."

"You are a princess of Altavere."

"I am a wife of Altavere," I said.

"The book says a wife may follow her husband wherever his duty takes him."

"No king can stop her."

My father's mouth worked.

"You read that book too much."

"You gave it to me when I was sixteen."

"I should have burned it."

Tobin, already mounted, kept his eyes politely on his horse's ears.

"Majesty," he said. "I'll keep her safe."

"You cannot even feed your own men," my father said.

"No," Tobin said. "Not yet."

The old king stared at him a long moment, then turned his heavy face away.

"Go, then," he said. "And when the seven nights end, I will see whether you are still so proud."

Montalban stepped out from the shadow of the arch, wrapped in a grey velvet cloak.

"One small thing, Your Majesty," he said gently.

"Prince Corradin should see the pass he is to inherit by treaty."

"It is only courtesy to send him with an escort."

"A prince in my fort," Tobin said slowly.

"A guest," Montalban said. "He asked it himself."

The black-coated figure was already waiting by the gate on a tall grey horse, reading a paper.

He did not look up.

"Fine," Tobin said. "He can eat what we eat."

"I doubt he will," I said.

Pia ran across the yard with a canvas pack on her back and a hunting knife through her belt.

"I'm coming," she said, before anyone could speak.

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