Lucia novel · Chapter 6 of 24

Chapter 6: The Prince's Table

Tobin swung his legs out of bed and reached for his breeches.

"Tell the prince," he said to the door, "that Greywatch has eleven cords of firewood and eighty men."

"Yes, Captain."

"Tell him he is welcome at the mess stove with the rest of us."

The young soldier's boots hurried away down the stairs.

Tobin looked at me.

"I'm going to like him less, aren't I."

"Yes," I said.

I did not tell him about the crack in the prince's voice on the road.

I did not know yet what it meant.

By morning there was a thin white frost on the inside of the shutters.

The mess hall smelled of porridge and wet wool, and every bench was full.

I came down in my riding coat with Pia and found the garrison already eating, loud and cheerful for the first time in months.

Then the room fell silent, one table at a time.

Prince Corradin stood in the doorway in his black coat with a servant behind him carrying a silver tray.

He walked straight to the head of the long table, where Tobin sat each day, and set down his napkin.

"This is the commander's seat," he said. "I find the light here adequate."

The sergeant in Tobin's chair stood up so fast he knocked his bowl over.

Tobin was at the stove with his back turned, pouring tea.

He set the pot down very carefully.

"Highness," he said. "The porridge is that way."

"I do not eat porridge." The prince sat. "I will have wine, and bread, and whatever passes for meat."

"We have none of the three."

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