Page 41 of Veil of Winter

Elyce wanted to say, “How do I stop them? I’m not sure if going to King Wenceslaus is going to help me.” Instead, she nodded.

Bertold turned and left with his horse.

Sir Gerard and Sir Oswalt stood at the door of the stable with their swords drawn, watching through a crack between the wooden boards.

Elyce sat back down and they finished eating. All the whileher mind was going over and over the things Bertold had said. She prayed silently,God, I’ve been feeling guilty for defying my father. After all, isn’t it wrong to be disobedient to one’s father?But her father was asking her to do things that she knew were not good for the people of Montciel.God, I don’t want to do wrong, but... I know You wouldn’t want me to fall prey to the schemes of evil men either. Show me how I have power, how to fight my enemies, and how to save my people.

***

The darkness was almost palpable as they made their way through the dense forest, too dense even for them to ride their horses.

Gerard led the way. The four of them and their horses walked singly through the thick undergrowth and about a foot of snow that had partially melted during a warm spell the day before, then refroze into a crusty mess. His foot would find a bit of resistance in stepping on the top, then sink down into the snow underneath. It was slow going, but the best way to get safely away from Rodrigo and his men was to set out at night. The longer they stayed in that town, the more likely they’d be seen and captured.

Princess Elyce had been quiet ever since Bertold had left. But the things he said were right. She was a brave and unusual woman to run away, to refuse to marry the man her father was demanding she wed, and to try to protect her people from the king of the neighboring kingdom in spite of her father.

And what kind of father would ally himself with a man likethat, especially a father who was a king? But fear and greed caused men to do strange things. Her father must be very afraid of King Claude, or else very greedy for what Claude was offering him, and yet his daughter had the courage and integrity to stand up to him.

Princess Elyce was worthy of the best knights, the best help he could give her. He could not bear to fail her.

They skirted the edge of the forest, as they had decided not to take the road out of town in case Rodrigo’s men were watching for them, and wound around to the level ground of the road to Prague. At least now it was easier going, as the moon gave them a bit of light that they hadn’t had in the forest and the snow was more trampled down.

As dawn was breaking, exhausted and hungry, they came upon a village with a small inn.

“Can we stop here?” Princess Elyce said. “I know it’s not very safe, but surely Rodrigo will not find us. We’ve been walking all night and—”

“Yes. We’ll get food and rooms and sleep for a few hours.”

“Thank you.” Both women looked relieved.

The inn was relatively clean and the food was good—fresh eggs with gravy and bread and butter, and a promise of “warm stew in a few hours, for the midday meal.”

After filling their stomachs, they went to rest in one big room that contained four beds.

“I’m sorry they didn’t have two separate rooms for us,” he said to Princess Elyce and Ysabeau as he opened the door.

The princess shook her head. “It’s all right. We shall sleep so hard, we’ll hardly know you’re there.”

Ysabeau barely looked at him from beneath half-closed eyelids and mumbled, “It is well.”

“If the circumstances were not as they are, we would never—”

“Worry not. We’ll feel safer with you here.” Princess Elyce walked to the first bed and collapsed onto it.

It was surely the crudest bed the princess had ever slept on. But as soon as she lay down, she seemed to be asleep. The same was true of her servant. Perhaps he had pushed them too hard. But neither of them had complained, although he had found the princess crying quietly once when they stopped for water.

She had quickly wiped her eyes when she saw him coming toward her.

“What is the matter?”

“Nothing. I... It is nothing.”

“It must be something.”

“I’m just tired,” she said.

“We should stop here then.”

“No, I am not that tired. I was simply... thinking about something sad.” She shook her head. “It is a silly thing I do. I end up dwelling on something I feel sad about for so long that I make myself cry. I shouldn’t, but sometimes... It is silly.”