Page 49 of Veil of Winter

Gerard wanted to go straight to Prague Castle as soon as they arrived in the huge walled city so Princess Elyce could see what King Wenceslaus—the King of Bohemia and the King of Germany, the Holy Roman Emperor—would do for her and her people. But the princess had insisted she needed to rest, to put on her most elaborate dress and make herself look her best before going before the king. So she sent a missive to the king when they arrived, then they went to an inn to await his hoped-for summons.

The summons came quickly, and the group slept their first night in Prague inside the king’s palace bedrooms on his insistence, with the request that Princess Elyce meet with him the next day.

Princess Elyce and Ysa were spirited away upon their arrival at the palace, and Gerard and Sir Oswalt were taken to theirown bedroom and given food and clothing and even a bath in a tub large enough to sit down in. And in spite of the uncertainty of what the morrow would bring, Gerard had slept quite well.

A knock came at their door. Gerard opened the door to see Princess Elyce standing in the hallway. She wore one of the most elaborate dresses he’d ever seen. Her hair was adorned in pearls and a see-through veil, but her smile was the same.

“I am meeting with the king, and I would like you to accompany me.”

“Me?” Gerard had assumed she would meet with the king alone. After all, she was a princess, and he and Oswalt were only knights, and foreign ones at that.

“You are the son of an English earl, so you know a bit about royal politics. You can help me explain why we need the king’s help, how many men we will need, and he may want to know that you are experienced enough to help strategize and fight.”

“I don’t know that you need me for any of that, but I am willing to go with you, if you wish.”

“You are very capable. Furthermore...” She paused, her face slightly downturned. “I will feel more confident with you by my side.”

His heart swelled at her honest confession, to think that she needed him, even if it was only to be beside her during an important conversation.

“I will accompany you, but I am not dressed to be in the presence of the king—”

“You are perfect. Come.” She smiled and stepped back, allowing him into the corridor.

He said over his shoulder to Sir Oswalt that he would be back later. Then he closed the door behind him.

Instinct, as well as decorum, demanded he hold out his arm to her. She immediately placed her delicate hand lightly on his forearm.

Just that innocent touch on his arm brought up the memory of their kiss, the feel of her hand in his, the way she had leaned into his side afterward. Did she think of their kiss as often as he did? Surely not, for he remembered it many times a day, and every night when he closed his eyes, even though he knew he was foolish to do so.

And now he was going with her to meet the King of Germany and Bohemia, King Wenceslaus the Fourth.

Rumor had it that the other noblemen called him “King Wenceslaus the Idle.” Gerard would get a chance to decide for himself if the name was appropriate.

The closest Gerard had ever come to meeting a king was when he was on trial before the young boy-king, Richard, and his advisors. Gerard and his brothers had been falsely accused of treason and murder, and that had been the worst experience of his life, being judged guilty in the unfair trial.

He only hoped this meeting would be much better, and that Princess Elyce would get the help she needed.

But whether she did or not, Gerard would continue to help her in every way he could. He had promised Delia that he would, had he not? But there were other, stronger reasons for staying by her side that he would not examine.

Fifteen

Elyce’s hand trembled as she laid it on Sir Gerard’s arm. Although she felt it, she couldn’t see it shaking, and for that she said a silent,Thank You, God.She hoped King Wenceslaus would not see how nervous she was. But just having Sir Gerard with her—he always seemed so confident, his head always held high—made her able to take a deeper breath into her chest and let it out.

“Thank you for coming with me.”

“Of course.”

“Nothing ever seems to frighten you.”

“It is my duty to never be afraid. But I do not think the king will harm us today.”

“I am not afraid of him harming us.”

“Then what is the worst thing that can happen?”

“That he will refuse to help me. Or he will be angry that I defied my father’s wishes.”

“And if that happens, we will simply find another way to help your people.”