It was also true that should anyone make it this far, they would have a rather formidable harem with which to contend. He also conceded that having guards within the wing would have made the sneaking around this evening impossible.
Ramsay crept along through the bedroom, careful to watch every step, every sleeping person. Shafiq slept in his bed with his son, the twins twined together on the right side of it, Jankin on the left, and Berkant at the foot.
He paused, despite himself, to memorize every detail that moonlight was kind enough to reveal. How did they sleep, he wondered, when Kajan was not in the room? What must it be like to live this life? Hard, he would imagine, but rewarding. Lover and friend and protector, all rolled into one. All of the duties that had rested upon his shoulders for so long, but none of the loneliness. It sounded so ideal, so very much like a dream, it made him ache.
These men would never have let Colum die.
Forcing himself to move on, Ramsay finally left the bedroom and stepped out into the garden. It was impressive by moonlight, and probably truly beautiful by daylight. He strode through it quickly, fighting with all his might against the desire to turn back, until he at last reached the high walls that turned the palace into its own private world.
It was harder than he thought it would be, to make himself scale the wall and leap down neatly on the other side. But he did it, brushing off dirt as he stood up, finally free to return to his normal life.
His normal existence.
Feeling wretched and miserable, resenting that his fragile peace had been snatched away from him by one little boy and five strangely compelling, fascinating men. Heavy-hearted, he went to fetch Feather from the stable.
*~*~*
Ramsay looked up in confusion as he heard the sound of roughly six horses coming toward his cabin. Putting down his book, he strode outside to greet the visitors, pulling his sword from its hook as an afterthought.
He stared in dismay when he saw six Tavamaran royal soldiers lined up neatly in his yard. "Can I help you?" he asked, relaxed but ready to draw and strike in a moment.
The guards seemed more than a little surprised by him. "We are looking for a man by the name of Ramsay Reid."
"You found him. What do you want?"
He almost laughed at the looks upon their faces. No doubt they had expected something else entirely. "Uh—" the guard who seemed to be in charge paused and recovered himself, then said more politely and with almost no trace of astonishment, "My Lord Ramsay, you have been requested by his Majesty the Kingto dine with him at his palace. My orders are to escort you if you agree or to take you by force if you attempt to refuse."
Ramsay snorted in amusement. Take him by force. As if six mere palace guards could handle him. "Very well," he said. "I'll come willingly. Give me a moment to gather my things. Wait out here." He slammed the door in their faces, then strapped his sword on and quickly grabbed all he would need to survive in the woods for a few days.
Why would Shafiq bother sending for him? He had no further use for Ramsay, even if he had saved Kaj. Especially since in saving Kaj, he had killed a man for whom Shafiq must have cared, traitor or not.
Ready, he glanced around his cabin to make certain all would be well without him for a bit, then strode to the back door and opened it—and immediately scowled. "What in the name of the Three are you doing here?"
Berkant smirked. "We were ordered to bring you home, Lynx. One way or another. I am here because I am the only one who stands a chance of doing it by force, hmm?"
Ramsay glared, furious. "There is no point."
"My King desires your presence," Berkant replied. "That is reason enough for me to deliver you. But there are others."
He would not go back. He wouldn't.
Berkant continued, "Shafiq was crushed when we realized you were gone. You will return, by choice, by force, even if I must get on my knees and beg."
That drew Ramsay up short. "No one is doing any begging," he said flatly. "If he wants to see me, then so be it, but I do not see the point."
In reply, Berkant only smiled and took hold of his wrist, dragging him outside and around to the front of the cabin, where his horse was already saddled and waiting. Though how they'dgotten her to cooperate, he did not know. "Feather, are you growing soft?" he hissed.
She gave him an impatient look and an even more impatient snort.
"Spoiled brat," he retorted without heat as he swung up into the saddle. He rolled his eyes when he was neatly boxed in by the soldiers, Berkant riding beside him, all to ensure he would not bolt. "I said I would come."
Berkant only continued to smile and ordered the soldiers to move out.
When they reached the palace a day and a half later, all he wanted was to turn and run. And never make this damned trip again. He was used to doing it every few weeks, not several times in a row. Dismounting, he followed Berkant through still more secret entrances, finally emerging in the king's chambers again. Berkant led him into the room in which he had slept before and bowed. "His Majesty will be free to speak with you shortly. Someone will come to fetch you. See you later." He winked then was gone.
Making a face, Ramsay nevertheless obediently stripped out of his filthy clothes and washed off, then put on the new clothes that had been set out for him. What was the point of all this, he wondered as he pulled on the fine clothes. Did they want him to resume his duties full time? That seemed the likeliest, but there was no way he could do it.
Not if it meant watching the five of them every single day, while always standing apart.
