Page 61 of Lord of Misrule

“Everyone is upset that the Lord of Misrule hasn’t ordered anyone to do things in a while now. They want you to command something crazy.”

“Yes, this is the one time the peasants can actually be treated like a noble, or have fun. You need to give them that,” agreed Rook.

“Yes, I suppose so,” Tolin said, releasing a sigh. With everything planned for the festivities, he could see that he would never get to town tonight. Mayhap it would just have to wait until tomorrow.

Kit stood in the middle of her burned down bakery, feel lost, alone, and hopeless. Everything was in ashes. She walked through the area that had once been her home. Now it was a smoldering pile of nothingness.

The ovens were just fine, being used to flames. However, the upstairs was gone and so was the roof. She looked up to see the darkening sky since nightfall was coming fast.

“Kit? Kit, are you in here?” Her sister-by-marriage came through the opening that used to be the front door.

“I’m back here, Vivian,” she called out to the girl.

Vivian waded through the ashes and water damage, joining Kit in what used to be the kitchen.

“Oh, Kit, my heart goes out to you,” said Vivian, with tears in her eyes. “It looks like you’ve lost everything you own.”

“Yes,” said Kit with a lump in her throat. She had worked so hard to build her business, and now in the blink of an eye it was gone. “But at least there were no deaths. My family is safe. For that, I am grateful.”

“Why did you come back from the castle so soon?” Vivian had arrived with a broom in her hand and started sweeping the floor.

“Lord Tolin lifted Parker’s sentence,” said Kit.

“He did? That is great,” said Vivian. “So, he isn’t such a bad guy, after all.”

“I’m not so sure about that.” Kit bent down and started picking up shards of broken pottery.

“What do you mean?” asked Vivian. “He sounds like he cares.”

“I wish he did.”

“There is something you are not telling me.” Vivian stopped sweeping. “Now spill it.”

“All right.” Kit stood and placed the broken shards atop what was left of the counter. “I found myself very attractive to Lord Tolin. He seemed nice. And caring, like you said.”

“And?” Vivian raised a brow.

“We made love,” Kit blurted out, looking out the remnants of a window rather than at her good friend.

“You did?” Excitement resounded in Vivian’s voice. “That’s a good thing. Isn’t it?”

“I thought it was,” said Kit with a sigh. “I thought he had feelings for me the way I did for him.”

“So...he doesn’t?”

“Nay. I found out he only coupled with me because he felt sorry for me.”

“Oh, Kit!” Vivian dropped the broom and rushed over to hug Kit. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s fine.” Kit faked a smile and pushed away. “I need to get my life back together.”

“You know that Willis and I will help you however we can.”

“Thank you for saying I can stay with you for now. But I need to find a home, because after Twelfth Night my son and the others will return. We need a place to live.”

“Won’t Lord Tolin let you stay at the castle until you rebuild?” asked Vivian.

“I didn’t ask him directly,” said Kit. “Even if he would, it doesn’t matter. I have no money so rebuilding my bakery is out of the question.”