Page 72 of Lord of Misrule

By the time Tolin had finished handing out umble pies to the peasants and returned to the castle, the meal was over and all the trestle tables had been cleared of plates and food.

“Tolin, where were you?” Rook walked up with Daegel. Daegel had a piece of honeyed seed cake in his hand and was about to take a bite.

“I was handing out umble pies to the peasants and it took too long,” said Tolin. “I am cold and starving. Mayhap I’ll go to the kitchen to find something to eat.”

“No time for that,” said Rook. “Tonight is the big card tournament that you’ve planned as entertainment. You have even promised to teach everyone how to play your silly game, Tolinoffel. I’ve instructed the servants to bring out cards so everyone can play a card game of some kind. However, you need to give instructions for your game first so they’ll know the rules.”

“I don’t feel like playing cards. I just want to eat and go to bed. I’m exhausted.” Tolin’s eyes were focused on the cake in Daegel’s hand. The sweet yet spicy aroma drifted over to him in the air. “Is there any of that left?” Tolin licked his lips, already able to taste the sugar on his tongue. His mouth watered and his stomach made growling noises.

“Nay. This was the last piece,” said Daegel, inspecting what was left. “I sweet-talked the kitchen maid to get it.” He shoved the rest into his mouth, causing a pain to go through Tolin’s heart. “However, I do think there is some white bread left in the kitchen that the servants are not allowed to eat. Mayhap you can get some of that.”

“I’d eat trenchers right now and not care,” mumbled Tolin, feeling his stomach twisting.

“My lord, everyone awaits you and the crowd is getting restless,” said Brother Ruford, approaching with a worried look on his brow.

“Then go say a prayer or something while I get some bread.” Tolin was hungry and irritated. He turned to make his way to the kitchen when he heard Parker call out to the crowd.

“Since I’m the Bean King, I want all the leftover white bread in the kitchen to be given to the dogs in the kennel.”

“What?” Tolin spun around to see the boy standing on his chair. Tolin’s dog was looking up at Parker, panting or smiling, he wasn’t sure which. That was the same look his dog used to give him. Kit stood behind the boy grinning. Most likely giving the lad the lame idea.

“I also want King to have an entire loaf of bread to himself,” said Parker, petting the dog on the head.

“Naaaaay,” moaned Tolin, seeing his last hope going to the dogs.

“My lord,” said Jarvis, hurrying over. “The games are late in starting and your presence is needed. You are in charge of the festivities and they can’t begin without you.”

“Aye,” he said, turning slowly and shuffling over to the tables where the card games would take place. Perhaps giving the bean to the boy to show goodwill toward Kit and her family was not the best idea after all.

The night was extremely long, and finally Tolin was happy when it was over. Even if he’d had to stand in the cold handing out pies to peasants and was so hungry he could retch, at least now he’d have a good sleep in his warm bed.

“Good night, everyone.” Tolin was so hungry and tired that he did not even care that Rook and Daegel had both beat him tonight at a card game that he’d invented. In his defense, he couldn’t think straight, but it still made him a loser instead of a winner. It wasn’t a good feeling at all.

Tolin yawned as he opened the door to his solar, hoping Jarvis had a fire burning on the hearth. He stopped in his tracks. Yes, there was a fire to warm the room, but there was something else inside his room that he hadn’t expected to be there.

“Tolin! What are you doing here?” Kit sat up in his bed, clutching the blankets in front of her. Parker lay on the bed with her, sleeping. Even King was on the bed, sprawled out at the foot, looking up at him with half-closed eyes.

“This is my room. I’m going to bed. My bed, which you are in,” he ground out.

“Shhhh,” said Kit with a finger to her lips. “You’ll wake Parker.”

“I hope I do,” he told her, storming into the room. “Then he can take himself and you back to your room off the kitchen where you belong.” He was so furious that he was about to rip the covers off of her.

“The Lord of Misrule wants to sleep in your bed tonight, so you’ll have to sleep in the great hall on the floor I guess,” Kit told him, watching Tolin’s mood turn from bad to worse.

“I’m sure you put that idea in his head, didn’t you?” The corner of his mouth quivered when he spoke.

“Now, Tolin, please. My sister is using our room and has just birthed a baby. The infant cries a lot and Parker needed his rest. Plus, Oliver is using the extra pallet, staying with Brenna to assist her. There is no room for us in there, so this works out better.”

“Works out better for you but not me!”

“Shhhh,” she told him again.

“Don’t shush me in my own chamber! And what the hell is Oliver doing sleeping in that room? I said he needed to stay in the stables or the great hall.”

“Well, the Bean King said he could stay with his wife.” She smiled at him smugly.

“Kit, you are behind all this, I know it. I don’t like it in the least.”

“Me?” She slapped her hand against her chest. “You were the one who decided to give Parker the bean, so don’t blame me. Besides, I can hardly think that giving white bread to the dogs would upset you since that is exactly what you did when I first arrived.”

“I told you I was sorry for what I said about you to my brothers. You are obviously still angry with me or you wouldn’t be advising your son to do everything and anything to spite me.”

“Now, what kind of a thing is that to say? My son has a mind of his own and you know it.”

“I also know that you are enjoying a little too much the fact that he is Lord of Misrule now.” He stomped over and yanked the pillow out from behind her.

“Oomph,” she spat, her body falling back against the headboard. “What are you doing?”

“I am getting a pillow because the damned floor in the great hall is hard and cold.” He tried to pull a blanket off the bed too, but the dog’s big body was atop it and King refused to move. Tolin gave up and left the room, slamming the door behind him.

“Mother? What’s that noise?” asked Parker, opening one sleepy eye.

“It’s nothing, sweetheart, go back to sleep.” Kit had been enjoying herself telling her son what to do, because she knew it would upset Tolin. But mayhap her games had gone too far. Tolin was a man who liked games, but it was obviously only when he was winning. He had told her he was sorry and had even given Parker the bean in good faith. Mayhap tomorrow she would have to tell Parker to give the man back his bed.

She lay back and pulled the covers up to her chin smelling the scent of Tolin upon them. Every time she closed her eyes, she kept picturing herself and Tolin atop this bed, making love and crying out each other’s names in elation.

Kit missed his touch. She missed his kisses. And most of all, she was going to regret having to leave here soon and never see him again.