Ink and Steel

Kit shivered, nodded. I’ll just sit up tonight,he thought. I’ve that masque on Orpheus to turn to a proper play, anyway.“Renewed interest?”

Relief, that the tone in his voice was amused pique and not the terror of waking alone that knotted his gut. Six days nightmares, he thought. Perhaps on the seventh day my demons will let me rest.

“Renewed interest in getting an heir,” Murchaud said.

“I’d presumed thee childless by inclination,” Kit admitted, and Murchaud laughed.

“The Fae are not known for our overwhelming fertility, save when we breed with mortals. And even then.” Murchaud shifted against Kit’s shoulder. “The Mebd’s one daughter, Findabair, is dead these thousand years. I barely knew her: she married a mortal king a short time before I was born, and died barren. There has not been another.”

“And the Mebd is suddenly keen to get an heir?”

“War is brewing,” Murchaud answered. “I’m her heir, as it stands: there is no spare.”

“Ah,” Kit said, as the music shifted. “There’s my country dancing. Come pick a fight when you’re ready to go to bed.”

“Kiss enough pretty women to make it look convincing.”

“Oh. Never fear on that account, my dear.”

The wine was cool, and sharp enough to cut the exhaustion cloying Kit’s throat. He’d probably had too much of it, and the hall was nearly empty, false silver creeping across the blackness of the high windows. But he couldn’t face the trek from his lonely seat at the end of the high table upstairs to his bed and his nightmares yet. Kit leaned on the back of his fingers and contemplated lifting the tall glass goblet again. It seemed like a lot of effort for very little reward, and he raised his gaze to the last few dancers on the floor below.

He saw Geoffrey and Cairbre, whom Morgan was relieving at the music stand. He knew the names of the others by now, but did not know most of them beyond a casual conversation.

I should remedy that tonight.It took a moment to grope out the edge of the table and grasp it. Oiled silk and linen slipped under his hands; he took a firmer grip and hoisted himself to his feet, the floor lurching. He leaned on the table edge heavily, reached for his cup, and overset it. He righted the glass in the midst of spilled wine and looked up again, glancing around the room for someone to talk to.

Geoffrey, he thought. Perhaps the stag will be a little more forthcoming tonight. Given the obvious disrepair of my love affair with the Prince.But the stag was nowhere to be seen, and, in fact, Kit found himself quite alone. He didn’t recall hearing the music stop, but the hall echoed in its emptiness, and he realized that everything was tidied except for his own place at the table and that single glass of wine. He imagined the castle’s corps of brownies and elves sweeping the place clean in a matter of instants, and rubbed his face with his hand. Well, passing out drunk at the high table will certainly convince them your heart is in disarray. Hast no dignity at all? At least it wasn’t face-down in a puddle of vomit. To bed,he decided, and set about working out how best to clamber down the low steps from the dais without breaking a limb. There was no railing, and misperceived heights were enough of a problem sober and fresh.

“Sir Christofer.”

Kit closed his eye. “Robin.” Drunk enough that gratitude soaked his voice effusively. “Your assistance, good Puck?”

“Ah.” A jingle as the Puck took his arm. “No one bothered to inform you that the wine was fortified, I take it?”

Kit giggled. “Is that what it was? I thought I was merely a shame, a shameful drunk.”

“You have your reasons.” The little creature steadied him; Kit clung to his hand. “I’ll see you to bed.”

The spiral stair wasn’t as bad as Kit had anticipated, for all his head reeled. Robin’s long fingers were cool and soothing, and there was a railing to cleave to. Left on his own, he thought, he probably would have had to crawl.

“Oh,” he said, surprised to recognize his own door. “Here we are.”

“Yes, Kit. Come inside.” Robin turned the knob and chivvied him into the bedroom, kindling a light from the lamp at the top of the stairs. “Can you get your boots off on your own?”

“Not.” Kit swallowed. His throat burned, which was bad: it meant he was sobering. “Not going to bed.”

“Suit yourself,” Robin said. “How’s the stomach?”

“I am unlikely to disgrace myself. Further.”

“Good. You knew he was married, Kit.”

“Not that,” Kit said, then cursed himself for honesty. “Nightmares,” he explained, as Robin led him to a chair. “Do you dream, Robin?”

“These nightmares,” the Puck said, jumping up on the arm and turning to face him. “Are they new?”