Free Trusted by Jacquelyn Frank Page B

the table with all the usual guests that came for midday meal only, instead of being seated according to rank, Sarea and her friends were instructed to sit along the immediate left and right sides of the table…with Sarea being intended to sit at his right. At the last minute she pushed Isobol into that chair and took the seat next to her. She peeked to see the king’s expression and to her consternation he looked amused. Damn him, she wasn't there for his entertainment!
    But what was she there for? To amuse him? To pleasure him? What?
    Because she was seated to Isobol’s right, that opened her right side to the next highest-ranking person in the room. Jesso, Garrick’s most Trusted. Hannibol was absent from the table, as was Jun and Killium. Xan sat on the opposite side from her at her friend Hycinth’s left. To Jesso’s right sat Gersa, the next highest ranking individual in the room.
    “My king,” Gersa spoke up, raising her voice so she could be heard down the table. “Is it true there is dashu fever in the southlands?”
    “It is indeed. It has affected Lord Shorin’s tenants. I do not know if it has spread farther than that. I happened upon Lady Sarea tending one of the farmer’s sick children.”
    “You mean…Lady Sarea has been exposed to dashu fever and now she’s sitting here with us?” Gersa was clearly appalled.
    “As have I,” the king said dangerously.
    Gersa did not look to be affected by this in the least. She was a woman who knew who her father was…and knew how little respect for the king he had. It had clearly bled down into his daughter.
    “Well, I don’t know if it is wise to be in such large company after such exposure. You could potentially start an epidemic.”
    “If you are so concerned, Lady Gersa, then perhaps you had best eat somewhere else,” Garrick said. He gave a curt nod to Jesso who stood up and took the Lady Gersa’s arm in his hand. He pulled her up out of her seat.
    “Do not touch me, you great, lumbering oaf!” Gersa cried, yanking her arm free. But Jesso took hold of it again easily. “My king, I only meant…I did not mean I wished to leave,” she said, turning suddenly sweet. “I would never wish to be deprived of your company.”
    Jesso stood there with her arm in hand, waiting for Garrick to signal him one way or another. Finally he nodded in reprieve and Jesso released the Lady Gersa and regained his seat next to Sarea. Sarea had to hide a smile beneath her cup of wine. The king was quick to act when something pleased or displeased him, and when he acted it was succinct. Sarea didn’t know if this was a good quality or a bad one. Was he rash? Or did he simply know what he wanted instantaneously and was able to make well thought out plans quickly?
    By threatening to remove the Lady Gersa, he had let her know in no uncertain terms who was in charge of the situation. Who had the power. It was clear to Sarea that Gersa had needed the reminder. Being removed forcibly from a meal with the king would have put a sizeable dent in Gersa’s reputation. Of course she would do anything to keep that from happening.
    “How long have the children been ill?” Jesso asked her.
    “They only just came down with it three days ago. My mother and I went out as soon as we heard. All six of the children had it, and no mother to tend them. There were three other farms with the sickness as well. But thanks to the king, they are all being well tended by medics. That should keep any threat of epidemic at bay,” Sarea said pointedly as she looked to Gersa. Gersa gave her a tight smile in reply.
    “Still, you should not have gone where there is sickness, my king,” Jesso said. “We would be lost without you and it does not serve for you to take risks.”
    “I was not exposed for very long, if at all. I merely stood in the same room.”
    “That may be enough,” Jesso said grimly. “I would not have you ill.”
    “Thank you for your concern, Jesso, but I will be