Free In Honor Bound by DeAnna Julie Dodson Page B

massive book the scribes used for such records. "I will do so now, if you have your leisure."
    "I am not an idiot or a child, my lord, that I must be read to," Philip snapped, and Rafe moved closer to him, almost putting himself between the two of them.
    "My lord Chamberlain," he interposed, "if you will pardon me, my lord of Caladen has not been well. Such a reading would overtire him and I feel–"
    "It is an order direct from your father, my lord," Dunois said, ignoring Rafe's protest, and Philip slumped down into his chair.
    "By all means, let the royal will be carried out."
    "My lord," Dunois said with a bow and an unctuous smile, and he began to read of the cost of the crystal goblets given to the Archbishop at his investiture, and how many pairs of boots were needed for the army on the southern border; of the importance of strict control over the supply of silks brought into the country, and how many of these new ministers were spreading their heresy here in the south. Before he could finish his explanation of why a tax should be imposed on beeswax, however, Rafe noticed that Philip had fallen into an uneasy sleep.
    "My lord," he whispered to Dunois, "please, you can see he has not slept well since the trial. Another time, I beg you."
    Dunois slammed the book shut. "The king will not be pleased," he warned, and he turned on his heel and left, slamming the door shut, too.
    Looking down at Philip, Rafe shook his head. "No, I do not imagine he will."
    He lifted Philip like a child in his arms and laid him down on the bed, then drew the coverlet over him. He dared not remove his boots for fear of waking him, but the boy looked so worn out that Rafe doubted he would have felt even that.
    "Rest now, boy. Life'll not seem so cruel after a little sleep."
    He gently loosened Philip's fingers from the tight fists they had formed, then he sat down in the chair and went to sleep himself.
    ***
    It was not long before the blackness of Philip's exhaustion dissolved into dreams. He saw Katherine as she had been the morning after they married, with the dawn light shining through her shift, making a halo of her long fair hair. Her lips were curved into a sweet smile and she bent down, as she had then, to stir the fire.
    Then the dream turned nightmare. A tendril of blonde hair caught fire and in an instant the flames consumed her. With a shriek, she fell into ash and the well remembered acrid smell of burnt hair and flesh filled Philip's nose.
    Gasping, he bolted up in bed and for a long while he did not move. He forced himself to breathe slowly, reminded himself that it was only a dream. Still, the memory nauseated him. He'd been spared the sight but not the smell of her execution, and it seemed he would carry that to his grave.
    It was dark. He did not know how long he had slept, but he was determined to not let it happen again. Sleep now held for him a terror he could not control. He would have gotten up and roamed the passageways as had become his habit, but he knew he would never be able to get past Rafe unseen. Instead, he gathered up the pillows and propped himself up, prepared to spend the hours until dawn battling this new enemy– sleep.
    ***
    The following day, Philip received another royal summons. This one he obeyed.
    "Sit down, son," Robert said. "I trust today finds you well."
    Philip felt no inclination towards idle talking.
    "What would you have of me?"
    "I must command something of you, something I would not ask yet except it has become necessity. Please, sit down."
    "I rather would stand. What would you have of me?"
    "I must require your marriage now. It cannot wait any longer."
    Philip turned even paler than he was already. "You promised me."
    "As I before told you, this is no boys' game, this playing for kingdoms. Your safety and mine, Tom's, the whole realm's, could depend upon the alliance you make."
    Anger brought sudden color to Philip's cheeks. "Is this alliance so dear that you would lie and murder for