Free The Singer's Crown by Elaine Isaak

me of Squire Montgomery as a man who tended his keep well while he was away. I once asked him why he did not bring this man with him on patrol, and he told me of the interrogation of a Woodman they had captured. The squire grew angry at the man and beat him. Eadmund was loath to speak of it, but I gather that the man died. He spoke in terms of his squire’s eagerness for truth, yet Montgomery never accompanied him again.”
    â€œI had not thought he knew even so much.” Kattanan gasped. “Highness, I do not mean to speak so carelessly. I should not be here.” He stood up again as if he meant to go.
    â€œPeace.” Wolfram looked on him with troubled eyes. “I did not bring you here to test your loyalty. When you spoke to me at supper, you were trembling, and I do not think it was nervousness at speaking to me. At least, I try not to be fearsome, and Montgomery never took his eyes from you. If you speak plainly to me, I will not raise a hand against you, nor allow another to do so.” Kattanan wavered uncertainly. “No matter what you claim, you are not just a singer, but also the sort of person who sees and hears many things. I would have you trust me with such things.” The prince watched him silently now, leaning forward in his seat.
    â€œYour Highness, I know not how to reply. I fear you misplace your attention in me.” Kattanan stared at his shoes a little longer, then sat down quickly. “Squire Montgomery is a cruel man, Your Highness. I don’t know his intention today, but in all else he is bent on his own power.” The words left him breathless, waiting for the prince to take offense.
    The prince quietly regarded his lowered head and put out a hand to him. The touch brought the singer’s head up with a jolt. “Do not fear me,” Wolfram said. “I have watched my father, thinking of how I should be different in his place. My father has been a good king, and strong, but he was not always kind, when that might have gained him more than strength.”
    Kattanan gazed at him in wonder. He was power’s toy, freely passed from one prince to the next for some advantage; kindness was not a word he associated with such men. The fear died away as he heard sincerity in the prince’s voice and saw the hand ready to comfort him.
    Wolfram smiled a little. “I will not take this man into my household and have any live in fear of him, and thus of me as his lord.” He leaned back into the wall. “I can’t say I look forward to ruling anyone. You have no idea how hard it is for a prince to make friends. Sooner or later, he finds their parents all have cases before court, or have daughters of the same age.”
    Kattanan gave a sharp laugh. “Forgive me, Highness, I had thought princes lead lives of luxury, given all they could ask.”
    â€œPrincesses, maybe. There’s my sister for an instance. What do you think of her?”
    â€œIt is not my place to speak of that, Highness.”
    The prince made calming motions with his hands. “I shall tell you, then. When the court is watching, she is the image of propriety and grace; but let them look away, and she is still a little girl: demanding, moody, selfish, inconsiderate. I hope marriage will bring her a little more wisdom. We have two elder sisters, both well married, though neither was so full of youth as Melisande. There was a time I was her most trusted friend, now she seems to think me a royal pest, meddling in her affairs.” He contemplated the singer. “Already she places trust in you.”
    â€œIf you mean bringing me to supper to attend her, it was all quite by accident, Your Highness. She had chased her maids away.”
    â€œIt is not that, but that she gave you a room adjoining her own; and the priestess came there this morning and did not enter, for she heard the prayers already being sung.”
    Kattanan blushed, and did not meet the prince’s