‘No. Thank you,’ she said. ‘By the time we get home it will be the children’s bedtime.’
The Jacoby family departed, riding in one of Roo’s carriages, and Karli put the children to bed. Roo sat alone in his study for a while, drinking a brandy that he could hardly taste. His mind was lost in worry; he knew that the war was coming and that it was time to get his family to the East, or at least out to his estate, ready to flee from there.
Conversations with Erik and Jadow Shati and others who trusted him had revealed the presence of invaders already within the borders of the Kingdom. Most of those had been neutralized, but when the fighting erupted, who knew how dangerous travel to the East would become?
Karli came down the stairs and asked, ‘Are you coming to bed?’
‘Yes,’ said Roo, ‘in a few minutes.’ As his wife started to turn away, he observed, ‘You seem to like Helen and her children.’
Karli said, ‘Yes, I do. Her people and mine came from the same village, and we have a lot in common. And her children are sweet.’
An idea came to Roo. ‘When the Midsummer Festival has passed, what do you say to having the Jacobys out to the estate for a few weeks? The children can swim in the stream, and ride horses.’
‘Roo, they’re too little to ride.’
‘Well then, we’ll get them some pony carts.’ He stood up. ‘The weather will be beastly hot and it will be much nicer out there.’
Karli said in a guarded tone, ‘You’re not trying to get me out of the way, are you, Rupert?’
Alarmed that she might suspect his affair with Sylvia, Roo took her in his arms. ‘Not that. I just think I’d like some quiet time with my family, that’s all.’
‘Having four children in the house instead of just two is hardly my idea of quiet,’ said Karli.
‘You know what I mean,’ he said, playfully swatting her bottom. He kissed her, and she responded. ‘Let’s go to bed.’
While somewhat distracted by worry, he was still able to please Karli, and after their lovemaking she lay asleep in his arms. He found himself visited by an odd confusion, for as was often the case he was thinking of someone else while making love to his wife, but this time he found himself thinking not of Sylvia Esterbrook but rather of Helen Jacoby.
Remembering Gwen, the serving girl back in Ravensburg whom he had lost his virginity to, he silently said to himself, ‘Gwen’s right; we are all pigs.’
Fatigue drove away this moment of lucidity, and Roo fell into a deep sleep.
Erik read the orders and said, ‘We’re recalled to Krondor.’
Corporals Harper and Reed both saluted and moved out briskly, calling out commands to the soldiers spread out in the hills.
Erik wiped his brow and calculated. He knew that most of the men in the hills were among the last to be trained, the last to be considered for the critical task of limiting the ability of the invaders to expand their front anywhere except where Prince Patrick and his advisers permitted. Most of these men would be assigned to the defense of the city, and if Erik judged things rightly, those garrison units slated to defend in the hills would soon be moving along in small groups, patrols ostensibly, so the Emerald Queen’s agents would have little to report.
Erik admired Knight-Marshal William’s plans, for it now looked as if all units scattered throughout the West were being recalled for the defense of the city.
Erik squinted at the sun. Midsummer was less than two weeks away, and he knew the Emerald Queen’s fleet must be nearing the Straits of Darkness. It was hotter than usual for this time of the year, and he knew that meant it was likely to be a miserable summer.
As the men gathered, he considered that even if the weather were perfect, it would be a miserable summer. Still, by the time the invaders reached these mountains, it would be late fall, and if they could hold them until the winter snows, the Kingdom would survive.
Harper returned, saying, ‘Word’s been passed. Sergeant Major, and we’ll be ready to march within the hour.’
‘Very good,’ said Erik. ‘Have you spotted Captain Greylock in the last few hours?’
‘About an hour ago, that way.’ The corporal pointed down the road.
‘When they’re ready, don’t wait for me, start them for Krondor.’ He glanced around the hills. ‘We have four hours of sunlight left, and I want a good ten miles behind us before we think about making camp.’
‘Yes, Sergeant Major.’
Erik mounted his horse and headed down the road to find Greylock by the side of the road, reading a map.
‘Owen,’ said Erik as he rode up.
‘Erik,’ said Owen. ‘Are you ready to march?’
‘In the process,’ said Erik, as he dismounted. ‘The corporals are getting them ordered and they should be under way inthe next few minutes.’ Erik sat heavily on the side of the road and said, ‘I guess we’re done up here.’