Page 12 of Straw and Gold (A Realm of Revelry #2)
Killian
“The herd’s been wanderin’ again, Your Majesty. More than usual, but Beireoir here’s got some good days left in ‘im.”
I ruffled the ears of the hound and he licked my hand in response.
Nodding in silence, I surveyed the herd of white sheep dotting the hillside. “They gave a good clip this spring. We should have more than enough wool to last through until next year.” Petting Beireoir again, I switched to the Changlingfae tongue. “And the moss stores?”
The herder known simply as Cú replied with a grunt.
“Good, good,” I said, switching back to the common language in Revelry.
I folded my arms, brushing my hand over my forearm where Morella had touched me three mornings ago.
In that time, I had swept away right after breakfast, ensuring Fedir would give her tours and lectures about every part of the castle and grounds while I managed to visit the few dozen farms of my kingdom.
Each night, I returned just before the darkest hour, finding Morella already asleep in her own bed.
And now, I had no more excuses to be away from the castle.
Away from her .
Goddessdamn me, I had months left of this. But as long as I left everything well taken care of, I could do what needed to be done before my…departure.
“Needin’ a cuppa tea, Your Majesty?” Cú asked with a quizzical brow.
“No, not today. Thank you.”
He nodded slowly as we both continued to stare out into the hillside.
“Needin’ some advice on the new marriage, then?”
I chuckled at his insight.
He continued, “Been married thirty-some years now. Took some time, but I can tell ya what took me too long to be a figurin’ out.”
I sighed heavily. “And what’s that?”
He shrugged. “Give her what she wants. If it don’t hurt you none, why not? And even if it do hurt ye, ask yourself if she’s worth it.”
I laughed, turning back to the grove of trees in the distance. “If I gave her what she’s wanted for the past three days, she’d be visiting farms with me.”
“Wouldn't hurt no one, would it?” he asked. “When I married Caoimhe, I told her ‘no’ often enough. Wasn’t ‘til I realized I was foolin’ my own self that I put her first. And she gave me the best somethin’ in return.”
“And what was that?”
He patted my shoulder. “All of the love she’s got. Now I can’t live without it, and she just keeps on givin’ it.”
I glanced south where the castle sat with Morella inside somewhere, listening to a man who was not her husband give her yet another tour of the castle’s extensive rooms that no one occupied.
I really was out of excuses.
“Thank you, Cú. I’ll consider your words. Until next month.” I nodded my goodbye, headed north to the next farm instead of south where I felt I should be.