A beating heart

Chapter 27

„The Lady Kenna, your Highness." his page carefully poked his head through the door.

His brain was pulsing with a throbbing pain and it took him several moments to recover his senses.

„Ahh yes, please send her in." his voice was still laced with sleep, as he rose his head.

He buried his face in his hands, before letting his head fall back against the chair once more. If he weren't so exhausted he would have found Kenna's sudden visit more suspicious, but in this moment he was to numb to care. But she had picked a particularly bad time, as he felt in no way capable of listening to any of her accusations.

There was nothing he would rather do than close his heavy eyes again, but instead he pushed himself out of the chair followed by a heavy grown. He must look pathetic, with the dark skin framing his eyes, his messy hair and the evident stubble on his cheeks. Hastily he ran his fingers through the tangled strands of his curls in order to look somewhat representable. He wasn't very confident in his success.

Just as he let his hands fall back down to rest on the back of the chair she appeared in the door as his page ushered her in. For a moment both of them just stood there staring at the other. Her dark hair was falling around her face in simple braids at the front and she momentarily balled her hands as if she herself wasn't sure why she was here either. Her lips were tightly pressed together, forming a thin line and the look in her eyes was indecipherable.

„Francis ... I mean your Highness." she wavered before hastily curtsying before him.

It somewhat baffled him. She was normally so outspoken and confident in her ways, this didn't seem to fit. Her unsureness made her look younger somehow, like an insecure little girl.

„I think Francis will do." he tried to smile but his muscles didn't obey, so he simply resumed to search her face for any clues.

Evidently, his unwavering stare made her uncomfortable as she averted her gaze and when she met his eyes again, her fingers were intertwined before her body.

„Francis, the King has sent me." she looked more nervous by the second „I am to deliver a request from his majesty."

He could feel the muscles in his neck stiffening at the mention of his brother, causing his jaw to tighten in response. With the events of last week's encounter still vivid before his eyes, he didn't take too kindly to the mention of Bash. Whatever he wanted now, it wouldn't be good, he was sure of that. The mere fact that he had sent Kenna to do his bidding instead only proved his point.

„I don't see why I should listen to anything he has to say." his words were cold and Kenna's eyes seemed to flinch in response.

„Please Francis, just give me a chance to explain." she took three carefully measured steps toward him.

„If he wants me to listen, he can come and tell me himself. Or is our King too much a coward to face his own brother?" he laughed but his eyes stayed hard.

„You know that he doesn't hate you, right?" the sudden kindness in her voice took him by surprise.

„But maybe I do." he determinedly crossed his arms before his chest as to underline the weight of his words.

„You don't mean that." she moved closer still and he could sense some of her usual fire returning. „Do you mind?" she gestured towards an empty stool and he only nodded slightly in response.

„Then just tell me and get it over with." he groaned.

He might as well give in and hear her out. Maybe this way he could rid himself of her unwelcome company quicker then by refusing an open ear. Seeing as she was now perched on the stool with her dress sprawling around her and well below him, he too let himself sink back into his chair.