Dream of Me/Believe in Me

of trying to learn, but with the children and all, I have rarely had a free moment.”
    Krysta nodded, imagining how very difficult it would be even for a queen to steal time from her “wifely duties.” “I was fortunate to be taught as a child.”
    “Fortunate?” Esa's voice was soft but carried far. Several of those in attendance perked up their ears as though this was what they had been waiting for. The lady smiled winsomely. “I would hardly call it fortunate to be raised without parents on the far edge of nowhere. From what I hear, Vestfold is a terrible place, barren and savage. No wonder you were so anxious to get here that you disguised yourself as a servant to make the trip.” She looked down her lovely nose at Krysta and inquired sweetly, “That is why you adopted such an outrageous pretense, isn't it, my dear?”
    Before Eahlswith could intervene, Krysta said, “No, that is not why I did it. Vestfold is far from barren. It holds a haunting beauty all its own and I was in no way anxious to leave.”
    “I see,” Esa said, her expression making it clear she did not. “Then did you merely think it …
fun
to pretend to be a servant and fool the Lord Hawk?”
    The other ladies tittered. This was rare entertainment and it was clear they relished it. Again, the queen looked about to break it off but Krysta forestalled her. She wasnot about to leave the impression that she was unable to stand up for herself.
    “My reasons are my own, lady, and not to be paraded before such as you.”
    Esa's eyes narrowed. Her lovely mouth looked petulant. “A poor parade it would be, I am sure.” She paused, giving her followers time to voice their further amusement with the same light scattering of swallowed laughter and looks of furtive humor.
    “Pray excuse this,” Eahlswith said. “Gossip travels on the wind and is about as useful as any chaff that does so. Unfortunately”—she pinned her gaze on Esa—“there are those among us without wit to ignore it.”
    At once, Esa adopted an expression of repentance. “Oh, my lady, if I have given offense I am most sorry. It is only that I am like most everyone else here, so in awe of the Lord Hawk, so appreciative of all he has done, that the mere hint of insult to him rouses me to … well, I would say anger were it not such an unwomanly emotion.”
    Krysta was having no trouble feeling that emotion herself. Her fingers twitched as she fought the urge to pick up one of the ewers of cool water standing nearby and upend it over the smirking face of the Lady Esa.
    Eahlswith set aside the tunic she was stitching for her royal husband. Quietly but firmly, she said, “Lady Krysta is betrothed to Lord Hawk, their marriage a vital cornerstone of the peace our king builds between Norse and Saxon to protect us from the ravages of the Dane. Let us remember that Our Savior blessed the marriage at Cana
and
He told us that peacemakers are blessed. Therefore must we conclude that this union will be doubly worthy in His eyes.”
    Krysta's throat tightened. She wanted to cry out to the queen that she was wrong, there was no blessing to be had, and that Hawk must marry elsewhere for his own honor and well-being. But thankfully, no words couldescape her. She remained mute while Esa pouted rebel-liously and resumed her embroidery with short, stabbing pokes of the needle that seemed to add nothing whatsoever to the design.
    When the moment had passed and the ladies returned to their sewing, Eahlswith summoned a maid. She gave her a softly worded instruction, then resumed her stitching. A short time later, a young monk came in nervously, clearly unaccustomed to being in the exclusive company of women. He carried with him a book.
    “If you would not mind, my dear,” the queen said to Krysta, “I thought perhaps you might read to us as we sew. I am certain whatever may be contained within these pages is far more elevating than mere chatter.”
    The monk hesitated, but under the steady stare of the queen he reluctantly turned the book over to Krysta. She examined it cautiously, delighted to discover that it was a volume of the tales of a fabled Greek called Aesop.
    “I have heard of these but have never read them. They are said to be wonderful.”
    Eahlswith smiled encouragingly and picked up her sewing. With great care, Krysta opened the book and began to read.
    T HE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON FLOWED smoothly, at least in part because Lady Esa pleaded a headache and departed,