Egelric goes for news

Sigefrith came down to meet Egelric in the hall at Nothelm. Egelric could see that Sigefrith hadn’t slept either, but he supposed that the King’s night with Alred and Matilda had been worse than his own, sitting quietly next to the fire with Baby.

“I thank Your Majesty for seeing me,” Egelric began.

“Never mind My Majesty,” Sigefrith said. “You’ll want to know how he is.”

“Aye.”

“It’s been a dreadful night, Egelric. He’s in a fever the likes of which the wise woman has never seen. He’s on fire, and he shakes, and thrashes…” Sigefrith shook his head. 

“Does he wake?”

“No – thank God, no. I think he would be in agony if he did. We’re only hoping it will be over soon. It is killing Matilda to see him suffer so long. Stupid, stubborn ass! He never learned not to fight the battles he can’t win.”

“Sometimes he did win them. Our old King owed him his life for that.”

“Egelric – he can’t win this one.”

Egelric nodded.

“You should sleep, friend,” Sigefrith said gently. “It may be many hours.”

“That’s what I said to Baby all night long,” he smiled sadly.

“Then take your own advice. He’s no worse now than he was at midnight.”

“What about Your Majesty?”

“If My Majesty needs to sleep, I shall send for you. Now go home and kiss that Baby for me. I must return to Matilda.”