Leofric comes to see

“Look at you, Dogface, grinning like a bear with his mouth full of bees!” Sigefrith laughed as Egelric let him and Leofric into his small house.

“I don’t often get a royal visit so early in the morning,” Egelric replied. “I have to laugh because I’m always telling Baby that she needs to get dressed as soon as she wakes up, and when she asks why, I tell her it’s because we never know when the King will drop by.”

“Now I’ve caught you in your nightgown, naughty girl!”

Iylaine squealed and pulled her feet up onto her chair so that she could hide her face behind her knees.

“It was something my father used to say,” Egelric explained, “but he never dreamed it would actually happen to his grandchild one day.”

“Ah, if he could see the fine lady we shall make of her! Now, Egelric, I didn’t come to inspect Baby’s state of dress, but rather to introduce you to my old friend Leofric, whom I believe I have already mentioned a few times.”

“Oh, I remember quite a few tales. I’m pleased to meet you, sir. My lord has already told me of your miraculous resurrection. Not many tales have such happy endings.”

“Your lord has told me a few things about you, Squire, but he asked me not to repeat them for fear of spoiling your charming humility.”

“But you must know him well enough to realize that everything he says is a joke.”

“I know him well enough to know when he respects a man.”

“You’re spoiling it! You’re spoiling it!” Sigefrith warned. “But as charming as you and your humility are, Dogface, we have, in fact, truly come to see your daughter.”

“She’s right there, quiet as a wee mousie,” Egelric smiled.

“Show us her ears,” Leofric said.

“Show you her ears?” Egelric asked, his grin fading.

“I still think Sigefrith is attempting to play a fine joke on me,” Leofric laughed.

“There’s no joke here.”

“So you expect me to believe that she’s a real living elf?”

“Aye, she’s an elf.”

“So let’s see her ears, Dogface,” Sigefrith said.

“My daughter is not on display,” Egelric said quietly.

“Come, Egelric. We’re not here to eat her – only to look at her.”

“My daughter is a little girl – she is not simply a ‘real living elf’ and she is not a curiosity on display,” he said coldly. “Is His Majesty’s word not enough for you, sir?” Egelric asked, turning to the knight.

“Of course it is. We apologize for the intrusion. Sigefrith, I suppose we had better leave.”

“Egelric…” Sigefrith began.

“I suppose you had better,” Egelric said, waving a hand at the door.