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Laren was about to say as much when from somewhere within the depths of the records room a loud thud made several of the Riders jump and look around uneasily On the periphery of her vision, Laren saw Dakrias chewing on his nails as he glanced behind in the direction of the noise
What in the na a book on the floor Laren stood there otten what she an’s letter, and cleared her throat "Uh, Karigan left a letter for the Green Riders She knew the risk she would be taking when it caht not return" She broke the seal--she had not read the letter herself, feeling that they should all hear its contents at the saan’s handwriting had always been neat and well-practiced, the result of keeping records and ledgers in meticulous order, and this letter was no exception "If you are reading this, it means I have died in Blackveil"
Thunder boomed somewhere behind Laren, soain She squeezed her eyes shut, feeling about ready to leap out of her skin It hadn’t really been thunder, no, butthe floor with resounding force When she opened her eyes again, she sao Weapons peeling away to investigate A murmur arose fro his hands, pal their presence known" There was an aggrieved edge to his voice It was he and his clerks, after all, ould have to clean up after the mischief
Laren waited for silence to be restored before she started reading again "Most of you knoas never my intention to be a Rider--I had other plans, to follow intrue I have not regretted aexcessively heavy had fallen Dakrias put his hand to his head andthe shelves
The Riders shifted uneasily Rattled, Laren searched the letter to find where she had left off "I have not regretted aand Sacoridia It has especially been an honor to serve so fine a captain, and aeous and dedicated people"
Fro down on thehts above Laren watched in disbelief
Soaze to her Riders and saw to her amazement, her Chief Rider, Mara, cover herAs an joined her, and then Garth let out a great guffaw Ty looked scandalized, and the newer Riders perplexed What had possessed thehs "Leave it to Karigan!"
Laren raised an eyebrow
"Only at her hter
Others who had known Karigan started laughing as well, and it spread to the new Riders There was even a hint of a smile on the queen’s lips At first Laren was taken aback, but then she understood As serious as an’s adventures had been, she’d often found herself in ridiculous situations, such as wearing a theatrical costu’s irl who had ridden her horse all the way fro but her own skin Under the influence of the Rider call, Karigan had actually worn her nightgown, but the story persisted
So Mara was right Only at Karigan’sso ridiculous occur as spirits lobbing books off shelves and tossing papers into the air It couldn’t be just a nor Perhaps it was better they all rean’s life, but those that left a lightness in their hearts Whether the ghosts had intended to do so or not, they’d allowed the Riders to release sohter
When the flurries of papers settled and the an mentioned the Riders ho some small detail about each of thean and Dale had dyed Garth’s unifor Mara’s bravery in facing a deadly wraith in the old Rider barracks, now gone to ashes, its foundation filled in and buried There was gentle laughter now and again, and tears Laren herself almost lost control when she read, "There is no finer leader than Captain Mapstone She is brave, and fierce in her loyalty to the king and her Riders, and always my mentor, the woer and a person, but I fear I’ve ht, you have never fallen short
She began reading Karigan’s final farewell, but was interrupted by a rattling, alround did not , shelves, Dakrias’ desk and table, his piles of books
More objects started to fall from shelves and crash to the floor, and as the ru onto the assembled The Weapons hustled Estora from the chamber
"Everyone out!" Laren cried after a plank of wood clattered down next to her