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"Lia, wait up!"

She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she had not seen Duerden’s approach froed the flap of his leather bag so he could stuff it inside He had grown in a year, but still barely ca her pace so he could join her

"I was…hoping I would find you about today," he said, bringing the bag strap around his shoulder "I can see you are in a hurry I ith you I do not want to keep you frohtful She liked that about hie Are you finished with your studies for the day?"

"I a towards the western grounds, Lia noticed hi "What did you learn fro it?"

He nodded excitedly "I a before Whitsunday I have been burning through dozens of candles at night to work The other learners think I am daft, but I would really like half of it scribed before I finish this year"

"Any sage bits of wisdo into hirinned, and kept up with her

"Several From today – you will like this one ‘A burden which is done well becoood one – ‘he who is not prepared today will be less so tomorrow’ Every learner should be forced to ain She could tell he had been rehearsing "My favorite froreeable, what is denied us causes intense desire’"

The truth of that state to read was only made more desperate by the Aldermaston’s refusal to let her Would she find as iven? She hoped so "Why Duerden, have you been practicing that one all day?"

"I just… I thought you would like it, Lia," he said, stalistened on his forehead The day was cool She wondered if he had shared it with any of the other girls "Have you heard the Queen Dowager is co to Muirwood? What do youthe pace steady "I know she is co but I do not knowabout her I i," Duerden replied "She is eighteen, I think"

Lia stopped, staring at hi’s first wife died ere children – I was eight, I think I remember when it happened Three years after her death, he on Pareigis is how you say her naer That er than his step-ain, as they had no children together"

"That is disgusting," Lia replied, cringing at the thought She started walking again and he followed "How old was the old king when he ht quickly "Nearly sixty, I think She was fifteen when they were e Yes, he was an oldher conscience It always ry when he doubted the truth of what happened at Winterrowd "He was nota battle"

"That is not what I heard," he replied skeptically, ducking beneath an oak branch as they crossed the row of trees "I am not certain there even was a battle at Winterrowd"

It was just at thatthe border of oaks, that she saw Colvin Beyond the screen of trees on the other side of the duck pond was the hunter’s lodge Just to the west of it grew a field of purpleclothes and the apothecaries for re amidst the flowers, with a stem broken off in his hand As they had not concealed their approach, he lifted his head and rose when he recognized her He started towards then of Ellowyn

"That is Colvin Price," Duerden muttered in awe "He is the Earl of…"

Lia interrupted, "He is the Alderuest, and he was at Winterrowd I think I will ask him if there was really a battle, or if"