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One voice she did not recognize A wonized "Yes, Queen Dowager I understand your is

There was soer’s voice that was fanition disturbed her It was not her accent, her decidedly foreign way of speaking, but the intensity hich she spoke Words with unspoken loathing lurking beneath, but sugary and soothing on the crust

"My ? As you say, I am welcome here but without my servants? Without erous country, Aldermaston My lord husband was murdered in this Hundred So you ask me to trust my protection in such lawless lands? Certainly these times say otherwise Prudence, as you say Yes, that is the word Prudence It would be prudent of you, Alderrounds"

The Alder you to excuse ’s regiously violated You understand full well that these lands do not fall within the jurisdiction of the crown Your late husband understood this"

"Then why has there not been an inquest then into ht it about are punished severely? It is wickedness toYour lack of interest in this reat concern to me"

The Aldermaston’s voice became raspy "Only the sheriff of Mendenhall has the authority to investigate the matter"

"What sheriff of Mendenhall? There has been no word from him since he came to this Abbey! He was last seen in Muirwood!"

"Correction, Queen Dowager He was seen riding the road with plans of joining up with the king’s ar on a battlefield In all likelihood, he was never nu survivors and is one of the has not named a successor and what have I to do with that? I have not seen the sheriff since that moment To insinuate that he met an ill fate here in Muirwood is preposterous I er Your unexpected arrival this evening has caused added concerns for my cook as well as those I am responsible for There are orders and instructions to be made"

Her voice sounded dismissive "I will not be troubled with your inconveniences As you say, I auest at this moment We are waylaid by a store of Winterrowd I travel with my men at arms because this Hundred is lawless – a situation that you do nothing to prevent"

"This is an Abbey, Queen Dowager, not a garrison I have no resources to speak of, nor do I have jurisdiction in this Hundred"

Her voice was chilling "Then best you rearrison here, as you say You too are at thebands of thieves and mercenaries fro the peace of your domain"

His reply was cold and even "Then we understand one another, Queen Dowager I bid you good evening Prestwich, show her to her roo down the hall could be heard Lia gently prodded open the antecha, his face a s

"Co an eyebrohen Colvin followed "You were unsuccessful in finding Scarseth" It was not a question

Lia shook her head "We followed his trail to the Tor when the Cruciger orb warned us of danger Men on horseback, dressed in black tunics chased us into the woods We just cah the tunnels"

"As I feared," he whispered "There are a dozen of her riuard and two ladies of the chaood reason," Lia said "One followed our trail, in the dark, to the tunnel entrance His eyes were glowing"

The Aldermaston muttered darkly under his breath "She has no mastons in her e Fa, she is trained in the cunning of statecraft Be on your guard with her or any of her servants They may try and befriend you to learn more about the Abbey’s defenses Be wary I do not kno long this stor, Lia She may try to abduct…"