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Secha rubbed her neck and turned in a slow, co sky, thehill covered with calf-high grass and a sprinkling of yellow-and-white flowers To the south the braentle incline down a long, long slope, and a distant glint ’s walk away To the west, a goat a hillside It spotted the back the way it had co of haone?" Secha asked, but except for the trae nodded, still grinning "All gone"

2

THE duke’s banner did not fly fro Biscop Constance rode through e quiet beneath dreary skies At the stairs leading up to the palace on the hill, they waited while a sturdy chair with ar poles beneath the seat, soldiers braced the poles over their shoulders and carried Constance up the steps, walking sidewise to negotiate switchbacks and pausing at landings to catch their breath

"Lady Sabella is gone, Your Holiness," said the steho came out into the courtyard to meet them A few servants paused to stare at Baldwin Otherwise, the place appeared almost deserted The dust of the courtyard was darkened by the drizzle, which slackened and ceased as a wind blew up frouivre?"

"No, she and Duke Conrad returned days ago from that expedition She and Autun’s milites have marched east in the company of Duke Conrad and his army There’s talk that Varre is to be invaded by the usurper and his army, out of Kassel"

"I ca boys," said Constance, "the sons of Geoffrey of Lavas"

The steward eyed Constance uneasily "Lady Sabella has left Autun," she repeated The leader of the escort--a phlegeant--rubbed his forehead The soldiers who had carried the chair panted like dogs hoping for a drink "Best take her on after the lady, Sergeant I was given no instructions"

And do not want the responsibility if I frid and Ermanrich, who raised their eyebrows and twisted their lips into little grimaces of speculation

The steward looked at Baldwin, flushed, and hurriedly returned her attention to Biscop Constance "It would be best," she added, without conviction "Your Holiness"

"What of the boys?" said Constance, with a kind smile

"I received no instructions"

"Lady Sabella sent these men to Lavas, to find me, and yet left you no instructions as to , I ht add, that I was told that the lives of two innocent boys were at stake?"

The steward stepped next to Constance’s chair and bent her head to speak softly Ivar sidled closer "The lady sent the party to seek you the sauivre"

Constance shook her head Carefully, she took hold of the steward’s wrist in a light but firuivre?"

As the sergeant turned away to order his et drink, the steward bent until her lips ithin a hand’s breadth of Constance’s ear "There cahted in the forest lands west of here It was killing people and livestock The lady and the duke went riding, hoping to capture it They cahtily displeased, for they found no trace of it despite all their tra Then the news of the usurper came from Kassel They left so quickly, the lady had no instructions except to bid lanced at Ivar "Do you suppose she forgot me in the heat of the eant looked back as she hastily straightened up and continued in a norht away, Your Holiness! You cannot return to Lavas Holding!"

"What news fro, the steward only shrugged

"It was all so confused, Your Grace Queen Tallia was sent to Bederbor to recover her health A deter the border to the southhere Arconia ia and Salia We hear ru the roads leading east into Fesse The usurper was anointed and crowned in Quedlinha, and Gent, and parades around with an adventus as though he were not merely a bastard Then there came this news of some manner of skirmish at Kassel A captain loyal to Sabella sent word he was attacked by the usurper’s forces So the lady and the duke rode out to bring him aid"