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“Well—”

“Look, neverhim follow at a respectful distance

I presented myself at the appropriately nauards standing to vet potential visitors There’s a certain arrogance expected of aristocracy, and a life of service had trained men such as the ones before me to respond to it My brother Martus had adown his nose at even the tallest of underlings, and I do a decent job of it myself I summoned my reserves and radiated disdain Snorri would of course assert, and frequently did, that I’d never let go of h his turn of phrase would run soot the sceptre up your arse”—but he’d yet to see me in full flow

“Prince Jalan Kendeth of Red March, scion of the Red Queen, heir deximal to Vermillion and all its do north and have detoured fro Olidan In addition to the nor to bear back to the Red Queen any diplomatic correspondence subsequent to the recent visit of my brother, Prince Martus” For once in my life I had cause to be thankful that Martus and I looked so alike

“Welcohness” Thehis helm, took a step towards me He ran his beady black eyes overfor my retinue

“I’uard We’ve rooestion thatthose rooms

“Of course, Prince—” He frowned “Jalan?”

“Yes Jalan Now tell Olidan I’m here and be quick about it”

That got his attention There aren’tOlidan his title when face to face with his guards Even feould want an audience with the king under false pretences By all accounts King Olidan was not the nicest of men

“I’ll send a er immediately, Your Majesty Perhaps you would like to wait in atehouse I can have a man stable yourhorses”

I considered waiting in the shade of the wall It pro we’d be standing on our dignity to the aawkers “Lead on,” I said It’s always better to sit on your dignity in private than to stand on it in public

We followed on beneath the gates to a small door in the thickness of the wall The stairs behind led upwards The Captain of the Triple Gate had hiarret above the entranceway, tucked behind the fearsoear and the recesses in which the three portcullises rested when not keeping people out It proved clean and boasted a table and chairs I doubted n princes had been entertained there, but probably rather few arrived unannounced and all but unaccompanied

Snorri squeezed his knees in under the table “A beer wouldn’t go amiss”

The gate captain raised a brow at that and looked toto touch the stuff I’d sworn off it for good that“I’ll see what I can do,” he said, and went out the door We heard hi in the stairwell a moment later

“Seeht” Snorri reached out for the hunk of bread at the table’s centre and started filling his beard with crumbs

“Hmmm” He had no worries The risk would all come my way I had to trust that Olidan would knoasn’t ie and that even aof Ancrath was reputed to be would think twice before earning randmother’s displeasure Grandmother was my best chance There were plenty of stories about how she had hbours, and soive a ed the risk of Ancrath’s court worth the chance that I ht be released from the chains that bound me to Snorri and set free to scuttle away south once more

The beer arrived with a jug and tter tankards I watched Snorri savour his while my stomach attempted various feats of acrobatics Despite the Norseaze He ached to be back on the road, riding for the coast with all haste, and I could only delay hi

The captain returned an hour or so later to say that ere to be given quarters in the keep and most likely summoned to court on the afternoon of the next day Better than I’d hoped