The argument was fairly short, and didn’t last long. There was no way she was carrying that much money around with her. She made sure that Farnor counted out the smaller coins, fully intending to account to him for every copper.
Although she might not mention moon pads specifically.
On her way out, she stopped and asked Ricard for a mount and a guide through town. Then she ran up the stairs to change into her skirts. She’d see the healer, talk to the clerk, and then see to her own needs. Maybe a few pieces of older clothing, or cloth and thread, although needles were dear.
She emerged into the courtyard, eager to go—
To find Ricard holding her mount, and an escort of twenty armed and armored men in a semi-circle around him.
Chapter Twenty-Four
The twenty warriors were unnaturally still, their armor gleaming in the sunlight. Their horses too, stood without so much as a twitch of their tails.
“What’s this?” Warna asked.
“Your escort,” Constable Ricard replied. “Ustov knows the town well. He’s in command.”
Ustov saluted her.
“Did Verice order this?” Warna asked.
“I have no orders as such,” Ricard replied.
“Oh, well, then—” Warna started to smile.
“But then I have no orders against it either,” Ricard continued.
“Constable,” Warna fixed a glare on him. “I’m not—”
“Let’s take a moment and consider,” Ricard said. “The town watch is under-manned, what with almost all able-bodied maels going to the borders to serve.”
“Constable,” Warna started.
“And the tide of refugees coming in, means that the town’s awash in ruffians and ne’er-do-wells in the streets.”
“This is silly,” Warna said. “There’s no need for—”
“What happens if harm comes to you?”
Warna snapped her mouth shut, and pressed her lips together.
“My Lord Verice would not be pleased, seeing as he entrusted your safety to me.”
“But—”
“But more important,” Ricard interrupted. “Farmore important to my way of thinking, is what he’s entrusted to you.”
“What?” Warna snapped.
Ricard took a step closer to her, and lowered his voice. He stared right at her, his voice calm but emphatic. “For the past ten months, that lad has been afflicted, m’lady. Same routine, same narrow focus every day. You’ve got him moving. Slow, true enough. But moving. If ought happens to you, what then, eh?”
Warna opened her mouth, then closed it.
“Aye to that,” Ricard stepped back and raised his voice. “This is a good start, but I’ve a mind to add a few more. A foot patrol, perhaps, with some stout crossbows.”
“Why not a drum, to keep the beat?” Warna crossed her arms over her chest.
That provoked a twitch from one of the men.
