“Not the keep,” Warna gave him a worried glance. “We promised—”
“No, no,” Ricard sighed. “Not that. But—”
“I’ll see to the cooks and bakers.” Warna wrinkled her nose. “And the needs of these people. Is Ersal here?”
“Aye, he’s waiting with petitions for Lord Verice,” Ricard said.
“The petitions will have to wait,” Warna said. “Send him to me and we’ll start in.”
“My thanks,” Ricard’s relief was obvious. “Lord Verice said to tell you that he regrets that he may not be available for dinner.”
A stab of disappointment went through her. “Understandable,” she said.
“He’s ordered that you’re to sleep in the Healers Hall this night.” Ricard frowned at her. “Ordered Priest Dominic to clear out that top bedroom for you. I’m to see to it that your things are moved back.”
Warna nodded her thanks, but Ricard’s frown deepened as he continued. “I didn’t know you were squeezed out.”
“My idea,” Warna said shortly. “The wounded come first.” Suddenly irritable with all of them, she frowned right back at him. “If there’s nothing else…?”
Ricard paused, then glanced around the dining hall. “Is there a problem, lady?” he asked carefully. “Did someone say something? Or offer insult?”
“No,” Warna said. “Nothing like that,” she gave him a frustrated look. “But there’s much to be done, Constable.”
“Aye to that,” he said. “I’ll send Ersal to you.”
Warna returned to Lottie and Mayth. “Lord Verice wants to see you all settled here as soon as possible.”
“It won’t take long to finish the cleaning,” Lottie said.
“I’m off to see to bedding and whatever else you need,” Warna said. “Soap, towels—”
“Swaddling cloths,” Lottie said. “Oh, and-” she lowered her voice. “Moonpads.”
“Of course,” Warna sighed.
Verice sat inhis outer chamber, confronting a sea of maps and scouting reports.
The tale they told was incomplete, jumbled, and set his teeth on edge. There was none with Narthing’s gift for organizing information, and as such he’d a need to hear all the information directly.
“Is it the vanguard of a larger attack?” He asked the warriors clustered around.
Which brought out new maps, counters and another round of discussion. Because the information they had was uncertain and vague at best. Forces spotted here, camps spotted there, movement of troops in the distance. New scouts sent to re-check what others had seen. Discussions of the scrying that had been done, and the limited information it had produced.
Through it all, through the talk and the maps and the waiting, in the moments between, all he could think of were Wolfe’s words about Warna.
“—face the truth of it now. Before it goes much further.”
What was he thinking? Wolfe was right. For all that Warna was, well, Warna, she was still human.
It wasn’t that he disliked humans. King Everard had been a good man for all that he wasn’t of elven blood. Verice had friends that were human, although he didn’t go out of his way to cultivate such friendships. Humans came and went with the seasons, never making a lasting impression on him, truth be told.
But Warna had.
Verice frowned at the map in front of him, without seeing it, his mind filled with images of brown eyes and—
“M’lord?” The man who’d placed it before him hesitated.
Verice shook his head to clear his thoughts. “Continue, please.”
