Blake clicked her tongue. ‘And Thornton’s locked in the tower.’
‘The tower?’ Lyndal let out a strained laugh. ‘Whatever for?’
‘The murder of King Oswin,’ Blake and Eda replied at the same time.
The colour drained from Lyndal’s face. ‘What?’
Blake ushered both sisters towards the house. ‘We’re going to put Eda in the tub with some soap, and then I’ll explain everything.’
* * *
‘If it were up to me, you would have been drawn and quartered,’ Shapur said before turning on his heel.
Those were the last words Roul heard from Shapur Wright’s mouth as he stood in his soon-to-be former room in the barracks. He did not take it personally. The warden had been loyal to King Oswin to the end. Well, almost to the end.
Roul glanced at Harlan, who was waiting to escort him to the gate. ‘I’m going to miss him.’
Harlan’s lips twitched. ‘That’s just his odd way of dealing with emotional situations.’
‘Yes, I’m sure that’s it.’
Roul had washed and changed into civilian clothes, leaving his uniform items in a pile at the end of his bed. He picked up the bag he had packed and adjusted his sword.
‘Ready?’ Harlan asked.
He was as ready as he was going to get. Nodding, he exited the room.
They headed out into the drizzle, where Roul found Tatum and Alveye waiting for him. It was clear by their expressions that they had heard the news.
‘It’s true, then?’ Alveye said. ‘You’re leaving?’
Roul nodded. ‘It was always the plan. This is just a bit sooner than expected.’
Tatum ran a finger down his nose. ‘Doesn’t seem fair that she remains in that castle while you’re banished to the wastelands.’
‘Those wastelands are my home. My family’s there. There are worse places they could send me.’
The group wandered to the infirmary so Roul could say goodbye to Blackmane and Hadewaye. Blackmane was sitting up in bed, complaining that he did not need to be there, and Hadewaye was asleep. Roul let him rest.
‘At least he let you keep your head,’ Blackmane said, tired eyes on him.
A nod. ‘There’s that.’ He squeezed the defender’s good shoulder. ‘You keep out of trouble.’
Blackmane nodded. ‘You too.’
As they were leaving, Roul stopped by Woottone’s bed. He was sitting up, eating, his wound stitched and properly bandaged. There was colour back in his face.
‘You rest up,’ Roul said. ‘You’ve got a king to protect.’
Woottone’s brow furrowed. ‘For what it’s worth, your departure is our loss.’
Roul gave him a faint smile before leaving the infirmary. ‘I’d like to go by the port, if that’s all right,’ he said to Harlan once they were outside. ‘After we collect our horses.’
Harlan did not ask why. ‘All right.’
It was late afternoon, and the port was slow moving. There were no ships docked, only a handful of small boats and fisherman wandering about. Roul found Hildred leaning against a veranda post, getting some fresh air. The noise from inside spilled out through the open window behind her.
Her face lit up when she saw him, then faded when she saw his face. She hugged herself against the cold wind.
