But as Roric played again with the star-shaped bone charm, he did not feel the triumph he had expected from facing down Hadros before his men, telling the king in covert fashion that he knew all and had outwitted him.

Maybe it was because running from danger suddenly seemed a dishonorable thing to have done, the act of a man without a family.

He pulled out the knife from his belt, felt a momentary surge of satisfaction when Hadros’s eyes for a second went even wider, tossed it into the air and caught it. “But now I’m tired,” he said, deliberately turning his back on the king, who had still not spoken. “If you have no more errands for me to run to any other manors this morning, I’m going to sleep.” As he reached the door, feeling somewhat better, he turned back for a moment and bowed.

He slept until noon, sprawled on the straw in the men’s loft, and woke to find Karin sitting beside him. “Is this wise?” he asked with a smile. “If Hadros already wants me dead because he thinks your affections are turning toward me, what will he think when he finds you here?”

But then his smile faded as he looked at her face. She was still pale, and her jaw was clamped tight as though to keep it from trembling.

“Gizor’s back?” he asked, sitting up abruptly.

“They came back a little while ago,” she said as though it was of no interest. “They looked shame-faced.”

He put an arm around her. “What is it, then, my own?” he asked softly. “Were you so worried about me? Don’t you see that I’m safe now, as long as I’m in the castle?”

“It’s not you,” she said, her eyes averted.

“Then who do you love better than me who can make you this sad?” he asked mockingly, then stopped all at once. “Hadros- He hasn’t dared- If he’s forced you, then I don’t care if he is my sworn lord, I’ll-”

She squeezed his arm. “It’s my brother,” she said, still not looking at him. “I found out yesterday. The messenger had come to Hadros the day before, but he did not tell me until after he had sent you off to that manor. It’s as though he wanted you away from here when he told me. And then last night I thought I had lost you both.”