“Arcolin promises us frequent reports,” the king said. “As soon as he hears anything—”

“You can be sure he will do his best,” Dorrin said. “If it please you, sir king, let us go to the library and see what maps you have—I have none—and I will share all I know of the lands of Aarenis as it was when I last saw it.”

“I met the Count of Andressat,” the king said. “He did warn us.”

“And he is a staunch friend,” Dorrin said. “But his land does not lie on either of those roads. He will do well if he can defend his own land.”

The royal library’s maps of Aarenis were as old and faulty as Dorrin had feared, but she was able to show the others where the roads were and make clear the dangers ahead.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Fossnir Outbounds, Aarenis

Three hands of days after Midsummer, Arcolin was leading his cohort alongside the Guild Road—a patrol that had proven very successful in deterring not only bands of robbers, but quarrels among caravans at this busy season—when he was hailed by a caravan master.

“You’re the new Duke’s Company commander, aren’t you?” the man said when Arcolin rode closer. “I remember that horse from last year—when those foot travelers were attacked.”

“That’s right,” Arcolin said.

“Have you heard one of old Andressat’s sons is missing?”

“No. When? Which one?”

“Whichever one had their eastern fort. He was due at Cortes Cilwan for Midsummer Feast—visiting his sister or some such—and never arrived. Gossip along the road is he’d been riding out alone in Vonja and Cilwan lands, to and from Cortes Cilwan. Andressat patrols haven’t found him yet. There was a courier left Cortes Cilwan Midsummer night for Valdaire, they say, looking for word of him along the road.” The man hawked and spat. “What’s your contract this year, may I ask?”

“Foss Council, Guild League security. Road patrols and other duties.”

“Good to know,” the man said. “We had a bit of bother coming across Vonja. Do you know if that bad place in the Valdaire outbounds is clear?”

“So I hear from Valdaire’s patrols,” Arcolin said. “I haven’t been by there since we marched here.” He turned his mount and rode back to his cohort.

Arcolin remembered what Burek had told him about Andressat’s sons. Was this the difficult one who had disappeared? Had he defected to Alured? Not a topic to discuss here by the road.