A smile turned up on the Thegn’s profile. “And you have not travelled far?”

The events of the last moon’s turn fell heavily into Padric’s thoughts.

“Farther than I ever expected,” he answered after a moment. “A horse…would have helped.”

Kederic breathed a quick laugh and turned to his grooms. “Keep me informed,” he instructed before looking at Padric for the first time. He gave a quick appraisal before nodding with satisfaction. “Much improved. Please, walk with me.”

The Thegn left the stables with long, easy strides and Padric followed. When they were out in the yard, Kederic slowed his pace and Padric came up alongside.

“My thanks for your attentions,” Padric said. “I did not expect to be tended by my host.”

“The best man for the right job,” Kederic said. “It is important to know a man’s skill…his worth, be he Thegn or stable boy. Titles of leadership do not matter when another’s life is in balance. I have been through many wars and several plagues. None here know herbcraft better than I, and it would be unjust to put a sick man in less capable hands.

“Had you been a horse about to give birth,” the Thegn waved over his shoulder at the stables and smiled. “I would gladly have stepped aside.”

They ascended a set of steep steps to the top of the wall. Padric saw a staked ditch just below, thick with muddy puddles and an earthen mound beyond. The fort stood atop a high hill and Padric had an uninterrupted view of the An Curragh plains, cold and green and boulder-strewn. To the south Padric could see no smoke, no sign of Hog’s Wallow. The Thegn’s gaze rested on the same horizon.

“A cruel fate,” Kederic said softly, his voice barely audible in the wind. “You are much blessed to have survived it.”

Padric’s hair blew into his face. “Cursed, you mean. The widows will hate me for breathing while their husbands’ blackened bones lay scattered in muddy ash. A coal-headed stranger who brought nothing but ill-omens and death. I ran while others fell.”

“Every man runs from the battles he survives, Padric.” Kederic told him. “How did you come to be there?”