“Aye, the worst in several lifetimes,” Orden grunted, looking at the old innkeeper. Stevedore had gotten a few more white hairs in his sideburns this year. Indeed, his hair was more white now than grizzled.

It was said that each year, the Time Lords would ring a silver bell, and at the ringing of the bell, all who heard it would age a year. For those whom the Time Lords disliked, a bell might be rung more than once, while those whom the Time Lords favored might not have such a bell rung in their presence at all.

The Time Lords had not favored Stevedore Hark this year. His eyes looked puffy. From lack of sleep? No, the man would not have slept last night, after such tragic news.

“Do you think you can dislodge the monster?” Stevedore asked. “He has you outnumbered.”

“I hope to dislodge him,” Mendellas said.

“If you do, then you will be our king,” the innkeeper said flatly.

King Orden had not considered the possibility. “No, your royal family is intact. If House Sylvarresta falls, the Countess of Arens is next in title.”

“Not likely. People won’t follow her. She’s married in Seward, too far away to rule. If you win back Heredon, the people will want no one but you for their lord.”

Orden’s heart skipped at the thought. He’d always loved the woods, the hills of Heredon. He’d loved the clean, friendly people, the sparkling air.

“I’ll drive Raj Ahten out,” Orden said. He knew it wouldn’t be enough to drive Raj Ahten from this land. He’d have to go further. A Wolf Lord cannot be whipped like a pup. He must be slaughtered, like a mad dog.

In his mind’s eye, King Orden saw the war unfold before him, realized he’d have to prepare to head south, to strike Deyazz and Muyyatin and Indhopal come spring, from there sweep south into Khuram and Dharmad and the kingdoms beyond.

Until all Raj Ahten’s Dedicates lay dead, and the Wolf Lord himself could be slain.

If he won this war, there would lands to plunder. He cared nothing for most of the Southern kingdoms, but he would take one thing: the blood-metal mines of Kartish, south of Indhopal.

King Orden changed the conversation, talked with the innkeeper of days past, of hunts with Sylvarresta. Orden joked, “If the day should come that I’m king of Heredon, I suppose I’ll have to invite you on my next hunt.”

“Indeed, I fear it is the only way you will keep me from poaching, Your Highness,” Stevedore Hark laughed, then slapped the King on the back, a touch so familiar that no one in Mystarria would have dared anything similar.