No one in the prince’s entourage seemed surprised by the whip’s blow, as if they’d experienced his temper many times. As for the intendant, he recovered with a single breath, even as the mark of the whip brought a red welt to his cheek.

“What have you to say for yourself, Intendant?” the prince demanded. “Were you ordered to conceal the messages? Ignore them?”

“Your Highness, I will not pretend injured ignorance of your accusation.” The intendant spoke in a mild tone, although Elen heard the steel woven beneath it. “Why the messages about your expedition did not arrive here, I do not know. I have not even received reports of a griffin scout passing overhead. I swear to you on the honor of the High Heavens that no such scout landed here. Why you were told at the palace that the road was passable, I cannot know. The imperial engineers have been working to reopen it for almost two years, so they know it remains closed. With respect and humility, please allow me to remind you that I twice asked you about the messages. I warned you the road is blocked.” He then paused.

The prince’s expression swept from rage to puzzled suspicion. “What do you intend by this impertinent speech?”

“Why, only to suggest there is another possible route, Your Highness.”

“So, to mock me! As prince-warden, I know perfectly well the only other route to reach Far Boundary Vigil is to return to Ilvewind Cross and go weeks out of my way by the Northwest Road and then north on the Feldspar Road into western Woodfall, and thence northeast to Far Boundary Pall.”

“That is a sure route,” agreed the intendant.

“Have I not made myself clear? This is warden business of the greatest urgency. I don’t have weeks and months to spare.”

“Your Highness, I have a solution, if you will hear me.”

The prince paced away, halted with hands made into fists, then returned with shorter and even more agitated steps. He planted himself belligerently in front of the intendant, hands twitching as if he wanted to whip the old man again. But he had enough self-control not to do it. Watching the flicker of his eyes and the press of his mouth, Elen guessed he was desperate.

“How can I trust you? Because it is clear I was deliberately sent by this route to slow me down. Deliberately undermined by someone who desires both my failure and my disgrace.”

“Your Highness!” whispered the prince’s warden captain in a scandalized tone. “Such public airing of rumor and dirty laundry will rebound upon you when it gets back to the ears of the palace, as it surely will.”