Hundreds of miles away, at Wind Crow Castle.
Valerius sat at the head of the hall, a whole roasted lamb laid out on the long oak table.
He tore off a sizzling, greasy leg with his bare hands and bit savagely into it, as though venting some frustration.
A knight captain strode into the hall, water dripping from his armor. He had clearly ridden hard through the rain.
"My lord, news from Dawnlight City."
Valerius did not look up. His teeth tore at the chewy lamb, and a muffled grunt rose from his throat.
"Speak."
"That group from the Church... is gone." The knight captain's voice sounded strained. "They left on the third day after you and Count Philip departed. The old priest at Dawnlight City's church said it was merely a priest from the church in Gray Marsh Fief, visiting an old acquaintance on his teacher's orders."
Only the sounds of chewing and rain striking the stone window remained in the hall.
After a long while, Valerius stopped.
He looked down at the half-eaten lamb leg in his hand. Greasy juices dripped between his fingers, collecting on the floor in a small puddle of thick yellow and red liquid.
"Visiting?"
He repeated the word, and the knight captain felt an inexplicable chill.
He tossed the lamb leg back onto the cold silver platter and picked up the ale beside him.
Bang!
He smashed the metal drinking cup onto the floor, sending ale splashing everywhere.
"Fuck!"
The roar exploded through the hall.
"He fucking played me!"
Valerius sprang to his feet and kicked the heavy oak table in front of him.
The table groaned, then toppled with a clatter, sending the whole roasted lamb and plates rolling across the floor.
**"A mud-footed peasant who crawled out of a swamp! He