Over the past month, Moss had been asking around for news of Rowan with every bit as much dedication as he had once devoted to pursuing Jaina.
Every day, Moss lost his appetite for food and drink as he waited for news that Rowan had met his end on the open sea.
When he went to bed at night, Moss often imagined Rowan's gruesome final moments-his head twisted off, perhaps, or his heart gouged out. In short, the Freehold pirates he normally hated to the bone had now become the bearers of all his hopes.
A month was neither particularly long nor particularly short. At last, news of Rowan reached Boralus.
Brimming with excitement, Moss listened closely to his adjutant's report.
"The fleet reached port safely, and every order was delivered. The Norwington Family has turned a hopeless position into a winning one."
The adjutant's calm report struck like a bolt from the blue. Moss trembled with rage, but there was nothing he could do.
Moss took the news home, intending to report it to his father.
Upon entering the estate, Moss noticed his mother's carriage by the stables.
Mother's back? Moss gave it little thought and headed toward his father's study.
As he approached the study, Moss heard his parents arguing.
The maid outside the door stopped Moss out of kindness.
"Young master, His Lordship is in a temper. You should come back later."
Moss considered this for a moment and decided the maid had a point. Reporting now would only make him a target for his parents to vent their anger. Throughout his boyhood, his parents' disputes had always ended up falling on him. No matter how fiercely they argued, a beating for Moss ultimately resolved their marital differences perfectly.
"All right. Let me know once Father has