33
Jon was seated at his desk in the palace, studying a sheaf of reports about damage to the roads from the previous week’s heavy rainfall. He sighed. The bundle of reports foreshadowed extensive discussions with Crabtree, the civil engineer in charge of road maintenance, who would bemoan the costs, the insufficient staff and the unfortunate need to prioritize. His hand was just on the bellpull to have Crabtree sent to him when he heard the unusual sound of running footsteps in the corridor; adult footsteps.
Jon frowned and was already half-risen from his desk when a knock sounded on his door.
“Come in.”
A liveried page walked in quickly, trying to hide the fact that he was panting from his long run and stood before Jon. Despite his best efforts at maintaining decorum, every muscle was
