Summer 1094 SR
It was dark by the time Charlaine returned home, having first ridden to the keep to alert the baron to the presence of the Orcs. She had hoped Ludwig would accompany her to Malburg, but it looked like his father had other ideas, for the young noble was ordered to return to the hills with some of the baron’s soldiers.
Now she found herself stripping off the saddle of poor Emerald, who looked exhausted.
“Where have you been?” came her father"s voice, startling her.
“Out riding,” she replied. “We went into the hills to the north.”
“We?”
“Yes,” she said. “I was with Ludwig.”
“Lord Ludwig?” Tomas asked.
“Of course. Is there another Ludwig I don’t know about?”
“Don’t get clever with me, Charlaine. You gave your mother quite a shock.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean,” he con
