Chapter 18
Wardyke’s ‘friend’Fern was very worried about the behaviour of her younger son, Jan. He had always been an eagerly adventurous boy, often into mischief of one kind or another — but never anything secretive or harmful. He was the sort of child who climbed trees too high for him and got stuck; who fell into the river when he was supposed to be watching that the baby did not; who did not turn up at mealtimes. He was his father’s close friend, liking nothing better than riding off with Karne, sitting high above the world on the Spear-lord’s horse, his arms firmly wound around Karne’s waist.
But lately he had changed. He had become morose and silent. He refused the opportunity to ride with Karne in favour of going off by himself into the woods. When people came upon him suddenly he
