TWENTY-TWO
"Your mother still hates me," Rudolf announced as he strode into Reidar's solar.
Reidar set down his quill. "What are you doing here? Isn't there a war you're supposed to be fighting?"
Rudolf shrugged, then stretched out on the bench beneath the window, sitting in the only patch of sun. The cat whose seat he'd usurped hissed at him, then trotted off.
"It seems word has spread among your neighbours that your throne is not worth the price they will pay to get it. That, or they are running out of men to send against us. The last two war bands we encountered took to their heels and ran away. Like rabbits!" He laughed.
"That still doesn't answer my question. Why are you here?"
"Your men can chase rabbits for a few days without me. I came to find out why you didn't send the a
