Whatever it was.
Fifteen minutes down the track, and still well under the shelter of the trees, Arkady met Huw, hurrying back towards him — mounted on Ajax, with Caleb running alongside. The brothers both dismounted and hurried towards one another. Neither felt the need for explanation or apology, but they embraced with the implicit understanding that wherever the two of them went next, it would be together. Arkady patted Caleb, and then gave Huw a worried look.
“Where on Yrth has Katkin gone off to? We left Ajax for her to ride. And did you see...”
Huw interrupted, “She is all right. Look, here. There was a note attached to the saddle.” He dug in the pocket of his breeches and passed Arkady a crumpled piece of parchment.
It said:
I have Poppy and Gwillam with me. We are traveling to
