* * * *
The autumn came, then the winter, but there was no sign of Alcestis. Bladud began to fret. Every ship’s captain was questioned on arrival, but there was still no news. The High King had sent off to Greece a party of six young nobles, seasoned warriors, and absolutely trustworthy, to escort her, but, as he knew only too well, the journey was long and dangerous and anything could happen. He now wished desperately that he had undertaken the journey himself, but if he had done so he would not have had a kingdom to come back to. He knew very well how the country would disintegrate into separate fragments if Liel was left in charge, many sub-kings preferring to break away from the centre rather than swear loyalty to a man they could not respect. Others, greedy for land, would take advan
