“An attack?” Elmir repeats, looking somewhat dazed. I have whiplash as well from the sudden shift in conversation.
“Before we sat to eat, I sent out riders. I was worried. They met with mother in her coach just outside of Westwatch. But Hamar wasn’t with her. She said he’d wanted to stop in Carron before coming here and she couldn’t say no—of course not, not to her darling Hamar. So she let him go. His horse and guard were found gutted just outside of Carron. There’s no sign of Hamar.”
“Carron, why was he—”
“Aria,” I stop Elmir. “He went to see Aria perform. She mentioned to me that she was performing in Carron with the Troupe of Masks as the start of performances leading up to the Coronation.” I look between the two men. “How far is Carron?”
“It’s up the wall, an hour from Westwatch,”
