Korim had saluted him before marching up the boarding plank. Although Geriv remained on the shore until the ship disappeared beyond the bend in the river, Korim never looked back. Or if he did, he never acknowledged his father’s wave. He spent the rest of the day tramping about the fortress: doubling the men guarding the ships and patrolling the parapet; posting additional guards around Kheridh’s hut; inspecting the disposition of provisions; meeting with his officers to ensure that each understood the importance of the next few days. By late afternoon, he was exhausted, but satisfied that he had taken every conceivable precaution to ensure that the Spirit-Hunter could never breach his walls and that Kheridh could never escape them. He was less sanguine about his relationship with his son. He had tried to ease matters this morning, even asked Korim to remain at Headquarters until he returned so that they would have an opportunity to “reevaluate the future.” Korim had simply nodded and replied, “Yes, Vanel.”
