Tau stuck his head inside the king’s tent. When the king was present, one or more of his Runners stood guard outside. But no one was on guard, and inside Vedrid and a couple of his staff were busy brushing the king’s gray riding coat and readying his bedroll. Tau noticed the coat; despite the warmth of the evening, Evred did not seem one to wander about in only shirt and trousers. “I think the farrier got the last of the oil,” Vedrid said over his shoulder. “Shall I send someone to the town?” “Yes.” Tau spared a glance through the open flap of Inda’s tent, where, in the hanging lamplight, he could make out Cherry-Stripe, Noddy, and Rat with Inda. Signi knelt behind Inda, her fists pounding on his right shoulder; she said something and the others all laughed. Inda would be fine for a while. “On second thought, I’ll go myself.” Yes. An evening away from academy reminiscences, old battles refought, and king-avoidance would be pleasant.
