Greoc stopped, since Ruay wasn’t likely to know; she’d clearly been struggling just to return home. “You’re dismissed.” “Yes, Eldred.” She was up as though she couldn’t bear to be on that step much longer, which didn’t surprise Greoc. Ruay was one of the people in Palemount who owed her existence itself to him, so her duty was all the more important to her. She slipped out by the inner door, on the opposite side of the great pedestal, as he ordered the warden to make certain the Denalaits left their weapons outside the chamber. “And, Jevashl?” A man on the step of protection turned. “I want four more of my guards here first.” “Yes, my lord,” Jevashl said, and went out by the same door Ruay had used. The guards were there in moments, taking up their places around him, hookspears held perfectly straight. The sharp blades gleamed as their helms and breastplates did, and Greoc was confident they could deal with a handful of Denalaits.
