The small training ground still echoed with impact. The dummies, half mutilated, lay on the ground with Atheline standing before them.
He exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders to get the blood going.
"You've gotten faster my lord."
A female voice came from behind him, dry as ever.
He didn't turn right away. On habit, he picked the arrows that had scattered around him.
"You were watching?"
"Everyone was worried but it seems you've recovered faster than normal, my lord."
That got a faint breath of amusement out of him. Then he turned to face them.
Three of them stood at the edge of the open training ground, his retainers or spies, dressed in casual clothes.
"You should tell me what you wanted, " he said, his gaze moving to the balcony where Lilith sat her gaze on him," my wife was enjoying the view."
"You are leaving tomorrow?" She asked.
He nodded once.
Their expressions sharpened as if they were slightly conflicted.
His eyebrows raised.
"What?"
