‘Then by your leave,’ said the priest, and left.
   Roskel collapsed back in the chair. ‘I have been lax in my obligation to Tarn, Wexel. I’ve been lording it up and that was never what I was supposed to be doing.’
   ‘Don’t beat yourself up, Roskel. We’ve all been lax. But no longer.’
   Roskel nodded. ‘Perhaps. But I have duties beyond.’
   He rose, determined despite his tiredness. It was well into the middle of the night, and worry was more exhausting that a midnight jig.
   ‘Will you alert Silvan and the hunters? We must be vigilant. Bring Silvan to the castle. There is much to be done and no time left. The old enemy returns and I have things I need to do.’
   ‘What are you talking about, friend?’
   ‘Tarn’s last wishes. The reason I am here. There is still one thing I must do. Call the old bandits together for the morning, Wexel, for I must learn to live on the road again. I have one last journey to make for the king.’
   *
   About the Author:
   Craig Saunders writes humour, horror, fantasy...and anything else going. He is the author of many novels and novellas, including Deadlift, the Spiggot series and The Estate. He has stories forthcoming from Darkfuse, and more fantasy tales set in the world of Rythe.
   He lives in Norfolk, England, with his wife and children, likes nice people and good coffee. Find out more on Amazon, or visit:
   www.craigrsaunders.blogspot.com
   www.facebook.com/craigrsaundersauthor
   @Grumblesprout
   Thank you for reading.
   Also by Craig Saunders:
   Novels
   Left to Darkness (Oblivion Series #1)
   Masters of Blood and Bone
   The Estate
   A Home by the Sea
   Rain
   The Noose and Gibbet
   A Stranger's Grave
   The Love of the Dead
   Spiggot
   Spiggot, Too
   The Gold Ring
   Days of Christmas: A Sarah House Novel
   Novellas
   Flesh and Coin
   Bloodeye
   Deadlift
   A Scarecrow to Watch over Her
   The Walls of Madness
   Insulation
   Short Story Collections
   Dead in the Trunk
   Angels in Black and White
   Dark Words and Black Deeds
   Writing as C. R. Saunders:
   Vigil
   Writing as Craig R. Saunders:
   The Outlaw King (The Line of Kings Trilogy Book One)
   The Thief King (The Line of Kings Trilogy Book Two)
   The Queen of Thieves (The Line of Kings Trilogy Book Three)
   Rythe Awakes (The Rythe Quadrilogy Book One)
   The Tides of Rythe (The Rythe Quadrilogy Book Two)
   Rythe Falls (The Rythe Quadrilogy Book Three)
   
   
   
 
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