One of the guards warned of riders approaching and instantly everyone was more alert until they could see it was Bjarkë and two other men from Lady Luck. However, Ailene grew even more tense. Bjarkë wasn't supposed to return until Stuart and Thorburn returned; perhaps it was bad news. She relaxed when Bjarkë smiled and greeted everyone, laughing and happy. If either of his nephews were injured he would not be this calm, this merry. She sighed with relief.

Bjarkë noticed Ailene and Frang looking at him and realized they were waiting for news. He excused himself from the crowd around him and rode up to them.

"The hunting went...