Bjarkë made a major search of the woods at dawn. Blackthorne had limited time to replace the men he'd lost in the first sweep a few hours before. All they found were a few corpses and one fellow who'd been missed in the dark. He wasn't missed this time. Bjarkë especially worked to clear the eastern side of the Keep around the meadow. If the ladies were going to be taken, it wasn't going to be until the proper time and with sufficient men. He wanted someone in charge and not some straggler.

Teárlag and Ailene left the Keep around eight, walking. They were in dresses; not their best, they...