Middanhal

A period of mourning was announced, involving two days of prayer and offerings. On the second day, Rilday, the prince would be buried. It was early on the first day of mourning, Laugday, when the jarl of Theodstan sought entry to the knight marshal's study. Sir Roderic, with the dual power as marshal and dragonlord of Adalrik, received him. "Jarl Theodoric, I recognise you," Roderic said, "though I do not think we have ever been introduced."

"We have not," the jarl ...