At the Queen_s command

"I imagine." Nathaniel walked behind him, but remained at the bottom of the steps. "Doctor, ma'am, I do recall your telling me n'er to darken your doorstep again. I apologize for violating your wishes. Wouldn't do it if it weren't powerful important."

Doctor Frost turned to his wife. "It is about Captain Strake, Hettie."

Resolution made her face into a marble mask. "He is not coming through my house. If you must speak to him, it shall be in the kitchen yard." She stepped back and closed the door, trapping father and son outside.

Doctor Frost pointed to the path around the house. "After you, Mr. Woods."

Caleb led the way and Nathaniel imagined he was feeling what a man on the way to the gallows might. He didn't look toward the windows, not wanting to see any faces there. He recalled the Frosts had a whole passel of children and imagined Mrs. Frost would be shooing them somewhere safe while he was on the property.

Two chairs had been put into the yard. Caleb offered him one, but Nathaniel refused. "Go on, sit. Been thinking about this on my feet. Ain't sitting going to make it no easier for me." Nathaniel added a bit of volume to his voice so it would play on through the almost-closed kitchen door.

"The long and the short of it is this: Captain Strake ain't coming back for a spell. Not sure how long. Might be he's dead, but I'm fair sure he ain't."

The door opened and Bethany Frost slipped through it. "If he's not here, why are you?"

Her accusation sank straight into his heart. "Well, Miss, I reckon that's on account of he's a brave man. Braver than me. He charged me with a duty, and made sure I did it. I give him my word to obey his orders. And I give him my word I'd be returning for him."

Doctor Frost removed his spectacles and rubbed them on the hem of his coat. "Bethany, dear, get our guest a chair. Mr. Woods, I would have the whole of the story from you. As much as you can tell."

Nathaniel accepted the chair, but waited to speak until Caleb returned with yet another chair having given his to his sister. Bethany sat at her father's right hand, clutching it. Caleb leaned forward, expectant, and she hung back, fearful.

He told them of the trip in every detail, omitting only the idea that du Malphias could raise the dead. When he talked about the fighting, he showed them his thumb and the blood beneath the nail. He didn't need to embellish Owen's role or prowess. The Frosts took pride in their guest's abilities. Doctor Frost especially liked the endorsement his family's firm had gotten in Hattersburg and offered to send a note to the Bone family to tell them of Makepeace's situation.

The telling had gone through the pealing of four and five, but they didn't notice. At the bottom of the third hour, two younger boys hauled a small table out into the yard, and Mrs. Frost appeared with a tray, teapot and cups. She poured wordlessly, then departed, though the door did not close fully after her.

Bethany looked at her father. "They cannot just leave him out there, can they? Someone has to go after him."

Doctor Frost patted her hand. "Bethany, Mr. Woods had told us the Prince will make arrangements. This is how things are done between nations. It may be slower than we like, but we must be patient."

She looked at Nathaniel. "Couldn't you go in and get him?"

"Well, Miss, it is as your father says. The Prince, he has hisself a plan."

Her eyes became slits. "In all the stories of the Magehawk, I've never heard cowardice mentioned as one of his characteristics."

"Bethany Frost!" Hettie Frost appeared through the doorway. "Mr. Woods may be an unrepentant sinner and a man of dubious moral character, but this gives you no right to insult him. As much as you might not care for him, and as little as I care for him, I will not tolerate such behavior. You will apologize this instant!"

Bethany looked down. "I beg your pardon, Mr. Woods."

"Ain't no apology needed, Miss." Nathaniel rested his hands on his knees. "I ain't a coward. Ain't no man alive what's been three days deep in the wilderness that is. But I reckon it does seem like I'm acting like one. I don't like it. Fact is, the Prince, he's one smart fellow. He reckons that anyone walking on in to Anvil Lake territory is a fool who is like to get hisself killed dead. And if they go to get Captain Strake out, they'll get him killed too." And ain't none of us want to be dead there.

"I will, however, tell you this: Captain Strake is a strong man. Stronger than you imagine. Stronger than I suspected. I know, God as my witness, he's going to come through your front gate. Afore long you'll all be having a laugh about things. Until that time, and preparing for the war that will come, me and Kamiskwa is going to be going back to learn what can be learned. I swear to you we'll be back to tell you all everything we know."