Page 19 of Quest of Fools

Quiet.Far, far too much quiet.

Marian wasn't in his study, or the dining room, or anywhere else that Warf could find.All he did find, in fact, was a single letter sitting in the middle of the desk with what he thought might be his name on the front, but he simply didn't know for certain.

A sick, cold feeling twisted through his gut.Warf headed for the kitchens, where everyone stopped to stare at him."Have you seen Marian at all today?"

"No, Master Warf.He left a note he had to go out, but didn't say when he would be back.Said we were to carry on like usual."

Warf left, the sick feeling growing.Words Marian had said the previous day coming back in a whole new light.

Whatever my stupid ex says or does, know this is exactly what I want and where I want to be.Don't let her or anyone else convince you otherwise.

Had… had she taken him?Forced him to leave?He could already hear people telling him that Marian had done it willingly, had left with the woman he'd loved long before Warf had been forced into his life…

And Fates knew Warf was used to the slimiest people the world could offer, but Marian wasn't one of them.If he'd really been intent on running away with his former lover, he wouldn't have fucked Warf first.

No, Marian was gone, and it wasn't by choice, and Warf needed to find him.

First, though, he needed help.Someone whowouldhelp.A friend.

He needed Rath.Which meant, Fates preserve him, he had to go to the royal palace.Would he even be allowed to see Rath?Problem to face when he came to it.

The first step was to speak with the nurse, so the girls would not be unduly alarmed when neither he nor Marian were at breakfast.Once that was done, he scooped up the solitary envelope that might have his name on it, pulled on his coat and boots, and headed out into the drizzly, foggy morning.In Low City at this hour, the streets would already be bustling with activity, even on such a miserable day.There was no rest for the poor, not when it was the rich making demands sotheycould enjoy a leisurely rainy day.

Here, the streets were still quiet, his every step echoing through the shrouded morning.He should have thought to see if the carriage or any horses were missing, but that wasn't like Marian.He'd leave the carriage for Warf and the girls.

Anyway, Warf would wager every penny of his life that a very different carriage had come for Marian in the dark hours of the morning.Why hadn't Marian justtalkedto him?Hopefully that question would be answered in the letter he could not read.

When he reached the gates of the palace, Warf faltered.It was even bigger up close than it had been at a distance.He'd never been this close to it, not even in the midst of the Tournament.He'd never been in a building higher than three stories, and this one must be at least five in places.

"Can I help you, sir?"a deep, cautious voice asked.

Warf jerked his gaze down, staring at the guard who regarded him warily.As ever, Warf's size caused him trouble long before he could even speak."I'm sorry to come here so early.There's been a problem that I need to speak with Rath about.Um.Lord Rath?Prince Rath?"Warf laughed weakly."I'm sorry, I don't know how to address him now, he was always just Rath to me."

"Prince Rathatayen, you mean?"one of the guards asked."Who are you?"

Rath would birth gryphons to know everyone was using his full name."My apologies, I should have said that.My name is Warloff Diggson."

The second guard stared at him, brow furrowing."That… weren't you a tournament champion?"

"Yes, betrothed now to Lord Marian.That is why I've come.He's in trouble."

"All champions are granted immediate access on matters pertaining to the Tournament of Charlet," the first guard replied."Come with me."He opened the smaller pedestrian gate set in the larger gates, and Warf pushed his way through the entirely too small door.

The courtyard of the palace was nigh on ridiculous, with so much water and greenery it looked like something out of a painting.Everything smelled fresh and clean, the scent of flowers drifting on the wind.High City already smelled wonderful, but this was something else again.

At least he didn't look entirely out of place, thanks to the clothes Marian had secured for him.The guard left him in some sort of waiting room where six or seven other people milled about before slipping through a set of doors watched over by more guards.

Too restless to sit as most others were doing, Warf went to one of the many paintings in the room to have something to do, even if he understood paintings about as well as he understood writing.This one was pretty, as paintings went, of a mountain range covered in snow, a single figure holding up a lantern in one hand, his other holding the reins of a horse, as they fought through snow and dark to a barely visible cabin in the distance.

"Master Diggson."

Warf snapped around and went as a tiny clerk beckoned him forward.He'd expected to see an office on the other side.

Not a throne room.

Definitely not a throne room containing the king and queen, with Rath and his prince standing casually to the side.Warf didn't even know the fucking etiquette for this.

"Warf!"Rath said, surging forward and all but dragging him close, mercifully negating the need for the etiquette he'd been worrying over."Are you all right?What's wrong?They said your betrothed is in danger."

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