Kapitel 52: Temperate Penumbras - Part 6

“Rudolf,” Heiko barked as he reached over and seized Cele’s empty plate.

Rudolf stood and roughly yanked the general up by the arm.

“What’s going on?” Cele demanded, following the captain out of the room despite himself.

“The king’s men.” Rudolf said curtly, opening a narrow door leading to a servant hall and pushing him through. “They’re approaching.”

The assertion forced a jolt of cold adrenaline through the general’s body. It was barely after midday - Heiko had said they would arrive that night. Why were they so early? Did King Ingo assume his brother would indeed be plotting something?

“Has that wily prince trained a crow?” He wasn’t sure why that was the pressing question he decided to ask the captain, but it was without thought and laced with unbidden and, frankly, unnecessary bite. “What sort of dark magic has he sold his soul for?”

Rudolf snorted as they began up the maid stairs.