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Page 260
I bid my messenger to go at once, it will save him a little time of riding in the dark."
"What sort of welcome does he plan?" Sir Roland asked the moment Heribert was gone.
Walter shook his head. "If it were an ill one, would he be so open about it?"
"You did not mention this to me," Sybelle said, her voice carefully neutral.
"I told you long ago that I must look over the lands myself," Walter replied. "This may be a very good time for itor it may not."
Walter's tone was familiar to Sybelle; she had heard it used by both her father and grandfather. It said that argument was useless, that there was a duty to be done. Walter had not mentioned Richardhe did so as little as possible in Sir Roland's presence, not because he was untrusting of Sir Roland's loyalty but because he did not wish any shadow of the rebellion to taint a man beholden to Roselynde. Sybelle knew, however, that Walter's suggestion had been made in case Richard thought it wise to hold Knight's Tower for him from within.
She said no more, even when they were out of the keep and on the road. There was no use in nagging at Walter about an action that had not even been decided. If necessary, Sybelle thought, she herself would speak to Richard, since she was sure Walter would make light of, or not mention at all, the danger of putting himself into Sir Heribert's power. Walter would be fit to kill her for such interference, but better he should be enraged than dead.
It was very cold with a sharp and biting wind so they rode in silence with hoods drawn forward and heads bent. The horses moved briskly, instinctively quickening pace to keep themselves warm, and their hooves clattered sharply on the road where the raw earth had frozen almost hard as stone. No one had much thought of anything besides the weather. They were nowhere near any contested territory, and they were too well armed a group to invite attack by an outlaw band, specially as they had no baggage train to hint at rich loot. There was only one packhorse with clothing and linen for Sybelle and Walter.
Thus, even Walter did not react when they first heard the sound of travelers on the road ahead. He was busy with his

 
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