The morning after the battle, Gwendolen received the message.
A rider arrived bearing the imperial crest, his horse lathered from hard travel. The man himself looked exhausted, as if he'd ridden through the night without stopping. He was brought directly to the chieftess's residence where the Princess had established her temporary quarters.
Jaenor was in the village square when he saw the rider arrive, and something about the man's urgency made his instincts prickle with warning. Imperial messengers didn't push their horses to collapse unless the matter was critical.
He was considering whether to investigate when one of Gwendolen's guards approached.
"Lord Arkwright, Her Highness requests your presence. Immediately, if convenient."
"And if it's not convenient?" Jaenor asked, more out of curiosity than defiance.
"Then immediately anyway, my lord," the guard said with the faintest hint of a smile.
