Rowan turned with the others, and they began the procession inside.
People didn’t bow to their king as they passed, nor did they avert their eyes. They smiled and bobbed their heads. Some of them even made small talk or shook Rowan’s hand on his way through.
Ieduin had been all over the world and been in dozens of castles. No matter how much finery kings and queens laid over the stone, they were still ugly, drafty fortresses better suited to keeping armies out than comfortable living. There was nothing impressive about that.
As Rowan gave them a quick tour of the place, he noted choke points in the hallways and made a mental list of the areas in each hall that had the best vantages for archers. If the castle were ever overrun, he’d have no shortage of high perches to pick off enemies. Greymark Castle was full of big rooms and echoes.
They came around a corner and there was a strange, loud grunting sound. Rixxis tensed and reached for her war hammer, but Ieduin knew that sound.
He lifted an eyebrow at Rowan. “Is that—”
Before he could finish the thought, a pink pig the size of a small dog came trotting down the hall, snorting and wagging his tail. He squealed with delight at the sight of Rowan, who immediately knelt to pick him up.
Rowan turned, beaming. “Everyone, this is Lord Hamlet!”
Rixxis and Ieduin stared at him.
“You made your pig a lord?” Rixxis asked.
Rowan shrugged. “I’d have knighted him, but he keeps running away from the sword.”
Ieduin tried to keep a straight face, but he couldn’t contain it any longer and doubled over laughing. “Oh gods above! That’s… That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard! You get it, Rixxis? Shit, Hamlet will be a better lord than half the ones I’ve met.”
Rixxis finally got the joke and sprouted a smile. “I’m sure someone in Trinta is very offended.”
“Let’s hope so. I wouldn’t be doing my job if they weren’t.” Rowan planted a kiss on Hamlet’s head and put the pig down.
As they moved on, winding their way up a set of carpeted stairs, Hamlet scurried alongside his master. They moved into another wing where they nearly tripped over Gallaway arguing with one of the castle staff.
“What do you mean?” Gallaway scoffed at the servant girl. “I told you three rooms, girl. Three!”
The servant girl hung her head. “I’m sorry, mum. I got confused and must’ve miscounted.”
“Can ya count to three?” Gallaway put her hands on her hips and shook her head.
“What seems to be the problem, Ms. Gallaway?” Rowan asked as their procession came to a halt.
Gallaway faced him. “I told the girls to have three rooms ready for your guests, but it seems they’re having trouble keeping everything straight with all the comings and goings. They’re new.” The last line was directed at Ieduin, Rixxis, and Tofi and was as close to an apology as they were likely to get from Gallaway. “Seems there’s only two rooms ready.”
“I thought they’d be in the barracks with the men,” explained the girl.
“Tofi makes the rest of the Crows uneasy,” Tofi said. “But if needs must, Tofi will find a place.”
“Ready another room at once,” Gallaway growled.
The serving girl frowned and lowered her head, stepping closer. “But there’s only one room left, and I thought we weren’t allowed to disturb anything in Lady McGovern’s room.”
Next to them, Rowan stiffened.
“It’s all right,” Rixxis interjected quickly. “Ieduin and I can double up.”
Gallaway frowned. “Pardon?”
“I said it’s not a big deal,” Rixxis repeated with a shrug. “We’ve been in tight quarters before. There’s no need to ready another room. Ieduin and I will share and Tofi can have the other.”
“You heard the lady,” Rowan said with a restrained smirk. “Two rooms will do.”
“Good,” Rixxis muttered and rubbed her head. “I’m getting a headache.”