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of the Lady Leonora, you must put that question to His Majesty. He has seen the Lady Commander more recently than I."Anne's face went white. Harald stood up, stumbled a little on stiff legs, and in the silence walked out of the orchard.
Bird On the Wing
A small hut of one's own is better,
A man is his master at home.
The next morning he woke late and heavy headed, both due to a late evening of drink and gossip in the guard barracks. While helping himself to what was left of breakfast in the great hall, he heard the King's voice and looked up.
"Your Excellency. Today my lords and I hunt in the woods and meadows south of here. Will you join us? I have heard tales of your skill with the bow."
"What does Your Majesty hunt?"
"Deer."
"Hard to miss; rabbits are a better test. But I'll come."
Returned to his room he considered the matter, stripped to his under tunic, pulled on the mail shirt he commonly wore under his war coat, a second tunic over that. In the stable he saddled his mare, slid bowcase and quiver over their hooks and tied them down, pulled sword and belt from the middle of one long bundle, wrapped the belt around his waist—despite some days of the King's hospitality it still fit—drew the blade out a few inches, slid it back, and rode out to join the gathering company. With the lords were several ladies also mounted, Anne not among them, and a small crowd of servants.
Two miles south the woods were open, the land mostly level. The King planted his banner in a meadow; the servants set to putting up tables, building fires, while lords and ladies went in search of game. Some followed the dogs and their keepers, others, Harald among them, in other directions.
He was sitting his horse in solitude, watching the bushes for movement, when a stag came out of the woods at a full run.