Chapter 30

Hegre cried when Arinia told him their father was most likely dead. He was quiet for a few days but then picked himself up and continued. After that he asked about their father less and less frequently until Arinia could almost believe that he had put the thought of their father being dead behind him.

He seemed to immerse himself in the farm spending time in the fields and with Bollo. He fed the horses, brushed them, learned to ride and milked the cows. He proved very adept at farm life. But Arinia did not realize it was Hegre’s way to deal with the loss of his father.

Sometime after Arinia bought the farm, they were awakened one night by the sound of the horses whinnying and neighing in the barn. Arinia and Hegre met Bollo downstairs with a lantern.

“Something is not right Lady Arinia,” Bollo whispered. He held a sword in his hand. “I must go and see.”

“Wait here Bollo. Stay inside. We are ill equipped to deal with robbers.”

“We cannot merely wait for robbers to steal all we have Lady