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Javan topped off the wheelbarrow with his pitch fork and then placed the fork by the stall door while he pushed the load out of the stables and towards the plot of ground they planned on turning into a garden the next spring. He was coming back towards the stables when he saw riding down the path towards the hall a small rider on a pony. Before the rider, running as fast as their legs could carry them came Cnebba and Garmund, shouting when they saw him, “Javan! Javan! It’s Falco! Falco’s come back!”
Javan waved and then picked up the handles of the wheelbarrow again and pushed it as fast as he could back to the stables. When he came out again, Cnebba and Garmund were in the courtyard. “Falco is back and he’s brought the same pony as before!” Garmund said, fairly dancing with excitement.
“He sent us ahead to tell everyone,” Cnebba added. “He’ll be here in just a minute.”
“Run into the kitchen and tell the ladies there, Garmund,” Javan said. “Cnebba, find your dad. Lady Saeryn is with Lady Wynflaed. I’ll find them.”
The three lads parted ways, each running in their different directions. “Tell Harreld, too!” Javan shouted over his shoulder. He had seen the two ladies going into the hall just as he came out of the stables with his load of dung, so that was where he headed. No one was in the main hall. He knocked shyly on the women’s chambers, but no one answered, and when he peeped in he saw the room was empty. He looked in the kitchen, just in case they were there. They were not. Only Fordides and Kara were there, listening with surprised to Garmund’s news.
“Falco is back, is he?” Fordides said. “He’ll be welcome, I’m sure! Ginna and Modtryth are without, lad. Go and find them to tell them the news.”
Javan withdrew his head back into the hallway and wondered where next to look for the two ladies. He’d pop his head into the armory and the guardroom, though he doubted they would be there. He was right, and the only place was left was lord Athanar’s chamber itself. He hesitated only a moment at the door, and then he heard their voices from within, so he lifted his hand and knocked.
Saeryn and Wynflaed both stood when they heard the knocked. For a moment, they stared at each other, still caught in the emotion of what had just been said. Then Wynflaed stepped to the door and opened it wide.
“If you please, my lady,” Javan said, his face containing something between respectfulness and a broad grin. “Lady Saeryn, Falco is back.”
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