The Huntress - Part 5

"…The surrender hurried that along," Blackthorn said. "If they'd had to lay siege to each city, years would have been on the low end. Damn it all. What trick did that Blackwell manage to pull to force them into such an unfavourable surrender?"

"It's truly won, then?" Asabel said, her delight evident. "Is there any more news than that?"

"None," Blackthorn said. "This message comes from Idris. It seems he expects that this news to be even further out of date, given that he received a late crow himself… We're likely two weeks behind, my Queen. All the more reason for us to return home. There will be many matters for us to attend to – and it'll take us another week to return."

"…A few more days, Blackthorn, that is all," Asabel said. "Three days should be sufficient. Do we have any supposing of when Oliver Patrick might be returning home?"