Chapter 128: Bond, Part 3

Kristof drew back, stared at him, face flushed, mouth bruised and hair mussed. Another knock came, and Kristof scowled at the door before climbing off the bed and storming across the room to open it. Håkon sat up, moved to the edge of the bed and slowly slid out of it. His feet didn't feel quite steady beneath him, but as long as he did not start running about immediately he thought he might retain his dignity. "Is something wrong?" he asked as Kristof closed the door and returned to him.

"A message from the castle," Kristof said. "I sent them word I had found you shortly after I brought you back here. His Majesty … well, I am clearly still in a great deal of trouble for defying orders and abandoning my post, but he says to return at our leisure and it is good to hear you are alive."

"I do not think his Majesty wrote that," Håkon replied wryly. "It sounds more like one of his wives did so for him."