Chapter 2 Summary

Rialla and Laeth arrive in Darran, in the town of Westhold, where Lord Karsten has been living. Lord Karsten is kind to servants and those around him, and cares a lot about propriety, but Rialla knows that he does not care what cruel measures Dram, his overseer, uses to ensure that Lord Karsten's supplies are kept well-stocked. It is strictly forbidden for peasants to hunt in Lord Karsten's lands, even if they are starving, because he wants to make sure that there will be something to hunt when he feels like it. Lord Karsten understands that by supporting the alliance between Reth and Darran, he is making himself a target for assassination, and in fact, there has already been an attack on his life. Ostensibly, Laeth is there to celebrate Karsten's birthday, although really he wants to find out who is behind the...