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Léof was starting to wonder if he and Thornden had not simply made something up out of nothing. There had been a couple of shouts earlier, but since then he had heard little else and seen nothing.
Of course, if something had happened, it was also rather doubtful that he would find much in the residence wing, where Thornden had told him to check. Dutifully, he had checked both the down- and upstairs, finding nothing. As he was again heading downstairs, he heard a voice coming from the opposite end of the hall. As he came into sight, he spotted Stigend, axe at the ready.
“I don’t think there’s anyone except me around here,” Léof offered. “I’ve checked both floors.”
Stigend did not appear convinced. “Could someone have come in while you were upstairs?”
“Well, I suppose so,” answered Léof, becoming increasingly confused by Stigend’s manner. “What’s happened?”
Before Stigend could answer, however, the door behind him opened and he whirled around, axe held high. Whoever it was that Stigend expected did not appear; rather, Falco emerged from the door. He seemed not to notice Stigend at all, for his gaze went straight to Léof, who by now had come down from the staircase. “There you are!” Falco said. “Eodwine wants you to take a message to Meduseld.”
“What’s happened?” Léof repeated, more urgently this time.
“You haven’t heard? One of the outlaws has escaped!”
“Just one?” asked Léof.
“We caught the rest of them again,” Falco explained impatiently.
“Right,” Léof replied, still absorbing this information as he headed for the stables. Fortunately he had not yet had time to put away his saddle and bridle and both were still right outside Æthel’s stall. He quickly replaced them onto his horse and led her out into the courtyard to find out if Eodwine wanted him to report anything other than the brief details Falco had given him.
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