Rialynn's fathered frowned as he crossed the floor with his big, heavy, floor-creaking steps. He glanced back to make sure the rest of his guests were nowhere to be seen before opening the door.

"Bit early for a house visit," he thundered gruffly.

"Checking to see if you were all right. Heard you had some visitors," spoke another voice, more difficult to hear from where they were huddled out of sight. "Not like you to be so welcoming, Gert, wanted to make sure no one forced their way in and made free with your home."

"Throat's not cut yet."

There was a long silence as the two men measured one another.

"Who are your guests?"

"Who said I had guests?"

"Don't play, Gert. When a hermit buys a horse and big piles of food, I think it's clear what's going on, don't you?"

"..."

"Stand aside. On orders of his lordship, we are commanded to search the premises."

Rialynn stiffened sharply, and immediately pushed open the window in her room, waving her friends over. "Go go go!"