He stopped in front of Kostia. "Have you searched those two?" He gestured toward the remaining captives.
Kostia shook his head once. "Not yet."
Ragnar nodded. "Search them."
Kostia moved at once. He knelt beside the first man and began patting him down thoroughly. The man trembled but did not resist. After a moment, Kostia straightened, having found nothing of interest.
He shifted to the second captive. The moment Kostia's hands touched his coat, the man reacted violently, struggling in sudden panic. He barely managed to push Kostia away before two guards were on him, forcing him back down into the snow and pinning his arms as Kostia continued the search without pausing.
From inside the man's coat, Kostia produced a folded note bearing the unmistakable stamp of House Acheron. A moment later, he retrieved another slip of parchment from a different pocket, this one unmarked. Without comment, he rose and handed both to Ragnar.
