I exhaled slowly, my grip on my own spoon relaxing as tension drained from my shoulders.
That had been too close.
Scarlet remained frozen for another long moment, then slowly reached for her bowl and resumed eating with shaking hands.
Agnes watched the door where the hunters had exited, her expression troubled.
"They're so desperate," she said quietly. "Why would His Grace go to such lengths for just one servant?"
She shook her head slightly.
I shrugged, taking another bite of stew and chewing thoughtfully before answering.
"That girl could be special to him somehow."
I looked at Agnes as I said it, watching for her reaction.
But she didn't reply. Just kept eating.
Scarlet shot me a glare from beneath her hood, her amber eyes narrowed with clear irritation at being discussed like she wasn't sitting right there.
I ignored her pointed look and finished my meal, scraping the last of the stew from my bowl with a piece of bread.
The silence stretched between us again.
