arl arrived this afternoon, bringing news which stunned the castle.  The Duke was wounded in a skirmish on the beach nearly two weeks ago, and the King gave him leave to return home.  Karl has come to prepare the castle, while the Duke and several of his knights are two or three days behind.

It is a relief to know the Duke is alive.  The Cellarer said that, according to Karl, the wounds are not serious.  None of Karl’s men have been killed (almost have I the urge to thank the spirits).  One of the knights, a landholder in a village two days from Cannaghdown, was beaten to death after he was dragged from his horse while defending the Duke.

Still, I think the news is mostly good.  My friends are hale, and my lord will recover.

But Ivar must dread the return of the Duke. This indeed will be the end of Ivar’s ill-fated dalliance with Fina.