While Perdita ate her meal, Sthena left on the call of one of the guards who came to inform him of Churchman Theodore's visit.
Immediately the church man saw the king approach, he rose from his seat and bowed in greeting. "Your majesty."
"Theo," Sthena called out, acknowledging the churchman. "I wasn't expecting your visit, though I anticipated that of Donovan."
"Headchurch Donovan had sent me in his stead instead, Your Majesty. His desk is filled with complaints coming in every minute." Theodore replied, going to sit on the couch ushered to him by Sthena.
Sthena nodded and settled in on his side of the couch. "That should be enough to keep him busy and away from my neck."
"I fear that you too will be kept busy as he would be and will also have him breathing down your shoulders." Theodore remarked, handing him the parchment Donovan had asked him to give the king. He said, "Here is the report from the Blackfang death."
