"I'm sure they will. They are on the lookout for anything that catches their fancy, really, and I don't expect they'll be gone too long. We've heard rumblings of a hart as pale as winter in these woods, and while I doubt they'd find it straightaway, they'll track news of it, and take what else comes as they go. Dristan's well. He makes a scrupulous lord, and the Dreadfort gets along quite well in my absence." Scrupulous enough to make a saddle of human skin. Impressive. But unseemly, outside of home. If it was recognized... He'd have to have a few words with his heir when he returned. Kyra was blameless for wearing it out, though. It would probably look even more suspicious if the thing remained unused, in pristine condition.
He listened to Kyra's stream of talk--much of it meaningless, but a few bits of interest here and there--as they passed first the keep, then the city. Finally, the countryside stretched gold and open around them, the road quiet and only the thinnest scattering of people across some of the fields. He cast the squire behind them a look, but Kyra trusted him, and the boy was Gareth's anyway. He could feel his niece's excitement beside him. "Now, Kyra?" He smiled and waited.