Mack said to Gwenn when he arrived at the gate, "Ah... Recruit MacConal. Domna Ridenow was here and asked me to give you a note. Here you go.", Mack said handing Gwenn a piece of folded paper.
Gwenn frowned, suddenly worried. "Domna Ridenow?" He tried to remember her first name, but couldn't, and that upset him even more than the note. He should remember all his bredas' relatives, even if he'd met them only once or twice. "Thank-you, sir. If it is from the domna, then it must be important."
Gwenn looked at the note, threw a salute to Mack, then turned and left the guardhouse. He ran to Sergeant diAsturien's office and knocked on the door-frame. "Enter." Lewis didn't even look up. "What is it, MacConal?"
"Sergeant, I have a note from Domna Ridenow..." Gwenn began, then stopped.
Lewis looked up at that, and took in the recruit's worried expression. "What, can't read? Well, hand it over then." He took the note from Gwenn and opened it. "Hmmm, rather cryptic. Must've taken precautions in case you couldn't read...or perhaps someone is paranoid." Lewis looked up and saw the expected outrage on Gwenn's face. "Oh, not the domna, boy!" Looking back down at the note, he continued, "It says:
"Dear Gwenn, Our breda needs us, and may be in trouble, but not dangerously so. She is at "Leaves", if that means anything to you. She has asked for secrecy, so I cannot give you more information than that. Please come if you can. ~~ Melissa Ridenow"
"I expect you'll be wanting release from your afternoon duties, will you?" Lewis growled. "I see from your face that you, at least, understand the message." Lewis understood more than Gwenn would ever suspect, but he let the lad believe otherwise. "Odd way to put it, 'our breda'. Wonder which one she means?" he mused.
"Sergeant, --" Gwenn began, but Lewis cut him off.
"No need, MacConal. Your mind would be on your sister's plight, and not on the horses, where it would have to be when dealing with horses. Go to your sister, but report back here as soon as you are done." Lewis stood up, rounded the desk, and handed the note back to Gwenn. "Must not be that important," he growled, "I see you're still here."
"Sergeant!" Gwenn threw him a salute as he took the note, and took off as soon as he heard Lewis dismiss him.
Gwenn began to run out of the building, but then stopped as he saw an officer turn the corner. He settled for walking quickly. He didn't want an officer to stop him and ask where the fire was! He made his way to the gate where he stopped and spoke to Mack. "I'll be heading into the city, sir. Sgt. di Asturien has given me leave to do so."
Gwenn headed quickly toward "Leaves". He really wanted to run, but figured that if any of the patrols saw him running, they'd follow to see what the problem was. And he _really_ didn't want anyone to slow him down with questions or follow him--family business was private