38 The King's Entourage

“How did they even know I was gone?” Lara asked needlessly much later after they had arrived at the Trarko House. It had been a wild time passing through earlier as the crowd parted as she approached. People were throwing their clothes in the way, bowing and cheering as she passed through. It was like a king had just returned home. Even now, people were still outside dancing to music in what had metamorphosed to an ad hoc welcome party. Erom had just stepped back into the room from outside. “They saw us leave, remember?” He said. “But in all honesty, Lady Trarko, this is immense. You know what I was able to gather from folks as I stepped out now?” “What is that?” Lara asked. “They said they thought you would only be gone for a day. And when you failed to turn up after two days, they all got worried.” “You can say that again.” Eltak this time stepped into the room. “Ella tells me that they almost got beaten up because they couldn't state with certainty where you had gone and it w