10
‘Torvaston the Second?’ I gasped. ‘But no, how could that be? He and Queen Hrruna founded the new court at Mandridore.’
You see the problem. Not that I was aware of this point of detail myself, for with these snatches of rumour came no report of the catastrophe at Farringale. But in my memory, Farringale was all-powerful, utterly unassailable. Why, then, should Torvaston ever leave it? And without Hrruna? It was impossible to credit such ridiculous assertions, and I ceased to listen to those who spread them. Somewhat to my regret, now.
My brain reeling, I had no immediate idea of what to say. Alban looked absolutely thunderstruck.
‘But, no,’ he said, faintly. ‘That cannot be, Melmidoc. It cannot. It is so widely known that Torvaston and Hrruna both took the Court to Mandridore. If t
