"If even Lady Ashlynn was taken alive, then we should continue the search," Mairwen said firmly. "We should venture into the wilderness and investigate this village. If there's even a chance that Liam is being held there…"
"I know we should," Loghlan said, wrapping his arms tightly around his wife and pulling her close enough that he could rest his chin on the crown of her head. "I know we should, my love, but we're almost out of time."
The summons to Lord Owain's 'grand ceremony' had found them a few days ago, and the language of the summons was very clear. If the summons had opened with 'Your presence is requested,' then Loghlan might have found a way to refuse the 'request' so that he could tend to matters involving his missing son. Even if it had contained the more strongly worded 'Your presence is expected,' it could have been evaded, though the consequences of doing so might have been more extreme.
