Shadow of a Dark Queen by Raymond E. Feist

Nathan spoke of the day’s events, and the women joined Erik in silence.
    Nathan had a dry sense of humor that made it difficult at first to know if he was being mocking ormerely amusing. This had resulted in Freida and Milo both treating him with some coolness at first.
    But his warm nature and clear appreciation of life’s little moments had won over even Erik’s mother, who could often be seen trying to fight back a smile at some quip of Nathan’s. Erik had once asked him how he kept so even a disposition, and the answer had surprised him. “When you lose everything,” Nathan had said, “you’ve nothing left to lose. You’ve got two choices then: either kill yourself or start building a new life. When I started this new life, without my family, I decided the only sensible thing in it was to live for the small rewards: a job well done, a beautiful sunrise, the sound of children laughing at play, a good cup of wine. Makes it easy to deal with the harsher side of life.
    â€œKings and marshals can look back and relive their triumphs, their great victories. We common folk must take what pleasure we can from life’s little victories.”
    Erik hardly touched his food, and at last bade everyone excuse him as he almost jumped up from the table and hurried out through the common room, Milo’s laughter following after. He almost ran through the door of the inn and barely avoided knocking Roo down as the youngster was about to enter the inn.
    â€œWait a minute!” cried Roo as he fell in beside his larger friend.
    â€œCan’t. I have to meet someone.”
    Roo grabbed the larger youth by the arm and was almost dragged along a step or two before Erik stopped. “What?” he asked Roo impatiently.
    â€œDid your father send for you?”
    Erik had long since stopped being amazed at the town gossip Roo was able to ferret out, but this had him stunned. “Why do you ask that?”
    â€œBecause since late yesterday the road has been thick with Kingdom Post riders, sometimes as many as three in a bunch, and a company of the Baron’s horse, followed by two companies of foot soldiers, passed by the eastern boundary of the town this morning, heading south, and the Baron’s own personal guards showed up an hour ago at the Growers’ and Vintners’ Hall. That’s what I was coming to tell you. And you’re wearing your best shirt.”
    Not wishing to have Roo along, Erik said, “The Prince of Krondor is dead. That’s why . . .” He was about to say that was why his father was coming to the town, on his way to Krondor, but instead said, “all the fuss.”
    Roo said, “So those soldiers are heading south to support the garrisons along the Keshian border, in case the Emperor gets ambitious now that Arutha’s dead.” Now suddenly an expert in military matters, Roo was left standing by Erik, who had resumed his hurried march.
    Seeing he was suddenly alone, Roo yelled, “Hey!” and chased after his friend, catching up with him as Erik left the street of the Pintail and entered the main square of the town.
    â€œWhere are you going?”
    Erik stopped. “I have to meet someone.”
    â€œWho?”
    â€œIt’s personal.”
    â€œIt’s not a girl, or you’d be heading north to the fountain, not east toward the baronial road.” Roo’s eyes widened. “You are meeting your father! I wasjust joking before.”
    Erik said, “I don’t want anyone to say anything, especially not to my mother.”
    â€œI’ll keep this to myself.”
    â€œGood,” said Erik, turning Roo around with two large and powerful hands on narrow shoulders. “Go find something amusing to do, and not too illegal, and I’ll talk to you later tonight. Meet me at the inn.”
    Roo frowned, but sauntered off as if he had intended to leave Erik alone anyway. Erik resumed his