The Mournford Delay

The Mournford Delay is the disaster Keldrun cannot assign to one villain, which is why it still hurts. A slow muster, swollen water, pride, bad messages, and chiefs waiting for one another left three halls trapped beyond the crossing. No single hand pushed the heirs into death, so every hand was stained by hesitation. Relay shelters, ride deadlines, witness requirements, and the hard authority of the Flintwardens all grew from that day. The story is told with hoofbeats in the rhythm, because the difference between rescue and mourning was measured in hours.