“Surprised you, I did, ain’t it true? Ain’t it?” Lord Rivendell smiled broadly. “Never expected to see me, did you? Did you?”
Vlad took a step back. “When did you arrive?”
“Just today, just now, came as soon as we hit dry land, which ain’t very dry.” The man drew a sealed sheaf of papers from inside his black coat’s breast pocket. “These are for you. The Queen’s ordered you home to Norisle, Prince Vladimir, and I shall be Governor-General while you are gone.”