Ender knew the soldiers had arrived long before the knock had come at the keeps main door. Enhanced hearing enabled him to hear their approach on horseback, and he steeled himself for the inevitable confrontation. They certainly would not be pleased with having been laid vulnerable on the side of the road after Caroline had placed the sleeping spell on them, and while she was now a contracted witch, it would be difficult to explain why she had acted so rashly.
The three exited the study quickly by human standards. Ender couldn't help but notice that the girl now had dark circles under her eyes and her posture was less erect than earlier that day. It seemed the fatigue of the day's events and likely her expenditure of magic were catching up with her. He felt a pang sympathy. By no fault of her own was she launched across the ocean, and he couldn't hold defending herself against Greir against her when the vampire had tried to feed on her.
