It was another snowy day up north in the town of Bredost. It covered the roofs and the pavements, the snow made life for the townsfolk harder than it is.

Yet, Orewell, the bastard son of Lord Felkin Ays of House Ays, doesn't seem bothered by the snow at all. In fact, he was delighted by it. The snow felt cold and wet to the touch, but it felt nice. The snow is his home after all.

His black hair, dark like the night felt heavy under the cold and his sapphire blue eyes pierce through snow. Everyone who saw his eyes will feel a cold shiver through their spines, a cold that not even the snowy climate of the North can ever bring.

It was a busy day in Bredost, the merchants yelling and cursing as they organized their packs and wagons, guards walking through the town to ensure the safety of the folk, the sounds of hammers clashing through anvils as blacksmiths made blades and tools to sell. And Orewell was walking through all of it. Despite being the son of Lord Felkin, Orewell wasn't allowed into the castle if his father was absent and he was to live like a commoner under the command of Lady Catherine Shard-Ays, the wife of Lord Felkin.

Catherine had never been fond of Orewell because he was a bastard, she does not mind if Felkin can not hold his urges and must relieve himself with another woman during one of his campaigns, but she does not want his bastard in her own home.

As Orewell walked around town, he felt a tiny sensation wrap around his waist. He looked behind him and saw a small girl with dark brown hair flowing down until below her shoulders, it was his younger half-sister, Amelie. She was the second youngest child of Lord Felkin and Lady Catherine. She was always fond of her half-brother, because unlike her oldest brother, Glen, who was always busy learning the ways of ruling, or her older sister, Mayne, who was busy being a "proper" lady, and their youngest brother, Pin, is still a baby who can't even play with her. Orewell always had time to play and pay attention to her.

"A young lady like you shouldn't be here in town, you'll ruin your dress." Orewell teasingly said to Amelie as he wrapped her tiny body in his arms, she feels soft and light to the touch like a doll.

"No one plays with me in the castle!" Amelie exclaimed while she wrapped her arms around her half-brother's body. "It's all ruling this, ruling that! It's boring" She added.

"Your siblings are the children of Lord Felkin, of course they will have to learn ruling." He replied in a somewhat bitter tone.

"You're father's son too! You're my sibling!" She exclaimed with all the wisdom a seven year old girl can muster.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

As Amelie finished her reply, Orewell never found the words to respond to her young half-sister. She was too innocent and she most probably wouldn't understand if he tried to explain his circumstances about being Lord Felkin's bastard son.

"I might be, Amelie. But--"

Amelie cut off his words by putting her tiny hands on her half-brother's mouth. She got off of his arms and fell down on the muddy road on her feet. Her shoes and dress are now a muddy mess.

"It's because of Mother, isn't it?!" She asked while she crossed her arms and a pout on her face.

Amelie read her fourteen year-old half brother like an open book and he didn't even have to say anything. Out of Orewell's three half-siblings, Amelie is the one that always understood him. He has a fairly neutral relationship with Glen and Mayne, and a not so good relationship with Lady Catherine.

"Look...little sister..." He paused and crouched to meet her at eye level. "Yes, you're right. It's because of Lady Catherine." He admitted with a melancholic tone in his voice. He truly tried to get along with her, but it seems like his existence alone is enough to make Lady Catherine's stomach revolt.

He sighed softly, thinking of another way to change the topic.

"King Illain will come here up North to meet with Father, correct?" He asked. "I also heard that the queen, Queen Clira, will come here along with their three children." He added.

Orewell spent most of his time in the Hillpeak Tavern, the only tavern in Bredost, working as a waiter and cleaner. During work, he hears rumors from drunks, and tales from the bards and poets.

Amelie nodded.

"Yes, they will come here. I think they're coming tod--"

Before Amelie can even finish her words, the trumpets of the soldiers on the ramparts of the town wall blared. Banners of House Ays laid on the trumpets, two swords crossed on a block of ice with a white background meanwhile the ice is a shade of sky blue.

The trumpets were deafening, but it only means one thing. The king is here, no doubt. And soon, the gates of the town opened, and inside came a party of approximately a hundred men all mounted in horses. The men in the front wore shiny and lustrous armor that reflected the sunlight even in the cold. More men passed, and in the middle of the formation came a wagon.

As all the men had entered town, they all stopped and the wagon did as well. From the wagon came a middle-aged man with porcelain white hair and ash gray beard with patches of black in it. He stood tall in his armor and cape, uncaring about the mud on the pavements. Orewell looked up at the man and saw his crown, and he deduced that there's no doubt, it was their uncle, at least for Glen, Mayne, Amelie and Pin. King Illain.

Now that Orewell noticed it, the men in front of the wagon bore the banner of House Poynt, a black cross at the very center of the banner, contrasted by a yellow background.

Felkin and Illain were close brothers, bonded even closer when Illain had started his rebellion against Kluster Angr. This visit is not surprising for the folk of Bredost as they knew too well the closeness of both House Ays and House Poynt were.

After Illain got off the wagon, a beautiful woman with hair as brown as dark oak followed. Orewell saw her eyes, and it was a beautiful amber yellow, it was mesmerizing just like gazing at amber or topaz. Her mannerisms were sophisticated, taking small steps in her walk outside of the wagon and behind her husband. She had a captivating and warm smile on her face, as if it can melt all the snow away from the entirety of the North.