The Xsoha Master was making me wait, and I wasn’t pleased. I'd sent him a request for a meeting first thing in the morning—by now, he should be waiting at the door to be invited in. But he wasn’t. I glanced outside, irritated, taking another sip of my precious coffee. Alice had already left with Lynx to see if she could buy more and handle all those acquisitions Mike had mentioned.
I wondered what their arrangement was and if Lynx had agreed to the trip only to explore the town with her. Knowing him, he’d be poking his inquisitive nose into every shop he could find.
I smiled at the thought and took another sip, checking the suns. Was it ten? Eleven? Something around that, I guessed. This world had its charms, but precise timekeeping wasn’t one of them. Most days, that was fine—but when you were waiting on someone who should be there, it started to grate. The best they had were water clocks and the twin gods' clocks. Water clocks were just fancy hourglasses, while twin gods clocks relied on the dual suns’ shadows and involved a complicated surface you had to interpret. Some people even switched surfaces depending on the year and season. Most people didn’t mind, but being stuck waiting for someone I’d clearly instructed to be here right after breakfast really pissed me off.
Maybe I should fund a water clock project and build a high tower to display the time, like the one in the capital. There’s a grand water clock there, synchronized with Kargath's lunar rotations, atop a tall tower where different hours appear as various colors. It was a brainchild of the first prince, Archduke of Edurhim, though it never caught on outside the capital. Phrases like "Let’s meet in the middle of the pink hours" or "during the green hours" are common there, but anywhere else, saying that would earn you more than a few strange looks.
At last, I heard movement and saw the vice-master waiting at the doorway, his nose ring swinging with each heavy breath. He must’ve rushed up the stairs; the thin, middle-aged man with dark, oily hair streaked with white didn’t look in the best of shape.
“Lady Lores, you called?” he asked, slightly out of breath.
I sighed and nodded to the orcs to let him in.
“Where is the Xsoha Master?” I asked.
“Master Engerhard is unavailable—urgent matters required him to be in the capital.”
“Koreia or Uldaman?” I mused. What on earth could the old sack be up to?
“Why, our capital, Koreia, my sweet lady!”
We’ll see just how sweet I am once you hear what I have to say, I thought to myself.
“Whatever,” I said dismissively. “There’s no need to delay this conversation. If he isn’t here, I’ll tell you directly: I no longer require the services of the Xsoha.”
He bowed, putting on an exaggerated expression of dismay.
“Oh, my lady, such dreadful news! What could we have done to warrant such a response? Surely, there’s something we can do to repair our bond?”
His feigned distress wasn’t fooling me. If anything, he looked more prepared than surprised by the announcement.
“You’ve undermined the trust of the domain by neglecting to pay the required taxes before I took charge here.”
“But, my lady, those were matters from before your tenure! Surely, we needn’t tarnish our relationship over affairs from that chaotic time! Master Engerhard is currently resolving these... misunderstandings in the capital as we speak. All has already been set right; there’s no need for drastic action on your part.”
Drats, did they know what I was going to say? This couldn’t be a coincidence!
“It’s for me to decide,” I said, holding firm. “I am the domain’s owner. I am the baron.”
“Sweet Lady, Baroness…” he replied with that irritatingly patronizing look. I wasn’t about to let him finish.
I shrugged. “And as such, you’re fired.”
“My lady, you’re lashing out at the wrong ones! The Xsoha are honest, devoted workers, yet you cast us aside and surround yourself with treacherous orcs? Did you know these are renegade orcs, hunted by their own? Who knows what lies they’ve fed you about us? Their own people don’t even trust them!”
“I’ve already made my decision, under-Master Blumbard.”
“Then understand, my lady, we cannot allow this blemish on our reputation to go unchallenged. We will contest your decision in court.”
“You seem to forget, under-Master,” I said calmly, “that I am the highest authority in the domain, and I’ve made my decision.”
He sighed as if he were explaining to a stubborn child.
“I’m only the vice-master, Lady Lores. Vice-Master Blumhard, at your service. Conflicts between the domain and the Xsoha are not within the authority of a mere domain court, my lady; these matters are decided in the high courts of the capital.”
I gave a sigh of my own, making it clear I didn’t accept a word of his reasoning.
“You and your families will leave the castle by tomorrow evening.”
“But Lady Lores, you cannot enforce this until there’s a decision from the high court. Surely you understand that such an atrocious decision will be overturned, and until then, you cannot act. Think of the costs that’ll fall on the domain when the court reverses this! No, we refuse to move. This is truly what’s best for the domain, dear lady.”
Did he just tell me I couldn’t do anything? Let’s see about that.
I felt a wicked grin spread across my face.
“If you and your people aren’t gone by tomorrow evening, I’ll have you deported by force. Want to test me? I suggest you don’t make me prove it.”
“But my lady, you couldn’t possibly—”
“This conversation is over! Kurr, would you kindly escort my ‘guest’ to the lower floors? And if he resists or complains... feel free to kick him down the stairs if need be.”
Kurr grinned, a glint of anticipation flashing in his eye. I was starting to recognize more of the orcs, and Kurr stood out—a hulking warrior at level eighty-five, nearly Drackar’s equal in size, with dark brown-green skin heavily speckled in black. I’d learned he hailed from Wortar’s tribe, and Wortar himself seemed to have taken on the task of selecting my personal guard.
Kurr let out a low, hearty laugh.
“It would be my pleasure, Lady Lores!”
The Xsoha, casting an anxious glance between me and the advancing orc, made a quick decision to retreat without another word.
*
I tried to focus on my other tasks, but my thoughts kept circling back to the conversation with the Xsoha. Someone must have tipped them off about my plans, allowing them to make those preemptive moves. This slip could end up costing me and might stir up even more trouble with the regional capital.
It had to be someone among the castle's staff; the servants had too many chances to overhear conversations while moving around the estate. I’d need to be more discerning about who I keep close and start using more noise-dampening devices like the one Ju had bought.
Even if the Xsoha did end up paying the taxes retroactively, I was banking on my case holding up—but I didn’t have much court experience to lean on. Well, unless I counted that last jail stint back in the capital.
One of the servants entered the room.
"Lady Lores, High-Paladin Gamesh wishes to speak with you. Shall I let him in?"
"Send him in," I replied.
Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
Moments later, the tall paladin entered, striding quickly. His black hair fluttered slightly over his temples, contrasting sharply with the gleaming baldness that covered the rest of his head. With his long neck and slightly stooped posture, he looked a bit like an ostrich sporting a haircut.
“Lady Lores! Blessed be your heart! I’m glad to see you in a good mood!”
I chuckled at his remark. Good mood? Far from it.
“Sir Gamesh! Blessed be your heart as well. Is this a courtesy visit, or are there issues to address?”
“There are a few matters I’d like to discuss with you, Lady Lores—privately, if possible.” His eyes scanned the room, though it was empty. I nodded to the servant to close the door.
“You may speak, Sir Gamesh.”
“Thank you!” he said, clearing his throat. “Incidentally, Lady Lores, I’ve been asked to intercede by a rather agitated group of Xsoha who mentioned you’ve given them until tomorrow evening to vacate the castle.”
I let out a huff. Clearly, the Xsoha hadn’t wasted a moment complaining.
“Yes, and?” I prompted.
He gave a small shrug. “I thought you should know, you aren’t the first noble to try and ‘cut them out,’ so to speak. I’ve seen this play out before with other houses, and, more often than not, they end up returning with a vengeance and some aggressively inked contracts.”
I raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"
“Yes. They’re a tight-knit community, well-connected to the high courts, and they know the law inside and out. Good luck with this one—you’ll need it!”
Oddly enough, he seemed genuinely sympathetic.
“Is that the reason you came to me?”
“Oh, no, Lady Lores. There are two matters, actually. As I mentioned before, we’re due to meet a delegation, and they’ll be arriving here soon. It will include a small elite unit of elves, a scholar, Princess Therella, and her lady-in-waiting.”
“Excuse me... Sir Gamesh, you didn’t mention they’d be coming here, nor that they were elves!”
“Didn’t I make that clear? My mistake, my lady, apologies!”
I snorted at his faked excuse; he’d obviously kept us in the dark on purpose.
"Princess Therella?" I echoed, my tone less than enthusiastic. "Alright. I'll check with Mike about hosting a princess here."
"Thank you, Lady. The prince trusts you to do your utmost to make her comfortable. I understand an elf mage may arrive ahead of time to assist with preparations. Please inform the troops as well. Now, as for the second matter—this concerns Dame Anda."
I stifled a sigh at the thought of more efforts, then raised my eyebrows at the mention of Dame Anda. What now?
"Is there something suspicious about the accident?" I asked, fearing somebody might have spoken about the curse.
He shook his head.
"No, we've concluded it was just a foolish accident. Dame Hiera was on guard in a tower at the time and saw the entire incident. She saw Dame Anda leaning out over the balustrade, looking down at something. We’ve since learned that she was looking at Mr. Mike."
"That’s unfortunate." I said, relief obvious on my face: I'm a bad liar. "Can I do anything for her? Hasn’t she recovered yet?"
He looked at me, his gaze sharpening as if he sensed something more.
"She has indeed recovered but... she left," he said.
"Oh?" That took me by surprise, though I couldn’t see how it concerned me.
"She kept speaking about encountering the devil while she was... gone. She claimed he was coming to claim her soul and that her only hope of salvation was to join a monastery. She refused to spend another night here, where she believes she saw him. She’s resolved to devote herself to the Church of Holy Light."
The Church of Holy Light, or the Illumination Church, was one of the kingdom's principal religions. But why was he telling me this? Could she have seen something about me during her near-death? I hadn’t even been at the castle then… had I?
"Alright. Thanks for letting me know. What can I do?"
Damn. Why did I even ask?
"Lady Lores, Dame Anda's role wasn’t exactly… conventional, and I must ask for your discretion in what I’m about to share," he said, dropping his voice.
I nodded. "I understand…"
He sighed, glanced around, and leaned closer to whisper.
"Dame Anda was, in essence, a conduit. Prince Kotusawendu maintains a… particularly close connection with Lady Fara. Unable to travel, Lady Fara used Dame Anda to relay messages between them."
"I’m not sure I understand why you’re telling me this, Sir Gamesh," I replied, skeptical.
He took a deep breath, bracing himself. "I’ll get to the point. There’s a set of enchanted tiaras that allowed Lady Fara to communicate directly with the prince, through Dame Anda. But with Dame Anda gone, this line of connection is cut off, and it’s causing complications for the prince. We urgently need someone to fill Dame Anda’s role."
I shrugged, recalling Ju’s warning. She had always cautioned us not to get entangled in royal intrigues. "No matter what you do, you end up a loser," she'd said.
I shrugged. "Alright, then. But there’s an establishment with red lights at its doors just a mile up the river. I’m sure you’ll find someone there willing to wear a tiara while intercoursing with the prince, if that's all he needs."
Sir Gamesh choked, visibly horrified, and sputtered, “Lady Lores, you completely misunderstand! The prince and Lady Fara’s relationship is nothing of the sort—they’ve merely held hands!”
“Well, that makes it even easier, doesn’t it?” I replied. “If those ladies don’t suit your preferences, there are plenty of charming paladins in your retinue. Surely one of them would be willing to hold hands with the prince.”
He sighed in exasperation. “Lady Lores, I don’t understand why you’re so resistant to considering any support for Prince Kotusawendu. I’m relying on your complete discretion regarding this matter. You must see—it’s a delicate situation. We can’t afford to involve too many people in such a sensitive issue. Even the suggestion of one of our paladin ladies meeting with the prince alone could lead to unwelcome rumors, despite our knowing it’s innocent.”
"And wasn’t that also the case with Dame Anda?" I mused, but before I could voice my full thought, he continued.
“Additionally, it appears that the tiara’s functionality conflicts with the paladin class," he went on. "In the past, attempts to use it simply as a communication tool led to... unpleasant outcomes. I was hoping you might assist us in finding a suitable candidate—someone highly trustworthy and committed to secrecy or, alternatively, someone ‘expendable.’”
“Expendable?” I raised an eyebrow. “Are we talking about frying someone’s brain with this device?”
He shook his head. “Not exactly. The issue lies with holy magic—it causes a backlash for any priest or paladin who tries to use it. By ‘expendable,’ I mean someone whose memory we could potentially erase afterward. Some individuals might even see it as a fresh start: a new life with no memories of the past but a small fortune awaiting them back in the capital.”
I sighed, running over possible candidates in my mind. Perhaps it would be better to find a solution I could control, rather than leaving it to them to pluck some ‘expendable’ girl from a nearby village. But who could handle a task like this? Alice? Ju? Tina? I didn't want to impose this on any of them! Perhaps a housemaid? But, I didn’t know them well enough for a decision like this. Maybe Mike would have a suggestion. I turned back to the paladin.
“I’ll think it over and get back to you with a proposal,” I said.
He nodded, a hint of urgency in his eyes. “Please be swift. We need a solution before sunset.”
I held back a scoff. Couldn’t this little prince last a single day without whispering to his precious Fara? Honestly, the entitlement!
After the paladin left, I sighed, exasperated—only to hear a voice behind me.
"Mom, when you're done working, will you come up the hill with me? Look at those dark clouds! A storm’s coming!"
I spun around, startled, to see Sid sitting there in a pivot chair with a book in his hands.
"Sid, you’ve been here the whole time?" My heart skipped a beat, though I quickly calmed myself. Sid wouldn’t do anything to betray my trust. "You know you’re not supposed to talk to anyone about what you heard here, right?"
"Of course, Mom!" he replied with a grin.
“Is that from the library? Ju will be pretty upset if she finds out you’re reading them before they're restored.”
“Aunt Ju gave it to me! I asked her for something about dragons,” he explained, proudly.
Aunt Ju? I squinted at the title, finally reassured when I saw it was one from my world.
“Doesn’t it say ‘fairy tales’ on the cover?”
Sid quickly covered the words with his fingers, protesting, “It’s a dragon history book, Mom! The Life of Firelord Askar!”
I shrugged and rolled my eyes.