I sighed. I was both relieved and anxious; glad that I didn’t have to face failure born of my own lack of magic. I walked to the door, opening it to reveal Father. Despite the fact that I had been expecting a talk from him at some point, I was surprised to see him at the door to my chambers.

'May I come in?' he asked politely, though I could see from his face that he would not be denied.

I nodded and he closed the door behind him. We sat on the edge of my bed beside each other, as I had with Gwaeda earlier that day.

'I'm certain you know why I'm here,' he said, and I nodded once more. I flicked my fringe away from my eyes nervously. 'The House of Djiron is an important ally to us. Though their lands are distant, as the two counties most beset by conflict we must combine our forces to defend our lands and make King Degron see our need.

'I knew that it was a bad idea letting you go with the Count, but I was too polite to stop it. That was a mistake. You are young and impetuous. You care too much about your illusions of men and too little about the reality. I could see how easily swayed you were by his southern charm, though it is an infamous trait of Borderlands men, and counts for naught but surface flattery.

'Your mother has been pressing me to send you to Hollowhold. I was discontent to do so as I felt that you would be more comfortable completing your education here, but I’ve come to realise that you have been coddled. It would be good for you to spend some time among folk of varying cultures and stations. Further, Master Kaen fears that you would be best served a different tutor, and there is none in the Reach that can teach the portal magicks as well as he.'

'A-are you sending me away?' I stammered.

Tears welled in my eyes, but I suppressed the urge to release them down my cheeks. I hadn’t believed the incident in the tower would be the last straw, but I suspected Mother had been needling Father on this issue for some time.

'I think it best,' he said in a sigh. 'You’ll return for your coming of age, so you will be gone less than two years.'

'I will be too young to pursue a husband!' I protested.

The ferocity of my words cost me control of the tears that now flowed freely. 'I've always known I would go to a larger city, but only once I am of age. It’s useless to send me now! Useless!'

'The decision is made,' Father replied. He turned to me and put a hand on my shoulder. 'Yet, I was able to secure one concession from your mother.' I suspected it, but did not say anything for fear of risking what could very well be my one solace.

'Timoth,' he declared. 'Timoth will travel with you to Hollowhold. He is of age, but knows little of Halivaara. He should travel while I am still young enough to rule without his aid. He will be able to protect you.'

'I am glad that Timoth will accompany me,' I said, 'but I do not wish to go. Do I have no say in the matter?'

Father's expression became less sympathetic. 'You have already had too much say in your own upbringing. Children need to be raised; they cannot raise themselves. It pains me to send you away, but I fear I have always known the truth of your mother's words and ignored them out of sentimentality.'

'I don't want to go,' I repeated uselessly.

We sat in silence for a time, which I appreciated. I knew how busy Father was at the best of times, and he’d no doubt left Count Djiron and his own military advisors waiting in the throne room to be with me.

I steeled myself to my predicament, knowing that I would be forced to face the emotional consequences later, but determined to use this opportunity to seek information that could brace me against them.

'Will my ladies be permitted to travel with me?'

'If they are willing to leave Haelling Cove then they may journey with you. I’ll even increase their salary in consideration of their dedication. If not, I will provide coin for new attendants,' Father said kindly.

I sensed that he was torn about the decision, and sought to soften it as best he could. He was a kind man, and his kindness made me consider how I'd brought this situation upon myself.

'Why do you tell me now? Why not wait until Count Djiron has departed?' I asked.

'You are to travel with him as far as Trackford. There he will be ferried across the Haelling and return to his own land, but you will continue on to Hollowhold.'

'I'm to travel with him?!' I exclaimed. 'What decision is that?'

'It is my decision,' Father replied, reminding me of my place. 'You will tell him that you have realised your mistake and attempt to ingratiate yourself with him. I require you to bandage the wound in the relations between our houses that you have caused, and you require experience interacting with men not like those of Haelling Cove.'

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'I don't want to grovel Khad,' I complained.

'And you don't want to go to Hollowhold. Yet that is your task,' Father replied. I sensed that the time for patience had passed, and he was conscious of the need to return to Count Djiron. 'I will send Gentleman Wargwa with you to provide guidance on your journey. He has taken well to the Borderlands men, and may be able to assist you with the Count.'

I nodded. I’d known that Father would not have sent Timoth and I alone, and Wargwa was the obvious choice. He was brave and wise, and took pains to ensure that my family and I were comfortable. I did not take issue with him, though our interactions had been limited. Mostly, my ladies saw to my comfort. No doubt we would also be accompanied by a handful of soldiers to protect us from highwaymen.

'I must return to the Count,' Father said. 'You should prepare for your departure. I believe Count Djiron intends to leave no later than one hour after dawn.'

I nodded, and he kissed me on the forehead.

'I love you, Saemara.'

'I know,' I replied, and he left.

My tears fell unrestrained as I curled upon on the bed. I did not care that doing so would crease my blouse, though I was momentarily grateful that I had not yet succumbed to the fashion of wearing silk. My sadness was mired in frustration, but neither emotion was targeted at anyone other than myself. I cried for my predicament, out of fear of change, not out of loss.

After a few minutes, the tears faded. I sensed hope rising inside me, and I was able to consider what Hollowhold would mean to me. I doubted that my portalmancy skills would remain stalled with the King's best tutors at my disposal. And while I was too young to wed, I was still able to entertain suitors in preparation for my coming of age.

And I would have Timoth.

The knowledge of his presence gave me strength. He was ever my rock and my shield, and we were on much the same quest. Father would expect him to learn as he expected me to complete my education, and Timoth was old enough to pursue noblewomen with the intent of marriage.

I did, however, realise that Gwaeda would not come with me. This was a blow, as she knew my needs better than Daegwin. Conversely, I was uncertain whether Daegwin would be in attendance.

I decided to make that my first order of business.

I stood from my bed and brushed down my blouse and skirt, cleansing myself of fluff from the blanket. I discarded my slippers and donned my proper shoes. Making sure the skin under my eyes wasn’t too puffy from crying, I stepped into the corridor.

Daegwin was in one of the servants’ common rooms. Ten or eleven servants were seated on the couches and wooden benches, mostly just talking, though some were also drinking. It was where I often found my ladies.

I didn’t intrude upon the servants’ privacy, bearing in mind Gwaeda's, and instead summoned her to me. She gave the servants across from whom she was seated a parting glance before joining me in the corridor.

'My lady?' she asked.

'I… I am to go to Hollowhold. I depart tomorrow.' I paused for a moment to let the words sink in. She didn’t nod her acknowledgement, perhaps because she was expecting my question. 'Will you travel with me? I will, of course, increase your pay in consideration of your dedication.'

'I will think on it,' she said. 'I will give you my answer this evening.'

'That is acceptable,' I said, and departed. There were other preparations to attend to.

I wanted to talk to Timoth, but he'd be in the throne room with Father and Count Djiron. That left only the physical act of packing my belongings into a case.

Father had not described the number of horses we would be permitted to take. As a party of three attended by a handful of guards, it seemed likely that we’d travel with only one carriage, which meant I’d have only one chest of belongings that I could take.

In theory.

In practice, I felt comfortable assuming that I would be able to fit two chests into the carriage.

I trudged back to my room and opened both of my chests. They were both already filled with clothes, but they weren’t my best: those were in my wardrobe. I took them down and replaced the items already in my chest. I made certain to pack garments suitable for all seasons and all social contexts, keeping in mind that I had outgrown much of my clothing in recent seasons.

My clothing and footwear filled three quarters of the storage space. The remaining half-chest became the home for my jewellery, the books that I felt that I should read – as much as I loathed them – and a bottle of bloodberry juice. Expensive as it was in Ebonreach, I knew that it would only be more valuable in the mountains where bloodberries would not grow.

Almost as an afterthought, I threw a family portrait into the second chest. It had been painted when I was younger, and all five members of my immediate family were present. I’d still been small enough to sit on Father's knee.

That filled my luggage. It was not much later when Daegwin brought me dinner and told me of her decision.

'I will go with you, Countess,' she said, lighting some candles to illuminate the room. 'I have family here, but no husband nor children, and I provide for none other than myself.'

I suspected there her words concealed much, but I knew not what. Something difficult and heavy, I could tell from the way her eyes darted about. I didn't care enough to ask.

'We’ll be back for my coming of age ceremony,' I said, attempting to console myself as much as her.

'As I expected, my lady. Still, I'll be glad to spend some time away from my family,' Daegwin smiled sadly.

I said nothing. It was not my place; she was my servant not my friend. 'I'm afraid that I have little skill on the back a horse,' she added.

'You’ll learn,' I said, surprising myself with my own words of encouragement. 'Or you’ll walk,' I added hastily.

'Yes, my lady.'

'Is that all?'

'Yes, my lady.'

'We’ll leave soon after dawn tomorrow. Be ready, and see that my cases' – I gestured at them – 'are loaded into the carriage.'

'Yes, my lady.'