After saying our goodbyes to Will, I led Eu on into the central district, then straight up the main road to the castle at the top. Nearer to the center of power, there were more guards and officials. A few waved at me or called out greetings, but I knew the bell would ring soon. I didn’t have time for anything more than bows to those above me or clasped wrists with my equals.

My destination, the audience hall, was the wide area leading to the throne room. Technically, it was all one room, but most of the Duke’s actual business happened here. The dais and throne at the other end were reserved for official ceremonies.

When I arrived, there was a large, square table set up in the middle, along with four benches, one on each side. The Seneschal was seated with his back to the throne, with that whole bench reserved for himself. There were rolled parchments and scrolls on each end all the way down both sides, so those seats were taken. His accountants and advisors filled the two benches on either side of the table, leaving the nearest bench for me.

Some of these men did not have a noble rank, but their expensive clothing and superior status was overwhelming compared to mine. Before I could approach the table, I had to kneel and wait to be acknowledged. Eu, somehow sensing the tense atmosphere, followed suit without question.

“Deft. The fourth bell has not yet rung. Please sit and wait.” The Seneschal didn’t even look up from the scroll he was reading. That gave me time to prepare. I stepped over the bench to sit in the middle, then motioned for Eu to take a seat beside me.

I could see that the Seneschal was getting older. His shiny bald head had wispy white hairs sprouting up on top, surrounded by a solid strip of closely trimmed hair on the sides above each ear and wrapping around the back. Matching what I’d heard, he was losing his eyesight. Even now, he was squinting at the scroll he was reading while holding it out as far away as he could.

His advisors on both sides had their own business. On one side, a purser was moving the counting stones on a sand board back and forth while another was writing down notes based on the numbers that it produced. On the other side, the two men were examining an old document together. From what I could see, it looked like a map of the Duke’s holdings.

The bell rang just as I was getting interested in the nature and goal of all those documents.

“Deft.” The Seneschal rolled up his scroll and peered down his nose at me. “You were sent on an errand toward the western marshes. Yet, upon your return, you did not report back to the castle. What do you have to say for yourself?”

“Yes! That’s true, because there was nothing of note to report. I didn’t want to waste your time.”

The advisors on both sides of the table continued with their work, although I noticed a few sly glances. Obviously, there was something more going on here. Unfortunately, I wasn’t sure what, so I could only wince as nervous sweat trickled down my ribs.

The Seneschal paused to watch me for a very long time. I supposed he was testing me. Perhaps he thought I would break under pressure and change my story?

“Deft. A simple notice of your return would not have taken even a moment. Furthermore, if there was nothing of note, then that itself is a waste of my time. Did you collect back the funds that that foolish village had us spend on your journey?”

“Ah… no. They had a legitimate concern, so it was no fault of theirs. Someone that looked like a plainsman had been spotted in the area, but the trail was cold by the time I arrived.”

“A plainsman? That far south?”

“Probably just a wanderer or an exile.”

“Perhaps a little girl?”

Uh oh! I kept my face straight, but I could feel my guts wrenching in fear. He already knew! But how?

“I see you brought your new daughter that I’ve heard rumors about. I assume you were planning to introduce her to me?”

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“Yes! Forgive my foolishness! I guessed incorrectly that she was what this meeting was about.”

“Oh, you wouldn’t be wrong. Why don’t you take off her bonnet so I can see her better?”

Yep, I was in deep trouble. But, it was too late. I suppose I could have jumped up and run for it, but there was no point in that. If the Duke was here, he’d probably have laughed it all off. The Seneschal though? I’d never even seen the man smile.

I tried my best to keep a confident expression. If my facade broke, that would only further prove my guilt. “Eu, can you take off your hat?”

She untied the ribbons and pulled the bonnet down into her lap. Her short hair underneath was braided tightly above each ear, so ordinarily nothing would have shown. Instead, with her hat off, all four advisors stopped their work to lift up their heads and stare.

“Not a plainsman or I’m a fool,” sneered the Seneschal.

“A half-breed,” rudely suggested one of his advisors.

“And a fighter,“ another one of them snickered while looking at the scratches running down her cheek.

Seeing my chance, I stepped in to redirect their assumptions, “Her mother… passed away, so I did the right thing and took her into my house.”

In other words, I’d just claimed paternity. The two pursers sighed, returning to their counting stones. The other two, with the map, looked to the Seneschal, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

It didn’t take long. “Deft. I’ve known you since you were a babe. Your father was a loyal servant of the Duke, as were you until now. However, with this indiscretion, you’ve proven my expectations wrong. Not only have you shamed your house, you’ve shamed your liege, the Duke.”

“Yes. I know that. Even so, I must try to make amends for what I’ve done. I couldn’t leave my daughter without any family.”

“Indeed. So you brought her here. The story is that she even caused an uproar in the bath house yesterday.”

“Yes. That is true. She is still learning the language and customs.”

“Good. I’m glad that is cleared up. But, I’ll leave it to the Duke to decide the next steps regarding your service to him.”

I winced. Apparently, the Seneschal was even angrier than he appeared.

He paused again, staring at me, “Do you have anything else to say?”

“No. Thank you for your time. I regret not coming to report sooner.”

“Indeed. Now then, I do have one more question…”

There was something else?

“I would like to hear your explanation of events at the inn in the town of Winnowheat.”

“Winnowheat?” It took me more than a moment to even understand the question. Suddenly, I remembered the gambling incident, the “fwoof” in the backroom, and riding out of town in the night.

“I see from your face that something did occur? Please tell us.”

“There was a … misunderstanding at the inn. Some rumor got started that said the girl was a Plainsman princess under my care. In order to avoid a riot, I had to leave the room I’d paid for and get out of town before more trouble was stirred up.”

“I see. Anything else?”

“No. Nothing I can think of.”

“Earl Triumph’s messengers arrived yesterday with complaints and demands for compensation of damages. Do you have any thoughts on that?”

“None of the damages were caused by me! He should charge his own citizens!”

“Indeed. That was my reply, but I wanted to hear the story from you.”

I breathed out a sigh of relief, but it came too soon.

“There was one more thing in that report. Can you guess what it was?”

I could guess, but I shook my head in denial.

“Some of the rioters said that the girl was a magician. The Earl was quite angry that you had taken HIS newly found magician out of his hands. Could there be any truth to that rumor?”

I couldn’t answer immediately. He’d sprung one question after another at me and my head was spinning. If I denied it, eventually the truth would win out and I’d be marked as a liar. But, if I admitted it, what would happen? Obviously, the Duke would want her for his service. That was fine. But what would the Seneschal do with her?

His gaze deepened and he leaned forward on his bench. “You don’t seem to have an answer, Deft. I’ll assume that means she does have magic, then? A woman magician, eh?”

All four of his advisors raised their heads again to give a long look at Eu. As for his assertions, I could only nod in acknowledgement.

“This is an unfortunate turn of events. I’d already told the Earl’s men they were fools to suggest such a thing. You’ve made me into a liar. By now, they’re already on their way back home.”

“Seneschal, she wasn’t on the Earl’s land. She was living in that village - Lakesedge. She’s the Duke’s subject, and as my daughter, she’s the Duke’s loyal servant!”

“I see. An important distinction, but at this point, it may not matter.”

“What would you have me do?”

“For today? Nothing. Go home, Deft. Spend some time with your new daughter. It may be fleeting.”