The Archduchess of Wischard greets her niece with a relieved hug. “I am so relieved that you are safe, child,” Archduchess Gerd Eldottr says sincerely. She pulls away from Stjarna and pushes her hair away from her face to get a good look at her. Stjarna is still in bed and recovering from her fever and the ambush on the way to Edvin city, but it appears that she is already feeling better. “It has been a long time since I saw you… If I could, I would visit you in the Palace, but the Empress…”

The Archduchess clears her throat and aborts the subject, leaving an awkward silence. Stjarna laughs to break the tension, but she is truly grateful to receive the concern of her aunt. “Thank you Aunt Gerd. Fortunately the gods were watching over me,” Stjarna tells her modestly. Gerd nods with a smile. Almost the entire Empire would believe that. She is truly a blessed child.

The Archduchess turns to the attendant holding a tray and standing by the door. They come up to the bed where Stjarna is resting and serves her the porridge and tea that is set upon the tray. “Here, have this. I made it for you with some special herbs the best Ovates have recommended,” the Archduchess says hastily as she dismisses the attendant.

The Archduchess Gerd is the younger cousin of the current Imperial Empress Frei. She was the former Crown Heiress, and her relationship with her older cousin can only be described as complicated, but there is little or no animosity between them. While they have a rather similar face, their personalities are the almost complete opposite.

Where the Empress is cold and stern with an iron will, the Archduchess is maternal and affectionate. Despite being married to her husband and has a son, Archduchess Gerd openly cares for her niece and dotes on her. Supposedly, the Archduchess had wanted a daughter, and had taken an immediate liking to Stjarna. When Stjarna was younger and visited the Archduchess’ manor to meet her for the first time, Gerd had wanted Stjarna to visit often and be playmates with her son Fjolnir, who was a year older. Unfortunately, as the Archduchess’ status is difficult, rumours of her intent circulated, and such visits were discouraged.

“My sincere thanks, Aunt,” Stjarna bows slightly, her smile bright and cheeks rosy. It is an appearance that is a far cry to how she looked on the first night Stjarna and the rest of her surviving entourage arrived in the city with the escort of a Mystic tribe’s warriors. The strange situation had puzzled the guards at the gates, but as soon as they saw the Imperial emblem, they were immediately allowed in. Those same Mystics however, were aloof and did not stay any longer than necessary. They conversed briefly with the exhausted looking Lieutenant before they left, and the Archduchess had ordered for the best healers to tend to their injuries.

It has been a week since then, and the Archduchess has already sent word to the Empress on Stjarna’s condition the day after their arrival. The Empress responded by sending another entourage, thrice as large as the previous and abandoning any form of discretion that was initially planned. Even the Court Magus had been sent over, and the new retinue should arrive within the next day. Unexpectedly, the Archduchess had received thanks from the Empress, which elevated the mood of the Archduchess’ household.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Kole is nearly fully healed over a few days of rest. A day’s worth of meditation and prayer had cleansed his body of negative energy, poison and minor wounds, and has regained some of his mental strength. It had been a hard journey. It was unfortunate, but Captain Rerir is incapacitated for the time being. The poison had remained in his system for too long and paralyzed more than half his body even with the best aid. It would take a long time for the healers to bring him to full recovery. Many others were in the same state, unconscious, too injured, or deceased.

Kole recalls the Heiress’ touch that had burned out most of the paralyzing poison from him. That calm look on her face and strength in her eyes when she reached out in order to heal him. She had seemed different then, but Kole can’t quite describe it. She reminded him of that boy who was with the giant man from his childhood.

On the other hand, the Mystics were another mystery. They had come from nowhere and sent their people to save them. Did they know about the Heiress’ presence in the carriage? How did they acquire such information? The Mystics are tribes of people who convene with nature and the wilderness, borrowing strength and powers from the environment, blending and becoming one with it. They are an elusive race, who prefer to keep away from Empire. Historically, the Empire and the Mystics had clashed numerous times over territory and eventually the animosity had reduced but they preferred to stay out of each other's’ way no matter the status of the other. It is an anomaly that they would intervene in their predicament.

Kole had asked the leader of the tribe who saved them, the same archer who had finished off and defeated the Deathshade. “Why are you helping us?”

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The Mystic had regarded him with cold eyes and appeared entirely reluctant to even converse with him, but had begrudgingly replied, ”The Wolfravens sent us. They said it would be… ominous, if anything were to happen to the Star Child.”

Kole was confused by the reply, but from what he can gather, they were referring to the Heiress. He hadn’t thought that they would be interested in her either, but Kole would not look at the gift horse in the mouth. He had made the decision to accept the help readily, and the Mystic tribesmen helped to gather and dispose the bodies, healed some of their severely injured and carried them to the next town.

Once Kole had settled, he had also been informed by the Archduchess’ steward of the new retinue that would accompany them in their journey. Kole and the surviving few Knights of the original entourage will assimilate with the new group, but he will maintain his rank and be second in command. The steward also added that the Archduchess will be loaning a few of her personal elite guards as well. Kole’s lips had pressed tight in thought but made no remark aside from a nod of agreement. There had been nothing he could say.

During early noon, Kole visits the rest of his surviving squadron who are also mostly recovered. Seeing that they are at least able to get back on their feet, he asks the permission of the Archduchess to borrow a room for a briefing. The Archduchess is generous and grants him the permission, and with a respectful bow, Kole he gathers his able Knights - five Divine Blades and two Divine Magi - and gets them up to date. All of them still appear exhausted and wearing bandages and gauze. They had lost many of their peers and their captain is out of commission. While Kole is their lieutenant, his young age may not be favourably seen.

Even so, Kole has been named Lieutenant by the Empress herself who is personally invested in the army and would not disappoint her. Once Kole is done speaking, he looks to his Blades. “Any questions?”

“When will we resume our journey?” Astri, one of the five Divine Blades asks. She is a middle-aged woman with hazel hair, who specializes in bolstering strength skills and buffs that empowers her team. She is a crucial member of the squadron for her skills would be needed in a final stand. She is also a person who regards people based on their actions other than appearances or age. Kole is glad she survived.

“Once the new retinue arrives and the Heiress’ illness has stabilized, we will move out within the next few days. Be prepared and do not forget your meditation and training,” Kole reminds them.

“How is the Heiress? I heard she... set one of the assassins on fire,” one of the two Magi asks. Sveinn is a bespectacled young man, a few years older than Kole. A talent himself, he sets himself apart with his mature, stern face and rigid discipline. Kole shakes his head in response to the question.

“No one knows. It might be, but I didn’t see it myself. But right now she is well, and her personal attendant is by her side,” Kole replies. He remembers that the mentioned attendant had been knocked unconscious and admires her bravery to protect the Heiress. She had some decent training, but against a high classed assassin, she was of little help. Sveinn mutters something to the other Magus, Olve, but none of the rest ask any more questions.

“Since there are no other questions… “ Kole silently signals to Olve, who blinks in surprise before his expression immediately shows understanding. The Magus sets up a spell that soundproofs the area around them. The others tense and all of them huddle together to minimize the area. Kole asking for such a spell means that there is something important for him to discuss.

The Lieutenant brings out an item covered in cloth. “I found this on some of the bodies. The Mystics who helped us out let me search through all the bodies, and a number of them had the same brooch.”

Everyone in the group is frozen as they stared at what was in Kole’s palm. It was a brooch with the emblem of the Wischard state, that is under the rule of the Archduchess. It is the size of a thumb, the emblem bearing a sun with thin rays of light set upon an open book.

“Possibility of this being planted?” It’s Eirik who asks this time, glancing at Astri and Katla. They both look back at him with a serious expression, but one can see the anxiety in their eyes.

“High, but we can’t completely disregard that the Archduchess might be involved too,” Kole replies.

“Especially with her record,” Tyra adds, her dark eyes glinting with suspicion. Havarr who stands beside her, grunts and shushes her, but she rolls her eyes and ignores him.

“The Archduchess isn’t allowed her own army after the rebellion, but she does have her own security force. These could come from them,” Olve suggests thoughtfully.

“But we can’t do anything, can we? It’s just a suspicion, and with our small numbers, there’s not much we can do,” Katla explains.

“Did you report to the Empress about this?” Havarr asks, bushy moustache bristling as his fierce eyes bores a hole through Kole. He’s the eldest amongst them and hot-headed. He is rather strict on the rest of them, but is good-natured despite it.

“I sent a coded message. There might be people in the know who may be in the coming group,” Kole answers with a nod. “I’m just telling you now that this is what may be at work. I’d like you all to act like you do not know of this, no matter what. We can’t take any action until we know more. If possible, eavesdrop on the attendants. Just be discreet. Got it?”

The Knights answer positively in a unanimous matter.