Tears bubbled in my eyes as I stared over the glittering Lake Arguin, the bulk of Summark’s starfield reflected in her depths.

They were unlike anything I’d ever seen elsewhere in Verol, a massive, glittering, shining mirror in the vales, a sea that seemed to stretch forever into the mists. Mountains rose out of its surface like the snouts of wizened foxes, their precipices tipped with white in much the same way. Thick streams of mist rolled down off the mountains, and a gentle, calming rain pattered around the deck of our ship, brought here by the ocean of clouds that eternally dimmed Summark’s skies.

Our great craft, the ’Of Brionin’s Light’, was an insignificant matchbox in the Arguin’s embrace, no matter how elegantly carved he was. Even so, he was huge by my reckoning, two masted with triangular sails bearing the device of Summark upon it: the white roc holding Brionin, the blue ‘Shield Star’ in his claws. He had three decks, counting the top, and sat low in the water, his white planks reflected like an angular cloud in the mirrored lake.

It was almost hard to believe how low we were, even as I had watched our descent along the switchback trails from the Minuan coast. I knew that once we came back to the edge the vertigo would confine me again to the coach until we had stepped over the threshold back into the Veroline highlands, back into the gentle valleys and star-reaching mountains of my home.

That was not the only reason I didn’t want to leave the Arguin, however.

It’s henceforth Celrion’s mandate, why shoulds you despair?

Silst’s voice rasped through my mind like a rusted estoc, but still it brought a pause to my tears. He was an old friend by now, a secret only me, Brother, and Father shared.

“He says for half a decade.” I reached out and brought the blue dragon into my arms, and he didn’t struggle, so used to my affections by now.

“How could I accept that? I already see him so rarely as it is…”

The Markee’s work is immaculate. The dragon nuzzled into my shoulder, looking up at me with large blue eyes. It pleases Brionin to see his harvest, his defence of the Lmeri. That more giants, falings, and fell men should fall to his lance would only double his glow.

“I don’t care. This is nothing less than him abandoning me.” I stared at Brionin’s reflection in the lake, sad and blue among the Hearthstars. “How could he take Brother with him and not me? Why does he hate me?”

Corto must be trained in the art of command, and in spirit. He must take upon him the mantle of Verol’s ‘Silver Shield’ one day, and with Tresti’s plight there might not be much time remaining. He does not hate you, nor your mother. It is only Esiland’s decree that forces his hand.

I sighed. Sometimes I hated how logically Silst thought at times, but he was almost always right in the end. And he was much more direct about it than Derizvelo, according to Brother.

“Still, five years? Everstar preserve me, I don’t think I’ll survive. Mother and Marcolo already work me so hard, and now I won’t even have Brother?” I planted my forehead on the railing, listening to the rain patter against my hood. “I won’t make it to fifteen, let alone the academy.”

You shall make it, I have decreed it. He looked up, stopping just a few itchia before my nose. His breath was cold upon my face, much different from Derizvelo’s warmth. While we have sailed I have read the stars of the phoenix and the haliborne, and they whisper of great portent.

“It just seems like loneliness to me.”

A loneliness of great portent.

After a second I found myself chuckling at the absurdity of that. Before I knew it, all the worries I had seemed to slip to the wayside, suddenly silly to me.

“Perhaps it won’t be too lonely with you there.”

I sat and watched the water fly by for several minutes, watching as the mountains and skies slowly moved. The Arguin was a massive lake, and the Eastern Pale Mountains a massive range, so our journey from Androlin back to Summark’s edge would take another few days of sailing. On phoenix-back that would’ve been cut down to two days, but then we wouldn’t have been able to bring our luggage back with us, nor had I ever flown one before, so I was prepared for a long, boring trip.

Nor would phoenixes accept such a burden.

Look across the bow.

I glanced to where he pointed his snout, finding with a start that a great flaming man was standing in the water in front of a huge roc some distance away. His crown was that of iron, pointed and sharpened like spears all around his head. His clothes were weaved out of flame, but they admitted only a dark, baleful light into the night. A great sabre hung on his belt, one fit for a giant four times my size. His right palm pointed towards me, as if he were asking me to stop and wait.

Wait for him.

“By the Star, what a grand bird.” I said. “I wish we had them near the capital.”

I jolted into a sitting position, shaking the gondola in the cold, moonlit water. Snow gently floated down all around us, piling in recesses in the cart and upon the water.

“Ah, I was just about to wake you up.” Marcolo said. “We’ve almost passed the last lock.”

The flaming sword. What did he mean? Was that a threat? A greeting? A warning? And why was he getting closer? To kill me? Steal my soul?

A deep dread spread through my bones.

You alright? Gideon asked from above, his tone deeply contrasted against the one I’d heard in the dream.

I waved him away, as if to say ‘don’t worry about it!’, and tried to focus on the other parts of the dream. Because for once, the flaming man was the least of my discoveries.

So dragons could talk to their partners when they wanted to. I’d almost believed that the thing Gideon and I had was some sort of soul-twisty thing that’d occurred when we’d come over, but it was relieving to hear that wasn’t the case. Though I had to wonder if it was somewhat of a secret given how Saphry had thought about it. And why haven’t I heard it in any of the other memories? Was Silst just shyer than Gideon?

The other thing that stood out to me (besides the beautiful lake that is) was how Silst had spoken of Saphry’s dad. He’d made it sound like the drake was ‘communing’ or speaking to the stars themselves, and relayed their opinions on his actions. This could of course just be a whole bunch of religious speech, but he had for sure invoked a lot more stars than the ordinary Veroline I’d met. Most only talked about the Everstar, after all. And all the talk about giants and ‘falings’ and rocs? I didn’t even know what a ‘faling’ was supposed to be.

I shook my head. Now wasn’t really the time to be thinking about this, not with everything else about to happen. It wouldn’t do to be distracted with lmenlis, flaming demonic nightmares, and talking dragons when I should be thinking about how to uncover the masterminds of a murder plot.

Looking back over the city, I tried to clear my mind by admiring the lights of the misty city far below. Fireworks exploded above the lowest levels as the festival raged, and I knew that the street carts, game stalls, and showy magic performances now lining the canals would be packed as people enjoyed the night. And if I wasn’t a part of this party, I’d be down there too. It would certainly be more fun than a noble dance, after all.

And, I wouldn’t be wearing a dress.

It might’ve seemed like a silly thing to still be worrying about, but even as we ascended through the dozens of locks to the keep I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed just to be sitting there. I mean, I still haven’t really looked at Saphry’s body yet, and so the thought of Breale and Auro doing so had been traumatising. And even then, it was one thing to wear it in front of friends and ‘friends’, but appearing in public, drawing gazes… it was an entirely different affair.

It was especially troubling when the one that Breale and Auro picked out showed so much more skin than I was comfortable with, with my shoulders and upper back open to the elements. It wasn’t just the lecherous gazes either, but the fact that it was literally snowing had even me and my minor cold resistance shivering in my stockings.

Closer below us, I could see dozens of water locks filling and draining as dozens of noble laden gondolas waited upon them. I didn’t know under which power- electrical, manual, magical- the water was pumped, but it certainly demonstrated the hidden mechanical expertise the Veroline had with water. It was definitely slow however, as was shown by my falling asleep in the middle of the ascent, but given my physique it was preferable to climbing the steps to the top.

Not that anyone besides soldiers was allowed to use the steps, that is.

And so, as the sixteenth and last bell of the night sounded, our lock finally filled, and the gate in front of us opened to reveal an immense dock next to the palace with hundreds of piers and magical lanterns to light them. It was a circular bay, on a plateau carved out of the mountain itself, and from which I could see the entirety of the palatial grounds.

If one word were to describe the palace, it would be ‘martial’. When I had seen the glow and the turrets from the layers below, I had imagined the palace as some extravagant waste, carved out of expensive wood and plated in silver, but the reality was markedly different. The whole structure was constructed out of carved light grey stone, set in flat squares and only broken for arrow slits and murder holes. It was built directly into the cliffside, and the only windows were higher than the fourth story, so the only way I could see granting an entrance was the front. There was quite a bit of space between the keep itself and the edge of the cliffs, and this space was filled with moats and bridges, each one marked with a short tower. At the far end of the plateau, I could even see rows of short grain popping out of the ground around a small farmhouse. As well, along the edge of the cliff facing the city, a short wall was built looking down, something I hadn’t really noticed from below. In the centre of this wall sat a small gatehouse, one I knew was staffed with dozens of guards.

Given the location high up on the mountain, it looked to me to be extremely overkill for any kind of human attack.

“I wonder if this keep’s ever fallen.” I said as Marcolo rowed us in.

“I’m not sure anything’s actually made it to this part.” He replied. “It’d take a calamity for even the rest of the city to fall.”

Given the narrow steps and walls that defended each layer of the city, I had to agree. This would be far too overkill back on Earth. It reminded me a lot of those serbian and croatian mountain fortresses I had seen pictures of back on earth, fortifications that could assuredly only fall from extremely well-prepared siege engineers or a prolonged siege.

To be fair, most mediaeval fortresses did not end in an assault anyway, but in either side surrendering from starvation, disease, or negotiation. Assaults were often costly affairs even against normal castles, so I couldn’t imagine any sane foe directly attacking the capital.

We drifted over to an open pier, and Marcolo tied us to a post and lifted me and Gideon up and onto the planks, but when I offered my own hand he shook his head.

“‘I’ll wait here, Saphry.”

A breeze blew over the docks, and I shivered, internally cursing my lack of sleeves.

“Are you sure? It’s a little cold for that.”

“I’m more worried for you, really.” He bent down and pulled up on a plank of wood, revealing a hidden compartment in the bottom of the boat. Inside were a couple thick blankets. “I’ll be fine here. A fancy party’s not my element, if you know what I mean.”

“Still, I’m sure they have a servants quarters you can rest in.”

Having Marcolo wait in the boat still seemed kinda cruel to me, though it was probably the best place for him to be. It just felt like making my dad sit in the car while I went to a concert. Disrespectful, even.

“Worry not, I’ll be fine.” He gave me a push, sending me a few steps down the pier. “Just be back in a couple hours, alright? And don’t let anything happen to her, Silst! Star knows enough has, recently…”

I walked to the end of the pier before I waved to him again, and then started along the path to the open hall. Thankfully the way was lit with blue lanterns hanging above on wooden U-shaped poles going over the path. As we went, I reviewed my objectives in my head.

Are you ready? Gideon asked as we walked.

“Definitely not.” I idly pat my thigh, where my silvered knife was strapped under my dress. “Still can’t dance too well.”

Remember what Andril said about running away. Gideon eyed my leg. But I wasn’t talking about your dancing. Do you remember anything about your target’s duchy? Ostip?

In the meeting, Taneri had assigned each of us- Fredrick, Breale, Auro, and myself- to different prominent members of the Temoif to shadow while Andril was acting as bait. Taneri had told us to watch for any passing of notes or warnings about the plot. The best case scenario, with all of the extra guards and food testing, they’d try to assault the prince directly and slay him, only to fail and have the plotters revealed. That, of course, was not the only acceptable course of action however. It was way more likely that they’d be scared off with all the preparations and abort the plot, which would buy us more time to investigate. In that case, the investigation would fall more squarely onto Taneri and his guards as the rest of us left for the academy tomorrow morning, but there was nothing we could do about that.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“Yep, the one closest to Brepoli, right? They protect the trade routes down there?”

Exactly. They’re the most likely lord to have direct dealings with those ‘Moon Thorns’ we heard about. It’s still troubling that we’ve heard so little about that. They are also Lord Agos’s directly liege.

I nodded. If I had been leading this investigation back on Earth, I probably would’ve put a lot more emphasis on that group, but it hadn’t really been an option here thanks to the trip to Brepoli being a month-long trek over the mountains. By my reckoning, it wasn’t even that far, it was just that this world’s geography hated travel, but that was enough to sink that lead. Maybe Taneri would decide to bring it back up, but by then this whole thing would be out of my hands.

Finally, we made it to the entrance hall, its huge white wood doors spilling out warm light into the courtyard. A few couples, lone nobles, and church officials walked in or whispered around the place, each one somewhat plainly dressed in comparison to my expectations. Far behind, I could still hear the crackle of fireworks. More interestingly, however, was the bird that accompanied the threshold.

It was tall and regal, large enough to carry a full-grown man. A fearsome beak and intelligent eyes adorned its face, and it had a proud glittering plumage behind its head. It looked as royal as a bird could possibly look, like god himself had crafted a king to rule the skies. I hadn’t seen a fully grown dragon before, but I couldn’t imagine that it would be more impressive than this.

Especially because the bird was on fire.

Not just in the gung-ho sense, but it literally crackled with orange-red flames, melting the snow below it. Real flames burned behind its eyes, and its feathers glowed like pokers in a forge. Its talons were like molten gold, and its light was almost painful to look at. This was a phoenix, there was not doubt about it.

“How can they stand next to it?” I asked in bewilderment. “I can see the heat from here!”

Two soldiers stood near it, one standing at attention while the other greeted dignitaries.

The one near it wore a full helm with glowing wings upon his face, a strange sight among the magical mask wearing guards of Verol. A thick tabard of blue and white was draped over maile, and none of his skin visible to me. His boots were thick leather with silver and iron pieces strapped to it, and his gauntlets were the same. In his right hand he held an ornate spear tipped with the same glowing metal of his helmet, and he crossed a thin silvery short sword across it with his left as if it weighed nothing at all.

A Knight of Esilmor. Gideon said, a rare glow of awe imbuing his thoughts. The most elite cavalry in all of Verol, and the only ones who can fly forever with the dragons.

Nobles stepped around me as they filtered in, though they couldn’t help but stare towards the angelic beings by the door. As they passed it, the phoenix seemed to look at each one, nodding or scowling at each male in turn while ignoring the women. The ones at which he scowled at cast their eyes downwards with mutters as if chastened.

I lowered my voice to a whisper as I walked closer.

“What’s that about?”

Phoenixes are said to be excellent judges of character. For men, at least. Gideon said. They are just and hate lies, so most people try not to approach one in public. It's kind of surprising that they have him here at all.

I looked up at the drake in surprise.

“Why are they still walking past then? Wouldn’t it be horrific for rumours of that to spread?”

At least, I couldn’t see any benefit in revealing to one’s troops and vassals that they weren’t just people. That was sure to tank morale at least and inspire insubordination and rebellion at worst.

I only said that they are said to reveal that. Some people aren’t convinced they do, and more yet don’t value the same things as a phoenix. Still… Gideon gestured towards the right side of the building, and I could see a few couples walking down the alley. You’ll notice only the most prideful barons and dukes coming in through here. They probably have a secondary entrance on the side. It would be considered extremely rude if there wasn’t one.

“Eh, how lame.”

What was the point in having a good person test and not using it on every person who walked in? If I were head of security I’d be questioning everyone in front of one.

I approached the gate, smiling uncomfortably when the more normal guard stopped me to ask for my name and rank. The Knight stood closer to the door, looking more like a statue than a human.

“A fanciful hat, my lady.” The guard said afterwards, grinning at Gideon. He looked young to be a soldier, but held the Evandal crest on his shoulder. A duelling scar ran down his right cheek, making him look a little more grizzled than his face would otherwise. “I’m glad to see a Summarkan grace his lordship. May you find warmth and starlight in these halls.”

“And you as-”

The loud snort of the phoenix interrupted my reply, and I jumped in place as I saw the great bird leave his rider’s side and approach.

My skin sizzled and my eyes dried as the living fire stepped forward, his every step shaking the ground. Even the guard beside me stiffened in its presence, blanching as the bird scowled down at him. The bird’s eyes burned with righteous indignation as he beheld the man, and I felt my own heart beating a thousand times a second in his presence as I stood rooted to the spot.

After a minute, the bird started to withdraw, only to stop as its gaze fell over me. It stared down at me for a few seconds, looking confused, before it finally gave me a short nod and returned to his rider’s side. Throughout all of this, the Knight did not move.

“By the Star, I hate that thing.” The guard glared at me, his pride injured. “Move along, please.”

It took a second to calm myself enough to process his words enough to step away. Nearby nobles stared at me as I scurried past him and the phoenix, briefly matching my gaze with the Knight before I disappeared into the hall with my heart still running a million miles an hour.

I ducked into the closest empty hall and leaned on a window sill facing the main hall.

“God, I almost soiled myself.” I muttered, all the cold of the night replaced by adrenaline and the warmth of the phoenix. “What was that about? I thought it only looked at the men!”

I-I don’t know. Gideon trembled on my shoulder, no less affected by the bird’s gravitas. Maybe it sensed your condition somehow?

I frowned with worry. How many people had seen that? I’d be the talk of the town if word of that came out…

“But why did he come over at all?” I asked. “Was the guard hiding something??”

He might just be racist. Gideon joked. Perhaps he doesn’t like Summarkans?

“Oh thank God, I thought he actually disliked my hat.” I rolled my eyes. “No, what if he were a plotter then? Perhaps the lie was him wishing me ‘warmth and starlight’?”

Well, that’s getting into some paranoid trains of thought Gideon chastened. He had the Evandal crest, and was hand-picked by Andril to guard this event. No, if he truly believed in unjustly betraying Verol, the phoenix would pick that up.

“Yeah, but still…”

Ah, well, maybe your beauty just intimidated him enough that it triggered the phoenix. Gideon joked. I’ve heard that phoenixes can detect arousal as unjust.

I looked up at the drake slowly, more than a little disgusted.

“You know, I’m not a big fan of my hat either.” I said. “It truly says some horrible stuff sometimes.”

Come on, where did that thick skin go? I simply state the truth. The drake chuckled. Though I wasn’t entirely joking about that.

Ah, well that was more than a little uncomfortable to think about. Was it still possible to go back home? If I was going to be bothered the entire event I almost didn’t even want to go. Foiling an assassination almost wasn’t worth it.

Come on, man up. I glared at the drake as he laughed at his own poor joke. Boot straps and all that, we have a job to do.

I sighed as I jumped back up. Gideon must think such jokes were real funny, didn’t he? He didn’t know how much it hurt to know that your fan club didn’t have any members down there.

Now lets get back out there. I’m sure the others are waiting.

…

It was as wide as an indoor basketball arena, and about as tall, so much larger than it had appeared to be from the outside. The walls were indeed the same grey stone blocks as made up the outside walls, but unlike those the interior ones were completely covered in yellow and orange runes and glyphs, their light more like that of a lightbulb than the blue lights that were carved around the city. Throughout the hall, silver gilded pillars rose up like blasting geysers, carved into the likeness of billowing flames, complete with lines of glyphs. Long tables ran up and down the hall and around the pillars, though the centre of the room was left bare to show off the large four pointed star mosaic inlaid in the stones. Music floated in from the west wing, strings and low horns playing along in a sad sound that tugged at a wanderlust I didn't realise I had.

People milled around the tables, talking and laughing in a room too large for the current nobility of Verol to fill.

At the back of the tables, I immediately recognised the second prince standing among his brothers, Elendri and Enven, along with his father King Esiland a little distance away. As well, I could see the rest of our little conspiracy -Taneri, Auro, Frederick, and Breale- just a short distance away. Aside from the obvious, I’d never seen them in person before, though I’d looked upon statues of the king. The brothers almost looked to be twins, though one was taller and slouched, while the other was slightly shorter and walked with a cane. Esiland, however, was white bearded and old, obviously out of the prime of his life. Despite this, his eyes were sharp and perspective, and I found myself looking away when he glanced towards me.

“Three Andrils, huh?” I whispered. “I wonder if they act the same.”

Similar names, too. The Evandals must really like the letter ‘E’.

As I walked towards the far table, I idly wondered why Andril had been left out of that particular naming convention. Or was his name actually spelled ‘Endril’ all this time? I hadn’t actually asked to spell it out, so I could’ve just been pronouncing it ever so slightly wrong the whole time. That sounds like something I’d do.

At the head of the table, Andril picked me out of the crowd and beckoned me forth.

“I’m about to meet the family, aren’t I?” I whispered, a mix of dread and anticipation swirling in my boots.

Ladylike, remember?

“Of course.” I said stiffly as I approached the table.

“Saphry!” Andril(Endril?) cried. “I’m glad you were able to make it.”

The other two Evandal princes wheeled about as he greeted me, the same blue eyes as Andril’s running over me. The older one seemed to linger a tad longer than proper, and I had to resist the urge to cover myself with my arms as a wave of revulsion pulsed over me.

“As am I.” I curtseyed towards his brothers. “I am Saphry Astrian, first daughter of Markee Ceilos of Summark.”

“G’evening, I am Elendri, Esiland's heir.” The taller one bowed, nodding at my snow-white hair once he came up. “It is a pleasure to meet such a beautiful starling on such a night.”

I raised an eyebrow. ‘Starling’? Really? I could already tell I wouldn’t like this one. I’d never liked this sort of guy back on Earth, but the archetype seemed even worse now.

“The Saphry I’d heard so much about.” The other brother nodded curtly. “My name is Enven, the third prince of Verol.”

“You sure have introduced a lot of beautiful damsels to this ball, my good brother..” Elendri elbowed Andril.

“I hope they know about each other.” Enven added. “I’m sure Amelia wouldn’t appreciate it.”

Andril scowled at the two.

“I wouldn’t be spreading such vile rumours if I were you.” He warned. “Amelia already gives me enough flak as it is.”

Who the heck was Amelia? I had never heard Andril mention them before. Was the prince already engaged?

“Exactly, we’re just friends.” I said, feeling mightily uncomfortable to actually say those words.

Stop it Ryder! You can’t exactly friendzone someone who wasn’t interested in the first place. Or at least, I hoped he wasn’t…

“And each one says the same thing.” Elendri chuckled.

“Curious, isn’t it?” Enven said.

I looked between the two and shot a meaningful glance at Andril. It really wasn’t as fun when you were the butt of such jokes, especially when I didn’t know these people nearly as well as Andril did. It was obvious that simply knowing the second prince made me fair game in their minds, though I would’ve thought such behaviour above such royalty in public. Even worse, it was bound to only encourage Gideon’s teasing, which was certain to be a massive headache.

Though, it did seem to me that their relationship seemed healthy enough. Had Elendri really met with Lord Agos about Andril’s planned assassination tonight? I couldn’t imagine joking with my brother while I planned to kill him.

“Now, now.” Andril chastened. “You two are nobles of Verol! You should be setting an example to the rest, not encouraging such debauchery.”

“We were hardly encouraging it.” Elendri bowed towards me. “I apologise for me and my brother, though I feel even worse that you have to deal with my other ‘stick in the mud’ sibling.”

“I am hardly a ‘stick in the mud’.” Andril muttered.

“I humbly accept.’ I grinned. “On both accounts.”

Well, maybe Andril did deserve a little teasing. I still haven’t completely forgiven him for babying me, after all.

“Saphry!”

“Ah, we’re three for three so far!” Elendri laughed. “You might want to skip bringing them forward at this rate.”

“Is there no one who will defend you?” Enven asked with a wry smile.

“If not my family nor my friends, I think not.” Andril sighed.

“I’m sure Amelia would.” Elendri said. “Very loudly, in fact.”

Andril grimaced, as if remembering an especially painful memory.

“Yes, I’m sure she would.”

I stared intently at the second prince, but he pointedly ignored me.

Come on now, even I would be curious over something like that? What kind of person did the prince like? Was she clingy? Was it a political marriage? Where they having troubles? Such questions floated through my head before I took a deep breath.

Wait, what was I, a girl? There was no point in knowing such things besides gossip. And despite everything that had happened, I was not interested in something like that. No matter what hormones would say. Not that they did, of course.

“I wouldn’t worry.” Enven said. “I’m sure we’d all help if it were actually a problem. Maybe before lunch, too.”

“Your jokes potentially ruining my reputation is actually a problem.” Andril countered. “I think I’d rather debate the Temoif than talk to you two some days.”

“I’m sure Lord Bramick would be happy to oblige.” Elendri said. “With the way he’s been raging in the senate recently, you would think that you and the new chapter master are long-time lovers.”

“Yes, you ruin your reputation enough as it is.” Enven added.

“Lord Bramick I can handle.” Andril rubbed his temple, looking exhausted already. “It’s the Temoifi who don’t speak in court who have me the most worried.”

Politics was often a backroom kind of game, that I was well aware of. Even in the student senate at my college in Chicago, which had almost no power, all the actual deals had happened over beer and pretzels, not in the debate halls of the student union. I’d actually had to throw a few parties myself to get permission to take one of the extra storerooms for Gideon’s lab, so I had firsthand experience with the game on a small scale.

In here, however, entire duchies and kingdoms were at stake, not simply empty rooms. And while I believed in Andril to do what he thought was best, I didn’t really count him among the sneakiest people.

“Duke Neanlin, Lord Bramick, Count Nolan…” Enven shook his head. “You sure have a lot of enemies, Andril.”

“Only because they refuse to fulfil their duties.” Andril said. “If they really need to be reminded to fulfil their noble obligation so constantly, are they really fit to rule? Some of them behave more like skulking rats than proper nobility.”

“And talk like that is why.” Elendri said. “As I keep saying, you need to act more politically, and less emotionally. The senate doesn’t respond well to sermons.”

“The church is a part of the senate.” Andril frowned, a little hurt.

“And yet there lie factions even in there.” Elendri said. “The conservatives are more aligned with the Temoif on many issues, even if they do number less than the Ordered Dawn.”

Ordered Dawn? I looked up at Gideon, who got the hint immediately.

Spiritualist faction in the church. It’s… less practical than it could be. A surprisingly idealist group to be helping run a large kingdom like Verol.

Ah, so it was kind of like a Christian Party then. I had to join Gideon in wondering just how successful such a party could really be. Perhaps Verol was more devout than I’d originally assumed.

“Yes, yes, I know.” Andril waved him off. “Perhaps I should just roll over like my dear brothers.”

“It’s better than antagonising everybody for no reason.” I spoke up. “Compromises have to be made if progress is to occur.”

Americans were great at compromise, in my oh so humble opinion. Well, or we used to be, but that’s a subject for another day.

“There is no compromise with the devil nor the corrupt.” Andril huffed. “But neither should you be worrying about such things.”

I stared at him in exasperation. Had he learned nothing? Nothing at all? God, he was a dick sometimes…

“Brother, didn’t that exact phrase just get you slapped ten minutes ago?” Enven asked.

“I think he’s going for round two.” Elendri stepped to my side and draped an arm over my shoulder. He was taller than even Andril, and I found myself a little intimidated by the difference. “Come on, Miss Astrian, you deserve better than this guy.”

“You damned jackal, can you keep your hands to yourself for just a second?” Andril growled.

I squirmed under the prince’s arm, and he let me push him away after a second. I found myself blushing for almost no reason as I stepped back to Andril’s side. Was such behaviour really acceptable?

“Hey! No touching, please.” I glared at him, but he only laughed.

“I jest, of course!” Elendri said. “But really, you should be more open minded, Andril.”

“I really don’t wish to hear that from you.” Andril said. “Saphry, would you like to join the others? We have a bit more to discuss before the gala officially begins.”

Andril took off towards the group with the Mavericks and Auro, and after one more glare towards the first prince I followed after.

“I’m sorry about that.” He said. “Elendri can be a bit rude sometimes. They can go a little overboard sometimes, but they are good people in their hearts.”

“It’s fine.” I wasn’t really too irritated about it. I would’ve done the same thing to my brother, minus the physical stuff of course. Good lord, if he had brought over a-

I frowned. I, Ryder, didn’t have a brother. Saphry did, but Corto wasn’t my brother.

I lightly slapped my cheeks to clear my head as we approached the others. Not the time to get distracted.

The others had all dressed up for the event. As seemed to be the style of Verol and despite the chill, all three of us girls wore dresses that only came down to the top of the knee in the front, and down to the mid calf in the back. My own was a lighter blue, and had nothing covering the shoulders, while Auro’s and Breale’s were green and red respectively, matching their eyes. Unlike the rest of us, Auro had cheated a little and wore a thin coat over hers while we had to suffer with merely some thigh height socks and wrapped boots to protect us.The boys, including Taneri, all wore silver-hemmed, vaguely military styled coats and jackets that continued down to the top of their thighs.

The boots everyone wore were a bit of a weird choice in my opinion, but a welcome one. They came up to mid calf and were delightfully warm among everything else, especially across the snow we had walked over on the way in. From what I knew, fancy footwear had never really caught on in the mountain kingdoms, so the practical boot and long socks was still an acceptable choice even in fancier parties like this. Even if the socks were a bit thinner than I would’ve liked.

“I’m glad you decided to show up!” Breale said after greetings were finished. “I almost thought you were going to bail after what we put you through.”

“Saphry, bail?” I scoffed. “Insanity.”

“You might want to bail after you see just what Lord Balder of Trenlend looks like.” Auro said.

“Oh?”

I looked out over the crowd, trying and failing to see if I could find the signature heraldry of Trenlend. Supposedly it was a golden flower on a dark blue field, but then again it wasn’t guaranteed he was going to be wearing it upon his person.

“Alright, I give up.” I shrugged, prepared for the worst. “Which of these guys is he.”

“Lord Balder is standing by the second column from the door.” Andril said. “Brown hair, long beard. A thousand wrinkles.”

Towards the pillar, I noticed the man standing by himself, looking lonely. He was an older gentleman, dressed in a purple and grey coat and furnished with a cane.

Damn it. I’d assumed that the duke would be a somewhat younger fellow, due to all that warmongering and all, but I never would’ve assumed that someone who’d supposedly lived through that awful rebellion a decade ago would be clamouring for it…

“That’s… unfortunate.” I said.

“Were you hoping for someone handsome?” Breale teased.

“If you want, you can switch with me.” Fredrick gestured towards the other end of the hall, where a familiar face in a white long coat and a floppy hat talked. “Though I have Lord Agos.”

I only thought about it for half a second before dismissing the idea. We weren’t here as a mixer after all, but to spy and shadow. An older guy would probably be even easier to talk to, and I might even be able to get him to spill something about the plot.

And an old guy wouldn’t mistake my questions for flirting, either. Hopefully, at least.

“No thanks, my favourite conspirator. I’ll be fine with Balder.”

“Favourite?!” Breale cried. “I’d understand Auro, but Brother?”

“We should probably begin soon.” Taneri interrupted. “Before the plot gets underway.”

“He’s right, we shouldn’t waste time. Just remember, be careful. If fighting starts up, get away. Unless you’re Fredrick. In which case get to my side.” He nodded towards the swordsman, who I now realised not only had his own sword on his hip, but a second as well. Breale’s, if I remembered the handle well enough.

“If your target does attempt to leave early, follow them.” Taneri added, his gaze lingering on me for a second. “I’ve instructed my guards to tail you if any of you leave, so don’t be afraid to follow them out. You’ll have support.”

“Got’cha.”

“Alright.”

“Aye, aye.”

Breale, Auro, and I all nodded at the same time.

“Good luck out there then.” Andril said. “Alright, I don’t want to be worrying about this when we all hit the road for the academy tomorrow, so… let’s end it here!”

…

“I’m surprised you don’t have your sword on you.” I said to Breale as we took off. “I thought you liked deadly weapons just as much as Fredrick.”

“Well, I am a lady after all.” She sniffed. “And lady’s don’t carry swords at balls.”

Really? Huh, I was actually almost impressed. I didn’t think Breale had the mental capability to see-

“She has a knife strapped to her leg.” Auro added.

“Auro!”

Ah of course.

“I suppose it was too much to-” I stopped as I realised my own hypocrisy. “...Actually, I did the same.”

“Ha! I knew you had some true Summarkan in you!” Breale threw an arm over my shoulder and drew me in.

“I’m more Summarkan than the Mavericks are.” I gave up on struggling free after a second. “The hair and all.”

“My father always told me this: You don’t judge a Summarkan by their hair, but by how many weapons they have stashed on them!”

Huh, maybe Summark was more American than I originally thought!

“Summark seems like a scary place.” Auro commented.

“Trust me, Veroline politics are much scarier than a giant, a faling, or a roc.” Breale said. “Speaking of which…”

We stopped behind a pillar near the middle of the hall, and I finally pushed away from Breale.

“Wish me luck, guys.” I said, eying the old duke from behind the corner of the pillar.

“Good luck, Saps.” Breale said. “Don’t accidentally seduce him.”

I scoffed.

“Of course I won’t-” I faltered. “Wait, he wouldn’t think that, right? He’s so old after all…”

“That’s the worst age for a lady sometimes.” Auro said seriously. “Passions don’t decline as much as your care for your reputation does.”

Thinking back to Earth, I suddenly realised just how threatening this situation could be. I’d heard of more horny old guys on the internet than I cared to admit after all.

“Oh God.”

“Good luck!” Breale pushed me out from behind the pillar, and I stumbled forward towards the duke. “Be sure to meet us again before you leave tomorrow!”

Before I could think about that, I found myself face to face with the man.

“Eh, hello!” I said, putting on my ‘best’ smile. “I’ve heard that-”