But after a few moments the man just sighs.

“Vadia. You have been away quite long this time, and I finally see why.” He slumps back into the throne. “So, this is who you choose. Very well, who do I have the pleasure of meeting?” He looks at Sanora.

‘Alright here it is, the moment you’ve been training for… Let’s do this!’

“Sanora of Ginaeris is my name.” Sanora bows.

“Sanora of Ginaeris? Now that is a name I have never heard. You are not from the lands of the valley I take it?”

“That is correct. I hail from a small archipelago in the northwestern seas, in between the wild lands and the ports of Aramina.”

“That is rather far away is it not? Tell me, Sanora of Ginaeris, what brings you down here into the Valley? Have you not a house to lead yourself?”

“That would be my older brother, Baras’ duty. I left home some time ago to see the world and other lands.”

“Because you were not the next in line I assume?”

“That is right. I set out with my parents’ goodwill to learn about other countries and build friendly relations.”

“Friendly relations?” The man chuckles. “It seems like you managed that already fairly well.” He glances at Vadia.

“It was a blessed coincidence that Vadia and I met.” Sanora says with a bright smile which she doesn’t even has to fake.

“Whether it really was a ‘blessed coincidence’ or not be put aside for now. Since you clearly intend to stay, I do wonder what would happen in case your older brother cannot take the throne. With you gone that must cause problems, no?”

“Rest assured my lord, that is of no concern. My younger siblings would do just as great in a job.”

“Meaning you would lay down your just right to rule for my daughter?”

“I would.” Sanora nods without hesitation. This finally causes the lord to raise his eyebrow a bit.

“That is reassuring to hear, but still, I can’t help but wonder…”

The questioning goes on for some time. Sanora does her best to answer every question in a way that would satisfy the curiosity of the lord while selling him the fake story of Sanora, the noble from overseas.

“Very well.” He nods after half an hour of interrogation. “Young Sanora of Ginaeris, you seem of noble character and descend to me, and since my daughter has clearly taken a liking to you, I will welcome you into our house of Vallis. Please, in future refer to me as Lord Vadius.” He lowers his head a bit and with that a giant weight is lifted off Sanora’s and Vadia’s shoulder.

“Thank you very much, lord Vadius.” Sanora bows again.

“Please lift you head. I have to thank you, young Sanora. With how tomboyish Vadia can be I feared she would never find someone willing to court her.” Vadius chuckles weakly.

“I for my part am surprised she hadn’t yet found someone.” Sanora responds honestly. “But I also won’t complain. Never have I seen such a beautiful girl.”

“Sanora!” Vadia jams her elbow into her side a bit, but Vadius just laughs.

“You have quite a daring tongue I reckon, but ‘tis not something I highly disapprove of. At least I can see how dear my daughter is to you. But let us save the chatter for dinner. If you would excuse me now, there is work calling for my attention. It was nice meeting you, young Sanora.” He gets up from his throne and Vadia and Sanora take the que to leave.

“Likewise, lord Vadius.” Sanora gives him a last bow. Vadia just lowers her head a bit before they turn around to leave the hall. Wordlessly they walk out, then through the hallways, up the stairs and finally back into their room.

The moment the doors close Sanora’s shoulders slack and she lets out a heavy sigh.

“Made it…”

A delighted squeal fills the room and Vadia jumps at Sanora.

“I’m so glad! It couldn’t have gone better!” She pulls Sanora into a tight hug.

“R-really?”

“Are you kidding? Of course!” Vadia looks at her with a wide grin before giving her a long kiss, and another, and another and…

‘Wait when did we end up on the bed?’ Sanora pulls away from Vadia’s greedy lips.

“Hey hey, just a second, is this really the right time?”

“Is there ever a bad time?” Vadia pouts at her.

“Well no, of course not. It’s just, I don’t know, weird after having just spoken with your father and all. And we don’t want to be all sweaty and worked up before dinner.”

“You didn’t have any qualms when we did it before the meeting. And that aside we can just take another bath.”

“We can take another one!?” Sanora asks with wide eyes.

“You can have as many as you want.” Vadia chuckles. “And I can have as much you as I want.” She smirks before she entraps Sanora in another kiss.

Orange rays of dusk fall on the girls sprawled out on the bed, still naked and slick with sweat. Sanora looks at Vadia who is peacefully sleeping in her arm.

‘She was intense this time, fell over me like a wolf…’

She shudders at the thought, the bloody maw of the wolf flashes through her mind. Her gaze wanders out the window. She can still see the distant mountains that were her home for the last weeks. They remind her of her small cabin, of Bawarag and Amni, and the reason why she left in the first place. For the first time since meeting Vadia, she can feel an uneasy pull in her stomach.

Was this this too rushed? Would she really not be able to leave and venture around to fill the gaps in her memories? What if this was a giant mistake after all?

She just lays there alone with her thoughts, not even able to enjoy the comforts of cuddling. With a sigh she carefully snakes out from below Vadia to not wake her up, covers her with a blanket and heads down to the bath. There is still some time until the dinner with Lord Vadius, and she needs to be alone, clear her head.

With a sigh she sinks into the hot water. It’s a weird feeling after being used to the cold river, but a welcome one. She sits on the stone bench and leans back, looking up at the ceiling where droplets of water gather.

‘What do I do now… no wait stupid, it’s too late to ask yourself that. You can’t leave anymore, not after being officially introduced to her father. Ugh, was this too rushed? This was too rushed, wasn’t it? Shit, why didn’t I think about this sooner? It’s like my head was filled with nothing but Vadia ever since that first night we… we… oh shit. I had sex, real, actual sex. With a stranger no less. Ahh Bawarag would behead me for my idiocy. Just what took me over that day, I never felt like this, not even remotely close. Wait no, there was one time…’

The door opens and Sanora is pulled from her thoughts. She turns around, about to greet Vadia, but instead look at two maids entering the room.

“See, I told you the lady is sleeping.” The one in front says. She’s a small girl, a good head shorter than Sanora.

“But who is that?” The one behind her whispers. They both wear the castle’s simple servant uniforms. A neat brown dress with an apron. Both their hair is tied back into a bun.

The short one looks at Sanora.

“Oh hey, haven’t seen you around here, don’t mind if we join, do you?” She asks, already starting to get undressed.

“Guess not.” Sanora just shrugs and returns her gaze to the ceiling. The two maids undress quickly, ripples spread over the water as the two get in.

“This is so much better than the crowded maid’s bath.” The short one purrs.

“But what if we get caught?”

“We won’t. Lady Vadia already took a bath today with her new courtesan or whatever.”

Sanora ears twitch at that, her attention is now on the conversation next to her.

“Hey, don’t say that, from what I’ve heard that’s her actual consort. If lady Vadia catches wind of you saying something like that she’ll have you stand half a day at the finger pillory. And that only if she’s in a good mood.”

“I’m sure she wouldn’t take such drastic measures over a few words. She’s not evil.”

The maids look at Sanora in surprise when she speaks up. She didn’t mean to, but her mouth moved before her brain did.

“It’s not about being evil, but she has her status to uphold here.” The taller maid says. “If she runs a loose ship then the other servants will notice and start slacking or become too casual with the Vallis family. And that’s something they can’t have. If nobles and diplomates see that they can’t even keep their own servants under control, they will see it as weakness.”

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“Yeah yeah, you’re right as always.” The short girl sighs. “But please, it’s a sunny day in the World’s Tomb before lady Vadia or her consort, Sarina or whatever, hears us.” She waves her friend off.

“Sanora.” Sanora says.

“Ah yeah that was her name, only heard about her so far. She’s a real beauty supposedly. Speaking of which, you don’t look half bad yourself. I haven’t seen you around though, you must be new here. I’m Liddy, this goody-two-shoes is Gia.” The short girl, Liddy, says.

“Hi.” Gia waves at Sanora with a smile.

“I’m …Sanni.” Sanora smiles back at them.

“Sanni huh? Well, ‘tis nice to meet you, Sanni. Gotta say, you’re quite a daring girl, just bathing in the noble’s bath despite being new here. I’m sure we’ll get along great.” Liddy chuckles.

“Let me tell you, you picked an interesting time to come to Deepvalley. Like I said earlier the lady just brought home some courtesan or consort or whatever you wanna call her. I sure hope she’s not like the noble girls from the smaller towns around the valley.”

“Why’s that?” Sanora raises an eyebrow.

“They are all lazy snobs who like to send you running just because they can. Well, it’s either that or boys who ogle you all day or worse. But from what I heard this lass Sanora oughta be filthy rich, so I don’t have high hopes.”

“Well, she is with the lady so that’s a bit of a given don’t you think?” Gia throws in.

“Nah, I mean even for rich standards she’s rich. I heard she came walking in here clad in full Narcium mail.”

“Oh please, that’s just gossip.” Gia rolls her eyes. “No one outside of the northern rogue traders or maybe our lord could afford that. Either that or the madmen who actually go to find Narcium in the old warfields. And that’s only bulky men. You can’t really believe some tender noble girl could even shoulder armor like that, Liddy.”

“Well, what if she can? I’m tired of men in armor, gimme some hot girl knights for once!” Liddy groans and raises her arms. “That’s not asking for much is it? What about you Sanni?”

“Huh?”

“Any pretty girls where you come from?”

“Liddy!” Gia swats her over the head.

“Yaouch! Hey what was that for!?” She glares at Gia, rubbing her head.

“We don’t know her, you know you could get in trouble for saying stuff like that. Gods how often do I have to tell you?”

“Ah you don’t have to worry about me.” The girls look at Sanora surprised. “I’m actually with Liddy on that. We could use some more cute knight girls. I do actually know one from back home.”

“See Gia? She’s cool.”

“Well, my point still stands. Just because she is doesn’t mean everyone we happen to meet in the baths is.” Gia sighs. “Gods you can be such an airhead at times.”

“So tell tell, what about that girl in your home? What’s she look like?” Liddy leans towards Sanora with a wide smile, completely ignoring Gia.

“Hmm lemme think…” Sanora holds her chin. “Her face is gentle and kind of defined, basically like chiseled from marble but also oddly soft to look at. She is slim with gentle curves and very muscular. Her hair is long and stone grey and her voice like a beautiful piano… or something like that.” Sanora shrugs.

“Ohh~ she single?” Liddy raises an eyebrow.

Sanora nods.

“Well then, you gotta tell me where I can find her someday.” Liddy chuckles.

Sanora just laughs along.

“That reminds me a bit of the Unstoppable.” Gia chimes in.

“Ohh now that you say it does sound a lot like they always describe her in the books.”

“The unstoppable?” Sanora tilts her head.

“Yes, one of the many hero stories from the ancient war. The unstoppable, they say, was one of the legendary Gargoyles of old. She had long grey hair, two horns on her head and a bat’s wings on her back. It is said that there is no force that can stop or move her, that she alone held a Golem in it’s tracks and threw it right back at the lines of the Metalfolk. But of course, that’s just old tales.” Gia shrugs.

“Sadly. I’d kill to find a woman like that.” Liddy snickers. “That does make me wonder again what kind of girl this Sanora really is. If she really runs around in some narcium lookalike she is either painfully stupid or just really self-important.”

“You think so? She might be a really nice person for all we know.” Sanora says.

“Ah, I’m willing to bet she isn’t, she’s a noble after all, running around in her ‘Narcium’ armor all high and mighty. We’re on scullery service for the dinner tonight, and if she’s anywhere near as cool you Sanni, I’m eating a broom.” Liddy waves her off.

“Alright, bet.” Sanora smiles at her. “I’ll be at the dinner too, I’m curious now as well. Speaking of which, I think I should get going. It was nice meeting you, same time tomorrow?”

“Sure! See ya around Sanni.” Liddy waves at her lazily

“It was nice to talk.” Gia smiles at Sanora as she gets up.

“It really was. I guess I see you at dinner then.” Sanora says before getting ready and heading back to her room.

“See ya!”

“Until later.” The maids say and the door falls shut behind Sanora.

“Holy shit did you see her abs?!” Liddy says a few seconds later. Gia just groans and pinches the bridge of her nose.

“I didn’t see it in the water but damn she is packing… and she is pretty cool.” A smirk spreads on Liddy’s lips.

“Liddyyyy.” Gia groans. “Get that out of your head fast. You know that is a stupid and dangerous idea.”

“Why? You know exactly how few girls around these parts are swinging that way. And even fewer look that fucking hot. If anything, it’s partly your fault!”

“M-my fault?! How by the gods did you get that idea!?”

“If you were gay, we could just go out.” Liddy crosses her arms and raises her nose. Gia just looks at her with her mouth hanging open and her eyes slightly squinted.

“You’re an idiot.” Gia just shakes her head after a moment and leans back.

“An idiot I may be, but a happy one.”

Sanora quietly opens the door of their room and walks back in. Vadia still lays in bed just as she did when Sanora had gotten up. She tiptoes over and takes a seat on the bed before poking Vadia’s cheek.

“Mhhh hey Sanni.” Vadia mumbles as her eyes slowly open. “Is it time yet?” She looks out the window.

“We should start to get ready yeah.” Sanora nods.

“Mkayy.” Vadia stretches and yawns before getting out of bed and lazily putting on a new dress. This one is a deep red, much like the clothes of her father. She tosses Sanora new clothes as well, a black tunic with the same golden trims and some more elegant pants as well as clean shoes.

“I think you better leave the Narcium off for dinner.”

“Sure.” Sanora nods while getting dressed.

“As for manners, don’t worry too much, father was never big on the dozens of forks and courses. Just behave somewhat humane and you will be fine.” Vadia says from her mirror where she is busy fixing her hair.

“I can handle that… probably.” Sanora snickers and Vadia just rolls her eyes.

They sit around the room for a bit longer, talking about whatever to kill the last few minutes before they finally head out to the dining hall. This time they take a hallway leading from the part of the building they are in right into the main one where they met the lord.

The place is big, and with every turn they take Sanora gets surer that she would get lost in here alone. But with Vadia’s lead they end up in the big dining hall before long. It’s right above the throne room. The walls are ornamented with all sorts of tapestries and gilded paintings. A large golden chandelier hangs above the big table in the center of the room. The chair of the patriarch stands right at the start of the long table, giving it a perfect view of the whole city through the giant window at the far end of the room.

Vadia takes the first seat to the right of the patriarch’s and seats Sanora on the next one. They are still alone, though the chandelier is already lit. Sanora looks out of the window, at the city basked in the golden light of dusk and the far mountains once her home.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?”

“It is. Almost like it’s a giant painting rather than a window.”

“I know what you mean. I don’t think I will ever tire of this view.”

Their attention is drawn back to the door. In walks lord Vadius with two servants in tow. Sadly, Liddy and Gia are not among them yet. Vadia and Sanora stand up and only sit down again once Vadius has sunken into his seat with a sigh.

“Exhausting day?” Vadia asks him and receives a squint in response.

“Well, who do you think made it exhausting? There is a lot to organize and settle now that you have found your consort. We will have to announce it to the public, some of the other rulers around the Valley, possibly even outside of it. That includes a lot of planning and dealing with people on your part too. I have been looking forward to dinner to be honest. Even without you and Sanora we need to deal with the lurcher and trercher season.” He rubs his temples. “Well then, no reason to wait any longer.” Vadius does a quick wave with his hand and one of the young men behind him heads off quickly, leaving the room.

“I do hope your stay so far has been pleasant, young Sanora?”

“I have found myself lacking nothing. Your castle, and the city are quite magnificent.”

“Now, that I like to hear.” A smile returns to Vadius’ face. “Trading over the last years has flourished after all. With that we were also able to stock up on guards, I daresay this city if one of the safest in the Valley.” He says with a hint of pride. Sanora doesn’t really know how to respond to that, but luckily the door opens just then, and three scullery maids come in, pushing carts with covered dishes on them. Sanora hides a smirk and quickly turns away from them when she sees that two of them are Liddy and Gia. The explanation on what the dinner consists of goes completely over her head. A lot of words for spices and oils and other things she never heard. She manages to make out: its meat of some sort.

After the Lord’s approval they finally start to bring the plates over to the table and Sanora can barely hold back her impish grin when she notices that Liddy seems to be assigned to her. She places the plate down in front of Sanora, so focused on her work that she doesn’t even look her in the face. Vadia is busy talking with her father, so Sanora takes her chance.

“Excuse me young miss, may I ask your name?” Sanora asks just when Liddy is about to walk back.

“Of course my lady, It’s Lid-“ Her eyes grow wide when she turns to look at the smirking Sanora.

“Lid?” Sanora raises an eyebrow.

“L-Liddy, lady Sanora.” She stammers. Sanora can see her hands are shaking now and her face is devoid of all color.

“Liddy?” Sanora’s smile grows wide.

“Y-yes lady Sanora?”

“How do you like your broom?” she asks with a raised eyebrow.

“I-“Liddy just stands there, a cold sweat running down her forehead.

“Is there a problem here?” Gia comes over to help the visibly distressed Liddy. She looks at Sanora and all the emotion fades from her face.

“Oh.” She swallows. “I see.” She says quietly.

“Yes yes, dinner looks quite wonderful indeed, thank you girls, that will be all for now.” Sanora says. The two girls just bow quietly before falling back in line with the last maid and heading out of the room again.

With them gone they finally start to eat. The meat is so tender and juicy Sanora has to refrain from cussing when she takes the first fork. She had thought Genny’s cooking was good, and it was by home cooking standards. But as it appears she has now entered a wholly different realm in terms of standards. She can’t even begin to describe all the different spices and herbs she is tasting right now. And the wine too. If the beer and ale from River’s Rest are a ten out of ten, then this wine is a damn one hundred on the same scale. She almost forgets herself and starts to wolf it down, only getting grounded by Vadia’s foot lightly tapping hers under the table.

Dinner goes by too fast. Lord Vadius asks a few more trivial seeming questions and does some small talk with Sanora. When the maids come around to gather the empty plates Liddy still wears the same expression of horror.

‘Ah, I should probably apologize to her. But damn, that dinner was good. This has to be the absolute best food I have ever-’

Sanora’s mind goes blank when the dessert is set down in front of her. She has never even seen something like this. ‘Cake’ they call it. The closest thing she has had to this was the honey milk Genny brought her once. Not in her wildest dreams could she imagine something so creamy and sweet as the cake she is eating.

Soon it is gone, down to the last drop of whipped cream. Lord Vadius excuses himself soon after and leaves the two of them. The sun has already disappeared behind the horizon, and it is starting to get dark outside. Candles on the walls have been lit sometime during dinner and are slowly burning away.

“Let’s head back as well. I’ve missed sleeping in my bed.” Vadia gets up and Sanora follows suit.

“Let’s do that, I’m quite spent myself.” She nods before they head back though the hallways and stairs towards their room. Once there and in private again Sanora takes a deep breath.

“Holy lords above that was so fucking tasty.”

“I’m so screwed.” Liddy plops down onto her bed after the most nerve wrecking shift she has ever had. Her expression is empty, her mind in turmoil ever since she had seen Sanora- Sanni, at the dinner table.

“You can say that again.” Gia sits at the desk in their room, her head in her hands.

“Think we should start packing?” Liddy asks her.

They jolt up when a knock resound on the door.

“Y-you take it.” Liddy whispers.

“Why me? I always tell you to watch your mouth and you don’t!” Gia hisses.

“Liddy, Gia you still up?” They calm down a bit when they hear the familiar voice of one of the other maids.

“Ah yeah.” Liddy gets up to open the door.

“Here, got something for you.” She holds out a piece of paper. “From lady Sanora.”

“Oh. Thanks.” Liddy takes it with a blank expression and closes the door again.

She opens the folded paper with shaking hands.

“W-what does it say?” Gia fiddles with her sleeves.

Liddy swallows “Tomorrow same time, don’t forget.”