Little had changed inside the keep of Castle Bower since the last time Katryna had set foot within, so many years ago. She hesitantly stepped into the main foyer with Prince Finnigan, her handmaiden Trish, and her procession of guards and servants with whom she had ridden with.

Several Infinity Guardsmen stood out, their armour gleaming red and white. Katryna noticed that there seemed to be a lot more guards around than she could ever recall.

Katryna could feel eyes all over her from the many servants and courtiers going about their business in the castle. Some wondered who she was. Others who recognised her wondered why she was back. It was an uncomfortable feeling, but one that Katryna forced herself to disregard.

“Strange being back?” Finn asked.

“Definitely,” Katryna said. “Wish it were under better circumstances.”

“I’m just glad you are home for good.”

Katryna saw Finn’s face light up. For good? He thinks I’m staying for good? Katryna rubbed her clammy hands together, taking a long breath in. One thing at a time.

Despite growing up in the opulence of Castle Bower, the sheer wealth surrounding her still stunned her.

Two silver chandeliers hung high above their heads, alight with hundreds of wax candles. The metal of the chandelier’s column was engraved with ornate flower patterns.

An elegant circular rug covered in colours of summer lay on the floor of the foyer. The walls were decorated with hanging linen banners, adorned with the sigil of House Bower and Camridia, and along the flanks of the entrance hall, archways stood atop huge rising columns of pure white stone.

Katryna had forgotten what it was like to live like this.

Immediately, the memories of growing up in Castle Bower flooded Katryna’s mind. Running through the long halls with her siblings, playing all sorts of games with her brothers. Fighting imaginary monsters in the gardens with sparring swords. Watching her father as he adjudicated atop the throne.

She had always wanted to sit on his lap but was never allowed. It was forbidden for women to be so close to the throne.

Father. Where was her father?

“Everyone is waiting for us in the dining hall,” Finn said to Katryna. “Come.”

Katryna turned to Trish, “I’ll catch up with you later. See to it that you are all fed, and please make sure Tulip is settled for the night.” Trish nodded in response. “And Trish?”

“Yes, Kat?”

Katryna pulled Trish in and whispered in her ear. “Make sure to say ‘hello’ to Edrick from me.”

Trish smirked and whacked Katryna gently on the shoulder. “Don’t you worry. I will be sure to pass the message on, one way or another.”

Katryna and Finn made their way into the bowels of the castle. Every stone hearth had a raging fire inside and candles lit up the interiors with a warm glow. Somehow, despite its size, the castle was always warm on the inside.

They reached the dining hall, a massive open space at the rear of the keep. Its oak doors were wide open. The walls were painted in stripes of red and white, separated with thick wooden beam supports, and were covered in beautiful candle sconces.

A long table sat in the centre of the hall, its top made from expensive Efferven red pinewood, held together with thick nails and metal braces. At the table sat many of Katryna’s close and extended family members. She could instantly tell who was happy to see her back home, and who was less than thrilled.

“Kat!” Katryna’s aunt Rashel, her father’s sister, leapt to her feet from slouching on a chair, warmly embracing her niece.

Rashel was well into her sixties and looked it. Her hair had grown silver and her face was withered and wrinkled like an old piece of fruit. The soft scent of lavender filled her nostrils- Katryna had always loved the smell of her aunt’s perfume. It smelled like home.

Katryna returned the hug. She was glad that it was the first thing she was met with as she entered the pit of snakes.

“Aunt Rashel, it’s so good to see you again,” Katryna said, kissing her aunt on the cheek twice.

“Look at you! Look at how grown up you are! And so gorgeous, too. How are you, my dear?” Rashel asked, genuinely concerned. She held Katryna’s hands within her own.

Katryna hesitated. “I’ve been better.”

“Sorry to hear, love. It’s wonderful to see you, it’s been so many years.”

Katryna patted her aunt’s hand warmly. “It’s been far too long, Aunt Rashel.”

“How was the trip from Redwatch?”

“Tiring,” Katryna sighed. “Weather has been rough. But we rode as fast as we could. I needed to be here.”

Rashel nodded. “We all need to be here. I’m sure Giliam will be more than happy to see you. We haven’t been the same without you here.”

Aunt Rashel had always been a warm figure in Katryna’s life. After the accident, Katryna had been ostracised by most of the family, especially by her mother. Mira had never been able to move forward from the tragedy, nor forgive Katryna. She still remembered the horror on her mother’s face. The dead stare in her eyes. The wailing that followed.

“Katryna, what have you done?!”

On the opposite end of the table sat Hectar and Ellene Maarsden, siblings of Katryna’s mother, Mira. Hectar Maarsden was the baron of Taloncrest up north. His shining bald head and pale eyes gave him a ghostly appearance and the long scar running down the side of his face had always made Katryna feel uneasy as a child. Ellene looked like an old shrew underneath many layers of furs to keep the cold of night out of her bones.

Neither seemed at all happy to see Katryna, their expressions barely changing as they made eye contact. She never addressed them as “aunt” and “uncle” like she did Rashel. Nonetheless, they stood up and showed the proper courtesies.

Katryna’s other brother, Rowan, sat at the table crossed legged, looking away from her. He had grown up. His beard was unshaven and his eyes sunken in.

Rowan was younger than Katryna by only a year. He wore in hunting gear- Katryna grimaced, assuming he had been out on an expedition earlier in the day. Why haven’t you been by father’s bedside?

Beside Rowan sat a good-looking noblewoman in a long frilly dress. Katryna guessed this was his new wife, Ofelia, the first daughter of House Seros. Maxim Seros, baron of Efferven, was one of King Giliam Bower’s most trusted bannerlords. Katryna had not yet met Rowan’s new wife. She had been invited to the wedding the year previous but had decided not to attend.

For the entire trip, Katryna was consumed by what words she would say to her Rowan. He was who she feared seeing again the most. She had felt somewhat prepared, but now the pit in her stomach had grown so large that she became flustered and nervous and couldn’t remember what she had come up with.

“Rowan…it’s, it’s good to see you,” Katryna said clumsily. The words became caught in her throat as she spoke them.

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Rowan stood up and embraced his sister coldly, kissing her on the cheek as tradition required but barely hugging her.

“This is my wife, Ofelia,” Rowan said brashly.

“It’s wonderful to meet you.”

“And you, sister.” Ofelia’s voice was warm, despite appearing quiet and a bit shy.

“I heard stories of your beauty in Redwatch. It seems the stories were an understatement.”

Ofelia blushed. “Oh sister, you flatter me!”

“I’m sorry I could not make it for the wedding, I-”

Rowan audibly sighed, interrupting Katryna with rolling eyes. “I’m sure you had many important matters to attend to in Redwatch. You must have been utterly swamped with work to do all this time, given that this is your first visit home in, what six years?”

Aunt Rashel scoffed. “Rowan, don’t be so rude to your sister.”

“What? I only speak the truth. Has it not been six years?”

“Rowan,” Katryna said, “I didn’t attend your wedding because I wanted to give you the courtesy of not befouling you and Ofelia’s special day with my presence. I am sorry if that was the wrong decision, but it was the decision I made because I thought it was for the best.”

Rowan scowled. Hectar and Ellene were unimpressed.

“Oh, Katryna,” Ofelia replied sympathetically, “don’t speak such words. We missed you at the wedding, but we understand.”

“I’m just glad you weren’t here when mother died,” Rowan snapped in an icy tone. “You spared her that pain, and for that, I am grateful.”

Everybody in the room fell silent. The words hit Katryna in the chest like a dagger. She could feel the guilt boiling deep inside. She felt her blood boiling over the top and raced out the door. She couldn’t take it.

Katryna stood out in the empty corridor, the distant noise of castle conversations far off. Her only companion was an ornate standing planter filled with withered flowers, hanging half out of the ceramic pot.

Finn followed Katryna out, closing the oak door behind him. Katryna wiped the sweat from her brow. She wanted to cry but refused to.

“Kat, are you alright?”

“Yes, yes, I’m fine, I just needed a minute,” she replied, sniffling. It took every ounce of effort not to barge back into the room and let loose on Rowan.

“You need to ignore Rowan. He’s… he’s…”

“A complete arse?”

Finn smirked. “Yes. But he’s our brother.”

Katryna snorted in reply, shaking her head. “All my life, I have been cast out by our family. Mother practically disowned me. Our own mother! Our aunt and uncle and half of our extended family think of me a killer. And our brother. He has had nothing but hate for me ever since we were young.”

“They are our family,” Finn insisted.

“As if blood means anything anymore.”

“Kat, blood means everything.” Finn held his sister. “Some don’t deserve the gifts you bestow. Others will never see how remarkable you are. That is their curse to live with, not yours. Don’t make the mistake of bowing to whatever ill spite they still hold.”

Katryna felt her eyes stinging as tears swelled up. She was able to give a half-smile at the kind words, however, kissing Finn on the cheek. Such simple words held so much power for her.

“No matter what happens we are in this together, Kat.”

“You’re right.”

“I love you. You are my older sister. You have always been there for me. If nothing else, you have me, you have Aunt Rashel. And you still have father.”

“Where is father? Can I see him?” Katryna asked. She did not want to waste another second. She felt she was running out of what time he still had left.

“Not yet,” Finn replied. “The physicians and apothecary are with him now. He had a bad day today and is too ill for anyone to see him yet.”

Katryna shook her head. “I rode all this way, and I’m met with eagle eyes and snake’s tongues.”

Finn comforted his sister again. “You’re not too late, don’t fret. Now, let’s go back inside and try and focus on what really matters.”

Katryna was hoping deep down that he was right. She took her younger brother by the hand and the two stepped back inside.

Aunt Rashel was standing over Rowan like an overbearing mother. She raised her voice as Katryna came in.

“The two of you need to cut it out this instant. You father is on his deathbed. I think we need to focus on more important matters than you two squabbling, while we wait for the healers to finish with Giliam.”

The two siblings silently agreed to the statement with a nod.

Rowan got up and brought in the High Sword from an adjacent room, whose role it was to oversee the safety of the royal family. The High Sword directed the Infinity Guard, a group of one hundred elite bodyguards. He stepped in, and Katryna was blown away by how tall he was.

Clad in shining silver and gold armour, the High Sword introduced himself to Katryna with a bow. “My lady, it is an honour to meet you. I am Ser Arthus Medonia, appointed High Sword of House Bower.”

He had been given the position while Katryna was away.

In with the High Sword came Jerrem Denar, one of the royal physicians. Katryna was stunned to see him still alive- he seemed on the cusp of death even when she was small.

Jerrem had to be at least eighty years of age. He moved slowly, like a frail tortoise. His hunchback had grown more pronounced. He did not engage with Katryna, but out of coldness or unawareness she was uncertain.

Katryna, the High Sword, the royal physician, and the Bower and Maarsden families sat at the long table in the centre of the hall. The doors were barred shut.

In the hall, every noise made a harrowing echo, and the wind blew through the rafters like an ominous booming. The colossal hearth at the end of the hall roared like the tension Katryna felt within herself.

Rowan stood up as he began to speak. “Now that we are all here, we have something to discuss regarding all of our safety and the future of our House. I have told the guards that no one else is to enter the hall until we leave, as these matters are serious. Jerrem, if you would be so kind as to start us off.”

Everybody turned their heads towards the old physician. He was hunched over against the edge of the table, his eyes half-shut, motionless underneath his huge robe.

It appeared as though Jerrem had not heard a single thing. Katryna could not help but smirk.

“Jerrem!” Rowan shouted, slamming a fist on the table. The old man nearly jolted from his chair.

“Yes, yes, yes, sorry, my lord.” Jerrem cleared his parched throat, tightened his robe, and began to speak slowly. “Last month, our beloved Queen Mira passed away most suddenly. May the Creator watch over her in the æther for all time to come. Only one night previous, she had come to me, suffering with terrible vomiting, a fever, and strange splotchy bruises on her skin. I knew not what had afflicted her. Assuming it was food poisoning, I gave her a remedy to quell her symptoms.”

“And the next day, she was dead,” Rowan said bluntly. “Vomited up so much blood that she choked on it.”

Katryna spotted Ellene hiding her face as she wept with quivering lips. No matter how cold Ellene and Hectar appeared to be, Katryna knew that they loved their sister and were grieving her loss.

“I had seen her only the day before,” Aunt Rashel said, shaking her head in bewilderment. “It all happened so fast.” Finn was sitting next to her. He held her hand tightly. Katryna could see he was upset as well.

Finn loved mother, but only because he was spared from her cold heart.

“Do we know what my sister had eaten for her previous meal?” Hectar asked. “Perhaps it was not thoroughly cooked.”

Ser Arthus stood up. Katryna assumed that he had been charged with investigating the circumstances around Mira’s passing.

“King Giliam and Queen Mira had had a private supper with two diplomats from Ember. Lamb chops with potatoes, onions and beans, bread with honey, an assortment of fruits, some wine. I spoke with the cooks and the servers. The lamb was only slaughtered that morning. We have the food tested in the kitchens before serving it to the royal family. As far as I know, no taste tester was afflicted with food poisoning, nor the king or the diplomats.”

“And the wine?” Finn asked.

“A bottle of Red Passion from a renowned winery, one of the finest from the Midlands. Shared by all at the private supper.”

Jerrem continued. “Upon the Queen’s passing, I requested that King Giliam give permission for my physicians and I to examine her body to find the cause of death. He respectfully declined to give permission.”

“He was in mourning. He did not want mother’s body defiled. None of us did,” Rowan said. Ofelia gently reassured her husband with a hand on his shoulder. “So, we had mother cremated, as is tradition.”

“And, as we know, within a day of our Queen’s cremation, the King fell gravely ill. He too was afflicted with violent sickness and a terrible fever. I immediately took him into my private care and alerted Prince Rowan and Ser Arthus at once.”

“Since then,” Rowan said, “Castle Bower has been sealed shut. The chamberlain and the Infinity Guard have seen to that. No one has been let in or out, except on vital business.”

“Like hunting, you mean?” Katryna asked sarcastically, looking judgingly at Rowan’s hunting gear.

Everyone in the room fell silent once again, eyeing Rowan. His clothes were still stained with dirt and dried blood.

“You should have been with father this whole time, not out gallivanting after some helpless animal,” Katryna said.

Rowan burst out of his chair. “Gallivanting? You have no idea-”

“Enough, the pair of you!” Aunt Rashel ordered. “Have some respect, for your father’s sake. He lays dying while you two quarrel like a pair of children.”

Katryna rubbed her eyes. Her head was pounding. “I’m sorry, Aunt Rashel. It’s been a long trip, and I’m in a foul mood.”

“Emotions are high. Do not let them get the better of your judgement, either of you. Enough is enough.”

“Perhaps we could move this along so I can get some rest?” Katryna asked.

“Look, the point we are trying to make to everyone is that no one is safe, at the moment,” Ser Arthus explained. “The Infinity Guard and I can only do so much to protect you, and believe me, we are. We have locked down the bailey and all of Castle Bower. We have questioned the diplomats from Ember, the cooks, the servers, the maids, the physicians. We are investigating every possible lead. However, based on what has happened it appears that someone has assassinated Queen Mira and poisoned King Giliam with the intent of killing him.”

Hearing the truth of it all was a shock to Katryna. She had suspected something suspicious, but to hear it so plainly made it much more real, and much scarier.

Assassinated?!

The room fell silent as a sombre cloud infiltrated the minds of everyone seated at the table.

Eyes darted from one person to another. Eyes everywhere.

None of us are safe.