Reaching the lee of the trees, Lorelei tried to calm down her racing heart. Why, oh, why was it always so hard to remain calm when he was around? He made her feel angry, happy, afraid, shy, and warm, and she still had no idea how to cope with all these emotions. She breathed in and out a couple of times, filling her lungs with the fresh scent of pine sap.
Soft steps echoed behind her. Lorelei turned around and saw Noah approaching, quite disheveled from the strong winds. ‘Like raven’s feathers after a storm,’ she thought, eyeing the black strands of his hair sticking in all directions. She felt the urge to brush them back in order with her fingers but managed to suppress it and, instead, unbuttoned the doublet.
“There is no wind here, so I’m giving it back.”
“It can get quite damp and chilly under the trees’ shadow.” Noah ignored her and walked past, climbing a steep gravel path. “Keep it.”
“I am starting to have a feeling that you would decline no matter what I say, my lord.”
“You finally realize it.” He threw a mischievous glance over his shoulder. “Took you long enough.”
“That’s not a very chivalrous thing to say, Duke Norden.” Lorelei huffed but it was becoming harder and harder to suppress her chuckle.
“I believe I told you last night that I am not quite the epitome of chivalry, Lady Norden.” Reaching the top of the trail, Noah turned around and offered his hand to Lorelei.
“It is so strange how your words and actions contradict themselves, my lord.” She took his hand secretly anticipating his retort.
“Well, I am a living contradiction.” He carefully helped her up the slope. “A prince without a crown, a duke without ties to his land, a father not sharing a drop of blood with his child.”
“You forgot a horrible beast who cherishes his people and a merciless ruler who throws his life for his retainers.”
At her words, Noah’s body flinched. His fingers wrapped tighter around her wrist and he pulled her up the hill. Both their bodies swayed a bit and Lorelei had to lean heavily on him to stabilize herself. Pressed against his chest, she could hear the drum-like beats of his heart and feel the warmth of his skin even through the layers of clothing. The familiar tinge in her lower back, that she had experienced just the day before, appeared again. She felt her own heart beating like crazy and her knees turned wobbly. Then, his breath tickled her ear.
“You seem to know quite a lot about me, my duchess, and yet, you remain a mystery to me.”
Gathering her strength, Lorelei pushed him away and took two steps back. When their gazes met, the look her husband gave her was a bit strange. He opened his mouth, but Lorelei was faster.
“T-thank you,” she said, hurriedly trying to remedy the situation. “Losing my balance surprised me. Thank you for not letting me fall.”
“Any time, my duchess.” Noah nodded, but some of the spark was gone from his eyes. “The trails here can be traitorous sometimes.”
“Ahem, you still haven’t told me what we are doing here, my lord.”
“I want to show you something. It is beyond those trees over there.” Noah pointed at a shrubbery not far from them.
Following his hand, Lorelei carefully proceeded along the gravely path and he followed silently behind. The bushes and trees that obscured the view soon disappeared and the two emerged in a field of white.
A narrow clearing was surrounded by a wall of trees with branches intertwined into an arch and forming a long tunnel. But that was not the most impressive part. Each one of the trees was donning a crown of star-shaped, white petals that rustled in the breeze. The ground was also covered in fallen blossoms and looked like covered in fresh snow. From time to time a swirl of petals danced through the air carried by the wind. Somewhere hidden in the branches, a bird started singing and another responded enthusiastically, the sound of their tone mixing with the whispering of the leaves.
Lorelei just stood there, mesmerized by the view, slowly breathing in the fresh sweet aroma of the blooming trees. She didn’t dare to move or even blink, fearing that doing so would make this fairytale scenery disappear. Beside her, as if not wanting to disturb the tranquil moment, Noah said in a quiet voice.
“These are ainishka or snow-plums. It’s the first tree to bloom and bear fruit in the new year and as such is worshiped by the Binshi as the spirit of spring. It symbolizes courage, persistence, and a new beginning.”
“It is so beautiful,” whispered Lorelei with reverence.
“It is, without a doubt.” Noah agreed but seemed bewitched by something else rather than the scenery. His eyes trailed the profile of the woman standing beside him – thin eyebrows arching over her sparkling brown eyes; high forehead, flowing into a straight nose; soft lips, now parted into a beautiful, surprised smile, revealing a row of small, white teeth.
The wind took up, engulfing them both in a downpour of white flowers. Like under some kind of a spell, Noah’s hand stretched out, its target – a few naughty petals caught in Lorelei’s hair. As his fingers were about to reach them and brush them away, he hesitated. Balling his hand into a fist, he quickly crossed his arms behind his back. Luckily or not, all of his actions escaped Lorelei’s notice.
Noah cleared his throat, finally attracting the attention of his mesmerized companion.
“Actually, the scenery is not the main reason I brought you here.”
“Then what might be the reason?”
“Lady Shimshi!” The cry echoed among the trees even before she could finish her sentence.
Lorelei frantically looked around, her whole face brightening in incredulous joy. Not a minute too soon, she opened her arms and a small figure jumped straight in. Feeling the child tremble in her embrace, Lorelei had to make great efforts to suppress her own tears as she started to stroke the little ash-white head.
“Anuk, sweety, it’s alright now. Everything is alright.”
“L-lady…” The little girl buried her face deeper in Lorelei’s skirt. “The Highness saved you! He really saved you just as he promised!”
“He did.” Lorelei turned her head and gave Noah a warm look. “He saved us all from the bad men.”
She continued patting the child’s back while at the same time scrutinizing her look. There were no visible injuries; Anuk’s dress was modest but clean and well-fitting; her hair was trimmed and carefully combed. A weight lifted from Lorelei’s chest. The little girl seemed well taken care of. The young woman was about to ask how her brother and father are faring but just then, a boy’s voice came through the thicket, accompanied by low rustling and the cracking of twigs.
“Anuk! I told you not to stray too far.”
A moment later, Kai’s nimble figure appeared from behind one of the trees. His willowy body carried a blue tunic adorned with the silver crest of Norden
The boy halted, measuring up the two adults before him. His whole being brightened and he was about to dash to them but stopped mid-motion. Instead, he slowly approached the group and fell on one knee before Noah, resting his right hand over his heart.
“Page Kai of Silver Creek greets their highnesses, the Duke and Duchess Norden. May the Two Gods and the Mother Above bless you for many years to come.”
Noah stepped forward and placed a hand on the boy’s head.
“A blessing to the master shall be extended to the servant, now and for as long as House Norden stands,” he replied in a solemn tone. Then he continued in his normal voice. “Stand up Kai. There is no need for such ceremonies in this place. As per court protocol, a bow and simple greeting are sufficient in this case. We are not in the Grand Hall amongst nobility. And neither is there a need to don your official garments every day.”
The young Binshi page scrambled to his feet and two big red sports started to spread from his cheeks to his neck. His hands squeezed the hem of his tunic, crumpling it but then almost immediately let go and frantically tried to smoothen the creases in the cloth.
“I am sorry, my lord. It was a blunder.”
“The rules of court protocol are harder to navigate than a snowy mountain.” Noah clapped the boy’s shoulder and was rewarded with a shy smile. “Just learn diligently. Perfection comes with time and practice. And from remembering past mistakes.”
“Brother, why are you so stiff with Lady Shimshi and the Highness?” Anuk, who had finally calmed down, chirped from Lorelei’s embrace.
“You little chichik! How can you run around hugging people?” Her brother rolled his eyes in desperation, temporarily forgetting about his embarrassment. “And not just any people but our mistress! Come here and show proper respect to the lord and the lady.”
“Don’t call me chichik. You are a chichik.” Anuk clung even tighter to Lorelei’s skirt and stretched out her tongue. “You got your page-tunic and now you are a know-it-all. Lady Shimshi and the Highness are my friends. Why can’t I hug them?”
“Because… those are the rules! Now come here!” Kai stepped forward to grab his sister but the little girl was as nimble as a fox, slipping from his fingers.
“Know-it-all, know-it-all!” she chanted as she hid behind Noah’s legs. “But you don’t know all. You made a mistake. We are not of Silver Creek anymore but of Wolf Mountain.”
“Come back here, you devilish chichik!” Kai looked completely mortified but before he could take another step, Noah picked up the little girl.
“So, you are a chichick, huh?” He tried to sound somber but Lorelei could clearly see the smirk on his face. “Indeed, you do look like a naughty squirrel.”
He pinched the child’s cheek and received a loud giggle as a response.
“But your brother is right, little squirrel. You will officially be of the Wolf Mountain tribe only after tonight’s ritual.” Noah put the girl back down and turned to Lorelei. “Why don’t you and Kai tell Lady Shimshi about the ceremony and take her around?”
“Yes, yes!” With sparkling eyes, Anuk ran towards Lorelei and pulled her by the sleeve. “Come, Lady Shimshi, I’ll show you.”
Lorelei laughed and let herself be dragged away by her impatient guide. Left together with the duke, Kai fidgeted a bit with a mortified look on his face.
“Your highness…”
“Today is a special day.” Noah gave him a sign and they both followed suit. “Besides, I don’t think I have the heart to take away those smiles. Do you?”
“No,” mumbled the boy and threw a glance at his lord, “but I fear that father might have a heart-burst very soon.”
“Then we should be close by to assist,” said Noah and could see the boy’s lips jump up for a second. After a short pause, he continued. “Is your life in the castle comfortable? Do you need anything?”
“Oh, no, your highness, everything is fine.” Kai tugged at the hem of his tunic and replied shyly. “We have a lot to eat, a soft, warm bed to sleep in, and everyone is so very nice. Father has mostly regained his strength too. Baba Marishka and Lady Karusa had to scold him the other day because he wanted to go and help out in the stables.”
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
“I am glad the three of you have settled down.” Noah nodded in approval. “This is your home now, Kai, and it will be for as long as you wish. Learn well from Gregor and Karusa and become strong enough to protect what you hold dear.”
“I will, my lord!” The boy straightened his back. “I won’t disappoint you. I will become a knight worthy of protecting the duke!”
“Silly lad,” the man snorted and ruffled the child’s hair, “there is no need to protect me.”
He pointed out at the woman and the little girl walking before them, laughing and chatting without a care in the world.
“This is what we protect, Kai. Remember it well.”
The body in his grip stiffened for a moment. Then came the resolute reply.
“I’ll never forget, my lord.”
***
“… and then, the whole tribe gathers and they sing to the Mother Above. And it has to be tonight because it is a night without a moon and the stars will be so big and bright. Did you know, the stars are the eyes of all grandpas and grandmas watching over us from the Spirit Plane? Oh, and then, the turgan and everyone else will ask the Mother Above to let us join the tribe, and everyone needs to agree or the Mother won’t allow it. But it will be fine because all the aunties and uncles, and brothers and sisters from Wolf Mountain are really, really nice. And then, dada will give them our new amulets, he is preparing them right now from ainishka bark, and there will be hex-hex, and… uhm… our souls will… uhm… stick to the amulet, I think, and then we will be of Wolf Mountain tribe.”
Lorelei listened to the confused, bubbly explanation and couldn’t hide her smile. Seeing the little girl laughing and her eyes sparkling with delight filled the woman’s heart with happiness. Anuk looked like a little bird, chirping and flying between the blooming trees and for a moment Lorelei was tempted to run together with her. After the disastrous events from last night and this morning, this pure and unrestrained joy was a breath of fresh air.
The two strode through the white forest, engulfed in a downpour of petals. Lorelei saw lanterns hanging on some of the branches; some of the trees bore mysterious markings of twisted lines and dots painted with white paint. The tunnel of ainishka trees soon expanded, forming a circular clearing. Small, fluffy clouds dotted the spring sky and the whole glade was bathed in sunlight.
As they emerged from the tunnel, a worried voice reached them.
“Anuk! Kai! Where are you? Anuk!”
A young tall Binshi was running around and his face was twisted in fear. The moment Anuk saw him, she shouted “Dada!” and pranced at him. The man scooped her up, swaying slightly under her weight, and pressed her to his chest.
“You wild chichik! I told you not to wander off. When I couldn’t find you… Never do that again! And why isn’t your brother with you? Who…?”
Only then did the man register Lorelei’s presence. He blinked confused but immediately stood on guard. Putting down the little girl, he shoved her behind his back.
“Da-ad!” Anuk grumbled and tried to come out but her father kept her in place.
“Good day,” Lorelei didn’t try to approach and instead greeted the man. “You must be Andrash of Silver Creek. Anuk has told me a lot about you.”
“A good day to the lady.” Andrash’s tone was polite but cold. “What business does the lady have with my child?”
“Dad,” Anuk tugged at the man’s clothes, “this is Lady Shimshi. The duchess, dad. The Highness told me to show her around.”
“Y-your highness!” Andrash stuttered and his pale face turned even paler. “I didn’t mean to insult you.”
He quickly bent his back in a bow.
“Like father like son.” Noah’s voice attracted everyone’s attention as he and Kai entered the glade. “Stand straight, master Andrash, this is not an official visit.”
It was hard to believe that the Binshi could get any more flustered but exactly that happened to Andrash. His eyes wandered between the Duke and Duchess Norden and his mouth opened and closed like a fish on dry land. It was Noah who broke the silence.
“You were right, Kai. He might indeed get a heart-burst. You better go to him.”
The boy obediently nodded and stood by his father’s side, patting him gently on the back. The young Binshi stretched out his arm and wrapped it around his son’s shoulders. For a few moments, father and children stood there interlocked in a silent hug, before the man finally woke up from his daze.
“I beg their highnesses for forgiveness,” he said, lowering his head. “I seem to always show you an unsightly image. I… I don’t know how to thank you for everything you did for my children. Even kissing your feet would be too little to show my gratitude. I am forever in your debt. My body and soul belong to you. If there is anything I can do to repay…”
“Live long,” Lorelei interrupted him in a quiet voice. “Live long and raise them well. There is no need for anything else.”
“I couldn’t have said it better.” Noah agreed with a nod. “We simply did what had to be done.”
“I…” the Binshi choked but regained his composure. “Thank you, your highnesses.”
“But da-ad,” Anuk tugged at the man’s clothes again, “you promised to give Lady Shimshi the present when we see her!”
Andrash chuckled and patted his daughter’s head. His hand slipped into his waist-pouch and pulled out a small piece of carved wood. He held it on the top of his palm and presented it to the surprised Lorelei. It was a disk-shaped pendant with dots and geometric patterns crawling around the edge. In the middle, there was a masterful carving of a swallow in flight and above it – a single star was bathing the bird in its light.
“It isn’t much, my lady, but Anuk has told me that you have no guardian amulet. It is carved from elder wood and the shamans from Wolf Mountain tribe were kind enough to put warding hexes on it. I hope, with the duke’s permission, that you will accept it.”
“Did you make it yourself?” Lorelei carefully took the amulet and her fingers caressed its smooth surface.
“My skills are immature, and I am not even a shaman, but I carved it in the hope it would grant protection to the lady,” answered Andash with a bit of humble pride.
“You are selling yourself too short,” remarked Noah, peeking over Lorelei’s shoulder. “It is truly the work of a master craftsman. Maybe I should have put you under the head carpenter instead of the game-master.”
“Your words flatter me, my lord. But if I still had a choice, I would prefer to remain under the game-master’s tutelage. I would rather work outside in the open instead of being confined between four walls.”
“I understand.” Noah gave him a reassuring look. “I have no intention to force you. I will repeat what I said to Kai – this is your home, not a prison. You may stay or leave whenever you want.”
“Thank you, my lord.” Andrash’s eyes reddened. He bowed again and when he stood up, there was a resolute expression on his face. “I will serve you until my final breath.”
“Indeed, like father, like son,” sighed Noah but he didn’t seem angry. “Well, now that we have cleared that, I believe my wife and I should leave you. You still have some preparations left for tonight.”
“No!” Anuk wriggled free from her father’s hands and latched onto Lorelei’s skirts yet again. “Can’t Lady Shimshi and the Highness stay a bit longer? Please, dada!”
“I wish it was indeed possible but…” Andrash hesitated and Noah jumped to his aid.
“You know, little squirrel, getting adopted into a new clan is something very sacred and personal. It is between you and the Wolf Mountain tribe. Outsiders cannot be present.”
“Why not? You are the highness of Norden?”
“But we are not members of the clan.”
“Then can’t you and the lady get adopted together with us?” The little girl was not giving up.
“I am afraid it is something that is possible only for Binshi, little one.”
“If I may,” Lorelei interjected, “if master Andrash agrees, I can visit you sometime later. Will that be possible?”
“Any time the lady wishes,” Andrash put a hand on his heart, “she is welcome trough our doorstep and around our fire.”
“But then when will you come?” Anuk looked at Lorelei with teary eyes.
“Tomorrow. I will come tomorrow to congratulate you and bring you a present.”
“You promise?”
“I promise.”
Reluctantly, the little girl let go and returned to her father and brother. As Noah and Lorelei turned to leave, she waved at them and shouted.
“I will be waiting! Don’t forget to come! And the Highness should come too!”
Lorelei waved back and followed her husband out of the clearing. The two left the white trees behind and followed another trail up a slope. None of them spoke but there was no need. The silence between them was not heavy but tranquil and something both needed to sort out their feelings. Not long after, the two reached another clearing with a stone gazebo and a beautiful view over the fjord. the splashing of waves and the cries of sea-bids suddenly filled the silence.
Noah helped Lorelei sit on a stone bench in the gazebo and he himself leaned on one of its pillars and let his gaze wander over the shimmering water.
“Thank you, my lord.” Lorelei’s calm voice broke the silence. “Thank you for letting me meet with the children. It was a wonderful gift.”
“Don’t even mention it. After all the anguish I’ve caused you recently, this was the least I could do.”
“I won’t lie,” Lorelei closed her eyes and breathed in the fresh air, “in little over two months in Norden I have experienced more than in twenty years in Sefis. Is your life here always so… eventful?”
“To put it mildly,” snorted Noah. “Until a few years ago it was even worse.”
“The Red Hands?”
“Mostly.” Her husband sighed. “But there were also civil unrests, prosecutions by the church, pirates, bandits, the list is long. Sometimes I wonder why all the troublemakers can’t pack and go all the way south. What are they even doing here? It’s cold, the land is mostly barren, it snows five and a half months per year, there are more wild beasts than people here. It is a chunk of ice and everyone seems to want to take it for themselves!”
“Oh, my, you should be careful, Duke Norden. Someone might get to see your true face!” Lorelei laughed but quickly stopped when she realized that her husband was staring at her. “I am sorry, I was out of place.”
“No! I didn’t mean to startle you. It is just… I realized that today is the first time I have heard you laugh, my lady. It suits you.”
“I…” Lorelei hesitated as her heart drummed in her chest. “T-thank you?”
She subconsciously pulled out the amulet Andrash had gifted her and her fingers started following its curves in search of… consolation? Peace of mind? Courage? An answer to her feelings? Instead, she found something else. Her lips parted and she muttered:
“The Red Hands that took us, what happened to them?”
With the sudden change of topic, the mood also changed instantly. Noah’s brows drew together as his face became vicious.
“We’ve managed to capture three alive and are still interrogating them. At least five died. We don’t know how many managed to escape and how many others were involved without being members of the cult. We also managed to save several girls who were kept in the brothel. They were given shelter by a Binshi member of Yalda’s council and were put under observation.”
The image of Danika's lifeless body appeared before Lorelei's eyes. She swallowed with some difficulty.
“And sister Simone?”
“Died,” Noah paused for a moment, “by my hand.”
“I see.” Lorelei’s fingers clasped around the amulet. “Would… would it be bad if I said I’m glad?”
“No.”
The young woman lifted her head to look at her husband. He simply shrugged.
“She was an evil person who did horrible things. She would have died anyway. You could even say that she got an easy death.”
“What will happen to the ones you’ve captured?”
“They will be punished in accordance with Norden’s laws. There will be no pardon.” Noah’s words promised his captives a grim future.
“Again, I am glad. I… I actually wish master Argente and his shaman were together with them. I am such an evil person, aren’t I?”
“You are in no way evil!” Noah grumbled. “A criminal should face justice and pay for their crimes. Rather than that, tell me, who are the people you’ve mentioned?”
“The two who escaped.” Lorelei shuddered, images from that accursed day flashing before her. “I think the shaman was the one who summoned that monster, the dhrowghost. He was the one who put a hex on sister Simone to look like me in order to kill you. And he also summoned something called dral.”
“And the other one?” Noah’s eyes squinted.
“He… he seemed to be the mastermind. But he was not from the Red Hands. He wanted to work with them and I…” Lorelei’s voice became a whisper, “I was meant as his tribute to the Red Hand’s leader.”
“Impudent little vermin!” The low tone that escaped her husband’s lips was like a growl. Seeing Lorelei’s pale face, he clenched his teeth and tried to calm down before speaking further. “Thank you, my lady, this is invaluable information. I hate to ask you this but in three days there will be a gathering of Yalda’s peers to discuss the information we have collected on the case. Would you agree to participate and give testimony?”
“I…”
“I won’t force you if you don’t want to. I understand that it is a painful memory. But you might hold vital information that would allow us to capture them.”
“But do I need to participate in the meeting?” She bit her lips, feeling her limbs growing cold. “Can’t I tell you everything that I know? Why do you need me in person?”
“Yes, I could forward your words to the council.” Noah knelt before her and his hands wrapped around her trembling fingers. “But I am an evil man, Lady Lorelei. I want to use you. I want to show them how short of a disaster we were. I want to make them feel guilty. There are still some people in the city who would question the harsh measures I want to take. Who wouldn’t believe the words of a mixed-blood child or a prostitute. Who would insist that I have come up with the dhrowghost story in order to saw panic. That is why I need you. Please, give it a thought.”
Lorelei felt the warmth seeping into her frozen fingers. She wanted to pull away, but at the same time to remain like this for a bit longer. She wanted to refuse and let him handle the peers of Yalda alone. She had all the right to do so. But at the same time, she wanted to avenge the elder and seek justice against the Red Hands. Her unwillingness, she knew very well, stemmed from the fear that others would judge her, would tell her that all this was her fault. But then again, she already knew that. In that case, was there even a reason to be afraid? If she participated, then maybe she could even help those poor girls that sister Simone had kidnapped.
Danika had been barely in her teens. Lorelei could very well imagine that the rest of the prostitutes were most likely around the same age. They had been taken from their homes and forced to do unimaginable things. Yet, as long as the brothel patrons could prove that they had no knowledge or association with the Red Hands, or had enough money and status to bribe themselves out of suspicion, they were going to get away scot-free. Lorelei gritted her teeth. On one hand, slavery was accepted and practiced on the mainland, so human trafficking was an obscure topic. On the other hand, rape was a crime by Limerian law. However, the magistrates tended to bend it depending on the victim and perpetrator’s status. If that wasn’t the case, count Orten would have been rotting in prison a long time ago. So, what chance for justice did some wretched mixed-blood orphans have? Perhaps, if she participated in the meeting, she could sway the council’s opinion and bring some justice to the girls.
Lorelei straightened her back and looked her husband in the eyes. She could feel a flame burning in her chest.
“I will participate, my lord.”