Three days flew by in an instant. Despite the burning fear and anticipation of the upcoming meeting, Lorelei spent her time peacefully. More peacefully even than when she first stepped over Ildemar’s threshold. True to her promise, she went to visit Anuk and her family to the little girl’s utter delight. The only thing slightly clouding their happy reunion was the absence of Noah, who had sent Jessup to apologize in his stead. Upon asking, the young squire informed her that the duke was busy preparing for the meeting with Yalda’s peers and the upcoming Council of Norden that was to be held in a few weeks.

Indeed, as Lorelei walked through the castle, there was tension and anticipation in the air. The guards and knights had doubled their training. The maids were polishing every flat surface in the castle. In the minstrel gallery, Ildemar’s court musicians were practicing daily. The game-master and his people were going out at the break of dawn and returning with deer, rabbits, and pheasants. More and more merchants were entering the castle’s gates, and the hubbub lasted late in the night. Gregor and the Binshi were also not idling around. When she visited Saya the day before the peers’ meeting, the young shaman had been absent. According to her friend, the Shadows were preparing guardian hexes and going through the ceremonial preparations to welcome the six kush-turgans who were to participate in the Council together with the five barons.

Hearing this gave Lorelei mixed feelings. It seemed that Gregor was fine and had recuperated after being possessed by Yanosh. Still, hearing about guardian hexes made her feel worried. Were they expecting an attack? Were Gregor and the Shadows going to be alright exhausting their souls and lifeforce? With some foreboding, she gathered the courage to ask Saya about it. Her friend only laughed and patted her hand.

“Oh my, Lorelei, thank you for worrying but there is no need. I don’t know where you’ve heard of it but not all hexes require one to sacrifice their own soul. They will be mostly using a drop of their blood mixed in a bowl of chicken blood, herbs, and special powders. Don’t ask me how exactly it works, Gerash calls it power transference. What I know is that it won’t have lasting negative effects on any of them. Ask Rish or Rasha for more details. I fear that Gerash, despite all his gifts, is terrible at explaining.”

The explanation somewhat placated Lorelei. Still, that same evening, as she ate her dinner, she made sure to give a silent thanks to the roasted chicken on the platter before her. From the old stories she had heard as a child, it had seemed that magic was this incredibly overpowered, convenient thing that allowed you to change the world however you liked. But ever since she came face to face with the real thing, Lorelei also learned of its sinister price. It was still unfathomable to her why someone would risk their own life to perform hexes. Then again, what right did she have to judge? It was Yanosh’s magic that had saved her life.

That night, the sleep didn’t come easy to Lorelei. She tossed in bed, haunted by nightmares and even more nightmarish memories. As the light of the new day broke through the heavy clouds hanging over Ildemar, Lorelei woke up, her drowsy mood being in perfect unison with the brewing storm outside. Her heart was heavy with qualms about the imminent meeting she was supposed to attend. All while Milly was brushing her hair and helping her dress up, Lorelei’s stomach was cramping painfully, and she was playing with the thought to pretend to be very sick and stay in bed. Instead, she instructed her maid to tone down the hairdo and give her the plainest and most sombre gown possible. The end result was a tight crown braid and a dress in faded greyish-purple.

‘Like a lilac covered in ash,’ she thought, scrutinizing her look in the big mirror. It matched her mood, the occasion, and the stormy weather perfectly.

Under Milly’s urging, she sat down and tried to have a few bites for breakfast but nothing wanted to go down her throat. As she was fighting with a bowl of porridge, someone knocked on the door. Lorelei jolted and tried to calm down but her heart was still racing. She knew she was acting foolish. It wasn’t like she was put on trial, she only had to tell the peers of Yalda what she knew about the Red Hands and that Lord Argente. There was nothing to worry about. Absolutely nothing. Right?

At her sign, Milly opened the door, but the person on the other side was not who they were expecting.

“Rish!”

The young Binshi stepped in with a big smile and greeted them. Lorelei invited her to the table while a bitter-sweet feeling grew in her chest.

“I am so happy to see you up and well, Rish.” Lorelei nervously played with a piece of bread, rolling it into a ball between her fingers. “I am sorry I didn’t come to visit you and Rasha sooner.”

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“Don’t even mention it, my lady.” The young Binshi scratched her head, revealing the bandages around her right arm. Seeing her mistress’ eyes sizing up her injury, Rish hurriedly pulled down her sleeve. “You make it sound like we were on our deathbeds. You were the one with the heaviest injuries since we failed to protect you.”

“What are you talking about?” Lorelei gently squeezed her hands. “You did your best to protect the duke and me!”

“But still ended up being saved by his highness and Lady Shana,” mumbled Rish and scrunched her forehead. “I still have a long way to go.”

“And you have all the time to do so. You are still young and have all your life before you. Patience and practice always pay off.”

For some reason, Lorelei’s words resulted in an outburst of laughter from the Binshi.

“N-no offense, my lady, but you just sounded like my granny. She always says things like that.”

“Rish! Watch your tongue!” Milly was absolutely appalled.

“I take that as a compliment.” Lorelei tried to placate her at times all too proper maid. Then, her face turned sombre again. “Rish, I would love to chat with you more, but Sir Lucas should be coming soon to escort me to meet the duke.”

“Oh, about that,” the Binshi’s eyes sparkled with excitement, “actually, my lady, I will be your escort."

Both Lorelei and Milly looked surprised at her, which only made her cheeks flush and her smile grew bigger.

“Well, since the senior knights have a lot to do preparing for the Council, I offered to help. From today on, I am officially my lady’s personal escort and guard.”

“No.”

The single word that came out of Lorelei’s mouth made everyone in the room freeze. Her fingers holding Rish’s hands abruptly let go as she shrank back. The happiness drained from the Binshi’s face.

“Why?” Pain and anger mixed in the young warrior’s voice. “Why don’t you want me? Because I’m a woman? Because I’m incompetent and allowed you to get hurt? Because I’m a Bin-”

“Because you are still a child!” interrupted her Lorelei. “Because seeing you trapped by that black goo, barely clinging to life, is something I never want to see again. Because I don’t want to lose one of the few friends I have!”

Finishing her tirade, Lorelei was left panting. She lifted her gaze and was met with a pair of big blue eyes.

“You really think so highly of me?” Rish’s eyelids fluttered and she brushed away some moisture from her lashes.

“I do. We might have known each other for a short time but I really like your company. But none of this matters if you decide to throw away your life for someone like me. I repeat, I don’t want you as my guard. I don’t want to put your life in danger.”

“You make it sound like you are expecting an attack every day from every corner, my lady,” Rish pursed her lips. “They don’t even come after the duke that often. Besides, things like dhrowghosts and evil spirits don’t walk around just like that. We were simply unlucky that time.”

“But Rish…”

“Look, my lady, I know the risks. I have been training to fight ever since I could barely walk. My whole clan are warriors. Even our shamans are. To a Wolf Mountain member, dying in battle is the greatest and most honourable way to join our ancestors. Even more so if we die protecting something close to our heart. I was the one who asked Gerash and his highness for the job. No one forced me. Please, my lady, accept my sincerity.”

“But if something were to happen… you are so youn-”

“I am only two years younger than you, my lady.” Rish lifted an eyebrow. “According to both Binshi and Limerian customs, I am as much an adult as you are. But age mater to the side, you do need a guard. If it isn’t me, it will be someone else. Do you mean to tell me that you are not alright with me dying but are fine if it is Sir Lucas or another knight?”

“That…” Lorelei stiffened. “That is an underhanded move, Rish.”

“I know,” she grinned, “but it is also the truth. And just to warn you, I plan on tagging along even if you say no since I have a life-debt to repay you. You’ll have to lock me up if you wish to keep me away. So, what do you say?”

Lorelei was left gaping. She could clearly see the determination written all over her young companion’s face. It was the same noble stubbornness she had observed in Gregor, Saya, Jessup, and Noah. Was there something in Norden’s air that was making them so unbendingly one-minded? Little by little, she was starting to worry whether it is going to catch up to her too.

She pinched the base of her nose and capitulated.

“Do as you wish. But I hope you realize that you have just extorted your duchess.”

“I will feel ashamed and repent for the rest of my life.” Rish flashed a devilish grin back at her.

“Ahem.”

A small cough made the two young women shift their attention to Milly, who was standing by the side, tactfully in silence up until now.

“Forgive the intrusion but I believe it is about time for the ladies to head out or you’ll be late.”