As the sun began its descent behind the western slopes, the inner courtyard of castle Ildemar became increasingly lively. After the initial commotion caused earlier that day by Baroness De Vindur’s envoy, two more riders had reached the castle. According to their messages, Baron Firmon and Baron De Mar were also going to arrive that evening. Fresh fodder and water were being prepared in the stables for the parties’ horses, the kitchen was sending servants back and forth to the storehouses in preparation for a large feast, and a couple of excited pages was hanging the flags of the five barons at the entrance to the main building.

Accompanied by Milly and Rish, Lorelei stood near the group of laughing children and studied the coats-of-arms in the waning light. Right above the entrance hung the night-blue, almost black, flag of the Duke of Norden, depicting a silver wolf and deer flanking a silver shield. To its right hung two other banners – one was dark-blue and had a silver ship sailing under three stars for House De Mar; the other was dark-green with a depiction of a silver winged sword and represented House De Vindur. On the left side of the ducal flag were the three remaining standards – light-green with a golden tree on a mountain top for House Firmon, pale-blue with a silver eagle over a golden sun for House Argente, and brown with a golden bear-head on a shield for House Rowell.

“My lady…” Rish’s gaze wandered a couple of times back and forth between the banners and her mistress. “Is it just me…? No, I’m not mistaken. Your clothes…”

“Thanks to Milly, I managed somehow to do it,” said Lorelei and smiled in response to her bewildered friend.

Indeed, today she had chosen her clothes in the colors of the barons’ banners. Her outer dress was night-blue with pale-blue and silver embroidery on the skirt and bodice. The under-dress was a dark-green with small fresh-green vines twisting and sparkling on its surface. A brown fur collar hung over her shoulders held by two golden brooches. As a finishing touch, blue, green, and golden ribbons were woven in her braids and sparkled in the light of the setting sun. From head to toe, she was the embodiment of Norden’s heraldry. It had taken Milly and two other maids over two hours to prepare her but now Lorelei was confident that her appearance would pass even the strictest scrutiny of her guests. She remembered Jessup comparing a woman’s dress to a knight’s armor, and his words were spot-on today – the clothes she was wearing were like a protection charm in her first encounter with the powers of Norden.

“Lorelei!” A familiar voice came from her left, overcoming the hubbub. “By the Gods, you look gorgeous!”

Turning around, she was met by Saya’s beaming face.

“You don’t look too shabby yourself, my lady.” Lorelei returned the smile, her eyes appreciating the pine-green and silver attire of her friend.

“Who would dare look shabby in front of the Blood Hawk of Falkion unless they are prepared to face her wrath?” Gregor, carrying little Soraishu in his arms, came to them and sighed.

Lorelei’s sharp gaze didn’t miss the fact that, despite the festive air around them, his expression was far away from joyous. The young knight’s usually unruly white hair was now carefully combed and tied in a low ponytail, two thin braids decorating his temples. He, unlike his son and wife, proudly wore the dark-blue and silver attire of the ducal household instead of the colors of House De Vindur.

“Stop spouting nonsense or Lorelei would think mother is some sort of monster.” Saya humphed and gave her husband a warning look.

“But every time she comes by, she threatens to have you divorce me since I’m apparently a good-for-nothing, mannerless barbarian,” the knight pouted. “It has been over two years already! She should forget about what happened at the wedding.”

“It is hard to forget how you got drunk, fought with His Highness, threw up all over the place, and needed two people to carry you to the nuptial chamber.” Saya lifted an eyebrow. “But I am surprised that you remember any of it.”

“It is even harder to forget your mother calling me limp prick on our wedding night,” her husband grumbled in response and hugged their son tightly.

“Dada, what’s limpwick?” Soraishu chirped curiously all of a sudden.

Lorelei had to bite her lips to prevent bursting into laughter at the mortified look on Gregor and Saya’s faces. Unfortunately for them, not everyone was willing to suppress their emotions

“R-Rai!” Gregor coughed and tried to ignore Rish’s giggle. “It… it is…”

“You are too young to understand, dear,” said Saya and threw her cousin-in-law a killing glare.

“Baba call dada limpwick.” Two innocent blue eyes stared at the stuttering knight and the child proclaimed proudly. “Dada is best! Rai want be like dada. Rai is limpwick too!”

“Bwa-ha-ha-ha!” Rish couldn’t take it any longer and bent in two with roaring laughter.

Lorelei too thought that her ribcage would soon burst from holding it in, and even Milly was trying to cover her giggles with fake coughs.

“Would you mind sharing the joke?” a soft voice attracted everyone’s attention.

“U’cle No!” Soraishu waved his little hand to welcome the newcomer.

Noah slowly approached, followed a step behind by Shana and her escorts, with Sir Duncan and Jessup finishing their small procession. Recognizing the guards as Feste and Dederi, Lorelei felt relieved that Rasha had taken her advice and was now resting.

The two Binshi warriors greeted her with a brief bow and then stood straight, their eyes – vigilantly screening the surrounding for any potential danger. Lorelei gave them a nod and was about to turn to her husband when her gaze collided Shana’s. For a split second, she thought she saw a silver flicker surrounding her pupils but then the girl blinked and everything returned to normal. A small smile crept on the child’s face, making Lorelei’s heart skip a beat. For some reason, this innocent-looking expression scared her more than the usual tantrums and insults.

“Greetings, Duchess. Today your look is truly exquisite.” Noah’s voice was like a welcomed ray of sunshine.

“Greetings, Your Highness, Lady Shana, Sir Duncan.” Lorelei hurried to welcome them, pushing the uneasy feeling to the back of her mind. “I am unworthy of your compliment.”

“When the Truth speaks even the Gods are silent, my duchess. A compliment should be given where a compliment is due.” Her husband chuckled and his gray eyes glanced at their chaotic group, lingering on the still-struggling Rish. “What were you all doing?”

“N-nothing important, my lord. We were just enjoying the weather. What a lovely evening we have today, don’t you think?”

“Indeed.” Noah threw her a confused glance but his attention was immediately occupied by the bubbly Soraishu who was waving his tiny hands in his direction. “How is my dearest godson doing? You seem very lively today, Rai.”

“U’cle No! U’cle No! Rai is limpwick like dada!” the child stated proudly and giggled as Noah’s hand ruffled his hair. “U’cle No, are you limpwick too?”

“No!” Saya, Gregor, and Lorelei shouted almost simultaneously while Rish leaned on Milly’s shoulder, roaring and unable to take a single breath.

“I… don’t think I get the joke.” Noah’s eyebrows flew up. “Would someone care to explain?”

“Over my dead body!” Gregor raised his voice but was interrupted when the sound of approaching horses filled the courtyard.

‘Saved by the bell… or rather the steed,’ thought Lorelei and hurried to take her place.

The welcoming party gathered before the main entrance. Noah towered at the center with Lorelei on his right and Shana – on his left. The rest of the group stood behind them, attempting to look solemn and dignified, but there was still the occasional snort or cough coming from Rish.

“What the hell is going on?” Noah leaned slightly and whispered in Lorelei’s ear.

“I will explain later,” she answered in kind and bit her lips.

“You better!” The corners of his mouth curved up and playful sparks kindled in his eyes. “Judging from the aftermath… it must have been quite the joke.”

Lorelei opened her mouth but at that moment, Noah’s expression changed. In a split second, the playfulness disappeared from his face like melting spring snow, replaced by the cold noble aura of Duke Norden. His transformation was accompanied by the neighing of horses, the clattering of hooves, and the increasingly loud hubbub of voices. Following her husband’s example, Lorelei straightened her back, trying to calm her racing heart and greet the esteemed guests with dignity.

Stolen story; please report.

A group of riders entered the courtyard, their horses coming to a stop a good distance away from the welcoming party. As a flock of servants rushed in to help the arrivals and lead the animals away, Lorelei had a chance to take a better look at them. There were now over twenty people flooding the courtyard but one could easily separate them into four groups.

The first one was led by a very tall woman in her late forties. She was dressed in male clothing with chain mail showing under her dusty green tunic. There was a dagger tucked in her belt and her left hand rested on the pommel of the sword hanging from her hip. Her strawberry-blond hair was arranged in four braids that merged together at the back of her head and reached past her shoulder blades. Upon careful examination, the woman was far from what one would describe as a classical Limerian beauty – her nose was slightly hooked; her face had a strong jaw and cheekbones; her shoulders were broad and sturdy. Yet there was something mesmerizing about Baroness De Vindur, an aura of a warrior and a ruler that made her blue eyes glow with confidence and demand obedience.

The second group was led by two noblemen, father and son judging by their close resemblance. Fresh-green garments hung a bit loosely on the thin dry frame of the older man. His cleanly shaven face was adorned with many wrinkles but despite that, his step was steady and his back – straight. A pair of piercing black eyes darted around, giving the impression that their owner was measuring up and calculating the value of everyone and everything present. His son, who was no older than twenty-five, stood obediently by his father’s side. His strong and agile body was covered not by the tunic of House Firmon but by a garb in black and white – the colors worn by the servants of the Two Gods. Despite being obviously from the clergy, the young man, like everyone in his party, carried a sword on his side and gave off the feeling that he is pretty adept in using it.

A lone knight headed the third group. Lorelei didn’t need to look at his coat-of-arms to recognize the person immediately. After all, he was a spitting image of Sir William – from the tips of his curly reddish-brown hair to the freckles dotting his face. This De Mar brother looked to be past Noah’s age by one or two years, making him the oldest of the siblings. But despite his strong outer resemblance to William, his hearty laughter and the unbridled way by which he was interacting with his escorts showed that the knight’s demeanor was closer to Jessup’s than the second-oldest De Mar.

The last guests were the envoys from House Argente. One could describe Baron Thomas Argente as a bear – broad sturdy built, slightly bent legs, and mighty beard and sideburns that compensated for his receding hairline. Despite being over the age of sixty, the baron, much like Duncan, was a mountain of muscle and the heavy mace strapped to his horse’s saddle further supported that impression. His roar-like laughter spread over the courtyard as his big hand clapped the shoulder of the black-haired page accompanying him. The boy was a bit younger than Jessup and, considering the familiarity and slight resemblance between the two, Lorelei concluded that they must be related. Amongst the envoys was also a girl, slightly older than the boy, her black hair revealing her as his sister or close relative. She was throwing shy glances in the direction of the De Vindur group and nervously playing with her long braid. At first, Lorelei thought that she was admiring some of the knights but then realized that the young lady’s eyes were stuck on the Baroness, observing her every move.

After the commotion around their arrival subsided, the four groups approached the main entrance. First was Baron Argente, accompanied by the black-haired boy and girl.

“Greetings to His Highness, the Duke of Norden! Greetings to Her Highness, the Duchess! Greetings to the esteemed Star-gazer!” he said loudly and bowed with a hand over his heart, his retainers following his example.

“Welcome to Ildemar, Lord Thomas.” Noah nodded. “I hope your journey has been uneventful.”

“Nothing worth mentioning, my lord.”

The baron lifted his head to meet his liege and his face froze. Lorelei could see his eyes squinting a bit as his gaze lingered on Noah’s scar. Seeing the flustered expressions of his entourage and the other guests, it dawned on Lorelei that this must be the first time they were seeing him without a mask. She remembered Jessup and Milly telling her that after the accident where he got burned, the duke kept his scars hidden from almost everyone, including Ildemar’s residents. Lorelei had long ago gotten used to his appearance and the fact that neither Duncan nor Gregor, nor the rest of the knights showed any aversion to his appearance had made her forget how people usually reacted when seeing his disfigurement. The memories of her screaming sister and the stares of disgust thrown at him during their wedding were brought back to life. Now, she saw the same horror and repulsion reflected in the two youths’ eyes glaring at their lord’s burns.

She felt Noah’s body next to her tensing up but there was not even a ripple on his face or in his words as he spoke again.

“It seems that I have startled you all. I hope you could bear with my unsightly visage.” He looked to the side and his eyes met Lorelei’s. “A knowledgeable physician has recommended me to take down my mask in order to improve my health.”

“O-of course, my lord!” Baron Argente awoke from his trance and gave his duke an unexpected grin while pointing at his own left temple where a jagged scar ran down his face and hid in his beard. “A true warrior needs a sturdy sword, not a pretty face. Anyone who thinks otherwise is a shallow idiot, be it a man or a woman.”

While he was saying that, the old lord’s eyes traveled to Lorelei studying her but there was no malice in his gaze, only curiosity and maybe a bit of a taunt. With a polite smile, she turned to the old knight.

“Baron Argente is right. A wise woman knows to appreciate these kinds of decorations more than any jewels since the man wearing them is sure to be a capable protector of his home and keep.”

“Ho-ho, well said, my Duchess!” the old Baron laughed and turned to Noah again. “I am happy that you have found a clever and reliable partner to stay by your side, Your Highness. I hope the Gods would soon bless you with a healthy heir for us all to rejoice.”

“It is all in the Gods’ hands,” replied Noah and tried to steer away from the subject. “I see you are not visiting us alone this time.”

“Yes, my lord, my son and eldest daughter are of an age where they should experience the world outside the homestead. Celeste, Simon, come pay your respects to Their Highnesses.”

The two youths obediently stepped forward and bowed politely, their impeccable manners still unable to disguise their burning faces and shaking words.

“S-Simon Argente greets Their Highnesses.”

“Celeste Argente g-greets the Ducal Couple.”

“You have fine children, Lord Thomas. It is an honor to receive the future of Norden under my roof. I hope your stay in Ildemar would be pleasant.”

After exchanging a couple more pleasantries, Baron Argente and his group headed towards their assigned quarters. Lorelei noticed that Sir Duncan left to accompany the guests, all the while chatting happily with the old baron.

‘Birds of a feather,’ she thought observing the two seasoned knights patting each other’s shoulders and bragging about old and new adventures. In the meantime, Baron Firmon and his son also presented their greetings and exchanged a few words with the duke. Compared to the previous conversation, however, this one was much dryer and shorter.

Then it was the turn for the De Mar delegation.

“I didn’t expect to see you today, Allen,” Noah spoke with the young knight in a very familiar manner. “Is your father alright?”

“He sends his apologies, Your Highness. He’s got a cold and mother and I convinced him to stay home. His age is advancing and we didn’t want to take risks. As incompetent as I am, I hope you will allow me to participate in his year’s meeting in his place.”

“I wish your father a speedy recovery. And I don’t want to hear anything about incompetence coming from the future Baron De Mar.”

Noah and Allen exchanged a warm smile.

“Thank you, my lord,” said the knight. His eyes glanced over the welcoming party and his face turned slightly grim when he found only one of his two intended targets. “Has something happened to William, my lord? Or is he out on an errand?”

“He is… preoccupied at the moment so he couldn’t come.” Noah made a sign and Jessup stepped forward. “Take your brother and his men to their chambers and after that, you two should visit the West Tower.”

“Yes, master,” the youth responded curtly. “Come with me, Al, I’ll show you the way.”

As they were walking away, Lorelei could hear the older De Mar’s worried voice.

“Don’t you dare lie to me, Jess. What the hell did Will do this time?”

Now, only Baroness De Vindur remained. After exchanging the customary greetings, she turned to Lorelei and her blue eyes measured her mistress from head to toe.

“So, you are the girl sent by the Second Prince to shake Norden?” the woman’s words were cold and uttered with an indifferent tone.

“It’s an honor to meet Lady De Vindur in person,” replied Lorelei while trying to ignore the Baroness’ attack. “Saya has told me…”

“You would do well to keep away from my daughter and her family,” she interrupted and turned to the frowning Noah. “My lord, I would appreciate it if you send Saya and Soraishu back to Falkion with me after the council ends.”

“Mother!”

Saya tried to protest but one look from the Baroness made her quiet. Instead, Noah stepped in.

“Lady Sigurd, I don’t understand your intentions but it would be in your interest not to offend the Duchess of Norden. As for Saya and Soraishu…”

“I have not acknowledged this woman as the Duchess,” the Baroness brazenly cut off his words. “To me, she is just another pawn meant to sow discord in Norden. As for Soraishu, he is the future Baron De Vindur. He needs to grow up in his territory. If you need a pawn in your negotiations with the Binshi, you can have the second child when it is born… if those two ever get on to produce a spare.”

“Enough, mother!” Lorelei was shocked by the coldness in Saya’s voice. “Neither Rai nor any of my future children are pawns that you can give or take. I was stupid enough to hope that you’ve changed. Come, Gerash!”

“Where are you going?” the Baroness raised her voice but Saya didn’t look back. Gregor followed close behind her with the whimpering Soraishu, who couldn’t understand why his mother and grandmother were arguing.

“Lady De Vindur,” Noah addressed the Baroness coldly. “Please retire to your chambers and have some rest. I believe the long journey has affected your judgment.”

It was clearly an order and not a request. The woman bowed stiffly and followed a servant who led her away. Shana and her retainers also excused themselves. With everyone gone, Lorelei and Noah were the only ones left in the dark and quiet courtyard.

“Lady De Vindur doesn’t seem to like me very much,” said Lorelei rather matter-of-factly and was surprised that the other woman’s attitude didn’t bother her as much as expected. Maybe she had to be grateful for her experience with Shana and Neli.

“She doesn’t like or trust anyone, so, don’t take it to heart.” Noah sighed and looked at the dark sky. “Damn, I feel a headache forming and the council hasn’t even started.”

“I will prepare you some medicine before it gets worse.”

“I will be much obliged. Do you have also something against cranky baronesses and unhappy daughters?”

“I’m a physician, not a miracle worker.”

“Just as I feared. Well, my lady, let’s do our best the next few weeks.”