Lorelei’s steps echoed in the empty hallway, each one – a rolling thunder over a desolate precipice. The chirps of the birds in the sunny gardens sounded dull and distant, muted by the thick stone walls. Passing by a tall window, Lorelei threw a glance at the perfectly blue sky and the warm light streaming from outside and thought that the weather was mocking her. There should have been a hurricane, a snowstorm with ice shards raining from the sky, or at least a few dark and ominous clouds to substantiate her feelings. But who cared about that? Not the weather. Not anybody else. The pain in Lorelei’s chest grew stronger with each step, and each step took her closer to her inevitable fate. She swayed a bit but a gentle hand steadied her.

“Stay strong!” Saya wrapped their fingers together. “Everything will be alright. You’ll see.”

“There is no need to lie to me,” said Lorelei, uttering every word with great difficulty. “No one would believe me when it is the esteemed Star-gazer’s word against mine.”

She looked to her left at the silent Gregor. When their eyes met, the young knight lowered his head.

“You see?” A sad smile appeared on Lorelei’s lips. “The Duke doesn’t believe me. His best shaman doesn’t believe me. If they are like that, what about a group of strangers, more than half Binshi, who either outright hate me or at best see me as a nuisance and a liability?”

“My lady…” Gregor bit his lips. “I want to believe you but… What motive would Lady Shana have to destroy the Star?”

“And what motive would I have to do so?”

The young Binshi knight just opened and closed his mouth without uttering a sound.

Lorelei averted her gaze and continued walking. Her bandaged fingers dug into her skirt, crumpling the soft silver fabric. The spring sun made the silken gown sparkle like fresh snow, its pure elegance enhanced by the lack of embroidery or any other ornamentation. In it, with her hair cascading freely over her shoulders, unrestrained by pins, gems, or ribbons, an Ice Queen was gracing the mortal world with her presence. Lorelei had specifically chosen this dress over the one Saya had suggested. That one had been inappropriate. Black – the color of her assumed crime. Black – the color of a repenting sinner. Black – the color of grief, of loss, of… death. But it was not over. She had lost a battle. She had cried. She had picked up the pieces of her broken heart and ravaged soul and moved on.

Closing her eyes, Lorelei let the memory of Noah’s face fuel her with strength. He had doubted her words, accused her of a crime. Yet, after the initial shock and despair, she couldn’t be angry at him. What father would be willing to blame his child for such a serious crime? Lorelei could understand his pain well, not that it made her own wound less hurtful. He had saved her from the Red Hands, defended her from Bishop Petronius and Neli, but this time, she was going to have to fight on her own. Her fingers dug deeper into the soft silk. She was no longer the scared girl who cowered before her brother and father, who let others decide her future. She would prevail.

Ever since Noah had stormed out, she had been racking her brain to find a solution, a way to persuade him and the Grand Council of her innocence. Telling them she followed a ghastly voice in her dream and sleepwalked up the tower was not going to support her credibility. Even less – stating that she heard the voice of the late Yanosh talking to Shana. How was she supposed to explain her abilities to see and hear ghosts? The moment she revealed she is a nesvet, the Binshi would riot. A saint-vessel speaking against their Star-gazer… the outcome was obvious. After all, the powers of the Saints were exactly what conquered and subjugated the lands of Norden, and the Binshi’s hate towards them was deeply rooted. No, after much thought, she found another way to prove the truth. A gamble she was willing to take.

‘Life is too short.’ Master Levi’s calm voice filled the void in her heart. ‘Burn brightly and scorch any regret before it even sprouts.’

She was going to burn. She was not going to give anyone the pleasure of seeing her go down without a fight, even if it killed her. Whatever happened today, she was clearing her name of the crime.

No matter how slow their small group walked, they arrived at a large double-winged door. On the left wing, a large seven-pointed star was carved into the dark wood, with six smaller ones forming a half-circle. On the right, a roaring lion faced the leading star and five pairs of crossed swords closed the ring. Two knights in full armor and surcoats with the ducal crest stood on guard, the halberds in their hands – shining threateningly at anybody daring to intrude without permission. Next to them were two Binshi in the gray uniform of Ildemar’s Shadows with silver chains hanging at their waists and belts full of throwing knives crossing their chests.

Lorelei halted for a second and measured up the guards, then, she turned back to Saya and Gregor.

“No matter what happens from now on, I want you to know that I am grateful for you being my precious friends. And… I’m sorry for everything.”

“Lorelei!” Saya choked and her eyes reddened.

Giving her a final smile, Lorelei looked ahead and straightened her back.

“Open the doors. The Duchess of Norden arrives as summoned by the Grand Council.”

The two wings opened silently on their well-oiled hinges. Lorelei took a deep breath and entered, her steps no longer shaking, leaving her friends behind. There was no place for fear on the battlefield. She was doomed the moment she allowed herself to be weak.

The door closed behind her back, the summit welcoming her with silence. The bright hall was of imposing size with a circle of elevated marble seats running below its pointed windows. Lorelei counted six on the left side and five on the right and, right before her, two grand thrones presided a step above the rest of the Council. Today, all but two seats were empty, with the barons, kukuls, and kush-turgans, each accompanied by one trusted aid, all being present. Multiple gazes peered down at her, very few among them being friendly. Lorelei ignored all but one.

Noah’s face was a marble mask but even his superb control wavered when she entered. For a split second, his eyes rounded and his lips parted a tiny bit before returning to being a tightly clenched line. This was enough for Lorelei. He remembered the last time she wore this silver gown, and he definitely remembered his promise. Today, she was not simply Lorelei, not the bastard daughter of Count Orten, not the imposed mistress of Ildemar. She was the legal Duchess of Norden, and she demanded to be treated as such.

“Lady Lorelei,” Noah’s voice was polite, yet without a trace of affection, as he addressed her, “are you aware why you were summoned before the Grand Council of Norden?”

“Yes, Your Highness.” She made sure to curtsy deeply without breaking eye contact. “I am here because the Star of Norden has been damaged.”

Her words caused a murmur amongst the assembly.

“Are you aware of the charges against you?”

“I am,” Lorelei replied curtly. Silence hung in the air but she didn’t continue, only staring straight into Noah.

His brows twitched.

“Then what do you have to say in your defense?”

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“I am innocent.”

A new wave of whispers spread through the hall.

“What a nerve!” scoffed the kukul of Trout Stream from behind his red veil.

“She is disrespecting this Council and the memory of the late Star-gazer by blatantly lying!” barked kush-turgan Vukan of Bear Ridge and a few other Binshi agreed with him.

“She doesn’t even show a bit of remorse for her actions!” Kush-turgan Nekor shook his head but his gem-like eyes shone with glee. “Has the Duke invited this woman to further rub salt into the inflicted wound? Destroying a precious relic, threatening the safety of the whole summit, and disrespecting this Council – is this how the ducal household chooses to act?”

“Don’t lump the actions of a single person and the ducal household together!” said Baron Firmon. “What this woman did has nothing to do with the Duke.”

“I concur.” Baroness De Vindur measured up Lorelei coldly. “If my suspicion is right, this woman was planted by our enemies to sow discord and destroy the stability of Norden. Her actions thus far only prove my fears were true.”

“Lady Lorelei might have been found at the place of the crime, but this doesn’t prove her guilt without a doubt.” Allen De Mar raised his voice. “To condemn her without solid evidence and thorough investigation is…”

“And what more evidence does this young friend need?” an old voice called from behind the red veil of the kukul from Crescent Peak. “By your own words, she was found amidst the shards of the Star and with its core in her hands. Isn’t everything clear?”

“Precisely!” Kush-turgan Nekor said with a poisonous smile. “But the Duchess refuses to confess to her crimes. And, more importantly, refuses to name the reasons for her heinous actions, daring to blame the Star-gazer. In the name of all free Binshi, I demand that the Duke gives us the justice we deserve and uses all means necessary to do so. We wouldn’t dare to measure up the price of the Star of Norden, the last great creation of the late Kush-turgan Yanosh, to the precious life of the Duke’s spouse. Still, a degree of corporal punishment is appropriate. Maybe then, the Duchess’ tongue would also loosen.”

“Will he even be able to do that?” Vukan of Bear Ridge snorted. “He failed at controlling his wife and allowed her to destroy the creation of our most esteemed brother. With an inept head, the household surely becomes rotten. Brother Nekor is too lenient in his demands. The head of that woman on a silver platter is the only thing that can repay us the humiliation and show the Duke’s readiness to defend the North from any and all threats.”

“Thank you for sharing your thoughts, kush-turgans.” Noah raised his voice and threw the men a poisonous glance, his calm and emotionless mask starting to crack. “However-”

“Would the Lords and Ladies be so kind and spare me some of their attention?”

Lorelei’s calm remark was like a resounding slap. In a heartbeat, everyone turned to her, many of the faces – startled by her daring.

“You all seem to forget that the person in question is standing right before you.” She lifted up her chin and let her gaze slowly circle the room. “You condemn me a criminal. You slander the Duke. You hurry to demand punishment and even my head. I thought that this was a hearing to question me in regard to the Star’s destruction and the ongoing investigation. As it seems, the verdict has already been made.”

“Such a nerve!” Nekor rolled his eyes. “Tell me, woman, what more do we need to ask you, when all evidence is against you?”

“Kush-turgan Nekor of Twilight Pass,” Lorelei’s tone was icy. “Before you stands the Duchess of Norden, second only to His Highness, the Duke. Before the verdict is announced and I’m dragged out of here in chains, I am one of the rulers of this land and you will address me as such.”

Her outburst made everyone gap. Lorelei used this to turn to the four Barons.

“I understand the anger of the Binshi. Yet from my own people, only one dared to speak in my defense. I think I should praise you for your loyalty to the truth and not to your blood ties. Still, Baron Argente, I think it would be a pity not to share your opinion with this summit. You don’t want everyone else to think you were a coward?”

“My lady,” the face of the old noble turned grim, “In all my years, no one has dared accuse me of cowardness.”

“Then why didn’t you speak?”

“It is one's right to decide when to share their thoughts and when to remain silent.”

“Not on such an important topic, Baron. Now tell us your stand.”

“As the lady orders.” Thomas Argente lowered his head. “I believe that the evidence speaks for itself. But I have one more question. If Your Highness is innocent as you claim, what were you doing in that tower?”

“Surely fulfilling her master’s orders,” muttered Baroness De Vindur but a pair of cold eyes pierced her.

“Silence, Lady Sigurd!” Lorelei cut her off. “I am not talking to you but to Lord Thomas. To you and to everyone present – if you have acquired your manners at a marketplace and are used to screaming over each other, you better reflect on your upbringing. The Duchess of Norden is speaking. The only one who may interrupt me is the Duke.”

Her eyes wandered to Noah and on his no-longer placid face, she could read utter bewilderment. Still, he gave her a sign to carry on.

“To your question, Lord Thomas, I am the mistress of this castle. Am I forbidden from roaming around as I please? The Duke has never said the south tower harboring the Star was off-limits. And neither were the shadows guarding it instructed to stop me from climbing up.”

“But that’s because no living or dead soul besides the Duke and the late kush-turgan Yanosh could touch the artifact.” The calm but tired voice of kush-turgan Bayan sounded for the first time. “The fact that its heart was in your hand, the fact that you could touch the Star… it is an occurrence outside of anyone’s expectation.”

“It must be some sort of witchcraft!” Baron Firmon chimed in but was silenced by Noah’s glare.

“Indeed,” Lorelei said, unperturbed by the old man’s outburst. “It is something unusual. But everyone here knows that I am a Limerian, and Limerians can’t do magic.”

“But you have the power of the saints,” Bayan coughed. “If the Lady is even an Acolyte…”

“I am not.” Lorelei straightened her back and made sure that her voice didn’t tremble even the tiniest bit. “I might not be well versed in magic but from what I know, an Acolyte can’t even dream of disrupting a hex constructed by the Star-gazer himself. And if I were a Saint, the Church would have long ago claimed me.”

“Then… what is your explanation?” asked Bayan after another bout of coughs.

“Maybe when the Star was physically destroyed, the hex weakened.” Lorelei shrugged. “The Duke is currently holding on to it, so we can surely test this by having someone touch it.”

She paused a bit, her eyes locking again with Noah’s.

“Then again, if the hex around the heart has weakened, any further tampering might irreversibly damage it.”

“No one will lay a hand on the heart-stone except for me,” Noah stated grimly. “But then, Duchess, we are back where we started.”

“Indeed, my lord.” Lorelei clenched her fists. “Before we were interrupted, you asked me and I proclaimed my innocence. However, I was deprived of the chance to ask – have you questioned Lady Shana? And why isn’t she here now, when the matter also concerns her?”

The murmur of the crowd was silenced by Noah’s raised hand.

“After questioning her, I deemed her presence unnecessary. She denied involvement, and this was confirmed by her guardians.”

“And who might those be?”

“First Wolf Karusa, Elder Tikotse, Elder Kotrag, and Elder Marishka of Wolf Mountain, and Nelini Abrahmandar. They all testified that the Star-gazer never left her room. Do you claim that all of them are liars?”

“I wouldn’t dare.” Lorelei shook her head. “I haven’t done anything to warrant their hate, so I doubt that they would frame me and lie… At least not intentionally.”

“What do you mean, Duchess?” Noah’s features became sharper.

“This is Norden, my lord – the land of myths and magic. And the one who presides over all magically endowed is the Star-gazer. Or am I wrong?”

“Are you accusing Shana of casting a hex?!” Her husband seemed unable to choose between anger and amazement, his face twitching for a second. “Impossible. She hasn’t fully awakened yet. She hasn’t even made her prophecy.”

“And yet she was able to soul-project and defeat a dhrowghost?”

The summit was silent for a brief moment before erupting. People were talking over each other and fists swung in the air. Amidst the chaos, stood Lorelei – a lone silver snowflake surrounded by the fire of dissent. Her clear gaze never left Noah’s, but there was no pleading in it this time. She was challenging him, urging him to react. Under the weight of her eyes, his expression slowly became darker, the beast behind the regal façade threatening to appear.

“Enough!” he roared, making everyone in the big hall freeze in fear. With a leveled tone, he turned to Lorelei. “Do you have any way to prove your claims, Duchess?”

“I do.” Her reply made him flinch. “There is an easy way to solve everything.”

She turned to the six kush-turgans.

“Which one of our esteemed guests would agree to soul-merge with me?”