The fear in Shana’s gaze froze Noah in his tracks. His heart plummeted.

“Starlet,” he tried putting a smile on his face, “it’s me. There is no need to be afraid. Everything is over. You are safe now.”

He slowly took one more step towards the bed. Immediately, Shana shrank back between the pillows as if trying to run away from him.

“My love…” A knot built up in Noah's throat. “What’s wrong? Please, tell me! Are you hurting anywhere?”

The little girl just shook her head and snuggled in her blanket without uttering a word. Tears started rolling down her cheeks, followed by jagged breaths. Her panting quickly became faster, wheezing sounds tearing her lungs as she struggled to breathe.

“Shana! Moren-gadir!”

Noah’s shout mixed with the Elders’ outcry as the Binshi gathered around their Star-gazer. On his side, Noah didn’t dare move a muscle, a singular thought burning in his mind - he was the one who caused Shana such pain! His mere presence terrified her to the point where she couldn’t even breathe!

The world spun before his eyes. Stumbling backward, Noah supported his body on the nearest wall, otherwise, his numb legs would have given out under his weight. Maybe it would be better if the kush-turgans took her away. Yanosh had made a mistake entrusting her safety in his hands. He had failed to protect her yet again. But this time she was old enough to understand… to know how he let her down. By the Saints! She had seen him swing a blade at her. She had seen him stab through Yanosh… killing him forever!

Noah’s fingers clutched the front of his shirt right above where his heart was. It was too much! He couldn’t… stand it anymore!

A hand carefully touched his shoulder. Noah jolted and blinked a few times before the blurred old face before him came to focus and he recognized Elder Marishka.

“B-Baba…” he tried to speak but the words didn't want to come out of his mouth.

“Little Shana is alright, Your Highness,” she said in a warm voice. “She has been through an ordeal and it’s normal for the mind to be a bit muddled afterward. Don’t take this too much to heart, my Duke. She just needs some time.”

“Thank you, baba.” Noah nodded at the Elder and managed to squeeze a smile. “I’m leaving her in your care. Inform me immediately if there are any changes. I’ll be in the anteroom.”

“It will be done, Your Highness. But better go back to your chambers. The evil you’ve encountered has seeped into your body and weakened it. Even after purifying you, its traces can poison your spirit. You need rest.”

“You don’t need to worry about me, baba. Just take good care of Shana and Gerash.” Noah pushed himself off the wall and went for the door. “I’ll be in the anteroom.”

After exiting the room, Noah dragged his feet to his chair and slumped down under his retainers’ puzzled gazes.

“How is Shana?” Neli dared to speak first, the worry in her voice unmistakable. “Did something happen?”

“She’s fine,” Noah responded curtly. “When we’re finished, ask Baba Marishka when would be a good time to visit.”

“Should we postpone the discussions?” The Marzbanati measured up his ashen face. “You look…”

“Fine, mother.” Noah exhaled. “I look fine. Do you think I can get any rest with Norden being a step away from civil war?”

He gritted his teeth and then turned to the old Binshi, who was quietly smoking her pipe.

“Kash-baba, can you please assist the Wolf Mountain Elders with taking care of Shana. Being entangled with Akh-Moren, she might need guidance from a shaman closer to her level.”

“Of course.” The old woman jumped from her seat with uncanny agility and trotted to the door of Shana’s room. “And while I’m doing that, make sure to resolve the conflict properly, my boy. Don’t burden me with the decision to break up a family.”

Saying that, she disappeared into Shana’s room. Noah looked after her for some time and her words rang in his head. To break up a family? The old soul was wrong. If they ever were a family, he himself had broken it already. Shana’s actions were proof enough.

At that moment, a shy knock on the outside door attracted everyone’s attention.

“Enter!” commanded Noah, raising his voice.

The door opened a crack and Jessup snuck in, his freckled face - pale and worried.

“I’m sorry for disturbing you, master, my Lords, Lady Nelini. A message came for the Duke from Bishop Petronius. And another one from Baba Tevishka. And a note from the Barons.”

“I was beginning to wonder where they were.” William snorted and rolled his eyes. “Now it is all official.”

Noah gritted his teeth and broke the seals on the three messages. His lips moved in silence as he read their contents.

Bishop Petronius was calling for a “Holy War against the infidels, brazen and fearless enough to dare challenge the might of the Two Gods; to dare burn and pillage the Holy Houses of the Fathers.” On the other side, Baba Tevishka was demanding justice for the burned shops and the destroyed legacy of kush-turgan Yanosh amidst threats of further retaliation and claims of “bigotry by the Duke and his authorities as they sweep crimes against the Binshi under the rug and favor Limerian citizens despite talks of equality.” Lastly, the Barons were informing him of a letter they received from Mayor Preston, its content - a demand for the head of the person responsible for harming the ducal couple.

“So let me get this straight,” Duncan rubbed his temples. “That bag of bones Petronius wants to slaughter some Binshi because of a few broken windows and some missing candelabras. The neurotic old hag wants to slaughter some Limerians because the Star of Norden has been broken and a few shops destroyed. The Limerian residents of Yalda want to slaughter somebody, preferably Binshi, because of a rumor of the Duchess’ death. And the kush-turgans threaten to go to war unless we let them take away Shana.”

“And all those claims have some merit,” said William with a sour tone.

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“Whose side are you on?” The old knight glared at him but the Steward of Norden remained unphased.

“Will is right.” Noah closed his eyes for a moment. “There have been crimes committed and thus justice will be served. Will.”

“Yes.” His friend perked up and gripped his quill, ready to write down the orders.

“This is the Duke’s decree. Anyone who has been proven responsible for arson, be it Limerian or Binshi, should be met with the full weight of the law. What is the sentence in this case?”

“Arson is a crime of the highest tier, especially since we have casualties. The punishment by law is hanging.”

“So be it. After proper interrogation and collecting testimonies from the witnesses, the criminals will be hanged. Make sure that the bodies are displayed before the corresponding buildings they’ve damaged. Remuneration is to be paid by the Mayor’s office to the Binshi owners who had lost their shops. In turn, Baba Tevishka is responsible to collect compensation funds from the Binshi community which is to pay for any damages to the Church’s properties. A refusal to fulfill the order or any attempt to fan further discord will be considered a crime against the ducal authority and be punished as treason - by drawing and quartering the perpetrators.”

Willam’s pen scribbled in the silence, sealing the fates of the insurgents.

“Two of the problems are solved for now.” Neli’s eyes trailed to the white door behind Noah’s back. “But the destruction of the Star of Norden and the Duchess’ injuries… It was all done by Shana.”

“And both crimes are acts of high treason punishable by death,” added William coldly.

“No need to remind me.” Noah snapped at them and drew a hand through his hair. “And here is where our dear kush-turgans come in the picture. I promised to protect Shana as a father but as the Duke of Norden I need to uphold the law, and they know that. If she is harmed in any way, it will be a breach of my oaths to Yanosh and will allow them to rightfully claim custody over Shana.”

“If there weren’t so many witnesses, we could have used someone as a scapegoat.” William sighed. “Alas, all the Barons and kush-turgans were present when the Duchess so brilliantly defended her case.”

“Should I have denied her the right?” hissed Noah, glaring daggers at his friend.

“Compared to Shana, she is of less value to Norden and could have been disposed of more easily…”

“Brother!” Jessup, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, cried out, only for a barrage of glances from all sides to shut him up.

“This is a matter I’m not willing to discuss further, and you’ll do good to never mention it again, William.” Noah’s tone was icy. However, the ruler in him could do nothing but agree with Will’s statements. This thought made his stomach turn.

“And don’t forget that the Binshi blame you for the breach of security by the Red Hands and the deaths and injuries amongst the delegates,” added Neli.

“How could I, mother?”

“One side wants your blood, the other - Shana’s,” Duncan grumbled and furrowed his brows. “And if it was up to me, they would get none. Why are we always the ones hunting the Red Hands while the kush-turgans do little to nothing? If they allowed one of the Great Clans' leaders to act as a pawn to those mad dogs, why should we take all the blame?”

“There were mistakes on both sides but the destruction of the Star and the Red Hands’ attack happened under my roof and under my watch,” said Noah quietly. “Which makes it all my responsibility. And one must pay where payment is due.”

There was silence as his words slowly sank in. The first to react was Jessup. With huge eyes, he shook his head and took a step toward Noah.

“No! Master, you can't! You can’t take all the blame! You can’t sacrifice yourself! There must be another way!”

“Calm down, Jess,” ordered Noah sternly despite the slight warmth that trickled in his heart.

“No, master! It isn’t fair!” The youth raised his voice, ignoring his warning. “You did nothing wrong. All you did was try to protect everybody! This is unfair!”

“Out with you!” William shot up from his seat and packed his younger brother by the collar. Despite his bad leg, the older De Mar still had more than a head of height superiority and the cold aura of authority, which he used to the utmost. With a limping gait, he dragged his little brother towards the door and threw him out before returning to his chair. “Pardon the disturbance. We can now continue in peace.”

“Continue like this and the boy will start hating you one day,” said Neli.

“If he is foolish enough to do that, then he isn’t my brother,” replied William calmly. “But we are not here to discuss my fraternal relationships. We have more urgent problems."

“You don’t say? Our Duke has just proclaimed his willingness to lay his head on the chopper.” Duncan drummed on the table. “Just so you know, I support what Jess said.”

“Noah isn’t mad enough to commit such noble suicide.” Neli huffed. “He knows his responsibilities.”

“And he is right in this room,” remarked Noah coldly, drawing their attention.

“How should we proceed then?” William held his quill ready.

“Lorelei’s fall was just an accident due to the strong wind and the old construction of the gazebo,” declared Noah, and his heart quivered with guilt. “Therefore, Shana is innocent in that regard. As for the Star’s destruction…”

He pondered for a bit. Shana had destroyed the Star, probably influenced by Akh-Moren or whatever that apparition was that clung to her. However, before she was willing to open up and explain her actions, one could only speculate about her real intent. He opened his mouth.

“There was an attempt to steal the Star of Norden, instigated by the Red Hands. They brainwashed Shana but she tried to fight off the suggestion. In the process, the artifact was damaged. This should turn the charges from treason to attempt to steal and involuntary destruction of property. And the punishment for that would be…”

“Combining property destruction and theft, and considering the importance of the damaged object, it would be at least a hundred lashes and cutting off an arm,” replied William.

“But since we need to placate the Binshi dignitaries…” Noah swallowed hard and gave his verdict. “The proper punishment would be three hundred lashes and both arms broken. Duncan will perform the punishment tomorrow at noon.”

“This would kill you!” Neli gasped and shook her head in disbelief. “No! There must be another way. I don’t agree with this insanity!”

“And neither do I.” Duncan crossed his massive arms on his chest. “I won’t play a role in crippling or killing you.”

“Seeing the Duke take personal responsibility would placate the masses. The kush-turgans should also be fine with it since it will be interpreted as Noah, the face of the Limerian aggressors, showing humility before their power,” William said with a frown. Then he turned to Noah. “I know that Baba Marishka has a potion that somewhat numbs the pain. And if Duncan lessens the strength of the lashes, you should be able to survive. But there is no guarantee what will happen to your arms after they are broken.”

“If it is a clean break-”

“Didn’t you crazy pricks hear me!?” Duncan interrupted his lord with a loud bark. “I’m not going to participate in your bloody suicide!”

“This was not a request, Duncan.” Noah lifted up his chin and straightened his back. “It is an order. You will either fulfill it, or I will send you to the west tower.”

“Better sit in a birdcage than have your blood on my hands!”

“But if you don’t perform the punishment, someone else would have to.” William turned to the fuming knight. “And that someone might not be able to properly hold back. Or he might crush his bones instead of snapping them cleanly. Then Noah will definitely die.”

The old knight chewed on his tongue and if his glare could kill, at least one body would already be decorating the carpets. He slumped in his chair with an angry growl and didn’t utter a word. Next to him, Neli sat with an expressionless face but her eyes were bloodshot and glassy. She remained silent, her gaze fixed on Noah as if this was the last time she would ever see him.

“We cleared that.” William’s tone didn’t show even a trace of emotion. “Now, to take care of the rest. We’ll need something to stir up the crowd’s feelings in our favor. A father, taking the blame for his little daughter. And since Shana is in no condition to participate...”

The Steward of Norden stood up and pulled a gilded rope that hung in one of the anteroom’s niches. After a brief delay, a polite knock announced the arrival of the summoned servant.

“Go to the game master and bring Andrash here,” he ordered the man. “And bring his daughter too.”