The ride back to the castle had been a sorrowful spell. The once sunny day had soured and a light drizzle. Almost like the sky had wept for the duke’s death. The procession that followed the carriage grew ever slowly. Like a snake had begun to coil around the head of a body. Adler rode slowly taking quick glances towards the veiled wagon. His father could not be the only one in the carriage. He had ridden closer towards the count. While Leoncino covered the rear.

“Fedel, what had happened? How did you survive?” Adler had many questions. However, when he faced the count’s eyes Adler had realized he had broached a rather sensitive subject. The Count’s eyes were misted with regret. Adler simply stopped the inquiry. He noticed riders in the distance. Coming down from the hills. They were the children of the fallen. He saw their faces contorted from hearing the news of their fathers’ death.

A top their darkened horses they joined this macabre parade. The procession heard the cries and moaning from the city folk. The realization of who was passing. The men stopped working and bowed deeply. The women curtsied in acknowledgement. The veterans saluted their fallen lords. The wind howled in their ears. Some believing they heard the cries of banshees. Moaning their final farewell.

Arriving at the castle the slight drizzle had reached a downpour. The city streets even though mixed with gravel and cobbles was reduced to a muddy sludge. The procession trudged along until they were safely within the castle walls. However, even then they were beset by the rain. Adler was cold. He wished he had dressed slightly warmer. Instead, the linen shirt he wore clung to his frame. The wind whipping his clumped hair. His skin feeling cold to the touch. He almost chuckled at the thought. There his father was a corpse. While he felt as cold as one.

Dismounting his horse and passing it to a servant he clumsily headed towards the thick double doors into the castle itself. Upon entering he was met with the warm fires in the many fireplaces throughout the castle. “Adler, is that you?” A voice echoed from the walls around him. It was soft. Almost inviting from the frigid winds and cold rain. Adler entered the castle. The voice called out again. Adler pushed a door to a guest room.

The room was a glow from the roaring fire that had just been made. Sitting on a satin green couch was the duchess of Caledon. Her long golden hair shimmered in the flickering fire. A stern look filled her face as she laid eyes on Adler. He felt a chill in his back even though he stood near a burning fire. He wanted to tell his mother about his father. However, whenever he tried to form words. He realized that he couldn’t breathe. His mother looked at him as if knowing the truth. As if she could sense what had happened.

“Let’s go meet your father.” She rose from her couch. Her flowing dress matching her hair color. Almost as if she was the embodiment of summer. A light that needed to show the way. That was sort of what the duchy needed right now. A light.

Adler had thought about what it meant now that his father was gone. His father, duke Arturo, had been a pillar. Not just for him but for the duchy as a whole. Now that pillar was gone. Now a new one needed to be made to do so. He knew he needed to be that support. However, he could not see himself doing it. He couldn’t fathom the responsibility needed to carry the whole duchy on his shoulders. However, he knew his father. He was a flawed man. He favored reform. Right now, though. Adler was afraid that he could not follow in his footsteps.

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That he would be a disappointment. He saw his mother as she led the way. She walked with the dignity and honor befitting her station. However, it was the small things that gave her feelings away. Her shoulders were tense. She gripped her hands creasing the thin white gloves that covered them together they shook with silent terror. Her husband had died and the duchy was going to her seventeen-year-old son.

They reached the door. The warmth of the castle fading towards their backs. Pushing the door open the rain remained at a light drizzle. The droplets no bigger than a tear. They trudged towards the wagon. The children of the entourage pulling casket after casket from the wagon. Thirty caskets. The caskets themselves were made from particular wood based on their ranks. The knights had poplar, the barons, maple, the counts oak, but the duke. The duke had mahogany. A type of wood rare to the nation as a whole. The type of wood that would be traded for large quantities of resources.

Adler had with the assistance of Count Pendii lifted the casket towards the door. The caskets of the other nobles lined the way as if they were a retinue welcoming their lord home. Their children flanking each casket. Upon entering they lined the walls to dry from the rain. Adler saw his mother standing over his father. A face of calm serenity looked over it. However, Adler knew. Her brow was high, her nose quivered. She was holding her emotions back for the rest of the retainers.

The children ranging from their early teens to late adults stood near their own father’s caskets. Some were talking amongst themselves. The duchy in a single day had lost a majority of their nobles, their duke, and now their most experienced members of government. Now it was them to fill the roles that were left behind. Some were considered ready to say the least. However, a vast majority were youths. That had no experience. Yet, they weren’t alone. Adler was one of them. They looked towards him to see Adler’s expression.

To give Adler some credit he quickly hid his own emotions. Steeling his resolve. He held his head high as he stood from the low crouch to a standing posture. He scanned the room. Directly to his front were his mother and Leoncino who had finished touching his father’s casket. The two shared a glance before looking towards each member. “Children of the nobility. Today is a dark day for Caledon. Today we have lost the knowledge of a generation. However, not all knowledge is lost. Count Pendii step forwards.” The count dressed in a black coat dripping from the light rain. Looked at Adler. “I am naming you my prime aid. You shall assist me in my day-to-day operations along with the transitions of power and appointment of nobles.” The count gave a curt nod, thinking that a congratulation was not in vogue at that moment.

The room had fallen into a silent reverence. Adler’s face was painted with the lights from the torches that hung from the walls. A shadow had been casted over the right side of his face. His mother looking over his shoulder. Her face set in a neutral tone as not to give away any emotions. However, her hand was placed on his shoulder. Adler felt the warmth from her hand and the tenseness that had built on his shoulder had lessened ever slowly.

The count saw this and placed his other hand on the opposite shoulder. “Your grace, let us get started with the basics.” He then looked over the group of heirs that filled the room. He scanned each one peering into their faces. Like a hawk spotting for prey. Many of them steeled their expression. Some looked ahead with tears in their eyes. He nodded as he finished his mental notes. “Kneel before his grace and repeat after me.”