The Bird's Nest was a lively place, without an empty chair to be seen. Tavern wenches navigated through the crowded tables carrying mugs of ale and platters of fresh bread and pastries. Loud voices talked, laughed and sang. A bard dressed in bright colors plucked the strings of his lute, filling the already thick air with pleasant sounds. He had a toothy grin across his face as a group of drunken patrons cheered and applauded his performance. Even before the tavern at Thornwood burned away it was dreary and empty. To think that not far down the road was a place like this. At a small circular table tucked away in the corner, Amana and Lloyd sat in silence. She studied his face, while he studied the half-empty mug in front of him. He seemed anxious, and Amana wondered if he had spent much time alone with girls. He seems to be quite astute at times, but his wits disappear when he looks at me and he turns bashful. He has the demeanor of a lovestruck boy, but Lloyd should be a man by now.

Lloyd snuck a look at Amana, but when their eyes met, he turned his head away and scratched his ear awkwardly. Tiring of his uncomfortable behavior, Amana broke the silence. "Lloyd, there are some very important things I need to tell you." He stiffened his back, his face frozen in a mixture of surprise and horror. What does he think I'm about to say? "But first, we need to talk about whatever it is you're doing right now. Stop being so strange."

His cheeks turned red, and he cringed. "Sorry, Amana. I'm not trying to be strange. I'm just not very good at these sorts of things."

"What sorts of things? You were fine earlier today when we visited the cobbler," Amana reminded.

"Yes, but that was different. Now that we're spending the evening together, I'm somewhat more flustered." He tried to relax, but beads of sweat were forming on his forehead. He wiped them away and took another swig of his ale.

"Listen, Lloyd, you're overthinking things. If you act in such a manner around girls, they'll find you off-putting. If the situation is uncomfortable, then make it more familiar. Tell me something that you find interesting," Amana encouraged.

"Uh, well..." Lloyd shifted in his chair as he tried to think. "I read in one of my tomes that Baelcroft was named after a man named Bael, a reluctant warrior who took a vow of peace and instead became a farmer. Supposedly, this town was built upon the lands he once cultivated. Such rich history, don't you think?"

Amana squinted. "While that is... Fascinating, it isn't exactly what I had in mind. Find common ground with the person you are with. Things that you both enjoy."

"Oh, I see. Well, I enjoy reading, particularly the histories, and I aspire to eventually become the steward of Baelcroft," Lloyd explained. "Do you enjoy reading?"

"Not in the same way you do, I would say," she replied. "But that is a good start, I think. You are more confident when speaking of the things that you are familiar with, so keep that in mind going forward."

"Ah, okay?" He seemed puzzled at her advice. "Does that mean you want me to tell you more about what I've read?"

"Not at all," Amana answered with a shake of her head.

Lloyd's face dropped as if he had been struck by a heavy object. "Oh."

Oops, that may have been a bit harsh. "Sorry, I didn't mean it that way. You have been kind, and that means a great deal to me. I wanted to offer you some advice before I told you what I'm about to say."

Lloyd nodded. "Okay. I'm still a bit confused but tell me whatever it is you feel the need to."

Amana took a drink of her own mug and organized her thoughts. The dining hall around her was loud enough that no one else would overhear her, and as she glanced around the room only the bard seemed to notice her. He offered a smile, but soon his gaze drifted to a tavern wench who seemed more to his liking. She nervously tapped her fingers across the table as she fought against the last wave of indecisiveness that stayed her tongue. Lloyd sat patiently, a hint of concern on his face as he waited. I will run no more. If this is the beginning of my doom, then so be it.

"Where should I begin? I have lied to you, Lloyd," she started. "I am not from Sargotha. In fact, this is as close as I've ever been to it. I am from the Kingdom of Kyderia. Have you heard of it, perhaps in one of your books?" He offered no response, his mouth hung half-open as he listened. "It is far away from here, or so I believe. I was aboard a ship that sank, and I awoke on the shores of Trilea. A month ago, I lived in a city of gold and marble, and in that city my father sits atop the highest throne." Amana spoke with her most regal voice, shedding the disguise of a simple servant. "Do you understand what it is I'm saying? I am Princess Amana of the Esserant Dynasty, and I am in a precarious situation. Will you help me, Lloyd?"

Lloyd leaned back in chair, his visage one of utter shock. he was dumfounded, his eyes blinking rapidly as if he were trying to awaken from some bizarre dream. After a long moment of nothingness, he pinched the bridge of his nose. “My head hurts now,” he uttered flatly. “Amana, have you had too many drinks? Did you hit your head sometime after we parted ways earlier?”

"No, my head is fine. And I’ve hardly drank anything. And before you ask me if I’m experiencing a bout of madness, the answer to that question is also no,” she clarified. “I imagined convincing you might be difficult, so what might I say for you to believe me?”

"I don’t know. Do you have some sort of proof?” He asked skeptically.

Amana shook her head. “Only my word, and the knowledge I have of Kyderia. Was I incorrect in assuming you might have some familiarity with my home?”

"I have read of Kyderia, though the words about it in my books are less than that of a single page, even combined. Merchant ships would occasionally make the voyage across the Great Sea and return with trinkets and stories of the western lands,” Lloyd explained. “The journey is arduous, but seasoned sailors can make it. There is a chain of islands, the Saltwater Stones, where vessels crossing the Great Sea make port.”

“That is a great relief to me,” Amana said, a feeling of ease washing over her. Though it may be far, my home is not a distance too great for me to reach.

"Amana.” Lloyd leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table. “The fact that you know of such a far away and obscure place is peculiar, but that alone does not prove that you are from Kyderia. Furthermore, I must now ask, how exactly did you come to be here in Trilea?”

Amana took another sip of her drink and launched into her story, telling of all the things that had happened up until her arrival in Baelcroft. Her capture by the Korvosal, her time with Brynn, and her brief captivity. Lloyd listened intently the whole time, his expression never betraying his thoughts. Once she had told her tale, he finally spoke again.

"Hmm. That’s a story if I’ve ever heard one. But there are issues with it. If I assume what you’ve told me is true, then I must also admit that the circumstances around it are seemingly impossible. Even if the Korvosal are master seafarers, why would they send a ship here? What purpose would there be in that?" His expression was pensive, and he gave Amana an odd look. "And, furthermore, how is it that you can speak our words? I cannot imagine that such distant kingdoms would share a common tongue. You can also read the words here in Trilea, yes? Such a think should not be possible."

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Amana brought her hand to her mouth. He's right. I hadn't even stopped to consider that. If the Korvosal speak words I cannot understand, why would Trilea be any different? What strangeness is at work here? "You're right, I shouldn't be able to speak to you like this. It never crossed my mind before now. Could it be..." Her voice trailed off.

Lloyd shook his head dismissively. "Magic? Such a thing does not exist."

"How can you say that? Have you not seen the monsters that roam the woods?" She asked in an exasperated tone.

"The scourge isn't magic. It is tainted blood, and-," Lloyd brought his hands together in front of his face as if in deep thought. "It matters not. How can I believe you if there is no proof? No one will believe you."

"Brynn did." He saw me in my tattered dress and accepted my story as the truth. Was that all there was to it, or was something more at play?

"Are you certain? Some men are good at lying, especially to girls. How could you have truly known his character?" Lloyd questioned.

"You're wrong about him," she rebuked. "He died trying to protect me."

Lloyd gave a look of regret. "I'm sorry, perhaps I misspoke. But the point remains, those who will take you for your word are few. Perhaps the scholars of the library of Lereftium might possess the knowledge to corroborate your detailed description of Kyderia, but to reach the capital would be a colossal task. The library is likely closed as well, considering the circumstances." He shrugged and let out a sigh. "For now, you should stick with the story you've been using. I know enough about Sargotha that I can offer-"

"No, I will not." With that, Amana rose from her seat and turned to leave.

"Wait!" Lloyd shot upright and stumbled out of his chair. He hurried to keep pace with her as they moved through the crowded tavern and out the front door. The street outside was nearly empty, only a lone figure could be seen further on as he stumbled home. In the cool night air, Lloyd called out to her again. "Amana, will you stop for a moment?" How can someone so smart be so stupid? If he won't help me, then I must leave at once. When she ignored him again, he reached out and took hold of her hand. At his tight grip, she was pulled back into a painful memory. Frozen in those dark woods, as though the most terrible moment of her life had been woven into a tapestry. She could feel the cold touch of a killer, see his piercing eyes on her body, and hear his laugh ringing in her skull.

The sensation was fleeting, but the emotions it left behind all too real. Amana wrenched her hand free and wrapped her arms tightly around herself. Tears ran down her cheeks, and she struggled to calm herself. He's gone. He can't hurt me. I killed him. She shuttered and relived that night over and over in her mind, oblivious to Lloyd's concerned gaze. Once she had calmed down, her eyes finally saw his face. "Lloyd, I-," her voice was raspy, as she struggled to overcome the lump in her throat.

"I am sorry. I did not mean to hurt you." He spoke softly, as though he feared the sound of his voice might frighten her.

Amana sniveled and wiped away her tears. "No, it wasn't your fault. It was simply something I had hoped to not remember."

"Still, I should not have grabbed you like I did," Lloyd admitted. He glanced down and studied her shaky hands. "Amana, what is it you intend to do? Can I convince you to not do anything rash?"

She shook her head slowly. "The lies I have hidden behind will not hold under the scrutiny of an interrogation. If you will not believe me, then no one else here will either. I must depart in haste."

"Tell your truth, then," he encouraged, which Amana met with a look of surprise. Lloyd shrugged and gave his reasoning, "if you leave, you'll be running forever. I still cannot be certain that what you've told me tonight is the truth and not simply another lie, but I know that you are no spy or assassin. I will vouch for you, should it come to that."

"How... What makes you so certain? If you think I am a liar, then how can you be willing to defend me?" She asked.

Lloyd put his hand on his shoulder and shifted his weight awkwardly from one foot to another. "Well, this is embarrassing, but I've had eyes for you for a while now. I saw you shortly after you arrived in Baelcroft, and I must admit I-," he came to a pause. "My intentions weren't malicious, I simply wanted to know what sort of girl you were. I thought it prudent to uh, observe and learn about you, before I approached you. Needless to say, I would have noticed any suspicious behavior."

"How closely were you watching me, Lloyd?" Amana questioned with a look of accusation.

Sensing the implication in her words, Lloyd stepped back offered a bow of his head in shame. "It wasn't anything like that, I swear. I never watched you bathing or changing or anything of that nature. It was your personality that I wanted to learn, nothing more. But even so, I apologize for my actions. Did you really never notice me?"

"No, I didn't. I've had a lot on my mind, though. If you wanted to know about me, you should have just asked." I dislike this behavior of his, but it seems to have assured my innocence in his view. For now, I will have to ignore it. "So then, what will you say if asked about my identity?"

"That you are no agent of the viscountess, or any of Sir Reinhart's other enemies. Whatever else you may be, I do not know," he answered. "Should you claim to be a princess of Kyderia, I can offer no advice or reassurance. That is a battle you'll have to fight alone."

✸✸✸

The night was a restless one for Amana. She tossed and turned, earning the ire of Morgan in the process. Every time she was nearly asleep, a foreboding feeling of doom crept into her mind. When morning finally arrived, her head was foggy from the lack of sleep, and she was no longer sure of anything. She had decided to stay, and accept whatever fate awaited her in Baelcroft. Amana slept-walked through her morning chores, and her tired state led to careless behavior. She was fetching a bucket of water for Lady Elise when she tripped on her way up the manor staircase and lost her footing. The water was spilled, and she banged her knee against the hard wooden board. She let out a pained yelp and hobbled back down the stairs to where the upturned bucket had landed. I must clean up this mess quickly, before... As she knelt on the slippery floor, Amana heard a door open and looked up to see Kamon making his way into the manor. He was in the midst of a conversation with someone behind him, his head turned away from her. She waited for him to turn and notice her, but realized too late that he would not.

"I will tell mother, she will want-," Kamon's words caught in his throat as he strode through the wet floor and his foot slipped out from under him. He let out a frightened squeal as he toppled over onto his back.

"Son, are you alright?" Asked the figure behind him in a concerned voice. When she saw him, the color drained from Amana's face. The second man was the baron himself, and he wore a worried expression as he knelt down beside Kamon.

Kamon gave a nod. "I'm fine," he replied, trying to hide the pain in his words. He slowly set up, and as he did so his gaze fell to Amana. "What is this? Are you stupid, girl?" She could tell that his temper was already rising.

"I am terribly sorry, my lord." Amana clasped her hands together and made herself small. "It-, it was an accident, I tripped-,"

Kamon raised his wet hand and glanced down at it. "You wench, are such simple tasks too much for you? You could have hurt someone. What if it had been my mother or sister, instead?" His voice was a growl, and he flicked the water on his hand in Amana's face.

"That's enough, Kamon," the baron said sternly. He rose and helped pull Kamon back to his feet. "You'll need to change clothes now. Go, before more time is wasted." The irate teenage boy nodded at his father's order and gave Amana a dark glare as he stepped around her and up the staircase. She did not dare to move, not even to wipe away the cool water from her cheek. As frightening as Kamon could be, he was the type of boy that Amana was familiar with. She had never seen the baron angry before, and the uncertainty of what that might look like unnerved her. Baron Hyward Loyse was a stout man with broad shoulders, and the resemblance Kamon bore to him was quite apparent. He had bushy brows, and a thick beard covered his face. "What is your name, girl?" His voice was deep, and it compelled obedience.

"A-, Amana," she answered meekly.

"Amana." A flicker of recognition crossed his face as he repeated her name. He folded his arms across his chest. "Why have I heard your name before? You are new here, correct?" Amana could scarcely breath. She gave a nod. The baron opened his mouth to speak, but the sound of a loud trumpet cut him off. His focus shifted away from her immediately, and he turned to leave. "Clean this mess, quickly. Our guest has finally arrived," he said as he went back outside. Once he was long gone, Amana finally felt safe enough to breathe again. A few moments later, the trumpet sounded again. What is happening? Could it be... The sound of beating drums could be heard in the distance, and Amana remembered something that she had forgotten.

The Knight of Belrose.