"... they didn't talk at first but we encouraged them enough for them to start spilling secrets left right and centre." The spymaster recounted the gruesome interrogation of the prisoners.

"Romen, are you sure these intel is accurate. Can we really trust it?" The Duke skeptically said. He couldn't quite believe what he just heard. The sheer absurdity of the information. It could either be the greatest lie or the unbelievable truth. He couldn't quite make a decision if it was either.

"They've said a lot of things that we already know. This may reinforce the other stuff they already said. Then again, they could've been saying anything just to make their torture end."

"Be more on point! You've basically said a 'yes' or 'no' whether to trust this!" The Duke bellowed and grimaced whilst pointing at the stacks of information.

"Your grace please calm down. Our agents are trying their best to gather as much information as possible to corroborate what they've spilled. But... It'll be quite slow... You see - "

"What! What excuses are you going to give now?!"

"The critical information we need is not from here. But from the other parts of the Empire. Mostly in Deorum and maybe some duchies. And we don't have 'lighthouses' built there for obvious reasons."

"Then use ravens. Surely, your agents have penetrated the upper echelons of the Empire!"

"We did your grace... But, they're mostly merchants and traders. And you basically grounded them inside Leidorf and forbidden them from entering for their safety."

Albrecht let out a boisterous sigh at that and quickly put his palm over his sweating forehead. Of course. Everything is going wrong. By the time we need something done is when everything is going wrong. Conspiracies are afoot and treachery lurks. Yet we don't know where they are! Romen is one of the best spymasters in the Empire and he's struggling to find crumbs of intel! No he has the intel, we just can't confirm it! Perhaps this may be true... His heart beat loudly and slumped in his chair.

"We have the intel. We just don't have a way to confirm it and because of that, we can't act upon it." He pinched himself to gather his wits. "If this is true, my duchy is burning due to their greed and ambitions!"

Romen with eyes widening quickly spoke to break his liege's wagon of thoughts. "You can do something Albrecht. In fact you can order me to observe the Koppinghans alot more. I'll try to make it discrete of course."

"I ask myself everyday why I didn't just eliminate that treacherous family! They're bloody counts, that's why!

"Fine! You have the order and I want every minute details from treason to what Count Koppinghan has to break his fast. Unfortunately, the politics in Leidorf needs to be somewhat balanced and I can't just favour the more amicable Huntsman -"

"Well you can Albrecht."

Albrecht and Romen stared each other. They knew what they were talking about but just couldn't state it. Albrecht didn't even notice how close his son was to his coming of age. He didn't notice how close his heir was, to be married off. He was just too busy with statecraft and the rigmarole of court politics. Since Eleana died, he felt part of him died along with her and just couldn't muster up the necessary fatherly love to his son. He also refused to have a second wife; to the despair of his Court Counselours.

He loved him truly. He saw the way the boy looked up to him and tried to impress him with his swordsmanship. He certainly impressed me, nay suprised me! He has blown every expectations laid upon him

"I don't think the good Count will accept."

"It will be foolish of them your grace. It's a huge insult to the house of Leidorf and the duchy for them to refuse an offer of marriage connecting your two houses. For them to refuse despite you marrying your son to a lesser house would have devastating consequences to their reputation. They'll accept."

"Would they even love each - "

"You know there's no love in the beginning of marriage. Love can only develop later on. I have confidence that Seirun will straighten up and be more dutiful in the future."

A messanger was announced by the Herald and both of them halted their conversation. A panting man entered the room with obvious cheer. Looks like it's urgent and also joyous news!

"Your grace. My lord. I have good news from Harkon's Town and from the east! The army led by Ser Elvaughn has completely defeated and routed the bandit army. Also, under the command of Baron Wendell, the army besieging Surman Castle have been defeated."

Albrecht wanted to clap at that. He wanted to pop open his bottle of brandy and start drinking then and there. He was in an amazing stupor of merriment. For the past week, it's been a bombardment of bad news and for once he has good news! Not one, but two! The defeat of two armies deserved a feast being held. But he remembered his aristocratic upbringing and swiftly regained his calm and stoic demeanor.

"This is great news your grace!" Romen cheered but couldn't stop to stare at the messanger. He looked quite familiar. 'Must be Petin. Looks like he's being punished and downgraded as a messanger for lying.' Romen thought.

Wendell looked to his castle. His battered castle full of holes, with gargoyles having their horns, heads, tongues, and eyes missing. Sometimes the whole piece just disappeared creating a disorderly procession of gargoyles. He saw several windows barred with wooden planks and its glass panes removed. Must be Florice. She's very detail minded and a no nonsense wife that loves to save money; what ever is necessary. If she doesn't want the expensive glass to be destroyed, then she'll get it. Wendell internally grimaced at that thinking back to his castellan and his wife.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

I hope they behaved themselves and didn't mindlessly bicker. He quickly stop the thought as he saw men at arms busy tying up the bandits and coming briskly towards him.

The man at arms that stood as a giant came towards him and hurriedly took off his helmet. Once he laid his eyes upon his assumed dead lord, he promptly stood back and with eyes widening. He couldn't believe it. He saw his liege having his head cave in with a shield bash! The giant muttered a prayer to Allure to ask her for protection against this ghost.

"Who are you?" The giant then pointed his sword towards the rag wearing soldiers. "Are you here to impersonate our dead lord and brought an army of savages at our doors?" 

The forest dwellers bristled in anger and rapidly drawn their steel swords and stepped towards him.

"Stop! All of you must sheath your weapons. And Galbert. Stop looking at me like you saw a ghost. I'm alive. My heart is beating!

"And these - " He gestured towards the forest dwellers - "are loyal soldiers to House Surman. They've served our family when we were kings! I will not have them disrespected in front of me."

"Goddess! It is you my lord! We thought you were dead... I thought we failed to protect you." Galbert dropped his helmet and stared down. Guilt and shame flooded his thoughts. His failure to protect his liege at the forest will forever stain his honour.

"Galbert stop. You weren't armoured. We had weapons to fight deer and boars, not an army that outnumbered us by the dozens! I thought everyone in that hunting party is dead. Since your alive, I trust many more survived."

"Yes my lord. More than a dozen returned. My lord, allow me to say that I'm glad that you survived."

"I'm glad too. How has Florice... And Retus been doing?"

The giant gulped at that trying to forget the shouting matches between the two of them. "That's not my place to answer that, my lord. Please forgive me. But allow me to escort you towards Lady Florice." 

The marcher Baron followed his man at arms and was followed by the forest dwellers. Many looked at them with suspicion and disgust. The centuries old secret has finally been revealed. Would they even believe in it? That these savages was the one that slowed down their march. That these savages was the one to save them! They have to. They're loyal servants to House Surman for centuries.

A woman in her early twenties with a dress covered with soot and tar gracefully waited for them in the gates. Wendell ran to his wife and hugged her. He forgot the soot, tar and animal fat. He just focused on her.

"Wendell, you know I'm covered in animal fat right..." His wife cheekily chided him.

He took a quick sniff at her and was suprised how he didn't pay attention to the smell earlier.

"How?"

"The carpets you've brought was not really refined. It still has bloody animal fat inside them! That's what caused our room to have that... that... smell! And you've bought it for how much?!"

Wendell tried to redirect Florice's growing irritation. "Your not suprise that I'm alive?"

Florice ears perked and instantly softened her face. With brows rising and a smile forming she responded, "I knew you survived. None of the survivors that were ridiculously near you didn't see you die. I had to prod them a little bit, maybe yell at them for them to respond to a woman..."

Uh oh. Best make her stop. I don't want anyone to hear what she has to say about our traditions and values. He smirked but forcefully pinched his beared in his chin. I love her. I really do. But the gap in values between Grey city and here has widened. I was shocked how women back in Grey city would occasionally work. Work as merchants and other unladylike activities. I guess women here do back breaking labour like farming, but that's it.

"Before you start on your rant, let me just say this. I'm glad you survived."

"I'm glad too Wendell. If I was dead, I wouldn't be able to civilise this place. Oh and... I'm also glad you survived." 

"Your tone of voice doesn't sound like your glad."

"Well, listen harder. It may be because I'm a woman and men here don't listen to women. I'm also covered in animal fat and other maladies. I need to wash up and replace my dressing.

"And nice try to distract me. You've been swindled by buying those carpets. Thank the Goddess, that it made them more flammable." She walked off in a hurry.

Wendell sighed in relief at that but then gulped in foresight. She's going to give me a massive lecture about inspecting goods before buying them. Isn't she? Even till this day, I can't believe a woman was this learned. Especially about governing, trade and taxes. Her mother was even directly governing their family's barony when Alex is busy in Grey city! 

"Wendell! Why aren't you following me? I need help out of these clothes and you need an heir!"

He blushed in embarassment and heared a few, several... Dozens of chuckles here and there and quickly ran towards his wife. She can be quite blunt sometimes.

Florice was glad she was reunited with his husband. As soon as she saw him, she wanted to run towards him but remembered her lessons in etiquette.

Looks like Wendell didn't remember his lessons. She grimaced as she tried to breath and quickly broke the hug with her husband.

"Wendell, not only do you need lessons on not to be swindled and scammed, you also need lessons on etiquette."

"Your one to talk! You yelled about having sex infront of everyone!"

"And we are. After I get a bath of course." 

Florice suddenly realised how close House Surman is to dying. She suppressed a feeling of dread by mainting a neutral and stroic face. Neither hinting of panic or relief. But she did briefly shrug in painful guilt. Wendell wasn't supposed to be the heir. He was the second son. But a horrible incident killed all of his family. He wasn't supposed to be the Lord of Surman and marcher Baron of the Empire's east border. Yet I always yell at him because of his inexperience. I always berated him when he does something unseemly and not befitting his position. 

She quickly jumped out of the bath tub and went to the bed and was soon joined by Wendell. They snuggled and whispered to each other.

"I know how much I hate carrying duties to the bed but this is important."

Wendell stopped cupping her ears and neck and listened intently.

"The people that attacked us were Francian heretics."

"I thought they died off twenty years ago!"

"They're still alive apparently. With an army armed with steel armour and swords."

"Do... Do we have anymore information?"

"No. But I think our duke needs to know this. Maybe they'll figure out who was the one that financed this invasion. It was obviously aimed at you."

He squirmed and tried to look away from his wife but Florice firmly held him on the spot and stared at him.

"I know how much it hurts you to talk about your family but I think this attack is related to that incident..." Florice immediately closed her eyes and tensed up to prepare for his husband's outburts. Thankfully, he didn't yell or cursed. No outburst was heard. Only silence which unnerved Florice more.

"So those bastards were involved in my family's death... Maybe they should all hang?" He calmly stated with a sob leaking out.

This isn't like you Wendell... Florice cupped Wendell's face.  "They're nothing but lackeys. The people that financed them is the one responsible. I promise we'll find them and put them to justice! But, please don't hang them. They're all valuable talking pieces of information."

"You-you promise?"

"Of course. Our fates have intertwined ever since our marriage. No... Eversince I started to love you..."

"Good. Together we'll find them."

They warmly embraced each other and cheerfully plotted against any treachery thrown against them.

Their antics were heard throughout the castle.