Lorelei tossed around in her sheets until the small hours of the night, the happenings of the last hours still chaotically vivid in her drained mind. When she finally succumbed to exhaustion, nightmares plagued her dreams.

A radiant winged figure descended from the sky, its long bony hands with golden nails boring into her body. Her mouth opened, but no scream escaped as the luminous being started to melt into her, their skin, flesh, and bones fusing together in a burst of iridescent light. As the flash subsided, a lone white-clad figure emerged that looked like Lorelei but wasn’t her. It was something old, powerful, and cold. It stretched Lorelei’s body against her will like it was waking up from deep slumber and started moving.

Each step the White Lady took left the earth scorched. Each living being she touched became entranced and followed behind with an empty gaze. Along her path lay mountains of bodies – limbs twisted; faces distorted; white hair tangled and muddied, died brownish-red from soot and blood.

Then, amidst chaos and destruction, a lone figure appeared. The creature wearing Lorelei’s skin halted. Trapped inside her former body, unable to do anything but to spectate, Lorelei screamed silently.

Noah!

He was standing there, a silver star shining on his brow. His body was clad in black armor, its plates dented, the mail beneath – torn, and Red Dawn shimmered scarlet in his hands. The white feathers of arrows stuck out of his body like a flock of birds that had decided to nest on his chest.

‘Traitor.’ Lorelei’s lips moved, but the voice coming out was higher and sharper than hers. ‘You taint the blood of Saints with witchcraft. I came here to deliver judgment.’

‘Release her, nesvet,’ Noah pointed the tip of the sword at the creature’s chest, ‘and I’ll spare you.’

‘There is nothing to release,’ giggled the White Lady. ‘We are already one, she and I. Well, Star of Norden, can you still cut us?’

‘Good!’ Noah bared his teeth, madness shining in his eyes. ‘Now, you die.’

The White Lady screeched and clawed at his throat but he didn’t evade. Instead, he dove right into the attack. The sharp nails tore his skin at the same time as his blade bit deep into the creature’s neck.

“NO!” Lorelei screamed, her fingers clearly feeling the resistance of flesh.

“My lady! Wake up, my lady! Dear Saints, what’s wrong with you?” Milly’s voice suddenly reached her ears.

Tearing open her eyes, Lorelei found herself lying in a familiar four-post bed. She gasped and coughed, the pain from being cut still lingering in her throat. The flickering light of a candle revealed her own room, covered in thick shadows, and the Milly’s terrified face looming over her. Blinking in confusion, Lorelei realized that her hands were grabbing the maid’s wrists in an iron grip. She let go abruptly and sat up, her fingers digging in her own tangled hair instead.

“I’m s-sorry, I’m sorry!” She rocked back and forth, her eyes fixated on the red bruises on the maid’s skin. “I… I didn’t mean to…”

After a moment of hesitation, Milly sat on the bed and gave Lorelei a stiff but warm hug.

“It’s alright, my lady,” she said softly. “It was just a bad dream. It’s over now.”

“T-the brooch…” Lorelei managed to stutter between coughs and sobs. “G-give m-me the brooch. On the table…”

Soon, the small silver-blue pin was tightly clasped between her hands. Its cold surface felt so pleasant to the touch, bringing Lorelei much-needed peace. Her breathing calmed and the chill gripping her heart and body subsided.

“Thank you, Milly. I’m better now.”

“But… your hands are bleeding!” The maid exclaimed, pressing a clean handkerchief to her mistress’ palms.

Lorelei looked down. Little droplets of red squeezed between her fingers and fell on the white cloth. She never felt the brooch’s needle piercing her skin. There was no pain, only numbness.

“It’s fine.” She forced a smile on her face. “I was careless. Please, bring me a fresh change of clothes.”

Milly gave her a worried look but still went to fulfill her mistress’ orders. As she was pulling out another nightgown, Lorelei stopped her.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep. Better bring the day-clothes. Then you can go back to bed.”

“And leave you alone?” The maid pursed her lips. “No way, my lady. Let’s first clean that wound and get you dressed and then we can do a little stroll before the kitchen starts preparing breakfast. Just wait a second until I call Lady Rish.”

“There is no need to wake her up so early.”

“It’s the lord’s orders.”

Lorelei just nodded, not wanting to argue further. She sat down twisting the swallow brooch between her fingers as Milly ran out to get Rish. Upon their return, she was subjected to an interrogation by the still drowsy but worried Binshi. Lorelei managed to weasel her way out without, blaming her nightmares on yesterdays’ unfortunate events, a lie that was partially true. How could she reveal that she is a vessel for a Saint just like the ones that had conquered Norden and slaughtered its people? The mere thought of her friend’s reaction terrified her. Thankfully, Rish was satisfied with the answer and was more than willing to change the topic.

With the help of her friends, Lorelei was soon fully clad with a fresh bandage on her wounded palm. The three went out into the quiet hallways of the still sleeping castle. On Rish’s suggestion, they climbed up the castle walls and observed the slow change of the eastern sky. The familiar dance of light and color and the golden trail the rising sun left across the mirror surface of the fjord calmed Lorelei’s heart. She brushed a bit of moisture from her eyelashes and, for a change, a genuine smile bloomed on her lips.

Seeing her returning back to normal, her friends exchanged relieved glances. Rish grabbed her hand and mischievous sparks lit in her eyes.

“Come. We should make a surprise visit to the kitchens. Oven-fresh bread and strawberry jam are the best things to have after a grumpy night. Right, Milly?”

“True,” the maid hesitated, “but the kitchen matron might get a heart-burst.”

“That behemoth?” Rish lifted an eyebrow. “The one that scares cooks and wraiths with a glance?”

“Hmm, you are right.” Milly quickly brushed away her worries and took Lorelei’s free hand. “Let’s go, my lady. My friend Blanche is the best when it comes to resin bread and flans. You’ll love them!”

Lorelei allowed herself to be dragged away by the girls, their enthusiasm working like a healing balm to her anguished soul. They entered again the web of Ildemar’s corridors and very soon she lost her bearing after. A whole new side of the castle enfolded before her eyes – doors masked in the wall-coverings, narrow passages, hidden staircases, sliding pannels. It was a network, allowing the servants and guards to move fast and covertly without intruding on the guests and owners of the castle.

They reached a narrow door that, according to Milly opened in a niche near the main kitchen. Just as Rish was about to press the handle, her hand stopped mid-motion and her head tilted to the side. A moment later Lorelei too heard the muffled voices coming from the other side. Straining her ears, Lorelei tried to hear more but realized the two people were quarreling in Binshi.

“Mir-mama,” whispered Rish as she started translating, “why are you wagging your tail at them? It’s about time to break free from the past and forge a new path away from the prophecy.”

“I can’t care less about the Limerians, honestly this whole Council is a bad joke. But you and I are Star-children. We are both bound to the will of kush-turgan Yanosh, and he deemed Bayan as…”

“Bayan? Bah, he is a dirty mixed-breed. Are you blind, Nekor? Are you stupid? The Star-gazers and their prophecies are long gone. They died the moment that false prophet tied our fate to a mixed-breed and a foreigner.”

“Do as you wish. Whatever happens to the Limerian doesn’t concern me. I am even willing to assist. However, if you lay a finger on Bayan, Bear Ridge will be annihilated.”

“Kudash! I knew you are a coward. How can you lower yourself to follow a powerless mixed-breed? Someone who was sullied, branded, and used by those damn Limerian priests and alchemists as a plaything? Even that cursed duke has more power than your dear Bayan!”

“Shut your mouth! He is holy in the eyes of the Mother. He suffered and survived, and then came to lead us as kush-turgan Yanosh foresaw.”

“I knew it was meaningless to talk to you. But I warn you, don’t try to interfere with my plans. Your sister might be my wife but this does not guarantee a long and healthy life.”

“You…”

“Goodbye, Nekor. If you are not with me, don’t be against me.”

The voices died out. In the dusty narrow space of the hidden passage, the three women looked at each other.

“Milly,” Lorelei bit her lip but her eyes shone with resolute light, “take the fastest route. Lead us to the Duke’s chambers.”