Noah sat on the tall oak throne, looking down at the people gathered in Ildemar’s large audience room. His face was a rigid mask of regal sternness but his tone was quiet and polite.

“Lady Zeze, I understand your concerns, but I don’t think that moving kush-turgan Bayan is a wise thing to do, considering his condition.”

“With all due respect, Your Highness,” the tall Binshi woman straightened her back, “I fear that it is necessary to leave Ildemar as soon as possible. The Star of Norden has been damaged. This castle’s defenses are now unstable. Because kush-turgan Bayan’s body is sensitive to magic, the misaligned hexes around us hamper his healing. If we stay here, it might cost him his life.”

“If that’s the case, I’ll provide you with escorts to make sure you reach Argali Planes with no delay or detour and without any issues.”

At Noah’s words, the woman jerked and her face became rigid for a split second. Still, she bowed politely and thanked him. He exchanged a few more dry pleasantries with her to keep up appearances before turning to the rest of the Binshi delegates.

“Honorable kukuls and kush-turgans, thank you for gracing Ildemar with your presence and wisdom. Your help in a difficult hour showed the strength of our bond and signifies a bright future for our people. I hope you have a safe journey home and will be delighted to welcome you under my roof at any time.”

One of the red-veiled kukuls from Trout Stream stepped fort and from the man’s mouth, the melodious voice of kush-turgan Veshta sounded in the audience chamber.

“We thank you for the hospitality and well-wishes, Duke Norden. We did as our duty and pledges dictated. However, we leave Ildemar with heavy hearts, burdened by the fate and future of the Moren-gadir.”

“The Star-gazer is recuperating fine under the care of Norden’s best healers and shamans.” Noah’s tone was so cold that it could freeze a lake in summer.

“What we are concerned about is the security of the Moren-gadir.”

“Her security?” Noah’s eyes squinted dangerously.

“With the honorable turgan Gerashgor heavily injured, and the castle wards compromised, we’d like to leave a couple of shamans for the Moren-gadir’s protection.”

“This is unnecessary. The Star-gazer is guarded by the Wolf Mountain tribe and kush-turgan Akasha of Twin-moon Lake. Considering their recent achievements, I believe they are more than capable.”

“But-”

“Besides,” Noah interrupted the kukul, his nails digging into the throne’s armrests, “I wouldn’t dare decrease the security of any of my esteemed guests on their way back home. Knowing that the territories of Trout Stream and Crescent Peak are next to each other, I was relieved that you would travel together and look out for each other while on the road. The Red Hands are still roaming around and I was recently made aware that a decent protection barrier requires two kush-turgans to invoke it.”

Some whispers rose from the delegates but the kukul raised his hand. Staring straight into Noah’s eyes, kush-turgan Veshta spoke again through the Binshi’s mouth.

“Since our help isn’t needed, we won’t insist further. But rest assured, Duke Norden, if there is ever danger looming over the Moren-gadir, we will spare no effort to bring her to safety.”

“Your pledge is appreciated, Honorable Veshta. The Star-gazer would surely rejoice knowing that, but I’m sure she would tell you that the best way to protect her is for her kush-turgans to help clean the clans of the Red Hands’ infestation. I hope that in the future there won’t be anyone sharing the fate of kush-turgan Vukan and Bear Ridge. Or that of Twilight Pass.”

“If it is alright with the Duke,” kush-turgan Dragosh of Crescent Peak spoke through the mouth of his own kukul and stepped forward, “letting the rest of the Great Clans deal with them would be the wisest decision.”

“Apprehending the two tribes is something Baroness De Vindur and Baron Firmon have been tasked with,” said Noah and glanced at the opposite side of the hall where the Limerian dignitaries stood. Baron Firmon met his eyes and gave him a short nod, his old face - far from happy. “Their people will contact you with any requests for assistance.”

“And what do you intend to do with those tribes when you have them in?” Dragosh’s kukul peered at Noah.

“I’ll summon you all to a court of law to judge and decide their fate. But death is what awaits anyone directly involved with what happened here and the Red Hands. I believe this is a just verdict.”

The kukuls and the rest of the Binshi delegation bowed in agreement and, after a few more formalities, left the audience chamber.

Looking after them, Noah exhaled slowly and closed his eyes for a moment, enjoying the silence. Alas, his bliss didn’t last long as Baron Firmon’s voice scraped against his ears.

“You've given me and the Baroness an important task. But how exactly are we supposed to deal with Bear Ridge and Twilight Pass? Unlike you, we don’t have some convenient Binshi dogs at our beck and call.”

“As you've heard, Lord Harald, you can always request assistance from the other Great Clans.”

“Enough with the sugary nonsense. You trust those dogs just as little as I do, otherwise, you would have ordered them to assist directly. We both know that they likely are in league with the Red Hands.”

“Call our allies dogs once more, Baron Firmon, and I’ll reconsider asking Bishop Petronius to relocate some of the Church’s relics to you and your troops.”

This was enough to make the old Baron shut up. But only for a second.

“Since we are using the Saints’ relics, I believe it would be appropriate to also allow Castor to return to Narta with me-”

The Baron’s words were cut short as two steely eyes bore into him. Noah had to use all his restraint not to twist the old man’s neck in front of the rest of the delegation. But on the other hand, he knew personally how fatherly love could turn a man into a fool… Although, from what he had observed, the old weasel saw this offspring of his more as a breeding horse to further House Firmon’s line than as a son.

“In light of the recent events, young Master Castor and his knowledge are urgently needed in Ildemar.” Noah leaned forward on his throne. “But I can understand that a prodigious son’s scholarly knowledge is, to a father, more precious than some old relics, so, with a heavy heart, I’ll be willing to-”

“No need, Your Highness.” Baron Firmon paled. “It was my mistake for not realizing how important the boy is for repairing the damage to the castle.”

“He is indeed. And his services will be rewarded accordingly.” Noah turned away from the old man, indicating their conversation had finished, and brought his attention to Baron Argente. “Lord Thomas, do you have any parting requests?”

“I wouldn’t dare, Your Highness.” The war-hardened nobleman’s eyes quickly darted between his brethren and his lord. “But Your Highness requested from me to improve my information network and deal with that new drug. I wouldn’t dare request any number of your Shadows at present but…”

He left the sentence unfinished but his eyes spoke instead.

“Before you leave, Sir William De Mar will give you some guidance on the matter. You will follow his instructions and keep regular correspondence with reports. In addition, Arista from the Shadows’ information branch in Yalda will accompany you to Westgate. She might not be a shaman, but what you need she can provide. And she’ll blend better in with your current attendants than a Binshi.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

“You are all dismissed! I wish you a safe journey and may the Mother Above and the Two Fathers protect you.”

When the last foot dragged over the threshold and the massive door squeaked shut in its frame, Noah allowed himself a deep sigh. He rubbed his face and grumbled.

“Don’t understand how you can enjoy word duels so much!”

“It’s the same as a regular duel but less messy… usually.” Replied William, who had been quietly standing next to him the whole time.

“It’s absolutely not the same! If I see a sword, I can dodge it. I can discern where my opponent would strike since every move, from beginning to end, has a singular target.” Noah stood up and stretched his waist before heading to a small door on the right-hand wall. “With wordplay, you have a thousand possible targets; you twist and turn, and bend meanings until what you say and what you mean can hardly be traced back together.”

“Well,” William shrugged and limped after his friend, “just as a trained swordsman can force the enemy to dance to their blade, a skillful politician can make their opponent say what they want to be said.”

“You are truly evil, you know that?”

“And proud of it.”

With a chuckle, Noah slipped through the door, followed by his Lord Steward. After a few twists and turns through a maze of narrow secret corridors, they arrived at their destination, which looked like a dead end at first glance. Noah pulled out a tiny but complicated-looking key and inserted it in one of the many gaps between the crumbling masonry. With a click and a low scratching, the whole wall moved to the side. The small room behind it was sunny and modest. The bright wall paintings, in combination with the wooden paneling that climbed up to shoulder height, created a warm and cozy feeling. A large bed with red draperies, supported by four simple pillars, was one of the few pieces of furniture, the rest being a couple of comfortable chairs and an old, worn-down table. And two of those chairs were already taken.

“You look sick,” said Neli instead of a greeting and her eyes wandered over Noah’s face as he slumped into a chair. “What happened?”

“I’m fine,” he lied. “I just had a hard morning.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, boy.” Duncan patted his shoulder and after giving Neli and William a hesitant look, pushed a small parchment roll to him. “Depending on how you view this, it’s either going to make or break the rest of your day.”

Noah frowned and rolled out the note. A second later, his fingers convulsively crumpled the message.