《Return of the Margravine》 Prologue: A Baptism of Fire Why? she weakly asked the question that had tortured her for weeks and months already. Finally the perpetrator appeared in front of her, that man who had taken everything from her. Chained at the walls of a dirty little prison cell, her once splendid velvet dress reduced to dirty rags, stinking of dirt and her own excrements, she looked at him with widely opened silver eyes in spite of being dazzled by the brightness falling into her normally eternally lightless cell. There wasnt much left of her former beauty. Her haggard figure and her matted fire red hair paired with a sunken pale complexion from lack of sunlight let her appear every bit the witch and sorceress she was said to be. Only she had not the slightest bit of knowledge about witchcraft and sorcery in her, how the forbidden kinds of magic were called. The man who had stepped in and brought the light of a torch with him signaled the warden accompanying him to step back. Then he bowed over, near to her ear, sneered at her with a mocking smile and spoke: Because it is convenient. Or better to say that the margravial family is no longer of use to me. So I found the perfect excuse to wipe them off the face of the earth: you. In consideration of the marital bond we once shared I have spared you a few days longer than your family. Your uncle C oh, you call him father, dont you? C and your cousins along with their spouses and children have already been judged for colluding with a witch. Now that I hold the access to the other march in my hands it was time for them to disappear. And you, my concubine, are simply the best excuse I had. With your inhuman eye color there are already enough rumors about you. Unfounded, yes, I know. But nobody would doubt if I would accuse you of any imaginable atrocity, would they? So, my dear, as the good husband that I am I will at least watch attentively your last moments of being consumed by the flames. But dont fret, my heart wont feel lonely even without you. I still have five other consorts after all. The woman couldnt believe that she once had loved such a man, throwing all cautions her uncle and foster father had against the suitor in the wind to marry him, even to help him winning the throne. And this was how the king now thanked her. Not only had he degraded his main wife who had sacrificed so much for him, including falling out with her family, to a simple concubine, lifting another consort on the queens throne. No, he even sentenced her to death by burning at the stake because she had lost his usefulness to him at the point in time when he not only won the kingdom but also learned how to control the otherworldly realm of magic spread through the land known as the other march. Since then the margraves that controlled the other march for centuries and had kept the kingdom save from supernatural disasters of all kinds had outlived their purpose. Instead of coexisting with the magical beings some of which were benevolent, others malevolent to humans as the margraves had practiced since time immemorial, the monarch even planned to conquer the other march for his own purposes. But that she didnt know. Had she known, she likely would have been even more devastated. Even so she had no tears left in her already and her throat felt too constricted to say another word. The prisoner had needed all her remaining strength just to press out that single question from her parched throat. Now she hadnt any left anymore, malnourished as she was. But it should be her end soon anyway. The alleged witch had grown feeble during her imprisonment so that she had to get carried to the stake. Well, she was rather getting dragged there while rotten fruits and vegetables thrown by the booing crowd rained down on her. Some even wanted to throw stones but since nobody wanted to accidentally hit the righteous wardens dragging the nefarious sorceress to her death it remained relatively harmless. Although rotten foodstuff, when thrown with full power, sometimes still hurt sufficiently. All the while, the convict kept her lifeless eyes on the figure of her heartless spouse who was accompanied by his present queen. Some people shuddered when looking into her eyes. It was rumored that her mother, the sister of the late margrave, sired her with a demon. But although her eye color was highly unusual, she didnt possess any of the abnormally high magic aptitude often found in demons human offspring. Hers was rather mediocre instead. Finally she was bound at the stake, wallowing in her despair and simply waiting for the fire to be lit, but the crowd gathered for the spectacle broke into a ruckus when a small figure hidden by a hooded cloak made its way for the stake and attacked the guards and the executioner, albeit to no avail. The attacker soon was subdued by the guards in the vicinity.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. So there is somebody siding with a witch? the king asked in surprise Let Us see who has the audacity to do so. Clad in royal purple, the blond head shining like gold under the sun, King Gervase looked every bit as regal as his position let assume. On His Majestys signal the guards robbed the assailant of his cloak. Surprised voices were heard all around. What came to sight was a meticulously groomed boy of at most twelve years dressed in a spotless black butler uniform only slightly brought in disorder by the previous rough treatment. The boy was very good looking, growing up he surely would become a handsome man many women would fall for. His evenly formed face had a pale complexion that gave him a somewhat noble semblance framed by the neat black hair. Most striking, though, were his big blood red eyes looking at the king with deep hatred. Only when the boy opened his mouth the surrounding audience didnt appear spellbound any longer. Let Milady go, you traitorous, vile excuse of a monarch! the boy demanded with a cold voice. It nonetheless sounded as pleasant as a choir boys. You know exactly what she has done for you in all those years, how she has given everything for you. And that is how you thank her? You scum are utterly unfit to sit on the throne, not to speak of being worthy of Miladys heart. All those years I have honored Miladys wishes although I deemed you unfit as her husband. But it seems I was incorrigibly wrong. Shame on me. Now let her go! The boys voice seemed to wake the woman on the stake from her apathy. Malford! she whispered with a broken voice. More she couldnt do with a heavily parched throat. Oh, if it isnt the witchs little vampire butler! the king exclaimed with a broad smile. Those words led to the crowd panicky trying to get away from the incapacitated bloodsucker. That some especially hoary vampires were resistant against sunlight wasnt unheard of after all. Nobody had expected the boy to be an elder vampire although his red eyes werent exactly inconspicuous. To be honest, We have to thank you, vampire. King Gervase continued To thank you that you have come to Us on your own accord. As such We also might begin the extermination of your kind with you as the first example. Executioner, take your sword and behead this vile creature of the night for all Our beloved subjects to revel in. Faced with such a judgement, the convicted witch grew panicky at last. She had already given up on her own life but that didnt mean she would accept it lying down when any other of her important people were to die, especially as she had originally thought her butler to be at a safe place. No! Not Malford! she cried with a raspy voice at the top of her lungs while weakly tearing at the ropes binding her with all power she had left. When she looked at her former spouse, she saw him mouthing the words: Oops! Too late. Then the vampires head went flying and his body crumbled to dust. Grief and hatred filled her heart when the wood was set on fire. If she could, she would tear her fetters and rush to her former husband to strangle him to death with her own hands in retaliation. She never wouldve thought she had been such a bad judge of character until she suddenly found herself in prison from one day to the next. She had even tolerated Gervase preferring other consorts instead of his legal wife, had accepted C although with a heavy heart C that he had fallen out of love with her. But, so it seems, he never had any love for her in his heart from the very beginning, only deceit. And that although she was the major reason he had risen to the throne instead of one of his eight brothers, all of whom had lost their life one after the other. You dont have to die here, my daughter. a roaring voice boomed through the air, nearly blowing out the fire. It belonged to a man with an angels wings, a terrifying lions head, a hares tail, and goose feet. His whole appearance was unspeakably unclean. Panic broke out in the crowd that rapidly dispersed. The queen had fainted from shock, and the king showed a fearfully pale complexion. Even the convict herself was surprised with the sudden turn the affair took. You never have met me, my daughter, for your mother who was able to summon me at will died so soon. I am the great Ipos, an infernal earl and prince. For I have the time itself at my disposal, I already knew your present dilemma at the time of your birth. Therefore I sealed most of your magic for this very day to enable you to turn your fate around. Since I have never been there for you, please allow me to do at least this one fatherly action for you. You have the choice now: Do you want me to unseal your latent magic power so you may free yourself and take revenge for all that was done to you. Or do you want to likely use it completely up to be transported back into the past instead so you may start over. Choose well! I choose to return to the past. the demons daughter declared nearly inaudible. So be it! Ipos spoke, still able to hear her whispered words. Then he disappeared back to where he had come from, only leaving a sulfuric smell behind to tell of his short presence in the mortal world. The very same moment the flames exploded, swallowing the red-haired woman whole. On that day Violant of Avallach died. On that day she got a second chance. Her story should just begin. A new old Life in Avallach (1): Return Violant opened her eyes. The ceiling she saw appeared unbearably nostalgic. To be exact it was the starry canopy of her bed back in Avallach Castle. She hadnt laid in it since sometime before she had gotten married to Gervase. With a start she sat up and looked around as much as the dimness allowed her. Yes, it was her old chamber. The bed, the wardrobe, the desk, the dressing table, the shelf with her favorite books. Everything was exactly as she remembered. The warm light of early morning gently fell through the gap of the curtains. Judging from its brightness it shouldnt be long before the servants would come to wake her. When she became aware that she really had gone back in time, Violant couldnt help but laughing out loudly full of joy and relief. This time she would make sure to correct her past mistakes, albeit they happened in the future. There was no doubt that Violant was back in the margravial house. The margraves still were far from being history. Their rank was the same as that of a marquis, one rank beneath a duke and two beneath the king, but contrarily to the marquisates whose territories were identical with the marches at the borders, the margraviate of Avallach was situated deep inside the kingdom and had a territory that was even smaller than some counties. Nonetheless the margraves had their own frontier to keep watch over which was seen as such important that the position even warranted its own unique title. De facto the other march spread through the whole kingdom was also assigned to the margrave as part of his fief since the otherworldly realm was nearly inaccessible for most people and thus useless for the kingdoms feudal lords. This was also true for the king who had easy going enfeoffing a territory that was his only in name all the while committing his vassal thus enfeoffed to deal with all otherworldly incidents throughout the kingdom. The margravial house had a bloodline with special affinity to the otherworld after all for better or for worse. Thus the margraviate also became a melting pot for all kinds of otherworldly inhabitants. When the door opened, three servants came in. They were surprised to find the young lady already awake, for they had normally extreme difficulties to wake her up after all. Milady, you are awake. I wish you a splendid morning. spoke Malford who looked no different than he had on the day of Violants execution. Only except for the fact that no part of him was in disorder even to the slightest degree. Behind him there followed the young ladys two maids. One of them was a dumpy, by no means slender woman with curly hazel hair, small brown eyes and a freckled roundly face. Her name was Abigail, a common human woman. The other woman, although a maid, was clad in a dress of white rustling silk, the traditional garments of a silky. She was called Millicent and was a tall but delicate person with a whitish complexion and long silvery-blonde hair. Her blue eyes had a somewhat milky white hue. Seeing all of her servants alive and well, Violant felt her tears coming. She repressed them nonetheless because the persons of the past couldnt remotely imagine what kind of future she had to live through. For them it was just a normal day like any other. Although, the young lady didnt quite know what day it was exactly. Good morning Malford, Millicent, Abigail. Violant greeted, her voice somewhat stifled from tears. The servants, however, ascribed it to her usual tiredness in the morning. What day do we have today? she asked. Wednesday, 21st June in the 34th year of King Baldwins reign, Milady. Malford replied. With surprise the returnee found out that she had gone back twelve years into the past. That meant she was still fourteen years old, almost fifteen, and would meet Gervase for the first time in little more than a year. Thank you, Malford. she said. Then she allowed her servants to do their tasks. Malford opened the curtains and left the room immediately afterwards just to standby on the other side of the door. Millicent and Abigail then helped their mistress to wash and dress up. Afterwards the vampire came in again and told the young lady about her schedule. As a member of the margraves family, Violant had to learn a plethora of lessons oriented to impart knowledge regarding fief management, noble society and specifics of the other march: etiquette, dancing, music, poetry, embroidery, history, accounting, law, magic, otherworld lessons, riding, even fencing and other martial arts were part of her daily curriculum spanning from the morning until deep in the night. The first appointment of the day was breakfast with her family though. After Violant had checked her appearance in the vanity mirror C she really had become younger, her not too fair but not too tanned face still showing some baby fat, her slightly curly fire red hair not as long as it once would be, her height lower than in later years, only the silver eyes the same no matter the year C she made her way to the dining hall where she would meet her uncle, who was the widowed margrave, and his two sons. She saw them as her father and her brothers though since she was raised as their daughter and younger sister respectively after she had lost her mother when she was still a baby. Nobody spoke about her biological father although she had no doubt that at least the margrave knew the truth about who had impregnated his sister.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Violants family was already seated when she arrived. They sat close together at one end of a long oaken dining table, showing the closeness the family members of the margravial house enjoyed. The girl would join them there too. Good morning father, brothers. she greeted. Good morning Violant. replied Orderic of Avallach, her uncle and foster father. He was a somewhat corpulent man well over fifty, with a small mustache and goatee as well as a receding hairline as red as the hair of all Avallachs. His eyes were green, typical for Avallachs too. He was a generally good-natured but nonetheless competent feudal lord strict with the details who could travel through the kingdom with a high speed in spite of his figure. Morning Vi! shouted Parcie, the older brother. He was a tall and brawny broad-shouldered fellow who preferably spent his whole day outside, his broadsword on his back. Good morning, dear sister. responded Mortimer. The younger brother was the intellectual in the family who spent most of his time in the study. His lanky build showed that he had no real physical abilities. Although he was younger it was decided that Mortimer should inherit the fief. That was quite all right with Parcie who avoided any kind of paperwork like the pest. Both brothers were still unwed by the way. The young lady sat down at the table with her family members. She partook in the meal silently as etiquette demanded. When the meal was almost finished Orderic raised his voice. I plan to inspect the marketplace tomorrow. he declared. Avallach was one of the kingdoms most important trading hubs because only there humans could procure products of otherworldly craft and art. Conversely it was the only place where inhabitants of the other march could trade normally with humans. As such you will accompany me, Violant. Oh, really! his foster daughter exclaimed joyfully. Inspecting the marketplace meant no lessons after all. Violant had disliked her overfull curriculum in her past life already. Today, however, nothing would save her from learning facts and abilities all day long she already had been taught before her return. Well, if she went about it smartly she possibly could reduce the amount of further lessons quite significantly. It wasnt as if Violant hadnt been intelligent C even Mortimer was in awe about her impressive memory and she also had the corresponding cognitive abilities C but that the somewhat tomboyish girl had no fun in learning theoretical matters. Outdoor activities were more to her liking. But as long as she could prove sufficient knowledge in her theoretical lessons without arising suspicions she could try to finish the unloved part of her curriculum earlier. The classes involving physical activities were a must for her to regain the abilities she had had in the future before her imprisonment but she favored this kind of lessons anyway. Except for dancing at least but there was nothing she could do about it. After a long day of lessons Violant sunk down onto her bed. She was dead tired but there was something she had to think about. Now that she was given the chance of a new start it would be a waste not to use it. As such she definitely had to stay clear of Gervase. But even if she did, it didnt mean that he would show no interest in the margraves and their territories including the other march. More likely he would still plot to get the margravial territories and possessions. Thus she could only look for backing from other royals. Not through marriage though. After the betrayal she had experienced she wasnt willing in the least to love again and if she ever would be able to again, only time would show. She desired no marital connection to the royal dynasty but a royal backer nonetheless. But who of King Baldwins nine sons was the right choice? Definitely not Gervase, the third son. Second son Edric was none the better, albeit for other reasons. The scholarly Edric had renounced his claim to the throne early on and had confined himself to a remote monastery where he had indulged himself in his research before the whole monastery was wiped from existence by an outbreak of the plague the prince also succumbed to. At this point of time the renouncement hadnt yet happened though. The fourth and fifth princes, the twins Hal and Jarm, also were the wrong pick, for both vied for the throne and hired assassins to eliminate the respective other twin leading two the deaths of both in the same night. That too was still a matter of the future but in Violants mind the boat had already sailed. Two other princes had already left the living: The first prince Rowland had fallen on the battlefield two years ago while the ninth Prince had died four years ago shortly after birth, resulting in the loss of two lives, for his mother, a royal concubine, also succumbed to blood loss. While the first prince might have been a possible backer for Violant if still alive, the nameless ninth prince would have been an infant anyway, but those were pointless thoughts. Thus the returnee could only choose between the sixth and seventh sons Humphrey and Fulk. Both had regal ambitions and were comparatively reasonable fellows. They both had fallen under Violants own hands on the battlefield when they had allied to eliminate Gervase, at that time the only other remaining prince they both regarded as their biggest obstacle. Oh wait! There still was an eighth prince. Violant had to think quite a while before she remembered about him. Wynkin was the youngest among the siblings when excluding the stillborn. The eldest was in fact the kings only daughter, the current chief ministers wife Mabel who had the same mother as the eighth, Queen Berengaria herself. Mother and daughter doted heavily on the boy who was a sickly child. He died young, although his bad health wasnt the reason. Wynkin developed symptoms of the berserk syndrome and thus had to be put to death. The berserk syndrome was a much feared illness of unknown, nonhereditary origin that appeared in boys at any point of puberty. It led to sudden growth spurts massively increasing height and muscle mass all the while accompanied by loss of reason. The further the illness progressed, the less often the affected person was able to stay sane until they lost all reason forever. Since full-grown berserks were manifold stronger than even the kingdoms best warriors, literally invulnerable against all kinds of harm, and killed and raped indiscriminately, it was the rule to kill them as soon as the first symptoms manifested. Even the royal family couldnt do anything against this. If Violant remembered correctly this event should happen in the spring of next year, thus before she arrived for her social debut in the capital where she would meet the royal family for the first time. She still had about a year time to choose the right backer, so the returnee went to sleep right after narrowing down her choices. A new old Life in Avallach (2): Inspection of the Marketplace Humming a popular tune and skipping happily, Violant was on her way to the margravial stables. Today was the day she would accompany Orderic to the inspection of the marketplace. Since a plethora of all kinds of goods from all kinds of origins found its way to the market of Avallach, it was a must that the fief lord had to inspect the trade from time to time as long as matters of the other march didnt keep him too occupied. Violant wanted to use the chance to ride out as well. One way or another she had to take a horse because the steep path leading from the castle to the town and market at the foot of the castle hill wasnt something to traverse by foot so easily. Good morning, Huw! she greeted her horse cheerfully. A somewhat small but nonetheless beautiful grey horse raised its head from the food trough and snorted disdainfully. How often do I have to tell you that my name is Huwcyn, not Huw. the stallion protested with a dark voice. In fact he was a ceffyl dwr, a water horse. Not just anybody could call such a being her mount. Even for the margraves of Avallach who had tight connections to the otherworld it was an exception within an exception. Huwcyn owed the young Violant his life though and thus swore to repay the life debt a thousand times over. That didnt change anything about the girl oftentimes stretching the horses patience dangerously thin though. Violant for her part was overjoyed to see her trusty although grumpy companion alive and well. He had lost his life in a surprise attack while shielding her during the civil war. This time she would definitely prevent this from happening, starting from the fact that she wouldnt be on Gervases side this time around. Whatever you say, Huw. Whatever you say. Violant replied Now get up. Today well visit the marketplace down in town. Believe me; you dont want to miss this. Fine. Huwcyn sighed. He was thankful for every time he was able to leave the stables. Although a water horse, he wasnt directly dependent on the wet element. Instead he hoped for a chance to eat meat. The ceffyl dwr clearly preferred meat compared to greens but the grooms and stable boys partout wouldnt give him any. Shortly afterwards the horse was readily saddled but not bridled. The water horse didnt need any bridle for his rider to tell him where to go. Simple words or tactile gestures when silence was due were enough. Violant and Huwcyn met Orderic in the castle courtyard. The margrave was riding a white mare. Now lets go. the somewhat corpulent man ordered before they left the castle through its gates secured with a portcullis. The marketplace of Avallach was as colorful and lively as ever. People from all places and walks of life imaginable had gotten together here to exchange money, products, goods, and ideas. The place was bustling with life, the accompanying noise correspondingly loud. Wherever people gathered to trade, any purse snatchers, swindlers, and scammers also werent far. Thus the feudal lord kept his eyes open for any dishonest act he might witness although the guards of the nearby garrison had the task to uphold civil order. All important tasks aside, Violant enjoyed her time in town. The first thing she had done after her arrival was going to a food stall to buy grilled meat skewers for Huwcyn and herself. The horse thanked her for the deed since he was starved for meat. For her outing the girl had chosen a somewhat subdued, simple but elegant dress of a pale green color. Nonetheless she was easily identified by the locals and visitors knowing the place. Her silver eyes gave away her identity very easily after all, not to speak of the typically margravial fire red hair. As soon as the snack was finished, the girl and her mount made their way to their next destination. It was a place where women normally wouldnt be found if it wasnt for urgent business, not to mention noble ladies. Violant, however, was a special case. Her tomboyish nature lead her to exploring places other noble daughters of her age wouldnt even think of approaching. The place she now went to see was even one of her favorite places in Avallach.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Somewhat aside the restless hustle and bustle of the marketplace there flowed a small but nonetheless quite wild stream, on the town-facing banks of which there stood a small but sturdy looking building. The wind coming from its direction brought the smell of glowing iron, fire, ashes and mens sweat. Yes, the place Violant wanted to go to was a smithy. She knew the smithys owner since he had arrived together with other refugees from the other march in Avallach five years ago. The margrave had allowed those fellows to settle in his territory and also had given a helping hand to them. Since then the margravial house had its own smith who knew to produce every kind of metalwork imaginable, from kitchen utensils and horseshoes over myriads of tools and military weapons up to furniture fittings and even jewelry. His normal products were objects of daily life though, in addition to weapons comissioned by the garrison and C quite often C Parcie. Violant had no qualms entering the smithy without asking. She found its owner at the forge he heated with bellows. Hello Hanarr. she greeted, a smile on her face Ive come to watch you working again. Fine. Dont get in my way though. allowed the smith. Hanarr Filason was a dwarf who had opened a business in accordance with what his kind and especially he himself could do best. He couldnt just process any kind of metal though but also glass, to give just one example. Just C you mustnt call him a dwarf. Dwarves in general and Hanarr in particular felt that this name they were given by humans was derogatory, as it was reducing them to nothing more than their diminutive build. Calling somebody a dwarf wasnt any better than calling somebody a midget after all. They preferred to be called underjordiske, subterraneans, a name they used for themselves owed to their subterranean dwellings and lifestyle in the other march. Hanarr himself looked like the perfect dwarf just like people imagined them. He was a small man, not taller than a six years old child, but a sturdy and broad-shouldered fellow whose thick upper arms spoke volumes about the physically challenging work of a smith. His head nearly completely bald, he instead had a long and bushy dark grey beard covering all of his face beneath the big bulbous nose. Two small grey-blue eyes beneath two bushy eyebrows critically examined his own handiwork. The leather gloves and leather apron the dwarf wore while forging were already indescribably dirtied with ashes and metal remnants. Not that it seemed to bother the craftsman though. Violant loved to observe how Hanarrs skillful hands were able to transform a misshapen or unremarkable piece of iron (or any other metal for that matter) into an object filled with practicality or artistic sense nobody would have thought to be hidden in the raw material from before. It didnt matter if the final product was a sewing needle, a spearhead or a filigree. The smith created them all with the same amount of devotion and care, and that, so Violant thought, was, in all its crudeness, an extremely beautiful sight. The hot and sticky atmosphere didnt seem to bother the noble lady even a little bit. Well, I think I should return to the marketplace now. Violant declared Always interesting to observe your work. Thus she bid farewell and rode back after what appeared to be just a short moment of time. The girl had come with the purpose of inspecting the marketplace and it surely wasnt right to shirk her own responsibilities just so she could do some visits and observations. The closer Violant and Huwcyn came to the marketplace, the more they felt that something was wrong. The atmosphere seemed restless but it wasnt the busy kind of restlessness normally found but rather a panicky, distraught kind of restlessness. Additionally, the young girl could sense alarming irregularities in the flow of magic power around her. In fact her magic aptitude had significantly risen since her return in time. No matter how much of her amassed sealed magic power had been used up to make this nearly impossible feat possible, what was left of it after returning still was enough to raise the mediocre amount of magic coursing through her veins by almost six times, promptly catapulting her at the top of the magic users in the kingdom, at least concerning raw magic aptitude. Violant could count herself lucky that she was able to keep this suddenly soaring magic potential in check. It was better not to think about the disaster that would have happened if she hadnt been able to. The whole marketplace appeared to be in disorder. As far as the eye could see there were people fleeing heedlessly, merchants hurriedly bundling together their goods, and miscreants planning to use the confusion to enrich themselves with things that didnt belong to them. Violant and the ceffyl dwr had a hard time striving against the stream, but when they finally reached the epicenter of the mess, they found themselves eye to eye with an unexpected danger. A new old Life in Avallach (3): Testing out Magic Somewhere in the relative center of the marketplace thrown in disarray, Violant and her steed Huwcyn became witnesses how a llamhigyn y dwr was surrounded by soldiers from the garrison. Orderic apparently had fallen off the startled horse when trying to confront the monster with the sword he wore at his belt. Now unconscious after falling badly, he wasnt any help to the brave guards but had to be brought to safety instead. Violant found two soldiers dragging her uncles unconscious body away from the fighting. A trickle of blood flowed down his forehead. Orderic seemed to have hit his head when falling. Seeing her foster father brought to safety, Violant was relieved. She knew that he wouldnt have any after-effects from his fall and would likely wake up tomorrow evening with nothing more than a moderate concussion. Of course she remembered the incident but she had been too busy with her not so immediate future to remember it. In the young ladys memories the llamhigyn y dwr was subjugated by the knights of the garrison but not few of them lost their lives. Even in Violants previous lifetime it was unknown how the water leaper had ended up in the center of Avallachs marketplace. The llamhigyn y dwr was a strictly aquatic creature after all and the only water source close by C except for the creek where Hanarrs smithy was located C was a well. Most likely the water monster was a surprise randomly spit out by the other march. This happened sometimes but luckily not too often. Now that it was there, the llamhigyn y dwr was a force to be reckoned with though. Its appearance was grotesque. The water leaper was gigantic fat warty toad C it was as big as a moose at least C and of muddy brown color, but it had no legs. Instead it had a long finned tail, reminiscent of a tadpoles, and leathery wings on its back that looked as if someone had taken them from a dragon. This bizarre creature fought by snapping after the soldiers with its broad mouth, whipping with its tail, and croaking a bone-chilling shriek undermining the morale of its attackers. Violant couldnt stand the thought to just idly stand by and simply witness the fight with the water leaper from the sidelines. Since she knew that lives would be lost in the process, she thought to prevent this from happening. There was nothing the girl could do though. Had she confronted the llamhigyn y dwr at this point in her previous lifetime, she likely wouldnt have lived long enough to meet Gervase, nothing to say about marrying him and getting discarded by him. Although, it wasnt as if she still was the same little Violant from twelve years ago. Well, outwardly and physically she still was, but now she had the experience of fighting in the civil war with her, not to forget the massively increased magical aptitude of hers. With renewed determination the young lady looked how she could possibly be of help. Not far away she saw a long flagpole at one of the abandoned stalls nearby. In her later years Violants weapon of choice had always been the spear. It wasnt easy to handle, admittedly, but if mastered, it was the weapon with the widest reach if archery was to be ignored. Slowly but surely a plan formed in the returnees head. It wasnt failsafe C rather anything but that C but she was willing to try. Do you see this pole, Huw? Violant asked I need it. Urgently! Although the water horse had his doubts, he didnt question his rider. The girl often had crazy ideas he was nowhere near able to understand, but the thing was, and Huwcyn believed it was the same now too, those crazy plans of her most often worked like the girl had expected. If she said she needed the pole, then she would get it.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. From horseback Violant snatched her weapon. It was a formidable spear as far as its grip was concerned but it was without doubt too long and too heavy for the present girl, not to mention that it lacked the most important part a spear should have C the spearhead. The redhead, however, didnt dwell on those trivialities. She signaled her trusty steed that he should storm directly at the water leaper. The ceffyl dwr, no matter how crazy this request was, followed suit. Now everything had to go exactly according to plan or all of Violants efforts would be in vain. For her plan to take out the llamhigyn y dwr to work, she needed to use magic like she had never used it before. The girl was aware of the concepts regarding higher magic but with her former mediocre aptitude she never had been able to put it to practice. Now it had to work more or less on the first try though. Violant shortly closed her eyes, fully concentrated on the magic effect she wanted to achieve. Everything was clear in theory. If she had no spearhead she had to make one with magic, preferably based on an element which was a major weakness of the water monster. Her first try to form a spearhead from fire was a failure though. The flag at the tip of the pole was set ablaze in a matter of seconds but it took her a moment longer to put the flames out again, unless she wanted her weapon to burn to cinders. At least she seemed to have a good grasp on her magic power output, likely fruits of her arduous training to put her mediocre magic to use from her former life. The second attempt was more successful. At the tip of the pole a glistening spearhead made of ice was formed. Out of the way! Violant shouted at the top of her lungs. The soldiers and knights couldnt help but look who was bursting so suddenly into the fight. Some even needed to jump aside when Huwcyn came dashing. The water leapers attention also focused on the horse and rider drawing nearer with full speed. The young lady readied her spear, awaiting the collusion. The llamhigyn y dwr seemed to sense imminent danger. It desperately tried to evacuate to the air with flapping wings, something it hadnt done before no matter how many armed men swarmed around it. Violant was a step faster though. She realized the creatures intention and thrust her spear forward, nearly throwing herself off her horse in the process. The enchanted weapon managed to at least scratch the water leapers skin. What happened then, however, took everybody by surprise, the girl included. At first the thrust really didnt seem to cause more than just a little scratch, much to Violants frustration, and the water monster managed successfully to escape to the air, unfazed by the swords pointed at it by the men left back down on the ground. Soon enough, though, shouts of amazement echoed through the marketplace. Violant couldnt understand the entire ruckus. She had failed after all. But when she heard Huwcyn whispering What in the world have you done? she directed her gaze to the llamhigyn y dwr in the sky. Starting from the superficial wound the young lady had managed to inflict on the monster, a thick layer of ice began to increasingly cover the water leapers body. The creature had a look of panic in its eyes as it was steadily enclosed further and further by the ice, all the while its wing movements became even more sluggishly. At the end of the day the creature was nothing more than an overgrown, winged, and cold-blooded amphibian. Eventually, the llamhigy y dwr fell from the sky some distance from where the fight had taken place. During this crash an abandoned market stall was destroyed but luckily nobody got hurt. Shortly afterwards the layer of ice fully encapsulated what once had been the terror of the marketplace. Shortly afterwards Violant lost consciousness, not because her magic consumption had been too large C although she could somewhat feel her magic power siphoned away C but because of the mental strains linked with usage of advanced magic. The knight commander and the ceffyl dwr saw to it that the young lady and her uncle were both safely returned to Avallach Castle. But that she should come to know only later when she woke up again. A new old Life in Avallach (4): Explanations and Expectations A few days after the water leaper incident, Violant stood in her foster fathers bedroom. The margrave still had to rest because of the concussion he had sustained when falling from his horse. The white mare wasnt Orderics battle horse and thus had no special training against fear of monsters at all. Although the margrave had been unconscious for a day, he couldnt help himself from becoming agitated when eventually hearing details about the llamhigyn y dwrs subjugation. Thus he ordered his foster daughter to appear before him. Orderic lay in a double-sized canopy bed he once had shared with his late wife. Dressed in soft silken night garments and covered by a blanket despite the summerly temperatures, he sat up against a pillow in his back. At his side stood Sir Thopas, the knight commander from the garrison and the very man who had reported about the whole incident. The tall and well-trained bearded middle-aged man was known to be a just man as true as his word. This fact gave his eyewitness report only further relevance. So, Violant, I just learned about it that it was you who defeated the water leaper. Whats more, you used a magic more formidable than anything you should be capable of, or anyone here for that matter. You can consider yourself lucky that the price you had to pay for it just resulted in temporary loss of consciousness. Dont you know that you should inform me immediately if you experience any change in your magic aptitude. Well. the red-haired girl smiled awkwardly It is true that my magical aptitude has somewhat increased but I didnt have any kind of problem and it has just been a few days to boot. Didnt I say immediately? her foster father emphasized I dont just say this as a joke. What if something goes wrong? In the worst case you could lose your life! I have lost enough people in my live already. Please dont risk me losing you too. Faced with her uncles concern Violant felt guilt welling up in her heart. For her it hadnt been such a severe issue, especially since she was already a 26 years old adult inside. Whats done is done. Orderic conceded Now tell me, how much did your aptitude rise? Oh, not so much. the girl tried to appease her uncle Just about six times the amount from before. The margraves complexion paled visibly and he audibly sucked in air. Then he shouted: Are you mad, Violant?! Six times? Do you know how much six times are? This amount of magic aptitude is enough to make you one of the top ten magicians in the whole kingdom! It is enough to wipe a town like Avallach from existence in mere seconds! Just imagine your magic had gone haywire! We couldve all been dead, Avallach an icy wasteland for eternity! How dare you to conceal such crucial information from me? Although six times a mediocre amount of magic didnt seem to be much, one had to know that a humans compatibility with magic was extremely bad. When Violant had her magic aptitude classified as mediocre, that naturally meant only according to the standards of magic users. Over 90% of the population were unable to use magic at all, and among the last 10% primarily consisting of nobles many who were able to light a candle or fill a basin with water at best. Those negligible talents werent even considered when the ranking system was implemented. As such, Violants mediocre magic was already quite impressive, for it was the minimum magic aptitude necessary for magicians working for the country to be recognized, and only rarely an individual with a higher magical aptitude appeared. Already a doubled magic aptitude was enough to declare someone a prodigy, not to speak of six times that. In the eyes of the denizens of the other march the human magic aptitude was laughable though, for the magical energy had its origin in that otherworldly realm and most of it remained there. It was like comparing the amount of water in a desert with the ocean and the fishes laughing about the humans pitiful swimming ability. Im sorry, father. Violant apologized ruefully. Even with close to three decades of life experience she had made a major mistake. Magic is and was always a dangerous substance, demons daughter or not. Not without reason were the kingdoms laws especially strict regarding the usage of magic in its borders, human or otherwise. The returnee had seriously underestimated the seriousness of the change in aptitude.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Well, theres nothing we can do about it now. Orderic gave up and signaled Sir Thopas that he could leave now. The knight commander was aware that every word spoken before should be treated with the highest confidentiality. He wasnt the margraves trusted loyal subject for nothing. The best we can do now is increasing your amount of magic studies and switching your tutor from Mortimer to someone else. Mortimer clearly isnt your match anymore. In some fields of her curriculum Violant got lessons from her cousins. The brothers were prodigies in their respective fields and wished to impart their abilities and knowledge to their beloved little sister. The girl had a lot to learn for her social debut at age sixteen after all. Mortimer taught her law and magic, Parcie riding and martial arts. The accounting lessons were more about practical work under Orderics supervision since she got the basics down already. Etiquette, dancing, music, poetry, and embroidery were taught by Lady Alse, the daughter of a fallen baron house who worked as a governess for the margravial house. Lessons in history and the other march where the responsibility of the castle librarian Augustine, an old and strict historian who came to Avallach under the penultimate margrave to further his studies about the other march. His Chronicles of the History and Inhabitants of the Other March were still the nonpareil among the kingdoms scholars. If so, can we decrease my other studies instead? Violant asked hopefully. Nonsense! rejected her uncle outright. But neither Parcie nor Mortimer ever had to learn this much! she protested. What do you think Mortimers successor studies are? Orderic asked back And although he isnt quite adept at it he at least tried to learn the sword. About Parcie, well, he has muscles for brain tissue. Lady Alse and Mr. Augustine have begged me to take him off their hands. I am sure you dont complain about your riding and fencing lessons, do you? No, history, law, poetry, etiquette, embroidery. All that boring stuff. Violant replied. Etiquette, poetry and embroidery are a must. the margrave insisted How will you ever find a husband without the competences expected of a noble lady such as yourself? You are still young, it probably doesnt mean much to you yet, but believe me. History and law are necessary for you to become a good feudal lord. It has long since been a tradition of the house of Avallach that its daughters need to learn the same basics. It isnt unheard of, after all, that we had a margravine as the head of our house. Take my late mother as an example. I believe you have a good head on your shoulders, Violant. You will be able to learn all this. Sensing her uncles goodwill, the girl pressed on: But, lets say I will have my whole curriculum in history, law, poetry, and otherworld studies down at the end of August. Would I then be able to be excused from my lessons? I also believe I am good enough at accounting already. Fine. Orderic sighed But you mustnt cut corners with your other lessons. Also, I know that you already have a complete grasp on accounting but you are too valuable a helping hand for me to simply let you go. Thank you, father. I love you! Violant rejoiced like a young girl C well, she was a young girl again C and flung her arms around her sick foster fathers neck, planting a kiss on his cheek while doing so. The next two months Violant spent a lot of her time in the library. For the meantime she had been freed of the lessons she would be tested on. The other lessons she visited diligently. She had promised to do so after all. In fact, all Violant had to do was freshening up her previous knowledge. Thanks to her unusually great memory she could still remember most of the lessons contents even after twelve years had passed. She created the impression of being busily studying though, for she always was being watched by Augustine during her visits of the library. The lank old man with a half-bald grey head and a goatee consistently examined the studying young lady through a new type of optical aid called glasses. He wasnt quite happy that his student wanted to cut her lessons short. Neither was Mortimer but he didnt complain about it. He knew that his sisters interests lay elsewhere after all. When the promised time came around, Violant was tested by a jury consisting of Orderic, Mortimer, Lady Alse, and Augustine. The tutors tested their respective fields of knowledge, with the margrave bringing up complementary questions. The returnee passed with flying colors, impressing all of her examiners in the process. As a consequence Violants curriculum decreased significantly, allowing her more free time she used to engage in territory management though, at the same time reducing the workload of the margrave and his heir. Her motive, however, was to be prepared for the future. This time she wouldnt be so stupid as to leave the management of the other march completely in others hands, be it Gervase or someone else entirely. The Wuldington Investigation (1): In the Other March It was the first time Violant had entered the other march. The same was true not only for this lifetime but also for the last. Even during the great troll uprising nine and a half years from now that shook the kingdom to the very foundations she never did as much as taking a single step into the other march. She admittedly actively took part in the suppression and extermination of the trolls, but at the most she commanded her troops with her military tent as a command center. It was out of place for a queen to fight at the forefront of conflict herself. Yes, then she still had been the newly crowned King Gervases queen. She hadnt been able to surmise that the suppression of the troll uprising and the resulting increase of the crowns influence in the other march would lead to her fall from grace just a few months later, ultimately leading to the destruction of the margravial house and her own death two years afterwards. Violants increased engagement in the margraviates business lead to her also becoming increasingly involved in matters of the other march. It had become November now and Orderic had decided to give his now fifteen years old fosterling a chance to prove herself. A request for help had come in from Count Wuldington, a long-time friend of the margrave. People mysteriously disappeared in the county and the count who knew that his fief had a blurry border with the other march suspected otherworldly powers to be at work. Violant had thus been welcomed with open arms by the man who she called Uncle Ally. She was willing to try her best. It wouldve been even better if she could have remembered details about the case but she hadnt been involved in her past lifetime. Not that it mattered anyhow. At present the young lady carefully patrolled the other march. She had already learned as a child how to identify the entrances to the otherworldly realm so that she wouldnt get lost in it accidentally. But entering the much feared otherworld for the first time, she found it quite different to what she had imagined. It wasnt as if she never had heard about it C particularly in the margraviate there were more than enough people who could tell her about the other march from personal experience after all C but it was something you had to experience yourself to understand. At the moment Violant traversed an otherworldly forest. The trees appeared oddly insubstantial and the vegetation of the forest floor hardly made a sound when stepped on. It was quite fresh with the wind of November blowing through the trees. The whole forest was enveloped in fog, with the little light passing through being somewhat diffuse and of a greenish color although the trees had lost their leaves already. The forest was oddly quiet at the same time. There was no bird singing anywhere, not even a crow cawing like you would expect at this time of the year. The girl yet still had to meet an animal of any kind. The forest was downright eerily quiet, much like muffled, so that the sounds Violant herself caused seemed disturbingly loud to her although they definitely werent. The young lady had left Huwcyn behind back in Wuldington castle. She had thought that the ceffyl dwr, or any horse for that matter, would be too conspicuous when scouting the terrain secretly. The silence of her surroundings only managed to strengthen her impressions about that matter. In fact she had informed nobody before sneaking off. Heavily armed guards clanking with metal were the last thing she needed in such a silent environment. At least she had brought her spear to defend herself if necessary. All of a sudden a distressed sounding male voice echoed through the woods.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. Hey! Hey! it called Hey! Help! Help please! Positive that it was one of the missing people, Violant decided to walk into the direction of the voice. There wasnt much to be oriented towards anyway. But as soon as the girl tried to step on a clearing completely covered with fern, a big greyish owl covered with some green spots soundlessly flew down from a knotty old spruce tree and hissed at her angrily while clawing her face. Violant tried to cover her face by raising her spear while stepping back. As soon as she had distanced herself somewhat from the clearing, the owl landed on a low branch and observed her intently with its big black eyes. The redhead found herself completely unharmed. Thinking about why the bird could have attacked her, she had an idea. You dont want me to go there. Is it that? the young lady whispered. The owl nodded, its feather tufts whipping up and down. It really was a big animal, likely bigger than some eagle. Im sorry, birdy. she apologized, still with a hushed voice for she didnt want to draw too much attention to herself in this quiet environment where you surely couldve heard a needle dropping. I have to go there. Dont you hear the desperate plea for help? The owl seemed to shake its head in displeasure. Then it flew down to the ground. As soon as it landed, a change took place in its appearance. The by no means small owl started to grow until it reached the height of a four years old child. Its shape started to show humanoid characteristics and the feathers slowly disappeared. Witnessing this, Violant was rendered speechless. She had heard about it that some denizens of the other march were able to change their appearance at will. This was limited to very experienced beings though. The existence that showed itself to the human girl was by no means human itself. Its appearance was that of an age-old woman no bigger than a four years old child but appearing even smaller because of her deeply hunched back. Her grey and green body was covered in moss and lichens over and over that nobody could really tell if it was part of her clothing or part of her body. The beings feet were covered in moss, likewise partially its greyish face whose wrinkles let it appear rather like tree bark. The hoary womans long snow-white hair was shaggy and it disorderly spread over her whole back. In one of her hands she held a knobby cane on which she supported herself. Scrutinizing the human before her with small black eyes, smacking the lips of her almost toothless mouth; in such manner she appeared before Violant. The margraves daughter directly knew what had appeared before her. Well, at least she had heard of it because it was rarely ever seen. Before her stood a schrat, a denizen of the deepest woods rarely ever seen outside the other march. Once a century it might happen that one of them left the leaf-covered realm it dwelled in. Thus it wasnt really known if it was so rare to meet one or if the schrats themselves were such rare beings themselves. At least she knew that they didnt like the term applied to them. They preferred to be called holzleute, people of the woods in their language, or holzweibel, little woman of the woods, in the case of a female individual such as the one in front of herself. Child, dont senselessly run to your death. the schrat warned with a squawking voice in a heavy accent Whoever you might look for, you wont find him when following the voice of the hejkadlo. Only your own demise will be waiting for you. But I have to find the missing people. Violant protested whisperingly. Give it up. Nothing good will come from it. the elderly advised If the people you are searching for are those I am thinking about, then they are lost without any chance of rescue. They doubtlessly are in the clutches of the wild hunt. If you know whats good for you, human child, leave this realm before they take you too. I have to fulfill my obligations as an Avallach. the redhead protested stubbornly. The mossy woman opened her eyes wide in surprise. Oh, you are an Avallach! she exclaimed Certainly, that changes everything. Come, come with old Alarun. We will talk about your next steps at a safer place. Speaking so, the old woman grabbed the hem of Violants shirt and dragged her off into the distance. Or at least the girl followed willingly, wondering where the hoary one would lead her. The Wuldington Investigation (2): Facing the Wild Hunt Violant followed the old schrat to a little valley densely covered in fog. In fact it was it was shrouded in such a manner that it rather seemed like walking into a misty lake. The fog was surely wet enough for that. In the shadow of a towering old hollow tree without any foliage, there stood a small, somewhat warped hut with walls consisting of tree roots and roofed with green moss. Welcome to my humble abode. Alarun spoke and opened a door from crooked wood planks likely originating from the hollow tree. Her human visitor had to stoop deeply to be able to enter the hut. The whole building was constructed for the likes of a diminutive schrat after all. Inside it was even darker until the homeowner lit up a little fire using pine cones and thin brushwood as fuel. Only now, illuminated by the flickering flames, Violant could take a good look at the buildings interior. There was no furniture at all. Instead the whole floor C only safe for the fireplace C was covered completely in soft moss doubling as a carpet and bed at the same time. In one corner there were the schrats supplies, consisting mostly of fuel, dried fruit, and bundles of various herbs. Some spindles, a pair of knitting needles, and some green balls of yarn the denizen of the woods had spun from tree moss could also be seen. Sit down, child. the hoary woman said. The young lady followed suit, for she couldnt stand in the low hut anyway. Well I guess introductions are in order, arent they? the homeowner decided This old woman is Alarun. Tell me, human child, since you are an Avallach, do you know what I am? You are a holzweibel, arent you? Violant replied I am Violant of Avallach, niece of the current margrave Orderic. Its a rare honor to meet you, elder. The elderly smiled, obviously quite pleased with the courteous treatment. You are right, good child, I am one of the holzleute. But my kind is difficult to encounter, isnt it? Well, that doesnt matter know. You had said you are looking for the missing people, didnt you? Old Alarun will now tell you what she knowns. You must know, child, this forest is the realm of the wild hunt. You know about that demonic host, dont you? My kind has long since left these lands, except for me who was simply too old to follow suit. Since their favorite game had left its realm, the wild huntsmen had to look for new game. The wild hunt chases its prey for pure enjoyment, you know? What a barbaric cruelty! Even worse, who has fallen into their hands will be eaten raw! The flesh of sapient beings such like you and me, you know? What audacity! Where was I? Oh, yes. The wild hunt had to look for new game and they found it in the dwarves. Soon the dwarves were hunted as mercilessly as my kind was before. Accordingly, the dwarves also couldnt help but leaving their old dwellings. That was some twenty years ago or so. Thus the next game the blasphemous host found after years of searching were humans. Some months ago some human girl got lost on this side and had the bad luck to encounter the demonic hunters. Ever since, the wild hunt intrudes the human territory at night to hunt the unlucky fellows who are still outside after sunset. Most of their victims arent alive anymore. If you would try to barge in the wild hunts lair you likely wouldnt find any of their victims alive anymore, possibly safe for the most recent ones. Even worse, the ghosts of sinful victims might even be added to the host. All the while Violant quietly and attentively listened to what the schrat had to tell her. The further the report proceeded, the graver her look on her face became. Of course the young lady had been clear about the fact that the other march was a realm outside human comprehension and human ideas of ethics and morality, but what she now heard about really was the limit! But now you are here. Alarun continued The Avallachs are the humans getting the most respect here on our side. Even the wild hunt wont be able but to give you the respect you deserve. The more so as your blood obviously is so much more. Even the nachtj?ger, the night hunter, cant help but hear you out. Whatever might happen afterwards, I dont know, but believe me, child, I surely would love to see old villainous Banadietrich von Hackelberg teeth-gnashingly making concessions to you.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Banadietrich von Hackelberg? Violant asked. He is the nachtj?ger, the leader of the wild hunt. the old woman explained If you want to stop the hunt on humans, he is the one you have to talk to. And I believe he will definitely hear you out, child. He fears nothing more than to be asked to finally pay up the tithes he owes. Not to the margrave, of course, but to hell. But I dont have anything to do with hell even if my father is a demon. the girl countered, afraid where this was going. It doesnt matter if you do or dont, child, does it? Alarun replied, a wry smile on her wrinkled face What does matter though is that he believes you might. And even if he knows you dont, the nachtj?ger will know better than to incur your fathers wrath, dont you think so? Now collect your courage, child. Old Alarun will bring you to the wild hunts lair, or at least as near as possible without danger for my life. The rest depends on you though. Violant nodded meekly. She was like clay in the elderly schrats hands but she also knew that there was no other way. At least she couldnt come up with a different plan herself. The lair of the wild hunt was located inside Mt. Hackelberg, the otherworldly mountain shrouded in fog towering above those stretches of the other march. Violant presently stood in front of a cave opening widely like the jaws of hell itself. Gripping her spear tighter than before, the young lady stepped into the rocky opening to follow the alternations of light and shadow originating from the mountains interior. The rock corridor, large and wide enough for several horses with riders to pass through without problems, soon made place for a large dome lit up by an enormous bonfire in its center, reminiscent of the infernal flames. Seeing such a large fire, the girl felt her heart rate increasing, her breathing growing rough, and her throat constricted. The actual bonfire in front of her overlapped in her mind with the fire she had lost her life to while burning at the stake. To overcome her panic, Violant closed her eyes and took some deep breaths. Then she confidently stepped inside the mountain dome. The place was so chaotic, a picture of hell on earth, that at first nobody even noticed the uninvited visitor. The host was, true to Alaruns words, a gathering of ghosts and demons. Predominantly consisting of men C women were rarely ever seen in the crowd present, and when, then mostly in a subservient position C the wild hunt was made up of coarse and unrefined men in often bloodied green hunters garbs you could think capable of committing every atrocity imaginable. Especially creepy was the fact that not all of the hunters had their heads where they normally belonged. Some carried their heads under their arms or had put them aside to do whatever they were doing at the moment, some even lacked them at all. Others where nothing more than skeletons, or they had nonhuman features such as the claws of a lizard or a serpents tail. The most gruesome view for Violant though was those of hunters set ablaze. The men werent alone, for they were accompanied by their mounts and packs. Everywhere were black or white horses, black bucks, and whole packs of yapping big black hounds. The horses C some of them only had three legs as their owners could be seen gnawing at the missing one C had glowing eyes and snorted fire from their nostrils, the hounds big fiery eyes as large as plates. Some were even spitting fire from their mouths. There were animals of all kinds without heads, occasionally spurting flames from their necks like a fountain. Steeds and dogs wildly flew through the air in the dome, for their riders used them to hunt on the wings of the tempest. The huntsmen were no less disorderly though. They drank beer by the barrel, feasted on raw meat from horses and humans. Some of them gambled, playing cards or dice and betting bones instead of money. Others got into a fight for no apparent reason. The leader of the whole host, however, was easy to distinguish from the rest, for he sat on a throne made of the countless bones of the wild hunts victims. The nachtj?ger was also clad in green like a good huntsman, had a hunting dagger at his belt, and a hunting horn put on as if he wanted to set out for a hunt every moment. He had long black hair and a stubbly chin. His eyes couldnt be seen though, hidden beneath the shadow of the antlered deer skull he wore as a headgear. Banadietrich slowly sipped his drink from a human skull in his hand. Behind him on the thrones backrest there sat a big black raven with iron wings. It was a night-raven, a fearsome nocturnal bird of the other march. Fearlessly Violant stepped up to the nachtj?gers throne, thus gathering all eyes on herself. The hustle and bustle she had witnessed earlier died down. Everybody wanted to know what would happen to the little girl who dared to take a step into the lair of the wild hunt by herself. Greetings, Banadietrich von Hackelberg. she spoke, her confident voice betraying the insecurities in her heart I am Violant of Avallach, daughter of the margravial house of the same name. I have come to demand of you that you shall henceforth cease the hunting of humans. The Wuldington Investigation (3): About Hunters and their Prey Greetings, Banadietrich von Hackelberg. Violant spoke, outwardly appearing confidently I am Violant of Avallach, daughter of the margravial house of the same name. I have come to demand of you that you shall henceforth cease the hunting of humans. The nachtj?ger didnt react for a moment. Then he broke into a dark-voiced laughter thundering through the mountain dome and multiple times reflected from the stone walls. You have cojones, little girl, Avallach or not. Ill give you that. the leader of the wild hunt responded smilingly But I cant quite tell if you are simply courageous or already a lunatic, stepping into the lions den by yourself. I like your bravery though. If not for that I wouldve already ripped you to shreds for your audacity. Honoring the fact that youve come personally to make your point clear, Ill offer you a little game, a tiny little bet so to say. If you win Ill give you my word that neither I nor any of my companions will ever hunt for humans again until the end of time. Should I win, however, youll be our dinner. Presenting such nefarious conditions to the redhead in front of him, Banadietrich stretched out his hand. Violant accepted. Youre on. she said. It was a dangerous bet, that she had to admit, but the gains made the wager more than worth. Splendid, very splendid. The nachtj?ger rubbed his hands contentedly. Now let me explain our little game. It is a hunt, what else? Ill give you half an hours worth of a head start. Otherwise it would simply be too boring, wouldnt it? During that time run as far as you can. After that span of time my men and I will set out to hunt you. Should you manage to escape us during the two following hours, its your win, if not, its ours. Any complaints? The young lady couldnt help but smile bitterly. She already had accepted the bet without asking for the specifics after all. Sometimes she believed her fiery temper would be her doom one day. Not even being reborn could change that fact. Half an hour later Violant had put a good distance between herself and Mt. Hackelberg. In the meantime she had met the old schrat Alarun who had waited for her safe return and told her what had happened in the lair of the wild hunt. The hoary woman, not willing to be eventually hunted down by the demonic host, took the shape of an owl again and flew away to seek refuge from the wild huntsmens prying eyes and the hounds snooping noses. The red-haired girl had put the knowledge from her increased magic lessons to good use. What was crucial for now was to escape the wild hunt as far as possible. To this end Violant literally ran with the feet of the wind. The still eerily silent forest flew past the periphery of her vision as she speeded through her surroundings. Her range of vision decreased all the while though, as the night fell like an impenetrable black curtain over the other march. The forest was eternally shrouded in fog anyway. Combined with the darkness of the night it meant that Violant saw absolutely nothing. She could have used her magic to generate a source of light, so as to avoid colliding with trees C but that wasnt any better than staying directly in front of Mt. Hackelberg, a target drawn on her chest. By the time the sound of a hunting horn penetrated the eternal silence of the night black woods, Violant was already covered with scratches from head to toe, her dress torn and tattered by thorns and branches, her hair filled with twigs and dry leaves. The spear she carried also hadnt been of any help to her. On the contrary, it rather got in her way but she never would let go of her only means of self-defense. Informed now that the hunt had started, Violant ceased her running. In no way she could hope to escape horses running with the wings of the tempest just by relying on her own speed. Thus she switched tactics. It was impossible for her to change her shape trying to pass as a normal forest animal like old Alarun had done C transformation was the very pinnacle of magic after all C but she could try to hide. That didnt only include obscuring her figure but also covering her smell. She shouldnt forget the packs of hounds. To hide herself, the redhead assimilated her very being as well as possible with a hollow old tree, not unlike the one near the schrats hut. Using a visual magic trick Malford had taught her, she now appeared no different than a somewhat curious piece of knobby bark or wood. Hiding her smell was more difficult, but the most important factor when it came to using magic was creativity after all. Violant tried to disperse her own scent as thinly as possible with the help of wind magic, conversely covering herself with the scent of rotten old wood, wet moss, and mushrooms the tree exuded. Now she just had to hold out.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Violant didnt know how much time had passed since she started hiding. It felt like an eternity though. Sometimes, when she heard a dog sniffing close to her or the shouting of the huntsmen in the vicinity, her heart rate increased and her stomach tensed up. Luckily it turned out alright every single time. Nonetheless the girl didnt allow her guard to drop. As long as the hunt was still on she was still in risk of being found out after all. And truly, the moment Violant feared really had to happen. It was neither a dog nor a huntsman who found the girls concealment but the nachtj?gers night-raven. The big black bird riddled the old tree with holes using his iron remiges. Violant had luck to have felt a chill creeping up her spine. Trusting the premonition she had jumped out of the tree hole at the virtually last moment. Just a second later and she would have been riddled with holes herself. Whoa! thats what I call a pleasant surprise! Banadietrichs voice echoed through the woods. The nachtj?ger had been close by on horseback. Never wouldve thought that I would find you here, little Avallach. But Ill gladly use this chance to vent my frustration. Guess what! While looking for you I chanced upon a schrats dwelling showing signs of recent use. But even as I razed the pathetic hut to the ground I couldnt find the slightest presence of its owner. Thus I struck down a hollow tree nearby in a fit of anger but it wasnt enough yet to appease me again. Thus Ill gladly accept your sacrifice and take my frustration out on you. Violant was far from being glad of course. Instead of bowing to the inevitable she readied her spear and lit its head with a flame. She had no real chance to run anymore, but as sure as hell she wouldnt go down without a fight. Banadietrich reacted rather amused when facing his prey ready for battle. You never fail to surprise me, little girl. he acknowledged But I think it would be wiser to cease your resistance. I can guarantee you a less painful death at least, only torturing you as much as I deem necessary and not excessively. Nobody would lay down their weapons when presented with such a choice. The redhead definitely didnt. Try me! she said provocatively I might not be your match but Ill make at least sure that you wont come out of it completely unharmed either. Hearing that, the leader of the wild hunt couldnt help but laughing out loud, his mood rapidly increasing. Youre really a peculiar one, arent you? he asked Its almost a shame to let you lose your life like this. But who knows, I might be able to snatch your soul and make you a part of my entourage. It looked quite bleak for Violant, with the nachtj?ger clearly overpowering her drawing his hunting dagger and readying himself for a fight with a foregone conclusion. But all of a sudden the tree the human girl had hidden in earlier burst into bright sulfuric smelling flames of indescribable heat that illuminated the whole forest far and wide. You want to lay a hand on my daughter! a roaring voice boomed through the woods How dare you, Banadietrich! The leader of the wild hunt shivered with fear from head to toe while his already ghostly pale face managed to pale even further. L-l-l-lord I-i-i-i-ipos! he stammered, knowing the voice just too well. And really: Who appeared was none other than Violants demonic biological father, the very same who had sent her back into the past. He flapped his wings majestically while glaring at the demonic huntsman cowering reverently in front of him. Banadietrich had jumped down from his steed faster than eyes could see and did not dare to lift his head from the ground for even a moment. The nachtj?gers mount and the night-raven escaped as soon as possible, leaving their master alone with the rage of the infernal visitor. The rest of the wild hunt also didnt dare to come near at all. What audacity! Ipos raged Not only do you still owe me tithes; you even dare to try filling the necessary count of souls using my daughter. Do you think I have painstakingly freed her from her impending death and sent her back into the past just for you to take her life some measly months later? Dream on! You unfaithful vermin, feel my wrath! Wait and see how I shall punish you for your thoughtless or even traitorous conduct! By now an ammonic smell could have be noticed wafting around Banadietrich if not for the penetrating smell of sulfur covering all other scents. The proud nachtj?ger had literally pissed himself from fear. If he had known, he never would have dared to lay a hand on the courageous girl with the unusual eye color but definitely stayed clear of her. All humans, dwarves and schrats in the world together werent worth inciting the wrath of a demon, especially in an era were the gods only seldom payed attention to the world they once created. During the whole event Violant looked dumbfounded from her father floating in the air to the demonic huntsman crawling in the dust and back again. She had something to say but somehow she didnt find it in her to open her mouth. In the despairing moment of impending death at the burning stake it had been much easier for her to speak up although her dried-out throat hadnt really been able to. Now that she was in perfect condition, if ignoring the scratches on her whole body, she felt hesitant instead. Ultimately the girl decided to go through with it and waved her burning spear trying to direct the demons attention to herself and spoke out: Earl Ipos, umm, father, please listen. Regarding the nachtj?gers punishment, I guess I have an idea The Wuldington Investigation (4): The Conclusion of Matters leads to new Beginnings Speak, daughter. What do you desire? Ipos asked, giving Violant what he thought to be a fatherly smile. It would have been a moving gesture if not for the fact that Iposs head was that of a lion and his well-intentioned smile thus became a terrifying presentation of his fangs. Well she said, still hesitating I guess its all fine if the wild hunt accepts my original request. If that shouldnt be enough though, seeing as you seem to hold a kind of authority over them, oblige them to come to my aid whenever I need it. Regarding the fact that the demonic host was one of the most dreaded armies in the other march it doubtlessly was a good deal for both sides she proposed. The victim got quasi-immortal troops C the ghosts and demons of the wild could hardly be killed after all C while the perpetrators got off almost scot-free. So be it. the infernal earl consented to the arrangement I dont think we will ever meet again in your lifetime, my daughter, but you never know. Then he disappeared like a wisp of smoke, as did the infernal flames at the same time. All Ipos left behind was the carbonized skeleton of a once awe-inspiring old tree and an intolerable smell of sulfur. Violant flinched with disgust just moments later when she witnessed the cowering nachtj?ger kissing her boots. I swear you eternal loyalty, my savior. Banadietrich vowed The wild hunt and I will always do your bidding, no matter what it might be. You are our eternal benefactor. I Please stand up first. interrupted him the young lady, hardly able to tolerate the huntsmans groveling behavior any longer. The leader of the wild hunt followed the request, lifting his headgear in form of a deer skull for the first time to show his deep respect. In the process it became apparent that he had a pair of gorgeous blue eyes. Then the red-haired girl accepted his expression of loyalty, symbolically knighting the once again kneeling Banadietrich with the magicless tip of her spear. In the early morning when the diffuse light of day only hardly managed to brighten the foggy forest, Violant and Alarun stood in front of what had once been the elderly schrats home. The little hut from tree roots and moss had been destroyed so thoroughly that it was nearly impossible to tell what once had been here if not for prior knowledge. The wild hunt had completely returned to its lair inside of Mt. Hackelberg. Only the night-raven sat on a tree in some distance. The animal whose name was Hraban accompanied the margravial lady quasi as an envoy of the wild hunt. Hraban would in future bring Violants messages to the wild hunt and their replies back to her. I am so sorry, Alarun. the girl spoke with a remorseful voice If it werent for me and that stupid bet you wouldnt be homeless now. Could be worse, child. Alarun replied fairly composed, even trying to comfort the human next to her with her bony age spotted hand. At least I still have my life and who knows when the wild hunt would have found my little abode otherwise. It could have been much worse, couldnt it? Dont resent yourself for this, for I dont hold it against you at all. Youre right. Violant consented while wiping her tears But I still feel responsible. Why dont you come with me to Avallach? I could provide you a place there.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. It might be true that I can stay in this forest no longer, child. the schrat asserted But it doesnt sit well with me that you would provide for me, no questions asked. At least let me do something in return. Let me think, child, let me think. You humans are always in need of capable healers, are you not? And as it happens I am a healer myself. Well, I dont think that I have treated anybody except for myself in the last few centuries but I dont think I have forgotten anything about it. The human girl widened her eyes in surprise. Alarun was a healer? There had only been few mentions of schrat healers in history, for they were many times more difficult to encounter than even your average schrat. But whenever one appeared, injuries and illnesses were healed which were said to be untreatable not only among human doctors but also among other healers in wide parts of the other march. Absolutely! the redhead rejoiced. Having a schrat healer on her side could be an invaluable advantage to the returnee if she wanted to stand against Gervases rise to the throne. By all means, please do work as a healer! Alarun was completely taken by surprise when her free hand not holding on to her cane was suddenly grasped by a human girl brimming with mirth. But after the first surprise lessened, the hoary woman remembered that her healing arts once had been called legendary by humans C other Avallachs to boot C and concluded that Violant obviously had heard of it. Her lips slowly rose to form a wry smile. Yes, lets do so, child. the diminutive old woman consented I also look forward to practicing my arts again. When Violant returned from the other march, accompanied by Alarun and Hraban, she soon ran into Count Wuldingtons men frantically searching for her. After she had explained that her companions werent otherworldly hostiles, she immediately was brought to Wuldington Castle. Among the first to welcome her there was Huwcyn. The ceffyl dwr gave her a good telling-off. It didnt matter how often his rider assured that she was fine. The water horse went on and on, hoping to persuade her to not crazily do it all alone at least for the nearer future. and thus I managed to convince the wild hunt to cease hunting humans in future. Violant closed her report and took a sip of the mulled wine she had been given. Of course she had left out the details she didnt want anyone to know, such as the interference of the demon Ipos. Im sorry, Uncle Ally, that I couldnt save or retrieve any of the missing people from your fief. No need to apologize. Count Alphege of Wuldington replied. He was a corpulent and good-hearted dumpy man with flowing long chestnut beard and hair, showing the atmosphere of a nice neighborhood uncle although he also could be surprisingly assertive if the situation called for it. A close friend of Orderic, he appeared to not only have a similar character but also a similar build. I can see that you have done your very best and I sincerely thank you for your efforts, Violant. About dealing with the relatives of the missing people, leave it to the feudal lord or, in other words, me. It isnt part of your responsibility anymore. You are always so understanding, Uncle Ally. the red-haired girl remarked with a sad smile allowing her true mental age to show through. She knew that Alphege of Wuldington had died in the civil war because he had trusted the wrong people despite his farsightedness. This time around she would try to prevent this at all costs, since for her Count Wuldington was important family although not related by blood. After exchanging a few more words about the disappearance case and some chatting about the present situation in the margraviate and the county, Violant retired to catch up on the sleep she had lacked during her time in the other march. Two days later, after sufficient rest, the young lady proceeded to return home to Avallach. Her entourage consisting of her horse Huwcyn and some knights with the C ultimately failed C mission to guard her from the margraviates garrison was now joined by the night-raven Hraban and the schrat Alarun. Since the elderly healer couldnt ride on horseback, they had to borrow a carriage from Count Wuldington. There was nobody who had protested against this arrangement though, for it was somehow leaked that the hoary womans healing arts were unsurpassed in human lands, and every seasoned warrior had high respect for those with medical knowledge. So they started on the way back home, slower than they had come, for sure, but they had no reason to hurry. Violant had successfully completed her mission after all. A slightly troublesome Festive Season (1): An unexpected Visitor The season had changed to winter. A white blanket of snow covered the roofs, streets, places, and gardens of the town of Avallach. The margravial castle was no different, of course. It had been well about a month since Violant had returned from her mission in Wuldington. Her family and the retainers had been quite surprised when the girl came back with some unknown companions but the change soon was accepted. Night-raven Hraban was regarded as some kind of new pet but generally he was seldom seen for his activity period was the night. Among the servants only the equally nocturnal Malford had more intimate contact with the witty bird but he also was the young ladys butler after all. Regarding old Alarun, the schrat healer, she had been assigned a room in the relatively wind-protected east wing of the castle, not too far from the sickbay. She also had had a chance to prove her medical prowess just a few days later. Doctor Wace, the castle healer himself, had managed to slip on a frozen puddle in a careless moment one early morning, thus fracturing his dominant hand. Left untreated it would have meant the end of his career. The doctors assistant found himself incapable to treat such a complex fracture even when following his masters instructions in every detail. But luckily Alarun was present, setting Waces bones patiently with her skills, leading to a complete recovery in no more than two weeks. During that time the hoary woman also took the reins in the sickbay, caring for all sick and injured in Avallach Castle. Both doctor and assistant ended up begging her to take them as apprentices but the schrat refused. She said that Doctor Waces skills were already top-notch C for a human though C and if the assistant would keep on learning from him he would likely also reach the same level with time. Violant had used her time to build a stable foundation she one day could use to hinder Gervases rise to the throne. Well, at least she had a good start. What a fifteen years old girl who yet had to have her social debut in the capital could do was limited of course, but considering those limitation she nonetheless was off to a good start. Especially so as she quickly got a good grasp on advanced magic, a fact she couldnt even dream about in her previous life. Her magic tutor was changed from her brother Mortimer to Eibhlin, an elven beauty with an incredibly high aptitude and talent for magic but no sense for business as shown by the bankrupt magic shop she once had run in one of the side streets of Avallach town. A matter still to be decided was the young ladys future royal backer, the more at odds with Gervase the better. It would be perfect if Violant would be able to have the royal family indebted to her but that was nothing more than a pipe dream. When she asked herself how she felt about the traitorous husband of her former life, the returnees answer was that she had lost all love for him in her heart long ago. She also had a clear dislike for him, now that she knew his true character, but it couldnt be said that she outright hated him. It wasnt that Violant still had any mite of sympathy remaining for Gervase. On the contrary, she didnt allow herself any bone-gnawing, blood-boiling hatred blindly seeking revenge because such an obsession C though clearly destructive C would mean that she still was concerned with the bastard who had discarded her like a worn-out tool. Violant found him simply unworthy of her attention, no different than a pebble on the wayside. Preferably she would have cut all ties with him forever but as he still was as a potential danger to her peaceful future she had to adopt means to prevent this. Well, honestly the redhead really wanted to witness Gervases fall to have a little revenge on him but it wasnt her priority. Her priority was to keep save everyone and everything she cared about this time around. All of Avallach was busy with the preparations for the rapidly approaching Midwinter festival celebrated to pray for the early return of springtime, and the new year wasnt too far off as well. The margravial residence in the castle towering above the town was no exception. Everybody did their best and busied themselves with various tasks. Violant was busy helping her father and bother with organizational documents regarding the festival in the margraviate.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Here are the next documents, Milady. Malford informed professionally One topic is the annual Midwinter soup kitchen for the poor organized by the local temple in Birchham village. Since the village clergy isnt wealthy itself they ask for subsidies to keep up the tradition. Additionally numerous orphanages all over the fief applied for the margravial one-year fund traditionally given to one of them in the spirit of Midwinter. Thank you, Malford. the young lady replied and accepted the document You may now help wherever you are needed. December really was a busy month for the margravial house. Owed to that, Violants nowadays less extensive curriculum was paused temporarily. The approbation of the subsidies for the soup kitchen was a matter of seconds. The spirit of Midwinter emphasized especially charity and benevolence, for during the starving and freezing period of winter people at least wanted to light a bright and warm light in others hearts if not in the fireplaces too. The margraviate was also one of the by far wealthiest fiefs in the whole kingdom, even after subtracting the expenditures it took to keep the other march guarded and to deal with incidents related to the otherworldly realm. Deciding which orphanage was the worthiest to receive the one-year fund was far more difficult. It was an ungrateful though charitable task that fell to Violant this year. Even after a short preceding investigation for filtering out all orphanages under a corrupt management, it was still hard enough to make a choice. How could she just choose one orphanage when there were at least ten others as worthy as the chosen one? The decision had to be made though, and so the young lady did although it left her with a feeling of guilt for all the equally worthy orphanages that had lost out. Just a moment later the silky Millicent entered the study. Bowing in front of her mistress, she reported: Milady, the margrave urgently requests your presence in the entrance hall. Violant wondered what might have happened to warrant her immediate attention while listening to her maid. Luckily she already had finished her current task, thus leaving her a little bit of leeway. Understood. the young lady replied You may return to whatever task you had been entrusted with before. The silky bowed again to signal that she had understood and then she left. Her mistress too set off for where her presence was needed. The entrance hall was a large open room with a Gothic rib vault as ceiling. It was located exactly opposite the castle gate and could be reached after crossing the castle courtyard. Violant was the last member of the Avallach family turning up there. Her uncle Orderic and the two brothers Parcie and Mortimer were already present and greeted her with a nod as she joined them. Shortly afterwards a carriage and four drove through the open gates on the courtyard covered with snow and made a circle before stopping with the carriage door exactly in line with the castle doors. The coachman jumped from the box and opened the coach door. This allowed a maid to get off who then took the coachmans place to offer whoever was still inside her hand to facilitate exiting. A foot wearing an expensive but ugly leather crakow stepped out of the carriage, soon followed by a body so lavishly cloaked in a fur coat that the person within could hardly be seen, especially as the head was covered with a fur cap too. The only conclusion the clothing allowed was that the unexpected visitor was a woman but looking at the crest on the carriage the visitors identity soon became well known. Too well known for the Avallach siblings though, for they all grimaced when witnessing the arrival of their guest. The visitor, however, didnt notice this fact C or at least she had skin thick enough to outright ignore it. Assisted by her maid traversed the icy cobblestone courtyard and finally arrived in the entrance hall, spreading her arms wide and exclaiming: Dearest uncle, dear cousins, your favorite relative Euphemia has arrived to celebrate Midwinter with you! A slightly troublesome Festive Season (2): An unwelcome Relative Euphemia of Nussex was literally the last person the Avallachs wanted to see in the busy Midwinter season. She was the only daughter of Marquis Barnabas of Nussex, the younger brother of Orderics late wife Annota. Barnabas and his wife were unable to have more children. Therefore Euphemia was their everything and unfortunately spoiled rotten by her over-doting parents. Although her petite build, her big grey eyes, her upturned nose, and her golden locks were indescribably pretty, the beauty regretfully didnt extend to her character. At least youve got to hand it to her that her acting ability was able to cover up most of her flaws. In her own four walls, her selfishness and extravagance knew no bounds though. Dearest uncle, you look as dignified as ever. Euphemia greeted Orderic with a wide smile. When it came to Parcie she rather turned up her nose at him. Nonetheless she said amiably: Cousin Parcie, I see that you are as, uh, well-trained as ever? Going to Mortimer next, her attitude did a 180. My most beloved cousin Mortimer! Her smiling face was brighter than the sun. You are even more dashing than in my memories. My word! You must be the most desirable bachelor in the whole kingdom. If it hadnt already become clear from her attitude, Euphemia had a massive crush on Mortimer. Unfortunately it was unrequited C or rather a blessing for the margravial family who hardly couldnt stand having Euphemia around them at the moment, what more day in and out. Oh, nice to see you again, cousin Violant. the guest ended her greetings snippily. Euphemia regarded Violant as her rival in vying for Mortimers affection, the more so as the girls both were about the same age. It didnt matter how much the other might reject the idea. The feelings Mortimer and Violant had for each other were just at the level of normal siblings after all. The redhead reciprocated the dislike though, albeit for other reasons. She just couldnt stand her obnoxious cousin. Violant felt a massive headache coming, but even if she wouldve remembered the nuisances visit C in fact she hadnt C there was nothing she could do about it. The biggest headache surely would be Mortimers though. Although he obviously disliked Euphemia, even going as far as openly giving her the cold shoulder, he doubtlessly would be followed around all day by this bothersome admirer, much to his chagrin. Euphemia was like a whirlwind causing chaos wherever she went, be it intentional or unintentional. She likely hadnt done a single constructive thing in her whole life, and when, then it was something like half-hearted charity to keep up appearances. There was simply no way that Euphemia, selfish to the bones as she was, had a single charitable thought in her heart. Violant knit her eyebrows while looking at her face in the vanity mirror, checking it for wrinkles caused by stress. It had been three days since her distant cousins arrival, three very hard days for everyone in Avallach Castle. Euphemia just had to cheekily stick her nose where it doesnt belong, thus hindering the Midwinter preparations rather than helping out. Especially as she always knew everything better. In the capital this, in the capital that. That was her perpetual litany. Just that Avallach simply wasnt the capital and had other customs and traditions. Not that Euphemia would have been in the capital more than once or twice, but her mother Georgina of Herinald was the daughter of court nobles and had brought the style of the capital to Nussex. Just persevere, Milady. advised Abigail, the young ladys dumpy human maid who was taking care of her mistresss unruly morning hair at the moment. Then she continued spurting chatter as if she was well informed: Most likely Lady Euphemia will leave after Midwinter and not stay until New Year. We have precedents that she may well overstay her welcome C begging your pardon, Milady, even a single day of Lady Euphemia visiting is definitely a day too much C but not excessively. But we, lordship and servants alike, can count us happy that we dont have to deal with her on a daily basis. Have you seen Lady Euphemias maid, Milady? I have met her by chance in one of the corridors yesterday. What a poor thing she was! Her face was deadly pale as if from overworking, her eyes had lost all radiance, and she wore a resigned expression as if none of Lady Euphemias absurdities could surprise her anymore. The gods be blessed that we dont have to bear with her every single day! Violant chuckled. Abigail always knew how to lift her mood. Although the chatterbox of a maid always spouted a plethora of half-truths at best, she never had any malevolent intent and managed in her good-naturedness to disperse her mistresss sorrows. Although some of the utterances coming from Abigails mouth better shouldnt leave her ladys chambers, for some of her thoughtless words might come dangerously close to lse majest.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Thank you, Abigail. Violant expressed her gratitude. Her maids encouragement couldnt change the fact that she had been invited to a ladies afternoon party by Euphemia though. Even if or rather because the event was set to take place in the red haired girls own home, she had hardly the option to turn the invitation down. Although the afternoon party was designated as an event for socializing among relatives, its true agenda surely would be to remind Violant of her place in the (fictitious) competition for Mortimers heart. Dearest cousin, I am greatly delighted that you could find the time to accommodate this Euphemias whims. spoke the afternoon partys host with a big smile. Alone by stepping into the event venue, Violant felt how her smile she wore for courtesy was at risk of cramping. Euphemia had managed in a matter of hours to turn Avallach Castles fireplace room, originally the late margravines womans chamber, into something indescribably, well, Euphemia-ish. The whole room was lavishly decorated with velvet and silk as if to show the hosts superiority. Violant only felt completely dumbfounded though. The pleasure is all mine. the margravial young lady replied I hardly could stand to wait for this afternoon since you have gone through all the trouble to prepare all this just for me, dearest Euphemia. What she really meant to say was this though: You think I would voluntarily show up to your stupid afternoon party if it wasnt for you consistently pestering me since yesterday morning? Dream on! If it was up to me Id rather concern myself with my part of the Midwinter preparations which are coming to a standstill since you had to drag me to your useless socializing event. Go home already, you pain in the neck. Please take a seat. said Euphemia, giving the perfect host. Her smile was as faked as her cousins though. In preparation of this event I have brought sweets and pastries with me that are highly sought after even in the capital. I hope you enjoy. Accordingly she thought: You have done well to turn up, you devils child. Now lets do some straight talking. You will never get even a single hair of my Mortimer! Violant continued her act, gracefully taking a seat on the chair near the fireplace room and tasting the pastries. Lady Alses pain-in-the-neck etiquette lessons had borne fruit after all. Truly exquisite! she adjudged. Isnt it? Euphemia inquired I could hardly wait to see your pleased face, dearest cousin. Ha! Can you now see the irreconcilable difference between us, you country bumpkin? I really have to thank you for this treat. But if the chance arises you must definitely taste our local specialties too. I can guarantee that they wont lose out to whatever the capital has to offer. Violant cringed internally while trying to play a blas young noble lady. But it would only be one afternoon, for lowering herself on Euphemias level was still preferable compared to confronting her head-on and just fueling her delusions of superiority. Her true thoughts were: Dont you dare believing that Avallach is just some backwater place even if we dont have the strongest ties to the capital culturally. Dont forget that we are cutting-edge regarding trends from the other march. Those trends are reaching the capital sooner or later after all. And more importantly, how dare you think about what would be your future home if you were to marry Mortimer. Not that he would take you as his wife even if you were the last woman alive though. Dearest Violant, you can be certain of many more such treats when I am your sister-in-law. As if! I will marry Mortimer and then I will see to it that Avallach becomes the second capital in its splendor. Get lost, you uncouth barbarian. For you and that creepy demons pack there will no place in my love nest. That would be quite welcome. That is, if you manage to win my brothers heart though. You surely are dreaming! Avallach simply has no need to be the second capital. We are responsible for the other march and that is our very pride. You always try to woo my brother but you dont put his thoughts and ideals in your eyes at all. The day he marries you is the day of the apocalypse! Ohohohoho, you must be joking. Cant you see that we are already very much in love? Cant you see that I have already won, you nuisance. Go crawl back into that hole in the other march were you originally have come from. Mortimer wont marry you until hell freezes over. Get that into your stupid head once and for all, you useless waste of space. Avallach doesnt need an unbelievably incompetent margravine like you who only knows how to spend money like water and to play pretend with her little noble lady friends while looking with contempt at the territory she should help govern. You might be right that he would rather marry me, his sister, than some kind of louse like you. Not that I have any interest in it though. Who with her head at the right place would voluntarily marry her sibling, even if he might in fact be her cousin? You better get lost, you scarecrow, for there will be no hope for you until the end of days. Oh my! When will the wedding take place, dearest Euphemia? Pray tell. Euphemia suddenly fell silent, her mouth agape like that of a carp, tears welling up in her big eyes. Only then did Violant realize that she had managed to accidentally leak her true thoughts. The insulted girl stood up, shivering all over. Then she pointed at her opposite with an exasperated gesture and threatened with a tearful voice: I will make you pay for todays humiliation, you spawn of the devil! Mark my words! You will come to regret deeply that you have taken me lightly and insulted me with such vicious intent! Immediately after she had spoken, Euphemia stormed off. She surely would try to cry her heart out at Mortimers side in an attempt to appeal to him by invoking pity and sympathy. Violant, however, stayed back in a dumbstruck state. She never would have thought that the afternoon party would end in such a way due to her carelessness, although she had expected some kind of clat since the whole event was organized with ulterior motives in the first place. A slightly troublesome Festive Season (3): A long-yearned-for Departure Since the unsuccessful afternoon party, whenever Violant encountered Euphemia by chance, she was glared at. The redhead had even tried to apologize for what had happened but the other girl didnt even want to listen to her. Well, Violants apology hadnt been sincere since she had said what she really thought after all, and Euphemia knew that. Even worse, Mortimer, when confronted with a teary Euphemia, had in fact agreed to what Violant had said, thus furthering the insulted girls resentment. In her eyes, it was all that devil childs fault that her beloved Mortimer didnt like her anymore, for Violant had to warp his senses with her venomous tongue. Euphemia would never forgive her. Euphemias increased resentment was inconsequential for Violant though. Although it might lead to a little bit of hassle in family matters, it didnt affect the big picture. Even in the returnees last lifetime Euphemia never had married Mortimer. In fact he had married some Viscounts daughter experienced with fief administration simply for conveniences sake and also had some children with her. Violant didnt know any details since this had happened after she had cut ties with her family and she had chanced upon this information several years later. She didnt know at all what Euphemias later fate had been but she never got involved with any members of the royal family in the time Violant had been married to Gervase and seemed to have withdrawn from noble society altogether. Despite all her resentment, Euphemia stayed in Avallach for Midwinter, mainly for her fruitless efforts to regain Mortimers affection she never had had in the first place. In the process she seemed to develop at least a rudimentary ability of reading the mood and thus hindered the Midwinter preparations less frequently than before, a fact all inhabitants of Avallach Castle were deeply thankful for. It was Violant who was thanked for the taming of the shrew rather than Mortimer though. In such an environment where the pre-festival workload was reduced to manageable amounts again, the festival preparation successfully came to a timely conclusion. On Midwinter day itself the servants worked in shifts to afford them a day with as little work as possible, for the festival was not only a joyous day for the lordship but also and likely even foremost one for the subordinates. The kitchen staff, however, was excluded from this grace since they had to prepare the holiday meal for the whole castle. The margrave and his family including their guest assembled in the dining hall where a tall fir tree had been erected and where the walls were decorated with green garlands of holly. Both evergreen plants symbolized the perseverance of vegetation in the bleak winter season and the promise of the gods that springtime should return as long as there were still bushes and trees holding on to their leaves. The long dining table was laden with a great variety of all delicacies available in winter and surrounded by the servants who once a year were allowed to dine at the same table as their masters. A crackling fire in the big fireplace ensured a cozy warm atmosphere. Wine and beer flowed freely and the tipsy merrymakers could count on the leniency of their lord as long as they didnt lose their bearings completely. Violant also decided to thoroughly enjoy the one day of the year where all feuds were adjourned, charity was the order of the day, and sympathy was given even to your archenemy. To her great joy the governess Lady Alse, although present too and even more prim and proper than at any other day by wearing her finest dress and having carefully pinned-up her straw blonde hair, willingly turned a blind eye to all violations of etiquette her student might show. Violants vindication was that her etiquette wasnt lacking at all. In fact it was just that the governess was rather meticulous regarding the intricacies of noble society.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. The girls magic teacher Eibhlin, a stunning elven beauty with a voluptuous body, beautiful almost floor-length silky blonde hair, and the typical long pointed ears of elves, managed to get so drunk that she began to climb on the table and started a magic show all by herself. The fire magic she released into the air resembled intricate fireworks but ultimately set the fir tree ablaze. Later on Eibhlin was banned from any kind of alcohol since she had such a low alcohol tolerance. Old Alarun also had joined the festivities although big crowds really werent hers. As soon as she entered, she was already monopolized by Doctor Wace and his assistant Ottiwell who did their best to serve the revered schrat healer. When she thought that the hustle and bustle went too far, she excused herself and left. Later some stable hand told that he had seen the hoary woman celebrating Midwinter in the stables with Huwcyn and night-raven Hraban who had joined them. Exploiting the fact that Midwinter was also known as a festival of love, Euphemia sought to endear herself further to Mortimer. But considering Mortimers dislike for her it was a pointless endeavor. Normally she would have blamed this on Violant but given the joyous occasion she didnt do so C at least not openly. In such a manner the inhabitants of Avallach Castle passed the Midwinter holidays and New Years Day approached. The Avallach family saw Euphemia off at the very same place where they had welcomed her several days prior: in the entrance hall. Orderics niece was completely covered in fur clothing again since it was still as bitterly cold as it had been during her arrival. The snowfall had ceased for the last two or three days, but it had now begun to snow heavily again at the present. Reluctantly I must leave you know. Euphemia spoke, shedding some false tears although at least her reluctance to part with Mortimer was real. Although I would have loved to greet the new year together with you, I have promised my dear mother that we would enjoy the festivities while bathing in the famous thermal springs of Sulia. During this dreadful season there is nothing as important as taking care of your health after all. So they watched Euphemia leave, glad that they wouldnt have to meet the obnoxious nuisance for at least a couple of months. At the latest they would reunite in October of next year when both girls would have their social debut in the capital following their sixteenth birthdays. Euphemia couldnt stand the fact that she was younger than Violant though, for the formers birthday was in October but the latters in September. Hearing her cousin talking about the hot springs in the duchy of Sulia, by the way the fief of the chief ministers family, Violant couldnt escape the feeling that she had forgotten an important future event connected to the famous recreation spo,t but no matter how much she tried to remember, she didnt seem able to. In the middle of the night the girl woke up. Finally she remembered what had bothered her. The event she did think about didnt take place in the thermal springs themselves but during the journey there. The concerned party was Prince Wynkin, the kings eighth son. The very same boy who would show symptoms of berserk syndrome and thus be put to death. In fact the outbreak of the boys disease was the very event Violant couldnt seem to remember. Sometime in late April of next year Prince Wynkin would travel to Sulia to treat his perpetually sickly body but would experience the starting symptoms of berserk syndrome while on the way. Thus he never would reach the hot springs but return to the capital as a cold corpse. The returnee thought about it for a moment. Berserk syndrome was said to be incurable and the idea of insanity coupled with unimaginable strength and invulnerability spread fear in the hearts of the people. But now she had Alarun, an existence who could cure illnesses deemed incurable by even the best human doctors. If the schrat managed to heal the young prince from his affliction, the very boy who was the queens and her married daughters apple of the eye, wouldnt that be the chance to have the royal family indebted to her she desperately was looking for? Of course, the first thing she had to do was affirming that Alarun could indeed cure berserk syndrome. Violant made a short mental note to ask the hoary woman tomorrow about this matter and turned around in her bed to fall asleep again. Soon only gentle, even breaths could be heard in her chamber. The Miracle that was an elaborate Plan instead (1): Preparations and Observations Before you know it winter was replaced by spring already and December turned into April. Violant had made her nightly plans a reality and had asked Alarun if she was able to cure berserk syndrome. It depends on how you define curing it, child. the elderly schrat had replied Well, I once have developed a remedy for berserk syndrome because I was friends with a human boy who was affected by it. What was his name again? Ah, yes. He was called Heardred. Whatever! The medicine will not stop the manifestation of berserk syndrome. As soon as the first symptoms appear, an irreversible process begins to change the affected persons body and causes his blood to boil. I managed, however, to develop a remedy capable of numbing the unbearable pain the evolving berserk is experiencing quite effectively, if I do say so myself. Additionally it also can prevent the berserks loss of sanity. It must be taken on a daily basis to have the desired effect though. Only after the berserk has gone through puberty there is no further danger of relapsing into insanity. During puberty though, when treated with my remedy regularly, the future berserk goes through his changes like any other pubescent. Only that he might be a little more aggressive and restless because of his boiling blood but that is nothing when compared to a common berserks insanity, isnt it? When the young lady had first heard this answer back in December, she had been completely dumbfounded. The not so inconsequential fact aside that Alarun seemingly was personally acquainted with the mythical founder king Heardred who was known for his superhuman strength and invulnerability in all battles, there was a surefire way to treat the berserk syndrome. But one question still had bothered the girl. So you mean that a berserk can successfully be saved from insanity while acquiring a berserks other features such as invulnerability, superhuman strength, and increased height under full control of his rationality? Violant had inquired. Indeed. the healer had affirmed her assessment. Hearing this confirmation, the redhead couldnt help but show a very big smile heavy with meaning while the plan had crystallized further in her mind. It appeared, much to Violants joy, that among the ingredients needed for Alaruns special anti-berserk medicine, every single one of them was a weed that could be found virtually everywhere, thus ensuring a steady supply. The methods used for pill concoction were also generally known to humans, although the pills produced by the schrat herself were still many times more effective in releasing the agent. Alarun had purposely chosen to process the remedy as a pill, for it was much easier to store and transport in large amounts than a liquid potion also intended for oral intake. It remained a mystery why the formula for such an easily obtainable remedy had been lost to humanity. Had Heardred kept the secret for himself or had the recipe simply gotten lost in the chaos of time? It was impossible to tell in hindsight. Alarun willingly had accepted when she was asked by Violant to disclose the medicines formula and to produce it as soon as the necessary ingredients were available again. The young lady had only vaguely hinted that there was some future berserk with his ailment still dormant who she wanted to help. The hoary woman, prudent as she was, didnt ask much and focused on the task she was given instead, managing to produce quite a stock of ominously dark violet colored round pills until the midst of April. Violant planned to save Prince Wynkin from berserk syndrome or at least from the need of being put to death because of it. By saving the young royal she hoped to win no less a figure than Queen Berengaria, Wynkins mother herself, as her royal backer. That the princes doting older sister Mabel was the chief ministers wife could also only be a perk. Procuring medicine was but only the first step of the returnees plan though. The red-haired girl knew that Prince Wynkins first manifestation of berserk syndrome would happen sometime in late April while travelling to the hot springs of Sulia, but neither knew she the exact time nor the exact place. If she came too late and Prince Wynkin had already been executed, then all her preparations would come to nothing. To prevent this, Violant sat down and wrote a letter to Banadietrich, the leader of the wild hunt. When she rose from her desk, the girl called out for Hraban. The night-raven came flying sluggishly, for it was still daytime and he got just woken up from her call. The letter tied to its leg, in such way the young lady allowed the dark bird to fly from her window. Hraban, blinded by the sunlight, fluttered away. Since the big black bird was a very intelligent animal, it knew where to go just by listening to Violants instructions. Although Hraban couldnt speak himself and only managed to produce eerie calls, he was very well capable of understanding human language when taught, and the young lady as well as her vampire butler Malford had seen to it ever since the night-raven had come to Avallach Castle. The kingdoms common language was different from the one normally used by the wild hunt after all.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Two days later two huntsmen of the wild hunt reported to Violant in the middle of the night. Malford was furious about the two intruders but let them be after his mistress had explained her relationship to the wild hunt and that both had come under her retainers, Banadietrich the nachtj?gers order. The two ghosts on horseback appeared quite like normal humans as far as the diverse crowd of the wild hunt was concerned. They were still eerie though. While one of them, Rambold, was no different than other humans although possibly quite uncouth, the other, Waldolf, was insofar unusual as he wore his head not on his shoulders but loosely under his arm. Hraban returned together with the two wild huntsmen. Good that you have come. Violant welcomed the ghosts with a smile although she was inwardly grossed out from their repulsive blood-splattered appearances. She made it her credo to evaluate others only based on their actions. That a beautiful exterior didnt necessarily mean an equally beautiful character, that fact she had learned on the hard way thanks to Gervase. And yet the tomboyish girl never had given much for a persons looks even in her last lifetime. Good looks didnt directly equate to competence after all. I am sure the nachtj?ger has chosen you two after careful consideration. the young lady continued You may first listen to what I have to tell you before deciding if you really are willing to take the mission I am about to assign to you. It is by no means an easy feat I will ask of you after all. Should you decide against it, I will see to it that there will be no repercussions for you when you return to Mt. Hackelberg. Now about the mission: I want you two to permanently monitor the happenings around the kingdoms eighth prince, Wynkin. Beware of the fact, however, that the royal palace is excessively protected against unauthorized use of magic and magic interference of all kinds. Sometime at the end of April Prince Wynkin will set out on a voyage, the destination being the thermal springs of Sulia. When he does, please inform me. I know that the wild huntsmen can ride as fast as the wind. It should be no problem for you to inform me immediately. Then follow him further and observe his state thoroughly. It is of utmost importance that I manage to get to him before his travel escort realizes that he is beginning to show symptoms of berserk syndrome. When even the slightest change appears in him, then inform me without delay and guide me there. I am ready to go at a moments notice. Now decide. Do you want to take this mission? We will take on the mission. the wild huntsmen declared with unearthly voices. Waldolf even remarked how it would be an interesting diversion, for they hadnt sat on watch for a long time now. Most members of the wild hunt were known to be impatient and cruel fellows who didnt understand the subtle joys of hunting from the raised hide. Not that they would cull some game though. When the ghostly visitors had left, Malford, who had been present the whole time, shook his head in amazement. You honestly leave me completely baffled, Milady. he admitted I am a loyal retainer of the house of Avallach since at least five generations and never have I seen an Avallach having the wild hunt at their back and call. It is without precedent. I would really love to know at what point in time you have established such ties, whats more, when exactly you have formulated such a daring plan and how you might have attained such precarious information. But doing so would mean overstepping my boundaries as Miladys personal butler. Allow me just one question, Milady. How do you actually plan to reach His Highness when time is of the essence? Violant smiled, unsure if she should reveal this part of her plan, for she could already imagine the vampire being strictly against it. In the end she disclosed the information though. I plan to use the pathways. she answered. The pathways were an especially treacherous part of the other march. In fact it was a terribly tortuous path network stretching over the whole of the other march. Using the pathways allowed you to cross huge distances in a negligible amount of time since the concept of space and time itself was highly contorted, but that was also the danger associated with its use. If you lost your way, you would wander around aimlessly for eternity, or even in the rare case that you were able to leave the pathways again, centuries might have passed in the outside world, be it the other march or the world of humans. Thus it was imperative to never stray from your path when using the pathways because the consequences would be unpredictable if you ever did. The pathways?! Malford repeated in exasperation, his high voice reaching an unpleasant grating pitch. Milady, you Oh, forget it! Even I can see how there is no way around traversing the pathways when you want to turn your plan into reality. Only this once I will cast aside my doubts and allow you to go through with your questionable undertaking, Milady, but only if you allow me to accompany you. I have traversed the pathways plenty of times already but one shouldnt dare this endeavor without a grave reason, which, I admit, is on hand this time around. But I never will compromise Miladys safety. Hearing the positive reply, Violant thanked her butler sincerely. There was no doubt that Malford prioritized her wellbeing over even his own life. Why else should he have tried to save her from the stake when everything was already lost? Having the vampire as an ally in her endeavor could only be a good idea. The Miracle that was an elaborate Plan instead (2): Taking Action Friday, 26th April in the 35th year of King Baldwins reign was the day when Violant should take action. She was on pins and needles for the last few days already, wondering when the long awaited moment would arrive. The young lady currently had magic lessons with her elven teacher Eibhlin. The gorgeous woman explained some intricacies concerning the use of wind element in combination with the element of darkness. All of a sudden the windows opened clatteringly and a wild gust of wind entered throwing the hair of the two women into disorder. When the wind slowly abated, a person kneed before Violant. It was Rambold, one of her subordinates from the wild hunt. The other wild huntsman, the headless Waldolf, had stayed back to continue observing the situation, having his head placed directly but invisibly in the targets carriage. The time has come, Ms. Violant. Rambold informed as courteous as an uncouth wild huntsman was able. Prince Wynkin shows signs of discomfort, cramps and uncontrollable trembling. I believe it will be time any moment. Thanks. Violant nodded curtly Lead the way, Rambold. Ms. Eibhlin, Im sorry but we have to cancel the lesson now. I am urgently needed elsewhere. Then she took off, leaving a completely flabbergasted elf behind. Eibhlin, shocked out of her wits by the sudden appearance of one of the much dreaded wild huntsmen, needed quite some time to be able to collect herself again, and even then she remained sitting on the floor, all strength lost from her legs. Meanwhile Violant stormed to Alaruns chamber, caring no bit about the surprised looks and angry shouts of those whose ways she crossed without any consideration. Yanking the door to the elderly healers room open, she shouted: The berserk remedy! Fast! The hoary woman pointed at a little bag on her workbench and replied cool-headedly: The amount you need now is in here. You can get the rest at a later moment. Remember, give only one pill! Resort to giving two only when the patient doesnt show any signs of relief after waiting for about twenty of your pulse-beats. The young lady nodded as a sign that she had understood, said her thanks shortly and was off again. Arriving at the stables, Violant found that she was already expected. Malford had already saddled and brought out Huwcyn. Apparently he had heard about his mistresss hectic and had counted one and one together. The girl mounted as fast as she could and helped her butler doing so too. Since the childish looking vampire had said he would accompany Violant into the pathways, he had to ride together with her. If the water horse got serious, no common horse could catch up with him despite his short legs.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. And off they went! Huwcyn galloped straight across the caste courtyard. The dumbfounded guards at the gates had not even a moment to react before the ceffyl dwr already had stormed past the gate. At breakneck speed they hurried down the castle hill and turned their backs on Avallach town. Somewhere in between they were joined by Rambold on his horse. Follow me, Ms. Violant. the wild huntsman prompted his liege. Soon they went completely off the road, crossing the invisible borders of the other march. The pathways in the other march were, at first glance, an entwined system of not too spacious tunnels formed from soil, rocks or completely interwoven trees and shrubs, which were occasionally forking off other paths. The whole of the pathways was shrouded in an everlasting darkness sometimes shortly brightened by a single beam of light here and there. Violant could imagine quite well how easy it was to go astray under such conditions. Luckily for her though, all her companions were experienced using the pathways one way or the other. The young lady had to squint her eyes when she suddenly got overwhelmed by bright light when leaving the pathways. Although it felt as if the girl and her companions had travelled for hours on end, in fact it had been just a few second. That was the unbeatable advantage of using the pathways C if you knew how to take them at least. The environment they were in had changed drastically following their travel through the pathways. Had the other march around Avallach appeared quite like a normal forest C not as shrouded in fog and eerily silent as the one around Wuldington C now they found themselves on a meadow full of flower, surrounded by trees in full leaf causing a spotted pattern of sunlight and shadow. The meadow itself, if it could be called such, rather resembled a kind of sieve, the blooming grassy stretches of land forming the grid, and the deep blue ponds enclosed forming the holes. Those ponds looked like bottomless blue pits though, and Violant shivered while imagining what might be hiding in their depths. Ms. Violant, this way! Rambold lead the way. The exit of the otherworlds invisible border was just across the sieve-like meadow. The human world outside was a forest again, similarly sun-filled. Huwcyn flaunted his ability of travelling with a steady high speed over hedge and ditch but he had to try earnestly nonetheless to not be left behind by the wild huntsmans steed. Rambold hurried them along the more the nearer they came to their destination. Violants expression became tenser and tenser by the second. What if they came too late in spite of all the preparations and precautions she had so carefully set up? What if Prince Wynkin was already killed as a berserk the moment they reached his location? At least the young lady had full trust in Alaruns medical prowess. During the few months the elderly schrat had stayed in Avallach now, she even had cured the most hopeless illnesses and healed the trickiest injuries. Violant had been among the hoary womans patients not only once or twice owed to her desire to reach the martial prowess she had in her previous lifetime as soon as possible, especially as she had the tendency to run in dangerous situations while in the other march. Finally the highway came in sight in between the trees. But at the same time the travelers also heard excited and agitated shouts, coupled with an atmosphere of unrest. Rambold didnt wait any longer and rode on ahead to join his companion Waldolf as well as to find out the actual state of affairs. Violant felt her stomach cramping, her heart filled with uneasy premonitions. Please hurry, Huw. she said tensely. The ceffyl dwr snorted in exasperation because he was already at his limits but tried his best nonetheless. Soon they would know how it stood about Prince Wynkin and their undertaking. The Miracle that was an elaborate Plan instead (3): Rescue Mission On the tree-lined highway there stood a luxurious carriage with the royal coat of arms affixed to it. It was surrounded by a dozen or so knights also sporting the royal crest C a rampant crowned golden griffin on a royal purple background C but strangely enough they had directed their weapons at the person they ought to protect. The coachman had sought refuge at the nearby forest edge together with the horses he had hastily unhitched from the vehicle. He was accompanied by the princes personal maid whose terrified face had gone pale with fright. Prince Wynkin himself had seemingly fallen out of the carriage, seized by violent spasms, frothing from his mouth, the eyes rolled back so that the white color became visible, but shouting with pain all the same with an inhuman voice. It was a bizarre spectacle watching how the skinny, downright weedy boy who was quite small for his age C he was only as tall as a nine years old in spite of being almost thirteen C began to grow taller at a visible rate, his puny muscles twitching and bulging at the same time. The boys travel escorts had soon understood that they were witnessing a case of early berserk syndrome and thus tried to put an end to it before it was too late. A berserk could only easily be killed during his first growth spurt. Later attempts would be increasingly difficult or even impossible to achieve. It was currently impossible to reach the spastic changing prince though, for a violent gale hindered them from coming even remotely close to their target. Violant, who rapidly approached while riding Huwcyn and accompanied by Malford, saw with relief that Prince Wynkin was still alive. The cause of the heavy gale hindering the princes escorts from closing in and slaying their master was quickly identified by the girl. The phenomenon was caused by no other than Rambold and Waldolf, the two wild huntsmen, who guarded their surveillance target from his own subordinates. That Violant was able to see the two ghosts who had turned invisible was thanks to her silver eyes which not only gave evidence of her party nonhuman heritage but also were magical eyes giving her the sight, the ability to see through magical camouflage and illusions, albeit enabling her to see the invisible warriors only as shadowy figures. The red-haired girl closing in didnt remain unnoticed for long. Surprised by the suddenly approaching traveler, some of the flustered escort knight pointed their swords at the newcomers instead. The grey horse stopped right before the wall of shining blades, allowing his rider to dismount gracefully. Malford, who had jumped to the ground the very same moment Huwcyn had come to a stop, confronted the hostile knights with a furious expression and a fire of righteousness in his blood-red eyes C although, his childlike appearance didnt help supporting his intimidating aura. How dare you? he asked How dare you point your swords at Her Serene Highness Violant of Avallach, niece of His Serene Highness Margrave Orderic himself? Even for royal escort knights such an outrageous behavior will entail serious consequences, of that I assure you. The knights were flustered even more when hearing which illustrious personage had joined them. There could be no further doubt about the identity, for the style of Serene Highness was exclusively used for the margravial family, the marquises and marchionesses being addressed as Lordship or Ladyship respectively instead. But it couldnt be held against the knights that they had been unable to identify the newcomer at first glance. For one thing Violants official debut in noble society was still a matter of the future. Another thing was her getup, dressed in an ordinary plain dress of a pale blue color that might have been made of first-class fabric but was many times less conspicuous than even the dresses of a baronetess, the lowest ranked landed nobility in the kingdom. Now, now Malford. Violant spoke with a generous smile Please dont berate these gentlemen who are only acting according to their orders and obligations. It was shocking even to the ceffyl dwr and the vampire how the refined noble young lady differed from the tomboyish brat that she usually was. Please lower your weapons, honorable sirs. she continued, masterfully joining truth and lies inseparably together I have only come to help, alarmed by a little fairy who witnessed His Royal Highnesss most unusual state. As luck will have it, the healer of my retinue back in Avallach has recently developed a remedy for berserk syndrome. The medicine is still untested, I must admit, but I believe it is still the better choice compared to killing a member of the royal family. Listening to the young ladys statements, the guard captain couldnt help but believe her and agree. Who didnt know that the margravial house of Avallach had tight connections to the other march where nothing seemed impossible? Thus he signaled his men to sheath their swords again and to allow the noble lady to approach the afflicted prince. As soon as Violant neared the gale for a few steps, the roaring winds came completely to a halt. Unobstructed she closed in to the prince who was suffering even harder than before. Prince Wynking threw his body from one side to the other while howling in pain like a mindless beast. At one glance there was no chance for the girl to feed the nascent berserk any medicine even if she had some. But soon the rampaging Prince was confined to the ground as if pressed down by some strong invisible hands. Indeed, the two wild huntsmen had now come to aid the young lady without showing their appearances even once. Violant nodded gratefully before turning to her patient immediately. Wynkin was still throwing his head wildly around while frothing from the mouth. Malford, your help please. the redhead requested. The childlike butler came to her side, kneed on the ground and grasped the princes head with two hands, thus retaining it from moving any further. Wynkins escorts, when witnessing this scene, opened their eyes so wide in disbelief that their eyeballs nearly seemed in danger of falling out of their sockets. An elder vampires strength was nothing to scoff at after all. Then Violant opened the bag with the anti-berserk medicine, carefully took out one of the dark violet pills, and gently put it into the boys mouth. As he was at risk of spitting out the remedy directly after, the girl closed the princes jaws with all her might while paying attention to prevent him biting off his tongue. Soon the medicines effect became apparent. Wynkins facial expression relaxed visibly. He stopped frothing and his white eyes rolled back to their original position before being hidden beneath closed eyelids. The prince stopped his attempts of squirming around at the same time, instead lying on the ground almost motionlessly. His erratic breathing also normalized but the increased heart rate and pulse rate remained unchanged. The princes transformation was not over yet after all. He still continued to grow in both body height and muscle mass while being unconscious but free from his bone-splitting pain.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Violant rose to her feet after confirming her patients situation. Malford and the wild huntsmen also backed off. Then the young lady turned to the princes escort and began to explain: I am afraid that the changes His Royal Highnesss body is experiencing will prove to be permanent, for the process of berserkification can neither be stopped nor reversed. The only effect the remedy achieves is reducing the unbearable pain His Highness suffers and preventing him from falling into insanity. Both effects are permanent C at least as long as His Highness continues to take those pills I have given him on a daily basis until his berserk transformation is completed. This may very well take several years. For now I will wait with you for His Highness to regain consciousness before explaining any further. The escort knights and the other entourage appeared quite surprised but deeply grateful as well. The Princes maid thanked her masters savior while shedding tears of gratitude. The servant likely had witnessed her master growing up for many years and had thus formed a deep emotional connection to him. That the boy could be treated against berserk syndrome in such a timely fashion was nothing short of a veritable miracle. While waiting for Prince Wynkin to wake up, Violant now had the first real chance to closely observe the boy she had saved at least temporarily. His shining golden blond hair strongly reminded her of Gervase but she wouldnt hold it against the boy. Most of King Baldwins sons had inherited this hair color from their father after all. Wynkins current facial expression appeared deeply peaceful although his body was undergoing more changes than ever. The clothes the young royal had worn had long since been torn apart by his ever expanding body which now was covered by a large blanket the maid had taken from the carriage to preserve the princes dignity. It took almost an hour for the physical changes to come to a halt and for Prince Wynkin to wake up again. The boy had a terribly confused expression on his face when he found himself on the ground and, more importantly, when registering the changes his body had gone through. The sickly, short, and weedy boy he had been just one or two hours before existed no longer. Now he was literally bursting with health C a more than welcome side effect of the berserk syndrome C almost as tall as an ordinary grown-up man, and so brawny that it looked almost ridiculous on a twelve, almost thirteen years old boy still retaining a majority of his childish facial features if it hadnt been so imposing instead. The guard captain took on the task of explaining what exactly had happened to the prince. Violant took over when it came to the topic of his treatment. Here is the medicine I have given Your Royal Highness. She gave the bag full of pills to the boy curiously mustering her with big hazel eyes while attentively listening to her. Your Highness will need to take one of those pills daily for the time being, lest you turn into a mindless berserk posing a threat to all around you. To be honest, I dont know about their taste but I believe that my healer also took it into account since she is really capable. There is no other remedy for your affliction at the moment. Therefore please contact me if you are in danger of running out of medicine. I will then immediately arrange for new medicine to be produced. I ask Your Highness to pardon the fact that I am incapable of sending said healer to the palace to treat you directly but she is an especially hoary woman and any kind of voyage will likely take a huge toll on her health. Therefore I would prefer serving as your supplier instead. I will also soon supply you with more of the medicine since it was impossible for me to bring with me all that was already produced. Prince Wynkin nodded to signify his understanding and said: Thank you, Lady Violant. Thank you for the medicine too. I will surely tell mother about how you have helped me when I return home. His innocent, still childish way of expressing himself that was so unlike what you normally expected from a prince of this age only achieved to show how sheltered the youngest princes environment must have been, overflowing with the doting love of his mother the queen, his older sister, and their servants. Regarding the further continuation of the boys journey, it had in fact been decided that urgently returning to the capital now clearly took precedence over reaching the destination as planned. The margravial young lady then bid goodbye to return to Avallach with her companions, both visible and invisible ones. Her route back would also lead through the pathways because she was now more than a weeks journey away from home. After her return she had three, no four tasks she had to complete. She had to thank Rambold and Waldolf for their hard work and to give them leave again to return to the wild hunt. She had to tell old Alarun about the effectiveness of the medicine and had to look for her magic teacher Eibhlin to apologize for leaving so suddenly and also for giving her such a scare. Finally she had to report what had happened to her foster father Orderic. Not the whole truth, of course. Her connections with the wild hunt should best remain a secret for now, not to mention the memories of her past life. Prince Wynkin sat in the shaking carriage wearing some of the knights spare clothes since his own didnt fit him any longer. The maid sitting across from him was deeply asleep, seemingly overcome with fatigue after the precarious situation had been solved in the best way possible. The prince shortly patted the bag of pills. The expression on his face didnt show the slightest sign of the childish innocence and naivet he had sported before. A cold light shone in his eyes that now appeared rather calculating. The childlike Prince Wynkin was nothing more than a mask, an extremely elaborate one though. Being the queens only son and the chief ministers brother-in-law was reason enough for some people to be after his life. That he had no interest in succeeding the throne and that he was placed lower than his other brothers in the line of succession was of no consequence for those schemers. Especially since the boys former frailty was caused by his extremely high magic aptitude putting a massive strain on his body. Thus he had to grow-up mentally faster than normal children and was likely even more cunning than any other prince. That Wynkin disguised himself as a harmless child had two major reasons: One was to keep his enemies in the dark about his true capabilities, the other to not worry his mother any sister any more than they already did. For a short moment Wynkins irises changed their color from hazel to golden. Then he spoke with a cold voice: Dryp, come out now. I know that you are there. Dont forget that I can see you even if you turn invisible. Dryp had no chance against the golden eyes which enabled its owner to the highest grade of the sight, meaning they could see through all magical illusions and invisibility as clear as day, which was even better than Violants silver eyes. Thus she decided to appear visibly. The maid stood under the influence of a sleeping spell anyway and nobody would look inside any time soon. Dryp was the name of a tiny, extremely beautiful fairy no bigger than a bumblebee, with delicate limbs, shiny transparent wings reminiscent of a dragonflys, and curly long auburn hair she had plaited into braids coiled around her head like crown. Her dress appeared to be made from flower petals. Now, Dryp. I have heard that a fairy has asked that Violant of Avallach for help. It wasnt you, was it? Wynkin asked sharply. No, no. Definitely not! the fairy demented with waving arms. It must be those fellows from the wild hunt who have told her about me. Makes sense. the prince asserted Thanks to you confronting them we also already knew about me showing signs of berserk syndrome. Well, I was still skeptical before it actually happened but at least we were prepared. I must say it is intriguing. How did that girl already know what would happen? Well, it doesnt matter. Now that I know about her I will have enough time to learn about her everything. She could prove a crucial chess piece for my plans after all, not that I would mind assisting her myself for the one or other of her plans in exchange though. She is my benefactor after all. The corners of Wynkins lips slowly began to rise, ultimately forming a smile that couldnt be described as anything other than pure evil. Witnessing this smile, Dryp shuddered all over. The sly prince only showed this smile when somebody had picked his interest. The fairy offered the lady of Avallach her condolences, for Prince Wynkin would never let go of her as sure as the jaws of hell never would open again for a sinner they had devoured once. Invited to the Capital (1): A Letter arrives and two Siblings depart Violants days following her rescue of Prince Wynkin were nothing out of the ordinary. Avallach was the same as ever, although only locals would regard the margraviates capital as something normal for it was likely the most extraordinary place in the whole kingdom. The returnee furthered her studies, both fancied and unloved ones, helped out with the margravial management and also managed to find some time to visit her friends. At the moment, it was a day in early May, she was preoccupied with embroidery under Lady Alses hawk-eyed supervision. No, no, Milady! the governess sighed, her amber eyes looking sternly at her student. Lady Alse resembled a reputable matron due to her wearing her straw blonde hair strictly tied up in an unadorned bun and wearing a long black dress with a high collar. Combined with her stern countenance only rarely showing the hint of a smile, she appeared more like an embittered widow in her sixties rather than the unwed 36 years old woman she actually was. But her strictness couldnt be held against her when faced with such difficult students like Violant or C even worse C Parcie. At this point it is necessary to use cross stitch, Milady. I am sure I have demonstrated you how to do so. The governesss student flashed an apologetic smile. She was simply extremely bad when it came to embroidery. Even comparing the needle with the spear she had used to weave bloody lines in the cloth of the battlefield during the civil war was useless. Analogies didnt help her getting any better. The most problematic point was that noble ladies were expected to personally embroider the textiles forming a part of their dowries, and Violant was no exception of course. In her last lifetime it ultimately didnt matter because she had married Gervase without any dowry after falling out with her family. This time around she had absolutely no ambitions of renouncing her family ties though. Thus, the embroidery problem was as pressing as ever, especially as her social debut was fast approaching and hence also her marriageable age. The door opened and head butler Lawrence entered. The simply impeccable middle-aged black-haired man shortly bowed and then he reported: Lord Orderic wishes to speak to you without any delay, Lady Violant. He is currently expecting you in his study. Afterwards he directly left again. Head butler was an incredibly busy position after all. Oh. was Violants first reaction. Then she stood up, curtsied to the governess, and spoke: You have heard Mr. Lawrence. If my father is urgently expecting me then it wont do to let him wait any longer. I am truly sorry that we have to cut short our embroidery lesson but such matters better are not left unattended for long. Lady Alse watched her student leaving and shook her head. She thought: I know as well as you do, Milady, that you are actually far from being sorry but in light of the circumstances you will be pardoned nonetheless. Then she sat down to continue embroidering the piece Violant had worked on before. She often did so because it hurt her heart thinking about the state the young ladys dowry would be in if she didnt secretly help out from time to time. As the daughter of a fallen baron house she never had even had the chance to experience a wedding befitting a barons rank due to having her engagement annulled after the downfall of her family. She even had been forced to sell all of her dowry just to stay alive, save only for a handkerchief embroidered with her and her fiancs initials. Now she would look after her protg like the mother Violant had never known to make sure of a successful wedding ceremony as long as she remained the governess. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. When Violant arrived in her foster fathers study, Orderic stood behind his desk, a letter in hand. The crimson wax seal on the parchment envelope bore the royal crest and the letter was explicitly addressed at his daughter. A letter has arrived for you. the margrave said, his expression unusually grave. I havent opened it yet. It is addressed to you after all. After what you have done, it should come as no surprise that you got to hear from the palace. Open the letter and see for yourself. The girl nodded and received the letter. Being contacted from the royal palace was nothing out of her expectations since she had saved a princes life after all. The handwriting on the envelope appeared quite elegant. After opening the envelope and unfolding the letter within, the young lady read it attentively. The following was written: Honored Lady Violant, We wish to express Our heartfelt gratitude for your selfless action of saving Our dearest son Wynkin in spite of the danger to life and limb you most likely were exposed to while treating him. Our son and his escorts have given detailed account of your unparalleled deeds. Listening to their explanations, We felt the profound wish of showing our gratitude personally. No written word can ever adequately describe Our never-ending gratitude for the miracle you have made possible. To have the chance of personally expressing Our gratitude, We would hence like to invite you to Kingsborough. Remaining eternally grateful, Berengaria of Ealdon After reading it, Violant silently handed the letter to her uncle. This is effectively a summoning to the capital. the margrave voiced his opinion You dont have much of a choice in this matter. The earlier you set out, the better. Since you never have been to the capital all your life, seeing as it is still before your social debut, it wont do to have you go on your own. As luck will have it, Mortimer is already scheduled to travel to the capital as my proxy in a few days time. Thus we will prepone his journey and have him accompany you. Kingsborough is nothing like Avallach. It is a populous city even more bustling than our town here and it is too easy to get lost, being stolen from or to rub someone the wrong way. You better follow what Mortimer will tell you. Violant nodded obediently, inwardly showing a big smile. Orderic couldnt fathom that his foster daughter knew the capital like the back of her hand. She had lived there for several years in her past lifetime after all. Nonetheless she decided to obey her foster fathers words, for he did only mean well. Three days later, Violant turned up at the castle courtyard. The travel preparations at short notice had successfully come to an end. A carriage sporting the crest of the Avallach family C a silver cockatrice impaled by a sword on a green background C had been prepared. Not for Violant though, as she would travel riding on Huwcyn, but for Mortimer. The reason was that the designated heir of the margrave couldnt ride, if not for is lack of physical abilities but rather from being severely disliked by horses. When asked about this, Huwcyn couldnt find a plausible reason. He would only allow Violant on his back though. Both siblings would be accompanied by one servant each, Mortimer by his personal butler Andrew who served as the coachman at the same time, and Violant by her silky maid Millicent. It was simply unthinkable to entrust obligations such as dressing the lady to a male servant like Malford. Just the thought alone was already improper after all. I wish you a good and uneventful travel, my dear children. spoke Orderic Mortimer, I leave Violant in your care. You already know what to do and what not to do in the capital, for Kingsborough is quite the peculiar place. Violant, dont get too intimidated when facing the splendor of the royal palace for the first time. I know the palace appears so grand that it seems absolutely unearthly for first-timers but showing your astonishment or tension too openly means showing your weak points to those who bear ill-will against you. Courtiers are a treacherous and cunning pack, the whole lot of them. Be careful but dont forget your pride as an Avallach. Thank you, father. the girl said with a grateful smile. Nobody knew better than her what a dangerous place the palace really was. It was a place of veneer, pretense and hypocrisy, a place appearing as beautiful as heaven itself but soon found to be rotten beyond help when you stated scratching at the surface. You can entrust this to me with a light heart, father. Mortimer promised. Then he boarded the carriage while his foster sister mounted the water horse. After waving at those gathered to watch their departure, they set out on their voyage bound for Kingsborough, the kingdoms bustling center unparalleled in both its splendor and its wretchedness. Invited to the Capital (2): About swift Travels and sudden Surprises The journey of Violant and Mortimer proceeded satisfyingly without any major problems. The distance between Avallach and the capital took approximately two weeks to traverse and they already travelled for five days now. The route itself was well planned, for they managed every single day to reach a settlement where they would spend the night at the local inn. Although insisting on treatment befitting their social status as nobles, the margravial siblings nonetheless readily compromised if the service was somewhat lacking since they acknowledged the innkeepers honest efforts. The day before, they had met some obnoxious viscount though, who had given the publican and his staff a very hard time and would surely have continued to pester the commoners with his excessive demands, had Mortimer not stepped up as a mediator. How the viscount had groveled when faced with the margraves designated heir! But that was just the way many nobles were like after all: nearly drowning in overflowing luxuries, arrogantly looking down on those ranked below them but sycophantically bootlicking those ranked above. But there were also decent nobles who were upright and moderate in their actions. Without those nobles, the kingdom long since would have sunken into anarchy. The Avallachs and most of their close acquaintances were indisputably part of the latter faction consisting of capable feudal lords and government workers. It was quite fresh although the sun was shining. Large puddles in the potholed cobblestone road were testament to the fact that the last bit of rainfall hadnt been more than half an hour ago. Violant wore a hooded raincoat. She had sat the rainfall out while riding on her water horses back. Huwcyn was completely drenched, leaving water droplets wherever he went, but that didnt concern him much. The stallion was a denizen of the other march whose natural habitat was the depth of the waterbodies. As such, he was resistant against the dampness his drenched fur brought about and surely wouldnt fall ill from the humidity and the brisk wind ruffling through his fur. The travelers inside the coach had it better since they were safe from the grasp of the elements. Only poor Andrew serving as the coachman had to personally brave the torrents of water falling from the sky. The rain clouds were now gone though. It had been quite a while since Violant, Mortimer and their servants had encountered another human soul. Most likely other travelers had sought shelter from the rain. The only ones bustlingly out and about were the birds singing at the top of their voices and the insects buzzing around on their search for pollen and nectar. The gloomy dark spruce trees on both sides of the road nonetheless facilitated the spread of a dark atmosphere fraught with meaning despite the bright sunshine falling through their branches and the bustling life all around. Coupled with the dreariness remaining from the rainfall, it was as if an almost corporeal dreadful foreboding hung over the road lined with vast woodland. Just moments later, an anguished scream echoed through the woods. It appeared to come from further down the road. Violant was on guard. Millicent, my spear please. she ordered.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Shortly afterwards a long weapon, one of the dwarven smith Hanarrs masterpieces, was thrown out of the opened carriage door. The young lady successfully managed to catch the projectile as if she was used to doing this every day. In fact she actually had repeatedly practiced this pointless kind of action during her training with Parcie. Now she benefited from this training. As for why the spear was with her maid in the first place: Mortimer had admittedly conceded Violant riding on horseback instead of travelling in the carriage but he had taken her weapon into his custody because it would reflect poorly on the magravial houses honor when the margraves daughter was found to be travelling while armed, especially when it came to such an unfeminine weapon like the spear. Violant didnt stay a moment longer. Hurrying her mount, she dashed forward to find out the cause of the distressed voice she had heard moments earlier. Mortimer couldnt help but shake his head in another kind of distress, soon ordering his butler to follow his sister with the carriage wherever she was going. One or two curves of the road further there was a carriage on the roadside. It was toppled over because of a broken axle stuck in the boggy ground. Several armed men tried to guard the stranded vehicle with their weapons drawn but most of them seemed to be at a disadvantage against their opponents. The coach and its guards were surrounded and continuously attacked by a pack of snarling beasts. Some twelve hunchbacked hyenas with darkly spotted ash grey fur snapped after the men who were giving their utmost in defending the fallen carriage. Those crocottas were fearsome predators occasionally found in the other march, and how it seemed they had left the otherworldly realm while searching for prey either deliberately or accidentally. Whatever the reason, the knights fighting the driveling and eerily laughing beasts were unable of inflicting any injury on the otherworldly beasts. Their iron swords glanced off the crocottas thick fur without doing any harm. To the back, cowered against the fallen carriage, there was a delicate young woman whose tender cream-faced complexion was further highlighted by her flowing deep black hair. The frilly sea blue dress she wore gave away her identity as a noble. At the moment she was accompanied by her two equally scared maids who nonetheless tried to calm down their frightened mistress. It wasnt calming to see, however, how some crocotta looked over again and again with a hungry gaze in its dark red eyes. This was the scene Violant and Huwcyn came upon at their arrival. Although she never had laid eyes on a live specimen before, the girl knew thanks to her otherworld studies exactly what a crocotta was. As such she knew that the predators were invulnerable against iron. But that didnt matter in the least, for she had magic at her disposal after all. How the defenders were taken aback when all of a sudden several crocottas died a ghastly death of being hit by lightning from the clear sky, all the while leaving the iron clad men in the monsters immediate vicinity completely unharmed! Up until this very moment none of the two parties had become aware of the newcomers at the scene. The nauseating smell of burnt flesh and fur now filled the air. The crocottas were confused. Should they continue their attack, attack the lone rider whose surroundings smelled like static charge instead, or rather retreat? To top it off, the alpha female leading the pack had been among the electrocuted animals, thus leading to a completely headless behavior of those left behind. At the end, the crocottas retreated with their tails between their legs while whimpering miserably. Seeing that the whole situation seemed resolved, Violant, who had indeed been the one causing the lightning, dismounted from her steed and made towards the wrecked carriage. Greetings. she said I am Violant of Avallach, daughter of Margrave Orderic of Avallach. As I chanced upon your plight I decided to lend a helping hand, especially so as those vicious creatures you had the misfortune to encounter can normally only be found within the other march. The knights and the ladies behind them appeared inexpressibly glad about the turn of events. They wiped their sweat from the foreheads and some tried helping up their mistress whose legs were still wobbly due to the suffered fright. An atmosphere of relief spread over the scene. Then all of a sudden Huwcyn shouted from the back: Violant, it isnt over yet! Invited to the Capital (3): And then it comes worse… Violant, it isnt over yet! Huwcyn warned his rider who was currently occupied with greeting the people she had saved just now. Just seconds later a big black stinger had been embedded into the soil where the red-haired girl had stood mere moments before. At the same time a dissonant roar echoed through the air. From the woods came a manticore that had shot out its scorpion-like stinger from the tip of its tail, already growing a new one. It was a big lion, likely capable of standing face to face with a grown man, and its fur, stretched tautly over powerful muscles, was of a cinnabar red color not extending to its pure black scorpion tail. The hairless face framed by a bushy mane appeared humanlike, its ears and nose being exactly the same. Extremely appalling though were the three rows of terribly sharp fangs filling its outwardly humanlike mouth, and its cold pale blue eyes only showed the merciless cruelty of an apex predator. The young lady knew, should she get hit by one of the manticores stingers, she would be beyond any help. Its venom was so strong that she would die in a matter of seconds. It was apparent to her that the crocottas hadnt run from her but rather the other beast as it surely had no qualms eating not only human meat but also a crocottas. Running was out of the question for the returnee though. She never would be able to forgive herself should she selfishly abandon those lives she had rescued just before. And yet she was completely clear about the high risk involved in facing a manticore on her own. The redhead didnt back down despite the risks involved for her. Although her spear likely wouldnt be of much help in the distance, she kept it at hand for when the chance of melee combat should arise. At the same time she covered herself with an invisible barrier made from wind magic with the goal of glancing off the manticores stinger projectiles. Then she charged forward while avoiding the worst pot holes, hurling a barrage of fire lances formed from magic at the approaching monster to keep it away from the other helpless humans. The horses, still caught up in their tangled harnesses from the carriages sudden axle fracture, began to kick wildly, madly panicked not only from the previous crocotta attack and lightning but even more from the manticores emergence and the fire rain. Much to Violants frustration, the manticore managed to swiftly sidestep the incoming fire attack and, as if reading her thoughts just to annoy her to death, it focused its attention on the vulnerable other humans. A slightly sadistic smile on its face, it readied itself to pepper those around the carriage first before dealing with the red-haired brat after putting her in a demoralized state. Accordingly, the monster began to barrage the carriage with its rapidly replaced stingers, all the while evading the barrage of fire lances and fist-sized hailstones too, depending on its supernaturally high speed. When it appeared that the venomous projectiles would soon find their targets C Violant still had some difficulties controlling more than two kinds of magic at the same time and thus was a step late in invoking a defensive magic C a sturdy wall made from rock and earth suddenly stopped their further flight. At the same time, sharp blades of wind barraged the manticore from all sides, hindering it successfully in its movements so that it couldnt avoid the slower but more powerful barrages from fire and ice anymore, or at least not without risking being severely cut by the wind magic. Surprised, the red-haired girl turned around her head, all the while keeping up her magic projectiles raining down on the beast. Reinforcement had come at last. The earthen barrier had been erected by Mortimer who was still the most prodigious magician in the house of Avallach after his sister and also showed a more refined and efficient use of magic C for now at least. The margravial heir and his butler urgently made their way behind the earth wall since they didnt want being up caught up in the manticores subjugation itself. The wind blades, however, were produced by Millicent. The silky appeared like an ethereal creature how she floated high up in the air, the rustling white silk of her dress and her silver-blonde hair fluttering around her. She really was an otherworldly sight, at the same time demonstrating the far superior magic control of beings from the other march, although not all its creatures were magical as demonstrated by the manticore that had a hard time to prevail. For this very reason manticores avoided otherworldly magic users if they were incapable of killing them by surprise in one shot using their stingers. A sentient beings retaliation was too scary after all.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Are you all right, fair lady? Mortimer asked gallantly while offering a hand to the black-haired noble who had fallen down again when despairing over her unavoidable end. Of course he knew the identity of the other party. He had taken a look at the crest on the carriage before approaching her. It showed a silver fountain spring with a womans head whose hair dissolved into a body of water, all on a blue background. This was the coat of arms belonging to the ducal house of Sulia. It is an honor beyond comparison to be able to meet you, Lady Sybil of Sulia, albeit the occasion is doubtlessly not the happiest there is. I am Mortimer of Avallach. Rest assured, for my sister Violant and my humble self will do everything in our might to keep you safe. I am sure your mother the duchess and your brother the chief minister would be heartbroken if anything should happen to you. I see it as my utmost duty to assure your safety, lest your death deeply impacts the kingdoms future. Sybil, the chief ministers younger sister and only other child of Duchess Sulia, widened her violet eyes in surprise. That elegant and sophisticated red-haired man whose green eyes radiated with earnestness was exactly her type. She felt herself falling in love with him the very moment she laid her eyes on him. It was out of the question to show this outwardly though. As such the black-haired frail girl showed a modest reaction while nodding gracefully to convey her appreciation. Allow me to express my heartfelt gratitude for your and your sisters selfless assistance in this moment of deepest distress, Lord Mortimer. she spoke with a gentle voice not unlike the pleasant sound of small bells But who would be more qualified to save us from this situation if not the virtuous Avallachs with their deep knowledge about the wonders and horrors of the other march? Well said, Milady. Mortimer agreed Rest assured, for no further harm shall come to you. The scholarly man made a point in emphasizing his dependable side. He fell for the girls beauty and modesty, both he found to be far beyond the rumors he had heard. Rumors they were, because Sybil of Sulia was seldom seen in noble society as it still was before her social debut and her slightly sickly condition often confined her to her house in the duchy where she could enjoy all the wholesome effects the thermal springs of Sulia were so well-known for. She was much talked of nonetheless as the chief minister and future dukes only sibling and thus sister-in-law of the kingdoms only princess. While Mortimer and Sybil continued flirting in the safety the earthen wall offered them, Violant and Millicent continued fighting the manticore. The monster was heavily injured by now, as it was cut, struck, and burnt all over. It was only a question of time until it would succumb to its injuries, in defiance of all its attempts to escape. The beast had long since given up fighting against its adversaries and only sought to keep its life. The young lady and her maid wouldnt allow it though, for a freely roaming manticore, even a heavily injured one, was too dangerous after all. The crocottas werent as much of a problem but Violant would send her uncle a letter as soon as possible for him to send magic troops to clean up the mess they left behind on their way to the capital. With time the girl felt her magic reserves beginning to dwindle although she had learnt from Eibhlin how to use magic the most cost-effective way. Since this was the case she decided to end the whole affair with a last big impact. Additionally it was something she always wanted to try but never had the chance to do so. Violant ceased her barrage of ice and fire to collect herself. Then she sent a big black sphere in the manticores direction. The lion creature instinctually seemed to know about the danger associated with the sphere but couldnt evade on time. As soon as the black object came in contact with the monster, it seemed to simply fade away. That wasnt the end though. After only a short moment of time the manticore began to age visibly, changing from an apex predator in his prime to a tottering toothless old wrack before slowly crumbling into dust, leaving no remains behind. Only the cobblestone plaster riddled with further holes from the impact of magic remained to testify about the battle that had taken place just moments earlier. Luckily, Millicent had been the only witness of this occurrence, as the gazes of all the others were shielded by the earth wall. The maid would remain confidential about what magic her mistress had used in the end. Seeing its terrifying results Violant vowed to never use this magic again. There was a very good reason after all why the use of magic was heavily regulated by the kingdoms laws. Although, the Avallachs were a bit more free in their usage of magic because they had to deal with the other march, the very realm of the origin of magic. After the successful rescue, the voyage of Mortimer and Violant could continue again. They didnt leave Sybil and her entourage stranded at the roadside though. Mortimer personally had repaired the broken axle of the carriage with some magic, allowing the young lady from the ducal house to marvel at the sight of the breakage joining together as if the dead wood was filled with an inherent life of its own. Since both parties had the same destination, the capital, they decided to travel together; the more so as both carriages had a similar speed. Continuing from there on, they managed to reach Kingsborough safely in little more than a week, a travel time well within expectations. Invited to the Capital (4): Entering the Palace Violant and Mortimer reached the capital in the evening and bid goodbye to Sybil when entering the noble district. Like many families in high nobility, the margravial house of Avallach had a capital residence well-kept by servants to always be able to accommodate their masters on a moments notice. Compared to the margraviate itself, the mansions staff was less numerous but it didnt need too many hands to keep a normally unused building well maintained compared to the diverse tasks of the servants back in the margraviate. If there actually was an acute shortage of servants during the margraves or one of his childrens stay for whatever reason, the necessary aid could always temporally be hired on short notice in Kingsborough. The servants of the capital residence were already informed about the journey of the two siblings thanks to a carrier pigeon from Avallach and gathered when they came to know of their imminent arrival. The capital mansion had already been prepared days before and the steward was overjoyed to be able to welcome the young lord and lady. The siblings enjoyed a light dinner before at least Violant retired for the night, fatigued from the days and weeks of travelling. The next morning, a messenger from the royal palace appeared in the Avallach residence. Violant thought how scary it was how fast the Queen had gotten wind of her arrival in Kingsborough. In her last lifetime when she herself had become queen she marveled at the surveillance apparatus the late queen had expanded and developed. Following Queen Berengarias assassination it had been in shambles though, far from its former splendor. Gervase had made a point of assassinating the queen, her only daughter Mabel, and her son-in-law, the chief minister Jocelyn of Sulia. He had done so to gain control over the kingdoms crucially important two duchies: Ealdon which had fallen to the crown following the death of the late duke whose only child was Queen Berengaria, and Sulia which had been inherited by Duke Jocelyn after his mother died from heart attack after she had heard about her daughters death in an unexpected monster attack. Since Violant had coincidentally saved Sybil this time around, the duchess was still alive and well though. However the past lifetime might have been, the returnee readied herself to follow the messenger to the palace in the present. She got seen off by Mortimer who took the chance to still impart her some important rules of conduct for her visit in the palace before she boarded the carriage that had already been prepared for her. The little flags fluttering at the four corners of the carriage roof identified her as an important guest of the royal family. It was the first time since her return that Violant set foot into the royal palace but it hadnt changed much. Or was it better to say that it wouldnt change much in the future. The magnificent building or rather complex of buildings was the most impressive piece of architecture in the whole kingdom. Every king had made it his task to extend and embellish the dwelling of the royal family even further with every passing generation. The royal palace was the kings claim to power and majesty crystallized in stone. The walls of white limestone were cleaned until they shone. The lustrous deep red roof shingles complemented the white walls surprisingly well. The most striking, however, was the boundless installation of often floor-to-ceiling-level leaded windows depicting scenes from the kingdoms founding myth and history. This really was an exorbitance considering that glass windows, especially colored ones, were unbelievably expensive and thus C except for temples demonstrating the builders deep piousness sparing no expenses C rare to find except for residences of the nobility or of rich merchants where the windows were considerably smaller though. The young lady of Avallach followed her guide through the wide corridors and soaring halls of the royal palace, stepping on soft meticulously knotted carpets while passing walls decorated with tapestries and portraits of the royal family in present and past. One moment she accidentally crossed paths with Gervase, his blue eyes and her silver eyes shortly meeting in the process. The redhead did her best to suppress the emotions boiling in her heart the moment she laid eyes on this two-faced bastard who once had been her husband in another lifetime. The third prince continued on his way without paying her any further attention. Only his eyes had shook for a short moment when surprised by the highly unusual eye color the unknown woman possessed. Violant was led to a room with a big wooden double door decorated with intricate carvings of nature both common and otherworldly. The girl knew this place just too well, for she had had authority over this part of the palace for a while when she had been queen in her past life. Beyond the door lay the personal audience chamber of the queen. The chamber was furnished in good style, equipped with a round table full of confectionaries and several chairs, one of them with a rather majestic throne-like appearance. In said throne chair sat an elegant middle-aged woman of medium height with carefully pinned-up chestnut brown hair, wearing a fashionable but not lavish forest green dress embroidered with golden vines. Queen Berengaria examined her arriving guest with hazel eyes, a slight smile on her thin lips.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Right next to the queen sat her son Wynkin, the very reason for inviting Violant into the palace. The now thirteen years old boy hadnt really changed since their last meeting. His golden blond hair was the still the same, as was true for his big hazel eyes full of childish innocence in a face with still childlike facial features. His brawny body as tall as an adult man didnt change significantly since his first berserk growth spurt although it might have grown ever so slightly. The only major difference was that the prince was now wearing clothes fitting his new, bigger body as well as befitting his rank as a member of the royal family. He waved his hand to greet his savior, a behavior that was definitely appropriate for his actual age and childlike personality. Come closer, Violant of Avallach. There is no reason for you to be nervous. spoke the queen with a pleasant sounding voice, beckoning her with a motion of her hand. Violant followed suit. She wasnt really nervous meeting the queen but she played her part. A normal fifteen years old girl would be nervous and excited at the prospect of meeting the mother of the nation after all. Hail Your Majesty Queen Berengaria! the young lady greeted. Oh, how courteous! Berengaria remarked while chuckling slightly But there is no special need to watch your decorum too strictly. This is no official audience after all. Please take a seat. I wont take any offense even if you dont act so reserved since I have invited you today to thank you, not to let you feel oppressed by the grandeur of the royal palace. As you might have noticed I have intentionally abstained from using the royal we. It would only increase the pressure on you if I did use it after all. The queen continued after her guest had sat down: Words are not even remotely enough to describe the gratitude in my heart. Had you not brought this remedy, my sons life surely would have been forfeit. I really cannot thank you enough for that. I am eternally grateful and will always be in your debt. Dont be, Your Majesty. Violant hastily countered I simply have done what everybody would have in my place and the remedy isnt my formula to begin with, but intellectual property of the hoary healer Alarun from the other march who currently is in my employ. The more so, as she also once used this very same medicine to cure the berserk syndrome afflicting our founder king Heardred, or so she has told me. Thus, even if the venerable healer is part of my entourage, I do not see myself as more than the remedys very lucky envoy. Intriguing. adjudged Berengaria But enough of your humility. In the end it was your decisive actions that were saving my dear sons life. Additionally, you even came forward to furthermore supply us with the necessary medicine as long as needed. We are also heavily indebted to your healer, of course, but for now I want to award you for your incomparable deed. Speak freely, is there anything you might desire? If it is within my means I will definitely fulfill it. Following the queens words, the audience chamber sunk into silence for quite some time. Violant showed a pondering expression. Same as her exaggerated humility and nervousness, her current thoughtfulness was just for show. She knew what she wanted long before implementing her plan to save Prince Wynkin after all. Rather, saving the prince was just a means to an end for her. Finally the young lady began to speak: Your Majesty, I am presently content with my current life and have no special desires of any kind. But, if I may say so, I do not know what my future may hold. Thus I would like to ask for your backing since I cannot surmise what future affairs I might have with the royal family or other nobility following my social debut in October. Therefore I believe that having a royal backer is quite desirable, notwithstanding the formation of factions that will surely occur regarding the question of the kings succession. Hearing this answer, Queen Berengaria couldnt help but smile wryly. Violant of Avallach, you are wise beyond your years. she remarked appreciatively Very well, I will be your backer as long as you do nothing clearly directed against the laws, the order, and the welfare of this kingdom. I also believe it to be in my best interest to deepen our ties. As it so happens, Wynkin will soon move to Ealdon C a berserk in the palace simply causes too much of a commotion, even a sane and peaceful one C and since his health has improved significantly it is now at the time for him to learn martial arts like all the other princes too. I am still looking for a tutor in martial arts for him but I have long since heard of your brother Parcie of Avallachs peerless prowess therein. Thus I would like to appoint him as Wynkins personal tutor in martial arts. It appeared that Berengaria still wanted to say more but she was cut short by the sudden entry of a servant wearing a palace livery. The man leaned over and whispered something in the ear of the queen. Judging from his expression it seemed to be urgent. Violant couldnt understand much but at least she heard the key words succession insidious, in secret, and Gervase. Receiving the message, Queen Berengaria rose from her seat and said: I am deeply sorry but it seems we have to cut short our conversation. I will get down to the details another day, mainly regarding Sir Parcies appointment, but that does not necessarily require your personal attendance. Please remain seated though. I am sure my dear son will have a lot to talk about with you. It is the first time him meeting his savior face to face after the incident after all. Please excuse my inhospitableness and enjoy your further stay in the palace. After saying so the queen rushed out of the audience hall, leaving her guest and her son behind. Of course they werent all alone. There were still servants on standby on the side. Leaving an unwed boy and girl alone in the same room was unbecoming after all. Violant looked at Prince Wynkins happily smiling face, unsure what would follow now. Invited to the Capital (5): A Talk with Prince Wynkin I am happy to see you again, Lady Violant. Prince Wynkin told his guest with a big smile full of childlike innocence I am very healthy since you have saved me and the medicine doesnt taste bad at all. But, you know, I still have to get used to being this tall. I always hit my head where I could walk without problems before. But my new strength is even more troublesome. Do you know how it feels when you destroy everything you touch? It isnt nice at all. Oh, are you not hungry, Lady Violant? You havent touched the treats at all since you have come here. They are seriously delicious though. And the drink is what I have chosen. This is a sweet elderberry wine even drinkable for children. Violant couldnt help but smile wryly when faced with the princes overenthusiastic speech. Following his invitation she also reached out for the tartlets, waffles, and candied fruits that had been arranged. All the while Prince Wynkin continued to talk, mostly about his new life after beginning berserkification. One story was about Nelly, rather Petronella of Sulia, the two years old daughter of Princess Mabel and chief minister Jocelyn, tearing up when meeting up with her Unge Wynny, her Uncle Wynkin for the first time after his physical changes. No matter how much the caring uncle wanted to embrace her to comfort her, he couldnt for fear of accidentally injuring her gravely. Wynkin also told his savior that his sister originally also wanted to come to express her gratitude but had to stay back to appease her worried sick mother-in-law Adelaide of Sulia. The duchess had become very agitated when hearing about her daughter Sybils close brush with death. The frail girl was the ducal matrons apple of the eye after all. Curiously, she also was saved by the Avallach siblings, Violant included. You must be very good at saving people. the prince remarked. It is just a coincidence, Your Highness. the young lady replied Just some curious coincidence. It isnt as if I would save lives at every turn. Then she took a sip of the elderberry wine. It wasnt bad at all. Its low alcoholic percentage even made it drinkable for children who often had low alcohol tolerance. It was more likely that the prince like other children too normally drank buttermilk, but given the occasion, that wasnt the most refined action. Virtually nobody drank pure water for the danger of falling ill the consummation of untreated water brought. Treating water normally meant brewing beer though. What Prince Wynkin said next though caused Violant to choke on her drink, leading to her having a violent coughing fit. Who do you think should succeed father on the throne one day, Lady Violant? The question was asked without any malice and yet it was enough to shock the red-haired girl to the bone. Since Crown Prince Rowlands death on the battlefield three years ago, the position of crown prince was yet to be filled again since King Baldwin wanted to award the title to his most accomplished son. The question of succession was a delicate one, for most princes and their mothers aimed for the position utilizing all means at hand without the slightest qualm. The margrave of Avallach was part of no princely faction as of now. Rather he had to stay neutral because of his essential importance for the kingdoms preservation of order. In her past lifetime Violant had broken all ties with her family mainly since her marriage with Gervase had broken the neutrality members of the margravial house were obligated to uphold given their crucial position. This time around she hence would never marry a royal. An Avallach meddling with the matter of succession to the throne was ultimately guilty of treason according to the kingdoms laws. Violant needed some time to calm down again, coughing and wiping tears off the corners of her eyes. The whole time she was anxiously watched over by the prince. I, as an Avallach, am expressively prohibited to concern myself with the matters of the royal succession. the girl explained, her voice still rasp from all the coughing But, begging your pardon, the one prince I wish to see the least succeeding His Majesty Baldwin is without any doubt His Highness Gervase. Yes, I also dont want that venomous snake succeeding father. Wynkin consented, leading to Violant choking almost a second time. He is phony, devious, and two-faced, with good looks and pretty words but not much to back them up. In short, he is just like his serpent queen of a mother. The boy didnt mince his words at all, that was for sure. Violant thought that he was a bit too outspoken for such a treacherous place like the palace though. Not that his words had been wrong in the least. Lady Salome, Gervases mother and one of the current kings twelve concubines, was especially known for two things, her beauty and her scheming. There were rumors of her being the culprit or at least the instigator behind the deaths of the ninth princes and his mothers in childbirth as well as the infertility of several other concubines although no offence could be successfully proven against her. The returnee had only bad memories of enduring such a venomous mother-in-law in her last lifetime. Roughly one year after Violant had gotten married to Gervase, however, Lady Salome had died from the same plague the retired second Prince Edric also had succumbed to. It has been tough since big brother Rowland died. the prince continued Some people believe that I will be the next king just because I am the queens son. But I dont want to. When Im gown-up I will succeed my late grandfather as Duke Ealdon and serve the crown rather than being crowned myself. I want big brother Edric to succeed the throne.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Violant arched her eyebrows when hearing this. Edric, the second prince, was no bad choice per se, but born from a different mother the same year as Crown Prince Rowland, he had lived all his life in the latters shadow and lacked the martial prowess his brother had. He focused on his scholarly interests instead, ultimately leading to him renouncing his claim to the throne and retiring to a monastery in spring next year. The catalyst was King Baldwin trying to arrange a marriage for the then 23 years old Edric who rather was married to his research instead, the main reason the kingdoms second prince never had found a fiance. But isnt His Highness Edric completely disinterested in politics and government, prioritizing his research instead? the young lady asked with a surprised tone of voice. There was no doubting the second prince being quite the quaint fellow. Thats where you are wrong. Wynkin stated with conviction, his cheeks heatedly dyed in red and his eyes sparkling. Whatever my elder brother does, he does it with the best interest of the subjects in mind. Do you know what he researches? He tries to find ways to increase the harvest significantly without damaging the soil too much. Events like the hunger winter of two years ago pull on his heartstrings very much. Because of something like that big brother wants to improve the welfare of our kingdom and to do so he chose the method of research. He originally had no prospect of succeeding the throne and he still believes that he can serve the people of this kingdom better as a scholar than a king. And thats where he is wrong. When brother Edric is king one day he has the authority to order all of the scholars to continue and expand his research after all. Wouldnt that be more efficient and also allow him for the good of our country to take charge of government matters he otherwise would have no say in? Violant felt a new respect for the youngest prince deep in her heart. All childishness appropriate to Wynkins age aside, the boy proved to be a farsighted individual capable of sound argumentation. She nodded to show that she had been convinced. You might very well be right about this, Your Highness. the young lady consented And I wish you all the best for supporting His Highness Edric for the throne, as well as for convincing him to claim the throne, which should be prioritized without a doubt. I am afraid though that I am incapable of helping you with those tasks for the reason I have already stated before. I dont wish to force you on my side against your will. the boy asserted Since you said that you are neutral, you wont be with me but also not against me. If you were, that would make me very sad indeed. After a short pause Wynkin continued: I have one last question remaining I want to ask you too, Lady Violant. When you came to save me, so I have been told, you said you were asked by a fairy to help me. Dryp has said otherwise though. Which fairy did you talk about then? Was there anyone else watching over me except from Dryp and your friends from the wild hunt? Violant was quite surprised witnessing all servants in the audience chamber falling asleep at the same time. She felt that magic was at work but the prince opposite of her wasnt the culprit although she had been able to sense his abnormally high magic aptitude. When he came to speak about the fairy though, the girl remembered Rambold and Waldolf reporting about such a being around Prince Wynkin all the time. If she concentrated, she could feel the invisible fairys strongly concealed presence near the boy. Violant hadnt been able to notice the otherworldly presence before because she simply had been too distracted. I was not informed by any fairy. the redhead admitted while paling somewhat because her sending the two wild huntsmen to observe the eighth prince hadnt remained unnoticed like she originally thought. I have used your fairy friend C her name is Dryp? C to give a believable reason. In fact I already knew about your ailment beforehand but please do not ask me how. Therefore I have sent those wild huntsmen to inform me immediately when Your Highness is seized by the berserk syndrome so I might be able to help you. Your secret is safe with me and I wont ask any further. Prince Wynkin promised with a childlike smile on his face But can you please keep Dryp a secret too, Lady Violant. Nobody but me is supposed to know about her. Violant sighed with relief when hearing this and replied: Do not worry, Your Highness. Your secret is safe with me. In know just too well about the prejudices those from the other march and those associated with them are subjected to after all. Thank you, Lady Violant. the boy beamed with a smile that would have been downright adorable if not for the brawny body underneath the childlike face. I have heard that many are afraid of you because of your silver eyes, and that they belong to the other march. But dont be sad about it, Lady Violant. I think that your eyes are very pretty, just like two shiny silver brooches. Thank you very much, Your Highness. the margravial lady replied after a short moment of speechlessness. If the young and innocent Prince Wynkin already had such a glib tongue, what kind of ladies man could he have become as an adult if not for him being a dreaded berserk? The conversation between the prince and his savior didnt last much longer. The servants tried to furtively cover up their falling asleep when they woke up again shortly after the talk about fairies had come to an end. Wynkin stayed back in the audience chamber when his guest was escorted back out of the palace before returning to the mansion with the same carriage she had come with. Violant continued staying in the capital for the time it took Mortimer to complete his tasks as the margraves proxy. Only then the siblings set forth on their journey back to the margraviate and Avallach. Left behind alone in the audience chamber, Wynkin turned to the still invisible Dryp. His childlike facial expression had made way for a cold and ruthless one. He was smiling evilly. She is intriguing, isnt she, that Violant of Avallach? the prince asked nobody in particular although he expected the fairy to listen She has to keep her neutrality. That is nothing new. But I think I will put her to use anyway for Edric to succeed father. As sly and calculating as he was, the boy nonetheless had no interest of ruling the kingdom himself. It was simply too much of a hassle. He honestly believed the second prince to be the most capable, not to forget that Edric was the only of his brothers not hostile against him who normally was despised by his siblings just for the reason that he was the son King Baldwins main wife had given birth to. He was already content with inheriting the important duchy of Ealdon and helping Edric openly as well as from the shadows. Violant just had the bad luck of catching his eye, a disaster she had brought upon herself though. But one thing was for certain: history would never repeat like it had done in her previous lifetime. Prince Wynkin would be a factor whose influence on the future couldnt yet be foreseen but there was no doubt that he would be a major one. Looking for a Dragon Stone (1): The Necklace Dilemma On a day in the middle of June, Violant C who thanks to her continuous engagement had gotten a study of her own like Mortimer did too C stood in said study talking to Hanarr Filason, the dwarven smith. She had asked him to come since she had gotten a letter regarding her social debut from the palace and she thus needed his skillful hands. To understand this matter we shortly have to go back to the reign of the penultimate king. During those days it was quite common for nobles to spend an exorbitant fortune on the debut of their children, not few ruining themselves in the process. Especially among the young women there was a raging war for the most spectacular outfit, for the debut ball was the perfect event to show off their houses prestige and the most important chance to meet their possible future husbands. The queen at that time hailed from a relatively poor count family barely still belonging to the high nobility the royal familys brides were chosen from. Considering her less than affluent background and her first-hand knowledge about the pressure poor noble houses in particular were facing in regard to the debut practices, she abhorred the extravagance getting out of hand that forced nobles into debt and squandered the subjects precious tithes and tax money. After securing herself the backing of her royal husband, this very queen decreed that the noble houses henceforth still could contend for the most prestige during the debut balls happening every March and October, but with particular attention to a piece of clothing or accessories decided on every single time by the queen herself. Additionally, a compulsory upper limit for debut-related spending was implemented and whoever was found to go against it was to be excluded from the social debut. That meant no less than social death for those affected and a huge disgrace for their houses. Now returning to Violant, the reason she had summoned Hanarr had to do with the queens choice for the ladies object of special attention. The young lady couldnt help but think that it had been different in her last life but that wasnt of any importance. What was important, though, was that the debutantes were expected to wear a necklace highlighting a gem. Furthermore, the gem should represent the characteristics of its wearer and their house. And thats where the problem lay. Hanarr was doubtlessly capable of creating the finest jewelry with his hands but what kind of gem was worthy to represent Violant and the house of Avallach? It should harmonize with yer eyes as well as yer hair. Hanarr pondered loudly, all the while stroking his bushy dark grey beard. Do ye already know what color yer dress will have? Not yet. Violant responded It will depend on the central object, namely the necklace. Ye are right. the dwarf consented The major problem now is the color o the gem. Ill need to decide if were goin with silver or with gold quite soon but I cant without knowin the color. But what kind of gem does represent me the best? the young lady asked. Suddenly the door to the study swung open. None of the two inside had noticed that it hadnt been completely closed. Who entered was an elven beauty. Of course it was no one else but Eibhlin the magic tutor.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Please excuse my intrusion but I couldnt help but overhear your talk while passing by. I think I know the perfect kind of gem for Nosy elf. Hanarr interrupted the magic tutor while clicking his tongue Nothin different to expect from ye long-eared fellas. Always stickin yer noses where they dont belong, dont ya? Eibhlin regarded the dwarf with a very angry gaze and pouted. The main issue for her, however, was not being interrupted but being called an elf. Just like the dwarves preferred to be called underjordiske and the schrats preferred the term holzleute, the elves too despised the name given to them by humans and had an own term they rather wanted to hear: daoine sidhe. The people of the mounds. The traditional dwelling of elves in the other march was often inside characteristic mounds, thus giving rise to the term. Now, now. Violant stepped in to pacify before the rivalry between elves and dwarves made any communication impossible. Please forgive her, Hanarr. I am sure she doesnt mean bad. Now, what did you want to say, Eibhlin? Oh yes! the elf remembered why she had come and hit her palm with a fist. I think the gem most suited to you is a dragon stone. A dragon stone? the smith and the young lady both asked in surprise. Yes, that roundish stone formed from crystallized magic power that can be found in a dragons skull. Eibhlin said It is the most fitting, dont you agree? The most magical of all stones for the lady with the highest magic aptitude. Not to forget that dragon stones all differ in color so you can choose the one with the color you like the best. I regret to blunt your enthusiasm, Eibhlin, but neither does the margraviate of Avallach own even a single dragon stone nor are we able to procure one even with our ties to the other march. Violant pointed out. That doesnt matter in the least. the elf replied, a smug smile on her face Because I know exactly where to find them galore. Just C it surely isnt the most pleasant place there is. Surrounded by ever-smoking volcanoes and filled with pests such as cockatrices and basilisks, the dragon cemetery is quite the dangerous place. But since it is, nobody comes there aiming for the dragon stones that can virtually be found in every bone heap lying around. I must know, for I have already been there. Although, what I needed was less a dragon stone but some dragons claws. And what do you know? If you are lucky you might even find a nugget of purest gold for your necklace in the remains of some alber dragon. You know, that kind from the high mountains feeding exclusively on ores. Sometimes even an elf can be useful. Hanarr admitted reluctantly. He was sulky afterwards though because he felt bothered by the smug expression Eibhlin had shown when hearing his statement. So, you already were at this dragon cemetery once? Violant inquired who now couldnt care less about the dwarfs childish attitude. Yes. the elven beauty nodded And luckily for you it is quite close to the border of the human world. The nearest exit from what you call the other march is at a human holy side you humans call the sanctuary hill or ealh-don in your ancient tongue. I believe the place near this superstitiously avoided place where humans once have worshipped the dragons is called Ealdon nowadays. Even if she didnt look like it, Eibhlin was already several centuries old, although still a youngling in the eyes of hoary Alarun. She often had mingled with humans during her lifetime and thus naturally had come to observe and understand the shifts and changes the human language experienced with time. When the young lady heard a familiar sounding place come up in the talk, her eyes began to shine. Eibhlin, I have to ask you a favor. the girl said I would like for you to travel with me to Ealdon and from there on further to the dragon cemetery to procure the dragon stone you have spoken about. You would be my guide in those premises if you agree. Since I have come up with the topic myself, I would do well to lend you a hand with it, I suppose. the elf agreed. And Ill equip ye with the best tools and weapons. It aint goin to be easy tryin to remove a dragon stone from a dragons skull, I tell ya! Hanarr declared. He didnt want to get left out in the endeavor although he wouldnt accompany the two women on their journey. It was simply his pride as a dwarf rebelling against an elf having the final say. Thank you, Hanarr. Violant thanked. The red-haired lady was very happy indeed that both her magic tutor and her smith friend were willing to help her. Looking for a Dragon Stone (2): Visiting Ealdon Violant wasnt one to delay matters for long. Just two days later she was already on her way to the dragon cemetery. What had taken her the longest, though, was taking care of her ongoing obligations after obtaining permission from her foster father Orderic to do as she wanted. She also had to wait for Hanarrs promised equipment but the dwarf smith had most of it already on stock and just needed to make the tool with which they would release the dragon stone from the skull of a dragon. The evening before the departure everything was ready then. The young lady rode on Huwcyn as usual. This time around she was also accompanied by Hraban, the night-raven. The black bird repeatedly flew at her side or rested on her shoulder despite the shaking ride. Violant had decided to take him with her as a way of contact if something should go wrong. Visiting the dragon cemetery was not without dangers after all. The only other travel companion was Eibhlin. The elf was even able to keep up with the ceffyl dwrs highest speed. That was due to her own mount, a majestic white each-sith and as fiery a steed as every elven horse. It was an enigma where the magic tutor had taken this tall horse from. Likely she had it left somewhere back in the other march when she had first come to Avallach and had now taken the chance to retrieve it. The each-sith whose name was Cuilennain also was capable of talking but he only had a rudimental understanding of the human language, talking most of the time in the elven tongue instead. It was quite obvious that the each-sith was infatuated with his rider to the point of obsession. There was no chance that this love would ever bear fruit. Violant could somehow understand though. Even her heart throbbed quite a bit when she witnessed the ethereal figure of Eibhlin riding at full speed, her long and silky blonde hair spreading behind her in the wind like a veil, a smile of pure joy on her incomparably beautiful face. Owing to the fact that both women constantly travelled with a speed several times that of a normal horse without draining the stallions even the least bit, they reached the duchy of Ealdon, nowadays a royal governorship, in a matter of days where weeks wouldve been normal. The hilly duchy was widely covered with gentle slopes overgrown with green grass or with golden fields of wheat and oilseed rape instead. There also were some vineyards making use of the unusually temperate climate typical for the Northwestern coast of the kingdom of Yteland. The real cause appeared to lay in the heavy volcanic activity surrounding the dragon cemetery in the nearby other march, at least according to Eibhlin. That was the real reason behind humans worshipping dragons as harbingers of warmth and fertility in the olden times. In the distance, the duchy capital Ealdon lay at the foot of the holy hill, the ealh-don. And what a hill it was! Although gently sloping like every other hill, it nonetheless towered majestically over hill and dale, awing like in the ancient times. When Violant and Eibhlin reached the city gates of Ealdon, they were escorted by the guard captain himself and brought to the ducal castle. Whitehill Castle was very different from Avallach Castle. It was located on a hill with extensive gardens covering all of its slopes. The former ducal residence was characterized by an air of refinement rivalling even the capital. The margravial young lady hadnt believed her visit to Ealdon to be a big deal although she had announced it with a carrier pigeon. It had been a private letter to Parcie though, who had reported for duty as Prince Wynkins martial arts tutor at the start of the month. Violant wasnt greeted by the governor at all C her arrival hadnt been of any big importance after all C but instead by her brother Parcie, his berserk student Wynkin, and another man she never wouldve expected to meet in Ealdon. The lanky black-haired figure clad in a flaxen monk-like cowl who had the need to wear the newly invented glasses C a pince-nez to be exact C in front of his blue eyes despite being in his early twenties at best and who emitted a scholarly air was none other than the second prince, Edric. Hey Vi, glad to see you! Parcie hollered, a hand raised to greet her Huw, Hrabby and Eily too, of course. And quite the gallant horse you have there, Eily. Its an each-sith, isnt it? Quite the surprise to see you this early though. You letter has reached me just a day ago. And when Wynny got wind of you coming he said we simply had to welcome you. And then Eddy joined us too. Eddy himself has arrived just a week ago or so. He reminds you somehow of good ol Mort, doesnt he?You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. The more Parcie spoke, the graver and paler his sisters complexion became. It might be true that she was somewhat tomboyish but she had never even dreamed of referring casually to the royal princes like Parcie did. It wasnt a matter brushing hard against the border of lse majest anymore; her musclehead of a cousin had long gone past it. Luckily nobody seemed to hold it against him though. Elsewise his head wouldnt be on his shoulders anymore. Dont worry, Lady Violant. Neither my elder brother nor I take offence at Parcies way of referring to us. Prince Wynkin assured her, smiling as brightly and innocently as ever. He appeared to have grown again in both height and muscle mass. He is too great a tutor to hold it against him. Under his tutelage even I, a total beginner in martial arts, am learning rapidly how to use a broadsword. Although I am still learning the basics of course. I am definitely happy about your visit, Lady Violant. I dont think we had the pleasure of meeting yet, Lady Violant of Avallach. Prince Edric now joined the greetings But judging from the respect you give me it appears that you already know of my identity. Please allow me nonetheless to introduce myself. I am Edric, second prince of Yteland. Oh, no need to bow down. Please be at ease. I dont assign great value to the courtly decorum. But I must say, Lady Violant, your silver eyes are every bit as intriguing as Wynkin has told me. Now, this really arouses my scholarly curiosity. This unusual eye color is proof of your nonhuman heritage, isnt it? Pray tell, Lady Violant, what kind of heritage is it? And is it true that your eyes enable you to use the sight? Is there any difference when entering the other march? Oh, where are my manners? Please excuse my overwhelming curiosity. You must be weary from your long travels. Allow me to arrange lodging and food for you, your companion and your steeds. Much obliged, Your Royal Highness. Violant replied And to answer your questions. I dont know what kind of nonhuman heritage I might have although there surely is. And yes, I am capable of using the sight but not as well as those possessing the even rarer golden eyes. My gratitude to you too, Your Highness Wynkin. I am quite delighted myself to be able to meet you again so soon. Then the travelers finally entered Whitehill Castle where they would rest for now, given the opportunity. So you are aiming for a dragon stone you hope to find in a dragon cemetery which happens to be located in the vicinity of Ealdon. Is that correct? Prince Edric inquired. It was now dinner time and the princes had invited the visitors from Avallach to join them in the dining hall. Yes, indeed. Violant affirmed. How fascinating! the second prince exclaimed I would love to accompany you to satisfy my curiosity but I believe a dragon cemetery to be a place too dangerous to treat upon for some inexperienced fellow like me. I nonetheless wish you the best of luck for your endeavor and hope that you might share your experiences and observations with me upon your return. Ill second that! Wynkin declared I am also very interested in how a dragon cemetery might look like. Please tell me later. As you wish, Your Highnesses. Violant consented. Later that evening when everybody already had retired for the night, Prince Wynkin still was awake and shared his thoughts with the tiny fairy Dryp like he always used to do. That Violant of Avallach never fails to intrigue me, I must say. he said with an evil smile that never failed to make Dryps flesh crawl when she saw it instead. The berserk prince already lay in bed and had his head resting on his arm. It was still bright in his room though, for the light of a full moon filled the room with brightness. Because of that he had no problem seeing the little fairy sitting on his headboard with his now golden eyes. What is it this time? Dryp inquired. Although the beauty clad in flower petals was visibly afraid of the human boy, she also was something like his secret best friend and conversation partner. Despite her fear of him she stayed at his side. It had been Wynkin after all who had personally nursed her back to health after a terrible rainstorm had destroyed her home hidden in the castle park. She comes all the way to Ealdon just for a half-mythical dragon stone. Hilarious, isnt it? the boy chuckled She might do so for her upcoming debut but that isnt something worth risking ones life for, is it? Well, her visit still might be good luck for me. After I finally have managed to invite elder brother to take a look at grandpas library C what a godsend that grandpa also researched how to increase harvests C I have now found another point of interest we share to bring him closer to me. I have already convinced mother, Mabel, and Jocelyn to help me supporting brother Edrics claim to the throne, although they might just think it is some childish sympathy for now. Not that elder brother would know of his luck yet though. Well, what follows is still a matter of the rather distant future. No need to worry about it yet. That means its time to sleep now. Good night, Dryp. Good night, Prince Wynkin. the fairy replied with a gentle smile and retired for the night. Soon afterwards both the boy and his supernatural companion lay in deep sleep. Looking for a Dragon Stone (3): Entering the Dragon Cemetery The next day Violant and her companions mounted the holy hill. On its top they found ruins of what once seemed to have been the encircling wall of a holy place. Within its boundaries, the fluctuations of magical energy indicated an entry to the other march nearby. In front of an overgrown old sacrificial altar, Violant and Eibhlin dismounted their steeds. Huwcyn and Cuilennain protested against this but without success. Our destination is no good territory for horses to traverse. the elven magician explained. Fine. the ceffyl dwr backed down before turning to the night-raven Ill leave Violant in your care, Hraban. Inform me immediately when anything should happen. The big black bird cawed to signal his affirmation. Now lets go. The earlier we find what we are looking for the earlier we can return. the red-haired girl declared and turned around to step into the other march, closely followed by her elven tutor and the night-raven. The water horse and the each-sith stayed behind, eagerly awaiting the return of their riders. Crossing over into the other march was like crossing into another world entirely. The scenery of green grassy hills and gentle warm winds carrying the scent of summer was replaced by black, hot volcanic rocks almost bare of any plant life, rugged lava-spitting peaks rising into a sky completely covered with black smoke, a seething heat in the air and a pervasive smell of sulfur all around. The expedition of three stood on a rocky ridge void of any vegetation and looked down into a deep crevice broad enough to be called a valley that was surrounded by volcanoes all around. This valley was littered corpses and bones of all dragons imaginable. Thats the dragon cemetery. informed Eibhlin The hard part is climbing down there and coming up again. If we manage to avoid the cockatrices, basilisks and other reptilian critters galore down there feeding on their more majestic relatives, we might have a good chance to bring this undertaking to a good end. Violant didnt say anything. She walked the talk instead and began to descend into the valley. Thanks to her being a magician she didnt need to resort to arduous climbing at glowing hot and sharp rock walls. She lowered herself down using wind magic instead, especially since her spear doubtlessly had gotten in her way otherwise. That was still torturing enough because the air she moved for this was as hot as an oven and was more similar to a foehn wind than anything else. Eibhlin, after a moment of surprise and stupor, copied her students example. Hraban just flew normally. After reaching the ground, the young lady thought to close in to the next dragon skeleton. Given the extremely hostile environment she sought to take the first available dragon stone as long as its shape and color met her approval, but it wasnt as easy. As soon as Violant approached the dragon skeleton closest to her C judging from its size it must have been rather middle-sized for a dragon but bigger than a wyvern nonetheless C she inadvertently drew the attention of several creatures. Luckily for her it were neither cockatrices nor basilisks, both famed for their deadly gaze and poisonous breath. Slaying a cockatrice had once founded the fame of the house of Avallach but its latest scion didnt believe she could repeat the feat. Luckily it was just some kind of two-legged wingless lizard-dragon with snakelike long and thin tail and neck. Its upperpart was scaled quite darkly, its underbelly lighter instead. Actual colors were difficult to identify in the twilight of smoke, fire and molten lava. This kind of small and inferior dragon inhabited the dragon cemetery as a scavenger. It was neither poisonous nor could it breathe fire although it would hurt terribly when someone was bitten by its small sharp teeth. All in all the lizard-dragon was not really dangerous C unless you find yourself surrounded by dozens of them. As it was the case for Violant. She soon was swarmed by carrion-feeding lizard-dragons all around. The scavengers didnt despise feeding on fresh meat in the slightest. It was just hard to come by if you lived in the life-hostile dragon cemetery and belonged to the bottom of the food chain. Get lost! she shouted, at the same time dispersing the reptiles by using a blast wave of fire. Witnessing this, the lizard-dragons surely were willing enough to make off again. When Eibhlin and Hraban joined the redhead at the bottom of the crevice, none of the scavengers could be seen far and wide and the scorched ground caused by Violants magic didnt stand out in any way. Eibhlin, Ill leave retrieving the dragon stone to you while I keep a lookout for any possible approaching danger. the young lady instructed, her throat parched from the hot and dry air. Her eyes teared because of the ash particles floating all around.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. The elf agreed with a nod and turned to the closest dragon skeleton. It was also her who was carrying the back filled with the tools provided by Hanarr. She climbed up the skull and secured her position in the middle of its forehead by magically generating wooden vines sprouting from the dragon bones for binding her legs so that she couldnt lose her footing. Then Eibhlin used the tools looking strikingly similar to a hammer and chisel C what in fact they were C to break open the dragons frontal bone. That wasnt an easy feat in the least since the material was even harder than granite. Normal iron tools wouldnt leave even as much as a scratch. Luckily they used dwarven tools though. Although still arduous, Eibhlin managed to release the dragon stone from the skull it was embedded in. All the while she was curiously observed by night-raven Hraban who had taken a seat on one of the dragons horns which were winding around the skull like ram horns. Lady Violant, look! Isnt it just gorgeous? Eibhlin asked while presenting the results of her labor. The dragon stone was an oval object of about the size of a quail egg. It was slightly flattened on both sides and as smooth as if it already had been cut by a jeweler. A mysterious inner light constantly emitted from the stone allowed Violant and Eibhlin to assess its colors. The base color was a gentle green, not unlike the typical eye color of the Avallach family, but it was also interspersed with pretty silver spots. At the same time this beautiful gem consisting of crystallized magic was one of the hardest materials ever heard of. What luck that it wasnt necessary to cut it anymore. Well done. the red-haired girl praised It really is gorgeous and fitting nonetheless. I am in your debt, Eibhlin. But lets talk about this later, after our safe return. I dont want to stay even a moment longer in this piping hot place hostile to any kind of life. Huwcyn and Cuilennain couldnt help but stare with wide eyes. The two women and the bird who had left them behind some hours before were hardly recognizable, so grey they had become from the volcanic ashes covering their every surface. The first thing Ill need upon my return is a good scrubbing and a hot bath. Violant declared. Definitely. the ceffyl dwr consented You are almost as grey as me now. Meanwhile, the elf got apprehensively examined by the each-sith making sure of her wellbeing while admonishing her recklessness with a litany in elven language at the same time. That didnt change the fact of Eibhlin being quite pleased with herself in the least though. So this is a dragon stone! Prince Edric exclaimed full of fascination while studying the object in front of him. Violant and her companions had already freshened up in the meantime and looked presentable again. Truly marvelous! the second prince continued voicing his excitement What did you say you wanted to use it for, Lady Violant? She wants to use it as a gemstone for the necklace she will wear during the debut ball, elder brother. Prince Wynkin answered the question instead You know, the specification demanded of the debutantes. Violant looked quite surprised. She never had mentioned her reason but the youngest prince had found out nonetheless. Quite obvious, now that you say it. Edric agreed A dragon stone as a gem might be somewhat flamboyant but it surely meets the requirements. I believe you will look gorgeous, Lady Violant, especially as the gems colors are eminently suited to complement the colors of your hair and eyes. Well, thank you, Your Highness. the young lady replied, visibly overwhelmed by the sudden honest compliment. It was quite rare meeting a shrewd and prudent man like the second prince wearing his heart on his sleeve but it couldnt be denied that he also was somewhat unworldly and definitely more trusting than what was good for someone of standing. Prince Wynkin just sat back, observing the unfolding scene with a nearly unnoticeable ambiguous smile on his face. At the same time he was bothered by something but couldnt quite pin down what it was exactly. Ive brought the finished product. Hanarr informed while stepping into the margraves study. The dwarven smith carried a wooden box containing the necklace Must say Im quite pleased with myself. The gem was already o a good quality though. One o the best Ive ever seen, I tell ya! Orderic, Mortimer, and Violant waited excitedly for the unveiling of the piece of jewelry that would be the central focus of Violants debut outfit. Eibhlin was also present out of consideration, given her involvement in choosing and acquiring the gem. Now, dont keep us in suspense any longer, Hanarr. the margrave said with a smile Come on, show us what you have created with your skillful hands. The dwarf set down the wooden box on a slant-top desk, opened its hinge-attached lid and presented them the necklace on a cushion from red velvet. It was nothing else but numerous silver chain links stringed together but each and every chain link was so small and filigreed that it was a marvel to see. The quail egg-sized dragon stone was set in a simple frame of lustrous silver delicately adorned with a pattern of vines and flowers. All people present were speechless when faced with the beauty and elegance of the piece of jewelry which C despite all is splendor C still had a subtle appearance. It was guaranteed to catch eyes everywhere. Mortimer was the first to recover his voice. A tremendous work! he praised No piece of jewelry might be more suitable to represent what my sister and the margraviate stand for. You have outdone yourself yet again, Hanarr. Violant wanted to join in but then she saw that her uncle, normally a man of strong character, suddenly began to tear up. I cant quite believe this. he said with a sob My little dear Violant has grown up so fast. Before you know it she is already an adult. But it is my responsibility as her father to give her the best start possible in society. Violant, wearing this necklace you will look as beautiful and ethereal as Evelyn did at her debut, your mother, my dearest sister. That is my true belief. Seeing as the little girl of once has managed to grow up into a young lady as beautiful as a lily, albeit sometimes a little headstrong. I dont appear to have made any grave mistakes raising you in my sisters place. Nobody had expected Orderic to suddenly be overcome with tears of emotion. Especially the dwarf and elf felt strongly to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. It was just too awkward seeing your lord crying all of a sudden, devoid of any semblance of his usual authority. Therefore both quickly excused themselves and retreated from the room. Hanarr would return for his payment another time. Violant and Mortimer stayed back trying to comfort their father. The most important thing for the girls debut was ready. Now they still had until October to prepare for the rest. An unforgettable Debut Ball (1): Last Preparations and Entering the Venue Violant was very pleased with herself. In the past sixteen months since her return she had done whatever possible to ensure a good starting position for her opposition against Gervase, not to mention a good amount of luck on her side. She had managed to consolidate her and the margraviates position in the other march, going as far as turning the infamously dangerous wild hunt into her allies and recruiting a schrat healer. She had brought the royal family into her debt by saving Prince Wynkin and thus won the queen herself as her backer. She had learned to control her massively increased magic aptitude more effectively, nowadays enabling her to command three elements at the same time. With the social debut drawing closer the young lady would soon meet with Prince Gervase the first time in this lifetime. The little inconsequential brief encounter when she had visited the royal palace back in May didnt count since it was just a matter of seconds without even exchanging some words. Milady, you look simply gorgeous! exclaimed Abigail. Indeed. agreed Millicent. The two maids had followed their mistress to the capital. Malford was no exception but he was absent at the moment. Men simply had no part in dressing up a young lady right before her debut. The human and the silky had given their everything to prepare the red-haired girl for her big moment. Violant, now sixteen years old following her birthday in September, really had become a beauty to behold. Over the past sixteen month she had lost most of her baby fat, had experienced her likely last major growth spurt and had started to look rather feminine instead of girlish. Although the latter point normally didnt stand out much because of her usual tomboyishness. Her fire-red hair also had continued to grow and was significantly longer compared to after her return. Today, however, she radiated charm and beauty. The two maids had taken care of that. Violants normally open long hair had elaborately been pinned up, secured by an ornate silver hairpin her foster father Orderic had gifted her at her birthday. It was another of Hanarrs masterpieces and made in the same style as the dragon stone necklace the young lady presently wore around her neck. Violants face had for once been applied with make-up. The subtly applied make-up only managed to further highlight the young ladys natural beauty. The girl was dressed in a beautifully embroidered long dark blue gown with threads of gold and silver. It was long-sleeved because it was already the second half of October. The dates every year for the debut balls in March and October were chosen so that the social season in the capital every spring and autumn didnt come in conflict with seedtime and harvest during when the nobles usually tended to stay at their fiefs.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Milady, I believe to have taught you to the best of my ability. It might have been a hard time for the both of us but I believe that you will have no reason to embarrass yourself. I nonetheless wish you the best of luck for tonight. declared Lady Alse who was also present. Sending off her protg to her social debut was the last task she had to do as Violants governess. It also had been her coordinating the girls debut preparations in every detail. Now, after her job was done, she had to seize the chance to find new employers. The social season was extremely appropriate for this because an adult member of every noble house had arrived at the capital to obligatorily take part in the debut ball. Thank you, Lady Alse. Violant expressed her gratitude, knowing it was one of the last times she would speak with her governess. It was true that she had had a very hard time in Lady Alses lessons but that had been because she had disliked the subjects, not the teacher. Although admittedly she often had wished for the governess to be less strict. When I should perchance meet someone tonight who is looking for a capable and refined governess I will surely recommend you with warmest regards. the girl continued. To cover up for feeling touched, Lady Alse showed a strict expression and said: Enough pleasant words, Milady. It is high time for you to board your carriage to the royal palace. Do not even dream of arriving on Mr. Huwcyns back! Violant smiled. I know, Lady Alse. Rest assured. Then she waved at her delighted maids and went off. The whole family was present on board the margravial carriage. For Orderic and Mortimer as the current margrave and designated heir respectively it was a common occurrence and obligation to attend every single time representing the house of Avallach. Mortimer accompanied his father only since his own debut two years prior though. The debut ball was only open for those who were recognized as adults, which was at age sixteen commonly and at age fifteen for the royal family. This time around, however, Parcie was also present. Normally he steered clear of social events but since his dearest baby sister Vi was involved this time he couldnt bear to not witness her big moment. Parcie had come to the capital because Prince Wynkin had temporarily returned and taken leave just for this evening alone. The prince, who was still too young to attend the ball, took care of his little niece Petronella instead. During the last month he had managed to grasp his newfound strength enough to be confident to not accidentally injure the two years old girl grievously. The carriage stopping signaled that they had reached their destination: the royal palace itself. Countless servants in royal livery gathered to receive the nobles getting out of their carriages. Like it happened countless times on the palace forecourt, a servant approached asking for the identities of the newcomers. Margrave Orderic of Avallach and family. the margrave answered. Hearing this answer, the attendant beckoned another of his colleagues and advised him to guide the margravial family to the venue. Then he turned to Volant and said: Welcome, Your Serene Highness. Pardon my impudence but the debutantes are expected to gather elsewhere first before being guided to the venue. Please allow me to escort you. Much obliged. replied Violant, every bit the noble lady the governess Lady Alse had taught her to be. Then she followed the attendant into the palace to where the other debutantes would be waiting. A very important evening was just about to begin. An unforgettable Debut Ball (2): Entrance of the Debutantes The attendant in livery guided Violant through the halls, corridors, and stairways in the royal palace until they reached a room on the first floor. The returnee knew just too well where this place was. No wonder, had she been here already in her last lifetime. It was the waiting room of the debutantes next to Crystal Hall. Crystal Hall was the ball venue of the palace. Its name was not chosen by chance. It originated from the fact that most of the walls of Crystal Hall were replaced by big clear leaded windows with the only task of allowing the sunlight inside, for they didnt feature any elaborate motives. The waiting room was just one wall apart from Crystal Hall and the debutantes would descend a stairway into the ball venue, of course in order according to rank and merit. The room was filled with numerous scions of noble houses, ranking from duchies to baronetcies. Although baronets werent of peerage they were nonetheless regarded as part of the nobility. The young men and women all had dressed up for the occasion. Some of them were nervous, others rather calm. Violants arrival didnt remain unnoticed for long. The person who came to meet her first was in fact the one she wanted to meet the least. It was no other than her obnoxious cousin Euphemia of Nussex. Dearest Violant, what a great joy to see you again. Euphemia greeted her with faked friendliness. The daughter of a marquis house had given her all for her debut. She wore a silken yellow dress with a color reminiscent of her blonde hair and was virtually laden with jewelries made of gold and silver. The most conspicuous was her lecklace sorting pearls and three chicken egg-sized diamonds. Euphemia was so extravagant that it was almost crude again. Her own mother had more style but nobody dared to tell the spoiled only-child that her getup was simply in bad taste, no matter how expensive it mightve been. The pleasure is all mine. Violant responded, no bit more honest than her opponent. It is quite delightful that we will have our debut together, isnt it? Yes it is. Euphemia replied while thinking the exact opposite. Cousin Mortimer will also be present tonight, will he not? Yes, both father and my brothers have come today. the redhead informed her. How pleasant to hear. a bell-like voice chimed in. I am very happy to meet you again, Lady Violant. Allow me to express my gratitude again for your heroic deeds that saved my life. Euphemia turned her head in anger to see who had the audacity to join into the conversation with her cousin/love rival unasked but as soon as she became aware of the other partys identity she couldnt help but stay silent. The delicate cream-faced girl with flowing black hair and sparkling violet eyes who was dressed in a frilled dark blue dress superbly complimenting the colors of her hair and eyes couldnt be anyone else but Sybil of Sulia, daughter of the famous ducal house and highest ranked debutante of the evening. The frail girl wore a modest but nonetheless eye-catching silver necklace with a whitish moonstone to adhere to the demand in the invitation letter. As chance would have it, the moonstone not only gave a wonderful contrast to the dark blue background of Sybils dress, no, the duchy of Sulia was C besides its hot springs C also known for a mountainside in its territory where moonstone could be found, the only place of its kind in all of Yteland. Violant was rather pleased to meet Sybil again. The modest and thoughtful girl was very likable and she found it somehow cute how the ducal daughter tried to hide her obvious crush on Mortimer without much success. If Violant had to choose a sister-in-law, Sybil was likely the best choice. She was sickly, that was true, but Mortimers sister had also come to know that although the girl didnt often leave her home because of her health issues, she used her time to help her mother with the paperwork and even established a fund to help sickly children in the duchy who had not had the luck to have born in such an affluent family like hers. Long time no see, Lady Sybil. Violant replied I am glad to see you enjoying good health. Also, you do not need to thank me every time we meet. It was a matter of course for me to save who is in distress as long as it is within my capabilities. Although her words were as factitious as ever when conversing with other nobles C except for her family though C there was no doubt that the message they held were true to her heart. It truly is a stroke of luck that we this chance to talk before entering the venue. Who knows if we would be too busy to do so later on?This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Truer words were never spoken. Sybil agreed But I believe that there will be a chance to talk again later. After all, my esteemed mother wishes to personally express her gratitude for saving me to you and Lord Mortimer, and my esteemed brother does as well. The more Euphemia listened, the more unsightly her facial expression became. When had that vixen Violant managed to ingratiate herself with the ducal house of Sulia? What opportunity had allowed her to save someone as illustrious al Lady Sybil? She was nothing more than some uncouth devils spawn from the other march after all. Euphemias envious thoughts came to a sudden halt when a servant in palace livery entered to announce that it was time for the debutantes to enter the ball venue. The order of entry had been set beforehand but everybody was still curious about it. Although the order was strictly determined by rank, among those of equal standing, e.g. the margravial house of Avallach and the marquis house of Nussex, it was determined by merit and importance instead. The first to enter the venue was Sybil, no question. This time around there was no royal debuting. Prince Fulk might also only have turned sixteen recently but the royal family reached legal age and debuted at age fifteen already, a special rule that was in place to allow heirs to the throne to succeed their predecessors one year earlier than normal if necessary. Since the ducal house of Sulia was the next highest in rank, it was Sybils turn to go ahead. According to peerage the next to follow were those with the rank of marquis or margrave. Euphemia hoped fervently to be able to triumph over her cousin at least here, but no, the next to be called up was Violant. The red-haired young lady was completely unflustered when she heard her name announced by the herald. Her Serene Highness Lady Violant of Avallach. he introduced. Gracefully she stepped down the stairway leading to Crystal Hall. All eyes were gathered on her but she wasnt the least bit nervous. She was used to this from her time as Gervases wife after all. While descending, she allowed her gaze to wander, inconspicuously looking for familiar faces from this or from her previous lifetime. The royal family was still absent though, for it was their privilege to enter last. Only Princess Mabel could be seen in the crowd but she was accompanying her husband after all. As soon as Violant arrived, she was already surrounded by congratulators, all of them well known to her. That was because of the eight congratulators approaching her, three were her own family. Another two were Barnabas of Nussex and Georgina of Herinald, the parents of Euphemia. They soon excused themselves to greet their own daughter. The remaining was Count Alphege of Wuldington, or Uncle Ally as Violant called him, with his wife and only son. Mildred of Oakbury was a cubby good-natured woman not unlike her husband with a head of curly copper colored hair and a charitable heart. She was the patron of Wuldingtons temples and orphanages and known to donate whenever some natural disaster or epidemic endangered the lives of her subjects. The designated heir of the county of Wuldington, Hubert, had the same copper hair as his mother and the same brown eyes as his father but that was already all he had in common with his dumpy and chubby parents. The rather taciturn tall young man appeared to be a mix of Parcie and Mortimer instead. He was athletic and good in using his sword like the former but smart and hardworking like the latter. At the moment he served as vice-captain of the royal knight order C an unrewarding position because he got swamped with all the paperwork the captain of the knight order didnt want to do. Said captain was currently Prince Jarm though, one of the twin princes. The hustle and bustle came to a halt when the appearance of the royal family was announced. The first to enter was King Baldwin who looked truly regal in his ermine-adorned royal purple gown, bearing the golden crown on his head. His once full golden blond hair had already receded but his full beard of the same color made more than up for that. He was accompanied by his main wife, Queen Berengaria. He was then followed by his sons and their mothers according to the princes age. Prince Edric entered first, followed by Gervase, the twins Hal and Jarm, Humphrey, and Fulk at the end. All princes except for Edric had the same golden blond hair like their father did. Edrics hair color originated in his mothers thick black hair instead. Lady Mafalda had come from the merchant republic of Giudena though. Being the eldest daughter of Martuccio Lictorini, Guidenas head merchant at that time, the witty and well-spoken lady was known as Mafalda of Giudena in Yteland instead. Gervase was accompanied by his mother Lady Salome, a quite beautiful woman with flowing light blonde hair. She hailed from the house of Marquis Serpantine. The twins Hal and Jarm had lost their mother during childbirth already. Prince Humphrey and Prince Fulk were brothers and cousins at the same time. Their mothers Janet and Ethel were twin sisters hailing from the house of Count Linkan. Both of their mothers were wallflowers in noble society married off to the king for convenience. They accompanied their sons for this evening but retired quite soon afterwards. When Violant saw Queen Berengaria with a smile full of promise while looking in her direction, she thought that this might very well become a simply unforgettable evening. An unforgettable Debut Ball (3): An Evening full of Surprises After the nobles had paid their respect to the entering royal family, the mingling and conversations continued. At the same time musicians started to play music, especially dance music like estampies and saltarellos. Many debutantes and other ball participants sought to win prestige with showing off their dancing abilities. Violant preferred to stay aside and engage in conversation rather than dancing. Although very nimble thanks to her martial arts training, she simply had no talent for dances. She might be at least mediocre in dancing thanks to Lady Alses lessons but out of respect for the health of her prospective dancing partners feet she rather completely refrained from it. Additionally, neither her brothers nor Uncle Allys son Hubert asked her for a dance, knowing just too well about the redheads dancing skills. Lady Violant, I presume? a dignified womans voice sounded out. It belonged to a strict looking woman in the early fifties wearing a married womans white veil while clad in a black dress obviously revealing her status as a widow. Her violet eyes shone with wit. She was accompanied by three other people. One was a black-haired slender man of average height with a thin mustache and blue-grey eyes. He was dressed in courtly festive clothing and wore a heavy golden livery collar sporting the crest of Kingsborough. Next to him stood an obviously heavily pregnant woman in a wide light blue dress. Her chestnut brown hair was covered with an almost transparent veil of a married woman and her blue eyes radiated a gentle goodwill. The third person was Sybil. That meant that the middle-aged woman was no other than Duchess Adelaide of Sulia who was further accompanied by her son, the chief minister Jocelyn, and her daughter-in-law Princess Mable respectively. That is me. Violant confirmed Greetings Your Grace Duchess Adelaide, Your Excellency Chief Minister Jocelyn, and Your Royal Highness Princess Mabel. We meet again, Lady Sybil. She made sure not to lack in courtesy and curtsied. Very courteous. the duchess commented I have come to use this occasion for me to express my gratitude to you for fending off the monsters which attacked my dearest daughter Sybil. My gratitude naturally also extends to you, Lord Mortimer, who you have used your magic to shield my child from harm. Words cannot sufficiently express how thankful I am to the both of you and I am deeply in your debt. I wish to concur with my esteemed mothers words. Jocelyn of Sulia continued. His pleasant voice was one of the factors leading to him being the current chief minister I cannot say how very grateful I am that my dear sisters life could be saved from impending doom. You have my eternal gratitude for your good deed. Additionally, Lady Violant, I have to thank you for preserving the life of my dear brother-in-law Wynkin. His death because of berserk syndrome would have hit us hard, especially my dearest wife who is very susceptible to stress these months and days. It is true. My dear brothers rescue is nothing short of a miracle. Princess Mabel joined in I was unfortunately tied up with business the very day my esteemed royal mother had invited you to the palace but please allow me to use this chance to express my eternal gratitude for saving Wynkin, albeit belated. Violant and Mortimer were awash with gratitude. Particularly the girl felt it to be quite excessive. It was just a matter of course, especially as an Avallach. the margravial debutante said I would be unable to forgive myself should I abandon lives I could have saved, the more so when the other march is involved in one or the other way. I accept your gratitude. Your thankful words and the view of your families being happily reunited after facing the danger of eternal parting is already enough to fill my heart with joy. Especially the duchess regarded Violant with a newfound respect. This girl truly knew how to conduct herself as a noble. It was a matter of course, as my dear sister has already said. Mortimer concurred I will readily accept your feelings of gratitude, Your Grace, Your Excellency, and only your feelings. Apart from that, Your Grace, I dare to have the audacity to ask you for your daughters hand in marriage. I believe that Lady Sybil will be a formidable future margravine. Although Lady Sybil was shaking with fear when faced with terrifying man-eating monsters C a completely natural reaction, if I may say so C she nonetheless afterwards recovered her composure unusually quickly. This can be said to be a major prerequisite when dealing with matters of the other march on a regular basis. Of course you can be assured that I will shield your precious daughter so that no harm may come to her, Your Grace. I would rather only allow her contact with harmless denizens of the other march when she is assisting me. But enough about fief management for now. The most important should be that the sylphlike stature and unparalleled beauty of Lady Sybil as well as her modest and charming personality have stolen my heart. For all those reasons I humbly request of you to grant me your peerless daughters hand in marriage, Your Grace.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Mortimers sudden proposal took all people present by surprise, save only for his father who appeared completely unfazed. It was quite obvious that Mortimer and Orderic had discussed about the formers plan prior to this event. The reactions were as diverse as the people witnessing the event. Parcie, who had not a spark of any romantic feelings in him, appeared as cool as a cucumber. Violant was honestly surprised by Mortimers bold action although she had witnessed the romantic mood and constant flirting between her bother and Sybil before already. The Wuldingtons considerately stepped back since it was now a matter for the houses of Avallach and Sulia to solve. Chief Minister Jocelyn and Princess Mabel smiled at each other because they were reminded of their own marriage proposal on Mabels debut ball ten years ago. Duchess Adelaide scrutinized her daughters suitor with discerning eyes. Only the best of the best was good enough for her frail little angel, first and foremost also applying to her future spouse. Sybil, the party concerned the most, was overjoyed internally but outwardly she desperately tried to hide her completely reddened bashful face behind her hands. Euphemia had the bad luck of approaching the Avallachs together with her parents when she came to witness this scene. Tears in her eyes, she stormed away broken-hearted without taking any consideration of her surroundings. Marquis Nussex and his wife followed their daughter, flustered from the development and aiming to guide her back on the venue. Both Barnabas and Georgina knew about their only childs crush on Mortimer but there was nothing they could do save for consoling her. Well, I guess I will accept your proposal, Lord Mortimer. the duchess declared dry as ever after a long time of contemplation. It was fairly obvious to see that her daughter for her part was more than just delighted with the prospect of marrying the future margrave. Additionally, she did have quite the favorable impression of the suitor. Seeing as my dear daughter Sybil also doesnt appear to be averse to your proposal and we have to owe it to the house of Avallach that she can still marry at all, I agree. Marrying a future margrave might be below the rank of a ducal daughter but I believe it to be preferable compared to marrying into the snake pit full of scheming that is the royal family, with all due respect. In particular the neutrality of the house of Avallach is crucial for me, assuring that my dear child will not be wiped out from inevitably participating in factional disputes. Both Mortimer and Sybil were rejoicing over the duchesss approval. Orderic also signaled his consent with warm words. Violant, Parcie, Jocelyn, and Mable congratulated the future spouses to their engagement, although the finalization and announcement of the same was still a future matter. The merriment was disrupted though when a pleasant-sounding voice remarked: The royal family is not nearly as dangerous a place as you seem to believe, honorable duchess. But I wont hold it against you because rumors always contain a germ of truth after all. There have been treacherous occurrences in the royal palace. Think about the late Lady Rosamund, mother of my dear late eldest brother Rowland. Anyway, allow me to express my heartfelt congratulations to the two betrothed. Rosamund of Doocaster was Duchess Adelaides cousin from a counts family. Both the duchess and the royal concubine had been quite close. Together with their good friend Queen Beregaria, the noble ladies had been called the three roses of Yteland in their youth. Although Rosamund in particular had been ridiculed for not knowing her standing when associating with two ducal ladies when she herself only hailed from a counts house, but that didnt impact their friendship in the least. They also continued to be best friends when two of the girls had married Baldwin. This lasted until Lady Rosamunds sudden death fifteen years ago when her son Rowland had only been eight years old. The loss of their dear friend continued to be a deep wound in their hearts for both Berengaria and Adelaide. The seemingly accidental mention of the deceased Rosamund was clearly intentioned to hurt Duchess Adelaide who continued to stand at the queens side. As the mighty duchess of Sulia who ruled over the rich and powerful duchy even as a widow C well, she was the penultimate Duke Sulias only child, leading to her late husband marrying into her family to succeed as duke C she was an insufferable thorn in the side of all other princely and noble factions. Hearing those seemingly pleasant but deeply venomous words, Violant couldnt help but stiffen involuntarily. She knew the voice just too well. Only that she once had been too blind or rather too deaf to understand the endless malice and boundless ambition deeply hidden beneath the friendly and mellifluous words. Slowly moving her head in the direction of the speaker, the young ladys eyes were met with the sight of the last person she wanted to meet this evening. The smiling prince with golden blond hair and blue eyes coming into her view was no one else but Gervase, the treacherous husband of her previous lifetime. An unforgettable Debut Ball (4): Confrontation with Gervase Much to Violants distress, Prince Gervase turned his attention to her following his conversation with Duchess Adelaide. You must be Lady Violant of Avallach. he spoke, showing her a pristine smile full of bright white teeth. I have heard the rumors but they do you no credit, for you are even more beautiful in person. You have a quite characteristic beauty, to be sure. And your eye color is certainly unique, to say the least. Who hasnt heard yet of the vigorous red rose of Avallach and her accomplishments? But enough pleasantries. Allow me to express my heartfelt gratitude for what you have selflessly done for my dear brother Wynkin, who sadly cannot be present tonight since he is not of legal age yet. It pains my heart horribly to simply imagine how his endearing young life could have been lost because of berserk syndrome if it wasnt for you offering redemption in the virtually last moment. Wynkin and I might be different mothers offspring but our fathers blood connects us deeply nonetheless. I could never stand it to lose any of my beloved siblings. Thus again, thank you very much for helping Wynkin. Listening to the blond princes drivel, the red-haired debutante had to try her utmost to not break into loud laughter. After having come to know the real Gervase at the end of her last lifetime, Violant knew best that all familiar affection the third prince was displaying was nothing more than a big fat lie and a beautiful facade. There could be no doubt about it that Gervase regretted losing a chance to dispose of one of his brothers. He surely would have preferred all his siblings and their mothers being swallowed by the earth at one go, followed by the convenient passing of his father, King Baldwin, allowing him to inherit the throne. If Gervase loved any of his relatives, then it was only his mother, Lady Salome, and her alone. All the others were nothing more than inconvenient obstacles on the way to kingship for him, especially his father. Keeping her thoughts to herself, Violant reacted with a polite smile and payed her respect to Gervase like to a higher ranked stranger that she didnt know at all. You overvalue my actions as well as my beauty, Your Royal Highness, but thank you for the sincere praise. she said humbly It is my honor to finally make the acquaintance of the much lauded third prince. Nonetheless I believe that a boorish and simple-minded person who only understands how to fight with the spear and how to ride horses such as myself is nary worth of your much-sought attention. Your praiseworthy humbleness is astounding, Lady Violant. Gervase replied But please do not underrate yourself. What you have done for the kingdom and the royal family, nobody else could have done so. While the redhead was still thinking about what to reply C no matter how polished her words might have been, speaking in such a snobbish way was still utterly unnatural for her C another prince inadvertently came to her rescue.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Lady Violant, a pleasure to meet you again. Prince Edric declared. Compared to the monk cowl-like garment he had worn in Ealdon, the second prince appeared much more prince-like dressed in finest velvet. He nevertheless still wore his glasses which gave him quite the eccentric appearance, for he was the only one in all of Crystal Hall to do so. Mother, this is the young lady who has preserved Wynkins life. he continued turned to Lady Mafalda who was accompanying her son. The concubine from Guidena exchanged some pleasantries with Violant and the others around. The young lady of Avallach was quite happy to witness how Gervases expression deranged from displeasure, although only for a split-second before it was already masked again with a benevolent smile. Brother, Lady Mafalda, how wonderful of you to join us. Gervase spoke We were just talking about Lady Violants accomplishments. It is quite rare to find such a heroic young lady, isnt it? Yes it is. yet another voice agreed. Now it was Violants turn to have complicated emotions because the person joining was no one else but Salome of Serpantine, Prince Gervases mother. Her syrupy smile made the red-haired debutante doubt her intentions. Even worse, Lady Salome was accompanied by another debuting girl. The elegant light brown-haired young lady with an even face and beautiful big blue eyes who was clad in a gorgeous bright yellow dress was no stranger to the returnee although they hadnt yet met this time around. Felicity of Marchester who hailed from a marquis house was the very concubine of Gervase who had risen to the queen position after Violants fall from grace. Allow me to introduce the charming young lady accompanying me. Lady Salome continued This is Lady Felicity from the house of Marchester. She might neither have such heroic accomplishments like Lady Violant nor such a distinguished background like Lady Sybil but she is without doubt one of the blossoming roses of society. It was quite obvious that Lady Salome tried to steal the limelight from the much-praised Avallach girl and the just proposed to Sulia girl. In fact it had been her as well the last time around who was introducing Lady Felicity to her son and pushing for her to become a concubine. Only that this happened just shortly after Gervase and Violants wedding, almost two years after the debut. Lady Salome making this move earlier than in the other timeline was proof of events changing considerably. Every single one of them is a rose ready to bloom, no doubt. Some have opened their petals wider while others rather still appear like buds waiting for their time. declared Jocelyn eloquently. With such a glib tongue it was no surprise that he had become the chief minister at age 23 already. Five years ago when he was conferred this office he was the youngest man ever to reach this in the history of Yteland. Knowing his talents, Wynkin had requested his brother-in-law to help out if any of his brothers or their kin should target Lady Violant. Lady Salome glowered at the chief minister for raining on her parade but before she was able to use her venomous tongue to return the humiliation yet another person chimed in. Truer words were never spoken. a regal voice agreed. An unforgettable Debut Ball (5): The Tide is Turning Truer words were never spoken. Queen Berengaria declared. Nobody had felt her approaching but now there she was, entering the conversation. Everybody present in the round expressed their reverence. I concur. added Mabel My esteemed mother is right. Like my esteemed husband already said, all of them are roses and Yteland can count itself lucky to own a garden with such beautiful flowers. This can only add to Ytelands prestige. I am sure my esteemed mother and Her Grace the duchess will acknowledge this, for they are two roses of Yteland themselves. Bellissimo! exclaimed Lady Mafalda Iutiterra being a garden full of rosas. Che bellissima metafora! What a beautiful metaphor! She applauded enthusiastically. Back in Giudena the people say that the Yteish are barbari. But people who are capable if finding such belle metaphors cant really be barbari, can they? You are right, mother. Prince Edric affirmed. Violant felt the entire hubbub around her to be simply too much. Although she didnt wish for it, she ended up becoming the focus point of an illustrious gathering of people. She had to grin and bear it though. Queen Berengaria then turned her attention to her sons benefactor when she felt that Lady Salome and her scheming were fended off sufficiently with combined efforts. Her eyes widened in surprise when her gaze fell upon the margravial girls necklace. A gemstone such as this, shining from its deepest interior, she had never seen anything alike before. Lady Violant, might you be willing to answer the question what kind of gemstone exactly adorns your necklace? the queen asked It is the first time in Our live We have ever seen anything like it and We believe to be quite knowledgeable regarding gemstones and jewels of any kind. Oh, this? Violant checked back. Of course she had expected this question at some point of the evening, just not it coming from the queen herself. To reply to Your Majestys inquiry: This is a dragon stone, the very same kind of jewel that forms when magic crystallizes in a dragons forehead bone during its lifetime. I am not surprised that Yor Majesty has not yet had the opportunity to see such a kind of gem, for it is quite difficult to procure. In fact, it took a trip to the dragon cemetery in the other march for me to personally procure this beautiful specimen. But I believe that no other gem would sufficiently express my humble person as well as the house of Avallach if not for something that is as magical and otherworldly as the other march. This indeed beautifully matches the idea behind the necklaces. Princess Mabel acceded Only, I hope you were not in any kind of danger while procuring this precious dragon stone, Lady Violant. Personally visiting a dragon cemetery sounds anything but save to me. Please rest assured, Your Royal Highness. Violant replied. Since she knew that authentic stories about the other march were a much sought but seldom found kind of entertainment, allowing listeners to speechlessly marvel in amazement or to pleasurably shiver with goosebumps, she took the chance to tell hers for the enjoyment of the royals. The dragon cemetery admittedly is not the place friendliest to life. That is for sure. In fact it is quite the bizarre place instead. It is a deep rocky valley with bold cliffs surrounding it. The sky above is covered with ash clouds bringing with them an eternal night only lit by the fires of the very volcanoes in the vicinity which are responsible for the night-like clouds and a rain of ash literally everywhere. The valley is filled with the mortal remains of the proud, majestic and terrifying dragons. All kinds of dragons come to the valley to die. They are not dangerous anymore for the visitor. The dangers of the place itself are already more than enough. Additionally, it is said that there are basilisks and cockatrices in the dragon cemetery but I can count myself lucky to not have encountered one of those. Their deadliness is well-known, I presume. What I and my companions encountered, however, was a group of smaller, lizard-like dragons. They showed hostile behavior but could be fended off easily. Nonetheless I believe that visiting the dragon cemetery once in my life is more than enough. I would not dare to do so another time.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Violants narrative of the dragon cemetery captivated listeners far and wide. In fact, groups of nobles standing nearby also closed in to be able to follow the story. An impressive experience, We must say! a dignified male voice exclaimed. It belonged to King Baldwin. Captivated by the otherworldly tale, nobody had noticed the monarch joining his main wifes side. Although We believe that a young lady should not dare to be so reckless. There is only one life. the king continued But We would not expect anything less of the courageous Lady Avallach who dared to selflessly traverse the treacherous other march following a tiny fairys plea to save Our dearest son Wynkin. At least this is what We have heard but We also affirmed this to be the truth. Yteland truly can feel blessed to have such a courageous daughter and many more excellent sons and daughters who are entering society tonight. My own sons ought to take a leaf out of all those wonderful young peoples book to create a prosperous and peaceful future for our kingdom. I could not have said it any better, Lord Husband., Queen Berengaria concurred. Violant of Avallach thanks Your Royal Majesty for your inspiring and wholesome words. the red-haired girl spoke while curtsying. She felt the kings magnanimous gaze on her. King Baldwin smiled to himself. We feel somewhat reminded of the late Lady Evelyn of Avallach. he said, a nostalgic complexion on his face. Violant could in fact have been the half-sibling of Mabel, Wynkin, Edric, Gervase and all the other princes if not for her mothers sudden pregnancy out of wedlock. The conception of Violant brought a sudden end to the talks about Lady Evelyn as a possible royal concubine. Confronted with feelings and regrets of the past, King Baldwin soon withdrew to further watch the debut ball from the sidelines while lost in thought. Violant was overjoyed to see Gervase and Lady Salome suffer a loss to their plans. Both son and mother began to show their discontentment the more the longer they were outright ignored. Ultimately they went off in frustration, seeking to find a boost for their egos among their own faction. Felicity of Marchester, the rival in love from Violants previous lifetime, already had made herself scarce as soon as she became aware of it that nobody paid any attention to her. Since the debut ball was a unique opportunity she sought to win the attention she believed to deserve elsewhere. The Avallachs were surprised beyond belief how their tomboyish little Violant blossomed out to be the focus of the evening. They couldnt surmise in the least that all that were the fruits of the harsh queen training the girl had to endure in her last lifetime. In the course of the evening Violant successfully tied countless new contacts with nobles and deepened her ties with the houses which would essentially shape the further development of her new future. Those were especially the ducal house of Sulia, the counts house of Wuldington, and the direct family of Prince Edric and Prince Wynkin. While Count Wuldington should remain neutral time to come, not favoring any of the princes although Prince Jarm was his sons immediate superior, Duchess Sulia, Queen Berengaria and Lady Mafalda as well as their offspring formed the core of what would soon be known as the Edric-Wynkin faction in the struggle for throne succession, with Prince Wynkin openly backing his older brothers claim for the throne just as he had planned. Contrarily, Violant would end up tying herself strongly to the Edric-Wynkin faction while trying to remain neutral nonetheless. But that wasnt something she could surmise as of now. A royal Headache and other Happenings (1): One Guest you expect, five of them you get Several months had passed since the debut ball. Following her debut Violant had been only once in the capital ever since, accompanying her father instead of Mortimer who was in Sulia to visit his fiance at that time. The occasion was the biannual debut ball in Crystal Hall. Violant then waged a battle of words with Prince Gervase who seemed to have decided to single her out for some reason. If he thought her accountable for the humiliation he had suffered the last time around, she didnt know. Fact was that they bickered for the whole evening, hiding daggers behind pleasant words. Even worse, Prince Gervase was accompanied the whole time by Felicity of Marchester, the very same marquis daughter who had deserted him back in October. Both seemed to be in line with each other this time around though, and Violant found it especially annoying how Felicity openly glanced yearningly at her princely companion but scolded herself for feeling jealous over such a hypocritical and treacherous guy. Much like at her own debut ball she got assistance from Duchess Adelaide, Prince Edric, and Lady Mafalda. Especially Lady Mafaldas venomous tongue was a sight to behold. Was that the famous fiery Southern temper? In the end Gervase retreated like a beaten dog, glaring at his wife of another lifetime with a gaze that promised he would exact vengeance upon her one of those days. Now it was early May and Violant couldnt help but rubbing her temples in distress. Avallachs quinquennial great festival was coming up but her foster father Orderic, the reigning feudal lord, had suddenly left because of urgent business in the other march, leaving all festival preparations up to her and her brother Mortimer without prior warning. Additionally, Sybil had announced her visit. The official reason was her interest in Avallachs traditions and customs as the future margravine but in reality she just wanted to spend some quality time with her fianc. The two lovebirds often came up with superficial reasons to meet up because without they wouldve been denied of this possibility. The reason of Violants current distress was not the arrival of Sybil and her retinue but the presence of several unannounced guests and entourages arriving together with the young lady of Sulia. Because Sybil had appeared weakened from travel sickness and was generally under the weather these days C it was quite muggy for early May C Mortimer had gallantly accompanied her inside to rest, thus dumping the task of dealing with the other guests on his sister. The first of the unexpected visitors was Prince Wynkin. The boy was now fourteen years old and appeared much more mature than when Violant had last seen him. His still developing berserk body also had undergone further changes. He was now a head taller than an adult man and his muscle mass had further increased. Of course he was still far from being a full-grown berserk but the medicine produced by schrat healer Alarun that got restocked regularly allowed him to keep his sanity. Parcie was among the berserk princes entourage and visiting his home for the first time since being assigned as his martial arts tutor. The fairy Dryp was also present, invisible as always. The second and third unexpected guests were Prince Edric and his mother Lady Mafalda. When Edric had gotten wind of Sybil and Wynkin who had already invited himself heading for Avallach he decided to join them, mainly hoping to be able of consulting denizens of the other march about their successful agricultural methods. Lady Mafalda accompanied him to satisfy her endless curiosity in Yteish culture and tradition. The fourth uninvited visitor was by far the worst for Violant though. Prince Gervase had decided to visit Avallach simply to annoy the silver-eyed tomboy who he seemed to regard as something like his worst enemy outside the royal family. Wynkin was quite pleased with the third princes decision instead because it meant he could directly keep an eye on the most likely candidate for succeeding the throne besides his favored candidate Edric. What a delightful surprise your visit is, Your Highnesses. Violant welcomed them with a twitching smile at risk of derailing and showing her true emotions. Three of the guests werent too hard to deal with (although Edrics and Mafaldas overflowing enthusiasm could prove to be somewhat challenging C like mother like son indeed) but it was Prince Gervase causing her headaches the most. Which hidden agenda had this devil in human skin for him to personally visit Avallach? Long time no see, Lady Violant. Prince Wynkin replied I hope you excuse our sudden visit. It is completely understandable if we meet you unprepared just like a bolt from the blue. Please allow me to appeal to your forbearance regarding this matter. My brothers, Lady Mafalda and I definitely wont cause you any trouble if our accommodation should be hastily prepared and not coming quite up to standard. It is our fault for coming without prior notice after all. The berserk boy had become quite eloquent in the eleven months the redhead hadnt seen him but he couldnt stay a child forever after all. Prince Gervase contorted his face when his youngest brother nipped his first chance to seek trouble with his adversary in the bud. Edric and Mafalda both also expressed their gratitude for Violants hospitality despite their sudden arrival. The host didnt continue exchanging pleasantries in the sun-filled castle courtyard and invited the royal visitors in, leading them to a tastefully furnished reception room, asking them to stay there and enjoy their refreshments while she would arrange for guest chambers. The furnishing of the reception room had been carried out following Lady Alses instructions, quasi as the parting gift of the governess for her protg after Orderic had decided that Violant had the right to have not only her own study but also her own reception room like both Orderic and Mortimer did too. At present, Lady Alse who had taken her leave from Avallach after Violants coming-of-age now worked as a governess for the house of Sulia, overseeing the education of the now three years old Petronella, daughter of Jocelyn and Mabel. She also would teach little Nellys newly born brother Adelard in the future. Her employment at the house of Sulia was in a way Violants last present for the upright governess who never had seen her as a lost cause no matter the lack of talent. During the debut ball Princess Mable had voiced out that she was looking for a capable governess and Violant had taken the chance to warmly recommend the capable Lady Alse whom she was very grateful to despite her inherent dislike for the subjects tutored by the governess.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Later, when the guests had been shown to their rooms, Violant guided Prince Wynkin to the castles east wing. The prince had expressed the desire to meet the very person who unfailingly managed to concoct the medicine he consumed daily to stay sane. The young lady agreed that it was a good chance and decided to let him meet with Alarun. It was unreasonable to force the hoary schrat on a travel for this purpose after all. Alarun was in her chamber and was by chance even currently occupied with the task of making new anti-berserk pills. Standing face to face with the elderly woman, Wynkin expressed his amazement because even after hearing that the elderly healer was highly advanced in years, he sure as hell hadnt expected such a curious creature seemingly overgrown with moss and lichens all over. Alarun was no less surprised seeing her patient for the first time. The medical ingredients in her hands slipped from her grasp an fell down, luckily landing on the worktop and not the floor. Heardred? she asked, rubbing her eyes in disbelieve before continuing to mumble to herself No, that cant be. Heardred is long gone, isnt he? But he and this child are alike like two peas in a pod. No, not exactly. Heardred had blue eyes, not hazel ones, didnt he? Wynkins surprise deepened further when hearing this venerable name. With his eyes, he appeared to ask the red-haired girl who had brought him there: Heardred? She cant really be talking about Can she? Violant returned the gaze and nodded. Exactly. Wynkin was baffled. The hoary woman really was an acquaintance of the mythical founder king? That was nothing short of an incredible sensation. Nobody would ever dream of meeting someone who had known the esteemed founder king personally and yet here he did. At this point of time Violant piped up: No, no. Youre wrong, Alarun. This boy isnt Heardred. He is one of his descendants, the very same Prince Wynkin whose berserk syndrome you are treating with those pills of yours. Is that so, child? Alarun asked in amazement, cocking her head in a bizarre way. Yes, you are right. Heardred is long dead. I have visited his graveside long ago. Well, but what are some measly centuries for someone as old as Alarun here? Nice to meet you, boy. I must say you really look like Heardred did in his younger days, the rascal. But you are both berserks after all, are you not? It is no wonder that two berserks of the same blood look quite alike, isnt it? You must excuse this old woman if she might speak a little too familiar but I feel very nostalgic seeing someone with the appearance of a friend long gone. How long has it been since Heardred called me Granny Alarun? You may do the same if you want, boy. Wynkin was simply left speechless. In front of his eyes there was someone with the audacity to call the great founder king a rascal, even claiming to have been addressed as Granny by the very same king. There was nothing like this in the official chronicles but the earliest surviving accounts of the founder kings reign were compiled one or two generations after Heardreds death by people who never had known him personally and who glorified him. The youngest living descendant of the founder king had no reason to doubt the elderly schrats words, in particular as she didnt have a reason to lie. Well then, I guess I will take you up on the offer, esteemed healer. Prince Wynkin said, expressing his veneration for the hoary woman with a short bow which nonetheless appeared quite clumsy with his massive brawny body. Nice to meet you too, Granny Alarun. I am very happy to have the chance to meet you here today. Please allow me to express my gratitude for you supplying those wonderful pills. Without your miraculous remedy preserving my sanity and mitigating those indescribable growth pains I likely wouldnt dwell among the living anymore, slain for being a berserk. I really cannot thank you enough. Lady Violant always spoke to me highly of your medical prowess making this miracle possible. Therefore, again, thank you very much. I dont need any gratitude, boy. Alarun declared with a gentle smile C smiling as well as she could with lips looking rather like a crack in some moss-grown tree bark. For old women like me it is already happiness enough to see the younglings living well and happily. That was once true with Heardred and it is true again with you. If you want to thank me just live to the fullest and show a senile old holzweibel what you will do with your life. Violant felt her eyes well up with tears. She knew the wise schrat for one and a half years now and had always thought that the hoary woman was very down-to-earth. How little she needed to be happy and that the luck of others was her greatest luck, the girl felt it to be very moving. I promise. said Wynkin, carefully taking the diminutive old healers hands in his huge paws. I will live my life to the best of my ability. Please witness it yourself. You know what, Granny Alarun? You might be bad with travels and I might be far from Avallach most of the time. That definitely wont change anytime soon. But you can witness nonetheless what I will do with this life your remedy has saved. I will regularly write you letters. I dont know if you can read the script of this kingdom but even if not, I believe there will be someone willing to read my letters to you. Alarun smiled over her whole face when she heard that. What a wonderful idea, boy. she agreed. I would like that very much. So it be. the berserk boy finalized the idea. Violant, listening in from the sidelines, thought that Doctor Wace and his assistant Ottiwell would be more than happy to read out the letters to Alarun but considering the overenthusiasm of the two men whenever it came to the schrat healer she believed it wiser to do so herself or to leave it to a trusted subordinate instead. So that is a schrat. I never knew. Prince Wynkin murmured, seemingly lost in thought. He was back in his own guest room and sat down on the edge of his bed. What do you think, Dryp? he asked. The tiny fairy sat down on the headend of the bed. She was visible again because she was alone with the boy. Even among the holzleute Ms. Alarun is a particularly hoary one. Her medical prowess is the real deal, no doubt about it. It is common knowledge in the other march that when you are seriously ill, the best you can do is to look for a healer from one of their kind. But the holzleute are very rare, their healers even more so. I cant quite fathom what great streak of luck it must have been for Ms. Violant to encounter one and even befriend her. She must be blessed by the gods. Intriguing. the prince said with the same evil smile on his face the fairy so feared because it meant that somebody would be unable to escape his claws forever. Even befriending a quasi-mythical healer with almost godly abilities. Violant of Avallach, you only get more and more intriguing the more I know about you. Well, but thanks to that I am now friends with that old Alarun too. Dont mind if I use this new connection to the fullest. Some letters every now and then are a rather cheap price I have to pay for that. Dont you think so, Dryp? The chuckle that followed had no real difference to roaring with a villainous laughter, at least in Dryps eyes. The fairy knew that Prince Wynkin had found yet another pawn and victim or C to say it in his words C another person of interest. The only solace was that the hoary schrat would likely outlive the two-faced prince for centuries. A royal Headache and other Happenings (2): Cockatrial Festival Before you know it the festival preparations were all done and it was already the day Cockatrial would begin. The curious name of the three-day-festival originated in the fact that it was celebrated every five years to commemorate the triumph of ?scwine of Avallach, the first margrave, over a cockatrice which terrorized the area of present day Avallach. Since this historical event was called putting the cockatrice on trial by the locals it was only logical that the commemorative event would come to be known as the cockatrice trial or Cockatrial for short. A merry mood could be found everywhere. Merchants from all over the kingdom and the other march had come to profit from the trade fair going hand in hand with the festivities. Even a dozen merchants from Giudena had come but Giudenians were well known for their shrewdness and good business sense after all. The Cockatrial was an opportunity they wouldnt ignore, especially so as during this time goods from the other march were available which didnt find their way to the market of Avallach otherwise. With the big day having arrived, the Avallachs and their guests went to visit the festival. They split in three groups according to interests. Margrave Orderic still hadnt returned and Parcie, although having grown up in the margraviate, would give a terrible guide because he simply had no interest in anything aside from martial arts. Since that was the case the following three groups were established: The first group included both Mortimer and Sybil, with one of Sybils maids and Mortimers butler Andrew as company. The fiancs took the chance to spend time together like originally planned. The presence of the servants was to make sure that the two lovebirds did nothing unbecoming and to also have someone to carry all purchases. The latter was poor Andrews task, and Sybil bought really a lot of souvenirs for family, friends and herself. In the second group were Prince Edric and his mother Mafalda. Their festival guide was not of noble blood but highly welcome nonetheless. Edric was overjoyed at the prospect of being guided by Avallach Castles librarian. Augustine was a famous scholar the second prince deeply admired. He had read the old librarians hand-annotated edition of Chronicles of the History and Inhabitants of the Other March in the palace library until it was in tatters. His main focus was of course on what little he came to know about agriculture in the other march. Violant took the task on of guiding the third group, consisting of the third price Gervase and the eighth prince Wynknin. She assumed that Dryp was also present C which she was since she never left Wynkins side for long C but she couldnt see the invisible fairy, save for some unclear tiny shadow hovering around Wynkin she could spot occasionally thanks to the sight. At the moment, the young lady and her royal visitors traversed the trade fair. Market stalls and tents of all kinds covered a much larger space than the usual marketplace of Avallach. Humans and denizens of the other march mingled among each other in a bustling crowd moving from stall to stall. The presence of the garrison knights allowed for the preservation of order. Nonetheless, there were conflicts of course, caused by theft, scams or simply by prejudices against the trading partners different from oneself. Humans had prejudices against the otherworldly traders and visitors, the other marchers had prejudices against humans and naturally also among themselves. It was a normal thing, albeit nothing good.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Eyeing one of the vendors at a stall nearby, Prince Gervase distorted his face in disgust. He had never seen such a hideous woman. It appeared like an insult to his eyes to watch her any longer but he was unable to tear his gaze away from such unparalleled ugliness. Of course it was clear to him that the hideous crone was in no way human but she was a good reason to look for trouble with the despised Lady Avallach. Much to his chagrin she had managed to successfully counter most of his verbal attacks in the last few days. Well, he didnt know himself why he was so obsessed with her since the debut ball of October last year but he felt the urge to disgrace her as much as possible. If he was honest to himself, he was acting quite childish but it was the first time that a young aristocratic lady had defied him so openly since most young girls gladly lay at his feet, drooling over him. It filled Gervase with pride to be the most desired bachelor in the whole kingdom and it hurt this pride immensely to find a woman who so openly defied his charm. The third prince asked: Lady Violant, say, what is this hide More he couldnt say because the margravial young lady had rapidly covered his mouth, thus effectively silencing him. Your Royal Highness, I hope you didnt want to say anything about the woman over there being the opposite of beautiful. she warned, her eyes sternly mustering the foolish prince. Never call a fin wife anything but gorgeous or you will suffer the consequences. You might not know, Your Highness, but the women of the fin folk have quite the peculiar problem. They start out as really beautiful mermaids but they only get to keep their unearthly beauty if they manage to consummate marriage with a human man. If not, then they are forced to marry a fin man, rapidly lose their previous beauty and are exiled from the otherworldly undersea city of Finfolkaheem to spend the rest of their days as witches on land. Of course the fin wives will have a terrible beauty complex, and to your information, I know the fin wife over there personally and she is only 21 years old. Well, when I saw her the last time five years ago she was still a gorgeous mermaid, but still! Gervase was too shocked to say anything. Human or not, that was no fate you would wish anybody to experience. Thus he grudgingly admitted defeat for now and went on in silence. Wynkin highly enjoyed the sight of his normally oh-so-perfect brother meekly shutting up. Already this experience alone made it more than worth to have travelled all the way to Avallach. Additionally, Lady Violant appeared to have a rare talent for stirring Gervase up, leading to him more often than not making a fool of himself. Nonetheless the eighth prince felt somewhat unsettled seeing the third prince so close to the red-haired and silver-eyed girl, be it on antagonistic terms or not. He was unable to say why he felt like this though. Begging your pardon, Your Royal Highnesses, I believe that the cockatrice trial play should start soon. informed Violant the two princes Since we have agreed with the others to meet up for it I believe we should now set out for the play stage. Yes, we have promised that. Prince Wynkin agreed Please lead the way, Lady Violant. The young lady from the margravial house and her two royal guests moved in the direction of the stage where the play about the cockatrice trial would be shown, undoubtedly the climax of the festivities on the first day. They were stealthily followed by several men in commoners everyday clothing but armed with weapons. Those were no assassins though but the stealth troupe of the royal guard, tasked with protecting members of the royal family. Thus the three groups should meet up again soon. A royal Headache and other Happenings (3): A fateful Encounter And thus the Cockatrial festival is celebrated every five years to commemorate Lord ?scwines courageous and heroic deed of slaying the cockatrice. Incidentally this also was the last time a cockatrice was encountered outside the other march in the long history of our kingdom. Well, nowadays the festival is comparatively overshadowed in importance by the trade fair traditionally taking place at the same time but the Avallachians still uphold their ancient traditions with vigor. One of them is the play about the cockatrice trial Your Highnesses will watch later. The librarian Augustine was undoubtedly in the right element. He enjoyed guiding Prince Edric and Lady Mafalda through the festival. It was rare that there were people as interested in the history behind it as the two royals were. Mother and son listened attentively, and when they asked about something still left unclear, they always were questions constructive to the conversation. At the moment the group of three, followed stealthily by some royal guards, made their way over the trade fair. Here and there they stopped to marvel at unusual goods from the other march, Edric sometimes starting a conversation with the otherworldly vendors about traditional agriculture methods of their homeland. In those situations, Agustines presence was invaluable. The old scholar of the otherworldly spoke ten languages of the other march fluently and fifteen more at least well enough to have rudimentary conversations. At the moment he was completely a tour guide though. So the people of Avallach still know about the origin of this festivit and identify with it, Signore Augustine? Lady Mafalda inquired. Well, I guess it is the same as everywhere else. the elderly scholar sighed An occasion to celebrate is much more important to the locals than the reason behind it. Yet every child in Avallach knows the story of Lord ?scwine and the cockatrice, at least the popularized version. The play shows the founder of the margraviate as a beast-slaying hero popular with the people but concerning the details it quite diverges from the historical or should I rather say mythical accounts in the chronicles. But I should not delve too deep into the matter as of now, lest I spoil the play for Your Highnesses. Quite thoughtful of you, Mr. Augustine. Prince Edric agreed But allow me to ask: Present day Avallach is a famous junction of the other march and the human world, with denizens of both populating the town and the territory, mingling amongst each other. But is it known if this peaceful coexistence preceded the arrival of ?scwine of Avallach or if it was shaped by the margravial rule? I cannot quite remember that you would have touched this topic in your much-read Chronicles. That is correct. Augustine affirmed To be honest, the early chronicles sadly keep silent about this questions. The first mention of coexistence between humans and denizens of the other march appears only about 200 years after Lord ?scwines lifetime, and is extremely casual at that. The only information thus available is that coexistence was already a matter of fact at that time, nothing unusual at all. About when coexistence began, I am afraid The librarians answer was cut short by a sudden ruckus at a stall nearby. The vendor, a broad-shouldered uncouth fellow speaking in the dialect of Northwestern Yteland, raided his hand to slap a woman whose hair was covered by a plain brown headscarf. He had roughly seized her other arm and loudly accused her of attempted theft. The woman denied, frantically shaking her head and speaking rapidly in a foreign tongue. This only managed to enrage the vendor even more. Listen here, ya lil bitch! he cussed Coming to Ytelant without knowin the language and tryin to steal from an honest fella like me. Those are the right fellas, aint they? Now admit what yeve done. Is no use otherwise, ya know? Excuse me, good Sir. Edric spontaneously intervened As you can see, the lady obviously feels quite distressed about your accusations. Please allow me to mediate for you, since she only appears to know how to talk in the tongue of the empire which I coincidentally also am proficient in. The stall owner, less than happy about the suddenly appearing meddler, disdainfully scoffed at the lanky black-haired guy whose clothing was simpler than what nobles normally used to wear, and then he asked: And whore ye? I am Edric of Yteland, if this name should be known to you. the prince answered completely unfazed. Immediately the vendors attitude did a 180. The uncouth man was even so baffled that that he forgot to restrain the accused thief any longer. The woman remained were she was, her eyes mirroring her confusion and incomprehension of the situation. She started to rub her hurting arm where she had been grabbed before. Ye- yere the second prince? the vendor asked in shock. That I am. Edric agreed with a nod Now tell me, what do you accuse this woman of? A-answering yer Highness: I saw this gal how she was grabbin one o me delish fresh red apples and the next I know the apple has disappeared without her payin for it. Thank you. the prince spoke. Then he turned to the still dumbfounded woman and continued in another language: Please excuse me, Milady. This gentleman here accuses you of stealing one of his apples. What can you tell me about this? The womans dark eyes widened in surprise. Soon they were filled with a light of hope and happiness. Oh, thank the Lord! she exclaimed What good luck that I have met you, good Sir. I am accused of theft? The surprise shown on her face was no doubt real. I did no such dishonorable thing. All I know is that I stood here, looking at the apples because I thought of buying one. But as soon as I picked an apple up and wanted to turn to the vendor to buy it, somebody bumped into me and it slipped from my grasp. Directly afterwards the vendor violently grabbed my arm, began to shout at me and threatened to hit me.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. She says that she lost the apple when somebody bumped into her. Edric told the apple merchant Perhaps you should look beneath your stall for the missing apple since it might have rolled there. Its just as ye said, yer Highness. the burly man declared after looking under his stall table. Please excuse me earlier rudeness, Missy. That was uncalled for. Wont be happenin again. I promise. The apple was beneath the stall, Milady. The vendor apologizes for his previous rudeness caused by his misunderstanding. Do you want to let this matter rest or do you wish to bring it to the attention of the guards? Edric explained the other party. Thank goodness! the woman replied in relieve while making the holy sign used in the empire Since all has ended well I believe the matter to be finished. Thank you very much for your assist Princess, Your Highness! shouted a womans voice, leading to the previously accused woman to fall silent. Princess Myrtis, where have you gone? Dont you know that you are expected to meet up with Prince Edric from Yteland who is said to stay in this town at the moment? This is no time to play exploring, Your Highness. His Imperial Majesty only agreed to this voyage since you said you wished to unofficially see the man who could be your future husband, did he not? The previous emperors daughter and current emperors niece has to observe the properties. Have you forgotten that, Princess? The cheeks of the woman wearing a headscarf, who, if observed closely, really appeared to be still a youth, were dyed in deep red. Edric was equally speechless because he learned about a possible engagement in such a bizarre way. Additionally, both the prince and princess still hadnt introduced themselves to each other. Since that was the case, the kingdoms second prince felt even more awkward since his potential fiance was still unaware of his identity. Soon the woman owning the impressively loud voice calling for the princess in disguise came in sight. She was a dumpy woman of advanced age with greyed hair, sparking dark eyes and unbelievably long ears which were almost reaching down to her knees and wide enough to cover herself with. The woman C she was a panotian, member of one of the rarer tribes at the borders of the empire who were still considered human despite their strikingly different appearance C was no one else but Artostre, the old and trusty nurse of Princess Myrtis Porphyrina. With her chalk-white complexion and her stout build she formed an almost comical contrast to her slim, quite tall mistress whose darker complexion was typical for the people of Southern countries such as the empire. There you are, Princess! Artostre exclaimed Do you know that I have looked for you literally everywhere? Oh, enough of that. Dont get distracted so easily, Your Highness! Looking at your excursiveness even I would doubt that you are the greatest female scholar of our empire if I didnt know better. Wasnt your goal to take a look at your potential fianc who is said to be quite the scholar in his own right? Shoo, shoo, Princess. Let us continue our search for this Prince Edric, be soon done with it and immediately return to the empire. Artostre Princess Myrtis murmured in embarrassment. Why of all things did her nurse have to make such a clamor in front of her benefactor who mastered her mother tongue fluently? In the meantime Edric had managed to regain his composure. Luckily for him he was the only one around fluent in the language of the empire. His mother only spoke her mother tongue as well as Yteish and Augustine also didnt seem to understand, at least judging from his clueless expression. Gathering all his courage, the prince declared: I believe I can save you the trouble of cluelessly searching for Ytelands second prince. I am this Prince Edric you are looking for. Just, how can it be I have yet to hear even a single word about a planned engagement concerning me? I should already be informed, shouldnt I? The surprise in Myrtiss and Artostres faces was plain obvious. They never had expected to run into the very prince they were looking for. Interestingly it was now the Princess who regained her composure first. As if to show that she didnt need her disguise and longer, she took off the headscarf, thus revealing her pure black head of curls and curtsied. Then she spoke: Greetings, Prince Edric. I am Myrtis Porphyrina, daughter of the late emperor Stylianos Porphyrios and niece of the current emperor Gennadios Porphyrios. I understand if you might be surprised about the talks of our possible engagement but it is nothing official as of yet. Before continuing the engagement talks I wished to personally find out about you, especially about the scholarly disposition you are said to have. As a scholar myself it is of utmost importance to me that my future husband is able to appreciate my endeavors on the field of knowledge. I am fully aware that a woman dabbling in scholarly research is terribly unladylike but I do not wish to deny what I like the most. The more Edric heard, the more he was taken in by this prospective bride of his. He himself had pushed back the matter of his own marriage because he feared ending up with a woman who was unable to appreciate his research. Most aristocratic women reacted with incomprehension regarding his scholarly enjoyments after all. They normally preferred socializing over research. What a joy to meet a kindred spirit. he replied I myself enjoy my research very much and am terribly interested what field of interest your studies might focus on. I myself am a scholar with a rather pronounced agricultural interest. If you do not mind, Princess Myrtis, how about it? Do you and your companion want to join me for the play which is said to be the climax of the present local festival. We can then converse afterwards about our respective interests. Just please allow me to inform my companions about the unexpected turn of events, since neither my mother nor our guide who himself is a famous scholar in Yteland are proficient in this language. I would love to. Myrtis answered after convincing her nurse that following the princes invitation was the right thing to do. Thus Prince Edrics group had two more people when they set out for the stage where the play was supposed to happen. While chatting with each other, Edric and Myrtis realized that they were quite similar and had compatible interests. In both the thought took root that if it was already inevitable to marry for political reasons, it might not be too bad to marry a kindred spirit such as their prospective engagement partner. Incidentally, the engagement with Myrtis whom he never had met was the main reason behind Edric renouncing his claim to the throne and retiring to a monastery in Violants last lifetime. Now that they had met, history would change significantly. A royal Headache and other Happenings (4): Watching the Play The three groups met up some time before the start of the play. The Avallachs and the royals were quite surprised when Prince Edrics and Lady Mafaldas group returned bigger than they had set out. The first to ask about the second princes new companions was Wynkin who could often be seen conversing with his preferred brother. Princess Myrtis slightly shrunk back when such a brawny giant suddenly approached the man beside her. As if to answer her mistresss fright, Atrostre stood there sturdily, her hands stemmed to her sides. Elder brother, who are those strangers in your company? Wynkin inquired. A good question. Edric admitted This girl next to me is Princess Myrtis Porphyrina, niece of the emperor and apparently my prospective future fiance, accompanied by her wet nurse. Imagine my surprise after I found out about the planned engagement after meeting her perchance just now. Lady Myrtis, no need to be afraid. This is my youngest brother Wynkin, a very sensible boy. Admittedly, he looks nothing like the fourteen years old boy he is but the reason for that is that he is afflicted with berserk syndrome. He currently gets successfully treated, so there is no danger at all. The others who you have yet to meet are my three years younger brother Gervase C the other blond guy over there C the children of the local feudal lord, Mortimer and Violant of Avallach C they are the red-haired boy and girl respectively C and Lord Mortimers fiance Sybil from the ducal house of Sulia. Right in the middle of his talk, Prince Edric switched to the language of the empire to introduce the others to his fiance. The imperial princess responded amiably and greeted her fiancs companions, interpreted by the scholarly prince himself. That is all well and good, but were did esteemed brothers fianc suddenly appear from? Prince Gervase asked warily. Didnt a marriage with an imperial princess massively increase Edrics chances of succeeding the throne? As such, it had to be a thorn in the side of Gervase, as he was openly vying for kingship after all. Well, that is quite an interesting story. Edric replied and continued to explain that the engagement between him and Princess Myrtis was on one hand already envisioned by King Baldwin and Emperor Gennadios. C Which royal family on the continent didnt wish for the monarch of the mighty empire as an in-law after all? C On the other hand it was still far from being official since the imperial Princess somehow managed to convince her uncle to allow her to find out about her prospective future husband before the agreement was to be finalized. Seeing how Gervase was about to jump at his chance of doing something that surely would go against Violants wishes, the red-haired girl rapidly spoke out. Congratulations, Your Royal Highness! she said How wonderful for fate to allow such a chance meeting. Bunt begging your pardon, Your Highness, I believe it to be the perfect chance for you to use this festival for you to further deepen your bonds with the foreign princess, particularly so as you appear to be able to speak her mother tongue fluently. It will be an honor for the house of Avallach to provide you for this occasion with the best atmosphere possible and what could be more romantic than watching an interesting play together? That was your idea behind inviting your fiance to Avallach, was it not, dearest brother? Yes, indeed. Mortimer confirmed. He didnt quite know what kind of plan his sister had hatched in her mind, but seeing as it was for the sake of their illustrious guests, it was all fine. What a splendid idea, Lady Violant! Prince Wynkin immediately agreed with vigor Seeing as we already have planned to watch the play together, it will be no problem having Princess Myrtis and her entourage accompanying us as well. Although I cannot quite imagine how a play about slaying a cockatrice can be even remotely romantic. I can assure you that it will be sufficiently romantic, Your Highness. Augustine the librarian chimed in I do not want to reveal too much but the folksy rendering of the cockatrial includes a romantic episode not known in the historical documents but who am I to rule out that the legends preserved in folk tradition arent also a part of the historical truth? The more Prince Gervase felt overlooked without any chance of joining the conversation, the uglier his facial expression became. Everything was that womans fault! Violant of Avallach had humiliated him yet again. Since the sound of a bell suddenly signaled that the audience could now proceed to their seats, he was denied even the last chance to pass a comment about that matter. His resentment for Violant increased yet again but he didnt even dream of the possibility of being resented even more by her. After all, she thwarted his plans whenever they met, starting with their first real encounter at the debut ball of October last year, all without him knowing the reason behind it. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. The story depicted in the play was definitely rendered in a popular fashion. The hero ?scwine was impersonated by a dashing red-haired man who was a soldier from the garrison. The cockatrice slayer had to show flashy moves with the sword even if the beast he would put on trial was as fake as it could get. Red hair was another prerequisite since he embodied the first Avallach and all Avallachs had fire-red hair as was commonly known. The story depicted ?scwine arriving at a tiny village where humans and denizens of the other march lived together in harmony. Correspondingly the actors on stage were as diverse as it could get. Hanarr, the dwarven smith, had an appearance as, well, a dwarf in a smithy. Eibhlin, Violants elven magic tutor, embodied an elf in the village but was also responsible for all kinds of magic special effects. The garrison knight commander Sir Thopas impersonated the village head. His daughter Cecily was seen in the role of the village heads daughter, obviously. ?scwine found the villagers to be in distress because a cockatrice was terrorizing the area, killing all those it encountered with its lethal gaze. In an especially cruel moment it even abducted the village heads daughter. The hero felt his heart melt in the face of so much sorrow. Courageous as he was, he decided to take on the beast, even if only for the fair maidens sake, and went to see the dwarven village smith. The grumpy smith C just too naturally portrayed by Hanarr C crafted a longsword for the hero as well as an armor and shield completely covered with mirror-like reflective surfaces. The equipment originated from Hanarrs real smithy of course. Now steeled, ?scwine unhesitantly set out for the cockatrices lair. He found it in a cave in the woods, a place smelling like death for it was littered with the corpses of countless forest animals C or so the actor described the scenery at least. And now the cockatrice entered. It was a kind of magical puppet of course, moved with magic rather than threads. It really looked like a cockatrice par excellence with its feathered cock-like head and torso, its scaly dragon-like legs and tail as well as its leathery bat-like wings. The gemstones or glass pearls taking the place of its eyes seemed to downright gleam viciously. Not few kids in the audience began to cry from fear after laying eyes on the monster C most likely their fear was boosted by parents hushing their children warning them Be quiet or the cockatrice will come and get you! ?scwine closed in at the monster without looking in the direction its sounds came from. As soon as he was close enough, he plunged forward while utterly fearless and exchanged blows with the cockatrice, impaling it on his sword when it was shocked into paralysis from its own reflection on the heros shield. Then he went on to look for the missing girl, ultimately finding her deep at the back of the cockatrices lair, unharmed but in a deathlike sleep. Waking her with the power of a kiss, ?scwine escorted her out of the cave and back to the village where he was triumphantly received by the villagers, with the village head leading the way. The village head sincerely thanked ?scwine for saving his daughter and willingly accepted him as his son-in-law after the maiden expressed her desire to marry her savior. ?scwine who also had fallen in love with the girl he saved thus stayed in the village that should later become Avallach. The play ended with the arrival of a herald, bringing with him a royal edict to confer ?scwine the noble title of margrave, the first of its kind, in recognition of his heroic deeds. Following the play, Princess Myrtis and her entourage that consisted of more people than just her nurse Artastroe were also offered accommodation in Avallach Castle. It wasnt proper to leave the lodging of foreign royalty to an ordinary inn if there were alternatives after all, let alone the fact that Princess Myrtis depended on only one interpreter from whom she had been separated in the crowd once before. The remaining two days of the Cockatrial festival were far less surprising. The prospective fiancs Edric and Myrtis learned to know more about each other more during the three days of the festival and although it was still a stretch to say that they were in love with each other C although Myrtis showed clear signs of a beginning crush, firmly convinced that she had met her soulmate C they didnt feel reluctant about tying the knot. Rather, the other was the most ideal partner they could wish for in a political marriage. Thus it was decided that the imperial visitors should accompany the princes on their voyage back to the capital, or Edric and Gervase at least, for Wynkin returned to Ealdon instead. When the day of departure came about, Mortimer and Sybil were terribly reluctant to part with each other but Margrave Orderic, who had returned late the last evening, managed to convince them that their wedding ceremony planned for early October would surely come sooner than they thought and after that they still had the rest of their lives to spend time with each other. Prince Gervase returned to Kingsborough with a sour mood. Whatever plans he had thought up to breed discord between Edric and Wynkin (both of whom he considered his most dangerous rivals in contending for the throne), he always was thwarted by Violant, and even if he inquired about matters of the other march which interested him very much because ruling the other march meant ruling over magic itself, he often was hindered at getting satisfying answers. Once, he had even asked his red-haired adversary directly about otherworldly matters, and although her answer couldnt be said to be too short, whatever she told him was so commonplace or meaningless that it was as if he hadnt asked at all. Both Wynkin and Violant were satisfied though. The youngest prince was happy that his elder brother finally had found a bride C that was the most difficult point on the agenda for making Edric the next king and it was solved surprisingly easy after all. Violant was content with how she had made Gervase miserable without ever lacking the respect he deserved C at least on the surface. Nonetheless she hoped that her next encounter with the treacherous husband of her previous lifetime wouldnt be too soon. Trouble in the Other March (1): The failed Mission It was roughly one month after the end of Cockatrial festival. Violant was in the other march again. This time there was a report about suspicious movements not from otherworldly beings but rather from humans. It was assumed that witches and warlocks planned to hold a witches Sabbath in the other march where they would be safe from the prying eyes of at least their fellow human beings. What made the practitioners of witchcraft and sorcery so damnable was the fact that they werent content with their natural magical aptitude but sought to artificially increase it by making a pact with some infernal demon, ultimately at the price of their soul. It was already bad enough if that had been all, but no, it came worse. Those wicked fellows who had resorted to forbidden means often felt an urge to cause harm to the people around them. The longer somebody was a sorcerer or sorceress, the more they lost their human sense of morals and the more atrocious their deeds became. For that very reason sorcery was seen as the worst kind of illegitimate magic imaginable, punishable only by burning at the stake. To blow the cover of those involved with the witches Sabbath was also one of the many tasks of the Avallachs, at least as far as the other march was concerned, which in this case it definitely was. Violant wasnt the only one who had been assigned to this mission C in fact more than half of the garrisons soldiers had moved out C but she preferred working independently. Her only companion was her mount Huwcyn. Well, Hraban also kept an eye on her but otherwise he wasnt of much help. At the moment the young lady had left behind the ceffyl dwr and the night-raven. She carefully closed in to the upper edge of a scarp, slowly and carefully crawling through the dewy grass. Her posture, flat on the ground like a lizard, was anything but graceful and the complete opposite of what would have been expected as the demeanor of a young noble lady such as herself, but some prim and proper decorum wasnt of any use out here on a stealth mission after all. She had stowed away her spear in a pouch she wore at her belt. That was possible because she had developed a new kind of magic, allowing her to shrink the rather cumbersome weapon to the size of a feather quill for the time she didnt need it. Stealthily she was, for below her she could hear the maniacal laughter, hysterical racket and discordant music of the witches Sabbath. The dark of the moonless night, further deepened by the dense canopy of the forest, was only lit by the brightness of the sorcerers bonfire down in the valley. From her hiding place, under some shrubbery growing directly at the edge of the precipitous scarp, the redhead had a perfect view on the wild and unbridled goings-on. There were about thirty men and women, perhaps some more or fewer, all dressed completely in black, the color of the night and the ashes of hell. They all wore curious broad-brimmed and pointed tall hats. Additionally there also were several demons present. Some of the attendees danced around the fire, either afoot or flying on objects such as brooms or oven-forks, following the music some of their comrades stroke up on unthinkable instruments like dead cats and horse skulls. Others feasted on bizarre delicacies not too different from the instruments mentioned before, among them C sadly C the remains of dead or stillborn children. Still others unrestrainedly indulged in intercourse while openly visible for all around them. New members of the devils sect showed their devotement by kissing the demon they had formed a pact with directly on the buttocks. The audacities and debaucheries going against everything society acknowledged as morally and ethically correct were without count. Some of them were so ghastly that Violant hardly could stand to observe any longer, at least not without feeling a severe urge to gag. After living through the cruel times of civil war in her previous lifetime she believed to have seen most excesses evil humans were capable of but now she got disabused how wrong she had been.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. The young lady counted herself lucky that her father Ipos wasnt among the demons present, but those who were present also exuded a weaker evil aura than the infernal earl and prince did. Hence she deduced that all demons present were but of lower rank in the infernal hierarchy. She nonetheless spotted a familiar face among the witches and warlocks, but the middle-aged man whose half face was made up from nothing but raw flesh was hardly a person you could forget after encountering him once. Well, Violant hadnt met him yet this time around but the sorcerer known as Mansie C a curiously cute name for such a cruel and hideous man C was the main culprit behind the great troll uprising which shook the kingdom and the other march during the first year of Gervases reign after the civil war. She still didnt know how the warlock had managed to convince the relatively dumb and unorganized trolls to gang up and attack the humans but fact was that he did. The sorcerer also managed to disappear without trace, successfully eluding capture and execution. The one who had to bear the humans wrath were the trolls instead who were close to being exterminated in the aftermath. In particular the figurehead of the rebellion, a female troll called Arinnefja, had to bear the brunt of the repercussions. But even if she had been forced by Mansie to take part in the uprising like she had declared, she was simply too dangerous to be left alive. That was because Arinnefja had been a genius among geniuses whose intellect not only surpassed all other trolls but also most humans. She was behind the crafty and unconventional war strategies of the troll as well as the developer of the magic weapons her people had used. Those weapons were more powerful than everything humans had ever seen before and in the hands of the dumb but superhumanly strong trolls they caused an amount of damage surpassing everything humans had ever experienced in their history. Ultimately the humans triumphed over the trolls thanks to their superior cunningness but it came with a heavy price. The areas where the troll uprising had raged were uninhabitable for years to come. It was literally scorched earth. That hit Yteland especially hard since it had just begun slowly recovering from the scars left from the civil war. Violants fate too was sealed with the victory won at a heavy price. Since she had wrested control over the other march from her estranged foster fathers hands and given it to her husband instead, Gervase didnt need her any longer, leading to her inevitable demise. During the time Violant took to reminisce the past or rather the future after unexpectedly catching sight of Mansie, she forgot to keep watch on her surroundings. Thus she got discovered by some witch who flew especially high during her rollicking dance and had spotted her by chance. The agitated shouts soon managed to bring the red-haired girl back to the present. She immediately retreated and rapidly escaped deeper into the woods, swift-footed as she was. It would only be a question of time until the Sabbath participants would give chase though. Trouble in the Other March (2): An unexpected Helper Chased by the warlocks and witches she had spied on, Violant ran through the night-dark otherworldly forest of the other march. Although, this forest wasnt any different when compared to those in the human world, save only for the fact that the magical energy all around was many times higher than it would be outside the other march. The young lady could count herself lucky that she hadnt yet encountered any kind of magical creature, most of which likely would be hostile to humans. Her heartbeat throbbing in her ears, her breath laboriously entering and exiting her lungs, the girl didnt know how long she was fleeing from the sorcerers and sorceresses already. It was likely more than an hour though. The tomboy had to thank her athletic body and high stamina for the fact that she hadnt yet fallen into the hands of her pursuers while escaping through the completely lightless woods. She continued to bump here and there though although she had covered herself with a field of wind magic scanning her surroundings not unlike a bats echolocation. The major difference, however, was that the map of her surroundings got directly projected into her brain and didnt need the detour over her ears, especially as no sound waves were directly involved. The picture she got wasnt particularly clear though. Insofar bats still remained superior. But even this trick for orientation in a lightless environment didnt save Violant from being caught by surprise when the soil beneath her feet suddenly caved in and she fell down a rocky hole, hitting her head on some sharp-edged rocks in the process. Thus she lost consciousness, unable to soften her fall in any way. When Violant opened her eyes next, she hurt all over, feeling as if she had at least bruised if not broken several of her bones and was sore everywhere else. She also had a terrible headache and was blinded by the sudden light. Apparently the night had passed without her knowing. When the girl finally was able to lift the lids of her somewhat swollen eyes, she recoiled in horror. The first thing she got to see was nothing else but a hideous troll face. To her surprise though, the troll let out a high-pitched scream at the same time and panicky scrambled away, hiding behind the next best rock column. After the first scare was gone, Violant took the time to observe her surroundings. She currently was inside a dripstone cave, although quite close to the entrance flooded with sunlight. She lay on a makeshift bed made from furs of various forest animals. Bones of hares, birds and other small animals of the woods were neatly piled up to a trash pile at one wall of the cave. There also were some bones of deer and wild boars, obviously broken to scoop out their marrow. A soot spot on the cave ceiling revealed that the fireplace in the center of the cave was already in use for a long time. At the moment the flames had died down though, leaving behind only the charred firewood surrounded by stones to keep the fire at bay. All signs spoke of a lasting habitation of the cave and although the inhabitant led quite the poor life it was kept as neat and clean as possible. An exclusively carnivorous diet made you wonder though. Since nothing had happened for quite a time, the troll came out of its hiding place and slowly closed in to Violant. The way it fumbled with its hands made it appear very insecure. That was quite the bizarre sight though, because the timid character didnt match the monstrous appearance at all. The troll was gigantic C as big as two full-grown men one upon the other C and had a black skin, not just dark as was sometimes the case with people in the deepest south but literally black like coal. The monster stood on sturdy legs and had muscular arms ending in big paws. Its big belly stuck out above the short loincloth from spotted deer fur it wore as the only piece of clothing, save for some necklaces, bracelets and anklets made from little bones, pebbles, and animal teeth. The trolls head, as black as everything else, was completely bald. Sharp tusks protruded from the creatures mouth and its big nose was long and crooked like a vultures beak. The trolls big and round eyes were white with the exception of the pupils only, forming an interesting contrast to its skin color. Lastly, the monster had long and saggy hose-like breasts, characterizing it as a female.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Is it you who has taken care of my injuries? Violant asked after gathering all her courage Thank you. I am Violant, by the way. The troll began to smile happily although this smile would still have been enough to scare children to tears. She fumbled with her hands even more, additionally increasing the awkwardness. Y-yes, Arinnefja has helped you. the troll woman declared with a heavy, guttural accent B-but Arinnefja didnt find you. That she did not. V-Violant must thank Hrimnir. That you must do. He has found Violant last night, not Arinnefja. Hrimnir is out to get breakfast but will be back soon. Then you can thank him. Hrimnir is a good boy. He is Arinnefjas little baby. With surprise the young lady found out that the troll who had saved her was the very same Arinnefja who should play a big role in the great troll uprising. Although she couldnt remember how the troll genius had looked like C to be honest all of the hideous trolls looked more or less the same to her, possibly save for the fact that she was still able to distinguish their genders C but she still remembered the peculiar way of talking that was characteristic for Arinnefja, the only troll who ever had mastered the human language to such a degree. The most other trolls were able to utter in human tongue amounted to some single words and those oftentimes either unintelligible or used incorrectly. Furthermore, Arinnefja incessantly had complained in captivity that Mansie had taken her baby from her to force her into cooperation and that she wanted it back. By interrogating other trolls, they had learned that the troll strategist never had given birth to a child let alone being in a relationship with a male since the highly intelligent troll woman had been an outcast. Her high intellect had set her apart from her kin too much, thus resulting in her isolation prior to the uprising. Violant personally had dismissed Arinnefjas talk about a baby as utter nonsense aiming to invoke sympathy, leading to her urgently pushing forward the troll inventors execution. The fate of Arinnefjas baby was never cleared up. But now she found out that this baby really existed and that it went by the name of Hrimnir. The troll in front of her had no need to spout such a short-lived lie. Violant now felt bad for simply dismissing Arinnefjas protestations in her last lifetime but she already began to think about preventing the recurrence of the great troll uprising. The most important thing for that was bringing the troll genius to her side. All of a sudden a large shadow darkened the light falling into the cave. In the cave entrance, there stood a truly gigantic snow white wolf, large enough for the by herself already gigantic Arinnefja to easily ride on its back. The wolf dragged along a fully grown bull moose in its mouth. Oh, Hrimnir is back. Arinnefja spoke with a wide doting smile Seems like Arinnefja, Hrimnir and Violant will have moose for breakfast. Trouble in the Other March (3): Breakfast with a Troll Arinnefja began to skillfully rekindle the fireplace before receiving the moose from the wolfs muzzle. Then she quickly dismembered the dead animal with a simple-looking but nonetheless sharp-edged stone knife. The meat got pinned on skewers made from wood or bone before being placed all around the fire. The innards got collected in a leather bag that was filled with water and hung above the fireplace to cook them. The bones were set aside C at least for now. While the troll was busy with preparing food, Hrimnir, the giant wolf she called her baby, curiously sniffed Violant who was now awake again after all. The redhead, remembering wat the helpful troll had told her, smiled at the wolf although feeling terribly intimidated by his mouth full of big sharp teeth, and said: Thank you, Hrimnir. Arinnefja has told me that it was you who has found me. Thank you very much. Although she wasnt sure if the white wolf really was able to understand her, at least it was obvious that Arinnefja was pleased. Arinnefjas baby is a good boy. That he is. the troll said Violant did good to thank Hrimnir. Violant couldnt help but smile wryly. It was possible that trolls were more humanlike than she ever thought, or at least this genius among trolls was. At least she felt a certain similarity she wouldnt have thought possible during the troll uprising. Even Avallachs werent immune against prejudices after all. About half an hour later breakfast was ready. Arinnefja brought some skewers and a bowl of innards soup to Violant. When her patient wanted to join her at the fireplace instead, the troll replied that it wasnt good for an injured person to move around too much. She rather would join her human guest at the bedside if she wanted company. During their meal Violant and Arinnefja chatted quite a bit after they had discarded their initial reserve bit by bit. When asked why she called the giant wolf Hrimnir her baby, Arinnefja answered that she had him since he was a puppy who had just lost his mother in a pack fight and had raised him herself. This was no easy feat considering the circumstances of the outcast Arrinnefja who was but a child at that time too. It wasnt until much later that they found this remote cave far from the troll settlement where they could live sheltered and in peace without fearing harassment from the other trolls and their wolf mounts alike. But Arinnefja also has friends who have helped. the troll explained Without them Arinnefjas life would have been much harder. Arinnefja is really grateful to them. That she is. It was Dougald and Donnell who have taught Arinnefja human language too. It is good to know, they said. Dougald and Donnell almost only speak human language though. Arinnefja wanted to be able to speak with her friends. So she had learnt it. What about us, Arinnefja? a raucous voice asked, followed by an eerie double laughter. All heads turned to the cave entrance in surprise. We thought we should visit you again and here we find you, talking about us. said another voice, slightly deeper but equally raucous. The two voices belonged to two humanoid beings that were as alike as two peas in a pod. Both were rather small, childlike in height, but thickset nonetheless. Their hideous faces had big fire-red eyes and a mouth full of monstrous sharp teeth, surrounded by grey unkempt hair reaching down to their shoulders. They were dressed in simple leather armor but wore shoes from iron. In one of their hands which prominently featured talon-like fingernails both held an iron pike each. The most appalling though were the caps the two newcomers were wearing on their heads. They were of a blood-red color and if closely examined that color could be found to be indeed coagulated blood. Seeing those two, Violant felt a chill running up and down her spine. There could be no doubt about it that the trolls precious friends were redcaps, a kind of otherworldly being known for habitually slaughtering humans and dyeing their eponymous headdresses in the blood of their victims. Redcaps were normally known to be of a solitary nature. That didnt seem to be the case for the twin brothers who had come here though.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Closing in, the two redcaps began to whisper to another. Do you see what I see, Donnell? I sure do, Dougald. Its a human, isnt it, Donnell? Sure is, Dougald. How long has it been since we last had a human? I dont know anymore. Too long, no doubt about it. Arinnefja is a good girl, isnt she? She sure is, keeping a human for us. Suddenly Arinnefja leaped up. No! the black troll bellowed, visibly intimidating the two redcaps who had misjudged the situation. Dougald and Donnell cant touch Violant! Violant is Arinnefjas guest. It isnt right to kill her after saving her life. That it is not. Hrimnir wouldnt like so too. So dont do it. All right, Arinnefja. All right. one of the twins tried to appease the perturbed troll. One human wasnt worth falling out with Arinnefja. Not after the two redcap brothers have sought long and far for a possible backer invoking respect in their enemies. A full-grown troll was plenty formidable as one of the apex predators in the other march. None of their enemies would dare laying a hand on Dougald and Donnell as long as they were friendly with the rumored genius troll. Everybody near and far knew better that to provoke Arinnefja and those close to her. Not after the sad end a meddlesome urisk met after daring to injure Hrimnir ever so slightly. Arinnefjas rage did not only put an end to him but also to his whole family. A vicious revenge it was, definitely over the top and ultimately destroying the waters the urisks once had inhabited. Today there was only scorched earth where once a lushly vegetated waterbody used to be. It definitely wont do you any good if you try to kill me, hoary redcaps. Violant declared with a confidence she didnt really have in her heart. The only feat you will achieve by doing so is incurring the enmity of the house of Avallach upon yourselves. Please forgive the belated introduction. I am Violant of Avallach, daughter of the current margrave. Considering these facts, Dougald and Donnell lost even the last bit of their previous desire to lay hands on the human girl. Among redcaps there was only one rule regarding humans: All is fair game but keep your hands off the Avallachs. It werent specifically redcaps who had to learn this lesson very painfully but an ogre who had been a local tyrant. This didnt hinder their kind of taking this lesson to heart though. The retribution from the full force of Avallach wasnt something you wanted to deal with if your deeds came out after all. Well, considering that you are redcaps I can somewhat understand that you are thirsting for blood. The last war in Yteland happened almost a century ago after all. The young lady expressed her comprehension for the redcaps situation. Well, she couldnt really comprehend the workings of such a homicidal mind but she knew about the urges their kind experienced. Of course it hadnt been the last war with Yteish participation. Otherwise Prince Rowland wouldnt have fallen on the battlefield four years ago. At the mention of the last war the eyes of the twins shone with nostalgia. It is in your best interest to keep me alive. Violant reaffirmed But be assured. In a few years time there will likely be a big war in Yteland, one putting the last to shame in comparison. When that time comes, I believe you battle-hardened veterans will be an invaluable addition to the Avallach troops. Only if you are interested, of course. Additionally, if you wish to do so I could introduce you to the wild hunt. A more belligerent host you will never meet anywhere. Banadietrich von Hackelberg will surely gladly welcome you, for he, the nachtj?ger himself, is my vassal. Violants strategy was to appease the redcaps to ensure her imminent survival. Having the bloodthirsty sprites as fighters on her side also couldnt do her harm. It would be rather advantageous if the civil war really came to pass. Although the victims cruelly slaughtered by the redcaps would pain her heart, it was war after all she was thinking about. The redcaps looked like two children who were promised a lifetime supply of sweet honey. There was no way they hadnt heard about the infamous wild hunt. Although the demonic host might be a little too crowded for their taste there was no chance in hell they would give up on such a unique and unheard of chance. Dougald and Donnell hereby swear their unending loyalty to Violant of Avallach. the twins declared with a spirited salute. This, in turn, took both the troll and the human completely by surprise. The redhead never wouldve thought that her words could be so effective on such cold-blooded killers. Especially Arinnefja was completely flabbergasted. For a while she stared into space in bewilderment before faintly asking: D-does that mean that Dougald and Donnel will leave Arinnefja behind and wont visit her again? I guess so. one of the redcaps replied, awkwardly scratching his head. No! Arinnefja doesnt want this! the troll cried out sobbingly, tears flowing over her face Arinnefja doesnt want to be left all alone again with nobody to talk! Violant felt quite bad seeing the troll who had helped her so selflessly in such deep distress. On the other hand this was exactly the chance she had looked for. This was the moment she could use to bring Arinnefja over to her side, allowing her to prevent the repetition of the great troll uprising she had experienced in her last lifetime. Actually, Arinnefja. she said, her facial expression full of compassion. There is something I want to propose to you Trouble in the Other March (4): Return to Avallach Violant, riding on Huwcyns back, turned to Arinnefja who was on top of Hrimnir right next to her and said with a sweeping gesture: Welcome to Avallach, Nefja. while pointing at the lively castle town visible from the forest edge. About three days ago, back in the forest cave in the other march, the injured young lady had learned about the trolls fear of loneliness. It was understandable considering the geniuss status as outcast in troll society C or however you would like to call the social interactions among trolls. Faced with this quite surprising turn of events, Violant offered a place to stay in Avallach for the troll inventor who hadnt quite discovered her own talents yet. Arinnefja had been very surprised, for she knew about the dislike against trolls that was widespread among humans, not to mention various denizens of the other march. Yes, there are prejudices. Violant had confirmed But I dont see any problems for you, Nefja. I can call you so, cant I? Although physically a troll, your personality is much gentler and smarter than any troll I ever met or heard of. Of course there will be people recoiling when they meet you at first. I did too. No offence please. But as they get to know you better C like I did too in the past hour or so C they will judge you for your character, not your origins. Avallach is quite the open-minded place, you have to know. And first and foremost you still have me vouching for you, dont you? My word has weight in Avallach. Trust me. It wasnt very easy to persuade the anxious troll to come to Avallach but in the end the prospect of making new friends outweighed the doubts. Arinnefja was desperately starved for love after all. The promise that she and Hrimnir would never lack anything from food to lodging was the decisive factor in the end. As soon as that was resolved and Arinnefja proceeded to pack up the few belongings she had, Violant informed the others that she originally hadnt come alone to the other march but got separated from her companions nonetheless. One of them, Hraban, was crucial for contacting the wild hunt. The red-haired girl planned to keep her promise to the redcaps after all. Dougald and Donnell, reinforced with Hrimnirs good nose, had left to look for Huwcyn and Hraban. A grey horse accompanied by a black raven wasnt necessarily easy to find in the forest but conspicuous nonetheless. Arinnefja had stayed back (the packing was already done) because she didnt want to leave her patient on her own. Violant felt touched by the trolls gentle thoughtfulness. After the ceffyl dwr and the night-raven had been brought to Violants current whereabouts C Huwcyn was as wary of strangers as ever C the girl had immediately sent Hraban away to contact the wild hunt. For a lack of writing material the night-raven had to serve as a guide instead. After the arrival of the wild hunt lead by nachtj?ger Banadietrich himself, Violant had introduced the two redcaps to the wild huntsman and asked him if he would be willing to let them take part in his host. He had been willing but more importantly he had asked who was responsible for critically injuring his liege. When Banadietrich had once sworn his loyalty to somebody, then this loyalty was unwavering and absolute. Listening to Violants recalling of the happenings of the last 24 hours, the nachtj?ger was so terribly enraged that he immediately started a merciless witch-hunt. The twin redcaps were an invaluable addition for this undertaking since they in fact knew many of the hideouts used by the witches and warlocks who had relocated to the other march. But no matter how homicidal redcaps were, they normally deliberately kept their hand off of sorcerous folk, since it was never a good idea to get involved with the infernal demons accompanying them.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Sometime later the decapitated heads of the sorcerers and sorceresses who had the bad luck of falling in the hands of the wild hunt had been presented to Violant. The young lady had been appalled although she still thanked the ghost host for their good intentions. But however gruesome she found the view of the heads, she would have felt better if Mansies unmistakable face had been among the presented heads. That he wasnt meant that he had escaped and she wouldnt put it past him to already plan atrocities he wanted to commit against Yteland, be it the great troll uprising, be it something different. Only after the wild hunt had departed again, taking Dougald and Donnell with them, Violant made her way back to Avallach in the company of the troll. Injured and hurting all over like she was, she still had to accept Huwcyns seemingly endless severe scolding. The water horse never got tired of reprimanding her for her recklessness. Entering to Avallach, the coal-black Arinnefja on top of the snow-white Hrimnir drew the gazes of their surroundings on herself. Timid as she was, the troll woman attempted to hide her face in her mounts neck fur. Not that this action led to any less attention coming her way. Hrimnir, who kept his cool, simply followed Violant, Huwcyn, and Hraban up the castle hill. The guards originally wanted to deny entrance to the young ladys new companions but bowed to her words demanding entry for her new friends. Violant left the two in Mortimers capable care. The vampire butler somehow had gotten wind of his mistresss imminent return and already stood ready in the castle courtyard to receive her. It was also him who took care of Huwcyns grooming after the return C Violant originally wanted to do so herself but her mount had strictly forbidden her to do so C as well as racking his brain where to accommodate the unexpected guests. Arinnefja was too tall to simply enter the castle and bringing her mount to the stables would only lead to the horses inside being scared to death by the appearance of a giant wolf. The first thing Violant did after entering Avallach Castle was seeing her foster father in his study to report about her mission. While doing so, the still ailing girl had to be supported by her maid Abigail. Orderic was understandably distressed witnessing the state his daughter returned in. Since he knew just too well about her stubbornness her allowed her to report to him C the course of events in this investigation of a witches Sabbath was clearly different than what he had imagined C before immediately sending her to the sickbay. Of course it was the hoary schrat Alarun who took care of Violants treatment. Arinnefja settled down easily in Avallach and was quickly accepted. It was even easier than what Violant had expected. On the other hand although there were prejudices against trolls, the heavy enmity against them that shaped Violants image of trolls had mainly been formed through the experiences of the great troll uprising that hadnt yet and possibly never would happen this time around. Especially the huge gap between Arinnefjas monstrous appearance and her gentle, thoughtful and timid personality that was the exact opposite of what would have been expected won her many sympathies. Of course there were still enough people who were hostile against the troll and equally unsettled at the prospect of having a giant wolf nearby, but those werent people who mattered. Interestingly, the troll quickly got close to Hanarr, and that although the dwarf originally had a deep dislike for trolls. The smith soon learned to appreciate the newcomers open and industrious mind though which led to a revolution in arms production in his smithy. That, however, was no wonder since Arinnefja already had invented a precursor of magic bombs and firearms which further was refined in cooperation with the dwarven smith. Those magic weapons which had been a nightmare for humanity in the great troll uprising thus ended up in the hands of the house of Avallach instead, and in a much more developed and much deadlier form than anything which had existed in Violants previous lifetime. A royal Wedding and an unpleasant Surprise (1): Invited to the Capital It was early May in the 37th year of King Baldwins reign. Violant sat in a horse-drawn carriage, facing Sybil. Both ladies additionally were accompanied by one maid each in this womens coach. The reason why the red-haired girl travelled together with her sister-in-law instead of riding Huwcyn C what she wouldve preferred since the ceffyl dwr accompanied them nonetheless C was Sybils expressive wish to do so. She wanted to use this journey for some girls talk. Violant had an inherent dislike against girls talk, being a tomboy through and through, but no matter how much Sybil loved her husband, girls talk was the one thing she simply couldnt do with him. Thus Violant had given in. Yes, Violant and Sybil were in-laws, for several months already to be honest. Accordingly, Sybil now also wore a married womans white veil like it was custom. The wedding of Mortimer and Sybil had been back in early October of last year, roughly four months after Violants return from the other march accompanied by Arinnefja. It had been a sunny and warm day in early autumn, with most pleasant weather for a most pleasant occasion. The wedding ceremony had been scheduled to take place in Avallachs main temple. It was doubtlessly the event of the decade in the margraviate, which was not least due to the presence of some very illustrious guests. The presence of Duchess Adelaide was a matter of course. There was no way in hell this doting mother would miss out on the most important day in the life of her dear darling daughter. Chief minister Jocelyn, as the brother of the bride, was also present, accompanied by his wife Princess Mabel. That too was nothing out of the ordinary. Both had been accompanied by their children, three years old Petronella and her baby brother Adelard. Of course the children hadnt been present at the ceremony but had been in the care of Lady Alse (who thus temporarily returned to her former workplace) and the young son and heirs nanny respectively. In the place of their late father, Jocelyn had taken over the honor of escorting the bride to the altar. Something that had been not exactly unexpected but nonetheless created quite the stir was the arrival of both Queen Berengaria and the nowadays rather famous berserk Prince Wynkin. The two royals had made an appearance because they were, on one hand, in-laws and close friends of the Sulias and, on the other hand, indebted to the Avallachs in various ways. The queen openly gave her blessing to this marriage she came to celebrate, emphasizing the fact that the excellent youths of today would form the ways of the kingdom in the future. All in all it had been a very memorable event and in further consequence Sybil had managed to settle down in Avallach quite quickly. The only thing the margraviate was lacking C at least in her eyes C was the wholesome thermal springs she was used from Sulia. But she didnt need to lack hot baths. This problem was solved thanks to the help of a bannik who had arrived as a refugee of the other march some months earlier and who turned out to be a specialist for bathhouse matters, thus successfully landing a job with the margravial house. Oh, it is so exciting, is it not? Sybil asked Just imagine it: How wonderful it must be, all of Kingsborough fervently anticipating the great day, the crowd cheering for His Highness Edric and Her Highness Myrtis, a match made in heaven. Then the ceremony with all the splendor. And best of all, we are allowed to witness this all at close quarters! It is just too exciting!This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. That it is. Violant replied halfheartedly. She already had enough of her sister-in-laws current overenthusiasm. As demure as Sybil normally was, as giddy she was now. It was more than clear that the normally modest future margravine was a huge romanticist inside. And what could be more romantic than a royal wedding, especially one where the groom and bride appeared like they had been made for each other? To express their gratitude for the role the meeting in Avallach played for the realization of their engagement, Edric and Myrtis had invited everyone who had been present back then at Cockatrial festival, namely the Avallach siblings and Sybil. The princes attendance of the wedding of one of their brothers was a matter of course, as was the presence of Lady Mafalda, Myrtiss future mother-in-law. Librarian Augustine, though much revered as a scholar by the second prince, lacked the noble blood to be eligible for one of the wedding invitations. Not that he likely would have come if he had gotten one though. A dreamlike wedding it will be for sure. Sybil continued with unbroken enthusiasm One that we can be proud to have attended even when we talk about it to our grandchildren. Apropos, speaking about weddings. When is yours planned to be, my dear Violant. The tomboy who at this very moment snacked on an apple was so startled that she choked on it and began to have a violent coughing fit. Abigail, who sat next to her mistress, immediately began to slap Violants back with full power to aid her. As soon as the apple piece had left the redheads windpipe again and she had caught a bit of breath, she answered: I am in no hurry. I dont believe I will be ready for love and marriage anytime soon. But you know me, Sybil. It shouldnt come as a surprise to you in the least. Yes I know. the sickly sister-in-law replied poutingly But you do not know what you are missing out on. I am particularly curious if there is a man who you possibly fancy. That Prince Gervase perhaps? You always had quite heated discussions but teasing is a sign of affection after all. I now it would be a forbidden love. The ever-neutral Avallach girl and the royal prince vying for the throne. How dreamy! Violant shuddered at that thought. The last thing she needed was a repeat of the tragedy of last time, the more so as she now knew about Gervases treacherous true character. Accordingy her answer sounded extremely harsh. Never ever! she said There is no way in hell I will ever marry Prince Gervase. The more so as this is an impossibility in and of itself. But believe me, Sybil, there is nothing between His Highness and me that resembles anything like love, and be it remotely. The only thing there is between us is a deep enmity and antagonism. Wherever it might have come from. Thats all it is, nothing more. Well, if you put such emphasis on it, then it will be the case. Sybil agreed, But honestly, Violant, you do not want to end up as an old spinster, do you? Of course not! Violant denied It is just that I am simply not ready yet to think about such matters like marriage. Not after Gervases heartless betrayal. Not so soon. she thought. Although it had been almost three years since her return to the past, the scars in Violants heart and soul still needed time to heal. But that wasnt something she could allow anyone to know. That was something she had to deal with by herself after all. With further girls talk Violant so dreaded they smoothly arrived in the capital. All of Kingsborough was filled with a festive atmosphere, simmering with excitement for the royal wedding that would take place in a few days time. A royal Wedding and an unpleasant Surprise (2): The Wedding Ceremony The great temple of the capital was truly a sight to behold. Normally already an awe-inspiring building, the decorations for the occasion of the royal wedding gave it an even deeper, more impressive atmosphere. The benches were filled to the last seat with the wedding guests, among them the royal family including all of King Baldwins twelve wives, nobility from all of Yteland C although nobles who werent part of the high nobility were only present with an explicit invitation C and ambassadors from foreign countries. The empire had sent an ambassador for representation of the brides family. There was no way Myrtiss uncle, Emperor Gennadios, would have come in person. That wouldve definitely been beneath his and the empires dignity. The empire was a very inward-looking and supercilious country that allowed others to witness its superiority at any given chance. It was the militarily and culturally most advanced country after all. The ambassador who had come, however, was more of a father figure for Myrtis than both her uncle and her late father ever had been. Bishop Euphrasios had long since been the Princesss trusted mentor and the very person who openly encouraged her to indulge in her curiosity and thirst for knowledge. The seat rows were strictly divided according to rank. The royal family sat the closest to the altar, as did Euphronios who represented the brides family. Then came the ducal house of Sulia, followed by the margravial Avallachs and the marquis houses. It was quite awkward for Violant to sit so close to her uncle Marquis Barnabas of Nussex and his family, mainly because Euphremia who was also present still wasnt over Mortimer marrying another woman and she just had to make out Violant as the culprit behind this all. Uncle Barnabas and Aunt Georgina ignored their daughters conspiracy theories for now, keeping up the amiable relationship to the Avallachs they had always had. Following the margrave and the marquises, the counts were next in the seating plan. Count Alphege of Wuldington and his wife Mildred were at the very front of the counts present, not owing to his rather meagre political influence but to the fact that their son Hubert was the vice-captain of the royal knight order. Hubert himself was elsewhere following through with his order-related duties. Only after that came the lower nobility and whoever else was invited, filling up the remaining seats up to the last place. The sound of fanfares announced the beginning of the wedding ceremony. Prince Edric stood already at the altar, waiting for his bride. Contrarily to his usual habits, today he only wore the finest garments, as it was fitting for a person of his standing and the occasion. The glasses that had become something like his signature feature sat on his nose like always though. The high priest of Yteland also stood there, ready to marry the engaged couple. At that very moment the temple gates opened, allowing even more bright sunlight to enter the already colorfully light-stained temple with its large leaded windows. Then the bride came in sight. Myrtis wore a bridal dress of the finest silk which was white but with a rim of Tyrian purple, signifying her affiliation to the reigning dynasty of the empire. Since her father was already dead, her uncle absent and her father-figure Bishop Euphronios not eligible for the task because of his standing, the father-in-law, King Baldwin himself, took on the task of escorting the bride to the altar. That was the highest act of appreciation a foreign (or even a domestic) bride of the royal family ever got in Yteish history. Like everyone else, so Violant too was caught up in the grandeur of the moment. Breathlessly she witnessed the bride stepping up to the altar, Myrtis and Edric exchanging gazes which werent necessarily full of love C for both it remained a political marriage, especially since both hid the fresh sprouts of young love deep in their hears to not inconvenience their respective partner C but full of mutual sympathy and excitement nonetheless. Then, the high priest began to speak. Although a man at a ripe old age, the dignified cleric had a voice capable of sounding through the whole temple. Edric of Yteland, do you swear to take Myrtis Porphyrina as your legal wife, to love her, to support her, and to respect her till death does part you? If you do, so answer with yes.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Yes, I do. Edric answered with conviction. And now you, Myrtis Porphyrina, do you swear to take Edric of Yteland as your legal husband, to love him, to support him, and to respect him till death does part you? If you do, so answer with yes. Yes, I do. Myrtis also answered. She had made use of the year between the engagement and the actual wedding to master the language of the country she was going to live in for the rest of her life. Being the bright head that she was, she became rapidly proficient with the foreign language, and although she still didnt manage to converse fluently all the time, it was enough for her to successfully communicate with her surroundings. Hence, with the blessing of the gods, I declare you husband and wife. The husband may now kiss his wife to seal this bond in the face of the gods. Following the high priests instruction, Prince Edric lifted the veil covering the face of his bride now turned wife and kissed her shortly on the lips. With this, the marriage became official, leading to loud applause and cheers echoing through the temple, sometimes punctuated with deeply touched sobbing. The origin of the sobs was Artostre, Myrtiss panotian wet nurse who, although neither fully human nor of noble blood, had been allowed to witness the ceremony from the sidelines. The elation quickly came to a halt though when shortly afterwards the temple gates were opened again, this time, however, by some extremely exhausted man in military uniform, shortly followed by another. The sudden appearance of those military messengers couldnt signify anything good. And so it was. As soon as both men relayed their messages personally to the king, His Majestys face visibly darkened. Violant wondered what might have happened but it didnt take long for rumors to make the round and soon all of Kingsborough knew about the happenings at the border on this originally joyful day. Two of Ytelands neighbors, the kingdom of Mrovie to the West and the grand duchy to the east, invaded the borders of Yteland at the same time. The marquis territories, among them the marquisates of Nussex and Serpantine, had to bear the full brunt of the invasion while their feudal lords were in Kingsborough to celebrate the wedding of Prince Edric. The hostile attack came as a complete surprise since the borders of Yteland had been more or less peaceful since the end of the war with Mrovie four years ago, a peace which had been built upon the lost life of Crown Prince Rowland. Officially Mrovie and the grand duchy had declared that their goal was to get rid of the sentient berserk in Yteland and the secret behind his sentiency since both were a threat to the general public. It was surely true that both countries feared the possibilities the presence of sentient berserks with their superhuman strength brought to warfare, especially so as Prince Wynkin had shortly returned from his first military campaign, a domestic one cleaning up a notorious group of bandits that had made trouble near the border to the grand duchy for a long time. Equally true, however, was also the fact that both invading countries long since had desired the territories of Yteland. Not that it had been any different the other way around. Particularly hateful was the fact that both countries had explicitly chosen this joyful day to deliberately disgrace the royal family of Yteland, clearly not putting King Baldwin and his dynasty into their eyes. That was a clear breach of sophisticated conduct obviously chosen to intentionally shame the invaded country and lower their morale. The names of the two chief commanders of the invading armies, Duke Mdard de Crtou on the side of Mrovie and the Grand Duke Svyatoslav the Great personally on the side of the grand duchy, did one more thing to undermine morale. Both were known as resourceful and merciless warriors on the battlefield. King Baldwin, as a matter of course, declared war on both Mrovie and the grand duchy on the very same day. The wedding celebrations which should have lasted for several days were cut short in face of this national crisis. The decision to do so came even from the newlyweds themselves. Of course there still was a wedding banquet C the food had already been prepared after all C but it ended up quite short and was characterized by a chastened general mood although chreers and gratulations were still toasted for the second Prince and his spouse. The Avallachs returned to their territory the very next day. The margravial family hadnt to deal with the defense of their country, at least not directly and not on the usual battlefields. They had to keep the other march safe. This otherworldly realm wasnt exclusive to Yteland but spread over the whole known world, its exact appellation varying from country to country. As it wasnt exactly under human control, the other march was a preferably targeted weak spot when invading another country. If the inhabitants of the other march could be won over for the invaders cause, then the invaded country was already as good as lost. It was the task of the Avallachs to prevent this very scenario by all means. What Violants role in this war would be, only the future would show. But regarding her previous experiences in the civil war of her last lifetime, it surely would be of importance. A Mission for Violant (1): Battles and Messengers A month had passed since the beginning of the war and it was now early June. To everybodys surprise the grand duchy had managed to smuggle some of its soldiers through the other march, something completely unprecedented. It was unheard of that a country didnt try to bring the denizens of the local other march on their side but brought denizens of their own otherworldly realm instead. Contrarily, the Mrovian warfare was according to standard. Invaders coming through the other march meant a lot of work for the margravial house and its retainers. Avallach was in a state of emergency. The normally so lively market was shut down, used instead to provide place for tents offering shelter for the refugees which came in huge numbers. It was quite normal that conflicts in the other march led to its denizens seeking refuge in the human world but the previously unseen extent this time around was a clear indicator for just how much the present war upset the fragile equilibrium in the other march, changing it forever. Apparently Grand Duke Svyatoslav the Great didnt aim just for some Yteish territory but for complete control of the other march all the same, anticipating the idea Gervase tried to make reality in Violants last lifetime. Regarding Violant, at the present she was at one of the many borders of the other march, precisely at a river in the East of the duchy of Ealdon which was both part of the human world and the otherworld at the same time. The young lady of course wasnt alone. Sitting on Huwcyn like some dashing military commander, she stood at the head of a troop of mixed origins. Soldiers and knights from the Avallach garrison C elites carefully selected by Sir Thopas on request of Margrave Orderic C were part of it as well as a good part of the wild hunt, among them both Rambold and Waldolf. They were completed by exiled warriors from the other march who had promised their participation to end this war for good and to reclaim the areas they had been expelled from. Although Banadietrich would have loved to provide his liege all help possible, in the end he only sent her about a third of the demonic host. That was because Mt. Hackelberg and the wild hunt were under attack themselves. An army of leshys was an urgent problem at the moment. Violand had expressed her understanding, as ultimately the stability of the other march was indispensable for the stability of Yteland. The nachtj?ger nonetheless had promised to join her side with the rest of his force as soon as the crisis had passed. The attackers Violant and her men faced were no leshys C it would be really curious if those forest dwellers were able to attack from underwater after all C but vodyanois instead. Those fat scaly men had a sorrowful look in their eyes from which it was easy to infer that they didnt participate voluntarily in this war, but since they were attacking with vigor the girl decided not to spare them no matter the reason behind the vodyanois desperation. What had happened back in the grand duchy was out of her control after all. Dont allow them to climb up the riverbank. the redhead ordered No need to use your swords. Our goal is repelling the invaders while holding low the numbers of casualties on our side. The margraviate army is seriously understaffed these days after all, making each of your lives more precious than ever. Act like you have been taught to. And now: Release!Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Following those words, Violants warriors didnt take up their arms but opened big bags instead, pouring the liquid content inside down the riverbank and over the attacking vodyanois. The latter were confused and slipped on the liquid but they thought that was all it could do, being nothing more than a futile effort to slow them down. But imagine their shock when next burning torches were tossed down on them, igniting the liquid which immediately engulfed the invaders in merciless flames that were able to even burn on the water without going out. This so called troll fire, a kind of Greek fire, was one of Arinnefjas many inventions. The Vodyanois had no chance to escape the flames that even water couldnt extinguish and died miserably. The few who were able to escape back to the other march were so lastingly demoralized that they didnt dare attack Violant a second time. All of a sudden the sound of applause could be heard. Quite the sight, I must say. You never fail to surprise me, Lady Violant. It is a very innovative weapon; that is for sure. a deep voice said. Turning around, Violant found herself eye to eye with Prince Wynkin. The youngest Prince was now fifteen years old and taller and brawnier than ever. One and a half heads taller than a normal man, the still sane berserk was an intimidating sight. The mountain of muscles that came with his constitution would surely make it difficult for him to find a fiance who was willing to marry him in the future; the more so as his social debut was scheduled to happen in October if all went well. Presently the prince actively engaged in warfare. With Parcie as a tutor it was no wonder that a boy who had never lifted a weapon before as recent as two years ago became a gifted warrior, especially since his constitution was outright made for things like this. In fact Wynkin went to battle with a broadsword so big and heavy that three grown men had serious trouble lifting it. That was one of the perks of being a berserk after all. Even now Wynkin was said to be on the battlefield in the marquisate of Nussex, thus leading to Violants Uncle Barnabas joining the Edric-Wynkin faction since he was more than grateful for the help he got from the eighth prince. It was Wynkin who had singlehandedly taken back a good part of Nussex from the grand duchy, although its capital Perriton wasnt among the retrieved territories yet. Thank you for the compliment, Your Highness. Violant replied When did you return to Ealdon? I believed you to be still fighting in Nussex. That I did until recently and that I will do again quite soon. Wynkin answered I am here on official business, quasi as a messenger of my brother Edric and I need your help since it is quite urgent. I will listen to what you have come for. the red-haired girl agreed But I believe we shouldnt do so out here. Let us talk in detail after our return to Ealdon. I am billeted in Whitehill Castle for now. That is convenient, for so am I. declared the prince You are right. Let us talk later. I also do not want to deny rest for you and your victorious troops. Only well rested fighters can successfully reclaim Ytelands territories and honor after all. Thus Prince Wynkin returned to Ealdon together with Violant, ready to relay her his message afterwards. A Mission for Violant (2): The Reason for Wynkin’s Visit After Violant had returned to Whitehill Castle and had freshened up somewhat, she soon met again with Prince Wynkin. The berserk also had switched out of his dusty travel clothes. Both had come together in a rather small side room of the large and extensive library. This room was normally used when somebody wished to read or work without interruption, but thanks to the greatly isolating door it also could be used for confidential talks, just like now. Please tell me about your urgent message, Your Highness. the red-haired girl inquired. Of course. the gigantic youth replied As I already had mentioned before I am here in the name of my brother Edric who is indispensable in the capital these days. As the eldest prince still alive and one of the favorites for throne succession, he has a lot of official work to do. So has Gervase, by the way. And that is the problem. Since both are absent from the battlefield, in contrast to the twins or me, father decided to assign them a task of utmost importance. In fact it was no wonder that Prince Jarm, the captain of the royal knight order, was out on the battlefield, amassing military contributions. His twin brother Hal, who was usually not involved with the military but nonetheless the best jousting knight the kingdom had to offer, had requested King Baldwin to assign him to the knight order because he wished with all his heart to assist his dear brother. In reality Hal wished to unnoticed kill his brother off in the chaos of the battlefield though. Only that Jarm thought to take the chance to get rid of his twin brother in the same way. Ultimately the one suffering the most under the twins rivalry was Hubert of Wuldington. He, the vice-captain of the knight order, had to see to it that the knight order functioned in spite of the princes antics and schemes. Hubert being silently fed up with his superior also was the main reason why the Wuldingtons still hadnt sided with a faction, although he was pressured almost daily by Prince Jarm to join his faction. Not that Hal didnt aim for the same, since soon became aware just how capable Hubert really was. As you know, aside from the directly related parties, all other nations have still not entered this war as of yet. Wynkin continued That the empire will ever do so is very unlikely though. They only concentrate on themselves and have already declared that they will watch this war only from the sidelines since it has nothing to do with them. If you ask me, the war would be quickly over if only the empires troops fought on our side. But they prefer to ignore the fact that the emperors niece got humiliated by the invading nations on her most important wedding day. How is this not a humiliation and disregard of the emperors honor? Well, the empire has decided against participation. Giudena, however, has still to take up a position as of yet. They might only be a city state for better or for worse, but the merchant republics financial capital and supply of arms can very well turn around this whole war. Should Yteland manage to win Giudena as an ally for its just cause, it might well lead to our victory. The king has decided to assign both Edric and Gervase the task of sending an emissary to Giudena to win them over. Of course it is out of the question for the princes to go themselves. And now we are where you come into the picture, Lady Violant. How so? Violant asked. You will be one of those emissaries, Lady Violant. the berserk declared It will not be seen as the margravial daughter taking sides in the struggle for throne inheritance, of course, but will be interpreted as you doing your part for the national cause. Brother Edric, mother and I will make sure of that, as will Chief Minister Jocelyn too. You dont have to expect any repercussions from taking on this mission. Rather on the contrary, as long as you are successful father might even specifically honor you for your merits. Seeing that you are not engaged yet, this might even increase your desirability as a good catch for young nobles despite your much feared silver eyes and your somewhat bellicose nature. Dont understand me wrong. I personally think that those aspects of yours make you even more charming instead.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Thanks for the compliment. the young lady replied outwardly cool but inwardly shaken, marveling at the eighth princes glib tongue that was able to spout such compliments without any reservation. But why me? Sending a woman as an emissary is something completely unheard of, is it not? That might be so. Wynkin spoke But it is not necessarily unthinkable. In particular, as both brother Edric and I believe you to be most fitting for this task. Especially so as the current head merchant of Giudena does openly favor strong and confident women such as yourself. To be honest, sending you as an emissary was originally neither my nor brothers idea. The first one to bring up your name was Lady Mafalda instead, as she knows the peculiarities of the current head merchant inside and out, for it is no one else but her younger sister, Dottorena Lictorini. Also, I forgot to mention before, the emissary on Gervases side is Tancred of Marchester. I will do it. Violant declared immediately after hearing the name of Gervases emissary. Tancred of Marchester was the second brother of Felicity of Marchester, Gervases concubine and later queen in her last lifetime. Tancred, who was only one year younger than Violant and Felicity, had left no chance aside to shame Violant publicly after she had fallen from grace but wasnt yet imprisoned. She hated this man who insulted her at every turn after her fall nearly as much as she hated Gervase and Felicity. The more pressing matter, however, was that the marquisate of Marchester directly bordered Guidena, which meant that as long as Gervases appointment reached Marchester, that his emissary would have the timely advantage regarding the comparatively short distance of travel. Leave it to me, Your Highness. the girl affirmed a second time I have ways of beating that Marchester bastard and foil his early arrival in Giudena. The other march is everything but save these days but I know my ways. Or at least my trusty steed Huwcyn does. I have expected nothing different from you, Lady Violant. the prince replied with a wide smile And therefore I have already brought with me your letter of appointment as brother Edrics emissary, signed and sealed by him. Speaking such, Wynkin took out a parchment roll with a wax seal from his jacked and formlessly passed it over to Violant. I am sure you will do your very best to foil that venomous snake Gervases plans and not to disappoint us. Definitely, Your Royal Highness. I cannot promise that I might bring good results back from Guidena, but at the very least I will see to it that Tancred of Marchester wont either. That is what I wanted to hear! Wynkin nodded pleased I wish you the very best for your voyage. When do you intend to head out? Tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow at the latest. I dont need much preparation. The most important thing is that Huwcyn is well rested. The pathways will take their toll on him, no doubt about it. The pathways? the giant prince repeated with a confused expression after hearing a term foreign to him. Other march specifics. Please pay it no attention. Violant tried to cover up her slipup. The pathways werent well known in Yteland, and that they were generally kept secret had much to do with the danger they posed for the inexperienced. I beg your pardon, Your Highness, but I will now retire. It would be best if I am well rested as well before I head out as the royal emissary. That is for sure. Wynkin agreed I wish you a good rest, Lady Violant. The red-haired girl curtsied instead of a reply and left the room. Prince Wynkin, now left behind alone, began to smile evilly while his eyes changed color from hazel to gold. Then he said: Dryp, tell me all you know about the pathways A Mission for Violant (3): Travelling to Giudena Are you ready, Huw? Violant asked. As well rested and ready as I only can be. the ceffyl dwr replied But please dont call me that. Whatever you say, Huw. Then lets set out. Following his riders command, the water horse began to move. He wasnt the only one to do so though. The young lady didnt know how they had gotten wind of this secret mission, but the spirits and ghosts of the wild hunt had caused quite the clamor when it became apparent that she planned to use the pathways, especially in times of unrest like these. The other march was even farer from being safe than ever, after all. The wild hunt only acknowledged their lieges undertaking after she had given in and accepted wild huntsmen as guards and escorts. The two who were chosen for this task were Rambold and Waldolf. Both were already familiar with the tomboyish, somewhat bellicose girl and her sudden actions after all. In fact, Violant started to become known as the Valkyrie of the other march. No wonder if you pictured a beautiful, somewhat otherworldly girl swinging her spear and throwing herself in the battle with vigor. Those who survived an immediate encounter with her started to call her the silver-eyed she-devil of Yteland instead. That couldnt be helped though if you experienced firsthand how she could turn any battlefield into a scene of hell by the use of bombs, firearms, troll fire and other of Arinnefjas inventions. The troll remained in Avallach, by the way, without a chance to witness the literally striking success of her inventions which she and dwarven smith Hanarr still steadily improved based on the reports from the battlefield. The troll weapons were still limited to the troops from the margraviate but that also was bound to change sooner or later. As for the reason why Violant made no use of the genius strategist Arinnefja: The redhead was determined to keep this fact secret for now. Additionally, the troll herself didnt know of her other slumbering talent yet. Since that was the case, Violant made Arinnefja promise that she would aid with the defense of Avallach should the town or castle get attacked. That would be chance enough for the troll to discover her other sleeping talent and if she didnt, so be it. There were still more chances in the future after all. The pathways were the same as the last time Violant had used them. A seemingly endless system of dark, almost always lightless tunnels branching out in all directions spread out before her. Huw, I trust you know the way to Marchester. the girl said, trying to cover up the uneasiness she always felt when dealing with the pathways. This uneasiness increased due to the fact that she suspected the otherworldly fighters on the grand duchys side to use the pathways for their invasion. Of course it was unthinkable that she would meet with a prepared ambush C nobody wanted to stay in the pathways for long considering the permanent dangers they posed C but she could have a run in with the enemies by chance nonetheless, and fighting in the treacherous tunnel system was the last thing she wanted to do. Huwcyn didnt bother to answer and snorted from his nostrils instead as if to indicate that Violant shouldnt state the obvious. Rambold and Waldolf failed to read the mood though and declared that they would ensure their lieges safe arrival even if she should lose her way. For a moment Violant closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, strongly gripping the pouch on her belt that stored her presently shrunk spear as if to assure herself that she wasnt defenseless in the least. Although it remained doubtful how the spear should be of help if she in fact did manage to get lost in the pathways, a worst case scenario she deeply wished to avoid. After calming herself down, the redhead focused on the pathways already visible in front of her and spoke: Lets go. The travel through the pathways ended up relatively eventless, save for one instance where they almost encountered a marching troop of werewolves under grand ducal command. Only the sharp and honed senses of the wild huntsmen spared them a direct encounter. Violant didnt ignore the invaders though but decided to dispatch Waldolf with the task of shadowing the werewolves and reporting to her uncle Orderic. She neither could abandon her mission nor ignore the danger the invaders posed for the inhabitants of both Yteland and the other march after all and thus remained with Rambold as her only escort. Waldolf would rejoin them after the task he had been entrusted with was successfully completed.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Exiting the other march, Violant wasnt far from the border between Yteland and Guidena. At the moment she stood on a blooming mountain meadow, and high mountains towered in the distance. The only way to reach Giudena was a single mountain pass in the center of which a big gate was installed that functioned as the border of both the kingdom and the merchant republic. Rambold stayed back near the entrance of the pathways to wait for his companion Waldolf and because his presence alone was likely enough to cause a panic in Giudena. The republicans feared the wild hunt because it had carried away many a travelling merchant never to be seen again, giving rise to its notoriety with the merchant republic. When Violant would be seen accompanied by a wild huntsman who wasnt hard to discern as such, she probably would have no chance in hell to enter Giudena, much less meet its ruler. Violant had never visited Giudena, neither in her present lifetime nor the last, but she knew that the city state was surrounded by high mountains on all sides, its only connection to the outside world being three mountain passes, one of which connected Giudena to Yteland while the other two lead to the empire. Since the agriculturally usable territory of the city state was more than limited, the Guidenians long since successfully had settled for crafts, art, and trade as their main source of income, thus allowing them to compensate for the lack of self-sustainability in regard to their food sources. The margravial young lady couldnt deny feeling anticipation while nearing the border. Giudena was famous for its splendid architecture and its refined culture that was said to be second only to the empires. It was equally known for the fact that money was the true lord of Giudena. In fact, the head merchant, who was the republics political leader and got elected by the merchant association every five years, got his or her post by virtue of a good reputation and C more importantly C by the amount of persuasion money he or she was able to pay the eligible voters. Since as of now three generations, the post was occupied by members of Giudenas most wealthy merchant family, the Lictorinis. In a certain sense Lady Mafalda really had been something like a foreign noble marrying the king of Yteland although aristocracy in the true sense of the word didnt exist in the merchant republic. Approaching the border, Violant heard a heated dispute. Although, it was more like a one-sided nagging. The haughty voice sounding through the clear mountain air was one the girl could identify at a moments notice because it belonged to no other than the very person who had delighted so much in her downfall of her previous lifetime. It belonged to Tancred of Marchester, her rival emissary from Gervases faction. The red-haired girl made a sour face. Even when it was inevitable for her to come in contact with Tancred, she had wished to do so at a later point of time. Observing the others behavior, she wondered if Gervase wouldnt regret his decision. Tancred was really as obnoxious as in her last lifetime. The only thing that spoke for him was his close proximity to his destination and probably his good looks. The second son of Marquis Marchester really was a handsome fellow, with an even face, shoulder-long blond brown hair, and enchanting blue eyes. Sadly, his personality made him less than eligible as a possible honey trap, if that should be what Prince Gervase had intended. The conversation the emissary had with the border guards was more than enough proof of this. Now open those gates, you merchant dogs! Tancred shouted Why did you have to build them so uselessly heavy in the first place? Do you not know who I am? I am Tancred of Marchester. One word from me and my father will see to it that those troublesome gates will stay closed forever. You wouldn''t want that, would you? Now make haste. I dont have all day long! Please do not disgrace Yteland any further, Lord Tancred. Violant spoke as soon as she had come close enough. Then she turned to the already unnerved border guards with a refreshing smile. Greetings, I am Violant of Avallach. My desire is to enter Giudena as the emissary of His Royal Highness Prince Edric of Yteland. Here is the document to prove my words. Although Violant also believed the heavy border gate to be rather impractical, she was aware of the fact that it was built particularly sturdy to withstand possible avalanches. It wouldnt be the first time that the mountain pass experienced those natural disasters after all. The Guidenian guard officer took a good look at the document handed to him and then nodded. It is authentic. he judged You shall pass, Milady. At the same time Tancred snickered disdainfully. Ridiculous! Prince Edric must have lost his mind to send a girl as emissary in the first place, and to choose a monster from the other march to top it off. Well, I believe I should be grateful to him instead. With this my success is all but a matter of course. His Highness Gervase will be pleased with me for sure. The border guards shot scornful gazes at the overbearing Yteish noble while Violant acted as if she hadnt heard him, or some rabid dogs barking at most. In her heart she thought that the words Tacred said about her, she could as well say about him. His self-destruction was all but assured, practically taking the work of obstructing him out of her hands. If she was going to be able to convince Dottorena Lictorini, the head merchant of Guidena, about siding with Yteland was another matter altogether but there was no doubt that the girl would try her best. A Mission for Violant (4): Meeting the Head Merchant Five days had already passed since Violants arrival in Giudena. She had officially announced her presence to the merchant councils secretary who was the only one present in the council building even when there were no council meetings. The secretary, a lean and proper man with greyed hair who wore glasses on his distinctive nose C glasses were an invention of Giudena, by the way C welcomed the Yteish emissary politely and with a business-like attitude, promising to forward her words to the head merchant without fail. He couldnt promise when Dottorena Lictorini would be willing to meet with her though and warned her to expect a waiting period of several days, for Ms. Lictorini was especially busy these days. Violant didnt become disheartened from that. On the contrary, she decided to make the best use of the time and thus to go sightseeing, strolling over the famous markets of Giudena, travelling the numerous canals permeating the city state by gondola, shopping for souvenirs. The only downside was the fact that she had to pay for her lodging herself, and that the inn prices were anything but low. But at the very least this didnt harm her own purse. Before her departure, Prince Wynkin had given her a purse with travel money to show the goodwill of the royal family or more specifically of the Edric-Wynkin faction. That was by no means standard. Tancred, her rival emissary, had to cover his costs out of his own pockets, as was obvious from the sour face the noble showed whenever he had to pay for something. Speaking of Tancred, he already got an audience with the head merchant the day before. By chance Violant had been able to witness how Tancred had been thrown out of the council building while vociferating about Giudena in general and the head merchant in particular. It filled the girl with deep satisfaction to see firsthand how Tancred of Marchester got manhandled and fell on his bottom. Of course he just had to glare at her when he discovered Violant in the surrounding crowd. Today the young lady, who was of course accompanied by Huwcyn, sat on the rim of a fountain and turned her face with closed eyes in the direction of the pleasant warming summer sun that wasnt as hot early in the morning. She didnt have much time to enjoy the pleasant sunrays though, for a voice soon called out to her. Signora Violant. it shouted. The redhead turned her head in the direction the sound came from and opened her eyes. Oh, Mr. Lionetto. What a pleasant surprise! she said. Indeed it was Lionetto, the merchant councils diligent secretary. Signora Dottorena is now willing to meet you. the secretary announced Please follow me, Signora Violant. Definitely. the red-haired girl consented before turning to her companion Im off. You know how to get back to the inn by yourself, Huw, dont you? Of course I do. the water horse replied. Lionetto was flabbergasted at the sight of a talking horse but soon regained his composure like the professional he was. Then he guided Violant to her destination without delay. The head merchant welcomed the emissary from Yteland in her study in the merchant councils building. The studys interior was so very merchant-like, furnished representatively but cost-efficient nonetheless. The shelves were filled with tick books, trade contracts and similar documents. Dottorena Lictorini awaited her guest standing in front of a desk from oak wood. The blood relationship the head merchant had with Lady Mafalda was quite obvious, for the younger sister appeared like a more plump version of Prince Edrics mother and had the same thick black hair her elder sister was so well-known for. Only, the atmosphere around the sisters was quite different. Was Lady Mafalda a cultured woman eager for knowledge, so was her sister Dottorena a seasoned woman adept in the ways of the world, especially the mercantile one.Stolen story; please report. Violant of Avallach greets Dottorena Lictorini, head merchant of Giudena. I have come as emissary of His Royal Highness, Prince Edric of Yteland. Welcome, Signora Violant. the head merchant replied with a warm simile So you are the emissary sent by my dear nephew. Una buona decisione. A good decision. The daughter of the Avallach house and her feats are well known in Giudena, not at last because of Avallachs great importance for us merchants. I like strong women like you and I am sure my nephew knows that. And if he doesnt, my sister sure does. Say, how are they these days? Terribly busy. That is for sure. Violant answered But it is no wonder since we are currently at war. I am sure you must have heard, both His Highness Edric and Her Highness Myrtis Porphyrina had the bad luck to have their wedding ceremony become the stage for the outbreak of war and have been terribly busy ever since, reportedly without much time to get intimate. I guess so. Lady Dottorena nodded And I dont need to guess to know why you have come to Giudena. It must be for the same reason this insolent fellow from yesterday has come for, to propose an alliance between Giudena and Iutiterra. You are correct. The Yteish emissary affirmed and readied herself to hand over the letter from Prince Edric. No need to give me that, for you will get no positive response from me. the head merchant shook her head There is semplicemente to much risk for Guidena involved. Since I do like you and you have come in the name of my darling nephew though, I will at least explain you my reason. Since a victory of Iutiterra with or without partecipazione di Giudena is all but secure, there is too much risk involved for our repubblica. If we openly side with Iutiterra and Iutiterra loses, who is able to say if we are safe from retaliation from Merovia and the grand duchy. If they boycott our trade or C even worse C threaten to invade us, what can we do? The more so as it is the repubblicas policy to engage in international politics only with unanimous decision from the merchant council since it might otherwise affect our citizens trade. The decision regarding Giudenas stance about this war was decided in the council meeting three days ago and I am bound by it for better or for worse. Violant nodded with a solemn expression to signal that she had understood and then spoke: Thank you very much, Lady Dottorena, for allowing me to take up your time. I will unfailingly report your answer and the reasons behind it to His Highness. Thus they parted while in a rather serious mood. It was more than clear that the merchant councils decision wasnt necessarily the head merchants idea, but the latters hands were bound after all. Just two days later Violant sat in the royal palace and waited for Prince Edric to grant her audience. Next to her stood Hubert of Wuldington, Uncle Allys son. The vice-captain of the royal knight order now sported the leaders uniform. You got promoted to knight captain? the redhead asked in surprise What about His Highness Prince Jarm? Hubert scrutinized her doubtfully, as taciturn as ever, but soon his face showed a sign of comprehension. You were in Giudena, were you not? he asked. Yes, indeed. Violant affirmed My mission took me about a week. I have just returned. Then you cannot know after all. the knight leader said. What Hubert told her then couldnt be described as anything other than a tragedy caused by the incompetence of the twin princes. Earlier the same week the royal knight order met the Mrovian army on the battlefield. Their opponents were led by Duke Mdard de Crtou personally. The Princes Hal and Jarm obstructed each other all the time, leading to their mutual demise. The royal knight order was close to being completely annihilated after the death of the two princes and they only had to owe it to Huberts decisive actions that most of the knights could safely retreat. The two princes corpses fell into the hands of the enemy though and their heads were publicly displayed as trophies for the humiliation of all Yteland. As the royal knight order could hardly remain without a leader, Hubert was promoted by King Baldwin himself. The monarch didnt accuse the current vice-leader of the deaths of the twins but rather awarded him for his other actions. The king knew best about the ambitious nature of the fallen princes. His hope that they might better themselves when faced with the dangers of the battlefield got sorely disappointed. Violant couldnt really say that she was surprised about the twin princes sad end. In her other lifetime they mutually assassinated each other after all. Although this had happened three years in the future compared to the current timeline, in the end the outcome remained the same. Now the house of Wuldington will join His Highness Edrics faction. My esteemed parents left the decision to me. Hubert explained his presence stiffly. That is really just like Uncle Ally and Aunt Milly. Violant chuckled. Shortly afterwards the door to Prince Edrics study opened and Violant got called inside. Her mission was both successful (how Tancred failed) and unsuccessful (how she herself failed) but at least she could call the gratification of reporting first her own. Contrarily to her who arrived quickly via the pathways, if nothing else because of her capable escorts Rambold and Waldolf, Tancred of Marchester had to take the long way to Kingsborough. How the results of this mission would impact the war was yet to be known. “You’re in for a big Surprise!” (1): In the Capital again Violant strolled through the streets of Kingsborough. The capital retained its typical style and atmosphere even in times of war, although the mood was doubtlessly more sullen. The cold winds of October did only add to the melancholy mood felt everywhere. As for why Violant was in the capital again that she had last visited after her mission in Giudena: She had come to represent the margravial house at the biannual debut ball. Even in wartime the royal family didnt intermit the tradition, most likely to keep up at least a semblance of normalcy. However, the noble families which were caught up in the war or had the duty of defending the borders as was the case for the marquis houses were officially excused from attending. Violant was the only Avallach attending this time around. Her foster father Orderic had his hands full with the still continuing war and crisis in the other march, so much in fact that the organization of the margraviates territory was completely left to Mortimer and Sybil to handle. This was good chance to increase experience for the future margrave couple. You couldnt count on Parcie for this kind of matter. Who knows what battlefield he was currently roaming? There was not the slightest doubt that the current situation of Yteland was perfect for a musclehead like him. Violant had come to attend this debut ball only because it was a special event. Prince Wynkin had turned fifteen earlier this year and would accordingly have his debut as a royal this time around. With this, the youngest prince was now an adult too, although he had had the most imposing stature out of all his siblings for several years already. Additionally, the house of Avallach was especially indebted to the eighth prince because he had taken his troops and rushed to their aid when Avallach town and castle had been besieged by grand ducal troops from the other march back in August. With the berserk princes help it had been possible to repel the otherworldly invaders, albeit temporarily. The reconstruction was still going on and one of the many things that kept Mortimer and Sybil busy. After his stay in Avallach, Prince Wynkin had furthermore continuously brought to the attention of Prince Edric the matter regarding the flood of refugees from the other march currently swamping the margraviate. Both princes then had informed King Baldwin about the problematic situation. This had led to the crown opening the former duchy of Ealdon (which had almost been spared from war) for the otherworldly refugees. This action not only allowed averting a humanitarian crisis in Avallach but also led to a significant population growth in the duchy that was comparatively short on hands during harvest season. The influx of denizens of the other match changed Ealdon so deeply that it became known as Little Avallach few months afterwards. All in all the house of Avallach was deeply in Wynkins debt and thus decided to give him face by sending one of their family members to attend. The choice fell on Violant in the end, leading to her current presence in the capital. Lady Violant, its you, isnt it? a bell-like voice resounded. Its her for sure, I say.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. I concur. No doubt about it. Two almost identical voices chimed in. Violant turned around in surprise. At the roadside she saw an open tent exuding a mysterious atmosphere, and sitting inside there were three almost identical gorgeous women with spotless snow-white faces, clad in dresses grey like fog, and combing their incredibly long silky hair floating in the air like fog whose color it also resembled. The three women were denizens of the other march. To be exact they were refugees from the other march of the grand duchy whose life Violant had happened to save. The trio of keshalyis, a generally unsettled kind of fairiy beings, afterwards continued to roam Yteland like the travelling people they had been in the other march, and before parting they had promised Violant to read her future should they ever meet again. Only that this event came to pass earlier than any of them had thought. Yes, it is indeed me. the redhead affirmed I am happy to see that you seem to do well. But it is surprising to meet you again in the capital. Here are not many from over there, after all. But a lot of customers asking to have their future read. a keshalyi answered and her sisters nodded Dou you want to have yours read too, Lady Violant? We have promised you, after all. Well, why not? the young lady affirmed with a shrug. It wont hurt to do so. Thus she sat down in the tent of the tree fortune tellers. The keshalyis asked her to show them her hand which they studied intricately. Their highly concentrated expressions changed into surprise after some time. Your fate is steadily changing. Most of it is obscure. The first keshalyi declared. Only the nearest future is clear. Nobody can know where it will take you from there. the second added. Youre in for a big surprise; and that also quite soon. the third joined in. Thats the only thing thats clear to see. the second keshalyi explained. But we cant tell you. the third added. Its dangerous for us to tell you, not dangerous to you. the first concluded. Then the keshalyi trio began to chant jointly: A surprise is waiting for you but nothing dangerous and if you ask what it might do, its rather fabulous. But speaking about it too much is nothing to be done, for if we should proceed as such theres nothing to be won. If the planner might learn of this his fun is likely spoiled and a surprise it isnt, Miss, if we were to be boiled. So for the sake of us three seers refrain from asking us and we will send you forth with cheers, for is it worth the fuss. Allow us to repeat again what happens will be fine. For you courageous, good woman life isnt on the line. Your future changing more than thought might be indeed the case. Apart from battles that you fought you will tread on new ways. Your happiness you might then find, we wish you dearly well, but if we our tongues dont bind were on the way to hell. So let us a last time repeat that we will say no more. A surprise is what you will meet. Be eager you therefor. After the chant had ended, Violant took her leave from the keshalyis, no wiser than before. All she knew was that a big surprise would await her in the near future, but what it was, the keshalyis obviously werent willing to tell her. The trio seemed to fear some power only they could perceive that was connected with this prophecy and that was threatening enough for them to shut their mouths. At least this mysterious surprise brought Violant no danger for life and limb. That was all she had learnt. But the red-haired girl didnt really care. Whatever her fate might have in store for her in this lifetime, she would take it head on. For now she had to prepare herself for the debut ball event she would visit the day after tomorrow. She could still ponder about the rather questionable prophecy after she had returned to Avallach. “You’re in for a big Surprise!” (2): Prince Wynkin’s Debut Ball Two years had passed since Violants debut ball. It was the second time since then that she stood in Crystal Hall again, only that this time she was not among the debutantes. Her fame as the Valkyrie of the other march ensured that nonetheless much attention was coming her way even if she wasnt one of the stars of this evening. Of course, in her last lifetime she had been present in Crystal Hall more often, standing at the true focus of attention. As Gervases consort and queen she had been present at every debut ball starting from their marriage until her downfall and later incarceration. Speaking about her and Gervases wedding, it was quite obvious that the timeline had irrevocably changed. In her last lifetime this was the first debut ball Violant had participated in as Gervases wife. Her eighteenth birthday which had been the month prior had originally been the point of time where she had broken all her ties with her family to be able to marry Gervase, albeit without any dowry. This time around it had been the complete opposite though, for her ties with the house of Avallach were as strong as ever while there was nothing connecting her and the third prince, save for a mutual dislike perhaps. And regarding the matter of her marriage in this lifetime, the redhead still wasnt ready for any of it. It would need time for her to heal the scars Gervases betrayal had left in her heart. This hadnt changed even three years after her return to the past. Contrarily to how the procedure had been on Violants debut ball, the royal family entered the venue even before the debutantes. This was because of the fact that a member of the royal family had his debut today. The venue itself was also less crowded that two years ago, but no wonder given the continuing war. The atmosphere was at the same time both somewhat gloomy and very exuberant, according to whether the guests couldnt free themselves of thoughts about the national crisis or tried to forcibly forget it by concentrating on merriment instead. The sound of fanfares announced the imminent entrance of the debutantes. His Royal Highness Prince Wynkin of Yteland. the herald notified the first and highest ranking debutant to enter the venue. The golden blond haired prince with the witty hazel eyes looked truly bizarre wearing silken festive attire. His mountain of muscles bloated the normally elegant garment in such a way that it was a pain to behold, but the very same attire was tradition to wear for royal princes at their debut and Wynkin wasnt one to change this just because it didnt suit him. Most clothes didnt suit his brawny, gigantic stature anyway and looked somewhat silly to be honest, but coming in the armor best suited for his honed warrior body wasnt an option and the berserk prince knew this too. This was one of the pains of being a berserk. Violant was surprised to find that Prince Wynkin had hit yet another growth spurt since she had last seen him in August, now towering one and three-quarters heads above any normal adult male. This was a clear sign for the fact that his berserk transformation still hadnt reached its end, but the steady supply of the violet remedy the prince took daily still ensured his sanity. The hoary schrat healer Alarun was unceasingly producing more of this medicine back in Avallach for the sake of her royal pen friend. The young lady of Avallach saw how some noble ladies disgustedly turned away their heads from the berserk prince, albeit not too obviously. Wynkin admittedly was far from the ideal picture of a gorgeous young man, instead appearing quite monstrous in the eyes of most who saw him. Violant had no problem though. She had gotten used to the eighth princes oversized appearance, although she too wouldnt ever consider Wynkin romantically. Her type was someone less gigantic and brawny; tall, strong and athletic indeed, but not as excessive. When a good looking face was added, that was Violants ideal man. Constructing the picture of her ideal man in her head, the girl noticed that this picture was frighteningly similar to Gervase who apparently still occupied her mind and heart for years to come. Realizing this, she couldnt help but shudder. What use was a gorgeous exterior when the soul inside was ugly like a demon from hell?You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. While Violant had been lost in thought, even the last of the debutantes who hailed from a baronetcy had made her way down the stairs and entered the venue. The young lady of Avallach only returned to her senses when a loud sound echoed through Crystal Hall. In the meantime Prince Wynkin had positioned himself on the elevated platform the royal family had taken place on. Both King Baldwin and Queen Berengaria looked at their son with pride in their eyes, as did Princess Mabel too who had specifically come to witness her once sickly baby brothers one and only debut. She huddled against her husband, Chief Minister Jocelyn, who appeared to have a terribly tired face with dark rings under his eyes. This was no wonder though when considering his responsibilities which were heavier than ever during wartime. Wynkin again clapped in his hand to gather all attention on himself. As soon as the giant felt all gazes gathered on him, he spoke: Nobles of Yteland, I wish to express my gratitude to you for sowing up tonight in such large numbers despite the hard times that have come upon our beloved country. I know well that not few of you see me as the main reason for this war and I can understand it if you do not look kindly upon me because of this. There is not much I can change about this fact, and war would have come earlier or later anyway. Not that I wish to justify myself here. It is neither the time nor the place for me to do so. No, I wish to announce a decision of great moment I have carefully made. I, Wynkin of Yteland, prince of royal blood and scion of both His Majesty the king and Her Majesty the queen, henceforth declare that I will renounce any claim I might have on the throne because of my birth and that I will unreservedly support His Highness Prince Edric with his claim for the throne instead. Additionally I renounce my royal privileges so that they might not rekindle new strife. Although it was rather well known that Wynkin was an avid supporter of the second prince, his sudden renouncement came as a surprise for most of the assembled guests. Violant, too, hadnt seen this coming although she could have been aware. But this still wasnt the end of the surprise. Next, King Baldwin rose from his seat and commanded with a majestic voice: Kneel down, my son. Wynkin obliged and kneeled down in front of his royal father, assuming a devoted stance. Nonetheless both men were almost at eye level if it was not for the eighth princes deeply bent back. The king then cleared his throat and continued: Herewith We declare that Wynkin of Yteland with the renouncement of his privileges is no longer a prince of this kingdom, despite the continuing recognition of his blood ties to the royal family. In consideration of the royal blood flowing through his veins, Wynkin of Yteland will still be considered an adult after turning fifteen and is not required to repeat his debut at age sixteen. From this day on, he will be given the title and fief of the duke of Ealdon, thus continuing the venerable ducal line as Wynkin of Ealdon. Soon voices echoed through the venue, celebrating the newly inaugurated duke, saying things such as: Congratulations, Your Grace. I am very sure that we will hear a lot about the many great accomplishments of Duke Wynkin of Ealdon in the future. It is a good fortune for Ealdon that the venerable line of dukes will still be continued in future, is it not? and so on. Violant was overwhelmed with the sudden turn of events, although the berserk becoming Duke Ealdon didnt come as too much of a surprise for her. The political balance of Yteland was literally shifting right before her eyes, and she became a witness of this event, the consequences of which were anything but foreseeable. On the other hand this unexpected move allowed for more stability in the princely factions, since an overturn of events in the Edric-Wynkin faction or rather the Edric faction became increasingly unlikely. No matter how often Wynkin had reaffirmed that he had no interest in the throne, with this move he had made what was only a simple statement before into an irrefutable fact. Wynkin, now Duke Ealdon, accepted the countless comments and congratulations, his lips slowly turning to a smile. Then he said: This will not be the last surprise I have prepared for this evening “You’re in for a big Surprise!” (3): The real Surprise Determinedly Duke Wynkin made a beeline for Violant while thanking the congratulators left and right. The red-haired girl had readied herself to congratulate him, truly being happy about this turn of events so much in the ex-princes favor. She had known him for one and a half years now and had known for nearly as long that the berserk had aimed for the position of duke rather than for the throne. What than happened though was definitely out of her expectations. Before Violant was even able to open her mouth to congratulate the newly inaugurated duke, Wynkin sank down on one knee, gently took one of Violants battle-hardened and calloused hands in his own similarly battle-hardened giant paws, and spoke: Lady Violant, I beseech you to grant me your hand in marriage. The keshalyis had divined that the young lady would soon meet with a big surprise, but as she so suddenly saw herself confronted with the very surprise, it was of a distinctly different nature than everything she would have expected. The sudden proposal left her completely speechless, the more so as she had told herself just moments before that any prospects of marriage were a matter of the far future when she would have gotten over Gervases betrayal at last. But now she was confronted directly with a proposal, and it even came from the man she had considered the least as possible husband material. I understand your confusion. the prince turned duke continued I have heard from Lady Sybil that you currently do not think of marriage. That my proposal must come as a complete surprise for you, I fully understand. You also do not have to worry about keeping the neutrality of the house of Avallach that you so often mentioned to me before. Both Margrave Orderic and the royal advocate have acknowledged that a possible marital bond between us would not result in a breach of said neutrality for the margravial house as long as I am no longer recognized as a royal prince. The margrave already gave me his consent to our marriage as long as you yourself are willing to, Lady Violant. You also do not need to give me your answer right away and are free to take your time to think about this. How long? asked Violant, still a somewhat dumbfounded expression on her face. Pardon? the duke of Ealdon inquired. How long did you plan this already? the redhead further clarified her question. Ah, about this engagement. The agreements with your family took place during my stay in Avallach back in August. They all have given me their blessing for my intention. If you are talking about me thinking of marrying you instead, then this is already much longer the case. It should not make one wonder if I was initially fascinated by the lady I owe my life to, does it? This feeling of fascination soon turned into something more but I still needed some more time to realize this. For me there is not the slightest doubt that you are very lovable, Lady Violant, and I cannot help but feel attracted to your indomitable spirit, your figure equally elegant and beautiful both on the stage of noble society and on the cruel battlefield, and last but not least your charming silver eyes that have never left my mind since I saw them for the first time. So much frankness left Violant speechless again. At the same time she became aware of the fact that this gaudy proposal happened before the eyes of all of Yteland, causing her cheeks to redden with a maidenly blush, something rarely seen on the tomboys face.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. At the same time Prince Gervase edged himself through the murmuring crowd that was eagerly watching the spectacle. Hold on, hold on, little brother. How can you steal the march on me like that? the third prince complained I also considered proposing to Lady Violant, did you not know that? Both Wynkin and Violant made surprised expressions. They never wouldve thought that Gervase was interested in the margravial young lady in that way. Although, looking back, it also had been him proposing to her during her last lifetime. Many apologies, brother Gervase. Or am I now required to say Your Royal Highness instead? I truly did not know. the berserk replied Your relationship with Lady Violant also appears to be quite disharmonious, does it not? Besides, you surely know the saying that all is fair in love and war, so please do not hold it against me. And should you not rather ask Lady Violant for her hand instead of complaining to me? Gervase gnashed his teeth in humiliation but continued nonetheless with a benign smile on his lips. Your words ring true, dearest brother, but do you not know that the quarrel of lovers is the renewal of love. Despite the fact that I would not dare to call myself and Lady Violant lovers yet, I nonetheless believe in the mutual affection we are harboring deep inside. Regarding the misunderstandings we might have had, time can surely solve those. Please excuse me, Your Highness, and allow me to interrupt your fervent speech. finally the very girl at the center of the conflict piped up I am afraid that Your Highness might be misunderstanding something. In fact I do not keep any deeply hidden special affections for you as you seem to believe. More importantly, though, a marriage between Your Royal Highness and me would amount to a direct breach of the neutrality the members of the house of Avallach are expected to uphold when it comes to supporting any individual prince in the succession for the throne. His Grace Duke Wynkin has, so it seems, renounced his rank of a royal prince to be able to propose to me. Truthfully, I believe there were still other, more important reasons for him to do so. The question is if Your Highness would be willing to do the same, although I would never dare to recklessly encourage such a life-changing decision. Prince Gervase grimaced before declaring: Giving up my rank as a royal prince and my right to succeed the throne, this is the only thing I cannot do. Violant showed her brightest smile and said to the traitorous husband of her previous lifetime: Then this means that we never were meant to be, Your Highness. Both of us have to live according to our duties, nothing to say of the voices of our hearts. Seeing Prince Gervase utterly devastated was an indescribable delight for Violant. Never again she would allow herself to fall in the two-faced princes hands again, just to be used as a pawn and discarded as soon as she would have outlived her usefulness. To top her revenge off, the young lady then turned around to Wynkin who still poised on the floor in his proposal pose, and said: Your Grace, I am more than willing to become your wife. If Violant was honest with herself, she was far from being in love with Wynkin although she held goodwill for him in her heart. The berserk three years younger than her was far from being her ideal man, both regarding the converse age gap (Gervase had been four years older than her instead) and his physique. She had to admit though that Wynkins very handsome face C which was quite similar to those of the other princes including Gervase, by the way C was very much to her liking if it wasnt for it appearing completely out of place on top of this mountain of muscles the duke called his body. But Violant knew that her future husbands build was nothing he had wished for. Additionally, it didnt change the fact that she had to marry someone sooner or later during her marriageable age. She didnt want to live her live as some miserable spinster just because she couldnt fall in love again. Furthermore, marriages for the sake of convenience or political interest were the norm in aristocracy rather than love marriages, and Wynkin just so happened to propose to her conveniently. Regarding the matter of love, when or if Violant would be able to love her husband back, only time would be able to tell. “You’re in for a big Surprise!” (4): Two Weeks later Two weeks had passed since Violant had accepted Wynkins proposal. Currently she was in Kingsborough again C in the meantime she had frequently fought at the borders of the other march, usually remaining victorious C and had to patiently wait for her maids and sister-in-law to arrange her bridal dress. For the redhead this was some kind of torture though, since she abhorred feeling restricted by the fancy silk dress gorgeous enough to let her appear like some elven queen from the other march. Abigail, Millicent, and Sybil had no mercy with her in this regard. They said: Today is your big day, so be quiet and let us take care of you. If you would not sparkle so much that you will leave the bridegroom and all the guests speechless, what kind of wedding would this be? The inhabitants of Avallach appeared to think the same, for the uselessly extravagant dress the young lady was currently wearing was a gift the otherworldly inhabitants of the margraviate had prepared for her. Otherwise a timespan of two weeks would have been much too short to prepare a suitable dress. As for why the engagement was cut short so drastically, reducing the usual timespan of a year to two measly weeks: It was because Yteland was currently at war and both fiancs frequently roamed the battlefield. Thus, for the marriage to come into fruition when death permanently loomed over them, on royal decree wedding preparations were begun almost instantly. Additionally, the marriage of the two well-known war heroes took place in the capital for the reason that King Baldwin sought to use this event to further boost morale nationwide. I beg your pardon, Milord, but I believe it to be in your best interest to not enter this room and wait for Milady to exit it herself. the muffled voice of Malford could be heard from outside the door. The loyal vampire butler with the childlike appearance had been tasked with the duty of ensuring that the bridal preparations could finish without any kind of disturbance C be it from outside or inside. But I should assure that my little dear Violant looks as beautiful as only possible on her great day, should I not? To believe that my sisters child is already going to leave the nest, I cant believe it! a sobbing voice replied that doubtlessly belonged to Orderic, the father of the bride and the man who would lead her to the altar today. Father, dont. Mortimer, who apparently was also present, said with a stretched intonation that revealed that his normally hardly strained nerves were almost at their limit ever since his extremely sentimental father had been dumped on him this morning. Violant has two excellent maids with her and then there is Sibyl too. Those three will definitely ensure that Violant will look as gorgeous as possible, if necessary even against her will. Only after Mortimer had said so the clamor caused by the margrave abated. Especially for this very day, all of Violants family had come to Kingsborough to be able to witness her wedding, including Parcie who they had to literally drag off the battlefield. Although Avallach still suffered under the different problems caused by the war, it was temporarily left in several capable hands. Sir Thopas of the garrison took care of the safety of the margravial capital. Urgent administrative issues were handled by the librarian Augustine who, though a scholar, was well-versed in aspects of territorial management as well. Additionally, the genius strategist Arinnefja helped out with official business wherever needed, no matter if civilian or military. Medical care and hygiene measures especially regarding the often disastrous state of newly accepted refugees from the other march was without a doubt old Alaruns mtier. Of course she got actively supported by Doctor Wace and his assistant Ottiwell. Members of the wild hunt added to the defense of the margraviate, particularly now as Banadietrich had successfully fended of the attackers at Mt. Hackelberg and had reinstated his territorial claims on the surroundings of his lair. Although Alarun couldnt be present to witness the wedding ceremony herself, she sent a letter to her pen friend Wynkin to congratulate him for the occasion. She still got called Granny Alarun by him, and her words were like a true grandmothers indeed. She also had congratulated Violant warmly when the latter had stopped by in Avallach sometime during the last two weeks.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Fanfares could be heard from inside the great temple of Kingsborough, announcing the start of the wedding ceremony. Wynkin and Violant had the honor to marry at the same place were Prince Edric and Princess Myrtis had held their ceremony. This was a favor to them granted by King Baldwin and Queen Beregaria, especially as the queen never had stopped doting on her son even after he had become afflicted with berserk syndrome. Mortimer, Sybil, and Parcie had already taken their seats in the temple. Duchess Adelaide, Princess Mabel, and Chief Minister Jocelyn also were among the guests. The Nussexes had sent their congratulations beforehand but were unable to attend due to the continuing warfare in their territory. Regarding the Wuldingtons, longtime friends of the Avallachs, both Count Alphege and his wife Mildred had come to give the bride their blessing. Their son Hubert was engaged otherwise though. As the captain of the royal knight order it was a given that he was terribly busy in times of war. The royal pair graced this wedding with their attendance, as did all their children and most of the royal consorts. It was undoubtedly very hard on Prince Gervase to be forced to witness this event as it was no better than a public slap to his face. His failed proposal two weeks ago was still far from becoming water under the bridge after all. Orderic stood outside the great temple and turned his head to Violant who was standing next to him. He gave her a bright smile but his red eyes betrayed his last sentimental outbreak just moments before. Are you ready? he asked. As ready as I can ever be. this foster daughter replied, nodding her veiled head. Then lets go. the margrave declared and took the brides arm to escort her inside. Stepping through the opening temple door, the bride and her father got received with murmurs and shouts of amazement. Never had Violant looked as beautiful as now. The bridegroom stood ready next to the altar and looked expectantly at his bride slowly closing in. The formal attire he was wearing was originally chosen to look elegant and noble but appeared rather bizarre instead. He wore the same festive garments he had been dressed in during his debut ball, for two weeks were too short a span of time to newly tailor appropriate clothes that fit his humongous body for this joyous occasion. The high priest awaited the arrival of the bride with a dignified expression. He was ready to begin his task anytime. As soon as the bride arrived at the altar, the groom offered her his hand which she took dignifiedly. Margrave Orderic retreated to sit down next to his sons. Shortly afterwards the high priest opened his mouth. He spoke with a powerful voice: Wynkin of Ealdon, do you swear to take Violant of Avallach as your legal wife, to love her, to support her, and to respect her till death does part you? If you do, so answer with yes. Yes, I do! Wynkin replied with vigor. His voice, almost impossibly deep following his voice change, boomed loudly through the temple, announcing his conviction for all to hear. The elderly high priest didnt dwell for long on the dukes answer and turned to the bride instead, speaking: Violant of Avallach, do you swear to take Wynkin of Ealdon as your legal husband, to love him, to support him, and to respect him till death does part you? If you do, so answer with yes. Yes, I do. Violant replied without hesitation. She had decided to accept this proposal and she would go through with it, come what may come. If at a later point of time she would regret her decision, that was something to deal with at that time, not now where the future was still open and at least would be different than what she had known it in her last lifetime. Hence, with the blessing of the gods, I declare you husband and wife. The husband may now kiss his wife to seal this bond in the face of the gods. the high priest closed the ceremony. The redhead felt her heart beating like crazy as Wynkin lifted her bridal veil. It wasnt her first kiss C well, in this lifetime it was since the only person she ever had kissed was Gervase which was nothing short of impossible this time around. Nonetheless she was bashful and excited like it was the first time, and in a certain sense it was. Although she didnt abhor her husband for being a berserk, deep inside her heart she wondered about a berserks kiss all the same. When the spouses finally kissed, the bride had to admit that her grooms passionate kiss was on a whole different level compared to everything she knew before. While left in a daze from this kiss, she nonetheless couldnt help but smirk slightly. She had chosen correctly in this lifetime. Compared to Wynkin, her admittedly unusual prince on a white horse, Gervase was nothing more than a lame duck with the heart of a venomous snake, the gorgeous tail of a peacock, and the grandiloquent ambitions of a lion. No matter what, a lame duck would always lose out, and whoever got charmed by its peacocks fan was a fool. Violant would never allow that to happen again. “You’re in for a big Surprise!” (5): A first Night full of honest Words Day had turned into night before the newlyweds were allowed a moment just for themselves. The wedding ceremony had been followed by an excessive celebration most likely rather coined for distracting the participants from the current dire times than congratulating the bridal pair C although there were congratulants enough, that is for sure. The celebration consisted mainly of a sumptuous banquet and a dance event. Wynkin and Violant had the first dance, of course, much to the latters dismay. If the formers feet were also dismayed by this turn of events, at least he neither did voice it nor show it on his face. Only late in the night the pair of newlyweds was allowed to retire for the night, their bridal chamber located in the capital residence of the ducal hose of Ealdon. Said mansion was well kept C either it was continuously maintained since the death of the last Duke Ealdon or it had been renovated it spotlessly as soon as Wynkins inauguration as duke was foreseeable. The building and its extensive gardens appeared quite like a smaller version of Whitehill Castle back in the duchy. Violant currently sat on the edge of what appeared to be a canopy bed in extra size, large enough to accommodate two Wynkins. Her face was flushed with bashfulness, for the only piece of clothing she was currently wearing was but a single nightgown. The style of the garment wasnt really revealing but the problem lay with its material instead, consisting of almost transparent silk. Of course, the nightgown wasnt Violants own but something that had been prepared for her. Woe to the one who instigated this, for the girl was sure to take revenge if she ever found out. Regarding her uncharacteristic bashfulness, so unlike the Valkyrie of the other march, it was quite likely that Violant still was influenced by her husbands indescribably passionate kiss she simply couldnt get out of her head. She believed that her heart didnt even beat as hard when in her past life she experienced her first night with Gervase whom she genuinely had loved at that time. Waiting for me? Wynkin asked when he entered, wearing an oversized nightgown that wasnt nearly as revealing as his wifes. The bulge of his muscles nonetheless was clearly outlined against the cloth. His handsome face flashed a seductive smile. The berserk prince really had grown up to be a ladies man, at least as far as his handsome face and his character was concerned. His berserk physique lead to him being avoided like the plague by the fairer sex though. Violant was one of few women not openly avoiding him. As for the rest, they were mostly part of or affiliated with his direct family. Yes or no I mean the girl stumbled. Relax. I wont do anything you dont want me to. Wynkin promised I believe we should use this chance to come clear with each other before we do anything else. I believe both of us have some important secrets we have kept from each other, but seeing as we henceforth will tackle the challenges of life together I believe it is important to be open and honest with each other. I agree. said Violant. It wasnt a bad idea to keep as few secrets as possible if they wanted to trust each other. Only her return to the past she would take to the grave as a secret nobody, not even the ones closest to her were allowed to know about. Lets take turns. the giant suggested as he sat down on the edge of the bet next to his wife but leaving her some space nonetheless. I will begin. I guess you already know about Dryp, seeing as I once carelessly told you about her. Dryp? the red-haired girl asked before exclaiming: Ah, yes! The fairy. The way how she shortly cocked her head in thought was indescribably seductive for her husband. The fairy indeed. Wynkin confirmed after calming himself down Dryp has been my steady secret companion since early childhood, accompanying me invisibly and rarely leaving my side. She owes me her life, to be honest. I guess I will introduce you to each other tomorrow morning. Dryp usually slept in the same room as I did, the earnest little thing, but she wont do so in future. She herself said that she wouldnt dare to intrude the marital bedchamber. Well, seeing as you already know about her this is no real secret anymore. Thus I will tell you another one. We are the same, for I also have the sight. This revelation came as a complete surprise for Violant. How so? she asked, appearing to be in disbelief. All previous bashfulness was gone while she earnestly engaged in their conversation.Stolen novel; please report. I dont know why but I do have it. Look! The berserk demonstrated his hazel eyes turning golden in color and then hazel again. Golden eyes! his wife exclaimed in amazement. Golden eyes were as rare as they were powerful after all and it was unheard of that someone with the sight was able to change his or her eye color by any but magical means. Apparently it was possible though. Yes, indeed. Wynkin affirmed Imagine how disturbing it was for me back in the day when I was watched by those two wild huntsmen and had to act as if I didnt know about their presence. Sorry for that. Violant apologized awkwardly. It doesnt matter anymore the duke replied Especially since it was only thanks to your plan that I am still alive. Well, enough about the past. Now is your turn. I believe there isnt much you dont yet know about me one way or the other. the young lady said and had decided to come clear about aspects of her return to the past by using a white lie. If there is one thing worth mentioning, then most likely it is the fact that I sometimes know about the future, albeit only one out of many possible futures. It was thanks to this that I knew about you becoming afflicted by berserk syndrome. Since, as I mentioned before, I can only see one possible future unchangingly, the divergences caused by me are altering our reality compared to the path the aforementioned future takes, thus leading to a decreasing success rate in determining the actual turn of events. There was no sign of the current war in that other future for example, perhaps since you were already dead. I believe I have this gift thanks to my father, not the margrave but my biological one whom I have met once this lifetime. I wont say much, for most of it is better hidden, but my father is a demon from hell with time itself at his disposal. If I should sometimes do incomprehensible acts, it might be because of this one other future I know of. Intriguing, really intriguing. the berserk commented Well, I believe its my turn again. Violant, I deem you worthy to know even the very last thing about me. Thus I will drop my act and allow you to see my true personality. The Wynkin you know of is only a fa?ade I created to ensure my safety in the snake pit that is the royal palace. There, the allies and those who wish you well are always scarce when compared to those who are plotting your demise even if you are a sickly child, which I undeniably was at some point of time. I dont believe to have ever spoken any untruth to you. Only, it surely never was the full truth all the same. Seeing the indescribably evil smile that formed on her husbands face, Violant shrank back. You dont have anything to fear from me, seeing that you are mine know. Wynkin told his wife with a reassuring tone of voice while keeping his vicious expression I do look out well for my people, including you of course. At first I was only interested in you as a pawn, to be honest, although you were always intriguing for me and you seem to have the talent of surrounding yourself with similarly intriguing people. At some point in time I became obsessed with you though, only without me realizing it at first. The further this obsession increased, the less I was willing to let you become the wife of another. Luckily, brother Edric soon met Myrtis who was turning his interest away from you. If he had continued being interested in you, I likely wouldnt have taken it well in the long run. Regarding Gervase, this venomous snake, you abhorred him as much as I do. And now you are mine, so no need to dwell on the past anymore. Say, are you afraid of me now? Well I am surprised, that is for sure. I never wouldve expected your true self to be like this. Violant answered after some thought At least you are honest with me and didnt continue to hide your true nature. I believe I can deal with this. Rather, you are much better than some other two-faced fellows who keep on smiling until you end up dead without ever suspecting them. This other type of person the young lady was talking about referred to Gervase, of course. Wynkin coming clean about his true nature rather increased her trust in him. She was somewhat appalled by this though. So it should be. the berserk nodded You are mine, after all. And similarly I am yours. There should be no secrets between us. As for me regaining your trust, I will work hard on it from now on. How about we continue familiarizing with each other with actions instead of words? Violant was left dumbfounded for a moment before blushing harder than ever before. It was the first time someone wooed her so aggressively. For her, whose only experience with marital bliss consisted of the rather impassionate acts of Gervase in her last life, this was something completely new. Only now she understood that her husband of her last lifetime never had loved her, seeing intercourse and other body contact in bed as nothing more but a necessary chore. Gervases true love likely had been someone else all this time. Had it been Felicity, who had always been Lady Salomes favorite, or had it been someone different altogether? It didnt matter anymore. Shyly, the girl declared her consent with a nod. Wynkin flashed another evil grin and said: Then I wont hold back anymore. before pouncing on her. It should become an unforgettable night for both of them. The End of the War (1): Battle Preparations It was now February in the 38th year of King Baldwins reign. During the recent winter the tide of war had turned much in favor for Yteland. One major aspect of this development was the desertion of most of the grand duchys otherworldly troops, the major part of which even openly changed side and fought for the Yteish whom they considered their benefactors. The cause of this was that Violant had interrogated surviving invaders from the other march just why they fought on the side of Grand Duke Svyatoslav the Great. The answer she got was appalling. Prior to the declaration of war, the troops of the grand duchy had systematically invaded their local other march without considering the losses on both sides. The first otherworldly settlements coming in contact with the human army were burnt to the ground without mercy, just to set an example for all denizens of the other march. The second step was securing family members of the othermarchers who were forcibly recruited for war, as a security so to speak. Most of those who then resigned to their bloody fate feared nonetheless that after the war ends the hostages would be discarded of, being either outright killed or sold to slavery instead, and were expecting to face the same fate themselves. They had no choice but to obey if they wanted their loved ones to live even one day longer. The hostages who were kin of deserters or even fallen fighters regularly got publicly executed, much to the delight of the human spectators and much to the horror of the otherworldly troops. Violant decided that this couldnt go on any longer and sought the help of her royal backer, Queen Berengaria, or rather the queens network of spies. Those spies infiltrated the grand duchy and set the hostages free, at the same time instigating a coup dtat using Svyatoslavs overly ambitious uncle Dobromysl as the figurehead. This had happened in December and the grand duke had to temporarily return to his country to quell the unrest and execute his traitorous uncle. He took about a third of his army back to do so. Only in January he had been able to return and continue his conquest of Yteland. By this time his remaining troops who had stayed in Yteland were significantly weakened though and most of the conquered territory was already in the hands of Yteland again. The freed hostages got transferred to Yteland to allow their immediate reunion with their relatives who were forced to fight in Yteland. They were allowed to settle down in the duchess of Ealdon, such as to not upset the original balance of the Yteish other march any further. An additional influx of refugees from the grand ducal other march fearing repercussions led to the otherworldly realm of the grand duchy remaining bare of almost any intelligent life while Ealdons unofficial name Little Avallach was changed to Second Avallach. This didnt happen without resistance from the human original inhabitants of Ealdon who were fearing for their income and livelihood, of course, but Violant and Wynkin managed to successfully deal with the situation without making light of the sorrows both sides had. Ealdon was bound to change much andalthough it surely would be hard, no one was going to be left behind without help. Regarding the Mrovian front, the changes were not as drastic. The rule of the Mrovian king was solidified and there was no possible bud of unrest to speak of. Mrovie didnt take any drastic measures to boost their war potential like the grand duchy had done, leaving them without any kind of obvious weak spot. Nonetheless, the chief commander Duke Mdard de Crtou had to swallow a series of losses. There was some strategist on the side of Yteland whose strategies were so ingenious and unpredictable that the Mrovian army suffered defeats without end. Said strategist was none other but the troll Arinnefja. Her introduction to the staff of command happened sometime after the siege of Avallach which had been when Wynkin had witnessed her talent as strategist unfolding. Her deployment to the command center didnt happen until after Violants marriage though. Arinnefja and her wolf Hrimnir had been among those following the newlywed girl to her new home, as were Huwcyn and Hraban, which came as no surprise. Hraban still served as connection to the wild hunt who still remained as the young duchesss vassals for time to come.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Violants three servants Abigail, Millicent, and Malford also followed her, leading to the latter two retiring from service in Avallach after centuries. For the first time in forever it was possible for denizens of the other march to work in Yteland anywhere other than Avallach thanks to Ealdons recent acceptance of their kind. The three had chosen their future place of employment out of free will, for their mistress had left the choice to them in case they didnt want to leave Avallach. The hoary healer Alarun also moved to Ealdon C much to the dismay of Doctor Wace and his assistant Ottiwell. The schrat had decided to preferably stay close to her dear friends Violant and Wynkin, in particular as the latter still was in further need of her medicine as both his puberty and berserk transformation were still not over yet. The ingredients of the remedy were not hard to procure after all, and she thought it wiser to be close to her patient. The most surprising addition to Violants retinue was her magic tutor Eibhlin, although the elf didnt have any more knowledge and techniques to teach her pupil. The reason the beauty gave was that Ealdon was a beautiful place and it would surely be interesting to live there now that it was changing rapidly. Her mount Cuillennain, who was still unchangingly in love with the elf, accompanied her, of course. Dwarven smith Hanarr remained in Avallach, both loyal to Orderic and unwilling to leave his beloved smithy. He told Violant that she would always be welcome to place orders with him though. Returning to the war with Mrovie, it was shortly after Arinnefjas arrival in Ealdon that Wynkin took her to the capital, recommending using her as strategist. There were many reservations against an othermarcher, whats more a troll in the center of command. The duke of Ealdon persuaded the sceptics to let Arinnefjas abilities speak for themselves in actual battle. This magnificently won battle was but the start for a series of continuous wins for Yteland. Soon nobody doubted the trolls skill any longer and accepted her as one of Ytelands best strategists. Her appearance didnt matter any longer. At least not much. Following their continuous losses, both Mrovie and the grand duchy had decided to unite the remnants of their troops and to risk a last big battle. The location was a large plain in South-Central Yteland that had remained free of snow for all of winter. Both sides had gathered their troops for what was commonly considered the battle of fate in this war. Its outcome would likely decide triumph and defeat for all participants. In the Yteish camp there stood an enormous commando tent big enough to make believe that King Baldwin himself was present. That wasnt the case though. The dimensions of this tent were chosen only so that Wynkin would be able to stand inside comfortably without the need to hunch down. In the last four months the duke of Ealdon had had yet another growth spurt so that he now towered two full heads above an average male. Violant, on contrast, nowadays covered her hair with the white veil of a married woman. Some naughty strand of fire-red hair still rebelled against being covered with cloth and peeked outside nonetheless. Both spouses were commanders-in-chief of the Yteish army in acknowledgement of their countless military contributions. The current silence fraught with tension was but the quiet before the storm. Both were aware of this. At the moment the couple still waited for reconnaissance. The scout they had sent out to spy on the enemy camp had yet to return. I am back. a tiny voice declared. After she had made certain that there were no prying eyes, the tiny fairy Dryp let go of her invisibility. And? How is the situation? Violant asked curiously. Both Mrovie and the grand duchy are hell-bent on winning this battle. the fairy replied But there is a considerable tension on both sides. The Mrovians accuse the grand ducal people of being responsible for their current less than favorable situation and vice versa. There are no troops from the other march to be found among them but that was to be expected. Regarding the troop sizes, I would say that we are about equal. Whats more, both the Mrovian and the grand ducal army seem to have lost the majority of their war mages. Therefore I believe our side to be at an advantage. Thats all thanks to Nefja. the red-haired girl commented Her strategies were meant to annihilate the enemys war mages in the first place. Not that any side ever had many of them to begin with. You being one of them, isnt it so? Wynkin nodded to show his consent before saying: I believe we should now sound the signal. We dont have much to lose, not with Arinnefjas newest inventions on our side. Lets get this over with and have some private time afterwards. Violant couldnt help but blush heavily when she heard about her husbands ulterior motive for winning this battle but agreed that this was a moment as good as any other to start it. It was time to end this war already. The End of the War (2): The final Battle A little later the two enemy armies openly faced each other on the plains. Both sides sent emissaries to inquire if this battle still could be avoided but everyone knew that doing so was not much more than a farce with some empty talk meant to uphold diplomatic decorum. The clash had already become unavoidable. Both Violant and Wynkin had already taken their respective positions. The girl was the commander of the cavalry C of course riding on Huwcyns back C while the berserk had command over the infantry and was going to fight afoot himself. There was simply no horse that wouldve been able to bear his weight alone. Both spouses wore excellent armor and had their typical weapons with them, namely the spear for Violant and the enormous broadsword for Wynkin. Huwcyn also wore armor. This set of horse armor had been created by dwarven smith Hanarr on Violants request. She didnt want to risk losing the ceffyl dwr on the battlefield like she had during the civil war in her last lifetime. The water horse didnt like the protective gear in the least though. Among those who were going to participate in this battle of fate, there were many of the ducal couples acquaintances and friends. Although none of the princes had come to fight alongside them, the royal knight order had come to be under the commanders-in-chiefs commando. During this time Hubert was nothing more than a normal knight participating in the cavalry unit formed by the royal knights although he still retained his title as captain of the knight order. Parcie too had joined the troops, the infantry to be exact, and was itching to start fighting soon. A good part of the defenders consisted of denizens from the other march, many of them thankful former fighters of the grand duchy joining the Yteish cause to show off their new loyalty. Additionally, the wild hunt participated near-complete, safe only for a few men Banadietrich had left back at Mt. Hackelberg to serve as sentries. The nachtj?ger had come personally to actively support his liege. Soon the farce the pre-battle negotiations had broken down and battle broke out. Infantry and cavalry stormed forward while receiving support from archers at their back. A volley of arrows went down on the enemy lines. The Yteish shooters responded to the greetings from the Mrovian and grand ducal archers not with a volley of arrows of their own but rather with loading a primitive kind of harquebus guns, one of Arinnefjas many inventions. They had climbed on some sort of wooden structure not unlike a hastily built castle walkway, allowing them to shoot over the heads of their compatriots to hit the helpless enemies. No armor was able to withstand the projectiles whose reach was even farther than would have been expected normally by use of black powder. The reason for that was the incorporation of artificially crystallized magic similar to a dragon stone. However the troll might have accomplished this sheer unbelievable feat, the implementation of those small magic crystals allowed for an additional boost of the projectiles, increasing their reach dramatically. In fact the shooters were able to take down the hostile archers like sitting ducks while remaining at a safe distance themselves. It only required a miniscule amount of magic to trigger this wide reach, and even better, the weapon consumed the necessary amount of magic from the atmosphere, allowing even people incapable of using magic to make use of it. Soon enough the hostile armies clashed directly. The plains turned into a sea of blood almost immediately. Some fault for that definitely lay with the redcap twins Dougald and Donnell who had come together with the wild hunt to join the fun C as they saw it. But that wasnt all. They had even recruited many of their own kind despite their usual solitary tendencies. The sight of dozens of redcaps slaughtering their enemies like pigs at the butchers and draining their blood while laughing eerily was sure to demoralize the enemies. The Yteish fighters got traumatized all the same but at least they thought with goosebumps how they could count themselves happy that the redcaps were their allies rather than their adversaries. The wild hunts way of fighting was hardly less gruesome than the redcaps. The ghostly or demonic huntsmen had the nasty habit of dealing with their opponents like they did with wild game and were collecting trophies all around. Parcie, too, fought like there was no tomorrow. Swinging his broadsword left and right, he felled enemies all around him. This was his last chance to find worthy opponents before peace would return again and he decided to make the most out of it. In that regard he eerily resembled his allies from the other march, although his reason wasnt bloodlust at all. It was just him being the musclehead he always had been. Wynkins style of fighting was strikingly similar to Parcies, mowing down enemies all over the place with his gigantic heavy broadsword that was sure to break and smash both the enemies armor and bones on contact like they were brittle twigs or tree bark. Although the swords edge was cutting sharp, as expected of a product from Hanarrs smithy, the major factor was still the inhuman strength the berserk put behind each swing of the unbelievably heavy weapon. The similarity in fighting style was of course caused by Wynkin being Parcies pupil in martial arts and thus adopting his teachers way of fighting as his own. All the more so, as Parcies fighting style was unbelievably well suited for a berserk. The duke of Ealdon nonetheless upgraded the fighting techniques he had learnt from his martial arts tutor though. Specifically he implemented the use of magic, mostly wind or fire magic, in each and every swing, thus creating a terrifyingly destructive swordsmanship that was only possible for someone being a sentient berserk with a unbelievably high magical aptitude.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Violant also made use of magic during her fight on horseback, albeit less directly than her husband did. Sometime after she had discovered how to shrink her spear Violant by chance had also found out how to elongate its shaft at will. This allowed her to skewer hostile riders in a distance where they believed to be safe because they were still out of the famed Valkyries reach, at least according to commonsense. At the same time this meant for the girl that there was no necessity for her to throw her spear at any time and to risk ending up without a weapon of her own in the middle of battle. The combination of never before seen fire weapons, otherworldly support, and genius fighters soon turned the tide of the battle heavily in favor of Yteland. Both the Mrovian and the grand ducal nobles and commanders tried to hold their line on the battlefield lest they would have to retreat in disgrace which, for nobles at least, was a worse fate than death in action. For some part, the widely spread fear that Yteland might use the momentum to conquer Mrovian or grand ducal territory also played a role but most of it really was but aristocratic pride. On the contrary, the infantry of the grand ducal army for the most part consisted of forcibly recruited peasants who didnt share the grand ambitions of the grand duke and rather longed for their homes where they could peacefully till their fields. Faced with a battle that appeared like hell on earth, it didnt take much for them to take to their heels and desert. Even if they had to await repercussions after returning to their homes and fields on their own initiative, it was still much better than dying a useless death, the more so as it also couldnt be in the nobilitys interest to leave the fields deserted. Of course there was a lot of cussing when the nobles from the grand duchy forming the cavalry became aware of the infantrys rash flight. The harsh militaristic policy introduced by Svyatoslav the Great during his reign finally showed its consequences. During the reign of Svyatoslavs predecessor, Grand Duke Skarbimir the Gentle, the commoners and peasants had had a comparatively easy life. After succeeding his suddenly deceased father whom he always thought of as weak, the warmongering Svyatoslav changed the state policy to its complete opposite, leading to the current situation. The discipline of the Mrovian army was much better, as it consisted mostly of nobles. King Amaury of Mrovie had promised the participating nobles territorial gains in the newly conquered lands corresponding to their respective contributions. Accordingly, the will to combat was much higher, as defeat meant that the promised rewards would go up in smoke. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. But if you ventured even your life on the battlefield and still gained nothing in return for it? That was anything but pleasant. Thus the Mrovians still gave their everything in this all-deciding battle even after their allies ended up in chaos. Halfway through it came to the showdown between Wynkin and Svyatoslav the Great. The grand duke had a truly majestic appearance. Wearing a polished armor, the hostile ruler appeared with an undoubtable grandeur. His blue eyes sparkled with ambition while his full reddish blond beard gave him a somewhat regal appearance, not unlike a majestic lion. The grand duke was on horseback, a black horse every bit as awe-inspiring as its rider. Contrarily, the duke of Ealdon was afoot. Or at least this was the initial situation. A rapid sword strike from the berserk suddenly closing in robbed the horse of its right foreleg and its head before it was even able to become aware of the imminent mortal danger. The rest was some kind of tragicomedy rather than a true fight. Svyatoslav who hadnt been aware himself of the berserk closing in with incredible running speed, suddenly found himself on the ground from one moment to the other. Seeing as one of his legs was stuck under the body of his felled horse, he desperately struggled to come free, allowing for a less than majestic but rather pitiful sight. During his struggle with his life- and headless steed, the grand duke unfortunately forgot to stay guarded against his surroundings and was in turn decapitated himself before he was even remotely able to know how and what had happened. The rest of the grand ducal turned tail as soon as they saw the head of their lord lifted up high to the sky on the tip of a spear Wynkin had taken from a fallen soldier nearby. They now knew that the battle was a lost cause and left their allies to fight for themselves. For now it was more important to return to the grand duchy as soon as possible since the succession was unresolved. With the violent deaths of both Dobromysl and Svyatoslav in the span of but a few months, the original grand ducal bloodline came to an end since both had no heirs of either gender. Therefore it was apparent that strife for succession would soon break out among the branch families of the grand ducal house. Those in question hurried especially to return and claim the position as Grand Duke they believed to be rightfully theirs. Roughly around the same time Duke Mdard de Crtou, a heroic looking knight with shot blond hair, met Violant on the battlefield and both fought on horseback. The ladys magic trick with her elongating spear brought her the win and cost her opponent his dominant arm in a careless moment. This outcome was not nearly as honorable and heroic as the Duke had hoped for. The Valkyrie of the other march was satisfied all the same, on one hand tired from the endless fighting, on the other hand bashfully recalling her husbands words about what he wanted to do after the battle was won. Witnessing their commander caught, the Mrovian fighters laid down their weapons and surrendered, thus giving up their ambitions that had already become but a lofty daydream. The Yteish troops then rounded up all remaining enemies and took them into captivity. Outbreaks of resistance were soon quelled by the redcaps in the bloody kind of way. Thus the battle of fate ended with a victory for Yteland. The knights and soldiers then were sent out to pursue the fugitive grand ducal military, lest the latter plunder villages for food on their way back home. What was going to happen with the captives was a question King Baldwin had to decide. The monarch didnt show any obvious interest in actively exploiting the situation to occupy enemy territory although he surely would demand territory as part of the compensation during peace negotiations. Peace negotiations here meant that the winner had the right to dictate whatever they wanted in the peace treaty but King Baldwin was a comparatively civil ruler whose claims surely wouldnt go overboard. As for Wynkin and Violant, they were celebrated as heroes of the fatherland and invited to the capital. The End of the War (3): The Reward Ceremony All of Kingsborough was festively decorated to celebrate the triumph of the heroes fighting in the recently won war against the invaders from Mrovie and the grand duchy. Pennants in fake royal purple adorned the buildings lining the route the victory parade would take. This parade got organized to honor all who risked their lives on the battlefield for Yteland, both the returning fighters and the fallen ones. Those who contributed to the Yteish win outside of the battlefield would be rewarded afterwards in the royal palace, as would those who had shown outstanding merit on the battlefield. Both Violant and Wynkin were part of the parade consisting of soldiers and knights both human and nonhuman as well as the chained war captives. The ducal pair of Ealdon was in the center of the parade and got the most attention from the cheering crowd. They walked side by side in their brightly polished armors to show off their marital harmony and closeness. Both came equipped like they had participated in the final battle, the berserk wearing his huge broadsword on his back and the red-haired girl with her spear in hand, riding on Huwcyns back. Thats something I could get used to. murmured Violant who enjoyed the cheers of the crowd even more than she had in her last lifetime during the victory parade celebrating the quelling of the great troll uprising. Youd better not. responded her husband with a serious expression You getting used to this would mean that Yteland is going to be caught up in wars for time to come. Although I must admit that standing at the focus of the peoples gratitude is doubtlessly addictive Id rather live in peace than making permanent use of this body the berserk syndrome has given me. Yes, youre right. the wife admitted Peace really is the best after all, and we still can spar to avoid our fighting skills getting rusty, cant we? Wynkin agreed with a short nod. Then they continued in silence like before, smiling and waving at the cheerful subjects of King Baldwin. The throne room had a similarly festive atmosphere, only that commoners couldnt enter it and the mood was mood was not as euphoric but had a certain solemn grace. Everybody who is anybody in Yteish nobility had appeared to witness the reward ceremony. The amount and specifics of the rewards King Balwin would give was still unknown for most, although Jocelyn in his position as chief minister likely already knew. When asked he kept silent though. The ceremony was of utmost interest for the aristocracy because whatever would happen here today would surely impact the balance of power at court and in high society. Violant and Wynkin joined the ranks of those who were going to be rewarded. The girl felt someones eyes on her and soon met with Gervases glowering gaze. The third prince had no achievements worth mentioning and thus stood at the sidelines, much to his dismay. His sour face was the best gratification Violant could wish for. Had the third prince known what the much lauded Valkyrie was thinking, he likely would have been even more boiling mad than he already was. Gervase wasnt the only prince without noteworthy contributions though. Both Humphrey and Fulk were the same but they had calmly accepted the outcome, already looking out for new opportunities to succeed the throne as they continued plotting for the future. By the way, Gervase was accompanied by Felicity who now was his official fiance since the Midwinter festival and who appeared to be happy enough. Violant didnt begrudge the current happiness of her rival from the prior lifetime. Gervases downfall would come sooner or later after all, and then Felicity would also get what she was due. The berserks wife would make sure of that. After the murmur had quieted down, King Baldwin stood up from his throne, cleared his throat, and then he spoke: Today we have gathered here to celebrate the meritorious deeds of all the brave souls who allowed our nation to emerge victorious from this war that was forced upon us. No matter if they contributed with the sword, the quill, or maybe even both, those whose actions were indispensable for laudable outcome today shall be rewarded appropriately. The rewards going to the bereaved of those who gave their lives for the just cause of Yteland are a matter that will be treated at a latter point of time but their sacrifice is not forgotten and their noble courage will forever remain in our hearts. Now We will award those fine men and women standing here according to their contributions. Nobody will be forgotten.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. After this short speech, the monarch started rewarding those who had contributed to the victory of Yteland. In doing so he was assisted both by his chief minister Jocelyn and his queen Berengaria. The awarding progressed according to the degree the individuals actions had contributed to Yteland winning the war. They started with those who had accomplished distinguished but still minor feats and slowly progressed from there on. The higher the contribution, the later the person was to be awarded and the more prominently they would stand out. Prince Edric got his reward somewhere halfway through the ceremony. His contributions consisted mainly of organizational and administrative work in the royal palace. He ensured that the populace didnt have to starve or freeze and he dealt with the problem of the refugees to avoid a humanitarian crisis. The representatives of the house of Avallach, Orderic and Mortimer, got awarded for their efforts dealing with the threat coming with the other march. Parcie got awarded for his fights on the battlefield instead, although his face clearly showed that he believed the fight itself to be already the best reward. Hubert of Wuldington got reconfirmed as captain of the royal knight order. Arinnefja too was among those standing before the king. It was the first time ever in the history of Yteland that a denizen of the other march got acknowledged for helping the humans in their time of crisis but it was no stretch to say that without the trolls genius in both inventions and strategy the outcome of this war likely would have been very different. Her reward was a budget for her workshop. The leaders of the kingdom were in agreement about the fact that this genius was worthy of lifelong sponsorship, regardless of her identity as a troll. Now, finally, Duke and Duchess Ealdon. King Baldwin spoke. Your Majesty. Violant and Wynkin replied, reverently kneeling down before the throne. The feats you two have accomplished leave Us speechless. the monarch declared Without you, Yteland likely would have had a much harder time. It is no stretch to say that it is for the most part your merit that Yteland is able to live in peace again. Thus I declare that a third of the new territories taken from Mrovie will be given to the house of Ealdon for eternity. At the same time the house of Ealdon will be recognized as the second authority in regard to the other march. The house of Avallach still remains as the sole feudal lord of the other march but the denizens of the other march staying in the human realm will be jointly supervised by the margraviate and the duchy. Furthermore, in appreciation of your meritorious deeds, the house of Ealdon will henceforth be awarded the title of Grand Duke with the corresponding style of Royal Highness. The reward the Ealdon couple was given left everyone present speechless. The current house of Ealdon would never again be like its predecessors. Although the official approval of Ealdons involvement regarding denizens of the other march was nothing more than a consolidation of its current state as a second Avallach, the generous gain in territory was a definite surprise. A third of the new Western territories definitely werent little, as a tenth of Mrovie had fallen to Yteland. It wasnt too much either, for the territory Yteland had taken from the grand duchy by exploiting the current succession conflict amounted to a third of the losing countrys territory. Needless to say that all newly won territory bordered Yteland directly and was going to be used as buffer zones against their hostile neighbors in the future. Unprecedented, however, was the rise of the ducal house to a grand ducal house, a title that didnt yet exist in Yteland. International practice regarded the grand dukedom as a rank second only to the king, ranking even above a common duke. The accompanying style of Royal Highness signified that the privileges a grand duke enjoyed were comparable with those of a royal prince. The rise of Ealdon to grand duchy signified a heavy shift in the balance between the princely factions, as the current duke openly supported Prince Edric as candidate for the position as crown prince. Following his rise to grand duke, his word now weighed even more. Both Violant and Wynkin didnt expect to be rewarded so generously but were happy nonetheless. Especially the girl, who expected the outbreak of civil war if the throne succession still remained unsolved at the time of King Baldwins death in the future, thought that it wasnt bad to have more influence and power allowing her to ensure the safety of everyone she cared about. Epilogue: The Future has changed, or has it? Time had further continued to pass and Violant had turned nineteen years old a few days ago. Now, in September, Yteland still continued struggling to establish their rule in the new territories. Especially the formerly Mrovian areas kept the new rulers busy, as patriotism for Mrovie was still rampart at least among the upper class of the new territories. The previously grand ducal territories were much easier to pacify, as the dominant sentiment there was not patriotism but longing for peace. The population was tired out from the late Grand Duke Svyatoslavs militaristic reign, especially as the warmonger always had been less popular than his father Skarbimir who still continued to be praised for his rule of peace and prosperity and whose popularity among the common folk was unabated. In fact, Yteland made use of those sentiments to show itself as Grand Duke Skarbimirs true successor, if not by blood then in his spirit. The situation in the remaining parts of the grand duchy remained chaotic, for the strife of succession was still ongoing. Mrovie was silently licking its wounds instead. It was obvious that both Violant and Wynkin were kept busy by the continuing unrest in the formerly Mrovian territories. The major part fell to Ealdon after all, and as such it was their obligation to deal with the situation. Today was one of the rare days when both spouses were present in Ealdon. At the moment the couple had breakfast in the dining hall of Whitehill Castle. Violant, are you fine? Wynkin inquired when he saw that his wife had a pale complexion. Im fine. Dont worry. replied the redhead Its only that our child is quite active today, kicking me again and again. While saying so she caressed her protruding stomach, the obvious sign that she was in her seventh month of pregnancy, and smiled gently, so unlike the tomboy she had been before becoming a mother. Her character, however, remained every bit as unfaltering as it ever had been, albeit not as obviously anymore. Oh If you say so the berserk made an expression showing that he was at a loss, a look that rarely could be seen on his face. If there was one thing that made the grand duke of Ealdon feel helpless, then it was pregnancy complications. He hated the thought of his beloved wife suffering. Luckily it had been only false alarm for now. But as he thought back to the heavy morning sickness Violant had suffered before, he felt his anxiety rise again. I really am fine, dear. No worries. the grand duchess appeased her husband. At the same time she couldnt help but smirk, for the sight of the worrywart berserk was just too cute. She really was taken with this vulnerable and sensitive side of the man who normally was as strong as an ox. In their first year of marriage the newlyweds had become much closer to each other. Wynkin had managed to win Violants heart, and although the grievances of her last lifetime didnt leave her heart, they became clearly less important to her. The expectant mother still continued her silent feud against Gervase but it wasnt the most important to her anymore, in particular as she was completely satisfied with her current life except, of course, for the continuing unrest in the new territories limiting the couples togetherness. Still, looking back, Violant wondered why she never had gotten pregnant in her last lifetime although her marriage with Gervase had lasted much longer than the not even full year she was now married to Wynkin. But if she was honest it didnt matter much. Sybil, too, was now pregnant. She was in her third month. Mortimer turned out to be even worse a worrywart than Wynkin but that was no wonder considering his wifes weak constitution. The future margravine suffered a whole lot from morning sickness, even worse than what Violant had to go through.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Parcie was still unwed and it was doubtful if he ever would find a wife. Hubert, on the contrary, was currently swamped with engagement offers from all over the kingdom. Countless noble houses sought the prestige of calling the captain of the royal knight order their son-in-law. Curiously he was previously rather avoided since the count of Wuldington lacked influence at court. As true as it might have been for Alphege of Wuldington, it wasnt true any longer for Hubert who nowadays was the most eligible bachelor in Yteland right after the royal princes. One of the more weighty recent news was that King Baldwin seriously considered choosing Prince Edric as his successor. The monarch had declared his intents about a week ago. The official investiture of Edric as crown prince had yet to be done though. Myrtis actively supported her husband in all his endeavors both scholarly and political, as he too supported his wife in her mainly scholarly undertakings. Both were still too tied up with throne succession and their respective scholarly interests to seriously consider producing an heir. All of a sudden the door to the dining hall flew open and the wild huntsman Rambold entered with an urgent expression on his face. Following the last war, Violant had stationed a wild huntsman as messenger both in the capital C Rambolds post C and in Avallach C Waldolfs post. It also had been Rambold informing them about King Baldwins decision regarding the throne succession. Had the ghostly messenger looked cheerful at that time, his current gloomy expression heralded bad news instead. Bad news, Ms. Violant! the ghost hollered The king is dead. He suddenly perished last night and it is said that it is the fault of the plague. Hearing the terrible news, the grand duchess and the grand duke bandied looks fraught with meaning. The pregnant woman couldnt help but chuckle. The plague? she said Ha! As if! Hasnt the plague medicine we spread long since nipped the epidemic in the bud? Who is going to believe such drivel? Soon after their marriage, Violant had remember that there was an outbreak of plague in the 38th year of King Baldwins reign during her last lifetime, taking the lives of Prince Edric (who had been a monk and no longer a royal), and Lady Salome among many others. She had used the excuse of her future precognition to inform Wynkin about this matter and they both had asked Alarun if she knew a good remedy. Of course the hoary schrat knew an appropriate medicine. Thus the grand duchy of Ealdon had taken on the task of producing the plague remedy in huge amounts and of spreading it through the kingdom as soon as the first signs of outbreak became known. Thus the epidemic that had cost many lives the last time around only claimed a few. As especially the royal family had been sufficiently provided the medicine, it was less than likely that King Baldwin died because of the plague, the more so as a death by plague was nothing too sudden and heralded by obvious symptoms. I agree. concurred Wynkin Father was silenced by someone who is against big brother Edric officially becoming the crown prince. His investiture as crown prince didnt happen yet, after all, and fathers intent is nothing more than a spoken word for now. True. the berserks wife nodded I am afraid the factions vying for the throne will soon cause a civil war. The factions of both Humphrey and Fulk will likely unite in future to contend against the superior factions of Edric and Gervase. Thats nothing to worry about, my dear. the grand duke declared Both my elder brothers Humphrey and Fulk lack influence while this venomous snake Gervase has lost a good part of his influence. Allow the war to happen if I really must. Brother Edric will remain victorious with or without it and succeed the throne for a better Yteland. I will make sure of that. As will I. responded the expectant mother. Then Violant and Wynkin smiled at each other. Come strife or war, they would protect those important and dear to their hearts and help creating a peaceful and prosperous future for their child to grow up in. For this, Edric becoming king was imperative. If they would have to spill blood for the greater good, so be it. With the participation of both the berserk grand duke and the Valkyrie of the other march, the coronation of Edric was but a question of time while it would be the beginning of the end for Gervase and his vicious schemes. A new history was in the making. Character list Protagonist and allies:
Violant of Avallach Protagonist and returner. In her previous lifetime the wife of Gervase who got used and betrayed by him.
Malford Violants loyal personal butler. Despite him appearing like a twelve years old boy, he is in fact a powerful elder vampire.
Millicent A silky. One of Violants personal maids.
Abigail One of Violants personal maids. A chatterbox.
Huwcyn A ceffyl dwr. Violants mount who she calls Huw.
Alarun A schrat. Violants peerless healer and wise friend.
Hraban A night-raven. Serves as the wild hunts envoy to Violant.
Arinnefja A troll. A genius inventor and strategist who played a major part in the great troll uprising in Violants past lifetime, albeit unwillingly. In this timeline she puts her talents into service for Violant. Called Nefja by Violant.
Hrimnir A white giant wolf. Arinnefjas mount and important family.
Eibhlin An elf. Violants magic tutor who originally unsuccessfully ran a magic shop business in Avallach town.
Cuilennain An each-sith. Eibhlins mount. Infatuated with her.
Banadietrich von Hackelberg The nachtj?ger, leader of the wild hunt. Violants loyal retainer.
Rambold A wild huntsman, sent to Violant as a henchman by Banadietrich.
Waldolf A headless wild huntsman, sent to Violant as a henchman by Banadietrich.
Margravial house of Avallach and retainers:
Orderic of Avallach Current margrave. Uncle and foster father of Violant.
Annota of Nussex Orderics late wife, mother of Parcie and Mortimer.
Evelyn of Avallach Orderics late sister, mother of Violant.
Parcie of Avallach Orderics older son. A musclehead. Prince Wynkins tutor in martial arts.
Mortimer of Avallach Orderics younger son. Rather scholarly, designated heir of the margraviate.
Hanarr Filason A dwarf. The margraves exclusive smith in Avallach. A grumpy but capable fellow.
Augustine The old librarian of Avallach Castle and one of Violants tutors. A scholar deeply interested in the other march.
Lady Alse Violants governess and her teacher for courtly standards and practices. Finds other employment after her students coming of age.
Lawrence The impeccable head butler of Avallach Castle.
Andrew Mortimers personal butler and also a capable coachman.
Doctor Wace The healer of Avallach Castle responsible for the sickbay.
Ottiwell Doctor Waces assistant.
Sir Thopas Knight commander of Avallachs garrison.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Cecily The daughter of Sir Thopas.
Edric-Wynkin faction:
Wynkin of Yteland 8th son of King Baldwin. A sickly boy contracting berserk syndrome. Rather two-faced, with a masklike childish personality and a hidden cold and cunning personality.
Dryp A fairy. Wynkins companion who knows of his true nature.
Edric of Yteland 2nd son of King Baldwin. A scholarly recluse interested in the kingdoms welfare.
Mafalda Lictorini of Giudena Concubine of King Baldwin and mother of Edric. Originally from the merchant republic of Giudena.
Berengaria of Ealdon Queen and main wife of King Baldwin. Mother of Mabel and Wynkin. Dotes on Wynkin.
Mabel of Yteland King Baldwins eldest child and only daughter. Married to the chief minister. Dotes on Wynkin.
Jocelyn of Sulia Chief minister and Mabels husband.
Sybil of Sulia Jocelyns sister. A somewhat sickly but modest and graceful woman. Deeply in love with Mortimer whom she later marries.
Adelaide of Sulia Current duchess and head of the family. Mother of Jocelyn and Sybil. Very protective of her daughter.
Petronella of Sulia Mabels and Jocelyns eldest child. Pet named Nelly.
Adelard of Sulia Mabels and Jocelyns second child. Jocenlyns future successor.
Gervase faction:
Gervase of Yteland 3rd son of King Baldwin. Aims for the throne. In his previous lifetime the husband of Violant who used her to become king but then discarded her
Salome of Serpantine Concubine of King Baldwin and mother of Gervase. A schemer without equal.
Marquis Serpantine Salomes father and Gervases grandfather.
Felicity of Marchester From a marquis house. In Violants previous life Gervases concubine and later Queen.
Tancred of Marchester Felicitys younger brother. Shamed Violant after her downfall in her previous life.
Marquis Marchester Father of three children: Felicity, Tancred, and their elder brother.
Royal family:
Baldwin of Yteland King of Yteland and father of the eight princes.
Rowland of Yteland 1st son of King Baldwin. Fell on the battlefield two years prior to the beginning of the story.
Rosamund of Doocaster Late concubine of King Baldwin and mother of Rowland. Cousin of Adelaide of Sulia. Friends with both Queen Berengaria and Duchess Adelaide.
Hal of Yteland 4th son of King Baldwin. The kingdoms best jousting knight. Jarms twin. Aims for the throne.
Jarm of Yteland 5th son of King Baldwin. Hals twin. Captain of the royal knight order. Aims for the throne.
Humphrey of Yteland 6th son of King Baldwin. Aims for the throne.
Janet of Linkan Concubine of King Baldwin and mother of Humphrey. Twin sister of Ethel and aunt of Fulk. A wallflower.
Fulk of Yteland 7th son of King Baldwin. Aims for the throne.
Ethel of Linkan Concubine of King Baldwin and mother of Fulk. Twin sister of Janet and aunt of Humphrey. A wallflower.
Nobles:
Euphemia of Nussex Violants obnoxious cousin from her late aunts side of the family. Sees Violant unilaterally as a rival in vying for Mortimers affection but fails to realize that she is completely disliked by him.
Barnabas of Nussex Orderics brother-in-law and Euphemias father. A marquis.
Georgina of Herinald Euphemias mother and Barnabass wife, daughter of court nobles from the capital.
Alphege of Wuldington An old friend of Orderic. A count. Often requests help in dealing with supernatural events. Called Uncle Ally by Violant.
Mildred of Oakbury Count Alpheges wife. A charitable person. Called Aunt Milly by Violant.
Hubert of Wuldington Count Alpheges only son and designated heir. Taciturn vice-captain of the royal knight order.
Count Linkan Grandfather of the princes Humphrey and Fulk.
Others from Yteland and the other march:
Ipos Demon, infernal earl and prince. Violants biological father. Helped her to return to the past.
Mansie A hideous warlock and the culprit behind the great troll uprising in Violants previous lifetime.
Dougald A vicious and belligerent redcap. Twin of Donnell and friend of Arinnefja.
Donnell A vicious and belligerent redcap. Twin of Dougald and friend of Arinnefja.
Heardred The kingdoms mythical founder king, a berserk who was able to keep his sanity. A friend of Alarun.
?scwine of Avallach The founder of the margravial house, best known for slaying a cockatrice.
Mrovie:
Mdard de Crtou Duke and a dreaded warrior. Chief commander of the Mrovian army.
Amaury de Mrovie King of Mrovie.
The Grand Duchy:
Svyatoslav the Great The grand duke and chief commander of the grand duchys army. A dreaded warrior.
Dobromysl Svyatoslavs ambitious uncle, leader of the quelled coup dtat who got executed for his participation.
Skarbimir the Gentle The previous grand duke and Svyatoslavs late father. A peace-loving ruler.
Giudena
Dottorena Lictorini Head merchant of Giudena, Mafaldas younger sister.
Martuccio Lictorini Once head merchant of the merchant republic Guidena. Mafaldas and Dottorenas father.
Lionetto Secretary of the merchant council of Giudena.
The Empire:
Myrtis Porphyrina Edrics fiance. The niece of the empires current emperor. Originally the empires leading female scholar, later continuing her research in Yteland.
Artostre A panotian. Myrtiss old and trusty nurse.
Stylianos Porphyrios The late emperor and Myrtiss father.
Gennadios Porphyrios Current emperor and Myrtiss uncle. Younger brother of Stylianos.
Euphrasios A bishop from the empire. Myrtiss mentor and kind of a father figure for her.