“Is… Is this safe?” I asked.

 

“It’s held for half a millennium at the least.” Auro beamed. “Isn’t it pretty?”

 

I snorted as another gust of wind blew over the dark ramparts in the new night. To me, calling the castle ‘pretty’ seemed like it was an understatement in the extreme, for Castle Fenward was beautiful.

 

Including the one we had just left, twelve high stacks of stone rose up from the cliffs like sturdy trees, each one carrying upon it a great tower of hexagonal stone stalwart against the winds. Narrow bridges much like the one we stood upon now crossed the open air between each pillar, each looking to me to be far too precipitous to be standing on even without the hearty wind. I could see no obvious entrance leading down from the towers, but more than a few aeries, roosts, and balconies jutted out like so many thorns from each tower. The roofs were short and square, their blue shingles standing out among the whitewood covered mountain it sat upon. Unlike the capital, Minua sat low upon the mountain, and I could nary see even one of the moons over the surrounding peaks of Celrion’s Grasp.

 

It was obvious as well which tower the duke himself resided in, as the widest stone stack in the centre of the cluster held upon it a keep of fantastic proportion. It was some metres taller than the rest, its own crested turrets holding upon them raised hanging gardens filled with red flowers and glowing arcane symbols. Though the underlying buildings were practical and squarish, where those buildings went seemed to me like it had been designed as a dare. Countless branching pillars and extended walkways leaned treacherously over open air in ways that almost seemed to defy gravity, but only if the buttresses burrowing down to solid ground were ignored. A particularly long walkway stretched from the centremost tower to the mountain proper, but even that one had arches of stone to support it. All around the towers I could see clouds of mist erupt from the miniature aqueducts that flowed over the keep and over the stack below. The gentle clouds that drifted over the air felt like goosebumps on my skin, and the soothing calls of twinkling water sounded to me like I was in an indoor waterpark.

 

The most impressive part, however, was not the water and gardens, but the light.

 

Lanterns and beacons of brilliant white gleamed in the twilight, each window and bridge marked by the gemstone lights painstakingly crafted by the local church chapter. The keep shone like a thousand stars pierced its side, each more radiant than the last. Carefully crafted overhangs and mathematically perfect angles only served to amplify the glow as directed it through careful avenues to light up the roofs like floodlights. Tasteful shadows and shaded arches were fastened to the walls to draw the eye, and I couldn’t help but appreciate the mosaic they created against the sky.

 

If there was one thing the Veroline did right, it was construction. 

 

“It's as I’ve said.” Auro turned and crossed her arms, looking mightily proud. “There is no place more dazzling than Minua! No place more beautiful!”

 

“Where was this confidence last week?” Breale murmured.

 

“It’s magnificent, but I still prefer Cice. It’s more humble.” Fredrick gestured vaguely at the castle ahead. Behind it, the second star twinkled. 

 

“Only because it has to be.” Auro said smugly.

 

“How does it even stay up?” I asked. “There’s no way this is balanced!”

 

Though I hadn’t gone through any engineering courses in my undergraduate math degree, I knew an unstable building when I saw one. With how tall and narrow those stone stacks where there was no way I’d believe this keep had stayed up so long as half a thousand years.

 

“That’s a secret, of course.” Auro nodded to herself. “Yep, deeply magical too.”

 

“So you have no idea.”

 

“I...I never said that!”

 

A trace of the more familiar Auro briefly bubbled to the surface as she floundered, and I walked forward to clap an arm around her shoulder.

 

“It doesn’t really matter, I suppose.” I said, pulling Auro and by extension the Mavericks along the bridge. “As long as no one’s dead and it's pretty.”

 

Ah, so that’s the thought process you’ve been operating under. That explains a lot actually.

 

I ignored the drake, of course.

 

We admired the castle as we walked, watching the artificial waterfalls ahead. That by itself brought a dozen questions to mind, but I suppressed them. After all, did it really matter how they managed to magick or pump hundreds of galleons up these towers just to throw it down again? Furthermore, what was the point? Was it purely an aesthetic decision? The whole keep seemed impractical, though perhaps that was earned by how impossible it would be to assault the stone stacks.

 

“Where’s the rest of the city, anyway?” I asked after we’d made it halfway down. “Surely these towers aren't all of it?”

 

The towers were big and all, but nowhere near as big as how big I’d been led to believe Minua was. It was a ducal capital, after all, so shouldn’t it be bustling with thousands of people? These towers only looked to have enough space for one or two thousand beds, which was hardly what I’d count as a city.

 

“Hmm?” Auro tilted her head away from me. “We’re above it. Didn’t you see it when you came in?”

 

I thought back to my arrival, but only red memories of pain came back.

 

“I was a little preoccupied.” I admitted. “But did you say above?”

 

“Then you haven’t seen it yet?” Auro smiled. “That’s perfect! It looks even better from above!”

 

“Wait, woah!”

 

She suddenly jerked towards the edge of the bridge, and my body came hurtling after her as if she’d pulled on twine. My heart lurched into my throat as I slammed against the railing and my head went over.

 

“Sto…Dear God.”

 

All fear left me as quickly as it had come, replaced with a burning awe.

 

One hundred metres below us, the city of Minua sprawled like a diamond. It was built around the stone stacks in raised concentric rings, each ring merging haphazardly with the others to form hills of white light and stone streets. Networks of roads and back alleys cut through plazas and public gardens like countless arteries, turning and twisting without rhyme or reason. Each space was equally aglow with white, the hilltops and lowlands alike. Despite the dark hour, I could see thousands scurrying along the many roads to buy, drink, and talk.

 

What a grand locale! What a wonderous sight! I was almost glad we’d been forced to come along now, for this view alone was worth even half of year of staying in Elys.

 

The Neverending City. Gideon remarked from my head. It’s said that Minua’s markets are never quiet, nor do her coffers empty.

 

“Why is it so much brighter than the capital?” I asked in awe, my eyes drawn from street to street. 

 

“The priests from Celrion’s Peak make special white lanterns that never dim.” Auro said, obviously enjoying my reaction. “My father has made their installation very cheap indeed.”

 

Good lord, it was almost like Time’s Square down there, busy no matter the time and packed with light. I couldn’t even imagine the hundreds of stories that could be told in a backdrop such as this.

 

“Must be horrible trying to sleep here.” Fredrick muttered.

 

“Better tired than bored, Father liked to say.” Auro said.

 

“Speaking of your father, don’t we have a meeting to make?” Breale prodded.

 

Auro suddenly paled.

 

“Ah, you’re right!” I felt myself being ripped away again as Auro began dragging me down the bridge in her haste. “Come on! Father doesn’t like to be kept waiting!”

…

“Saphry, just how much experience do you have meeting with upper nobility?”

 

Now inside Castle Fenward, we had stopped just a while away from an small and assuming set of wooden doors that supposedly led to the Duke’s throne room. Two guards with masks in the shape of a four pointed star and armed with spears stood by its side and offered the occasional glance towards us. Simple silver trimmings decorated the walls, and though the hallway was narrow the roof above arched up an additional metre above the walls, each length of protruding stone carrying a small white lamp on a chain underneath it. 

 

Auro had already gone inside to greet her father, so some amount of preparation was presumably going on behind the door. It really didn’t make sense to me that they’d gone to such lengths though. I’d only woken up an hour ago, and it was already night. Could this not have waited until morning?

 

“Depends if Andril counts.” I frowned. “Actually, can Andril count as two?”

 

He was a dick, after all.

 

Fredrick clicked his tongue. 

 

“Not really. Let me do all the talking then.”

 

“What? Why? Don’t I outrank you?”

 

‘Princess of Summark’ was a higher rank than ‘Son of Count in Summark’ by any way you cut it, so why shouldn’t I be the focus? I mean, I didn’t particularly want to be at the centre of a duke’s attention, especially not when the diplomacy part might turn out to be important, but I figured I at least had the duty to complain about it.

 

“He wouldn’t take a girl seriously, of course.” He said matter-of-factly. “So it’s better if you keep quiet and out of the way, I’m afraid.”

 

I stared at the swordsman, and then turned to his sister to find her nodding as well.

 

“...That’s a joke, right?” I raised an eyebrow. “Because it isn’t a very good one.”

 

‘Wouldn’t take a girl seriously’? What kinda first class bullshit was that? I’ve heard of women on the God damn senate! [Jesus], if he wanted to stop me from saying anything stupid he might as well say it, not make up some ridiculous lie.

 

“He’s not, unfortunately.” Breale closed her eyes and sighed. “It’s pretty horrible out of Summark. Pitching hells, it’s not even that great in Summark. Especially in the southern Arguin.”

 

“Language.” Fredrick warned.

 

“The nobles back at the gala met me just fine, though.” I said, more than a little flabbergasted. “Nor did anyone at the church say anything untoward.”

 

Hans, Marcolo, the Mavericks, the archmage Caldor, and yes, even Andril all seemed to listen to me well enough. Even Lord Balder and Andril’s brothers had talked to me. Even if the latter had been a little too teasing.

 

“Those were special occasions. Dances, rituals, emergencies.” Fredrick gestured to the throne room door. “Completely different from meeting a duke in his own court.”

 

“Hans-”

 

“Hans is probably the queerest noble I have ever met.” Fredrick interrupted. “You cannot base anything off of his opinions and mannerisms. And even he is hardly nobility anymore.”

 

“It is pretty bad.” Breale pat me on the back. “Sometimes when I visit family in Ostip they’ll talk to my body guards before me.”

 

“What the hell.”

 

“Language.”

 

We both turned to glare at him simultaneously.

 

“[Fuck] off.” I snapped.

 

“Pitch it.” Breale said at the same time.

 

Fredrick raised his hands in front of him as he stepped back, just in time for the throne room doors to begin to open.

…

“As patron of the great duchy of Minua, I must welcome you.” Duke Belvan spread his hands wide in greeting. “You are welcome to sup of my halls as long as you see fit, as thanks for your grim tidings from the capital. Friends from Summark are always lauded in these halls”

 

Me, Gideon, and the Mavericks all stood in a line in front of the small wooden throne where Lord Belvan sat. Auro stood far to my left side next to two other almost identical siblings, while a cadre of eight young men watched from the Duke’s right, supposedly Auro’s many brothers. It was hard to make out much difference between them, especially as they all dressed in the same colours, with the only substantial difference being how they styled their hair and minor changes in height. As well, Andril stood among the small gathering, standing beside a pretty girl with straight black hair that I’d never met.

 

The room itself was a simple one, not at all how I had imagined the seat of the large Minuan duchy would be, especially not after laying eyes on Minua itself. It was only half the size of a typical gymnasium, with a low wooden roof that gave it a homely feel. The left side of the room was dominated by a long table stacked with small cut cubes of various colours and fitted with a strangely realistic topographical map of Verol. It was clear that it was a wargaming or planning table, though the most interesting part to me by far was the clouds and storm that floated just above the table’s surface that seemed to drop whitish flakes onto it. On the right side of the room, huge curtains were drawn over huge bay windows that I could almost guarantee overlooked the city when uncovered. It was a humble place, completely at odds with the surrounding castle.

 

The Duke himself looked to be a jovial man to me, sporting a white beard that I was sure could rival Saint Nick’s. He was old, though his years didn’t seem to match his gestures and movement, and he seemed to have the build of a warrior about him. A simple crown of silver leaves sat upon his short brown hair, and he wore a cloak of bright white and red with a brilliant silver clasp over his shoulders. He was a thin fellow, and shorter than Andril, but the worn sword buckled at his waist still spoke of unseen experience.

 

“We are most appreciative, my lord.” Frederick bowed, and Breale and I followed with a curtsey.

 

“It is not an easy task to forge through the western valleys under chase.” The Duke nodded approvingly. “Even less so with two maidens in the midst of a winter storm”

 

My eye twitched.

 

“Not quite defenceless, actually.” Frederick said calmly, probably knowing our reaction without even looking behind him. “My sister is trained in the stylings of Cice, and we had the Paladin Hans Norval with us for the first half. Even Princess Astrian can be resourceful in unexpected ways. If it were not for the Knight at the pass, we would’ve arrived with only a want for good food and warm beds.”

 

Resourceful? You know what: I’d take that. It was better than useless, and Fredrick wasn’t obligated to defend us like this.

 

Also, I wasn’t sure I’d ever heard Han’s last name before. Norval? I had to wonder why I’d never heard him go by ‘Father Norval’ before. It certainly sounded more professional than ‘Father Hans’.

 

“Ah, of course. My daughter Auro arrived in much the same way, though I suspect her and Prince Andril faced more difficulties than they let on.”

 

He glanced knowingly at the prince, who lightly bowed in response. From the corner of my eye I saw one of Auro’s sisters poke her side.

 

You know, I hadn’t realised that Auro had so many siblings. Coming from a guy who grew up a single child, I couldn’t imagine that being anything other than hell itself. Did she have to remember all of their birthdays? That sounded like a pain.

 

“But, alas, there is not much time for me to pick apart the true happenings.” Duke Belvan’s expression hardened. “As you five have brought some small trouble with you as well.”

 

I couldn’t help but snort a little at such an understatement, and Fredrick shot me a look of pure death before he returned to the duke.

 

“I understand Andril’s request to stay must’ve come as a surprise-” He began.

 

“You misunderstand, actually. Andril will always hold a place front and centre in my court, even more so when his cause is just. I’ve already said as much to my people.” He nodded towards the prince, who bowed again. “No, it is more the company of men-at-arms that trailed in last night that worry me.”

 

Fredrick looked surprised at the Duke’s quick affirmation of support, and I couldn’t blame him. When it had been suggested for Andril to go to Minua, I, and probably the others too, had imagined that the Duke would simply hide the prince until the whole thing blew over. But what Duke Belvan had just said was paramount to treason against the senate and king. By harbouring him publicly, there was no veiled lie about what was happening.

 

“You…You’ve addressed the city about this?” Fredrick didn’t even acknowledge the second part, which admittedly was old news for us. “You do realise that-”

 

“I know perfectly well what I do, Master Maverick.” Duke Belvan interrupted. “But I am well within my rights to reject a command made against the Star’s wishes. Especially when it comes from that damnable senate. No, Andril has agreed to work here as my personal assistant while we probe the other duchies. It is more than just I who will rally behind him.”

 

All three of us stared at him, dumbfounded.

 

He was planning a bloody civil war! What else could you pull out of that speech? And he wasn’t even being discreet about it, either. It was a wonder Verol hadn’t dissolved sooner with nobles like this at its head.

 

“What about King Esiland?” Fredrick asked. “And Prince Enven? Would you stand against them?”

 

“I wish no ill upon King Esiland. I’ve fought too many times by his side and witnessed the good intentions behind his laws for too long. I could not betray such a king.” He said. 

 

“But if he stands behind the senate…” Fredrick said.

 

“Then it is through coercion.” Duke Belvan leaned back onto his chair. “And I will fight to free him from the shackles he accidently created. It is a disease I’d hope you know very well.”

 

Ah, so he would betray the king, he would just gaslight everyone as he did it. This was reason number one why I hated politics.

 

Or was he just being honorable? After second thought, the senate probably did seem pretty corrupt from Andril’s descriptions. It was hard to tell where Lord Belvan’s true intentions came from.

 

“Ah, very well, I apologise then.” Fredrick finally overcame his shock and stood up straight again. “And what about this company at your gates then? Do you mean to push them out with force?”

 

“Of course not. It’s much too early to be escalating now, not when we ‘stand between peaks’ as we do.” Duke Belvan shook his head. “No, Lady Allarv has already suggested a plan to turn them away without bloodshed. If you want, I shall have my son Halven bring you up to speed after this.”

 

Fredrick nodded. 

 

“I would like that very much. Thank you, Lord Belvan.”

 

I, however, was still transfixed on the other thing the Duke had said.

 

Lady Allarv? How come the Duke would listen to that ‘fair maiden’ and not us? Had Fredrick and Breale just misjudged? Was it the feather on my head? Because that wasn’t my fault!

 

“Then it will happen. Now, I suggest we move to more practical matters soon. As Lord Maverick’s heir, you can speak for him and Cice, is that right?”

 

Fredrick glanced towards Breale, who looked equally alarmed.

 

“I can not promise anything on his behalf for I have not seen the walls of Cice in many months now. I can, however, update him on the importance of recent events.”

 

Lord Belvan laughed.

 

“A diplomatic response indeed! You really are the son of that old golger.”

 

“I try my best, my lord.” Fredrick said.

 

“Golger…?” Breale muttered.

 

I glanced at Gideon, who translated.

 

Small quadpedal mammal, looks like a grey mouse the size of a dog. Round. Basically a badger in temperament. Sometimes just called ‘gols’.

 

Having a scaled encyclopaedia was always useful, wasn’t it?

 

“Then we shall talk some more.” He affixed his gaze on Breale and myself, and I felt a shiver go down my spine. “I thank you for accompanying him and helping as you have. And fear not, Miss Astrian, for I have already sent a courier to Andorlin with news of your safety. Summark will not suffer for ignorance of the senate’s attempt.”

 

He gestured towards Auro and her sisters

 

“Auro? Could you lead your friends back to their rooms? You three must have a good night’s rest if you are to make the trip up to Kelriome Rock tomorrow.”

 

The academy. Gideon said before I could ask.

 

As Auro nodded and began to lead us out of the room, I could only grow more confused. Why was he only kicking us out and not Fredrick? Shouldn’t he also try to treat with all of Summark for aid and not just a small barony of it? Actually, why did he seem to know Cice so well anyway?

 

I stopped and turned back to the duke.

 

“Would you not care for Summark to hear of these developments? Surely we can help more than Cice by itself could.”

 

There was a silence in the throne room as everyone went still. 

 

Most of them stared at me as I’d asked something outlandish, as if they hadn’t even thought of something like this. Fredrick and Andril were the worst, with both of the nobles giving me looks that clearly told me I’d stepped over some invisible line.

 

“Pardon?” The duke raised an eyebrow. 

 

Ehh, what did I do? Was I just inviting myself somewhere or something? Did I imply something weird? [Christ], these people were scaring the crap out of me.

 

Well, I was already this far.

 

“I, eh, just thought that you might like the Markee’s family to be present during such a hard, eh, difficult time.”

 

Out of the corner of my eye I felt Auro and Fredrick cringe. Andril seemed to be very deliberately shaking his head.

 

“I.. appreciate the offer.” The duke said slowly. “But I feel you do not understand the insult you lay upon me.”

 

“I’m sorry, I-I meant no harm.” I stumbled over my words as I realised how much diplomatic damage I had the potential to do, if not why it was being done. “I will be leaving then.”

 

“That would be best.”

 

My face red with embarrassment, I walked out the door behind the other two.