Noah walked briskly through the winding corridors and Lorelei had to almost run to catch up to him. Looking over his shoulder, he saw her panting and slowed down his steps without a word. On her side, Lorelei was confused, ashamed, relieved, and excited; strange how all these emotions could coexist together at the same time, but it was an undeniable fact, supported by the constant palpitations of her heart. Somehow, after their talk last night, Noah seemed different – calmer, more accommodating, and open. Or maybe it was her that had changed? She threw a side glance at him only to realize that he too was studying her intently. This made her blush.

“Is there something wrong with my appearance, my lord? Are my clothes too fancy?”

“On the contrary, my duchess. The color and cut of the dress fit you perfectly,” he replied without batting an eyelid. “It would be hard to find a better match.”

Lorelei had never thought that her cheeks can get any hotter but she was proven wrong. She lowered her head.

“Did my words offend you?” asked Noah in a low voice.

“No, my lord,” she hurriedly replied, afraid that he might misunderstand. “It’s just that I am not used to receiving compliments. Besides, it is all thanks to the magnificent craftsmen from Yalda who did such incredible work. Even without additional fittings, all of my garments are a perfect match. It’s almost like some sort of magic.”

“I wouldn’t go so far as to say that…”

For some reason, Noah sounded flustered all of a sudden. This didn’t escape Lorelei’s ears. She carefully perked her head and saw her husband looking away, avoiding her gaze. There was definitely some story behind this and, right now, she was not in the mood to just let it slide.

“In spirit with what you promised me last night, my lord, would you mind revealing the secret of my garments?”

At her question, Noah noticeably flinched but quickly proceeded to nod. A sigh escaped his lips while he still avoided looking straight at Lorelei.

“There is no magic involved here. I sent instructions to the cloth-maker guild as we departed from Sefis about the garment size…” he paused.

“You have quite the sharp eye then, my lord. But still, I have a feeling that there is more.”

“Ahem, well,” Noah scratched his head in an act of shyness so untypical for him, “I might have mentioned in the message to measure the clothes on the scrawniest maid in the castle and then make them a size smaller…”

As the sentence trailed off, Lorelei could swear that the tips of Noah’s ears reddened despite his dark complexion. She stopped in her tracks, blinking at him like a newly-hatched chick, and didn’t know whether to be angry or to laugh. ‘If you don’t know what to say, it is better to remain silent,’ master Levi’s teachings popped up in her head. ‘Or, depending on the situation, give them a good cursing. Either way, it is a show of character.’

Lorelei bit her tongue and, without uttering a word, marched forward, eyes peeled straight ahead. Her heart drummed in her chest as an unpleasant thought nestled itself in her mind – ‘Is my look that unsightly?’ She could hear Noah’s steps close behind her, but her husband made no attempts of closing the distance or restarting the conversation. Lorelei liked it like that, otherwise, her mouth could have put her head in danger of rolling. ‘Merhek! Not everyone can have the body of an ancient god!’

The equally flustered silent duo took a turn in the inner courtyard gallery and closed on the knights’ quarters. The main castle building, the Grand Hall with the guest rooms, the squire dormitory, and the knight’s quarters formed a big rectangle, enclosing Ildemar’s main inner courtyard. The half-opened gallery crawled at the base of the square, giving the people walking through a nice view of the big open space that was used for various tasks during the year – from preparing game to celebrating festive events, to training the knights and guards in formation tactics. Trees, shrubs, and patches of flowers were planted alongside the gallery, half-hiding the people walking inside from curious gazes. The sun shining through their foliage bathed the gallery in fresh green light.

As they approached their target, the tranquil environment was disrupted by murmur and loud screams. Lorelei saw a group of binshi and some of the castle guards gathered before one of the doors with worried but hesitant expressions. From inside the room, a loud male voice boomed almost unobstructed.

“May the Mother Above take my soul right now and feed it to the Star-hounds! You stubborn woman, don’t force me to shove it down your throat by force!”

A cold shower ran down Lorelei’s spine as she recognized the cursing voice, usually so tranquil and gentle. Beside her, Noah’s brows drew together. He stepped forward, elbowing his way through the crowd.

“Disperse!” His cold tone startled all onlookers and made them jump up as if he had shouted. “There is nothing to see here. And not a word about it. Am I clear?”

“Yes, my lord,” mumbled the retainers in a disharmonious choir and started to leave but many of them were obviously dragging their feet.

Before Noah could reprimand them again, a loud crash came from inside the room, followed by another stream of cursing. Torn between the instinct to run in and help her friend and the sudden fear that engulfed her and paralyzed her limbs, Lorelei was a second too late. Noah jumped forward, tearing the door open and the two stormed in. What greeted them, however, was not what they expected.

In the sunny neatly furnished room, two people stood at the end of a large table. Saya sat on a chair with a straight back and trembling hands, but there was a determined expression plastered on her thin and tired face. Gregor towered over her, his face and clothes – wet with some greenish liquid and pieces of meat and vegetables tangled in his hair. In his feet lay the broken pieces of a bowl and some utensils.

At the sound of the crashing door, the knight jumped around, his expression changing rapidly from anger to confusion and shame.

“N-Noah? What are you…”

“Move away,” barked his lord, pointing at the far end of the table.

Driven by years of habit and training, the young man complied without a word.

“Sit.” The next order came and was fulfilled just as quickly. “Explain the situation!”

“It’s nothing you need to concern yourself with,” said Gregor, all the while keeping his gaze firmly on the table before him.

“Your “nothing” is causing quite the ruckus in my castle.” Noah was unyielding. “Speak.”

“We just had a quarrel. That’s all.”

“Just a quarrel?” Noah snorted and there was an evil glint in his eyes. “One after the other… All of you have been behaving like rabid dogs lately.”

With a single stride, he closed the distance between them, grabbing his friend by the shirt.

“I swear in all Gods and Saints, if you don’t start singing right this instant, I will put you on my knee and spank you as I used to when you were still a snotty brat!”

While Noah was threatening the binshi, Lorelei tried to get closer to Saya and comfort her. The moment she approached, however, her friend shrank in the chair, arms clasping around her body. This reaction confused Lorelei and made her stop. From her spot, she had a better look at the young woman. Saya’s previously fresh chubby cheeks had now thinned; her skin had an unhealthy pale color and big dark rings circled her reddened eyes. Just what had happened in the past week?

As if to answer her unspoken question, Gregor's voice reached her ears.

“What was I supposed to do?” he squeezed through his teeth. “Let that stubborn woman starve herself to death? She has not eaten a thing except for a slice of bread!”

“Then why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Noah crossed his arms on his chest.

“And what could you do? Feed her by force? You saw the result. She has been more willful than a mountain goat! She wouldn’t listen to anybody.”

“I see.” Noah turned around. “Explain your behavior, Saya.”

There was no reply. The woman bit her lips and lowered her head, her eyes reddening even more. Noah tried to approach her end of the table but Lorelei suddenly barred his way.

“Allow me to talk with her in private, my lords.”

Lifting an eyebrow, Noah gave her a bewildered look but after a moment of hesitation nodded and grabbed Gregor under the arm, dragging him up.

“Very well. Let the ladies have some time alone. Come.”

The two left the room, carefully shutting the door behind. Lorelei closed her eyes and said a silent prayer before exhaling deeply and opening them again.

“Please, Saya, talk to me. What did he mean by starving yourself? Why are you eating only bread and water?”

Again, there was no reply. Lorelei felt her heart tearing apart. At the same time, she was starting to understand Noah’s frustration when Shana was acting stubborn. Pondering for a bit, she decided on her next move. It was unfair but she was determined to use any lever she had to get to the bottom of everything.

“Saya de Vindur,” Lorelei was surprised how harsh the words leaving her mouth sounded, “after everything that went between us, you owe me an answer.”

Tears started dripping on the polished table as her friend shrank sown even further. Despite that, a weak, trembling voice came from between her lips.

“You are right, my lady. I owe you. I almost killed you. It was foolish of me. Wanting to atone for my sins like this. I… If the lady wishes, I will offer you my head.”

“What?!” Lorelei gaped at her. Saya, however, didn’t hear her, being trapped in a world of her own.

“The lord’s punishment… it was lenient. Way too lenient. I was supposed to protect you but instead, I harmed you. I harmed the lord, I harmed G-Gerash. I am sorry. I am such a coward. A real De Vindur would have driven a dagger through their heart long ago to atone...”

Pat!

The rambling was cut short by a loud slap. Holding her burning cheek, Saya stared at her panting friend who stood before her, hand still in the air, shaking from head to toe.

“You idiot!” murmured Lorelei. “Who would want that? I wouldn’t. The duke wouldn’t. Gregor wouldn’t. Did you think about Soraishu? Would you rob him of his mother?”

“I… I…” Saya couldn’t continue. She dug fingers in her hair and wailed, shaking back and forth.

Seeing her so broken, Lorelei felt her own eyes tearing up. She stepped forth and hugged her friend, cradling her gently just like Noah had done with her outside of the tunnel.

“It was not your fault, Saya,” she whispered, stroking the young woman’s hair. “It was William’s plan. And it was my fault for being so foolish and stubborn. For falling for his schemes. Gregor’s blood is on our hands, William’s and mine. And the blood of the elder, and the Shadows. It’s us, not you.”

“B-but… I should have… I should have known! I should have brought you back. I know how Will is when the Red Hands are involved. I should have known. I failed you. I should…”

“Enough!” Lorelei held her wet face with both hands, forcing Saya to look at her. “Enough with your northern pride! You, and Shana, and Noah, and Gregor, all of you! So full of pride. Living for pride, breathing for pride, dying for pride. You are all idiots! Noble, high-strung idiots! And your contagious idiocy has caught to me too. But no more!”

Lorelei gathered her sleeve and started drying Saya’s tears.

“I’ve had enough of pride and regret. If the noble thing is to die for your pride, to hell with nobility! Be peasants then. Struggle to live. Live with the memory of your mistakes. Atone for the dead by living their share too. Starving yourself? This is not just. This is not noble. This is cowardly!”

Saya sat, motionless, her gaze now fixated on her mistress.

“But… you just took the blame yourself. You… you make no sense.”

“Of course I don’t!” Lorelei huffed. “Two months in Norden have sapped away all my sanity. A bit longer and I will start scheming and plotting too.”

The brief silence that followed was interrupted by a quiet laugh.

“We are indeed idiots, my lady,” sniffled Saya and grabbed Lorelei’s palms. “This situation… brings back memories.”

“You make it sound like it happened ages ago. It has been only two months.”

“We have not changed since our first meeting, have we?” The corners of Saya’s lips lifted up in a sad smile.

“No, we have.” Lorelei shook her head brushing away her own tears. “We are now friends.”

“I don’t deserve…”

“You are punishing yourself for my sake.” Lorelei threw her a glance. “Then I should be the one to decide the punishment and its duration, right? I’ve said that it’s enough. The duke put you under house arrest, you decided to starve yourself for additional penance, I have slapped you to collect my grievance payment. All is set.”

“We might be noble idiots but you are way too forgiving.”

“Yes. Forgiving is easy. Forgetting is another matter.”

Her mistress’ last words made Saya stiffen. Shadow fell on her face anew but Lorelei continued talking.

“Prove to me that I can trust you, Saya. Prove to me that you will never betray me again.”

“Anything you wish!” the young woman eagerly replied. “Even if I have to spill my blood…”

“Don’t start with that again!” Lorelei rolled her eyes. “What I want you to do is simpler than that.”

“Say the word, my lady.”

“First, stop with the “my lady”. Second, eat a bowl of soup. I don’t want to hear any objections. Am I clear?”

“Yes, Lorelei.”

The two women exchanged some teary smiles and hugged again. After a couple of seconds, Lorelei let go and stood up. How strange. A she went for the door, her steps felt so light, her head and heart did no longer hurt. A weight had lifted from her shoulders. New strength filled the fingers that grabbed the handle.

As she exited the room, a movement to her right caught her attention. Noah and Gregor were leaning on the wall next to the door, and both of them had very strange expressions.

‘Who has been eavesdropping now?’ thought Lorelei slightly bemused.

“Everything is fine, my lords,” she said aloud. “After she has calmed down a bit more, Saya will eat. Only a bit of soup and some potatoes at first so that her stomach does not get upset.”

“Thank you, my lady.” Lorelei could hear the tremor in Gregor’s voice and his eyes were clearly moist. “I will go tell the servants.”

“Go to her first.” She patted the knight on the shoulder. “Saya needs you most right now.”

“I am not so sure.” The young knight hesitated. “After all the hurtful things I’ve said…”

“Then be a man and apologize, you little wimp!” Noah slapped him on the back. “Listen to your mistress and go before I drag you in.”

There was no need for Noah to repeat his threat. Gregor stormed into the room and soon new streams of tears followed but this time the words exchanged were hushed and affectionate. Looking at the hugging couple, Lorelei felt on the brink of crying again despite the big smile blooming on the face. She quietly closed the door and turned to Noah.

“The best advice always comes from personal experience, right my lord.”

“Indeed,” Noah stretched out his hand. “A good lord leads by example. So, my lady, can we continue our conversation from last night?”

“A lady must keep her promise,” replied Lorelei put her palm on top of his. “Lead the way, my lord.”