I thought that Abby would complain about the extra effort with the fascination orb. Instead, she threw herself into her practice. She was torn between practicing with the gem or working with me in the fort. She was eager to weasel out of me what little I'd learned about magic, and our time in the fort was her favorite time to bug me. It only took her two days to work through the orb's effect that made her stay in place. Unfortunately, she continued to clutch the orb. Worse, the fascination effect seemed to worsen when she tried to move around, leaving her eyes glued to the gem as she stumbled through my front room like a reanimated corpse.

"This isn't working," she said as she stumbled forward, her gaze only lifting from the gem when she stopped.

"Honestly, I'm impressed. Usually, the fascination effect is conquered first, and the urge to stay is next. I'm not sure why you seemed to be going about it the other way around, but it's working for you."

Abby snarled while looking at the gem, her expression saying clearly how she felt.

"Abby, you are doing well. If you beat that orb, then you will have to step up to a more powerful version. That you haven't, lets you keep struggling against that one."

Looking away from the gem, she stared at me for a moment and said, "I need to keep practicing. I need more Skills. I can't keep sitting here."

It sounded to me like the lack of control, not the Skills, was the real issue for Abby. I wasn't so dense as to mention the idea, though. She was likely also feeling claustrophobic being cooped up in the house with a guard outside the door. It had to be bringing up bad memories.

"Alright, I've got a way for you to come with me to the fort while still letting you practice. It might be helpful as well, I'm not sure," I said.

When she seemed ready to question me, I simply held up a finger before I went upstairs to the secret door and then descend into my training room. Grabbing a length of rope, I stopped to consider if there was anything else in the place that might be useful. Tilting my head side to side, I balanced my latest idea against if Snowy seemed like she would need a bit more time to solidify her [Swordsmanship of the North] Skill. Considering how well she was blending it with her other Skills, I realized that I was coddling Snowy instead of helping her grow. At that realization, I cringed, knowing exactly which Skill would be best for Snowy. I wasn't looking forward to what would be needed. With Mason's help, I could combine it with Abby's training.

Grabbing the padded gear and fist-sized lead weights, I stuffed them in a bag with the rope and climbed back into my room.

Joining Abby in the front room, I was proud to see she had returned to struggling against the gem while I was gathering supplies. She wasn't letting even the training time from my few minutes of absence go to waste. I grinned as I pulled the rope from my bag. At her questioning look, I looped it over her right hand. She squeaked in surprise but then turned her gaze back to the gem in her left hand.

"Now, keep that gem tight in your fist. Maybe hold it up to your eye. We don't want to give any idiots an idea. I don't want to come home to some moron bleeding out in my front room. Once was enough," I said to Abby's concerned look.

Walking through town, we made a bit of a scene. With me in front, Abby, on a leash following behind me as she held her clenched fist to her face, and following behind was an even more grumpy than usual Sir Wincome. Given that Abby was trying to break free of her fascination, I went on a bit of a parade. I marched the woman through most of the town. It was only when Abby noticed that we had been walking for a while that I turned us to the fortress. I was hoping that trying to catch things beyond the gem would help her break out of the enchantment. That, and it was a lot of fun.

I had been mostly a pariah in town, though by my choice of disguise. Now, it was because of my profession. Strangely, I preferred it this way. I even gained a sick joy from watching the baker's daughter, Sally, giving me a look. I had used her as part of my disguise, playing the besotted fool unable to talk to the young woman. My sudden unmasking had changed her opinion of me. The look she gave as I paraded Abby past on a leash was worth any complaints I would suffer from my apprentice. Shock, disgust, fear, and faintly, a look of confused interest. Hiding who I was from everyone around me had been taking a worse toll on me than I thought. I should not be enjoying the teasing of some peasant girl I had no interest in. Privately, I admitted that Snowy's lack of preconceptions around my profession had drawn me to her first. Her attempts to fit in, while subtly failing, was like a dark mirror for my own actions. Outwardly, I looked like I wasn't fitting in, which helped my deception fit with the other villagers.

Shaking away my stray thoughts, I led my two followers through the fortress and into my office. Dropping the leash, I left Abby standing in the center of the room grumbling, as I sorted through the papers on my desk. I signed a few documents to confirm the cost of equipment the Baron's Seneschal found. Flipping through until I reached the stack's bottom, I found a sealed letter with my name in a flowing script. The envelope had a light cream coloring and was made from thick card stock, embossed with gold leaf in the lines. The stiff outer paper had a light floral perfume that I could smell even without lifting it to my nose.

Sneering, I resisted the urge to curse at the nobles.

This envelope would cost more than an apprenticeship in almost any trade save gem cutter or goldsmith.

Slicing open the offending container, I pulled free the thin sheet with hair-thin gold lines running through the cream white paper. Leaning on [Reading], I absorbed the contents, then flinched and reread it from the start. Shaking my head in confusion, I realized that the letter was from a significant noble family inviting Alexis and me to the spring dance in the capital coinciding with some astronomical event. With the cost of transport - not to mention keeping the letter looking and smelling as it was - the expense would have soared to outmatch even my store's annual rental cost. This was the work of a personal messenger, likely with Skills to preserve packages and increase speeds. Those kinds of Skills didn't come cheap. Flipping to the end of the letter, I tried to remember what I could of Duke Fenstall. I knew he was in charge of an essential product in the capital, but what precisely was beyond me. Either way, I had no intention of accepting the invitation.

"Everything all right?" Abby asked while she casually eyed the envelope in my hand.

"Hmm?" I said to Abby's question. My response was indistinct, with my distraction trying to work out the chain of events.

They had a spy in the castle, and they reported my relationship with Snowy. Their spy must have used a wizard's message book to inform the capital. Then a letter is sent immediately after which took at least a day to arrive. This was a message about power, money, and information. But why? More games of the nobles. This was probably aimed more at the Baron than at me. Nodding, I turned back to Abby.

"Back to work you," I said while folding away my letter.

My apprentice gave me a pout as she turned to the gem.

Before I could gather my supplies and head to training the newest recruits, Sir Wincome knocked and entered.

"Baron wants you both," he said and stepped back out of my office.

Abby and I glanced at each other, and I could only shrug at her unasked question. Grabbing the end of her leash, we followed Sir Wincome to the Baron's office. There was a moment of trouble as Abby nearly tripped on the stairs, but we managed. My apprentice and I sat in what was becoming our seats. My mother was hovering around the back of the room in her usual maid outfit. Father was standing in front of the fireplace, a bastard sword drawn and resting on his shoulder. I was used to his casual handling of weaponry as if they were household items, but his fidgeting had me concerned. Father was gently bouncing the blade's flat on his shoulder, which for him was a clear sign of anxiety. Despite his fidgeting, his face was still calm.

Mason was relaxing near the door in his usual pose. I did notice that he was continually eyeing my mother as she pretended to clean the Baron's bookshelf. For her part, she was ignoring the Baron's assassin.

The five of us were waiting silently while the Baron worked at his desk, his ink quill slipping along the page with a scratching noise in the silence. When we entered, the Baron let us know we would wait for his daughter and that he needed to finish up some paperwork while the servant ran to find her. I was concerned that our wait would bring up bad memories for Abby, but she seemed fine focusing on her gem. After a few minutes, Snowy knocked and entered. She gave me a flash of a smile as she crossed the room to lean on my chair, one hand resting on my shoulder. Her father quirked an eye at the act of familiarity. Still, he said nothing, quickly scribbling something across his page, then promptly putting his quill, ink, and sand away.

"Sorry about that, many details to clear up," the Baron said as he stepped around his desk and then perched on the table's edge in a casual pose.

Crossing his arms, he continued, "I've sent a letter to the King outlining the attempted coup of the Barony, and the evidence I have. His Majesty has commanded my attendance," giving each of us a glance, he continued.

"Included in this command was Alexis, Joshua, and Abigail."

Raising his hand to forestall our words, the Baron turned to my father.

"Trap, you think?" the Baron asked.

My father slowly nodded, still gently bouncing his sword before he spoke in his deep voice.

"It's a trap. Question is, what kind."

Pursing his lips for a second, he eyed each of us trying to work things out.

"The convoy or your prisoner. Could try for the Barony while you are gone. But asking for Joshua and Abigail, it's likely political. Though I wouldn't bet against an attack on the way," with a bit of sarcasm in his rock slide voice, he said, "I hear bandits can be a problem in poorly managed lands."

The Baron nodded his agreement and said, "about what I figured."

"Mason?" the Baron called, then flinched when the man dropped his Skill.

"We," the noble said while gesturing to us, "will answer the King's command. I want you with us on the convoy."

Mason frowned but nodded at his liege's command.

Scratching his beard, the Baron faced my father, then tensed.

"Our contract doesn't call for it, but I would like you to be in charge of my men while my Seneschal handles my affairs."

My father glanced at my mother, shrugged, then nodded.

"I agree with my husband," said my mother as she dropped her act.

The Baron let out a deep sigh of relief before responding.

"Thank you. I will set aside some extra coin for you if you would investigate some of my nobles. I fear their actions while I am in the capital."

Raising the letter to gain the Baron's attention, I then tapped it on my chair's arm. When I had his attention, I said, "I received a letter today inviting Snowy and me to Duke Fenstall's spring ball."

Passing over the missive, I watched the Baron's eyes as he read. When he reached the end of the letter, he folded it up and silently tapped it against his lips.

"Father?" Snowy asked as her hand slightly tensed on my shoulder.

Shaking his head, the Baron smiled to his daughter, then handed the letter back to me.

"I'm not sure what this means, but it is a good reminder that we will need to make you three ready for the capital."

I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck rise at the Baron's words, and I was horrified to see my apprentice ignoring the gem and focused on the Baron.

"Does this mean we get to go shopping?" Abby asked.

When the Baron nodded to the two women, I shared a moment of silent pain with my father. I tried to hide my distress while Snowy and Abby began to discuss how they would spend the Baron's money.