--- Elise

Turns out there isn't much to do while on a trip, huh?

The scenery kept scrolling from the window of the carriage. Elise huffed every now and then, shifting her position on the seat nervously. Nonetheless, at least the weather was nice.

"I'd be much happier if I could ride outside."

She said it without even realizing it. Not that she cared.

"We already discussed the matter, Your Highness, but your father didn't want to expose you unnecessarily," replied Lady Annette, firmly. "It's for your protection. Remember the place we are headed to could be a wolf's nest, for what we know."

Makers, I wonder why. I would have Roric guarding my back...

The girl couldn't stop thinking about him, bored as she was. She had been introduced to his friend's acquaintance, miss Wilmore, before leaving Cassidia, and to be completely honest she hadn't found her an annoyance like she thought initially. Roric had good judgment, so it was only natural that the young Mage seemed such a nice person. That, however, made Elise's wait even harder to bear.

When was the last time I met someone of my age? I have never paid much attention to other girls, even when I was little. I should know her better when I get the chance. She could also be a good asset for me as a princess, since she is with the Circle.

"Your Highness, may I ask a question?"

"Go ahead."

The woman leaned forward, lowering her voice. "Do you think she likes him? Because I got the impression that-"

"Stop right there, Annette. I'm not in the mood for this nonsense."

"Fine, fine. Please, forget what I said."

Sigh. I can't wait for this trip to end.

***

Days passed, without anything memorable happening.

The caravan camped multiple times. Elise had dinner with her father in a huge pavilion and everyone resumed traveling in the early morning. Security was tighter than at the palace, so the girl didn't find the occasion she wanted to have a chat with the others. That, apart from some words of recommendation with Roric, had to wait at least until Norburg.

Her first long trip had felt a lot faster than that. Maybe because of her curiosity towards her father and kingdom, or the secrecy of the trip itself. Not to mention how long it seemed to have passed since those days.

Finally, the destination appeared on the horizon. The environment was a bit more woodsy than around the capital, but anyone could clearly tell that region was part of the same country. The city of Norburg, as Elise had read in advance, had been very powerful on its own in a distant past. The lands under its dominion weren't vast, but its military was only second to that of Lynn, the princess' famous ancestor. So, even while accepting the rule of Cassidia, many among those who lived there still possessed records of Norburg's ancient glory, in some form or another.

There were noble families who had ancient trophies and crests in their homes, and a rich assortment of monuments adorned the streets of the city. In short, the place was deeply rooted into its history and as a result its dwellers were prideful.

I understand Lord Isaac's views a little better now, I think. No wonder he felt offended after his brother lost at the tournament. That doesn't mean I would have even considered marrying him, but... Becoming allies? On a personal level? It might be possible, actually. Like uncle Darius said, I have to see the whole thing under political terms or I will never be a good queen for Cassidia.

She quickly went over her father's instructions as the carriage passed the gates. They were expected to stay at Isaac's villa, somewhere in the middle of Norburg, and have a banquet that very evening. The King would spend some time with his vassal, in private, trying to evaluate his loyalty, but that wasn't part of Elise's responsibilities. She had to make herself useful by meeting other members of the local nobility, and forging relationships.

I have also some personal goals. I intend to see Victor, Lord Isaac's brother, and try to understand if he is holding any grudge against me. I'm ready to bring Roric in front of him, if it helps to reveal some kind of ploy. He has already agreed on this.

Wilfred, the handsome yet arrogant guy beaten by the young warrior in Cassidia, was probably the hardest to bring back to her side, since he openly hated the princess' dog, a nickname the servants had heard him using several times. But that was a problem for another day.

A platoon of guards surrounded the caravan and escorted it through Norburg. The people there seemed to be poorer than in Cassidia, for what Elise could tell, yet there was a strong air of pride in their stares. Once again, she was glad to have spent some time doing research.

It took around a hour to get to the villa, which was surrounded by gardens and a sturdy wall. Differently from the royal palace, the building extended on a very wide area, completely isolated from the outside. Plants and trees obstructed the view but even from where she was, on the road that led to the front, the girl could notice that the Lord cared a lot about the looks.

Everything, from the servants aligned around to the festively decorated windows, had been prepared to give the royal family the appropriate kind of welcome. One that only a powerful vassal could have ever given.

We are ready, Lord Isaac. Bring it on.

***

When Elise disembarked from the carriage, she had to resist the urge to stretch out in a not-so-ladylike fashion. Lord Isaac's private guards and servants stood in formation at both sides of the main entrance, bowing in respect to King Sebastian, with the vassal and his little brother right in the middle.

"On the behalf of the entire city, we bid you and princess Elise our welcome, Your Majesty," said the nobleman. "May your visit be the most pleasant, my liege."

He speaks so politely now. It's hard to believe he would badmouth us, just by looking from the outside. Screw it, even if it's only an act, I can't help but appreciate his attitude... But it won't make me lower my guard.

"Greetings, Isaac," replied the girl's father, with confidence. "We are glad you gathered your following for us. So fitting of the ruler of an important center such as Norburg. Shall we get inside, so we can recover from our long trip?"

"Most certainly, my King. Follow me, I'll be happy to be your host."

As they passed, many bystanders bowed their heads and gave curious glances to Elise. That almost made her embarrassed, but she managed to mantain her composure. The atrium of the villa was wide and well-lit, furnished with taste and as clean as it could get. Isaac had probably worked his servants to the bone to prepare it for their visit.

"Your Highness, welcome to Norburg," a voice greeted her.

From the tone, the princess immediately recognized Victor. The last time she had seen him was at the banquet after the tournament, but they hadn't talked at all. His eyes were glued on her like a wolf on a prey, constantly studying her every movement.

"Good morning, my Lord," she answered, without giving any hint of uncertainty. "I'm eager to enjoy your brother's hospitality in this special occasion."

"Naturally," said the man, lowering his head. "We prepared a rich feast for this evening."

Victor's face, however, suddenly darkened when Roric came into view. It was out of fear more than anger, anyway.

"I didn't introduce you to my friend and honour guard properly, last time," went on Elise. "This is Roric. I trust you will get along well."

The two exchanged a handshake, before her eyes. She was happy to notice the lack of hostility among them.

"Pleased to meet you, sir," the boy politely introduced himself. "I hope this meeting will go better than our previous one. It was just a competition, after all."

Good, just like we planned. Let's see his reaction.

Victor seemed surprised by Roric's friendly behaviour, and didn't comment. If anything, he seemed a bit flustered. According to the girl's predictions, he wasn't remotely as confident as his older brother.

"Your Highness," he said. "I... I've been meaning to apologize to you and your guard for what happened last time. My Lord wasn't happy about my elimination, but I realized it was just what I deserved. I plan to act accordingly to my family's name, in the future. Please consider my person at your complete disposal during your stay."

Like I would ever believe you, Victor. I'm well aware we aren't the only ones who prepared for this day. Still, what can I do? I'd better accept his excuses and see how the situation develops.

"No hard feelings, My Lord. Like my honour guard here said, it was just a competition. Serve me and my father well."

"Thanks, princess."

When Victor left, Roric whispered something from behind.

"He's cunning. He knows it's best not to challenge you right now. I can't say if he's just following Isaac's orders, but I think there's nothing to fear about him for the time being."

"Noted. Keep an eye on him, just in case."

The boy nodded affirmatively.

Father is almost done with the formalities. After him, it will be my turn. I'm not looking forward to it, yet... It could be my chance to show that I've matured since the day the court first saw me.

"Elise, my dear," Sebastian called for her. "Come, give your greetings to Lord Isaac."

"Sure, father. I'll be right there."

***

That evening, a multitude of guests crowded Norburg's dining hall.

Meeting Lord Isaac for the second time had left an even stronger impression on Elise. That man was definitely more dangerous than Victor, and in a different way. He wasn't scared of showing his power, that much she could tell. From the short conversation they had, the girl also became aware that she was being evaluated as well. Not that she didn't expect it, but to be honest she believed the presence of her father would at least put some pressure on the vassal.

Judging from this banquet, he wants to tell us that the city is doing as well as Cassidia. He's certainly trying to measure himself against us. Depending on how we behave, he'll realize if we see him as a threat. No wonder Father would go this far to keep him loyal. He is a capable vassal.

King Sebastian was going to hold a private meeting with him the next day, and the content of their conversation still had to be decided. It would mostly be an answer to how the Lord acted during the feast.

Unfortunately, Elise had been separated from Roric again. The boy wasn't allowed to join the nobles at their table, just like the previous time, despite her efforts to convince her father that he deserved it. It was better to let it slide, the man had said, especially now that the situation was still so uncertain. In a way, the princess understood it, but she couldn't help but feel annoyed.

Hmm... At least, I can see him from where I am. It seems he wasn't paired with the Mage for the evening, and... I'm relieved, I won't lie. But that will make him lonely, to say the least. Why can't we enjoy some time together in public, even as friends? There's nobody in this room I trust more than him. If only...

The rest she didn't even dare think of. It was an important occasion, her most important day since she had become a princess, and her petty desires weren't going to ruin it. Yet, those desires were definitely real.

I'm going to make up for this, someday. I promise, Roric.

***

--- Roric

Roric took a sip from his glass of wine, tasting the quality of the beverage. It wasn't like similar stuff was unavailable at the palace, yet being able to enjoy it without any need to pay was still an unusual experience for the young warrior.

He had been assigned a seat among the less important guests, like the other time. From there, at least, he could see both Elise and Mary. The two girls were the only ones the boy wanted to interact with, anyway. Many people had come to celebrate the princess' birthday, but Roric could tell that they didn't care much about her, neither about him.

Well, I guess celebrating isn't really the point of this visit. I'll ask Elise if she wants to, once we get back home. I wonder if she would invite Mary...

Home. That word hadn't crossed his mind for a while. The last time he had considered a place his home, it had become so important that losing it felt worse than dying.

No... Why would I lie to myself? That wasn't the reason. Home is where you feel safe, or at least it's what I thought back then. Now it's more like... Where the people you love are. A place for them and me. It doesn't really matter where I am, as long as I care about someone.

Being there, in a city so foreign to him, made him uneasy. He couldn't wait to return to Cassidia and go on with his ordinary life. Especially considering that at least someone within that crowd could be scheming against Elise and her father.

For that reason, just to be sure, the princess had insisted that he was treated like a real honour guard and allowed to bring his sword to the banquet, claiming it was necessary for ceremonial purposes, or that was the official excuse. Roric didn't believe the weapon would have ever been needed, and it had earned him more than one glare from a couple of guests.

A wealthy merchant at his left asked the boy if he knew the princess well, but there wasn't any real interest in his tone. The young warrior simply replied that he did, without adding more. Because he was so directly connected to her, he didn't want to draw the attention.

I'd like to have a conversation with someone, but with the people here I'm just unable to. If only I had Mary here! I'd rather...

His eyes caught an unusual, apparently insignificant detail. On the entrance, between the servants coming and going, stood a cloaked man. Nobody seemed to have noticed him, but Roric couldn't help but thinking that he looked weird. Some kind of performer, hired to entertain the crowd, maybe?

No, why am I being so suspicious, now? There's no way someone would just enter and-

Before he had the time to wonder about that newcomer, Roric was assailed by a bad feeling. It wasn't a normal kind of bad feeling, however. It grew in mere instants, becoming fear. A choking, overwhelming sensation of terror. His stomach clenched, his mind seemed to be pressured by an external force, and his sight became a bit blurry.

What... What is this? I... I don't think it's part of the feast...

The boy grabbed the edge of the table, realizing that most of the guests were experiencing the same. In the span of a few seconds, everyone in the hall had been reduced to a squirming mass of victims by that unnatural power.

Magic! Must... Must be it. Mary will know about it for sure... Where? Where... Is she?

He searched for the young Mage, but she had fallen from her chair and lay on the floor, with a terrified expression on her face. Elise, her father, Lord Isaac and all the nobles were also incapacitated by that strange thing, which had begun in the exact moment the cloaked man had set foot inside the dining hall.

"May I have your attention, please?" said the stranger, with a tone of superiority. "Right. I must apologize for my rudeness, for I came here uninvited. Are you all listening? Do I need to speak louder?"

He is... Mocking all of us. I can sense it. And his voice... What is this feeling?

The man walked forward, reaching the center of the room, and pointed his finger towards King Sebastian.

"Your Majesty, I know it may sound a bit sudden, but I don't have much time, so I'll make this short. Tonight, I'm going to declare the end of your kingdom. This is not a joke. I'm here to eliminate you and the rest of the people at that table."

What? What? What is he saying? He... No, can't be working for Isaac... This man... Ugh!

Roric's head started to spin. He fought to stay awake. His hand reached for the sword, but for some reason his grip wasn't as firm as he remembered.

I have no strength! This... This isn't good!

"Who... Who are you?" panted the King.

"I'm a conqueror. I came to take Cassidia and its lands for myself."

With a measured movement, the newcomer lowered his hood and revealed his face.

Grey hair. Wrinkled, emaciated features. Twenty year old, or so, but his appearance didn't reflect it. His eyes were smart, and wicked, fixated on Sebastian and Elise. They were brimming with killing intent.

Rickhart!

Roric's body sprung forward, his will rejecting the fear. Why, of all places, the necromancer had decided to show himself again there? There was no time to think, no time to evaluate the risks of what had to be done. The boy vaulted over the table, drawing his blade and charging at the enemy he thought he'd never meet again.

With a savage roar, the young warrior attacked. His intention was to decapitate Rickhart as fast as possible, before he could use his magic, but in that swing there was more than that. All the friends Roric had lost, the people he had grown with, the commander he had admired, the priest who had become like a father to him.

Everything that had happened that cursed night flashed in his mind painfully, like an opened wound. His sword cut through the air.

It never reached its target. Rickhart's thin blade, the weapon he had used to inflict Tolwin his deadly injuries, appeared to block the way. The boy, however, clashed with his opponent and the two found themselves face to face, their blades locked.

I'm not letting you take another step! Not again!

"Oh, my, my. What do we have here?" asked the necromancer with a confident, smug look on his face. "A fearless knight?"