“Your Highness!”

A shout rang in the night, prompting Noah and his escorts to stop. A white-haired figure ran towards them, followed by a small, but vocal, entourage.

“Sister, wait! Stop!”

“Unruly child, what has gotten into you?!”

Ignoring them, Rish stopped abruptly, almost crashing into the party of three, and heaved a couple of heavy breaths. There were dark circles under her eyes and her youthful face looked pale and haggard.

“Whoa, lass,” Duncan moved between her and Noah, all the while giving the young Binshi a worried look, “what’s the hurry? Did something happen?”

“It’s nothing, Sir Duncan,” interjected the panting Tikotse, who had just arrived followed by the obviously distraught Rasha. “The girl just-”

“Take me with you!” Rish interrupted him, her eyes piercing the man behind the old knight’s back.

“Kako!” Rasha pulled on her sleeve. “That’s enough. We have our tasks here. We should better help Kash-baba with sorting out the castle’s defenses and-”

Without batting an eye, the older twin ripped herself free and tried to move past Duncan’s towering mass.

“Please, Your Highness, take me with you to hunt those traitors!”

This time, it was Neli’s fingers, digging in her shoulder, that held Rish back.

“You’ll do good listening to your sister and uncle.” The Marzbanati’s tone was calm but domineering. “You have no place here, child.”

“Quiet, all of you!”

Noah’s words split the night like a honed blade. Coming from behind Duncan, he faced Rish, his mere presence forcing out sweat on the young warrior’s brow. As his eyes bore into hers, unblinking and burning with infernal rage, he spoke quietly.

“Rasha. Who told you to mingle with the castle’s defenses?”

“B-but… my lord…” The younger twin paled. “I thought that… It's our duty. We should all do our utmost to defend Ildemar, now that Gerash is…”

“Duty?” Noah’s quiet tone rose a bit but it was enough to make the Binshi gulp and sink into silence. “Your duty is to follow your lord’s commands. And they were to stay put in your rooms and take care of Saya and Soraishu. Or maybe I have become senile, not remembering my own orders?”

“N-no…” came the almost inaudible reply. Rasha lowered her head, her burning cheeks looking like two splatters of blood on her ghastly skin.

“And you, Tikotse,” Noah changed the target of his anger, still not moving his eyes away from Rish, “as Gregor’s stand-in, you have been given confidential information. Last time I checked, the meaning of confidential did not include all your family members. It makes me question your fitness as the leader of Wolf Mountain.”

“I am sorry, Your Highness. It was my mistake.” The tall Binshi looked small under his lord’s wrath as he bowed deeply.

Finally turning his full attention to the shaking Rish, Noah rewarded her with a frown.

“And you. Do you have anything else you need to say?”

“T-take me with you, my lord!” Even while stuttering, the young warrior held under the weight of his gaze without looking away. “I can be helpful. I can protect you.”

“Protect?”

“Y-yes. In Gerash’s absence, I can fend off enemy hexes. You know I’m capable-”

Noah’s movement was faster than the eye could follow. In a blink, his clawed fingers were already grabbing the front of Rish’s tunic. Yanking up, he forced the terrified Binshi to stand on her toes.

“You foolish, insolent child!” he growled. “You are so drunk on a single victory. A lucky chance. Did you think killing one delusional old kush-turgan in the safety of Ildemar makes you a warrior? You don’t have the faintest idea… can’t imagine the kind of horrors lurking beyond these walls. Or even within them.”

“Noah! That’s enough!” Neli grabbed his wrist, her face twisting in pain as soon as she touched the black gauntlet, but she didn’t loosen her grip. “Let her go, shekri. You’ll kill her.”

Rish’s face had already become as white as her hair, the thin purple veins crawling beneath her skin getting more visible by the minute. The air squeezed in broken heaves through her graying lips. Alongside her body, her hands twitched in the spasmodic rhythm of her breaths.

“Being close to me and she is already like this.” Noah looked at Neli’s resolute but pained face before his gaze glided to the right, where Duncan currently barred the way of Tikotse and Rasha. “And she wants to ride along. Pathetic.”

He released his grip and Rish collapsed on the floor. Stepping back a safe distance, he watched as Duncan finally let her family through. Not even a twitch on Noah’s face revealed his true feelings. What everyone heard was a voice of steel.

“The Leaders of Wolf Mountain have shown insubordination and blatant disregard to their lord’s orders. All tribe members residing in Ildemar are to remain in their quarters until further order. If you refuse to comply, what awaits is capital punishment.”

Tikotse, cradling his niece in his arms, dipped his head. Next to him, Rasha sobbed and rubbed her twin’s cold fingers, oblivious to the heavy verdict pronounced upon her entire clan. Just as Noah was turning around to leave, the older Binshi’s voice stopped him.

“Thank you for showing mercy, Your Highness. May Mir-mama protect you and give you victory.”

Acknowledging the man with a sharp nod, Noah turned on his heels and strode away. Neli and Duncan threw the three Binshi worried glances but hurried after Noah. In passing, Neli called on a servant and sent him in Tikotse’s direction.

As soon as the two caught up to Noah, the old Marzbanati hurried forth and barred his way. Her height allowed her to be almost at eye-level with the man.

“Take off that wretched armor!”

Noah just stared at her blankly.

“It’s poisoning your mind already! You almost killed the girl. And your attitude towards Tikotse…”

The old Marzbanati motioned to lay her hands on his shoulders, but Noah grabbed her wrists right around the cuffs.

“Don’t endanger yourself needlessly, mother,” he said in a calm but cold manner. “I’m not crazy enough to touch someone magically endowed with a magic-killer. As for Tikotse, I decided to make Will’s life a bit easier. Can we go now?”

Without further comments, Noah released the woman’s hands and resumed his stride.

Left behind, Neli suddenly shivered and wrapped her arms around her body. A second later, Duncan enclosed her in a gentle hug.

“Don’t worry, the boy’ll be fine.”

“But he’s on the verge of breaking, Duncan.” Neli’s eyes reddened and she supported her forehead on his breastplate. “He might be able to hide it from his face but his gaze doesn’t lie. And if he loses himself…”

“I’ll be there to beat some sense into him.” The old knight smiled and gave Neli a peck on the lips. “Honestly, woman, you are getting softer with age. The boy is no longer the snotty brat who used to hide under the bed during storms. He now eats thunder and steel for breakfast.”

“You…!” Despite her efforts, Neli laughed quietly. Then, a whisper dissolved in the night. “Protect our boy or I’ll skin you alive, you one-eyed, old badger.”

***

Neighing and the clanking of metal filled Ildemar’s main courtyard, the air hanging heavy with the scent of horses, leather, metal, and burning torches. The Duke’s best knights had gathered, their faces - determined and sharp - boding ill fate to any enemy foolish enough to cross their path.

Descending down the polished granite stairs, Noah lost no time and began inspecting his men, noting every knot, buckle, and plate, every spear, sword, and halberd. Everyone gathered knew that any defects in the equipment of both knights and mounts would be strictly reprimanded, but today they had all given their best, for the task ahead was as dangerous as it was important.

One faulty buckle or loose plate could mean death. Or even worse - getting ghost-touched. Those veterans knew this. They had ridden with their Duke since the very day his foot had touched Norden’s soil. They all wore armor inscribed by the Church with blessings meant to reduce, if not ward off completely, malicious magic. And yet, this protection didn't lessen their vigilance, for they had seen the price some paid for overconfidence.

There being no flaws to correct, Noah gave the order for the knights to mount their horses. A stable boy brought his own steed, Cinder. The muscles beneath the animal's velvety black fur contracted in anticipation. Its hoofs danced over the cobbles - anger to fly out into the night with its rider. Yet, just as his master, the steed bore the marks of triumph and war - thick scars crawling along its hindquarters.

Holding a hand against the horse's muzzle, Noah tried to scratch its nose but was met with a loud neigh and a headshake.

"Calm down, Cinder." Noah's voice was leveled as he reached for the steed's neck and gave him a few strong pats. "Have you forgotten this smell after so many years? Sorry, my boy, tonight, we ride again."

Hearing the familiar voice, the horse relaxed some, but deep in its eyes, there was still caution.

“Let me hold the stirrup for you, master,” said the stable boy, eager to assist Noah.

However, he ignored the youth and his gaze traveled to the stable master, who was just about to assist Duncan in his saddle.

“Master Corvin.” Noah raised his voice. “Since when is a stable boy’s job to serve the Duke of Norden.”

“But… my lord,” the staunt, middle-aged man looked confused, “he… is your squire.”

“I have no squire who ignores his orders. A stable boy’s place is in the stables, not amongst the knights.”

Without giving the petrified Jessup a single glance, Noah grabbed the reins and jumped in on Cinder. An old servant rushed over and handed him a long, thin packet wrapped in cloth. Noah pulled his black halberd out of its cover and rested it on his stirrup.

“Ready to depart!” he shouted. “Let’s not make His Holiness wait for us too long. Lantern bearers - to the front!”

Like one singular creature consisting of a plethora of hoofs and clad in glittering metal plates, the troop rode orderly in the direction of Yalda, where they were supposed to meet up with Bishop Petronius and the rest of the punitive squad. Left behind in the now-quiet courtyard, Jessup rubbed a sleeve over his traitorously wet face. Next to him, Neli cleared her throat.

“Come, Jess. Let’s have some tea before going to bed.”

“Thank you, Lady Nelini.” The youth bowed stiffly and his voice cracked. “I have work to finish in the stables.”

As he turned around about to leave, the old Marzbanati’s words stopped him again.

“He might have punished you, but he doesn’t hate you, child.”

Jessup remained quiet for some time, hunched forward with trembling fists, before responding.

“But I hate myself.”

“You did a mistake, but as long as you learn from it and repent-”

“You don’t understand.” Jessup threw the old woman a look over his shoulder. “I know my mistake. But I… don’t regret it.”