The sky was heavy with thick, grey clouds. A mist hung in the air making everything damp and wet. It would take Princess Estina a while to get used to such weather again, but there was also a stillness and calmness to it that she had missed in the Talbecan Empire. Princess Estina breathed in deeply, and the moist cool morning filled her lungs, only adding to the sense of calmness ebbing through her body.

Princess Estina stepped up onto the short stone wall dividing one field to the next and surveyed the scenery of the rolling hills below her. Cows, goats and sheep grazed peacefully in their individual fields, and birds, perched high in the forest branches far behind her, could be heard singing their morning welcome. At the bottom of the rolling hills, Old Lake Tehlea, large in all its glory, lay calm and peaceful. The large party of mountain men stood waiting by its banks where their horses were enjoying a long hard-earned drink. Lady Annalei stood a short distance away from her, patting and talking to a chocolate-coloured cow with large brown eyes.

Princess Estina turned and gazed into the mist. Somewhere, in the west, stood the peaks of the Arina Pass, although this morning they could not be seen. She turned her focus to the high walls of Old Lake Tehlea Estate. Despite originally never wanting to step anywhere near the place, Princess Estina was more than pleased with what she had found this morning.

It had a good strategic position, perched at the top of one of the high hills in the middle of the farm land, overlooking the large lake to the north. Behind the estate, a good kilometre away from the defensive wall, a forest spread over the mountains leading into what she guessed was untouched wilderness.

They were still a good distance away from the walls of the estate, too far to worry of potential defensive arrows. So far, there had not been any protest or opposition at their arrival in the area. Her brother, Prince Weston, had stuck to his word and had obviously informed the residence of their impending arrival. Princess Estina and the mountain men would still be cautious just in case someone became nervous.

In front of the estate, a couple of hundred meters down the winding dirt path, a moderate sized village of about twenty huts of various sizes stood. The local men and women must have been informed of their impending arrival as well. When they rode past the wooden huts on their approach, the buildings were boarded up, fires did not burn, and there was not a soul in sight. It was early but not too early. Villages like this would usually start to bustle at dawn.

Princess Estina smiled to herself. There was the unwavering feeling that they were being watched.

Lady Annalei snapped her out of her reverie as she walked up to the wall. Princess Estina nodded in greeting and Lady Annalei climbed up beside her.

“This looks amazing,” Lady Annalei said, puffs of cold air floating in front of her face as she spoke.

“It does,” Princess Estina agreed. “This is certainly a place that I could get used to.”

“It looks like we’re not going to get any resistance from the locals,” Lady Annalei continued, nodding her head to the deserted village.

“From first appearances,” Princess Estina agreed. “But we’ll keep an eye on them. The sooner we get out and make friends, the better. We don’t want them to see us as a threat.”

Lady Annalei was quiet for a short moment before she spoke again. “If you want,” she began carefully, “I would be more than happy to work with the locals to oversee the running of the farm. I can also try to build some support with other farmers and locals in the surrounding villages and towns.”

“I’m sure your experiences at your family’s estate would have given you ample experience?” Princess Estina asked.

“It certainly did,” Lady Annalei confirmed. “Now that the Emperor is walking with his ancestors, I have absolutely no necessity to be in Talbec. He was only keeping me at the palace as he didn’t know what to do with me. If I return home, my mother will only force me to stay at the palace so our family can keep receiving compensation.”

Princess Estina turned to face Lady Annalei. On their journey to Old Lake Tehlea they had held several conversations; only short ones, but enough for Princess Estina to gain some insight to the kind of person Lady Annalei was. She was young and occasionally naïve, but with a quick mind. Her adventurous side reminded Princess Estina of herself. With a little bit of guidance and training, Lady Annalei could turn into a very valuable asset.

“You can stay as long as you want, Lady Annalei,” Princess Estina stated kindly. “Please, make Old Lake Tehlea your home as well.”

Lady Annalei let out a little shout of glee and leaned forward to give Princess Estina a quick hug. She stopped short and pulled back. “I’m sorry if that was inappropriate!” she exclaimed.

Princess Estina let out a laugh. “It’s fine. Come on,” she said with a warm smile. “I’m eager to see the inside of the estate. Here’s hoping they open the doors for us!”

Princess Estina signalled to Menelt and her brother standing by the lake. They waved back and she jumped down from the wall landing sure-footed in the mud. It was time to meet the locals.

>>

Half an hour later, Princess Estina, Prince Alain, and Menelt walked their horses side-by-side with ten other mountain men following. As they approached the double wooden estate doors, they started to creak open, wobbling on their hinges. They guided their horses over the threshold to find two men waiting in the middle of a large muddy courtyard.

The man on the left was an old man with a white beard and wrinkles covering every inch of his face. Princess Estina was shocked to see how thin and scrappy his clothes were. The other man, standing on the right, was younger and dressed more suitably for the weather, although it was clear his clothes had seen better days and his boots had tread too many steps with the way they were starting to come apart at the toes.

The welcoming courtyard of the estate was not very welcoming. It was covered in thick mud and the stable fences had gaping holes that would contain any determined animal. At closer inspection, Princess Estina believed the entrance gates they had just used, wouldn’t even stay standing after two or three hits of Menelt’s axe. The buildings coming directly off of the courtyard looked tired and rundown with sagging rooves.

Princess Estina stopped her horse a good five meters away from the men and offered them a warm smile. The old man’s eyes darted nervously between her, Menelt, and the other mountain men behind.

“I am the castellan of the Old Lake Tehlea Estate,” the old man informed them, his voice shaking in the process. “My name is Blent. This man beside me is Lord Owen from the neighbouring town a short ride from here. He was also under Old Man Tehlea’s ruling as well as some other Lords who…” the castellan looked like he was trying to choose his words carefully, “decided to wait until you were settled before they made your acquaintance.”

“Good day, sir,” Princess Estina said with a broad generous smile. “I am Princess Estina and this is my brother, Prince Alain,” she said, motioning to her brother with her hand. “And this is Menelt, Dratlin Clan Leader of the Mountain Men. I’m sure that you must have heard from the heir apparent, Prince Weston, that we have come to settle in Old Lake Tehlea now that Old Man Tehlea is walking with his ancestors.”

Princess Estina eyed Lord Owen. He was a man with dark black hair and weathered features. His stance was confident but respectful in that he gave a bow to both herself and her brother at their introduction. She sensed, however, a man who was cautious and wary at their presence.

“Yes, of course,” Blent continued. “Please let the stable boys look after your horses and join us in the welcome room for tea.” He pointed to a small room behind him and as he did so, Princess Estina could see his arm trembling. Whether it was from fear or old age, she did not know.

“We’d be delighted to,” Princess Estina returned. “The other men will wait out here.”

It must have been fear, for when they dismounted, Blent moved swiftly and spritely which belied his appearance. Three young boys came running forward and took the reins. They wore thin clothes with holes, hardly adequate to keep them warm. Their eyes were wide, staring at the mountain men who towered over them. They were skinny, dirt ingrained into their faces, and they wore no shoes on their feet.

Blent and Lord Owen led the way and Princess Estina’s small party trudged through the mud and stepped over the threshold and into a small dark room. Their muddy footprints imprinted heavily on the stone floor.

Here they wiped the boots on thick dry grass and then stepped over another threshold into a large hall. At the top of the room a long wooden table stood.

“Please sit,” Blent instructed. “We are sure your journey has been long. We don’t have much but can offer you breakfast.”

“That would be lovely,” Prince Alain informed the man.

Blent and Lord Owen sat stiffly, unable to take their eyes off Menelt who, Princess Estina guessed, was easily twice the size of them in height and muscle. Princess Estina cast her eyes around the empty room and couldn’t help but wonder if it had been ransacked and emptied by greedy workers, but she quickly shook that thought off. The castellan and other people around them were thin and their clothes old and ragged. She didn’t think they had anything to steal in the first place. How was it that people were living in such conditions in her kingdom?

Quiet, shy serving ladies rushed inside and the table was soon covered in a simple but homely spread. The smell of fresh bread filled the small room, causing Princess Estina’s mouth to instantly water. A large brown ceramic pot was placed on the table next. The lid was lifted and steam puffed into the air. One of the ladies immediately started to stir the contents revealing a watery white paste inside. Boiled eggs and cooked scones were also placed on the table. Considering the state of the estate, it was obvious they had gone to great lengths to accommodate their visitors.

“Please, drink some tea,” Blent said as one server placed cups on the table and another carried boiled water in a pot, its steam rising from its pouring spout.

“Thank you,” Princess Estina said. “This all looks wonderful.” She accepted a bowl of white paste and sniffed to determine its exact contents. On a quick appraisal, it appeared to be a watery porridge. Without a spoon in sight, she lifted the small bowl to her lips and blowed gently.

Lord Owen coughed, and he adjusted his position on his seat opposite Prince Alain. Princess Estina’s eyes focused on him. It was the first time he was going to speak, and he addressed his question to her brother. “What is your purpose of taking up residence here? There have been many rumours regarding the two royal twins.”

Princess Estina allowed her brother to respond.

“And what rumours would those be?” Prince Alain asked with a rare smirk on his face.

Blent cast an unapproving quick glance at Lord Owen and leaned his elbows onto the table. “Please excuse Lord Owen’s directness,” he said. “Rumours of your disappearance spread throughout the Kingdom. That the pair of you left your duties and disappeared for two years. Some believed you were doing secret business for Prince Weston. Some believed you were training to stage a coup against the royal family. While others believed that you had both joined an occult to worship the Gods who steal the honour of death to gain their powers.”

Princess Estina coughed on her porridge, causing Prince Alain to pat her on her back.

Blent offered a chuckle and a smile, the creases around his eyes deepening. He must laugh plenty, and Princess Estina sensed that she may grow to like the old man.

“There were others,” Blent said, “but I will spare you both.”

“What do you think our purpose is?” Prince Alain asked kindly. Princess Estina watched him glance from Lord Owen and Blent, his facial features neutral.

“All I know,” Lord Owen began again, keeping his eyes trained on Prince Alain. “Is that Princess Estina was asked to marry Old Man Tehlea. The pair of you disappeared and a year later, instead of sending yourself,” he now looked Princess Estina dead in the eyes, “you sent a maid. And then, Old Man Tehlea suddenly dies.”

“That was my doing and without Princess Estina’s knowledge,” Menelt suddenly spoke, his loud voice booming around the small room. The female servants scuttled back further against the wall and one even cast a worried glance at the exit.

Princess Estina set her bowl gently down on the table.

Lord Owen took on Menelt’s challenge. “Yes, and now the Keglar Kingdom has a princess whose future betrothed is the leader of the mountain men instead. I would hope that such an arrangement is of the hands of Prince Weston, heir apparent, and is a strategic plan to gain alliances and allow the mountain folk back to their lands to help protect the Arina Pass and resistance from the desert mobs.”

The men around Princess Estina visibly leaned back in their seats while she leaned forward, her eyes piercing into Lord Owen’s who rose his eyebrows in surprise.

“The marriage proposal was my idea, Lord Owen,” she said firmly and loudly addressing everyone who was within earshot. “It was my idea to leave. It was my idea to work with the mountain men. It was my idea to pay them for their training. Knowing how the borders had been weakened, it was my idea to use marriage as a tool, a strategic plot. This part of the kingdom was always stronger when the mountain men resided in their homelands.

Lord Owen shuffled uncomfortably on his seat and looked at Menelt and Prince Alain in turn. Without any support from them, she saw his gaze revert back to hers.

“I would inform you from the outset,” Princess Estina continued, “that we always obey and follow Prince Weston, the heir apparent, but everything else? Decisions are made mutually with my brother. We stand united. From now on, if you have questions, bring them to both of us. If you want guidance, come to both of us.”

Lord Owen visibly swallowed.

“I have been very lucky to have Menelt as a mentor over the past two years. He has trained me in the use of many weapons and my brother, has continued my training in the theory of warfare. I have much to learn, but my future aims are clear. I want peace and prosperity for our kingdom. I may have disappeared for two years, but my path has always been towards serving the kingdom to the best of my ability and that did not include becoming betrothed to an old man who worked alongside my brother, Prince Yernal. I control my own fate, Lord Owen. No one else.” She leaned forward. “Tell me Lord Owen, who do you pledge your allegiance to? Prince Yernal or Prince Weston?”

The tension in the room was palpable but Princess Estina did not regret worsening it. Her position needed to be set in stone from the start.

To her surprise, Lord Owen relaxed his stance.

“Have a look around you, Princess Estina,” he said. “Even better, come and visit my estate and you will see just how well we have been living under Prince Yernal’s control. Old Lake Tehlea Estate is actually in a better condition that my own.” He turned his attention to Menelt. “Do I risk my life if I say thank you for your actions.”

Princess Estina’s eyebrows rose in surprise but she smiled. “No, not at all.”

He turned back to Princess Estina. “Your brother, Prince Weston, attests to want to do the right thing, but he is far away in the capital. I fear he does not know how badly his civilians truly live under his harsh ruling.”

Princess Estina nodded in agreement and from the corner of her eye, she saw her brother do the same.

“I look at this estate,” Princess Estina began, “and I can see much work needs to be done. I look at the people living here, and I see the clothes on your backs. They do not seem fit to keep you warm this cold winter.”

“We are low on resources,” Blent agreed.

“We have a few spare coats,” Princess Estina told them. “I saw the stable boys looked very thin and were not wearing adequate clothing as well. Is the local community not faring well in their tradings?”

“Old Man Tehlea had high taxes,” Lord Owen stated. “And many of our resources and output from our farming have been going to feeding the armies. Very little has been going back into our hands.”

“That will change,” Princess Estina stated firmly. “I’d be interested to see where those taxes and resources have been going.”

“Hmm,” Prince Alain agreed. “I would like to see the estate’s books as well.”

“In the meantime,” Princess Estina continued, “we are willing to share what resources we have. If we reside here, we will reside here as a whole community.”

This seemed to bode well with Lord Owen and Blent. They shared a happy but surprised glance.

After the small, meagre meal, Blent took herself, Prince Alain and Menelt on a guided tour of the estate. The grounds were large, encompassing several buildings including a kitchen, stables, and living quarters. The main house was a sprawling one floor building with stone arches along the front accommodating many rooms for guests. It was large enough to house the couple of hundred mountain men more than comfortably. With a lot of work and repairs, Princess Estina believed the estate could be brought back into its original glory. Compared to how they had lived over the past two years, this was going to be luxury.