“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 towards the exit. The noblemen also shared quick glances before nervously looking back at Menelt.

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.

“The marriage proposal was my idea, Lord Owen,” she said firmly and loudly addressing everyone in the room. “It was my idea to leave. It was my idea to work with the mountain men. And, it was my idea to pay them for their training. Knowing how the borders had been weakened, it was my proposal 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,” Princess Estina continued, looking at each man in turn. 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, Earl Jenric, 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 and Earl Jenric relaxed their stances and from the corner of her eye, Lord Rea and Lord Clep shared a quick nod.

“Have a look around you, Princess Estina,” Earl Jenric 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 than 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.”

Earl Jenric 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 Prince Yernal’s harsh ruling of this part of the kingdom.”

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.” After a pause, Princess Estina spoke again, “I am certainly interested in making friends, Earl Jenric. Upon returning to the Keglar Kingdom, my aim is to bring the Kingdom back to its original glory where all its subjects live comfortably. I want to ensure all people have enough food and warmth for winter and are treated equally.”

“It makes us pleased to hear such news,” Lord Clep stated, speaking for the first time. He had small mouse like facial features and his personality seemed to match. Princess Estina barely heard what he had said.

“We are low on resources,” Blent said quickly. “Can you help with that?”

“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 grimly. “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.”

“There’s more,” Earl Jenric added. He leaned forward and lowered his voice to a whisper as if he didn’t want anyone else to hear what he was about to say. “There are rumours that Prince Yernal has a monster working with him. They say he has a Lombock that is eating anyone who disagrees with him.”

“He is not a monster,” Ladet said from behind Princess Estina. “His name is Teal, and he was kidnapped by Prince Yernal.”

The noblemen were silent and then, Earl Jenric said, “Are you sure? The Lombock is real? I thought it was all superstition and lies!”

“I have seen him with my own eyes,” Princess Estina confirmed. “He was a concubine to the late Emperor of Talbec. He did not go with Prince Yernal willingly.”

“But, but, it is said that he came from the Talbecan Empire after eating people there,” Lord Clep said. “Rumours say he helped murder the Emperor of Talbec and ate him while he was on the road. Not that he was a concubine! Instead, promised with a large bounty, he now works for Prince Yernal. What if the Lombock brings with him an army of more Lombocks? We will all be doomed!”

Princess Estina placed both her hands on the table in front of her. When she spoke, her tone was firm.

“I can assure you, Earl Jenric that the rumours of Prince Yernal having a Lombock is true.” She pointed to Ladet before continuing. “Ladet here, is a soldier in Emperor Rathner’s army. He has worked alongside the Lombock and can vouch for his character. He worked tirelessly and was a part of the late Emperor’s harem. Whatever atrocities are occurring in Prince Yernal’s estate, are down to my despicable brother. We also hope to help the Lombock escape and return to the Talbecan Empire with Ladet here.”

“I can’t believe my ears,” Earl Jenric said. “You are to help free the Lombock?

“Yes,” Princess Estina stated firmly. “Because if there is an army of Lombock that we don’t know about, wouldn’t you think they would be kinder to us if we helped free this individual instead of letting him remain under Prince Yernal’s control?”

The noblemen took turns looking at each other, and Princess Estina knew they wanted to discuss this latest bit of news together in private. The current situation was not going to let them however.

Lord Owen coughed and turned back to Princess Estina. “We are nervous and unsure about this Lombock and the fact you want to help him, but you do have a point. We were also great supporters of your father. So, from everything else you have said, we would be more than happy to provide you with support or resources at any time for whatever you need,” he paused and then repeated with great emphasis, “with whatever you need, Princess Estina.”

Princess Estina offered him a knowing smile.

“We thank you for your offer,” she said. “And I will let you know that I will take full responsibility for the Lombock’s actions. If we manage to free him, he will be ordered back to the Talbecan Empire.”

“Do you know of any other houses that may be willing to unite with us?” Prince Alain suddenly spoke up.

Earl Jenric glanced worriedly at Lord Clep and Lord Rea. “Unfortunately, there are bad relationships between the Vixot House and the Rilen House. But from what we’ve heard, they are also experiencing similar issues.”

“Well, from experience, I know there is always strength in more numbers,” Princess Estina stated. “I think it might be time to amend your ways and make friends. The more houses we have working together, the stronger we will be.”

Lord Rea and Lord Clep nodded their heads in agreement. “I think with either of you as a mediator, progress can be made,” Lord Rea said, looking between herself and Prince Alain.

“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.”

“I think we have started off well,” Lord Owen stated to everyone in the hall. “Please, finish your meals.”

Princess Estina smiled. “Thank you, Lord Owen. I’m looking forward for all of us to be working together.”

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.