Prince Yernal’s castle was moderately sized on the outskirts of Isloa City. Its cream-coloured stone walls and towers appeared when they were still a good five hundred meters from its entrance. Pleasant childhood memories stirred, but when Prince Yernal’s flags fluttering in the wind came into focus, those memories were quickly suppressed.

It had taken six days to reach Isloa City, and just as they planned, they were not staying within its walls. Prince Yernal had accepted their excuse to reside in a different location on appeasing the mountain men. Coming to think of it, Princess Estina also preferred to stay at the different lodging. Her time in the wilderness had made the grey roads and towering buildings of Isloa appear ugly and cold. The residence they were staying in was surrounded by manicured gardens filled with fountains and pathways; a far cry from the forests, but it was more appealing than the stone castle that Prince Yernal resided in.

Her eyes went upwards to the tall towers, and it was there that she spied the white eagle flying overhead, its flecked blue wingtips bright against the grey clouds behind it. It was a pleasant and surprising distraction. The white eagles rarely flew in this part of the kingdom. In fact, she didn’t think she had seen one here before. Also, they rarely flew this low, preferring instead to fly in the peaks of mountains. She continued to watch it, happy to have something to occupy her thoughts instead of the looming castle. It was clear now that it was circling above their heads. It must have seen something to grab its attention. Something appetising to make it come this close to people.

After another five minutes, Princess Estina could not ignore the castle any longer. Trepidation and nerves coursed through her as the horses rode into the courtyard of Prince Yernal’s castle, their hooves clopping and echoing off the stone around them. They were watched closely from the walls above. Prince Yernal’s guards were armed, arrows pointed in their direction. The men on the ground were not friendly either watching Princess Estina and her party with narrowed eyes, their hands resting on the pommels of their swords. She was accompanied with Prince Alain, Menelt, Weldlan, Clagen and several other mountain men. Not wanting to show his face in case he was recognized, Ladet had stayed behind at their lodging.

“Prince Yernal is waiting for you in the hall,” one of the guards at the gate informed their party once they had dismounted.

Princess Estina shook her head. Her brother couldn’t even be bothered to greet her and Prince Alain in person. It was a clear message.

“Take us to him,” she ordered firmly.

It was mid-day, and the hall was crowded with people. The chatter was a din and from the rise and fall and the occasional chuckles of laughter, they sounded happy. Princess Estina walked across the threshold with Prince Alain by her side. The mountain men walked behind. Silence fell, but it did not deter her. Princess Estina glanced over the crowd that was present and suspected from the way they were dressed that they were either members of Prince Yernal’s court or heads of wealthy families of the city.

No one acknowledged or greeted their party as they continued deeper into the building. Instead, they looked down their noses despite Princess Estina and Prince Alain’s position in the royal family. It seemed that Prince Yernal’s followers believed they were even above them.

The hall itself felt the same from her youth even with its new decorations. There was a long table down the middle and a large fire place at the top where they had entered. She spied the heavy wall-banners and took in their symbols, and a wry smile came to her lips. She was not surprised that Prince Yernal had displayed his presence on every surface.

Menelt nudged her arm, and he nodded towards the back of the hall. Princess Estina stood on her tiptoes to try to see over the crowd of people. She could make out two large metal cages, but she couldn’t discern what was inside with all the people crowding around standing shoulder to shoulder.

Princess Estina shared a quizzical look with Prince Alain who shrugged in response. They turned and walked together towards the crowd to determine what had captivated their attention so. Although no one formally greeted them, people parted as they approached. They didn’t meet their gazes nor look them in the eye. Either their heads went down or they looked away.

She reached the end of the hall with Menelt and Prince Alain on either side of her. They stared into the first cage, and Princess Estina clasped her fingers around Prince Alain’s arm. He remained stoic, but she caught the ever-slight increase of breath in reaction to what he was looking at. There, before them, inside a square cage large enough for a grown man to shuffle around in, stood the Lombock that Princess Estina had seen in the field, and the person who Ladet was desperately trying to find.

The Lombock was dirty, blood stained, and his hair matted and wild. His eyes bore a vacant expression that was glassed over and unfocused. His gaze seemed to represent a person in a trance. Princess Estina took in the pitiful items in the cage given to him to take care of his basic needs. His wrists were red raw along with his ankles from the chains binding them. She stared at his face. Had he really murdered Prince Weston for Prince Yernal? It seemed highly unlikely from what she was seeing. Surely, Teal was drugged.

Fear built in Princess Estina’s stomach. Didn’t Prince Yernal know who he had? Hadn’t he studied the ancient texts when he was younger? It was one thing to have a member of the Lombock Royal Family as a prisoner but to keep him in such conditions. If there were more Lombock out there, they were risking full retaliation. She could only pray to the Gods that the spell holding the Lombock at bay remained intact.

Thank goodness Ladet and the other Talbecan scouts had not joined them as well, for she did not think they would have been able to control their reactions. Princess Estina didn’t know how she would react if she saw a friend in a similar situation.

A bell sounded at the top of the room startling them to attention. A server in a blue buttoned-up jacket and brown trousers greeted the hall when they turned around.

“Please find your seat and remain standing,” the man intoned. “Prince Yernal will soon enter and the mid-day meal will begin.”

A servant approached Princess Estina and guided her towards the top of the table along with her brother. She turned to Menelt and Weldlan as they walked. “Did you see who is in the cage?” she asked.

“Yes,” Menelt answered, his features devoid of emotion.

“I’m surprised he’s so out in the open,” Princess Estina continued to whisper.

“Obviously, Prince Yernal wants to show him off to increase his perception of power,” Prince Alain said under his breath.

“Did you see who was in the other cage?” Menelt asked.

Princess Estina shook her head. She had been so shocked at the sight of Teal, she had forgotten to look in the other cage. Glancing back over her shoulder, she tried to spy who was in it now as they moved to their seat. All she saw was a peasant looking man in rags of clothing. His hands appeared to be tied behind his back while he kneeled on the floor, his head hanging forward. She couldn’t see his face.

Princess Estina sat rigid and stiff. “I can’t see the other person clearly,” she answered Menelt.

“I didn’t see their face either,” Menelt responded.

Princess Estina, Prince Alain and Menelt took their seats, the only ones in the hall to do so. Glares flickered in Menelt’s direction and a murmur of disagreement reached their ears. She snapped her gaze to the culprits, but the noise ceased as soon as she laid her eyes in its direction, and the people who had uttered their contempt, remained nameless.

They were certainly not amongst friends.

The awkwardness was interrupted as Prince Yernal stalked into the hall, his shoulders wide and proud, a gleeful expression on his face.

“Oh, so wonderful to see you, brother and sister,” he said from the top of the hall, derision dripping off every word. “I’m so glad you could make it.” His eyes fell on Menelt, and Prince Yernal snorted.

Princess Estina nodded politely, and in her peripheral vision, she saw her brother do the same. A verbal response at this moment was not possible. She was still trying to process what she had seen in the cage. There was only scorn and disgust when she looked at him, especially with how he paraded into the hall.

He sauntered across the top of the table and arrived at two large wooden chairs. He sat, ignoring the elegantly dressed blonde-haired woman who followed him. Princess Estina didn’t know who she was, but her face was emotionless.

“I hope our civilised ways are not too much of a shock for you,” Prince Yernal said loudly for every person in the hall to hear. Chuckles and jitters filled her ears. It was a clear insult to the mountain men.

Princess Estina swallowed, trying to rein in the immediate anger that swelled in her chest. She glanced in Menelt’s direction and was not surprised that he did not show any sign of disdain. Menelt knew how to play this game too. His determination and stoic persona made her resolve come forward once again.

“Before we discuss anything further,” she said, raising to her feet with her cup of wine in her hand. “I would like to show respect to our lost King Weston whose untimely death was surrounded by such mysterious circumstances.” She eyed Prince Yernal as she spoke.

Prince Alain and all the mountain men present rose to their feet. Silence rung in her ears from the other parts of the hall but slowly, one or two of Prince Yernal’s guests rose to their feet to join her.

Prince Yernal’s eyes narrowed at them before he turned to glare at her. With an exaggerated flourish, he took his cup as well and rose to his feet. “Of course, sister.”

“To my beloved older brother, Prince Weston. Overseer of our kingdom and mighty warrior…”

A line of servers suddenly entered the hall from a servant entrance near the fireplace, cutting her off mid-sentence. They hurried, their hands and arms filled with plates of food. Princess Estina opened her mouth again, but an immediate chatter filled the space around her as Prince Yernal’s guests sounded their excitement at the meal.

Prince Yernal sat down without another glance and started to scoop food onto his plate. He shovelled the food greedily into his mouth, and Princess Estina had to turn away as juice from the meat spurted down his chest. Those around them followed his lead and began their meal as well.

Seething, Princess Estina pursed her lips and sank back into her chair. No one was interested in what she had to say anymore.

“How are things going over at Old Lake Tehlea?” Prince Yernal asked with a chuckle, speckles of food falling from his mouth. The men sitting around him laughed as well. “Someone had to take over that estate, I guess. It is such a pit pile though, so far out on the outskirts of the kingdom.”

“It is actually a beautiful location, brother,” Princess Estina stated, through gritted teeth. “The mountains are beautiful, and Menelt has taught me many valuable things about his lands.”

Prince Yernal chewed on some meat and glared at Menelt. “His lands? So, the pair of you are set to be betrothed? I have a mountain man at my table and a woman who likes to lay with the scourge of civilisation. Has he fucked all of the royal upbringing out of you then?”

Princess Estina recoiled at Prince Yernal’s remarks, so brutal and crass. Yes, they had been intimate but in no way had it been vulgar. The men within hearing range laughed again, and Princess Estina lifted her chin. Menelt, Weldlan and the other mountain men as always remained rigid and still. Princess Estina was amazed at their resilience to such volatile words.

“You disappoint me, sister,” Prince Yernal continued. “Working with these outlaws who were rounded up and given a chance in my army, and look at what thanks I get. They could have grown out of their uncivilised ways.”

She tentatively reached out and gripped Menelt’s arm, hoping the squeeze she gave it would be adding to whatever source of calm they were using to keep themselves quiet and unresponsive. She returned her hand to her cup, trying to maintain a picture of calmness and poise.

“Did you get approval?” Prince Yernal asked, in between shovelling more food into his mouth. The woman beside him hadn’t placed a single morsel of food into hers. Instead, she simply gazed at the table in front of her.

Princess Estina didn’t pause. “I have permission. Prince Weston sent his blessings...before he passed.” She sent him a death glare. “I have it in writing.”

“Oh, my dear sister,” Prince Yernal drawled. “Such things will have to be reconsidered after our brother’s untimely passing.”