***
We rode in the carriage in silence until late at night, until we reached a roadside inn that, judging by its rich decor, security, and high stone fences, was intended for people with a great deal of disposable income.
"Artalis," Evelina said, almost friendly, accepting a hand from the page who opened her door. "Understand that my trust in you is absolute. You are the only one guarding me on this journey, so please, stay close."
"I understand, Your Highness," I replied, stepping out of the carriage after her. "I will be near." Although I understood that the current journey would bring me no benefit in my mission, for now, I was ready to follow the rules of the pact, and I needed to don the mask of devotion.
"I have no doubt," Evelina replied with a sly smile. "I hope you do not mind sharing dinner with me?"
The duality of such a phrasing might have surprised or misled some minds, but I understood clearly what was being asked of me. I was to be a guinea pig and taste all the dishes for any poisons.
"As you wish," I replied in a level tone, awaiting her further orders.
Evelina merely smiled again, and we slowly made our way through the gates to the inn, where a richly carved wooden sign bore the skillfully burned inscription "The Black Swan" and a depiction of the bird itself.
Stopping at the oak doors, a doorman opened the heavy doors for us, and the scent of incense mixed with the aroma of roasted game immediately hit my nose. The interior, expensive paintings hanging on the walls, and even the high-quality replicas of crossbows hanging on the walls created a sense of wealth and power. The stonework, the dark wood—everything was done to the highest standard, and it was perfectly clear that this inn was not an ordinary commercial project, but a strategic point for very wealthy people.
Ignoring the respectful bows of the servants, we proceeded to a private hall, which was probably intended for special guests. It was a small room with a fireplace, where a table was already set, on which stood solitary crystal glasses, porcelain dishes, and silver cutlery. The flame burning in a silver candlestick flickered quietly, as if inviting us to sit down at the table sooner.
Suddenly, a man emerged from the adjacent hall—a young man in a strict tailcoat and with a polite smile. He bowed low and addressed us. "Lady Evelina, please, be seated." He pulled out a chair, and Evelina gracefully sat down.
I walked around the table and merely shook my head at the servant when he was about to rush to pull out a chair for me.
"I am sorry, but Lord Ignicht will not be able to meet you personally today. He has left on urgent business in Granstown."
"The menu," Evelina threw out, ignoring the waiter's address. And he, obediently bowing his head, went to a small table and took an expensively decorated parchment scroll, fixed on a board of dark wood.
Evelina began to run her eyes over the menu and soon announced, "Duck in pomegranate sauce, salad with goat cheese and pear. And a bottle of 'Bloody Moon' wine."
The waiter smiled politely, bowed, and disappeared behind the door. Evelina settled into her chair, her fingers drumming on the armrest as she studied my reaction.
"Are you hungry, Artalis?" she asked, as if offering a choice I did not have.
"Yes, I, like you, have not eaten all day," I replied calmly, understanding the scenario she was playing out.
"Excellent. You, as my mage-guardian, will taste all the food I taste," she said with a smile, carefully placing her hands on the snow-white tablecloth. "Not that I am afraid of being poisoned here, but sometimes it is better to be safe."
"And I thought you were inviting me to share dinner with you," I lowered my eyes ironically, pretending to be a disappointed student.
"Do not worry, Artalis, you will have your own portion of food. The waiters here are trained to serve me; they do not need to be told that when I come with guests, they should be served the same as me."
"That is very proper and speaks to the level of the establishment," I replied and looked at the door behind which the waiter had recently disappeared. "By the way, Your Highness, I know an Order spell that checks food for structural violations and, among other things, detects poisons."
"Really? I did not know such a thing existed," Evelina said skeptically.
"Yes, it exists, and it is called 'Structure Check.' If there is anything foreign in the food, I mean poisonous substances, I will feel it immediately."
"Undoubtedly interesting, but I would ask you to check the food in a more reliable way," Evelina objected, her gaze unwavering.
I merely nodded silently, agreeing with her conclusions.
When the dishes were served, I still ran my hand over the edge of each plate, and the golden sparks of Order seeped into the food, filling my mind with data on its structure. Everything was stable: in the duck, traces of rosemary and pomegranate; in the salad, traces of milk whey and pear; in the wine, the tartness of aged grapes. There were no poisons. Only ordinary human food, seasoned with excess.
"The food is safe," I nodded to an enthralled Evelina.
"Excellent," she smiled, "and now, taste it."
I allowed myself only a slight smile before taking the cutlery and tasting a little food from each plate. Maintaining all the rules of etiquette, I tried a small piece of duck, and it dissolved in my mouth into juicy notes of spices. Then I tried the salad: the tender goat cheese mixed with fresh vegetables felt juicy and nutritious. Finally, I had to try the wine, which, like everything else, was nothing special, only tartness and acidity. It was obvious that power could spoil not only manners but also taste.
Evelina watched me intently, as if looking for signs in me that I would approve of her taste in the establishment's cuisine.
"Well, did you like it?" she asked only when I had pushed all the plates toward her, taking a neat sip of wine. "And believe me, these are only the trifles that can await you with me, if you are ready to serve, of course."
"The food is prepared well, but nothing special," I replied, watching her enjoy the wine.
"Nothing special…" she repeated, laughing. "You even give compliments like a secretary reading an important letter."
The rest of the dinner continued in silence, broken only by the clinking of cutlery. And only when the meal was almost finished did she suddenly break the silence and address me, "You know, I am beginning to envy you. You… are not afraid to be an outsider and to show yourself as not like everyone else."
I feigned slight surprise, reacting to her words.
"In the palace of Sumerenn, everyone wears masks. Even I. And you… are as if carved from stone. No fear, no doubts," she finished, smiling slightly.
"Stones feel nothing," I parried, trying to maintain the image of a student who cared what others thought of her.
"That is why you are perfect," she took another sip of wine, her gaze softening. "Sometimes I dream of being the same. Cold and impartial, but what is not given is not given."
Finishing dinner, we went up to the second floor, and Evelina disappointedly muttered to the servant who was opening the door to the room, "What a pity that the royal chambers are currently under renovation."
The servant said nothing, and we simply entered a good room, which, probably in Evelina's opinion, lacked precisely that "royal scope."
I slowly inspected every crack in the room: the curtains, the carpets, even under the bed. Evelina watched, half-lying on the silk sheets of a large bed of dark wood.
"Looking for traps or poisonous spiders?" she asked with a slight smirk.
"Caution is the basis of survival," I replied, finishing my check and stopping by her bed.
"Sleep here," she nodded at the couch by the wall. "I cannot be sure that I am safe alone."
After these words, it became obvious to me that Evelina, despite her behavior, seemed to be afraid of every rustle. The mask of arrogance and power was a good disguise, hiding these traits. However, I had a question that went to the very heart of the matter: why had she not taken any of her guards? Was this a test of my strength, or was it something else entirely?
I extinguished the candles and, without undressing, lay down on the couch. The inn room plunged into a welcome silence and darkness, and only after a few moments was the silence broken by the creak of the bed—Evelina had turned on her side, her eyes gleaming in the semi-darkness.
"You know, before you, I trusted only Nova," she began unexpectedly, her voice muffled, as if she were confessing something to herself. "Her father is my father's brother. Blood ties… that is the only thing that guarantees any loyalty in our world."
"Blood is an unreliable ally," I remarked coldly, hinting at her brother Frederik.
"Artalis, your hints about my older brother are inappropriate. He is merely a victim of circumstances," she replied in an undertone.
"A victim of circumstances?" I clarified.
"Exactly, and let's not talk about it anymore."
"Alright," I replied quietly. "In that case, blood is indeed the most reliable ally, for my service is also tied to you by blood," I remarked ironically.
"That is different," Evelina objected. "The pact is just insurance."
"I will keep that in mind," I replied dryly.
Evelina sighed, and the room once again fell into silence.
***
Early in the morning, we set out on the road again, and in the cool morning, we sat in the already harnessed carriage in which we were to continue our journey. Evelina sat silently the entire way, and we only broke for short stops, which, however, did not hinder our progress toward our goal. And so, closer to night, we reached our destination—the capital of Valtheim, a city covered in grim stories—Sumerenn.
The Bridge of Duality, which served as a crossing over the Luren River, was inlaid with silver. The bridge glinted ominously in the night from the light of oil lamps with twin-flame lanterns, which flickered in the night as if they felt the memory of the twin queens' foolish sacrifice. This entire bridge was a testament to old oaths that were never destined to be fulfilled, once the legend had outlived itself.
The capital met us with a coldness. Not the kind that chills the bones in autumn weather, but the coldness that conveys an unspoken feeling, as if the city itself and its fortress walls, laid with dark stone, were watching you. Everything here was imbued with a forgotten meaning, but not the kind that leads to truth, but the kind that hides in the gilt of power and under the masks of ritual.
I felt how the layers of reality here were distorted, as if an invisible seamstress had stitched this place together, hiding its most terrible manifestations behind cracked glass. The city did not speak; it kept silent, and every building here concealed something.
The Palace of the Two-Faced rose in the night, as if a tribute to old traditions. Two spires from its massive towers, which grew into two symmetrical parts of the palace, consumed between them by something resembling a huge hall, like a temple, was the darkest part of the city, and it was this place that served as the center of attraction for all the dark symbols I had observed on the way. The palace did not just stand; it was here as another symbol of tribute to the twin queens, and everything in its appearance reflected the tragedy of the sacrifice and the monumentality of the current fragile equilibrium.
The carriage slowly stopped at a high staircase leading to the central entrance of the palace. The carriage door swung open, and before us appeared a fragile man, as if carved from moonstone, surrounded by guards.
Evelina, not waiting for the page, extended her hand, and the man, clad in a blue noble jacket, offered her his.
"Robert," Evelina embraced him. "I am glad to see you."
"I am glad to see you too," the prince smiled a little uncertainly, and his emerald eyes fixed on me. And at that moment, I felt the curse in him. So dense and strong that I felt it before I saw his tired face and ashen hair.
"And this is…" Robert said, looking at me.
"This is my mage-guardian. Artalis Feda Nox, an experienced mage of Order," Evelina said with a smile, while I carefully stepped out of the carriage, not waiting for help.
"A pleasure to meet you. Prince Robert Konrad Valtheim," he addressed me. "Welcome to the capital."
"It is a great pleasure to meet you, Your Highness," I said and politely bowed to the prince.
"I hope you will like it here," he replied with almost no emotion and looked at the red moon Krinsp, which illuminated the city in bloody colors.
"Do not worry, Your Highness, I am not here for entertainment," and after these words, we, along with Robert, proceeded to Evelina's chambers, which were located in the east wing of the castle.
We walked unhurriedly through halls of dark stone, decorated with various sculptures of previous queens, and at the very end of the hall, near a huge round stained-glass window depicting King Greyvan, stood two twin queens, frozen in an eternal dance. Climbing the massive stairs, finished in black marble, I increasingly got the feeling that the entire palace was built more as a monument to the twin queens and other queens of Valtheim. Every stained-glass window, every portrait of their feat or great deeds was captured and immortalized here.
On the fifth level of the castle, we stopped at a large arched door. And Robert, smiling wistfully, addressed Evelina, "Sister, do not forget that the council is at nine in the morning tomorrow. I hope you will have time to get enough sleep."
"I hope so too, brother. And now, allow me to rest. The road from the academy was very tiring."
"I understand." Robert smiled and bowed. "Good night, sister." Before leaving, he lingered on my figure, and his gaze became slightly tense, but he said nothing and hurried away toward the stairwell.
Entering Evelina's room, we found ourselves in huge chambers, decorated with cloying opulence, red velvet, and gold patina. The red light of the moon Krinsp seeped through the high arched windows, giving the chambers a new layer of sinister outline.
Evelina clapped her hands three times, and the light of dozens of magical lamps flared, illuminating the space. She turned to me and, seeing how I squinted slightly from the bright light, asked, "Well, how do you like my chambers? Are they not beautiful?"
She probably wanted to assert her vanity and superiority, but I just played along with her desire.
"Yes, it looks amazing!" I replied, pressing a hand to my heart and smiling intentionally.
"You see, Arta. You liked something after all," Evelina smiled. "And believe me, if you stay by my side, your chambers will be no worse."
I continued to smile silently, although all of this was a cheap performance on both her part and mine, and, deciding to put an end to this game of hypocrisy, I asked a simple question, "Should I stand outside the door while you sleep?"
"No, you will sleep here," she replied with a slight smirk. "Now, we will go wash, and then I will ask the maids to make you a bed on that sofa. It is very comfortable, do not worry."
I would have liked to shake my head, disagreeing with her, but I was forced to just smile. Evelina, however, considered my reaction a submissive admission, which, however, was expected.
"Alright, let's go. The bath is on this floor. We have a modern plumbing system in our palace; the water comes directly from the Luren River," Evelina looked at me, shaking her head, "and the water is heated by local pyromancers when necessary."
"I understand," I nodded, and with these words, we left Evelina's chambers, heading down the long corridors to the bathroom. I froze for a second at one of the massive doors, feeling a familiar energy behind it.
"Those are Frederik's chambers," Evelina said in an undertone, "let's not get distracted by him."
I just nodded, and a couple of minutes later, we were at our destination.
While Evelina was being washed by the servants, I tried to wash quickly and on my own in the adjacent bathroom. By Evelina's order, of course, although I myself understood perfectly well that it was necessary to freshen this body. Tossing aside the tiresome breastplate, I quickly undressed while the bath was filling with water, and a couple of minutes later, I was sitting in the hot water. A strange feeling of relaxation suddenly visited me as soon as the water touched my body, but I sharply suppressed it.
A strange moment of my own weakness seemed even to me too strange. I began to wash, thinking about why it had happened this way, and the only possible answer was the one that spoke of my last trip with Catherine to Eldenbridge. The weakening of the grip of Order had become too dangerous a factor, and probably next time I would have to act more cautiously.
Finishing my wash, I put on a white cotton robe and went to the mirror, from which my tired face looked back at me. The organism needed rest, and it demanded it of me with insistent stubbornness. Taking the mantle and breastplate of the mage-guardian, I waited for a long time while Evelina finished all the procedures in the anteroom.
When she, radiant and fragrant with various oils, came out of the bath surrounded by maids, she just smiled softly.
"And now let's go to sleep, Artalis. We will have a lot more to do tomorrow."
When we returned to her chambers, Evelina led me to another wardrobe, where she handed me a silk nightgown.
"Consider it a gift. I haven't worn it. You are slender, and purple suits you."
"Thank you, Your Highness. I do indeed love the color purple," I answered honestly, although I understood that this was a common bribe to create a trusting atmosphere.
Soon we changed, and, extinguishing the light and making sure that the door was securely closed and the shutters on the windows would create enough noise in case of intrusion into the chambers, I lay down on the couch, which was made up with fresh bed linen. Sleep came suspiciously quickly, and my tired shell was finally able to get what it so insistently demanded of me. Maybe the ancient powers left a mark on this place that was far more significant than I was willing to admit. But what truly disrupted my calculations was the all-too-familiar energy, and if it is what I believe it to be, then Valtheim is not facing a crisis—it is facing a catastrophe.