Three days later, the Earl received an unexpected visitor.
Queen Saphyra arrived at the castle's private dock in her diplomatic form—still clearly inhuman, but elegant enough to avoid causing panic among the human staff. Her carriage was pulled by seahorses, and her retinue consisted of six warrior-sirens whose scaled armour gleamed with deadly purpose.
"Your Majesty," Earl Grimwald greeted her in a chamber, having resumed his human disguise for the occasion. He was looking at her with a confused expression. They usually meet for business deals or about the special ale, but not once did she come unannounced.
He was anxious, to say the least. She was the most unpredictable woman he had ever dealt with. Not once during his meetings had he profited him doing business with her.
"To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?"
"I heard there was an incident at the docks a couple of days back," she said matter-of-factly.
