The capital gates were even larger up close than they had appeared from a distance.
It's massive iron-banded doors stood open, flanked by royal guards in polished armor. They watched our procession with professional disinterest—just another noble family arriving at court.
Our carriages rolled through into the outer district. The streets here were wide and well-maintained, lined with shops and merchant stalls. People filled every available space—vendors hawking goods, children running between carts, workers moving supplies. The noise hit me like a physical wall after days of quiet travel.
"Stay close to the carriage," Marcus called from his horse. "Pickpockets are common in the market districts."
Valerie peered out the window, taking everything in. "It's more crowded than last time I was here."
"When was that?"
"Three years ago. For my father's investiture ceremony." She pulled back from the window. "The city's grown since then."
We continued deeper into Aethon, the buildings growing taller and more elaborate as we progressed. The outer districts gave way to middle-class residential areas, then to the noble quarter where the major houses maintained their city estates.
Our destination was the Morvan city manor—a three-story building near the eastern edge of the noble quarter. Not the largest or most impressive estate, but well-positioned and defensible.
Servants were already waiting when we arrived, having been sent ahead to prepare. They moved efficiently, unloading luggage and directing the guards to their quarters.
I helped Valerie down from the carriage. She looked tired from the journey but alert, already scanning the area.
"Home sweet temporary home," I said.
"It's adequate." She walked toward the entrance. "Come on. We need to get settled before word of our arrival spreads."
Inside, the manor was clean but it felt unused. Furniture covered in cloth, windows closed, the air stale from months of vacancy. Servants scurried to open things up and make the place livable.
"Your father's rooms are on the third floor," Edmund informed me. H had traveled ahead to coordinate the household. "Lady Valerie's chambers are prepared adjacent to yours."
"We'll share chambers," Valerie said flatly.
Edmund blinked. "My lady, it's customary for—"
"I don't care about custom. We're married. We share chambers." She looked at me. "Unless you object?"
"No objection."
"Good. Have our things moved to the master suite." She turned to Edmund. "Also, I'll need a list of everyone who's arrived at court in the past week. Particularly anyone from House Valdris."
"I'll have that for you within the hour, my lady."
As Edmund departed, William approached. He'd been quiet since we entered the city.
"I need to report to the palace," he said. "Just to make my presence known to the king."
"When will we see you again?" Valerie asked.
"Tomorrow, probably. The king will want to schedule audiences for everyone involved with Ashford." He glanced at me. "Watch yourself. Word of Thomas Valdris's intentions has spread. People will be watching for your reaction."
"What should my reaction be?"
"Calm and confident. Don't let them see fear." He started to leave, then paused. "And Young Master Chase? Don't do anything stupid before the duel. No drinking, no gambling, nothing the old you would have done. You need every advantage you can get."
"I wasn't planning on it."
"Good." He left without another word.
---
The rest of the day was spent settling in. Valerie commandeered one of the sitting rooms as a makeshift office and began going through documents Edmund provided.
I joined her after changing into fresh clothes.
"What have you learned?" I asked.
"House Valdris arrived four days ago. All three sons are present, along with Duke Valdris himself." She tapped a list. "They've been meeting with House Sterling, House Blackwood, and at least six minor houses."
"Building alliances."
"Or calling in favors. Duke Valdris is old nobility—he has connections everywhere." She continued reading. "Thomas has been seen at three different training yards. Making a show of his abilities."
"Psychological warfare."
"Exactly. He wants everyone to know he's preparing for something. Wants you to hear about it and get nervous."
"It's working."
"Don't let it." She set down the papers. "We have three days before the formal court session where challenges can be issued. We use that time."
"For what?"
"Preparation. Training. Building our own connections." She pulled out another document. "My father sent a list of houses that might support us. We need to make contact, feel them out."
"I thought we were avoiding politics."
"There's no avoiding politics in Aethon. There's only playing the game or being played by it." She looked at me seriously. "I know this isn't what you want to focus on. But it matters."
She was right. In the novel, the capital arc had been as much about political maneuvering as physical conflict. Houses rose and fell based on who they allied with, who they betrayed, who they supported.
"Alright. Who do we talk to first?"
"House Sterling. They're neutral right now, but their support would strengthen our position." She checked her notes. "Lord Sterling has a son our age—Daniel Sterling, level 22, water affinity. He's supposed to be reasonable."
"How do we approach him?"
"Carefully. The Sterlings value directness but hate manipulation. We present our case honestly and let them decide." She stood. "I'll arrange a meeting. Meanwhile, you should rest. And eat. You've barely touched food all day."
"I'm not hungry."
"I don't care. You need energy." She moved toward the door, then paused. "Chase?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For not running. For facing this instead of finding excuses." She smiled slightly. "The old you would have fled the capital by now."
"The old me was an idiot."
"The old you was scared. There's a difference." She left before I could respond.
---
Dinner was a quiet affair. Just Valerie and myself in the manor's dining room, served by staff who were still getting used to having the house occupied again.
"This feels strange," I said.
"What does?"
"Being here. In the capital. About to walk into a fight I'll probably lose." I pushed food around my plate. "A month ago, I was preparing for nothing more dangerous than another hangover."
"A month ago, you hadn't closed a dungeon or saved a town." Valerie sipped her wine. "You're not the same person."
"Sometimes I feel like I'm playing a part. Pretending to be someone I'm not."
"Then you're a very good actor. Because from where I'm sitting, you're exactly who you seem to be." She set down her glass. "Chase, whatever happens with Thomas Valdris, whatever the outcome—you've already proven yourself. To me, to my father, to everyone who matters."
"What if I lose?"
"Then we would deal with it. Recover. Rebuild and keep going." She reached across the table, taking my hand. "One duel doesn't define you. Neither does one victory or one defeat."
"It might define how people see us."
"Let them see what they want. I know who you are. That's what matters."
We finished eating in comfortable silence. Afterward, we retired to our chambers—a spacious suite with separate sitting and sleeping areas.
Valerie immediately began reviewing more documents while I stood at the window, looking out over the city.
Aethon sprawled below us, lights beginning to flicker on as evening fell. Somewhere out there, Thomas Valdris was preparing. So was William. So were dozens of other players in games I only partially understood.
"Come to bed," Valerie called. "You're brooding again."
"I'm thinking."
"Same thing, for you." She patted the space beside her. "Come on. Tomorrow starts early."
I joined her, and she immediately curled against me, her warmth comforting.
"Three days," she murmured.
"Three days," I agreed.
"We'll make them count."
---
The next morning brought our first visitor.
A messenger arrived before breakfast, bearing an invitation sealed with the Sterling house crest—a silver sword crossed with an oak branch.
Valerie read it quickly. "Lord Sterling requests our presence this afternoon. In his manor, this is a private meeting."
"That was fast."
"I guess he's curious. The Sterlings always move quickly when something interests them." She handed me the invitation. "We have to accept, obviously."
"What's our approach?"
"Honest. Direct. We tell him what we're building in the east, what we hope to accomplish, why his support would matter." She thought for a moment. "And we acknowledge Thomas Valdris. Don't pretend the challenge isn't hanging over us."
"Won't that make us look weak?"
"It'll make us look realistic. Sterling respects people who acknowledge reality rather than deny it."
We spent the morning preparing. Valerie coached me on Sterling family history, their values, their past alliances. I tried to absorb it all while also reviewing my training notes from William.
Marcus appeared mid-morning with news.
"Thomas Valdris was seen at the royal training grounds this morning. Put on quite a show, apparently. Burned through six practice dummies with fire magic, impressed some of the younger knights."
"More theater," Valerie said.
"Effective theater," Marcus countered. "Word is spreading. People are placing bets on the duel."
"Bets?" I asked.
"Five to one against you, currently." He said it without judgment, just fact. "Though some are betting on you to survive more than three minutes. That's paying ten to one."
"Comforting."
"Reality is often uncomfortable, young master." He bowed slightly. "I'll continue gathering information."
After he left, Valerie turned to me. "Ignore the bets. Ignore the gossip. Focus on what matters."
"Which is?"
"Surviving. And building something that outlasts whatever happens in the arena."
She was right. Whether I won or lost against Thomas Valdris, the larger game continued. The Ashford project, the coming crisis, the future I was trying to build—those mattered more than one duel.
But I also couldn't lose. Not because of pride or reputation.
Because if I lost, it put everything else at risk.
---
That afternoon, we made our way to Sterling Manor.
It was larger than ours, positioned closer to the palace, with grounds that spoke of old money and established power. Guards in Sterling colors watched us approach with professional interest.
We were shown into a receiving room where Lord Daniel Sterling waited.
He was younger than I expected—maybe a year older than us, with light brown hair and sharp blue eyes. He wore simple but expensive clothing and carried himself with easy confidence.
"Lady Valerie, Lord Chase." He bowed. "Thank you for accepting my invitation."
"Thank you for extending it, Lord Sterling," Valerie replied.
"Please, call me Daniel. We're all young nobles trying to navigate this mess together." He gestured to chairs. "Sit. Let's talk honestly."
We sat, and Daniel poured wine himself rather than calling servants.
"I'll be direct," he said. "Everyone's talking about Thomas Valdris and his planned challenge. Most think you'll lose, Lord Chase. Some think you'll be lucky to survive."
"And you?" I asked.
"I think the odds are probably right. But I also think there's more to this than one duel." He sipped his wine. "Tell me about Ashford. About what you really did there."
So we did. Valerie and I took turns explaining the dungeon, the rift, the dragon, the strategy that closed it all. Daniel listened without interrupting, his expression thoughtful.
"Impressive," he said when we finished. "And you're both being too modest about your roles. The reports my father received were much more dramatic."
"We did what was necessary," Valerie said.
"Which is exactly the kind of people the kingdom needs right now." Daniel set down his glass. "Here's what I know: Monster attacks are increasing everywhere. Dungeons are manifesting more frequently. The crown is struggling to respond to everything at once. And most of the major houses are more concerned with their own power plays than addressing the real threats."
"Including House Valdris," I said.
"Especially House Valdris. They see the crisis as an opportunity. If they can consolidate power in the east while the crown is distracted, they position themselves as kingmakers." He looked between us. "Your success at Ashford threatens that plan. Hence Thomas's challenge—destroy your credibility before you can build real influence."
"So where does House Sterling stand?" Valerie asked.
"That depends. What are you actually trying to build? And don't give me political answers. Tell me what you really want."
I exchanged a glance with Valerie. She nodded slightly.
"We want stability," I said. "We want the eastern territories secure and productive. We want trade routes that work, towns that aren't constantly under threat, people who don't have to live in fear." I paused. "And we want to be ready for what's coming next. Because Ashford wasn't the last dungeon. It won't even be the worst."
Daniel studied me. "You sound very certain about that."
"Call it intuition. Or pattern recognition. But yes, I'm certain."
He was quiet for a moment. "My father doesn't like House Valdris. He thinks Duke Valdris is a relic from a worse era—all ambition, no vision. But he also doesn't know your family well enough to commit support."
"So this meeting is your way of assessing us," Valerie said.
"Exactly." Daniel smiled. "And I'll report back that you're worth supporting. On one condition."
"What condition?" I asked.
"You survive the duel with Thomas. Doesn't matter if you win—though that would be impressive. Just survive." He stood. "Because if you can do that, it proves you have the will to back up your words. And that's what the kingdom needs right now—people with actual will."
We stood as well. Daniel offered his hand, and I shook it.
"Good luck, Lord Chase. You're going to need it."
"Thanks. I think."
As we left Sterling Manor, Valerie squeezed my arm.
"That went well," she said.
"He basically said I have to survive being burned alive."
"But he didn't say it was impossible. That's something." She smiled. "We have an ally. That's more than we had this morning."
Two more days until the formal court session. Two more days to prepare for whatever Thomas Valdris had planned.
Two more days until everything changed again.
I just hoped I'd be ready.