Elara Fors
"It just has to be Aurich." Words left me as I slumped back into my chair.
Throvald leaned onto the study table, eyes on the gold emblem we had recovered from the ruined cart. "Is that problematic?"
Problematic. He said it so lightly, as though Aurich were a minor merchant guild and not one of the three great companies on the western side of continent. Atividade, Platinum, Aurich, each one held wealth enough to rival dukedoms. They wear no noble crowns, yet their wealth crowned them all the same.
I straightened, pushing these thoughts away.
"It will be. They'll send an investigation unit for certain. If it ends with that, we can manage."
Throvald crossed his arms, brows furrowing. "Will they truly try anything with Valka here?"
"Not openly," I said. "But they can choke us in quieter ways. They can spread rumors that Fors is unsafe. That merchants should take other roads. Our barony is one of only two routes from Tidefall to Valois, the other being the airships. If people shift to the skies, trade here will wither."
"Rumors," Throvald said quietly.
"Poison spreads faster than blades," I replied. "And costs us more."
His voice grew gruff. "Then what do we do?"
"The simplest way? Find the one responsible. Kill it, or deliver it to them."
*Knock.** Knock.*
We both turned to the door.
"Come in," Throvald called before I could.
The hinges creaked. Silas stepped in, bowing. "Good morning, Lord and Lady Fors."
Throvald moved to meet him. "Good morning, Silas. What brings you?"
The man shifted, clearly uneasy. "Captain Tavian requested permission to patrol the area where the 'black iron human' appeared. He asked me directly, so I... granted it." He rubbed at the back of his neck, his eyes avoiding mine. "... It felt strange, them asking me at all. They're far stronger than I am. If they wished, they could patrol without a word."
I sort of understood what he meant. Knights who had come with no obligation to us, sworn only to guard our grandson. They never meddled in barony affairs. Never asked for anything and never answered anything. And yet now, permission? It was unnecessary courtesy, but revealing. I do remember hearing a saying once—True knights bound themselves not just by strength, but by their restraint.
I softened my tone. "It is fine. What else?"
Silas stepped forward, setting a small stack upon the table. "Today's newspaper and the mail. One was for Lady Valka, I met her on the way and passed it to her."
"Thank you." I glanced briefly at the paper, then turned to Throvald. "Do you plan to check the fields today?"
He gave a short nod. "That's the plan. I'll be back by lunch." He turned to Silas. "Come, let's go."
Silas bowed quickly.
As they left, Throvald paused at the door and gave me that simple wave, fingers lifted, warm and unpretentious, the way he always did. I felt my lips curve despite the heaviness in my thoughts. A small ordinary thing, yet it made me smile.
No. I drew a quiet breath, gathering myself. I need to Focus. There is work to be done.
At the desk, I put quill to paper and drafted two letters, one to Count Seaworth of Tidefall, the other to the head of the Aurich Company. Both full of details, outlining what had unfolded and what must be prepared for.
When the last seal cooled, I rose from my chair. On my way out, I handed the letters to a passing maid, asking her to see them delivered swiftly.
My steps carried me toward the alchemy wing, but halfway down the corridor a low growl broke the stillness. I turned the corner and there they were.
James had already taken a step back, his expression pinched with nerves. Erina lingered forward, caught between curiosity and unease. Sieg stood between them, shoulders square, the green-furred cub pressed tight against his leg, its small body vibrating with tension as it growled at the others. Overhead, Faux floated idly, wholly unbothered by the scene.
"What is happening here?" My voice carried softly, even as it gathered their attention at once.
"Ah, Granny…" Sieg began, but Erina's voice came faster, spilling out.
"It's not playing with us at all," she said, a small pout furrowing her brow.
"It's making dangerous sounds…" James added nervously, still keeping his distance.
My gaze slid to the cub, half-hidden against Sieg's leg. Even now, I wasn't sure about the beast. I had been surprised when Silas brought it back, and more so when Sieg asked to keep it. Valka's assurance had swayed me, though I wondered if perhaps I had been too lenient.
"It is not aggressive toward you?" I asked Sieg, tilting my head.
"Well…" He bent slowly to his knees, reaching out with calm hands. The cub quieted at once, leaning into his touch as he stroked its head. A small, contented sound rose from its throat. Sieg glanced up at me, almost sheepishly. "When it woke up, I approached it carefully, but It licked my hand. I think… it understood I helped it."
"But it won't let us near," Erina protested, her arms crossing in quiet frustration.
I let the moment linger, my thoughts circling. I remembered that Green Bears can memorize mana and sniff it out and sometimes do much more. Perhaps it had sensed the healing that had bound its wound. Or perhaps… it was something deeper. Something about Sieg himself, about what he was, though I dared not voice that thought just yet.
"Ah, Lord Sieg," Erina's voice tugged me gently back, warm and curious. "I heard Lady Valka brought back a big, fat bird yesterday."
The boy straightened, caught between pride and restraint. "It's at the barn. But… I should go back to studying. James can show you."
I studied him for a breath. That ever-present discipline, that need to shoulder more than his years allowed, it carved lines into him no child should yet bear.
"No," I said, tone even but leaving little room for refusal. "Go with them. Take a break today."
His head tilted toward me, eyes wide, searching my face for the catch. "Is… that fine?"
"Yes." The word came softer this time, threaded with something I rarely gave voice to. "A great deal is stirring around us. You've done enough for now. I will tend to other matters."
His expression shifted, the surprise giving way to something almost boyish, a small spark of light slipping through the careful composure he wore. He gave a quick nod, and before I could say more, James and Erina were pulling him along, Faux's tail swishing behind them, the green cub loping after with unsteady steps.
I watched them go, the sound of their laughter and questions fading down the path. For a moment, the weight of the world felt a touch lighter, if only because he was smiling.
But there were still other matters to tend to.
I made my way to Valka's room, only to find it empty. A maid passing by told me she was in the living room. It was weird for her to be in the living room at this time; by now, she'd usually be running to the adventurers' guild or somewhere else. When I reached the living room and pushed the door open, the sight that greeted me drew an involuntary frown.
"Oh, Ma," she said, swirling a wine glass in her hand as she reclined on the couch. "Should you not be with Sieg?"
I pressed my fingers to my temple, resisting the urge to snap. "I gave him a break today. And what about you? Don't you think it's far too early for that?"
Valka laughed lightly, though there was no mirth in it. "Maybe. I just needed to get something off my mind."
My eyes drifted to the low table before her. Beside the half-emptied bottle lay an opened letter, bordered in gold.
"Whose letter?" I asked, already guessing the reasons for her drinking.
"Mmm," she lifted it with a wry smile, "the Solvaris family."
The name felt familiar, but it took a moment to place it. I poked at the corners of my memory. "Wait… as in Margrave Solvaris?" I asked, a hint of disbelief in my voice.
Her soft laugh was answer enough.
"Why did they send you a letter?"
"Someone I knew there died. The funeral is the day after tomorrow." She tipped her glass back, draining it in one long swallow.
And just like that, the pieces clicked into place. I finally understood. As a child, whenever she was sad, she would lash out, her fists flying, her fury a tangible thing. But after Celestara University, she learned to hide it, smiles where sorrow should have been, wine where grief had no other outlet.
I crossed the room and lowered myself beside her. "Was it someone close?"
She tilted her head back, eyes drifting toward the ceiling as though the memories floated there, and then gave a quiet hum. "Mmm. I suppose, I knew her for ten years. Last time I saw her was a month before I came here, pregnant with Sieg… eight years ago now."
The mere fact she said that much told me enough. She had known this woman since her first days at Celestara. That span of time left its mark.
"Valka—" I began, but she raised a hand to cut me off.
"I'm fine, Ma. It just caught me by surprise, that's all." She smiled as she said it, the way she always did when trying to seal a crack in her armor.
"I understand. Will you attend the funeral?"
"Don't know. I'm not sure about going back to the capital, and the barony has a lot going on," she said, looking down at her empty glass.
Her tone was casual, but the avoidance was plain. Just looking at her, I felt a deep ache. I reached out, laying a hand on her head as I had when she was young. "And are you sure you won't regret it, as you do now?"
Her brow furrowed, lips pressing thin. "I am not regretting anything. You're reading too much into this."
"What else should I think? It's not like you to be so cautious. The Valka I know runs the other way the moment responsibility looms."
"Hey," she huffed, sitting up straighter. "I am responsible. I had a job in the capital—a responsible job."
I couldn't help the chuckle that escaped me. "Right, right."
With an indignant "Hmph," she slumped back against the couch. "If you don't need me, I'll go, then."
"Good," I said with a smile. It wasn't the answer she was looking for, but it was the one she needed.
Valka tipped the bottle, letting the last of the wine tumble into her glass. She swirled it, the deep red catching the sunlight.
"So," she murmured, "why were you looking for me?"
"I had thought to send you into the forest, to deal with whatever lurks there." My tone softened before I even finished. "But forget it. Better you prepare for your trip."
Her gaze lingered on the wine as she lifted it to her lips. "You are confident I could kill it? Did you not see what it did to the people defending the cart?"
I crossed my arms, straightening my back with quiet pride. "Of course. My daughter is the strongest woman in the world." I looked at her sidelong, letting the corners of my mouth curl. "You are the Valkyrie, after all."
Her eyes widened just a breath, then slid away. Still, I caught the smile she tried to hide behind the rim of her glass.
"I guess I've had enough for today." She put the wine glass down with a finality that told me the mood was broken.
"Glad to know."
She stretched across the couch before rising. "Time to pack. If I want to catch the airship at the dukedom's capital, I'll need to leave at dawn... Are you sure you want me to leave?"
"We can manage for a few days." I folded my hands in my lap. "Until you return."
"Hmm, even if something happens, Sieg will be here," she said, her voice laced with that same careless confidence.
A sigh escaped me before I could stop it. "You really have a habit of pushing that child into danger."
She glanced at me with a teasing lilt. "But it worked last time, didn't it? The salamanders in Borg?"
"That is true," I admitted. The memory pulled at me. I didn't know if I would even be alive without Sieg.
"But still," I said firmly, "things are too dangerous this time to let Sieg be involved."
"There's a limit to how much we can defy fate," she said quietly, almost to herself. "Have you forgotten what we heard after you came back from Borg?"
The restoration of the land, the letter from Lark had said as much.
"You sound as though you've given up," I countered. "Did we not promise to defy prophecy with everything we have?"
Her lips curved, her voice light with reckless certainty. "Please. If anyone dares force Sieg into something he does not want, I will throw the moon at them."
I arched a brow. "That's a little excessive. …You can actually throw the moon?" I asked, my voice a mix of awe and bewilderment.
"What I mean," she said, eyes glinting, "is that no matter how we try to shelter him, Sieg will always draw attention. We can't stop that."
She was right. The boy carried the Golden Hand of Alchemy. Perhaps, in time, he will even reach the rank of Master Alchemist. The world would learn his name, with or without our consent. And then there was his face, too fine already, with the promise of sharper beauty to come. When he reaches his teens, marriage proposals would swarm like moths to flame.
"You just crushed my confidence," I sighed. "Now I feel we won't be able to stop the prophecy."
Valka laughed softly, shaking her head.
"Sieg is the Unconquered Sun, Destined to Rise Above All."