At first, there was no news from Ian for two months.
Latour comforted himself. 'How can matters of the Wizard World be measured by the standards of the Mortal World?'
'My son must be busy. Perhaps he's in seclusion, or maybe on a mission.'
Three months, four months, half a year… and still no word.
The stewards fell silent, but the worry and doubt in their eyes were impossible to hide.
Rumors began to circulate in the domain. They said the Count's youngest son had died in the Wizard War. They said the Marcus Family no longer had a Wizard to back them. They said the Magic Stone Ore was due for a new owner.
Marquis Holden was the first to test the waters.
He sent men to "pass by" Black Stone Canyon, where they clashed with the miners and injured three.
Latour personally led his guards there, using his power as a Great Knight and his status as a Count to bring the situation under control.
But Marquis Holden was just a pawn; the real sharks were waiting in the wings.
