Although the last magician on the continent of Agoling was burned by the Inquisition eight hundred years ago, its inhabitants still encounter manifestations of supernatural powers from time to time.
For Deirdre Drien, the daughter of Baron Drien, th...
47th day of the year 879 after the Fall of the Triumvirate
Kaira was filled with the aroma of apples, berries, and baked goods. Despite the twilight that was already rapidly gathering around them, the wide streets of this city were full of people who were clearly in no hurry to return home after a hard day's work. Noah realized almost immediately what the reason was. The colorful flags hung here and there, singly or in garlands, next to small but unexpectedly bright lanterns, confirmed that her gloomy premonitions were well founded.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The capital city of Sigrul was celebrating the wedding of one of its nobles.
Noah didn't need to check with the Council to see if any locals had taken permission to hold the ceremony. Everything was clear.
They were too late.
The wedding of Baron Sheikhard and Deirdre Drien had transpired.
Exhausted horses barely cut their way through the crowd, now and then distracted by the apple scent, which was not really in season. The back of the Shadow, whom, even at dusk, only a blind person would confuse with a large dog, was visible somewhere ahead. The Sigrulians were obviously not blind, but apparently, their minds were occupied with something else. Even Noah and her companions aroused a brief and seemingly reluctant interest in them, which immediately turned elsewhere.
"Yes, yes, they go right away..." came a voice from somewhere.
"I hear the groom is not handsome at all," a woman was so engrossed in conversation with her friend that she almost ran into Noah's horse croup. "Red, fat, small, and nasty... Oh, I'm sorry."
"Yeah! That's what he said! Take our best swordsman, he said, and..."
"The wedding is..."
"Lady Deirdre were..."
Noah exhaled an exasperated breath and shook her head, pushing away the unpleasant thoughts and noise enveloping her from all sides.
The Archon would be displeased.
But that was the least of her worries. This time, something much more important was at stake.
"Sinayi!"
Although the Silver Wolf's voice was quiet, the warrior appeared on the left a moment later.
Noah tossed her the reins of the spare horse and, with a quick glance over her shoulder, motioned for the other two to do the same. There was no need for an explanation. All four were well-trained and had been on a joint mission before.
Very soon, Sinayi was lost behind them. But Noah's speed increased significantly.
Baron Drien's small but fortified castle was almost in the city's center. Almost. Close enough to the Viceroy but not so close as to draw false conclusions about their relationship. The Baron inherited this castle from his wife and her family, which once held a prominent position in Sigrul but which, however, was shaken by the mesalliance that was so unattractive to many. But one could not help but pay tribute to the Baron: after his wife's death, he thoroughly took care of the castle and significantly strengthened both the fortifications and its defense capabilities. And, perhaps, it is not even worth asking whom he feared more - outsiders or locals. The answer was obvious.
