A Whisper of Night

16.1 || ASTNORDEN 💫

Dearest Minister,

Thank you for your report. My men are sufficiently provisioned at Ormina - by the time you read this, we will have set out for Masseig. Prince Verradaen shall be leading a quarter of the troops, Ellac Denling another, General Sejer a third, and Lord Nurtanden a forth.

As of yet, I still have not had any more of my liege lords swear allegience to me, although I believe that they shall come with my victories. Already two-hundred peasants have made the journey to Old Skeynvald to fight. I am leaving Lady West and Lord Denling here to swear them to me.

The Princess Lorelei seems uneasy around her betrothed, but she spends much of her time in her room, sewing dresses for the poor of the three cities. She does this free of charge, but uses clean, comfortable, and sturdy materials.

Although I appreciate her support, I cannot help but fear that the peasants favor her more than me (which I suspect they do, despite the copious amounts of food I give them!). Lorelei is charming, beautiful, and easygoing - and, most importantly of all, she bears no responsibility for my battles or their consequences: she need not make any choices between life and death, between garnering the favor of the peasants and protecting them.

Still...I sense that she is deeply unhappy, and withholding something (but I cannot tell what) from me. She avoids talking to Prince Verradaen when they are together - I do not blame her, for the Prince unnerves me too - and seems always to be watching us with a certain shrewdness.

I also do not know what to make of her adherence to religion - although she knows of my scorn for the Faith, she says nothing about it. But she does carry a copy of Cerovar the Conqueror with her wherever she goes.

As for Ellac, he is doing well. He has become quite great friends with Alskande, one of the peasants who swore alliance to me a week ago. I am glad to see this, for his father says that he has never had many friends before.

As usual, thank you for holding the realm together. I wish you all the best - do not forget to take care of yourself.

Sincerely yours,

Queen Astnorden Valchtnalla

Astna set down her quill, staring at the swoops and ink blots of the black words. The letter seemed so formal, so eloquent - both of which she was not. In fact, had it not been for the name at the bottom, she would've never been able to recognize herself from the tone. I'm becoming more and more queenly, she thought dryly, reclining against her chair.

Minister Foerling was the only reason why Valchtnallan had not fallen apart. According to her letters, the peasants were more than eager to side with Astna...yet the lords and ladies were becoming more and more fearful. There was a rumor that Elsking had been seen in Slagvald, at an inn, and another that he'd tried - and failed - to find passage to the Nightfire Isles.

My brother, she thought. What have I done to you? Here I am, preaching about birthright and glory and conquest...and I've turned you - the last of my family - into a beggar.

She shook her head. No. Don't think of that. Not now.

The candles flickered weakly atop the windowsill. The orange flames danced as a night wind whistled past, rustling the papers on her desk.

She was wide awake. Her troops would move out in three hours to take Masseig, led by four of her men. She had been hesitant about entrusting soldiers to Ellac, but he'd insisted so fervently on it that she'd reluctantly agreed. She had total confidence in General Sejer and Lord Nurtanden...but Verradaen....