Interface

Mila

We are escorted up the winding stairs of a tower, and I notice that Leona and Gwyn are holding each other's hand again. There is something about their friendship that I can't help but smile at.
We enter a room that smells sweet, and Leona wrinkles her nose at it.
Lord Albus is sitting in a magnificent chair, fiddling with the hilt of a sword beside him.
I can hear a loud voice coming from the chair opposite of him, and I wonder for a few moments who could be causing such a ruckus at this early hour.
My heart nearly stops when I see one of the men from the woods- the red headed man with a scar over his nose.
The man glances over at us. He looks scary, and I try not to tremble.
He stands, showing himself to be a good head or so taller than me, and walks over.
" who are these?" he asks.
Lord Albus answers without a pause.
" the one with silver hair is named Silent, the one who looks like a warrior is... Leona? I believe that's correct."
Leona smiles and nods, her cheeks flushed under her layers of powder. The lord resumes speaking.
" I don't know the name of the other two however. Would you care to introduce yourselves?"
Mara tugs on a strand of hair, and I wonder if she's nervous.
" I am called Mara, and this is Mila." she says, sounding hollow.
The man throws his head back and laughs.
" I have to hand you some credit Albus. You always know how to surprise me. First that little servant girl dying of poison, and now a gladiator in carer's garb?"
Albus smiles.
" you should introduce yourself my friend. The little servants don't know who they are speaking to!"
The man puffs up.
" I am Ferox of house Batravian. Slayer of Wraiths and the strongest soldier in the city."
Out if the corner of my eye, I see Gwyn tremble.
Ferox observes each of us, stopping when he is in front of Gwyn.
" you look familiar." he mutters, his eyes narrowing.
" something about those eyes..."
I freeze.
Gwyn has the same icy grey eyes as Aife, and if Ferox draws the connection, we would be done.
Ferox lights up.
" don't tell me! You're one of.. Those little foreign houses... I want to say the Sytins?"
Lord Albus jumps to our rescue.
" my friend, do you see any green on her? If you would recall, the Sytins have green and silver as their colors, and the only thing silver about Silent is that hair of hers."
Ferox nods in understanding, then asks Gwyn for her house.. Whatever that means.
Gwyn smiles a truly evil little grin- the one that would send most grown men to their knees, and replies in an almost honeyed voice.
" My lord Ferox, my people come from the far west, so you may not recognize our house name. We call ourselves the Griffforests after our stern temperaments and the woods of our homeland."
Lord Ferox nods, and I see lord Albus start to turn pink. I wonder why.
Lord Ferox smiles coldly, and I get a horrible feeling that something bad is about to happen.
" Have you heard of the queen of grief? Aife of the Jaka-ii?"
Gwyn nods and puffs up slightly.
Ferox nods.
" it just so happens that you two look almost identical. The same eyes, the same build.. Even the remnants of paint around your eyes. Everything but the shade of hair could be a copy of her. So tell me the truth."
Gwyn withers under his cold smile.
Lord Albus sits up in his chair.
" are you going to report this to the town guard?" he asks.
Lord Ferox snorts violently.
" unlike you, Lord Lockmere, I don't have a death wish. I know that the penalty for communicating with the enemy is flogging, so.. No. Despite this most likely being the most stupid decision of my life, I will not tell the guard. In exchange for a few bits of information."
Gwyn shivers, and I wonder if she's frightened or if she's just cold.
Ferox leans forward, until he looms over Gwyn.
" tell me your name." he growls.
Gwyn straightens up, looking almost exactly like a faded Aife. the light from the window behind Lord Albus's chair hits her fully, and she looks every bit a warrior ready for battle.
" as I told Lord Lockmere, names have power. I will not give you my name, but I will give you part of it. You may call me Gwyn."
Lord Ferox pats Gwyn of the head and turns away.
" that wasn't hard, was it?"
Gywn scowls, and lord Ferox whistles quietly.
" tell, me Gwyn... how are you related to the grief Queen?"
Gwyn bites her lip and shakes her head.
" I will keep that secret for my own."
Lord Ferox frowns, and- for a moment- I'm scared Gwyn is going to be slapped.
Lord Albus stands up and lays a hand on Lord Fero's shoulders.
" I'm tempted to invite our companion the good sir Whentpyrre over for lunch. I hear his little wife has had another child."
Lord Ferox smiles, and his left hand goes to a dagger tucked at his side.
" yes, that would be a good idea. We can have a reunion of companions."
Something in his voice makes me shiver.
Gwyn takes her place by our sides, and Leona glances down at her.
Ferox turns to Mara.
" mind what you say to the good sir. He might hurt you."
We are sent outside, and escorted back to our cells.