“Thank you for coming, Sera Kerst. I can see that River’s appreciation for you was not misplaced,” I tell the middle-aged woman. She blushes and waves almost frantically.

  “It was an honour to have been invited. And to be invited on the journey with you. I will write a letter to my guild as soon as I return home, but I fully expect their support. They will not want to miss this opportunity to discover new ingredients on the Lost Continent.” From the sparkle in her eyes, nor does Sera Kerst.

  “Excellent news,” I agree, returning her bow in farewell. River is practically vibrating in excitement as the alchemist walks down the steps towards the carriage Nicholas arranged – her teacher, for one, is almost certainly coming with us. As long as the alchemist can organise a replacement for the village, that is. Still, she seems confident enough that she will.

  River moves away and Hunter takes her place, her own potential teacher the next to depart – there’s obviously some sort of difference in ranks since all greetings and farewells have happened in a specific order.

  “She’s a good student,” Sera Thornlee answers the compliment I give her about Hunter’s progress. She looks younger than Sera Kerst – there are only a few grey hairs in her dark mane. “I’ve been impressed with how quickly she learns to draw new runes with satisfactory accuracy.”

  “She does have a knack,” I agree. “Are you interested in continuing to teach her?”

  “And journey with you to the Lost Continent?” She looks far more uncertain than Sera Kerst. I suppose there isn’t such a strong draw for her as for the alchemist, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything she’d want there.

  “Consider all the new materials you might find there that might impact the effect of runes,” I offer persuasively. “Or the different types of blood you could fill carven runes with. And Sera Kerst is likely to come with us – you might be able to collaborate and invent new types of enchantments.” I discovered in our conversation that while basic runes are filled with magic alone, drawing them with blood or other alchemical products can create very different effects.

  The orange-eyed enchanter is clearly torn.

  “I will consider your kind proposal, my lord, and will inform you of my decision as soon as possible.” She bows deeply, obviously signalling the end of the conversation for her. I decide to stop pushing.

  “Thank you for your consideration.” I bow back to her. The next moment, she descends the stairs to join the alchemist in the carriage.

  Finally, it’s Ker Black’s turn – the non-Classer blacksmith. Happy comes to join me, though she’s already downcast. For good reason.

  “I thank you for the offer, my lord,” the blacksmith tells me shortly, “but I’m afraid I have to decline.”

  I nod – it’s much as I expected. Fond of Happy as Ker Black might be – and he definitely waxed eloquently about that – he doesn’t want to risk his family on the high seas. I completely understand, as much as it saddens me to see Happy so disappointed.

  “Of course – you must do what is right for yourself and your family. I’m sure Happy will come to visit and show you what she’s learned when we return next.”

  “I would enjoy that,” Ker Black says with a slightly wistful glance at Happy. Shortly after, we watch the carriage drive away, rolling briskly on the gravel.

  “Well,” Nicholas murmurs. “That seemed to be largely successful.”

  “Thanks for inviting them,” I tell him sincerely. Whether they come on the expedition or not, it’s been good to meet the people my companions have been raving about. And he didn’t have to do either the visitors or the samurans the honour of inviting them to his table. With more understanding of noble etiquette, I now understand that he tacitly acknowledged the samurans as my family by doing so.

  Nicholas just accepts my gratitude with a nod, then turns away.

  “Come, Markus. We have another appointment to attend.”

  I’d almost forgotten.

  “Of course,” I sigh. “You guys should go to bed,” I tell the samurans. “It’ll be another long day of travel tomorrow.”

  Don’t stay up too long yourself, Markus, River chides me.

  “I’ll do my best,” I tell her wryly. Nicholas says an almost pointed goodnight to the samurans and I quickly follow suit. As I follow him back towards the study, I reach out along my Bonds to the hunters – just checking that they’re doing fine and haven’t noticed anyone following them. Kalanthia reassures me that they haven’t – and if the Tier three nunda hasn’t spotted anything, that’s probably a good indication that they’re safe.

  They all seem to be enjoying themselves too. I get the sense that they might not be hunting seriously as much as just enjoying having some time to relax in a semi-wild place. They’ll get plenty of that on the Lost Continent, but in the meantime there are a fair number of other human-centred tasks we have to get done. I do feel a bit guilty about that.

  “If you have time before the ships are ready, perhaps you should take them hunting in the mountains around Zlona,” Nicholas suggests when I voice my thoughts to him. “They’re not far from Azaarde and we could do with thinning the number of beasts there a bit – a beast wave is due in the next few years.”

  “That does sound nice,” I agree, thinking about it. Go back to basics and just go hunting with my companions. It would probably do them some good too – they’ve been absorbing a lot of Cores lately, but relying on those can lead to poor growth of the internal matrix of a beast. “Alright, let’s see how much time we have once we’ve done everything necessary for the trip.” I still need to find one more captain – I didn’t like the look of one of those Emilia sent to me for interview – so we might have to head back to Whalehost in order to accomplish that task. But who knows – I might get lucky enough to find a captain without a ship in Azaarde.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  Back in Nicholas’ study, we settle back into the chairs – same chairs, same mirror, same orb. The only difference is that this time, the orb is glowing, indicating that the others are already waiting to be let through.

  Nicholas lifts one eyebrow fractionally at me. I nod back, and he presses the rune on the orb, allowing a swirl of colour to bloom across the mirror’s surface. Within moments, the crystal clears, and the figures of Valence and his father come into focus.

  Lord Fell inclines his head deeply, every movement measured to the point of awkward stiffness. “Lord Titanbend,” he greets, voice respectful and careful – like a man testing the ice beneath his feet, unsure whether the next step will break it. “And Lord Markus. We are most grateful that you have found the time for this conversation. I understand you must be quite occupied with preparations for the competition.”

  He doesn’t sound to me like he’s being sarcastic or accusatory, but I sense Nicholas bristle very slightly beside me nonetheless. It’s a reminder that we will all have to step lightly in this conversation, fraught with what has gone before.

  “Indeed,” he replies, a hint of bite beneath the civility. “We are fully occupied – so let us close the book on this regrettable matter, for which your heir bears full responsibility.”

  A shadow flickers across Fell’s features – too fleeting to be called a wince.

  “Naturally, naturally,” he replies after a moment. “And I assure you, no one regrets the whole affair more than myself or my son.”

  Valence lowers his gaze, face suitably contrite.

  Nicholas’s tone softens, almost conversational now – Lord Fell’s obsequiousness seems to have smoothed his irritation. “Regret is a fine beginning. But let us speak of recompense. House Fell stands in debt – twice over. Thrice, if we account for my heir’s healing.”

  Lord Fell swallows and inclines his head again, voice roughened. “Indeed. We are most conscious of the debt.” He hesitates, then ventures, “But… might I suggest that, as the incidents were between our heirs, so too should the discussion of recompense be left to them?” His eyes flick briefly to Valence before meeting Nicholas’s. “My son has my full authority in this matter.”

  Nicholas’s gaze cuts toward me, assessing. Then he leans back, tension easing fractionally. “Very well. Let our heirs speak. But as the lord of the injured House, I reserve the right to intervene.”

  “Of course,” Lord Fell says swiftly. He turns to me. “Lord Markus, if you would be amenable, my son has a proposition. Will you hear him?”

  “I will,” I answer, just about keeping the ‘sure’ behind my teeth. I’d rather not get an earful from Nicholas through the Bond.

  Valence raises his head to look at me only to slide forwards in his chair and drop to a knee on the carpet below. Rather dramatically, in my opinion.

  “Lord Markus, you spared my life; the only recompense I can feel worthy of such an action is to dedicate it to your service for the competition,” he declares.

  Now, that’s an interesting proposition, Nicholas comments in my head. And one that might actually be equal to the debts they owe – depending on what exactly he’s proposing.

  Indeed, from the discussion he and I had on this subject when discussing Forestheart and the various links that can be built between Houses, what Valence is suggesting is a type of temporary, one-sided vassalship.

  Most vassalships involve a weaker House trading independence for support and protection. But those are usually for a number of generations. From Valence’s words, he’s proposing a more time-limited service, but one that requires nothing from my side in return except the forgiveness of the debts his House owes.

  “Who are you proposing on behalf of? Yourself, or your House?” I ask, my eyes narrowed. Valence alone would be a useful addition to my team; Valence with the backing of his House would be worth significantly more.

  “I would offer my service to you as Heir of House Fell,” Valence answers clearly and without hesitation. “I challenged you as such; thereby, it is as the same that I must pay amends.”

  I nod slowly. I almost reach out to Nicholas to check if he thinks it’s a good idea, but decide not to. Nicholas can intervene if he feels it’s necessary; otherwise he’s leaving it to me. And this seems like it’s the best of both worlds. I get Valence’s willing support rather than his coerced obedience, and I can make sure he’s heading down the right track in terms of how he treats other people. As the heir, that means he can also draw on the House’s resources, basically giving me another ally like Layton.

  “I have one condition,” I reply slowly. The lines on the Fells’ faces tighten a little, but neither says anything. “Heir Fell knows well my opinion on the treatment of slaves,” I continue.

  Markus, what are you doing? asks Nicholas warningly.

  Sowing seeds, I reply silently.

  “Heir Fell has already agreed to treating his slaves more fairly. If this agreement extends to his House, I will accept his service gladly and declare there to be no further rancour between our Houses.” The cadence of my speech sounds awkward to me, but that’s how they do it here.

  There’s silence for a long moment. Valence and his father exchange glances, but it’s the heir who speaks next.

  “House Fell accepts this condition, but prays for the patience and understanding of Heir Titanbend – habits are hard to change and it will take time to communicate what must be different to all of House Fell.”

  “I assure House Fell that I will be patient and understanding, as long as this is not taken advantage of,” I agree slowly. “I will hold Heir Fell accountable for his House’s progress.”

  Valence dips his head briefly.

  “I accept this charge,” he agrees. We wait for a moment in case either of our lords wishes to say something. Lord Fell is grim-faced but silent. Nicholas is silent too, which I take as a good sign.

  “Then I accept the service of Heir Fell as recompense for the debts owed between our Houses,” I state, my tone neutral, my face as blank as I can make it. I hope that Valence will relax when it’s just us. Otherwise, it’s going to be a very uncomfortable five years.

  Valence nods, his face setting in determined lines.

  “ I, Lord Valence, Heir of House Fell, do swear myself to the service of Lord Markus, Heir of House Titanbend for the period from now until the end of the King’s Competition. I swear to obey his commands, to act with a sincere heart in whatever endeavour he puts me to, and to protect his life with my own. I ask for no protection nor gain for myself other than the forgiveness of the debts I have incurred between Lord Markus’ House and my own. This I swear before Justice and Redemption.”

  “I accept,” I reply simply. Most vassalships would be sealed with my own pledge to protect and support his House, but since this is a different context, I don’t need to do that. Instead, “I declare the debts between my House and House Fell to be null and void.”

  I glance towards Nicholas – technically, though Valence had been given full authority, I haven’t – but the lord just inclines his head wordlessly in acceptance.

  Relief flickers across Valence’s face as he sees the interaction, but he remains kneeling. I have a feeling I know what he’s waiting for.

  “Why don’t you sit and we can discuss logistics?” I suggest.

  “As you wish, my lord,” Valence murmurs, but sits back on his chair. “What and who would you have me bring to the Lost Continent?”

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