Bludgard was alive tonight. Thick, Winter clouds were passing across the sky like the outstretched hands of a forgotten Northern God to obscure Marfa’s fading moonlight. The thousands of lights across the city lit every street and alleyway as brightly as if it were day. Even from the top of the highest tower in Bludgard Castle, ancient seat of the Czakovey Grafs, one could hear the sounds of the Frostdance Festival far down below.
Only one person was currently within that tower, referred to these days as Coldblood Tower. The Lady Alexandria von Kohlblud known by many as the Ice Sorceress of Bludgard gazed down at her city with a face that could have been carved from the very ice she conjured. She was tall, as tall as some men, with long hair so blond as to be nearly white. Her face was as pale as porcelain with the high cheekbones and small lips so common amongst Czak women. Her eyes glowed a soft blue, overflowing with the mana she commanded with such adroitness. With a flick of her wrist, she summoned one of her many familiars to her side.
A large Crow which had been circling above suddenly dove downward until it pulled up at the last second to land upon the stone barbican. Black eyes regarded its mistress and it cawed a greeting. Alexandria reached out to stroke its wings fondly before she met its gaze and imparted her orders.
“Fly to Bruhle. Inform me when they arrive,” Alexandria commanded. The Crow dipped its head in understanding. This Crow she had named Chulash in honor of one of her former colleagues at the Tower of High Art. This particular Crow had always been very good at getting into places it wasn’t invited and managing to remain unseen while doing it. With a caw the bird took wing a moment later. She watched it until the night swallowed it completely. She could have tracked it had she desired, but she had an entire murder of crows bound to her and didn’t wish to expend the mana. Also, there was no time. Her half-brother expected her to make an appearance this evening and appearances must be maintained.
She was already dressed in a full gown studded with enchanted blue sapphires and slivers of diamonds that made it appear as if she were covered in twinkling stars. The Kohlblud family had never wanted for wealth. Czakovey controlled much of the trade upon the Sea of Glaciers and had mines of silver, coal and tin within its borders. A rare bit of geographical luck for such a small country, but Czaks were more than capable of defending themselves whenever necessary from greedy neighbors. Lady von Kohlblud smiled bitterly. War was never far from a Czak’s mind, or so the saying went.
She adjusted the tiara upon her head and nodded to the girl who awaited her just outside her Tower’s door. Namalya was one of her trusted ones. Her dark skin placed her from somewhere south of the Oramire, but she had been born in Bludgard and Alexandria had known her all her life. Likewise, the guard who awaited them down below was also a trusted one. He was also a foreigner born in Czakovey, a small village near the Frost Bogs along the southern border. Darian Menlo was her silent protector and as skilled with the blade as any Czak. She trusted them both with her life. She knew their secrets and they knew many of hers. Of all their secrets, there was one that was suspected and circulated amongst many of the nobles down below. The rumor was that both were Awakened. This rumor was true.
Lady von Kohlblud, or Lady Alexandria to most, took her time descending the steps of the tower followed by Namalya while Darian moved ahead. Alexandria wasn’t surprised when Namalya or Nama as Alexandria affectionately called her, broke protocol and spoke first.
“Is Leos really coming? Will he really try to lay siege to the city of his birth?”
Oh Nama, you still have feelings for him, don’t you?
Alexandria didn’t respond, but continued down the spiraling stairs one step at a time. She cursed the fancy shoes she was forced to wear, but at least they were flat. Due to her height, wearing heels would have had her towering over everyone and Czak men did not like having to look up at a woman.
If Friedrich thinks throwing parties every week will distract the Nobles from all the swirling rumors he is in for a rude awakening. His position is not as secure as he believes!
Alexandria had been waging a silent war within herself for over a year now. Ultimately it had been cold logic that finally pushed her to make the decision to side with her half-brother Friedrich over Leos after their father had finally succumbed to his years long mental decline and finally died. She had carefully weighed the pros and cons.
On the one hand, Leos was every inch a Czak warrior. He had been trained from a young age in swordplay, horsemanship, etiquette and strategy. He carried himself with confidence and poise and he had won the respect of the common soldier through deed of arms rather than simply by his birth. He was what a Graf had always been and what they were expected to be. Yet, times were changing.
Czakovey was no longer what it once was. Fewer and fewer Awakened every year. The expense, the time investment and the training to create Forged was one thing, but other countries were also competing to attract Awakened Class Trainers, essential if one wanted to train Forged, and lay claim to Dungeons. This led to a whole new slew of border disputes and conflicts.
Leos had been adamant for much of his life that peace with their closest neighbor, the Kingdom of Tyrol, was a mistake that he would rectify when he became Graf. He had also wanted to begin attacking the merchant ships sailing from the shores of Elasalia unless they paid a hefty tariff for passing through Czak waters.
“They’re only Elves, Alexandria! They must be taught their place!”
Alexandria frowned at the memory. She had argued with Leos over and over ineffectually trying to convince him that Czakovey no longer had the resources or the strength to be so aggressive with other nations. Bits and pieces of their homeland had been chipped away since the days of their great-grandfather. The Age of Heroes was over. More and more Slynt prowled their forests. Heathen Druids and Wrath Mages claimed the ancient ruins atop the mountain ranges. Her Crows had witnessed for her the gathering of horrors to prye upon all and Leos wanted to make war on their allies? No, Leos would have been the ruin of Czakovey, of that Alexandria was certain.
Of course, the alternative had not set her at ease either. Friedrich was a pampered fop. He was a gambler, a drinker and a womanizer. If Alexandria was honest with herself, Friedrich had inherited all of their father’s worst qualities. He listened to nobody but his mother and he was highly susceptible to flattery and gifts. The Nobles had learned early on how to play Friedrich like an Elasalian harp. Two decades of peace had given rise to a new generation of young, foolish boys and idle girls who only cared for finery, gold and distraction. Friedrich was their spokesman. And she had sided with him.
Is it better our young wile away their days in wine and sport acting like beached seals rather than dying at the end of Tyrol spears or Elven arrows?
The choice should have been obvious…at least until one met some of those ‘idle youth’ and listened to some of their ridiculous notions.
Darien held open the door for Alexandria. Nama followed, sensing her mistresses mood, remained silent. Darien observed the soft glow in the Lady Kohlblud’s eyes and swallowed. It was a telltale sign that she was angry. It wasn’t wise to distract the Ice Sorceress of Czakovey’s attention with minor security details when she was angry.
They entered the ballroom of the Graf’s palace and found it filled to capacity with nobility, servants and a few well placed guards. Alexandria knew that some of the guards and more than a few of the nobles were Forged. Besides herself and her two trusted ones there were only a handful of Awakened currently in Bludgard and most of them tended to keep to themselves. They all had better things to do than prance about in uncomfortable clothing.
“Sister! Please, join us!” A familiar high voice called out to her from dead center of the ballroom. Alexandria fought down the sigh that threatened to escape her lips. Every eye had turned from Graf Friedrich von Kohlblud to focus upon her instead. Naturally, he was dressed in some ridiculous Western fashion that every young noble was copying. It was all ruffles, pointed shoes and ridiculous half-capes that stopped just below the shoulder blades. By the Eye, what were the point of those? And those garish colors! They hurt the eye to look at. The makeup around the eyes and rouge on the cheeks and lips were another story she didn’t want to know the origin of.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Alexandria had hoped to slip into the room unseen, Darien already having informed the Herald not to announce her. Just like Friedrich to ruin a plan from the get-go. She took a deep breath and slowly let it out. She would do what she came to do and then get back to her work. There was far to much for her to do and far too little time to do it.
The crowd parted for her and all gave her a respectful half-bow as she glided past them. It was what her station earned her, but she noticed that more than a few bowed even lower than etiquette demanded. They did that as an acknowledgment of the power she wielded.
“Brother, it surprises me that you decided not to join your people in celebrating in the street fairs. It does the people good to see their Graf from time to time.” She said this just loudly enough that only those within the inner circle surrounding Friedrich could hear. Friedrich tittered in that annoying way he had picked up from one of his hangers on. It was like listening to a bird try to laugh.
“Oh, come now! Here the food is exquisite, the wine is well aged and the company is, well, a bit more civilized, wouldn’t you say?” The hangers on all tittered or fanned themselves as they nodded their empty heads at Friedrich’s words. Alexandria felt a vein begin to pulse in her forehead.
“A Graf should sometimes mingle with the common folk to observe their struggles as well as listen to what their hopes for the future of Czakovey may be. One might find that they share many of the current concerns that even keep nobles up at night.” Friedrich shot her an annoyed glance, but she ignored it. She was looking around for a face she had expected to see, but didn’t. Not that she was upset that old harpy wasn’t here. She leaned in closer and whispered so that only Friedrich would hear her.
“We need to speak about Leos. There have been some new developments.” Friedrich’s face clouded as it morphed first to fear then to anger.
“I told you I don’t want to hear his name!” Friedrich tossed back his wine while those near enough to have managed to overhear what Alexandria had said quickly found somewhere else to be.
“Alright,” Alexandria said with forced calm. “The man who wishes to challenge you for the right to be the Graf of Czakovey is moving his army of rebels towards Bruhle. He is likely going to purchase more mercenaries there.”
“Mother says he doesn’t have the money for any more men!” Friedrich whined. Alexandria wanted to choke him.
“He has sent a delving team into the Bleakthorn Holler dungeon, two of whom are Awakened. He continues to acquire powerful allies.”
“So? I hope they die then!” Friedrich held out his goblet and a servant hurried over to fill it. Alexandria nodded and waited for the servant to move away before she continued.
“That is, of course, a possibility. However, I think it unlikely. One of his new Awakened is a Pyromancer. A wielder of Fire Magic as I myself wield Ice. Torlack is no fool. He likely wants to level up this Pyromancer quickly while adding to his war chest with whatever resources they are able to recover from the Dungeon.”
“Fire Magic?” Friedrich’s eyes widened. “How could the Eye so favor Leos and that dumb Brute he keeps? I don’t understand it? Sister, you can kill this Awakened, can you not?”
“I likely could, as he is apparently newly Awakened.” Alexandria kept her tone calm, but inside she was raging. Eye of Marfa, why can’t you see, Friedrich? “Yet, Torlack is an army unto himself and many of our best warriors chose to leave with Leos when you sent him into exile.” Alexandria didn’t mean to raise her voice at that final part, but she had argued vehemently against Friedrich’s proclamation that any who wanted to leave with Leos could do so with the understanding that they could never return to Czakovey. He had ended up leaving with near a thousand men and one of the most powerful Awakened this side of the Withered Lands!
‘Let the traitors leave and wither in the South,’ Friedrich had said. All Alexandria had seen were a thousand good men allowed to become rebels. That, and she had lost a good friend as well. That had hurt her more than losing a brother had.
Now here they were. Leos was planning to return and as war hungry as he was, Torlack was smart for a Brute. They had to have a plan and Alexandria was certain that this Pyromancer was at the heart of it.
“When they come, we will be ready for them. Yet, many of the buildings in the lower quarter are made of wood.”
“Wood?” Friedrich’s face scrunched up in confusion. Alexandria clenched a fist behind her back.
“Wood burns, Friedrich.”
“That is enough, I think.” A woman flanked by two armored men walked up to stand before the Graf and Alexandria. All three bowed to Friedrich and ignored Alexandria. It was what Alexandria would have expected and ignored them back.
“Friedrich, my love, you haven’t tried the salmon in vodka sauce yet, have you? It is simply delicious and is all the rage in Tyrol right now.”
Friedrich’s face lit up and without another word he turned on his heel and made his way towards the Dining Hall where tables of food had been set up for the evening. Alexandria slowly unclenched the fist behind her back and channeled a bit of mana from her Core into her eyes. As always, the woman before her had several enchanted items about her person that blocked Alexandria’s attempts to read her surface thoughts.
Lady Suellen Hohenstein had been a great beauty in her day. Alexandria’s father had been like any other Czak male, always wanting more than his share. Her mother hadn’t even been cold in her grave when her father had taken the wife of one of some lesser noble as his mistress. Alexandria had been away studying magic at the Tower and when she returned she had a new brother. Also a step-mother who had swiftly divorced her former husband as soon as she confirmed her baby by the Graf was a male.
“Alexandria, the Council of Nobles will hear any new information you wish to share and deliberate upon it. Bothering the Graf or distracting him as he works to secure the loyalty of these noble personages is counterproductive.”
So it’s this old dance again?
Lady Hohenstein jealously guarded access to her son and often did everything she could to undermine Alexandria’s authority. She had been partially successful. Czakovey was an Eastern country. In the West, the families there followed rules of primogeniture or father to first born son and so forth. Here in the East, where in Alexandria’s opinion things were a bit more practical, ruling families only kept their rule through the will of other nobles. Whether Barons, Grafs or Burgomeisters the Nobility had a say in whom they wanted ruling them despite birthright. As a noble, despite being a daughter of the former Graf, Alexandria held very little political power. The only reason she still had a home in Bludgard Keep was because she was the sister of the current Graf. It was also that she was Awakened.
Alexandria von Kohlblud was an Ice Sorceress. A rare evolution of the Aquamancer Class. She had trained with masters in the Tower of High Art in the West. Her Mana Core was strong and the spells she had wrested from Dungeons and rare beasts had made her a force to be reckoned with. For that reason alone, Lady Hohenstein both hated and feared her step daughter. Or so Alexandria suspected.
“If the Graf wants to continue being the Graf he needs to know about who and what threatens the fact.” For a moment the two women locked eyes, neither backing down until finally Lady Hohenstein sighed.
“Let us walk together, daughter.” The two women slowly walked towards the open air balcony that had a splendid view of the city below. The Graf’s Citadel was the highest building in the city if only because it had been built upon the tallest hill. One could see the docks and the Strait of Dracus that led out into the Sea of Glaciers. The two women didn’t speak until they were alone on the balcony and Lady Hohenstein’s two silent, armored guards closed the pair of glass doors to give them both some privacy.
Those two are certainly Forged. I wonder what Classes they are and how much they cost you? You received no money from your former husband and my father left you nothing. Where is your gold coming from, Suellen?
Alexandria would have to have Namalya look into that. If she was taking money from Friedrich to pay for her own expenses the Council would have something to say about that. They already grumbled about how much he spent.
“Now then. Your little birds have told you something interesting about the Exile? One can only lament that he did not take the offered gold and simply disappeared from our lives as Friedrich wished.” Lady Hohenstein sighed dramatically.
That’s two times you have insulted me this evening. My my, but we are feeling brave tonight. What’s changed, I wonder?
Alexandria hated it when Suellen called her ‘daughter’ with as much derision as she dared and she didn’t like her Crow familiars referred to as ‘little birds’ especially when even one of them would tear the eyes from her sockets if Alexandria so ordered it.
Now, there’s a thought.
“I told him that the Exile is moving his army to Bruhle where he will likely purchase mercenaries. It is my belief he will attack Bludgard in the Spring.”
“Then he will die.” Lady Hohenstein said with finality. “Julianna Marovanni of Tyrol will be here early Spring when the snows melt. She won’t be alone either.” Alexandria frowned.
“I’m sure Friedrich will be most eager to meet his new wife,” Alexandria said slowly. This was a matter she hadn’t really cared about. Marriages were alliances and Czakovey forming a bond with the richest family in Tyrol would be a boon. Still, this was the first she had heard about her not coming alone save with a few servants and lady attendants.
“Her father wants her daughter well protected. He will be sending an entire cohort of Forged with her.”
“An entire cohort of Forged?” What by the Eye is she saying? Lady Hohenstein’s smile was wide and her eyes were alight with victory when she beheld her step-daughter’s astonished expression.
“Oh yes. Lord Marovanni is sparing no expense. An entire cohort of Forged to help protect Bludgard from your rebel brother. His head will be on a pike the same day he dares show his face within sight of our walls!”
Oh, you stupid fool. What have you done?
Just as Alexandria had been outmaneuvered by Lady Hohenstein, so too had Lady Hohenstein been outmaneuvered by one of the richest and most conniving men on the continent, Julius Morovanni. The power hungry woman just didn’t see it.
Lady Hohenstein said something else before she turned and left Alexandria standing alone on the balcony, but she was no longer listening. Her mind was racing with plans and counter plans to try and salvage this sudden mess. She would have to reevaluate her opinion of Lady Hohenstein. Why would she invite a dangerous foreign force directly into Bludgard? She clearly wasn’t as clever as Alexandria had always thought. Or perhaps…
Alexandria listened awhile to the sounds of the celebration below while she ran through the breathing exercises she had learned while at the tower to calm her Mana and lower her chances of Corruption. It helped her now to settle her nerves and formulate a new plan. A radical one. She didn’t regret siding with Friedrich over Leos, but perhaps those who followed Leos could be persuaded onto a new path?
