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Damian blinked, uncertain she had heard Garrick correctly. For a moment, only the sounds of the servants bustling about filled the room. Slowly, the knight's words sank in. She had no idea who he was. She glanced between Garrick and Lord McCoran. It occurred to her that those names were one and the same.

"You lied to me," she uttered. Damian was too taken aback to feel anything else. The words that spilled out were the first that came to her mind and she hardly understood what she spoke. "All this time, you lied about who you were." From the corner of her eye, she saw Lord McCoran's eyes widen. Garrick shook his head faintly, his eyes fixed firmly on the duchess. His mother.

"I didn't lie," he stated blankly. "I just didn't tell you everything." His hand rubbed over his mother's, lying limp on the down comforter. The healers and servants seemed to have moved away from the bed, leaving only Damian, Garrick, and the Lord McCoran near the duchess.

"Sir Nikolos Magni was my father." Garrick's words were slow and hollow. "He courted Lady Camilla briefly before she became the duchess. Their relationship didn't last long, but I came out of it." He paused. "I am a bastard child." Damian's eyes widened at the casual way the words rolled off his tongue. She gazed uncertainly at him. Still he never faced her, nor moved his position or his eyes. She had never seen him so listless, as if all joy had fled him and he had suffered such hardship to leave him unable to feel pain. She felt distant from him and hardly knew who he was, regardless of his parentage. The image of the same knight she had once nearly fallen for stood before her, yet the person she saw was no one she knew.

Silence fell over the room, save for the snaps and crackles of the hearth fire and soft whisperings of servants several paces away. Lord McCoran looked as confused as Damian did and glanced between her and Garrick uncertainly. Damian tried to catch Garrick's eyes, but he wouldn't turn from the duchess. She wished he would just look at her.

"Garrick," she attempted, stepping toward him. "What's gotten into you?" At her words, his apathy suddenly faded. His eyes narrowed furiously as he sucked in his breath in a hiss. Finally, his gaze turned to her. Firelight seemed to glow in his enraged eyes.

"She's dying!" he snapped viciously, as if Damian was the one who injured her. She moved back a step fearfully. "I know you never had a mother, but it hurts to lose one!" Damian froze, too shocked to respond. Garrick turned back to the duchess, breathing heavily.

Damian's eyes widened at him, enraged. A surge of warmth rushed through her body and she could hardly contain her fury at Garrick's words. Her arms trembled and fists curled at her sides, aching to hurl themselves against the self-centered knight's face. A moment of tense silence passed. Once again, Garrick ignored her.

Spinning, she stormed across the room, not sparing him another word. She burst through the door and immediately began marching down the corridor back the way she'd come. Domino's footfalls trailed after her at a jog.

"Damian?" he asked curiously, obviously surprised at her anger.

"We're leaving." She still wanted to hit Garrick for what he'd said. Hurried footsteps ran out the door behind her and a voice called frantically after her. Damian ignored it, unwilling to forgive him. The running steps approached her.

"Miss Sires, please, wait!"

Damian halted as the young lord ran up beside her.

"Please forgive me, My Lord," she stated quickly, feeling ashamed for abandoning Lord McCoran so rudely. He, at least, had done nothing to deserve such treatment. He shook his head, velvet hair rolling over his face.

"You've done nothing to forgive," he replied. "And please, just call me Cedryck." Despite herself, Damian smiled. Cedryck looked at her questioningly.

"I'm sorry," she stated, her anger beginning to cool. "It's just... that trait seems to run in your family." Cedryck smiled.

"I suppose I do take after Garrick that way. He always hated formal titles." Damian smiled at Cedryck, glad for his company. Garrick's callous statement soon left her mind. The young lord smiled at her, then turned his gaze to Domino. "You're the mercenary Domino?" Domino simply nodded. "I'm Lord Cedryck McCoran, although," he smiled at Damian, "the 'lord' isn't necessary." Domino bowed respectfully, but said nothing.

"You knew about us?" Damian wondered, surprised that Cedryck would recognize Domino so quickly.

"Garrick told me about you when he arrived. I made certain the castle guards would welcome you inside." She smiled.

"Thank you."

"It was my pleasure. From what Garrick told me, you've done some very heroic deeds." Damian's heart raced and her smile faded. Had the knight told him about Nephrita? Or further, how she was connected to the dark goddess?

"How much did he tell you?" she asked uneasily. Cedryck glanced over his shoulder down the hall in each direction, assessing the distance of those listening in.

Leaning closer to her, he stated quietly, "Enough." With a wave of his hand, they began walking down the hall again. "He's seemed so distracted since he learned what happened to our mother. He told me things that hardly made any sense to me. I'm not sure he even knew what he was saying." Damian drew in a shaky breath. At least Lord Cedryck seemed to understand the dark truth as well as Garrick did.

"So, Garrick's..."

"I'm his half brother," Cedryck finished for her. "My mother's oldest--legitimate--child. He and I grew up together."

"You know him well?" she asked. Cedryck sighed and glanced over his shoulder at the door of the room they had left.

"As well as anyone can, I suppose." He shook his head. "We were close as children, but ever since his father died..." Trailing off, he glanced away. "Even as a child, he spent more time with his father than anyone else. He didn't reach out to many people. I didn't know Nikolos too well, and he died when I was only ten, but he and Garrick were inseparable." Cedryck's expression darkened. "After he died, Garrick closed himself off. I didn't know who he was anymore. Even when he finally started coming out of his shell again, he talked to me little. He wouldn't answer my questions and often his mind seemed to wander entirely." He glanced out at the dark night sky through a window as they passed. "I'd hoped that his time away from Misengard would help him open up and be happy again. I see now that he hasn't changed." Damian let out a quick sigh.

"He seems nothing like himself to me." Cedryck turned his eyes to her. They were strikingly similar to Garrick's.

"How do you know him?" he wondered. She shrugged.

"Charismatic, charming. Helpful." Her voice fell as she listed everything Garrick no longer seemed to be. "Hopeful. Kind." Cedryck's eyes widened, then he smiled sadly.

"I suppose he did change after all." He stopped in front of a double door. Damian hardly realized that he had been leading them through the castle. "You can stay in here." He opened the doors and stepped inside. Damian gasped as she entered the room within. It was not as large as the duchess' suite, yet it was still greater than the common room of her old house in Aether. The bed and the hearth each could hold four people and both had been prepared for guests. Lush carpets and polished wood furniture adorned the room and the walls were lit with a series of oil lamps.

"The privy's through there," Cedryck pointed to a door at the far corner of the room, then swung his hand to the other wall, "and your suite, Mr. Domino, is through that door. There's also an entrance into the main hall from there." Damian walked slowly into the room, astounded that she was being afforded such luxury.

"I... hope it's alright," Cedryck stated uncertainly.

"It's magnificent," she responded quickly, shaking her head in awe. She turned back to Cedryck. "Are you certain..." He smiled warmly and took one of her hands in his. Her heart raced with his tender touch. The attention caused her cheeks to flood with warmth.

"The Duke of Alden will be glad to house such a guest." His eyes glittered. "As would I." Damian's heart pounded in her chest, and with it came an uneasy feeling. Not just for the way this future duke was holding her hand and smiling at her, a common town girl, but for Domino standing silently only a few paces away. She found her mind racing with sudden unwanted desire. The feeling reminded her of her past longing for Connor the barkeep from Aether, who had also been her age, if not nearly as handsome as Lord Cedryck. More recent memories of Domino lingered at the edge of her mind.

"Thank you," she uttered awkwardly and glanced partly at Domino. Cedryck released her hand and took half a step backwards, still smiling warmly. He must have beautiful ladies hanging all over him, she thought. Part of her hoped he did. She didn't want to disappoint him, but such attention from yet another charming, upper-class man when she had been met with contempt by many for much of her life made her feel uncomfortable. What could this man see in her when pig farmers had scorned her?

"I would love to speak more with you, but I'm sure you'd like to rest after your long journey," Cedryck stated. Damian nodded apologetically. "I'll have servants bring you a dressing-gown and wash your clothes. Is there anything else you would like?"

"No," she stated with a smile, "thank you. This is wonderful." The young lord's smile widened and the whole room seemed to brighten with it.

"Then I bid you good night, Miss Sires." He bowed deeply to her.

"Good night," she added quietly with a curtsey as he stepped out. She hesitated, staring at the closed door after he left. Emotions tumbled about in her mind.

Suddenly, a light touch laid on her shoulder. Turning, she found Domino standing beside her.

"We should rest," he stated. Her eyes roamed distractedly over his body. He had become so important to her and she had ignored him while Cedryck was speaking to her. She felt ashamed of the way she had acted toward Cedryck.

"Good night." Turning, he began moving toward the door leading into the adjacent suite. Damian held out a hand feebly, startled by his succinctness. He didn't look back as he walked away, dark cloak rippling gracefully about him.

"Wait," she called out. Running forward, she grasped his arm. She held on too tight, afraid to let go. "Must we retire so soon?" Domino stood still, making no move toward her. Tears began to form in her eyes. Have I thrown away everything I had?

"Please... I want you to be the only man for me." She leaned her head against his chest, realizing that it was his injured arm she clutched.

"Why?"

Surprised, Damian glanced up into his eyes. The same deep sadness she had seen before shadowed his gaze.

"What?" she uttered. He shook his head.

"What do I have to offer you? I have no land, no money, no friends or followers. No family nor home. A contemptuous reputation, a pitiable life, and an uncertain future."

"I don't care!" She wrapped her arms tightly around him, tears sliding down against his hard leather vest. "You're worth more than all those things to me." She sniffled. "Don't you want me, too?" He grasped her tightly, his voice wavering.

"More than anything."

"Then don't give up on that! Not for anything," she looked up into his eyes again, "or anyone." The uneasiness in her heart began to fade. She knew that the man standing before her was the one she truly desired. No one else understood her like her mercenary protector. Not Cedryck, not Garrick, not anyone she had come to know in Aether.

"You have every right to pursue whatever you want." It was the same thing Garrick had told her the night she spent with him in Dresdin. She pushed that memory back with thoughts of that afternoon. The time she spent with the knight had not touched her as deeply as a few kisses from Domino had. Even as handsome and charming as both Garrick and Cedryck had been, all uncertainty fled her mind as she gazed upon Domino.

The mercenary looked troubled as he returned the gaze. Lifting a hand, he brushed her hair away from her face. It hesitated there, trembling faintly.

Suddenly grasping the side of her head, he leaned down and kissed her deeply. Damian wrapped her arms around his neck, warmth flooding her body. For a long moment they held each other, silence filling the large room around them.

Damian leaned her head against his chest once she pulled back. She wished he wasn't wearing his thick leather vest.

"I love you," she uttered. "Don't ever doubt that." Domino's grasp tightened about her. "And I'm sorry for the way I acted toward Cedryck." She smiled ironically. "So many people have scorned me just for being different, it still feels strange that anyone as powerful as Garrick or Cedryck should find me attractive." Moving back, she glanced up into the smooth blue irises that so captivated her.

"But that's not why you stayed." He gazed down at her steadily. "You were never afraid or bothered when you looked in my eyes. You didn't care that I wasn't married at my age, or that I've done men's work." Her eyes began to fill up with tears again. Far from the first time, she wondered if the man standing before her was nothing more than a dream. He shrugged casually.

"Why should I?"

Smiling, she leaned against him, arms wrapped tightly around the leather breastplate. "That's just it." She shook her head. "I've never felt so... accepted. I can't thank you enough for all you've done for me." His gloved hand ran soothingly through her hair.

"I feel the same way." His voice sounded strained. Damian glanced up at him, finding twitches of uncertainty playing across his face. "It hurts to be this close to someone again. I'm so afraid that I'll ruin everything." Damian tried to respond, but he continued before she could say a word. "But, at the same time, I couldn't let go even if I wanted to." Reaching up, Damian stroked his face. He closed his eyes, a mixed expression of pain and utter joy crossing his face at her touch.

"You're the best friend I've ever had," she stated softly. "I never want you to let go. Not as long as you want to be with me." Gazing down at her, he smiled, faintly. For a long moment they stood there, unmoving and unspeaking. Nothing else needed to be said.

Finally, Domino took in a deep breath. "We should rest." Damian's eyes drifted over to the huge bed before returning to him. She smiled.

"Yes, we should."

 

Domino walked solemnly beside Damian through the halls of the castle. Brilliant sunlight outside lit the wide stone corridors, though the early afternoon beams reached little beyond the windows. He ached to hold Damian again, but without the solitude they'd had the previous night, his arms remained impassively at his sides. Now well rested and fed, bathed and clothed once more in their familiar trail-worn clothes washed clean, Domino felt refreshed even as he remained uneasy at his surroundings. He hadn't been inside a castle since the dark day when he watched his once comrades slaughter an earl's son, laughing maliciously.

Setting the memory aside, he forced clearness into his mind as he journeyed on. This was a meeting of great portent and he would need all his wits about him. He and Damian had their weapons returned that morning as well, but on stern suggestion of the guards flanking them, he had left his blade behind in the suite. None of them spoke a word as they strode through the castle.

Returning to the great entrance hall of the castle, the guards brought them to the double doors leading into Alden's throne room. Crossed scythes were carved into the doors and stone-faced knights stood on either side of the entrance. The doors creaked heavily open as they stepped inside.

The near half of the throne room was wide and dark, lit by torches and candleabras. A lush red carpet paved the way down the hall towards a half flight of stairs leading up to an elegant mahogany throne. Hanging tapestries lined the hall, set between white marble pillars in front of which stood unmoving knights. The tapestries gave way as the carpet widened near to the throne, where stained glass windows lined the stone walls. The dull orange firelight of the first part of the throne room then blossomed into a myriad of colors, the very air painted by the windows that surrounded the throne. Tapestries hung to either side behind the throne. Between them, over the throne, the crossed scythes of Alden hung above a small door. No one occupied the throne nor the room other than the statuesque guards and it was to that door that their guides lead them.

Through a narrow, dark corridor past the throne room and up another half flight of stairs, they came into a bright and airy room. The room they entered was octagonal in shape and no larger than Domino's own suite where he had been lodged. The walls all around the room but for a small span near the door were lined in tall, leaded glass windows, the early afternoon sunlight flooding the room like a grey forest glen. Away through the windows on the far side of the room, Domino could see over the castle's outer wall on its north side, the far side from the town, and the plains and forests of Alden stretched away into the distance. Within the room, guards stood silently at every corner and an old man clothed in supple crimson robes lingered off to the side, shadowed somehow even in the warm light filling the room. As soon as Domino caught the man's gaze, a strange feeling crept over his skin. It felt invasive, and it seemed his thoughts lay as exposed to the robed man as his open eyes. His hand twitched at his side, wanting to grasp his amulet in defense, but he stilled his movement.

Several people gathered around a smooth wood table centered in the room. On its near side, Domino recognized Sir Magni and the young Lord McCoran, and with them stood a well-dressed man possibly twice their age. Another of similar years and draped in livery much like him leaned against the table on the far side of it. Lord McCoran glanced over his shoulder as they entered, but the others seemed too deep in thought to turn.

The guard to Damian's side saluted and his voice rang clear through the small room. "Hail His Grace, Lord Silas Bregon the Duke of Alden, and His Grace Lord Jarvis McCoran, the Duke of Hesperia." The nobleman on the far side of the table nodded in response, followed by the man standing beside the younger Lord McCoran. "I bring Miss Damian Sires and the mercenary Domino." Domino didn't react to his introduction. It was far from the first time that he had been denied even a 'mister' as a title. It was the first time, however, that it bothered him.

The Duke of Alden, standing behind the table, raised his head. "Thank you, Argus." His voice held a deep tone of command, common to nobles but not as powerful as some that Domino had met. "You are excused." With that, the two guards bowed deeply and departed through the door they had entered, the only visible entrance to the room. Domino wondered how many dukes or lesser men had fled to this room in desperation during an invasion and fallen right where he stood.

Damian curtseyed to their hosts. Domino bowed beside her.

"My Lords Duke," Damian stated as she inclined her head.

"Well met, Miss Sires," remarked Duke McCoran as he turned to face Damian. He was a tall man dressed in a high collared scarlet doublet with hanging sleeves over a white shirt and tan breeches. A half cloak of a pearly shade pinned to his shoulder with a mother-of-pearl brooch inlaid in gold with the griffin and swords of Hesperia. His square face was finely lined, hard and proud but with a softness in his blue-grey eyes. Light grey-brown hair was pulled back into a tail and a well-groomed mustache grew on his upper lip.

"Thank you, Your Grace," Damian answered. "We are honored to make your acquaintance." The Duke of Alden stood straight with a murmur.

"So it is," he added quietly. The Lord of Alden had a slightly wider figure than the others, clothed in a dark silver doublet and a black leather jerkin embroidered with the crossed scythes. His face was round with a troubled look in his brown eyes and his hair covered by a crushed velvet chaperon. Sir Magni appeared the same as ever, standing somber in his grey clothes and dragonlike armour. He hadn't turned to look at Damian or Domino since they entered and his stoic expression belied wariness. Beside him, clothed in a cream-colored shirt and breeches and sapphire sleeveless tunic, his half brother seemed uncertain. The air in the room felt tense, though Domino had predicted little else from the summons.

Duke Bregon fixed Damian with his gaze, piercing, though not dark. "So it is fortunate that I should find you. Now I put a face and a name to the rumors that have been traveling my land. The rogue mage with the dark spirit." Damian didn't waver.

"I beg your pardon, Your Grace, but you meet only the mage. The spirit is gone." Duke Bregon nodded slowly, deliberately.

"So I am told. Sir Magni and young Lord McCoran have told me strange tales, but I want to hear it in your words, Miss Sires. Tell me everything that has brought you here today and spare me no details. This will help decide your fate."

Damian shifted and took in a deep breath under the watchful gazes of the nobles, but her voice didn't falter. Domino stood silently beside her as a shadow as she recalled her tale. She told the dukes everything, from the attack and her escape from Aether, the events of Trent, the archmage's divination in Dresdin, her flight from krolmins and soldiers and the fox woman Niabi across the vast farmlands of Alden, Nephrita's resurrection, up to the confrontation on the road the previous day and their ride into Windermere, telling even of what her spells had done to Nephrita and how she could sense the dark goddess' presence even from far away. No one interrupted her tale and all but Sir Magni watched her closely, listening intently to her words. Several minutes passed while she spoke and sunlight began to touch the edge of the floor on the western side of the room.

Finally, she finished her story. She let out a heavy sigh, silence falling over the small room. The dukes and even the young Lord McCoran seemed deep in thought, absorbing what she had told them. Domino glanced casually between the Dukes of Alden and Hesperia, but could not gauge their reactions.

"I'm sorry, Your Grace," Damian added after a long moment. "I never wanted anyone hurt on my account." She set her shoulders back, standing tall and proud. "I give you my word that I will do everything in my power to stop Nephrita." Another moment of tense silence hung over the room. Lord McCoran glanced cautiously over his shoulder at his father, the Duke of Hesperia.

Suddenly, the shadowy robed figure stirred and spoke.

"She speaks the truth, Your Grace."

Duke Bregon took in a heavy breath, the tense atmosphere abating faintly.

"So now I must answer the difficult question whether to allow you to leave." The young Lord McCoran moved forward a step.

"You know now how important her mission is, My Lord. We could be dooming all of Faneria to destruction to keep her here. We can't delay her."

"This is not an issue to be cast aside lightly, Cedryck," the Duke of Hesperia answered. "Most of Alden has been on the lookout for her and it seems the entire Mages' Guild wants her captured."

"They would be fools to stop her," the young lord argued.

"The mages are justified in pursuing her," Sir Magni spoke for the first time, silencing everyone else. He raised his head, gazing at Duke Bregon. "But I have met this dark goddess myself. She moves too quickly to rally the army it would take to stop her, if one could even do so. Her power grows daily and Damian is our greatest, and perhaps only hope to stop her." The room fell still.

"Your Grace," Damian ventured after a moment, "I swear my life to stopping Nephrita, even if it means to my death. If I fail in this, I forfeit my life to you and all of Faneria." A wry smile marked Duke Bregon's face.

"You eluded us well this far, Miss Sires," he pointed out. "Had you not walked willingly through my gates, you would still be lost upon the fields, and we have not the resources to track you even if you did fail." The Duke shook his head. "No, I'm afraid I can't accept that bargain, though it would be the easiest solution." The young Lord McCoran stepped forward, determination hardening his fair face.

"Then I will vouch for her. Take me hostage in her place."

"Cedryck!" Duke McCoran exclaimed, astonished. Sir Magni turned to his half brother, shock clear in his features. Even Domino raised an eyebrow curiously at the young lord's rashness.

"Let her go," Lord McCoran continued, "and if she fails in any manner but death from Nephrita herself, then I will suffer the punishment meant for her." Grasping his shoulders, the Duke of Hesperia spun his son about to gaze fiercely into his eyes.

"Cedryck, this is madness! She hardly knows you! Let someone close to her go in your stead." The young lord wrested free of his father's grip.

"Who would go? These three are powerful together and they'll need all the strength they can muster to face this goddess. Damian is key to stopping Nephrita and you know Garrick's strength will be needed as well." Duke McCoran hesitated, then turned his glare to Domino.

"What about you, mercenary? Why don't you offer your life in place of my son's?" Domino didn't flinch as he was brought back into a conversation he had begun to tune out.

"My apologies, Your Grace," he replied steadily, "but I will not leave Damian's side, wherever that may be." Duke McCoran frowned angrily, but didn't challenge him. He gazed at Duke Bregon, listening quietly to the discussion.

"Send a contingent of soldiers to watch her." Sir Magni shook his head.

"I don't think this path is right, but she must ride with all haste."

"I will not suffer my son's life at the whim of an outlaw we know nothing about!" Duke McCoran continued before Sir Magni had finished.

Over his voice, the knight stated, "Adding armed soldiers will only slow her pace."

Young Lord McCoran added his voice to the fray, "We must give her leave to travel as she will!"

"Even if we could find enough soldiers to accompany her on short notice," Duke Bregon cut in while the others spoke, "if the issue is trust, then there's nothing to say she won't kill or abandon any soldiers we send, anyway, no offense, miss." Domino sent a sidelong glance to Damian, but she didn't react to their accusations. Their words all began to meld together as their voices rose to a roar.

"How can anyone else trust her to pass if she can't move but surrounded by soldiers?"

"We don't even know that she can stop this dark goddess!"

As their arguments bounced off the enclosed walls, Domino caught a glimpse of Damian closing her eyes from the edge of his vision.

"We must consult the Mages' Guild."

"We have no time for correspondence. If she doesn't ride soon, Nephrita will become unstoppable."

"Even if she goes free, odds are strong that she will be found and stopped by the Mages' Guild or another lord elsewhere."

"That's why we must give her leave to travel freely!"

"We could all be seen as traitors if we allow that!"

Suddenly, Damian's voice rang out clearly over the din of arguing nobles and knight.

"She moves northwest." All voices fell silent and turned to her. She opened her eyes slowly. "Towards Albrith, if my father's maps didn't mistake me." Silence lay heavily over the room, startling against the raucous so abruptly ended. Mention of the king's city caused uncertainty to creep into the eyes of all within.

The young lord laid a hand on his father's arm.

"We must let her go quickly. This is our best hope." Duke McCoran's persistence faltered. Duke Bregon sighed as he leaned heavily against the table. Turning his head, he glanced at the scarlet-robed man, standing unmoving as a wraith in the shadows.

"Archmage, you come here to represent your guild. What do you advise?" The archmage paused, deep in thought. After a long moment, he swallowed and answered.

"I have seen much through her eyes and her words. Darkness and power beyond my imagination. It is too great for any of us to fathom save, perhaps, she herself." The entire room listened closely to his soft-spoken words. "I do not think it wise to allow her to slip from our hands again." Bowing his head, he let out a slow sigh. "However, it would spell doom for all of Faneria to delay her in her journey. I came here with every intention to capture her for the archons, but even I must agree that keeping her from fulfilling her duty would be catastrophic." Everyone glanced at each other with the archmage's words. Duke Bregon straightened, looking settled. The mage's words seemed absolute. Domino could tell none held power to resist them.

"Are you certain you wish to do this?" Duke Bregon asked of Lord McCoran. The young lord nodded resolutely.

"I can't..." Duke McCoran attempted, but his words failed him. His son turned and laid a hand on his arm.

"I have faith in Garrick, and in those to whom he places his trust."

Damian stepped forward, facing Duke McCoran with her head held high.

"I hold Lord McCoran's vow in the highest esteem, Your Grace. I swear to you, on my father's grave, that I will not fail him." Wearily, the duke turned his gaze upon the young lord.

"Cedryck," he began, but trailed off.

"Jarvis," Duke Bregon spoke gently. "We've known each other for a long time. You know I would not murder your son." Duke McCoran closed his eyes, his expression showing great turmoil.

Finally, the Duke of Hesperia nodded.

Duke Bregon took in a heavy breath and gazed firmly at Damian. "I will have your horses ready and stocks replenished for tomorrow morning by dawn. Until then, all the comforts of the castle are yours."

Smiling, Damian curtseyed. "Thank you, Your Grace. Your trust and assistance mean much to me." Duke Bregon nodded.

"Let us hope that it will be enough."