Dame Abigail March
“I shall not tarry here, Naissa,” Dame Abbie muttered as much to herself as to her lifelong friend. “There is nothing for me here any longer.”
Naissa’s arched eyebrows betrayed her feelings before she even replied. “But Abbie, you are the master of this estate. You have a duty-”
“Nothing!” she inerjected. “My mother is gone. My aunt, the betrayer, is gone. Balint, banished forever, is gone...”
The young knight slumped in her plush leather chair, losing her gaze in the blazing hearth fire.
Naissa considered what she might say next.
“What will you do?” She finally asked.
“I shall return to Hillsreach and swear my allegiance to Davin Kell.”
“... Just as Dame Astrid once did,” Naissa observed, sighing darkly. “I do not know that such a course of action is wise.”
Naissa frowned. She had never met the half-elf. Given the man’s reputation, she did not want to, either.
Both young women stared silently into the glowing flames for a long while, occasionally sipping their tea.
“I am leaving tomorrow.”
“So soon?”
“Aye, and I have made a decision as to the management of the estate.”
“I see.”
“I have decided to leave it in your charge, Naissa.”
“Me? But, wouldn’t Annah, or even Jonas, be a better choice?”
“I trust you more than anyone else alive, besides Balint. And I can’t leave him in charge now, can I?”
They laughed grimly together, and the mood lightened ever so slightly.
*******************
Abbie stood quietly in the Grand Nave of the Church of the Deep Umber in Hillsreach. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. She could feel her mother’s presence all around her. This was where Abbie had been born. Where she had listened to her mother’s uncounted sermons on the faith. Where she had played, and learned of the world, and sung her hymns of devotion.
This was her home.
She spent the morning in the church, tidying up. As mid day approached, she gathered herself and exited the place of worship, walking leisurely along the short central lane of the village. She greeted each villager she passed by name, and received a bow or curtsy in return. She was still trying to get used to that part of things.
She passed the village well, and then the little open air market where everyone gathered at mid day. She bought a handful of apples for a few coppers, and continued on her way home.
As soon as she walked up the steps of the sweeping porch, Nan intercepted her.
“A letter has arrived,” the old servant told her excitedly. “A letter from Lord Kell!”
The young knight scanned the letter quickly, wondering if Davin Kell had read her mind and summoned her before she could announce her intentions. Instead, she learned that the Lord of Hannsport had called a council to address the appearance of an orcish warband outside a nearby ruin on the edge of his lands.
“Well,” Dame Abigail March observed wryly, thinking back to her discussion with Naissa Mirian a few short days ago. “It appears I do have a duty to follow, after all.”
********************
Abbie looked at the assembled members of Davin Kell’s court- Brother Markus and Constable Mamadou Dreng stood huddled in the far corner with three elves. Two she remembered as Valinesti who had been involved somehow in her rescue from the sacred grotto- Ghaelvwynne and Lothaleril, she believed were their names. The third she had not seen before, but Magda Vyrlich had told her he was Professor Malort, a renowned scholar who had come from Yorvik at Markus’ request.
Abbie sat at the massive table in Lord Kell’s great hall with Magda and Magda’s husband Anton, the mayor of Hannsport, discussing both the old days as well as more recent rumors of what was happening by the ruins in the hills.
Davin Kell’s other remining retainers, Sir Ulysses Marigan, governor of Gorum’s Vale, and Sir Rollin Korr, governor of Dark Oaks, sat together near the hearth, trading tactical ideas on how they might assault the orcs that had gathered to the north. Abbie knew them, although not well. When they had arrived, they each took a moment to personally give their condolences on Dame Astrid’s passing. Abbie also knew from her mother’s stories that the three of them, and Lord Kell, had been through many trying times and campaigns together, and the young knight appreciated their sympathies.
Abbie considered the assembled court to be both formidable and wise. Whatever dark force menaced Hannsport now, she was certain they would be able to overcome it together.
After a few more moments, Davin Kell finally entered the hall. He sat in his great chair on a small dais and looked down at the assembled council. When he first entered the hall, the others joined Abbie’s group at the table. The assemblage then remained silent, waiting for their lord to address them.
“The orcs of the mountains dare to show their presence at the edge of my domain,” he began. Abbie could feel the hatred biting behind the words. “It has been many years since the vermin have skittered down from their barren rocks to trouble me. They shall regret their mistake.”
