The room still carried the faint sting of resin and ash even after Morena left the shutters cracked open, letting the cold air move through.
Adolf had taken Lira’s body before dawn; nothing remained but the mory of her face and the knowledge that betrayal had already rooted itself within the walls.
She washed her hands twice, then her blade, and finally the boards where the jug had spilled. She couldn’t risk having a maid do it, as the news might spread, so she had to take care of the matter herself.
While she tried her best, the scent lingered longer than she would’ve liked in the air, almost like a mory of the death that had taken place within it, the fresh sll of the li cleaner barely masking it.
Once she was done, she took a long, clean bath, dressing herself in plain black wool and exiting her room. The house was still quiet, the rumors from her father’s incident having only spread further. Servants kept their voices short, glances slid sideways and away, and even the guards’ words were clipped.
Adolf was already waiting, seated at his desk with a ledger open. When she entered, he shut it with a heavy hand and stood. His eyes searched hers once and bowed shortly.
"We’re going to start rooting out all the weeds that have grown."
She said, walking over to his desk and resting a hand on it.
"If there are cracks, I want them showing before nightfall."
He nodded, unsurprised.
"I believe that Rorik could be of use. He’s kept his n tighter than most. If anyone knows how far the council’s fingers have reached, it’ll be him."
"But can he be trusted?"
Morena knew the captain had been with her father for a long ti, alongside Adolf; they were two of the oldest people still in the estate, but sotis being second for too long can cause one to grow ambitions.
While she didn’t think the man she had t in that hall was soone to betray the people he served, she didn’t know him enough to judge him fairly. Adolf, on the other hand, did.
"I believe he can be trusted. He would never do sothing that goes against his oath to your father, or your mother."
Morena bit her lips for a second as she thought, before finally nodding slowly.
"Alright, send for him."
Not long after, Captain Rorik joined them in the main hall. The doors were barred, the side aisles cleared. He leaned forward on his forearms at the table, his gray-shot hair falling into pale eyes that missed little.
Adolf poured water, but none of them touched it.
"The chapel is the thinnest place, but it’s also the hardest place to look into."
Adolf began.
"None of our trusted n move there. Clerks, priests, guards—they all circle it. If we close it outright, it will roar louder than leaving it open."
Morena’s gaze was steady.
"Then we choke it slowly. Lessen the shifts, lower funding, and limit the servants that upkeep it, that way we see who cos barking first."
Rorik grunted.
"Agreed. I’ll move my n tonight. I’ll use the bandits as an excuse to relocate them towards the main wall. The best I can do for now is lower it by 2-3 people. If any of them object or hesitate, we can tell who’s on their payroll."
Adolf’s mouth went tight with approval. Morena leaned back slightly, her voice calm.
"They often have supplies coming in and out; we need to check what those are more carefully."
"I’ll have every cart weighed at the gate."
Adolf said.
"Brann and Hark can count twice—once outside, once inside. If sothing goes missing in between or if sothing is added, we’ll know whose hands are in it."
Rorik added.
"I’ll add so n to escort the wagons myself, people I trust to keep an eye on it. If anyone goes near it, we can tell."
Morena inclined her head.
"Do it."
Her tone shifted.
"And Ellor?"
Adolf frowned.
"He’s very weak-willed. He bends too easily. But that makes him useful—if we hold the rope. Keep him. Feed him false pages. If they surface where they don’t belong, we can use it to our advantage."
Rorik gave her a long look, sothing asuring in it.
"Cold work for a young heir."
"So is waking to poison in your cup."
She answered without a mont of hesitation. He leaned back at that, and though he said nothing, his silence was enough.
They planned longer, moving from patrols to stores to the smallest details. By the ti they left the hall, a quiet ga was already in motion.
Morena walked the yard with Adolf at her side, counting crates where all could hear. She paused at the south wall, studying the guards, and made notes in front of them.
She passed Ellor a folded order and saw the way he hid it quickly in his sleeve. She ordered that funding to the chapel would be cut back without giving a reason; she could see the doubt in the eyes of many, but none questioned it.
Rorik kept to the plan as well, shifting n where they would be noticed, moving others where they would not. The estate itself began to shift, every adjustnt deliberate.
By the next day, Adolf returned with a small list in his hand. Rorik stood beside him, arms folded.
"Ellor moved your false order just as you expected, my lady. He delivered it to a servant, who then took it to the chapel."
"And Iloni’s clerk ca through the east gate during the gap at the chapel."
Rorik added.
"Kel saw him. The boy kept his mouth shut."
"Good."
Morena replied.
Adolf hesitated.
"One more. Brann took bread from the store. Said he was hungry."
"Coin?"
She asked.
Adolf shook his head.
"No. Just hunger. A habit."
"Then let him eat where we can see him; a few pieces of bread isn’t an issue, just don’t make it a bigger problem."
She ordered for the servant who had delivered the letter to be followed and watch in secret as well, monitoring their movent for anything that stood out, or that could be used.
The house eased back into a rhythm, but it was one that was different from before. Morena returned to her chamber and had just set so books aside when her door opened.
Alina slipped in without knocking, braid loose, eyes sharp from training. She closed the door and leaned against it, arms crossed.
"What have you been doing?"
She questioned, or rather, she asked, knowing that sothing was happening but not why.
"I don’t know what you’re referring to, Alina."
"Don’t try to play dumb with , I hear whispers too, you know. Brann says the chapel watch vanished. Ina says crates went through the east stair when her boys weren’t allowed to carry them. You’ve been with Adolf recently, and the whole house seems to be moving around. Tell what’s happening."
"It has been a busy few days."
"Don’t."
The word ca sharper than she intended. She steadied her voice.
"I’m not a child. I know when the air in this house changes. If there’s danger, don’t you dare keep out of it."
For a mont, Morena only watched her. Then she reached into her pouch, drew out the stitched scrap of cloth, and set it on the desk.
"A maid tried to kill a few nights ago."
Alina’s breath caught, her face twisted in shock and then worry.
"Who?"
"Lira."
Her sister’s eyes widened in disbelief.
"She raised when Father was away. She—"
"She was pressed."
Morena cut in and walked towards her sister slightly.
"They threatened her sons, or told her they did. She believed them. It ended the way such things end."
Alina gripped her arm so tightly her knuckles blanched.
"Are you hurt?"
"No, you already know I can deal with such things."
Relief flickered across Alina’s face, chased quickly by anger.
"Why didn’t you wake ? Or at least tell about it?"
"Because you’d have co shouting with a lamp."
"I would have co with a knife."
"I had one."
They stared at each other, the silence taut. At last, Alina asked.
"Is Father safe?"
"You know how father is. Do you seriously think anyone could harm him in this house? Even injured? But Adolf and Rorik are watching. I am also doing what I need to."
"What about ?"
"You stay in the inner halls, do what you’ve always done. You don’t drink anything you didn’t pour. If a ssenger asks you for a seal, you send him to Adolf. If I say run, you run. If I say hide, you hide."
Alina bristled.
"I’m not a bird to be caged. Or soone that needs protecting."
"No, you’re not."
Morena smiled and placed a hand on Alina’s shoulder.
"You’re a fire, one that threatens to burn brightly. But I don’t need bright right now, I need to make quiet moves."
Alina swallowed.
"Let help at least."
"You help by not splitting my attention in two. When I need you—with a blade or with your smile—I’ll tell you."
Her sister stared hard at her, caught between pride and hurt, then huffed a breath that wasn’t quite a laugh.
"That’s rude."
"But it’s true."
Silence stretched. Finally, Alina sighed.
"Fine. I’ll stay out of your way. I’ll also keep my ears open for anything that might help you. But if it happens again, and you don’t tell —I’ll never forgive you."
Morena’s mouth curved faintly.
"Then train well until then. If you’re still unable to fight even a direwolf by then, maybe I won’t tell you."
Alina stepped forward suddenly and wrapped her arms around her in a fierce hug. Morena was stunned for a second, but slowly hugged her back.
"Don’t die."
Alina whispered.
"I don’t intend to."
When she pulled back, her eyes were damp, though she straightened as if nothing had happened.
"You can always ask for help, Morena. Even if you act like you don’t need it."
Morena said nothing, and Alina left her with the silence. Over the next few days, aside from her plans, she also had to keep training.
While she said she wouldn’t die, avoiding death would only be possible if she grew stronger, if she beca a proper warrior.
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