Dyder and ?l? walk into the great hall of the college, figuring it would be the best place to find Arn and Faerthryne. They scan the round tables set up along the walls—all occupied, but the two he is looking for are not scattered amongst the nobles and wealthy merchants.

  They make their way to the second floor and look out from the balcony, trying to get a better vantage over the seating area.

  “You’re concerned too much about what they can do to you, but not what they can do for you, Gyrshke.” With a hearty chuckle, Faerthryne pats Arn on the back.

  Recognizing the voice, Dyder turns and looks up. “Found them.” He says to Ilsenila and points towards a group of people on the top balcony of the Great Hall.

  Faerthryne turns, first to Dyder, looking slightly up to Arn’s relative, then inquisitively at the small woman next to him. “Hello Dyder—and?” She says, not knowing who the woman next to him is.

  At the mention of Dyder’s name, Gyrshke startles and dismisses herself, scurrying off towards the cloister; getting an odd look from Faerthryne.

  Dyder watches the High Priestess flee but is in no place to try to stop her; if she wanted to stay, she would, and if he tried to get her to stay—Ilsenila would flay him alive. “This is Ilsenila Heren, my soon-to-be wife.” He has always found it interesting how similar Faerthryne and Katherina sound despite the vast disparity in stature between the women—the only difference being the timbre: Faerthryne’s is resonant and smooth, whereas Katherina’s is airy and hoarse.

  “Congratulations, you two.” Faerthryne responds with a smile. “I assume you have been acquainted with Arn, Ilsenila?”

  ?l? shakes her head. “I have not—I have met little of Dyder’s extended family. I’ve just moved to the Crown now, so I assume I will be meeting them soon.”

  “Well...” A smirk forms on Faerthryne’s face as she places a hand on the head of Arn, ruffling his graying, dirty blonde hair. “Let me introduce you to my trial husband—Arn Scyldwyr.”

  Dyder's eyes go wide. “I—I’m sorry... trial husband.” He stutters, not knowing what to make of this development. He had figured that Arn would at some point fall for Faerthryne, seeing as how she was the same physical person as Y?lnor—but with a far more personable demeanor, even if it is fittingly cold.

  “Oh, yes; he confessed to me in an alley.” She wishes to see how far she can tease him before she gets a reaction; previously their relationship was, to some degree, transactional—but now she could tease him, like a dense snow testing a cabin roof. “Practically begged me to stay in the crown with him.”

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  “I did not beg—you pinned—” Arn starts.

  “Shush you.” She places a frigid finger against his lips, stopping him promptly. “So, I gave him one year.”

  “Why a year?” ?l? asks, fascinated at the relationship between these two new people—a dynamic like one from a romance novel she had read in her teenage years.

  “I have lived in a castle in the Alps since before this era began, sweetheart. It’s cold, quiet, and no one comes soliciting—perfect for me, don’t you agree? I’m not going to just give that up and move on a whim to live with a man who still lives with his daddy.”

  “You are talking about a manor that is nearly a thousand square meters with a full staff—that is not living with Daddy; it is a family estate.” Arn says, trying to defend himself.

  Faerthryne looks at him with a smug smile, knowing her teasing is working. “So tell me: who greeted me when we arrived at your home this afternoon?”

  “My father.” Arn responds quickly.

  “So you live with Daddy.”

  “So how was the journey here from the Alps?” Dyder asks, trying to change the subject.

  Faerthryne looks at Dyder, annoyed that he is trying to put a stop to her teasing, but quickly shrugs it off—she has a year; might as well savor it. “Honestly, it could have been better; they are having issues in Nyrhylic because last week Sylvert decided to force every single person with a coach or carriage to focus solely on bringing goods through the Alps—so I had to ride here on horseback, only able to bring a single change of clothes and no extra shoes with me.”

  “I would let Katherina know that when you see her.” Dyder says. “Will you be going back to the Alps at some point to bring some of your belongings here?”

  “Most likely not. I don’t have much need, as Arn spoiled me today, took me for a date in the city, and bought me many nice things.” Faerthryne turns to Ilsenila. “You said you have just moved here; will you be staying at the Dornitter estate?”

  ?l? shakes her head. “No; Katherina has gifted us a house on the castle grounds.”

  “I would expect nothing less of a Herst; always a generous family. I was hoping we would have been neighbors, so I would have someone to speak with throughout the day.” Faerthryne says, though, that she can simply go to Herst Castle whenever she pleases.

  “Will you have that much free time? Do you not control... well, winter?” Gods and their ways have always confused ?l?; Faerthryne—and the other witches—not needing a priestess and simply just annexing people’s bodies doesn’t help one bit.

  Faerthryne laughs. “No, I am Winter. You mistake me for a god or goddess—they are vessels for beliefs, for emotion, for flows; without belief nearly all of them will cease to be. If all of man stops seeking profit and returns to only using currency only for its ease of use in trade—R?nayn [1] will cease to exist. I am not a concept, with or without man—I am.”

  ?l? stares at Faerthryne blankly; she thinks she gets the basic idea. While this does interest her, this is really not the time to delve into such topics.

  “I am going to get something from the stands before I have to put on a show for the people. Do you wish to come with Arn and I.” Faerthryne asks. Ilsenila is clearly not the audience for explanations like this, and the conversation will go no further if it stays on metaphysics.

  “I have no objections; we didn’t eat before coming here.” Says Dyder. He figures there will be more than enough to eat at the after-party thrown by the priestesses, but a beer—or three—before having to be in the same room with Ilsenila and High Priestess Seliani would only benefit him.

  ?l? agrees as well, and the four make their way to the forecourt.

  Footnotes

  [1] The current Goddess of Money and Economy.