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interested in arranging
marriage in exchange for alliances, being the niece of a chief
dame. Granted, with the birth of an heir, that changed things.
    The birthday entourage arrived and my brother
and I escorted Lunamae out to follow the entertainers to the keep.
I knew my parents would be along soon. They would be looked down on
if they were to miss it.
    After we were led into the keep we stopped
for a moment so Lunamae could be joined with her mother and be
seated first in the feasting hall. My brother and I were next and
then others followed. My parents arrived shortly thereafter and
were seated next to Logan. Servants came around with ewers of water
and bowls and a towel to wash our hands with. Then they distributed
napkins to us all. The entertainment continued as the meats,
vegetables, mutton and fruit pies, and drinks were brought forth.
There was beef, suckling pig, lamb, and stuffed geese present. I
could tell each by their coloration and the way they were presented
(the suckling pig and goose being the most evident since they
retained their shapes). For this special occasion, the guests were
given the last honey mead of the season. It was one of my favorite
beverages. It had the flavor of honey but with a mild mix of
alcohol. I preferred it over ale or the beer the Bexweth Abbey
monks produced.
    We tried to keep Lunamae in our discussions
but somehow we branched off-topic to the Wuriven clan.
    “Will you be sending an investigative party
to them?” my father asked the chief dame. While he was a farrier by
trade, he was still her brother and had previously been an advisor
to Chieftain Leofric when he was still alive and ruling.
    Angharad shifted uncomfortably, but still
made an effort to answer. “I am considering it. They may not know
they have wolves in their midst. I would, of course, make sure
there was a suitable amount of guardsmen following along for
protection. I have made more inquiries with Talfrin—who is doing
better—on the size of the bandit group that attacked him. He did
not recall it being much more than a handful.”
    “Who shall go to initiate conversation?” My
father asked.
    “Keolan, you know you are too close in the
bloodline to go yourself. I can send one of my advisors,” my aunt
answered. I dodged out of listening to anymore of the conversation
and decided it would be better to make talk with Lunamae so she
would have her head filled with happy thoughts. We talked about how
much we had learned this past week and what we were going to do the
next. She was very eager to learn when she could start needlework
because she wanted to “sew up people” too. Luckily, I still had
another day before that service was required of me.
    The party ended after a fabulous cake was
presented and then promptly eaten. Chief Dame Angharad had imported
chocolate from Chalos specifically for this event. After all the
festivities had concluded, I ushered a weary Lunamae back to the
house for a nap. I could only imagine what her other birthdays
would be like. Hopefully none were preceded with violence.

Chapter 4
Prisoner in the Keep

    Nine-year-old Lunamae and I were sitting
together in the sewing of the keep, quietly (odd as that was)
working on a tapestry for her mother’s anniversary as chief dame
when a familiar horn rang out. We looked at each other.
    “I wonder what that is,” I said. Lunamae had
grown quite a bit and was now tall enough to reach the middle of my
chest. Her golden hair was braided and brought around her head so
it didn’t fall too low. She got up, laid down the loom, and headed
for the door.
    “Whatever it is, it must be important,” she
stated. I followed after her. She quickly ran down the halls and
down the staircase as if she was a messenger boy with an urgent
delivery.
    “Slow down! Running wildly is not befitting a lady!” I called after her. She didn’t heed my
instruction so I lifted up my own skirts and tried to keep up.
    “Someone might be injured,” she shot