I never realized that stone floors could be used as torture devices.

I know it now.

Kneeling with my back to the wall, I shift a little every now and then, but it helps less and less. Other slaves seem to be better adapted to this posture. They sit in a row, motionless like statues, their eyes cast down. Don't their knees hurt as much as mine, or are they just used to suffering in silence?

The feast has been going on for some time now, and I have no way of knowing if it's going to end anytime soon. The servants keep bringing more food and wine. Each round starts from the high table, then same dishes are brought to the lower tables where knights, squires and other guests sit according to their ranks. From my position, I can't even see the high table behind the backs of the people sitting at the lower ones.

The smell of food makes my stomach growl. I haven't eaten since morning, and so many things have happened in the meantime that I could really use something to boost my strength. Yet I have no idea when and where the slaves are supposed to eat.

It's a good thing that I'm sitting next to the archway leading to the balcony, so that fresh air softens the mouthwatering smells coming from the tables.

My knees feel like they will never straighten again when, at last, people begin to get up. They leave the great hall through the main entrance and soon the noise of their voices and the shuffling of feet subside. There's still occasional shouts and laughter coming from the yard, but inside the great hall it's relatively quiet.

I dare to glance at the high table, but the king is no longer there. Perhaps it was him leaving that has commanded all the guests to disperse.

There's still a few people sitting at the high table, though, not eating anymore, but talking, while servants clear the table in front of them. Ferox is engaged in a heated discussion with an extremely fat man dressed in some unusual clothing. A few chairs away from them, Hadrian is talking to a young and pompously dressed knight I've never seen before. A young woman sitting between Ferox and Hadrian seems to be listening to both conversations. She occasionally smiles at the fat man and at the well-dressed highborn, who seems too engaged with Hadrian to notice her.

Aurelia. The sister.

I take a long look at the three siblings sitting side-by-side. It's hard to see them for the evil things they are when they talk and smile and look so normal, but I must remember for what they stand.

I shift again, trying to relieve the pain in my knees. My back hurts, too. I'm not used to staying immobile for so long. Laboring in Oliver's father's carpenter workshop has made me used to staying on my feet all day. Today, the workshop will probably remain closed due to our little expedition that has gone so wrong.

Or maybe not so wrong. It's still too early to tell.

I freeze at the approaching steps.

Ferox strides towards the main entrance, and a couple of slaves jump up and follow him. They leave the hall and walk out into the sunshine.

More steps come my way.

"I must apologize for my brother's rudeness," Aurelia says in a pleasant, musical voice. "Taking over Oflana is a matter so important to him that he is prone to bouts of impatience."

"Important or not, I told both him and your father that I want nothing to do with this." The fat man walks past me onto the balcony, his strange white robes embroidered with geometric patterns almost brushing the floor. "I trade with you and Oflana and have no interest in taking sides."

"I understand," says Aurelia softly, following him.

I glance aside. They stand side-by-side by the railings, gazing at the view. They can probably see the whole city from there. From where I sit I can only see the blue sky and a few clouds. The young princess in her long flowing dress seems at least three times thinner and one head shorter than the merchant, yet she stands straight and proud and somehow has no less presence than he does.

"You're a clever man, Wido, and you understand the risks. Yet have you considered the benefits?" Her girlish, sing-song voice sounds surprisingly convincing. "Once we take Oflana, we will trade exclusively with you. Your gains will rise considerably."

"Or they will drop considerably if you fail and Oflana sisters will ban me from doing business with them."

"How could we possibly fail against two young, inexperienced women? I met Oflana's sisters. We have been exchanging letters for years. They're sweet girls, but they know nothing of politics or war."

"They have their generals to do the dirty work. Your army is strong, but their fleet is stronger."

"That's why we would like to add your ships to it."

"And who will pay me for the ships that will get destroyed? War is an expensive enterprise, my lady. I'm not sure you can afford it."

More steps come my way, and I look down quickly.

"Aurelia, I can't believe you're still bothering our guest." Hadrian walks onto the balcony, followed by the knight he spoke with at the table.

"Her highness is not bothering me," says Wido. "It's only natural for a good daughter to try and use her feminine charms to help her father's cause. Yet I'm afraid I'm only a simple merchant, and not fit for taking part in military enterprises."

"It's very reasonable, my lord," says Hadrian. "Now let us close this topic and spend our time in a more pleasant way. Since your last visit, there were some wonderful additions to our library that I'm sure you'd enjoy. Also, I can show you around the gardens—now that most flowers are in bloom, they present a lovely sight. Lord Jasper, will you be so kind as to escort my sister to her chambers?"

"With pleasure," says the knight, in a rather reserved tone.

There's a pause, and then two pairs of feet walk past me and towards the main entrance. A couple more slaves jump up and follow them in silence, leaving me and Syra the last two sitting by the wall.

"How did you like the meal?" says Hadrian. "I'm sure your tastes are more refined than ours, since you have tried so many foreign cuisines."

"Truth be told," Wido chuckles, "as long as my belly is full, I'm content."

"Then let me give you a tour around the castle. I would like to compensate you for the lack of hospitality my over-insistent siblings have shown you."

"With pleasure, your highness, but I'd like to state right now that no amount of hospitality will make me change my mind regarding those ships."

Hadrian laughs. "You have made it perfectly clear, my lord. I only want to seize the opportunity to spend time with a learned man who has been to places I cannot begin to imagine."

Wido hums contently. "Well, I do have some interesting stories to share, if that could please your highness."

"My lord," says Hadrian softly, "it'll please me immensely."

Then, there's silence, and I glance at them briefly to find the merchant looking at Hadrian in the same curious manner as Philto and Jasper did before. When speaking with Aurelia, the merchant seemed more interested in the city view, but with Hadrian, it's almost as if he's under a spell prohibiting him from averting his gaze.

Hadrian smiles, and the merchant looks away with a confused expression that is unlike his previous confident, self-assured manner. I notice Hadrian's smile leave his face the moment that Wido looks away, and a cold, evaluating expression take its place. Then, the smile returns as the merchant looks at him again.

"Shall we?" say Hadrian.

I look down as they turn back to us.

"Don't follow," Hadrian throws as he goes past us. "Prepare me another bath."

I and Syra remain on our knees until the two men leave the great hall.

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