- Do not even think, girl, he's mine.

   Startled in surprise, I staggered to the side, which almost caused me to fall. But I was not allowed to do this, grabbing my elbow and squeezing it painfully.

  - What?

  I stared blankly at the girl next to me. The stranger at first glance was about twenty-five. Perhaps a little more, but not much.

   And don't look at me innocently. I know you saint.

  Despite the fact that the face of the intruder was beautiful and pleasant, I did not like her look at all. Therefore, with one jerk, I freed my elbow and immediately went to the bed, sitting on it, as the last effort completely took all my strength from me.

   - Who are you?

    When I asked the question, I tried to look as confident as possible. It's just that it's hard to do when you look a little different from a walking corpse, your voice is sickly and weak, and you only wear a nightgown from clothes. And, judging by the mocking look they gave me, the stranger was of the same opinion.

   “I, Justine Oc'Tarner, widow of banneret Sadar Oc'Tarner and fiancée of banneret Ader Oc'Tarner, lord of Durschars Castle and the surrounding mountains.

   And there was so much pride in the upturned chin, and in the look directed at me, disdain, that I simply could not resist and remain silent. Although it should.

   “Does the banneret itself know that you are his bride?”

   Yes, as soon as the girl introduced herself, I immediately remembered the conversation between the healer and, as I understand it, the owner of the castle about the role that a certain Justine plays here and her plans for one particular man. And I also remember what opinion the man himself had about these plans. Although, in a good way, it does not bother me at all. Let them do what they want. The main thing is that I do not interfere in all this. Here's how to deal with your problems. And I never liked to climb into someone else's life.

   By the way, it turns out that the one I recently observed is the same Ader Ok'Tarner. The last fact did not surprise me, unlike the unexpected discovery. What are their laws? Is it possible that women, or rather widows, like a passing banner, go along with movable and immovable property from one owner to another? This arrangement did not suit me at all. Or is it in this case the matter of the desire of the widow herself? I didn’t manage to think the last thought over properly, as I had to quickly roll over to the opposite side of the bed. And all because some people didn’t like my hint at all, since, most likely, it hit the mark.

   - Oh, you...

   The offended innocence did not have time to finish, however, as well as to do something, since at that moment the door to my room opened and a healer appeared on the threshold.

  - Lea Odarita, why did you get up? It's too early for you to get up. Lera Justin, what are you doing here?
   
   In just a moment, the expression on my intruder's face changed from angry to affably sweet. 

  - I came to visit our guest, - a second ago, lips distorted with anger stretched into the most relaxed smile that I had ever seen. “Besides, Lier Ader asked me to support the poor thing. After all, she was completely alone in a strange castle, far from relatives and friends, which could harm her reputation. Which we cannot possibly allow.

     The last words were followed by a quick, mocking glance in my direction. 

   - You are right, Lera Justine, honor for an unmarried girl is above all. Therefore, I am very glad that you agreed to become a companion for lei Odarita while she is visiting the owner.

  - How could I refuse the request of Lier Ader. After all, we are a family and we need to help each other.

  - Fine. Then I will tell you now what daily routine should be followed so that she recovers as quickly as possible, and also when she needs to take what tinctures.

   I listened to the scraping of the two interlocutors, clearly beginning to understand what a trap I had fallen into. Be that as it may, I was definitely not going to take any medicine from the hands of the mistress of the owner of the castle. And who pulled my tongue? But she could be a good source of information for me. Now I doubt that the girl will answer my questions. M-yes. We are all good in hindsight.

  - No, no, Guida, I don't have time for that right now. Lier Ader personally invited me to breakfast, - informing everyone about her future plans, Justine threw a proud look in my direction and immediately continued. - And you know that he doesn't like it when someone is late. So it's better to tell Uliya everything, especially since she doesn't care to wait on our guest.   

  Nodding to the side, the girl moved to the door with a smooth gait of a swan. And after all, even I found it difficult to look away from her thin waist and swaying hips. No, it didn't work. Everything was very strict. If I had not seen Justine's outburst of anger before, then I would say that she looks like an ideal of aristocratic beauty. A chiseled heart-shaped face with delicate features, grey-green expressive eyes, lips in a bow, blond thick hair styled in a neat hairstyle, a smooth step, exquisite clothes and polite speech. It is not surprising that the owner of the castle wanted to keep such a woman for himself. And then I remembered how I look. M-yes. The comparison was clearly not in my favor. Well, okay, not really necessary.

   As soon as the door closed behind Justine, who had left our society, I turned my gaze in the direction in which she nodded. And there, it turned out, was another girl, about fifteen or sixteen years old, in a simple brown dress that covered her from the neck to the hands and ankles. The teen's hair was hidden under what looked like a light gray cap. An apron of the same color with two pockets was tied around the waist.

   - Ulya, come to me.

  As soon as the sorceress called her, the girl immediately rushed to the elderly woman, attentively listening to everything she said to her, but at the same time the girl still threw inquisitive glances in my direction from time to time.

    “Now run to the kitchen and bring your mistress broth and boiled lean meat.” I specifically for lei asked to cook all this.

  A moment, and the girl has already disappeared behind the door. Well, apparently, I got a nimble assistant. The sorceress went to the bed on which I was sitting.

  - How do you feel today, lea?

  From the conversations I heard earlier, I already understood that lea is an appeal to a girl, most likely an aristocrat, lera is already a woman who has been married, and lier is an aristocratic man. Something like Miss, Mrs and Sir.

  - Thank you. Today is already much better. I was even able to get up for a while.

  - And you are in vain.

  Hearing my answer, the old woman shook her head condemningly, after which she took my hand and closed her eyes, while continuing to move her lips silently.

    - Surprisingly, but you are quickly on the mend.

   Despite the seemingly good news, the elderly woman opened her eyes and frowned, which made me a little nervous. Therefore, I immediately decided to check whether everything was in order with me.

  - This is good?

  - Yes, sure. This means that your gift may soon manifest. Or maybe you already feel its echoes. Heat in the chest or tingling in the fingers.

  Clarifying the details of interest to her, the sorceress looked at me carefully. But I didn’t feel anything like that, in confirmation of which I shook my head negatively.

  “Then perhaps you remember something?” Any names? Or names?

    I didn’t want to lie to the old woman who saved me, but you can’t tell the truth either. So, looking away, I just shook my head. Perhaps later, when I understand what is happening, I will tell someone the truth about myself. But not now. While doing so is dangerous.

  - Nothing. Don't worry, lea. Too little time has passed yet, - reassuring me, the medicine woman reassuringly patted her hand, which she still held. - You will remember everything soon. In the meantime, the banneret Ok'Tarner is looking for your family, Lera Justine will be with you. I will visit you once a day. But if something starts to bother you, then immediately send Ulya to me.

    By the way, about Lera. We should try to get rid of her company.

Thank you for all the help you have given me. Also convey my thanks to banneret Ok'Tarner for my rescue and hospitality. I'm sorry to have caused you all so much trouble. And I would not like to deliver them even more. I think Lera Justine has enough things to do without me. So the company of a maid is enough for me.  

   Hearing my remark, the old woman suddenly grunted, giving me such a piercing look that it immediately seemed to me that all my inventions were sewn with white threads for her, and she perfectly understands that I am deceiving her. From the last thought, I felt very insecure and immediately tried to take my hand away, slightly pulling it towards me, but it was not there. Despite her age and appearance, the old woman turned out to be much stronger than she looks at first glance. So she held me tightly and was not going to let go.

   - It's OK. And not so often in our boring lands something happens or guests appear. In this connection, for some time, Lera will be able to postpone her business and devote time to you. Also, don't think badly of her. Not everything always seems the way it seems at first glance. Justine has not the easiest fate. Just a few years ago, when she came here, she was different, cheerful and smiling. Now she is afraid for her future, so sometimes she can be a little harsh.
  
  After being silent for a few seconds, the sorceress sighed heavily, after which she continued in a sad voice. 

   “Her mother died in childbirth. The father soon married another girl. Only a few years later, the father died, leaving everything he had to his son. The stepmother married the royal huntsman. In this situation, apart from the holy monastery, nothing else would have been waiting for the girl. But Justine was lucky. Our master's older brother saw her once during a royal hunt. She helped her stepfather prepare the bait. Despite the fact that she has neither a gift nor a dowry, Lier Sadar took the girl in marriage. After all, such a beauty still had to be looked for. But it so happened that soon he died on the hunt. By law, Justine should have been sent home to her stepmother and stepfather, but they don't want her. I'm sure they won't even give a copper coin to a church to house their stepdaughter there. And this girl does not have the character to pray all day long. If she had managed to suffer from her husband, then she would have been assigned monthly payments until her son came of age, and so she was left completely alone, without support, money and a home to return to. It is good that Lier Ader is a man of honor and did not leave the young widow in trouble. But now he does not have time to look for a new husband for his daughter-in-law. Yes, and in the house, until a new mistress appears, a female hand will not interfere. So I hope you still become friends with Justine. And over time, in the future, you will help her. until a new mistress appears, a female hand will not interfere. So I hope you still become friends with Justine. And over time, in the future, you will help her. until a new mistress appears, a female hand will not interfere. So I hope you still become friends with Justine. And over time, in the future, you will help her.

  I? Help? At the last statement, I wanted to openly laugh. Here she would get herself out of trouble and arrange her life. But under the attentive gaze of the sorceress, I did not even smile. She seemed to be waiting for an answer from me. So, without thinking of anything better, I just nodded in agreement.

 - That's wonderful. And now, to gain strength, you need to have breakfast.

  The phrase had not yet been completed, when the door opened and Ulya entered the room with a tray in her hands.