Karissa couldn’t help but steal glances at her new husband any chance she could. He stood resolutely while eating his food, staring into the trees and not saying a word while his knights conversed with her guards.

Her eyes were drawn to the sword at his side. Was it the same one used to execute her father? Or did he have a collection of swords that he could choose from? A dagger was also sheathed on his opposite hip, and along with the sword and the armor she realized that he had come fully outfitted for some kind of confrontation. 

But was he truly only worried about beasts?

Once the meal was eaten the Kyleon guards quickly packed up and made ready to break camp once more. Karissa and Lilian took a leisurely stroll down the road, under the watchful eye of Dalvo, to stretch their legs before resigning themselves to the carriage. 

Before entering the carriage Karissa looked around at her guards, who were taking up their positions around them. The only horses that could be spared back in Kyleon were hitched to the carriage pulling her and Lilian. As she had every day of this journey, she felt sorry for her guards and the fact that they had to walk such a long way. 

“My lady,” a voice said behind her, and she turned to see the Duke sitting on his horse, looking as commanding as ever. “My men will be in front and behind your party, if that is acceptable.”

“Yes, I’m sure that will be fine. Thank you.” He nodded, then turned his horse and rode ahead to lead the procession from the front. Karissa stared after him, then climbed into the carriage. I suppose there will be more time to talk to each other once we reach the keep. 

Lilian firmly closed the carriage door and they lurched forward as the horses were urged to start the journey anew. “Well, that was interesting,” the lady’s maid said, settling back into the cushions on the seat opposite Karissa.

“Oh?”

“Yes, don’t you think so? I think we’ll like Hallel very much, my lady, there’s so much to see and do!”

“Is there?” 

Lilian frowned. “Weren’t you listening? The knights were telling the guards all about it! Festivals, lakes, natural caves, and orchards in a place called Jourma.”

“Oh… I must have been distracted,” Karissa said, now regretting that she had not paid better attention to the conversations. She needed all of this information if she was to become the Duchess of this land. Lilian smiled mischievously.

“Distracted indeed. I’m surprised I had to keep reminding you to eat, you usually finish before me.” Lilian paused. “So, what do you think of the Duke? Is he to your liking?”

“I’m not sure yet. I don’t think the few words we’ve exchanged are enough to know that just yet.” 

Lilian giggled. “There will be plenty of time for talking, I mean what do you think of his looks?”

“Oh, well… he’s very… regal.”

“Regal?”

“Yes,” Karissa said defensively, fidgeting in her seat. “What with the armor, cape, and sword. He looked ready for battle, or a coronation.”

“So you don’t like how he looks?”

“What? I said he looks regal, that’s not negative.”

“I meant his face, my lady. Do you think he’s handsome? I know he’s quite a few years older than you, but…”

“I never really thought about our difference in age…” 

Karissa felt her anxiety bubble up. What if he was thinking about that? Was he disappointed she was so young? Or was he pleased with that fact? Karissa shook her head, returning her attention to the conversation. 

“Yes, I do think he’s a handsome man, if that’s what you’re wanting me to say,” she said at last. Of course she did, there was no denying how ruggedly handsome he was. But that was not her main concern. Not even close. “Let’s play Nittle now, to pass the time,” Karissa suggested. Lilian raised an eyebrow.

“You hate playing Nittle…” the lady’s maid said slowly.

“But you don’t. And what else is there to do?” Lilian rolled her eyes, fully aware of the tactics that Karissa used when she didn’t want to talk about something. 

But Lilian reached into the pocket of her dress and brought out a well used deck of cards. The back of the cards depicted visages of the previous emperor, Harold the III, with his crown and scepter. Karissa had always wondered how Lilian had gotten them. Her father would never have tolerated anything even remotely related to an emperor, even if it was something as harmless as playing cards. Which is why Karissa and Lilian only played when they were alone.

“I want you to actually try to win this time,” Lilian teased, expertly shuffling the cards in her lap. Karissa laughed, glad that her suggestion had steered the conversation away from her new husband.

“What are you on about? I always try to win, you are just too good!” The two laughed, then set to playing.

Four rounds later and Karissa had only managed to win once, barely, which was actually an improvement considering how rare her wins in Nittle were. 

“Alright, let’s pick a different game now, my lady,” Lilian said after claiming her third win of the day, shuffling the cards again. 

Suddenly the carriage jolted sharply, throwing the deck of cards from Lilian’s lap onto the floor of the carriage. Lilian uttered a soft curse, then bent down to pick up the cards when another jolt sent her onto her knees. The carriage then came to a stop, the floor sloped at an odd angle. Karissa could hear shouts outside and a stab of alarm jolted through her.

“What happened?” Lilian asked as Karissa helped her up. 

“I don’t know-”

The door of the carriage flew open, revealing Dalvo and a few of the other guards.

“My lady, Lilian, are you alright?” The captain asked, offering his hand to Lilian as she was closest to the opening. “We’ll need you to come out, one of the carriage wheels was damaged.”

“Do you think you can repair it?” Karissa asked, bending down to gather the fallen playing cards. Lilian was helped out, and Karissa hurriedly stuffed the cards into her own pockets before moving to the captain.

“No, I don’t think so,” Dalvo said grimly, lifting her down to the ground easily. The guard who had been driving the horses was standing beside them, speaking to them calmly as another guard worked to unharness the animals. 

Karissa walked a few steps forward, trying to survey the damage, and realized why Dalvo was not very optimistic. The right front wheel was cracked into two halves, with the upper part still attached to the axel, while the lower half lay flat on the road.

“Did we hit something?” Karissa asked incredulously. What else could have caused such damage?

“No, my lady,” the driver, Isaac, said, leading the horses a short ways away from the carriage as they were finally unhooked. “I’ve been very careful, my lady.”

“Of course, yes, I know you are, Isaac. But how did this happen?”

“This carriage is very old, my lady,” Isaac continued. “I doubt these wheels have been replaced since it was first put together.”

Right..." Karissa agreed, biting her bottom lip. Now what?