My uncle Dane once told me, ‘Beware of those who offer you the world with a smile; sometimes the sweetest promises hide the sharpest daggers.’

I never pictured myself being led by someone who had never even been to a place I knew inside and out. But there I was, back at the estate, following Jitters, the stray I had picked up in town, as if he were some lord and I was his lackey. He strutted ahead, head held high with his tail even higher, as if he owned the place. He stopped at the outer courtyard of the main mansion, typically filled with the menial activities of daily life. Today, though, it felt different. It was too quiet, with just the right amount of calm before whatever storm. The pressure hung heavy in the air, and I half-expected lightning to start cracking above us. Servants rushed around quicker than normal, their faces painted with paleness as they moved from one task to another with both hands full. It might as well have been announced that “the evil witch of the east is coming!” but no, it was worse. Catherine Goldenshield, daughter of Duke Lysander, had arrived.

The Lysanders’ convoy had already made its entrance. The sight was so ridiculously overblown that it would have embarrassed even a royal parade. The carriages were lined up sharply, one after another. Silverlion escorts and our estate soldiers stood guard at their positions with arms. It looked like we were preparing for an attack rather than welcoming the visit of a duke’s daughter. But then, this was the woman I had termed ‘bitch,’ and when it involved her, everything had to be extra-special.

Near the mansion’s main entrance stood Alistair. He had that familiar expression of his, the kind that only showed up when he had been slaving away all morning preparing for something like this. And he was likely doing just that. He was probably trying to ensure everything went perfectly, maybe even looking to impress Aiden with his attention to detail, or perhaps trying to outshine Catherine in the grand entrance department. Well, good luck with that.

As the commotion unfolded, the number of Stormbournes increased. It was unusual to see so many of our family members gathered in one place unless it was for a major event. This made me wonder what was really going on. My father had four siblings, each with their own families. All were present except for my father’s youngest. While my father’s cousins usually kept to their corners of the region, today, they were all here at the estate.

The second eldest of my father’s family, Uncle Heaton, was the most familiar face. He lived at the estate, running the daily operations with my father. Where Heaton was all business and no-nonsense, his wife was similarly strict. Their children were well-mannered and never in trouble, unlike me.

After Heaton came Ned. Uncle Ned was something else. He was awful at jokes and a regular source of scolding for everyone around him, especially me. But when he started in on my conduct and capers, I would just say, “the red rose is blowing into the shade tonight,” giving the sign of the Heart with both hands. He got the hint. His face turned red, and he zipped his lips before scampering away like a frightened mouse. His family lived about ten miles away but were forever dropping in at our place, much to everybody’s plague. And since Uncle Ned had no children of his own, it probably helped account for his tendency to meddle in everyone else’s business all the time. His wife was a very quiet woman who scarcely ever spoke unless spoken to. Until now, I could never understand why she put up with him.

The next in line was Sam. He and his wife had their own mansion on the estate, just like Heaton. Uncle Sam was married to a woman twenty years younger than him, and rumor had it she had worked at the Royal Rose before they got wedded. That’s why I try to stay away from the tavern as much as I can. It’s tough to enjoy a drink when you might run into your uncles. The three of them, Ned, Heaton, and Sam, were regulars there. When we crossed paths in the place, they would threaten to tell my father. I would respond with an equal threat, saying that I would tell their wives about all those drunken escapades and about where they put up with young barmaids. We knew it was an empty threat. Neither of us wanted to rat out the other.

Among the family, there were my father’s cousins and their wives present, but they are not worth mentioning. The really interesting one was the youngest brother of my father, Dane. Too bad he was not here now.

Uncle Dane, an Arcane Swordsman, was one level higher than Aiden and the only other man besides my father who could use mana. He was tall and handsome with a fighter’s muscular build and inspired respect from people simply by walking around, unlike my other three uncles, who felt proud of themselves with their potbellies. Maybe the Stormbournes without mana cores would end up like that. I can’t help but muse, when Alistair is older and married, if he’ll look like them.

Uncle Dane lived in Slavia, which was a Stormbourne territory bordering our own, about a hundred miles away. Home to our major military muscle, around five thousand strong, and Uncle Dane at the very top. My father had taken me to visit him a few times, and I always looked up at him. He was all that I wanted to be. Strong, skilled, respected… Hold on. Not that. Just the tall and handsome part that I wanted to take after.

Those visits to Slavia also made me speculate if my father wanted me to follow in Uncle Dane’s footsteps. Sure, I wasn’t the eldest, but I had a mana core, which meant I had a role to play. Even though I was still struggling with spellcasting, maybe I was destined to become the commander of our forces someday. Well, if my father wanted to groom me for that role, so be it. In return, House Stormbourne might just end up being the first “Drunken Army” in Valoria. You know how much I love ale. And one of my ways of appreciating hardworking soldiers was by treating them with good brew. Maybe I’d even set up a few taverns in Slavia when I took over the region. Why not? If I was going to lead, then I’d do it my way.

I watched from a distance as the spectacle began to unfold. Out of her carriage stepped Catherine. There to welcome her was Aiden. He offered his hand, which she took in that uniquely royal way of hers. After that, they started walking toward the rest of the Stormbournes. Aiden had turned into an envoy and was introducing our people. He began with the main family. My sister, Aeryn, was first; then my brother, Alistair; and it should have been me next. Since I was off staring from afar, he moved on to Uncle Heaton, Ned, Sam, and their families, as well as the other Stormbournes in attendance.

The introductions were going smoothly, with Aiden doing his best to entertain Catherine. That was when I caught something from the corner of my eye. At the rear of the procession, a Silverlion guard hung back, half-melted into the shadows and barely discernible until now. His uniform was midnight blue, trimmed with silver, and a clasp on one side of his cloak marked him as the personal protector of Catherine. At his hip was a sheathed sword. He bore himself with poise, but his rather fine display suggested he was also an old hand at being an armored slab of muscle. I hadn’t seen him during Catherine’s last visit, which made his sudden appearance most intriguing in a portentous kind of way. What’s this guy’s deal? I squinted my eyes at him to get a better view.

Catherine continued mingling with the crowd until Aiden approached her, ushering her into the mansion. They went up the grand staircase through huge doors that opened into the heart of the Stormbourne family’s main house. The hallways were filled with blossoms and chandeliers, announcing further up a banquet prepared in Catherine’s honor.

The event ended, and the servants ushered the Silverlion guards to their temporary quarters in the inner part of the estate. After all, at some point, our soldiers had to be released from their duty. Warden Grinwald stood right in the middle, his usual grim look breaking just a little. I thought it was the end of the formalities because his frown seemed to ease for a moment. He was released from all those people looking up to him in his position as estate security head.

I watched as the last figures of the Stormbourne family, including Aiden, Catherine, and her bodyguard, vanished into the depths of the mansion. There was something more important about this visit that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. And what was this feeling that had bugged me since Catherine’s huge entourage entered the estate? It was a soft voice carried by the wind, telling me that something sinister was about to happen, and I needed to be prepared for what came next.