As Karissa, Lilian, Benedict, and the uninjured guards turned towards the keep after watching the Duke and the wagon depart, Karissa couldn’t seem to wipe the small smile off her face. He called me their new Duchess… that’s a good sign, right?

“Off we go,” Benedict said, leading the way forward, and Karrisa thought he seemed quite eager to get to the keep.

The distance from the watchtower to the keep was much farther than it looked, and Karissa noticed again that Lilian was breathing hard in her efforts to keep up with them. Of course, all of the guards were exhausted too. They had helped carry their injured friends all that way the past two days. We’ll all be able to rest soon, she silently promised them. 

Karissa looked past the keep ahead of them to the wooden buildings of the town beyond, wondering exactly where the infirmary was. She’d have to get someone to take her there tomorrow. To visit the injured guards.

As they neared the entrance of the keep Karissa again took in the blocky granite walls and towers that made up the structure. The large archway had a set of large wooden doors and a steel portcullis that had been left open for the new arrivals.

Entering through the archway, Karissa stepped into a large, open courtyard. Vines grew up the walls of the main building, giving the impression of leafy spiderwebs. Directly ahead of them was another large wooden door, probably leading to the main area of the inside of the keep, and to either side were many other doors leading to who knows where, as well as a few windows. They were met there in the courtyard with a line of around twenty servants, all neatly dressed and waiting patiently. 

“Greetings, Lady Karissa,” a tall, balding man towards the front of the line said, bowing to her. 

The rest of the servants followed suit, bowing or curtsying as was their preference. The man strode forward, and Karissa could tell by his neatly buttoned waistcoat and thin frame that he was either a butler or a steward. 

The man stepped forward and bowed again, then straightened. “My lady, we are terribly sorry to hear of your ordeal on your journey here.”

“I thank you for the warm greeting, and for your concern on our behalf,” Karissa answered politely.

“I would like to invite your guards to follow Jeremy here to the dining hall for a nice meal,” the man said. At the mention of his name, Jeremy, a lanky youth with stark black hair, stepped eagerly forward and motioned for the guards to follow him. Dalvo nodded to the rest of the guards to go on without him. “Would you not like to join them?” the tall man asked when Dalvo did not move.

“I have here my lady’s things,” Dalvo explained, gesturing to the horse that still had Karissa’s suitcases lashed to its back. “If you will tell me where her rooms are, I will gladly take them there before getting that meal.”

“Ah, I see,” the man said, then gestured for a couple of men to come forward. “Please, allow us to assist you. Carl and Peter will show you to Lady Karissa’s rooms to deliver her luggage.” 

Dalvo nodded, and soon had the bags off of the horse and was headed towards the large wooden door of the keep.

“I am sure you would like a meal as well, my lady, but first might I suggest a bath?” the tall man asked once Dalvo had left.

“Yes, that would be most welcome,” Karissa answered. The man turned and led the way towards the wooden door that Dalvo had just disappeared behind. Benedict followed her, no doubt fulfilling the Duke’s command to make sure that she was settled. The remaining servants either dispersed or followed behind, making a sort of procession. 

On the other side of the door was a large hall, adorned with all manner of tapestries, mounted animal heads, and a few portraits. Karissa’s eyes widened at the sight, and she wished she could study every item, but the steward was leading the way quickly down a passageway to their right.

There will be time for that later. Much like everything else. Karissa quickened her pace to keep up.

The passageway was also lined with tapestries, which she could barely get a good look at as they hurried by. Suddenly Karissa remembered Lilian and her struggle to keep up with the group as they had approached the keep earlier. She looked for her lady’s maid and, sure enough, found that she was lagging behind due to the quick pace the steward had set.

“Wait a moment, please,” Karissa said, turning back to get Lilian.

“No need to wait for me, my lady,” Lilian said, breathing hard yet managing to smile at Karissa. Karissa linked arms with the other young woman once she reached her side.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, yes, my lady, no need to worry about me…” Lilian huffed. But Karissa saw a gleam of sweat on her brow that shouldn’t be there still. 

“Lilian,” Karissa said, slowly and sternly. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

“Is there a problem, my lady?” the steward asked, coming back to see what was the matter. Benedict also crowded forward, looking worried as well. Lilian looked from Karissa, to the steward, to the knight, and to the other gawking servants and sighed.

“It’s… my ankle,” she finally admitted.

“Fetch me a chair, please,” Karissa requested over her shoulder, and one was brought almost immediately from the front hall. 

Karissa lowered Lilian onto the carved wooden chair gingerly and lifted her brown skirt a few inches. Karissa suppressed a gasp as she saw her poor companion’s left ankle. It was covered by a white stocking, but there was no mistaking the swelling underneath. Comparing the two ankles side by side, it was quite obvious that one was in bad shape. Sprained, at least, if not broken.

“When did this happen?” Karissa asked, although she thought she already knew the answer.

“During the attack, when I fell from the horse,” Lilian said, wincing.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Karissa demanded. She heard the steward whisper quickly to one of the other servants to go to the infirmary and bring back a nurse. While she knew that Lilian would hate the idea of dragging one of the nurses away from the more seriously wounded men, Karissa was grateful that the steward had made that call instead of her.

“I didn’t think it was that serious,” Lilian explained. “It only really started hurting last night.”

“And then you walked all day on it,” Karissa chastened. Then she sighed. “We’ll get you taken care of. Sir Benedict,” she said, turning to the knight. “Would you be so kind as to help my lady’s maid the rest of the way?”

“I don’t nee-” 

“Of course, my lady,” Benedict said, stepping forward and lifting Lilian up into his arms. Karissa watched as Lilian’s face turned an immediate shade of rosy red, and then the lady’s maid ducked her head to hide the blush.

“Let us continue,” Karissa said, rising from where she had knelt beside Lilian.

“Yes, my lady,” the steward said, turning back around and leading the way, though more slowly, down the length of the passageway. They came to the base of a stone staircase and mounted the steps. 

Now on the second floor, the steward led the way down a smaller corridor lined with doors. Towards the middle of the passageway the steward stopped and indicated a door to the right. 

“Here we are, Lady Karissa.”

Karissa grasped the brass doorknob and turned it, revealing a moderately sized room filled with ornate furniture and a large canopy bed draped with long, flowing lengths of cream colored drapes. A set of closed doors stood on the far wall, and to the right was a paned glass window which allowed natural sunlight to fill the room. Karissa saw that her luggage had already been deposited at the foot of the bed near a storage chest. Karissa entered the room, followed closely behind by her procession. 

Benedict deposited Lilian on a chair near the double doors, and the lady’s maid thanked him quietly, still blushing profusely.

“Through here,” the steward said, opening one of the doors next to Lilian. “Is your washroom. A bath has already been drawn for you. You may have any of the maids assist you in bathing since your lady’s maid needs to rest. If you have need of anything, do not hesitate to make your request. Once you are ready, one of the maids can lead you down to the dining hall, or you may request that your meals be brought here to your rooms.”

“Thank you very much, erm… actually, I don’t think I ever asked your name.” The man chuckled lightly.

“I never did introduce myself, did I? My name is Duncan,” he said with a bow. “I am the steward of Hallel Keep.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Duncan. Thank you for your hospitality,” Karissa said, smiling at the steward. The man smiled warmly back at her, then bowed again.

“The pleasure is all mine. I will leave you to it then, and I will make sure the nurse is sent right up for your lady’s maid as soon as she arrives.”

“Thank you again.”

With that, the steward departed, closing the door firmly behind him. Karissa looked around the room for a moment, then eyed the three maids that had followed her into the room.

“Right then,” Karissa said, clapping her hands together and smiling at the young women. “Help me get Lilian into the tub, please.”