Location: The wasteland beyond asterras walls
Time: Night
Dusk crept over the northern wilds beyond Asterra's walls, the wind howling through the valleys like violently. The cold bit sharper than it had at noon, whistling through the camp that Liora and her companions had set up. Their gear wagons stood parked near the cave-like entrance.
Burning iron braziers stood at specific locations around the settlement filling the camp with warmth and the faint scent of smoke.
For the first time since leaving Asterra, liora and her companions moved around without fear of looking over their backs, each of them felt at ease.
Inside the largest tent, Liora sat with her closest companions — Claire, Tom, Aaron, and Amon — while the others settled into their own tents for the night. The warm light of a single oil lamp cast long shadows over the walls, its glow keeping them warm.
Liora folded her hands on her lap, her voice calm but edged with emotion.
"I am sorry that we have had to endure so much to get here. I hope you all understand why I chose this route, and why we had to escape through the North."
"You don't need to apologize, my lady," Claire said softly, her voice thin and sweet.
Amon nodded in agreement "The North was the only logical choice. Do not trouble yourself, we understand lady liora."
Tom and Aaron nodded in quiet agreement as well.
"Thank you," Liora said, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "I could not have asked for better companions."
Her words warmed made the tent even more warm and condusive. Tom rested an arm across Aaron's shoulder, leaning back.
"It really is cold here," he muttered with a half-laugh.
"Aye," Amon and Aaron replied together, as claire smiled gently.
"But we'll blend in soon enough," Claire said gently.
Then the tent went silent as each of them bathed in the peaceful atmosphere. Then Liora's voice broke through again, softer this time.
"Sir Amon— you lost your wife, Lady Ovelyn, alongside my brother, Eryndor." Her voice carried grief. "Claire… you lost your father, Lord Halric. Tom, Aaron… you lost your home, your friends, all because you bore the Valesse sigil."
Then she paused for a while as she shared glances at everyone within the tent, her eyes painting red, as she held back tears.
"We have all lost a great deal in these times," Liora said softly, "Because we bear the name Valesse, the world looks at us with suspicion, when we stand innocent of any crime. Surely, things will not remain the same."
Lioras eyes moved across every face in the tent again, as she spoke with strength now.
"But we have an obligation — to keep the name of Valesse alive until the day we can prove that we are guilty of any crimes, and that Eryndor was innocent. And not only him, but Lord Halric, Lady Ovelyn, and Sir Joras, who were murdered for daring to help the people of Asterra."
The firelight danced in her eyes, reflecting the resolve hardening within her.
"And until we bring justice upon those who have casted aside to suffer"
Claire now moved and clasped lioras hands firmly within hers.
"Groggins warned me that Eryndor and House Valesse were being blackmailed," she continued. "Lady Selene said the same, and after speaking with Master Yeru, I became certain, that the ones who framed Eryndor have influence far greater than we thought. This was no accident. This was an inside job."
Claire, who had been silent until now, raised her head. "My lady… when my father spoke of politics, there was one name he never spoke kindly of, and it was Lord Erry O'Kael, the famed warlord of the North."
Claire speaks as she clenches her fists. "My father, Lord Halric, always opposed O'Kael's methods, and his disrespect for lord Eryndor. He said O'Kael would never waste an opportunity to bring ruin upon House Valesse. I can only think of him as the one behind this."
Liora's expression softened, as she listened to claire.
But before she could reply, Amon spoke with a rough and grieving voice.
"My wife, Lady Ovelyn, was sent to open relations with Lord Sylven Veynar of House Calvasset in the West. She was tasked with studying him, understanding his moves. But she always told me the man was too sharp, too clever, he was always steps ahead"
Amon's hands trembled as tears rolled freely down his cheeks.
"My lovely wife lady ovelyn warned House Valesse never to trust him. Even Lady Selene — Eryndor's own advisor — spoke against Lord Veynar, calling him a serpent, because that was how he behaved."
He bowed his head, voice breaking.
"Could it be that Lord Veynar conspired to kill my wife? And to kill our lord erydnor?"
The tent fell silent as the only sounds heard was the faint crackle of the burning braziers. Amons grief had forced everyone within the room to grow quiet.
"It feels like those high nobles combined to frame eryndor, but that cannot be possible…" Liora said at last, with a certain voice. "The high nobles — Lord Veynar, Lord O'Kael, and Lady Marien — never saw eye to eye. In truth, they fought diplomatic wars under Eryndor's rule, even if they couldnt fight physical wars, they never truly liked one another to coordinate such an attack on eryndor, and even if they did, there would be a lot of mistakes, its just not possible"
Then liora took a deep breath, and lets out a lomg sigh.
"But the evidence planted against Eryndor… it was too precise, too well-orchestrated. The only one responsible for such would be someone with extreme power, coordination and influence." Liora says.
"Not to mention they got their hands on the Heavens Blitz," Tom muttered. "Our house's own trademark weapon. How does anyone outside Valesse gain access to that?"
Liora placed her hands over her face, wiping it as if trying to take away stress from her face, then she shuts her eyes taling a long sigh.
"It's all too much to piece together. So many threads woven to bring down our house." Her voice broke into a low sigh. "But in time… we will uncover the truth, that i am certain."
She opened her eyes again, as she felt stronger and calmer. "For now, we must deal with the issues before us, the boy, Ardyn, that was dead for days, and returned to the land of the living. What are we to make of him?"
Tom nodded. "He still sleeps. But his body runs unnaturally hot even in this cold, but he looks okay, he will make it"
Aaron leaned forward. "The boy feels… different. Strong, somehow. As though he carries a purpose none of us yet understand."
"Thats true, he is just a child who saw his family die in the attack," Tom said softly. "Perhaps he still fights those demons"
The group nodded, in unison.
"Still," Tom continued, "we are short on lumin fuel for the gear wagons. If we ever need to head back to Asterra, we will need more."
"That's not all," Aaron added. "We should explore this land, — map it out, and find food, and create protection for everyone, making sure we aren't taken by surprise by a beast or worse."
Claire spoke next, with concern. "And the cave entrance we came through, i feel its too exposed. We should seal it better, make it defensible" liora, tom, aaron and amon nods in agreement.
Amon wiped his face, regaining his composure. "And we must keep watch over the boy, Ardyn. Do a head count. Assign work to every man and woman. If we are to build a home here, it must be done with all hands on deck no wasted strength."
The tent was silent for a while, before Liora rose to her feet. Her shadow stretched long in the lamplight as she spoke with renewed strength.
"Then it is settled. Tom — you will watch over Ardyn and fortify our settlement. Aaron — choose men and scout the area, map our surroundings, find routes of escape if danger comes. Claire — I trust your mind. Design a way to seal the entrance and work with anyone who can help. Amon — lead a small party to search for food and supplies."
Her hand clenched as she marched out of the tent,— outside where the full moon cast silver light down on everything.
"As for me — I will seek contact with Master Yeru, to gather the truth for House Valesse's fall, to find fuel for our wagons, and to secure crowns we can spend, so he no longer bears the burden of looking after us alone."
She stepped out of the tent, standing beneath the moonlight. Her voice rose, clear and fierce.
"We shall call this place Valesse Frost Haven. And we shall live — and fight — to carry the legacy of House Valesse, and we shall bring justice to every soul we have lost."
She lifted her fist high, framing it between her eyes and the pale moon, her companions watching with renewed fire in their hearts.