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Early morning sunlight filtered through breaks in the clouds, casting bright, golden rays of light through the rain clouds that hung over Lothian City like a sodden blanket.

In the outer courtyard of Lothian Manor, footsteps splashed through puddles on the cobblestone floor while servants bustled about, preparing horses and a carriage for a journey that looked like it might last several days.

Isabell watched over everything with a practiced eye as supplies and tools were loaded into the back of the carriage.

She had no idea whether she would use any of these tools or not, after all, she had only informed Owain Lothian that she intended to survey the lands near the mouth of the Vale of Mists as a pretense for her departure.

Whether or not she actually spent any time there would depend on what happened once she met up with Marcel in the village outside the city.

But since she had said that she was planning on surveying the lands that she and Guild Master Tiernan wanted to settle, she packed everything she would need including expensive parchment scrolls that were large enough to draw the landscape along with plane-tables, plumb chains, and even a heavy pace chain that measured exactly five hundred paces in length.

In fact, there was so much equipment that she briefly wondered if she should have added a small cart to their trip, but she firmly reminded herself, for what felt like the eleventh time, that all of this was just a show to distract Owain Lothian from the fact that she and Master Tiernan were about to vanish from Lothian Manor for several days.

"Master Isabell," A youthful, feminine voice called from across the courtyard. "Master Isabell, I’m so glad I was able to see you before you left," Jocelynn said with a practiced, polished politeness.

The smile that started to form on the silver-haired engineer’s face died the instant she turned to face the young Lady Blackwell.

At her side, Owain accompanied her wearing an expression that said he would rather be anywhere else this morning though he banished the expression as soon as Isabell’s eyes fell on him.

But Owain’s unpleasantness was something she could deal with.

The sight that snatched the smile from her lips was the pair of men walking behind him.

Sir Hugo Hanrahan looked distinctly uncomfortable as he moved in his lightweight armor and he kept a hand on the pommel of his sword as if to ensure that he didn’t stumble over the weapon as he walked.

Next to him, Sir Rain Aleese radiated a quiet menace in his well worn armor and the heavy sword at his side felt like it was a part of him rather than a mere accessory.

"Lady Jocelynn," Isabell said politely, offering a brief curtsey as they made their way across the courtyard to Isabell’s carriage.

"Lord Owain. To what do I owe the pleasure of your attention this morning? I can’t imagine that my departure was something so important that you had to haul yourself away from your morning training. "

"Or did you run out of soldiers to beat about the training yard after sending half your partners to the healers yesterday with cracked or broken bones?

" Isabell asked, raising an eyebrow behind her silver rimmed spectacles as she calmly observed the fake smile plastered on the young lord’s face quiver and nearly crumble at her greeting.

"Master Isabell," he said, reigning in the explosive retort that fought to escape his lips and trying to maintain his air of superiority over the engineer that even his father was beginning to value highly. "My father heard of your plans to visit the lands near the Vale of Mists. I’ve warned you that it’s dangerous there, but since you insist, my father has ordered me to provide you with a powerful escort. "

"I told you last night that it’s unnecessary," Isabell said, frowning as she saw several guardsmen wearing light armor marching into the courtyard, led by a man who started shouting for horses and a wagon to carry equipment. "Since you seemed reluctant, I’ve made other arrangements for our security. I’ll be meeting with our escort in the Village of Maeril.

I’m sure that the roads between here and there are more than safe enough to travel without so many armed guards. "

"Personally, I agree with you," Owain said as he clenched his fist around the hilt of the dagger at his waist. "I’m sure that you are more than capable of hiring competent mercenaries, especially since you seem to have found friends at the Gilded Horns," he said as he watched her face carefully for any reaction. When her expression didn’t change in the slightest, however, Owain’s nostrils flared and his brows lowered before he moved on.

"Regardless of the help you have found, my father insists," he said.

"He wants to see knights at your side who have fought demons before and he recommended Sir Rain and Sir Hugo since you were well acquainted with both of them," he said even as he fought back the urge to curse his father’s meddling.

His father’s ’suggestion’ had been a hairsbreadth short of an order from the Marquis to a vassal rather than guidance from a father to his son, and Owain suspected that the old man was trying to weaken his support in Lothian City while he entertained the various visiting eastern barons.

But when he protested, his father had countered with accusations that Owain was neglecting his other duties and that he should use this ’opportunity’ to focus on preparing for the opening moves of their offensive campaign when the snows melted and the path to Airgead Mountain would become passable enough for them to begin their siege ahead of the arrival of reinforcements from across the sea.

After all, if they already occupied the best positions, the newcomers couldn’t complain when they received a lesser share of the spoils.

"Well, since your father insists," Isabell said in a carefully neutral tone. "Then I graciously accept your offer of an escort. I’m sure that we’ll be much safer with Sir Rain and Sir Hugo to watch over us," she said politely.

"Master Isabell," Jocelynn said awkwardly from where she stood next to Owain.

She wanted to rush forward to hug the older woman who had helped her to see the truth of her situation so much more clearly.

She wanted to thank her for her advice and even beg her not to go, but Owain positioned himself ever so slightly between them, radiating a fierce possessiveness that she dared not step away from.

"Master Isabell," Jocelynn repeated. "It’s very dangerous near the demons. So please, come back safely. If anything were to happen to you, I don’t know what I would do."

"Yes, you do," Isabell said, offering a soft smile to the beleaguered young lady. "You aren’t alone here, you know. I’m sure if you’d like some company from home, Confessor Eleanor can arrange some time with the captains who have left their vessels behind for a chance to become knights here."

"And even if she can’t," Isabell said, reminding Jocelynn of things they’d discussed after she learned just how much danger the young Blackwell lady was truly in.

"There are more young ladies arriving every day, with the barons bringing their daughters and their vassals’ daughters in an effort to attract young lord Loman’s eye.

I’m sure if you start hosting more tea parties, your days will be far too busy to miss me very much. "

"You’re right," Jocelynn said, straightening up under Isabell’s reassuring gaze. "I’m sure I’ll have plenty to keep me busy. But still, please be safe. Lord Owain has fought countless demons before, and he’s told me many times over how dangerous they are."

"So please," Jocelynn pleaded in a voice that was very sincere and filled with concern. "Please don’t let the demons get their claws on you."