Chapter 1 : The Arrival

The sun was starting its descent on Torsgard. The little village at the edge of the world was bustling with anticipation. The Baron had ordered the preparation of a feast for the entire village. No one knew exactly why. Usually, this kind of event was to celebrate an achievement from a villager, or to celebrate the arrival of the new guards on the Rampart. But there were no special achievement this last few month, and there wouldn't be any new guard for at least eight years. The Baron said it would be a surprise.
Every one was so busy with preparation, they almost didn't see the traveller who had just arrived in town.
Her face was almost hidden by her large pointy hat and her messy red hair. She was wearing a purple tunic with a large belt, beige pants and big leather boots. A huge bag was strapped to her back, an even bigger scroll was attached on top of it. She wasn't very tall and all this stuff made her look even smaller than she already was. But the odd sword hangin at her side and the chainmail poking out from under her tunic made it clear she was not an easy target for thieves. Not that it was necessary, no thieve with half a brain would attack a witch.
As she arrived near the place of the village, two guards came to meet her : "Miss Lyra Belheart ?

That's me !" she said with a tired smile "I'm supposed to meet the Baron as soon as I arrive, could you tell me where I can find him ?

We are here to bring you to her.

Her ?

Yes. She will explain everything. In the mean time, would you like us to bring your bagage to your house ?

That would be great, thanks."

Lyra left her bag and giant scroll to one of the guards, then followed the second toward the castle. Of course she didn't actually need anyone to help her find it, it is by far the biggest structure in the village. The castle, or as everyone calls it, the Rampart, is a huge wall of stone. Three storeys high, with one four storeys building in the middle and towers on each side at regular distances, the Rampart cuts the valley in two, from one mountain to another.
There was no gate on the Rampart. The only doors were the small one leading inside the towers. Why would there be a gate anyway ? Beyond the wall, there is nothing. The land beyond the wall is the Wild Unknown. It is said to be filled with monsters, demons and Fays. It is a land where magic is in chaos, where it is impossible to cast a spell because Piya hasn't been tamed yet. Each side of the wall end on a mountain, each mountain is followed by another. The chain of moutains is tall and sharp, Torsgard is the only place where one can pass through. And with this Rampart, nothing can pass through. It is truly the end of the world.
The village was built right in front of it, with the main place directly at the entrance of the main building of the Rampart. On each side of the door, leaning on the wall of the Rampart, were several workshops with shop fronts facing the place. At the center of the place, a statue of a man in full plate armor with a huge shield stands above a foutain.
Lyra follows the guard through the place and in the castle, until they arrive in front of a huge door. Here, the guard turn around to face Lyra.
"The Baron is waiting for you behind that door. I'm gonna have to ask you to leave your sword here.

Oh, right ! Of course, here you go" said Lyra while detaching her sword from her belt.

"- Do you have any other weapon ?

You mean, beside being a witch ?

Please refrain from using magic here. People might get nervous.

Sorry, I forgot I'm not in the Capitol for a moment"

It's alright. You have already been announced, the Baron will see you now." The guard opened the door as he said that, then stepped aside to let Lyra enter the room.

Lyra entered a long room with high ceiling and no windows. On each side of the room, a row of columns supported the arched ceiling and a lit torch with a subtil arrangment of mirrors that redirected the light toward the central alley. Between every columns, a long, bright colored tapestry hanged from the ceiling, helping keeping the light out of the sides of the room, behind the columns. The central alley followed a long carpet that led straight to a tall throne, on which The Baron was sitting. A huge tapestry hanged behind the throne, representing the Coat of Arms of Torsgard.
The Baron was, as the guard stated before, clearly a woman. And a very beautiful one at that. She had long, wavy blond hair falling down on her shoulders, a strong jaw line and a pointy nose. With her extravagant bustier dress and elegant short crown, she had a true aura of power. She watched Lyra enter the room through what looked like a pair of glasses mounted on a handle.
As lyra approached and was about to do the official curtsey, The Baron put down her glasses and got up to meet Lyra with a huge smile :
"Miss Belheart !" She said with a beautifully deep voice. "I am thrilled to finally meet you in the flesh. I can already see that we will understand each other perfectly." There was something slightly uncanny in the way she emphasised the word "See", but that wasn't the main thing that disturbed Lyra at that moment. She tried to curtsy anyway as she answered : "Thanks, my ... Lady ? I am confused, I was supposed to meet the Baron Simon Ludvigsen of Torsgard, I have not been informed he had a wife.

Yes, he doesn't. Let me re-introduce myself properly. I am the Baroness Malin Simon Ludvigsen of Torsgard. I am the one and only Lord of Torsgard and the one you have been conversing with through the mails. The Capitol only recognise me as Simon, son of Vidar Ludvigsen, so I have to write under this name when I send mail toward there. But here every one knows me as Malin, so you shall call me Lady. Though Torsgard cannot officially be without a Baron, so you may use this title.

Alright. That's ... Something new. But I'm not one to judge someone's true identity, my Lady.

I knew you would understand. Now, as you probably have noticed already, I have organised a feast to introduce you to the villagers. I was wondering if I would have to post-pone it, but thanks Selam you arrived right on time. I see Egil has already taken your luggage to your new house, Rodrik here will accompany you there and they will both help you unpack and settle in." She said that with a slight wave of the hand toward a guard posted nearby. He immediatly saluted with a "Yes, My Lady" and went beside Lyra.

"Do not hesitate to take some time to rest before the feast," Malin continued, " you may use the bath in the Castle if you need to, tonight. Just ask Rodrik, he will show you the way.

Thank you very much, My Lady." Said Lyra with a curtsey. She had never been so well treated by a noble. Nor by anyone as far as she could recall, except her own father.

You can dropp the curtsey too. I'm sure we will be working a lot together, I don't want you to spring your knee." She said with a warm smile, "Now, off you go. I have a few things to do before the feast."

Malin went back to her throne, Lyra followed Rodrik back to the village. As she exited the room, she heard The Baron call for one of her guard : "Tor, could you go fetch Finn ? I need to have a talk with him."
Lyra and Rodrik went back to the main place, where people were assembling large tables. They turned left immediatly and followed the wall of the Rampart until they left the village, then kept going for a few minutes until they finally reached the edge of the forest. There, comfortably hidden behind the first trees, half buried under a mound of dirt, was a little house. It was clearly old. The walls were made of thick stones and were barely visible beneath the thick roof of dirt. It was entirely corvered in tall grass and fern. On the side, a three steps stair case led down to a door.
"Here it is" Said Rodrik, "It's an old house, it hasn't been used for two years, but we inspected it thoroughly and repaired everything that needed before your arrival. It is as good as new." Lyra nodded along, inspecting the house at the same time. She noticed a small shed behind the house, filled up with dry wood. That was good, it was only mid fall and she could already tell this would come in handy.
"Egil should be inside already" Said Rodrik as he moved toward the door.

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Work In Progress