Sang Fort stood beside a small lake called Stroy, west of Rushta. At the turn of summer and autumn, its waters reflected the castle and the distant snow-capped ridgeline of the Hazelroy Mountains, set against the towering forests and the reflections of the white maples. It was one of the most famous scenic spots near the Imperial Capital, but it was also a royal estate.
But the imperial family did not often stay there, usually only escaping the heat for the duration of the long summer. After Silver Queen Constance ascended the throne, the castle was used even less frequently. Two or three years might pass without a single visit, and even when they did come, they usually stayed for less than a month.
Even so, the castle was filled with servants, and the Imperial Guard was permanently stationed there. Half a month earlier, a new group of mountain folk maidservants had been brought to Sang Fort. Together with the Knights of the Flame Blade, who had replaced the Imperial Guard, they had brought considerable life to the place.
Yet tonight, this ancient and elegant castle beside the lake was unusually quiet.
The Silver Moon, Tymiss, moved slowly above the nearby forest. The long shadows of the white maples stretched forward with the shifting moonlight, crossing the fence and the forest road before leaving a shadow upon the castle walls.
The wind pushed the clouds across the night sky. Moments later, the shadow on the castle wall began to writhe. It slowly rose from the ground, gradually taking the form of a woman dressed like a veiled witch.
The woman stood by the battlements for a moment, then looked suspiciously into the courtyard. It was pitch-black there, and not even a glimmer of light came from the stables on one