Lady Roslin

The towering stone walls of Deddings Town came into view.

Now this was what you could call a real castle.

That lonely three-story tower at Foulkeep wasn't fit for a dog!

Suleiman grumbled inwardly.

The Deddings family banners fluttered atop the five-meter-high walls.

It was wartime, and Lord Balon Dating was defending Seaguard.

The guards stood on alert, armed and armored.

The castle gates were shut tight.

When they spotted three armed, armored riders approaching, the soldiers on the walls quickly sounded the alarm.

Suleiman reined in the white horse Raymun Darry had given him. Lushen and Roslyn stopped nervously behind him.

"Who goes there?" four guards on the wall shouted. They drew their bows taut and aimed at the trio.

Suleiman was genuinely afraid of those archers. One shaky hand, and the three of them would end up pincushions.

He quickly rode forward and pulled the seal and family token from his robes.

"Suleiman, the knight of Foulkeep, has come to pay his respects to the lady of the castle!" he shouted.

The captain of the guard eyed the three of them suspiciously.

Suleiman wore a black robe and cloak, a sharp sword at his waist, and sat astride a fine horse. He looked every inch a man of standing.

Behind him, Lushen and Roslyn wore only light armor, but they sat tall in their saddles, swords at their waists, eyes alert. They looked like old soldiers.

The guards on the wall whispered among themselves.

"Foulkeep?"

"I heard they're so poor they haven't got a pot to piss in—not even a horse, let alone guards."

"Those three don't look like that to me."

"And wasn't the whole Foulkeep family killed by the Ironborn? The only one left was a boy who got his head smashed in by the Ironborn. He was on the brink of death when they sent him home to die."

A guard was lowered from the wall in a basket.

He warily approached and took the seal and family token Suleiman held out. He examined them carefully, then looked up at Suleiman.

His wary expression shifted to surprise, then confusion.

"Are you Suleiman of Foulkeep?" he asked to confirm.

"I am."

The guard returned the seal and family token to Suleiman. His tone had softened considerably.

"Please wait a moment. I need to inform the lady."

He turned back to the basket and was hauled up to the wall.

They didn't have to wait long.

Soon, the castle gates swung open, and more than a dozen knights galloped out, surrounding the three of them.

The knight at their head spoke with some courtesy, but kept a hand on his sword hilt, his gaze sweeping over the trio.

"Ser Suleiman, Lady Roslin will see you."

Suleiman nodded and rode into the city.

Lushen and Roslyn followed close behind, doing their best to look composed, though their expressions were a little stiff.

After all, more than a dozen knights were escorting them into the city in a tight ring.

Once they entered Deddings Town, the sight before them left Lushen and Roslyn quietly astonished.

The roads were paved with stone, and sturdy two- and even three-story houses built of gray stone stood on either side. Soldiers patrolled everywhere.

No wonder Grandpa Suleiman called our place a refugee camp!

Then the knights separated the three of them and questioned them again to verify their identities. At last, they were satisfied.

After escorting them to a side hall, the knights told them to hand over their weapons and armor, then searched them.

"Ser Suleiman, please wait here," one of the knights said.

The side hall was small and simply furnished, but clean and tidy.

Suleiman found a chair and sat down to rest, closing his eyes.

Lushen and Roslyn, meanwhile, looked ill at ease.

"My lord, horses—horses are no way for a person to travel," Roslyn said, rubbing the insides of his thighs and grimacing.

Lushen nodded miserably. "My butt's been bounced so hard it doesn't feel like mine anymore."

"I used to watch those knightly lords riding around so proudly and thought they looked impressive. I never knew it was so miserable," Roslyn went on complaining.

Lushen quickly cut him off. "What are you saying? Our lord lets us ride horses. We should be grateful."

Suleiman opened his eyes, the corners of his mouth lifting in a faint smile.

He said calmly, "You'll get used to it."

"We'll have plenty of chances to ride from now on."

At that, the two men looked even more miserable.

Before long, the faint sound of footsteps approached.

A brown-haired woman in a plain dress entered, accompanied by two maids.

She looked to be about forty. Her face was drawn, her expression weary, and her hair was simply pinned up at the back of her head. She seemed not to have had a proper rest in a long time.

Yet her eyes were gentle and composed, and she carried herself with the dignity of a lady of the castle.

This was Lady Roslin, the lady of the castle of House Deddings.

Suleiman rose and bowed. "Good day, honored Lady Roslin."

Lushen and Roslyn hurriedly followed his lead, imitating his bow somewhat awkwardly.

"Little Suleiman, there's no need for such formality. Please, sit." Lady Roslin's voice was gentle, with a barely noticeable rasp.

"Little Suleiman, have you come to claim your family's title?"

Lady Roslin asked.

Suleiman took a deep breath, and sorrow instantly flooded his face.

Life was a play, and acting was everything.

His eyes reddened. He rushed forward, fell to his knees, and clung tightly to Lady Roslin's legs!

His voice choked with sobs. "My lady! My lady! My lady! My father and two elder brothers! They've all! They've all fallen in battle at Seaguard!"

"My mother thought we were all dead! In her grief and despair, she threw herself from Foulkeep!"

"My lady! My lady!"

As he spoke, he seemed overcome with grief. He lowered his head, his body shuddering with sobs.

His hands clutched Lady Roslin's skirts even tighter.

Lady Roslin gazed down at him in silence, a hint of tenderness in her eyes. She gently stroked Suleiman's hair.

What had this poor boy been through?

She sighed.

"I heard about the tragedy at Foulkeep."

"Your father and two elder brothers were brave warriors. House Deddings will remember their loyalty!"

"Your mother was a fine woman, too. She raised three good children."

Suleiman raised his head, tears glistening in his eyes.

"My father spent almost all the family's savings answering the call to arms and buying weapons and armor. Now, now, there's no one left at Foulkeep but me. The granaries are empty, the treasury has not a coin in it, and my people and I are about to starve!"

Suleiman sobbed piteously, his voice full of anguish. "I beg you, my lady, have mercy! In honor of my father and brothers, who gave their lives for Lord Deddings, please spare some aid to help me through this hardship!"

Lushen and Roslyn stared blankly at Suleiman, kneeling on the ground, clinging to Lady Roslin and weeping in utter misery.

What was going on? Had Suleiman been pretending not to care all this time in front of them, while hiding his grief?

Had their Suleiman really kept his tears buried in his heart for so long?

Once again, they felt guilty. Why were they so useless?

Lady Roslin gazed at the young knight kneeling before her, tears streaming down his face. A sorrowful, tender look passed through her eyes.

She was silent for a moment, then spoke slowly.

"Little Suleiman, your family has shed its blood for House Deddings. House Deddings will never forget such loyalty!"

Her voice was still gentle, but there was a perceptiveness to it.

"But I also heard that after the benevolent Ser Suleiman returned to Foulkeep, he distributed all the family's remaining food and money among the families of his fallen subjects?"

At her words, Suleiman's thoughts churned, and his expression of grief froze.

It made sense. If an overlord couldn't know what was happening with his vassals, how could he rule?

But Suleiman quickly recovered. Still sobbing, he clung to the lady's legs and said, "My father and brothers died in battle, and those farmers died for my family, too!"

"Their families were left destitute. I, I couldn't bear to watch them starve!"

"You know, my lady, I'm the youngest in the family. I was never taught how to inherit the family title!"

He lifted a hand to wipe away his tears. "I acted on impulse. I just, I just never imagined the family's circumstances had become so dire."

Lady Roslin looked at him, her gaze growing more searching, and more deeply moved.

Lady Roslin sighed softly. Her tone held both tenderness and helplessness.

"You'll make a kind and compassionate lord."

She reached out and gently helped Suleiman to his feet.

"Get up, little Suleiman."

"I'll consider sending you some grain to help you through this hardship."

Suleiman rose with her help, his face still wearing just the right blend of gratitude and sorrow.

"Thank you, my lady! Thank you!"

The best way to move a woman was to appeal to her empathy.

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door.

A guard rushed in, looking panicked, without even remembering to announce himself first.

"My lady! My lady! Urgent military news!" The guard was gasping for breath, his face pale.

Lady Roslin furrowed her brow. "What's got you in such a panic?"

The attendant presented the letter in his hand to Lady Roslin.

As she read it, her expression shifted several times, then turned grave. The weariness on her face deepened.

Then Lady Roslin turned to Suleiman, her voice apologetic.

"Little Suleiman, I'll need some time to consider your request."

"You can stay in the city for now. Once I've dealt with the military matters at hand, I'll give you an answer."

Suleiman thought regretfully, What a shame. Couldn't this have waited a little longer?

The lady seemed almost ready to open her purse.

There was no helping it. He could only say respectfully, "I'll await your word, my lady."

Lady Roslin nodded. "I'll get back to you as soon as I can!"

"Then I'll take my leave, my lady!"

He left the side hall with Lushen and Roslyn, turning over his next move in his mind.

Lady Roslin's attitude didn't seem bad.

In fact, she seemed to have already been moved and was about to offer him generous aid. It was only that urgent military message that had made her change her mind and decide to think it over first.

But thinking it over meant there could be complications. He had no idea what the urgent military message had said.