When Louis woke, dawn had barely broken, but by his standards, he had already slept in.
He opened his eyes, his gaze settling on a beam along the edge of the vaulted ceiling.
The beam was clad in polished dark wood, with narrow copper strips inlaid along the joints to reinforce the structure and serve as decoration. Relief patterns left over from the old nobility were still visible at the corners.
This had once been the main residence of the Earl of Black Iron Territory, an old castle that had been taken over intact.
Of course, it fell far short of Red Tide Castle, that architectural marvel of the Northern Frontier, but it was sufficient.
Louis used it as his temporary office and residence.
He had not chosen Greyrock Castle because the smell of blood had seeped into its stonework. A few rounds of cleaning would not dispel it.
Louis did not dwell on it. He simply turned slightly onto his side.
Long white hair lay across the pillow beside him. Sif was still asleep.
Her hair fanned out over the pillow, carrying a naturally cool sheen. Her closed lashes were long, casting faint shadows beneath her eyes.
Louis raised a hand and gently tucked the blanket around her shoulder. Sif's brow twitched, but she did not wake.
Emily and the old butler Bradley had stayed in Red Tide City to oversee the Northern Frontier. The Red Tide system was already running there, and it could manage without him.
Sif, meanwhile, had come to Greyrock Province to help him handle both official and private affairs.
Louis sat up, took the outer robe draped over the chair, and slipped it on. He stood at the window, his fingertips lingering for a moment on the old grain of its wooden frame.
Greyrock's