The inside of the governor’s manor was even bigger than it seemed from the outside. Several people dressed in pin blue tunics run around, carrying weapons, baskets of food, clothes and some escorting other people. The people being escorted dressed simirly to Isran, either more formal or slightly less, a few had rapiers and others had their bows on their backs.

  Isran didn’t bring her greatsword, but she did have a dagger in her coat. Always be prepared, was what Phaedra had said before leaving that morning. Seeing others with weapons made her gd she had brought hers. Although she was getting even more confused, she had been under the impression it was a private meeting with the governor.

  There were almost twenty adventurers around, some approaching the blue-clothed people and some already being escorted towards the building a good few feet away from them.

  Crystal had been so cryptic about the aim of her summons, but with other people around Isran was feeling both more relieved and more anxious.

  An escort—she assumed—approached her. An elven woman who stood with her back ramrod straight and seemed to look down on her, even though she was shorter than Isran.

  “Good evening.”

  Isran struggled to swallow with her dry mouth. “Good evening.”

  The elf nodded and turned around, her long pink hair slowly caught in a light breeze. “If you’ll follow me.”

  Isran didn’t waste any time in doing so.

  They spoke no words to each other as they walked, Isran appreciated that. She noticed some of the adventurers walking together, a few gnced at her, but she was either not interesting enough for them to continue staring, or they didn’t want to seem rude.

  The elf led her into the manor, a rge open gate awaiting them. Guards stood at the gate but paid them no mind as they passed.

  Inside was rather pin. The manor had a certain staleness in the way it was decorated. Back in her previous life—what she could remember of it—Isran had admired unique architecture. Not enough to tell the differences between historical times, or even understand why some architecture was the way it was for certain times. She had always just liked looking at pretty things.

  The ceiling arched and the windows went from the floor to the ceiling. Pilrs with small glowing carvings separated the rge windows, and curtains framed them.

  The floors were rather simple, almost looked like white tile--with runes on each tile. A pattern that repeated every four tiles.

  They passed more adventurers and escorts in the halls. The elf seemed more than eager to get rid of her, walking faster than Isran was sure was necessary.

  She didn’t mind, her legs were longer and she kept the pace steadily, taking time to admire the runes etched into the windows with stained gss. Isran wondered if the runes were actually magic-reted, or if they were a decoration.

  The ceiling was frighteningly high, but it glowed a faint blue, small moving lights dancing along its curved surface.

  Their trip ended in front of a rge metal door. It was gold colored—tempered steel—Isran was a bit thrown off, she was starting to get the impression that tempered steel was not that hard to come by. Several runes marked the door as well, four guards guarding it.

  “This is where I leave you.” The elf bowed, but it was barely a bow and Isran wouldn’t have noticed if she didn’t note how the woman wasn’t looking down on her anymore. Isran nodded in response but the pink-haired woman had already left, heading out of the building.

  Isran leaned against a pilr a few feet away from the door. She didn’t know much of anything about magic, but the runes were pretty to look at. She would have to ask Phaedra if runes were always tied to magic… if she remembered to. She realized she had a bad habit of forgetting to ask things when a few hours passed.

  Maybe a notebook would do her some good.

  “Hi!”

  Isran looked down and flinched ever so slightly. A dwarf was looking up at her with a huge smile.

  From what Isran had seen, there weren’t a lot of dwarves in Kestin, or at least they didn’t move around as much as the other races. What threw her off was how close the dwarf was.

  His braided beard was only slightly distracting. There was a rge axe strapped to his back. He was in armor. The only person Isran had seen in armor.

  “Uh.. Hi?”

  Happy she responded, the dwarf put his hands on his hips and shuffled a few steps back. “I’m Jorn! First son of Jorn the Conqueror.”

  Isran lifted an eyebrow. The ridiculousness of his introduction was helping her keep calm. “Jorn the Conqueror…?”

  He nodded. “I am also the younger brother of Jayn! She said I might find you here.”

  Isran frowned. “Jayn… the bcksmith?”

  He cpped once really loudly. “Yes! That Jayn!”

  Isran nodded slightly. “Do I owe her…?”

  Jorn waved his hand dismissively. “Oh no no… I’m new in town, pretty out of the loop. I’ve been searching for you in the adventurer’s hall but ah… no luck. Jayn seemed certain you would be here though!”

  Isran frowned again. “Certain? How?”

  Horn shrugged. “Oh I never really know about that sister of mine… says strange things sometimes. But she said she heard we were gonna be fighting and that you were a rising star! Said a cursed knight had taken a liking to you.”

  Isran was getting even more confused. “Cursed knight?”

  Jorn frowned for the first time since they had met. “Bck eyes. Pitch bck eyes… those are cursed knights.”

  Morgana. She was the only person with pitch bck eyes Isran knew. Before she could continue speaking the tempered steel doors opened and a man stepped out. Morgana at his side.

  There was another man with him, pitch bck eyes and red fiery hair… his hair was on fire…literally.

  With a loud cp, the hallway quieted down and he began to speak.

  “I’m gd a nice portion of you accepted my invitation. It is nice to meet you all. I am Duke Cassian Kestin of the house Kestin. Every few years in Evelncarth there are games. The most promising knights are invited by the head of the council to prove that they will become great. The winners of the games are awarded highly coveted mentorship and coin. Lots of coin.”

  A light murmuring began.

  “Kestin has never held any such games, our popution has never been quite enough. This year you have been chosen to participate. Because you are all of equal strengths you will not be segregated like the games in Evelncarth. This is an optional contest and you are not forced to remain.”

  The man with fming hair spoke next. “You will be given a week to prepare and then the games will begin. Letters will be delivered tomorrow detailing the rules and requirements. Thank you for coming. You’re dismissed.”

  The governor and his fme-haired companion walked back through the tempered steel doors. Morgana had spotted Isran almost as soon as she had entered the room and was approaching.

  Jorn pointed at her with a smile. “That cursed knight!”