Tyes Tenitz, the baker—or pastry chef, a title that Tyes, like most in his line of work, insists upon—had arrived at Herst Castle, along with his two daughters, Loanne Ede and Fl?n Pippynna, and his apprentice, Madox Bintwyr, fifteen minutes earlier, just before midday. While the others had gone with Ferran to the guest rooms they had been assigned (one room for the two sisters and one for Madox—much to his annoyance), Tyes had insisted upon speaking with both the queen and the bride and groom as soon as possible. So Ferran had dropped him off at the Queen's Library to speak with ?nnywella.

  ?nnywella sits on the couch, in her usual reading spot. A cigarette dangles from the corner of her mouth, its smoke being pulled out of the open window. She had finally found a chance to read the book (An Elegy for Helana Yllgren) ?denora brought back with her from Ianor?. It was... for the lack of a better term, experimental: an epistolary novel told backward. So far, she found it quite interesting—interesting enough to take notes; only seeing the effects Helana's actions had on others, but having to piece together what she did and who she was. Hearing the clicking of the door, she sets the book on her lap, fixes her posture, and looks to Dyder, who is seated in the southern chair painting his silly little dolls, she clears her throat.

  Languidly, Dyder sets the figure and brush down on the table next to him and removes the jeweler's loupe from his eye, carefully placing it back in his small trunk. He begins packing his equipment up.

  Ferran opens the door with his usual grace and ushers Tyes inside the Queen's Library.

  Tyes looks around briefly, taking in the room. It was a more elegant, quiet display of wealth by comparison to the halls of the castle that led him here; no busts of monarchs past, no paintings hung from the walls, and the ceiling lacked the mural he had seen in the entrance hall. Even in the more restrained library, he still could not wrap his head around the wealth of the Hersts—a single book of the same quality as the ones on the shelves would force him to eat his own day-olds for multiple maidens.

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  A chair creaks next to him. He quickly ceases his gawking and turns to look at the large blonde man rising from the leather seat.

  Dyder stands and crosses his arms; normally—in the case of non-nobility having an audience with Gekaryna—he would place a hand on the pommel of his sword, but the last thing he wishes to do is intimidate or, worse, earn the ire of the man making one of his wedding cakes. He makes eye contact with Tyes, the man visibly swallowing.

  "Vela'Herst." Tyes, nervous, places his hands above his heart and bows deeply. "It is an honor to be given such a prestigious opportunity. I cannot express how truly, truly wonderful it is to be in your beautiful city. Ever since I was a child and first saw the towers, I dreamt of visiting one day, but I could never have dreamt it would be to make the cake for a wedding at the College of the Third Moon."

  He gives the queen a glance through his brow, not knowing if she will tell him to stop bowing or if he can rise when he pleases. He had never met with royalty, let alone a Herst.

  "You're too kind, Tyes Tenitz owe'Styd?n." ?nnywella smiles with her eyes and chuckles—cutely, sophistically, as a queen does to please the sycophants. "Please, stand; there is no need to bow so deeply; you are here on my request."

  Tyes Tenitz owe'Styd?n stands up straight.

  Removing the cigarette from her mouth, ?nnywella taps it on the ashtray. "This is Dyder, the head of my guard and the groom." She gestures to him with a cigarette.

  "I offer you a thousand thanks." Dyder reaches out and shakes Tyes's hand.

  "No, no, thank you, truly." Tyes winces at Dyder's handshake; he feels as though his hand is in a vice.

  He has little time to waste; he would like to start on the cake as soon as possible—and see the College.

  "I would like to meet with the bride and talk about the cost." Tyes says as Gekaryna vela'Herst grinds her cigarette out in the ashtray.

  "We can discuss the cost after the wedding. There is no rush." ?nnywella sets the book down on the couch and stands. She watches Tyes Tenitz owe'Styd?n's face scrunch, showing disagreement with her wanting to discuss his fee later. "I have no intent on sending you home uncompensated for your time. Now, come along." She leads the men out of the room to go to Dyder's home to speak with Ilsenyla.