Sudden visit

"Oh, Iris," Elisabeth almost ran to her when she entered the room and squeezed her within her arms. Her friend let her go for a moment to study her face and took her back in the embrace, holding her tightly for a moment longer. "I was so worried. No news, no letters, nobody knew what happened to you."

"What are you talking about, Ellie?" Iris answered, almost laughing at her concern but holding it in seeing her serious face. "Ellie, I'm here, nothing happened to me… just marriage." She smiled comfortingly at her friend, trying to calm her.

She led her to the table prepared with freshly brewed tea and appetisers, but even when Elisabeth sat down, she didn't let go of Iris' hand.

"Why have you never answered my letters?"

"Letters? I only received one last autumn. And of course, I send one back."

"How could that be? I must have sent you dozens…"

"Dozens?"

Iris' eyes widened at those words as she often wondered why her friend never responded to the letter she sent. But there was no lie in Elisabeth's eyes.

"Ellie, I've never received any letter since the one you sent me when you were at the fall festival in Moesia."

"That was just the first one I've sent. After a month or so of waiting, I've sent you one almost every week without a result. So, I came myself to see what happened."

"Well, nothing happened, as you can see. But I am nonetheless glad you're here."

"Oh, Iris," she sighed again, relief obvious making its way on her face instead of worry, finally smiling with all her might in the presence of her best friend.

Both women were just sitting there holding their hands together over the small table, looking at each other, analysing, taking in every bit of the other, realising how much they've missed their past encounters.

Iris broke the silence, wanting to talk to her friend. "I'm so glad to see you, Ellie! I did miss you so much."

Elisabeth smiled warmly at her. "I would've come sooner… but I didn't want to interrupt you and Lord Walter." Her smile turners into a mischievous one before disappearing. "But while in the capital, I heard he spent the winter there."

"It's true, he left for the whole cold season to aid the first prince who summoned him there."

Iris sighted, feeling her hand being squeezed. Elisabeth opened her mouth to say something more but seemed to change her mind.

"How are things in the capital?"

Iris took a sip from her tea, reached for a little cookie with hacked almonds on top of it. She started munching on the sweet before she noticed the crease between the other woman's eyes.

"Ellie, what happened?"

"The capital is in tumult, the king is dying."

"What? How could that be? Benjamin had just arrived not too long ago, and the king started to feel better."

"The king is not feeling better. I was there just last week and do not know how everything went during the cold season, but I've heard many praising Prince Julius for how he took over his father's duty during this time and he continues to do so. But nothing about the improvement of the king's health."

"Probably there aren't many who know yet. The well-being of his majesty is of importance, but if his son is doing such a good job, maybe there is no need for the king to intervene just yet."

Elisabeth stared down at her tea, moving her finger on the edge of the cup. "Maybe so."

Iris didn't understand what she hesitated to vocalise, what made her so worried. She herself hadn't gone to Moesia in a long time, but still remembers the last time she saw the king who stood strong on his throne although he already was sick.

King Alfons had had poor health for a long time and every time his situation worsened, people would start with assumptions that one of the princes would take over soon. It went on for years, each time his majesty coming back in force and ruling his subjects as he did all those years. Like he'd do now as well.

Most are afraid because the king hadn't named an official heir to the throne, though according to tradition, the first-born male was the one to rule. Although first-born daughters could take over their families, this didn't apply to the royal family. And didn't apply if the previous head of the family named another heir, as it was Iris' case which infuriated her so many years before meeting Benjamin.

The obvious heir was Prince Julius, but everybody knew that the second prince was preferred by their father. It made a rupture between the nobles where many took sides. Not openly, of course. Her own father endorsed Prince Alwyn and he was a childhood friend of the Martel's children. Iris would never want something to happen to him, but what if the king never named an heir.

"As long as the king is still alive and the princes don't throw themselves at each other's throats, there is no reason to worry," Iris reflected, waiting for her friend to agree.

However, Elisabeth's worried face was the one looking at her. "I'm afraid that's not the case, Iris."

"Why so? Prince Julius is ruling at the moment, but Prince Alwyn hasn't opposed this."

"Not openly. He went north and many, me included, think he went there with a purpose."

"To Lady Rayla? She had been on his side from the beginning. Her son was more like the prince's brother than his blood brother ever was. He already has their help." Iris thought of the territories and the houses that supported him.

There were three she was sure of: Argidava ruled by her father, Razan the land of her best friend and Erdely of Lady Rayla. There was no reason to be unsure of them, but the others had either taken the other side or remained neutral. The only neutral lands were Buri, Walchia, and Timisa.

"There is someone else there right now who can turn the balance in his favour?"

Iris thought about her father whom Benjamin said to have gone north as well, but the Martel's loyalty was already known. They were Prince Alwyn's strongest supporters.

Someone else who was in Erdely. Then it clicked in Iris' mind.

Someone she met more than half a year ago looking for black steel in the northern land.

Someone who had a vast territory and the most feared army accustomed to war more than any other in Thrakia.

Someone who was known as the best warrior.

"Lord Rolfe!"