[center][h3]Skadan Castle, the hallway leading toward the Eoin Tower[/h3][/center]
[hr]

On the old Stronghold that is Skadan Castle are built two great towers. One of them is old and weathered, purposefully constructed by the first King Alboin to oversee his nascent Kingdom. This tower has become the living quarters of the King’s trueborn daughter. 
The second and higher tower is a much newer addition to the Castle -- it is the tower Dalgiserius had constructed from whence to challenge God. The Eoin and Serius towers respectively. And it is in the latter where his adopted daughter rests in a room adjacent the long stairway up. ...Two towers for two daughters.
 
The hallway leading up to the old Eoin Tower is where the Princess often links up with Laiamicho, a steadfast retainer of her family. 
For a Lampert woman Dalgiserata is on the short side, likely taken after her mother. By contrast she inherited the dark hair and icy eyes of her namesake father, Dalgiserius. Her forehead is beset with a diadem of gemstones. Over her embellished robes she wears a dark and heavy bear pelt similar to her father's, which around her neck is also beset with yet more gemstones. For Lampert royalty it's not the gems that is considered Alboinid regalia, but the bear fur. All Lampert royalty, be they male or female, are expected to wear a mantle made from the pelt of a black bear. Unbefitting for a Princess, however, is that under her regal robes the king's daughter wears trousers rather than a dress, for she and her retinue often embark on horseback.

As for Laiamicho, one wouldn't think that he's a royal servant based on his ragged overcoat and worn tunic, though with his errands of subterfuge, perhaps that's the point. His clean-shaven face and well-kempt hair betrays his standing however. And everyone inside Dalgiserius' stronghold immediately would recognize him by face and voice alone. Of all her servants, the Princess trusts him most.
[i]‘’The King is not taking the warning as gravely as I hoped he would.’’[/i] Laiamicho sighs. [i]‘’The Chlotar enemy are preparing something big. Greater than anything to date. There’s something off with their new King, this Cauroman.’’[/i]

[i]‘’You’ve done the best you could, Laiamicho. I know of the strain it takes to address my father…’’
The scout sighs. ‘’I’m just glad to be out of that accursed hall. Outwardly I could carry myself calmly enough, sure, but in truth I was Goddamned pissing myself from anxiety. Almost literally too.’’[/i]
[i]‘’You did your duty to the Kingdom. My father is grateful for your reconnaissance, even if he doesn’t show it.’’[/i]
[i]‘’Don’t get me wrong, I am not looking for pity. Pity rather your half-sister. Is she seriously a Gastald? I honestly thought it’s a joke! The Gastalds are fearsome warchiefs and the like, and she’s just a meek lit--’’[/i] He abruptly quits talking when he spots Antonia approaching from over the Princess’ shoulder. He abruptly clears his throat and straightens his overcoat, uncomfortably looking another direction in the hopes she hadn’t overheard.

Antonia raises a brow at Laiamicho’s hushed remark, but Gundiberga lets out a bark of laughter that cuts through the silence and causes the royal retainer to give a startled jump. 
[i]“Do you hear that, little fox?” the shield maiden askes, twirling a coil of the girl’s ginger hair around her finger and yanking on it. “He thinks you’re meek. I told you that you’re too precious for your own damn good. Maybe you ‘ought to take your training more seriously.”[/i] Antonia hisses and bats the blonde woman’s hand away while shooting her a glare, which only causes Gundiberga to give a grin that is more a baring of teeth than anything else. 

[i]“Thank you, Laiamicho. I’ll do my best to be more fearsome in the future,”[/i] the redhead quipped dryly before flashing the servant a half smile to show that while she was annoyed at his remarks, Antonia bore him no ill will. Afterall, it [i]was[/i] ridiculous to imagine a nineteen year old, not yet battle tested girl as a mighty Gastald. 

[i]“My apologies, my lady. I just thought… I-”[/i] Laiamicho coughed, giving his coat one final tug. [i]“-I’ll be on my way. Glory to Lampertei and the High King. Death to God. Have a pleasant evening, ladies”[/i], finally making a swift bow to Dalgiserata [i]‘’Princess.’’ [/i]before hastening off.

[i]“Death to God,”[/i] both women echo, Antonia in a practiced monatone and Gundiberga in her typical manic timbre. Dalgiserata remained quiet the whole time, casting a stern gaze at Gundiberga as to dismiss her, and only addressing her half-sister when Laiamicho and she had removed themselves from their vicinity. 

[i]‘’The skull drinking… it-’’[/i] The Princess struggles to find the words, her face pained.
[i]‘’It was cruel. That my father’s dogs would do such a thing to your true father.’’[/i]

Antonia purses her lips and remains silent while she waits for the other proverbial shoe to drop.

[i]‘’...In his own way, my father -- [b]our[/b] father -- was trying to help you, I am sure.’’ [/i]

...and there it was. Antonia lets go of a sigh, the exhale sounding explosive in the tiny corridor. 
[i]“That's enough, Serata,”[/i] the freckled young woman finally says, not unkindly, before placing a hand on the princess's shoulder. 
[i]“I'd rather not speak about it now, if it's all the same to you.”[/i] As much as Antonia loved her sister, she knew better than to argue with her over Dalgiserius’s ways. 

[i]‘’Of course.’’[/i] Dalgiserata lowers her head respectfully as to acknowledge her wishes. This isn’t court protocol or anything, it’s in her nature.
[i]‘’My father’s dogs, they--’’[/i]

Speaking of the devil, a bearded sentinel turns up from deep down the hallway, speaking with a voice low and hoarse as he taps his halberd hard against the stone tiles. 
[i]‘’Gastald Antonia. The High King summons you to the netherhall. -- Don’t make him wait.’’[/i] Then the large man turns around, expecting Antonia to follow behind.

[i]‘’It seems as though another trial has been prepared for you as a Gastald.’’[/i] Serata hushes at her.  
[i]‘’Things will get better for you, I swear it. My father will yet learn to value your true worth.
Be strong, sister.’’[/i]

Returning to [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMCn1oxwHUA]the Netherhall[/url], the place has gotten colder and darker now that the seats of the grand table are all vacant, and the green flames of the braziers dying. There is no one in the hall, save one great shadow that the green embers cast far over the whole of the floor. The shadow of Dalgiserius. With a fist resting against his worn bearded face, his icy eyes look up with a scowl into Antonia’s direction.
[i]‘’You kept me waiting. Come hither, Gastald Mouse.’’[/i] Dalgiserius' imposing voice echoes through the hall with a low hum.

After her eyes attuned to the darkness, Antonia can tell that the King is not in fact alone. At his side, shrouded in shadow, stands a figure whose sparse metallic glimmering betrays it as Giselart, the Soothsayer. The old loremaster is bent down, his beard trembling as he whispers something in the King’s ear, before silently withdrawing into the darkness to observe the girl’s approach.

[i]‘’Each of the men hosted at my table are there for their demonstrated might, and selfless devotion to Lampertei. Still, each has been found wanting. 

The insult to the Lampert people and our ancestors… Udos… and the evil witch whores therein yet live. The queen of all witches schemes there, the source of all mayhem. A decade ago my ‘best’ men could not take the city. Nor I could take Udos as I charged myself into the breach. But you, little mouse... I trust will succeed where all my stumbling wardogs have failed.

Only a warrior of your… ‘[b]unspoiledness[/b]’... can undo the City of Witchcraft of its warding hex.

Now tell me, my beloved daughter, how would you like to see mother again?’’[/i]

Antonia stands motionless for a moment, before carefully answering, 
[i]“I would only see her if that is what my king wishes of me.”[/i]

[i]‘’Hrm.
You are right to be wary. She is a dark deviant. A shameless schemer. A hag of hazards. Yet nevertheless your mother. Think of the... ‘’[/i] Dalgiserius struggles to say the word, forcing himself as he spat it out [i]‘’..[b]JOY[/b].. it would bring her old heart.’’[/i]
The King stares intently at his adopted daughter, trying his best to keep his perpetual fury contained by grinding his brittle teeth against one another  -- which makes it all the more unnerving for her.
Despite the king’s efforts to control his aura the atmosphere inside the hall feels extraordinarily oppressive and it's a struggle for Antonia just to keep her feet firmly planted instead of sprinting for the door. She is speechless, so in lieu of answering she responds with a quick nod.
 
[i]‘’Yes. I thought you’d like that.’’[/i] Dalgiserius mutters as he reveals a mere glint of contentedness, but never enough so for his perpetual frown to fade.

The Soothsayer’s deep-sunken eyes gleam briefly as he emerges from the dim, stooping once again to the King’s ear. He soundlessly whispers some more before vanishing back behind the seat.
Dalgiserius’ brooding voice, even in attempts to remain calm is induced with only [i]barely[/i] contained rage as the King’s voice echoes through the stone fundaments. 
[i]‘’You… will wish to become one of the witch queen’s vile cultists… the Vestal Virgins. And the best way to earn their boon is by presenting yourself as Nanperga’s daughter.

Then, and then alone will you have access to their vaults of sorcery. From there, you will know what to do.. And you will understand what is at stake if you do [b]not[/b].’’ [/i]
That last line sounded very threatening, though Antonia does not fully understand what the King meant by it. Nevertheless she understands not to trifle with a royal decree from Dalgiserius.

[i]“Yes, father,”[/i] she responds.

[i]‘’On the morrow you will ride south away… Escorted. Then present yourself at Nanperga’s Hold.. Dare not return before you have seen this through to the end, Gastald Antonia.’’[/i] 
King Dalgiserius waves with his crude iron scepter, then pointing it at the exit. [i]‘’Begone!’’[/i]

Antonia bows deeply at the waist before walking as quickly as possible out of the Netherhall. It's only when she makes it out into the courtyard that she allows herself to stop, sagging forward and covering her face with her hands while taking deep breaths to calm her racing heart. 
[i]“The king had good news then?”[/i] Gundiberga asks from her place beside a black rose bush. Antonia is not surprised to find her there.

[i]“He wants me to take Udos,” she huffs, still in shock. “No one’s ever taken it and he expects [b]me[/b] to do it!” [/i]

[i]“Watch your tone, little fox,”[/i] Gundiberga growls, voice turning hard as steel. [i]“Our king knows best.”
[/i]
[i]“Of course,”[/i] Antonia says after she has recomposed herself, holding her hands up in an attempt to placate her shield maiden. [i]“I was only surprised, that's all. He wants me to become a Vestal Virgin.”[/i]

At this Gundiberga squinted and scrunched her nose up unflatteringly.[i] “You’ve never had a man before?”[/i]

Antonia’s face turns the same color as her hair and Gundiberga erupts into a wild, cackling laughter that is unique to only her. Embarrassed, the king's ward chooses not to answer, opting instead to turn on her heel and stomp back towards her chambers at the Serius tower.