An Invitation from Igo

“State your purpose. I find it hard to believe that Igo has become the mayor of Kroměříž. His invitation to a banquet must have a reason.”

Noren accepted a bowl of stew from Frey, scooped up meat with her spoon, and took a sip of barley wine.

The small dwarf looked around and cautiously approached like a thief.

He pulled a cloth bundle from his bosom, lifted the linen, revealing a simple round wooden box. Opening the lid, inside was a gleaming sapphire.

“Such a treasure to show my lord Igo’s sincere apology…” The dwarf placed the box on the table and slowly pushed it toward the blonde woman.

“…” Noren picked up the sapphire. Its azure color reflected in her green eyes.

She could feel her Norse blood greedily licking its lips, telling her of the gem’s value.

The sapphire was set down.

“How did Igo become mayor?” Noren liked the gem; she accepted Igo’s “apology.”

“It’s complicated, milady,” the dwarf said. “I’m not good with words, and I don’t know much. A few words can’t explain it clearly.”

“Phew, just tell me what you know.” Noren blew on the fat floating on the soup and took a sip.

“The former mayor attempted to assassinate Count Otto the Handsome and was executed by the count. Because the former mayor of Kroměříž, Kuna, did many things that angered heaven and man, things even Jesus couldn’t forgive… Among them was the burning of Osbrooke Manor.”

The dwarf glanced at Noren. “So, to compensate Igo’s family and appease his vassals, Count Otto the Handsome appointed Igo as mayor of Kroměříž.”

‘Hmm…’ The blonde woman stroked her chin, feeling that many unknown matters were hidden within.

“I recall Igo’s uncle is a bishop under Count Otto?” Noren asked the dwarf.

“Yes, Bishop Chernin of the Uničov Diocese.”

Noren downed the ale and slammed the cup heavily onto the table. “Haha, interesting.”

“When is the banquet?”

“You are an honored guest. The banquet will begin after your arrival in Kroměříž. If possible, please come after Easter.”

After Easter?

Hmm, it seems Igo knows about Svein being granted the title of baron.

Well, the journey to Prague for the enfeoffment is long; having a place to rest midway is not bad.

After a brief consideration, Noren agreed: “Tell Lord Igo, no, Mayor Igo, that I will be going to Prague, the capital of Bohemia, for an important matter. On my return, I will stop by Kroměříž.”

She smacked her lips.

Felt something was missing…

“Give my regards to Mayor Igo.” She remembered she needed to extend a gesture of goodwill.

The dwarf performed a clumsy bow. “I will deliver your words… I take my leave!”

The door of the smithy let out a screech.

The dwarf left.

“I wonder why Igo accepted this little dwarf.” Noren finished a bowl of stew, handed the empty bowl to her brother for another serving, and suddenly recalled the night the caravan camped in the wilderness. “Was it because of that maidservant?”

Igo became mayor…

Noren scooped up a spoonful of soup and brought it to her mouth. The hot soup burned her taste buds.

“A bit hot.”

She wondered what had happened in Olomouc after she left—what secrets were hidden.

A noble’s second son transformed into the mayor of a small city.

She didn’t know how much deadly intent and undercurrents were hidden in between.

“Sigh.” Noren sighed.

“Sis, what’s wrong?” Frey asked in confusion.

“Mind your soup!” It was just a lament about the vicissitudes of life.

After lamenting, Noren muttered, “Feeling melancholic again. Looks like my period is coming.”

****

Deep in the forest of Ostrava · Wizard’s Hermitage

“Pull hard!”

“It’s about to melt!”

“I’m already going fast!” Several men strained, working the bellows. The flames inside the furnace blazed, intense heat radiating from the kiln, smoke rising straight up from the top of the blast furnace.

…

No molten iron flowed from the small opening. The smoke from the top dissipated, and the furnace temperature slowly dropped.

“Failed.” Dan Ang’s eyes were calm, without disappointment. This failure was expected.

“How many times has this failed? How many silver coins have you wasted? Ten pounds? Twenty?” Noren was not as calm as Dan Ang; after all, the money was hers.

Money was being wasted, and her patience was draining.

“The third time, respected progenitor of the bloodline,” Dan Ang said respectfully.

“My patience is running out. After I return from Prague, you must deliver what I want before me, or else…” The blonde woman gave a faint, chilling smile.

A face that could captivate kingdoms could bring spring breeze or send chills down one’s spine.

Dan Ang knew his opportunities were few. Although his physical defects made him and his brother shorter-lived than normal.

But in his lifetime, perhaps he could wait for this progenitor to give birth to a pure-blooded infant. Though the chance was slim, as a wizard he knew a truth—

Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

Thus, Dan Ang’s dedication was partly due to Noren’s threat of force, and partly out of hope for a bright future.

‘If only I could get even a single drop of pure blood, my brother and I could at least live like normal people.’ Dan Ang lowered his head in thought, then said aloud, “Perhaps due to this batch of charcoal—the quality is too poor, causing insufficient temperature.”

“…” Noren frowned at Dan Ang for a moment, then said no more.

She summoned Hafdan, Witz, and Henry—the men who had been working the bellows.

“I plan to go to Prague with Father,” Noren stated her purpose. “Hafdan, Witz, will you stay in the village or come with me to Prague to see this so-called capital of Bohemia?”

Hafdan didn’t answer. He turned to his brother Witz. “What do you say?”

Witz: “How many in the group?”

“I don’t know. Uncle Sithis will arrange it. Aunt Anna might accompany us. The Norse of Hradec might not come… It depends on how Uncle Sithis arranges the escort.”

“I’m not going.” Witz shook his head and wiped his forehead sweat with the hem of his linen tunic.

“I’m not going either.” With his brother not going, Hafdan had a reason not to go. His dream city was Miklagard; how could he let Prague take his first time?

“Reason?” she asked.

“I know Mayor Sithis. He’ll arrange plenty of guards for the convoy. The bandits will all flee at the sight. No one will dare rob the convoy. Too boring~” Witz’s thought process was peculiar.

Witz’s peculiar logic made Noren feel both amused and exasperated.

She laughed helplessly. “Heh, then you two stay in the village. Besides helping these two little wizards, supervise the village reconstruction when free. Also, it’s Lent now. If you want to eat pork or red meat, at least hide it.”

Noren then asked Henry, “What about you? Want to go to Prague? Earlier I said I’d find someone to replace your job and let you be a village guard. But then the village had that sudden incident, so it fell through… However, with Hafdan and Witz here, it’s enough. You can come with me to Prague.”

“…” Henry lowered his head and said nothing.

Noren nodded, understanding. “Then you all stay in the village. If you change your mind before I leave, come find me.”

Noren left the flat ground where the furnace stood and followed the path out of the forest depths.

Henry stared blankly at Noren’s back, his mind numb, until Witz patted his shoulder—

“Why not go with Noren to Prague? It’s a great chance to see the world. You can’t stay in the countryside forever.”

“I…” Henry was tongue-tied. This was Lord Svein’s journey to be enfeoffed as a baron. He was a commoner without status…

The thought that Noren would soon become a baron’s daughter filled Henry’s heart with inferiority from an unattainable status.

“Even a hick can have dreams.” Hafdan, as if reading Henry’s thoughts, left a cryptic remark and then followed Noren back to the village for dinner.