Hayt finished reading the scroll and handed it back to Honir. “Interesting,” he said.

“Interesting?” Honir snatched back the parchment and crushed it in his fist. “Is that all you have to say?” he growled. “Are you sure you understand the implications of this? The Court is in disarray. The Courtiers turn against each other and the Shadow King is made a figure of public ridicule. Is this what we have come back to? There was a time when the Shadow Court had a reputation as an honourable and worthy guild. Its name was one to be proud of. Where is the honour and pride in this?” He held the crushed scroll before him.

Hayt turned, crossed Yggdrasil’s wide southern veranda and looked down at the crisp blanket of snow that softened the stony ground below. At times, life could be difficult in Rhovanion’s harsh clime. He thought back to those early years when the Shadow Court had made its home in the lush verdant valley to the north of Vesper. Was life really so much better then or had the passing years dulled his memories? He recalled some of those earlier times when the Shadow King, ever at the mercy of his curiosity and impetuousness, had brought down troubles on the Court.

After a few moments, he turned to face the knight once more. “The seeds of the present were sown long ago”, he said. “Life was never as simple as you seem to remember it, Honir and we have endured greater threats and more trying times than these. We have to accept what has happened and wait with patience for the consequences of the decisions that have already been made.”

“You will do nothing?” The knight’s tone was one of incredulity. “You must make a stand, show where your loyalties lie.”

“Is this about my loyalty or yours?”

The knight stiffened and when he spoke again his voice was cold and hard. “I served your family well for many years and my loyalty was never in question.”

“And now you serve the Shadow Court and I would expect no less of you. You remember your oath of fealty … to be ever a good knight and true?” Do you remain true only when it suits your purpose?”

My oath was taken for a reason, to uphold and fight for those values that the Court held dear. What of those values now? Already the cracks appear. Lady Roxanne barely contains her anger. Who knows what she may do next? The Lords Gorthyn and Descardo and Lady Cherry turn on the Shadow King and usurp his position and power and the once great name of the Shadow Court becomes a term of ridicule.”

“All the more reason then to hold firm and not take sides. To do otherwise would be to add to the conflict that threatens to ruin the Court. Would you have me take part in its destruction?

Honir made no reply and Hayt continued. “To take sides now would be unwise for me as a Courtier and for you, as a Knight of the Order, would be dangerously close to treason. Have a care what you ask for, Honir.

The knight made no reply but Hayt saw his jaw tighten before he turned and strode away down the stairs.

Hayt turned back and looked over the veranda into the distance. He made a mental note to speak to Roxanne about the current troubles.

He raised his eyes and faced the frozen mountains to the south. Yes, life could be difficult here but it also had its own particular rewards. It was a place that tested one’s capacity to endure the very worst that the environment could offer and that in itself was no bad thing. He closed his eyes and felt the cold clean air against his face.