Chapter 35.1

The carriages remained outside, of course, as did most of Eirwen's entourage. She was allowed to bring three, so she chose Red, Fang, and Light. She hoped there would be no fight, but this selection could finish anything he might throw at them.

Four militia members escorted them to the main office of the Warden. He had two more by his side, meaning he had six versus Eirwen's three. And as he stood by the window, overlooking the town, he has no idea just how badly outnumbered he was. But that was fine. Eirwen wasn't here to pick a fight, but to prevent one.

He turned towards her, hands clasped behind his back. "Ah, lady Snow. I heard about you. The woman for whom the legendary Red is head over heels. A pleasure to meet you. I am Warden Ulchel, protector of Bealach na Caisteal. So, what brings you to my office?" She already mistrusted him. His tone didn't help. Calm and confident. Overly confident.

She put that aside as she replied. "Earlier today, my group was assailed by a group of bandits. We killed them all and managed to prevent permanent injuries on our side. I understand the optics of a group completely exterminating another, and while I cannot divulge to the public how exactly we did so, I still would like to assure them we did so only due to being necessary. "

"Was it, though? Do you honestly expect me to believe your group couldn't have restrained them?" Oh, he was looking for a fight. Why, she couldn't say.

"My guides advised me not to take prisoners. Said that doing so only endangered us all. Given how we only made it here at nightfall, I agree that prisoners would have risked our safety." Plus they would have betrayed their secrets or backstabbed the group. But it was clear that the Warden wasn't going to accept that as a valid motive.

"That seems unnecessary. Surely you could have hurried less. From what I heard, you're sightseeing, so no need to rush in the first place." Eirwen wanted to roll her eyes at the man's obstinance. She saw that Red's face was growing calm, emotions slowly leaving his eyes. Fang was frowning. Both of them were clearly expecting this to require combat.

Eirwen decided to hold up the facade for now, so that none could argue she had gone for the man's throat without reason. "Our cargo holds over a hundred snowplum pits, as well as eight wolf pelts. Over the past two days, we have killed twenty-one Frost Giants and eleven Dire Wolves. The last group had set up an ambush for us specifically, so I refused to stay outside during the night, risking them coming after us once more."

There was shock and greed in the man's eyes. Maybe he sought an excessive bribe? She wouldn't offer him one. "After that fight, we had to go after the scouts. It was at that point that the bandits attacked, which almost led to fatalities on our side. There was neither opportunity nor reason to hold back against those that had tried to rob me and murder my people. But I would prefer not giving away how we managed to defeat them, so I am asking for your aid. We will gladly let you inspect our cargo and the bodies, and will pay all proper import fees and answer any reasonable questions, but I desire secrecy regarding how we won the fight."

Even in the eyes of the militia, she could tell they deemed it a reasonable request. But something had gotten hold of the Warden, and it seemed to refuse to let go of him. "No. I will not keep any secrets on behalf of a visitor, or anyone for that matter. Your secrets are your responsibility, not mine."

Stubborn fool. She turned to Light. "Tell them to burn the bodies." As the knight nodded and turned, the Warden gestured, causing the militia members to step in and block the door. Ah, so he really wanted a fight then. She gestured at her people to not draw their blades, which didn't stop them from keeping their hands on their hilts. An organised act that had already caused surprise and fear to slip into the eyes of the guards. Clearly they hadn't expected a violent escalation.

"Warden." Ah, she recognised her own tone. Slipped back into her cold mask. "Why are you holding me captive?"

The man's lazy tone made her want to hit him. "I don't know what you mean, lady Snow. I just think we should finish our conversation before you do something rash. Besides, it's dark out, you should stay inside and remain safe."

Eirwen breathed in deep, then out, before she turned to the man with anger now open on her face. "I am not a damsel in an ivory tower, Warden. I don't care about whatever excuses or appearances you're spouting. Again. Under what grounds are you holding me captive?"

Oh, that knocked the smile off his face alright. He actually had expected her to play along with whatever game he had planned. Now he was suppressing rage at being challenged. She had seen that kind of expression before. Knew the kind of man it belonged to. One of them had his head delivered to her on a silver platter. Others she had replaced with their heirs, or sent off to face a crippling defeat at Red's hand in the war. And now one of them was picking a fight with her.

He somewhat managed to hide his anger, covering it up with arrogance. "I suggest you mind your tone, lady Snow. I am owed respect, so you will behave properly. If I state I am simply keeping you as a guest, that is the truth, by the authority I represent. So I suggest you sit down and entertain me with a proper conversation."

"I have come here the very moment we arrived at Bealach na Caisteal, to openly converse with you. I have offered you truth and reason, in trade for my request. I neither disrespected your authority with offers to buy your silence, nor with any kinds of threats or demands. I simply asked, and I accepted your declination. From my point of view, I have respected your position and authority, without trying to undermine you. Fang, have I misinterpreted my own actions?"

The guide shook her head, while still keeping her hand on her weapon. "No, miss Snow. You have shown more manners than many a person who has ventured into the mountains. I truly do not understand why the Warden is taking affront to your actions."

Eirwen nodded, then turned her eyes back to the Warden. "I offered you answers to any reasonable question, Warden. If you had inquired after my motives for coming to the mountains, that would have been such a reasonable question. So let me answer that, even if you did not ask. Given the current state of the dukedoms, the mountains hold great value. As such, for the sake of the Duchess, information is needed on whether any assistance is required. But no challenge is intended towards the position of the Wardens. That is why we travel under cloak, and why we sought your assistance with our situation. Because we are here to observe, not to usurp."

The man's guards were shocked at this reveal, fear slipping into their eyes as they realised just how foolish threatening Eirwen was. Yet the Warden insisted, even if he was suppressing a flash of dread from his face. "Be that as it may, you still should have properly shown me the respect my position warrants from the very start. You hiding your presence from me at first, is naught but an insult." Ah, so he just refused to back down, no matter the consequences.

She shook her head at his foolishness. "It was not, you simply seek an excuse to act offended. I care not for your games, Warden. I ask you, are you holding me captive, or am I free to go? And if I am held captive, under what grounds do you do so?"

"Your lack of respect! That is all the reason I need to keep you here!" His outburst surprised his own men, but iron faces met him from Eirwen's side. She shook her head once more, then gestured with her head, indicating Red to deal with it. As she stepped back, Fang and Light came over to her side.

Red just cracked his neck and looked at the Warden, clear contempt on his face."I heard enough. Since you insist on getting in our way no matter what, it is time for you to step aside and retire. Perhaps the next Warden will be more willing to listen to reason."

"Ah, so here is your true face! You always sought to usurp me, replace me with this mongrel that forgets his place! Seize him at once!" But he had made himself too unbelievable, his words too much a clash with Red's and Eirwen's. They did not know what to do, as Red just looked on, at ease but ready to strike.

His tone was dangerously calm, enough to make Light shiver in recognition. "There are two options here, Warden. Either you believe that might makes right, or you actually fell for your own lie and truly believe yourself to be a proper representative of the Duchess. If it's the first, then you have no right to object to us seizing control from you. And if you believe to actually be protected by your title, then you are currently committing treason. Either way, you lose."

Eirwen could see he still wasn't getting through to the man. He knew as well, his speech merely performative. She shook her head at the foolishness, before turning her voice into hard ice. "Hound. They are still opponents. Not enemies." He nodded while they just looked confused. Didn't even realise that she had just ordered him to spare their lives.

Red just looked at them, the way they had their hands ready to draw their weapons. With his left hand, he grasped the back of a chair while calling upon his mana, then let go, showing the holes he had pierced in the thick wood. He raised both hands, his fingertips all Verglassed, making very clear what he had just done. "Unless you think you're more sturdy than that chair, I suggest you keep your hands away from your weapons. Because otherwise, no matter what she says, you become enemies all the same."