The first night she spent drinking tea with Hrafen after the evening she got drunk, the mage had greeted her with a smirk.

"So here is our legendary Lady the knights won't stop talking about. They say she has the potential to best even Kare in a drinking competition," he had said.

Saga didn't remember all she had said or done while drunk, but Hrafen's comment held traces of the changes she had noticed. Before, the knights had all been polite enough toward her, but nothing more. Afterwards, even those she had barely spoken to smiled wide and greeted her with enthusiasm when they met in the corridors.

Though the most major shift had happened between her and Kai. Saga couldn't put her finger on what had changed, but being around Kai felt both easier and harder. As if new understanding had occurred between them, making it possible for both of them to even bring up less pleasant conversations, making it easier to be more honest. But the change also made the interactions feel dangerous. As if something which wasn't allowed could happen any moment. What that was though, Saga had no idea. And since she didn't, she did her best to ignore the feeling, though still ensuring she never did anything inappropriate around him.

Something else she hadn't been able to get out of her head, however, was the winter festival. Two days after the drunk evening, she had asked Kare about it.

"It is happening in three days' time. Why does the Lady ask? Is she curious about it?" Kare answered, his eyes gleaming with mischief.

"Are you certain it is a good idea to go there, Lady Saga?" Kai asked, a wrinkle growing deep between his eyes.

"I should learn about the customs of the people I'm the Lady over," Saga pointed out, giving the excuse she had practised by herself. The real truth was that she had heard about the festivals in Fyris by listening to the maid at her father's estate, and they had always made the festivals sound like a lot of fun. Then she could have only dreamed about going to one herself. But now she had the freedom to decide for herself that she wanted to go.

Kai didn't look convinced, though, and turned his gaze to Astrid, as if pleading to her to change Saga's mind.

"I think the Lady has a good point," Astrid answered that plea, however, causing Kai's face to harden.

"There are always a lot of people. If something happens..."

"It's a festival, boy," Astrid interrupted him, her voice was harsher than Saga had ever heard the knight use toward the squire. It was a tone Astrid usually reserved for when she thought Kare went way over the line in the stories he told. "No one there will be out to harm the Lady. And besides, if she is surrounded by us, then who would dare to even try?"

Kai hung his head, but didn't refute Astrid's words. Saga felt both an ache and joy. She was glad and thankful Astrid had stepped in to argue against Kai. But seeing him dejected always hurt Saga, and that she was the cause behind it hurt even more.

For a second, she considered taking back her suggestion. Say that it had been a silly idea and that she wouldn't go. But it would be a lie, and Saga lied enough as it was, hid so much of herself. It was tiring, so she didn't have it in her to lie about this one thing she really wanted to do.

"I'll be fine," she said instead in a soft voice to Kai. "Because you will be there protecting me as well as always, right?"

Some of Kai's pain cleared as he smiled at her with eyes a mix of the sky and the lake. "Of course. I always will be."

As such, Saga prepared to go to her first festival three days later.

Erna had brought out three of Saga's dresses for her to choose from. But after studying them and thinking it over, Saga turned back to Erna.

"Could you take out the black dress instead?" she asked, causing Erna to frown.

"The black dress? Isn't that one rather simple?"

Saga smiled. "Yes, it is," she answered, though offered no other explanation for she wasn't certain if her way of thinking would make sense to anyone else. But the festival was among the people of Sinkbek. If she, as the Lady, came there in one of her most beautiful dresses, she would stand out, and she didn't want that. She wanted to experience the festival like the people did, or at least as close to it as was possible.

With that in mind, she also only allowed Erna to fix her hair into simple braids and said no to all jewellery apart from the silver chain with a sword hanging from it; one of the first pieces of jewellery Viggo had bought her.

When she was all dressed, she took a red cloak to drape over her shoulders and leather gloves as protection against the cold, after which she went down to the entrance to meet Kai, Astrid, and Kare, who all three would accompany her.

Astrid and Kare were busy in conversation. Kai looked like he tried to pay attention, but his eyes strayed away from the other two, and when Saga had reached half-way down the stairs, his eyes had found her. He froze; his eyes didn't stray anymore but stared straight at her. To her surprise, his lips didn't turn up into the usual smile he would give her when he saw her. Instead, it remained as frozen as the rest of him.

"Ah, you're ready! Come here, Lady Saga!" Astrid exclaimed when she noticed Saga descending the stairs as well, and as soon as Saga took the last step, Astrid took hold of her hand. "Now this will certainly be a night to remember!" Astrid said next and led Saga out of the castle before anyone else had time to say anything.

Side-by-side, hand-in-hand, Saga and Astrid walked in the front with Kai and Kare trailing after them.

"There's so many fun things to do at the festivals," Astrid said as they made their way down the hill the castle was on. "Lots of nice food as well. We have to make sure you try it all."

"What do they usually do during the festival?" Saga asked.

"It is mainly a lot of dancing, eating, and drinking. But they often have a few games as well. I would imagine it is very similar to how the festivals are in Fyris."

Saga grew quiet, looked off to the side.

"You didn't ever attend the festivals in Fyris?" Astrid correctly interpreted the silence.

"My father didn't think it appropriate," Saga answered, which was half the truth. Her father certainly talked poorly about the festivals, but even if he would approve of them, he wouldn't have let Saga anywhere near them.

"I am not surprised. He has never struck me as a man who cares for anything other than wealth and power," Astrid said, then gave Saga an apologetic smile. "I hope you don't mind me talking about your father as such. He has simply never been a favourite of mine."

"I don't mind at all."

"Good. Not that my opinion of him is based on any actual encounter with him, only on those things the others have said when they have gone to assist him. And before them the tales Kare told."

"Kare?" Saga frowned and looked over her shoulder slightly to where Kare was talking Kai's ears off.

"Aye. He grew up in Fyris. Lived there until he was a bit over twenty. Of course he never had any encounters with the Duke himself since he was only a smith, but he still experienced enough about how the Duke ruled."

"How... How old is Kare?" Saga asked, with a mouth which had grown far too dry. Though her father had kept his treatment of her a secret as far as she was aware, this new piece of information about the burly knight had her rattled. Would he have lived there at the time of her mother's death? Did he know any of those parts she wanted to keep hidden from everyone?

"Half-way to forty. You would have been a young child, maybe around five, when he left Fyris," Astrid answered, providing all the information Saga had wanted, and her body relaxed again. He would have left before her sixth birthday then.

"Why hasn't he ever told me?" Saga wondered instead.

Astrid shrugged. "He has probably not even thought about it. Too busy thinking about alcohol and sex for anything else to cross his mind."

They had reached the bottom of the hill, and houses appeared on both sides as Astrid kept steering in the direction of the town square.

"Do you have the knife with you?" Astrid asked, lowering her voice slightly as she did.

Saga nodded.

"Good. I'm certain nothing will happen, but it is good you are prepared just in case. And you remember the main goal?"

"Look intimidating enough so I won't be attacked," Saga repeated the lesson Astrid had imparted on her more than once by now.

"Exactly. Though most important for tonight, make sure to have fun." Astrid gave her a wink. "That is why we're here after all, and I think you certainly deserve to have some fun."

Laughter and music from the festival could be heard through the streets, and looking ahead, Saga saw the opening to the town square and lots of movement. Since it was winter, it was already dark, but fires illuminated the square even from a distance.

"Promise to stay close?" Kai asked as he came up next to Saga.

"I promise," Saga smiled at him.

When they reached the town square, Saga wasn't certain it had been a wise decision to go there. Everywhere she looked, there were people dancing, laughing, having a good time. More people at once than she had ever experienced before.

"Are you alright, Lady Saga?" Kai asked from her side.

She nodded, though everything felt hollow in her. As if her insides were carving out a place for her magic to take over when panic and fear would overwhelm her.

Then she felt a squeeze of her hand, making her turn her head. To her side, Astrid had her eyes forward, her chin raised, back straight.

Saga turned to look forward as well and mirrored Astrid's stance. Chin raised, back straight, her feet shoulder-width apart. Then she took a deep breath.

"So, what food should we try first?" she asked, looking at Kai, and smiling with ease. The temporary fear disappeared with the confidence of her posture.

A bit later they had walked one lap around the square, trying all the different foods there were. Sugary baked goods, roasted nuts, salted fish, and much more. Her anxiety had simmered as they had entered the crowd. But while they had moved around the square, the anxiety had disappeared as nothing happened, as no one paid any attention to them, until she could enjoy it all without any fear.

"Anything you would like to try again, Lady Saga?" Kai asked, but before Saga had time to answer, a streak of blonde hair shot out from the crowd to collide with Kai's legs. He took half a step back to steady himself, then looked down, and one of the widest smiles Saga had ever seen on his face spread. "Where do you have mother and Thora?" Kai asked as he bent down to lift the girl up.

Seeing the girl, Saga didn't need any explanation to know who she was. Those blue eyes were enough, the same blue as Kai's. The radiance from the girl was also similar to Kai's, as unrelenting and warm as the sun.

"Kai dance with me!" the girl exclaimed before burying her face into Kai's shoulder with her arms around his neck.

"Sure. Anything you want," Kai answered and kissed the side of the girl's head.

Watching the two siblings made Saga's heart swell. Kai being so affectionate with the girl, and the girl clearly adoring her brother. It was impossible not to smile.

"Kai!" another girl exclaimed. Slightly older and with brown hair and eyes; the opposite of her siblings. She ran forward as well, but stopped a few steps back to stare. Following her line of sight, Saga noticed it was Astrid who had caught the older girl's attention.

"What did I tell you two about running away from me?" A woman appeared, and like Kai and her youngest child, she had warm blue eyes.

"Sorry, Mother," the older of the two girls said while the younger continued to have her face buried in Kai's shoulder.

The mother walked over to the older girl and patted her shoulder before moving forward and enveloping Kai in a hug. "And here we thought you wouldn't come."

"I hadn't planned to, but the Lady wanted to come and needed escorts," Kai answered.

The woman pulled away from her son and seemed to take in who Kai was with for the first time. Her eyes swept over Astrid and Kare quickly, but stayed on Saga, who felt a blush spreading due to the woman's intense stare.

"Lady... Lady Saga?" the woman asked and did a somewhat stiff curtsey. Saga's blush intensified. She opened her mouth to answer the woman's greeting, but her mind had turned blank.

"Yes," Kai answered and moved so he stood more firmly by Saga's side. "This is Lady Saga," he introduced her. "And this is my mother, Auda. And Thora and Hedda," he then introduced the members of his family.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. Kai talks so fondly about all of you," Saga said, finally finding her words again.

Auda gave her a bright smile which could rival Kai's. "As he does of you."

If it was possible, Saga's cheeks grew even warmer.

The mother then turned to her son to exchange some more words. She wondered if Kai ate properly, if all was going well for him, if he rested enough. The two girls made comments as well; aimed at drawing their brother's attention to them. And as Saga watched them, she felt happy for them, but an uglier emotion swam forward.

Jealousy.

Seeing the happy family—the loving mother and the adoring sisters with their equally adoring brother—hurt because it was something she had never had but something she had wished for time and time again. And if it not for her magic, maybe she would have had it. If she hadn't killed her mother, then maybe Saga wouldn't only have a loving mother still, but perhaps her relationship with her sister would have been more like what Kai had with his sisters.

Though she would never know that because her own evil had ripped the possibility away.

"We won't bother you anymore," Auda said after having ensured all was well with Kai. "We'll let you enjoy the festival in peace."

"Kai dance!" Hedda exclaimed from where she remained in Kai's arms.

He laughed and kissed her cheek. "One dance."

The girl cheered, and after making sure it was okay, Kai moved closer to the dancing with the girl in his arms. She stayed there as he simply spun around and around, not really dancing, but eliciting laughter from his sister.

Auda stayed by Saga and the two knights, her eyes following her two children with a wistful smile. Meanwhile Saga noticed Thora sneaking glances at Astrid, who was stopping Kare from saying anything too inappropriate in the presence of the children.

The jealousy in Saga prevailed. They all had something she had never had. The sense of belonging, of being accepted for who they were. Though Saga now was much safer to be herself, she still couldn't be completely. She always needed to watch what she said, what she did, to not give too much away. She could not laugh as freely as the girl in Kai's arms, could not joke without second-guessing her words like Astrid and Kare, could not let herself go.

After a song, Kai returned and handed Hedda over to his mother, before they and Thora disappeared into the crowd again.

"I'm sorry you had to wait," Kai told Saga, beaming the brightest of everything at the festival. Though it dimmed bit by bit as he studied her, and Saga cursed herself. Her thoughts, her jealousy had to have been visible in her expression.

To hide it, she turned her lips upwards, for it was unfair of her to direct any of those negative emotions toward Kai. It was wonderful that he had a lovely and supportive family. He held no blame for why she didn't, for why she couldn't be free. That blame was hers to carry alone.

"Your sisters are cute, and your mother seems lovely," Saga said instead.

A bit of Kai's light came back, though not as grand as it had been. "They really are," he agreed.

"And Hedda looked to enjoy the dancing," she went on to disperse any foulness her jealousy might have caused.

"Maybe the Lady wants to dance as well? Though she said she is no good," Kare pointed out at the side of them, and Astrid had a small coughing fit.

"I'm not, but... It maybe would be fun," Saga agreed with her eyes on Kai. Though she couldn't laugh as freely as Hedda had, maybe she could afford herself a bit more freedom.

"I don't know," he mumbled and didn't return her gaze. "We would be in the middle of the crowd. If something happens, it'll be harder to..."

"If you won't dance with the Lady, then I will," Kare proclaimed and extended an arm to Saga, but before she could even react, something wrapped around her wrist. Looking down, she saw Kai's hand holding her.

"No. I'll dance with her. Of course the Lady shall dance if she wants to," Kai said, then pulled Saga toward the crowd and away from the other two. Enough away that they couldn't see them anymore.

Then Kai stopped and looked back at her with wide eyes.

"I'm sorry, Lady Saga, for dragging you off like that. Are you certain you want to dance?" he asked and let go of the hold he had had on her wrist.

"I'm certain," Saga answered and took a step closer. "Though I really don't know how."

Kai eased again. "Just hold my hands and follow my lead. And it really does not matter how you dance as long as you have fun."

Holding hands, Kai positioned them so Saga's right shoulder was opposite Kai's right, then started turning them around. They moved like that for a bit until he let go of one of her hands while raising the other. Knowing what he wanted, Saga spun two laps under his arm before he took hold of both her hands again. He switched sides, so their left shoulders were opposite. And after a bit of that, he raised one of their linked hands once more, but this time so he could pass under her arm.

They continued to move, to dance, and Saga quite forgot where they were. Forgot they were among people, as the lively music and Kai became her only focus. A giggle built in her while her cheeks flushed with the excitement of it all. She could not remember the last time she felt as free as she did then.

"Hedda told me she thinks you are pretty," Kai said after the first song had ended and they had started dancing to the next one. It was a slower one, and as the speed of their movements decreased to match the song, they ended up closer to one another.

"You can tell her I think she is as well," Saga answered.

"She will be delighted."

Some of the bubbling excitement lessened in Saga at the slowed rhythm. Instead, she became aware of how very close Kai was, and flashes of the night she had got drunk danced in her mind. Of how close they had been then. Of how she had wanted to do something with him, but hadn't known what.

She wanted that again. Being his sole focus, the way she was, she found herself drawn into him. Even more so when his eyes grew darker until they became the lake.

But she also became aware again that they weren't alone. That they were in a square full of people, and though she wasn't sure what she wanted from him, she knew it wasn't anything appropriate for a place like that.

"You really do look beautiful tonight," Kai murmured. "You always do. But you look more beautiful than normal."

They had come to a halt, though still standing close. Still holding hands.

Saga looked down at the ground. "Thank you."

Neither of them spoke, but it felt like the air between them screamed a thousand words. Trying to tell them both what was happening, but Saga found she didn't understand the words.

"Lady Saga, I..." Kai began.

A roar interrupted him. A roar from the sky.

Kai's arms went around her, pressed her hard against himself as if shielding her using his own body. But before he did, Saga had time to see scaly wings in the sky.