Archduke of the South

It had taken precious little time for Oktavia to be bundled into a carriage and Sebastian onto the back of one of those immense reptiles, and then they were swept off back to the seat of the Archduke’s power.

An immense thing, carved from white stone. It sprawled across a rocky hilltop with a star-like shape, each pointed “tip” a gleaming white tower. Around the base of the hill sprawled a sizable town, braced along one side by a curving river.

“Goddamn…” was Sebastian’s only thought as they came in through. People kneeling as they came by, children stopping to stare. He got his share of odd looks, and it’d made him more than a bit nervous, tainting the relief of being back in the arms of civilization.

“Not that its really my civilization.”

He was still dealing with how impossible all of this was. It was real, Sebastian was pretty certain of that by this point. But that wasn’t any better than being crazy, if you asked him.

So when he was brought into the castle on the hill and lead off to a small parlor, richly furnished with dark, polished wood furniture with violet cushions that matched the drapes of the nearby windows, contrasting with the white stone walls beautifully, he was relieved to have something further to distract him.

“Just wish it wasn’t so damn tense!” He thought as he sat down at a short table, Oktavia taking a place next to him while her father sat across from them. A maid, a girl with glasses that gleamed and perfectly cut ash-blonde hair in a frilled ensemble, poured them all tea.

He looked at it for a moment. The dark black tea reminded him of the kind his grandmother would serve with breakfast when he was a child.

“Cream, and sugar, if you please.” He said, raising three fingers, his usual drawl cut curtly. He was usually polite, but tea demanded “proper manners”, as grandmother always said, and it didn’t seem like it was a good time to be anything less than as well behaved as possible.

Beside him, Oktavia arched an eyebrow slightly, and the maid stilled for a split second, so slight he could have been imagining it, before nodding and making sure to give him three small teaspoons of sugar with his tea.

“Your homeland is one of plenty then, I see.” the Archduke said, taking his own cup, barely acknowledging as the maid bowed and stepped back to wait over Oktavia’s shoulder, her hands folds neatly behind her back.

“Ah…something like that…” Sebastian said, suddenly feeling a chill down his spine as he realized that if things went in this direction…

“I ain’t ‘xactly got answers to anything he could ask, not ones that don’t make me sound crazy.”

“Rest assured, Sebastian Blackwell. I can tell your situation is one you’re loath to explain.” The Archduke said, sipping his tea.

“That you just happen to be in the right time and place to save my daughter is unbelievable coincidence. It reeks of enemy action.”

Sebastian tensed, his fingers tightening around the handle of his cup, and Oktavia sitting beside him looked to her father from her own cup.

“...My Lord, please. Sebastian has-” She began quietly, before he raised a gloved hand to silence her.

“Oktavia. I have no intention of harming him, nor am I accusing him of anything.” He told her, meeting her gaze, “But I would say that any heartfelt protestations of his innocence would be better served framed as a daughter speaking to her father, not as a servant to their lord.”

The air got cold at that, and despite Sebastian no longer being the focus of it, it was if anything even more uncomfortable. The archduke seemed to wait for a moment, as if expecting something more from her, before turning away with a sigh, setting his cup down.

“Regardless of how it may look…if one meant my daughter harm, then she was already in a position to be harmed.” Oktavia’s father said, “Similarly, if one wished to harm me, or the House Von Hagelkrone, or the Empire, then you would not have brought her back. There is nothing you could possibly gain from it that an enemy would not have already had with her alone and vulnerable near the border.” He told Sebastian bluntly, “When I thanked you before, it was genuine and not given without thought.”

“It is clear you have an uncertain past, one you likely do not wish to speak of. It does not matter. As of now, you are under the auspices of my House.” He said simply, “We owe you a debt that frankly I suspect I cannot ever repay. But the attempt will be made.”

“Ah…thank you ah…my lord?” Sebastian said tentatively, trying to wave him off, “But really its…I ain’t saying its no big deal but really, I just did what anyone would do. I’d have made a lot of people ashamed of me if I hadn’t come running when I heard a lady in trouble.”

“You came to my aid without even knowing you had a Blessing, nor did you even understand the basics of magic.” Oktavia said bluntly, and her father’s eyebrow raised in nearly the same way he’d seen hers do, once or twice now, “You came unarmed and unarmored just to aid me…to say anyone would do that is absolutely false.”

“A great debt indeed,” The archduke said, before steepling his fingers in front of his face.

“I will be blunt, then, as I suspect you will appreciate it. Even if you consider it obligatory, in the eyes of the empire, you are owed a debt on the part of my house.” He told Sebastian, “However, if it better suits you…perhaps repaying you can come in a form more transactional. You are foreign, alone, and if I understand the situation and your words, know little of magic or Blessings.”

“Ah….yeah, that’d be right.” Sebastian acknowledged, “I’m guessing you’re saying you’ll help with that if I can do something for you?”

The Archduke nodded.

“Quite. While in recent months our prestige has been…diminished…” He said, and at this Oktavia flinched. Not merely tensed, but flinched as if physically struck. It caught Sebastian off guard, but before he could ask the Archduke continued speaking, ignoring it.

“The Imperial Academy is the finest institution upon this continent, perhaps in the world, for one to learn at. Common folk must past strenuous tests or pay small fortunes to attend, while nobility send their children from far away, even from the other side of the Fiendlands, to attend. Oktavia is a student there. She is not the only child of the elite to be found there. Royalty, both foreign and not, have walked those halls and continue to do so. Former and future archmages, Lord Commanders of the Imperial Order, and countless others. You will find no better place to learn, to make allies, or acquire unique resources for your future in the Empire.” He said, steepling his fingers, and Sebastian nodded, parsing what he said.

“If I wanted to go home…if that’s even possible, best shot would be there. Or if I just want to be secure and not worry about the future.” He thought, stroking his chin.

“Oktavia’s betrothal was recent, and not well known, as yet unannounced without the initial meetings to ensure compatibility. Nor was the fact that she was leaving, nor along which route.” The archduke said, his tone turning cold and crisp, sharp, like at any moment someone could be cut to ribbons on shards of ice.

“I would offer this. House Von Hagelkrone will sponsor you to attend the academy, along with providing a small stipend and material to help you keep pace with your fellow students in due time.” He said, “In return, if you must repay us, then let it be by protecting Oktavia when she returns for the next semester. Is this acceptable?”

“My…” Oktavia began, before catching herself at her father’s raised eyebrow, “...Father…am I truly to return then? After what occurred I…I can…I would not want to bring further sham-” She said, almost choking on the words, her hands tightening in her lap before her father cut her off.

“What happened brought me no shame, not from you, at least.” He said bluntly, and she brought a hand to the side of her jaw as it tensed slightly, before she nodded.

“Starting t’think that might be a tell of hers.” Sebastian thought, before looking to the Archduke, and standing up.

“So…make sure Oktavia here’s alright, and in return you’ll make sure I’ve got the best shot I can get?” He asked, “That about sum it up?”

“That…and as someone under the auspices of the House Von Hagelkrone, I would ask that if you find yourself of the opinion that the deal is too one sided, perhaps you would consider looking out for our interests and attempt to represent us well. But given the debt already accrued, I have no right to ask that.” The archduke said, standing himself.

“Ah…ain’t no skin off my nose…That’s more than fair.” Sebastian said, offering his hand.

“My Great Grandfather always said to shake on an agreement. ‘S how you hand your word off to another man. Sebastian Blackwell. At your service then.” He told him, and the archduke chuckled, taking off one of his gloves and taking Sebastian’s hand in a firm grip, shaking it as Oktavia’s eyes widened slightly.

“A man of honor then. Good. Hainryke Von Hagelkrone. At yours.” He said, before stepping back and once more putting on his glove.

“Now then.” He said, turning to leave, “Feel free to finish your tea. A servant will come to inform you of where your room will be later this evening. Oktavia. I would recommend taking him to the library, or the courtyard and brushing up on what all he will need to learn.” Hainryke told his daughter, and she straightened slightly, nodding.

“I shall be entrusting you with preparing him in this short time. I don’t expect exemplary results, though given his proclivity and task, perhaps focusing on the practical, martial side of things for the short term. I am certain you won’t let me down.” He said, before heaving a sigh, expression taking a more tired, heavy bent as he turned away.

“I will have to finish these letters for the families of our men. If you’ve need of me, I shall be in my solar.”

“Of course, my….father.” Oktavia said, before finishing her tea and standing as her father left, turning to Sebastian.

“So ah….where we starting?” He asked her with a friendly grin, and she closed her eyes and exhaled.

“First...etiquette, I should think.” She said, and Sebastian felt his grin turn brittle.

This was going to be an ordeal.