Vavel: The Estate

Leontina and Mozuta hovered near the gate, wondering whether they would be able to get through it. Dargorad merely sighed at their hesitation.
“Just go,” he said, nudging them towards the gate. Luckily, he didn't have to worry about himself. He held a special pass by virtue of being a chort. Whether that pass was entirely legitimate was a debate for another time. For now, all that mattered was that it allowed him to fool ordinary humans and gain entry to major cities, such as the capital.

The three of them stood before a guard bearing the Lubomirski family crest on his breastplate. That was precisely why they had chosen this gate. Most of the guards serving that powerful family were stationed here. After all, they had a wizard friend who was acquainted with this family's ghost.
Just as they had hoped, Mr Twardowski made sure they were allowed them to pass.

“My lord has informed me of your arrival. A carriage is waiting beyond the gate to take you to the Lubomirski residence in the capital,” the guard explained, gesturing for them to head in the right direction.
“So, this is where we part ways,” remarked Dargorad.
“It seems so,” replied Mozuta. “Farewell. Hope you succeed in your task.” The boy waved his hand, mimicking the nonchalant gestures of the nobility.
“I won’t let your beautiful boss down,” the chort chuckled. He then glanced at Leontina, gave her a wink, and headed off on his own. She responded with a slight nod.
She was surprised by how much hope she had placed in that chort.
Dargorad's task was now to reach one of the many entrances to the Underground University that were scattered throughout the kingdom and meet with one of its scholars.
Naturally, the capital wouldn't be without such an entrance.
Dargorad waved to them both and vanished into the streets of Vavel just as Leontina and Mozuta were boarding the carriage that the guard had pointed out to them. The carriage bore the Lubomirski family crest, and its interior showed great wealth. The curtains were impressive, but what amazed Mozuta most was the cushioned seating. He was used to the hard wooden planks of ordinary wagons, which always left his backside aching, but here he had no such worries.

Once they had settled comfortably in the wagon, Mozuta glanced at Leontina, who was sitting opposite him.
“Are you sure we can trust him? What if those bombs wake the dragon?” he asked. He would personally have preferred it not to happen, but after seeing how cunning the chort was, he was beginning to have doubts. He could not help but fear the ease with which Dargorad had deceived Gregor, targeting him the moment he spotted the black soul through the window of the village cottage, before kicking down the door. Mozuta had always been told to steer clear of demons and their minions. He now understood why.
“Well, it’s hard to trust someone with ties to that dark side,” Leontina began. “I’m not entirely sure myself, but he did help us,” she went on. “Admittedly, it was because he wanted a soul for his master and used us to get it. But back in the cave, he didn't have to light the way for you... and yet he did," she noticed, smiling.
Mozuta bit his lip. Indeed, Leontina had no need for light. What is more, it later became clear that Dargorad had spotted the dragon in the cave's pitch-black depths easily, unlike Mozuta.
That chort didn't need the light. He could see well in that darkness. The boy scowled. He could certainly be grateful for Dargorad's help with the poludnica, but that didn't change the fact that he was dealing with a chort.

Leontina felt much the same way. As a Soul Guide, she had to confront such beings and sometimes help them break free from the pacts they had entered into. It was no easy task. If possible, she would prefer to avoid them.
Yet Dargorad possessed something that drew her to him.
She didn't know what it was but it was making her trust him.

“I have a feeling I know him from somewhere,” she said.
“From where?”
“I don’t know. I don’t remember anyone with that name...” She rested her head against the carriage's curtain and fell into thought.
I would have remembered a beautiful name like his.
Liho, who had been hiding in her hood to avoid the guards until then, emerged and gazed in delight at the Vavel streets they were passing. It squeaked whenever they passed a stall selling deliciously smelling food.

The carriage pulled up outside the Lubomirski Palace. This magnificent building was created by combining and remodeling three adjacent townhouses. Its beautiful white façade overlooked the street, standing out against the shimmering blue sky above. As they stepped out of the carriage, Mozuta was awestruck by the stunning portal and the grand entranceway through which they were ushered inside.
He had never seen such extravagance in one place throughout his life. Before him lay a spacious hall with a beautiful vaulted ceiling and an elegant staircase leading to the upper rooms.
“Welcome to one of the Lubomirski family’s city residences,” a butler greeted them, bowing. “Our lord will be with you shortly.”

They were told to wait in a drawing room, where they could sit on comfortable sofas beside a beautifully carved wooden table. Encouraged by the surrounding luxury, the liho tried to jump from Leontina’s hood and run across the vast room, but the Soul Guide stopped the creature.
“Stay put, little one,” growled Mozuta. “We'd prefer not to break anything, especially here. I don't even want to imagine how much it cost.” As long as the liho remained close to Leontina, its powers were suppressed and would not manifest immediately. Mozuta hoped the lord would arrive before those powers could activate. He didn’t want any more plates breaking, like in that village house near the capital.
Fortunately, they did not have to wait long.
A butler appeared in the drawing room and announced the arrival of Jezy Lubomirski. A slender, middle-aged man with a mustache stepped into the doorway. He had dark circles under his eyes, as if he had not slept at all.
At the sight of him, Leontina rose and curtsied. Watching her, Mozuta mimicked her movements as best he could.
His voice, sleepy yet deep and dignified, resonated through the room.
“I bid you a warm welcome, especially on behalf of my dear ancestor, who asked me to assist you in your fight against the evil threatening our beloved homeland,” Jezy Lubomirski announced. He gestured for his guests to sit back down on the sofa, then took a seat opposite them.
“W-w-w-we are deeply grateful for your help,” said Leontina, her voice trembling slightly as she managed to utter her thanks.
Jezy ignored her and waved his hand at the butler, who brought a tray to his master. Lubomirski took an envelope from the tray and placed it in front of Leontina.
“It's an invitation to a ball at the von Firnau’s estate”, he explained. “That old grouch, ahem, the dear ancestress of our house,” he corrected himself, “asked me to pass it on to you. Furthermore,” he said, pointing at the letter, “we shall provide transport and suitable attire for the occasion. It is all so that you may display the wealth of the Lubomirskis.”
“A-a-a-are we to pose as you?” asked a visibly shaken Leontina. She would have preferred to avoid impersonating one of the kingdom’s greatest noble houses. Mozuta’s eyes widened. For a common peasant like him, such a stunt would mean the death penalty.
“Yes but do not worry. The explanation goes something like this," he gazed into space for a moment, trying to recall something, and continued. "You will be introduced as my distant cousins from the seaside palaces. It is your first visit to Wawel, and to make your stay more enjoyable, I have given up my place at the ball so that you can experience the social life of the local aristocracy. Or, at least, that is the excuse my venerable ancestress came up with,” he explained, smoothing his brow as he spoke. Yesterday's conversation with his great-great-great-great-great-grandmother was just as usual. It was long and filled with instructions and constant threats about the consequences of failing to carry out her orders.
“I-i-isn't that too much?” Leontina asked timidly. “O-of course w-we are very grateful, b-b-but we don't want to impose...”
Jezy held out a hand towards Leontina to cut her off.

“I appreciate your gratitude. But, as my venerable ancestor says, everything we do is for the prosperity of our lineage. If your actions serve our interests, you shall have our assistance.” He then gestured to the butler again and whispered some orders into his ear.

"That's all. Karol will handle the rest," he said, gesturing towards the butler before leaving the drawing room with a yawn. Leontina curtsied again.

“Please forgive him. My master is tired,” the butler explained, justifying his master’s hasty departure. Just then, one of the candlesticks on the dresser beside the wall fell over. Everyone but the butler flinched. “Oh dear! Could the powers of the venerable ancient mistress be at work even in broad daylight? The master won’t be pleased.”
How fortunate that it never occurred to him it might be something else, thought Mozuta, whose gaze immediately shifted to the liho hiding beneath Leontina’s hood. If the family valued their prosperity, a creature whose powers lay in stripping it away would hardly be welcome.

They were shown to a room in the townhouse next to the Lubomirski Palace. It was quite spacious and featured two beds, wardrobes and a table laden with fruit, flanked by two chairs.
“I'll bring you a meal shortly,” the butler announced, leaving them in the guest room. Once they were alone, Leontina released the liho and placed it on one of the beds. As soon as the creature touched something in the room, an apple from the table's fruit tray rolled towards it. Leontina smiled and handed the fruit to the animal, which began to munch on it with relish.
“I hope nothings else falls down,” Mozuta sighed, watching the liho, with its ears twitching and its tail wagging, happily devour the fruit.
“D-d-d-don’t worry. I’ll make s-s-sure everything stays under c-c-control,” she said. “Y-you just eat and r-r-rest. We have a difficult n-n-night ahead of us,” she added, gesturing towards the table. The boy nodded. He had barely slept lately. On the one hand, poludnica and chort's contract, on the other, trekking through dragon caves. His eyelids were already drooping heavily as they waited for Mr Lubomirski. He was just as tired as that noble.
As soon as the butler brought the meal, he ate both his own portion and Leontina’s. It was only then that he realized just how hungry he was. He knew he shouldn't eat so much, but he would rather have a full stomach for his upcoming encounters with the spirits. Especially since he was greatly worried about the next stunt. He tossed and turned in bed for a while, but eventually exhaustion overtook him. His eyes closed of their own accord and he fell asleep in his bed.

Leontina sat on her bed next to liho, who had just finished eating an apple. The little one ran over to the table, put the core on a plate and took another piece of fruit.
“I-I-I see you were hungry, too,” the girl laughed softly.
The silence in the room was broken only by Mozuta’s breathing and the sound of liho crunching through its next apple. Leontina focused on the envelope she was holding. It bore a seal featuring a coat of arms that she did not recognize. It was a raven resting on a bunch of grapes. She opened the envelope and took out two items. One was a letter containing an official invitation, accompanied by details of the time and venue. The other was a small card that was intended to serve as a pass for entry to the premises.

She sighed. They were actually supposed to arrive in Vavel yesterday morning, but a poludnica, a midday spirit, had held them back. Leontina could not simply ignore another spirit causing chaos, especially one of such formidable power. However, things turned out for the best. Stopping in that village helped her find an unexpected ally, though she still could not fully trust him.
A part of her wanted to listen to that strange feeling and believe that Dargorad will help them.
But her rational side told her to be wary of anything connected to Selew's demons.

She shook her head. It would be better to focus on something other than her uncertain feelings. Since she had already secured his help, she would use it to achieve her goal. For now, it was better to focus on the ball.

They had managed to visit the Dragon's Den at the last minute, and had now arrived at the Lubomirskis' estate.
In a few hours, the butler would return with the staff to prepare for the ball that evening. She decided to use this moment of silence to calm everything that was seething inside her.

The plan of action was not overly complicated. If they confirmed that the count organising the ball was indeed the same person who had tried to harm Mozuta and was now targeting the Vavel aristocracy, they would proceed to the next steps. The ball was being held at night, which would allow her to draw her more of her power. As soon as night fell, she would signal Twardowski to help them with the dragon while she dealt with the count. Once they had defeated the count and averted the imminent threat to the capital, Mozuta would be able to return safely to his grandparents.
Yes, they would succeed. It was true that this was her first time facing the undead and the prospect of waking a dragon, but she hoped everything would go well.
After all, she had Mozuta and Mr Twardowski, a powerful wizard, on her side, as well as the support of the Lubomirski family and the unexpected help of a chort.