-Lunos, Hut on the outskirts of the castle – Night-
The hut was half an hour's walk from the castle, hidden in a grove of Carterás, where the white needles shone in the starlight. The wind howled outside, but inside, a lit fireplace kept the room warm. The walls were of dark wood, covered with animal skins and old maps. The floor, of beaten earth, was marked by many boots.
Nalía, Linda's sister, arrived first. She wore a dark fur coat, her light hair tied in a ponytail. Her cold green eyes scanned the room. She approved what she saw: a lit fire, wine on the table, chairs enough for four.
Merius Derylini entered minutes later, his cloak covered in snow. He didn't look at Nalía. He just sat in the chair farthest from the fireplace and poured himself wine.
"You have bad manners, brother-in-law," she said, with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"I have a heavy conscience. It's different."
"Heavy? Or just tired?"
He didn't answer. He drank the wine.
---
Móber arrived third. The pot-bellied baron, rosy-faced, came accompanied by a servant carrying a dark wooden box. The box was placed on the table and opened. Inside, gold coins – many.
"For the costs," said Móber, sitting down. "And for motivation."
"We don't need money," replied Nalía. "We need a plan."
"Money helps." Móber closed the box. "Linda's guards are loyal, but loyalty has a price. Whoever pays more, commands."
"Linda pays with respect. That's more valuable than gold."
"Respect doesn't fill bellies."
The debate was interrupted by the arrival of Refibus. The thin, bald baron, with small dark eyes, entered without knocking. Behind him, Seru – his son – remained in the doorway, arms crossed, his gaze icy.
"The boy doesn't come in," said Nalía.
"The boy stays where I say," Refibus replied, sitting down. "And hears what I allow."
"Do you give the orders now?"
"I have the plan." Refibus poured himself wine. "Linda is weak. Her husband betrays her. Her daughter is with a foreigner with golden hair. The loyal barons are old or tired. This is the right time."
"And Zirinos?" asked Merius. "The man killed Trussum. He's not just any opponent."
"Zirinos is a sword. Swords can be used. Or broken." Refibus looked at his brother-in-law. "You have a sister, Merius. Linda is your wife. What do you gain from her fall?"
"The marquisate." Merius's voice was neutral. "And the freedom to marry whom I want."
Nalía smiled. Her green eyes gleamed.
"You know very well whom you want, brother-in-law."
Merius didn't answer. He just drank the wine.
---
Refibus unrolled a parchment on the table. It was a map of Lunos Castle – corridors, towers, secret exits.
"The plan is simple," he said. "First, we isolate Linda. We make sure the loyal guards are busy elsewhere. A false threat of monsters to the north, for example."
"Monsters exist," commented Móber. "We don't need to invent them."
"Even better." Refibus pointed to Luna's tower. "Then we take the tower. The girl Luna is the key. If we control her, Linda will do whatever we want."
"And Zirinos?" insisted Merius.
"Zirinos will be in the tower with her. We separate them."
"Separate a man who killed Trussum?" Merius laughed, without humour. "How?"
"With an invitation." Refibus raised his glass. "Baron Móber will give a dinner in his honour. Zirinos is a hero; he likes being celebrated. While he's distracted, we act."
"And if he refuses?"
"Then we use the girl Mira."
Silence weighed. Merius looked at Refibus.
"Mira is in Decatry. Under Baron Ander's protection."
"Baron Ander is loyal to Deur Derylini, not to Andy Decatry. And Deur… Deur has his own ambitions."
"Are you involving Marquis Derylini?"
"Not yet. But if necessary, I will."
Nalía touched Refibus's arm.
"Let's not rush events. First, the dinner. Then the tower. Then Linda."
"And then the marriage," added Refibus, looking at Seru. "The girl Luna will become my daughter-in-law."
Seru, in the doorway, smiled. An icy smile.
"Linda won't accept," said Merius.
"Linda won't need to accept. She'll be dead. Or exiled. Or mad. Whatever is more convenient."
Merius paled.
"Dead?"
"If necessary." Refibus drank the wine. "You're weak, Merius. You always have been."
"I am her husband."
"You are her sister's lover. The difference is subtle."
Silence settled. The fireplace crackled. The wind outside howled.
Nalía stood up.
"It's decided. The dinner will be next week. Móber handles the formalities. Refibus handles the tower. And you, Merius… you handle keeping Linda unsuspecting."
"How?" he asked.
"Be the attentive husband. Bring her flowers. Tell her you love her. The lies men have told women for centuries."
Merius didn't answer. He just drank the wine.
---
Zirinos was in the castle courtyard when the shadows began to return.
The snow fell lightly, the flakes small, almost invisible. The cold cut the skin, but he didn't feel it. His eyes were fixed on the road that led to the grove.
He saw Refibus and Seru on horseback, their dark cloaks standing out in the snow. He saw Móber in his cart, followed by a servant. He saw Nalía on foot, her light hair shining in the moonlight. He didn't see Merius.
'
Secret meeting', he thought. 'Where you weren't invited.'
He stored the information. He told no one.
He went up the stairs to Luna's tower. She was sitting on the bed, reading a book.
"Zirinos?" she asked, looking up. "You're pale. Did something happen?"
"No." He sat in the chair by the window. "I was just thinking about things."
"What things?"
"About monsters. And about people who look like them."
Luna closed the book.
"Are you afraid?"
"I am." He looked at her. "Of you."
"Of me? Why?"
"Because you trust me. And you shouldn't."
"I choose whom to trust."
"You choose badly."
"It's my right."
Zirinos didn't answer. He just looked at the snow outside.
'The monster inside me is still watching', he thought. 'But I'm no longer sure who he is'
'Or who I am.'
He blew out the candle.
The room went dark.
Outside, the moon shone.