Lady of the Winter Sea - Part 06

Ursa Blacksong - Mid-Autumn of 113 YSTR

Castle D’oir - Winterlunde
…

“ Are you familiar with the history of the Wnterlunde Lady Blacksong? ” The Duchess asked as she gracefully took a seat at the table situated in the garden room's center, motioning for Ursa to take the seat across from her.

Ursa for her part could only shake her head as she took the seat that she had been offered. “ To be honest my Lady, I didn’t even know that the Winterlunde was even a place until after your people approached me with your offer of employment. I did manage to do some research on the subject before we left port but to be honest
there really wasn’t a great deal of information to be found in any of the books I had access to. ”

The Duchess smiled and nodded her understanding.

“This is not all that all surprising really but for now I’ll spare you the history lesson and simply acknowledge that you’ll find that the majority of the Lords of the Northern realms would much prefer for the Winterlunde to simply be a forgotten footnote in the history of the lands. Some would even suggest that we do not exist at all save for when they have want or need of the goods and services we offer here. “

“ I ask your forgiveness but given what I’ve seen thus far I would venture that you profit quite handsomely off the goods and services you offer.” Ursa observed.
The Duchess’ smiles brightened. “ We do indeed.”

“Might I ask what goods and services the Winterlunde is offering that produces so much wealth? ” Ursa asked as she filled a cup of tea for herself.

“The Winterlunde is home to smiths that are quite skilled in the creation of magical arms and armor, much of which are sold exclusively to the noble households across the whole of the mainland. The Winterlunde is also home to a little known Magical Collage that produces some of the best wizards and spellcasters in the whole of the North Realms.”

The Duchess took a long sip from her cup before continuing.

“Our craftsman and wizards are highly skilled and while not yet equal to the talents and skills once held by ancient elven and dwarven craftsmen of olde ours are able to produce some of the finest instruments of this age.”

Ursa nodded before drinking from her own cup briefly thinking about what the Duchess had said.” So with all that's been happening in Zaatar and the surrounding nations must be one of the most profitable years for the Winterlunde in some time.”

“One would think so but sadly this is not the case.” The Duchess frowned her features hinting at her annoyance on the topic. “ The Northern Nobles make it a matter of policy to keep us on a tight leash by greatly limiting knowledge of the Winterlunde to outside parties as well as limiting our access to the open markets for trade.”

“And yet privateer vessels prowl the northern sea lanes seemingly well aware of your ships and the cargo they might hold.” Ursa noted aloud recalling an account some weeks before.

“Not so odd a thing if you know who their employers are.” The Duchess stated plainly. “ Speaking of employers, however, to answer your question as to why I summoned you here. My intention is to have you to assume the duties of the High Priestess of the central temple here in the Winterlunde.”

Ursa almost spit her tea out as she heard the Duchess words.

“ My Lady, I’m not certain if you are aware but the Black Order was officially disbanded some years ago and I myself was expelled from the ranks of the High Church and declared a heretic by the White Council itself not even 5 years ago. I dare to say that the Church might strongly object to any attempt by myself to assume the position of High Priestess of this temple or any other for that matter.“
The Duchess smiled nodding her understanding. “ Yours has been a very colorful career based on the stories I have heard over the years but things here in the Winterlunde run a little differently then on the mainland.”

“Different how?” Ursa thought to ask.

“ Well, to begin with, the position of High Priest or Priestess is not simply assigned by any one noble or individual’s holding some political office. Nor is the position simply awarded by some decree of the White Council in Sarnia.” The Duchess stated plainly. “ You see the Winterlunde has a many long standing traditions when it comes to the selection of the high priestess and one of the first of these being that a candidate must be sponsored by one of the three noble houses of the Winterlunde.”

“ So to start I’ll be sponsored by the house of the Duchess then?”

“ Correct.” The Duchess acknowledged. “ From there you and any other candidates will need to prove yourselves in the eyes of the people by performing a series of seven tasks or trials that must be completed by year’s end.”

“Other Candidates?” Ursa asked.

“There will likely be one or two others sponsored by the other noble houses unless they all in agreement to support a single candidate. ”

“I see…” Ursa noted. “ And what about the trials you spoke of, what kind of trails are we talking about?”

“That I do not know…” The Duchess admitted with a sigh. “ The trails themselves are governed by the elders of the temple and the individual tasks are seemingly selected at random from what I can tell. The whole process itself however is spread out over the whole of a year so you will have some time to prepare for the tasks before the start of the trails at the beginning of the coming year .”
Ursa could only nod understanding.

“ What I can tell you is that White Council has been sending candidates year after year for the last decade but all to date have failed to complete the trials. Most in fact have not lasted the first 6 months. ”

“ So I must ask again, why me?” Ursa wanted to know.

The Duchess was silent for a moment before she finally spoke. “ You’ll find that we here in the Winterlunde are a fairly superstitious bunch, perhaps more so than those who live on the mainland. To put it simply heard your name in a dream and knew you were the one I needed. “

“To assume the role of High Priestess?” Ursa asked.

“No, the role of High Priestess of the temple is of little importance to me. I have greater concerns that lay farther into the coming future.”

…