"I thought Lord Roger was dead," said the guard. "That's what everyone's been saying. Hit his head on a rock, he did. Dead as a doornail."

This was a different guard. This guard was standing in front of the gates to the Old Coal Fortress, which was far too humble a name for the grand building—which by all rights should have been called a castle. Not that it was a particularly fancy castle, like the illustrated ones in the fairytale books Tamsin had read sometimes back home. This was a practical castle, meant to keep attackers out. It looked exactly as sturdy and solid and dependable as the rest of the city didn't.

The first guard, who had escorted Tamsin and Frieg up to the fort, chimed in at this point. "Aha, you see! That's where it all started to make sense to me. Lord Roger is dead."

"Right," said the new guard. "So how can this be Lord Roger then?"

"Cause she's his sister," said the first guard. "When a nobleman dies, his title passes on to his next of kin. That's standard."

"His title, maybe," said the second guard. "Not his name, you dunce."

Tamsin cleared her throat. "Technically it's only for the sake of the marriage contract that I would legally be Roger," she attempted to explain. Again. They had left most of their things with the horses down near the city gates, but Tamsin had been sure to take Primrose's book with them. She might need it. Although no one had let her get that far in the explanation yet. "Most of the time I would be myself, just walking around and stuff, but on paper—"

"Wait, Roger or no Roger," said the new guard. He looked pointedly at Tamsin's crotch in a way that made her deeply uncomfortable. "How are you supposed to marry the Duchess with no... Roger."

"How dare you speak to a Lady that way!" shouted Frieg, launching himself at the new guard, just to be held back by the first guard.

"That's exactly what I'm saying, though!" protested the new guard. "How can she marry a lady if she's also a lady? It don't make sense."

Tamsin began, "Because for legal purposes, I'll be—"

But the new guard wasn't listening. "She can change her clothes but she can't change what's under 'em," he said, smugly.

"What is going on here?" spoke a rather severe voice.

The speaker, who had just stepped out of the fort, was a man with warm brown skin and dark curly hair—a bit longer on top but clipped short on the sides. He wore round spectacles and a servant's uniform, similar to what Tamsin's father's valet wore, but in darker colors.

If he was a household servant he shouldn't have had any sort of command over the guards, but both guards seemed deeply shaken at the sight of him.

"Nothing's going on, sir, Hugo, sir," said the first guard, saluting. "Just screening all visitors to the city in these difficult times, as ordered by the Duchess."

"This forest squirrel claims to be the Duchess's betroth-ed," said the second guard, really emphasizing the last syllable. The first guard kicked him in the shin. "Ouch, what's that for?"

The man, Hugo, turned his gaze to Tamsin, one patient yet judgmental eyebrow raised.

"My name—" started Tamsin, and then realizing it might actually be smarter to explain things the other way around, continued, "Well, my name is actually Lady Tamsin Gwedric, but I discovered legal precedent for—"

"The sister," said Hugo, raising both eyebrows in sudden recognition.

"What?" said Tamsin.

"You are the Viscount's younger... sibling," said Hugo.

"Yes!" said Tamsin. "And because of that, I can—"

"A closer relative than a second cousin, of a proper age, and unmarried..." Hugo cocked his head to one side, thoughtfully.

"Yes, exactly!" said Tamsin.

"Come along, then," said Hugo, gesturing for her to follow. "Your man as well. Follow me."

The guards stepped aside as Hugo led Tamsin and Frieg into the fort.

Well, technically he led them into the yard, or the bailey, or whatever it was called in a castle. They passed by a large number of soldiers doing drills or something, and Hugo had them pause momentarily while he had a word with one of the officers.

Tamsin stared at the dark colored uniform and she could feel her heart beginning to beat faster. She tried closing her eyes, but then all she could see was the town on fire. She could smell the scent of ash and iron on the air. She opened her eyes again.

"I apologize for the wait," said Hugo, leading them on.

"I hope you were telling the captain to put those two on slop-bucket duty," said Frieg. "No guard should talk to a guest of the house that way, especially not a lady of rank. Absolutely unacceptable behavior for any guardsman! Why, if they were my men, I would—"

"You're a guard captain yourself, then?" said Hugo. "Used to commanding men?"

"Yes, I am," said Frieg, then he hesitated, and continued a little sheepishly. "Well, I was. Not sure I'll have a post anymore, after all this."

"I'm sure we can find a place for you, should you find yourself in need of employment," said Hugo.

"I don't know whether to thank you for the offer or to punch you in the face for talking down to me," said Frieg.

Hugo smiled. A real smile, like he was genuinely amused. "I'll take you on any time, old man," he said.

Frieg laughed. Hugo was a slight man. His slim-fitting uniform didn't show off any particular musculature. Frieg was much older, sure, but he was also solidly built—a career soldier who hadn't let up on his training even after his semi-retirment.

"It wouldn't be a fair fight," said Frieg.

"No, it wouldn't," said Hugo, with a certainty that made Frieg laugh again.

Hugo opened the door to the main keep and ushered Tamsin and Frieg through, leading them down a series of dark stone-lined corridors, the only sign of luxury a single threadbare carpet laid down across the floor.

"Sir Hugo—" said Tamsin, hesitantly.

"Just Hugo," said Hugo. "Despite what the guards call me, I have no rank. And before you ask, no , no surname, either. It's just Hugo."

"Okay. Hugo," said Tamsin. "I just thought I should explain—"

"There's no time," said Hugo. He came to a stop in front of a set of large double-doors of ornately carved oak. He turned back to look at Frieg and Tamsin, examining them with an appraising eye. Then he paused. He quirked an eyebrow. "Until Death Do Us Part: True stories of love and marriage in the Viland Empire?" he read out loud.

Tamsin realized she was holding the book with the title facing outward and quickly turned it around, clutching it to her chest again so no one could read it.

"Please tell me you didn't read some sort of dramatic star-crossed love story and then decide to travel across the mountains on your own to chase some romantic fantasy of true," said Hugo. "If that's what you're looking for, you won't find it here."

"No, no, of course not!" said Tamsin. "It's just precedent. For my argument. To prove I have the correct interpretation of the law, and that imperial judges would agree with my stance if it came to that."

Hugo nodded, satisfied. "Captain, you'd better wait out here. Tamsin will make a better impression standing alone."

"What? I can't let her go alone!" protested Frieg. "I've known her since she was just a little girl and I promised to protect her, and—"

"They're not going to murder her while you stand out in the hallway," said Hugo.

Although they might murder me right in front of you, said Tamsin. Unless I can change our fate.

"It's okay, Frieg," said Tamsin. "What am I stepping into here, Hugo?"

"A special meeting of the Duchy Council, convened to make an official decision on the invasion of Gwedric in retaliation for a broken contract," said Hugo. "I would have given you more time to prepare your remarks, but at the moment it's more of a formality than a real debate and they've been in there for some time already. If you want to stop this war before it starts, you have to do it now."

Tamsin took a deep breath. "Okay, I'm ready."

Hugo opened the doors.