>>5715145“Nonsense, I’m the one that is in your debt. To think I’d find someone out in these remote woods who could rid me of that witch once and for all. And that she would be a friend of Sylvain’s no less!” The prince’s smile falters ever so slightly. He tilts his cup over, allowing some of the drink to fall to the ground, soaking in the snow. “Would that he were here to enjoy the night with us.”
>“Were you and Sylvain close?” You ask, emulating the same gesture as the prince. In the chaos of everything, you’d hardly had the chance to mourn. “Hardly.” Leif scoffs. “We’d butt heads from time to time, but it was nothing more than childish rivalry. The Gautier family treated me well. Far better than a hostage could expect to be treated. The Margrave demanded discipline, but it was thanks to his stern hand that I was able to learn as much as I did. Children in Sreng, even those of noble blood, are hardly afforded such a quality education. I always thought it odd that the Margrave would go to such lengths for the son of his sworn enemy. Though I suppose in hindsight he’d had few options. Sylvain was always a lazy slacker. And as for his older brother, Miklan, he was a troublemaker the Margrave wanted nothing to do with. I’d heard he died in some fight a few years back. It’s a shame. He wasn’t all that bad, once you got to know him.”
>“I remember Miklan well. I was there the day he died.”“What?” Leif asks, puzzled. He stares at you with disbelief. “How do you mean?”
>“Miklan rebelled against his family. He stole the Lance of Ruin and became a bandit. He’d made his last stand right here, at the Tower of Black Winds. He even almost killed me if you can believe it. Stabbed me right through the chest. I thought I could take him on, but he proved much stronger than I. It was the first time I’d ever come close to dying, and I still have the scars to prove it.” 