Time and time again, you find yourself thinking about Lady Megistus. Though you’re aware of no bond of blood or lineage, you still feel a sense of kinship with her. In some strange way, you feel as if you might understand one another. It may be a futile hope, but you keep wondering. What if, by some remote miracle, she was still alive somewhere within the labyrinth? What could she teach you, and at what cost?

Questions haunt you, but dinner offers a fleeting sense of reprieve. No expense has been spared, either in the quality of the ingredients or the talent involved in the cooking. You suppose that small comforts like these are vital for life far up in the remote mountains. The old Martense family might have neglected them, but the new generation is not beyond the allure of fine food and wine.

Jan’s parents swiftly withdraw after the meal, as if sensing that they might be intruding upon private conversations or, perhaps, simply seeking out their own solitude. They are, after all, still Martense.

“So Bard, Jan tells me that you’ve seen that sister of yours!” Daniel announces, gesturing towards you with his fork, “Why didn’t you say anything? You know I’ve been wanting to meet her for years.”

“Why do you think I didn’t say anything?” you counter, softening the rebuke with a laugh. All jokes aside, you’re vaguely terrified of what might happen if the two of them were to meet. You’re not sure that both of them would come out alive.

“Hmm. You could at least tell me what she’s like. Elle?” the soldier insists, “I’m not going to ask Bard. He’s hardly an unbiased source, after all.”

“Oh, um, she’s very…” Elle hesitates, “She’s just a normal girl, really. There’s nothing to get excited about.”

You can tell that Daniel is far from convinced, but Jan clears his throat before any further questions can be asked. “How about a game?” he offers, “I forgot to mention earlier, we found some in one of the storage rooms. I think you might like this one, Isambard.”

“Lead on, then,” you urge, grabbing onto the excuse with both hands. Jan nods, getting up and guiding you through to another room. A map lies spread out across a long table, while a scattering of small metal models awaits your attention. You see cavalry sitting atop proud horses, and a mixture of infantry wielding archaic weaponry.

It’s one of THOSE games.