*Rory*
Dawn slips in slow and foggy, creeping through the window of my bed chamber. The faint chill presses against my skin, but I pull the woolen blanket tighter and listen to the stirring of the castle waking around me. The sounds of horses in the courtyard, the low murmur of servants, and the distant clang of the blacksmith’s hammer remind me where I am. A time long before mine, and a place that demands careful footing.
Today will be another day of work. Not with sword or bow, but with ledgers and plans, with understanding the land, its people, and their needs.
Downstairs I find Cait moving through the great hall, brisk and sure. She carries a small leather-bound ledger and a quill, her expression serious, as she consults with a steward. When she sees me, her expression softens, and
