The Golden Collar
Morning arrived with the sharp ringing of castle bells.
I sat at my small wooden table while a maid braided my dark hair. Cassian stood by the hearth. His eyes were fixed on the locked door.
A quiet knock echoed down the hall.
Cassian opened the door. Duke Varn stood in the corridor alone. He wore a coat of deep violet velvet with gold trim. He held his hands behind his back.
"Step aside Lord Knight," Duke Varn said with a smooth voice. "I am here to save your neck."
Cassian did not move. "The council wants my head for drawing steel on Lord Ethan."
"And I have already handled Lord Ethan," Duke Varn said, stepping past Cassian into my room.
Varn smiled warmly at me. He walked over to my table and set a small silver invitation down beside my wash bowl.
"Lord Ethan
