Chapter 86: Clever Ashlynn
Nyrielle smiled in the dancing shadows cast by the swaying lantern in the carriage as Ashlynn began to share her perspective on handling Lord Ritchel’s nation in general and Hauke in particular.
When Nyrielle initially made the decision to bind the young witch as her Seneschal, she knew little about what sort of woman Ashlynn was. She’d gone to Lothian City in the hopes of taking a look at Owain Lothian’s new bride, though the presence of the High Priest made it impossible to get close during the late-night feast.
She’d never expected to learn that the woman Owain was marrying bore the mark of the witch, nor that he would attempt to kill her as soon as he discovered it. When she finally found Ashlynn, hours later, beaten, cold, and shivering in the dark of a rainstorm, she hadn’t hesitated to seize the opportunity to bind a child of the earth to herself as tightly as she could.
At the time, she assumed that it would take years for Ashlynn’s powers to blossom and maybe just as long to give her the instruction she needed to act as a Seneschal within the Vale of Mists and beyond. Perhaps it was because she’d seen few extraordinary women among the noble houses in Lothian March, but she didn’t have high expectations for Ashlynn in the beginning.
It quickly became obvious that her darling Ashlynn was cut from a different cloth. Now, as Nyrielle listened to the young witch’s confident voice, she found herself nodding along with many of Ashlynn’s assumptions.
The training Ashlyn received from her father was clear as she counted off her assumptions. First, she assumed that Nyrielle was content with her relationship with Lord Ritchel and further, that she supported Hauke as the next Eldritch Lord of the High Pass.
Second, she assumed that Nyrielle didn’t want to suffer a loss, however she was tested. Finally, she assumed that There was a reason that Rtichel wanted Hauke to succeed him but that Hauke himself wasn’t the strongest person among the Frost Walkers who were currently contending to be the next Eldritch Lord of the High Pass.
"Correct on all counts," Nyrielle said with a pleased smile. "The Frost Walker clan are almost natural born ice sorcerers, but they aren’t all equally gifted. Much like there are different marks of the witch that can tell you about a witch’s power, there are differences in the horns of Frost Walkers that can help you gauge their potential."
"So Hauke has potential, but he’s like me, still learning to use his powers," Ashlynn said, nodding in understanding. "That gives him an excuse to lose because people will be understanding that he’s still growing."
"He’s still growing," Nyrielle acknowledged. "And he’s younger than you are by four years, but unlike you, he’s been taught how to use his powers from a young age. How will you overpower him?"