Before entering politics in the capital she lived in the south, far away from the winds and snowstorms that shrouded the main city and the mountain ridge stretching from east to west across the kingdom of Ashenfell. Aunt Iona told her tales of monsters hiding among humans when she was younger, yet somehow Martina hadn't expected them to be quite so... well, humanlike.

As Martina spent more and more time with her aunt, it became more clear that she belonged at the court, not in the provincial residence. What began as a temporary visit of her aunt quickly turned into both Martina and her mother departing to the capital. Since that day she began learning the intricacies of administration, economics, trade, intrigue, finance - a whole myriad of subjects that occupied her mind during waking hours. She observed with interest as Iona maneuvered between nobles and merchants, managing to get exactly what she wanted each time while letting everyone believe they got what they asked for in return. That kind of subtlety fascinated her.

Now Iona was gone. It was difficult for Martina to comprehend such a sudden loss. One day everything was fine, the next Iona had perished before the healers could diagnose her condition. Martina still remembered the confusion in her mind as if it was yesterday. Of course, such abrupt changes could barely be a coincidence.

From the other side...this was the Ashenfell's plight, was it not? Tragedy following tragedy, sorrow following sorrow - that seemed to be their fate.

Martina let out a sigh that sounded more like a hiss, rubbing her temples. She was alone in the office, surrounded by numerous ledgers full of accounts and numbers. No matter what happened in the royal court, numbers never changed. That was comforting to her, their solidity and immutability. Everything else in this cursed place seemed like sand shifting under one's feet.

"Send word to lord Harald that my answer is 'no'. As well as to count Garett. It should've been done earlier,"

Martina addressed a maid who stood by the door.

"Then make sure my private chambers are prepared tonight."