Lothar had lost so many times on the black-and-white board that he had stopped counting. The System's chimes had distracted him just as often.

You have been raised to the rank of Baron of the Kingdom. You have received: One Transcendent Retainer Voucher. Using this voucher, you will gain the allegiance of a random four-star Retainer.

You have received Jogelsburg as your fief. Travel to your fief as soon as possible to unlock the full functions of Yesterday's Great Ship system.

"Baron. Your mind seems elsewhere."

Baldwin IV was not pleased with Lothar's obvious sandbagging.

Lothar admitted it. "It is, Your Majesty. I was only a second son, after all. For most of my life, my ambition went no further than a single fief and a roof over my head."

"I see. I hope your chess has improved by the next time we play."

Baldwin signaled that he was dismissed.

At the door, the King spoke again: "Lothar — don't sink too much effort into that fief. Jerusalem is your true stage."

Distance from Jerusalem meant distance from power. Kaimont had proved as much: a reasonably prosperous city whose own lord preferred a court appointment in the capital to living on his fief.

"I understand, Your Majesty."

Baldwin nodded. "Once the situation settles, I will have another appointment for you. Command of an army, perhaps. Prepare yourself."

"Now go, Lothar. Find my herald: I'll have him craft your personal seal and enter your name into the kingdom's roll of nobility."

"May the Heavenly Father protect you, my liege."

"And you, my loyal knight and baron."

---

Lothar entered the narrow corridor carrying a charter of enfeoffment written in Baldwin IV's own hand. It proved his new status and enumerated his rights over Jogelsburg: appointing officials, levying taxes, and holding every parcel of land within the fief. Beneath them stood the feudal obligations those rights imposed.

He found the herald, presented the charter, paid a gold coin for the craftsmanship and the materials, and took his leave. He didn't need to design his own coat of arms: the herald's office would produce his seal and banner in time. Personal arms, in this age, were tied to title and territory. You didn't simply make one up.

As he left, he found himself looking back at the high palace one last time.

A worthy man served the lord who recognized his value. Lothar would not die merely to prove loyalty to Baldwin IV, but neither could he remain untouched by such trust.

---

Outside the palace, he mounted the Nisaean warhorse he'd brought all the way from Aargau and rode straight to Baron Godfrey's estate. He threw the reins to a servant and walked in without waiting to be announced.

"Balian! Sir Kevin!"

Balian was in full battle gear, heavy mail, a great helm, trading blows with Sir Kevin. The ring of steel on steel filled the courtyard. The two stopped when they saw him, faces lighting with genuine pleasure.

"Sir Lothar! You're back!"

"You ought to call him Baron Lothar now."

Godfrey emerged from the manor in a silk house-robe. He'd clearly been in communication with Baldwin the whole time.

"His Majesty has summoned you already?"

"Yes."

"You two — keep at it. Lothar, come with me. There are things we need to discuss."

Lothar nodded to Balian and Sir Kevin, then followed Godfrey inside. Balian watched him leave with admiration and envy tangled across his face. "The King truly favors him. Raised to baron so quickly."

"Lord Lothar is an exceptional man," Sir Kevin said quietly. "And he has exceptional followers: men like Hans. His rise doesn't surprise me. But you, my young lord — we should continue."

A private bitterness stirred in Kevin. He had served House Ibelin for years without receiving a true title, and the old regret had never left him.

The clang of steel resumed outside.

Inside, Godfrey's face was heavy. Lothar had just finished telling him where the Kurdish company had gone.

"So that was Abdullah's choice." The baron sighed. "When I learned Nur ad-Din had a son still living, I knew this day would come. I only hope they truly do disrupt Saladin's hold on Antioch and Edessa. It would serve us well."

"Lord Godfrey — I don't understand. I was gone barely two weeks. How has the situation in the city shifted so much?"

"Politics, Lothar. It changes by the hour." Weariness roughened Godfrey's voice. "The council planted these seeds when it voted to arm the pilgrims. Now every faction wants a larger share of the funds and troop quotas."

"And I was, as it happens, appointed commander of the Royal Knights of Jerusalem."

Lothar frowned. With thirty knights and two hundred armored cavalry, the Royal Knights matched the Knights of Jerusalem under Regent Raymond. As every corps expanded, control of funds and commands had become another battlefield.

"Raymond wants me to join his faction. He's promised to block the legality of this duel by every means. Reynald, on the other hand, wants me to resign my command of the Royal Knights. In return, he guarantees Guy won't leave a scratch on Balian."

Lothar understood now. "So that's why His Majesty suggested I fight in Balian's place. This duel is about more than a princess. It's about whether the King's party survives."

Godfrey gave a bitter smile. "Guy is a formidable knight. He won the all-Provence championship once. Even you might not be his match. But I've already declined His Majesty's proposal."

"Balian was a blacksmith for a long time. That doesn't mean he has no pride." Lothar's voice was firm.

"He will never agree to let someone else fight this sacred duel for him. If we did it anyway, it would shatter him. Completely."

Godfrey considered the words, then nodded. "That is his nature exactly. It is why I have often feared he is ill-suited to this kingdom's struggle for power."

The realization weighed on Lothar. Godfrey was the undisputed pillar of the King's party. A baron's title did not place Lothar anywhere near him in standing, influence, or military strength. If Godfrey fell, the faction would collapse; Lothar could not support it alone.

"You needn't despair yet. There may still be a path." Godfrey's expression shifted into something almost odd.

Lothar wasn't sure what to make of it. But this was an old fox who'd navigated Jerusalem's power struggles for years. He let his anxiety ease, just a little.

"Where is the duel to take place?"

"The parade ground, in the western quarter."

Lothar nodded. "I'll bring my retinue to watch. They're shaping up into something respectable now: all armored sergeants. With luck, it might make Guy think twice before doing anything reckless."

Godfrey smiled. "Go, then. I'll see you there."

---

After training, Balian washed himself clean and walked into his room.

He froze.

On the table, a crystal vial caught the sunlight and scattered it into a rainbow. The liquid inside was a deep, brilliant blue.

A woman in a black witch's robe stood beside the window, her expression cold and unreadable.

"If you want to defeat Guy and wed Princess Sibylla, drink this. Dragon's Blood."

Balian stared at her, astonished. "Ive — what are you doing in Jerusalem?"

The woman's voice was ice. "Repaying a debt. And settling what stands between us. You saved my life once. I won't stand by and watch you die on Guy's blade."

Sorrow shadowed Balian's face. Had his faith allowed him to take a witch as his wife, he would have chosen Ive without hesitation.

"Dragon's Blood. A potion brewed by my teacher. The blood is from a spinosaurus, taken in the snow-mountains of Scandinavia. It will greatly strengthen your body."

"Something like this… it must be precious."

"No. It's nothing. To me, nothing."

"You're lying."

Balian picked up the crystal vial. "If this potion were nothing, Emperor Heinrich would already have his knights drinking it by the barrel."

Ive made a sharp, dismissive sound. "What do you care? I'm leaving. Keep dreaming your kingly dreams."

Dark wings exploded around her. An ominous black crow shot through the window and climbed into the sky.