We’re closing out 2025 with one more free Realmgard Short Scene. In 2026, I’ll be posting a new scene every Friday for my Patreon subscribers.
© 2025 – J.B. Norman, published by Emona Literary Services
Tenebella is not used to celebrating Wintermorn. Especially not with the same fervour as the people of Porthaven. While the Ansangaarian Hordes do at least vaguely acknowledge the holiday of Wintermorn every year and are certainly no strangers to the fine art of wassailing, the Hordes most often celebrate their conquests and victory in battle.
So, the opportunity to hold a traditional Middlesbrookian secret gift exchange is a novel experience for her. And, in a way, is her real gift this Wintermorn.
Tenbella presides over the gift exhange seated on a throne carved in the likeness of a huge dragon recumbent on a mountain of the slain, carved by Castle Ansangaar’ throne carvers and then personal delivered at her father’s command by Castle Ansangaar’s finest throne carriers.
Tenebella looks down at the Four Horsemen, and the Horsemen stare back at her – Captain Ratsumies, Secutor, Dimachaerus, Ralph, and Gwaedbran – who, on the grounds of being a woman objects to being counted among the Horsemen despite being one of Tenebella’s closest confidantes and often tasked with serving as her personal bodyguard.
“Umm, Princess Tenebella?” Dimachaerus asks, uncertainly raising her hand. “What do we do now?”
“We shall begin the gift exchange,” Tenebella says, acting as if she knows what she’s doing. “Captain–”
“Hey-ho!” Captain Ratsumies says, bolting upright to attention.
“–announce your gift exchange partner and present to them your gift,” Tenebella declares.
“I had Gwaedbran,” Captain Ratsumies declares. “And I gift is this lovely handmade blanket for your battle-boar to keep it warm during these long, cold winter nights.”
“Thank you, Captain,” Gwaedbran says.
“Gwaedbran,” Tenebella says. “Present your gift.”
“I had Ralph,” Gwaedbran declares. “Ralph, if you would be so kind as to look out the window.”
The Ansangaarian embassy to Porthaven is currently housed in the guest room of Darkstone Manor, meaning that the Darkstone family has had to adjust to Tenebella’s presence and the comings and goings of the Horsemen, along with Gwaedbran’s battle-boar.
“Sweet merciful mercies!” Dorian Darkstone cries as he steps out of the front door. “Who dropped this boulder on my lawn?”
“I-is that for me?” Ralph exclaims.
A zealous collector and decorator of rocks, Ralph is brought to tears at the prospect of adding a stone the size of a child to his collection.
“Thank you, Gwaedbran!”
“Ralph,” Tenebella declares. “Present your gift to your parent.”
Regretfully, Ralph pulls his gaze for his boulder.
“I had the Captain,” he announces. “And, Captain, I know how much that axe of yours. So, I got you a big thing of axe polish.”
He presents Captain Ratsumies with a jar almost as big as his boulder.
With a nod that’s as explicit a show of any emotion other than rage, Captain Ratstumies accepts the jar. He pops the lid and gives the polish inside an appraising sniff.
“Is this Pelayan axe polish?” he asks.
“Yes, Captain.”
“Do you know how hard it is to get Pelayan axe polish in this part of Realmgard?”
“Yeah, well,” Ralph offers. “I know a guy.”
“Thank you, Ralph,” Captain Ratsumies declares.
He turns to Tenebella.
“M’lady. It was my profound honour to be tasked with obtaining for you this Wintermorn,” he says. “To that end, I am pleased to report that, on the day of your choosing, you will be given a personal tour of the University of Porthaven’s rare books archive.”
“Did you threaten anyone with grievous bodily harm?”
Captain Ratsumies casually waves his hand. “I’d hardly call it grievous, M’lady,” he says.
“Did you threaten to break the librarian’s legs?”
“In those words, M’lady?” Captain Ratsumies mutters. “Yes…”
Tenebella rolls her eyes. “Thank you, Captain. Sort of.”
“Now, Secutor and Dimachaerus. I believe that means you two got each other.”
The two others turn towards each other.
“I got you some woollen socks!”
“I got you some woollen socks!”
The two brothers blink at each other.
“You know me so well!” they say at the exactly the same time.
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