Part 5
The 3 guards outside the Baron’s manor were quite confused to see a very well dressed woman and what looked like bodyguards come confidently up to the manor gates. They were even more confused when she seemed mad.
“Why I never!” Rebecca shouted. “I sent a letter telling the Baron I would be coming today!”
“Umm…” one of the guards started to say.
“You there! Boy!” Rebecca shouted at him in a very commanding voice, which caused him to reflexively stand up straight. “Tell the Baron that Rebecca Ashe is here to see him and that I don’t appreciate being kept outside!”
“...who?”
Rebecca sighed loudly. “Don’t they teach you lot anything nowadays? I’ll tell you plainly. Tell him Rebecca Astrid Ashe, the Duchess of Lichfield, of Whitemire, is here to see him.”
The title Duchess of Lichfield got the attention of all 3 guards. It was well known that after the Duke of Lichfield died, his sister inherited the title, but she had been missing for over a century. After some whispers between each other, 2 of the guards went inside, while the 3rd retreated back to the manor door, seemingly scared of Rebecca.
“Ashe? I thought your last name was Montague?” Jack whispered.
“An alias, idiot.” Rebecca whispered back. “Quiet, the guards are back.”
“I’m afraid the Baron is not receiving visitors today, you will have to come back another time.” The tall guard said.
“Oh you don’t understand.” Rebecca said, smiling broadly. “I was telling you as a formality.” Rebecca’s hands glowed as she touched the gate, and it melted into a pile of slag. “The Duchess of Lichfield will see the Baron of Thorns today wether he likes it or not.”
“What happened to the protection runes?” The 2nd guard shouted.
“I am Rebecca Ashe, the Witch of Whitemire. I am the the most powerful Divine Creation mage who ever lived. Get the hell out of my way.”
Rebecca signalled to the rest of the party, and they advanced. The guards, while shocked by the runes being so casually destroyed by Rebecca, attempted to block their way.
“H-halt!” The nervous guard stammered.
“You’re too young to die for a scoundrel. Father Hamlin, if you would?” Rebecca asked, glancing at Hamlin.
Hamlin nodded, and stepped in front of the party. “I shall be your opponent. I will be fine, Duchess. Go on ahead.”
“What was that noise?” The Baron asked a guard.
“They uhhh… melted the gate.” A guard said, looking out the second floor window.
“Melted?” The Baron asked. That gate had enough protection runes on it to kill a crocodile.
“You think it might actually be her?”
“Who else could it be? Any other noblewoman would have left in a huff and gossiped about me at the next party instead. Only Rebecca Ashe would melt a gate.”
“So…” The guard began, looking expectantly at the Baron.
“Oh, right. Pass on the message, let her through. Tell those idiots outside to stop playing with the Priest, too.”
“Baron Andrew get out here this instant!” Rebecca yelled.
Shit. It really was her. Rebecca Ashe. Andrew gulped, and opened his door, to find all the guards in the manor lassoed in vines, and Rebecca looking quite impatient in his central hall.
“Andrew you really must get better guards!” She said, exasperated. “They can’t even handle a simple creation mage.”
“Duchess, you are anything but a simple creation mage.” Andrew said, shaking his head.