The Knight and the Harpy Prologue

Prologue

A glinting coach rolled through great iron gates of the squat, grey convent. The coach's doors bore a red shield with a brown rabbit clutching an axe. It was the crest of the Astor family.
         Rain threatened from the leaden sky as the coach ground to a halt before the nunnery's heavy wooden doors as they groaned open.
         A large man with an arming sword at his hip and the Astor crest on his tabard leapt from the coach's front and trotted around to open the coach's door, extending a meaty hand to his passenger.
         "Thank you Mathew," Lady Cassandra Velch Theodore Astor had donned a comfortable dress of black in memory of her late husband, now adorned with a red sash around her waist. Though grey hair decorated her temples she moved with youthful spryness, hopping from the carriage without the aid of her guardian.
         The Mother Superior stood by the open doors, dressed in a modest habit of pure white.
         "Lady Salia," Lady Astor called as she embraced the nun for just a moment, leaning back and holding both of the sister's hands "it is so good to see you."
         "Lady Astor," Salia smiled softly at her old friend, "you really must write more often."
         Both women giggled, feeling as though they had never parted.
         "Fully into your commanding role I see," Astor quipped with a quirked eyebrow. "A pity we couldn't meet under more... Joyous circumstances."
         "Too true," Salia observed. She leant past her friend's shoulder to address Mathew, "you may take the coach around the side, some lay-sisters will see to your needs until I can return Cassandra to you," she looked back at Lady Astor before adding, "hopefully with good news." Slipping an arm into Astor's, Salia led her into the grand old building.
         They made their way through the wide hallways, lit by high windows on the south side, passing the occasional sister who nodded respectfully.
         "How is she?" Astor asked, fighting to keep her voice level.
         Salia pursed her lips with a slight frown.
         "Your granddaughter has been awfully quiet, Cas" she observed, "poor girl, to suddenly be sent here for such a ridiculous reason. When I saw your family name I naturally called for you."
         "Arbert may have inherited my late, dear husbands business acumen but little of his kindness." Astor remarked
         Salia stopped them beside a simple wooden door bearing an iron number 14 on it.
         "This is the one," Salia gently pushed the door open.
         The room was dark, the thick curtains drawn over the window and the candle on the desk was unlit. While not high quality, the room was comfortable for one person, with wooden floors and a single bed with a thin mattress. The occupant was nowhere to be seen.
         "Perhaps she is in the garden," Salia proposed, turning as Astor stepped into the room.
         "Now now," Astor chided, as she made her way slowly to the bed, "remember, your guest is a child." She sat on the bed, smoothing her skirts out before peering down where the far side of the bed.
         There was her granddaughter, Astrid, still dressed in her pure, white nightgown, sat on the floor and hugging her knees. She didn't lift her gaze to the noble lady who had joined her.
         "Would you like to sit up here with me?" Astor asked, patting the spot beside her.
         Astrid didn't respond, only hugging her knees tighter and staring at the floor.
         "I guess I'll join you then." Astor added. True to her word, she slipped off the bed and sat on the floor beside the small girl.
         Lady Salia stifled a giggle and smiled softly.
         "You've grown since last I saw you," Astor continued, "though you probably don't remember me."
         Just for a moment, the girl's eyes flicked up to Astor's, bringing a smile to the noble lady's face.
         "You don't need to be afraid of me," Astor said, shuffling a little closer, "I am Lady Cassandra Velch Theodore Astor, your grandmother." She slowly extended a hand and stroked Astrid's hair.
         The girl didn't flinch away at the touch.
         "I did a bad thing." Astrid finally spoke.
         Astor could feel her granddaughter quiver against her palm.
         "I'm going to disagree with you on that," Astor stated matter-of-factually, "In fact I have come to whisk you away to live with me." She nodded resolutely.
         Astrid's eyes flicked up to Astor's and held there.
         "Why?" the girl asked simply.
         "While I'm sure our friend Lady Salia would treat you like her own dear daughter" she looked over and smiled at the nun waiting at the door, "you must let an old woman be a little selfish for her own granddaughter." She tilted the girl's head back to see her tiny smile. Astor slowly stood and extended a hand to the small Astrid. "Now, let's get you dressed and have some lunch. I can show you your knight, Sir Mathew."
         Astrid's Amber eyes lit up.
         "I have a knight?" she gripped Astor's hand and pulled herself up, "is he strong?"
         "Oh, Sir Mathew is very strong." Astor remarked as Astrid hurried to dress.