A crash of thunder echoed across the night sky. Lightning forked, lighting up the dark rolling clouds. A woman's scream reverberated around the lofty castle, entering through the latticed window panes of the small village below. Small children stirred in their sleep. Adults kissed their amulets, though out of habit more than fear.

That sort of thing tended to happen a lot in Uberwald.

-x-x-x-

High up in the castle, Ladyship and Igor stood side by side next to an ornate bassinet, watching the small baby as he slept.

"What will happen to the child, Mithtreth?"

Lady Margolotta watched the tiny chest lift up and down with every breath, and smiled thoughtfully, "Well, we can't very well send him to his father, can we?"

"Exthactly, Mithtreth."

"No, I think he shall stay here," she traced a finger absently around the rim of the crib, "He will have the finest education, and one day he shall grow up to be very valuable indeed."

"Of courthe, Mithtreth."

The baby shifted and sighed in his sleep. A corner of Ladyship's mouth curled.

"Bastian von Blintz." She called to the night sky; lightning forked, thunder crashed and a lone wolf howled. A thin mist began to ooze under the windowpane. Igor applauded.

"Exthellent, Mithtreth!"

"Yes, yes," she waved a hand dismissively, "Shut the window, would you? It's freezing."

Igor hobbled to the window and closed it, then his mismatched gaze fell on the figure on the bed.

"And what thall I..?"

Margolotta turned and surveyed the body; a young woman with raven hair, shrivelled and sallow-cheeked, curled in the foetal position. She sighed.

"So unfortunate." she murmured, then, "Put Madam von Blintz in the best coffin - the one with the crimson lining and the engraving on the sides - and send her home. I daresay she would rather rest in Blintz than Bonk."

"Of courthe, Mithtreth."

As Igor slipped away, a small cry came from the depths of the bassinet. Margolotta bent over it and lifted the child, bouncing him carefully in her arms.

"Hush, Bastian," she breathed, "Madam is here. And one day, I shall teach you to become truly great."

-x-x-x-

The clouds lifted, leaving a thick mist coating the ground. The sun crawled over the horizon, lighting the miles and miles of uncharted forest, mountains, winding country roads and tiny villages, with the occasional castle towering over them.

At closer inspection, a small carriage could be seen racing down one such road away from a village with a castle, and on even closer inspection, it could be identified as a hearse.

As the morning dawned, a child's cry split the air. Small children pulled pillows over their heads. Adults cursed sleepily and fumbled for their amulets.

That sort of thing tended to happen a lot in Uberwald.