It had been several weeks since her marriage. The day after the festivities a carefully made copy of the marriage certificate had been send to count Noctis Silentium. Along with it a letter which contained a polite inquiry after his health and the question when his busy schedule had room for meeting his wife. Ms. Spencer had written most of the correspondence leaving Esther to sign it after a few minor changes, mainly to the layout of the letter. All in all it had been formal and distant, much like passing a some new law. Vanessa had been the only one who wondered whether it was appropriated for Esther to address her new husband thus. And since his response remained nonexistent, the four advisors began to fear that she had been right. Although deep in her heart Esther had been relieved about her husbands lack of interest in her, her government was in desperate need of his money. Shameful as it might be to admit, she needed her count to recognize their attachment. Most of her subjects were direct victims of the seemingly endless war because they lost a near relative, had been permanently wounded in battle or had lost their homes. The rest suffered more indirectly because of the food shortage. Hunger and Disease were common visitors in the streets of Albion.

The marriage festivities turned out to be more expensive than we expected. The extra loaf of bread provided by the state soup kitchens to celebrate the event were the biggest expense, as expected. The distribution of one bowl of soup and one loaf of bread for each registered citizen in need of relief has been continued after the festivities. At this rate we can keep up aiding the people for roughly two months, provided the group of citizens in need of state help does not grow significantly.

A sigh escaped Esthers lips when she finished reading the report.

"Is everything alright, my lady," asked the ever vigilant Virgil.

"You have read the report," answered Esther. "We have two months reserves left, after that we will have to put a stop to the state facilitated war relief."

She rubbed her eyes. Every day more pressing matters with no other solution than a generous donation from the count of Noctis Silentium were brought under her attention.

"What should be done, my lady?"

"Is there any government department left wich can do with less money?"

"No, my queen."

"And the funds the pope bestowed on us?"

"All but spend on housing."

A heavy silence fell. One that was broken by the growling stomach of a page. Esthers smiled sad.

"Then our only hope is that my husband sees fit to respond to my letter."

Two days her prayers were answered. It was a morning Esther would not soon forget. Virgil uncharacteristically barged into her bedroom, waking her up with a rough shake. Right behind him were her two female advisors. Who both of them, equally uncharacteristically, made no attempt at politely throwing Virgil out. Ms. Spencer wasn't even properly dressed. In other circumstances Esther would have laughed, even in these bitter times. But all three of them had an solemn look in their eyes.

"What is it, what has happened?"

"This has just been delivered."

Virgil gave her an envelope addressed to her. It's contents were sealed with a rather pompous signet. An owl with it claws stretched before him, in the middle of attacking it's pray. The emblem of the county of Noctis Silentium. In the envelope Esther found a note and a blank check. After handing over the check to Virgil, she unfolded the note. Only a few words were written on it.

'My end of the bargain. Salvate animas vestras.'

Joyous as she should have been with the counts generous offer, Esther felt sick. Hastily she put the note under her pillow. Her advisors saw her hiding it, but did not ask her why. Instead, the practical ms. Spencer pointed out the most important matter.

"Now we can save the lives of our people."

Esther swallowed hard. Salvate animas vestras…. Jeremiah 48:6. Once quoted by you father Nightroad. How many Methuselah have knowledge of Scripture? What kind of ill favoured coincidence is this? Or… Hope fluttered in her heart. Could it be, that maybe…