Spirited and curious, that was your boy Dietrich, by nature as curious as his eldest sister, though his interest was more in the world around him rather than the magical. He in particular had a penchant for castles, which he loved and built with blocks in his room.

He, like Sophie, had an insatiable thirst for knowledge, and he had already tried breaking into the royal vault for no other reason than to see what was behind the door.

Wittekind couldn't stand him on account of him constantly asking why he could speak and other horses couldn't. When Wittekind told him about the White Stag, Dietrich declared that if he hadn't seen a faery, they were obviously a myth. Scepticism was perhaps a more negative quality that would come with curiosity, though he relented when you supported Wittekind's explanation.

''But I don't understand, Father. If Sophia can practise magic, why hasn't she taken over yet? Aren't mages inherently better at that sort of thing?'' He asked.

''The ability to practice magic, dear boy, doesn't impart you with a desire to rule over all the land. Sophia likes her studies more than she would like to rule, and she isn't the type of person who would go after her own kin to claim a throne.'' You explained.

''If I were a mage, I would make it rain sweets and have the land engulfed in a never-ending summer!'' He proudly exclaimed, like a genius creating a new formula.

''That is more the domain of the gods, not the domain of wizards and sorcerers. Sophia can do many things, but she isn't all-powerful or all-knowing. You further explained

''Then what is the point of wizardry?'' He said, very disappointed.

The elder line of the house of Adlershorst—how far she has come. Their story was less one of glorious conquest and war and more one of clever politicking and intrigue. The last baron of Adlershorst in Fluddenmark, Erich, your uncle, had moved away from the sinking castle and eventually sold his fief back to the Margrave of Fluddenmark.

He then took up employment for the Tauten Kaiser Ludwig, whom you had met some time in the past; he had then given his approval to have Erich wed one of his wards, the heiress Hedwig von Oschenholz. Which gave him lands in the north of Tautenland. After his death, the inheritance was partitioned amongst his sons. They were removed enough from each other that the church would have no objections, and they were powerless enough that you knew they would much rather stay here than in the measly four castles they can scrape together.