"Einar caught wind of this development and was greatly angered by his mother's insinuations that he was unfit for the role of Castellan. Not wanting to lose his potential title, Einar adopted secrecy to meet his goal. He gained the loyalty of your mother's servants, raising their wages or whatever it took to get them on his side.
"Eventually, he duped one of her servants into taking her a drink that he had tainted with arrow poison... and you know the rest. The Castellan refuses to think it was Einar's doing, and no one dares speak against him. There isn't evidence, anyhow."
Gurthka promises that she will try to get in touch with women willing to service your mother's wing of the Palace, though she says you may have to pay out of your own pocket unless you can convince your father to finance them.
With your business concluded, she bids her farewell. She leaves you with a warning.
"I would let Einar to his business, if I were you," Gurthka says. "You may have your mother's cunning, but he has the brute force of your father in him."
She closes the door.
The funeral
It has been a few days since your audience with Gurthka. What you have brought away from this conversation is up to you, though a desire for revenge is apparent and strongly felt.
But even revenge must be set aside for remembrance.
The Tombs are built higher into the mountains, only reachable by a narrow staircase that spirals up around the mountain. It is a treacherous path to take, but it must be taken by those who wish to witness the committal of Countess Milena Esgabath of Alderaan and Erengard to the mighty crypt of House Esgabath.
There is much breaking of tradition in your mother's funeral procession. The dead normally are lain to rest in coffins of dark metals and garbed in military uniform, regardless of sex. But per the request of Alderaan and Milena's family, she is being interred in a coffin hewn from the whitest stone, imported from Alderaan and wearing her finest gown. Her pale complexion is masked with rouge and lipstick.
After a silent parade through Maurenburg, the funeral procession has come to the gates. The Castellan is at the lead, wearing a black military uniform decorated with all his medals. Just behind him, you walk even with Einar, who also wears a black uniform and dons his medals.
Melkor is dressed in black but elegant noble uniform, unlike his brother. During the last few days he avoided his father and brother, in particular not wanting to reveal to Einar that he suspected him. He managed to restore his mother`s wing a bit, and hired someone to take care of the garden, but it didn`t stop feeling empty.
You are as beautiful as ever, Mother. -He thinks, looking at her, almost expecting her to wake up any moment.
Indeed, Einar's uniform is more spartan than your own. It is coarse and simple, though decorative in the way of medallions and ribbons stuck to his breast. Your father's is very similar, but his is hemmed with gold thread and he wears a gold, armored pauldron on his left shoulder.
The gate creeks open; it has been some time since it was last used, the funeral of your grandmother.
Thinking of such things is not much of a comfort. You very much doubt that your mother's spirit would be content with feasting with the Erengardian warlords of old. She may have been feisty and a tad manipulative, but she was never violent.
Once the gates finish creaking open, the procession continues.