The original Lord Vandik was a powerful witch, and the first Lord Daniell was a powerful sorcerer. Once upon a time, the two of them had been schoolmates, and both of them had gotten into wealth and title with each others' help. How they became so wealthy and who contributed what was quickly forgotten. The families that are their legacy barely even remembered that they were friends, and thus the subsequent heads of the houses only cultivated the transparent relationships that were so common among the noble - invitations for cards and dancing, perhaps a dinner every other week, but nothing more. Certainly they were not privy to each other's secrets, which they freely shared with other families that their founding lords would curse them for mingling with.

Now our current Lord Vandik had but a single daughter, but the little lady was much too much for him to handle regardless. She was named Iris in hopes that she would take on the gentle, unassuming qualities of the flower, but, as if in protest, she developed into a wild girl that listened to no one. She would go into the kitchens to demand dainties and meats at entirely improper hours, bring animals she had tamed into the house for impromptu shows, or escape her lessons by climbing out of windows and spooking people who were having tea in the room next door. "She is a regular terror," said Lord Vandik, nearly ten times a day.

On the other hand, the Lord Daniell of this time had more than his share of unsuccessful marriages, and as a result had too many sons for him to possibly bother getting to know them all. He was reasonably sure one of them was named Rowan, but that was about as much as he knew of the boy. Lord Daniell saw him most often in the library or reading rooms, always reading or studying, and he heard from his governess that he was quite fond of beasts and walks in the forest. So to Lord Daniell, Rowan was his books-animals-woodsy son. That was about as much time and attention as he could give to him.

One day, Lord Daniell thought it would be proper to bring some of his children that were of age with him to his scheduled visit to the Vandik house. He selected a few at random, along with his sixth wife and some friends of his (Lord Vandik had such a generous winery, it would be a shame not to take advanage of it) and put them all in a single coach towards their destination. While they were on the road, he realized that one of the children he had brought was that Rowan boy, who seemed quite unhappy to be separated from his usual activities. Lord Daniell tried to come up with something to say to the boy, but could not, and simply gave him a nod.

Lord Vandik welcomed the party with the usual pleasantries and brought them to the sitting room. Tea was just being served when Lady Daniell looked up to a window that stretched from the floor to the ceiling, and let loose a dreadful shriek. Everyone turned to look. Lord Vandik rose and shook his fist. "You! I know you can hear me -! Go to your room! Immediately!"

The girl, who was hanging from the top of the window, kicked her feet and stuck her tongue out like a villain.

"What on earth is that creature!" said Lady Daniell.

"That is the master's daughter," said one of the servants, who seemed entirely too amused by the whole situation. Lord Vandik shot him a glare that could have daunted Death itself.

"I wish she wouldn't make those awful faces. It makes her look obscene," said one of the Daniell children.

This only seemed to encourage the girl, for her antics became more exaggerated. Lord Vandik sent one of the servants out of the room to go fetch her. Then, the girl's hold faltered, and she lost one of her handholds. Her expression was more one of surprise than of fear, but everyone in the room was on their feet in alarm.

"Oh, heavens! What is she doing!"

"Someone must help her, the poor dear!"

"Everything will be all right," said Lord Vandik quite loudly, though his voice was less certain than his words. "Try not to distract her!" And everyone went still.

The dangling girl scanned the room as if noticing in the people inside for the first time. She turned her gaze towards Lord Daniell - no, to the young man next to him, that Rowan boy.

"She is going to fall," Rowan said slowly.

"Don't say that! She will be alright!" Lord Vandik shouted, not taking his eyes off of her.

"She is going to fall," Rowan repeated, getting up and running down the hall, throwing doors open as he went. Several servants ran after him, but the rest of the gathering stood watching as the girl slid, slowly, undeniably, downwards from her hold. And then it was like a string being cut - she dropped down from the window, out of sight.

"Oh gods above!" proclaimed Lady Daniell, and fainted clean away. The remaining men crowded around the window to see how the girl had landed. No gruesome sight greeted them, for the little Rowan boy had caught her in a hastily-drawn circle of protection, and she was safe and sound. In fact, it rather seemed like it was the boy who was in danger, for the girl was assailing him with pounding fists and shouts.

"My apologies," said Lord Vandik to Lord Daniell. "She appears to have taken a liking to him."

"I think he will manage," said Lord Daniell. "I am told he does well with animals."