...

At Castle Rosehill, Hildegarde was in her war room, seated at the map table. Across from her was a very concerned Jeanine, who had not been sent out to battle.

"I understand your concerns, captain." Hildegarde assured her, "But putting the cavalry at the front of the battle was a key part of the strategy."

"A mostly ceremonial cavalry." Jeanine argued, "Hardly any of them have ever seen combat and some of them...Marcella...are not attuned to the ravages of war."

"Are any of us attuned to war?" Hildegarde questioned, "Have you ever been in real warfare, captain?"

"They are all sure to perish." Jeanine said, "Some of them are my friends. Reine, Marcella, Jimmus, I know well."

"Is this more pleading from the nobility to spare your friends?" Hildegarde scoffed, recalling Mariot and Constave's attempts, "I don't see the peasants complaining. They do their duty."

"These knights are popular among the common folk as well." Jeanine commented, "Their deaths would be a tragedy for all."

"Which is precisely the point, my captain." Hildegarde said.

"You cannot mean..." Jeanine pondered with a scowl, realizing Hildegarde's plan.

"If the beloved knights of Rosehill all heroically die in battle, then the people will be incensed and demand whatever it may take to avenge them." Hildegarde revealed.

"You would sacrifice your own friends to secure support for the war effort?" Jeanine inquired.

"They are not my friends." Hildegarde corrected, "They are my subjects. And so are you, and you shall address me as such."

"Well then, my princess..." Jeanine said, her voice quivering in anger, "This is about Sir Jimmus, correct?"

"Partially." Hildegarde explained, "If that traitor dies then not only will Rosemarble mourn, I will have rid myself of a potential threat at last."

"Threat?! Traitor?!!" Mariot screamed as she burst through the door without warning, having cupped her hand to the door.

"Get out of here, you fool!" Hildegarde shouted.

"You sought to murder my Jimmus all along!" Mariot accused.

"It is a miracle that my mother did not have him beheaded when he was a boy!" Hildegarde continued.

"How can you do this to those who've shown nothing but loyalty to you?" Jeanine asked the princess.

"ENOUGH!!" Hildegarde ordered as she banged her fist on the table, "Captain Jeanine, you have not only sealed your fate, but that of Lady Mariot and Lady Constave as well. I henceforth order you and Countess Valaria to personally escort our two dear ladies to Ashwood to retrieve their poor husbands. If you manage to come back alive then I welcome you all back with open arms, and if not then you shall be fondly remembered as martyrs."

"I will do this, my princess, but not for your sake." Jeanine said, "I travel to Ashwood for the sake of my friends and compatriots."

"A most noble speech, captain." Hildegarde said sarcastically, "Now go. You all leave this very night!"

Mariot soon went to her chambers and began packing her clothes and cookware in a trunk. Janice took notice of this as she usually did the packing for Mariot whenever the lady traveled.

"Milady?" Janice asked, "May I help ye?"

"No, Janice." Mariot said, "I am going away for a while, and I'm not sure if I'll ever return."

"Milady?" Janice asked with genuine concern.

Mariot gave a long sigh and placed her hands on Janice's shoulders.

"Janice, I am going to Bloodmarble...to find Jimmus." Mariot admitted, "Jimmus is off to war and the princess has ordered me to fetch him if he is to survive. The problem is I am not sure I'll survive."

"Then let me go with ye, milady." Janice requested.

"It is too dangerous." Mariot said.

"I canno' live without ye." Janice confessed, "Ye saved me from scrapin' what I cud off tha' streets an' gave me a home. Let me go with ye! Please!"

"Very well, Janice." Mariot relented, "We leave tonight."

"I shall protect ye, milady." Janice resolved.

That evening, Mariot, Constave, Janice, Jeanine, and Valaria all met at the stables of Fortress Blackstone and finished packing the small carriage that would take them to Ashwood. Jeanine and Valaria still wore their armor but Mariot, Constave, and Janice wore plain brown dresses more conducive to traveling.

"One carriage pulled by two horses against an army?" Constave questioned, "Hildegarde wants us to die."

"She outright said as much." Jeanine said.

"Ye killed Sir Bubbles." Janice said, pointing at Valaria.

"I know not of what you speak, child." Valaria answered.

"Ye killed me poor lil' mousy friend!" Janice said.

"We are all about to perish in Ashwood and all you do is shed tears for a mouse?" Jeanine scolded.

Janice started to raise a fist to Valaria as if to hit her until Mariot swiftly grabbed the girl's wrist.

"My countess, forgive me." Mariot said, "As I said before, the girl is unwell. She insisted on accompanying us."

"This is her second outburst regarding that creature." Valaria said, more a solemn warning than a threat, "It would not be wise to provoke me to violence."

"Please don't harm Janice." Mariot continued, "She is dear to me."

"I have lost many of those who were dear to me." Valaria answered.

In the Rosewood Forest, Shelia and Raquila were spying on the five other women, Raquila still bent on vengeance.

"How did that damned bitch survive?!" Raquila pondered, still recovering from her own lost limb, "When we meet again I'll cut her into pieces and burn them, just to be sure!"

"I think she is cursed, somehow." Shelia said, "In any case, if she does not die by the sword, how will we destroy her?"

"We will find a way." Raquila answered, "In fact, I have a way. They are traveling to Bloodmarble, correct? And Bloodmarble is known to have lava flows. I doubt that the cursed wench's body can withstand an entire lake of fire."

"Then how will you cut her into pieces?" Shelia wondered.

"Do not joke about this!" Raquila demanded, "We will follow them to Bloodmarble, and once we are close enough, I will subdue the murderous wench and then you cast her into the lava."

"And if we are discovered?" Shelia asked.

"If we die, then we die." Raquila resolved.

"And even if we succeed?" Shelia asked, "What will you do then?"

"Then my mother's soul shall be at peace." Raquila answered, "And we can build a life together. Rob a few more carriages, sell the treasure, perhaps buy a spot of land with a cottage."

"Sounds like a dream." Shelia admitted.

Back at Castle Rosehill, Hildegarde was at her mother's side, on her knees in the queen's chambers. Blaine was as pallid as a vampelle and heaving, barely able to speak.

"I...am...dying." Blaine managed to say, "You...shall...be...queen."

"I am not ready, mother!" Hildegarde sobbed, "You cannot leave me!"

"I...shall...be...with...Our...Lady." Blaine stammered, "You...will...lead...Rose-."

Blaine had another coughing fit until she gurgled blood, starting to strangle on it.

Hildegarde screamed as her mother convulsed and Andrea, Blaine's servant, rushed into the room. Andrea quickly tilted the old woman's head until she gagged the blood out of her throat.

"I...am...proud..." Blaine struggled to say, "of...you...dear...daughter..."

The dying queen gave a death rattle and closed her eyes. Hildegarde desperately attempted to shake her mother awake.

"Wake up, mother!" the princess begged, "You're not dead! You're only asleep! Wake up!! PLEASE!!"

Hildegarde burst into tears as she cradled her dead mother's arm. Andrea placed a hand on her shoulder but the princess brushed it aside.

"Leave me!!" the princess demanded.

Andrea rushed out of the room and down the stairs, wondering how she would fare now that Hildegarde would be queen.