One year later…

Edana once enjoyed balls in Erisdale, the capital of the Kingdom of Erisdale. It was always nice to enjoy good food and drink, conversation, dancing, and maybe even a night getting to know someone intimately.

A few things had changed since then, however. For one, she was married now. Igraine, who she thought somehow looked more beautiful when she was pregnant, was sitting beside her, nursing a glass of water. That meant no nighttime sheet wrestling with new acquaintances, and no drink. Not that she regretted giving up both for her pregnant wife, but these events seemed to mark the changes in her feelings like metaphorical signposts.

The other was that with all the devastation she’d seen in the war, Edana couldn’t stomach the extravagance of the ball.

There was a muted tone to the ball in the Crimson Palace. Less dancing, less cheery music, but Edana didn’t understand why King Oliver was even hosting such a ball. She supposed the monarchy had to keep appearances and there was a lot of necessary behind-the-curtain negotiations that had to be conducted, but it just seemed very misplaced.

“’Dana, why are we here again? I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that, I was too busy being sick to listen,” Igraine grunted.

Edana sighed. “Honestly, I want to leave, but Oliver specifically asked us to come. I suspect he wants to talk to us or me.”

“Maybe. Though, there’s a lot of other important people today,” said Igraine. She thumbed over to a clump talking by a pillar. “That’s Darius and his traditionalists, and I also saw Earl Forowena too.”

Edana frowned. “Traditionalists and Reformers in the same banquet? Next thing I know, you’re saying Crown Princess Janize and Prince Jerome are coming.”

At that moment, Edana suddenly spied a man and a woman with respective entourages enter the ballroom from opposite ends. They both wore crowns.

The older woman in her prime had flaming red hair and piercing grey eyes. She wore a perfect smile, only, it was so perfect it came off as insincere. Apart from that, however, she was quite beautiful, in a sharp, deadly fashion that seemed designed to intimidate those she approached.

The man, younger than the woman, had the same flaming red hair. However, whilst the woman had slender curves, he was built like an ox. All in all, Prince Jerome had a dull look to his features. One could say that he was a bit hard to look at.

“Edana, please stop jinxing things,” said Igraine.

The mage winced. “I’m sorry! Hello? What’s this?”

Earl Forowena, walked over to Jerome and his entourage, limping slightly thanks to her leg, her cane tapping on the ballroom floor. She was grinning. Jerome saw her and smiled. It was a rather nice smile, Edana thought, just before the prince swept Earl Forowena in his arms and kissed her.

Edana and Igraine glanced at one another, both with the same look on their faces.

“What the fuck?” Igraine asked.

“Igraine, language, but I agree. This… this is new,” said Edana. It also changed a lot. Prince Jerome, second-in-line to Erisdale’s thrown wasn’t popular, or well-liked. He was a nice enough guy, but unfortunately, a bit of a dullard.

Edana never expected the brash Earl Forowena to take an interest in him, much less get into a relationship with him.

“Come on, let’s say hi, ‘Dana,” said Igraine, getting up.

“You just want to know how this all happened, Igraine,” said Edana, offering her arm to her wife.

“Oh hell yes,” snapped Igraine cheerfully.

---

The pair found Earl Forowena and Pulius chatting eagerly whilst their respective groups of friends and escorts were mingling.

“Hell, Forowena, Your Highness,” said Edana, curtseying. Igraine dipped her head, her stomach was a bit too big to bow.

Jerome smiled. “We’re well, Lady Firehand, and Baroness Leipmont. How is your pregnancy going?”

“Horrible, but ‘Dana makes it bearable,” said Igraine, briefly smiling with bliss. She shook her head. “We didn’t know you two were together. Congratulations.”

Forowena chuckled, “It was a relatively recent thing. Ginger, Martin’s betrothed, introduced us at your wedding, Edana.”

“Did she now? I heard that you met my daughter and her friends, Your Highness, but I didn’t realize you became close,” said Edana.

“We’re not really, but while The Lightning Battalion were escorting me on a tour of western Erisdale before your wedding, she and her friends were very kind to me.” The prince’s beaming smile faded. “They didn’t care that I am a bit stupid.”

Edana winced, but couldn't help feel pride bubble in her chest. “I’m very glad for you, Your Highness.” She made a mental note in her head to ask Frances for the details of that story.

“That was a while ago, though. Why go public now?” Igraine asked quietly, turning to Forowena.

The Earl’s fingers clenched tighter around her cane. “Because Earl Darius and Janize were bullying my love and I won’t stand for it.”

Jerome grimaced, “I know I tied my support to the reform faction baroness, and it’s not much, but I don’t like Janize and Darius, or what they plan for Erisdale.”

“Well said, Your Highness,” said Edana, thinking that she had rather underestimated Prince Jerome.

She did, however, feel that the prince was severely underrating his support. The reform faction may now have the support of a slim majority of the nobles, but Princess Janize’s championing of the traditionalists was very well known. Now that Jerome was publicly throwing his support with the reformists, the scales were shifting again.

“So, Edana, Igraine, any clue why we’re all here?” Forowena asked.

“I’m afraid I have none. I can’t imagine it’s to do with the war. There have been few developments in the front,” said Edana.

“Except where the Lightning Battalion is involved,” said Igraine, pointedly.

“They’re on a top-secret mission, right?” Jerome asked.

“Mm-hmm. Of their own devising. I can’t tell you what it is, not even you, Edana,” said Forowena. She grinned at the older woman. “Though, once you find out, I think it’ll be worth bragging about.”

“If you insist,” said Edana, smiling, but she had to force it. Igraine however, noticed.

“Dear?” her love asked.

Edana sighed. “Sorry, I’m… always worried about Frances. I know she’s capable, but it’s not easy when she’s in so much danger all the time.” She winced. “I’m also missing her seventeenth birthday. She’s celebrating it with her friends in the middle of a warzone.”

“I’m sorry, Lady Firehand, but knowing her and her friends, I think they’ll be fine.” Jerome pursed his lips. “I also think she wouldn’t mind that you’re missing it.”

“Thank you, Your Highness,” said Edana, again reevaluating what she knew of the prince.

Royal trumpets blared, suddenly cutting off any further conversation. Everybody in the ballroom turned to see King Oliver stride out on the dais upraised above the ballroom. A ripple ran through the crowd as people bowed and curtsied.

“My subjects, I have called you all today to make a momentous announcement. After top-secret negotiations between the rulers of Lapanteria, Roranoak and the Kingdom of the Alavari, we’ve agreed to a ceasefire to begin in a week, after which there will be a peace summit to end this war.”

---

“Edana, Igraine,” said King Oliver cheerfully.

In a lounge, out of the way from the main ballroom, Edana and Igraine took their seats on the couch from across the king.

“Your Majesty, I take it that the subject of this private meeting has to do with your most recent announcement?” Edana asked.

Oliver nodded and gestured to his guards. About half of them left, leaving only two knights.

“Indeed,” he said, once the door closed.

“Your Majesty, this is not a wise course of action,” said Igraine, her frustration barely hidden by her stoic expression.

“I’m not asking for your agreement, I merely need your support. Edana, I intend that you lead the peace delegation. I cannot trust Princess Janize and Prince Jerome is not ready.”

Edana kept her expression placid. “Your Majesty, I am willing to assist, but you do understand that in light of recent discoveries about the conspiracies Thorgoth has committed against his own people, any peace we make with him is unlikely to last.”

“I know, but I know you also realize that the Kingdom of Roranoak is but a ruin. The Kingdom of Lapanteria is stretched to breaking point, and we are on the brink of civil war.” The king leant forward, steepling his fingers. “I’m not looking for long-term peace. I’m looking for five years until I can sort the succession out.”

Edana and Igraine stared at their liege. He had never once acknowledged the possibility of civil war breaking out in Erisdale. He couldn’t, though, he had to be aware of it. It was now that they noticed how few red strands were there in Oliver’s now grey hair.

“Your Majesty, what do you mean by succession?” Igraine asked.

Oliver hesitated for a second. “Not a word, but I much prefer Jerome to inherit the Erisdalian throne.”

Edana stared at the king in stunned silence. This was almost too much for her to handle. She’d always thought the king liked Janize better but if he was telling the truth…

Igraine frowned, “But he can’t, Your Majesty. We follow primogeniture, the oldest child inherits.”

“That’s tradition, not law. My ancestor, Lady Grey didn’t. She specifically stated that the most capable child inherits and that decision is made by the current ruler,” said Oliver.

“And Jerome is capable of ruling? He’s an amazing knight, but you must be aware of his… limitations,” Igraine stammered.

“I’ll be satisfied with Earl Forowena at his side. The problem is that the traditionalists will not accept my ruling. They’ll object based on tradition and if I throw my lot with you and your reform faction, they will rebel to put Janize on the Erisdalian throne,” said Oliver. “If you two can get a peace deal, however short it may be, we can focus on efforts in bringing the traditionalists in line, and we can bring them in line.”

“We… we could, but it won’t be easy. Our support has increased, but… ” Edana pursed her lips. “If a civil war does break out, I don’t know if we could win. In terms of pure military power, our factions are at parity.”

“I understand, but my mind is made up on this matter.” Oliver stood up. “The ceasefire begins in a week. You’re to assemble your diplomatic task force then. A Royal Writ giving you all the necessary authority and explaining to you the details of the conference will be sent to you tonight. That being said, do you require the services of any of the Otherworlders?”

Edana bit back the temptation to sigh and stood up. “Thank you, Your Majesty. In that case, I would like to ask my daughter to join my staff.”

“The Stormcaller? Granted. You will have her and her regiment for the duration of the conference, though, security will be provided by army units,” said Oliver. He paused. “Assuming that she can get out in time. She’s in Gestoch with the Lightning Battalion at the moment.”

Edana’s brain came to a crashing halt. “Did you just say Gestoch?”

Gestoch was the province adjacent to Vertingen Plains. While technically the Kingdom of Alavaria’s frontier, human forces had yet to enter the province as they’d been kept in Vertingen by Alavari armies.

Only, her seventeen-year-old daughter and her friends were just casually doing the impossible, yet again.

“I’ll try to contact her, Your Majesty,” said Edana, her voice tight.

---

That evening, Edana, pacing across the lounge area in the rooms she and Igraine were sharing, opened her mirror and called her daughter. Igraine had already gone to bed, but Edana couldn’t sleep.

It wasn’t that Edana didn’t know that Frances and the Lightning Battalion were on a dangerous mission. Several months ago, Frances had told her mother that she’d mostly be out of contact for about three months. She couldn’t tell her why, however.

Now she knew, and she was beside herself. What if Frances didn’t answer?

She’d never gone this long without talking to her daughter at least once. As much as she’d tried to put on a brave face for Igraine, Edana was terrified.

Except, Frances wasn’t answering. Her face didn’t appear in the mirror and all Edana could see was her own reflection. A reflection with dark eye bags, and somewhat thin features.

“Dear, come back to bed,” grumbled Igraine.

Edana glanced at her wife, standing at the doorway to their bedroom, rubbing her eyes with a hand.

“I… Igraine can you give me a moment to try calling Frances again?” Edana asked.

“One last time.” Igraine sauntered over and took Edana’s hand. “Then you go to bed.”

Edana nodded and focused on the mirror again. Yet, even as she reached out with her mirror, there was no response.

Sighing, she pocketed the mirror. “Sorry, Igraine—”

The ranger kissed the mage’s cheek. “Stop apologizing. You’re supposed to worry about Frances, never mind that Earl Forowena has told you that she’s supposed to be out of contact at the moment.”

“I get that, but I don’t understand why she—they completely broke contact with us?” Edana muttered.

“They’re worried about spies, ‘Dana. I bet my bow that Frances, Elizabeth and Martin recall what happened at Conthwaite and Freeburg,” said Igraine.

“Right, and the Raid on Erlenberg showed that anybody could be turned for a good enough reason,” Edana muttered. Wrapping her arms around her wife, she pressed her face into her Igraine’s dark brown curls. “I’m sorry, I’m… I’m finding it hard not to worry about Frances recently.”

“‘’Dana, you don’t need to apologize. She’s your daughter—our daughter, and she’s been doing things that I wouldn’t do, even if I wasn’t pregnant,” said Igraine. “I mean, right after Erlenberg, they were protecting Erisdale’s western borders, before clashing with General Berengaria’s army at Vertingen again.”

“Not to mention escorting the prince. I know an attempt was made on his life that they foiled,” Edana whispered.

“Oh, and negotiating with all those lords and ladies. That must have been a chore.” Igraine shifted her embrace so that she was cupping Edana’s face. “’Dana, when I tell you you’ve been worrying too much, I don’t mean you’re wrong to do so. I just… I just want to make sure you aren’t hurting yourself when you do.”

Edana shut her eyes, holding her wife close. “Igraine, I love you.”

“I know. Now come back to bed. You can try calling tomorrow,” said the ranger.

Relenting, Edana followed Igraine back to bed, but her mind was still on her daughter as she fell asleep.

---

The next morning, Edana and Igraine were walking the streets of Erisdale.

The capital city of the kingdom was built where the Greysky Mountain range swooped down to the Southern Sea. Thus, the city itself sloped down towards the ocean. Oceanside was where the docks, and the palace complex were, as well as the richest parts of the city.

Edana had always found those areas rather boring, though. It was always too controlled, too well-groomed. No, where she found the best sights to see was along the Redbrick Way, a road of sandstone that cut along the coast, and through the capital.

Here, along this road that turned up and down, snaking through the city, Erisdalians brought their goods to the market. They met friends, talked to neighbours, and argued.

The war had done little to dampen the energy and enthusiasm of what essentially was a long, winding market, filled with food stalls, artisans and shops aplenty.

In this case, Edana and Igraine had stopped at a tailor selling children’s clothing. Having foregone her gold-trimmed robes for plain white robes, Edana was just a White Order mage, and Igraine, in a dress instead of ranger gear, was just the mage’s wife.

The couple had just wrapped up their purchase with the tailor when they heard marching. That wasn’t unusual as many regiments came to Erisdale to be reequipped and to visit the capitol.

What was unusual was the cheering that was coming down the street.

Edana and Igraine paid no mind as they left the shop, but as they stepped into the sun, they saw that people were lining the streets.

“Is there a parade going on?” Igraine muttered.

Leaning on her cane, Edana narrowed her eyes in the distance. They were standing on the part of the road where it dipped, so they could see a little of the commotion going on.

There was a military unit marching down the gentle rise, but to Edana’s confusion, it didn’t seem especially noteworthy. The unit wasn’t one of the knights or flamboyantly dressed cavalry. Rather, it was a mixed unit of mounted and foot soldiers. Some weren’t even in armour. Narrowing her eyes, Edana tried to look for the unit’s standard, which was a bit difficult as while the unit was getting closer, they were carrying three flags at their front.

It was then Edana noticed a few things. One, there weren’t only humans in the battalion. There was Alavari. Orcs, trolls, ogres and goblins. There was even the odd harpy hovering above the group. This was explained by a flapping Erlenbergian flag carried by a proud-looking orc. There was, however, also an Erisdalian flag carried by a human woman. As for the final flag, it was a white banner with a blue-lightning bolt streaking across it.

“Wait isn’t that—” Igraine stammered.

Edana pressed her free hand to her mouth, “It is! Come on, Igraine!”

Ushering forward, the pair raced towards the battalion and the figures in the distance became more recognizable.

Edana first made out Ginger. Her red hair was unmistakable. She was on horseback, giggling at an embarrassed-looking Martin. The young Erisdalian knight was getting flowers and ribbons thrown at him. If not for the fact that he was on his horse, in the centre of his friends, he’d probably be mobbed. Beside them, also mounted, were Elizabeth and Ayax, smiling, but also talking in hushed tones.

Edana’s green eyes, however, focused on the shortest of the group. A teenager with chocolate brown hair and olive-toned skin. Frances had grown in the last year, though much to the girl’s consternation, she hadn’t gotten much taller. Edana had noticed however that Frances looked less like a young girl, and more like an adult. Part of it was due to her clothing. Frances no longer wore a cream dress anymore, but instead had the pure white robes of a White Order Master Mage. Aside from that, though, Frances’s figure had filled out a bit. In the mage’s opinion, her daughter no longer looked like a thin and gangly teenager. Rather—and Edana knew she was biased on that front— her daughter was turning into a beautiful, petite woman.

But the moment Frances saw Edana and Igraine pushing through the crowd, her eyes widened, and her face lit up. Suddenly, Edana could see the thirteen-year-old girl she’d first met so long ago, with the smile that she should have been wearing.

“Mom!”

“Frances!”

Leaping off her horse, Frances tore down the street. After a push from Igraine, Edana broke from the crowd and ran as fast as she could with her cane.

They met in the middle, almost knocking the breath out of each other as they embraced, laughing as they did so.

“How did you know we were coming?” Frances asked.

“I didn’t! I was just shopping with Igraine.” Edana brushed a lock of her daughter’s hair from her face. “Oh Frances, I missed you so much.”

“Me too, mom. I can’t believe it’s been… six months since we were together,” Frances said. She guided her mother into the Lightning Battalion’s column. “Sorry I couldn’t talk to you, we were in—”

“Gestoch, King Oliver told me. Earl Forowena then told me you were there to raid Alavari supply depots and equipment manufacturers,” said Edana.

Frances blinked, shock fluttering across her features.

“The King and Earl Forowena told you? But why? Forowena swore that our mission would be kept secret.” Frances winced. “I do trust you mom, it’s just… just…”

“I know, and I agree with your caution, especially in light of what you told me about Thorgoth. They told me because a situation has developed, which I’ll tell you as soon as we’re out of this parade.”

Frances blushed, “I know Martin’s famous, but… this was a surprise.”

“You and your friends are quite well-known now thanks to your exploits at Erlenberg and throughout western Erisdale. Am I right that you didn’t want to enter separately because you wanted to protect your Alavari soldiers?” Edana asked.

“Yes. We wanted to make sure we’d reach the castle’s barracks without anybody getting hurt.” Frances sighed. “There have been a few incidents when we were in western Erisdale.”

“I understand.” Edana pursed her lips. “Why did you not tell us you were out of Gestoch earlier?”

“Oh, we wanted to make the Alavari think we were still in Gestoch until the last possible moment. It was so that Earl Darius could launch his offensive into Alavaria whilst they garrisoned the interior,” Frances explained.

Much to the teenager’s surprise, Edana sighed. “Oh dear, what I’m going to tell you later is going to make you quite annoyed.”

---

In the privacy of Edana and Igraine’s rooms, Frances crossed her arms. Mother and daughter were sitting across each other, tea and cookies on the table between them.

“I think he’s making a mistake,” said Frances, biting on a cookie.

Edana nodded. “I agree, but there’s no convincing him. He knows what Thorgoth did to Zirabelle and Titania, but I suspect that he’s betting that the war has drained Alavaria as much as it has drained us.”

Frances grimaced and let out a long sigh. “Alright, who is leading the mission?”

“Me. And I’d like to ask you to come along with me,” said Edana.

The teenager flinched, her eyes widening. “Mom, you shouldn’t. Thorgoth… he might try to have you killed.”

Edana blinked. “That’s… that’s a bit hard to believe. I’d be going as a diplomat and killing diplomats is a harsh crime.”

“You know Thorgoth abuses his own children. Do you think a person like that cares about the formalities of diplomacy?” Frances asked.

“No, but he does care about what it looks like to his subjects.” Edana paused as she sipped her tea. “That is… unless you know something you can’t tell me.”

Frances nodded, Renia’s secret and story on her mind. They’d done their best to try to investigate Teutoball’s murder and find evidence, but the need to keep moving and fighting had limited what they could do. So far, they had no hard evidence to corroborate her story.

“I see. Well, would you and your battalion like to accompany me then, Frances?” Edana asked.

Frances smiled. “I’d love to, mom. Um, but as for my battalion, we’ve been fighting non-stop for three months. I was thinking if I could ask you to allow our battalion to be dismissed for three weeks to recuperate. My friends also have some things to take care of.”

“Oh, of course. I’ll get the paperwork through as quickly as I can,” said Edana. She took a bite of biscuit. “You know, it’s been a long time since we’ve had a mission together.”

“Mm-hmm. I can’t wait. Although…” Frances winced, “I might have to stay out of sight as much as I can. The Alavari aren’t going to be happy with what my friends and I were doing in Gestoch.”

“What did you do? I know it was a raid, but it lasted for three months,” said Edana. She put her cup down. “I know you’ve also been doing limited counter-attacks while you were defending the border, but a three-month-long raid… you must have gotten pretty deep into Gestoch.”

“Earl Forowena didn’t tell you? Oh, right, she’s debriefing Elizabeth.” Frances took a deep breath. “I think I can tell you because you’re going to find out soon. We weren’t just raiding random enemy supply depots. We had specific targets in mind. Have you heard of rumours of the Alavari enslaving Erisdalians, Lapanterians and those from Roranoak?”

Edana paled. “Yes, but… those are rumours, right?” A chill ran up the older woman’s spine as she took in her daughter’s grim expression.

“The rumours weren’t true, at least, not quite,” said Frances. Her hands forming fists, Frances, exhaled slowly. “Have you ever wondered in the entirety of Alavaria, when humans can so easily interbreed with Alavari, why there are so few half-human, half-Alavari? Or why there seem to be no humans in Alavaria, despite the years of peace before this war?”

Edana’s stomach churned. “Oh no.”

Frances was scowling now. “There aren’t many, but Thorgoth has been rounding up every human who lived in Alavaria and every half-human, half-Alavari and putting them into internment camps. Each camp forces its captives to do labour, such as mining, wood-cutting, or quarrying. Our target was a major smithy producing arms and armour that used iron ore mined by the captives of one of these camps. We raised the whole facility to the ground and took the captives with us.”

“Good. Where are they now?” Edana asked.

“We met up with soldiers from Conthwaite who took them to Erlenberg. We didn’t feel it was safe for them to go to Erisdale.” Frances smiled sadly. “Thankfully, we rescued every one of the captives of that camp, including the children.”

Edana smiled at that, “That’s amazing. Though I must wonder, how did you find this out?”

“That’s a mystery to us too.” Frances rested her elbows on the table. “The maps and schematics of the site were delivered to us. Not to Earl Forowena, or any member of the War Council but to me personally.”

“Wait, but it wasn’t a trap?”

“No. We made sure to scout the facility before we attacked. We, that is, my friends and I as well as Earl Forowean, think that whoever delivered it was from Alavaria,” said Frances.

Edana nodded, studying Frances as she hesitated. It seemed like she wanted to say something more.

“Mom, what we found… it was horrible. Humans and half-Alavari were starving and wounded. Many had already died and those that survived… broke into tears when they saw us. However, I… finding them has made me wonder something.” Frances met her mother’s gaze. “Have you heard of Erisdale, Lapanteria or Roranoak doing something similar? Isn’t it odd that there aren’t any half-Alavari-half-human in any human country other than Erlenberg?”

Edana had guessed what her daughter was going to ask a moment before she did. Her initial response was to deny it. There was no way that humans could do this.

And yet, her voice dried up in her throat.

“I have never heard of it, but that doesn’t mean something hasn’t happened. The war… ever since the Erlenberg Massacre, maybe even before, it’s been escalating. And while I don’t question the traditionalists and Earl Darius’s loyalty to the human cause, I know that if he knew how to do it, and had the resources, he’d do exactly the same thing.”

Frances sighed. “Mom… thanks, I know it’s not easy for you to admit that.”

“And thank you for bringing it to my attention.” Edana took a sip from her tea. “So, what are your friends doing?” Frances smiled, making Edana arch an eyebrow. It wasn’t the smile itself that took her aback, it was the fact that it was an expression she rarely saw on her daughter, one of mischievous glee. “Frances, what’s going on?”

“Well, it’s just… My friends and I have been making a plan for after we get back from our raid. This peace conference will actually help us with what we want to achieve. We thought of what we wanted to do a long time ago, but we really decided only about two months ago.” Frances crossed her arms. “Would you like to hear about it?”