Before you know it winter was replaced by spring already and December turned into April. Violant had made her nightly plans a reality and had asked Alarun if she was able to cure berserk syndrome.

“It depends on how you define curing it, child.” the elderly schrat had replied “Well, I once have developed a remedy for berserk syndrome because I was friends with a human boy who was affected by it. What was his name again? Ah, yes. He was called Heardred. Whatever! The medicine will not stop the manifestation of berserk syndrome. As soon as the first symptoms appear, an irreversible process begins to change the affected person’s body and causes his blood to boil. I managed, however, to develop a remedy capable of numbing the unbearable pain the evolving berserk is experiencing quite effectively, if I do say so myself. Additionally it also can prevent the berserk’s loss of sanity. It must be taken on a daily basis to have the desired effect though. Only after the berserk has gone through puberty there is no further danger of relapsing into insanity. During puberty though, when treated with my remedy regularly, the future berserk goes through his changes like any other pubescent. Only that he might be a little more aggressive and restless because of his boiling blood but that is nothing when compared to a common berserk’s insanity, isn’t it?”

When the young lady had first heard this answer back in December, she had been completely dumbfounded. The not so inconsequential fact aside that Alarun seemingly was personally acquainted with the mythical founder king Heardred who was known for his superhuman strength and invulnerability in all battles, there was a surefire way to treat the berserk syndrome. But one question still had bothered the girl.

“So you mean that a berserk can successfully be saved from insanity while acquiring a berserk’s other features such as invulnerability, superhuman strength, and increased height under full control of his rationality?” Violant had inquired.

“Indeed.” the healer had affirmed her assessment.

Hearing this confirmation, the redhead couldn’t help but show a very big smile heavy with meaning while the plan had crystallized further in her mind.

It appeared, much to Violant’s joy, that among the ingredients needed for Alarun’s special anti-berserk medicine, every single one of them was a weed that could be found virtually everywhere, thus ensuring a steady supply. The methods used for pill concoction were also generally known to humans, although the pills produced by the schrat herself were still many times more effective in releasing the agent. Alarun had purposely chosen to process the remedy as a pill, for it was much easier to store and transport in large amounts than a liquid potion also intended for oral intake. It remained a mystery why the formula for such an easily obtainable remedy had been lost to humanity. Had Heardred kept the secret for himself or had the recipe simply gotten lost in the chaos of time? It was impossible to tell in hindsight.

Alarun willingly had accepted when she was asked by Violant to disclose the medicine’s formula and to produce it as soon as the necessary ingredients were available again. The young lady had only vaguely hinted that there was some future berserk with his ailment still dormant who she wanted to help. The hoary woman, prudent as she was, didn’t ask much and focused on the task she was given instead, managing to produce quite a stock of ominously dark violet colored round pills until the midst of April.

Violant planned to save Prince Wynkin from berserk syndrome or at least from the need of being put to death because of it. By saving the young royal she hoped to win no less a figure than Queen Berengaria, Wynkin’s mother herself, as her royal backer. That the prince’s doting older sister Mabel was the chief minister’s wife could also only be a perk. Procuring medicine was but only the first step of the returnee’s plan though.

The red-haired girl knew that Prince Wynkin’s first manifestation of berserk syndrome would happen sometime in late April while travelling to the hot springs of Sulia, but neither knew she the exact time nor the exact place. If she came too late and Prince Wynkin had already been executed, then all her preparations would come to nothing.

To prevent this, Violant sat down and wrote a letter to Banadietrich, the leader of the wild hunt.

When she rose from her desk, the girl called out for Hraban. The night-raven came flying sluggishly, for it was still daytime and he got just woken up from her call.

The letter tied to its leg, in such way the young lady allowed the dark bird to fly from her window. Hraban, blinded by the sunlight, fluttered away. Since the big black bird was a very intelligent animal, it knew where to go just by listening to Violant’s instructions. Although Hraban couldn’t speak himself and only managed to produce eerie calls, he was very well capable of understanding human language when taught, and the young lady as well as her vampire butler Malford had seen to it ever since the night-raven had come to Avallach Castle. The kingdom’s common language was different from the one normally used by the wild hunt after all.

Two days later two huntsmen of the wild hunt reported to Violant in the middle of the night. Malford was furious about the two intruders but let them be after his mistress had explained her relationship to the wild hunt and that both had come under her retainer’s, Banadietrich the nachtjäger’s order.

The two ghosts on horseback appeared quite like normal humans as far as the diverse crowd of the wild hunt was concerned. They were still eerie though. While one of them, Rambold, was no different than other humans although possibly quite uncouth, the other, Waldolf, was insofar unusual as he wore his head not on his shoulders but loosely under his arm. Hraban returned together with the two wild huntsmen.

“Good that you have come.” Violant welcomed the ghosts with a smile although she was inwardly grossed out from their repulsive blood-splattered appearances. She made it her credo to evaluate others only based on their actions. That a beautiful exterior didn’t necessarily mean an equally beautiful character, that fact she had learned on the hard way thanks to Gervase. And yet the tomboyish girl never had given much for a person’s looks even in her last lifetime. Good looks didn’t directly equate to competence after all.

I am sure the nachtjäger has chosen you two after careful consideration.” the young lady continued “You may first listen to what I have to tell you before deciding if you really are willing to take the mission I am about to assign to you. It is by no means an easy feat I will ask of you after all. Should you decide against it, I will see to it that there will be no repercussions for you when you return to Mt. Hackelberg. Now about the mission: I want you two to permanently monitor the happenings around the kingdom’s eighth prince, Wynkin. Beware of the fact, however, that the royal palace is excessively protected against unauthorized use of magic and magic interference of all kinds. Sometime at the end of April Prince Wynkin will set out on a voyage, the destination being the thermal springs of Sulia. When he does, please inform me. I know that the wild huntsmen can ride as fast as the wind. It should be no problem for you to inform me immediately. Then follow him further and observe his state thoroughly. It is of utmost importance that I manage to get to him before his travel escort realizes that he is beginning to show symptoms of berserk syndrome. When even the slightest change appears in him, then inform me without delay and guide me there. I am ready to go at a moment’s notice. Now decide. Do you want to take this mission?”

“We will take on the mission.” the wild huntsmen declared with unearthly voices. Waldolf even remarked how it would be an interesting diversion, for they hadn’t sat on watch for a long time now. Most members of the wild hunt were known to be impatient and cruel fellows who didn’t understand the subtle joys of hunting from the raised hide. Not that they would cull some game though.

When the ghostly visitors had left, Malford, who had been present the whole time, shook his head in amazement.

“You honestly leave me completely baffled, Milady.” he admitted “I am a loyal retainer of the house of Avallach since at least five generations and never have I seen an Avallach having the wild hunt at their back and call. It is without precedent. I would really love to know at what point in time you have established such ties, what’s more, when exactly you have formulated such a daring plan and how you might have attained such precarious information. But doing so would mean overstepping my boundaries as Milady’s personal butler. Allow me just one question, Milady. How do you actually plan to reach His Highness when time is of the essence?”

Violant smiled, unsure if she should reveal this part of her plan, for she could already imagine the vampire being strictly against it. In the end she disclosed the information though.

“I plan to use the pathways.” she answered.

The pathways were an especially treacherous part of the other march. In fact it was a terribly tortuous path network stretching over the whole of the other march. Using the pathways allowed you to cross huge distances in a negligible amount of time since the concept of space and time itself was highly contorted, but that was also the danger associated with its use. If you lost your way, you would wander around aimlessly for eternity, or even in the rare case that you were able to leave the pathways again, centuries might have passed in the outside world, be it the other march or the world of humans. Thus it was imperative to never stray from your path when using the pathways because the consequences would be unpredictable if you ever did.

“The pathways?!” Malford repeated in exasperation, his high voice reaching an unpleasant grating pitch. “Milady, you… Oh, forget it! Even I can see how there is no way around traversing the pathways when you want to turn your plan into reality. Only this once I will cast aside my doubts and allow you to go through with your questionable undertaking, Milady, but only if you allow me to accompany you. I have traversed the pathways plenty of times already but one shouldn’t dare this endeavor without a grave reason, which, I admit, is on hand this time around. But I never will compromise Milady’s safety.”

Hearing the positive reply, Violant thanked her butler sincerely. There was no doubt that Malford prioritized her wellbeing over even his own life. Why else should he have tried to save her from the stake when everything was already lost? Having the vampire as an ally in her endeavor could only be a good idea.