After Violant had returned to Whitehill Castle and had freshened up somewhat, she soon met again with Prince Wynkin. The berserk also had switched out of his dusty travel clothes. Both had come together in a rather small side room of the large and extensive library. This room was normally used when somebody wished to read or work without interruption, but thanks to the greatly isolating door it also could be used for confidential talks, just like now.

“Please tell me about your urgent message, Your Highness.” the red-haired girl inquired.

“Of course.” the gigantic youth replied “As I already had mentioned before I am here in the name of my brother Edric who is indispensable in the capital these days. As the eldest prince still alive and one of the favorites for throne succession, he has a lot of official work to do. So has Gervase, by the way. And that is the problem. Since both are absent from the battlefield, in contrast to the twins or me, father decided to assign them a task of utmost importance.”

In fact it was no wonder that Prince Jarm, the captain of the royal knight order, was out on the battlefield, amassing military contributions. His twin brother Hal, who was usually not involved with the military but nonetheless the best jousting knight the kingdom had to offer, had requested King Baldwin to assign him to the knight order because he wished with all his heart to assist his dear brother. In reality Hal wished to unnoticed kill his brother off in the chaos of the battlefield though. Only that Jarm thought to take the chance to get rid of his twin brother in the same way. Ultimately the one suffering the most under the twins’ rivalry was Hubert of Wuldington. He, the vice-captain of the knight order, had to see to it that the knight order functioned in spite of the princes’ antics and schemes. Hubert being silently fed up with his superior also was the main reason why the Wuldingtons still hadn’t sided with a faction, although he was pressured almost daily by Prince Jarm to join his faction. Not that Hal didn’t aim for the same, since soon became aware just how capable Hubert really was.

“As you know, aside from the directly related parties, all other nations have still not entered this war as of yet.” Wynkin continued “That the empire will ever do so is very unlikely though. They only concentrate on themselves and have already declared that they will watch this war only from the sidelines since it has nothing to do with them. If you ask me, the war would be quickly over if only the empire’s troops fought on our side. But they prefer to ignore the fact that the emperor’s niece got humiliated by the invading nations on her most important wedding day. How is this not a humiliation and disregard of the emperor’s honor? Well, the empire has decided against participation. Giudena, however, has still to take up a position as of yet. They might only be a city state for better or for worse, but the merchant republic’s financial capital and supply of arms can very well turn around this whole war. Should Yteland manage to win Giudena as an ally for its just cause, it might well lead to our victory. The king has decided to assign both Edric and Gervase the task of sending an emissary to Giudena to win them over. Of course it is out of the question for the princes to go themselves. And now we are where you come into the picture, Lady Violant.”

“How so?” Violant asked.

“You will be one of those emissaries, Lady Violant.” the berserk declared “It will not be seen as the margravial daughter taking sides in the struggle for throne inheritance, of course, but will be interpreted as you doing your part for the national cause. Brother Edric, mother and I will make sure of that, as will Chief Minister Jocelyn too. You don’t have to expect any repercussions from taking on this mission. Rather on the contrary, as long as you are successful father might even specifically honor you for your merits. Seeing that you are not engaged yet, this might even increase your desirability as a good catch for young nobles despite your much feared silver eyes and your somewhat bellicose nature. Don’t understand me wrong. I personally think that those aspects of yours make you even more charming instead.”

“Thanks for the compliment.” the young lady replied outwardly cool but inwardly shaken, marveling at the eighth prince’s glib tongue that was able to spout such compliments without any reservation. “But why me? Sending a woman as an emissary is something completely unheard of, is it not?”

“That might be so.” Wynkin spoke “But it is not necessarily unthinkable. In particular, as both brother Edric and I believe you to be most fitting for this task. Especially so as the current head merchant of Giudena does openly favor strong and confident women such as yourself. To be honest, sending you as an emissary was originally neither my nor brother’s idea. The first one to bring up your name was Lady Mafalda instead, as she knows the peculiarities of the current head merchant inside and out, for it is no one else but her younger sister, Dottorena Lictorini. Also, I forgot to mention before, the emissary on Gervase’s side is Tancred of Marchester.”

“I will do it.” Violant declared immediately after hearing the name of Gervase’s emissary. Tancred of Marchester was the second brother of Felicity of Marchester, Gervase’s concubine and later queen in her last lifetime. Tancred, who was only one year younger than Violant and Felicity, had left no chance aside to shame Violant publicly after she had fallen from grace but wasn’t yet imprisoned. She hated this man who insulted her at every turn after her fall nearly as much as she hated Gervase and Felicity.

The more pressing matter, however, was that the marquisate of Marchester directly bordered Guidena, which meant that as long as Gervase’s appointment reached Marchester, that his emissary would have the timely advantage regarding the comparatively short distance of travel.

“Leave it to me, Your Highness.” the girl affirmed a second time “I have ways of beating that Marchester bastard and foil his early arrival in Giudena. The other march is everything but save these days but I know my ways. Or at least my trusty steed Huwcyn does.”

“I have expected nothing different from you, Lady Violant.” the prince replied with a wide smile “And therefore I have already brought with me your letter of appointment as brother Edric’s emissary, signed and sealed by him.” Speaking such, Wynkin took out a parchment roll with a wax seal from his jacked and formlessly passed it over to Violant. “I am sure you will do your very best to foil that venomous snake Gervase’s plans and not to disappoint us.”

“Definitely, Your Royal Highness. I cannot promise that I might bring good results back from Guidena, but at the very least I will see to it that Tancred of Marchester won’t either.”

“That is what I wanted to hear!” Wynkin nodded pleased “I wish you the very best for your voyage. When do you intend to head out?”

“Tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow at the latest. I don’t need much preparation. The most important thing is that Huwcyn is well rested. The pathways will take their toll on him, no doubt about it.”

“The… pathways?” the giant prince repeated with a confused expression after hearing a term foreign to him.

“Other march specifics. Please pay it no attention.” Violant tried to cover up her slipup. The pathways weren’t well known in Yteland, and that they were generally kept secret had much to do with the danger they posed for the inexperienced. “I beg your pardon, Your Highness, but I will now retire. It would be best if I am well rested as well before I head out as the royal emissary.”

“That is for sure.” Wynkin agreed “I wish you a good rest, Lady Violant.”

The red-haired girl curtsied instead of a reply and left the room.

Prince Wynkin, now left behind alone, began to smile evilly while his eyes changed color from hazel to gold. Then he said: “Dryp, tell me all you know about the pathways…”