e side of the road that morning, counted out ten and dropped the rest back into the bag. Then she carefully placed the ten on the suitcase she and Teena,

o join the dozens of others that had already gone there, and

Princess's three cards that lay face up on the table, then darted back to her own cards. The Princess thought she could almost hear the buzzing of high spee

added it to her hand. More careful deliberations took place, and then she reached into her o

then looked up suddenly, catching a smile on her handmaid's face that she hid immediately. The two women stared at each other, suspicion in Ardria's stee

his game before, you said no," she said. "

d indignantly. "I've never pl

" insist

never played this game before, but there's another game the s

imilar to

maid admitted, "but it's a completely different game!

he carriage's other seat, facing them. He was trying to hide a faint smile. When he sa

She placed her cards face up on the table, beside the two that

rds for inspection. She scooped up all the berries on the suitcase and

The game goes much better with three players, and I'm sur

ain replied. "I have to remain alert fo

again, but I'm on to your little tricks now. Don't t

ook across at her again, and Teena made a big show of feeling the we

" the Princess pointed out. "I could order Tamwell her

do that," replied

d why wo

d would ruin t

rds together, shuffled them and dealt two each to herself and the handmaid, face down on t

nd heir to the Kingdom and y

od reason." She picked up her face d

he said. "I'm instigating a berry tax. You are hereby required to give

reigning monarch coul

the circumstances warrant it, the next in line in succession may enact such measures

rch isn't incapacit

a telegraph wire behind us ever since we left Marboll?" She shook her bag again. Teena sighed and scooped two handfuls

s pistol. "That was a joke!" cried Teena, her eyes wide with fea

oked at her, then relaxed, although he gave the handmaid another s

nded by armed men willing to kill and die to protect me, and they have the example of Soonia Darniss to remind them to keep an eye on even the most trusted servant. I trust

aptain here watches over you so carefully..." Her voice broke o

m, but very far away. Overhead, the sun was bright and warm, and shortly beforehand the

oms from somewhere ahead, muffled by distance, and the Princess sat upright i

ut. "Please stay in the carriage, Your Highness." Outside, the two dozen members of the escort cavalry had also stopped, some ahead of the carriage, some behind. Near the back

his horse back at a light canter. He stopped beside the Captain an

he handmaid in a quiet, scared voi

be pushing for the capital with everything they've got. Ther

r Helberion cannons trying to slow down an advancing Carrow column. It wouldn't be both at once. No-one would risk firing their artillery while the other side was firing because it would give away their positions. One side fired, while the other side kept their heads down, and then the oth

k of the carriage to join the two cavalry officers. "Please

le going on ahead of us," she said. "We can'

went to the carriage, reaching in through the open door and under the Captain's seat. He pulled out a sel

so that that part was on top. "The battle sounds to be about twenty miles away," he sai

e north of it," replied Ardria. "T

ll probably fall back this way, to the east, to defend Cody Gap. The battle will probably go north f

ays on our journey!"

able to get to Erestin without any

he other p

thing worth attacking or defending. Technically the front line crosses it somewhere, but

why aren't the Carrowm

nd it. They have to go to the places we're defending. We're no

pointed out the Corporal. "When they see Helberion rangers they

o," replied Ardria. "Towards Carrow. W

"but we rejected that route for a reason. C

capital of the country we're at war with. What if we fly the white flags and go openly a

," pointed out the Corporal. "Even if we go the long, safe way

thing happens to his daughter." He examined the map again, folding and unfolding it to look at other par

d be more direct,"

it strategically valuable. It'll probably be occupied by a sizeable Carrow garrison. I'd prefer to give t

oms of battle were still coming. "Every second we take getting there, pe

aluted, climbed back onto his horse and went off to pass on the order. "And Highness..." Ardria looked up at the Captain. "F

ling despite herself. "Yo

ceiling again to tell the driver to move on. "We're taking

maid with a nervous glance at C

em, so they had an uncomfortable few minutes in which they were still heading towards the battle. Tamwell asked Teena to change places with him so t

flank the enemy positions, or just scout out the terrain. I doubt

with crops going unattended in the fields. Now and then they passed horse drawn carts going in the other direction laden with families and their most valuable belongings, heading for the imagined safety of the nearest large town. One man, with his wife and a half raised donkey sittin

the carriage and Captain Tamwell leaned out to hear what he had to say. "R

e saw them. Tiny points of light, just barely visible in the distance above the trees that lined the road. Three

orporal. "Are they a threat? The Carrowmen have agreed to l

le. Our surrender would suit him very well. What the Radiants really want, though, is to destroy all human civilisation. Our surrender would not suit them at all. They want

signalling the driver to stop the carriage. "How

for a few miles before continuing west. We'll end up going q

a curse. "And we can't leave the road so long as we've got a carri

y miles back," said the Corpora

t here until the

ss. "If the carriage is the problem, we should

ncess to travel," said the Captain

g the carriage, Captain. Then we strike out across the fields, head for Charnox by

a time when we have to ride, hard, and we don't want them giving out on us." Then

ed. I'm pretty sure I can stay

," suggested the Princess. "It

e hard? It might be best if

need someone she trusts when we get to Charnox, otherwise she'll hav

elcome, Teena, but we have to think of the practicalities of the situation. If we're forced to

o see to your needs. In reality a spy, to watch and listen and report everything back to him. Having a maid of your own would give you an excuse to refuse one

ve to ride hard," pointed out the Princess. "I'm su

pretty sure," said Tamwell. "If Broderick's horse can carry him ou

r eyes begging her to agree. Ardria still looked doubtful, though. "I'll dec

continuing on with us," said the Captain. "All kinds of things

I'm thinking of. The war zon

must have a handmaid when you arrive in Charnox. A Princess with a handmaid is a lady of standing and importance. A Princess without one is a just a woman travelling with an armed escort, and any c

s the reason we set out in a royal carriage. I doubt we'll make quite

done, I'm afraid. A royal accoutrement, a statement of your status and importance. With all due apologies to the y

ing with delight. "But if you do, you do so at your own risk. Our mission is far too important to risk it protect

ndmaid replied. "I'm wi

ng out again. "Let's get these horses unhitched, then. Then

☆

it as best they could. Anyone passing along the road would easily be able to see it, but hopefully a Radiant, passing a few hundred feet overhead, would miss it and wouldn't guess th

s were still visible as tiny pinpoints of brightness, circling each other as if performing some intricate dance above the scene of battle. I wonder if we're winning over there, she thought as muffled thuds and booms continued to drift across the still evening air and the ground continued to