#103 The Hostage The sound of a bone breaking, and a scream that went with it, resonated a few seconds later.
Even Anour didnt watch, a bit uneasy.
He knew how merciless his family could be, but until now, he hadnt gotten many occasions to witness it himself.
However, he was mad too about what had happened.
What did you have to say, about Vrehan? He asked, stepping forward for the first time.
He… Hes… prepared a trap… for… Kairen… whimpered Phetra, holding her broken leg.
What kind of trap? I… I dont… Damn, youre really that useless, sighed Shareen.
While her daughter was still glaring at Phetra, Kareen stepped forward, grabbed her sword, and, without warning, cut Phetras hand.
Another scream resonated within the Palaces walls as the cut hand fell to the ground.
The Princess held her wrist, her face deformed by the pain.
5 Try to heal this, hissed the Imperial Concubine.
(5 No one else could watch this scene.
The Dragon blood could heal a lot of injuries, but it certainly couldnt regrow a new hand for her.
The blood flow and Phetra desperately tried to wrap it in her clothing, clumsily.
Meanwhile, Kareen handed the weapon back to her daughter for Shareen to carefully clean her sword.
That one was for slapping Cassandra, killing my servants and my men, said Kareen.
I strongly advise you never use that other hand to slap or kill anyone else again, or Ill cut it off too.
I am not as merciful as my children, and Ill have no problem in killing a bitch like you even before my son comes back.
5 Though she raised an eyebrow at being called merciful, Shareen didnt say anything.
So youre not killing her now? Asked Anour.
First, she doesnt deserve a quick death, replied Shareen.
Secondly, she can still be useful until I put my hands on Vrehan, that bitch probably knows more than she says.
How do we find Cassandra and Missandra now? He asked.
Is there a chance they are still within the Diamond City? They couldnt, Vrehan searched everywhere, replied Kareen with a sigh.
He even tortured some of my people and found the hideout under the waterfall.
Thank the Gods, the girls were long gone, and they even left fake clues that sent this idiot towards the North.
Brillant girls.
No, from what my people told me, the girls decided to go to the Capital with the babies.

By the great Dragon, I cant believe theyre born already.
Kairen will be crazy when he comes back! I know, and I havent even seen them! I want to kill them just for making me miss that! Growled Kareen, biting her nail.
2 Is brother Kairen going to be fine? Asked Anour, worried.
Ill go and check that first, said Shareen.
I dont want to be pessimistic, but that rat his smart, and if he planned a trap for my brother, it probably was serious enough.
Everything about his war sounded fishy from the start.
3 What about Cassandra and Missandra? Shouldnt we find them first? If they are going to the Capital by themselves, and with a baby and the baby dragon, too… They dont have an adult dragon to fly with, it will take them days.
Moreover, they are smart enough to not be captured until they reach the Capital, and if those girls are hiding from Vrehan and his dragon, it will be hard for us or Roun to find them as well.
No, Id better go grab my brothers butt and bring him back to the Capital as soon as possible.
Krai should be able to find his baby or Cassandra I am worried about your father, said Kareen.
I don i think that old man is senile enough yet that he would have given that order willingly, not if everything was alright with him.
Something must have happened in the Capital, or Vrehan would never have dared to act so rashly.
2 *How long will it take you to send new spies to the Capital, Mother? I can send people right away, but it will take them longer to come back than for you to come back from the Eastern front with Kairen! Moreover, arent you going to help me clean over here? Kareen had said that while pointing out at the soldiers who were still waiting by Phetras side.
The men, suddenly getting nervous about what was going to follow, exchanged glances.
Seriously, mother, you want me to take care of them before I go? Dont we have more urgent matters? Ive cut enough of one hand for today, Im tired.
Plus, are you going to leave your poor defenseless mother to deal with those men? Do you know how many Vrehan left here! I cant even walk around or take my brunch quietly! 3 What about recruiting them? Are you kidding me? Vrehans army of little mutts? I wouldnt even use them to scratch my dragons shit off the floor! ? While the men were still confused at the situation and shocked by that womans words, Shareen rolled her eyes over and took out her sword once again.
Anour sighed and look elsewhere, but sure enough, Roun appeared over the walls to help the Princess do that bloody cleaning.
4 Every one of Vrehans soldiers was killed in less than ten minutes, even those who desperately tried to run away.
He really hadnt left many behind to assist his sister, and only Phetra was left, her wrist half-healed, even if she was still white and on the verge of passing out from all of the blood she had lost.
Roun was left behind in that garden to guard the Princess, even if it was very unlikely for her to even be able to go anywhere in her current state.
Then, Shareen accompanied her mother back inside, followed closely by Anour.
So brother still doesnt know what happened here? How could he? Vrehan killed all of my couriers and spies, not even a fly left this Palace before today! I bet Krai was able to sense his eggs hatching, though, hes always been very sensitive.
However, the Imperial Concubine seemed to be back in charge, as she was hurrying inside her Palaces walls.
Shareen knew her mother well enough to know that, despite Vrehans siege, there was no way Kareen had completely run out of resources.
Her little dragon following her closely, Kareen walked back inside and opened another secret hideout.
Shareen raised an eyebrow; She had spent half of her childhood in this Palace, but there were still many things she had never seen before.
They climbed some very narrow stairs all the way up to get inside a tower.
It was a room filled with birds, including a couple of falcons, Kareen whistled, and one of them flew to her wrist.
She gave the bird a note she had taken the time to write down while Shareen was getting rid of the soldiers.

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The falcon left the tower with his message, clearly heading towards the Capital.
Mother, I thought all your spies were dead? Those who were supposed to return here! However, I do still have many friends in the Palace, of course.
This is my fastest bird, well have news faster that way… I see… Mother, you never told Cassandra about Dahlia, did you? 10 She doesnt need to know.
Well, not anymore… Poor girl.
Come on, lets go back downstairs.
I want to put the production of the medical kits back on track to help your brother, and I need to recruit more people as soon as possible.
(2) What are you talking about? Medical kits? While they walked back inside the Diamond Palace, Kareen quickly explained everything Cassandra and Missandra had done to help Kairens army while staying there.
In a few words, she let her know about the production of medical kits and the feedback they had gotten from the front before Vrehans arrival.
Shareen nodded.
Oh, I was almost fed up about all those officials praising her all the time back at the Northern Camp as if she was some Messiah, and now that girl has done it again.
Kairen really knows how to pick them.
Does that woman ever stop? As if.
Its not like everyone can go around playing with a sword to solve every problem! Shareen rolled her eyes over again, exasperated.
Her mother had been very happy to see Shareen and her sword just minutes ago to clear her Palace of all of Vrehans men, didnt she! Anyway, we still need to figure out where the girls might go once they reach the Capital, said Kareen.
They probably wont be able to enter the Imperial Palace like that, and we might not get to the Capital before they do, but we can find ways to help them before that.
If only I knew exactly where they will go… Missandra mentioned a… an ex-husband, said Anour, a bit bitter.
18 I have better than that, said Shareen with a smirk.
I had almost forgotten about that guy before you mentioned the medicinal kits and all Cassandras doings, but… The Princess walked back to the entrance of the castle, where the man she had come with was still looking a bit sick.
He was standing very straight, and trying to look anywhere else but at the bodies, Shareen had left behind during her cleaning episode earlier.
Kareen looked at the man, a bit confused.
She had never seen him before, but he was obviously dressed as an Imperial Servant, and had the demeanor of a man who had been trained for that as well.
He kneeled respectfully as soon as the Imperial Concubine, Princess and Prince were in sight.
1 Greetings, Imperial Concubine Kareen.
Who is that? Cassies former babysitter, said Shareen.
My name is Evin, your Highness.
I was indeed Lady Cassandras escort and assistant back when she resided in the Northern Camp with his Highness, a few months ago.
Oh.
Why did you bring that man here, then? Tell her.
Yes, your Highness, said Evin, bowing again.

This humble servant happens to have exchanged a flattering amount of letters with Lady Cassandra over the last few weeks.
I mentioned our close relationship to her Highness Princess Shareen, and she… nicely agreed to bring me to see the Lady again here.
1 Kareen exchanged a look with Shareen, but the Princess immediately turned to Evin again.
You know where Cassie could go in the Capital, dont you? Yes, Your Highness.
In her latest letters, Lady Cassandra happened to mention a residence she had acquired in the Capital recently, thanks to His Highness the Third Prince.
As suggested to her Highness Princess Shareen, I strongly believe Lady Cassandra will be very likely to go there first.
Kareen was baffled for a few seconds.
wa A residence? Since when did my son have a residence in the Capital to gift to Cassandra? When did he buy it? Evin cleared his throat, a bit embarrassed.
Well, His Highness didnt exactly… buy the said residence, your Highness.
I would classify this as a… forcefully retrieved compensation from Lady Cassandras former… owner.
Oh, now that makes more sense, said Shareen, nodding.
Anyway, you know where that residence is? I do not have an exact address, but I certainly have enough description of its outlook and neighborhood for someone who knows the Capital well enough to find out, Your Highness.
Good.
Go get one of my servants you can find and have them send a courier in my name to the Capital right away.
We cant lose any more time.
Ill make sure our Cassie and her sister get everything they need and some extra protection.
If Vrehan wants to attempt my beloved grandsons life, hes going to have to kill me first! Evin bowed once again and left quickly to follow Kareens orders and send that courier right away, making a clear detour around the bodies scattered in the Palace.
Meanwhile, her daughter turned to Lady Kareen with suspicious eyes.
Arent you going to get there yourself, mother? Asked Shareen, crossing her arms.
2 MS.
What are you talking about? Ill go with you once you retrieve your brother from whichever battlefield he is! Moreover, now that Vrehans little mutts are done, I need to interrogate his useless sister some more.
You think you can be more convincing than me? Asked Shareen, putting a hand on her sword.
Shareen, I am your mother.
I was dealing with the Palaces schemes and those hoes long before you were born, dear.
This isnt my first fight and she isnt the first person I am interrogating.
If I couldnt make a girl like her talk, I wouldnt be worthy to be called the Emperors Favorite anymore! As Kareen walked back to the garden, Anour made a grimace.
Shes really scary sometimes… Well thats my mom.
Come on Anour, lets get going before Kairen gets himself killed like an idiot.
Mother is able to burn the Capital down if anything happens to him or her new grandson…