- Her name was Alana. I am her daughter, Valerie. I am a princess — my father is the king. I didn't lie about that.
- So? You've only proven my point. You are useless to us.
Darian's thoughts spoke aloud this time, silencing the room.
- That's not true.
Her voice wavered, and her small hands moved to smooth her dress once more. Lord Igion followed the gesture closely, watching her composure slip, wondering if they were indeed being played.
- Princess Valerie, you said you know what he is planning. Prove your worth to us, or I may have to agree with Master Darian.
She swallows dry. Her mind trying to settle on the right thing to do. This was her opportunity to be better than them. Batter than those who occupy the castle.
- I knew him at the castle. Two of them, actually. Sir Camillo, the current captain. I know what he wants, and I know what he will do to get it. He is a man of good knightly legacy, but his heart is cold... and cruel.
- Knowing him doesn't guarantee you know what's on his mind.
Cornelious strikes his beard as he waits for the princess next words.
Valerie pauses. Flashes of her past lessons pop-up on her mind. The feeling of her legs shaking. The smells... His words as dreathfull as his breath touching her face.
"It's okay... That's not me anymore. I can do this. I am not a delicate butterfly. I am not a scared doll. I am a Princess."
- During my strategy lessons, he revealed some of the most despicable horrors. He lives only to sate his thirst for blood, his desire for war. He won't hesitate to send his soldiers to needless death.
The dwarves stare at Valerie. Her voice now eloquent only brings her disgust to the knight and not news. Cornelious is the one who breaks her entusiasm.
- We already know he plans to attack us.
- Yes, but you don't know how.
Her immediate reply makes Darian cut her nonsense once more.
- What other option does he have other than charging immediately to save the hostages?
- He won't do that. Not if the hostages are alive. It will hurt the way the soldiers see him.
- We are not going to kill them!
- You won't, but he will. As we speak, soldiers are rushing in from the back, they will killl the hostages and use that reason to start a war.
- What?! That's impossible! Our walls are impenetrable!
Seeing Valerie's words dismissed again and again, Marion can't contain her disdain.
- You guys have grown lazy. Even the cleanest kitchen has one or two mice. Where do you think that twart gets those eyebrows? Ahahah!
Darian slams his fist into the table. A crack splits the wood a few inches more from Lord Igion, who frowns deeply. Darian sits back down, and the old dwarf finally speaks.
- There is no way there are soldiers inside our fortress.
- It's true. We found a few downstairs. The old door that leads to the well is nothing but splintered wood now.
Baliot finally speaks — not on behalf of his own kind, but for the princess who once saved his bald head.
- What? And you didn't think to tell us this sooner?
As the disappointed glances turn toward Baliot, Valerie leans forward, placing her hands on the table.
- We block the door, and the men are dealt with. Still... a few rocks won't hold it for long.
- We need a plan. We don't have more time to listen to an outsider.
- Master Darian is right. We truly don't have time. Princess Valerie — do you have a plan of your own?
- Yes, Lord Igion. We must not let them kill the hostages.
Questions come at Valerie one after another, most of them fired by Darian, though Cornelious follows the exchange closely, adding a remark here and there. If the dwarves are to trust her, she is ready to answer every single one.
- Even if they fail, the captain can still claim the hostages are dead and attack.
- Exactly. And to prevent that, we must make sure more than one of them sees the hostages alive.
- And how do you suggest we do that without releasing them, Princess?
- We lure them into the fortress. Not the whole army — only a small group, sent to confirm the hostages' condition.
- And that small group can be trusted? Ah... What stops them from killing the hostages the moment we show them?
Valerie lifts her chin.
- Sir Raddick won't let that happen! Plus — Princess Claudette will be among them!
A beat of stunned silence follows.
- What? We don't have the princess. They won't believe us.
- My dress, you won't find this kind of fabric anywhere else other than the castle. I will disguise as the princess.
The silence breaks as Marion's heart clenches — then bursts.
- Valerie, no. It's too dangerous. If they intend to kill the hostages, you'll be in danger as well.
- They won't kill the princess.
- Exactly! You are not her!!
Marion's palms slam against the table. The wood cracks in pain once more under the blow. Lord Igion automatically frowns as before. Valerie's gaze moves across the dwarves, then settles back on Marion, who stands beside her chair. Her hand lands on Marion's forearm.
- Lady Marion... this is the only way.
Straightning up, Marion shakes her hand off her.
- No, it isn't! The only way would've been running when we had the chance! We should never have come to this stupid tower with these stubborn old—
- Lady Marion.
Valerie's voice cuts through her. Her eyes lock onto Marion's — cold, steady, yet reassuring.
- I am not an innocent butterfly anymore. Acknowledged or not, I am still a princess, and it is my duty to protect my people. I will not allow innocent lives to be lost down there. Not the hostages. Not the soldiers.
"Not anyone else's..."
The room falls silent again.
Lord Igion studies her carefully.
- Princess... what's your plan?
- You take me, Princess Claudette, to the front wall. You threaten them — tell them you will kill me if they do not retreat from the forest. Say you will release the hostages once they withdraw.
Determined to refute her words, Darian questions her plan tirelessly.
- And you believe they will retreat so easily?
- They won't. I am certain Sir Camillo won't let it end there. If his men truly are inside the fortress at this very moment, he will not retreat while they might kill the princess under his command. He will ensure I remain alive — and to do that, he must reach the hostages before his own men do.
- No way! We cannot allow that unstable bastard inside our walls!
- To rule wisely, one must keep allies close and enemies even closer. It is safer to watch him from within than to leave him outside, free and unsupervised.
Princess Valerie's confidence does not waver — firm and unmoving, like a golden throne itself.
A small smirk forms beneath Lord Igion's long mustache.
- Then we are decided. We will procide as the princess plan. Once they see the hostages alive we negotiate the army retreat and the human's release.
- But-
- Master Darian, if what Princess Valerie says is true, we can no longer afford to wait.
Master Baliot, Master Cornelious — the hostages. Take them to the old underground storage room. Be aware of intruders. Triplets, prepare something to replace them, should matters turn against us. Princess and... Marion — direct your courage to your next task. This one has succeeded. Master Darian, let's prepare our defenses. Battle is our last resort.
As Darian and the Lord review the final details, Valerie stands and pulls Marion aside.
- Lady Marion, everything will be fine. Running is not an option. Whatever happens, we will face it.
Marion's jaw tightens. Her words come out as they spin in her mind.
- That is exactly what frightens me. I don't know if I will be of any help in a real battle. I won't be able to protect you. And Jaiden... I worry for him, but I cannot leave you alone in this chaos and—
- Lady Marion, focus. I have a task for you. If battle breaks out, you—
- See? Even you think something will go wrong—
- Lady Marion. One can never be too prepared.
Their stares align. Marion swallows hard, forcing her breath to steady.
- Follow Master Baliot and Master Cornelious. Watch where they take the hostages. And if the humans claim the hostages are dead... bring them to the walls.
- And then...?
Valerie meets her gaze, unwavering.
- Trust me.