***
Queen Raine had received a letter from Lady Wickshire and tensed. The last time she had ever written the palace, they had no choice but to marry out Lady Steinhouse. She opened the letter and it read,
"Her Majesty, Queen Raine,
I write to inform you that you have had an intruder colluding with Prince Thelmus of Juhntt. I hear he has been visiting his mother as of late and wonder what could come from this action. I care not about the matters of your household nor how you handle it, I am more interested in those that aide the Prince from the shadows. Your response, no matter its degree must drown his plans, letting them never see light; but secretly you need not alarm his aides, this Lady wishes that their plans seem smooth moving to them.
With great expectations,
Lucy Sharterux, Duchess of Wickshire,"
Queen Raine threw the letter into the fire and sat in silence. She had no idea what the letter intended her to do. But she was clear on one thing. The lady wished that whatever she did, it would not spook the prince's aides.
She sneered in her mind. That little thing has aides helping him from outside? What could he possibly do?
"Ria!" she called and her maid was kneeling before her immediately.
"Have you been watching that bitch's son?" Queen Raine asked.
"Yes. He went to see his mother yesterday,"
"What did they discourse?" Queen Raine asked.
"He asked if she loved the stars from the west wing? She said that cared not for stars. He said he would let her see it again if she wished it. She said he should find ways to get her out. No matter, he still told her a story of how she had shown him a path to some cottage. He said that before morning twilight tomorrow, she must remember that path. The light of the sky would guide her. It seemed all fishy to me, my lady, but I had no idea what it might mean so I ignored it," Ria explained.
"A cottage? The west wing? You have seen the maps of the lower prisons, is there a way out from the west wing?" Queen Raine asked.
"Yes. You don't think he would try and help her escape, do you? The path from her cell to that entrance is filled with soldiers. There is even a weapon room and a garrison where the soldiers reside on the way there. It's impossible to leave through that way," Ria said.
"Not if she has help. A kind of help able to enter the palace unseen by our guards and even the jade hand left in the palace," Queen Raine said.
"Who would help him? Does he have the ability to employ such help? Should we isolate him with more guards?" Ria asked.
"No. Let him do as planned. Watch his actions without doing anything. Tomorrow before twilight right? Do as usual. Do not change your plans. Call me the finance minister. I wish to plan a feast. Have it announced that there will be a celebration of the return of the first wave back to the capital. Let the people know that those from the first wave have done a splendid job and are returning safe and sound. Let them come out to celebrate this success," Queen Raine said.
"Where will this celebration be held?" Ria asked with a frown.
"Map out a path from the gate that bitch wishes to escape from. Have arena built there; one big enough to accommodate the commoners. Have it done before morning tomorrow. Do not tell people where this celebration would hold. When morning comes we will announce that it has begun and they should make their way there. Make sure that little prince is present," Queen Raine said.
"What do you wish to do?" Ria asked, completely confused.
"Since she wishes to leave, we must not forget her once a queen. I must give her a send-off worthy of one," Queen Raine smiled viciously.