Now that the Marvel saga is finished, next step will be to end this saga as well.
**************
**************
Aisha and Yasmin were locked in one of the manor’s most isolated bedrooms. The room was luxurious, but it was nonetheless a cell. They had checked the door. It looked fancy, but it was also made of solid oak, and its lock was the most complex one they had ever seen.
The sisters were sitting on the bed, side by side, still clad in their stolen garbs.
Aisha was keeping her head low.
“I’m sorry… I messed up everything… You shouldn’t have come to rescue me… I’m not worth it...”
Yasmin blinked. “You… You thought I’d give up on you?” she muttered. “You’re my twin. We may have our differences but… I’d never leave you behind! Never!”
“You’re such a good sister… You’ve always wanted to protect me... I’m ashamed I couldn’t see it… Rasha and Beatrix are right… I am a spoiled brat...”
Aisha sniffled, and stopped talking.
“Why did we even drift apart?” Yasmin suddenly asked.
Aisha hesitated. “I’ve always been... jealous of you…” she confessed. “The court… The etiquette… The social gatherings… You’ve always been so good at all of these. As if it was natural to you. While I… I always make a fool of myself…”
There was a short moment of silence.
“I’ve always been… jealous of you too…” Yasmin admitted.
“What? Why?”
“You have such a close bond with Mother… She’s always had a soft spot for you… You remind her of who she used to be.” Yasmin looked away. “I’ve always been the dutiful daughter, the reliable one. And yet… I’m no one’s favorite. Mother only has eyes for you, and Father spends all his free time with Ahmed in the laboratory. When it comes to our parents, I’ve always come… second.”
“They love you as much as us!” Aisha took her sister’s hands. “They act like that because they trust you! They know you're the strongest! Ahmed is so lost in his inventions, he needs Father to take him back to reality… And I’m such a trouble-maker Mother needs to keep an eye on me.”
Yasmin smiled faintly.
The twin sisters wrapped their arms around each other, finding comfort and courage in each other’s embrace.
Of course, Louise had to enter the room and to ruin the moment… She was flanked with Gabrielle, Rasha, and a bunch of guards.
“I must thank you, Princess Yasmin. Before you came, I had one hostage. Now, I have two.”
The blond princess looked gorgeous in her regal deep blue long bell-shaped ball gown. The garment was adorned with complex patterns of gold threads, and the most precious of white lace around the wrists, collar and at the bottom. The dress was fitted around the waist, with a golden yellow cloth sash wrapped around it. For the celebration, she was even wearing a white powdered wig with ringlets. (Aisha remembered those fashion accessories were regarded as exceptionally fancy, and only used for important ceremonies.)
Yasmin glared daggers at Louise. “What you do is an act of war. I hope you’re ready for the consequences.”
The other woman chuckled. “You are mistaken. Tomorrow, as soon as your cousin is dealt with, I’ll spread the tale you attempted to spy on State Secrets. You mugged enough women for the story to sound plausible.”
Aisha kept her head low. She was aware everything was her fault. Had she not foolishly rushed head first into danger… Had she not assaulted all these women… Had she not listened to Rasha… Then they wouldn’t be in this tight spot!
The thief herself was standing next to Louise, dressed in the bright blue-gold-and-white outfit of a royal page girl (uniform button up tunic and trousers) whit shiny black shoes. Aisha couldn’t bare to look at her smile.
“A shame your sister never learned to think before she acts.” Rasha commented.
Yasmin glared at her and jumped at Aisha’s defense. “Lackey clothes suit you.” she retorted. “Why don’t you just act like one and keep quiet while your mistress talks?”
The thief’s smile flickered slightly.
But Louise didn’t lose hers. In fact, the retort amused her. “Ah… It’s almost a shame… I could enjoy having someone with such repartee in my entourage…”
Gabrielle walked next to her princess. “Madame. The party will begin any minute now. If you don’t greet the first guests, it will reflect badly on your reputation.”
The blond princess sighed.
“I wish I had the time to transfer you to a more secluded place… Alas, Rasha’s timing was very poor… And you, dear Yasmin, you delayed everything…”
Louise snapped her fingers.
A few more guards carrying ropes entered the room.
“Tie them up. Make sure they can’t escape their bonds. I don’t want them trying to call for help.”
The guards forced Yasmin and Aisha to sit on wooden chairs. They bound each young woman’s wrists behind her chair’s back with ropes. They also tied each twin’s ankles, and wrapped a rope around their waists and the chair’s backs to immobilize them.
“Why not exfiltrate us now?” Aisha barked. She winced when her jailer tightened the ropes binding her wrists.
“Among the guests and their servants, there are spies working for Dominique.” Yasmin explained. “She knows they’ll watch every exit of the manor, and report any suspicious activity. It’s safer to wait until everyone is gone.”
Louise looked annoyed. “Gag them as well. They are way too insightful for their own good.”
Soon, Yasmin and Aisha were both silenced by thick pieces of cloth.
“I must now make my leave. My guests await me.” Louise concluded. “Enjoy the music. It’ll be loud enough for you to hear… and also to conceal any noise you may be tempted to make.”
She exited the room with Gabrielle, Rasha, and her guards. They closed and locked the door from the outside.
Aisha let out a dejected sound, muffled by her gag, and lowered her head.
Some time passed.
Then they heard music. The party was starting.
For some reason, Yasmin looked eager. The moment she heard the music, she started to struggle. It was strange, since beforehand she had seemed to give up… Her waist and legs were tied to the chair, but she could jump with the chair to move across the room.
Because while the music was covering any sound they could make to call for help, it was also covering any noise the sisters would make trying to escape...
Yasmin jumped on her chair until she was back-to-back with Aisha. She moved her bound hands and took her sister’s.
Aisha squeezed her sister’s fingers, finding solace in the contact. However, she frowned when she felt something else. A small metallic blade, no longer than the little finger, was hidden in Yasmin’s hands! She must have hid it under her sleeve, and then in her palm when they searched her!
After all, Yasmin too had once listened to Azeneth’s stories and advices… She too had been trained by the metis woman...
The two sisters were gagged. They couldn’t speak to each other. But they didn’t need to. They were twins. They didn’t need words.
Aisha instinctively knew how to move her hands to grab Yasmin’s blade, just like her sister instinctively knew how to position her wrists to allow Aisha to cut the ropes. The blade was small. So the process would be long and hard.
But the twins knew it was only a matter of time...
**************
Marquess Geneviève de la Fontaine and Countess Renée de Laroche were traveling together in a carriage to Princess Louise’s grand celebration. Both women were part of Francisque’s high aristocracy.
Geneviève was a buxom fair-skinned brunette with deep blue eyes and long hair tied into an elegant braided chignon with gold hair pins. Her earrings, necklace, and bracelets were made of gold. She was wearing a bottle green ball gown with a white collar and white wrist cuffs.
Renée had auburn hair, hazel eyes, and a white skin. She was dressed in a yellow dress with white lace sleeves and a matching collar. Her jewels were made of gold, and emeralds were encrusted in her earrings and necklace. An aristocratic white powdered wig adorned with fancy ribbons was covering her hair.
Renée muttered a complain under her breath when a bump of the coach almost made her lose her wig.
“Maybe you shouldn’t have put one…” Geneviève teased her.
“I thought it was appropriate for such a ceremony. We're talking of the high king's late first wife!”
“I prefer you without it.” Geneviève gently caressed Renée’s hand. “I can ask Cécile to drive a little more slowly… so that we’d have some time to ourselves...”
“Dear. Not now.”
“Why? Cécile won’t tell anyone. And my husband doesn’t mind.”
“Mine does. I would rather not arrive at the party with ruffled clothes. People would ask questions.”
“Suit yourself.”
She was interrupted by an other bump, as the coach suddenly halted.
“Cécile? Why are we stopping?” Geneviève exclaimed through the window of the carriage.
“There’s a big branch on the road, Madame.”
“Can you do something about it? We’re already getting late.”
“I will see what I can do.”
**************
The coachwoman jumped onto the ground, and went to inspect the obstacle. The brown-haired light-skinned hazel-eyed woman adjusted the belt of her outfit – black high shoes, dark grey trousers, matching tunic, black hooded cloak, and matching three-cornered hat – on her way.
The branch was thick – big enough to damage the wheels of the carriage even if the horses agreed to walk over it. Such incident wasn’t exactly unheard of, but something about it bothered Cécile. She inspected it from closer.
The coachwoman realized the branch had been sawed off. It was a trap!
Someone grabbed the woman from behind before she could warn her employer, and wrapped her arms around her throat.
Cécile gasped and gurgled. She flailed her arms desperately to try and loosen the grip.
Unfortunately for her, her assaulter was miles stronger than her.
Cécile moaned faintly, then her body went limp. The unconscious body was dragged out of sight in the bushes.
**************
“Cécile sure is taking time.” Renée commented.
Geneviève nodded silently. She began to feel very worried. She was realizing they were alone in the woods. Maybe she should have brought a few guards with her…
The door of the coach was open.
Renée squeaked, and wrapped her arms around Geneviève. The latter held her secret lover close.
The bandit was a woman – a slim and well-endowed one – clad in the dark cloak favored by highway robbers. A hat, a scarf, and an eye mask were concealing her identity. She was pointing a flintlock pistol at the two aristocrats.
“Greetings, mesdames!” she said with a foppish imitation of an aristocratic accent. “Please stay calm. This is a robbery.”
“Who are you?”
“Haven’t you heard my introductory speech? We’re robbers.”
“If it’s a ransom you want, my husband will-”
“We’re not after your money.”
“Then what do you want?”
In-between the scarf and the eye mask, the busty bandit’s face was hard to read. However, Geneviève clearly saw the woman was eyeing theirs outfits.
“Brutes! We won’t let you defile us!”
“Your clothes. Not your bodies. Not even your underclothes – at least if you cooperate. Now, please exit the vehicle.”
It was hard to argue against a flintlock pistol. Or against the threat of being stripped naked.
The female bandit led Renée and Geneviève in the woods. An accomplice of hers (who was wearing surprisingly pristine-looking boots) took the lounge of the horses, and went to conceal the coach until they were done with the robbery.
In the middle of the bushes, the rest of the bandits – two other women clad in similar cloaks, masks, hoods, and scarves – were waiting for them.
Those must be the weirdest highway robbers ever… Geneviève couldn’t help but think to herself.
All the outlaws were women. Geneviève was able to see, in spite of the loose figure-concealing outfits, that the bandit leader had a stunning-looking body. The kind of attractive figure any noblewoman would kill for, with well-endowed breasts, a shapely bottom, and a curvy waist. The busty bandit’s accomplice was a plump woman who looked very uncomfortable with everything going on – in fact, she was standing awkwardly in a corner of the clearing.
Only the last member of the group looked and behaved like a genuine thug. Her gestures were gruff, and her figure was slim and muscular. Judging by her body language, Geneviève wagered she was a former soldier – her husband was an officer, so she knew a lot of them.
The thuggish-looking bandit was busy around a limp body lying on the grass.
The limp body of a brown-haired woman with a shoulder-long ponytail only clad in a thin plain grey short-sleeved top and beige knee-long undertrousers tied around the waist with a string...
Geneviève gasped. “Cécile! You didn’t-”
“She’s just asleep.”
Indeed, the coachwoman was breating softly. In fact, the thuggish-looking bandit was grabbing a coil of rope to bind her arms. Geneviève felt a bit relieved.
“Strip, please. The gowns, the shoes, and the jewels.” the busty robber politely demanded.
Geneviève and Renée hesitated. Of course, they were scared. But they were also noblewomen. They couldn’t stand the idea of being humiliated by vulgar outlaws.
“Unless you want us to remove the clothes ourselves.”
Renée squeaked in fear.
Geneviève tried to put on a brave face to reassure her lover. “When you put it this way…”
At least, she was allowed to take off her clothes herself. It was a small mercy.
Geneviève didn’t regret wearing a gown designed to be put on and taken off without help. She unhooked some straps, wriggled her shoulders out of the gown, and let the dress fall on the ground. She stepped out of her outer garments, now only clad in a white underdress with pink shoulder-straps, fitted around the waist with a pink sash of cloth, and that reached up to her knees. She took off her shoes, and removed her jewels.
Renée however didn’t manage to loosen her own gown. Her hands were shaking wildly, she was terrified.
Geneviève took her hand. “I will help you. Just focus on me.” After all, better her than those ruffians.
She helped her lover pull off her own yellow gown, her shoes, and her jewels. She stopped once Renée was left wearing a sky blue strapless corset adorned with white lace and matching knee-long puffy lacy bloomers.
“What now?”
“Keep the rest. We don’t want to humiliate you further. You seem like fine ladies. I hope you’ll believe me when I say we didn’t have a choice.”
An other bandit – the one who had bound Cécile – mock-coughed in her hand.
The busty bandit seemed to smile in a contrite way under her mask.
“We will have to make sure you stay put for the next couple of hours though. I apologize in advance for the inconvenience.”
**************
Renée, Geneviève, and Cécile were bound in a seated position around a tree. A rope was tied around their waists and upper-bodies to force them to remain seated with their backs against the tree. Each woman’s wrists were crossed-tied behind her back, and her legs were bound with ropes. They were gagged with thick rags, and also blindfolded so that Zaïde, Ezgi, and Dominique could put on their outfits without being identified.
Dominique slipped into the coachwoman’s outfit, and used the hood of her cloak to conceal her face.
She then helped Zaïde and Ezgi put on the aristocratic dresses of Renée and Geneviève.
Zaïde put on Geneviève’s ball gown, jewels, and shoes. Ezgi, with Dominique’s assistance, slipped into the clothes and jewelry of Renée.
“Some of my guards will stay in the area to make sure nothing dire befalls on them.” Dominique explained as she was lacing the back of the yellow dress. “They’ll rescue them later. But only after we had the time to save your cousins.”
Zaïde nodded.
Once she was satisfied with Ezgi’s outfit, Dominique went to prepare the coach.
Ezgi looked a bit uncomfortable. She kept adjusting the waist and the collar of her dress. Both felt too tight. “I’m not used to such… fancy outfits.”
Zaïde noticed. “First time you’re the one binding and gagging instead of being bound and gagged?”
Ezgi avoided her gaze.
“I won’t judge you or Aisha. You’re not the first commoner who fell in love with an aristocrat, you won’t be the last. It’s your right to love each other.”
“It was.” Ezgi interrupted her. And she couldn’t fully hide her bitterness.
Zaïde grimaced. “We were unfair with you Ezgi. We suspected you were Louise’s spy… We should have known better. We should’ve known you wouldn’t harm Aisha. We hurt you. I’m sorry for that.”
The plump handmaid remained silent.
“I’m the one who insisted Aisha should stop associating with you. It broke her heart. She never stopped caring for you. I'm the one to blame.”
Ezgi hesitated, and bit her lower lip. “Too much is at stake to waste time with personal matters. I will save her, and Yasmin, and the others. And then… Then I’ll sort out my feelings.”
**************
In the main reception hall, Louise was navigating from one group to an other. The celebration was merely beginning, and the most important guests hadn’t arrived yet, but she relished being the center of attention.
It simply was her natural place – at the top of the tower, with everyone at her feet – things would be so much easier if people like Dominique could just accept this obvious fact.
Her routine was well-oiled. Polite greetings, the usual flatteries, an homage to her late mother whose memory was being celebrated, a few words, and she moved on to the next group.
Louise had a talent to glean the juiciest information, and always find the most interesting conversations in a crowd of party-goers. People had this “conspiratory” behavior whenever they wanted to share a dark secret. Louise excelled at spotting them.
Two young socialites thus caught her attention, and she expertly walked towards them.
“… have arrived. Funny that the marquess of La Fontaine and the countess of Laroche aren’t here already though…” the first woman was commenting.
“They must take advantage of the trip to spend time alone together. Without their husbands, if you see what I mean.” her friend answered.
The two socialites shared a wicked chuckle – the kind that only mean gossip could elicit.
Suddenly, it was as if an alarm bell had rung inside Louise’s head.
Wasn’t it suspicious that guests were missing precisely the day the Ghazanite royal princesses were locked in her manor? Wasn’t it suspicious that the missing guests were two women who were notorious for traveling together alone?
Mathilde’s team still hadn’t caught Zaïde and Ezgi, even though they were combing the area.
Of course, Aisha and her friends didn’t know the habits of Francisque’s aristocracy. But Dominique knew. And Dominique was in cahoots with Aisha and her clique.
Now, if Dominique had managed to recover Zaïde and Ezgi, then things would become complicated...
Maybe it was a coincidence. Maybe Geneviève and Renée were indeed taking advantage of the trip to spend some time together – their idyll was pretty much an open secret anyway. Outside of Renée’s husband, nobody cared. However, Louise thought it was best to not take any chance.
The princess looked at the guests around her. Still, she had to remain discreet. She couldn’t alert anyone of her plan. At least, not until she could plant the proofs for her cover story.
“Gabrielle, come with me. I have to send a message to Mathilde’s crew. And to all the guards. I want them to stop and inspect Geneviève’s coach the moment it enters the estate. Then I will check something with the prisoners.”
**************
When Dominique stopped the coach on a specific trail, still at some distance from Louise's palace, Zaïde opened the window and put her head through it. “What gives?”
“We will not enter the estate through the front gate.” Dominique explained to her accomplices. “In fact, we will not enter the estate with this coach at all.”
“Why not?” Ezgi asked.
“Because I anticipate Louise has noticed Renée and Geneviève are late. On any other day, she wouldn’t have paid attention to it. But after she trapped Aisha, Yasmin, and your retinue, she will expect retaliation. We can anticipate she warned her agents and guards to keep their eyes open and intercept us.”
Zaïde nodded appreciatively. “Quite clever deduction.”
“Hopefully, this time I will manage to truly anticipate her.”
“Then why did we ambush these women?” Ezgi intervened.
“Because their clothes and coach will allow us to get close enough to strike our real targets. They should arrive soon. This is their itinerary tonight. You two will stay inside, and Beatrix will take position in the bushes. Prepare your jezail.”
**************
Zaïde understood the meaning of Dominique’s words when she heard gallop from afar.
Soon, a patrol on horseback arrived on the trail and noticed the immobilized coach.
The women’s uniforms bore a passing resemblance with musketeer uniforms. They were wearing black high boots, and their white button up uniform shirts had puffy sleeves. A rapier was strapped onto their belts, and they were also carrying pistols. However, their gloves and wide-brimmed hats were black, with red feathers on the hats. Instead of bright blue, their tabards were crimson red, and the Seahorse of the Dechaine dynasty adorning them was black instead of white. These soldiers were part of the Red Guards, a very specific corp. The one tasked with the protection of the first princess – and heiress to the throne.
The sergeant leading the patrol was a slim brown-haired woman with a white skin, dark brown eyes, and a tight ponytail named Simonne. She raised a hand, ordering her four soldiers to halt.
“Félicie, Camille secure the area. Aimée, Hortense, you’re with me.”
The five red guards dismounted, and drew their rapiers.
Félicie and Camille went to check the area, while Simonne approached the coach flanked with her two soldiers.
Hortense had neck-long curly black hair, brown eyes, and a tanned skin. Aimée was a short strawberry blonde with icy blue eyes and a white skin, her hair tied up into a ponytail.
Simonne noticed the coach driver was crouched down next to the back wheels.
“What is your business here?”
“Show more respect! This is the personal coach of Marquess Geneviève de La Fontaine! She’s on her way to Princess Louise’s celebration!” the driver retorted. She looked vaguely familiar – but Simonne couldn’t quite tell why.
The sergeant wasn’t intimidated. “We’re doing our duty to protect princess Louise. What is the problem?"
“One axle is damaged.” the coach driver explained.
“We can escort your mistress.” Simonne proposed. “But first, we need to check her identity.” She snapped her fingers. “Hortense, Aimée, watch this one. I’ll check the coach.”
**************
Félicie and Camille deployed, each covering the other’s blind spot.
Their coordination was excellent. The two woman were former dancers, part of the same troupe. They had been recruited because their profession meant they had fit bodies. Félicie was a redhead with green eyes, a light skin, freckles, and a tooth gap. Her hair were tied into a crown neck bun. Camille had light blond hair tied into a tight medium bun, blue eyes, and a white skin. Both had slim figures, with shapely legs and bottoms.
“Sergeant sure is paranoid.” Camille commented. “I don’t think any brigand can afford a coach that fancy…”
“Unless they stole one.” Félicie retorted.
“That would be quite devious…”
“You forgot for whom we’re working? For you, it’s maybe a ‘devious plan’, but for Princess Louise, such a trick is painfully trivial.”
“Fair point.”
“Now, I don’t think it’s truly a ploy, but the princess rubbed off on Simonne, and one’s never too cautious-”
Félicie frowned. Had something just moved in the bushes?
The redhead barely had the time to see a slightly glowy blue projectile hit her in the forehead. A wave of numbness coursed through her entire body. Her eyes rolled back, and a faint moan escaped her lips. Then she fell onto the ground.
Camille heard the dull thud of her unconscious teammate falling into the soft grass.
“Félicie?”
She saw the shooter, and opened her mouth for an alarm cry.
A blue ray of hard light hit her in the forehead.
Her shout died in her throat as she felt her body instantly go numb. Mouth still agape, Camille moaned faintly, and fell on top of Félicie’s unconscious body, her shapely bottom pointing upwards.
In the bushes, Beatrix silently moved to have a clean shot at the three other soldiers. These women were easy pickings.
She sometimes forgot just how superior Ghazanite jezails were to other firearms – with the power-infused crystals, no need to reload, and almost no sound. Their only drawbacks was that they were costly and difficult to make. But the day King Rashid would find a way to mass-produce them... then Ghazan's army would become unstoppable.
Non-lethal blue crystals were hard to use, compared to the lethal red ones. While red rays were as lethal as a bolt or a bullet, clothes were enough to block blue ones. But these women’s hats were leaving their faces, necks, and foreheads exposed.
Two red guards were waiting next to Dominique.
Beatrix aimed at the strawberry blond one.
**************
The sergeant opened the door of the coach.
The two women inside were huddled together, looking frightened. They were indeed dressed in the finest dresses Francisque’s aristocracy could buy.
But Simonne knew of those girls Louise wanted captured. A busty one and a plump one - both with tanned skins.
“You thought you were being clever, uh? I’ve been given your descriptions.” The sergeant smiled harshly. “Looks like we have a couple of bold thieves…”
However, she was interrupted by a cry of alarm.
“Shooter! Aimée is down!” Hortense shouted.
Simonne reflexively turned to face the unknown shooter.
“Ambush-gark?!”
Vise-like arms were wrapped around her neck and throat. Suddenly, the fake aristocrats didn't look frightened anymore - in fact, they had never been. It merely was a ruse to appear harmless.
“Don’t leave so soon, honey.”
Zaïde pulled Simonne inside the coach. The vehicle briefly rocked back and forth, then went still.
**************
Hortense barely had the time to register what had happened. One moment they were watching the coach driver; the next something fast and blue hit Aimée’s neck – instantly knocking her out.
The coach driver knew about the ambush beforehand. She immediately jumped out of Hortense’s reach before Aimée hit the ground.
Hortense then heard the muffled grunt of her sergeant as she was dragged inside the coach and swiftly knocked out.
The red guard quickly assessed the situation, and made a beeline for her horse to escape and warn the palace.
She didn’t know what kind of firearm their ambusher was using – how it could be so silent. But she was confident the bandit wouldn’t have the time to reload.
Beatrix shot her in the neck – in the small exposed area between the hat and the tabard.
Hortense groaned, her eyes rolling back.
What kind of weapon… can reload so fast?
Then she fell face down unconscious on the grass. She was only half-way.
**************
The five red guards were stripped off their gear and uniforms – four sets of uniforms would be used as disguises, and Hortense’s clothes would be used as makeshift ropes and gags.
Zaïde, Ezgi, Beatrix, and Dominique took everything save for the undergarments. They first pulled off the boots, gloves, and hats. They unclipped the belts and removed them. They shimmied the trousers down the legs. They took off the tabards, and pulled off the uniform shirts.
All the red guards were left in their underwear: a yellow brassiere and white knickers for Simonne, red undershorts and a matching sleeveless undershirt for Félicie, a green short-sleeved undershirt and matching undershorts for Camille, blue undertrousers and light blue short-sleeved top for Aimée, and white bandages wrapped around the breasts and grey underdrawers for Hortense.
Zaïde, Ezgi, Beatrix, and Dominique used strips of Hortense’s shirt, trousers and tabard to bind each unconscious woman’s wrists behind the back, each woman’s ankles together, and to gag her.
They loaded the five trussed up underwear-clad guards into the coach, then Dominique drove the vehicle in a remote part of the woods. She concealed it in the middle of the tree, to make sure nobody would find this patrol before tomorrow.
Then she returned to her three companions.
Zaïde, Beatrix, and Ezgi were already dressed in the red guard uniforms. They were applying make-up to each others to lighten their skins – they could never pass themselves for the white-skinned folks of the central and northern parts of the United Lands, but plenty of people in the southern realms of Sand’Or and Lux-et-Nox had tanned skins and darker hair, therefore they could pretend they were from these areas.
Dominique stripped off her coach driver outfit, hid the clothes under some bushes, and slipped into the last set of red guard uniform.
“You can use horses?”
Zaïde and Beatrix nodded. Ezgi grimaced.
“You’ll ride with me.” Zaïde proposed.
Dominique nodded. “We’ll try to avoid patrols and enter through the stables. We’ll pretend your horse injured its leg if we come across someone.”
“Let’s do it then.” Zaïde summed up.
**************
When the rope ensnaring Yasmin’s wrists finally snapped, Aisha let out a muffled noise of victory.
Her sister didn’t waste time. She quickly massaged her wrists, untied and ungagged herself, then freed Aisha.
“What now?” the latter asked.
“I’m thinking…”
However, Yasmin was interrupted by the sounds of voices from the other side of the door.
“Madame Louise? I wasn’t expecting you until the end of the party.”
It was the guard outside.
“Sadly, I have a few more questions to ask to our guests. It won’t take Gabrielle long. Right, Gabrielle?”
“Of course.”
Yasmin hesitated. “I-”
Aisha realized there were only three different voices – Louise, Gabrielle, and a guard. If there wasn’t anyone else, with the element of surprise, they had a chance.
Aisha took the initiative. Her sister was a planner, but Aisha was the woman of action. She was better at improvisation.
She sat on the chair, wrapped the rope around her ankles and around her waist to make it look like they were still bound, and picked up her gag.
“High risk, high reward. We improvise. We use Sor’Homa’s tactic. We use our touches together.” she told Yasmin.
Outside, the guard was still speaking, while at the same time searching for the keys: “There is a problem?”
“Maybe. I need more information about their accomplices. Rasha knows a few things about Zaïde, but she told me Aisha knows a lot more. And there may also be an other woman.”
Aisha gagged herself again, tied the ropes around her ankles in a way that would be easy for her to remove them, and put her wrists behind the chair’s back as if they were still tied. Yasmin nodded, and swiftly followed her lead.
The door was unlocked.
Yasmin finished knotting her gag, and put her wrists behind her back just in time.
**************
Louise and Gabrielle entered the room.
“Stay outside and make sure nobody disturbs us. Don’t let anyone enter without my permission, no matter what you hear.”
The guard nodded, and closed the door.
Louise glared at the two prisoners, who did their best to appear helpless and apprehensive.
“I will ask you a few questions about Zaïde and your other friends. I advise you to answer truthfully. It would pain me to hurt fellow princesses; but while I need you alive, I don’t necessarily need you intact.” The blonde made a gesture of the hand. “Gabrielle. Ungag them.”
The bodyguard approached the two sisters, confident they weren’t a threat. When she moved her arm to remove Aisha’s gag, the twins struck.
Aisha and Yasmin each grabbed an exposed part of Gabrielle’s skin. Their hands glowed together.
The bodyguard froze. Her senses were being overtaken by the twin sisters’ combined powers. She opened her mouth, but was only able to let out a faint moan. Her eyes rolled back, and she fell backwards. Out cold.
Aisha took off her gag. “We did it…” she whispered with an ecstatic smile.
Louise was too shocked to move. Gabrielle was her best soldier. In a fight, she was invincible. How could she have been defeated so easily?!
“Impossible… Rasha told your touch was weak…”
“Don’t underestimate two twins working together.” Aisha retorted.
Louise blinked one time, and tried to flee. Unfortunately, her party dress was hindering her speed.
Yasmin blocked the path to the door.
Louise looked at the small blade Yasmin was holding, then at her unconscious bodyguard. Her facial expression didn’t change. If she was scared, she was excellent at hiding it.
“I only need one scream.” she warned the twins.
“I’ll stab you in the throat before anyone enters the room.” Yasmin retorted. “There’s only one guard, and we’re two. We’d still have a chance. But for you, it’ll be a moot point. Whether we win or lose, you’ll be choking in your own blood.”
“You’re bluffing. It would mean war.”
“My father won two wars against the biggest empire of the world. I’m taking the chance. But you won’t be here to see the result.”
The blond princess remained silent one moment. She was weighing her options. Trying to see if the risk was worth it.
Ultimately, she decided against. She knew the sisters had nothing to lose. Contrary to her.
Louise raised her hands, the universal gesture of surrender.
“So you’ve managed to corner me. Congratulations.” the princess sarcastically commented. “Need I have to remind you we’re surrounded by people loyal to my father? Who do you think they’ll believe when I say you assaulted me? You won’t be able to escape, no matter what you do to me.”
The two twin sisters looked over the noblewoman’s long party dress, gloves, wig, and the eye mask she was holding in one hand. They shared a glance.
“I think we can find a way…” Aisha retorted.
The glimmer of understanding she saw in Louise’s eyes filled her with glee.
“I’m first heiress to the throne!” Louise haughtily warned her. “You wouldn’t dare...”
“Watch me.”
**************
Louise remained dignified even while the two sisters were undressing her. She stayed quiet, and didn’t squirm or blush. Aisha was impressed by her enemy’s composure, she would give her that.
Still, she couldn’t help but tease her defeated opponent. When she pulled off the powdered wig, she took a glance at the princess’ golden blond locks of hair, tightly tied into a crown braid to fit inside the wig.
“I don’t understand your people’s fashion sense. Why would one want to hide such gorgeous hair?”
Louise didn’t reply.
Aisha and Yasmin unlaced the golden yellow sash tied around her waist, and peeled off the blond princess’ regal deep blue long bell-shaped ball gown adorned with complex patterns of gold threads, and the most precious of white lace around the wrists, collar and at the bottom. They stripped Louise down to her undergarments: White knee-long puffy bloomers made of precious silk, adorned with lace and light pink ribbons at the waist and at the legs. As well as a white corset, adorned with pink lace around the collar and on the shoulder straps. A light pink piece of cloth was wrapped around the corset’s waist, and pink ribbons were also adorning the corset.
“You’re lucky. Your undergarments are less revealing than some outer garments I’ve seen. I’ll let you keep them.” Aisha teased Louise. “Consider it a favor. From one princess to an other.”
She relished the irony that her words echoed what Louise had said to her earlier. The other princess’s icy blue eyes were radiating with murderous intent, but she couldn’t do anything.
The sheets, bed curtains, and bedclothes were all of the finest quality. They made for perfect sturdy makeshift ropes, once they were cut into strips with Gabrielle’s ceremonial dagger. Aisha and Yasmin used plenty of them to bind and gag Louise and her bodyguard.
The twin sisters didn’t take any risk with Gabrielle. They tightly bound the woman’s wrists behind her back, and mummified her shoulders and upper-arms with a long curtain. Then, they tied up her ankles, her knees, and her thighs. Next, a rolled up piece of bedding was stuffed inside her mouth. Yasmin tightly wrapped a larger strip of sheet to OTM-gag Gabrielle. Finally, the sisters seated the bodyguard, and wrapped a long piece of sheet around her back and thighs to ball-tie her.
Louise’s wrists were also bound behind her back. Pieces of sheets were wrapped around her upper-arms to pin them against her sides. More sheets were used to mummify her legs from the ankles to the thighs, completely restraining them. Finally, Aisha removed her socks, rolled them up, and stuffed them inside Louise’s mouth.
For the first time, the blond princess briefly yelped.
Feeling magnanimous, Aisha didn’t humiliate further her defeated opponent, and tied a piece of sheet around Louise’s lower-face to cloth-gag her without adding any comment.
“By the way. Sorry in advance for the lack of respect, but we’ll have to make sure you remain quiet while we escape.” Yasmin snarked at Louise.
Before the blond princess could understand the meaning of her announcement, Aisha and Yasmin both grabbed a spot between the neck and shoulder. They pinched. At the same time, their hands glowed. Louise’s body briefly tensed. Then she relaxed, and let out a faint moan. Her eyelids fluttered, and closed. She was unconscious.
“I could get used to that…” Aisha commented, satisfied to have found a way to finally pay Louise back for all she did.
Yasmin and Aisha stashed the bound-and-gagged Gabrielle in the left half of the huge wardrobe. Then, they stashed Louise in the right half. The half-naked princess was left seated in the corner.
Aisha felt very satisfied when she shut the wardrobe’s door to conceal the slumbering Louise and Gabrielle.
The two sisters agreed on the fact Yasmin was better suited to impersonate Louise. She was an etiquette expert, and way better at looking regal.
Yasmin stripped down to her undergarments.
Aisha helped her braid her hair as quickly as possible to fit them inside Louise’s wig. Then, she helped her twin put on the various fancy articles of clothes.
“You know why I’ve always hated our princess dresses? It’s because they rob us of our freedom.” Aisha explained to her sister as she was dressing her up. “You can’t put them on alone, you need to have at least one servant with you.”
“I see your point.” Yasmin answered. She hesitated, then confessed: “I don’t like them much too…”
Aisha briefly paused. “You-”
“I see them as a necessary inconvenience.” her sister exclaimed. “A court is a social battlefield. You can’t fight without weapons.” She pointed at the fancy dress. “In our world, clothes are weapons.”
Aisha finished tying the golden yellow waist cloth. She briefly looked over Yasmin. Her sister was gorgeous in Louise’s dress. Francisque’s fashion suited her perfectly.
“You look stunning…” she couldn’t help but compliment her twin.
Yasmin was embarrassed. “Thank you...”
Aisha couldn’t resist adding a joke: “Too bad we have to cover your hair with this dumb wig.”
Her twin chuckled. “Let’s not judge other cultures too harshly…” she played along.
The two sisters shared a quick laugh. It was more a way to try and ease their nervousness, but it still was a good moment of bonding. The twins had spent years apart, they had a lot to catch up...
Then Aisha bit her lower lip. She hesitated, and earnestly added: “Yasmin. These past weeks have been horrible. But if there’s one thing I don’t regret… it’s that they helped us come closer together.”
Yasmin blinked away her tears. For once, she was the one who had trouble finding her words. So she simply let out a choked sound, and embraced her sister. Aisha hugged her back, while being careful to not damage the dress. “I’m so afraid to lose you…” Yasmin confessed.
“We are twin stars…” Aisha whispered. “Nothing can set us apart…”
Unfortunately, they couldn’t waste any more time. They needed to complete the disguise.
Once the wig was in its place, Yasmin took a deep breath to focus. She used her shappe-shifting to change her eyes color and her skin tone, in order to match Louise’s. Just like Aisha, her power was weaker than their mother's, but the result was convincing enough. With the wig and eye mask, Yasmin could fool anyone.
“Now, we need to find you a disguise. We can’t have you impersonate Louise’s bodyguard… Gabrielle doesn't wear a mask...” Yasmin started to think out loud. “We need somebody innocuous enough. Maybe a servant or a pagegirl... And we also have to be wary of Rasha. She knows your face and powers enough to recognize you...”
The mention of Rasha’s name made Aisha wince. However, it also gave her an idea.
“Yasmin, I may have a plan to get rid of both problems. A bold one.”
**************
Aisha sat on her chair. Her sister quickly wrapped the ropes and gag to make it look like she was still restrained. Yasmin got in-character, and called for the guard.
“Madame?”
“Summon Rasha. Bring her here.” Yasmin said, using a decent imitation of Louise’s haughty tone.
The guard noticed Gabrielle wasn’t in the room, and nor was one of the prisoners.
“The other one was causing trouble.” Yasmin explained. “I asked Gabrielle to teach her how to behave. They’re in the boudoir. Now, don’t make me repeat myself!”
“Yes, madame!”
The guard closed the door.
Minutes passed. Aisha was feeling more and more tensed. The idea to confront Rasha was filling her with apprehension. Fortunately, she wouldn’t have to do much. Just pretend to be tied up and helpless.
The guard returned with Rasha, who was still proudly clad in her bright blue-white-and-golden uniform tunic and trousers, and shiny black shoes. Aisha couldn’t bare to look at her smile.
“You need me?”
Yasmin made a gesture of the hand to shoo off the guard, who closed the door.
“I want you to ask your friend some questions. You know her well-enough to spot her lies. And if she does try to lie…” Yasmin pointed at the boudoir’s door. “… Gabrielle will make sure she hears her sister cry for mercy.”
Yasmin’s imitation of Louise’s voice and demeanor was decent. Rasha didn’t know the princess well enough to spot the flaws.
The thief glanced at Aisha, and shrugged. “You’re the boss.”
“Remove her gag.” Yasmin ordered.
Rasha moved to comply, turning her back on the woman she thought was Louise.
Aisha and Yasmin had learned their lesson. They played dirty, and didn’t give Rasha any chance.
The second the thief’s attention was diverted, Yasmin grabbed a metal candlestick, and hit the back of Rasha’s neck. The latter grunted, and fell forward. The thick carpet dulled out the sound of her fall. She didn’t get up. She was out like a light.
Just like that.
Aisha got up from her chair.
“You’ll have to strip her alone.” Yasmin apologized. “I can’t easily bend forward in that outfit…”
“It’s okay. I can do it.” Aisha reassured her.
She stripped Rasha of her pagegirl uniform, leaving her clad in a plain grey sleeveless top and matching knee-long undertrousers.
Aisha seated the limp thief onto a chair with Yasmin’s help. They used strips of bed curtains to tie Rasha to the chair. They bound her thighs to the chair’s legs, and her wrists behind the chair’s back. They also wrapped makeshift ropes around her torso and the chair’s back, to pin her against it.
Aisha went to grab something to gag the prisoner.
Rasha woke up just at that moment – stroke of luck or fate.
It took the thief only a second to assess her situation. Her eyes darted from her bound body to Aisha, about to gag her, then to the fake Louise.
“Impressive work.” she complimented them.
“Flattery won’t help you worm your way out.” Yasmin harshly intervened. She then told her sister: “We can’t waste any time.”
Aisha nodded.
Rasha immediately stopped trying to put on a brace face.
“Please, Aisha! Don’t leave me like that!” she begged. “I’m the only foreigner in Louise’s entourage! They’ll blame everything on me!”
“You knew the risks when you agreed to betray my sister for these people.” Yasmin once more intervened. She wasn’t hiding her utter scorn. “Aisha always treated you fairly. Yet, you chose to turn your back on her. You’ve dug your own grave. Now lie in it.”
“They’ll kill me for sure!” Rasha insisted. “I promise I won’t try to hinder you! Just let me go, and I’ll disappear from your life! Please… I’m begging you... For old time’s sake...”
Her fear wasn’t feigned. However, sadly, Aisha knew she couldn’t trust Rasha. She couldn’t let her wander freely. She knew the thief would betray them - it was her only way out now that the prisoners had overpowered Louise. If Aisha and Yasmin escaped, Rasha would be blamed no matter what – unless of course she foiled their attempt.
The princess grimaced. She took one deep breath.
“Farewell, Rasha. In spite of everything, I wish you good luck.”
She didn’t allow Rasha to answer. She preferred to immediately silence her with the gag. She couldn’t falter now.
The thief moaned in her gag, and pleadingly looked at her, but Aisha turned away. She ignored her, removed her outfit, and put on her new disguise.
Rasha wasn’t her friend... She had never been her friend... And Aisha couldn’t trust her.
The bound-and-gagged thief kept letting out muffled pleads all along.
Yasmin saw how badly they affected her sister. “Let’s use our touch.” she instructed.
Aisha nodded without a word, and blocked off the sounds of Rasha’s muffled cries.
After they had used their power to put the thief to sleep, Yasmin dragged the chair into the boudoir and closed the door.
By the time she was done, Aisha had finished putting on her new outfit - golden-and-blue trousers and button up long-sleeved tunic with a hard collar, as well as shiny black shoes. She wiped a few tears away with the back of her hand.
“I know it’s stupid. I shouldn’t feel bad. She was only using me. She’s never been my friend. Why does it hurt me like that?”
Yasmin didn’t know what to say to comfort her. Therefore, she simply hugged her. “Let’s go home…”
Aisha sniffed. “Yeah… I’d like that...”
**************
For the second time, Yasmin summoned the guard stationed outside.
Aisha wondered if the woman was secretly annoyed to be summoned at random because of the whims of a spoiled princess.
“Madame?”
“Come inside.”
“Yes?”
“Close the door.”
The guard complied. She glanced at the room, and only saw a woman she mistook for Rasha. “Where are the prisoners?” she asked.
“It’s none of your business. For now, I want you to take a nap.”
“What?”
One candelabra hit later, the guard was indeed taking a nap.
Unfortunately, the remaining pieces of sheet weren’t suitable to bind and gag the woman – Yasmin and Aisha had used everything on Gabrielle, Louise, and Rasha.
Therefore, the twin sisters tore their former outfits into strips. They bound the guard’s wrists, knees, shoulders, and ankles, cleave-gagged her, and rolled her motionless unconscious body under the bed.
Then, they exited the room.
“I remember where Louise’s coach is stationed. I should be able to request to use it.” Yasmin proposed.
“We can’t leave yet! If we do so, Louise will paint us as the bad guys. We need to get the proofs in her office to have leverage. And we have to rescue everyone else! She’ll use them as leverage against us if we don’t!”
Yasmin hesitated, but ultimately nodded. “You’re right. Good thinking.”
On their way to Louise’s office room, they came across the mansion’s head butler.
“Lady Louise? Where are you going?”
Yasmin got in-character. “An urgent matter, I’m afraid. Do not worry. I simply need Rasha to do an errand for me. I’ll be back soon.”
“Your guests are growing anxious.”
“Make them wait. I put my trust in you.”
She was quite good at making compliments sound like a threat – just like the real Louise.
“Y- Yes, Madame!”
They hurried to Louise’s office room. Aisha searched the desk. The documents were here. She used the pouch of Rasha’s uniform to store them.
“Good, now we can-”
Suddenly, they heard muffled voices through the door. Yasmin discreetly opened the door slightly.
“… entering through the stables was a good idea.”
“Hurry! He said she was heading to her office. I trust she knows where Aisha and Yasmin are.”
The twin sisters exchanged a glance.
However, before they could react, the door of the office room was opened.
Four women dressed as red guards entered.
Aisha and Yasmin briefly recoiled when they saw the women’s weapon and grim faces.
Then they noticed the ‘soldiers’ looked familiar.
“Zaïde? Beatrix?” Aisha commented.
“Dominique?” Yasmin added.
Zaïde blinked. Then she smiled brightly. “I should’ve known you two would try and escape…”
Dominique looked at Yasmin’s dress and wig. “I deduce you had words with my half-sister.”
“We…” Yasmin trailed off. “… trussed her up and stashed her in a closet. Sorry.”
“As long as you didn’t kill her, I’m fine. I’m glad we came across you. It’ll make our escape easier.”
Aisha then recognized the woman who was half-hiding behind her cousin.
“Ezgi… You- You-”
The chubby servant looked embarrassed. “I couldn’t leave you here…”
“You came to rescue me... Even after everything… You… You still came… for me...”
Aisha got carried away. Her emotions were too strong. She rushed towards Ezgi, tightly embraced her, and gave her a deep passionate kiss.
Her lover was surprised at first, but she quickly got over it, and returned the kiss. She even went as far as to grab the princess’ buttocks in front of witnesses to pin her tighter against her body.
“I’m so sorry…” (smooch) “… so sorry…” (smooch) “… so sorry I doubted you…” an out-of-breath Aisha was saying.
“It is…” (smooch) “… my fault… love…” (smooch) “… you were at your lowest and I abandoned you…”
When the two lovebirds got carried away and began to frantically grope each other as they were making out, Yasmin and Zaïde cleared out their throats.
The latter was smiling, and looked at Ezgi. “It seems you were quick to sort out your feelings.” she joked.
Beatrix rolled her eyes, and Dominique smiled indulgently.
“I suggest you save that for later.” Yasmin commented. “We still need to rescue everyone, and leave the palace.”
Mortified they went so far in public, Aisha and Ezgi stopped their embrace. The princess awkwardly scratched the back of her head, while her servant nervously shifted on her feet.
They heard a knock on the door. The head butler spoke through the frame. “Madame! Are you in there? The Vice-Duke of Bourgonne has arrived! It’ll be a grave offense if you’re not here to welcome him!”
Yasmin, Aisha, Zaïde, and Ezgi all shared a glance.
“I can’t go with you. They’ll keep sending guards and servants after me if I don’t come.” Yasmin explained.
Aisha put a hand on her twin’s shoulder. “We must each go to our own battlefields. Yours is there, among the guests. Mine is in the shadows, in disguise.”
Zaïde put a hand on her cousin’s other shoulder. “If there’s someone who can impersonate Louise in front of the United Lands’ high aristocracy, it’s you. We’ll break everyone out.”
“I’ll go with her.” Dominique proposed. “People won’t question a red guard following the princess. I’ll help her navigate this den of snakes.”
Yasmin briefly embraced her sister and her cousin. “Be careful. Even with Louise and Rasha out of the picture, we’re not out of the woods yet. One mistake, and we’re doomed.”
**************
Louise’s elite team was concealed on the side of the road, waiting to ambush the coach of the marquess of La Fontaine and the countess of Laroche.
The plan was perfect. Eloise was a former criminal – she had the eye for such things. No coach could escape their circling maneuver.
Yet, Eloise was feeling antsy. “Something is not right.” she said out loud.
Mathilde glanced at her. “What do you mean?”
“This is the only road coach can take to enter the estate. We should have intercepted them by now. Something’s not right.”
Eloise had been a sailor for most of her life. She had learned to trust her gut feelings.
Her mind was racing.
“Are there other roads for lone horse riders?”
“Well… Lone cavaliers can proceed through smaller trails, provided they know about them. Musketeers and red guards use them.”
Eloise got up, exposing herself.
“What are you doing?! Get back under the bushes!” Mathild hurriedly whispered.
Eloise shook her head. “We have to return to the estate.”
“Louise anticipated they’d use the coach.” Mathilde objected.
“What if they anticipated Louise’s deduction?”
“Louise instructed us-”
Eloise lost patience. “Does Louise want mindless puppets or smart agents who show initiative?!”
Mathilde was left speechless. The other women of their groups exchanged quick glances. Jill and Jann were clearly on their captain’s side, but the five others remained impassible.
Eloise pressed her advantage. “We’re going back to the estate.”
Inej, Blandine, Josyne, Esperança, and Lianor looked at Mathilde.
The latter nodded slowly. “We can’t show ourselves in front of the guests. We’re outlaws, remember?”
Eloise smiled harshly. “That won’t be a problem.”
Her guts were telling her Louise’s way had failed.
It was now time to do things her way!
Eloise hadn’t forgotten how the brat princess and her red-haired attack dog had cost her her crew and her freedom. She was going to make them pay. In blood.
To the pain!
