"Captain Sperg!"

A voice thundered from upstairs, and the podgy captain Sperg, seated at the minions' table, tipped a glass of prune juice over the map he was reading.

He sped up the stairs, which was in complete darkness. Two guards, dressed in mint and pink, parted their spears and opened the archway doors. Sperg entered the room inside, which was a contrast to the gloomy minions' quarters. It was, in his opinion, a shrine to snooty taste gone wrong. The panel walls were painted dusty pink, with tapestries depicting unicorns and fairies, all with the vacuous expressions and lame candy colors. One of them

Lady Mindy sat in a ridiculous, flower-shaped armchair wearing pink, of course, and looked extremely self-satisfied. "I have great news, Captain Sperg." She snapped her manicured fingers.

Two female guards dragged a prisoner in; a boy half their age with pale skin, freckles and red hair. He was a mess; looking like he had just been crying.

"Your excellence," one of the guards said, "We snatched the little critter right outside the Winter Gates' city limit."

Mindy rose from her seat. "You look like one of Mandy's."

"That is true, Your Excellence," The guard smiled sadistically. "We happen to know that this," she kicked him in the shin, and he fell down with a yelp, "Is one of the Queen's most trusted officials; officer Pud'n C. Owhart."

"No, that's a lie!" Pud'n cried.

Mindy sat back down.

"Not long ago one of my sources whispered to me that the queen had a very special weapon in her possession, something that keeps all of her enemies at bay at once. Unfortunately for us, this source is now in a high-security prison cell, pending execution. We have evidence that suggests that you know about this weapon."

The red-haired tyrant pointed at Pud'n, who was shaking his head. "Guards!"

The guards tore off Pud'n's right sleeve and inconsiderately twisted his arm around. There was a tattoo on his underarm; a small black scythe inside the symbol of the Queen's power, an Ouroboros. All the Queen's trusted had this tattoo.

"I won't betray the queen!" Pud'n yelled with as much courage as he could muster. Mindy just sneered back.

"I know. I suppose Mandy's welfare, equal rights and charity makes you feel like being loyal," Mindy looked as if she had sucked a lemon and sounded like the spoiled brat she was. But it was soon replaced with her usual patronizing smirk. "That's why I have some leverage to make you feel otherwise. Sperg," she snapped her fingers, and Captain Sperg grabbed Pud'n in a merciless twist.

"Tell us! What is Mandy's weapon?"

Sperg started twisting until Pud'n could not stand it anymore. "There's a book!" He gasped through the pain. "She has a book!"

Sperg dropped him on the floor and pointed a spear at him. Mindy was so exited she could not stand having to keep up appearances. "What book?"

Pud'n was poked with the spear. "Oh, um, Mandy's Book of Hours!"

As soon as he had said it he wished he was dead. Mindy was not through questioning.

"Where do you keep it? Where!?"

Pud'n was poked again, this time a lot harder. "Under the bed, under the Queen's bed!"

Mindy giggled happily, like a child on Christmas Eve. "Thank you! Guards, place him back into custody."

She sat down and reached for her powder puff and hand mirror. Sperg waited until after the fighting Pud'n was pulled away before speaking. "So, attack at dawn, Your Excellence?"

"Hm, no," Mindy shook her head and added some lipstick. "That's just what Mandy wants, and her city is armed to the teeth with magic, guards and other yucky stuff. No, I have a plan that ensures that no one important breaks their nails." She closed the compact mirror.

"Just wait and see."

It was morning at Dimhald Castle and Mandy had just bathed. One chamber maid was tending the fireplace in the Queen's study, and another was dressing her in the strangest clothes she had ever seen.

"Grim, what is this nonsense?" she said annoyed as a white skirt stiffened with wide rings was lowered over her chemise.

Grim was as always in his black attire and carrying Mandy's salad, toast and scrambled eggs. "It's a farthingale, child. It was a gift from General Irwin."

The maid brought out the next item, the corset, and Mandy gasped as it was laced. Grim hid a smile. After being fully dressed in red and purple brocade, she sat down to eat her breakfast. She ate all the other meals in the dining salon with the court, but breakfast was usually consumed in peace in her private study.

"So, what's on today's plan, smart guy?" Mandy asked Grim as they strolled down the magnificent hallway.

"Granny Grim and Aunt Kali are at it again in the kitchen. They were both so upset by the flyer - incident they are trying to exceed each other with magic potions to protect you. If they don't calm down soon I'll have to fetch me mother, Jeebs forbid."

The kitchen was not much visited by Mandy, as she preferred knowing as little about Granny Grim's cuisine as possible. Her food was good, but her methods were uncertain.

The hunchbacked Granny Grim gasped as she saw Mandy, and shook her bony fist at the scullery maids. "Get otta her'! Da queen has arrived!" her Jamaican accent was so thick you could slice it. She wiped her hands on the yellow apron.

"Good mornin' yore Majesties," She said to Mandy, and then turned to Grim, who looked bothered. "Soh, finally I see you again. Is time yo helped me down her', yo aunt is going all nutty."

Granny Grim showed them a large pot on the fireplace. "Now, dis is me latest strange brew, I admit that though it steenks it is effective."

"What are its properties?" Mandy asked and adjusted her black French hood.

"Now, whatever ting falls into de potion freezes instantly. But not to worry, dey float and do not freeze to death, they can breathe and when taken out can be placed in custody."

Mandy was very pleased. "Excellent!"

"Now, dat is notting," another voice said. Grim's Aunt Kali came out from the saucery with a casserole. She had more gravy in her dreadlocks than in the utensil."It looks like cat's vomit to me! Is worse dan da Underworld jury who took my job!"

"They took your job?" Grim said. He had a feeling that sentence would have some importance in the future.

"You keep yo pie hole shut!" Granny snarled at Kali. "Yore from the wrong side of my grandson's tree, ya come here tinkin' yore better than me. Not if ya war my daughter, yo would!" Granny Grim waved a rolling pin as if challenging Aunt Kali to a duel.

Mandy hurried to intervene. "This is fine. I'll gladly patent it. Grim, let's get out of here."

He closed the kitchen with a "Stop fighting!" Just in time as cooking utensils started crashing against the wall.

The queen could sense some danger coming ahead.