Surprising the empress wasn't far just outside of Quaazera awaiting her husband's return. She had come because she had waited to meet the mage form Aronsdale that had softened a warlord's heart. That and she wanted to see if her sleeping spell was something that could be taught to a mother with a son who fussed too much when he was sleepy but jut would not sleep till he decided to.

The riders had spotted her camp when they had left to take Drummer and the little princess to a safe location. The guards told her only that they had orders to get the royal family out of the city. The second set of riders carried the grim news. News that left her reeling and ready to explode from anger.

Empress" Baz bowed deeply then spoke quietly, "We didn't know of your coming." Or an envoy would have been sent. Had it been she might as well be held by Yargazon.

"I didn't wish to let anyone know I was here. Lest not yet." She paused, "Tell me what has happen."

Baz told her what he knew. Hell her military helping would save a lot of headaches for everyone. If he could trust her to not take his sister's throne if she did help, that is.

"Allegra is Markus' wife?" with Baz's nod she added, "I would wish to speak to her." Before he turned to leave she asked in a more quite tone, "Will you send word to my father. I would much like having him and my mother here." In case I need to burry my husband was left unsaid.

Allegra slowly came into the tent that housed the most powerful woman in the settled lands. Again she was awe struck at her beauty. Her long golden locks cascaded down her shoulder's her blue eyes pinned her when she entered. Bowing she said, "Your majesty."

"Oh stand. I hate it when people do that." She waited then said, "How did you escape the General?"

"Markus used a shaving razor on the tent and helped me over the wall into the garden."

After a moment the empress turned away from Allegra seemly deep in thought. Then in a very quiet voice asked, "Did you know this was going to happen?"

"No! How could I. Had I – I -"

She brought up her hand to silence her then gave an audible sigh, "I believe you. Even if I wasn't a mage I would. Besides if you did know then it would have been foolish to take the Atajazid to the general so quickly."

Relief poured from her. Maybe talking to another woman who had changed a warlord's heart was exactly who she needed to speak to. Something sparked in her mind, "While we were hiding… Ozi and I overheard two men. They said they had till dark to find us. Dusk may still be in the city."

The empress gave a snort. "Ay. Both the general Baz and myself sent scouts." Solemnly she added, "Neither have returned."

Allegra turned and began to pace. This was turning into a nightmare. Both Queen Vizarana and Empire Cobalt; the dark; the ruler of most of the settled lands are being held hostage. Or at least she hoped they were for their deaths would spill war over the entire continent. Then again both her husband the Prince regent and Priestess Ginger-Sun; General Baz's wife were also being held. Worse still Markus could be blamed for this even if he did have no involvement in this just because Dusk was a general in his army. This was a real mess.

Clearing her thoughts Allegra spoke more loudly then she intended. "It bothers me that Dusk could enter the city let alone the palace so easily. Besides why? He hasn't sent any demands. And I thought Alatian Laws said he had to send demands for political prisoners?"

"The why is easy; Markus humiliated Dusk when he signed the treaty with Vizarana and in sense took away his freedom. Took away his ability to do what he had been doing for most of his life. And your husband did it in front of the entire summit of course only Iris and myself were not there." The empress stopped only long enough to sigh, "Cobalt had Dusk under surveillance. He swore he wouldn't kill the man but he never said he wouldn't control every aspect of his life and know exactly what he was doing at any given time. In a sense giving him freedom but still in a cage."

"Ginger-Sun escaped him once before and that has always bothered him the fact that she warned the queen about the first attempt to take her thrown well it irked him. And the queen well I can only guess that he wants her army so they can rise up against mine and my husbands."

In protest Allegra said, "But the Topaz thrown will go to Ozi and Bell's heir."

"Yes it would. But why wait when he can give it to the Atajazid now?"

Taking a seat at a low table the empress patted another," Come let us figure out the how and where."

"Empress-"

"Mel, please. I do so hate being called that."

With a nod Allegra continued, "Mel, Ozi is worried about the treaty. If we may I would like to discuss that at well."

'Nothing to discuss. As far as I'm concerned the treaty still stands. I'll see that my husband understands that when he is returned to me. That is unless your husband did have something to do with this, but I highly doubt he did."

She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. Then realized if they were truly going to find every one and do so while they were stall all live and well she would need to know what Mel know. That is if she was willing to share. "Will you tell me Why Cobalt came here in the start?"

Mel sighed. She didn't see what telling her would help then again it couldn't hurt either. "One of our scouts was suppose to report in a few weeks ago. When he never showed Cobalt was ready to storm the area demanding answers. I managed for him to calm down enough only to bring a thousand or so men instead of the whole army like he wanted to do. When we arrived at the location that should have been Yargazon's all we found were the remains of our scout. The rest had seemed to vanish as well as Dusk. This was the most logical location to look. I came for a private matter in hopes that the scout had some other reason for not coming."

Allegra got to her feet. She couldn't remember a time when she needed to move so much. Abruptly she said, "So your solders, armed and well train I suppose; sided with Dusk after I can only assume had been a mutual trade for both. The men around Saint Verdant River are already trained and loyal to the atajazid and Dusk could rally them easily along with those who settle around the city. Ay, Mel even if all of them didn't choose to come that's still well over a thousand men maybe two. Plus the ones swayed in the palace."

"Oh for saints sake. You should have been in the army you would make a hell of a war advisor. For I hadn't thought about those men. Hell I barely thought about the ones here till now."

With a sigh Allegra continued, "There are some cliffs and ravines about a half days ride from here. It may be large enough to hide an army of that size maybe one a bit bigger. Baz's reserves are another half days ride from there."

"And you know this -" how left lingering I the air.

"He showed Ozi on a map. They play mock war games with toy soldiers sometimes. Ozi asked once if he had more soldiers some place in case the palace wasn't safe. He wanted to know if he could go there if the need was great enough."

"Even here the boy is scared?" Mel looked mortified. What kind of life was this child having?

"Not so much now but Baz swore as the betrothed to the heir to the crown if he needed protection his men would honor it and he would leave some there just for Ozi and Bell of course."

"Do you know how many?"

"A few hundred maybe."