"Keep out of range of their archers. I want trebuchets in position. Stones and barrels of pitch. We don't have time for an extended siege. Break their walls and burn them out." Kylo commanded from horseback, his charger skittish but under control. Pleased to see his men lining up through his black and silver visor, he swelled with pride at his own sigil, flaming red sword on black, being set into the ground. He wondered what Han Solo would think of it and pulled a wry smile. He was in there, Kylo knew. "And watch the lake. They have a smuggler's gate that opens onto it."

Kylo knew this castle well, had visited many times when he was young. That knowledge would prove useful now he sought to burn the thieves and traitors out. Lady Maz had always been a Queen's woman and little more than a lucky smuggler herself, but she had gone too far this time. The company she kept had caught up with her.

"I want Lady Maz, the traitor and the Page taken alive…" Sir Kylo paused a moment trying to will himself to make an order he couldn't quite say. "And any other prisoners you think may be of value." He took a deep intake of breath, glad that his expression of disappointment in himself was hidden.

One of his captains rode up. "Sir, the Page was spotted heading West, with a girl."

The captain had his full attention. "What girl?"

His man's stuttered response had demonstrated that he knew nothing.

"You, and you, with me." He pointed at two mounted soldiers and spurred his horse forward into the forest. A minute or two in he passed a foot soldier stood by an outcropping of rock pointing the correct direction. He heard a shout and saw two archers loosing arrows in the distance.

"Sir Kylo." The archers paused as he approached. Kylo noticed that one had a bloodied mark above one eye. "She's armed with little more than stones, but the terrain…"

Kylo held his hand up to silence the man and dismounted. The girl had chosen a good spot, but Kylo remembered. "Wait here, if they come this way, apprehend them."

He drew his broadsword and circled around the outcropping until he found what he was looking for, a narrow fissure that snaked up the side eventually reaching the top. His visor made it difficult to check his footing but he took slow deliberate steps.

There was no doubting when she spied him as the first rock bounced off the side of his helm with a clang that rang in his ears, and then another almost where his helmet met his neck. She was a good shot.

As he drew closer he saw nimble feet clamber further up the outcropping until she reached the grassy peak. He followed until she paused and turned, having reached what he knew was a dead end with a sheer drop

He slowly approached. The Page was clearly not here and the girl now panted hard, looking scared yet resigned to her fate. He looked her up and down. She was dressed in thin, dusty rags. He knew the locals here preferred thicker clothing, cloaks and layers, and wondered where she hailed from. Jakku, he assumed, given that was where Phasma's men had pursued the traitor to.

He considered what he had been told. The Page and the foot soldier had managed to escape Jakku with help from a local Serf. He had been told that the Serf had stolen the lord's best horse. They had apparently met with the infamous Han Solo and been spotted heading to Takodana. Kylo had understood exactly where they were headed, mobilised his army and moved to take the castle.

He wanted that map, not only because Lord Snoke sought to keep the Queen and Sir Luke from reforming their alliance, but for his own reasons. He wanted to face Luke himself.

He turned his mind away from that thought and circled the girl. She had no weapon save for a pouch that still bulged with pebbles, the type that had rained down on him and had bloodied his archers. So poorly armed she had clearly succeeded in her aim to buy the Page time to flee. She was clever, resourceful. If it wasn't so infuriating he would smile at it.

"The girl I've heard so much about."

He could hear her sharp little breaths and see her shaking from this close. He held his blade to her neck, not quite close enough to touch but enough for her to get the message.

"The Page, where is he?"

The girl said nothing, simply trembled. He brought down his sword and finished his circle, considering her reaction. Her eyes were closed, she looked braced for pain. He came in closer, so close he could see the bead of sweat run down her forehead.

Her actions caused Kylo to think. The Page had trusted her with his life, on more than one occasion. The girl's eyes flickered open, wide, expecting death, having sacrificed herself so the boy and the map were out of his reach.

"The map, you've seen it."

"Sir!" A voice called from the base of the outcropping, one of the mounted soldiers. "The Queen's army."

Sir Kylo itched with frustration. They would be outnumbered, outmatched. "Ride to the front, my order is to pull back." Now was not the time to expend his army, not yet. "We have what we need."

His man immediately rode off and Kylo turned to the girl. He saw the moment she understood, and she subsequently fainted. He was there to catch her. Without a rain of stones he was able to take the gentler slope to the bottom, carrying her unconscious across both arms until he was able to reach his horse. With assistance he was able to sit her side saddle in front of him, supporting her with one arm and taking his reins with the other.

If his men thought anything about it, they said nothing.