Azure walked silently behind the Amazon warrior she had been given over to. The woman was walking swiftly, and Azure stumbled along behind her as quickly as she could. She dare not ask her to slow down. At the pace they were walking, they soon reached the nearest barracks. The Amazon all but dragged Azure into the sleeping quarters. Azure was shoved toward a bed and sat down obediently. "Diana said you may clean your wounds. If you swear not to run, I'll untie your hands," the warrior said. "I swear I won't run," Azure said. The Amazon walked to the bed and untied Azure's bound hands. Azure sighed as her hands were freed. The wound on her arm throbbed fiercely as she turned to examine it. Blood still pulsed weakly from the wound; it had not helped when the Champion pulled on the rope. "Might I have some water to clean my wounds?" Azure asked. "I suppose," the Amazon answered gruffly. She opened the door, intending to get some water, but nearly ran into another warrior. The other woman was leading Azure's mother. "Diana told me to bring this woman here to care for their champion's wounds," the newcomer explained. "Well, so long as you keep it quiet," the first warrior agreed. Azure and Nimue consented and sat on a bed near the window. "Mother, what happened? How did you get the Champion to agree to this?" Azure asked. "I didn't get the Champion to agree to this, Azure. You see, she sent someone to me, asking if I would like to care for your wounds." "I don't know why she would care, but I am glad she sent you," Azure said. "How fares the queen?" "I don't know, daughter. I haven't seen her since they dragged her off to the castle." With that, Nimue began to cleanse and bind her adoptive daughter's wounds. She was soon done, and the warrior who brought her took her back to where the noble women were being held. Only a short time after Nimue left, a messenger came to the barracks to escort Azure to the palace. The messenger led Azure straight to the great hall, where the Champion was waiting for them. "I thank you for sending my mother to me, my lady," Azure said as she approached the Champion. "You cannot know what that meant to her." "There is no need to thank me," Diana answered. "There is need," Azure answered. "My mother needed that." "You speak as if your mother did not see to your wounds. That is why I sent her, after all." "She saw to my wounds, my lady; but surely you understand how worried she was. Your own mother must have been eager to make sure you were all right." "Yes, she was," Diana said thoughtfully. Azure's statement reminded her of her conversation with her own mother. "Do you know who I am?" she asked abruptly. "I know that you are the Champion of your people, but I do not know your name or your position." "How could you know? My name is Diana. My --title-- is princess." "I did not know," Azure said, dropping to one knee. "No. No, don't do that," Diana said, tugging Azure to her feet. "Come. Show me where your chambers are." Azure nodded and led Diana out of the great hall and up the nearest staircase. On the second level, Azure led Diana to a room just to the right of the solar. "These are - were - my chambers, my lady," Azure said. "Is it all right to enter?" Diana asked. When Azure answered in the affirmative, Diana pushed the door open and stepped inside. "You most likely want to know why I asked you to come here. I'd like to talk to you, but first I think you should put on some clean clothes," Diana said. Azure had taken her plate-armor off as soon as her hands had been untied and had stripped out of her chain mail before her mother bound her wounds. She now wore a thin pair of pants and a sweat-soaked and bloodied shirt. She had not expected to be given the chance to get fresh clothing and was terribly grateful for the opportunity. She ducked quickly into the next room and dressed speedily in a gray shirt and tan pants. When she was dressed, she stepped back out to the front room, where Diana patiently waited. "I assumed you would get some boots while you were in there. You'll need them; you and the other knights will be taken to a nearby castle. You do not need to know any more than that right now," Diana told Azure. Azure stepped back out of the room and returned with a pair of stout boots. Diana motioned her to a chair. "Now, I want to talk to you about what will be happening tomorrow. Your queen and her knights will, including you, will be taken to a castle just over the border. The journey will not take more than four days, if the knights don't cause trouble. I assure you no one will be harmed on the journey if they do not try to escape. If any one tries to escape, he will be flogged. When we reach the castle, you and the other knights will be questioned as so we can find the guilty one. Once we know who the guilty one is and we have your queen's word that she will not attack us, we will set the rest of you free- You have a question," she said abruptly. "Well, yes, I do. Why did your people attack us in the first place?" Azure asked. "You really do not know? One of your former king's nobles murdered an Amazon in cold blood. We attacked you to find the guilty person and punish him. Other than that one person, no one will be injured, if they obey. Do you understand?" she asked. "I believe I do. I also believe I know why you have told me all this. You want me to keep the other knights in line; true?" "Indeed. I suggest you prepare yourself and the other knights for the journey."