Finally got a new chapter out of this old brain! As always, comments and constructive criticism are welcome! Please enjoy!

Chapter 50: Across The Rubicon

Jade Palace, Sadera

Gimlet swore. Things had gotten terribly out of hand and Prince Zorzal was definitely not going to be pleased! Not only had Gimlet's men botched the apprehension of Senator Casel but Casel was now in the hands of the off-worlders. And then there was the Rose Order…

It should not have even been an issue! An honor guard of girls and old men that should have been swept aside in short order, leaving it a simple matter to storm the Jade Palace and take the Senator into custody after all. But his men had been driven back in disarray with heavy casualties. They had been humiliated.

No. HE had been humiliated… And he wasn't looking forward to reporting his failure to Prince Zorzal. But he needed more men and obtaining those men meant doing just that.

"Bring me my horse!" Gimlet ordered. "Form a perimeter and do not let the criminals leave! And as they have taken arms against the orders of his rightful Highness, the Knights of the Rose Order are also to be considered criminals. Allow no rider in or out."

"Yes sir," Luflus, his second in command replied. Of course, if I can secure a victory in your absence… Luflus thought as Gimlet mounted his horse and left for the Imperial Palace. Well… perhaps His Highness will be in a merciful mood. Dismissing the pleasing prospect of replacing Gimlet, Luflus signaled the men to disengage from the battle. When I resume the battle, it will be on my terms.


On the opposite side of the line, Bozes, Knight Commander of the Yellow Rose, assessed the situation. Bozes had been returning from an inspection of the Companies of the Blue Rose and the Pink Rose. The Blue Roses were all but ready and the Pink Roses were off to a promising start. And Bozes was now painfully aware of how much these new Roses were needed as she surveyed the tent filled with wounded knights. Thankfully, the Scourgers were not as well equipped or armored as the Roses, or trained, she opined with some sense of pride. It was also a blessing from the gods that the Marines had offered up the services of their corpsman to treat their wounded

Actually, the Marines had extended the offer to both sides but perhaps expected, the Scourgers flatly refused to allow their men to be treated by the 'off-worlders'. The Roses Knights were more grateful. As it was, several Roses would need to be airlifted to the Healers at Alnus. And some…

Linus Co Gracchus had been one of the Order's longest-serving 'Thorns'. He had once been an instructor in the short sword. Now he lay slain, not by any foreign enemy but by the hands of fellow Saderans.

Of course, Vifita had been perfectly correct in her actions to preserve the sanctity of the Jade Palace as tasked by the Emperor. Not even Crown Prince Zorzal had the right to nullify an order from His Imperial Majesty while Emperor Molt still breathed life. The Roses had upheld that order and with it, their honor with their dearest blood and they would continue to do so as long as required.

But while their honor was intact, this clash had now potentially placed Princess Pina in danger. Certainly, the Crown Prince and his cadre of supporters would not take this defiance well. It was plain that questions of honor or law were of no concern to the Scourgers. And as they represented the will of the Crown Prince, one had to assume that his reaction would be thunderous. In his eyes, they would all likely now be seen as rebels and traitors. Traitors for upholding law and common decency…

And their Princess, though innocent in any deed of any conceivable flavor of treason, would stand convicted of the crime of exhorting the Roses to a calling of honor.

Well… There was nothing to be done for it, Bozes thought. Pina had not created the Order so they could kneel in submission when things became difficult. First, she needed to confer with Captain Morgan and the Off-Worlder diplomats. How she handled the next round of battle depended largely on what they planned to do. Hopefully, they could get a message out to Hamilton to warn her of the situation and just maybe she could get Princess Pina to safety. Collecting Vifita, Bozes requested a meeting with Captain Morgan, Vice Minister Shirayuri, and Ambassador Russell.

"We'll be evacuating Ambassador Russell, Vice Minister Shirayuri, and their staffs back to Alnus," Morgan informed her. "Naturally, this will include Senator Casel and Miss Tyueli, along with the Japanese security team. The choppers will be arriving in an hour or so."

Bozes nodded in understanding. Even if they brought in Dragon Cavalry, Zorzal's thugs would be hard-pressed to interfere. The Scourgers' mission would be a failure with Senator Casel safely beyond their grasp.

But there was still one thing…

"My Marines and I are staying. Until I receive orders to the contrary, this is still our post." In fact, Morgan's orders authorized him to withdraw if he deemed it prudent but for now, the Marines were staying.

Vifita nodded, the two knights expected nothing less of the 'Green Men'. That being the case, The Rose Order would also remain. And if the Scourgers chose to renew the battle, then The Order would make them pay a heavy price for an empty victory.

"Can you get a message out to Hamilton?" Bozes asked. "We need to warn Her Highness."

"We can try," Morgan agreed. "It's no guarantee but we will try." Of course, upon learning that Hamilton had her own laptop computer, Morgan had been exchanging emails for weeks. Though that was still no guarantee any messages would reach Hamilton in time.

"Thank you," Bozes replied. "We can ask nothing more. Now we must prepare for Gimlet's next move…"


Emerald Palace, Sadera

While Princess Pina had granted the Allied Diplomatic Mission the use of the Jade Palace, it was the smaller, if no less resplendent, Emerald Palace that Princess Pina availed herself of in Sadera itself. She would much have preferred to have been out at the training barracks. She was saving tomorrow to go and review and commission the Company of the Blue Rose as a reward and respite from the tumult of diplomacy and court politics. That anticipation brought a smile to her face as Pina poured herself a glass of Single Malt Scotch. Royal-Approved… Pina noted the label. Well, I certainly approve! Though never a fan of sweetened wines like her brother, upon learning about the dangers of leaden sugared wines, Pina had banished all such wines from her home and for safety's sake, naturally, had begun importing a variety of liquors from Off-World. The Scotch Whiskey was certainly suited to her tastes.

In the meantime, She reached for Hamilton's latest expenditures report. Giving her access to off-world technology and thought had only brought Hamilton's zeal for organization to new levels, with results that seemed to border on Dark Magic. Hamilton had even begun to train others in the Dark Arts of Filing and Logistics.

"My dear Hamilton," Pina mused aloud. "You are worth more to me than an entire troop of cavalry!"

Currently, Pina's resident practitioner of the logistical arts was busily applying herself to the monthly expense review. The computer in front of her had proven its weight in gold many times over as she compared notes over which suppliers were the most reliable. Which ones had a record of providing the best quality goods? Who seemed to overcharge the unwary? It gave her leverage in contracting for the supplies needed to sustain the Rose Order.

And it was a standing rule that only she would touch the device lest it be damaged by unwitting hands.

She heard the welcome chime of a message. It was probably Captain Walker. She certainly had enjoyed his company and enjoyed their shared conversations and correspondence and best of all was that, unlike the other knights who were involved with off-worlders, it was completely secret between the two of them.

Saving her work, Hamilton clicked on the message…

Her eyes widened in alarm as she read Captain Morgan's message, describing the situation at the Jade Palace. Her Highness needed to be immediately alerted to the situation. Securing her computer and locking it away, Hamilton hurried to Princess Pina's study. Without preamble, she entered.

"Hamilton?" Pina asked looking up from her reading.

"Your Highness! We have a serious situation at the Jade Palace." She then proceeded to relate the details as she knew them from the message she had received.

"This is a disaster!" Pina exclaimed. "Bozes and Vifita acted properly, of course! But that will matter none to my brother."

"Your Highness! I think for your own safety, We should evacuate to the training barracks."

"No. If my brother responds as I think he will, then the last thing I want is to risk an armed confrontation. Especially with four hundred of my knights, virtually all of them inexperienced and half of them virtually untrained."

"Then what shall we do, your Highness?"

"I want you to go to the barracks. Have them make ready to leave the Capital."

"To where?"

"I think…" Pina was interrupted by the voice of one of her attendants in the hall beyond.

"Sirs! This is highly improper! Her Imperial Highness will not be pleased!"

"It is not her displeasure that should concern you," Pina heard the voice of Viscount Maio answer with contempt. "His Imperial Highness, Crown Prince Zorzal is ALREADY most displeased," Maio said as he and his Calasta and Mudra brushed past the young woman and entered Pina's study.

"What is the meaning of this?" Pina demanded, putting as much iron into her voice as she could.

Maio merely smirked. "I think you know… Your Highness," he added as if an afterthought. "His Highness, Crown Prince Zorzal commands you to accompany us."

"Her Highness has urgent business to attend to first," Hamilton objected. "Tell His Highness that Princess Pina will make herself available to him as soon as possible but there are matters of import that Her Highness must attend!"

"Nothing is more important than obeying the commands of The Crown Prince of the Empire," Mudra replied with some heat in his voice directed at Hamilton for her impudence.

"Perhaps the Lady Hamilton should accompany her highness?" Maio suggested. His eyes twinkled as he leveled the implied threat for Pina to consider.

"No," Pina answered. "Hamilton does not need another excuse to avoid her responsibilities." She looked at Hamilton. "I expect that while am gone you will profitably employ your time rather than lolling about. Am I understood?"

Hamilton bent low. "Understood, Your Highness," she answered. It tore at her to leave Pina's side but they both knew she could accomplish nothing by remaining with Her Highness, save providing a hostage to be used against her Princess. As it was, Maio and the others already held Hamilton in contempt. She intended to make them pay for their arrogance.

"Now," the Viscount smiled predatorily at Pina. "Prince Zorzal is waiting for us. Let's not keep His Highness waiting…"