Jane yawned and stretched, then turned over and burrowed deeper into Dragon's warmth, fighting wakefulness. She didn't want to wake up, because that would mean having to think about what had happened last night, and then having to make her way back down to the castle and face the consequences of her actions.

She'd come straight up to the cave following her rather dramatic exit from the banquet, without even pausing to change her clothes…and if there was anything good to be said about the gown, now a rumpled, dirty mess, it was that the yards and yards of fabric had served her well as both cushion and blanket.

Now, though… now it was really time to haul herself up and brave the fallout.

Nooooo… she shook her head in mute denial, her restlessness now causing Dragon to stir. I don't want to go back there. Ever.

She would, though. Of course she would. Aside from her oath of allegiance to Cuthbert, which she was duty-bound to honor however poor and ineffectual a king he was proving himself to be, there was the matter of her father, and her friends at the castle; the people she had grown over the years to consider, in very real way, to be her family.

Smithy. Jester. Rake and Pepper and their child. Her mentor Sir Theodore and the irascible Sir Ivon. And yes, difficult as it was for her to admit it, even Gunther. The fate of Kippernium hung in the balance and that meant that they were all in danger – and Jane now feared that her rash actions of the night before might well have increased that danger exponentially.

Not that she had ever approved in the least of Cuthbert's appeasement tactics, but whatever slim hope they may have had for success had probably been dashed the moment Jane's foot had ended up planted on the invading king's throat. An attack on the castle was probably imminent.

And damned if she was going to miss it.

If there was any way she could correct the damage she had done, she had to try. And if there was nothing to be done except to prepare for outright war, then prepare she would.

Stay snug up in Dragon's cave while her loved ones were left cleaning up her mess for her? Out of the question. That wasn't who she was.

She sat up.

Beside her, Dragon stretched mightily. "Good morning Coppertop," he yawned, fixing her with one golden eye. "Reconsidered?" His voice was hopeful. He was referring of course to the offer he had made upon her arrival the previous night, to personally seek out whatever… creature this was that had so offended his Jane, and roast him to a nice, even, golden crisp.

Jane raked both her hands through her mess of hair and even managed a small smile. "Very tempting, Dragon, but no. Not this morning, at any rate. I made this mess; I have to see what can be done about… unmaking it. I will, however, keep your offer in mind as a backup plan. It seems like the most sensible course of action altogether, if only the king would come around to seeing it that way."

Dragon snorted. "The king. The day that wretched shortlife does anything sensible…"

"I know. Still, this is bigger than him. There are all the others to think about. I have got to go try and sort this out." She stood up, straightening her ruined gown as best she could.

"Fly you down then, Jane?"

She thought for a moment, then shook her head. "Thank you, but I will walk. I need the time to think. Why don't you come on down at midday? Cuthbert only said you had to stay away during the banquet. He said nothing about today. Hopefully everything will be resolved by lunchtime, and you and I can fly this afternoon."

"Consider it a date. Can we fly over the enemy camp? I do enjoy seeing them wave their arms and run around in little circles at the sight of us. Remember last time, must have been twenty of them crowded into one little tent, until it fell down? As if a tent could save them if I decided to dive! It really was quite humorous." Smoke curled from his nostrils as he reminisced.

Jane laughed and leaned in against him, pressing her forehead to his large, warm cheek. "I love you, Greenlips," she murmured. For a moment, just a moment, she felt completely and thoroughly warm, and peaceful, and safe.

Though she didn't know it at the time, it would be a while before she'd feel any of those things again.

OOOOO

"You may rise, Jane." Cuthbert spoke just as Jane had decided that he would keep her on bended knee forever just as a means of tormenting her. She was only relieved that the two of them were completely alone in the throne room, which was somewhat unusual. At least there was no one present to witness her humiliation.

Of course, the fact that Cuthbert was not pleased with her came as little surprise. Now she just wanted an actionable plan for addressing the situation. Something that she could get on with.

Something to remove her from his company.

And he was more than willing to oblige.

"I have a diplomatic… errand for you, of sorts," he continued as she stood. "It will require you to depart today, in no more than an hour's time. Jane, your behavior last night was insupportable, and has pushed us to the brink of war –"

We were on the brink of war already! She thought angrily.

"– fortunately, however, a diplomatic solution is still within reach. Despite the deep offense you caused to Lord Edgar –"

Oh, so it is Lord Edgar now, is it? This time a year ago he was probably mucking out stables and here you are kowtowing to him like he is the king and you are the subject!

" – and despite the fact that as a result he decided to return to his encampment last night rather than staying in the castle as a gesture of faith and goodwill, he has sent word that he will not attack us imminently… if certain conditions are met."

Yes, by all means tell me about the would-be tyrant's conditions. I am sure they are reasonable in the extreme.

Cuthbert's next words, however, were so unexpected and horrific that they actually knocked the air from her lungs.

"You are to call on him personally at his encampment, alone and unarmed, as an emissary of peace."

"Wh – " she couldn't speak. She suddenly and quite literally felt sick. She rallied and tried again. "What?"

"He wishes to discuss terms of peace. He is most adamant that he wishes to discuss them with you, and none other. I have agreed to this. You will go as my personal representative." He frowned. "I do not understand why you look so troubled. I would be well within my rights, after the stunt you pulled, to send you away permanently. Instead I choose to honor you by appointing you my ambassador. I expect you to do all in your power to further the cause of peace in this kingdom. Lord Edgar has assured me that you will be returned to my service three days hence; I fervently hope it will be with good news. That is all, Jane. You may go."

She couldn't move. She could hardly breathe. She couldn't do anything but stare at him in horror.

Alone and unarmed? Returned to your service in three days? You cannot believe that. Not even you, as blind and willful as you are, could possibly believe that. You MUST know what you are sending me into. You know and you are sending me anyway. You could not possibly expect to EVER see me again.

So this was to be her punishment for ruining the banquet? Torture and death? For it was a death sentence, Jane was positive of that… And so was Cuthbert. He had to be. Right? He couldn't honestly have any doubt about what he was sending her into, could he?

There was not enough air in the room. "I –"

"Yes, Jane?"

"What… if I refuse?"

Cuthbert's frown became thunderous. "Then there will be war, and Kippernium could well fall. But not before you are imprisoned as a traitor. There are tunnels and catacombs far beneath this castle, Jane. I could hide you where even your pet dragon would not find you. You may yet hear the sounds of your friends fighting and falling above you, however." He shrugged. "I know not. However, that will not come to pass. You will accept your king's command and set out forthwith. Will you not, Jane?"

Imprisonment. The knowledge that a battle was being waged and she was powerless to join in the fight, to aid in the defense of her loved ones and home. It was the worst threat he could level against her. Worse than certain death. It could not be risked.

"Yes, sire," she choked out.

"Good. Then get you gone. And remember, Jane, it is no accident that I arranged to hold this conference with you strictly in private. No one is to know of this. No one. Am I understood?"

"Yes, sire," she repeated. Her voice was dull now; wooden.

"Very good. You are dismissed, Jane."