It was twilight over the town of Colmenhole in the north of Ireland. The British Isles were conquered by Ravenna shortly after France, and there, too, as in every territory conquered by the Empress, an educational decree was derived ordering parents to put their children in special schools after the age of two. Re-education was to ensure the future of Ravenna's regime and to perpetuate it permanently not only through political tyranny but also through minds as young as those of children. The school was built on a hill outside the city so that it would tower as a key outpost next to the city office
Commander Stug walked through the corridors of the school and was accompanied by headmistress Nila Crave and one of the educators.
- Are there any educational problems at the facility? I don't mean missing parental figures. I mean certain deviations that can be considered rebellion?"-he asked without even dragging a single muscle of his face. He glanced through the glass rooms where the children slept, resting before another day of study.
Headmistress Crave denied
-We make sure that our children do not receive harmful stimuli. It's bad enough now that...-she suddenly paused as Stug turned and looked at her almost with a murderous glint in his eyes.
-It's better...that you don't say that, Madam Director. And secondly," he excoriated, "not , "our children. They are our lady's children. Our Empress Ravenna.
The headmistress and the educator bowed apologetically.
- Forgive me, Commander.
Stug snorted and continued his walk around the facility.
-Any interference from outside? Villagers? Any outsiders?
-No- stammered Crave.
-Good. We'll do an inspection of the workers.
They went down to the main hall, where all the school employees were standing. They lined up in rows and stood upright. As always, the procedure for visiting the Security Office was presented. After which the names of the employees began to be read out. Each of them was to come forward after their own was read out. Stug slowly nodded at each positive test.
Suddenly, however, his brow twitched. The list was filled almost completely except for one name.
- Smith Jonatahn? -Stug's auditor repeated.
-Director Crave?- began Stug. Crave moved closer to the commander.
-Who is Jonathan Smith and why is he not here?
-He is our janitor. He takes care of everyday things like firewood and repairs. He has been working for a short time.
The stug twitched again.
- Since when?
Crave looked at one of the educators with desperation.
-Maybe a few weeks. He's a good worker.
-Then why isn't he here? -Stug asked approaching Crave's face.
-He received the call and confirmed the code in effect for the Authority's visit.
The door to the room opened.
-Sorry I'm here already- shouted a voice with a strange Irish accent. A stocky man, with his hair tied in a short ponytail, rushed into the room. He lined up, but was immediately jumped by two storm troopers .
-Why the nerves? -the man asked.
-This is precisely Mr. Smith- announced Director Crave.
-Sorry little problems. with defecating," Smith said, grinning.
- Village fool you know the procedures?- roared at him one of the stormtroopers.
- Silence!" snapped Stug. He looked at Smith. There was something about him. He knew that face. He walked closer to the late worker.
- Where are you from?
-Dublin- replied Smith.
-So the areas under the queen's authority. You should know, Mr. Smith, that the work here is one of the key branches of the future security of the empire," howled Stug.
Smith only smiled
-There is no room for insubordination,‖ Stug said loudly. He addressed everyone however spoke strictly to Smith.
-Our only task is...serving the queen. Every citizen of her empire has this duty. Here the servants clean and the teachers teach their charges. She expects complete loyalty. Everyone in the directorate has sworn to perform the queen's special operation with full force. I don't expect you to know the full extent of it, Smith- said the Commander- However, you work here so you must be aware of the consequences of insubordination.
Smith looked at Stug and sighed:
-Oh Commander Stug. And are your subordinates on the third floor doing their duty?
Stug, who stood facing the school staff turned on his heel. Headmistress Crave and some of the teachers looked at Smith.
-What did you say ?" asked Stug.
-I asked about your stormtroopers. On the third floor. Where the infant wing is. They were supposed to guard them during the inspection, right?
Stug approached Smith and, despite his tank top beard and peculiar hairstyle, he recognized the wanted by a letter of appointment Eric-the Huntsman who betrayed the Queen and helped the rebels at the Battle of Carmathown. And to make matters worse, he violated the queen's order and failed to deliver her Snow White alive.
-So it's you. You are under arrest, Huntsman.
Eric looked calmly at Stug.
-No, Commander. I think you're wrong. While we are talking to each other, my people, whose introduction here was a difficult task, are bringing out the resources of this place. Although I am disgusted by the use of this word. Maybe it's better if I say ...
-Children- shouted Director Crave.
- Exactly, director. Thank you for hiring me. It's hard to get a job now. Especially after Carmathown.
-All branches to the third...-started Stug then paused and listened to the sounds from the corridors of the school. The clacking of metal against metal could be heard, which meant that the fighting was going on.
-You will not get out of here,‖ growled Stug.
- Oh that's right. Certainly not in civilian clothes- replied Eric- I guess we wear a similar size, eh ? - The hunter pointed to Stug's uniform. The latter understood in a flash what he meant.
-Kill that forester!
Eric immediately pushed the commander away and dashed towards the exit of the hall. The distraction must have given a moment for his troops to seize the children and load them onto ships repaired after the Battle of Carmathown. Two stormtroopers rushed at him. The grunts were clearly frailer than Eric , who grabbed them by their waists and collided with each other. However, he was tackled by another six Ravenclaws.
Suddenly, one of them stepped in front of the line and addressed the others who were in his line of sight.
-Pass the Huntsman. You will give up your weapons and take off your armor. And you will go about your business.
Ravenclaw had his hand extended, and when he finished speaking, all five of them said as one.
-We will let the Huntsman go. Eric looked calmly at Stug.
-Pass the Huntsman. You will give up your weapons and take off your armor. And you will go about your business.
Ravenclaw had his hand extended, and when he finished speaking, all five of them said as one.
-We will pass the Huntsman. We will give up our weapons- here they dropped their swords and shields- and take off our armor.
To everyone's surprise, they began to take off their gutters. Meanwhile, the Ravenclaw took off his helmet with a black tail at the end and to everyone's eyes appeared a young boy with a bright look.
- The Force. You don't know the extent of it," Robert said with a wince and waved his hand, and the two Ravenclaws who approached him flew into the air.
At the same moment, about 20 people with the logo of the rebellion on their breastplate rushed into the room. A deer under an oak tree. At their head was William - Prince of Carmathown.
-Welcome Commander Stug. There will be a place for you in our prison, but the trial will not pass you by, of course.
Stug wanted to give the order to attack, but he had little advantage in light of the armed rebels.
-Will you fight? Do you want to live ? - asked Eric putting his hands on his hips. The Ravenclaws were distracted. They looked at the commander. Crave looked at her pesronel.
Stug suddenly grabbed his sword and cut Crave in half. The woman fell dead to the floor and began to slowly plunge into a pool of her own blood.
-To the glory of the Empire. To the glory of the Queen!- roared Stug and plunged his sword into her stomach. He bent in half and also fell dead.
- Damn!" cursed William.
- Surrender everyone. Lay down your arms and go to the wall. The outpost is taken over by the rebellion- commanded Eric.
After a while, all the Ravenclaws and staff of the ghostly school obediently lined up against the wall.
- We lost Stug and Crave- growled Will.
- But we recovered the children- replied Eric- One or the other commander will not make a difference.
-Do you know how long it will take to take care of the oldest students of this school? They are about 10 years old and know only this kind of world, and now we will tell them that Ravenna is evil and is not a good mommy of the nation.
-We'll manage somehow,‖ Eric replied with a smile.
-It will be worse to explain to Her Majesty the Pale that we have carried out an unauthorized mission- muttered Robert.
-And to your master that you went with us kid- replied Eric.
Robb sighed visibly at the thought of a reprimand from Rheus. And William and Eric at the thought of a discussion with Snow White and Philip.