“Shit! We can’t take all those. We need to get out of here!” Justin yelled. His head swung about as the circle of trolls closed in around us.

  “Joan can break through. You all go,” Serina said grimly, still cradling Gorian’s head. “He’s in no shape to move. I will stay and watch.”

  My eyes were fixed upon Zadina. Her brow furrowed, her jaw tightened, her head whipped back and forth between the encroaching trolls and something hidden in her hand.

  Once again, my men and I were surrounded on all sides.

  Would she be like my Beau Duc? Would she just watch from the hilltop as we were slaughtered and taken, looking at me with that pained, conflicted expression and yet not moving a muscle.

  I knew Paladins were bound by oaths and duty, but surely, the Queen had ways around it.

  How will my Beau Duc betray me this time?

  She betrayed my expectations instead. She stepped forward, revealing a red feather in her palm. “I have this.”

  Justin latched onto the new hope. “A Phoenix Plum! We’re saved!”

  Zadina grimaced, her expression matching Serina’s. “Not exactly. This sends the holder and anyone nearby back to the holder’s sanctuary. But it takes a minute to activate! If they get too close, we’ll drag them with us.” She gestured to the trolls closing in on us with the king in the lead. “Someone has to lead them away.”

  She let the words sink in. “I volunteer for the task.”

  A smile touched my lips, and lightness swelled in my chest. My Beau Duc… This time she was galloping down the hill, charging past me.

  Zadina mistook my smile for acceptance. “It’s been a pleasure, My Lady.”

  I couldn’t wipe the smile from my lips, nor could I hold back the happiness leaking through.

  “No.” I stepped closer so that she could see the nature of my joy. “I cannot accept.”

  I pulled the white silk headdress out of my bracelet inventory. “I have this. It’ll draw their attention more than you.”

  Zadina lunged for it, but I pulled it out of reach, anticipating the move. “Only I know what to do. It has to be me. Please, there’s no time.”

  “No, My Lady. I can’t abandon you!”

  I glanced over my shoulder at the Troll King, his form flickering into the Donkey Master as he took another step. They were already within striking distance. I didn’t want to have to do this, but time had run out.

  Looking down at the flowing white fabric of the headdress, I could again remember the way the men would stare at me when I put the damn thing on.

  My finger shot toward Justin. “Don’t you dare laugh.”

  He blinked, mouthing a confused, “what?”

  But the Donkey Master’s next step reverberated through us.

  Time’s up.

  I took a deep breath and threw on the headdress. An intricate dotted mesh veil descended over my face while a white, formal wedding dress coalesced around me, covering up the writhing dark fabric of my [Shadow Shroud].

  It was an A-line gown of white velvet, lined with pearls. The tight bodice hugged curves that I didn’t, and shouldn’t, have, while the lace trim revealed far more skin than I ever would allow.

  This stupid item only worked for female generals. I always hated using it—like someone was playing a joke on me.

  The Donkey Master stopped instantly.

  “Ma fille... Mon épouse…” — My daughter… My bride…

  It uttered in that tortured ghostly voice.

  “Why would I laugh at you looking like that?” Justin stammered, his voice trembling.

  I held up my hand, calling out to the giant, looming figure. “Donnez-moi un instant!” — Give me a moment.

  The Troll King gestured, and all the surrounding trolls sank onto their knees.

  Realization struck Zadina.

  “No! You can’t!” she screamed at me. The sweetness of her soul overpowered the stale sweetness already saturating the air.

  “Don’t you remember your promise to me?” I smiled at her, placing a hand upon her shoulder. “That if you ever had to abandon me, you would save them.” I gestured with my other hand toward our party on the ground.

  “Not like this. I can’t…”

  “You can file your report to your heart’s content then.”

  “No!”

  I had only intended to lighten the mood, but the sheer desperation in that single word pained me.

  In the distance, a deep snort rumbled, followed by the impatient shuffling of feet.

  The Donkey Master would wait, but I had no idea what the Troll King might do.

  I looked back into Zadina’s moist, pale blue eyes, and my farewell to Ben flashed into my mind. That seemed to have made an impression on her.

  Rising to the tips of my toes, I placed both my hands on her wide shoulders. I pulled, pleading to her with my eyes.

  This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

  Finally, she surrendered, staggering down onto her knees.

  “Thank you, Zadina, for being my guardian. For standing by my side, for carrying me when I’m down, for being a sister-in-arms. Most of all, thank you for holding true to my faith in you.” I leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Now, please, I beg of you. Go. And save them. I want to see all of you alive once I’m done.”

  She covered her face as she stood up, and I let her have her dignity.

  “Thank you, Joan.” Serina’s voice drifted over from the side.

  I walked slowly toward the gargantuan waiting figure without looking back. All the trolls' eyes were on me. When I reached the Troll King, I noticed his outline wavered nebulously, as if he had his own ghostly shroud. He offered me his clawed hand and I took it, grasping one sharp fingernail.

  When I looked back, the party was gone, leaving only scattered points of light on the ground.

  —

  Tomas’s face appeared in my vision as I walked beside the Troll King toward black iron gates leading down to the final floor.

  He was calling me and that “Accept” button was blinking incessantly over his face.

  This is definitely not the time.

  I frantically looked for a cancel button to close the screen, but the moment I formed the thought, his image disappeared.

  Was that it?

  One of the gates was ajar and we stepped through it. Only two other trolls followed us inside.

  That is good.

  Back in The Hundred Years War, once you put the headdress on and were close enough, you could challenge the Donkey Master to a one-on-one duel. I glanced over at the two trolls flanking us. They were larger than the others, and their souls felt brighter. Definitely hybrids, most likely Wraith Knights.

  It seemed this was as close to a duel as I was going to get.

  The gates groaned to a close behind me, ending with a solid, reverberating boom.

  Tomas’s image appeared again, and I mentally swiped it away.

  This really isn’t the time.

  We walked into the center of a once-grand ballroom, now decrepit, cracks spiraling over the floor and ceiling. The figure turned to me, his hooked nail sliding from my grasp.

  “Ma fille. J'attends de te revoir depuis si longtemps.” — My daughter. I've been waiting to see you again for so long.

  Again? I never remember this being a part of his speech.

  The voice continued, a low moan. “Je t'en prie... Rends la paix à ton père.” — Please, give your father peace.

  The words were closer to his usual request, but the phrasing was off. He never used to beg.

  Tomas’s image flashed again.

  This must be an emergency.

  I held up a finger. To my surprise, the Troll King seemed to understand and straightened back up, waiting.

  It’s not like I can go anywhere.

  “Your Highness. Is something the matter?”

  “Jo!” Instead of his usual bright opulent room, Tomas seemed to be standing in a dark, confined space. A closet?

  Relief washed over his face at the sight of me only to be replaced by shock. “Are you… wearing a wedding dress?! You’re promised to me!”

  “This isn’t a real wedding dress. Please, can you tell me what’s wrong?”

  “That’s definitely a wedding dress, you even have a veil! I was just at my aunt Louise’s wedding. You look much more beautiful in your dress, but who are you marrying?!”

  I was nearing my limit. I swung the ring, and the camera view moved along with it. I angled it so that the Troll King showed in the background. “That thing.”

  “That… that’s a monster!” he stuttered, his voice breaking with fear.

  “And I’m going to kill it. Now focus. You messaged me because?”

  “I overheard my mother talking to a count… about sending a group of men to Bloomcrest. And…” He swallowed harshly. “He mentioned a demon.”

  I noticed Tomas was shaking. There were tears in his eyes. It took him effort to force out the last few words. He must have realized the seriousness of the situation.

  It got the last king killed.

  “Thank you Tomas. Don’t worry, I will take care of it.” I looked back at the gates. They were sealed tight. Aaron had mentioned boss rooms blocked teleportation. “But I have to finish this first.”

  I took one last glance at the small boy trembling in the dark room. “I’m still yours, I promise.”

  “Ok… I guess… this is why Anthony is so enamored with you.”

  “Huh?” My head jerked back to him.

  “He once told me his mother killed monsters. A lot of them,” he whispered softly to me.

  Then, his voice picked up speed. “Please be safe, Jo. And a kiss! A real one! The page boys said I can ask for this!”

  His image cut out after that, leaving me sighing at empty air.

  That’s not the information I had in mind when I told him to talk to the servants, but I suppose I can give him one if there’s no passion. [Virtuous] would allow for that. But isn't he a little young to be asking for a kiss?

  I rubbed the back of my hand.

  I guess he’s already kissed there.

  In either case, it seemed the Queen had a head start on me in terms of experience as well.

  A voice thundered from above me.

  “Ma fille... Accorde-moi le repos.” — My daughter... Grant me rest.

  It seemed that my host could wait no longer.

  I turned to the three massive figures towering over me. My eyes swept over them, cataloging every detail: their positions, their stances, the tension coiling in their leg and arm muscles. I sensed the currents of magic flowing into their limbs. My [Demon Sense] zeroed in on the way the brightness of their souls pulsed ever so subtly, as if trembling in anticipation of unleashing a skill.

  In the past whenever I fought the Donkey Master, I had always resorted to brute force and [Heaven's Lances].

  Things are different now. I need to be creative in my approach, especially when outnumbered. I can’t afford to worry everyone again.

  Taking a cue from the way I created practice dummies out in the forest, I reached out into the shadows stretching across the floor. I seized the darkness through [Shadow Fingers], and shaped them in my likeness, readying them to rise.

  I didn’t realize that’s an actual spell.

  But it changed nothing.

  Perhaps because they had humored me by letting me talk with Tomas, I decided to play the role of the daughter-bride one last time.

  “Allons, mon Père-époux. Dansons.” — Come then, my Father-Husband. Let us dance.

  I dipped into a low curtsy.

  As I rose, I lifted the mesh veil and tore the headdress from my head. The dress disintegrated. White petals floated away, revealing the writhing black shroud underneath.

  I let the silky white cloth slip into my inventory, and in its place, the hilt of the [Shadow Sword] rematerialized in my hand.

  The sword was never gone.

  The three towers slowly circled me, muscles tensed, clawed fingers spread wide and ready to pounce. I stood defiant, my clones lying in wait in the shadows. My sword of annihilating void hummed along with the depths of me, in anticipation of devouring the sweetness.

  It was time for me to catch up.