Marjorie Broussard pulled her head from the bucket, her eyes still a bit red, and looked at what Yvette was pointing to. It looked a bit like a small catapult. (Patreon)

“You use that to launch pies?” “Not just pies. This can throw just about anything I put in it.  A few quick calculations for mass and aerodynamics, and I can hit a mosquito at a hundred paces.”

“That could come in handy!” said Marjorie, still angry, and eyes still burning. “I told you we had to find her,” Auriane said. Turning to Yvette, she added, “Will you help us?” “I’m honored to help the queen’s army. You did bring the army, right?”

Marjorie shook her head, “it’s just us.” Yvette suddenly looked terrified, “Let me get this straight, the Foxglove sisters army invades the town, and the queen sends an incompetent archer defeated with cayenne pepper on a pie?”

Private Marjorie Broussard was incensed, “Why you little b-“ “What my companion means to say,” Auriane interrupted, was that the queen saw fit to send her and a knight of great renown to assist the valorous people of Dacquoise in defending themselves. I’m sure reinforcements aren’t that far away, but we need to take the first steps.”

Yvette looked incredulously at Auriane, as if deciding how big of a lie she was telling. “What’s going to happen if we do nothing?” Auriane added. Yvette’s expression softened. “I’ll do what I can to help this knight of renown and this incompetent archer.” “You little sh-“ Broussard started. “She means to say that she thanks you, the queen thanks you, and the village of Dacquoise thanks you,” Auriane interrupted again.

Yvette grinned, “Thanks of the village, hmm? Maybe they won’t run me out of town anymore?” Auriane offered a silent nod of approval, then suggested “let’s start with those two on the corner outside.” Her eyes brightening up a little now that they were no longer stinging, Marjorie grinned evilly, “Do you have any of those beehives I heard about?” Yvette thought for a minute, then smiled. “I can do better than that!”