Meanwhile, on the other side of the river, scouts were reporting back to the tavern that served as the forward command center for the Foxglove sisters. (Patreon)

“The town is closed, mi’lady. I think perhaps…the villagers took it back?” “Impossible,” Fiona spat, instinctively. Maeve tried to restrain a smile. “I told you that fool wouldn’t be able to take and hold even a small town like Dacqoise.” Fiona gave her an icy look “I made that fool my general. What are you saying about my choices?”

“I’m sorry, your highness.  Please, just let me take a small, elite group of my mercs, and we will take it and hold it.” “My sister won’t like it,” Fiona said, biting her lip, “but she felt her spell research was more important than being in the command center. She’s not here, so I’ll allow it. But you’d better not disappoint.” 

“I never do,” Maeve said, smugly. Just then a second scout burst through the doors, bowing deeply when she saw that she was interrupting. “I’m sorry mi’l—your er, highness, but the villagers have retaken the town. From the hill above, we can see the streets empty of our soldiers and—“

“Spit it out, scout,” Fiona commanded. “I-i-it’s Lady Rowena, your highness. She’s in the stocks, naked as the day she was born. So is someone else, in very fine stockings.”

Maeve shot an urgent look at Fiona, who nodded. “Scout, this is very important,” the Mercenary captain said. “Go to my camp and get me the Bonecrusher.” “Bonecrusher, Madam?” the scout said. “Just go. They will know what I mean.”