>>6061655>>6061677>>6061730>>6062263“Impa. I have a different task in mind for you, or rather a particular target I’d like you to strike.” Explaining to Impa what her target is and as much as she knows about it, Hilma directs Impa to “Take what you can and destroy what you can’t. It is far more important to deny the enemy access to the money than it is for us to acquire it.”
“As you wish your grace, we will ensure that it is destroyed.” Impa responds with a deferential bow.
“Good, thank you Impa, I wish you luck.”
Impa bows once more then departs, leaving the Queen-Dowager to prepare for her own assignment.
Hilma almost couldn’t remember the last time she’d worn riding clothes, but judging by the tightness and chaffing in certain areas, it was clearly before she’d acquired a more matronly figure. Faint images of dusty roads, sunsets, and picnics under shade trees wander through her mind as starts to remember the last time she wore these clothes. Swims in streams, the wind blowing out her hair, and Rham a young man, smiling and laughing as they both tore on ahead of their guards, trying to catch a moment alone with one another. The memory sends a sharp stab of pain into her heart and Hilma forces the memory of her late husband away.
There is a knock on the door to her quarters as a familiar voice calls out to her. “Are you ready to depart Milady?” Standing on the other side of the door is undoubtably
> Sir Bormin, an old and trusted bodyguard. He has served the Queen well since the day of her marriage. Courteous, polite, and above all discrete he is the perfect gentleman protector.> Sir Cobul, a fresh faced and energetic youth. With two years of service under his belt, the young knight has proven himself to be quite capable. Lacking somewhat in elegance and courtly etiquette, with the boy often bumbling his way through most social interactions. He has nonetheless shown himself to be an excellent fighter, besting nearly every man-at-arms and knight in the training grounds.> Lady Tephe, an adept and unladylike swordswoman. When Sir Gormash’s only child turned out to girl, it didn’t bother him much. He simply pretended she had been a boy and trained her in the knightly arts. Tephe is an excellent fighter, a match to almost any knight of the realm. Her often crass behavior has left her with few friends, but her lack of knightly vows and virtue has let her do things no honest knight would dream of doing in order to protect her charge. 