Chapter 2

"Ruby Rose, I name you Master of Horse." Weiss said. She did not want to believe what Blake had told her, but she was going to be ready for war, just in case.

"But...I don't ride, Your Majesty." Ruby said. "I fight dismounted."

"It's just a title." Weiss assured her. "You will be second in command to your sister in overseeing our troops."

"Isn't there a more experienced knight?" Ruby asked. "I'm not even technically old enough to serve in the army."

"You're all I have." Weiss sighed. "Every other knight in the duchy is either beholden to my father, or has just been in a brawl with my retainer."

"Yeah, sorry about that." Yang said with an uneasy laugh.

"I never noticed how little personal power I have." Weiss said. "I rule at my father's pleasure."

"Doesn't that add credence to that exile's story?" Yang suggested. "If your father felt the need to do away with you, it would make sense to surround you with knights loyal to him. You only have us because we entered service during your reign."

"That's enough." Weiss said. "The last thing we need is to start a rebellion for no reason. We will see how the situation develops, and keep our options open."

"Alright, well I'm going to check on some things." Yang said. "Ruby can act as your bodyguard until I get back. You can defend yourself anyway." She headed for the door.

"Where do you think you're going at this hour?" Weiss demanded. It was well past dark already. "Given the current situation I need you here, on guard, not our carousing."

"I won't be carousing." Yang said. "You said we should keep our options open. I'm expanding our options." Yang left before Weiss could say another word.

Weiss and Ruby stood there in silence for a few moments. "I've never been in your room before princess." Ruby eventually said with a hint of wonderment. "Everything's so colorful and pretty. And your bed is so fancy."

Weiss sighed heavily. "Yes, it's all very nice." She said.

"What's wrong?" Ruby asked.

"I have a feeling this will be the last night I spend here for a long time." Weiss admitted. "I pray to Naga I'm wrong."

As it was there were no new developments overnight. Yang returned in the morning but refused to talk about where she had gone or for what reason. She just kept repeating the line about keeping their options open. With mounting unease Weiss took her place on her badly damaged throne at the head of the great hall of her castle. Today there would be none of the usual business. Only official representatives of her government or sent by the emperor would be admitted, and only once they had disarmed. Yang - in her full suit of plate armor - and Ruby - clad in full body leather armor - stood on either side of Weiss in case of a sudden attack. Outside the militia was on guard, manning the city walls and patrolling the streets looking for anything suspicious.

The first shock came just after sunrise. The messenger Weiss had instructed Yang to send to the capital returned. She was in sad shape, weary from riding her pegasus to and from the capital in just one night. The non-stop flights must have taken just as heavy a toll on the animal. "Your Majesty." The messenger said breathlessly. She bowed before the princess and looked about to collapse from exhaustion.

"Rise and report." Weiss commanded.

"I bring terrible news." The messenger said. Weiss' heart sank. "The empress has been murdered by assassins from the Chon'sin government-in-exile." Weiss wanted to cry. She wanted to scream. But she could not. Such displays of emotion were beneath someone of her station. "The emperor has declared war on Regna Ferox."

"What reason has the emperor for that declaration?" Weiss asked, her voice cracking slightly. All that Blake had warned was coming to pass. It was like a nightmare but Weiss was sure she was not dreaming.

"Regna Ferox harbors the villains." The messenger replied. "The assassin was captured alive. He confessed that the khans assisted in the assassination."

"That's preposterous." Weiss said. "Valm and Ferox have long had a cordial relationship. They have no reason to do such a thing."

"I cannot speak to the validity of the assassin's confession." The messenger said. "I can only report what I have been told."

"Is there anything else?" Weiss asked. She feared an answer.

"Yes." The messenger replied. "Official messengers from the emperor are en route. They will give you further orders. The emperor has instructed that you do as they say, unquestioningly. That is all, Your Majesty."

"You are dismissed." Weiss said. She immediately turned to Yang. "Free the exile and bring her here. And return her weapon."

"But princess, I don't think that would…" Yang started.

"Your job is not to think." Weiss snapped. "Do as I say." When angered Weiss could be fearsome and blunt. Yang had seen that side of her in dealing with official business, but never been on the receiving end, even for her repeated misbehavior. Weiss had always taken Yang's council, even when her course of action was already decided. That this was no longer the case worried Yang more than any of the other developments. She was not well versed in court politics but if Weiss was afraid, and Yang could tell she was, the danger was real and serious.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Yang said. She hurried off the the prison, returning minutes later with a rearmed Blake in tow.

"It seems you were not lying after all." Weiss said, glaring at Blake. "You offered to fight at my side. Does that offer still stand?"

"So long as it is in support of what is just, my offer will always stand." Blake replied. "If you should turn your back on justice, I will not hesitate to strike you down."

"Well then, Blake, kneel." Weiss ordered. Blake did not, remaining as she was, stood at the base of the steps that led to the throne. Weiss stood and drew her sword. "Yang, make her kneel." Yang had kept a gauntleted hand on Blake's shoulder the entire time. She now kicked Blake in the back of the legs and forced her down.

"Am I to be executed?" Blake asked.

"No, but your old life has ended." Weiss said. She looked at her blade for a moment before holding it out over Blake. "Yang, back away." Yang did as commanded. Weiss tapped the sword on Blake's right shoulder. She lifted the sword and did the same to her left. "You are now a knight in my service. Congratulations."

"Do I have a say in this?" Blake asked.

"Would you prefer execution?" Weiss countered.

"Point taken." Blake grumbled. She stood and faced her new liege. It felt like a betrayal of everything she had ever stood for. If she were not such a coward, she would have chosen death. At least that was how she saw it.

"So, Blake, you seem to know more about the current situation than I." Weiss said. "What course of action would you suggest."

"Run." Blake replied. "Run as far and as fast as you can. You must leave the empire if you are to survive. Right now the emperor has overwhelming power. If you try to fight you will be defeated. Gather allies and return when your power is in the ascendancy."

"What will become of my subjects should I flee?" Weiss asked. "They would be defenseless. I cannot throw them to the wolves to save my skin."

"With you gone the emperor will have no reason to harm them." Blake said. "He is an evil man, but he craves power. And what is power without persons to exercise that power over?"

"Yang, Ruby, thoughts?" Weiss asked.

"She makes a good point." Yang said. "But maybe we shouldn't rush it. There may be a way to negotiate ourselves out of this."

"Whatever happens we shouldn't fight." Ruby said. "You can only trust the loyalty of us, right? We can only do so much."

"Thanks for the votes of confidence." Weiss groaned. "Let us wait and see what the emperor's ambassadors have to say."

"You're a fool." Blake warned. "Remaining here will mean your death."

"I would rather die a fool than live a coward." Weiss said. It was an offhand comment not directed at anyone in particular, but to Blake it was like a stab in the heart. She was immediately silenced. She hated the Schnees, all of them. Even Weiss, though that hatred was not nearly so virulent as that for her father. Here was a Schnee taking a brave stand, choosing death over flight. If only Blake had had the courage to do the same.

So they waited. Weiss sat on her mangled throne, increasingly restless, shifting around but never getting comfortable. Yang and Ruby remained at her side while Blake sat on the steps. The wait was to be a rather short one. A messenger burst in unannounced. "An army approaches!" He warned. "It appears to be the imperial army but they are deploying into battle order!"

"And there it is." Weiss sighed. "Well, I guess now would be the time to run."

"The enemy is at the gates." Blake said. "It's a little late."

"I'd rather die trying than just sit here and accept my fate." Weiss said.

"I have a better idea." Yang said. "Remember when I said I was expanding our options? I happen to know a secret way out of the city."

"How do you...I don't even…" Weiss stammered.

"The basement of Junior's tavern connects to a sewer that runs beyond the walls." Yang explained. "It lets out in a hidden defile. A horse should be waiting there for each of us."

"How do you and Junior know about this but I don't?!" Weiss shouted.

"He uses it to smuggle in alcohol." Yang replied. "That way he doesn't have to pay tax on it. I've spent enough time there to know the ins and outs of his operation."

"One day we are going to have a long talk about this." Weiss grumbled. "Now, let us make haste. Gather supplies…"

"There's no time for that." Blake warned. "Grab what coin is immediately available. We can buy what we need on the road. Any further delay will be fatal."

"Better safe than sorry." Yang said. "I'll grab my stash and we'll hit the road."

"Your stash?" Weiss asked.

"What?" Yang laughed. "You don't think that was my first time fighting at Junior's bar. I probably have more coin handy than you princess."

Weiss shot Yang an angry look. "You're probably right." Weiss admitted. "All I have is the pouch those miscreants tossed for you."

"Well, get it and let's get going." Blake said with growing impatience. "Every second we waste talking brings us closer to a violent death."

Junior stepped up to a shelf stacked with wine bottles. "Good luck kids." He said. He shifted a piece of wood and the shelf swung forward to reveal an archway. "This town just won't be the same without you."

"I fully intend to return." Weiss declared. "And if I found out you were holding fights while I was gone…"

"I get it, I get it." Junior cut her off. "Cut me some slack, I'm saving your skin here."

"It's only illegal if you get caught." Yang said with a wink. Weiss swore under her breath and followed Yang through the arch. Once Ruby and Blake were though Junior closed the shelf behind them. They were enveloped by darkness. "Light me." Yang said.

"Those rags you wore when you were fighting made you look kind of fat." Weiss sneered.

"You bit…" Yang started to shout before stopping herself. Her gauntlets burst into flames, lighting the narrow passage. "That was very cruel, Your Majesty." Yang seethed.

"It worked didn't it." Weiss said, ignoring Yang's anger. "Gods it smells in here."

"It's a sewer, so yeah, it smells." Blake said, rolling her eyes. "What do you think that sludge running down the center is. I'll give you a hint. It isn't honey."

"I was just making an observation." Weiss said. "And you should be careful how you speak to a duchess and royal princess."

"You're not a duchess or princess of anything anymore." Blake said. "You're an exile, just like me. You'll be lucky if you still are at the end of the day. Exile beats corpse."

"If you two don't keep it down we're going to be found out." Yang admonished. "We're almost at the exit."

"Already?" Ruby asked. "That was fast."

"Yes, just shut up." Yang said. A door with an opening to let the sewage seep through stood at the end of the passage. "Dammit, I forgot to ask Junior for the key." She tried to open it but it was locked. "Breaking this open is going to be loud but I guess I don't have a choice."

"Stand back." Blake said as she pushed past Yang. She pulled a pair of thin slivers of metal from her pocket and jammed them into the lock. After moving them around a bit there was a click, the door swung open and sunlight flooded the passage. "There's always a choice." Just beyond the door was a metal grate. "You weren't going to punch your way through this one anyway." Blake went to work picking that lock as well.

"You'd be surprised." Yang growled. She had half a mind to show Blake just how hard she could punch, but now was not the time.

"Ta-da." Blake said flatly. "And no ruckus."

"Great, let's get going." Weiss said. "Where are the horses?"

"They should be just down this way." Yang said. She dropped out of the tube, landing on her feet in the sludge below the outlet. She sunk up to her ankles. "Come on princess." Yang said, holding out her hands to catch Weiss. Weiss looked at the quagmire and shuddered. Then she jumped and Yang caught her.

"Don't you dare put me down in this gunk." Weiss threatened.

"Yes princess." Yang sighed. She stomped through the 'mud' until they reached firm ground.

Ruby dropped down behind her. "Ew, gross." She complained. Blake followed without complaint.

"And here we are." Yang said as she pushed through some bushes. A quartet of horses was tied to a tree at the edge of a small clearing.

"Why four?" Weiss asked. "When you left last night our group was just you, Ruby and I."

"I figured you'd be letting Blake out." Yang shrugged. "Always the benevolent ruler."

"Thank you...I think." Weiss said. She untied a horse and leapt into the saddle. All the horses were muscular and squat, not suited for speed or combat but perfect for long-distance travel. The others followed. "I hope you've all been practicing." With a crack of the reins her horse took off. Yang and Blake followed closely. Ruby had some trouble. Her horse spun in a circle before starting in the wrong direction. Ruby was eventually able to get her mount to cooperate and she caught up to the others.

"Where are we going?" Blake asked.

"Port Valm." Weiss replied. "We need to board a ship out of the empire."

"And then what?" Blake asked.

"We go to Ferox." Weiss answered. "We must begin rallying forces to our banner."

"What makes you think they'll join you?" Blake pressed.

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend." Weiss said. "They will require assistance as much as we will. I'm sure they'll see reason and commit to our common purpose."

"You haven't dealt much with Ferox, have you?" Blake sighed.

"If we have to knock a few skulls together to make them see reason, I'm prepared to do so." Yang assured her. "If strength is what they respect they'll revere me."

The four arrived outside Port Valm two days after leaving Chon'sin. Even hiding during the day and riding at night, they had made fantastic time. Port Valm was a small city built along a natural harbor on the coast facing Ferox and Plegia. It was easily the busiest port in the empire, seeing passenger and cargo traffic to and from around the world. There was surely a boat heading to Ferox, or at least Plegia which was close enough. The trouble would be getting aboard alive. The group had purchased clothing to disguise themselves but Weiss would be recognizable nonetheless. Her image was all over the empire in official portraits of the royal family. She was even on some coins. Worse, a very visible scar over her eye, received in a training accident, made her instantly identifiable.

"This place is crawling with soldiers." Weiss sighed.

"Well obviously." Blake said. "You father's evil, not an idiot. He knew if you ran you'd end up here."

"There's no way we get Weiss through without being noticed." Ruby groaned. "We're doomed."

"I have a plan, but princess, you're not going to like it." Yang said with a sly smile.

"Oh gods, what do you have in mind?" Weiss asked, resting her forehead in her hand.

Yang and Blake pushed the cart toward the docks as Ruby walked alongside. In the cart was a large crate. A guard stopped them. "What's in the box?" The guard asked.

"Antique armor." Ruby said.

"For a collector in Plegia." Blake added.

"Plegia huh?" The guard said. He was clearly suspicious. The trio were dressed like normal travelers but something about them felt off. They were too...intimidating, more like soldiers than merchants. "I'll need to check."

"Go nuts." Yang said.

Ruby started for the crate but the guard eased her away. He lifted the lid with his own hand and peered inside. Assorted pieces of metal and leather armor filled the crate, nearly to the top. He shifted a few pieces but there was just more underneath. He eyed the trio again. "Everything seems to be in order." He said.

"Thank you." Ruby said. "Could you point us to dock 4?"

"Right there." The guard pointed. "The one with the big 4 on it."

"Oh, right, of course." Ruby said. "Thanks again." Blake and Yang pushed the crate out onto the dock, then up the plank and onto a ship bound for northern Plegia.

The ship sailed a few hours later. Once they were a safe distance from the coast, Yang and Blake tipped the cart on its side. The crate toppled and the lid popped off. Armor and weapons rolled onto the ship's deck, followed by Weiss as she made an undignified exit from her hiding spot. "That armor is heavy!" Weiss complained. "How do you fight in it?"

Yang flexed her bicep. "That's what these muscles are for." She laughed.

"And I drink milk!" Ruby announced proudly.

"Next time you hide me in a crate, at least put me in with something soft." Weiss groaned.

"The next time you're in a box you probably won't be alive to care." Blake said.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Weiss demanded. Blake just laughed and walked away. Yang and Ruby struggled to suppress their own laughter. Seeing the princess so out-of-sorts was rare and quite funny. "Shut up, both of you. You have some nerve. I make you both knights, my personal retainers, and you have the gall to laugh at me."

"Lighten up princess." Yang said. "You don't have to be perfect and serious all the time. No one out here is going to judge you."