Chapter 7
by 
mally01
Where does Hildegard lead the group?
Ambush.
The next morning everyone was awake early greeting the new day as the sun rose above the horizon. Hildegard had returned fully energised from the cave and prepared for the day. They all had food and drink then they stuck camp and headed onto a path through the woods. Hildegard hung back with Arerto while the escort went ahead and Hildegard's figments travelled at the rear. Hildegard was smirking wondering if Arerto suspected the deception or the fact that her escort was no longer subordinate to her but to Hildegard. Helania halted the escort and went ahead coming into an opening and sensing the hidden enemy.
Had Helania been herself she would have slowly returned and informed Arerto but she simply turned around and rode back reporting that the way was clear. Hildegard had chosen a spot for the ambush so these bandits must be lookouts as this was not the spot. While Arerto headed to the front Hildegard told Helania that she and the other escort should fight as normal and protect Arerto. Helania nodded and rode off after Arerto and caught up with her as the rest of the escort closed in around Arerto. They passed the first clearing and headed onwards coming to a small canyon.
Arerto looked up and could not seeing anything out of the ordinary when suddenly a net sprung up blocking the canyon in front of them and one behind them. The escort dismounted and gathered around Arerto in protection and Hildegard stood near her when suddenly the attack came in. Bandits, twenty to thirty burst from concealment and charged the group swords swinging and loud screams filling the air as metal clashed against metal. The fight was uneven the trained amazons dispatching the bandits easily but there was one casualty and that was Arerto.
Hildegard had during the fighting stab her with a small thorn laced with a paralytic **** that had rendered her motionless. She lay on the ground as Hildegard stood towering above her smirking as she informed Arerto that her days as the queen had come to an end. She taunted her telling her escort would not help her as they now served her along with her sister Karleen. Karleen stood there also telling Arerto that now she could be Queen in her place. Hildegard had Helania bind Arerto hand and foot and then gag her before snapping her fingers.
The bandits and the figments disappeared then Hildegard told Karleen to return to the palace and to tell everyone that Arerto had been slain and her body dragged away by bandits. The escort left and soon they would be released from their possession none the wiser accept for what they had been told by Hildegard. With the snap of her fingers again both she and Arerto disappeared and reappeared in a dark cave.