Meet with the last homegrown noblewoman that didn't make the final group.

A few days ago, back in The Capital

"M'lord?" Vessa comes over, as you walk out into the open area, so that you can mount your horse.

"Aye, Vessa?" You reply, stopping and turning to face her.

"Since you are heading to The Goldfields to rescue Fiona," she tells you, "may I advise you to do something...in the event the last 5 fall in battle......or are unable to fulfill the duties of being queen?"

"What do you propose, Vessa?" You ask her.

"I do nae believe it would hurt to meet with Baroness Miandra while you are there." Vessa tells you. "I know she is no warrior unlike the other 5, nor is she as beautiful as they are; but she is a wonderful people person, and has wonderful knowledge of keeping the kingdom healthy socially, as well as economically. Was she not the last person that was cut, before you summoned Devona, Fiona, and Khalisah; then Cielina and Arin made their bid?"

"Aye." You nod to Vessa.

"Please consider my proposal." Vessa tells you. "There is a danger to having battle maidens as potential suitors. The duel that Cielina and Devona had, the fact that Drow Elves managed to reached our castle in their search for Arin, Fiona's abduction, and Khalisah back home to defend her homeland are proof of that. I know you do nae like the sweet, innocent maidens as much as you do the battle maidens, but remember that women like Miandra can help tend to the everyday workings of the kingdom, whenever you are away, or ill. Think about it, m'lord. Remember what your father told you when you were little. 'True beauty lies in a person's soul, not the body.'"

Now

Those last words from your court mage echo in your head, as you sit in the royal public study, going over the latest reports from your spies and scouts. As promised, Countess Irene had dispatched her own spies and scouts to assist--albeit reluctantly. For a moment, you get lost in the details of the writings from your scouts, as well as Akina's spies. Then a few gentle knocks on the door snap you out of it, and you look up at the closed door.

"Come in." You call out.

The door opens, and you watch as Baroness Miandra enter, closing the door behind her. In terms of looks, Miandra is somewhere between beautiful, and average. However, she is attractive enough that she got deep in your initial selection of final potential suitors, before being cut for three of the five battle maidens. She is a fairly thick, curvy woman, although not as thick as Vessa is. Her curly, strawberry blonde locks are tied into a nice noblewoman's bun. Silvery eyes gaze into yours, soft and caring, as she did not protest your decision months ago to cut her from the final group. The sounds of her ankle boots click softly against the stone floor, as she removes her rain cloak, revealing the reasonably damp light blue baroness dress. The V-shaped cut at the front gives a decent view of her cleavage, given by her proportionately average-sized breasts. With a gesture from your hand, you let her sit next to you.

"A pleasure to meet you again, m'lord." Miandra tells you. "It appears that your battle maidens are doing well in their bid for the queen's throne."

"With a few rough spots, which is reasonable." You tell her. "We did nae expect Drow Elves to come after a Princess of Eliethiel, nor hear of a demon invasion in Al-Anashab."

"Oh my." Miandra reply. "How is Vessa?"

"She is doing well, baroness." You tell her. "It is because of her plea for us to meet, that I have summoned you. How fares Brishanne Manor?"

"All is well, m'lord, if a bit uneasy with the presence of the royal scouts, and Lady Akina's beastfolk spies." She tells you. "My lands have seen little in the way of bandit or other outlaw activity. Do--do you think the kidnappers that took the Gaelic suitor may be hiding somewhere in my jurisdiction?"

"We know they are hiding somewhere in The Goldfields." You tell her. "We just do nae know exactly where she is being held."

"More than likely somewhere that they can defend really well." She tells you. "It could be a cave near the coastline, or a mountaintop, or even a castle ruin. Whoever these kidnappers were, must still be very bitter from the Gaelic people's raid on The Goldfields."

"Sometimes," you tell her, "I wonder why some people here in The Goldfields cannot put the past behind them, and move on."

"More than likely for the same reason the countess appear to still be quite bitter about Lady Fiona's presence." She replies. "I understand that people can change from one generation to the next. However, given the scope of how destructive and deadly the last Gaelic raid was on these people, I can understand why some of these people will spite her and her people for the rest of their days. Do what you must, m'lord, but remember what some of these people have gone through."

You continue to talk with Miandra, trying to make the transition from one topic to another as smooth and seamless as possible. The topics range from issues over how much taxes the people can afford to pay periodically, to ways to improve the yields of exportable goods to send to Al-Anashab or the lands further east, to concerns over the tensions in the Kirsten Crags, and dangers or wonders await in the Great Wilderness. Eventually, she gets to the issue about Vessa's recommendation to having her be the emergency suitor, in the rare event that all of the other suitors are killed in battle, or assassinated.

"...So I understand that all of the other suitors have their strengths and weaknesses, m'lord." Miandra tells you. "Yet Vessa has a reason for having you see me, while you are here in The Goldfields. Aside from me being more of the stay-at-home wife, I do have some, or most of all of the strengths of your battle maidens. You have seen how well I have run the barony, how I make the delicate balance between optimizing the amount of taxes they pay to fill your coffers, and making sure they have a good, working life. Moreso, you've seen how unafraid I am to make investments in the barony's infrastructure, by constructing better roads and bridges for the people. I know you have signed off on similar deals for other parts of Itheria. If I became your queen, I would make sure all of Itheria sees improvements in their infrastructure. Just keep that in mind, in case something terrible happen to your suitors, including the Gaelic woman you're trying to rescue."

You feel Miandra's gentle kiss to the temple, then she excuses herself, wishing you a good night along the way. As she makes her exit, she runs into two (or three) of your potential suitors, who were on their way in. A minute later, your battle maidens come in. Cielina is in one of her traditional wear, while Devona is in her noble battle maiden wear--a long-sleeved shirt, with matching pants and boots. Arin, if she survived her abduction, is in an Elven dress that clings nicely to her frame. You relay what was discussed between you and Miandra to the other ladies, answering any questions that they may have about Miandra.

"...Miandra has learned much from her father." Devona tells you. "I would promote her to an role in the royal court, or make her a Duchess, if I become your queen."

"I'd give her a good, strong warrior, if she isn't married by then." Cielina tells you. "It would help the soldiers there protect her barony, if there are still any Gaelic raiders out there."

A short time later, you wrap it up, and retreat to the quarters provided to you by Duchess Irene. After all, in Itheria, every regional leader, from the Dukes and Duchesses, all the way down to the Baron and Baronesses, must be able to provide space for the royals, should the need arise. However, just when you think you would get a peaceful unwind to sleep, you hear someone knocking on your door. When you reach the door, you take a peek through the viewer, to see who it is.