Confrontation

"You have no proof" spoke Geraldine calmly, "And I'm not going to discuss the issues of high magic and high politics with you, my dear. You are nothing than a bratty runaway kid"

"Can you prove your intentions by swearing in the name of the Goddess of Truth?", Glenda ignored the attack of the Countess.

"You are no priestess, my dear. And I don't see a shrine anywhere nearby"

"Actually there is an old grove dedicated to the Goddess several miles deep in the forest. It will take a day for us to travel there and back, so you can confirm your good intentions"

A shadow of doubt appeared for a second on Geraldine's face and it didn't slide away from Glenda's attention. Lying before the Goddess of Truth after a rightly executed ritual could have very serious consequences. Geraldine saw people who were punished for breaking such an oath with her own eyes, it was not pretty, and it happened way too frequently to be just a coincidence. She would never take that risk.

"Ah, what a childish proposal. I don't have time for all that and running through the forest suits you, not me", she said, crossing her fingers. Suddenly one idea flashed across her mind. How on earth I hadn't come to this earlier? The princess would make a perfect hostage in Tarminea. The fate just kept on giving Geraldine the best cards, the game just walks into her bag. "My idea is much better - you'll go with me. You have lived an embarrassing vagabond life for too long, it's time to get back home"

"I think everybody heard that?" Glenda addressed the crowd. "This lady is a traitor! And you know, Geraldine, I won't take even a dozen steps besides treacherous snake like you".

"You will do as you were told by your elders, stupid insolent child" the Countess answered with an insidious smile. "Take her!" she waved her hand to the guards, stepping back several yards.

Three warriors immediately came after the princess. Glenda deftly escaped the first of them and even tripped him to the ground, but the other two succesfully grabbed her after a brief struggle.

Feeling that despite all her agility fighting against two big strong men is beyond her limits, Glenda cried out:

"Loyal subjects of my father! Are you going to let that traitor witch steal your princess?"

There were doubts on the faces of villagers. They definitely sympathised with Glenda but were disoriented.

"These plebeians will not move a finger for you, my dear" Geraldine grinned. "They're nothing but foolish bumpkins and you are even more foolish to place your hopes on them. That's why I will be the queen, not you"

"My friends! For months I shared home with you, hunted for you, helped you in every business, ate and drink beside you, you're not goinng to give me in the hands this hoity toity courtier bitch, who burned you property and beat an innocent just for nothing, are you?"

Several young, brawny men detached from the crowd with wooden clubs and staves in their hands. Guards unsheathed their swords and then villagers attacked. One of them fell wounded but the dogfight started and Glenda managed to free herself quickly.

Then the chaos erupted. The villagers attacked the guards everywhere. Some of them fell but it was clear that the Geraldine's warriors will be overwhelmed, there were too few of them.

The Countess' haughty smile disappeared in a wink of an eye. Now for the first time she was frightened. Then she saw her carriage and sighed with relief - it was all right, and the coach sat on his place waved his hand towards her.

"Quickly, my lady, quickly!"

Geraldine strolled towards the carriage. Losing her guards was not good but at least the Key was there and the sheer speed of her equipage should be enough to escape any troubles on the road. Let the stupid girl run free for a while.

But Glenda was not going to let the Countess run free. She rose in her way when it was left only dozen metres from the salvational carriage.

"Where are you off to, Lady d'Alindard? It seems like our little conversation is not finished yet" she said with a foxy smile.

"Off my way, pig princess. I'm in a good mood today so you can herd your pigs if you like. But don't interfere in my dealings. Or else..." Geraldine pulled her wand from the belt.

"Huntress, catch!" Holly's loud voice came from behind. Geraldine saw her own whip flew over her head and landed in the agile hands of the princess.

"I see you haven't played your games enough" said Geraldine. "It's time to punish the brat".

The posh courtier pointed the wand at the princess but before she can activate it she saw the leather tape entwined her magical weapon. The next moment it was ripped from her hands with such power that she stumbled and almost fell to the ground. Glenda took the wand off the whip and slid it to her pocket.

"Well it was a crude attempt, I surely can do better", the princess smiled. "How are you doing without your magic toy?"

Geraldine was staring at her with open mouth and couldn't find a word. She now only desired to reach the safety of the carriage. The countess tried to run but the whip cracked in an inch before her nose.

"Step farther and I'll leave a mark or two on your snooty face. You're going nowhere and the talk just started" said the princess.