And out of the chaos a voice spoke to me, "Smile and be glad, it could be worse!", and I smiled and was glad, and it came worse...!

Unknown origin

 

And then, somehow, it got worse.

Common Russian Joke

Somewhere in the private quarters of the royal family at the palace.

"She did WHAT?" roared Edward at his chief spy and now captain of the palace guard.

"Your Majesty, Lady Laura has had all the men of the de Fawkes family killed and hanged by the road."

"We don't know how she did it. Our observers have reported that she retreated to her quarters after sending Lady Bientu to us with the assassin. I would like to point out, Lady Laura immediately told us about the blood feud. The Count de Fawkes did not inform anyone that a blood feud had been declared, Your Majesty."

"What we know is that everyone had been asleep and was suddenly awakened by some loud noises. At that point, all but the adventurers had already been enslaved, Your Majesty.

"How did she manage to do that? Why didn't anyone see her? Tell me that, Klien! What good are you if I don't know what's going on! What happened then?"

"My apologies, your majesty. We have no clue yet how Lady Laura managed this. Lady Laura had the entire household line up and kill all the de Fawkes' men one by one. Likewise, she apparently killed an assassin and a henchman. The only thing we've learned from Felie and Bilie de Fawkes is that each of those killed had to say goodbye and then a loud noise happened, Your Majesty."

"Captain Klien. What is the state of my sister Virga and my nieces?"

"My Queen, Lady Laura has let your nieces go to their fiancés. Lady Virga - um - is still on the estate. Enslaved, my Queen."

"Why only? Why is this woman holding my sister so cruelly captive, Captain Klien? Edward! My sister!"

"Um, well we think the reason is that Lady Virga is causally the reason the Count de Fawkes declared the blood feud, my Queen. Both the Count and Lady Virga confirmed this when Lady Laura interrogated them. My Queen."

"Oh by the gods! Why did I only listen to the priests about the hero summoning! And that goofy de Mitchcombe is screwing everything up by summoning that woman too!"

"Your Majesty, so you might want to know that Lady Laura also interrogated Jamaine de Fawkes before she executed him. We are not sure of the exact wording of his confession. But it is better to assume that she knows that Your Majesty punished Jamaine de Fawkes very lightly."

"Can things get any worse? What do we know of Duke de Halond? This woman has enslaved his daughter, how will he react? Now tell me, Klien!"

"The Duke has not yet visibly reacted, Your Majesty. But we know that a messenger arrived at the Duke's with a letter from Lady Laura. Since then, there has been no response, Your Majesty."

"There are, however, a few reactions that seem worrisome to us, Your Majesty."

"So it's going to get worse? Gods! Speak up, Klien!"

"The de Keintt and de Lienche families are delighted to have their daughters back. Including their dowries, I might mention, which may be one reason for their friendly attitude. It is better to assume that these two families are now on Lady Laura's side. As for your nieces, my Queen, both Ealdrert de Lenty and Bealdar de Mondenor wish to reaffirm their engagement and marry. Apparently the dowries were so high that the erasure of the de Fawkes name makes no difference. Better we count these two among Lady Laura's positive neutrals. What worries me most are the 95 bloody copper coins that were sewn to the body of the one assassin. Your Majesty knows that one contacts the Assassins Guild by throwing a bloody gold coin into the cup of a beggar. We do not understand what the 95 or what the copper coins mean but it is guaranteed to be a coded message. In addition, Lady Laura has taken all the properties of the de Fawkes family as the winner of the blood feud. According to our estimates, this should have made her the richest person in the city, right after Your Majesty, of course."

"How can we take her out, Captain Klien? What about the "heroes"?"

"My Queen, ..."

"Mother! Father! We should be very careful about Lady Laura. And especially where the heroes are concerned. I was innocently talking to one of the heroes, asking what he knows about Lady Laura and what kind of person she is."

"And daughter, what does this hero say?"

"Father, he said he first saw her just before the summoning and never before. And after that he said he thought she was a do-not-touch person. Which means don't push her buttons, whatever that means exactly. He then explained to me that as long as no one provokes her she will do nothing but go about her business."

"Father - if she ever finds out you are going against her, be prepared for her to strike back. Mother, if Grandfather Bronne declares a blood feud against Lady Laura we will probably lose House de Halond. Can you imagine how powerful Lady Laura would become? She could claim the throne with ease."

Edward sighed heavily as the implications ran through his mind. This woman was a mortal danger. He just didn't know if the danger was greater if she was fought or left alone.

He wondered what this witch had whispered into his daughter's ears. Victoria had not commented on it.

"Father, what if she planned all this?"

A shiver of horror ran down Edward's spine at this thought.

Unfortunately, he was interrupted before he could revel further in these visions.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty. This message was delivered at the gate two hours ago. It comes from Lady Laura and is to be delivered immediately and with the utmost urgency."