Eris Hapsburg stepped into her family's castle with an expression of determination on her face. The girl's parents rushed down to the gate to greet her.

"You came fast," Count Hapsburg said. "Even under the circumstances, I'm impressed by your swiftness."

"Thank you, Father. But let's not waste time. Karl's men could be on the Concord estate at any moment," Eris replied.

Grim expressions crossed her parents' faces. Count Hapsburg nodded, clenching his fists so hard they turned white. He took a deep breath to compose himself before speaking.

"It's still hard to believe this is happening. I know that Karl hates House Concord, but I never thought he would betray us like this, especially after Armand risked his life to save you from that Nosfer."

Eris wanted desperately to dismiss Karl's hatred, to just wave it off. However, she did not wish to disappoint her parents. The thought of them finding out what Eris was like sent waves of nausea through the girl.

"Karl, you bastard, I'll send you to hell for sure. And unless Armand turns me into a Strigoi, I'll meet you there someday," Eris thought before speaking. "I'm sure you know what war can do to a man."

She looked back at her hussars for a brief moment.

"They will serve as an explanation for how I know this," the girl contemplated.

Eris turned back to her parents.

"It can make them stronger, but it can also harden them. It can make them more stubborn and brutal. Karl has seen war. I have no doubt that it amplified his hatred for House Concord, to the point where he'd rather risk his life to destroy them rather than make peace. Whatever Armand did for me makes no difference in his eyes," she said.

Count Hapsburg nodded. There was a hint of sadness about him.

"I agree, but it's tragic how war changed Karl. Or, perhaps it made him more of the same as he was before?" he contemplated before shaking his head. "It doesn't matter now. Karl betrayed us."

The count clenched his fists so hard that they turned white.

"As his uncle, I would like to forgive him. I shouldn't have to bury my beloved brother's child. But as the head of our branch of the Hapsburgs, I must ensure we have order within the family. A minor betrayal would be forgivable, but this?" pain flowed through his voice.

Eris had never known her uncle. From what she knew, he died protecting her father. The girl felt a tinge of empathy flow through her.

"Even if I don't have a brother myself, Father must be going through a lot," she thought. "Still, Karl defied his will. As the head of the house, he cannot take that lying down. Even if he wants to. I can't imagine what it must be like for Father."

Count Hapsburg shook his head.

"It hurts me so much, but we might have to kill Karl."

Countess Hapsburg placed a hand on his shoulder.

"There are other solutions. We might have to fight Karl, but if he survives the battle, we could give him a lesser punishment than death," she suggested. "We could banish Karl or make him join a monastery. He would be no threat to anyone as a monk."

Eris gave them both a wide smile.

"That sounds like the best outcome for everyone! And that way, I won't have to kill my beloved cousin!" she spoke before thinking. "I just need to make sure that Karl doesn't survive the battle. Or, if he gets captured, I need to make his death look like an accident. I'm certain I can pull something like that off."

As Eris' parents smiled, the girl's expression turned serious.

"Now, tell me: what troops can we spare?" Eris asked.

Count Concord reached into his outfit and pulled out a rolled-up sheet of parchment. He unrolled it, revealing a list. The count handed it to his daughter.

"That's...not many," Eris noted. "I expected it to be little, but this...one unit of Landsknechts, a small squad of black riders, and six spellcasters."

A sigh escaped Count Concord's mouth.

"I would like to send more over, Eris, I truly would. However, the Medici family hasn't been on good terms with us, something I'm sure you're aware of," he said.

Eris grimaced.

"Even if Brutus himself isn't doing anything, I doubt that his family is happy about his banishment. Whether they blame me, Marshal Staufer, or Armand about it is irrelevant. We're all allied, so striking out at one of us would hurt the rest. And Marshal Staufer is too powerful for them to harm," she thought before speaking. "If too many men leave our lands, the Medici might invade us."

Count Concord nodded. There was a grim look about him. And a hint of guilt flashed over his eyes.

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"I'm afraid so. They are already a ducal house with far more lands and soldiers than we have. So, we need every advantage we can get against them," he stated.

His wife nodded.

"We are truly sorry, Eris, but this is all we can do," she said.

Eris shook her head.

"You don't need to apologize. With my personal mercenaries, the forces Armand can bring together, and House Concord's native defense force, what you're giving me should be enough," she spoke before thinking. "Assuming we can defeat Karl in a game of strategy. I think we can, but I'm not foolish enough to underestimate him."

The girl then looked at the list once more.

"How long until they're ready to leave?" Eris asked.

"They can leave any time you're ready," Count Hapsburg answered.

Eris nodded.

"Good. We'll leave right away, then. We'll need to meet up with Armand's forces as soon as possible," she said.

Count Hapsburg gave her a sad smile.

"I am very proud of you, Eris. You've grown into a fine young woman," he replied. "I just wish you didn't have to demonstrate this against Karl."

His words were like a dagger stabbing into Eris' heart.

"Proud of me? What could you possibly be proud of, having a monster of a daughter," she thought.

A few days came and went. Eris and Armand met up at a pass between hills. Their forces were behind them, the latter contributing a much larger force. Still, a hint of apprehension pulsed through Armand.

"Eris and I fought here several times the last time around. This is a dark place. I hope history doesn't repeat itself," he thought.

The Hapsburg girl, meanwhile, had a different reaction.

"This is a nostalgic place. It's what connects my and Armand's lands. And someday, they'll be joined together," she thought. "Armand seems tense. I can't blame him. His family is at stake here."

Eris rode closer.

"I apologize that I couldn't get more soldiers for us, Armand," she handed him a piece of paper. "Here's a compiled list of the forces I put together."

Armand nodded and took it. He looked through the paper while always keeping one eye on Eris. The girl started feeling more tense too.

"That isn't much, but it's more than I expected. Good job, Eris," Armand said.

She gave him a nod.

"Thank you for your praise, Armand. But we should get moving," the girl stated.

"Just one thing first," Armand replied.

He rode his horse close. The boy made sure to stay out of stabbing range, but he knew painfully well that he was within pistol range.

"Why isn't he getting closer?" Eris wondered. "Does he know something I don't? Does he think I'll betray him?"

"Listen," Armand's whispers broke her from her thoughts. "I received some aid from the Order of Hermes. Several members of their organization joined my forces. They will be joining us for this battle."

Eris raised an eyebrow.

"The Order of Hermes? What do they want with us?" she pondered.

"It's more with me. They claimed that they're helping because of my book," Armand replied.

A hint of frustration flashed through Eris.

"If they wanted to help, they should have started earlier, when you were taking a political beatdown for writing it," she said.

"I will admit that I know little about the Order of Hermes," Armand stated. "They're scholars who have little experience in politics. They might have had some reason why they waited until Sir Karl declared war to come to help me."

Eris shook her head.

"I don't particularly care. The fact is that they waited. Why are they trying to help you now? And why would that order care about your book? Were those skulls Marshal Staufer took enough to convince them?" she pondered.

Armand grimaced.

"Eris, how much do you know about the Order of Hermes?" he asked.

"Not much," she answered. "I never paid much attention to nonpolitical orders. They were useless to me. The most I know about them is that they are an order of scholars and they work with the Order of Athena and the Order of Heracles."

Armand sighed.

"Then, you don't know much more than I do," he spoke before thinking. "Assuming you're telling the truth, Eris."

The Hapsburg girl's face had an expression of suspicion on it. Her next words came in a lower whisper.

"We are going to have some men guarding the dedicated spellcasters anyway. We could give them orders to kill the members of the Order of Hermes if they try anything," Eris said.

Armand hesitated before speaking.

"Normally, I'd agree with that order. However, when dealing with an unknown like them, our soldiers might be a bit too trigger-happy. If the order of Hermes really is here to help me, I don't want to get them killed if I can avoid it," he replied.

A sigh escaped his mouth.

"But we still can't afford to take too many chances. I don't trust the Order of Hermes," Armand said.

"I presume you've already taken some precautions," Eris stated.

Her fiance nodded.

"Yes," Armand replied. "The Order of Hermes is under the direct supervision of my family's spellcasters. Or at least they will be when we meet up with them. I've been having my spies keep a close watch on them in the meantime."

"That is a good start, but I doubt it'll be enough if they betray us. Perhaps we could supply your family's spellcasters with pistols? I should be carrying enough on my person. And even if they won't be as accurate as marksmen, they'll still be good enough," Eris suggested.

A hint of skepticism crossed Armand's mind.

"Are you sure, Eris? This will deprive you of one of your defenses," he pointed out.

She waved it off.

"I still have my sword and my bombs," Eris replied. "Besides, it isn't like we'll be personally fighting in this battle unless things get really bad. And I have you by my side to protect me."

A blush crossed Armand's face. While he still didn't fully trust Eris' words, the boy nodded.

"This location must be getting to me. I know Eris loves me, so she won't betray me this easily. But still...it's not like I have many options," he thought before speaking with a resolute conviction flowing through him. "Thank you, Eris. I swear to all the gods that I will keep you safe."

Now, it was Eris' turn to blush. Her heart started pounding rapidly upon hearing Armand's declaration. The girl felt a tinge of sweat go down her brow.

"Oh, my, Armand. That was quite the declaration. I will have to make sure to live up to it," Eris gave her fiance a wide smile and made a light purring sound with her throat.

Armand tilted his head in confusion.

"Eris, what are you doing? Are you sick?" he asked.

"I'm fine," his fiance replied, waving it off. "Let's get going, Armand. We have a battle to win. We'll just need to make sure your family gives us the men we need."

Armand grimaced.

"That shouldn't be too difficult," he said. "But we'll still need to."