The contrast couldn't have been sharper.

Where the North Trenches represented pure darkness and barely controlled chaos, the domain of Lady Maude Peanna was all light and careful order. Her territory occupied a strategic region in the eastern provinces—prosperous farmland protected by well-maintained fortifications, trade routes that brought wealth from the coast, and a population that had known peace for most of their lives.

The keep itself was beautiful in an understated way.

No ostentatious towers or excessive decoration, but solid stone construction that spoke of permanence and strength. Gardens surrounded the main structure, carefully tended even in late autumn. The banners that flew from its walls bore Lady Maude's sigil—a white rose wrapped in thorns against a field of deep blue.

In a private chamber on the keep's third floor, three women sat around a table laden with documents and maps.

Lady Maude Peanna herself occupied the head of the table.

She was in her mid-forties, with the kind of beauty that came from strength of character rather than mere features. Her dark hair was pulled back in a practical style, showing streaks of grey she made no effort to hide. Her eyes were sharp and intelligent, missing nothing. She wore a simple but elegant dress of deep blue that matched her house colors, with minimal jewelry—just a silver ring on her left hand that marked her widowhood.

To her right sat Elizabeth, the older one of the two witch sisters.

Her face was delicate but her eyes were hard—the eyes of someone who'd seen violence and learned not to flinch from it. She wore the robes of the Coven, grey and crimson, marked with symbols that indicated her rank as a Battle Witch.

A position earned through merit and power rather than politics.

Across from her sat Katerina, the younger sister.

Where Elizabeth was elegant and controlled, Katerina was fierce and passionate. She was shorter and more heavily built, with the muscular frame of someone who trained constantly. She wore similar robes to her sister, but hers bore additional marks. Combat commendations. Decorations for valor. She'd killed more demons than most soldiers saw in a lifetime.

"The Empress has agreed to meet with you," Elizabeth said, setting down a sealed letter bearing the imperial seal.

"The audience is scheduled for three weeks from now. That gives us time to prepare your presentation."

Lady Maude picked up the letter, examining the seal carefully. Her expression was carefully neutral, but her eyes betrayed excitement.

"This is largely thanks to both of you," she said quietly.

"Without your actions at Greyshold Pass, without the merit you earned defending my borders, I would never have been considered for the Court."

"You give us too much credit," Katerina said, though she smiled slightly.

"We simply did what was necessary. The demon legions were threatening your lands. We stopped them. It's what the Covens are supposed to do."

"What you were supposed to do was report the incursion and wait for reinforcements," Maude countered.

"Instead, you two held Greyshold Pass against three hundred demons with only forty soldiers supporting you. For two days, until proper forces arrived. That's not duty. That's heroism."

Elizabeth shifted uncomfortably.

She'd never been comfortable with praise.

"We had good soldiers," she said.

"And we were properly positioned. The pass is defensible if you know what you're doing."

"Forty soldiers against three hundred demons," Maude repeated flatly.

"Don't downplay what you accomplished. The reports that reached the capital spoke of demons literally piled against the walls. Of origin techniques used so extensively that the stone itself melted. Of Katerina holding the gate alone for an hour while you maintained barriers across the entire pass."

Katerina's smile widened slightly.

That had been a good fight.

Exhausting, terrifying, but ultimately satisfying.

Every demon she'd put down was one that wouldn't threaten innocents.

"The point," Maude continued, "is that your actions reflected well on me. The Empress values those who can protect the realm's interests. By defending my territory so effectively, you demonstrated that I surround myself with capable people and that I recognize talent and reward loyalty. These are qualities she appreciates."

She stood, moving to the window.

Outside, servants moved through the gardens, preparing them for winter. Guards patrolled the walls with professional efficiency.

Everything running smoothly, as it should.

"If I'm accepted into the Court," Maude said quietly, "everything changes. Not just for me, but for this entire region. Imperial patronage means better trade agreements, access to resources currently restricted, and protection from neighboring lords who might have designs on my lands."

"And influence," Elizabeth added.

"A voice in how the Empire is governed. That's what you really want, isn't it?"

Maude turned back to face them, and now her expression was harder.

"Yes. Because the current governance is failing. You've seen it yourselves—the demon incursions are increasing. Not just in frequency, but in organization. The attack on Greyshold wasn't a random raid. It was coordinated. Planned. The demons were trying to establish a foothold in our territory."

Katerina nodded grimly.

She'd noticed that too. The demons had been too disciplined, too focused. Not the usual mindless assault, but a proper military operation.

"Someone is organizing them," she said.

"Giving them strategy. Making them dangerous in ways they haven't been before."

"Exactly," Maude agreed.

"And the Empire's response has been inadequate—too slow, too fragmented. The Empress herself is brilliant, but she's surrounded by advisors who can't see beyond their own political games. We need voices in that Court who understand the real threats we face and who will push for proper military action."

Elizabeth studied Lady Maude carefully.

This was why they'd thrown their support behind her, why they'd fought so hard at Greyshold. Because she understood. Because she saw the larger picture and was willing to do something about it.

"What will you propose?" Elizabeth asked.

"Consolidation of the northern defenses," Maude said immediately, as if she'd been thinking about nothing else.

"Right now, every lord manages their own section of the border. It's inefficient. We need unified command. A single general with authority over all northern forces. Someone who can coordinate responses, move troops where they're needed, and ensure the demons can't exploit gaps in our coverage."

"The other lords will resist that," Katerina pointed out.

"Giving up that much authority to a unified command."

"They will, which is why I'll need allies in the Court—people who understand the necessity." Maude's gaze was steady.

"And that's why I need both of you to continue supporting me. Your presence, your reputation as demon slayers, lends weight to my arguments. If I say the threat is growing, some might dismiss it as paranoia. But if two Battle Witches who've personally killed hundreds of demons say the same thing, people listen."

Elizabeth exchanged glances with her sister. They'd already committed to this path, but it was good to know exactly what they were committing to.

"We'll support you," Elizabeth said.

"Both at Court and wherever else you need us. But you should know—the Covens are dividing their attention right now. The Mother Supreme herself is involved in something south of here. Major operation, though the details are kept quiet."

"The Arkwright boy," Maude said quietly.

Both sisters looked at her sharply.

"You know about that?" Katerina asked.

"I make it my business to know things." Maude returned to her seat.

"Word has spread, even if the official channels remain silent. A boy with a cursed bloodline, manifesting the origin energy. The Mother Supreme herself moved against him."

"Do you think he's dangerous?" Elizabeth asked carefully.

"I think he's a distraction," Maude said bluntly.

"Whether he's truly dangerous or not, the Covens are devoting resources to dealing with him. Resources that should be focused on the real threat—the organized demon legions gathering in the north."

She tapped the table for emphasis.

"One boy, no matter how powerful, is a manageable problem. Thousands of demons led by intelligent commanders are not. The priorities are backwards, and that's another thing I intend to address at Court."

Katerina grinned.

She liked Lady Maude's directness, her willingness to state uncomfortable truths.

"Well then," Katerina said, "I suppose we'd better make sure your presentation to the Empress is perfect. Can't have you embarrassing us by saying something politically stupid."

Despite the tension, Maude laughed.

"I'll try not to disappoint."

They spent the next several hours planning.

Elizabeth suggested topics to emphasize, political connections to leverage, and potential objections to prepare for. Katerina offered insights from a military perspective on ways to present the northern threat that would resonate with the Empress's strategic advisors.

By the time they finished, night had fallen. Servants brought dinner, but they barely touched it, too focused on their work.

Finally, well past midnight, they called it complete.

"Three weeks," Maude said, looking at the carefully organized notes and arguments they'd prepared.

"Three weeks to practice, to refine, to ensure this goes perfectly."

"You'll do well," Elizabeth assured her.

"The Empress values competence and honesty. You have both."

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