She paused to let that sink in. She needed them to feel like cowards for even considering it.
Or we could go out there, Stephania said. We take the castle and we close it against our enemies. We kill those who oppose us. Ive already dealt with Ceres, so she wont be able to stop us. We hold this castle until the rebellion and the invaders kill one another, then we take Delos back.
There are still guards, one said. There are still combatlords here. We cant fight the combatlords and win.
Stephania gestured to Elethe, who started to open the locks on the cells. There are ways. Well gain more weapons with each guard we kill, and we all know where the armory is. Or you can stay here and rot. Ill close the doors and send a few torturers later. I dont care which.
They followed, as Stephania knew they would. It didnt matter whether they did it from fear, or pride, or even loyalty. What mattered was that they did it. They followed her up through the castle, and Stephania started to give orders, although she was careful to make it sound better than that, at least for now.
Lord Hwel, would you mind taking some of the more able men and sealing the guard barracks? Stephania said. We dont want rebels getting out.
And men loyal to the Empire? the noble said.
Can prove it by killing those other traitors, Stephania replied.
The noble hurried to meet her command. She sent one of her handmaidens to gather more, and asked a noblewoman to instruct those servants who would be obedient to Stephanias bidding.
Stephania looked around the group with her, judging who would be useful, who had secrets she could employ, whose weaknesses made them easy to control and whose made them dangerous. She sent the noble who had been so keen to avoid a fight to control the gates, and a cantankerous dowager to the kitchens where she could do no harm.
They gathered people as they went. Guards and servants came to them as they heard, their loyalties changing with the wind. Stephanias handmaidens knelt before her, then rose at a touch to be sent about their next tasks.
Occasionally, they found rebels who wouldnt submit, and those died. Some died in a quick rush of nobles, their weapons seized, their bodies broken as they were beaten to death. Others died with a knife taking them from behind, or a poisoned dart sliding into their flesh. Stephanias handmaidens had learned to be good at their tasks.
When she saw Queen Athena, Stephania found herself wondering which it should be.
What is this? the queen demanded. Whats going on here?
Stephania ignored her bleating.
Tia, I need you to find out how things are going at the armories. We need those weapons. I imagine High Reeve Scarel will have found a fight by now.
She kept walking in the direction of the great hall.
Stephania, Queen Athena said. I demand to know whats happening.
Stephania shrugged. I have done what you should have. I freed these loyal people.
It was such a simple argument, and such a neat one, that it needed no more. Stephania had been the one to do the work of saving the nobles. She was the one they owed their freedom to, and perhaps their lives.
I was locked up too, the queen shot back.
Ah, of course. Had I known, I would have rescued you along with the other nobles. Now, excuse me. I have a castle to take.
Stephania strode off briskly, because the best way to win an argument was not to give ones opponent a chance to speak. She wasnt surprised when the others there continued to follow her.
Nearby, Stephania heard the sounds of a fight. Gesturing to those with her, she headed up a flight of stairs, searching for a balcony. She quickly found what she was looking for. Stephania knew the layout of the castle as well as anyone.
Below, she saw a fight that would probably have impressed most people. A dozen muscled men, no two of whose weapons or armor matched, were fighting in the courtyard before the main gate. They did so against at least twice as many guards, maybe three times as many before the battle started, all led by High Reeve Scarel. More than that, it seemed that they were winning. Stephania could see the bodies scattered across the cobbles in their imperial armor. The noble who loved to pick fights had picked one for the ages, it seemed.
Foolish man, Stephania said.
Stephania watched for a moment, and if she had seen more of a point in the Stade, she would probably have found some kind of savage beauty in it all. As she watched, a man with a great axe slammed the haft into two men, then spun, catching one of them with the blade hard enough to nearly split him in two. A combatlord who fought with a chain leapt over a soldier, wrapping it around his neck.
It was a brave performance, and an impressive one. Perhaps if shed thought, she could have bought a dozen combatlords sometime earlier and turned them into a suitably loyal bodyguard. The only difficulty would have been the lack of subtlety. Stephania winced as a spatter of blood managed to rise almost to the lip of the balcony.
Arent they magnificent? one of the noblewomen said.
Stephania looked over at her with as much scorn as she could muster. I think theyre fools. She snapped her fingers in Elethes direction. Elethe, knives and bows. Now.
Her handmaiden nodded, and Stephania watched while she and some of the others there drew throwing weapons and darts. A few of the guards with them had short bows taken from the armory. One had a ships crossbow, better fired braced on a deck than a balcony. They hesitated.
Our people are down there, one of the noblemen said.
Stephania snatched a light bow from his hands. And they were going to die anyway, fighting combatlords so poorly. At least this way, they give us a chance to win.
Winning was everything. Maybe one day, these others would understand that. Perhaps it was better if they didnt. Stephania didnt want to have to kill them.
For now, she drew the bow as best she could with her swollen belly. Firing down like this, it almost didnt matter that she could barely pull it back halfway. It certainly didnt matter that she took no time to aim. With the mass of those struggling there below, it was enough that she would hit something.
More than that, it was enough to serve as a signal.
Arrows rained down. Stephania saw one punch through the meat of a combatlords arm, and he roared like a wounded animal before another three slammed into his chest. Knives flashed down to cut and skim, dig and gouge. Darts carried poison that probably had no time to act before the targets were punctured by arrows.
Stephania saw imperial soldiers fall along with the combatlords. High Reeve Scarel looked up at her with accusing eyes as he pawed at a crossbow bolt that had struck him through the stomach. Men continued to fall under the combatlords blades, or found gaps in their defenses, only to find their moment of victory cut short by arrow fire.
Stephania didnt care. Only when the last combatlord fell did she raise a hand for the assault to cease.
So many one of the noblewomen started, and Stephania rounded on her.
Dont be so foolish. We have taken Ceress support, and we have taken the castle. Nothing else matters.
What about Ceres? one of the guards there asked. Is she dead?
Stephanias eyes narrowed at that question, because it was the one thing about this plan that irritated her.
Not yet.
They had to hold the castle until either the invasion was done or the rebels somehow found a way to beat it back. At that point, they might need Ceres as a bargaining chip, or even just a gift so that the Five Stones of Felldust could show their victory. Having her there might even draw in Thanos, letting Stephania have all her revenge at once.