The Silver and the Maroon

Astra replied, "Captain, what are the alternatives?"

Copernica replied, "If you can get you to Stygria, then you will at least be away from most of those who might know you by sight. The Duchess might be a problem. She has cooperated with the Hespanians, and in some ways owes what power she has to their good graces. But she has kept the presence of the Horsemen to a minimum, and Stygria is well away from the capital. I think it would be the best safe haven."

Astra asked, "If Stygria was out of the question for some reason, what would you recommend?"

The captain squinted her eyes and exhaled heavily. She replied, "Ferra, maybe. But the ruling families have been extirpated, and a lot of refugees of non-Aqualarian stock are there. You are not likely to run across the Silver Horsemen, but are more likely to be robbed. And opinion has turned against the nobility there."

Paula looked intently, taking a breath as if to say something, but not talking. Astra noticed this, and said, "Ancient, what is your opinion?"

Paula replied, "My lady, I think that the captain has said things as well as they could be said."

The captain said, "You have permission to speak freely, ancient."

Paula said, "I do not have much to say, other than that there are a lot of unhappy people in Ferra, including the boys in maroon. If Princess Astra had direct action in mind, she might find a lot of help in Ferra."

Astra asked, "The boys in maroon?"

Copernica said, "The Hespanian infantry. They are the enemy, but not the fanatics that the calvary are. We have done business with them in the past."

Astra said, "Done business?"

The captain said, "Yes. We have found that the average infantryman is a peasant from some little town or farm that would rather be back in Hespan, but is forbidden to return due to Royal Order Number Forty-one. It was part of something that is called the 'New Way.' A few of them try to desert from time to time, but when they are caught, they are beheaded. So they have nowhere to go. While that makes some of them bitter and brutal, it makes others reasonable."

Astra replied, "That is good to know. What about Hyrcania?"

The captain said, "They will kill you on sight. It is part of Hespan."

"Hyrcania?!"

"It is important to them for some reason. They will not even let their own infantry in. The only people allowed in are the Silver Horsemen and some settlers from the Havnheim."

Astra said, "This does not make sense. Stygria is far more valuable, and Ferra is much closer to Nom Galba. Why annexe Hyrcania and leave those two territories independent?"

The captain replied, "I do not know."

Astra said, "I have heard all that I need to hear. I would like you to arrange for me to

1. stay in Themyscira."
2. go to Stygria, as the captain suggested."
3. go to Ferra."
4. go to Hyrcania."

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