The End is in Sight

PART TWENTY TWO
"Etina!" Etina looked at Sonia. It was so irritating that she could never get a spoken response.
"Would you want to escape?" Etina nodded without expression.
"I have a plan."
Etina raised one eyebrow.
"Don't you think it'll work?"
Etina shook her head and put out her hand, showing a metal band which looked like a watch.
"Oh." It was a tracker, like the one Shine had received.
"Okay. Um, I'll think of something."

In a completely different part of the palace, a council meeting was taking place. A council of war.
"So we already control the cities lying closest to the mountains, all we need to do is spread, and raise an army to attack the capital." Chrystal pointed out on the map adorning the wall across from the council table. At the table sat Mirabell and other people in charge of stuff, eating biscuits, scones and drinking cups of cocoa or coffee. (Because no made up place is complete without cocoa.)
Mirabell rose from his chair.
"How big is the capital's army?"
Chrystal put her hands on her hips, "It doesn't matter how big it is, what matters is how powerful their weapons are. We're still waiting for our spies to report back. But, answering your question, in the capital are... 10,000 soldiers."
Another man spoke up, "How long is it likely to take? There are a lot of towns between us and the capital."
Chrystal considered.
"It's taken us three years to take over the cities in this area," she referred to the map, "As we gather more troops and supplies it can only get faster, so I'd say about two to three years. If you think that's too slow I am open to strategy suggestions."
The room was silent.

Not too far away, something of a very different nature was going on.
"What do you think happened to her?"
"I reckon she jumped."
The two guards glanced down at the body at their feet.
"Why, do you think?"
"Well, It could be anything. But she's dead now, anyway."
The first guard shuddered.
"Wasn't she the girl who won the dancing competition the other day?"
"Hard to tell, those girls wear so much makeup."
"What should we do with her?"
"Take her inside."
They gently lifted her and began carrying her to the door.

At the same time Iva, Leone, Dione and Chantel were entering the palace by the main door; and at that very moment Sonia had an idea.