“You call yourselves mercenaries.” Lady Maribelle stood regal, in her golden armor addressing the assembled Gallians and her engineers. Jacque stood to her left and Dottie to her right.
“Beneath this castle is the largest known collection of gold in one place. I have ordered the vault be opened.” A murmur and gasp went through the crowd.
“You call yourselves warriors.” She looked down at them. None of their uniforms matched. “You say you are the greatest fighters of Gallia. Eight hundred strong! Too proud to fight for King Louis?”
She gestured with her hands. “Outside these walls march sixteen thousand soldiers.”
“Today you are offered a choice. Are you warriors or are you mercenaries? Will you stay for the chance to live with riches or will you flee with your life. A pauper, a deserter and a coward.”
“Grab all you can from my vault right now, and run away.” Lady Maribelle tossed handfuls of gold coins. “No one will stop you.”
She slammed her fist into her breastplate. “I will stay.”
Maribelle turned to Jacque and asked, “Will you stay?”
He smiled, the gilt tooth glinting in the light. “Gallians always prefer dying for love than fighting for gold.”
Lady Maribelle kissed him on the cheek. She addressed the crowd. “I will not ask you to stay because your leader stays. I will not ask any of my own people to stay for the same reason.”
She put her hand on Dottie’s shoulder. “The evacuation is well underway. You may leave now.” She looked at the assembled engineers. “Any of you may leave now.”
There was an explosion of sound from the white-clad men and women. One had motioned to leave, and he was expelled forcefully from the assembly. Booing and hissing followed him.
Maribelle’s voice cut through the sound. “There will be no shame! No one can make this choice lightly. You all have family. You all have loved ones making their way across the White Bridge. We all know what will happen to the bridge if we lose this fight. If anyone cannot stand in the face of what we risk, go now. Go with dignity. But I cannot ensure anyone’s safety if we lose.”
A few of the mercenaries and one engineer left. Maribelle cheered for them. Her voice pulling cheers out of the crowd. The people ducked as they left, cringing against the cheering.
“What we do today, we do with pride. We act with grace. And most of all, with style.” She pulled her golden helmet over her red curls.
She gestured to Dottie, and the entire room exploded in golden glitter and green sparks.