Fanilly paused for a moment, warily eyeing the Dark Lady with her sword raised. There was something about her... No, everything about her was sending a tingling sensation up her spine. She was beautiful, but that smug, relaxed expression on her face, and... even if Fanilly had no capability to detect magical energy, she absolutely felt as if it was pouring off of this woman. The Dark Lady cocked her head to one side with a smirk.

"I second Sir Tyaethe's question," Fanilly said, blade glinting as she pointed it towards the woman, "Just what are you doing with all these orcs?"

"Tell them, Master!" declared the drider, brightly, "You're deceiving those orcs and using them as guar-er... you [i]were[/i] doing that... they're all dead now..."

"How cute, Esette," commented the Dark Lady, "It's adorable that you trusted me so much... I almost feel guilty."

The drider stared at the Dark Lady for several moments, in confusion.

"... Master? Er, that's what you told me, isn't it?" she asked.

Fanilly's grip tightened on her sword. The truth was becoming quite obvious at this point. The Dark Lady had never told her student the real reason she was using all these orcs, and likely due to the fact that the spider girl had been treated well by her teacher, she had trusted the Dark Lady's word completely.

"Indeed, but I was attempting to avoid any... mistakes," continued the woman, her smirk growing into a grin as she shut one eye, "My true goal was a simple one: To slaughter every last man, woman, and child in the town of Brennan, draw the attention of the Iron Rose Knights, and destroy them~"

It was almost shocking, how bluntly, cheerfully, the woman had explained herself. The drider's eyes widened in shock, and she was left completely speechless by the revelation.

Fanilly stepped forward, her sword raising to point directly towards the woman.

"In the name of the Throne and the Iron Rose, I am placing you under arrest," she said, blue eyes narrowing, "If you do not come quietly, your life is forfeit."

The Dark Lady's grin twitched, and she let off a peal of laughter, hugging herself and bending double as she did. This continued for a moment, before she straightened. A vicious grin was on her face, now, as she placed her left hand above her left eye.

"Come and kill me, then, Iron Roses! Slay the Witch of Wild Thorns, Beatrice!"

[@PKMNB0Y][@Crimson Paladin]