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305. So, the lanunian warrior guides Rebecca and Helen to the wedding hall to meet Ofidio.
King Alan, Tamadun and other guests recognize the two bards. The prisoners are shocked to watch their new look, but they remain silent in order to not expose Helen and Rebecca.
303. The lanunian watches Helen and Rebecca, surprised to find such airheads. But a wicked idea comes to her mind:
"Hey, sweeties, I am sure my boss would be so pleased to watch you dance".
300. Helen and Rebecca approach to the wedding hall when a lanunian warrior appears and plants herself in front of the two bards.
"You two, stop!" the lanunian demands. "Identify yourselves!"
"We are dancers invited to the celebration" Helen answers, cheerful.
232. "About desmoralize his troops (twenty still alive or conscious according to our calculations)" Alonso intervenes, "I have an idea: in the armory, I took some powder loads, so we can use it to set a trap for the lanunians in some strategic place and lock up them among debris"
230. "About that... any plans in mind?"
"One thing is for sure: Ofidio is the biggest menace here" Beatrice adduces. "I knew him during the peace talks: he is the leader of the lanunian party against unification and he lives anchored in the past. We can't argue with him...".
222. "Nothing of this is your fault, Beatrice'' Helen consoles the princess. "You just defended yourself and didn't started this madness: it's a thing of lanunian fanatics".
After hearing this information, Beatrice calms herself down.
214. Now, she has a black lanunian`s armor set: helmet, cuirass and spear.
Sadly, the armor size is too big for her... But it would fit Alonso's height perfectly.
213. After that, Helen ties the lanunian's hands and legs and, just in case, gags him too.
209. Once in Helen's room, the blonde bard says:
"Let me see your handsome face, darling..."
The lanunian, of course, agrees and takes off his helmet.
207. The lanunian don't know what to say.
"Oh, a man of few words... I really like that!" Helen flirts. "And you have nice eyes, too! Hey, I have an idea: Do you gonna come with me to my room?" Helen says, spinning the key of her chamber with her forefinger, naughty.
203. She is almost in there when, suddenly, a lanunian soldier appears just in front of her.
"Who are you? And what are you doing here?" he asks Helen, menacingly.
195. "Pst, Alonso, I am Helen" the blonde whispers. "Don't attack me".
"Helen, is that you?" Alonso says relieved. "What the heck is happening? I was getting out of the bathroom when these three lanunians tried to kill me... And there are more like them across the palace!"
183. Then, Helen notices something more: the leader of the kidnappers (an important lanunian noble, judging by his high quality black armor), is speaking with Tamadun, who is sitting on the floor and handcuffed.
182. ... but lanunians too... And the prince Tamadun is one of them.
"What is happening there?" Helen thinks, confused. "Lanunians kidnapping not only asmensians, but their compatriots too? That makes no sense!"
181. What Helen sees leaves her stunned: a dozen armed lanunians held the guests as prisoners! At first, Helen curses all Launun, thinking all this kingdom has betrayed Asmens. But, watching more carefully, the bard notices something: the hostages aren't only asmensians...
153. "Oh, yeah" Helen answers proudly. "I got it after surviving, two years ago, the Moonhill siege..."
"Wait, wait, wait...!" Rebecca can't believe what she is hearing. "You were in that legendary battle?! The same that was won by 100 asmesians against 500 lanunians?"
80. Now it's Helen's turn.
Her ballad doesn't start epicly, but as a tragedy, with two little brothers who became slaves after a lanunian raid.
The brothers go through terrible experiences as slaves: work hard until their hands bleed, sleep chained, eat only mush...
77. And then, in the middle of the delight of lanunians and asmensians equally, the animating shows begin: jugglers, dancers, actors, duelists... and, of course, bards.
Rebecca goes first. She plays her lute rhythmically and methodically while she sings about Asmens and Lanun.
10. "Lanun troops fought against our nation for so many centuries: a lot of economical, environmental, human losses... Damn, many of my friends died against them. I can't believe that today I will have to eat with lanunians on the same table..."
"Alonso..." Helen says, saddened.