*Joanna finally gets up and dressed, the swelling as gone down and she can move her hands and wrists as normal again

*Jorgen walks in her room
My Queen. Zachary's troops have arrived. They're setting up camp a few miles out.

Joanna:Send a solider to tell him we'll meet in the middle. Just outside our last trench. No more than six soldiers.

*Jorgen nods and walks out to follow her orders

*a solider of Joanna's rides across the trenches and into Zach's camp as they are finishing setting up the camp

*Zach walks out of his tent to see the solider
*the solider gives him a scroll with Joanna's demands

Zach:Tell her i'll be there.

*Zach, Drake, And seven soldiers ride to where Joanna has a table set up. Joanna sits at the table, Jorgen and Nikolai’s son Nikolai and six soldiers stands a good distance from the table

Zach:Aunt Joanna.

Joanna:Zachary, it’s been a while.

Zach:You could say that.

Joanna:Have a seat dear. No need for all these men to hear us squabble and debate.

*Zach walks over and orders his men to stand about the same distance as Joanna’s men

Zach:No wine?

Joanna:It’s a bit early don’t you think?

Zach:I don’t really drink.

Joanna:Where is your Queen?

Zach:My sister is at Fisher’s Dock. I brought the King. The rightful King of Frestos.

Joanna:If I remember correctly, you are the rightful King of Frestos. Your sister was never meant to be more than a figure head while you and I pulled the strings.

Zach:You we’re pulling the string too far into your doll house.

Joanna:And you weren’t?

Zach:You were wearing her thin.

Joanna:*laughs
*knowing everyone is out of ear shot and can’t hear them talk
We had this Kingdom in our hands and Amy taking every fall.

Zach:And you betrayed me.

Joanna:How the story goes I guess. But you and I know the truth. You’d been planning to kill me, long before I planned to turn on you.

Zach:We are probably the two worst people in Frestos, and yet everyone thinks Amy is the devil on the throne.

Joanna:She was a pleasant girl. Quick learner. Too bad she couldn’t pick up what we were doing.

Zach:Creating the greatest puppet Frestos has ever seen.

Monilla: * Looking at her troops *

Logan: * Looks at Kingston from his room balcony *

Rosary: * Stares at her feet *

*Joanna and Zach sit in silence for a few moments

Zach:We don't have to do this Aunt Joanna.

Joanna:You know we do. Ive always enjoyed you, I thought you were witty, humorous, and I think you would've been a much better King than Amy. But, that's a choice we made.

Zach:Indeed. Now I march on you

Joanna:And I on you.

Zach:If this is our last conversation together, let the history books talk about this long after we both die.

*Joanna nods
Joanna:And what of the Swamp witch?

Zach:I tried to warn you we needed her. So we got her.

Joanna:Brilliant move. Pitting my own choice of men against me.

Zach:You always said, the hateful men are the hardest to work with but the easiest to command.

Joanna:*smiles and chuckles
How many of your men are battle tested?

Zach:About 300. Maybe less. And you?

Joanna:All but maybe 50.

Zach:Is Nikolai's father still kicking?

Joanna:Barely it seems. I had to cut quite the deal to get the son from retirement. Apparently he has his own family now.

Zach:You gave the father a spot on the council until he dies and then the son takes over. Smart.
*smiles
But predictable for you.

Joanna: Consistency is-

*Zach knowing what she is going to say
Predictable, but works.

Ava: * Talking to herself in the cell *

Joanna:Sometimes I think I hate how much you look like your father.

Zach: Sometimes I think I hate how much you fucked my father.

Joanna:Fair point I guess. Now your mother, a true sweetheart. Beautiful woman, fabulous sister.

Zach:She died when I was far too young. I barely remember her.

Joanna:I'm sorry. You deserved to have her in your life.

Zach:I did, and so did Amy.

Joanna:Every child deserves their mother, I won't take that from her.

Zach:You know after you admitted to Amy what I knew for years, she hated you even more then when you stole her crown.

Joanna:About your father?

*Zach nods

Joanna:How did you know?

Zach:I was his hand, I knew everything about him. It was my job to separate the rumors from the truth. So I asked him.

Joanna:And he told you?

Zach:Made me swear on my pin I would never tell Amy as long as he lived. Quite frankly I forgot for most of the time. Just didn't care. I viewed it as brilliant.

Joanna:*smiles

Zach:It was a political move. It's no different then marrying people off.

Joanna:And now she's replaced me with you, and you with Clayton.

Zach:You heard.

Joanna:Of course.

Zach:People underestimate how smart you are.
23 languages fluently spoken. The greatest political mind of this generation or any generation for that matter.

Joanna:And people underestimate how cunning you are, and how for a long time you are what kept this Kingdom running. Your father needed you as much as he needed me. And your sister, im sure this whole revolution was supported by you.

Zach:Well what else is there to talk about?

Joanna:This Kingdom has seen enough trials, battles, and debates. Maybe one day they'll end.

Zach:When the last human draws their last breath.

*Joanna smiles and stands
*Zach stands and looks at Joanna

Joanna:May the best between us win.

Zach:So let the Gods decide.

Joanna:We shall let them.

*Zach and Joanna go back to their separate men

Joanna:If we win, capture my nephew, kill the King.

Zach:If we win, kill my aunt and bring me her head.