Chapter Text
Panel 1: Flashback. We see a younger, fully alive Laudna — or rather, Matilda — walking alongside the edge of a forest road with her mother as a fancy carriage approaches. Catching the eye of someone on the interior, she smiles and waves.
Laudna: (VO)
I was fifteen when they first arrived in Whitestone.
Panel 2: An elegant hand draws back the curtain at the carriage window, giving a glimpse of the face of an auburn-haired woman in a hooded cloak.
Laudna: (VO)
Lord Sylas and Lady Delilah Briarwood.
Panel 3: We see Matilda again at the Sun Tree like Imogen saw when she first peeked into her memories, only this time it becomes clear that what she's looking at are the bodies of the de Rolo family being put on public display.
Laudna: (VO)
There followed some sort of political coup of which I am still not certain of all the particulars, but at the end of it the former rulers, the de Rolo family, were all dead and the Briarwoods had seized control of the city.
We were not much informed of the political situation in Whitestone at the time, and at first one distant ruling family was much the same as another, despite the rumors that the castle staff were no longer quite as lively as they had been, that the Lord Briarwood was only ever seen at night, and that the Lady . . . well.
The Sun Tree died, and the farmlands after it. Then everything went to shit.
It went on that way for a handful of years, each one a little worse than the last. Shorter summers. Harder winters. Worse harvests. More bodies hanging from the corpse of the sacred tree in the middle of town as a warning to those who wished to rebel, or to flee.
Panel 4: Five years later. Matilda, a little taller, thinner, and more ragged, is at the market. She's approached by a servant from the castle, a pale, rather harrowed-looking young man in a fine uniform and is surprised when he addresses her. He presents a fancy party invitation.
Laudna: (VO)
Then the invitation came.
Servant (Desmond):
Excuse me, young miss. Your presence is formally requested by the Lord and Lady Briarwood to attend a banquet at Castle Whitestone.
Matilda:
Me? Are . . . are you sure you haven't mistaken me for someone else?
Desmond:
Quite sure, miss! You're exactly what they've been looking for.
Panel 5: Closeup of her hands holding the invitation. It is not addressed to anyone specifically, it just requests the presence of the bearer. It is very fine looking.
Panel 6: Closeup of his hands holding a notebook. It contains a list of people described by basic physical characteristics. He crosses one off — “girl: early 20s, dark hair, light complexion, above average height” — with a shaking hand.