The Ambush!

The Reich Duke and Duchess and young Basil are on their way to the Persipality of Monte Cristo. Soon they will pass the ruins of Castle Valkenhayn, former ancestral home of the Counts of Valkenhayn, whose last surviving member commands the Hapnich Dragoon Regiment of Carpania. [As always, please click on the pictures for a larger view.]

But what is this?!?

Agents of the Deylicate of Bizercca have gathered the whirling dervish tour group to issue final instructions on the ambush of the ducal party and the kidnapping of young Basil.

The coach, with its Cossack escort, passes the castle ruins.
Can they not see the dervishes hiding in the woods?

Suddenly the ambush is sprung.
Screaming dervishes dash towards the escort and the coach.

While the coach outriders jerk the horses off the road,
the Cossack escort charges the ambushers.

Escorted only by the Cossack color bearer, the coach flees down the road.
The rest of the Cossacks bravely sell their lives to protect the ducal party's escape.

But what will this mean to relations between Morea and the Deylicate? Or between Carpania and its local foes - Courland and Sachsen-Wachsenstein? After all, the attack took place in Carpania against an Imperial Reich Duke and his young guest. And the dervishes were guests of the Carpanians at Potzdorf. Surely diplomatic notes will be exchanged. Stay tuned!