Malicious Objective. The Bastian Sagas, #2

Now an outlaw on her homeland island of Sebastia, and wanted for "questioning" on the Mainland, Sasha has to lay low and still try to eke out a living as trained Mercenary-for-hire. While a Mercenary's morals may be questionable, they were supposed to be loyal, at least, to the Guild in which they worked under, but Sasha had betrayed even that oath. She had only ever had herself on which to rely, to trust, to survive, and was never one to bend a knee even to the King.
It may, however, prove her final undoing. Retiring from Mercenary work had never really proven to be a viable option for Sasha, but when chance puts her in the path of an old friend, becoming instead his standing militia's Marshall of Arms seems like a good idea at the time, at least the gates would keep other Mercenaries off her--tail. Duke Caldwell's ambitions, however, might test even Sasha's capabilities as they vie on the campaign trail to take the very crown.
That is, of course, if Sasha's less-than-simple training methods don't kill the entire militia first, and the battles to get them to the throne are no less frought with danger--particularly when Duke Caldwell has to keep "reminding" his Marshall of Arms to stop killing her own men! Sasha draws in an ensemble cast of seedy characters to try and pull off the seemingly impossible. And while her grip on the reins is sure, their chances of success are tenuous at best.
Particularly with a conniving King and his militant brother-Prince at the helm. But when the Princess loses her mind completely, why, anything could happen.