—Red Sonja (Earth-616)Long ago I made a vow to my goddess that prevented me from loving him! I’ve begun to regret my vow, but maybe I should be glad… for if it’s happiness I seek, it seems I’d best look somewhere else than love!
Appearing in "The Queen of Hearts!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Alain D’Bruges
- Math Mac Llion
- Kynon
- Branwyn
Antagonists:
- Queen Vassilisa
- King Vlad Bloodhawk
- Chavok
- Yuri
Other Characters:
- Galon (Mentioned)
- Scathach (Mentioned)
Realities:
Locations:
- Hyrkania
- Unnamed northern kingdom
- Canyon Bridge
- Northern Caves
Items:
- Red Sonja’s Sword
- Red Sonja’s Chain Mail
Vehicles:
- None
Synopsis for "The Queen of Hearts!"
Red Sonja, the She-Devil with a Sword, embarks on a perilous quest to rescue her kidnapped friend Branwyn, joined by Branwyn’s son Kynon, her husband Math Mac Llion, recently freed from a slave galley, and Alain D’Bruges, a bridge builder and Branwyn’s paramour. Tensions flare as Math and Alain vie for Branwyn’s affections, their rivalry threatening to fracture the group. Sonja, haunted by the recent death of her friend Galon—whom she could not love due to a sacred vow to her goddess Scathach—reflects on her choice: “Long ago, I made a vow to my goddess that barred me from loving him! I’ve begun to regret that vow, but perhaps it’s for the best… for if happiness is what I seek, love may not be the path to it!”
The adventure begins when Branwyn, mistaken for Sonja while wearing her chain mail, is abducted by Chavok, a harpy servant of Queen Vassilisa. Chavok delivers Branwyn and Sonja’s sword to King Vlad Bloodhawk. As Sonja’s party crosses a decaying bridge built by Alain, it collapses, sending horses and gear plummeting into the canyon below. Alain strains to hold the ropes, dislocating his shoulder, but Sonja heroically repels down the cliffside to rescue him, popping his shoulder back into place.
Meanwhile, Queen Vassilisa schemes with her lover Yuri, who desires Branwyn (believing her to be Sonja) but hesitates to kill her. Vassilisa, plotting to replace King Vlad with Yuri, demands Sonja’s heart—literally. As Sonja’s group presses north into frigid lands, they take shelter in a cave. During a lighthearted tussle over the last scraps of meat, Sonja and Alain are ambushed by brigands. Young Kynon, wielding a knife, kills a foe but is shaken by the act. A brigand knocks Sonja unconscious, but upon waking, she rallies the group to press on through the freezing night to save Branwyn.
Solicit Synopsis
Notes
- This issue highlights a continuity discrepancy regarding Scathach’s depiction across *Red Sonja Vol. 2* and *Vol. 3*. In *Vol. 2 #2*, Sonja defeats a demonic impostor of Scathach, while *Vol. 3* portrays her as a benevolent deity.
Trivia
- The title “Queen of Hearts” is a double entendre, referring to both Queen Vassilisa’s desire for Sonja’s literal heart and the romantic entanglements driving the story.
See Also
Recommended Reading
- *Red Sonja Vol. 2 #2* for context on Scathach’s demonic impostor.
- *Red Sonja Vol. 3 #10-12* for the resolution of Branwyn’s kidnapping and Vassilisa’s scheme.