“We are a kingdom!” I shouted. In return, I received very loud applauses and screaming.

“We shall not be put down in any way!” I screamed. The yells got louder as over 500 people agreed with me.

“They took one of ours. We will not let this go!”

“No, we will never let this go!”

I turn my head to see the prince of the dragons land right next to me. He was exuding a menacing aura that threatened to overwhelm me. I couldn't help but wonder about how he found out.

“For the queen” he said.

“FOR THE QUEEN” everyone echoed him.

A gong was sounded and about 1000 of the chosen warriors shuffled across the kingdom looking for weapons and armor they had long ago set aside. No one knew of their existence. No one knew of their power. There was never any war for the kingdom since the fall of Dieder, the dark being. Nor were there ever any visitors. It was forbidden to let any visitors through, not that anyone had happened upon the kingdom ever before. And if they did, they did not attempt to enter.

It was only yesterday night that the kingdom received some horrible news.

The queen had left out of the kingdom and was heading to the kingdom of Rahir for unknown reasons. She recited that it was “my much much needed vacation” and finished with “if anyone follows me, I'll give them the silent treatment for the rest of our lives”. And so the queen was escorted to the nearest village outside the area of the kingdom and was provided with funds for travel. We did leave one person to follow as it would be unwise to leave a queen without a guard. He stayed the night in the woods watching the village. The issue arose when the village was attacked by a group known to him. He tried to help, but he stated that there was an “army's worth of people”. He had been busy hunting and did not notice. When he did, he attempted to get her covertly, but the queen had ordered him to leave when she and a few others saw him. He was chased far into the woods by a group before he turned around and massacred them.

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“Is everyone ready?” I screamed. I had given them enough time. Screams of “ya” and “nay” sounded. I clapped and yelled “well, if you aren't, I want you to catch up. We are leaving now. Never exit the forest and don't go too far in or too close to the edge of the forest. We will take them by surprise. They took our queen and we're going to get her back.”

I was already down at the gate of the kingdom when I finished. I had one more thing to say. Something the queen never fails to say when we go to any battle.

“No deaths!”

“NO DEATHS” they all screamed at the top of their lungs.

We had a rule that nearly everyone followed. A rule of no deaths. If you can't handle it, don't fight. No one thinks less of you. No one blames you. We just rejoice in the life the queen has given us.

“No deaths” I screamed again and I ran into the forest that stood right outside our gates. I was giddy with battle spirit. Happy to leave the kingdom again.