Day 6
Kerri-liana, James, Lakisha, Joe, Natrica, Spice, Rosaleighm, Fiona, James, Ranger, Autumn and Chris arrived at the Castle.
It was later than they had hoped. However, they had had many interruptions. Like Fiona and Ranger joining them. Then Joe and Rosaleighm and finally, Autumn who was pleading for her people.
But they were there and so were many others, peasants, slaves, soldiers and even the rich where there, all waiting for something.
Kerri didn’t want to ask so she listened in and told the others not to talk and give away that they do not belong there.
Kerri spoke to the guard and word was sent that there were visitors for the queen by the guards.
The group was in desperate need of a bath. They were smelly and hungry. The brown soup was insufficient.
Generals from the nearest cities had arrived. This was scaring the people and the guards too.
News that the queen had sent for her generals had spread and no one believed it was a good thing.
Everyone was however on their best behavior.
Autumn held Joe’s arm and went to the second gate.
“I am the hunter. I have one of the women the queen demanded.”
The guard let them through. They bound Joe who allowed it and led both women into the castle. They were brought before Tẽra who was sitting on the throne. She had changed her look.
“What do you want?” she asked looking at them
Autumn was sure this was not the queen but she wasn’t sure enough to say anything.
“I have found one of the women. I have also brought her back before your meeting. Please give me time to find the second woman and spare my people the death you promised. I will deliver her in one more day.”
Tẽra was surrounded by officials. Some who had been present for the Autumn’s ordeal.
“Where are her people?” Tẽra asked an official
“In the pit where you ordered them to be kept.”
“What is your name?” Tẽra asked Autumn
“Autumn. Please release half my people and give them the royal seals as we agreed.”
“Release half her people, women and children first, feed them and give them the royal seal.” Tẽra ordered.
Tẽra realized as long as she listened, she could kind of figure out stuff. Maybe she didn’t need the story after all. She had spent most of the day catching up of the events of the land and the queen’s character.
“Autumn you are given two days to find this other woman. But tonight, you will stay in the castle.”
Autumn’s heart raced.
“I have friends waiting for me at the gate.”
“Bring her friends in to meet me” Tẽra said.
“What of the captured woman?” an advisor asked “Shall we beat her for escaping?”
Tẽra looked at Nikki who was sitting near her.
She whispered,
“They want to know if I want this woman beaten?”
Nikki added “That’s not an option. Um… maybe the dungeon.”
“The dungeon” Tẽra said in English.
“The dungeon” she quickly repeated correctly.
“Kerri-liana believes she is your friend.” Joe said testing Tẽra.
Nikki and Tẽra looked at each other.
Tẽra ordered
“Bring as guests all who traveled with Autumn.” Tẽra said
“Do not take that woman to the dungeon, I want to speak with her alone later.” Tẽra commanded.
So, everyone was brought in before the queen.
“Leave us” Tẽra commanded.
“Some new faces.” Tẽra said looking at the group.
Autumn and Joe were still standing there. But Rosaleighm was not.
Kerri-liana explained how they had picked up others along the way. How Fiona wants to save her boyfriend’s people. How Autumn asked for help for her people and that Joe was the woman the fuss was all about, well Joe and the still missing Sugar.
Chris recognized Tẽra and he was afraid. He tried to stay out of sight.
“First, I want to address the matter of Ranger’s people. Who are they and why are they, my slaves?” Tẽra asked.
“Please, ask Ranger,” Fiona replied
Fiona knew something was going on. Kerri was friends with the evil queen. She hadn’t seen that coming nor had Kerri said anything before.
“Ranger, why are your people my slaves?” Tẽra asked him
He looked at the floor.
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“Our ability to heal people. You used us to make a profit.”
Tẽra held up her hand cutting him off.
“What tribe are you from?” she asked
“I am a Mystic Healer.” He answered
“I shall see to it your people are freed.”
“What do I owe you?” he asked worried
“Nothing” she said even though she wanted to say, please heal Rachael my friend.
“Thank you, my queen” Ranger said.
Despite everything being so tense and so much happening Fiona really just wanted Ranger to notice her. She was happy for him, she really was. His people were freed and they didn’t even have to fight for it. But Ranger hadn’t even looked at her yet.
Her insecurities grew and her hope began to die.
“How about freeing all of Autumn’s people?” Kerri suggested.
Tẽra turned to Autumn
“Who are your people and why are they, my slaves?”
Autumn couldn’t believe the question being asked she couldn’t fake niceness anymore.
“You don’t remember us! You made us work your mines until death and while you sit on your comfortable seat forgetting about us! Is that how you live?”
Tẽra calmly repeated the question
“Why are your people my slaves?”
“Because we stood against you when you took power and killed your kin. You became afraid we would turn the people against you and that you would die like your parents. Which would be too good for you!” Autumn snarled
“Tell me about these mines?” Tẽra inquired, not getting angry despite the mean girl.
“We mine precious stones. You like shiny things.” Autumn hissed
This would be a form of honest work for freed slaves, Tẽra thought.
She encouraged herself Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Tẽra called for an official.
“Release the mystic healers. Give them full freedom forever. I am done with them. Put Autumn and her people that haven’t been released in the dungeon for the night. Feed them well I have work for her in the morning.”
Autumn hissed as she was dragged to the dungeon.
“That wasn’t nice” Nikki said
“If I leave her to say whatever she wants like she did then people will see me as weak and try to kill me again. This way she gets to see her people and eat.”
Now Tẽra’s decision didn’t seem so ugly.
“Take Ranger to his people and decree a royal order of freedom for them. Do whatever else is necessary. I am entrusting this task to you. Don’t disappoint me.” Tẽra told the official
“Now leave”
“You really have become comfortable in your new position.” Kerri said
Tẽra smiled,
“Release this woman, Joe.”
Once Joe was unbound Tẽra formally introduced herself.
“I am T… the queen. Sadly, an attempt was made on my life and I have memory loss. The blow to my head has caused…unfortunate memory loss. But I believe you are a great warrior who I wanted as a general in my army. However, I am not sure that this is what I still want. So, you are free to go.”
“Queen Tiffany” Joe ventured “We have met before and you didn’t speak English.”
“I didn’t?” she seemed surprised.
“Your royalness, I don’t care for games. You are nicer than the real queen” Joe said
“I don’t really care why you are pretending to be a crazy person. But please don’t fake it with the earthlings.” Joe said
“I am Duchess Tẽra Trazzie from Tanzania. You are free to go or stay.” Tẽra said.
“Some hot food would be good, for Spice and Natrica, also for Rosaleighm. I am sure she will join us later.” Joe requested
“I will order it.” Tẽra said
She wanted to ask who Rosaleighm was but she had a meeting with the early arriving generals, ahead of her.
“I had dinner with the real queen,” James said “It was disturbing.”
He paused “May I intrude and request food for us all. We have been traveling and we haven’t eaten.”
“Anything else?” Tẽra asked.
Everyone looked at everyone else.
Rachael come in. Her face fall when she saw Chris hiding behind Ranger and James.
“Chris!” she said angry
Tẽra saw Chris. It was the Chris she had met in the woods with Nikki.
“So Tẽra Trazzie is now acting queen.” Chris said.
“Yes, I am! And that little secret needs to stay a secret.”
Tẽra called for the guards
“Put Chris in the dungeon ensure he is fed.”
Chris looked horrified.
Tẽra called in an official and decreed Chris be put in the dungeon and everyone else was to be fed and given rooms.
Now the hard part her meeting with the generals. Nikki stayed with her and the records keeper was there recording the events. The handmaid Hannah was also there and Rachael stayed for moral support.
Tẽra began by asking for an update. Each general had a turn to talk. Then she asked for the truth. She didn’t know them but she could tell they were lying.
No one wanted to speak. That’s when Hannah suggested she shared her secret.
So, Tẽra told them
“Someone attempted to kill me. My tigers have been poisoned and they are dead. I was struck on the head and I am unclear on many things.”
Everyone looked worried, eyes looked one too another.
“This woman” she pointed to Nikki “Saved me and so she is now advising me. So, please be clear, what is happening out there?”
Afraid but bravely the first General from Ti spoke up. He told her that the people are rebelling and that a rumor of a surviving royal has reach their ears. They want to replace her on the throne. He also added that the Dragon Riders have been impossible. Refusing to pay taxes and hiding in their mountain fortresses. They help anyone who voices rebellion against the queen. He believes they are creating an army and that her planned attack on them would only cost her soldiers their lives.
The second general spoke up. We have peace in the East. The tribes are peaceful and there is no need for war.
Once again, she felt she was being lied too.
The third general spoke up. The slave traders are a problem. They have been caught taking free women, even noble women and selling them in a different part of the country.
Finally, the general of Point spoke up. He was afraid. But so far, she hadn’t ordered anyone’s death.
“My queen, the people are afraid, and scared people cling to hope. They believe a warrior is coming to lead them to victory against you. And from what I know the Dragon Riders are able to lead them to war against you.” He was silent.
“What will bring peace to your areas?” she asked
The second General who had said his areas had peace spoke up.
“My queen, crush the resistance. Send extra troops with me to root out the trouble makers.”
Tẽra sighed
“Next option.”
“If it is peace you want, then compromises will need to be made.” said the first general.
“Compromises like?” Tẽra asked.
She felt talking to a tree would provide more straight answers and maybe it would.
She could tell no one wanted to tell her what needed to be compromised.
“Let’s have a break”
Tẽra left the room very frustrated. This was not the way she wanted to spend the rest of her day.
As she left the room so did the news of her head injury.
Shew the little rat of a man was delighted to hear this.
The kitchen slaves felt a little better. The last time she had been nice to them it was the day before beheading most of them.
The cleaning slaves rejoiced too. A similar thing had happened to them.
But the enemies of the queen who lay in the castle rejoiced for a different reason.
It is sad that everyone was happy that the queen had a head injury.
Surly one person must have felt compassion or sadness for her. Yet there was none, not one.
Tẽra walked into the dining hall. Where everyone who wasn’t in the dungeon was eating.
She sat down with Nikki beside her.
“No one is talking. I want peace. I want to make things better. If only I can get everyone in that room to stop lying to me.” Tẽra was frustrated
“Then send for ambassadors from every tribe to come and discuss a peaceful future.”
Joe suggested.
“That’s a great idea. If my generals won’t talk, the people I have wronged… I will.” She smiled and headed back to the discussion hall.
“People I have wronged?” Joe inquired “Is she taking responsibility for the queen’s actions?”
The dining hall pondered
The earthlings exchanged looks.
“Method acting.” Kerri shrugged.
Tẽra returned to the discussions
“I have decided that I will send for a representative from every tribe to come and discuss their grievances for a peaceful future.”
Tẽra saw everyone looking at her like this is not the queen.
She took a strong approach,
“I want the people to love me. Now send for someone to represent their tribe in a peaceful meeting!” Tẽra ordered
Everyone stood up straight.
“My queen what if they refuse to come?” the third general asked.
“Why would they do that?” Tẽra asked.
The silence was deafening. She looked around the room everyone was still avoiding eye contact with her.
“Look at me!” she ordered
“Why wouldn’t they come!?!” she repeated.
The records keeper spoke up. He never spoke up. He was invisible. But today he spoke up.
“My queen, the last time you called a meeting like this, it was just after you assented the throne. They disagreed with you and you fed them to your tigers.”
“Oh” Tẽra said shocked
Quickly gathering herself she asked
“What would make them feel safe enough to come?”
“If a royal seal of protection was sent with an invitation.”
A general’s second in command suggested.
He knew he wasn’t meant to speak but the queen really didn’t seem so bad. She seemed reasonable.
“What’s your name?” she asked
“Zazo” he answered
“Record what Zazo has said and let it be done. The day after the full moon we will have our peace meeting. Generals I expect you to be present.”
(Yes, she had figured out they used the moon to judge time.)
“Dismissed” she said
“Zazo, stay.”
Everyone wondered as they left the room. What could that be about?
The generals were afraid and making new alliances with each other for just in case they need to fight for their heads.
Zazo stayed. The queen beckoned him closer.
“Your bravery to speak up when your superiors would not, is commendable. I want you to be an advisor to me in military matters.”
“Will I be based in the castle?” Zazo asked
“Yes, unless you have a reason you don’t want to be?”
“I am to be married, and she is lovely. She lives in the outlying village Plush. I wish to return to her.”
“You may return to her. But I will need your honesty during the peace talks.” Tẽra said
“I will be here, my queen.” He paused “My queen, I want to live and get married and have children. They will kill me for telling you what you need to know.”
This troubled Tẽra.
“Tell me in private, so no one will know it was you.”
He was hesitant, then he started. He explained that the taxes were too high and people couldn’t afford them. He also mentioned that some and he wouldn’t give names, but some soldiers and generals were helping themselves to the taxes. He addressed many other problems she hadn’t been aware of.
He asked that she not tell of her wish to make him an advisor. But rather allow him to say he was invited to dine with her tomorrow night.
So, she allowed it.
Ranger was delighted to be with others of his kind however there were fewer than he had hoped for.
They decided to discuss the tribe’s future once everyone had been freed and they could count their numbers.
Ranger was surprised Fiona wasn’t there. But he was so happy he didn’t go find her. He intended to thank her when he saw her. Which believed would be soon.
Natrica went to the kitchen and made herself food. She made for the slaves in the kitchen as well. They loved the food and wanted her to show them how she made it. Natrica showed them a few simple recipes that were her go to’s. Despite the language barrier she was making friends. She didn’t eat with the others. The judgy looks and snotty comments had gotten to her.