Night 7

Tẽra Trazzie had another diner date with Zazo the second to General Pan. She was tired from a long day. A lot had happened in that day and it wasn’t over yet. She bathed and dressed, and made herself nice. She hadn’t seen Nikki or Kerri since she had granted their requests. Being queen wasn’t her idea but she did kind of fall into it. From the moment she arrived at the castle she had resumed the queen’s role and despite her lack of knowledge and other obstacles she was managing. Being queen wasn’t all glamorous. Only the clothes were, nothing else was.

Making hard decisions that affected other people’s lives were never easy. Yet she had managed to maintain her position without any of the generals noticing she wasn’t the real queen.

Tẽra walked into the dining hall. Zazo stood as she approached.

“You look lovely” he said.

“Thank you. Shall we get right to it?”

“Yes”

So, Tẽra brought up her idea to him.

“I need to make an alliance that will ensure peace. I need an heir. A family is meant to rule not just an individual. Who would be best in achieving this?”

Yip she was suggesting a marriage that would unite the kingdom.

“The Dragon Riders are the most powerful tribe. They have a lot of support from other tribes. The first prince is un-bonded and heir to the throne. A union with him would bring the other tribes hope and it would be the most strategic. But then the Dragon Riders would always have a claim on the crown.”

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“Only a child with red hair can rule. A royal child, this would not change. Our child that is without red hair can rule the Dragon Riders after him. Our child with red hair will rule my Kingdom.”

“What if your Dragon Rider prince has a child with red hair that would be a child with a claim to the crown and be heir to the Dragon Riders kingdom.”

Tẽra wasn’t sure what he was trying to say. Was he saying marry or be bonded to the Dragon Riders’ prince was a good idea or was he saying if you do marry him it will bite you later?

“What do you suggest?”

“Bond as you normally would. Have an heir with a man from the Terra tribe. Like the royal family always does.”

“Will this bring the kingdom together? Will having a child bring peace?”

“No, that might be something only your child can bring. You have done… some unforgettable things.” Zazo said.

“If I gave the crown to a cousin or sister would that cousin be able to bring about peace?”

“Maybe, my queen. Why are you so fixed on bring about peace? I am not saying you shouldn’t want peace but you are trying to undo years of choices in a week.”

Tẽra wanted to tell Zazo.

I’m not the real queen.

But she was afraid. Trust was something she had in short supply.

“I don’t remember making those decisions. I do know that this is not what my parents would have wanted.”

“Do you remember your parents dying?” he asked.

She wasn’t sure how to answer. Her parents, well her mother was alive. Her father wasn’t murdered so it made a big difference.

The food arrived. Tẽra used it to change the subject. She needed people she could trust. But trust was something she didn’t have a lot of. Even those who were meant to stand by her were now doing their own thing.

“Zazo, who do you think tried to kill me?” she asked.

“My queen, I don’t know.”

“Zazo can I trust you?” she asked.

“Yes, my queen.”

“I have a friend who saved my life. She is going on a trip to the mountains. Please send men you trust to ensure her safely.”

“It will be done.”

“Also, there is a man named Shrew. He is an informant of mine. But lately I question what he does. Can you put men you trust to find out quietly what he is up to when he is not with me? He cannot know your men are there. No one must know I question his…”

“Loyalty?” Zazo imputed.

“Yes. Loyalty.”

“I will see to it.”

Zazo was unsure but this queen was different. He had never met the queen before but he had heard stories.

He decided to look into who tried to kill her.

Tẽra and Zazo talked and even though they couldn’t agree on many things Tẽra really liked talking with him. He was honest and spoke with her and not to the fear he had of her. Tẽra found herself feeling less tired after their dinner than before it.