Day 8

Josephina went to the dining room. It had been a busy day, training people, trying to learn the language and having clothes made for her by the royal tailor. She had however enjoyed her day.

She and Natrica were good again and Natrica was finally seeing that defending herself was a good thing not a bad thing.

She did however find that letting Natrica in had opened a door that made her vulnerable. She didn’t like feeling vulnerable which was why she needed Natrica to be able to defend herself. She also found that she was caring for the child Rosaleighm. She feared this could be used against her.

Natrica and Rosaleighm came in to the dining hall to eat. Rosaleighm’s hair was no longer a ball mattered on the side of her head. Instead, the brown-haired girl had curls dancing around her face.

“How did you manage that?” Joe asked amazed.

“Patience, and a hot spring bath.”

“Hot spring bath?” Joe asked.

“Yip, one of the male slaves, showed it to me.”

“Please show me I really could use a proper bath.”

“Our little secret. Not for everyone. Most of the servants don’t even know about it.”

Joe agreed. She didn’t like the idea of sharing a bath with someone. Natrica didn’t seem to mind being naked or half naked. She used what she had, and she used it well.

“He must like you. That slave boy.” Joe said.

“Well, he was a young man.” Natrica corrected.

Spice came into the dining room. She smelt of fields and cut grass. It wasn’t the nice fields of flowers but rather of weeds and smelly bushes.

“Can we share it with Spice?” Joe asked

“Yes, but only us. I want it to be our secret.”

“She needs a bath more than I do.” Joe stated

Rachael came in.

“How are you?” Natrica asked her

“I have been better.” She admitted.

“How is that brand looking?”

“It’s healing, still sore though.” Rachael answered.

Rachael played with her food.

“Is anyone else bothered that Tẽra is now queen and is being all bossy and stuff?” Rachael asked the table.

“No, she’s doing a good job running things and we are living every comfortable compared to what things could be like for us.” Natrica answered.

“Doesn’t it bother you that you have two alien friends?” Rachael asked her.

“Alien friends?” Joe asked.

“Yeah, Spice and Rosa… whatever with the hazel eyes.”

Joe was about to defend her new friends but Natrica spoke us.

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“What’s wrong? Are you upset that Spice is helping Chris even though he is a bad guy?”

Rachael paused. Natrica had seen right though her. She has lashing out at them without meaning to because she was angry that Chris was getting help when he deserved to suffer.

“I’m sorry.” She said, then she left the room to find Tẽra the new queen.

Rachael went and found Tẽra.

Tẽra, was stroking Otchulissa her leopard cub. The cub purred with both eyes closed.

“Tẽra, may we talk?” Rachael asked.

“Sure. What’s on your mind?”

“It’s about Chris. I am not sure getting him help is a good thing. He deserves to be thrown to the wolves and eaten.”

“Rachael what he did to you was not ok. It was barbaric and he may never be able to make things right. But leaving him to die would make us like him. We are better than that.” Tẽra responded.

Rachael tried to smile. It was hard. She heard what Tẽra was saying but she still wanted him dead and she was sure it wouldn’t make her like him. She would be protecting others from him.

“So, what is going to happen to Chris when he recovers?” Rachael asked again.

“We will put him in prison. Put him trial for his crimes.” Tẽra answered.

“I don’t think selling people is illegal here!” Rachael was not happy with that answer.

“What would you have me do?” Tẽra asked.

“Execute him” Rachael replied.

“Pardon!”

“Who wants a man like that running around?”

“I am not like the other queen. Killing people is not how I plan to run things.”

“Do you plan to do anything?” Rachael asked.

“Yes, and he will be punished.”

Rachael was unhappy.

“Thank you for your time.”

She left.

Tẽra was then called for her meeting with the generals. They had arrived the day before but she hadn’t had a meeting with them all together yet.

She took a deep breath and walked into the room.

The generals all diverted their eyes and greeted her with “my queen” as she walked past them.

“By now you should have all heard about the peace talked I have called for. I want to hear from you what your concerns are?”

So Tẽra, and her general discussed her options. Most of the generals felt peace looked like weakness. They felt a strong arm was the best moved.

Zazo discreetly joined the meeting.

“My queen’s wish to unite the tribes and restore this land is a bold one. But I will stand with you.” Zazo said.

He wanted the generals to stop thinking about themselves. He also didn’t want them to be afraid of getting beheaded if they went with an option of peace.

“Thank you Zazo” Tẽra said.

Tẽra addressed all her generals.

“I have heard the whispers about my changes. I want to clear it up for you. Someone attacked me in the castle and killed my tiger’s. I was struck hard on the head and when I awoke, I couldn’t remember things. I still do not remember. The physician says I may never remember. So, I want to honor my parents in how I do things from now on. Do Not presume this is weakness.”

Tẽra was firm

“For I will change things with or without your help. So, will you help me?” she asked.

They looked at one another.

“My queen, peace is not possible. The people will not believe you are genuine. They will view it as weakness and seek your life.”

“Will you protect me?” she asked.

The room was uncomfortably quiet.

“What if I stepped down and gave the throne to a relative?” Tẽra inquired.

“My queen the people will follow another royal.”

Tẽra got the picture. Her generals didn’t like her. They were not willing to protect her. They might even kill her if paid enough.

“Find me a royal heir before the peace conference and I will step down. This meeting is on record so my words are recorded.”

“My queen you are different.” They agreed.

She hoped they would find a royal to replace her. But she wasn’t going to hope. She needed to focus on fixing the mess she was now taking responsibility for.

Tẽra asked Zazo to stay behind after the meeting ended.

“My queen?”

“Zazo do you have trusted men still here that are not with Nikki and Fiona on the way to the mountain?” Tẽra asked him.

“I have a few. What do you need them for?” he asked.

“I want you and men you trust to get trained by Joe and to train her in return.” Tẽra told him.

“I do not understand my queen.” he said.

Tẽra explained that Joe was teaching a small group to fight and kill, but there were weapons that Joe didn’t know how to use yet. Tẽra wanted Zazo and his trusted men to train Joe to use these weapons.

“Please join us tomorrow for training with your trusted men.” Tẽra said.

Tẽra was about to dismiss him when she thought.

“Please join me for the dance lesson that Natrica is giving every morning. It’s more fun than it sounds.” Tẽra said.

“I will join you for the lesson and anything else my queen requests.” Zazo answered bowing.

“Please, Zazo do not bow and scrape to me. I appreciate you because you are bold enough to say what you want and need.” Tẽra said.

“My queen, I would be honored to dance with you.” He replied.

Tẽra smiled and dismissed him.

She walked the castle looking at the unnecessary things, coated in dust. She wondered what motivated Tiffany? Why was she so… awful.

Natrica crossed her path.

“Good evening.” Natrica greeted.

“Good evening.” Tẽra replied.

“Rachael, is very upset about Chris. The brand is still healing and very sore. I am sure being sold must have been terrifying. Maybe she will feel comfort if she knows justice will be served.” Natrica said.

“Rachael spoke with me. She seems very unhappy with my answer.”

“May I ask what you told her?” Natrica was a little concerned.

She could see that Rachael was struggling with this.

“I told her we will hold a trail.”

“Once he is found guilty, then what?” Natrica asked.

“Prison, educated so he can contribute when released. I’m not sure what punishment looks like in this world.”

“Educated… that’s a slap in the face to honest hard working poor people.”

Tẽra was taken by surprise. Natrica’s response baffled her.

“Honest people work all their lives and refuse to do what is wrong for more money, yet they cannot afford to educate their children. But people who should be punished are rewarded for their bad deeds with free education, a roof over their head and free food. While the honest go hungry. If crime pays why should the poor be righteous? Why should anyone be?” Natrica looked Tẽra in the eyes.

“Bad deeds need to be punished not rewarded. You as queen can make sure bad people are punished so that the good people don’t feel despair. I am not saying kill them. I am not willing to kill. But do not slap the faces of good poor people by giving evil a comfortable life.”

Since Tẽra, was never poor she had never thought of these things. Natrica’s words resonated in her. She understood that her idea was not a good one. She needed to learn about the world’s justice system so she could do better.

“You have spoken with wisdom. Thank you! I will try to be a fair ruler who don’t reward bad deeds. It has been good talking to you. Your perspective is insightful. May I request your thoughts on things in the future?”

“Sure.” Natrica replied, pleased it had gone well.

Tẽra, was surprised that a poll dancer had such valuable insight. She wondered how many others she had misjudged.

They parted ways, each happy with the outcome of their encounter.