Day 16

Viola Stone woke up. She could hear a horse approaching.

Clip clop, clip clop.

She slid out from Shane’s arms and went to the door. Viola was a light sleeper. She had learnt to be.

She opened the door a jar and looked out. The stars were still out, but it was a little light. She guested it was about four in the morning.

Ferox carrying a lantern was coming on a horse. He had a basket with him. Viola went out to meet him.

“It’s very early.” Viola said.

“Yes, I was hoping to leave some food for you all before you woke.” He replied.

“That’s nice of you. What did you bring us?” She asked.

“Bread, oil, cheese, wine and smoked fish.” He answered.

“You could make a girl very happy.” Viola teased,

“I want to say thank you. For all the times you helped me. Stopping the run-away horse, taking me to the castle and staying with me. Now for the food and a place to sleep.” She was serious.

“You gave us all a scare, it’s a good thing your sisters with a Mystic Healer, your body was shaking, and your physician friend said your organs had sustained too much damage. I thought you were going to die.”

“No one told me I was so close to death.” Viola frowned.

“Whoever hurt you did a good job.”

“I did it to myself. I picked a fight I couldn’t win because I was angry.” She replied.

“I saw the other guy he came in and I saw you really put up a fight. He was hurt and double your size.” Ferox said.

“Please don’t blame him. It was my fault.” Viola told him.

“You are defending the guy who almost killed you, you are a strange one.” Ferox said.

“I tried to kill him first.” Viola confessed.

“That puts a new meaning to bad break up.” Ferox said.

“We were never together.” Viola stated.

She smiled awkwardly.

“I want to thank you most of all for keeping my secret.”

Ferox looked awkward. Then he said

“I wish you well, it has been interesting meeting you.”

“I imagine so. I am sorry for how I have treated you. It hasn’t been fair.”

“See you around?” He ventured.

“I doubt it. I plan on going home. I live very far away.” Viola answered.

“Something to remember you by?” he ventured.

Viola looked at what she had. She had nothing that was hers to give him.

“I have nothing to give you.” She said.

“Your necklace?”

“No, it’s very special to me.” Viola answered.

“A kiss?”

“Kisses are fleeting. You won’t remember it.” She replied.

Ferox shook his head.

“I know you are a very caring person. You were willing to kill a girl’s father for her. How is that forgettable?”

“It’s time for you to go.”

“You are difficult to make friends with.” He commented.

He mounted his horse.

“Ferox.” She blew him a kiss

“That is all you will ever get from me.” She told him.

“I will tell everyone you say hi and you brought us food.”

She waved and walked into the barn.

“Wakey, wakey everyone. Breakfast is here.” she called.

They came down.

“It’s still dark.” Sugar stated.

“Where did you get the food from?” Nikki asked.

“Ferox brought it. He says hi.” Viola said.

“What was very decent of him.” Shane applauded.

They ate and enjoyed the food. They were all hungry. Their food had been lost in the blizzard.

After packing up and putting the seed bags back in their place. They headed towards the castle. The castle was three hours walk away. The sunrise was beautiful to watch with the silhouette of the castle in front of it.

“We are here.” Nikki said excited.

She ran into the castle.

Nikki had felt bad that when they left. Tẽra was in session, and she hadn’t said goodbye.

Snow crunched under their feet as they walked. The castle was guarded.

“State your business.” One said.

Nikki showed them her royal seal.

“We are all together.” Shane said.

Nikki ran to Tẽra’s room. She wanted to say hi before going to the blacksmith to have things made.

Tẽra was not in her room. But a man was…

“Who are you?” Nikki asked.

The man looked her up and down. She was clearly not the queen.

“Where is the queen?” He asked presuming she was a handmaid.

As he stood up Nikki saw the sword in his hand.

She screamed and ran out the door. Screaming as she ran. He ran after her. A guard heard her and rang the bell. But no one had come to her aid.

Nikki ran for the guards’ sleeping quarters. She hoped someone able to help her would be there.

“Help! Help!” high pitched screams came from her mouth.

Sugar heard the screaming and the bell ringing.

She pulled her knife out and picked up a staff. She ran towards the screaming.

Viola also heard the screaming and cautiously went towards it. She saw Nikki running with a big man gaining on her, sword drawn.

Viola threw her knife. It went into the back of his head as Sugar charged him from the side.

Viola ducked out of sight.

Sugar’s knife went into his heart.

She saw the knife in the back of his head and looked around. But she couldn’t see anyone. Guards finally arrived, but the big man was already dead.

“He was in Tẽra’s room.” Nikki panted “Tẽra wasn’t there.” she added, “Her room was not guarded.” Nikki puffed.

Shane arrived. He checked the man’s pulse.

“He’s dead.” He said.

“I could have told you that.” Sugar said.

“I thought you were fit?” Sugar said to the panting Nikki.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

“You scream and run for your life!” Nikki snapped.

Viola arrived.

“What happened?” she asked.

“This guy was waiting in Tẽra’s room. She was not in her room. I ran, he chased me. Sugar killed him.” Nikki summarized.

“Good thing you were around.” Viola said to Sugar.

“Where is the queen?” Shane asked.

“We should find her” Viola said.

Zazo arrived.

Shane explained what had happened and asked where the queen was. Zazo had no idea, but he was worried and sent men to do a search.

Tẽra Trazzie slept soundly. She had never shared a bed before, but it didn’t make a difference to her ability to sleep. In fact, feeling safe meant she slept well for the first time in days.

Joe however did not have a great night’s sleep. Tẽra hogged the bed and the blankets.

Joe was finally asleep when they all were woken up because of the bell being rung.

Tẽra sat up. Joe jumped out of bed and grabbed her knives, then her clothes.

Rosaleighm rolled off the bed.

Joe opened the door and asked what was happening. But no one seemed to know or understand her.

“Tẽra get dressed. I need to know what’s happening.” Joe said.

Tẽra looked at Joe.

“My clothes are in my room. I have none but what I am wearing.”

Joe checked the path was clear and they took Tẽra to her room. She got dressed, brushed her hair, washed her face and chose her jewels.

“Hurry.” Joe pressed.

“I have to be presentable.” Tẽra replied.

Tẽra was finally dressed and asked the guards what the bell was about.

He explained that there was someone in her room and he is now dead at the hand of Sugar.

Tẽra explained to Joe.

“Sugar is not here.” Joe said.

“That’s what I thought too.” Tẽra said.

They arrived at the dead body.

Guards were carrying him away.

Shane, Viola, Sugar and Nikki all stood by the blood pool.

Tẽra smiled and hugged Nikki.

“I am glad you are back.” She frowned “Why are you back?”

“We got caught in a storm. A villager named Ferox put us up for the night and now we are back for supplies. Everything was lost. Even our clothes.” Nikki said.

“Your clothes came off in the storm?” Tẽra was stunned.

“No.”

Nikki explained everything that had happened.

“You look lovely in a dress. But take what you need, and I will send a thank you to Ferox for helping you.”

“Zazo is looking for you.” Viola said.

Tẽra looked at her. She wasn’t sure why she didn’t dislike the cryptic woman who came and went like a ghost and always knew more than anyone else. Like Griffith wanting to kill her. If she had heeded maybe lives would have been saved. But how was she to know.

“I wish that the lost heir would be found.” Tẽra sighed.

“Who is the lost heir?” Viola asked.

“They would have red hair, in this world only royalty has red hair.”

“Then I do know where the lost heir is. But you will not be able to get her. She is with these crazy amazons, queen hating, man hating women. They almost killed me.” Viola said.

“LooDay was telling the truth.” Tẽra seemed surprised, “Why will I not be able to get her?”

Viola thought ‘Did you hear anything I said?’

“Because she is with man hating, queen hating warrior women. They are mean and they will kill any man who goes near them. No chatting first, just dead.” Viola said hoping it now made sense.

“So, the men I sent with LooDay to find this girl are going to die?”

“Probably already dead. They are about an hour into the jungle from the church in Point.”

“All of them?” Tẽra asked.

“Yes.” Viola replied.

“I sent trusted men.” She was upset.

Then Tẽra’s face changed.

“Can you get her?” she asked Viola.

“No. No I cannot. They will kill me. They almost already did. They have a mystic healer, a child that healed me, but I am not welcome.”

“If I get a group of women, can you lead them?” Tẽra asked.

“No. They don’t like strangers. I am a woman, and they were happy to kill me. Plus, who could you send that can fight an army? They will kill me.”

Tẽra looked around. Only Sugar and Joe were skilled fighters. Fiona wasn’t around and she didn’t know anyone else.

“Can I send a letter?” Tẽra asked.

“Don’t know if they can read and the messenger will die.”

Nikki interrupted.

“Viola it’s important. Tẽra will stay in this world if someone cannot be found to replace her. We need the lost heir. Just like we need the crystals to go home.”

Viola looked puzzled.

“You would stay here as their queen when they want to kill you, and you can go home?” Viola asked.

“I took on the responsibility when I pretended to be the queen and now, I am the queen. I can’t run just because it’s an unpleasant job. Unless someone can take my place in the proper order of things. I will stay and marry the Dragon Rider prince.” Tẽra looked sad

“I am getting married in a few days. I don’t have time to figure things out. I need results. Like the lost heir. So, I can go home.” Tẽra looked like she wanted to cry.

“What about the Dragon Rider’s ruling princess. Dragon Riders are the enemy of the queen. Being a woman, she might be able to make a case to their leader. If it fails at least, you have one less enemy.” Viola advised.

“That’s sending your mom in-law to the grave!” Shane objected.

“Her mom in law tried to kill her, remember. We lost people and it was horrible. So, if she dies. At least it was for a good reason not just a senseless death.” Viola defended.

“We don’t kill people.” Nikki said.

“That’s why we were in trouble. Black Beard stirred a rebellion because he was alive.” Sugar reminded “If a person is a problem leaving them to gain followers is a seriously stupid.”

“Ask them if they want to go. Explain the situation as best as possible as give her a choice.” Viola said.

Tẽra looked at the conflicting opinions and all the sound reasoning behind both arguments. She looked at Joe.

“What do you think?” she asked.

“Tell the princess that she must go. Send Sugar as security and hire that guy that brought Kerri back to take them to find the crystal. Then we have a chance to find the lost heir and retrieve the crystal. No time is lost. I would have sent Autumn, but I haven’t seen her lately. I think she is still looking for that missing girl.”

“Jessica?” Shane asked.

“Yes.” Tẽra answered, “Autumn is looking for Jessica. I thought I saw Autumn yesterday. But I must have been mistaken. She is good at finding people and I have faith in her. She will bring Jessica home.”

Shane sighed a sigh of relief.

“Your plan is good.” Tẽra said to Joe, “I will do as you have suggested.”

“Shane, go to the City Point and find Captain Kumi. Ask him for safe passage to the mountain. Take the fifty gold coins with you. I will pay whatever he asks. Kerri said he fed her and protected her. She was safe with him.”

She turned to Sugar “Prepare to protect the princess. She is a difficult woman. I want things to go well. No killing unless the princess is in danger. Keep her alive. I want the lost heir brought back with you.” Tẽra turned to leave then she looked back

“Kidnap her if you must.”

“Where are you going?” Nikki asked.

“To speak with the princess. Then to the peace talks and maybe eat something.”

Tẽra and Joe disappeared around the corner.

“Who was that?” Viola asked.

“Joe the shadow of death.” Shane replied.

“Joe as in the woman who killed fifty of the queen’s guards and another forty-five because she was in a bad mood?” Viola asked.

“I helped kill those fifty guards!” Sugar objected.

“She did it because Natrica was afraid. She needed to know who wanted to hurt the queen and Natrica. So, she killed every slave loyal to Black Beard.” Nikki explained.

“Why do you say the shadow of death?” Viola asked Shane.

“People call her that because her shadow is the last thing you see before death.”

“Gloomy” Viola said.

“Who was the child with her?”

“Rosaleighm. Usually Spice a local girl is also with her. But Spice is busy with the sick. She is a physician and a good one.” Shane told her.

Nikki went to the blacksmith and showed him what she wanted. Shane went to check on his patience and bumped into Drake.

“I have not seen you around. I was worried something had happened to you.” Drake said.

“I am fine. I am going as a translator with some friends. I know the queen has Autumn looking for Jessica. She reassured me that Autumn is the best and Jessica will be found.”

“I am getting bonded in a few days.” Drake looked uncertain “The queen is nice. We had a lovely walk together last night. She is so different from anything I imagined. It’s troubling me.”

Shane wanted to tell Drake that the queen was indeed not the queen he had heard of. But in a way the lost heir. But he kept quiet. It was not his place to tell. If Tẽra wanted him to know she could tell him herself.

“She has become someone else.” Shane said.

“Yes, I was asking the slaves. They say since she was attacked, she is different as if it is not the queen but someone who looks like her.”

“Do you think she is not the queen?” Shane asked.

“I don’t know what to think. I…” Drake shook his head “I don’t know.”

Yair arrived.

“My prince, it is time for us to eat before continuing with the peace talks.”

“Duty owns me.” Drake said.

“As it does all royals.” Shane replied.

Tẽra knocked on the Dragon Riders leader’s door.

Ruling Prince Ryu opened the door.

“My queen.” He forced a little bow his face expressed pain

Tẽra began, “I have a proposal for you. I have learned of the lost heir’s location. But I am tied down with talks. My men are wounded or dead. I am offering you a chance to serve your queen and prove yourself.”

“Go on.” Princess Libelle said.

“I need Princess Libelle to go to the jungle outside the City Point. In the forest is a group of women that hate the queen. However, the lost heir is with them. They also hate men and are warriors. Effective killing warriors.” Tẽra informed.

“Women warriors? That hate you and men, and you want me to ask them for the lost heir?” Libelle was horrified.

“Yes, I want you to bring her here. As I said before if she can be found I will step down as queen and she can rule instead.”

“So, my son is to bond with you, and it will be for nothing?” Ryu said.

“If you return with the girl, I will not bond with him.” Tẽra said, “But you have to return before I bond with him. If you fail to be back before then, then I will bond with him presuming you have failed.”

“You are but a girl yourself. How is this other girl going to do a better job?” Ryu asked.

“She will have someone from each tribe advising her. As will I once the peace talks are successful.”

“How do we know you won’t just kill the girl?” Libelle asked.

“She will be with you. How will I get to her?” Tẽra responded.

“If these women hate men and you. Do you expect me to go alone?” Libelle asked.

“No, you will have Sugar with you. She is a warrior and will be your best chase of success. She has orders to protect you.” Tẽra said.

“How do I know you are not lying?” Libelle asked.

“I am not the one who has lied this week. Nor have I tried to kill you. Why would I tell her to kill you in the jungle when I can do that here, where I can see the job was done properly?” Tẽra asked.

“You speak as one that knows about these things. Tiffany has grown up.” Libelle said.

“Do not ever call me Tiffany.” Tẽra said, “Not ever!”

She glared at them. “Decide what will it be? Will you go and relieve me of my crown or stay in your room?” Tẽra asked.

“I will go. I will also take some of my men and my symbols that I am the ruling princess of the Skiopia.”

“Great. You leave today.” Tẽra said.

She left the room.

Zazo ran over.

“My queen. I was looking for you. I was told a man was in your chambers and intended to harm you.”

“I wasn’t in my roo… chambers. I couldn’t sleep there as a woman was in there earlier and she wanted to kill me. So, I found somewhere else to sleep. I am thinking about finding new chambers.” Tẽra paused, “Every bad person knows where mine are. How is that?” She asked.

“I am so glad you are alright. I had assigned men to your door. I don’t know where they must be.”

“I told the woman that there was no longer a reward as Griffith is dead and he was the one who put the bounty on my head. She left after that. But I guess news spreads slowly.”

Joe rolled her eyes. She walked away. The body language of Zazo was so obvious that only Tẽra would miss it.

“My Viden is gone on a quest. I need another.” Tẽra said.

“My queen. I will send word immediately. They should have the message by sunset.”

“Thank you.”

Zazo left. Tẽra watched him. He was nice and part of her liked him. But whenever she would think nice thoughts about him, she would remind herself that he was betrothed.

This was one of those moments.

“Why don’t you marry him?” Joe asked.

“What!?” Tẽra defensive.

Joe shrugged

“Suit yourself.”

“He is betrothed.” Tẽra stated “Not available. He is not an option.”

“If he wasn’t betrothed, would he be?” Joe asked.

“I don’t know. He is betrothed.”

“Why are we saying betrothed?” Joe asked shaking her head.

“It’s how these people talk. I am getting into trouble talking like I am from earth. So, I need to use their terms if I am going to keep my head.”

Tẽra took a deep breath.

“Thank you for letting me sleep over last night and delaying your vengeance.” Tẽra was grateful.

“I need a clear mind before going, emotions get people killed.” Joe replied.

“When you return to earth are you taking Rosaleighm with you?” Tẽra asked.

“Yes.” Rosaleighm replied.

They both smiled at her. In a way why not take her. Except if anyone found out Rosaleighm would be locked away by men in black suits.

Tẽra had every intention of taking Otchulissa back with her. She wasn’t going to tell anyone, but she was not leaving her new pet behind.

She thought of the lonely life she was returning too. She was loved but she didn’t have friends, nor freedom. But in Chayim she had friends, sort of. She didn’t have much freedom, but she was in charge. Which she always imagined would be more fun. Sadly, being in charge did not live up to expectations.

“How did you survive alone in the woods?” Tẽra asked Rosaleighm.

Rosaleighm looked at the floor.

“I wasn’t always alone.”

“Who was with you?”

“Dawn, was but then I got too big.”

It was clear talking about it upset her.

Tẽra and Joe looked at each other and then the child.

Rosaleighm was twelve years old but only was big as a ten-year-old. How was she too big?

“Did Dawn look after you?” Tẽra asked.

“Yes, but then the others found out and chased me away.” Rosaleighm had a big frown on her face that used every muscle in her face.

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“May I ask one more question?” Tẽra asked

Rosaleighm nodded and held up one finger.

“Where does Dawn live?”

“In the light forest.” She replied.

Tẽra and Joe exchanged looks. It made more sense that a baby didn’t survive alone. But how was she too big? And Tẽra hadn’t heard of the light forest.

Tẽra went to eat. She hurried so she could catch Hodge before the talks continued.

Tẽra found him on his way to the round table.

“Where is the light forest?” Tẽra asked him.

“Good morning, my queen. The light forest is on the edge of the world. It is a place of power and…” his voice trailed off

“My queen, I don’t know if it has power. The river ends there. There is nothing there but green woods. No one goes there and I don’t know why. My records say it has strange power. But nothing is recorded to back up the statement.”

“How far away is it?” Tẽra asked.

“One month by horse.” He replied.

“Are there no records of people living here. Or maybe someone use to live there?” Tẽra asked.

“My queen. It is recorded as a green forest. On the edge of the world. I don’t know more than that. No one had disturbed the forest. Rumors say it lives and the trees sing. But that’s gossip not fact.” Hodge smiled awkwardly.

“Am I doing a good job as queen?” Tẽra asked him.

“My queen?”

“Well, am I? You know what they did before me. So, would you say I am a good queen?”

“I would say so.” Hodge replied.

Tẽra smiled.

“You must be honest with me. I don’t want to be a bad leader.” Tẽra said.

“My queen I only record. I do not advise.” He stated.