Day 12

When Tiffany saw Tẽra wearing royal clothes and her mother’s crown, she became outraged.

“How dare you wear my mother’s crown?! You imposter!” She screamed.

“Guards! Let me out right NOW!!” she ordered.

“My dear child what happened to you?” Hannah asked.

“I was kidnapped! Heads will roll for this!”

Tẽra just stared.

A dirty woman with brown hair that had streaks of red in it raged and screamed behind the bars. Her clothes where those of peasants and she smelt like horse manure.

Tẽra looked at her with bravery.

“I am now the queen.” Tẽra looked at the mess that stood before her.

“You made it easy for me to replace you. No one even knows what you look like. Yet I let them see me. My face is the known face of a new loved queen. You will never be queen again. But if you humble yourself, I will move you to a more comfortable place.”

LooDay saw the red hair of the queen.

“My queen, spare me for I have sinned against you, but I have a peace offering.”

Tẽra was leaving but then he caught her attention.

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“I know where the lost heir is. I have seen her with my own eyes, and I can take you there.”

“The heir to my throne?” Tẽra questioned.

He gulped “Yes, my queen, do with her as you want. But spare me for this knowledge.”

“Release him.” The guards released him.

“My queen.” He bowed to the ground.

“I know this waste.” Kerri said “He tried to steal my things when I got poisoned.”

“But I didn’t and now you are well. All is well that end well.” LooDay said hopefully.

“Lost heir? I killed everyone. That is a stupid rumour started by that Skiopia tribe in an attempt to overthrow me.” Tiffany said.

“I saw her, a child with wild red hair. She is in the forest.” LooDay insisted.

“Really a child living in the forest alone?” Kerri said in disbelief.

“I have seen it before. A girl survived the forest and lived alone. She doesn’t speak.” Tẽra said thoughtfully.

“What?!” Kerri exclaimed “A child alone?”

“Yes”

“But she is not alone.” LooDay said “She is with warrior women who hate men and the queen.”

“So how did you escape?” Kerri asked.

“I can be persuasive.” He winked at her.

“Do you think he is telling the truth?” Tẽra asked Kerri.

“Lying is just not my thing.” He interrupted.

“Be silent.” Tẽra ordered.

LooDay looked at the floor afraid for his life.

“It’s worth checking out.” Kerri said.

“Clean him up and have him show General Nathan where these forest women are.” Tẽra said to the dungeon keeper.

“I have good news. I know how to get us home. I met a wizard and he told me. There are crystals hidden. They all need to be brought to Mount Jeku. One crystal is in the city of gold. I don’t know where that is. And another is in the Village Fish. I also don’t know where that is but once we have them, we can place them with mine on mount Jeku and then we can go home.” Kerri told Tẽra while they walked back towards the royal dining hall.

“I also need an Aurum to place the crystals, according to the writings I have read.” Kerri said.

“This is good news. Maybe I will not have to marry after all.”

“Marry who?” Kerri asked shocked at what she was hearing.

“I have proposed a marriage between myself and the Skiopia prince to ensure peace.”

Kerri shook her head “Why would you do that?”

“Because I have the role of queen and you do not even know for sure if the crystals are where this wizard says they are. How long until my head rolls? If I am discovered, we all die.” Tẽra stated.

“Is that why you killed forty-six people?” Kerri asked, “the servants said you had an episode.”

“No that was Joe and not with my permission. Black Beard Gruff escaped the dungeon and Natrica was upset. It was a bad day.” Tẽra finished.

“Sounds like it. Can you control Joe?” Kerri asked.

“Can anyone?”

“Maybe Natrica.” Kerri suggested.

“Doubt it. Slow her down but not control.”

The two women thought about the tasks ahead of them.