Night 12

Tẽra Trazzie called everyone to attention.

“The Prince of the Skiopia tribe and I will be bonded. The people responsible for this tragic time will be found. Now representatives of the regions of my land. Join with me and let’s make a new world for everyone. I know it will not be easy. But if you stand with me, it can be done.” Tẽra said.

“What is your play?” Griffith asked “Attack us, make us weak and then make us accept your offer of peace?” he asked.

“I have lost more today than you could possibly understand.” Tẽra said.

She was referring to the loss of Natrica and the choice to stay in a foreign world as the very hated queen. Cleaning up a mess she never made. Helping a people, a world that was not her own.

“What did you lose?” Griffith asked, “That girl?” He pointed at Natrica “She was killed by one of yours!”

Tẽra held back the urge to lash out.

“I understand you are grieving. Prepare your dead.” She ordered.

“Avoiding.” Griffith snarled.

Drake stepped in.

“That is my betrothed. Make an enemy of her and you will make and enemy of the entire Skiopia nation.”

Griffith backed off.

Drake had dragons in the field just outside the castle limits.

Zazo approached Tẽra.

“My queen you are going to bond with the prince. May you have many children and be healthy.” He said.

“Is that a congratulations?” Tẽra asked.

“Permission to speak freely?” Zazo said.

“Speak.”

“I don’t think you should marry him. Marry a man from your own tribe.” He said.

“Like who?” Tẽra asked, “Who can unite the people and end the fighting? Who can do for this land what the prince of the Skiopia tribe can do?” she asked.

“Do you care for him?” Zazo asked.

“I just met him.” She answered “So unless you have another option for me. Let’s not talk about it. But while you are here. I need you to find the Jessica, she came with the prince, and she was taken during the attack. Please bring whatever you find to Drake and I.”

“Yes, my queen.”

Zazo gathered men and went to find Jessica.

General Nathan came to Tẽra.

“We are missing a Jessica, a Rachael, an Inca, a Fiz, a Chris, a Sugar and several slaves. Many are dead but these people we cannot find, not even part of them.”

“Rachael, my friend Rachael?” Tẽra asked.

“Yes, my queen the one who Chris wronged.”

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“Fortify my castle. No one in or out without my approval. Only Zazo and chosen men with him may come and go as they please.”

Joe came over.

“Sorry to disturb you but you haven’t been alone for me to talk with you. I want to go find Chris. I saw him kill Natrica. Let me take people and go.” Joe said.

Tẽra knew Joe was going to do her own thing with or with her help or blessing.

“Joe, I need to fortify the castle and find the missing like Rachael and Sugar. I will not try to stop you from going but I don’t know if I have men to spare.” Tẽra said.

Joe looked at the fallen. She didn’t know if Tẽra had men either.

“Thank you.” Joe said.

“I will give you what you need for the trip. Take whatever food and supplies you want.” Tẽra told Joe “And when you find Chris. Kill him.” Tẽra said.

“I am going to.”

The cold air of the coming winter blew across the land. Those grieving in the castle didn’t even notice the temperature drop as they cried and prepared their dead for the fire.

“Natrica is to be buried in the queen tomb.” Tẽra told them.

This had never been done before.

“Who is this girl that you honor her?” Victoria asked.

“My friend who never stopped believing never gave into the darkness. A princess in her heart.”

Autumn came to Tẽra.

“My queen. Let me find the missing. I and my people can have them home within a day.”

Tẽra was moved.

“Thank you.”

She sent for Zazo.

“Let Autumn find Jessica, and her people will bring our missing home.”

“My queen, we have so few men that are uninjured I fear we cannot make the journey even with Autumn’s help.” Zazo responded.

“How many men do you have?” Tẽra asked.

“Five my queen.”

Five! Tẽra’s heart sank.

How was she going to secure the castle and bring home the missing?

Tẽra ate humble pie and went to Drake.

“My prince, please send for your dragons in the field and bring them to secure the castle.”

“The queen asking for help?” he inquired.

“I have no one to trust. My men are dead and injured and I cannot secure the castle without your help. Please will you help?” Tẽra asked.

Drake asked, “Why do you think you can trust me?”

“Because you are my betrothed and soon all this will be yours. Problems and all.” Tẽra replied.

“Trust out of need.” He replied.

“We are to marry... I mean bond. If I don’t start trusting you now, how will our life be? Also, you stood up for me.” She looked at him hopefully.

“I will secure the castle and have our men work together.” Drake answered her.

“Thank you.”

Nikki went over to Tẽra.

“Everyone is tired. Let your people rest. Tomorrow they can prepare the dead and find the missing.”

Tẽra looked at the weary people. The cold night air filled the castle and even though she hadn’t felt it. She could see others were cold.

“Let’s rest. Tomorrow we can continue.” Tẽra said.

But there were challenges like, finding a place to sleep that didn’t have blood everywhere.

Tẽra’s chambers were in the east wing. But they had looked for her there and killed everyone they found, and then they were killed themselves by the reinforcements that arrived looking for her.

There were not enough men to fight to secure the whole castle. However, Drake knew what to do.

“Secure the west wing and have everyone sleep there.” Drake suggested.

That instruction was given, and they did. She found a place to clean up and be alone. She bathed and cried and changed her clothes. She still had to be presentable, so she wore a dress.

She found a linin cupboard filled with sheets and pillows and curtains and lay down in a bed she made on the floor. Tẽra had never slept on a stone floor before. But she was so tired that it made little difference to her. Once her head touched the pillow she was gone. She slept like the dead. Undisturbed by noise, unaware of her surroundings.

She was afraid to sleep in her room. It was where everyone was going when looking for her.

Rosaleighm and Joe cleaned the blood off themselves. They didn’t go to the hot springs under the castle but used a bath in a room.

James was feeling a lot better and even though the water spice made him drink tasted bad it had helped. Lakisha was not so bothered by the events of the castle. She was delighted that James was going to be alright. Yes, she had been wounded and seen people killed. But she didn’t know them and once she washed their blood off, she was fine. Only the smell bothered her now and it was not enough to dampen her delight that James was going to live.

Fiona cleaned Ranger and Ranger cleaned Fiona. Despite their lack of words to one another their action cemented their relationship.

Viola sat on the floor. Her stitches had opened and torn her skin badly. She had been re-stitched, but it was going to leave some ugly scares. Rider looked into her room when passing but he didn’t go in.

“Thank you.” Viola said to him.

He didn’t reply. He went to join his family. Viv, Xoma and Jacob were cleaning up. Rider did the same. Their body was sore from all the fighting and injuries they sustained. They were unsure if Viola was right to be on the side of the queen. Even though they knew she was not the real queen it had turned out to be more dangerous than expected. They had come to see how Griffith was going to kill the queen. However, they saw a massacre that had no purpose it was war, and it was messy.

Kerri stayed with Captain Kumi that night. She didn’t want to be alone, and she knew he wouldn’t harm her despite his appearance. Captain Kumi decided that working security in the castle would not be worth the pay. His men would understand when they heard what had happened. He had not seen Viv again and he wondered if she lay among the dead. He wondered what her name was and hoped she was well.

He looked at the sleeping Kerri who did not stay on her own mat and hogged all the blankets. She looked peaceful when she was sleeping like a beautiful soul resided inside.

Kumi had questions like, who was this girl and how was she friends with the queen? Why was the queen nice? He had seen the queen’s puffy face and tear-stained cheeks, everyone had. It was not an uncaring person who cried over the dead in such an un-royal way. However, he didn’t think getting the answers to his questions would be worth staying for. As soon as possible he was leaving.

Nikki cleaned up. She bathed and changed her clothes. She sat alone on her bed wondering why so much bad stuff could happen in one day. Why didn’t the universe or fate or something stop it?

But free will is the greatest gift that is miss used by those who have it. For God does not stop us for hurting others nor does he stop them from hurting us. For this is the very nature of free will.