Day 13

The cold night broke into morning, most of the castle slept. Only those on watch were awake and it couldn’t really be called awake. Everyone was tired they body and spirit broken.

A letter arrived for Prince Drake. The guard awake went and woke Prince Drake.

“My prince, a letter has come with the messenger.”

Drake sat up. The man he had sent with news to his parents had returned with a letter.

Drake read it. His father wanted him to marry the queen. He knew it was the duty of royalty to make sacrifices. He had already accepted the queen’s proposal and it had been announced. But he had accepted it to find Jessica. Now that it was his duty as well, it made it more real.

Drake hid the letter in the inside pocket of his tunic.

“Where is the queen?” he asked.

But no one he asked knew.

We woke Nikki up.

“Where is the queen?” he asked her.

But she didn’t understand him.

So, she woke Keimoni up.

“What does he want?” Nikki asked.

“He wants to know where the queen is? Keimoni translated.

“Oh.”

Nikki led the way to the linin cupboard. She opened the door. There Tẽra Trazzie lay fast asleep. Only part of her face and hair could be seen. She had wrapped herself up in the bedding and was as snug as a bug in a rug.

“Why are you friends with the queen?” Drake asked Nikki.

Nikki closed the door letting Tẽra sleep longer.

“Because she is worth it.” Nikki answered “She has more kindness in her heart than anyone else I know. She takes her responsibilities too seriously, but I like that about her. She is selfless.”

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“Why do you not understand the queen’s language?” Drake asked her.

“Because I am from far, far, away, and she understands me?” Nikki told him.

Drake smiled. He was a handsome man.

Nikki opened the door and woke Tẽra.

“It’s time to get up and make yourself the queen.” Nikki said, “People are waiting for you.”

Tẽra sat up. Her hair was a complete mess. Curls of red search for reception.

Tẽra cleaned up and dressed in black.

A count of the dead was given. Hannah her handmaid was among those that had been slain.

“Have those in the dungeon been accounted for?” Tẽra asked.

“No, my queen no one has been there.” General Nathan said.

“Take armed men and go. See who is dead or alive, check if they have been freed?” Tẽra commanded.

The dungeon was untouched. No one freed them nor slew them. They were forgotten about.

“Finally!” Tiffany scolded.

“Took you long enough to come and free me.” She said to General Nathan.

General Nathan looked at the girl in rags that smelled like horse poo and had brown clumps in her hair.

“Who are you?” General Nathan asked.

“I am your queen!” Tiffany shouted.

General Nathan looked at the girl. He was unsure if he knew this girl or not.

“She has been doing that since she arrived.” A prisoner told him.

Nathan checked the list for prisoners and counted the people. But there was something about the tone she spoke to him in, that was familiar, and he couldn’t shake it.

Meanwhile the halls were filled with tears and crying as the dead were carried out. The bodies were prepped for burning, and the gardens were filled with people mourning their loved ones.

Joe stood with Rosaleighm. Natrica’s body was being buried not burnt.

General Nathan returned and gave account.

“Everyone is still in the dungeon. It looks like the attacks on the castle completely missed them.”

“Thank you!” Tẽra said.

“Go say goodbye.” Tẽra gave General Nathan the fire stick.

One by one the grass, sticks and logs which the bodies were laid on were set on fire. Smoke billowed up into the air. It could be seen for miles and miles.

Then Tẽra walked with Joe, Spice, Rosaleighm and Nikki to bury Natrica in the queen’s tomb. The massive stone blocking the entrance to the cave was pushed away. Natrica was wrapped in white and placed on the queen’s stone slab. Tẽra had a gravestone made for her and on it in the queen’s language and in English was written:

May you rest in peace Natrica Woods.

Tẽra then had the stone rolled back in front of the tomb.

Joe cried quietly. Spice and Rosaleighm cried. The garden was filled with sobs and smoke.

Lakisha and James watched as the people they cared about were consumed by the flames.

Kerri-liana Jones looked up at Captain Kumi who had stuck around. He began to sing the song for the dead.

“May their souls find rest.

May they be carried on the wind to a peaceful place,

Take comfort, take comfort, for your journey has ended,

May your souls find rest.”

By the time he reached the second line everyone was singing.

Viola Stone stood with Viv and Xoma. She was so glad nothing had happened to them. She was relieved that even her stranger sister Fiona Viper was safe, and she knew that Mr red eyes did care about her. She still found it weird, but she had accepted it.

Fiona stood with Ranger as they burnt his people. Everyone was honored, irrespective of rank. Fiona just stood with him. She knew there was nothing more she could do other than being there for him. She looked over at Viola and her new friends. She was glad Viola was alright. She found herself liking her sister. She was strange and racist more accurately spiciest, but she was capable, and she was willing to do her part. She also didn’t complain about injuries and scratches like a girly girl. Fiona liked this.

Fiona then looked over at Glisson. He watched the flamed and smoke bellow up into the air. He wondered if this was what the queen’s life was normally like?

He found himself feeling sorry for her.

‘Maybe this is why she lashed out at everyone all the time. She was just overwhelmed with all the hatred towards her?’

He had heard stories of the terrible things she had done. Everyone had. But now that he had met her, he wondered if they were true. She was crying like everyone else. She loved people, and they loved her. A horrible person wouldn’t have people love her. She even honored a no body with her own grave, a place in the royal tomb. This was not the acts of a monster.

Maybe that head injury was all she needed?

Rider and Jacob stood at the door. Watching Griffith as he and his men sang the song for the dead.