I spent the rest of the day lounging while my kids ran around me. It was nice to relax. They had all chosen different parts of the castle to use as their personal rooms. There were a few rooms built into the walls of the castle.

Tim and Tom had decided to share one of the large hallways. They had already had it covered in all manner of fur and dried grasses. Marlow wanted to live outside, as he explained that the stars looked very nice when he was falling asleep. So adorable. Charlie and Chester had decided to sleep in adjacent rooms.

James told me he would sleep wherever I was, no matter what. He acted so differently compared to the rest of my kids. He didn’t play as much as they did, but when he did it was almost always some form of war game. When he couldn’t convince the other five to play his games he would hang out with my commanders.

He would talk with them about all manner of things. Sometimes the weather, sometimes how effective an army of goblin soldiers would be. The answer is not very effective. Goblin’s time is better spent as food. Or at making us trade goods. Tetel had already taken a thousand from the nearby farms. They were busy training and soon I would ge to see the final product.

After around four days of familial bliss and ignoring all of my responsibility, reality knocked on my door. A windclaw was panting, anxiously looking for me as I waved at him. He trotted over and said. “My Queen! A force of two thousand bruisers is two hours away from our walls.!”

I stared at the windclaw for a second before saying. “Go summon every single citizen. Tell them to gather around the castle. Also have thirty bruisers sent here to guard my children.” The windclaw sprinted away as I sighed and yelled. “I’ll be home late tonight kids! Make sure to get a good night's sleep.”

They all said goodbye as I smiled and walked out, my muscles tensing as excitement began to overcome me. Finally, No more complicated plotting. Just a big battle. I can collect more skulls. I hope Bella’s here, she's gonna be my centerpiece.

I walked over to a ledge overlooking the five thousand or so residents of my city. They stared back at me with a mix of what looked like religious zeal and fear. I just smiled and yelled. “My people! The ugly little shits from Tiat are attacking us! Who wants to fight with me?”

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Every single skink below me screamed “Me! Me! Me! Me! Me!” I smiled even wider and said. “All who wish to fight with me are welcome to! Except for the hatchlings! I have a special job for you guys.”

A horde of hatchlings stared up at me in confusion and horror. I just continued to smile and said. “How many of you would like to join the royal guard?” I now had over four hundred bodies to throw between my kids and whoever came near them. I love fanatics.

I called my commanders over and said. “Alright boys, the strategy for today is simple. You’ll all keep your battalions. They’re a bit more disciplined than the new recruits. I’ll take direct control of the new recruits. We’ll charge in a big mass. Their boys are experienced but we outnumber them. Your battalions will protect our flanks and hit theirs. Objections?”

Uno nodded and said. “I would like more windclaws. If I had more I could lie in wait and at a pivotal moment slam into their rear, cutting off their escape.” I thought it over and said. “Sure, how many do you want?”

He seemed deep in thought for a moment before answering. “I think an additional two hundred will do.” I smiled and said. “Perfect, the remaining windclaws will act as messengers.” My commanders all stared at me for a few seconds.

I maintained eye contact and said. “Troops, a lot of mud skinks are going to die on both sides. But we will win in the end. The kingdom of Zayan will rise from the ruins of Tiat. Gather your troops. The fate of our nation will be decided before the sun sets tonight.”

They bowed, said. “For the Queen!” and walked away. I smiled and walked over to where the three thousand new fighters had gathered. They stared at me as I walked towards them.

I stopped a few feet away from them and yelled. “Soldiers! These poor people have dared to interrupt my family time! We will kill them all and then we will march on the city of Tiat! This is the day that will decide whether our nation will exist for thousands of years to come or if we will simply die.”

The mob of skinks in front of me didn’t respond. I stared at them for a few seconds, a fuzzy feeling beginning in my head. My vision blurred as I heard a laughing voice behind me. “Finally found you, filth.”

I stumbled forward, a sharp feeling of pain sweeping over me as I turned and saw the largest bruiser I had even seen in my life. He was easily double my size and yet he had still managed to sneak up on me.

He also had nine tails, one had the club part but the rest had the same tail spikes as I do. The fuzzy feeling was from five of his spiked tails impaling themselves in my chest. I collapsed to the ground vomiting blood as he laughed and said.

“Revolt’s over. Please back away from the traitor.” Even though he had been laughing just a second ago his voice was emotionless. I desperately tried to stand up but all that did was cause more blood to exit my body.

The skinks around me didn’t do anything, they just sat there in shock. The large bruiser walked forward and with a satisfied grunt slammed his tail club into my side. I was sent flying and slammed into the nearby dirt wall. He grunted again and said. “Where are you children? They must die as well.”