We were still camped out where we had been deposited by the blood circle a day later.

There wasn’t anything to say to Sheena. Kuro and Alverd had been in her position once, but that had been long, long ago. The only person who could really talk to her, was, well…me. I’d been in her position only a month ago. But what could I possibly say to her to make her feel better?

Ever since I’d met her, I’d had to stifle my irritation at her shameless manipulations, her subtle flirtation, and her starry-eyed stupidity. To say that she annoyed me would be a monumental understatement. But I knew in my heart that I was the only one who could get through to her.

We had made camp in the area we had appeared in, a small woodland Sheena identified as the forests along Algrustos’ southern border. Alverd insisted that Sheena get some rest, and after that, she had sat herself down on a stump, staring off into space while everyone else tried to scrounge together a campsite. Even as night fell, she left only to retire, and come sun-up the next day, she was back to sitting on the stump, contemplating nothingness in utter silence.

Today there were no tears. She’d cried herself dry the first day, and now she didn’t have anything left. She refused food and drink and simply sat on that stump, lost in her thoughts. As the midday sun climbed into the sky on the second day, I wandered over to where Alverd and Kuro were talking and joined their conversation. They were talking about where to go next.

Alverd voiced his opinion first. “Albrecht did say we are ten days’ ride from the Palace, but staying here is unwise. We should consider choosing a course of action and a direction to travel. I profess I’m at a bit of a loss, since I have no idea about the geography around here. That’s usually Kuro’s job.” Kuro snorted indignantly. “Yeah, and I didn’t have time to figure out what the political climate is like around here. We could just as easily wander into the arms of someone who would send us straight back to Kertouli on a silver platter.”

I hadn’t thought of that. While Algrustos rivaled Ishmar in terms of military power, it also had alliances with several other nations that lined its borders. If we wandered into one of those nations and got caught by the authorities, I was sure their leaders would sell us back to the Magister Lords for favor and profit. These sort of things didn’t completely go over my head.

But it didn’t present any solutions, instead it only offered more problems. It all traced back to Sheena. Loathe as it was for me to admit it, Alverd and Kuro were still technically under contract to fulfill her wishes, and in the absence of any orders, we were just sitting here, twiddling our thumbs. As I sat, I pulled my dragon egg from my pouch and began idly polishing it.

The afternoon gave way to the darkened red skies of dusk. Kuro got a fire going and Alverd went off in search of game for dinner. Sheena was still seated on the stump. After staring at her for awhile, I figured that there was no point in putting it off further. I put my egg back in its pouch and strode over to Sheena’s stump.

I stood next to the Witch-Queen, looking up at the copper-colored sky as the last of the sun’s light began to fade. She didn’t even register my presence. I waved my hand in her face, and she finally turned to look at me. Her eyes were no longer red from the crying, but she still looked ready to break at any moment. When I was certain that I had her attention, I spoke.

“You know, this far out in the wilderness, the stars shine all the brighter.” I smiled a bit. “That first night I spent after Alverd and Kuro smuggled me out of the Castle of Brimstone, I noticed that the stars seemed to shine brighter than they did back at the Castle. I never even noticed that before. It was one of the first things I learned about the outside world.”

I leaned my head back some more. “I’m not so good with words. I’m really bad with words. I’ve always been the type of person who let my fists do the talking. Alverd keeps telling me I would have made a great Queen, but I think he’s just embellishing it. I mean, could you see me running a country? My solution for everything would be to overreact and then just pound it with my hammer.”

My comment drew a small snort from Sheena. Just for a second, a smirk pulled at the corner of her mouth. I took that as a good sign and continued. “But they stuck by me, you know? They didn’t have to, and they did. And they’ll do the same for you. I know what it feels like to lose someone you love…and I know it’s really quite crass of me to say that you’ll come to terms with it in time, but I did. My father is dead…he knows I’m in good hands.”

Sheena nodded slightly. I was gaining momentum. “So…I guess what I’m trying to say is, you don’t need to feel all that bad. I mean, really! Who cares about all those people back in Ethenia, anyway! They all wanted you to go to war! They never considered your feelings or understood your reasoning. They never bothered to try. Seems to me that you might be better off. Wandering the world searching for a new calling might be just what you need to shake off your depression.”

Sheena’s eyebrows perked up. For the first time in a day, she spoke. “Wandering…” There was a brief twinkle in her green eyes, so quick I almost didn’t catch it. Her head turned to me quickly. “You said Sir Alverd and Sir Kuro could have left you, yet they didn’t, right? Why was that?” I was taken aback by the question, as well as why she was asking me it out of the blue, but I answered truthfully.

“Yes, they could’ve. Technically they fulfilled their obligation to me. But Alverd said that his payment, the Sword of Evros, was worth far more than what was owed. So in order for the scales to balance, he said he would continue to serve me until I deemed that his service was worthy of the price I paid.” I narrowed my eyes. “Why is it so important, all of a sudden? Aren’t you more concerned about your people, or what your Uncle said, or anything like that?”

Sheena turned away, scratching her chin. She looked deep in thought. Finally, she looked back at me. “Thank you, Princess. You’ve given me an answer…maybe not the answer I was looking for, but perhaps something is better than nothing. I know we haven’t gotten along all that much since you arrived in Algrustos, but I really must thank you…coming over here to talk to me must have taken no small measure of courage.”

I seated myself on the ground next to the stump. “Well, I have to admit, we haven’t really…meshed…all that well. But most of that is my fault, really. Yeah, even I can admit that I can be quite a handful.” We both laughed at that. It was good to see Sheena laugh. The more she opened up, the easier it would be to put it all behind her. She’d still grieve. Hell, I was still grieving. But in time, the scars wouldn’t hurt so much. And then, they might not hurt at all.

Sheena sniffled just a bit. “But, it’s not like you didn’t have cause. I was a bit…overzealous in my intentions. You had every right to be on guard. But I think, now, we can figure it all out. I mean, it’s not like we’re going anywhere.” We laughed again. Sheena plucked the giant witch hat from her head, pulling the crown from its place around it. “How much do you think we can get for this in the next town? It’s not like I really need it anymore, and I get the feeling money is going to be tight for awhile…”

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Kuro came from nowhere and plucked the crown from Sheena’s hands. “I’ll take a look and make an educated guess. You two okay? I heard a lot of laughing over here.” He looked at the two of us. Sheena smiled at him. “We are just fine, Sir Kuro. Would you do me a favor and let me know when Sir Alverd returns?” Kuro nodded, then returned to the fire to examine Sheena’s crown more closely.

Meanwhile, we had returned to our own discussion. Sheena pressed me with another question. “It’s so hard to believe, isn’t it? That we two royals are here, without anything of our old lives, relying on the kindness of two strangers to survive. And yet, here we are. Such strange circumstances, eh, Princess?”

I laughed again. But once I had finished, I offered the former Witch-Queen my hand. “Not Princess. Not anymore. Now I’m just Alicia. And now, you’re just Sheena. Friends don’t need titles, right?” Sheena actually looked very surprised when I said that. But soon enough, she smiled, gripped my hand tight, and shook. “Well said and well met, then, Alicia. My friend.”

We sat looking up at the now emerged stars while we waited for Alverd’s return with dinner. Finally, the knight reentered the clearing with several wild rabbits and a whole boar (Evros only knows how he had managed to catch such a beast). Kuro called out for us, and we all sat in front of the fire. As Kuro set to the task of cooking our food, however, Sheena stood up and motioned for our attention. We all gave it to her, silent as she worked up her nerve to speak her mind.

“Um…if I could have your attention, I have an announcement. As of now, I am no longer the Witch-Queen. It is a burden I have carried for twenty years, and one that I am now glad to be rid of. But now I find myself in a very precarious position. I have no gold to my name, and the shield I gave Alverd was a down payment made in good faith…so I have no means with which to keep you in my service.”

Alverd and Kuro exchanged glances. They’d been here before. I’d done it to them shortly after our escape from the Castle of Brimstone. But I knew them. They wouldn’t leave Sheena to fend for herself. They were gentlemen. Well, at least Alverd was. Kuro, not so much. But even he wouldn’t do something so heartless. Even if she had broke his heart.

Sheena’s voice started to waiver. I knew what was coming. Soon she’d ask us to escort her to safety, then find some way to set her up comfortably so she’d have an easy life. It wouldn’t be the life she once had, but she wouldn’t have to worry about crazy mages or bloodthirsty assassins. Maybe she could tell fortunes for a living. I sat back and waited for her to make her selfish request. “So, to that end, I would like to ask you two…if you would train me to become a mercenary like the two of you!”

Wait. What?

Sheena continued, since both Alverd and Kuro were dumbstruck into silence. “Please! I have no home to return to, and even if I did, I have no desire to. I want to see everything in this world, and I want to do it by your side, Sir Alverd! I promise to learn quickly, and will do anything you ask of me! I’ve always wanted to leave Algrustos, and in the presence of such a handsome knight! My childhood dream has finally come true!”

Alverd finally recovered from his stupor and phrased a question. “But, Milady, doesn’t the fate of Algrustos bother you in the slightest? Surely you would not abandon your subjects to the mercy of the Magister Lords, would you? Knowing the kind of individuals they are, they would risk everything in a war with Ishmar. Does that not rile you?”

Sheena waved her hand impatiently. “As I said, there is no reason for me to return. My subjects have made their will known to me for my entire life. They wanted war, and I would not give it to them. Let the Magisters give the people the war they crave. When their sons and daughters shed their blood needlessly on foreign soil, they will only have the Magisters to blame. I bear no responsibility for any of it. I say good riddance, in fact. Nobody wanted me. My parents only had me to power the Calamities. The people tolerated me because I could declare war. The Magisters put up with me because they thought they could manipulate me. Only my Uncle loved me.”

Sheena wiped away tears that were starting to form in her eyes. “Please, Sir Alverd. I promise, I will not be a burden. You know I have great magical talent, from combat to healing to divination. I can learn anything you require me to. Just…just let me stay by your side.” She sniffled as she turned her big green puppy eyes on Alverd.

There was no way Alverd would agree to this. I mean, it was absolutely ludicrous. Sheena had no real world experience…okay, maybe it wasn’t fair for me to cast stones in this situation, but it was still true. And besides, Alverd and Kuro were still under contract to me! That meant they had to do as I said. I was about to remind Alverd of this when he spoke up.

“Of course, Milady! I would never leave you to struggle for yourself, not when you have not a coin to your name and no idea how to survive on your own. If it is your wish to learn the way of the mercenary, then I will do my best to instruct you. You can stay on with us. To be honest, it will be quite helpful to have someone skilled in healing magic and divination on our side. Kuro tries his best, but those fields are not his strengths.”

Kuro guffawed unhappily. “Says the man who thinks he can solve his problems by talking. Let’s see you fix a broken bone, eh?” The two broke into laughter, and Sheena nervously joined in. I, however, was still not amused. I asserted my anger in the most eloquent manner possible.

“NO! I forbid it! I’m the one in charge here and I refuse to let her come along! You two are my slaves! I met you way before this harpy!” I waved my arms furiously as my face burned with anger. “Did you not forget who is in charge around here?!” But Alverd just looked at me with his stupid charming smile. “Oh, come now, Princess. I hardly think one more will make any difference. I think the two of you will get along splendidly!” Alverd began to laugh. Out of desperation, I looked over at Kuro.

The little bastard gave me a look that seemed to tell me that he was going to derive great amusement from having Sheena join our band. “I agree with Alverd. Sheena’s talents could go a long way to helping us out. Besides, it’ll be nice to have another girl around to talk to, right?” He smirked at me facetiously as he said that last bit. I made a mental note to kick his arse later.

Sheena squealed with happiness and took the opportunity to run up to Alverd and engulf him in her arms. Of course, she was such a tall girl, she nearly bowled him over with her momentum. Alverd looked a bit nonplussed by Sheena’s reaction, but he respectfully returned the gesture and held her until she finally released him. “Oh, Sir Alverd! I’ll do my very best! But I insist you just call me Sheena. I’m no longer royalty. You needn’t give me special treatment. I understand if you continue because of your training and all, but I want you to know that there shouldn’t be any barriers between us…” Sheena blushed heavily as she took a step back. “I mean…uh…you know. Because…I want to be close to you is all…” Her face turned even redder and she looked away.

Oh, please. As if that shrinking violet routine was gonna work on Alverd. I’d been with him long enough to know that subtlety went straight over his head. As if to emphasize my point, Alverd just gave his signature smile. I don’t think he comprehended Sheena’s attempt at flirtation. Just as well. I didn’t need Sheena sweeping my slave out from under my thumb.

Kuro, on the other hand, just burst out laughing. I knew he was thinking the exact same thing as me. The little spellslinger was clutching his side in laughter as both Alverd and Sheena regarded him quizzically. I stomped over to the hare-brained jackass and grabbed his collar, and started force-feeding him my fist. He cried out, whining about what he did to deserve it, but I didn’t let up. He knew.

Sheena took the opportunity to snuggle up next to Alverd as he poked at the fire, stoking it to cook our dinner. I wouldn’t let her get the best of me. I’d watch her like a hawk. I’d question her every motive, look beyond all her words, to make sure she didn’t try to take what was mine. I’d have to be on my toes, but that wasn’t new. So I’d tolerate her, for now. After all, it was a big world out here. Who knew what could happen?

Sooner or later, I guess we’d all find out.