Rheba pressed her fingers against her temples as she sat in the belly of the troop transport. They were waiting for clearance from the docks to approach, which gave just enough time for Blenda and Kerra to get into the fifth spat since they departed.

"She stepped on my foot!" Blenda growled.

"Considering how big they are, I can see why!” Kerra calmly replied

“Girls, we are in foreign territory!” Rheba snapped; she took a deep breath to calm her tone before continuing. “Please remember you represent the Bentalousian nation while you are here.”

Perhaps the pressure of foreign engagement got to them, or the girls realized their squabble wasn’t worth it—either way, they quieted down and sat upright on opposite sides of the transport.

“Rheba!” The voice of Fiona rang from outside the wooden hull. The door at the top of a short flight of steps began to pull open.

“I just sent that; she wouldn’t….” the brown-furred warrior muttered.

You underestimate that girl. Mini chimed in from within Rheba's mind.

Seconds later, a blue face peered in from above. In a flash of color light, Fiona had her arms around Rheba.

"I’ve missed you! It’s been hectic here—and a bit boring. Oh, and Gwyn’s been locked in his room; you should help me break down the d–”

Rheba cleared her throat before speaking, “Princess Fiona.” She eyed the two recruits, who snickered until Fiona’s title was used. “I am glad you were able to come greet us.”

“How did she even get here? Aren’t we at least a league or two from shore?” Kerra asked as she glanced out the window.

“Fiona isn’t one to let any length of distance get in the way,” Rheba replied as she pushed the much smaller blue princess off of her.

“So why are you waiting?” the blue princess asked. “Let’s go to land already!” She gleefully pointed to where the dock was relative to the boat, but Rheba shook her head.

“We are awaiting approval.”

Fiona’s outstretched arm fell slightly.

“Oh, did I… wait, I’m a princess. I’ll give you approval right now. Let’s get going!”

Rheba sighed but wasn’t about to argue if it meant getting back to land. Fiona quickly zapped away. They didn’t have to wait long for the call to approach to come in, and they soon departed to a meeting with a group of nervous Aqueenians.

“The queen,” the dock manager started, “wanted to meet you personally, and we were still waiting on her arrival.”

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Fiona giggled.

“My mom’s probably going to take forever to get here; they couldn’t wait on the water that long!”

Rheba looked back between the dock manager and the giggling blue princess and shook her head. She eyed Kerra and Blenda, ensuring they weren’t getting funny ideas. Neither seemed to care and stared at the shiny Aqueenian buildings in the distance. She couldn’t blame them; compared to the forest city they were used to, it was a massive change.

***

About an hour passed until Queen Whitlock showed up at the dock. Fiona was gleefully engaged in a chat with Rheba and the two Bentalousian recruits as the dock manager guided the queen into the room where they waited.

Despite not wearing a formal gown, Fiona quickly was on her feet and curtsied to her mother. Her large purple eyes glanced at her mother and back to their guests. The blue princess had no idea what her mother would say or why she had bothered coming all the way out to the docks.

“Warrior Rheba, I received word from Zenith regarding your trip here,” Queen Whitlock said as she glanced at the two recruits, who shifted like their seats were uncomfortable, “but given the short notice, we did not have enough time to properly welcome you.”

“Oh, why did you guys come here anyway!” Fiona suddenly blurted out.

“You’ve been with them all this time and never asked, Fiona?”

“Sorry, Mother, but we were still catching up!”

Rheba remained seated, her head as high as the standing Queen, and cleared her throat.

“Goliath Zenith received word that you were looking for trainers for your guards and sent me to evaluate what kind of warriors you might need.”

Queen Whitlock crossed her arms and replied in a voice cooler than her blue complexion, “Do you have experience for such a task?”

“She’ll be fine, mother!” The blue princess said with a casual wave of her hand.

“I… I do not, but Goliath Zenith thought I would be a good fit since I had recently been to Quenth.”

“Zenith thinks all kinds of things. Very well, then, who are these two?”

Blenda and Kerra jumped slightly as they ended on the receiving end of Queen Whitlock’s ice-blue finger. Fiona tilted her head; they had started getting rather casual with her, but the sight of her mother silenced them almost at once. She didn’t think her mom was intimidating enough for that.

“These two are my…. Young wards, I suppose. I have been tasked with mentoring them, and they had to join me. If you wish, I will send them back immediately. Just say the word.”

Blenda leaned closer to Rheba to speak, but her voice faded to a whisper before the sentence ended, “But I wanted to see the city!”

“Very well, I know the Bentalousians have different mentoring methods than we; I won’t hold that against you; just know you will be held responsible for their actions as well.”

“Of course, your majesty. Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today. I had expected Prince Donn to reach out, and it means much for someone of your stature to speak to us.” Rheba said, her eyes glancing at her feet after she spoke. Blenda and Kerra rolled their eyes, but Fiona figured she was the only one who noticed.

“I see you know how to talk well. Donn and Hermina, for that matter, are currently away in Hobz. There is a stir after the election, and… well, I think you can imagine all the fires that need to be put out. That city might burn to the ground one day if they aren’t careful.”

“I had heard of the results, but is comparing it to a fire the right metaphor?”

“Perhaps I am being dramatic. It’s all just a silly game in the end, and we merely have to play our parts.” Queen Whitlock said with a sigh as she glanced at her tablet. “It seems I must go to my next meeting, but Fiona will be able to take you to wherever you need. I will leave you in her capable hands.”

“Really? I… uh… Of course, mother, I will represent our people well!”

“I am pleased to hear it.”

With her last words, Queen Whitlock left the girls to plan what they would do next.