The
Queendom
Border
Skirmish
The princess sat
still from the time the covered wagon left the castle to the time it
reached the border defense area where the First Army was camped out.
Enemy soldiers had crossed over and raided communities in the area.
The Republic of Tilaska had been given every warning to keep their
troops to themselves and soon they would face the reprisals.
The soldiers stared
as she left the wagon and walked to the tent of General Koregan, she
wondered how many of them might have seen a royal before and whether
her brother was among those foot soldiers this day.
“My Princess”
the General said putting his hand on her naked shoulder. “I'm sorry
it became necessary for you to travel this far”
“I am but a humble
servant to my people, General, I do as I am required” she answered.
He nodded and sighed before he shooed his aides and attendants from
the tent. “It gets cold at night and hot in the day, you should
really wear clothes out here”
She told him “You
know as well as everyone else that the Queen and her daughters do not
have the same rights and privileges as the people. We are never to
wear clothes, we are never to choose our own mates, we are never to
quibble about food or other trivialities. We are the servants, not
the rulers. Not really”
Ever since the
powers manifested themselves in only the females of the royal line
they were destined to become little more than tools, such as was the
arc of history for their world. By this law the Queen was wed to the
Commanding General of the Armies. That was General Koregan at present
but if he were replaced the Queen would have a new mate.
“Our scouts are
reporting that the Tilaskans are massing their troops on the other
side of the Blue Twin hills. This sounds like more than a raiding
party, it sounds like they are preparing to try and seize territory”
The General told her “The Queendom could be in danger if they are
not stopped quickly”
The Princess nodded
“I see”.
“You arrived just
in time for dinner” he told her “Since you have to accept what I
give you, I am going to give you the best meal I can and all the wine
you can drink”
“You spoil me,
General, as much as you have my mother” she said as he led her to
the back room.
“Get some rest in
my bed, I will wake you for dinner or if the enemy attacks
unexpectedly” he said, she climbed into the bed and then he shut
the leather doorway and went to see the steward. Soon enough she was
awakened to a meal befit normal royalty. She bit her tongue instead
of criticizing the meal while she knew the soldiers were probably
eating jerky and crackers.
Immediately after
the meal a scout returned and reported movement of the enemy forces.
Sure enough s they went outside they could see dozens and then
hundreds of soldiers coming through the gap of the Blue Twin Hills.
The General suddenly had a bad feeling that this was all a feigned
attack.
“Princess, I think
the castle and queen might be in danger!” he told her “Tilaska
would never attack our territory by itself, the Rovards are their top
allies. We need to safeguard the Queen!”
Rovards was on the
far side of the Queendom. The General and his men would never make it
there in time if they were also attacking. Colonel Yong led the 2nd
Army in that region, he should be able to keep any invaders occupied.
“We should stay
here, General.” she told him “Move your troops a little closer,
then tell them to stand in formation”
As the troops
marched forward the Tilaskan forces that were just standing there
started looking more and more nervous. Then the princess moved to the
front ranks.
“Soldiers of
Tilaska” she addressed the enemy in a loud voice “You have one
warning, this one, to get back to your families. You cannot defeat
the forces of the Queendom, you cannot even defeat me, by myself. Let
me show you!”
She raised her arms,
her hair was buffeted by a wind that hadn't been there before and she
became a fireball, other fireballs left her and shot into the sky and
began raining down on the Tilaska troops who broke ranks and ran in
the opposite direction. The all-male Queendom Army cheered this,
taunting the enemy forces as they ran away.
“I think you can
handle it from here General” she told him “I will return to the
castle now. I will give mother your regards and tell her that you are
healthy and strong.”
He crossed his arms
“and if the Rovards are invading? Then what?”
She nodded “If
they are attacking then I will join Colonel Yong and drive them off”
The General was
confused by this. “I know you are the most powerful princess in
memory, but you cannot defend all the borders by yourself all the
time. You are also heir to the throne, I am sure the Queen would
rather not have you fighting wars”
She shook her head
“I am a servant. I do what I can and when I can.”
He walked her back
to the covered wagon and with a quick hug before boarding she was
off. The General hoped she was right, he hated to think the Queen
would be in any danger.
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