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Veronica woke with a start. Amaryllis stood in the doorway of the building Veronica had taken shelter in. With dismay, she realized that she had slept far too long, and the sun was nearly set in the sky.
She kicked at the unicorn, only just missing her leg.
“Where were you? You left me to die!”
Amaryllis blew in response.
Veronica stood up, spear in hand. “Seriously, I was seconds away from getting my throat slit by a mind-controlled madman, and the only reason I survived was because Sargon stopped it from happening!”
Amaryllis looked puzzled at this.
“Yes, Sargon! You have some nerve coming back after you broke your promise and left me to die!”
She looked almost apologetic, as apologetic as a unicorn could possibly look. It dawned on Veronica that it was possible that she didn’t actually flee, but was instead trying to lead away the attackers. Perhaps even trying to lead away Sargon himself. I don’t know what the worst part is, how angry I am at Amaryllis, or how frustrating it is not being able to direct my anger at her.
Veronica sighed, exasperated over the one-way communication. “I don’t have the energy to interrogate you with ridiculous yes and no questions. Was it your intention to abandon me?”
Amaryllis snorted and shook her head no.
She rubbed her eyes and yawned. “You just happen to be the most exasperating creature I have ever met. Well, since I’m awake now, there’s no sense in wasting any more time in these Mother-forsaken ruins. Let us be off and put this horrific place behind us.”
Amaryllis nodded and knelt down so the Queen could get on her back. “If you were wondering how I survived Sargon, I smiled at him, punched him in the nose, and then defeated him in single combat.”
Amaryllis brayed long and loud.
“It’s true! I was about to kill him, but he smoked out right before I could strike.”
Amaryllis blew and started galloping into the forest.
“Fine, I don’t need you to believe me; I know what happened.” They continued at the same pace they had set earlier that morning, but now Veronica was rested enough to be able to endure the grueling ride back to the Castle Myra. They rode through the evening and into the morning light, the dew from the plants wetting Amaryllis’ sides and Veronica’s armor. Amaryllis seemed to take the roads less traveled, which Veronica assumed was because she was nervous around humans. She probably doesn’t trust us much. This grand reveal at the Castle Myra is sure to be interesting.
#
At last, the trees cleared, and suddenly they were on the packed dirt of the wagon road, and looming above them, laid at the center of a wide open area, was the Castle Myra. Its tall ramparts of polished stone stood proudly, with the flags of Anatolia, an emerald crown on a field of mint green, flying high. As they approached the gate, Veronica was appalled to see that the drawbridge had been raised, the moat had been filled, and the portcullis was down. This is the morning time, and it is not curfew. There is no reason for this. Unless they have already had a run-in with Sargon...
Amaryllis rode to the end of the road and waited patiently for directions from Veronica. She was about to shout to try and get someone in the Castle Guard to lower the drawbridge when a faint shout of “Who goes there?” came from the guard tower above the portcullis.
Veronica cleared her throat and answered loud and clear for all to hear. “Queen Veronica!”
There were audible gasps and excited discussion in the tower. The man shouted back, “Impostor! You can’t possibly be the Queen! The Queen died a month ago. Leave now, or we will fire upon you.”
It didn’t take long for the High Council to give up on me. The Queen leaned forward and whispered to Amaryllis, “Will you give me a lift up to that guard tower, just like you did at Kaibab?”
Amaryllis smirked, bucked, and then she was airborne. The same sensation caught her as she landed in the Guard Tower, just like in the desert. There were three men inside, all of them sharing the same look of shock and confusion on how someone could have scaled the walls that quickly and without noise. They scrambled for their weapons. Veronica removed her helmet and straightened her hair as best she could, smacking her spear into the stone floor with a crack that echoed off the stone walls of the tower. “I am Queen Veronica, and I most certainly am not dead. Sheath your swords and open the gates.”
The guards, looking like they had just seen a ghost, obeyed her commands.
#
Queen Veronica was led down the tower stairs and through the long, familiar courtyard, heading directly for the keep. The city was still full of busy Anatolians, but the Steel-Blade tribe was no longer there. She hoped that they had moved on to another trading post, but she feared that they had suffered some sort of retribution for aiding her in her haphazard escape. The jade accents on the watchtowers were lovely against the sparsely clouded sky, while the deadly-looking metal from crossbows glinted from the arrow slits in the tall towers. The Castle Guard was on high alert, patrolling the city and the courtyard, wearing heavy armor and armed.
The sight of a unicorn walking next to their newly returned Queen, who was still in full unicorn glass armor, rapidly drew a large crowd of people, ranging from humbly girded priests to scrappy peasants, all gawking and pointing at the mythical beast and their armored Queen. Veronica glanced sideways at Amaryllis, who seemed to be paying the people no mind. The mythical creature walked with purpose, head held high. Veronica straightened up tall and held her head high alongside her companion. Come on, Veronica, you aren’t just a woman working a homestead any longer. You are their Queen. Veronica still held her helmet under one arm while she held her spear in the other, the head pointing vertically into the sky, and the end of the pole hovering just over the packed dirt as they proudly marched to the keep in a grand show of power.
Just before the pair reached the keep, the large, fortified jade-colored doors burst open in front of them, and Frederick William of the High Council emerged, flanked by all three Royal Guards, Barbarossa, Philip, and Richard, all boasting their brilliant jade-colored armor. The wizened Barbarossa was slender-faced, gray-haired, clean-shaven, and bore a deep scar on his neck from an old battle wound; the youthful Philip, with flowing black hair and dark piercing eyes, soft features, and bulging arms, and Richard, who boasted a red goatee and a look that was somewhere in between happiness and pompousness. Frederick of the High Council wore a red fur across his shoulder, a white powdered wig, and a warm smile. He threw his hands into the air and exclaimed, “The beautiful Queen Veronica! Our Queen! Our Queen has returned!”
He grabbed her by both shoulders and bowed his head in greeting, then stepped back. “Our people believed you to be dead, lost somewhere in the Forever Green Forest, forever! What a relief it is to see you alive and well.”
Veronica smiled at his bombastic greeting. “I am indeed alive and well.”
Frederick threw his head back and laughed. “Ah, still the Queen we all remember, wise and direct, and very reserved. But if you would oblige me, my Queen, where have you been this long month? A servant had found a map in your bedchamber, indicating that you had plans to travel to Gordion of all places. We sent Sir Richard to search, but he found no indication that you had been there at all.” He gestured to Amaryllis, eyebrows raised in disbelief. “And where did you acquire such a magnificent steed? Are my eyes deceiving me, or is this the fabled unicorn? “
Amaryllis brayed and stomped her front hooves, insulted that this oddly dressed man had assumed she was no better than a horse.
Veronica shook her head. “This is Amaryllis, and indeed she is a unicorn. But this is a topic to be discussed with the entire High Council...” she gestured to the crowd of onlookers. “Let us head inside, away from these prying eyes, and I will explain everything to you and the other Councilman.”
Frederick performed a sweeping bow and held his arms out towards the open keep door. “Please enter, my Queen. We shall call an Emergency Oration of the High Council at once.”
Veronica held her head high and made her way into the keep. Sir Philip of the Royal Guard stopped Amaryllis. Veronica turned and smiled as kindly as she could while trying to mask the frustration that she felt towards the newest member of the three Royal Guards. Her smile was full of kindness, but her eyes must have been full of fire, and Phillip’s eyes widened in fear when he met the Queen’s gaze. “Philip, Amaryllis is not a dumb horse. She is an ambassador from her land, and she is to be treated as such. Move aside and let her pass.” Philip turned scarlet from the swift rebuke from his Queen. He nodded quickly, looked away, and then awkwardly stepped aside, allowing Amaryllis to continue alongside Queen Veronica. Amaryllis glared at Philip as she walked past, flicking her tail side to side like an irritated cat, which whipped against his armor as another rebuke of the man. Richard chortled and smiled broadly at Philip, trying his best not to burst out laughing, but the young guardsman avoided making eye contact with everyone present.
Amaryllis’ head was higher than the doorway. Still, her ability to fit anywhere she chose manifested, and, accompanied by gasps and frantic prayers from the priests who still gathered behind them, the door magically stretched taller to allow her to enter the keep. The heavy door closed with a clang behind them and latched closed, leaving them, Frederick, and the Royal Guard noisily breathing the musty old air of the keep, illuminated dimly by sparse wall-mounted lanterns.
#
The keep had exposed stone blocks for walls, a low flat ceiling, and a spiral staircase on the right leading to the kitchens, the barracks, the library, and at the highest point of the keep, the royal bed-chambers, and a hallway on the left that led to the Great Hall. The air of the keep felt alien to Veronica, who was already missing the crisp, chill, and clean air of the Forever Green Forest. She was also deeply insulted to see that much of the artwork that she had personally selected to decorate the plain block walls was either missing, leaving behind faint outlines of their frame, or were replaced entirely with paintings of famous High Councilmen of old. Not fond of the paintings of a dead King I see. Even the picture most dear to her, the large portrait of her and Edward, posing in the Castle gardens, had been removed. Something that had brought her so much solace after King Edward’s passing had been discarded. Oh, how I remember why I loathe you, Castle Myra. She could still feel Edward’s presence, and her pain returned; her grief that she had been able to avoid through homesteading and adventure returned to her like a plague of the heart, which began slowly eroding her resolve.
Veronica leaned her spear against the wall near the doorway and placed her helm on a nearby chair. She approached the wall where her dear painting had previously hung and shook her head in disbelief. After Edward’s death, I spent many sleepless nights gazing up at that painting. I wonder how long after I left, Frederick took it down? “I see you have redecorated.” Or that monstrous Lucilla. The word monstrous made her think back to Samuelson, and she pictured Lucilla getting dirt and rocks shoved into her face, which made her feel a little better.
Frederick, who had been marveling at Amaryllis (to the unicorn’s great annoyance), glanced towards the empty wall, then returned his gaze back to the unicorn. “It is tradition for the pictures to be selected by the caretaker of the Keep.”
He is not happy that I am here. I don’t think I will get any more “Your majesties” from the high and mighty Frederick William. “Where were the paintings stored? Many of them were dear to me.”
Frederick sighed and turned to Veronica as though she was nothing more than an annoyance. He didn’t smile, and his countenance had become cold towards her. “They have been auctioned off to various collectors across the kingdom.”
Veronica was appalled. “You sold them at auction? Many of those paintings were priceless and had huge historical significance to our kingdom. Many of them had been stored in the Castle vault for generations before I selected them to be hung here!”
Frederick scowled, “Those paintings belonged to the people, and many of them are still on display for any commoner to view.”
She bristled. “Those paintings were obviously sold to the wealthy, to enhance their egos and their private collections. No commoner would be allowed to view them without the correct connections. Here, they were free for any citizen to view.”
Frederick shrugged. “So you say.”
Something is wrong here. I need to reestablish my authority, and quickly. “High Councilman, I am Queen, and you will address me with the proper respect owed to me by my station. I am not pleased to hear of this decision. I demand to know where the proceeds of the sales went!”
“The proceeds went into the Crown Coffers, that King Edward had so politely emptied before he passed...” he bowed mockingly before ending with “My Queen.” He straightened up and gestured towards the stairs. “The Royal bed-chambers are vacant. I will summon the High Council members for an Emergency Oration. I assume that you would like to make yourself more presentable before it begins?”
Still seething, she had to concede that he was correct in his assumption. She hadn’t had a proper bath in a long while, and her armor had everything from blood to ash still coating it. She nodded. “Very well.”
“Will the—unicorn be staying with you in the bedchamber?”
“Yes, Amaryllis will remain with me.”
With that, Frederick turned and headed towards the Great Hall, followed by Philip, without bowing before he left. Veronica was puzzled, to say the least. Never in her life had she thought someone could act so unchivalrously towards Royalty, not even a member of the High Council. The Queen ruled, while the High Council handled the bookkeeping, organized the Castle staff, carried out the Queen’s commands, and announced those decisions to the people of the various cities they originated from. They were servants to the King and Queen, and no matter how influential a High Councilman was, they were not Royalty. Should I have disciplined him for his insolence? Did I appear weak?
Barbarossa took his usual post by the main entrance, a position he had silently manned every day since Edward had appointed him to the Royal Guard, standing at attention, unmoving. Richard had already gathered her helm and spear to follow her and Amaryllis up the stairs.
#
Richard broke the silence as they climbed the four stories needed to reach the Royal Bed-chambers. “My Queen, it is a joy to see you grace these halls again with your beauty. These walls lost all life after your, eh, urgent departure.”
“Thank you, Sir Richard.”
“If I may, my Queen, your spear, and your armor, I have never seen any craftsmanship such as this in all of my years. The material is odd and exceptionally light.”
Veronica knew of Richard’s tendency to gossip with other officers while he was making his rounds, and she wasn’t quite sure if she wanted to tell him about unicorn glass yet. She decided not to answer. Not yet. Although he would most certainly share the elaborate tale of the Queen’s return, and of the antique black armor she wore, covered in ash, mud, and dried blood, she didn’t feel it would be wise to reveal how effective they were. She didn’t want to have to sleep with one eye open because she was afraid of someone trying to steal them from her. Fear of betrayal and death, and I have only been here for thirty minutes. It’s great to be back at the Castle Myra. “Yes, it is a different material than what a Queen normally wears, but I enjoy it just as much as my finest silks.”
Richard was quiet for a moment before stammering, “Er, uh, yes, your Majesty.” He fell silent again, and the sounds of armor and hooves on the carpeted stone staircase echoed off the walls and throughout the stairwell. “Pardon me, My Queen, but is this dried blood yours? Are you injured?”
Veronica sighed. “It very well should be my own, and I am not proud to admit that it is not.”
“That brings me much relief, my Queen. Were you attacked on your journey?”
They had cleared the second floor, and the sounds of men talking amongst themselves and the clang of metal emanated from the barracks. The Castle Keep was able to house four hundred men comfortably, six hundred in an emergency, and the barracks sounded to be full at the moment, which Veronica found reassuring. If those fools don’t believe me, at least we have enough men to man the ramparts. “Yes, Sir Richard, Amaryllis and I have been nearly assassinated once, attacked once, been the attackers once, and I was captured and nearly killed by several madmen.”
Sir Richard puffed up and spoke authoritatively, “I will send the Castle Guard out at once to apprehend these bandits and bring them to justice.”
Queen Veronica found this amusing. If it were up to Sir Richard, he would ride our finest men out to meet their doom. “This was no clan of bandits but an army of well-trained soldiers, backed by a powerful sorcerer driven by revenge. You will need more than the Castle Guard to put an end to them.”
Richard sounded alarmed. “Soldiers, your Majesty? An Army? Has the country been invaded? We have heard no reports of an army on our soil.”
“Which I find doubtful, to say the least, because the gates had been locked down when I returned. To be frank, Sir Richard, I do not know the number we face, but the foe is one that we have never faced before. I was hoping that my people would have discovered more than I have, but it seems that you are caught completely unawares.”
“My apologies, your Majesty.”
The door to the royal bedchamber loomed before them, and Veronica turned to face Sir Richard, taking her spear and helm from him. “Thank you for the escort, Sir Richard. I wish to be alone. Please stand guard, and let no one disturb me unless it is the notice of the Emergency Oration.”
Richard bowed low. “Yes, my Queen. Would you like me to summon Caroline to assist you in preparing for the Oration?”
Caroline is a spy and possibly king slayer, just as big a gossip as Sir Richard. Why do Queens need assistance with dressing? “No, I said that I wish to be alone, and that is what I meant. I think I can manage to dress myself.”
Sir Richard didn’t answer. It wasn’t proper to have Royalty be burdened with basic tasks, such as dressing, and this request was out of the ordinary.
“Unless you think that I am not capable?”
He quickly shook his head. “No, uh, I mean yes, your Majesty. You are completely capable of preparing yourself.”
“Very good.” Queen Veronica turned and entered the bedchamber, with Amaryllis following her inside.
#
Her old room was just as she had left it, minus the clutter from her hasty departure. The study had the books she had been studying to better prepare herself for the journey to The Forest of Patara. Every book had a thin layer of dust coating its cover. The sizeable chestnut oak wardrobe still held her clothing, though Edward’s clothes had since been removed. The maroon-colored quilt still covered the large bed in the center of the bed chamber, with thin tooling draped from the ceiling for privacy. There wasn’t much left of the candlestick that she had left burning, but after a few attempts, she was able to strike a match and bring some light to the dark room.
Amaryllis plopped down on the thick bear skin rug that was in front of the vacant fireplace, and Veronica found a place on the large bed. It’s always so exhausting to deal with the politics. Amaryllis, probably thinking the same thing, breathed a loud sigh of relief.
Veronica turned to her friend. “Was that stressful for you? “
Amaryllis nodded.
“It didn’t occur to me that there may have been times when you weren’t received well. To be honest, I was apprehensive about how they would receive me. After all, I did vanish without a trace, abandoning all of my duties and responsibilities. They very well could have locked me in the dungeons for treason.”
Amaryllis nodded.
“Well, for the moment, we can relax. Sir Richard is very trustworthy, though somewhat of a gossip. We shall not be disturbed for a time.”
After slowly counting up to ten, Veronica built the motivation to leave the extremely comfortable bed. She was exhausted, her muscles were sore, and the bed felt magnificent compared to her bed made from hay back home.
Home. Veronica’s eyes welled with tears, and she couldn’t keep her chin from trembling. I lost my home. The only place I had ever felt at home, and those brutes destroyed it. Now that she found herself alone in the same room she had fled from a month ago, she could not control herself any longer. The humiliation, pain, hate, and sorrow overwhelmed her sensibilities and crushed her like a bug under a boot. She clasped her head in her hands and sobbed. Tears fell thick into her armor, collecting dirt and grime along the way, running off the shaped edges to drip haphazardly onto the quilt. It is all lost! Billy and the hens are probably dead. Oh, Billy! How strong he was and how proud he was of his little hen house. Moo-Moo made it out, but she was so scared and probably very hurt. What has become of her?
She wailed into her palms, sporadically smacking the bed in frustration, feeling completely helpless. I didn’t even get to harvest the seeds from the sunflowers I picked! My world was destroyed so quickly. It had taken weeks to build it up to where I was finally starting to feel comfortable. Oh, Billy, how he would have loved to have those!
I will not let this corrupt, hateful world happen to me any longer. I am the Queen of Anatolia, and it is time for me to remove those who hate me, who despise me, to hunt the hunters, and to serve the High Goddess Cybele with all that my Crown can offer.
Veronica shot up and ran to the door, wiping her tears with her tear-drenched hands, and yanked it open, revealing a very shocked and puzzled Richard. “Richard, what happened to the Steel-Blade tribe that used to trade Damascus blades outside the keep?
“A... the nomads, your highness?”
“Yes, what happened to them?”
“Er, my Queen, there were some of the Castle Guard who believed them to be at fault for your shocking disappearance. They left in haste the night you disappeared.”
“That’s a shame. Who in Anatolia would know the Forever Green Forest as well as the Steel-Blade Tribe?”
“Most likely a woodsman, my Queen.”
Veronica nodded and sniffed. “Yes, a woodsman. While staying in The Forever Green Forest, I found an ancient ruin of a city, which I believe belonged to our ancient ancestors. I need this woodsman to find these ruins and tell me what is happening there, and to get a map labeled “Virtice, the Kingdom of Magic” from the tower basement.”
“Ancient ruins, my Queen?”
Am I to be questioned on everything? Veronica sighed. “Yes, a large city, with a tall tower built to unnatural perfection, with buildings covered in marks of battle. If they know the woods, it shouldn’t be too difficult to locate.”
Sir Richard gained his wits and stood at attention. “Yes, Queen Veronica, it will be done.”
“Also, bring me a bucket of water to cleanse myself with.”
With that, Veronica closed the door. What if Sargon is using something in the city to prepare to sack the Castle Myra? I hope whoever Sir Richard finds for the job will know the ruins we visited. She turned to find Amaryllis looking at her, head cocked to the side like she was wondering if Veronica had gone insane.
“There is a chance that Sargon returned to those ruins, which I believe are the ruins of Atlantis itself. Why are you looking at me like that? If there is a chance that I can prevent him from gaining some magical advantage over us and I can better protect my people, I’m going to take it!”
Amaryllis’ expression did not change.
Veronica felt her temper building again. “What? You think I am crazy for trying to find Sargon and keep him from increasing the strength of his magic?”
Amaryllis blew and nodded.
“Well. Maybe if you had been by my side, instead of running away at the first sign of Sargon’s men, we could have killed Sargon at the ruins of Atlantis, and none of this would have been necessary!”
Amaryllis rolled her eyes and plopped back down on the bear skin rug.
“Gah! You’re the most stubborn creature I have ever talked to.”
Veronica stepped over to the chestnut oak wardrobe and pulled the doors open, revealing her assortment of dresses inside. She selected a long ivory-figured silk gown, tightly fitting at the waist, then loosely flowing from the hips down. It had been her favorite dress before she had begun her new life in the forest, and she had worn it often. She wanted it to feel like she had never left at all when she stood in front of the High Council, and it was the perfect mix of elegance and flexibility.
Veronica removed her armor, piece by piece, starting with her gloves, and ending with her legs. She carefully laid the armor out on the bed, brushing off what debris she could as she went. Her worn work dress was still underneath, stiff from the dried sweat that had drenched the fabric. I’m not quite sure there is any hope of saving this old thing. Though it was on its way out, Veronica couldn’t bear the thought of losing it so soon, so, after she peeled it from her skin, she straightened it the best she could and laid it out next to her armor for cleaning.
A knock sounded at the door, and Veronica cracked the door just enough to get the bucket from Sir Richard.
“It’s heavy, my Queen. May I...”
Veronica lifted the bucket from his arms by the handle with a single arm. Sir Richard’s eyebrows raised in surprise. She smiled, thanked him, and closed the door.
The Queen didn’t have time for a proper bath, even though a hot bath sounded absolutely lovely. She settled on cleansing with scented powders and a wet cloth. The powders were cool and had a pleasing texture against her body, and though she couldn’t soak in a tub, she felt clean.
She was beginning to feel anxious about time. She had no idea how long it would take for the High Council members to gather for the Emergency Oration, nor did she have an idea of how long she had already taken getting ready. She donned the dress, or rather, tried to don her dress. Where it had fit so well a month ago, it was loose and baggy, and the sleeves were so tight on her arms that she could scarcely move them. I must have lost some weight living in the forest and gained arm strength. No wonder Sir Richard looked so surprised when I took that bucket from him! I will just have to try some of the other dresses.
But none of them fit her. This is unbelievable! There was no time to have another dress fitted to her narrow frame, but she couldn’t bear the thought of having to ask for help after being so independent and living on her own. Her heart was pounding in her chest, and she began pacing back and forth, prompting some annoyed glances from Amaryllis. “Oh, keep your looks to yourself, Amaryllis! None of my clothes fit me any longer, and I don’t have time to get another dress made up.”
Veronica continued pacing but couldn’t produce a solution to her problem. This is ridiculous! It’s only a dress. It’s not like I’m giving up my throne by asking Caroline for assistance. Veronica covered her nakedness with an extra blanket from the wardrobe and made her way for the door. But before she could make it, she was nearly knocked off her feet by a strong nudge from behind. Amaryllis! I don’t have time for your nonsense right now. She rounded on the unicorn, ready to yell at her in frustration, but stopped short. In Amaryllis’ mouth was a piece of her armor, which she dropped into Veronica’s outstretched hands.
“Are you telling me to wear battle armor to court?”
Amaryllis nodded.
“It’s not exactly traditional attire. That, and it’s completely filthy!”
The unicorn shook her head no.
“Ugh, what do you mean no? I just took it off, and it was still covered in ash and blood.” She headed to the bed to show her just how dirty it was but found the entire suit of armor to be clean, glossy, and gleaming.
“You can use Virtuuce to clean? You didn’t think to use that before we arrived at the castle gates?”
Amaryllis shrugged, then headed back to her bear skin rug.
It seems that my rude companion enjoys waiting for me to panic before offering assistance.
A loud pounding on the bedchamber door came shortly after she was dressed. Sir Richard and a skinny messenger girl found Queen Veronica wearing her complete set of armor, perfectly clean, and her hair pulled into a tight athletic bun behind her head. The Queen did not wait for them to address her. She simply strode past them both, with Amaryllis following close behind. She went down the spiral staircase in silence, down the hall, and paused in front of the great hall doors, with the Crown of Anatolia welcoming her arrival. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. I can do this. The Vipers will not beat me this time. She nodded to the guardsman, who pushed open the doors with a clamor.
#
All eyes were on her; many of the High Councilmen sitting around the crescent-shaped table went slack-jawed, including Frederick, which made Veronica smile. I am not the same Queen that left you a month ago.
The well-dressed announcer exclaimed, “Queen Veronica of Anatolia, representing the late King Edward of Anatolia, is present.”
Veronica stopped and rounded on the announcer. “I am representing myself and the Crown of Anatolia. If you announce me as merely a steward one more time, you will sorely regret it. I am the Queen, and I am the rightful ruler of Anatolia. Question my authority again, and I’ll throw you into the dungeons.”
The announcer cowered before her, and the High Councilmen began muttering quietly to each other. She shook her head, full of pity. What a poor excuse for a man. “If you are done making a fool of yourself, lead me to my rightful place at the Crescent Table.” He nodded weakly, emasculated, then accompanied Veronica and helped her take her place in the middle of the long ancient crescent table, then guided Amaryllis to stand at the far end. The Queen sat with dignity, emboldened against the vipers that joined her at the table.
Frederick arose and stood in front of the group. “High Councilmen of Anatolia, I have called an Emergency Oration on behalf of our Queen, who has returned to us.”
Whisperings and mutterings permeated the group, and Frederick paused until the noise died out, then he continued. “Our wise Queen has told me little. What I know is our Queen has returned from The Forever Green Forest, and that she has brought a unicorn with her. She has told me that the unicorn is named Amaryllis, and that she is an ambassador from her lands.”
More whisperings from the High Council and Frederick paused again. “Now we shall hear from Queen Veronica. I am sure there are many questions that need be answered.” He shot Veronica a grim look, then took his seat.
Now is not the time to look weak. She arose and gracefully stood in front of the High Council. “Lords and Ladies of the High Council, I have requested this Emergency Oration because I have seen a foreign army encroaching on our lands, and action must be taken in order to protect our people from harm.”
Gasps and cries of disbelief echoed off the walls of the Great Hall. Veronica did not wait for them to quiet down and spoke over the top of them. “I have witnessed this firsthand, and I have had to spill their blood in defense of myself and my kingdom. We must send a Call to Arms to all the Ten Great Cities. They must send men to fortify Castle Myra.”
Councilman Lucilla arose abruptly, sending her short cut and oddly styled gray hair bouncing, hands clasped in front of her, standing elegantly, glaring at Veronica in outrage. “You abandoned your duties as Queen and vanished without a trace. You denied the traditions of Anatolia and fled a potential suitor who would have provided Anatolia with a strong alliance and King, an action that deeply embarrassed all present. Now, you reappear a month later and ask us to call upon our citizens to wage war? You do not carry the credibility with the people of Anatolia to issue a Call to Arms.” She spread her arms wide and slowly turned to both sides of the table. “We, the High Council, have dealt with many issues in the Queen’s absence. Who here has witnessed this invading army?” She turned back to the Queen and jabbed a finger. “Where’s your proof of this? The citizens of Patara will demand proof before they would agree to send their children to die on behalf of a cowardly Queen.”
The other High Councilmen banged the table in agreement. Now, I wish I had not cleaned my armor. A little blood and ash might have helped me right now. Veronica bowed her head. “I left the castle because I wanted to. I will not apologize for this. Many Kings have been known to go on prolonged adventures and sabbaticals outside their castle walls.”
Councilman Lucilla shook her head, scowling. “It is unbecoming of a Queen to be alone for such a prolonged period of time. And what of your attire? It is as if you have forgotten that you are a woman. I am offended by this.”
More pounding of the table and shouts broke out.
I believe it has now turned into ten of them against one of me. Who is she to question the Queen? “How dare you talk to me in this fashion? From where I stand,” Veronica pounded her armored chest with a closed fist, “I am the only Queen here. Only I can determine what is befitting of my station, Councilman.”
Lucilla glared and took her seat most elegantly. She was only to be replaced by another, a Councilman that Veronica knew to be well-educated and direct. He was tall, muscular, and wore a long, well-groomed dark beard. He spoke slowly and respectfully. “Queen Veronica, I am Councilman David, representing the citizens of Izmir. I believe this discussion over attire is irrelevant. What of proof of this invading army?”
Finally, someone with some sense about them. “Physical proof? I have none. But I give you my word that I have been attacked many times by members of this foreign force. I have never seen the size of the army in its totality. From what Amaryllis has told me, it is formidable and unlike any army we have defended against in the past.”
Councilman David looked puzzled. “Amaryllis, the unicorn, spoke to you?”
Veronica nodded slowly. “Yes, I was taken aback as well. She can speak any tongue in the light of the full moon, which occurred two nights prior.”
This time, it was Frederick who arose and spoke, “So, my Queen, you have only known about this, army, for two days? And the only proof you have of this army is that you brought a unicorn with you?”
Amaryllis snorted and glared at Frederick.
Frederick smirked at Amaryllis, then continued, “Things have changed since you left us, my Queen. We of the High Council assumed the royal powers shortly after your disappearance. You may be the rightful Queen, but you no longer hold power over us or anything in the Kingdom of Anatolia.”
Veronica couldn’t believe her ears. I come with dire news of an invading army, and these advisers are attempting to seize control of my kingdom? “This is not about power, Frederick; this is about protecting our people! If we don’t start organizing our defenses now, we will not stand a chance. The leader of this army, Sargon, is a seasoned warrior and can wield the same magic as Amaryllis, called Virtuuce. He has already laid waste to a series of cities and countries before arriving here. If we need to enter into discussions involving whether the High Council should take on more responsibilities from the Queen, then we can broach that subject after our kingdom is secure and our people are safe.”
Frederick rolled his eyes. “Discussions? Responsibilities? I assure you, my Queen, much discussion has already taken place, and since you were absent, we assumed you voted in favor of the High Council assuming power.” He gave a great belly laugh, his head thrown back, and the rest of the High Council laughed with him. “Virtuuce? Magic? Talking unicorns? It seems we took power just in the nick of time, before our beautiful Queen went insane from grief over the loss of the great King Edward. You heard about this from the unicorn? You are asking us to believe too much and providing proof for too little, my Queen. We know nothing of this Virtuuce, or of this so-called sorcerer named Sargon. This means nothing to us.”
“I command you to issue a Call to Arms! As your Queen, I command it, and if you refuse, it is treason!”
More laughter from the High Council. Frederick hollered over the ruckus, “And tell our people that they need to send their youth into the army because a talking unicorn told their Queen to do it? Preposterous!”
This is unbelievable! I am still the Queen! “It doesn’t need to make sense to them. I am Queen, and I command you to issue a Call to Arms at once. No more talk, no more laughter, no more discussion. Follow my orders or be charged with treason.” Amaryllis brayed and stomped her feet in agreement. The guards at the door looked at each other worriedly.
The entire Great Hall erupted with angry shouts. Frederick just stood there, smiling at Veronica. Empty cups and other objects were thrown at her. He let the yelling go on for a few minutes before he gestured for the High Councilmen to quiet down. He chuckled and straightened his red fur on his shoulder. “Treason, you say? I accept if it means our people will be protected from a mad Queen.”
Pounding on the table in agreement.
Frederick continued, “You see, my Queen, we are the rulers of Anatolia now. But, as you are the great King Edward’s wife, I will forgive you of your insulting and inflammatory commands. I also propose to the High Council that we investigate this threat further by sending a few scouts into the Forever Green Forest.” He chuckled. “After all, the talking unicorn told us to.”
Veronica didn’t understand. She couldn’t comprehend what was happening. Were these weasels usurping her throne? She stomped onto the tiled floor with enough force to crack the tile beneath her foot. “This is unacceptable! We don’t need to send scouts; we need to have every able-bodied Anatolian armed and ready to meet Sargon’s army!”
Frederick, still smiling, pointed at Veronica. “Guards, detain the poor deranged Queen for further questioning.” He turned back to the High Councilmen. “Should we send scouts to the Forever Green Forest?”
The shouts in the affirmative came as the guards began to surround Veronica, spears crossed, barring her way to the door. This cannot be happening! I will not be taken prisoner and locked in a tower like a helpless bird! Veronica screamed as loudly as she could and charged the guard closest to the door and tried to break through their line. The man panicked, uncrossed and raised the point of his spear and aimed it right at her chest. The spear deflected off her chest and sent the man off balance, allowing her to get past. Thank goodness I didn’t wear a dress! The other guard acted quickly, catching her foot with the base of his spear pole, making her stumble forward and windmill wildly. She reached out to catch herself, but from seemingly out of nowhere, Amaryllis pulsed in front of her and caught her before she fell. Amaryllis was so tall that Veronica had to jump as high as she could and wrap her arms around Amaryllis’ neck so she could pull herself up onto her friend’s back. She got seated just in time for the light to begin spiraling down her horn for another heart-stopping pulse towards the closed and locked door to the Great Hall.
Veronica flinched and turned her head to shield her eyes and face, but the large doors were no match for the unicorn’s magical speed. They blasted open, raining down wood splinters onto the both of them. Amaryllis paid no heed to the destruction as they rocketed down the hall towards the front door.
The Queen leaned forward to talk into Amaryllis’ ear. “Amaryllis! I need to get my spear and make a stand. I cannot let them usurp my throne! I know you want to run, but for once, please take a stand with me!”
Amaryllis answered by veering left in front of Sir Barbarossa and shot up the stairway. Richard was standing guard at the door to the bedchamber when they reached it only seconds later. “Amaryllis, hold!”
The unicorn stopped abruptly, her horn already lowered and stopped with the deadly point ending just shy of Richard’s throat. The stop was so abrupt that Veronica was nearly thrown from the unicorn. Amaryllis was snarling, and her eyes were once again engulfed in magical flame. Sir Richard scrambled for his sword but stopped before he drew it, realizing that there was nothing he could possibly do before Amaryllis would make quick work of him.
Veronica straightened herself on Amaryllis’ back. “Sir Richard, the High Council is attempting to usurp my throne and wish to have me arrested. Are you still committed to protecting the Royal family from harm?”
Sir Richard’s face went from pure panic to calm resolution. “Yes, my Queen, I am with you until the bitter end.”
Veronica smiled. “That is good news, brave Sir Richard. We must apprehend Frederick of the High Council. He is the head of this treasonous snake.” Veronica jumped off Amaryllis and got her spear from the bedchamber, and returned to the hall. Richard was at the ready. “There is not much time. We need to stop the High Council before they can summon the men in the barracks.”
Richard raised his fist in the air. “It’s no matter, my Queen. It would take TWO barracks full of men to be able to stop Sir Richard! He charged down the stairs, sword drawn, shouting, “Frederick of the High Council, you have met your match!”
Amaryllis bent down for Veronica to mount and then followed the charging knight. They found Sir Barbarossa with his sword drawn and his back to the stairway, facing off with the guards from the Great Hall, who had been pursuing the Queen. Sir Richard shouted, “Save some for me, Barbarossa!” and brought his sword down hard onto one of the spear poles of the guardsman, the force of which made the man lose his grip on the spear, sending it clattering to the floor. Amaryllis set her eyes on a different guard. Still, before Veronica could fight, Amaryllis kicked her from her back over the fighting men into the middle of the entryway, where she fell onto her back, her spear piercing the wall behind her, lodging itself deep into the stone. She sat up, and in the heat of battle, the Queen and the unicorn made eye contact. Amaryllis brayed and used her head to tell her to head to the Great Hall. Veronica nodded, ripped her spear from the wall, and charged.
She shouldered through the broken doors to find the High Councilmen still seated at the crescent table. Frederick had a spearhead on his throat before he had realized what was happening and, when seeing who held the spear, smiled deviously. “Oh, my dear woman, you don’t have the stomach to use that on me.”
Veronica gritted her teeth, panting. “Frederick William of the High Council, I order you to surrender, resign your office as High Councilman, and accompany me to the dungeons, where you will await trial on the charges of treason.”
He laughed and made to stand.
“Do not resist, or I will be forced to kill you.”
With cat-like reflexes, he moved his head to the right out of the way of the spearhead and grabbed the pole with his hands. Veronica pulled the slick unicorn glass spear from his grip and, unlike with Sargon the day prior, did not hesitate. All previous inhibitions about having the High Council killed were now gone. They have proved their treachery by trying to usurp the Crown. She plunged her spear deep into the High Councilman’s heart. Frederick William was dumbfounded, and he didn’t have much time left to realize that he had been wrong. Veronica did have the stomach to kill, a skill she had learned through experience while protecting herself and her friends in the woods. The impaled man coughed, sputtered some blood down his chin, then died on the end of her spear, while the other High Councilmen leaned as far from him as possible, pale as ghosts.
The sound of running men in armor filled the dead silence of the Great Hall, and to Veronica’s fortune, she found it was Sir Richard and a bleeding Barbarossa.
When Sir Richard surveyed the damage, sword still drawn and wet with blood, he chuckled, “Good show, my Queen! Justice was served. You must tell me what in those mother-forsaken woods transfigured you into a warrior Queen.”
Veronica couldn’t take her focus off the dead man. The same feelings she had in the Forever Green Forest after killing those soldiers wrecked her triumph and brought her blood-lust to heel. The spear trembled in her grasp, and she felt extremely nervous. She acted without thinking and, in her haste, had ended yet another life. She had known Frederick William since she first arrived at the Castle Myra. He was a snake, but he had his moments. He had often helped her understand different guests’ traditions and customs and even intervened when she inevitably made mistakes and offended them.
But I couldn’t let him steal my Crown. I am the rightful Queen, and he forced my hand. Edward would have done the same.
It took only a moment for the Queen to realize that Edward wouldn’t have done what she had. He never would have had the problem in the first place. Edward never would have abandoned his duties, and the High Council had respected him. They never would have tried to usurp his throne. Even if they would have tried, he would have negotiated a peace, not executed one of his trusted advisers while he was unarmed and sitting around the Crescent Table.
Queen Veronica stopped shaking, and the feeling of paranoia dissipated into the room around her. A coldness set deep into her heart. They view me as weak because I am a woman. None of these traitors will ever respect me. Veronica grit her teeth and yanked her spear free from Frederick’s corpse. Frederick William forced my hand, and I will honor Edward in my own way, and no one will steal my throne.
Sir Richard was brandishing his short sword at the cowering politicians, “You traitors are all under arrest!”
Veronica aimed her spear at Councilman David, who was by far the most formidable of the group. He met her gaze with a glare, his nostrils flaring with rage. “If any of you traitors try to move, you will be executed next to your good friend Frederick, without trial.”
Barbarossa, who was still dripping blood onto the floor, grinned. Richard belly laughed. “Oh, my Queen, if King Edward could only see us now. How proud he would be to see his Warrior Queen eliminating corruption from the land!”
If Edward had been here, this never would have happened. She shook off her insecurity and gripped her spear tightly, inching it closer to Councilman David’s face. “High Councilman, by order of the Crown, you are under arrest. You are charged with high treason.”