[Arrive, Object]
[Usurp, Power]
Outside the dragon's lair, on the newly constructed steps.
“Groda, please inform the Thane that the dragon is happy for you to await my return in the mine. Just no more mining. I hope to see you in a little over a week. I need to travel and deal with my brothers before they become an issue.”
“Yes Princess, thank you for saving my life.”
“I think the dragon’s bark might be worse than his bite.”
“Yes Princess.”
Ronan and I picked our way down to Pintyde. We seemed a little shy around one another, both being a little quieter.
“I’m sorry I blew up at you and have taken you for granted, you've saved my life twice and I was just kind of shocked by what that statuette says and does.”
“I understand, and I understand why you were angry. Em and I went behind your back. I’m not throwing her under the cart but she convinced me that you wouldn’t Okay it and that you really needed something to shake people out of their apathy. I can’t guarantee that everyone will accept you as enthusiastically as the dwarves have but I sincerely wanted to help. When you are the Queen, it won’t matter you can order Fontaine to cease production if that’s what you want to do.”
“Yes I suppose I will be able to. Do you think that’s what I should do?”
“No but if that’s what you want, that’s what will happen.”
“Why do you think that I shouldn’t do that?”
“I feel the statuette makes you more relatable. Sure it does some rude things and may make you uncomfortable but I would imagine you are going to have to do a lot of things that make you uncomfortable once you are the ruler. Sometimes you’ll be presented with two choices and you won’t like either but may have to choose one for the greater good. The statuette seems like one of those choices. When Cormac went to save you from the dragon, he had to ask a bunch of your own citizens before he could get one of them to help him. Your father drove a wedge between the royal family and the people. You even told Em you knew that your past actions had already cast you in a bad light.”
“Very good points and you’ll tell me what I really need to hear, not what I want to hear. Which is why you’ll be my number one advisor if we can actually pull it off.”
“We’re headed to your brothers next right?”
“Yes father sent them to Longfield to compete with each other and fight. I don’t expect them to help me, I’d just like to ensure that they don’t actively try to impede me. Will you buy us tickets for the coach to Longfield when we get to town.”
***
The next day after lots more make up ‘dating’ the night before. We were more our old selves.
“Slutty Princess, it's time to get up and go visit your horny brothers.”
We had breakfast in the common room, I noticed the other diners whispering and glancing our way. We left for the livery and our coach. Ironically being an atheist it just seemed wrong to thank god that we didn’t have to ride with a priest again. Instead we rode with a family, a mother, father, and a little boy. Not long after the coach began to roll the little boy poked me and said.
“Why do they call you the slutty princess? My ma says it ain’t polite.”
“A dragon gave me the name and it just kind of stuck.”
“I’m so sorry princess, Leonard, what have I said about repeating things that I’ve said in private to your father. Now apologize, right now.”
“I’m sorry ma.”
“Not to me, apologize to the princess.”
“I’m sorry slutty princess, could you tell me about the dragon please.”
“Leonard, do not refer to the princess as slutty, do you understand.”
“No ma, what does slutty even mean, is it something to do with the dragon?”
“Yes Leonard the dragon was trying to be rude and make me angry, he was taunting me like a bully would. But I bullied him right back and that's how I got this magic ring.”
I pulled the ring off my finger and handed him the ring.
“That’s it, put it on your thumb. Now when I tell you something, you’ll know if I'm telling you the truth or a lie. It’ll make a sound in your head. Truth or Lie. I have ten fingers.”
“Truth”
“I have nine toes.”
“Truth”
“I hate ice cream”
“Lie, that’s easy. I knew that before the ring even told me, it’s impossible to hate ice cream.”
It was a much nicer ride than it had been with the priest. It also got me thinking about the nickname in broader terms than just an embarrassment. The mother thanked me genuinely for entertaining her little boy during the journey.
***
Ronan and I checked into a nice looking inn. I didn’t feel like tackling my brothers today and suggested we go for a walk and look around town, before an early supper and a little ‘dating’.
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
When we enter the common room for dinner it’s pretty crowded but we get a small private table, but I notice that the other diners are whispering and glancing our way. I do a spell of hearing.
“Do you think she is as pretty as me?”
“Of course not honey”
“Wow she looks better in real life. Do you think she’s as slutty as they say she is? Rumor is she even does common folk. What do you think?”
“I think she’s a lot better looking then that tyrant we have now. I would rather lick a stamp with her on it, then him any day.”
“Yeah me too.”
“She’d have to do a better job than her father does.”
“Yeah I agree.”
“I don’t like her, she's too pretty.”
“I like her, if women want to be slutty they should be able to. I’ll bet no one would dare call her brothers Horny Princes. Yep I like her. It’s about time we have a woman leader.”
***
We left before breakfast, my brothers should at least be able to feed us. It was a short seven or eight block walk to my brothers. Out in the street even more people were pointing at us and talking quietly. We knocked on the door to my brother's house. The house butler answered the door.
“Princess Maria, Come in please, the princes are having their breakfast. Perhaps you could wait in the sitting room.”
“No, we skipped breakfast so we could do with a cup of tea and whatever my brothers haven’t devoured. Please show us into the dining room.”
“Yes princess.”
We followed the butler down the hallway. He paused at the door to the dining room, gave a sharp knock and announced Princess Maria and her Knight.”
“Thank you, this is Ronan, my boyfriend and paladin, Ronan these are my brothers Ivan and Carter.”
“Well if it isn’t the Slutty Princess and her boy toy. We can’t walk anywhere in town without hearing all about you, and your plans to take over the kingdom.” said Ivan
Carter just sat there staring at Ronan and I.
“Good so you’ve heard about my plans. I trust that neither of you will want to interfere. I have important positions in the government that I need you in, and I need diplomats for foreign courts. After I beat our father, I want to move swiftly. The food supply must not be disrupted for more than a day.”
“Beat Father ha, I received a letter just this morning. Father has already chosen your punishment, for ruining our family name. He gave you some dignity when he sacrificed you to the dragon, this time, you will be naked when the guards chain you to the post for the dragon.” Ivan said.
“Carter, do you feel the same way?”
“No, I actually don’t. I only wish that you could beat father, I’m sick of living out here in this little town, I want to be back at the capital”
“What would you like to do in the government?”
“I’d be happy with a seat on the council, or maybe the mayor. I was never the ambitious one.”
“That’s fine, come with us then.”
“No Maria, I said I wished you could beat father. I’m not going to end up naked chained to a post along with you. If I were you I’d stay far away from the capitol.”
“I have more help than you’d expect Carter, don’t you want to take a chance?”
“No, I’m sorry Maria.”
“Alright, after I win if you come to the capitol and do a loyalty pledge, I’ll post you as ambassador in whatever country you choose.”
“Ok sis I will do that.”
“Good I don’t want any trouble between the three of us. Ivan I’ll make you the same offer. After I win, will you do the pledge for an ambassador posting?”
“It’s laughable that you even think you have a chance to defeat that man. He’s ruthless and to beat a ruthless man you need to be ruthless.”
“Who’s father’s most powerful ally?”
“The dragon of course.”
“Forget about the dragon, who is the next most powerful ally?
“Duke Mountbatten.”
“Duke Mountbatten the minister of mines?”
“Yes, but the mine is closed but the Duke has a large personal army almost as large as the Royal guard.
“If I can get Mountbatten to ally with me, will you both come to the capitol and stand with me against father?”
Ivan laughed.
Carter said. “Yes, if you can convince Mountbatten that you have a chance against father then I’ll come with you.”
“Good and you Ivan what do you say?”
“Yes, but Mountbatten might just arrest you for treason and drag you to father you understand that right. But if you convince Mountbatten then I’m in too.”
“Alright, do you know if he is in Pinewatch?”
“Yes, he’s raising troops for father’s defense.”
“Come on Ronan, we have a coach to catch.”
End of Part 6
