A Royal Advancement.

I got dressed and headed out of my room with Rose.

"Ah, that was quick. I expected you two might. Well you know. Unless he didn't last that long. I have a potion..." Harmony began to ramble on.

"We didn't do that and we don't need a potion." Rose shook her head.

"Oh. That's good to hear. Well you are up on your feet. I would like you to stay here tonight for one last healing session before you go off gallivanting on some epic quest to kill the princes brother or something before he goes off on some quest of **** to come find you."

"He has a brother?" I gave her a look.

"No." Willow shook her head. "Sorry, Seren introduced her to romance literature."

"Any clue were I can find the King and Queen?"

"Sure. They are in the war room. Follow me." Willow shrugged. Rose decided to go back home and tell everyone I was okay.

"Why aren't you in the war room?"

"Fathers orders. Me and mine are to return home to secure the border." She shook her head.

"I take it you disagree."

"No but I can't kick any ones ass unless they cross the border. I don't like waiting for things to happen and react second. If we beat the usurper king then the dark elves won't cross the border and risk fighting two armies." She was a pragmatist.

"We can always go get some people from the adventures group and go rouge. Hunt down Lord Warwick ourselves."

"Don't tempt me." She smiled. I walked into the war room where the leaders were gathered around a table while their seconds stood around on a raised section listening to orders they themselve would have to assure were carried out. I noticed we had taken all of the southern in the east with the Lionhart flags at two of the major ports which meant the kings sons fleet had to have defeated most if not all of the enemy fleet. Lord Lionhart glanced up and saw me.

"He lives." Lord Lionhart smiled and stood up and came over offering his hand. "How do you feel?"

"Sore but better then the other guy my lord. I mean your Majesty."

"That will take some getting used to on my part as well." He laughed.

"My Queen." I said as she came forward.

"We are almost done here. Why don't you come with me. I have someone for you to meet." She said.

"Yes my Queen." I nodded and she lead me out.

"The scar looks good on you." A voice said behind me. I turned to see Sura.

"Sura. What are you doing here?"

"She is our military liaison with the newly formed orc provenance." The Queen smiled.

"Which means we are still part of the kingdom but we get to keep or land and choose our own baron." Sura smirked. I am sure it was not what they wanted but they had taken it doing what was best for their people. "The enemy of my enemy. I need to deliver these plans but I will be back in a few days."

"Safe travels." I nodded. She headed on her way and me on mine.

"I want to thank you for saving my husband at the party a few more inches and I would be a widow again." The Queen said once we were mostly alone except for the two armed guards following us. I imagine it was a precaution following the wedding.

"Of course your Majesty." I nodded. She led me to a room were I saw a gnomish woman looking over several books.

"May I introduce. Olfina." The Queen said.

"Oh hello my Lord." Olfina stood up. I couldn't help but notice she was very well proportioned in the chest area. She came over and shook my hand.

"Olfina will be your Steward stationed at Hunters Rest." The Queen said.

"Why do I need a Steward?" I asked.

"How much gold do you have personally at the moment?" Olfina asked.

"I don't know." I shrugged. Twenty maybe. Hard to tell with so much of my money being in coppers.

"How many farms plots do you have, how many people do you have working them, and what is your expected yield for the season?"

"You made your point." I nodded. I had been playing things by ear just helping as many people as I could.

"Olfina will will help you manage your assets and land as well as offer advice though you will have a final say in all decisions. You will need it as Baron of the Kingswood." The Queen smiled.

"Baron?" I looked at the Queen.

"The kings idea. You have friends in the elven kingdom and good relations with her leaders giving the world tree incident." She smiled. I would care not to be reminded of that. "With a possible war with the dark elves on the horizon the route through Hunter Rest could prove of great strategic importance. Unless you don't want it."

"I would be honored."

"I am glad to hear that. Olfina can you leave us dear?"

"Yes your grace." Olfina nodded and closed the book. "She was looking over your land purchases. She is quit good with money but sadly not very good with getting her employers to listen. Her last employer thought it would be a good idea to dedicate all of his ships to one job." The Queen held out a hand for me to sit.

"What happened to the fleet?" I said picturing a hurricane as I sat.

"Smugglers cove." The Queen smiled. Only one ship managed to escape that day.

"Ah." I nodded. I wondered what Kasar was doing right now. Or maybe who would be a better question.

"Thank you for checking on everyone back home."

"You are welcome. The Dryad, will give birth any day now. I am sure Aurora will take good care of the sapling but I was wondering how you would feel about bringing a high priestess to help her. I was thinking Roses mother. As a high priestess for the world tree she has the most knowledge and experience." The queen smiled.

"I would love that but don't they need her at the world tree?" I asked. I loved the idea of her being able to come and I know Rose would love for her mother to come visit.

"She is not the only high priestess there. Several priestess are trained to be high priestess at the world tree encase one of the other eight high priestess dies without a successor. I am sure the high priestess wouldn't mind having one of their own tend to the tree."

"Like I said. I am happy to have her. We have more then enough beds."

"Good, Willow is suppose to make a trip back soon to escort her mother and sister. She can escort the priestess on the way back."

"Now. as Baron. Olfina will be able to help with your charitable activities without you going broke which will leave you more time to focus on the impending war." The Queen smiled. "Their are ruins of a fort near the border that my people destroyed many years ago in the elf human war by my people. Though the green pact prohibits the building military bases by either side in the Kingswood my sister and I have agreed to allow us to rebuild it as long as it is maned by human and elves for the protection of both nations. Willow and her riders can use it as a base of operations." The Queen smiled.

"No one I would rather have." I smiled. Willow wasn't your typical leader who gave orders and sat on the sidelines and let other people die while she watched.

"That was her thought as well about you." The Queen smiled. "Unofficially you would be in charge. It is still part of the kingdom and inside the Kingswood. You and Willow can work out the details between yourselves. I don't care if you put just two men or a dozen as long as they can get word back to us encase of another invasion. Diana will be moving to Raven's Hill now that Hunters Rest is better protected and her cavalry can reach Hunter Rest if needed."

"What about the Infantry?"

"They will stay for now. The Prince may be dead but his general is still in the darkwoods and has a sizable army of orcs. That is not the kind of army you want to fight in the field even if you had them outnumbered. Sadly the army that has the most experience fighting the orcs is Warwick and his general so he knows there weaknesses which means..."

"They won't work for us if they are being led by a human commander." I frowned. Another wards we would get or asses kicked in an army versus army on the battlefield which mad infantry useless against orcs. I meet up with Willow and we talked it out and decided to play to our strengths. They would handle scouting the border and some of my men would mind the watch tower. If either side saw anything riders would head out in both directions. Then I meet up with Olfina.

"So figure anything out from the books?"

"A little. Least the land you own. I was told you have dedicated most to farming."

"Yes."

"What about animals, cows and chickens."

"Some people owned some."

"You will need to buy more. Enough to produce a steady supply of milk and eggs. The people can't eat crops they haven't grown yet."

"Very well. Any clue were we can get them cheap."

"Goblin town. The goblins burned most of the fields but took as many farm animals as they could. The army has been using that to feed their men engaged in the war but I am sure they can be persuaded to release some. Plus it would provide meat during the winter. As far as planting I would suggest the growing of grain which can be used to feed the animals and stored in granaries. I would also suggest hiring some fishermen or farmers who can wish. I know towns like Riversend live on salmon coming up river to breed this time of year." She said finally taking a breath. She had yet to say anything that didn't make sense if we were thinking in the long term.

"All of this sounds good to me. See if you can get me an idea on prices for cows and chickens and look into any other animals such as sheep since we can use the wool next winter. Meet me at Hunters Rest say in the afternoon." I nodded.

"Will do my lord." She bowed and headed off. I had dinner with the royal family as a thank you and retired to my room where Harmony came up for one last round of healing.

"So if you could take off your pants." Harmony made a face.

"I can pull my pants leg up." I shrugged.

"Actually..." She blushed. "I have a confession to make."

"That is?"

"It's a little hard for me..." She said. It was funny to see her speechless. She was bold and charismatic the first time we meet. A knock came at the door.

"That would be Willow." She said and went over to open the door.

"So you tell him yet?" Willow smiled coming in.

"Tell me what?" I looked at them.

"Muri sonus clauderet." Harmony said as she concealed the sound from the outside world.

"She wants you to fuck her. The only reason she hasn't already was because of Aurora being here." Willow grinned.

"I would never." Harmony shook her head.

"So you are saying you didn't at least get a little touchy when he was past out naked?" Willow grinned.

"Willow." Harmony gave her sister a look. Willow just grinned.

"Catch is she has never been with a guy." Willow said.

"Anyone for that matter. Well besides myself." Harmony blushed a little.

"What about the calling?" I asked. I had read about the effects it could have on the elves mind.

"I had to suffer through it alone. When the high priestesses discovered Willow's calling father forbid me from going to the temple. Even forbid any priestess to offer me assistance of any kind. I can't even so much as cast any of the spells that the priestess use. Mom provided me with potions to help."

"He is a dick. But..." Willow smiled putting her arm around Harmony. "He isn't here, this isn't a temple, and he isn't a priestess."

"So what do you say handsome?" Willow smiled. "Want to fuck my beautiful sister?" It was funny how they argued at times but you could tell they loved each other.

"Willow, don't say it like that." Harmony blushed a little.