The Bandit Queen

You take a deep breath and stand at the top of the hill. The warm rays of the sun feeling good on your naked body. You eye your crowd. If there was ever a chance for you to win back what's yours. This was it, you think.

"Men, Women, I am not just a simple traveler wandering the woods." You close your eyes and concentrate on changing your hair back to its original appearance. After a second or two you feel the tingling in your scalp to signal that a change is happening. You hear a few gasps from the crowd. "I am Princess Anna. Daughter to the deceased King Bryce and currently rightful heir to the throne."

You see a few confused glances from the crowd, but you can tell that at least a few of them are interested in what you have to say. "I know many of you hold resentment towards us, the nobility. Many of you have been taxed hard either of bread or gold. For most of you, a life of a bandit is the only way you can make a living, to keep bread on the table and your bellies satiated. "A shout comes from the crowd, "Yeah! Fuck the king!"

You grin a little noting that now you have over half of the attention of the crowd and continue. "I too have lost everything to the fake King that now sits upon the throne." You slide your hands to your hips, "even the clothes on my back. I was **** to flee, or be murdered and left everything behind."

"If you help me to reclaim my throne. I will be sure that every single one of you will be handsomely rewarded. On top of that, I will do everything in my power to make sure that as many people as possible don't have to be **** to take up a life as an outlaw, just to survive!" Many of the bandits start cheering in support. You're filled with pride as you finish your first successful speech, "there's about to be many more people **** to turn to banditry. The False King will raise taxes, Hoard everything, and leave you nothing, The People. When these people come looking for help, I want them to find us!" They cheer again and you think you even hear several of them shout "Long Live The Queen!".

You wait a moment for everyone to calm down, "Now. Bring my friend that was with me. The Catfolk and send up your best warrior." Then you step back into the tent.

You search around and collect what's left of your clothes and put them on, despite your lack of bra. After a few minutes Akina limps in. You look at her worriedly, "Are you all right?"

Akina winces as she sits down, "Uh huh. Fortunately you came out before they got to the **** bit. What about you?" she examines you, "You're certainly not the same girl that you were when you woke up this morning."

You sigh, "That's true...in more ways than one."

She frowns, "I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault" Before you can continue your conversation a man steps in. He's wearing a chain shirt and a breastplate and has a shield slung on his back. His hair is sandy and he has a neatly trimmed beard He bows, "Your Majesty...."

You stiffen at being called that honorific, "I'm not queen yet. Uh..."

"It's Noah...Uh...Sir Noah technically."

You're surprised to find a knight among a group of bandits. "What brings a knight to work with a bunch of bandits."

"Well, My Liege dismissed me after some insubordination on my part."

"Oh? What kind of insubordination?"

Akina grins at him, "Probably shagging his daughter."

"I'd...Uh...Rather not say, Your Majesty." you see him blush a little

"Why do you call me Your Majesty? Like i said, I'm not Queen yet."

"Some of the men in camp. they're already calling you Queen of the Bandits."

Giggling, you reply, "well, I don't know if you can be considered a Queen if you rule over thirty people"

"Thirty two, your majesty."

"Well, you certainly have a handle on things here." Your eyes drift over his whole body. He's quite an attractive man.

"Well, I used to be Boris's second in command...Although we never really saw eye-to-eye"

You sit down at the table and shuffle through some of Boris's paperwork, "Good. You can be my second in command too. Also I want you to train me on how to fight. i can't really be a good bandit if I can't do that."

His expression brightens up a bit, "I can certainly do that."

You nod, "Good. You'll be well rewarded?"

He looks at you a bit confused, "I will? How?"

It's true, you're not really sure how well this group of bandits are doing. You're also not entirely sure what would be in Sir Noah's interests.