Return To The Queen

We headed to the castle. Aurora carrying one side of the chest and me the other since she insisted on helping. We waited on Araseli at the front gate since I didn't have my ring on and the guards didn't know me. She showed up and lead us into the throne room.

"Here is your coin purse." I said handing it to Araseli. "I give to this to you of my own free will."

"How much did it cost?" She smiled.

"I think there should be seventy nine gold left." I said trying to do the math in my head. The gold did me little good here being imperial meaning I could only spend it at the docks or thieves landing.

The queen appeared to be holding court in the throne room but held up a hand and waved us forward.

“You have returned. I take it your mission was successful?” She smiled.

“Yes, your majesty. I managed to procure a copy of the formula as well as a chest full of the flowers.” I said. "Nisha." I said and opened the chest. I could hear the rest of the court talking in hushed murmurs.

“You have done the kingdom a great service. Arch Magus?” The queen glanced over.

“Yes my Queen?” An older, but not unattractive came forward.

“See that these flowers and the formula are carried to the academy immediately.”

“I will put every student and teacher I can on making more of the antidote you Majesty.” She said as she came over followed by a male student in similar looking robes who picked up the chest. I hands her the leather envelope which contained the papers.

“Who are your friends?” The queen asked.

“Slaves sold from goblin town to the Empire.” I replied. The hushed murmurs had turned into chatter at the knowledge that the goblins were selling humans. I wondered if many where as angry as I when I found out.

“I see." We had heard rumors that the Duke Warwick had aloud slavers to pass through his territory and now we have the proof. I do this with a heavy heart." She took a deep pause. "Cassandra send word to your brother that it is as we feared and our people are being sold as slaves. Have him mobilize the fleet. Have every merchant ship stopped and inspect that passes through our waters. Any ships captain that transports slaves from our kingdom shall be executed and their ships seized no matter what flag they fly and see to these girls needs.”

“Yes my queen.” Cassandra nodded. It seemed she was more then a mere hand maiden anymore. The fact that she had to send word to her brother meant her father had to be north. He had experience fighting the elves who used similar tactics to the goblins hit and run strategy.

"Go with them for now and I will come find you before I leave." I whispered to Aurora

“General send word to every lord in Warwick's alliance of this treachery against the people. See if they still support him then. Any lord who knowingly supports this action will forfeit their life when this war is over.”

“Yes your majesty.” The general snapped to. He was an old man but he looked hardened by years of war.

"I apologize but In light of this news I will retire for the evening, the steward will address any minor concern any of you might have." She said standing up and then looked at me. “Come walk with me.”

“Yes my Queen.” I nodded and looked at Aurora who followed as well behind me. "Araseli can you watch her for me."

"Lets go get you some food." Araseli said and I went to catch up with the queen.

“I am glad you are alive, two others did not fair so well.” The Queen said once we were in a hallway alone.

“You sent others?"

“I trusted in you and rightfully so it would seem but as Queen I could not put the fate of the entire kingdom in just one persons hands.” She smiled. She had a point. Least I came out better then two of the others.

“I understand.”

“If it makes you feel any better I did not invite any of them to the cabin.” She teased.

“I trust you are well then.”

“Very. Least well enough to last me until my wedding.” She mused.

“You are getting married?”

“Yes, even my loyalist who support me will not follow an elvin queen forever. I will marry Cassandra's father. He is a good man and will make a great king.

“With you by his side no doubt.”

“You flatter me. I will miss that when I remarry. I have promised to marry him after the goblins have been dealt with. His wedding gift to me.”

“Now as for your reward." She lead me into a room and held out her hand to a cloth vest of fine quality. I touched it to feel it was a jack of plates. Metal plates woven between two layers of clothe. It was harder then leather but lighter then wearing a full breast plate. Beside it sat a leather pauldron similar to the metal ones worn by soldiers bearing the coat of arms of the kingdom. "I figured gold wasn't enough for the danger we put you in. Though you will be paid. This pauldron identifies you as an agent of the crown.

"Thank you your majesty." I bowed.

"You earned it. I also receive a letter for you from Seren." The Queen said handing me an envelope. I decided to read it later and slid it in my satchel.

"I have a question?"

"Ask away." She smiled and took a seat at a table.

"Its a private matter."

"Ah. Firmiter claudere ostium Muri sonus clauderet ." She said and the door shut and all noise outside of the room ceased.

"When I was in the slave market one of the girls was an elf. She was taken during the war when she was young. She didn't want me to remove her collar because she is touched by the goddess."

"She doesn't want to go to the temple I presume?" The Queen asked.

"No."

"I can understand her feelings, this is not the life I wanted either. She is still wearing the collar?"

"Yes. I was hoping that maybe Willow could help her?" I said hoping the queen knew about her nieces condition.

"I see what you are thinking but each case is different. Sadly Willow is up north hunting goblin scouts and conducting raids on their back lines. If we cannot remove the collar I can at least make sure no one can see it using a little illusion magic. How much did you pay for her?"

"Ten gold for all five girls. Actually the crown did with the money Araseli provided. I couldn't stand by and do nothing."

"I understand." She smiled. "For now if she wants I will have my people draw up a stranded servant contract for her to sign with you as her owner. I don't support the system but your intentions are good or else you would not ask me how to free her. I will keep her here for the night and inscribe the spell on her collar to hide it."

"Is there anyway you can do it with her still able to use magic if she desires."

"Well that is a puzzle. I will have to look into it."

"Thank you your majesty."

"Ah, speaking of. I almost forgot." She said pulling out a book off the table and handing it to me.

"What is it?"

"When I decided to marry the prince many years ago I visited several of the temples back home and talked to all of the high priestesses so I might better understand... how to keep my husband happy shall we say. All high priestess keep separate books about magic. The knowledge isn't openly shared because of our sense of taboo on the matter. I trust you will find a good use for it."

"Thank you your majesty." I nodded. I left and read the letter from Seren. She had taken up her moms path to study magic so she could serve both of her people. She even told me about her new handmaiden who also knew me. Arwen. I could only imagine how that conversation went. I put the letter away and headed into town. I stopped by to see Rose who was, as always, happy to see me. She told me she had hired Felicia to work in the afternoons and had been teaching her how to read in my absence.

Helga came in and she told me her father was home but was making trips everyday to Fairhaven which I had never heard of. Apparently it was nothing but a fort under construction that guarded a river crossing that no one used. Now it was a growing little community of survivors hence the name. Tovald was stationed there as the forts smith which meant he was safe.

I stopped at Tomen's and talked to him and Astrid a little. Even in front of her husband she still flirted with me but that was gnomes for you. After that I headed home.