eeting, "and you're wrong. It did accomplish something. You showed her that you're not afrai

ow I'm still scared of her! What she did to me..." She s

lf to be strong enough to rule a Kingdom. When the time comes for me to

d it to me was right there, by my side, every day! When I found out it was her..." She paused, searching for the right words, and her father waited patiently for her to continue. "It was as though all the fear I'd been feeling bec

do you f

to hurt you the most. Or at least she knows me well enough. She's known me since be

ed on her face. He felt a great weight lifting from his heart. She was going to be all right. His daughter was going to be all right. She might have been crushed by her ordeal. She might have been left crippled by it. Mentally crippled, unable to face the world without a perpetual terror of the dangers it held. People

ight in. It was the Princess' first time at a high level government meeting, and she looked around at the ministers and high ranking military men as they bowed to he

country was doomed, and even the oldest warhorses were quivering like violin strings tightened to breaking point. Their fear was infectious, and the Princess found herself pacing up and down the room in an attempt to burn off the nervous ene

ing confident... For the first time she gained the tiniest glimpse of what it was to be a King, a real King. She'd said it to Darniss, just minutes before, but it had just been words then. Now, though, she saw it,

r Council came forward one at a time to express their joy and delight at her recovery. She ignored the minor breach of etiquette, earning herself a pleased nod from Leothan, and thanked them as po

d the King, though. "Not until the war's over. There a

ndred years for all I care," replie

?" asked Leothan, returning the roo

lied the Field Marshall. "If the rider's been pushing

do we

the same time sending messages to Kapperwell telling them that all is well. That part of the operation has worked flawlessly, and I intend recommending those

oice. "It was my decision to go for Kapperwell,"

om Charnox the old fashioned way. Our pickets have intercepted some riders and massacred the

as no sign of any unusual

A rider or a pigeon may have made it thro

attack was due to begin. If a messenger did get thr

defenders to grab their weapons, run to their duty stations. Tha

have sent just a handful of messengers. He would have sent eve

r archers have killed hundreds of birds. Most of them were just birds, of

egan on the other three cities, before we k

before sending a rider back to inform us. This time, of course, we don't have to worry about enemy soldiers getting out to warn the next city on the list. This is t

e the rider arrived to tell us

We can expect ne

rves with tobacco despite the prohibition against doing any such thing in front of the King. She noticed that the minister for transport, the youngest and most recently appointed member of the War Council, was staring at the smokers with nervous trepidation, as if he thought that the King might take offense and threaten them with

der, more confident members went to stand beside him. "Worst case scenario," said Leothan. "Our

he capital. If it comes to that, I can promise you that Carrow will pay a high price in blood for every street, every building. I suggest that you, the Queen, the Princess and

at's left of the army will be fight

hell, Sire. I can

ere's no point in fighting after hope is gone. We have to give thought to what happens after, and we'll need all the good men we can find for that. Corpses in a mil

esty! I f

They may come up with trumped up charges, but they'll make sure we know the real reason they're doing it. They may do it a

gy getting them as they would you. Handing yourself over to them would be a pointless gesture. Also, they could use you as a hostage." He turned to the Princess. "Suppose

he people to rise up and take back their freedom, no matter what they did to my father. Bengoll Strake did

emain free and serve your people. I know how hard it will be to hide like a fox in a hole whil

a tone with the King, while others nodded their agreement. The King's face became expressionless. "We're being prematur

y moment to deliver his report. A few moments passed, though, and the door remained closed. Then someone cleared their throat and everyone spun around t

le," said Ardria timidly, "

name. Darniss's ancestors lived here, so they can say that she has legitimate claim to the palace, and her loyalties are fi

she wants! She taunted me with that possi

to just execute right now. Even if we're triumphant at Kapperwell, we'll still be

s that! The bi

ant. Sometimes, ruling a Kingdom is about compromise. Not even a monarch can just do what he or she wants. In fact, a monarch often has less freedom t

have a Kingdo

of a good reply to it, not even the King, and so a gloomy silenc

☆

e carriage clattered and bounced its way along the country road

lone, also dressed in civilian clothes, couldn't quite get used to the sight of him not in a military uniform. It was as if it was a different man sitting there. Almost a stranger. "Every nud

his a man

rences, but their main difference was in the chest." He reached into the chest that sat on the seat besid

, "And yet there is something about those chest swellings that I f

n. We are modelled physically upon them, though. They adopted creatures raised from globs, and those creatures became the first modern humans. I have a theory that our minds are also modelled upon theirs, that we like and dislike the same things that they

that I wanted to be a man. The idea of staying home all day, looking after the house, doing the bulk of the work of raising a child, just had no attraction for me. Nor did brain work like being an architect or a scientist, assuming I had a

That's what Alfornus called them.

would that mean that I had to be a wom

to answer that question. There's

p the man again. "Do we have any idea

r such a simple task. Alfornus said he thought they were used for procreation, although he had no idea how they did this. Only that it somehow involved the production of small humans who grew bigger until the

produce. The male plant produces pollen, it

ced pollen?" said M

hat we are descended from invaders to this world, while both plants and the Hetin folk a

ly trimmed grey beard. "When we see the Emperor, we have to focus on what we know, the threat posed by the Radiants. If we allow ou

s they'd chosen to take with them, to show the Emperor. Outside, one of the Kelvon guards accompanying the coach glanced in at the passengers as

be safe, the Empire took a dim view of anyone molesting people under their protection, but if the Carrowmen learned that a Helberion aristocrat was passing through their territory, none other than the Brigadier himself,

led. "We've got twenty of Kelvon's best looking after us," he said. "Relax. Nothing's going to happen." Malone smiled n

ve any more idea than he did. They probably wouldn't have any reliable news until they reached Farwell and

there and learn

There are far bigger issues at stake. We might defeat Carrow, and then fall victim to the Ra

ngdom, of fighting the enemies of the King, al

ies have been conquered and later threw out the invaders. In some case it took generations. Look at Telmartin, for instance. Helberion itself was once part of Ca

ng more than farm animals. Kept in pens, denied any form of technology. A life of just gro

ainly his reputation that had convinced him. His exploits were legendary, even to his enemies. His victories and accomplishments too many to count. He had earned the right t

a way to beat the Radiants, I'm going to see the country free again if it's the last thing I

it went a chill up his spine. Those Above forbid that I ever find myself on the opposite side of something from them, he thought. If all