THE DRAGON'S PLEA (PART 2) A Sir Neva Mar tale
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She paused to let that sink in before going on, “Now that I do see you for both greedy and rude, we may listen to the Kingdom of Ravenwood. They have petitioned us to make a branch of the road to go to them. It would bring the merchants to the kingdoms of the plains over a week sooner. If we do that, closing the Callo road will cost US naught.”
Turning to her husband with a settled smile, Queen Lamira said, “You were right, My Love. As these folk have no need of us, we have no need of them either. We should take Ravenwood’s coin and build them their road.”
The king and queen were wheeling their horses to leave, King Neva saying loudly, “Having passed the dragon safely once, I doubt not that we can do so again! Come, my lords and ladies!”
A different voice called down from the battlements, “Hold, good King Neva Mar! Forgive my foolish son! I am King Gran. Can I not persuade you to stay and enjoy our hospitality?”
“Certes!” called King Neva. “In the space of five heartbeats, I need only hear Monther take back the words filthy and vile in connection with my Queen!”
Visibly prodded, Prince Monther called down, “I take back filthy and vile. Still, she is a ghoul!”
Lamira answered, “True. I am one. It would be foolish to deny it. If we are welcome, then open your gates to us.”
The large gates of Mongerbasse swung ponderously outward, opening for them. They all rode sedately into the courtyard of the castle. It was large and stout, though the now practiced eyes of Queen Lamira could see many small signs of deterioration due to neglect.
She was about to put up her bow when Prince Monther came into the courtyard and proclaimed loudly, “Look at that bow! It belongs on a catapult! Nobody could draw a horn-bow that heavy!”
Her arrow slammed through the stable door’s stout planks and drove home in a heavy wooden beam inside. King Gran arrived, puffing from trying to keep up with his loudmouthed son, just in time to see the shot. He blanched and grabbed Monther by the shoulder and pulled him close.
Whispering in Monther’s ear, he snarled, “Keep your mouth under control until you are King here! You have near to cost us a third of our revenue already. Can you not use your ears? Have you not heard of the Queen’s Bow from Bruice’s men who escaped from trying to raid the Culiar Road? That is it! Do not offend her again!”
King Neva’s party had in the meantime, alighted from their horses and began directing the unloading of their pack animals. King Neva and Queen Lamira came forth and presented themselves to King Gran.
As if nothing untoward had happened, King Neva introduced, “Your Majesty King Gran, may I present my Queen, the Lady Lamira?”
King Gran managed to smile and say, “It is a pleasure, Queen Lamira. I was in time to see that most notable shot. I see that the rumors of your peerless skill in defending the merchants on your road are not exaggerated. If I may ask, though, why do you not leave that task to your warriors?”
Queen Lamira responded, “Your Majesty, neither my Lord nor I do ask our people to do what we are not willing to do ourselves. Also, as a ghoul, I am somewhat harder to slay than my people are. Thus, I assume the risk of leading them to save them as much as I can.”
King Gran’s eyebrows rose at Queen Lamira’s casual mention of being a ghoul. “You admit freely to being a devourer of the dead?”
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