still {on HOLD}

chapter six

{ Delorian Kingdom } ( POV of Queen Adela Emerson Straugh-Torrence )

After our encounter earlier, the man and his wife tagged along behind our fleet. Madison and I continued to explore the rubble at the front. We couldn't hear anymore of his outbursts from where he was which was awfully pleasant. Thinking about all he'd said had made me sick but when I thought about what he had ahead of him made me chuckle.

"What's so funny over there?" Madison said, stiffling a laugh herself.

"Nothing, just thinking about that fool we met earlier." I said and we both laughed together.

"He's got much ahead of him, I can see it in your face." she said before turning her attention back to the path of her horse.

By the time we had finished exploring the Delorian Kingdom, it was nearly nightfall and, sadly, the greatest discovery of the day was the fool and his wife. We decided to set up camp in a large clearing in the wilderness between the Delorian Kingdom and the Glassoa Kingdom. Tomorrow we were to head back out separate ways.

The Glassoa Kingdom is ruled by Lucas and Selena Ohlson. Their kingdom is very dark, but it's extraordinarily beautiful. Music plays out in the streets and the people dance around; happy and content. The trees there have the darkest bark known in all of the lands and when they bloom, they bloom a clean, white color.
Lucas and Selena take great pride in their kingdom. They have no children to inherit the throne. I've heard before that if they were to perish, a distant nephew is to take over the castle.

I am snapped from my thoughts by the snapping of nearby sticks and rustling of leaves. My guards hear the sounds as well and throw down their dinner plates and pick up their shields. Sounds are coming from all directions, a scream and a cry are heard along with giggles and cheers.
I send a small group of soldiers to investigate the mysterious noises. I sit down next to Madison and we wait for them to return, slightly in fear of what they may bring back.
They return near to ten minutes later holding the man and his supposed wife. One of my men speaks as he shakes the man violently once. "We found these two on the edge of the forest, trying to escape."

"Did you, now?" Madison says as she stands and walks over to the man, her long fur overcoat swaying near the bottom of the campfire. She approaches the woman and places a finger under her chin, examining her. Madison turns the woman's head to both sides as she continues to examine her face.
"You know," the queen speaks, "you don't have the face of royalty. So, it's probably in your best interest to mind what the queen says because once she brings you back to her kingdom you won't last a second. You'll be mauled like a carcass in a ring of hungry lions. I don't know how to present that more clearly. She has told you, I have just told you, what's next; execution?" She diverts her attention to the man. "And you, lumbering around here with a woman who is obviously not yours, and I can tell you're married by the ring on your hand. What are you, a fool? Well, that was obvious. A....that's it...that's what you are. You're a tard! And your poorer than dirt. No respect for your royals, I'll teach you some. In honor of the queen and I, your name is going to be changed."

"Changed? To what?" the man drunkenly stammers.

"Well that I've already told you, pay attention more. Your name is Poortard."