The King's Gamma (#Wattys2024)

Eighty Nine

I have driven myself down a rabbit hole of learning how digital art and animation works...

I hope you have found something that entertains you as much as we step into the new year

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"Tell me, child," the king spoke as he eyed me with admiration. "You said you are unmarried?"

I lifted a brow, eyeing the king before sweeping a quick glance over his sons. I already had an inkling on where this may go.

"That is correct."

"Why don't you stay in Vexhelm?"

"To do what exactly, your Majesty?"

"I have quite a few sons, as you can see. Many of them versed in battle and politics. You could marry one of them. Become a royal Princess."

"I will have to decline that... Grand offer. Regarding my offer to you, either you accept it and I will, as stated, allow you to trudge through on your petty little pissing contest with the idiot Emperor..." I held up a hand, letting it catch flame as I stared at it. "Or the next time I come through your lands, there will be no reports, only bodies."

"Fine, I accept your offer, Duchess. What would your terms be?"

*********

I stepped through the brush with the iron-clad prince not far behind me and behind him, a troop of seven soldiers from Vexhelm. The King insisted that they return with me.

I stopped and glared at them again. The Prince kept up fairly well; however, his men were less able to keep up.

"Perhaps we should take a break, Duchess?" The Prince asked almost reluctantly.

I understood all too well; he had to place his people first, even if he could keep up.

"I told you to take horses."

He nodded. "You did. We should have listened."

One of the men, burly and heavily accented, took a deep breath that did not help with his heavy breathing. "How can you still walk so far and fast, Duchess?"

"How are you so out of breath?" I responded, lifting a brow.

"We don't quite meet your standard, Duchess." One of the men said as he stared at her. "As puzzled as you are by our lack of stamina, we're equally as puzzled by your extensive amounts of stamina.

I shrugged, choosing not to let them know that it was likely because of my being a berserker.

We travelled another few hours before crossing the borders back to my own territory. The camp was mostly packed up, only leaving the ground bleak, the only remnants of the encampment being there for so long. I stepped through the shocked soldiers, finding my father and men in a heated discussion on packing up the camp and being ready.

"Is everything ready to depart?" I asked, my attention solely on Fenryr and Dennis.

"We would be ready, Duchess, if the commander had heeded your words and had his men pack as soon as you set out."

"Were my orders not clear, Commander Havenhell?" Fenrir and Dennis stepped back, eyes on me and my father as they determined that now was not the time to interfere. "I told you to ready your troops to set back out for the Duchy as soon as I return."

"I have no need to listen to a wet behind the ears little girl. The men packed up against my warnings that they are misplacing their trust in..."

It happened faster than any of them could realize, as I had my hand clamped over his mouth and held him up by this alone. He instinctively held onto my arm, his eyes widened as he stared down at me, his daughter.