Queen Zezanna

Queen Zezanna - Chapter 33

Ingrell approves of my plan, and tells me that he will send a messenger bird to let me know of his father's decision as soon as he possibly can.

For now, we bid each other farewell, and I step onto Tzeeru's ship.

"I've grown to love you all." I tell my shipmates as I stand before them before we sail off. "We've been through a lot together, and you've always been there to lend a helping hand. It's like Tzeeru told me last night, we're all family. I swear that I will never forget you. Thankfully, we are not saying goodbye quite yet. I'm going with you all back to Oldport. There, I pray to recieve some more assistance for the upcoming battle. Ingrell has left to gather his father's support. With Balazi helping us, we will destroy Vinill's forces before they even know what is happening. I won't ask any of you to fight with us, you're all just fishermen, but I will appreciate every single hand that can help us. Even if you can only help us from behind the scenes, there is a place for everyone in the fight. Thank you. Thank you so much for this. I'm honored."

I kneel in front of them, in an attempt to show them just how much they mean to me.

Someone places their hand on me. Looking up, I see that it's Izzy.

"None of that shit, no need for any of us to kneel. In my family, we just hug it out."

I chuckle, then stand back up, and give her a tight hug. One by one, everyone else on the boat joins in.

When we break up, Tzeeru sets off, and we head onwards to Oldport.

I'm over by Tzeeru, looking out over the water as we get further from the city.

"You know," Hailie says, sliding up by me, "We've been looking for a leader for our nation. We're only technically part of Balazi, but we've been wanting to break off and establish our own nation. Tzeeru is the most popular choice, but he loves the ocean too much. I was thinking, maybe if you, or Emma, or any of your friends, really, wanted to come and join us as our leader... We wouldn't be opposed to it."

"I plan to take back my throne. I don't think Emma is interested in being a queen, but she definitely wants to marry you, and I'm certain she'll treat you like a queen."

"Don't make me blush." She mutters.

"Heroth and Brokk were both considered to take over the crown instead of me. I'm sure Vinill tried to talk them into it. Neither were interested, though. Maybe they would like to lead your nation. If it's the best thing, it's something they might look into. We can talk about that after I take back my throne, though."

"Oh, of course. I shouldn't have bothered you with that while we're still on the issue of dealing with Vinill's army."

"Don't be sorry." I tell her. "I understand how it is."

"Hailie, try not to bother her too much with it for now, alright?" Tzeeru tells her.

"I know, I know!" She sighs.

"You love that little island to death, I know. Soon enough we won't have to worry about who our leader is, though. I sense nothing but clear sailing from here on out."

"Don't get too cocky, now." Hailie rolls her eyes.

Tzeeru laughs, "I won't! Still, it's a good thing to be optimistic! Vinill's army will be hard to beat, we cannot forget that, but we will be fighting him together."

The ship ride isn't long, since his city is just north of Balazi. When we get there, I look out at the cracked wood that makes up the pier, and hesitate to even step on it.

"It ain't called Oldport for nothing." Tzeeru tells me.

"I wasn't expecting something so... Decrepit."