War Queen

Chapter 16 : Krissa

1 month later

The calm, boring life returned to the palace, nothing interesting, nothing amusing, nothing at all. The Prince was still incarcerated in the dungeon, Debra and Thomas were on their best behaviour, the Armada had disappeared into the horizon. Once again I returned to waking up, getting dressed, going to my tower, practising with my ever increasing power and skills, ruling over a substantial court and getting thoroughly annoyed, daily.

This is where I find myself now, sitting on my throne, listening to the droning voice of Lady Sabrina talk about the latest fashion and the single lords. That is until a messanger arrives.

She comes rushing in, a look of alarm on her face. Everyone is silent as she hurridly straightens herself and walks towards the dias that my throne sits upon. She takes a deep breath and performs an awkward curtsey. She rises fast and opens her mouth, however I wave my hand and she closes it in confusion.

"Follow me"

I lead the girl, who looks to be no older then twelve, out of the throne room and into the conecting dinning room. I motion for the guards to close the doors behind us.

"Not infront of the court, they probably don't need to know your imformation anyway."

The girl looks down embarrassed that she had broken protocol.

"Tell me your message"

"My message comes from the Seawall Guard Tower, the one that defended us from the Armada."

I roll my hand in a get on with it gesture.

"Three Palmakian ships under a white KING's flag, wish to dock, the watchmaster on duty wishes to know if you will allow it."

While my mind processes this imformation I slowly find a chair and sit down, the girl, taking some incentive takes a seat as well.

"It was definatly a king's flag?"

"Yes your majesty, I saw it myself"

I just nod my head, still thinking. After a few minutes I look back at the girl.

"Tell the watchmaster that he is to allow the ships to dock but only after 30 minutes have past."

"Yes your majesty, right away"

With those words she was up and flying out the doors before I could blink. With a sigh I gather myself and walk back into the throne room where all conversation stops, I don't stop however and I continue out through the main doors finding my way to my third floor bedroom. Samantha was there mending gloves but with a start she stands and curtsies low.

"Sam, I'll be needing a riding outfit, one fit to meet the king of Palmako."

With a nod she rushes into my dressing room to find the items I need whilst I ring the bell for the my personal messanger. Within seconds he arrives.

"Jonathan, I need a party of ten horses with guards at the front gates within half an hour. I also ask you to call for Lady Debra and Lord Thomas to be ready to ride at the same time, along with my three advisors, Samantha and Prince Marco under a two person guard, shackled but dressed in his finery. That is all."

With a nod and a murmur he leaves to pass on the message.

...

Thirty minutes later I am standing outside the entrance to the palace with all those invited, ready and waiting to mount. Taking a deep breath, giving myself some extra time to make sure that this is exactly the plan I want to go ahead with, I lift my head up high and turn to mount my horse, waving off the stable boy who stood aside to help. Once mount I look around at the rest of the party and wait for them to settle on their own horses, once Prince Marco is ceremonialy shoved onto a horse, tied down with chains connecting to his shackles, and carefully being watched by two trusted guardsmen, I nod my head and we move off.

I was at the front of the procession, on my almost snow white horse, beautifuly groomed and deserving of her place as a queen's horse, only two guards were ahead as scouts. My personal guards were just behind me. While social dictation dictates that one or two of the ambassadors should be riding up next to me, I decided to differ from tradition, with the three ambassadors riding with the bulk of the group, the reason being that I really didn't want to try and hold a conversation with any of the old boring men.

Within fifteen minutes we reached the royal dock where the main ship from Palmako was sending their rope lines, readying to tie the ship to the dock. Another ten minutes of waiting patiently on my horse, the gang plank is lowered and the king of Palmako is guided carefully onto the dock. Four people follow in his wake. A footman or butler, the captain of the ship, an old man who could be an ambassador and a girl who looked to be my own age or younger, wearing a peach gown with ridiculously long trials on the arms. With a flourish the Kring bows, the others in his party follow suit.

"Queen Krissandra, a pleasure to meet you"

Up on my horse my only response is a polite dip of the head in a show of respect. The king looks mildly annoyed, however he endeavors to continue.

"Might I present the captain of my small but grand royal fleet, Captain Williams, Gregory Williams."

I nod my head towards the captain. Once again the king looks annoyed, I realise it is not just because I haven't dismounted but it is because no one in my party has dismounted, just as I had asked them to on the ride over. With the feeling of satisfaction settling in my stomach I turn my attentions back to the king who I realise has been blabbering on about the captain's achievements as well as the ambassador's. With a huff of annoyance I realise that he hasn't even bothered to introduce the girl standing just behind him, so I cut him off.

"Who is the lady?"

The king smirks which confuses me.

"My bargaining chip?"

This confuses me even more.

"Bargaining chip for what?"

"Why don't you see? For Prince Marco of course, I want my heir back."

"You have six others, what could you possibly need Marco for."

"Prince Marco is my most accomplished heir, he has done many great things for his young age."

"I still don't see how the lady comes into play?"

I stare at the girl trying to figure it out and miss the look that gleams in the king's eye but Prince Marco doesn't because out of nowhere he speaks up.

"Father, who is the young lady?"

Once again the king effectivly diverts around answering properly.

"She is the girl that I am going to trade for you"

My head snaps to the king.

"What could she possibly offer me in exchange for the prince"

"It's not what she can offer its who she is that is offered"

I look skeptically at the girl.

"And who exactly is she? King of Palmako"

"Princess Evelyn"

"Who?"

"Princess Evelyn of Meacambro, your younger sister by two years, stolen from her crib just like you, only days after birth."

Hey guys,

I will add a picture of Evelyn in my authors note when I write it ☺

So this is the last chapter of the book 😭 however don't worry I will be creating a sequel later on 😆

Also, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year (2019-2020) 🎄🎆

Hope you all have a good new years, may or may not update before then but just incase...

HAPPY NEW YEARS!

Love you all,

M.M.I.HERMANS 😘 💙