It was at this point that a man came looking like a Grizzly Bear, covered in cuts and bruises. He was obviously exhausted and out of breath. “My Queen, we of the Bear Guard have encountered a powerful Monster. It is unlikely that we will prevail at this point. Please evacuate at once!”

  I started, and Jeanette was right on my heels. “Which direction is the beast? We’ll hold it off, or kill it if we can. If my physical strength is no match, then my Magic may prevail.”

  The Bear Guard, startled by my words, and even more by my Tiger ears, mutely pointed in a direction. We ran out into the wilds as directed. Alian looked on dejectedly, knowing she wasn’t allowed to follow at this point. Lamalia and Mayra were too stunned at our movements. “You’ll get used to it, she’s crazy powerful, and well then there’s her origin. Doesn’t mean I don’t worry, though.” The two hugged Alian for comfort, and King Donican took charge of the evacuation.

  We came upon the Bear Guards in their struggle. The one sent with the warning was clearly the worst off. What I saw was a large, ironically bear-like creature, about the size of a Mammoth, with almost metallic-looking claws and teeth. I manifested a solid steel spike about fifty feet in the air, pointed directly down onto the Bear Thing, and I entwined its legs with stone restraints. The Bear Men attempted to take advantage, but I called out frantically. “HOLD!!!” They looked back, and I pointed up. Looking up, they immediately noticed why I said to hold, and were quite content to pause as the spike missed my target, yet embedded itself into the creature’s shoulder, further pinning it in place, as it let out a massive roar.“Now, finish off this pest, for the honor of my new Wife Queen Lamalia!!!”

  Invigorated by my call for the Honor of their Queen, they charged in as the creature managed to tear one paw free of the stone encasements. The first Bear to approach held his massive shield and took the blow, allowing his compatriots to stab into the sides of the beast. Jeanette fired off her crossbow, hitting its eye as it raised its head up, bellowing in pain from the stab wound. Then I launched myself, claws extended through the Knuckles I wore.

  My punch seemed to ring his bell as I pummeled the side of its head, and my other hand’s spike plunged deep into the other eye, and I ripped my claws across its hide as I sprang back into the formation. “Careful, it’s blind now, and while that’s a good thing, it also means this critter is going to be unpredictable. Watch for a safe opening, keep your distance till the time is right.” The Guard nodded in affirmation as the raging beast ripped its other front paw free and madly swung both paws, trying to find purchase on something.

  “This thing’s no joke, huh? That spike should have been quite the injury, but the damned thing’s still not giving up.”

  The Captain answered me. “Aye, I’ve seen beasts like this before, but never this large. The smaller ones take more men than we have here; our only hope was to delay the thing long enough for the Queen to flee, then you, that spike was you, yes? Also, you said the Queen is your Wife now?”

  I grinned. “Yes, and Jeanette here is my Concubine, as Mayra is for the Queen; also, I have another Wife, the first Princess of the Country directly across from here on the Continent. Focus, though, its swings are getting weaker.”

  Just then, one of the spear wielders lunged at the beast, causing another wound, and tearing the spear out viciously. The new wound was in a prime location, and blood fountained out, soaking his pants in the crimson liquid. “Nice thrust, but I am NOT envious of the person who has to clean that!”

  They all laughed, and the beast's struggles slowed further, allowing similar injuries to be made on the other side. Finally, I saw an opening and leapt up to rip its throat out with my claws. I didn’t quite manage to avoid the arterial spray, by which I mean, I was completely soaked. “Couldn’t resist outdoing him, huh, Love?”

  I beamed with triumph as I walked up to my pun-intended blood brother. “Damn straight, my Balls are bigger than his after all, they’re so big I gotta carry them on my Chest. No way was I gonna let him do better at making a Mess of themselves than I could.” The Bear Guard roared in laughter, recognizing that, Noble or not, right now, I was one of the boys.

  “Come here, you rascals, let me heal your ails. Then we should hurry up before everyone is on the ship, or running out of the City for no reason. Also, did you not see the new walls?” The Captain turned to the City and gaped. “I take it, your detail was out of town for an extended period.”

  I started healing their injuries with Water Magic, purifying them with Light magic from any diseases they might have encountered. “Yes, Ma'am, we have been on extended patrol for some months, and only just returned, as we encountered this beast. Had I seen the new walls, I’d have fallen back in favor of a ranged harassment. How did such a Massive wall arise so quickly?”

  I chuckled. “You’ll get used to it; I tend to do crazy stuff, since nobody taught me, I wasn’t told the untruths that everyone believes about Magic. I built the Wall, and several houses on the inside of it, as well as a massive stone pier and a breakwater. What’s truly amazing is that the runner you sent was so focused on getting to the Queen, who was at the Pier with us, that I doubt even he noticed the Wall, despite having to find a Gate to enter through it, and then get told where the Queen was.”

  We set off merrily towards the new City Wall. “We’ll be taking some immigrants across to the Port town on our side, since there’s such a food shortage. Though this beast will help with that, as will the new wall, being that it’s protecting a significant amount of new Farm Land.”

  As we approached the Pier, the crowd parted, and gasps could be heard from every angle. My Beaming face is all that settles Alian’s heart, while Jeanette just shook her head in exasperation at my antics. “The Conquering Heroes have returned! Sing their Praises, everyone!”

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  I shouted out. Relief is palpable among the crowd at my words. “The Monster is defeated?!”

  Asked Lamalia. “Very much Dead, and twice as Ugly as it started. Thanks to everyone for their quick reactions on evacuation procedures. I think if it weren’t for my Magic, that it would have been different. The Wall would have held, I’m sure, but that would have left you trapped waiting for the next run of the Ship. So killing it now makes me much happier, plus,…MEAT!”

  This got exactly the reaction I wanted, a large portion of the Men in the crowd ran out of the Wall, to begin processing the Beast for Meat. I then had a thought, a crazy one. “Would it be like super insane, to make a bridge here? Normally, I’d say it was myself, but with my Massive Mana Pool, and the refined ability with Earth Magic I have, I think I could make a living Bridge over the ocean. Like thirty feet wide, and high enough to never get splashed with Seawater, filled with growing dirt, and a road down the center. Nobody but I could pull it off, but I THINK I could do it.”

  King Donican and Queen Lamalia looked at each other in utter shock at the ridiculous endeavor I casually mentioned.“If you think you can, Wife, I’d agree, but it’s a joint decision.”

  Donican Smiled. “Though I do enjoy the ship, this land bridge, if you can make it as you say, would be a very good thing for most travelers. I say make your attempt, but be thorough in your design.”

  I nodded and moved outside the wall, looking for the best location. Once I had chosen my location, I focused my will, rising from the depths of the Sea at forty miles apart came huge pillars thirty foot square, and a shelf of stone stretched out from my feet to reach the top of the Pillar about forty feet off the sea’s surface, and continued to climb to the second one another twenty feet higher. As the shelf stretched, it also thickened, and the side walls rose. Ten-foot tall walls on either side of the now five-foot thick stone shelf.

  There were holes for drainage, and a thin sheet of Stainless Steel began to spread across the surface. A road formed down the center of the bridge, raised up off the steel by about four feet, and rich soil manifested on either side, matching the height of the road. Through the Magic itself, I knew when I had reached the other side, and the bridge was completed. I collapsed, unable to move after the Mana Drain from such a massive working. I didn’t black out, though.

  Jeanette, Alian, Mayra, and Lamalia swarmed me as I fought to regain the strength to stand again, while an obviously proud Donican looked on in amused fascination at the working I had somehow pulled off. “I think I almost emptied my Mana Pool with that. Only the working itself kept me on my feet at the end, so once I was done, down I went.”

  “You really don’t know how to hold back, do you, Daughter?” Donican chuckled with a wry smile, shaking his head at yet another impossible thing I did so casually.

  “It’s rather frustrating, Love, every time you drain yourself to this degree, I never know if you’ll recover. I wish you’d stop doing such reckless things!” Alian complained.

  “But that’s why we love her so much, Alian. Jane wouldn’t be Jane if she didn’t go in fully on whatever project she came up with.”

  Alian smiled, and Lamalia seemed to understand the situation much more. “What exactly have I gotten myself into? I don’t know if my Heart can take many scares like this one.”

  “We should still take the first load of immigrants by ship, as the Bridge will take some time to travel across. However, we can start sending wagons of supplies, and bringing more immigrants on their return, allowing the Tiger’s Eye to continue on the exploration voyage you intended for it.” Donican stated with confidence.

  “I think, what with the Beast being defeated, and this new Bridge for my people to use if they need it, that I can safely take leave from the Capitol, and come across for a Visit myself, now that a reliable method of returning exists. No offense to your ship, Jane, but it only works if it’s here.”

  I smiled. “No offense taken, you’re totally right. Ships can only help if they are where you need them to be, and right now, the Tiger’s Eye is the only ship that can travel across the Sea. The Bridge is truly reliable, if slower.” Besides, I thought, it’s not like I didn’t make both anyway. Lamalia sent off messages alerting her advisors that she would be visiting her new in-laws across the Sea, and to send messenger birds should they require her return before a Month. Some runners brought back parcels of clothing and other such necessities, and we boarded the ship with the Immigrants who had already boarded.

  The trip back to the Port town was very quick, due to a wind change, and I got a little concerned. “That’s a pretty drastic shift in wind direction. You’d best not sail out for a while, Captain; I think maybe a storm is brewing, and the wind shift is the first sign. If you do decide to start your exploration cruise, use extreme caution.”

  The Ship’s Captain nodded in apprehension. “I think you may be right, now you mention it. Never put those things together before, but as I recall, bad storms did always have the wind in my face if I was looking out from shore. I’ll wait for a day or two, and see if things feel better later on.”

  I sighed in relief at his words, as my family and I disembarked from the ship. I had picked up some seashells, nice ones, and several barrels of seawater to take home. Having set up a salt production facility in the town, I’d only have to haul the water once myself.

  It was a very uneventful trip back to the Capitol, but the company was excellent. We traveled so much faster on the way back, that it only took two and a half days, instead of the near week that could have been expected before. The walls rose majestically in the distance, and our carriages were quickly let through, as the crowds parted out of respect. Lamalia marveled at the speed of the journey, and the masses of people in our Capitol, which dwarfed her own. The Palace looming above her was another shock. “I know how you feel, this is a bit much for me still too.” We all went to the private audience chamber. Vanessa, Mitchel, and Darla were all waiting as the Family entered altogether.

  We all greeted each other warmly, and the Seashells were received with actual gratitude. “It’s such a pleasure to meet you, Lamalia, and Mayra. I hope we can become great friends.”

  “I thank you for the warm greeting, and am truly glad to have you as a Mother.”

  “As am I your Grace.” Mayra piped up.

  “None of that Your Grace nonsense in private, you’re my precious daughters now!” So saying she embraced them both in a fierce hug. Tigers are very fierce when it comes to family. Lamalia had brought a drink with her, as had Jeanette, having grabbed a small keg of the Mead from the Port, while the drink Lamalia had brought seemed more like Sake than anything else. Everyone drank that night, and far too much, especially since aside from myself, in my old life, Lamalia, and Mayra, nobody had ever drunk before in their lives.

  I didn’t let the younger ones partake, since it was a custom from back home that people should be older to drink alcohol. I, however, drank far too much, and not until morning did I realize my mistake. Waking up in a pile of limbs wasn’t an issue, and the headache was expected.