Our trip to the Castle was uneventful. Tessa giggled and reached out for flowers or leaves off trees as we moved past. The Castle loomed in the distance well before dark. I had let the Two Women know of the fruits and berries ahead, so they could move forward to gather enough to fill their bellies, and then Tessa and mine. Water was slightly more challenging, with only one water skin among all four of us.

  "Your Majesty, how is the Castle restored?! I was told it had fallen to ruin ages ago!" Jenna asked me incredulously. I pointed at the Emerald on my Coronet.

  "It's all part of the Power of the Royal line, and the equipment I'm wearing. Beyond that, I don't know much. The very stones of the Castle obeyed my command, linens, tapestries, furniture, all repaired themselves. Honestly, I hadn't even searched the Castle to see what all was there, I climbed to the tallest tower, where I spotted a settlement in the grasslands, and then your campfire's smoke drifting in the wind. I knew you had managed to either escape or live undiscovered; either way, you were more than worth tracking down."

  Marta looked startled. "Your Majesty, did you really come especially for us?! That seems rather reckless, you're too important to risk yourself!" I shook my head.

  "Saving you was absolutely worth the risk, those filth have no chance against me. The Armor guides my every action during combat, there's practically no risk, and that's assuming they had proper weapons. My biggest challenge will be saving as many people as possible. The Lizard Scum would likely start a slaughter if they knew about me. Stealth is what is needed. If they send more scouts searching for you, then we can thin their numbers all the more. When we eventually attack that settlement, I want to destroy them without alerting them at all."

  Jenna looked determined. "It will be as you command, My Queen!" I groaned a little, but chose to remain silent.

  I started kicking logs over the castle wall, shocking everyone. "We need firewood, not only for cooking, but to heat whatever hearth you choose as your own, this, seems the quickest way to get it." Tessa giggled.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  In my haste to depart, I had forgotten that the restored gates were closed. Handing Tessa to her mother, I simply jumped to the top of the wall and then to the windlass that controlled the drawbridge and gates. My enhanced strength made short work of lowering the bridge and raising the portcullis. Once the trio were inside, I lowered the Portcullis again, just to be safe.

  The first place I took them was the Kitchen, outside of which was the Fish Trap. Sure enough, several fish were lazily swimming around. We wasted no time in lighting the fire in the hearth and cooking some fish to eat. It was clear to me that none of them had been eating properly for quite some time. Marta's eyes were aglow with the simple joy of eating fish, but paled in comparison to Tessa's eyes. Jenna seemed a small amount more reserved, but not by much.

  With the meal finished, Tessa made her need to go potty known. The result of which was for me to quickly show her, and everyone else, where the nearest privy was. Crisis averted, we then started searching out which rooms we'd use. Jenna, looking somewhat confused, spoke. "Your Majesty, aren't there Royal suites on the upper floors? Surely you should be using the Royal Bed Chambers!"

  I shook my head. "Not now, I shouldn't, it's just us four in the whole of the Castle, and we all need to be close together for safety, and nearer the gates too. Later, when we have more people, I can move into those rooms, but right now, this is where I must be. Once we've chosen rooms, we should probably scout the area from one of the towers, though I expect Marta will need to put Tessa down for a nap while we do that." Tessa chose that moment to let out a Monster Yawn. "Such a long trip, all that excitement, and a full belly of fish, it's no wonder she's tired."

  Jenna and I reached the tower, and walked around to opposite sides scanning the environment, looking for any signs of enemy movement. When we met in the middle on the far side of the tower, Jenna spoke. "Majesty, the resistance has never died. I was somewhat testing Marta, to see if she was worthy of character to join the group I'm a part of. With your arrival, that seems pointless. Perhaps I should bring them here?"

  I furrowed my brow as I thought. "I'm not entirely opposed to the notion, but if they think that I don't rule, then there may be needless deaths and injuries. If the leader of your group is a Man, for example, he may think he's more worthy of ruling than I am, in which case the very land itself may rise up against him. Think clearly on the matter, do you think it will go smoothly bringing in this group of resistance fighters? I'm happy to know they are out there, and fighting these, filth, that have infested our nation, but that doesn't mean we can cohabitate here just now."

  Now it was Jenna's turn to think carefully about the situation. "There is a divide in the ranks of the resistance. One side views the traditions of old as proper, female rule must continue, while the other side finds it folly, and blames the Queens of old for the fall of the nation. Should we perhaps split the resistance group, bring the loyalists here in secret, and leave the new rule morons to their own devices?"

  I smiled at that. "Perhaps that is a wise idea, we needn't clash with the new rule morons, but we can't allow them to spread their lies and idiocy to others. I am Queen, I RULE! When the Lizard filth are repelled from our lands, we can confront the idiots who know not the power of the Queens."