My Queen

"Oh hey, Rio. How'd the fight go?" Leaning closer, Savina smirked. "Did you win?"

Staring daggers at Savina, Rio shook his arms again. "I've had cleaner fights, and no, there were no 'winners'. The fight kind of broke up naturally." Taking a breath, Rio cleared his throat. "When I punched him in the gut and he threw-up slop on the floor."

Hearing Iseul clap, Rio sighed. "I hope there's a tent somewhere, I want to get this dirt off before it starts getting cold. Actuallyyy," Clapping his hands, Rio opened a portal. Pulling a clean set of clothes out, Rio was about to take his shirt off, before looking at Savina. Pointing a finger at her, Rio motioned for her to turn around.

Putting her hands up, Savina turned around. "Say no more." Hearing Rio move behind her, Savina glanced at Iseul. "Rio I-"

Not hearing Savina, Rio started speaking. "Now that I've had time to breathe, I've thought up the next thing we should do. I was thinking about what our next move should be. We should keep moving inland, there's someone I need to speak to now that Iseul is no longer chained up on a slaver ship." As Rio tried to put his pants on, Rio slipped on the ground. Hearing a small thud behind her, Savina was about to turn around before Rio shouted at her. "No turning!"

Picking himself up, Rio dusted off his pants. "So, does anyone have any objections to heading further inland?"

As Iseul shook his head, Savina turned around. "Where exactly inland? Sooner or later, I need to get to the capital."

"We need to swing by a small village, it's not far from here. Only two days walk at the most." Rio added scratching his chin.

"Why do you need to 'swing' by a village?"

"I need to thank a witch for helping me save his ass," Rio remarked, sticking a thumb at Iseul. "Besides, what business do you have in the capital? I heard the soldiers muttering after the fight ended. Apparently, one of the Queen's siblings has claimed the throne."

Hearing this, Savina, bit her thumb. "You didn't by chance hear who took m- the throne, did you?"

Rio simply shook his head. "No sorry. Although the soldiers seemed to hate her."

Feeling Iseul staring at her. Savina moved to stand up. "Rio, there's something I need to tell you-"

A head appeared through the entrance to their tent, a soldier looked at the people inside before speaking. "Excuse me, the captain has returned. He's requested to speak with the girl."

Moving to stand up, the soldier shook his head. "He asked to speak to just the girl."

"I don't think so." Rio argued, "We're a party, where Neia goes, we go."

Putting a hand on Rio's shoulder, Savina pulled him back. "Don't worry about me Rio, I'll be fine and besides if anything goes wrong." Sticking a thumb back to Iseul, who was staring up at the ceiling. "You get Iseul to do what he does best."

Looking at Savina and then the man, Rio nodded. "Yeah, that's true. Sorry, go have fun with that captain guy."

Walking over to the man, Savina asked. "So, where's his tent?"

~~

Stepping into the captain's tent, Savina locked eyes with Tushin who was sitting in a chair, running a cloth over his sword cleaning the dried Scorpsis blood off of it.

"You wanted to speak with me, captain? I thought you said you'd be back at sunset."

Wiping his sword again, Tushin chewed his lip. "When we went into the caves, we were met with hundreds of Scorpsis. But they were just a distraction. The Scorpsis were working with another Beast. You may have not heard of them, Roknas. Large worm beasts that slither along the ground, with their great jaws they chew through rock.

Hearing this, Savina nodded. "I have." Putting one hand on her hip, she put another against her lip. "Well, that answers what made the large caves. Two Beasts working together, that only happens when a part of the Lineage is commanding them. How very, troubling..."

Tushin continued. "Whilst we fought our way through the Scorpsis, the Roknas began collapsing the tunnels. We had to stop our assault when they began attempting to collapse the tunnels on our heads. I lost some good men, and we didn't find any civilians." He gravely remarked. "But that's in the past. I called you here because there's something I needed to make sure." Leaning his sword against his chair, Tushin stood. "And now I am certain."

Suddenly taking strides towards Savina, she took a step back. "Tushin?"

Tushin knelt on one knee as suddenly as he had started moving. Tushin bent his head as he spoke. "I'm sorry for not recognizing you sooner. It has been too long, my Queen."

Staring at Tushin, Savina sighed, rubbing her nape. "Come on, get up, Tushin. You know I don't like these kinds of formalities." Opening her arms, Savina smiled. "Now come here."

Slightly laughing, Tushin stood. Hugging Savina, he picked her up as he tightly squeezed her. Putting Savina back down, Tushin beamed a smile down at her.

"I'm sorry, my queen, it's just. I didn't believe the news. I couldn't believe it. Vesh killing you. I knew you had something up your sleeve."

"Well, actually, Tushin, I didn't have anything up my sleeve." Rubbing her neck, Savina exhaled. "Vesh kill me, it was a clean stab through my lower abdomen… I died Tushin."

Hearing this, Tushin shook his head. "That can't be true my lady, you're here, I mean your thirty-odd years younger, and I can sense that you're not as strong as you were. But you're still here, in front of me."

"That's the tricky part, Tushin. I was chosen by the Goddess Nama to be her Champion and would you stop with all of this, my lady and my queen business. I'm not even a queen right now."

Putting his hands on Savina's shoulders, Tushin's resolve was evident. "You will always be my Queen, Savina. Parts of the kingdom are still up in arms over your death. When the news got out, riots happened in the few locations loyal to you."

Hearing this, Savina paused. "But- wait what do you mean when the news got out?"

Letting go of Savina's shoulders, Tushin walked over to a nearby bag. "I've kept this with me since I heard. It's a notice that was sent out across the kingdom."

"Can you read it out for me?" Savina gingerly asked.

Nodding, Tushin cleared his throat. "This is a royal decree from the newly anointed Queen Swen Estia. 'My evil half-sister Savina has been deposed from the throne. As the next in line for the throne, I have been appointed by law as the new head of state and Queen of the land. Anywho remain loyal to the previous Queen, my half-sister Savina, and refuse to swear loyalty to my reign will be seen as a traitor to the throne and treated as such.'" Looking to Savina, Tushin sighed."

Savina's voice trailed off as she covered her mouth. "Tushin, when- when did I die?"

Putting the notice back into his bag, Tushin stood back up. "Vesh killed you almost three weeks ago."

Three weeks, the words echoed inside Savina's head.

"I thought I was." Suddenly feeling light-headed, Savina staggered to the left, quickly being caught by Tushin. A notification appeared in front of Savina.

The effects of Trauma Resistance lvl 2 has weakened in the face of this new information.

"What does that even mean," Savina grunted, her head ringing.

"My queen, what's wrong? Has something happened?" Tushin asked, concern written across his face.

Breathing, Savina shook her head. "I just- I thought I was only gone for." Coughing, Savina put a hand against her head. "I thought I was only gone for a few hours. Almost three weeks. I guess I assumed that Nama brought me back as soon as possible. Anyway, I'm, I'm fine. Now at least."

Having had time to process this information, a screen appeared.

The damping effects on Trauma Resistance lvl 2 have been lifted.

"That's so dumb," Savina muttered, waving the screen away.

Standing on her own two feet again, Tushin looked at the entrance to his tent before looking back to Savina. "My queen. What are your plans to reclaim the throne."

"I haven't really had time to think up a plan. First I get kidnapped by elf slavers, and then I almost get eaten alive by insects."

Hearing this, Tushin became alarmed. "Wait, what was that first part. You were kidnapped by slavers?"

"Wha- oh right, I forgot to mention. Relay a message to the Southern Guard, I believe slaver activity has picked up along the coast because of my death. No doubt Swen, that ever-lovely sister of mine, is trying to bring slavery back. Because that was so much fun to abolish the first time around."

"What else would you have us do."

Eyeing Tushin, Savina pondered. "How many of the Wild Guard agree with your ideals, Tushin? How many would be willing to be branded as traitors to aid me in reclaiming my throne."

"We are all in agreement, I'm sure there will be a few among us who will side with lady Swen, but." Taking his sword off the table. Tushin bent his knee, raising his sword with both hands. "My lady, the true queen Savina. I promise that the Wild Guard will stand by your side."

Resting a palm on Tushin's blade, Savina closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. "Thank you, Captain Olagard. You don't know how much it means to me to know that I won't be alone in this."

Tushin frowned as he spoke. "A lot of those who supported you have been rooted out my lady, but, a lot of our allies have either been executed or imprisoned on your sister's orders." Tushin's smile lifted slightly as he continued. "There are still some who remain loyal to you and your cause."

Hearing this, Savina nodded. "When the time comes, I will call on you, but for now." Offering a hand to Tushin, Savina helped the man up. "Keep vigilant, these Beasts are up to no good, and if I'm right about a member of the Lineage being a part of this… Just keep vigilant."

"Yes ma'am. Now, what will-"

Tushin was cut off as shouts echoed around the campsite.

"I've had enough of all these loud noises," Savina grumbled. Walking over to the entrance to the tent. Savina smirked turning back to Tushin, summoning a ball of violet fire in her hand. "Get that armour on Tushin, sound's like trouble's brewing."