Baxter Peters
Considering Writing Again
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Dungeon Master
Inner Sanctum Nobility
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"Bring her in," the King said wearily from his throne, rubbing his sun touched brow.
Guards pulled back the tent's flaps to allow soldiers escorting in a woman. While two soldiers held her arms, they weren't dragging her. By contrast, she walked with her head held high and an almost defiant look in her eyes. She was disheveled, one eye nearly swollen shut, blood stained lips, and had fresh bruises blossoming across her skin. Despite that, she bore herself with a regal pride that caught his attention.
"Your highness, this is the one who murdered our Captain," A soldier holding her practically growled.
"Is that so? I did not know Thebes had such powerful warrior women," the king mused aloud.
"Oh, it was not in battle, your majesty." The woman boldly interjected. "Your man is correct. I murdered him. May I ask for your indulgence, so that I might explain why you should reward me for this act?"
The king couldn't help but bark a surprised laugh, despite his fatigue. "Well, how can I refused such a brazen request? Proceed."
With a nod, the woman began, "Thank you. I am no stranger to war. My brother marched against your father's banner years ago at The Battle of Chaeronea. I knew when you marched on Thebes, the city would fall. I was prepared for that and knew what it would mean for myself and my children. When your captain chose to bed me as a prize, I didn't fight him. When your men looted my home, I accepted it. And yet, that wasn't enough for your captain. He was certain I was hiding more wealth. When beating me didn't reveal more spoils, he threatened my children, wondering aloud how many would die before I gave him my jewels."
Her jaw twitched at the memory, still fresh and raw. "So, I decided to kill him before he could harm my children. I began to wail, begging him not to harm my babies. I told him that I had thrown my jewels into the well and that I was terrified that he or his men would notice the sparkle from the depths when getting water. I gambled that he was such a greedy fool that he wouldn't want to share those spoils with his men. That he would go to the well himself, ordering his men away so the treasure would be his alone."
The soldiers looked at each other with questioning expressions.
"I was right," she continued. "He dragged me by the hair to the well, ordering his men to the front of the estate. And, when he leaned into the well to survey his treasures, a simple push was all I needed to propel him into the stony, treasureless depths." There was undeniable pride in her recounting.
"Alas, he didn't have the courtesy to die cleanly. I think he only broke an arm or perhaps a shoulder. He began wailing, screeching like a stuck swine. His men would hear him, dashing my hopes to spin his disappearance as desertion with my jewels. Not one to leave a task unfinished, I began lifting heavy stone and dropping them into the well atop him. In time, the sobbing stopped." She gave a bit of a curtsey. "And that is how I removed an incompetent, disloyal officer from your army."
Again, the king couldn't help but laugh, this time shaking his head. "At the very least I should enslave you and your children. If only to prevent further losses. Tell me though. If not the well, where did you hide your jewels?"
"I have no more, your highness. I sold them to support Thebes and it's army against you."
He shook his head with a bemused smile, "Not the wisest investment, but I respect your spirit. Take her back to her children. May no man of my army trouble her or hers. I am inclined to believe her recount and while I won't thank you for the captain's death, I can't find fault in your choices."
"Thank you, your majesty." Head held high, she turned and walked away, somehow seeming taller and stronger than all the soldiers around her, even in her torn, stained gown.
Guards pulled back the tent's flaps to allow soldiers escorting in a woman. While two soldiers held her arms, they weren't dragging her. By contrast, she walked with her head held high and an almost defiant look in her eyes. She was disheveled, one eye nearly swollen shut, blood stained lips, and had fresh bruises blossoming across her skin. Despite that, she bore herself with a regal pride that caught his attention.
"Your highness, this is the one who murdered our Captain," A soldier holding her practically growled.
"Is that so? I did not know Thebes had such powerful warrior women," the king mused aloud.
"Oh, it was not in battle, your majesty." The woman boldly interjected. "Your man is correct. I murdered him. May I ask for your indulgence, so that I might explain why you should reward me for this act?"
The king couldn't help but bark a surprised laugh, despite his fatigue. "Well, how can I refused such a brazen request? Proceed."
With a nod, the woman began, "Thank you. I am no stranger to war. My brother marched against your father's banner years ago at The Battle of Chaeronea. I knew when you marched on Thebes, the city would fall. I was prepared for that and knew what it would mean for myself and my children. When your captain chose to bed me as a prize, I didn't fight him. When your men looted my home, I accepted it. And yet, that wasn't enough for your captain. He was certain I was hiding more wealth. When beating me didn't reveal more spoils, he threatened my children, wondering aloud how many would die before I gave him my jewels."
Her jaw twitched at the memory, still fresh and raw. "So, I decided to kill him before he could harm my children. I began to wail, begging him not to harm my babies. I told him that I had thrown my jewels into the well and that I was terrified that he or his men would notice the sparkle from the depths when getting water. I gambled that he was such a greedy fool that he wouldn't want to share those spoils with his men. That he would go to the well himself, ordering his men away so the treasure would be his alone."
The soldiers looked at each other with questioning expressions.
"I was right," she continued. "He dragged me by the hair to the well, ordering his men to the front of the estate. And, when he leaned into the well to survey his treasures, a simple push was all I needed to propel him into the stony, treasureless depths." There was undeniable pride in her recounting.
"Alas, he didn't have the courtesy to die cleanly. I think he only broke an arm or perhaps a shoulder. He began wailing, screeching like a stuck swine. His men would hear him, dashing my hopes to spin his disappearance as desertion with my jewels. Not one to leave a task unfinished, I began lifting heavy stone and dropping them into the well atop him. In time, the sobbing stopped." She gave a bit of a curtsey. "And that is how I removed an incompetent, disloyal officer from your army."
Again, the king couldn't help but laugh, this time shaking his head. "At the very least I should enslave you and your children. If only to prevent further losses. Tell me though. If not the well, where did you hide your jewels?"
"I have no more, your highness. I sold them to support Thebes and it's army against you."
He shook his head with a bemused smile, "Not the wisest investment, but I respect your spirit. Take her back to her children. May no man of my army trouble her or hers. I am inclined to believe her recount and while I won't thank you for the captain's death, I can't find fault in your choices."
"Thank you, your majesty." Head held high, she turned and walked away, somehow seeming taller and stronger than all the soldiers around her, even in her torn, stained gown.