Thirty Two

The next morning, I walked to the morning room where I was supposed to be having tea with the queen consort who was a noble man of his right but didn’t have any say when the queendom is concerned. I was confused about the power dynamics at first but Orel made everything simple for me, the men were used to be ruled by females. Females in this queendom was more ruthless and heartless when dealing with threats than the men and so with traits in females, they have been ruling the empire for centuries, they operated a matricentric society where, everything is done through the linage of the woman. Noble houses followed the woman family tree, even the Queen who came into power with the help of the Dar Empire when another noble house almost succeed in stealing her crown. Orel also informed me that I could not be seen as his wife, I needed to ascertain my superiority here or they negotiations will not go well.


“Good you are here, I am Lady Alma, second in command to Queen Mathilda.” A lady said when I entered the room. There was no sign of any male there.

I stared her down before I took a seat at the end of the table. “I am not in the mood for game Alma, I am the Warlady not second in command. If you want one of Orel commanders, Lady Gwenn will gladly talk to you, I am to talk to a person with the same station as me.”

“King Elyas is busy right now. I have never heard of a Warlady before, is that even a real title?” Alma mused out loud as I grinned at her.

“I am sure it is just a real as a queendom.” I said flippantly ignoring the silence at my words. “You think it isn’t real, offend me. I don’t even need to inform my husband before I call our army, within a month Brookston will be no more. Doubt if it is a real thing, just try me.” I said as she uncomfortably clear her throat.


“I am sorry, Warlady…”Lady Alma started.

“Just call me lady Themis, I have a name too, let’s not address ourselves by our titles.” I shrugged as I stood up.

“To where, lady Themis.” Alma said standing up with me.

“To meet my husband and tell him I will appreciate the disrespect, I am the consort of the warlord just like King Elyas is the consort of the queen, if I am supposed to be kept busy and well entertained it should be no other, other than my fellow consort.”

“I am sorry Warlady, a thousand apologies, I will get the king now.” Alma said as she quickly bow to me and left the room as I sat back down, I turned to the other ladies in the room with a smile. “Tell me ladies, more about the Brookston culture.”


“I cannot believe that brat is going to make us wait.” Gwenn angry voice woke me up.

“If you wake Themis up, I would not be happy with you.” Orel said softly.

“I am already up.” I said as I sat up. “What happened?”

“Queen Mathilda is feeding us lines about not wanting to support us in the war.” Gwenn growled in anger.

“Are you always this angry, this is why you should fuck a man?” I said as Gwenn glared at me.

“Not time for your remarks Themis, the queen is notorious for not changing her mind, she is going to post us until we run out of time for other things which we need to do and need I remind you that we need to get back to the capital as soon as possible.”

“What are we going to do?” I asked.

“I have no idea.” Gwenn yanked on her hair.

“Maybe Themis should try.” Orel suggested as I let out a squeak.

“What.”

“Why would you want to send your lamb of a wife to go and meet the bad wolf?” Gwenn asked confused.

“She might be the wolf but I think, it is only Themis that can make her rethink her decision not to help us” Orel explained.

“And how will Themis convince her of this.” Gwenn rolled her eyes.

“They don’t value the opinion of men here, I might scare her into submission but she will be bullheaded if she feels like I try to take control of her empire, she might submit to my rule but I can force her to support our cause. She will respect my wife because she is a woman and she will listen to the threats Themis issue.” Orel said.

“Please, if she would listen to threats issued by a woman why hasn’t she listened to me since.” Gwenn asked.

“Because of your status, you weren’t my wife, you were my warrior. Themis isn’t my warrior, she is my equal and to them, she is greater than me.” Orel said as Gwenn grudgingly nodded.

“There is no way, I can face her.” I said scared out of my mind. They might be used to seeing women strong willed like queen Mathilda but I was not, she will eat me raw and pick her teeth with my bones.

“She might or she will say something that will annoy you and that hidden leader in you will shine out, the one you hide under your pathetic cowering self who hides under your husband protection.” Gwenn said.

“I know there is a compliment in there but I have lost track of it.” I tell her as she sighs.

“You know how to deal with her, you might pretend like you don’t, you might act like you are not capable but somewhere within you, you know that she is nothing compare to you.” Gwenn said as I smile at her.

“Thank you but I still am not sure.” I worry my bottom lip between my teeth.

“You can, I trust you.” Orel looked at me with intense eyes as I gulped, I didn’t sign up for this but I also didn’t have a choice in the matter.

The next morning, I walked to the training field where I ordered that Gwenn should punish the messenger, I needed to be seen as ruthless and Dyane will not be happy that I ruin all her efforts which she had been trying to use to revive the man but I had no choice, the sooner we are done here, the closer we get to returning home.

Gwenn glared at me for ordering her but still reached for her whip as she lashed at the man for the first time, his piercing scream filled the air but I didn’t flinch, to flinch would show weakness and I cannot afford that right now.

“You are ruthless.” A voice said besides me, I turned to see the queen watching the scene in front of her. “Or you pretend to be” she stared at me as if trying to figure me out.

My lips curled up into a smile as I called out “Again.” The speed which Gwenn strike his back almost make me take a step back but I didn’t.

“I am talking to you.” The queen hissed at me.

“And your statement don’t warrant an answer, I am taking care of his punishment so that you would not feel slighted and try to purposely delay us here with gibberish you know aren’t true.” I raised my voice to call out “Again” and this time, I was watching the queen as the whip met his mark, that didn’t mean that I could not hear his tortured scream.

“You act so tough but you are really nothing but a maiden of the hunt.” The queen watched me hoping to see me flinch but I smiled.

“Yes I was, ever wondered why Orel could not rape or kill me, you can ask him yourself.” I grinned as I watched the warrior try to stand.

“You were nothing yet you act as if you have every right in this life given to you.” the queen said and when I barely spare a glance. “I am just trying to understand your mind.”

“Good luck trying.” I snorted. “Queen Mathilda, you are playing a dangerous game keeping me here, I will share with you what I learnt yesterday. I learnt that the male in your council are honorary, they will go with whatever decision you will make. This means that you are keeping us here on your own accord. You can do whatever you want but are you sure that you want me around your empire for much longer. I might learn more secrets.”

“That wasn’t a secret.” The queen said licking her lips to hide her nervousness but I could still see through it.

“No?” I corked my head to the side in question. “Then my husband is aware that you are toying with him, I cannot imagine him knowing and not doing anything maybe I will ask.” Then raising my voice I called out. “Again.” This time, the warrior didn’t have the strength to do anything more than moan. This time, the queen flinched.

“Are there barbs in that whip?” Her voice asked all choked up like she could not talk clearly around the lump forming in her throat.

“Yes, why are you asking?” I questioned back.

“He will take a long time to heal that is if he doesn’t die from fever.” The queen pointed out as I tilted my head to tell her I understood.


“He would not die, we have a healer with us, and she works wonders. You wanted us to remain behind, I am just trying to keep her busy while you take your time making your mind.”

“You deprive pleasure from cruelness?” she deducted but I shook my head.

“I deprive pleasure from making those who make things hard for my husband suffer, like you.” I grinned at her.

“Are you threatening me?” She demanded.

“No, I am telling you what I do, I am telling you what I can do.” I said with a delicate shrug as I ordered. “Take him inside and tell Dyane to treat him that should keep her busy and also send for a warrior to act as a messenger, I need to send a message to Elison.” Gwenn nodded at me.

“We will arrive at a conclusion in three days’ time, not before then.” The queen rushed out.

“Wise choice your majesty.” I bowed to her. “But know that whatever decision you make, the Erisea Empire will still come, if they take out Dar or you are not allied with us, don’t forget that you share borders with Morfall who is allied to them, make the wise choice Queen Mathilda.” She looked at me with fear in her eyes and I knew that I have succeed for as long as she lives, she will always fear me. My bluff had worked.