“The next time I ask a question, “she says now facing her advisors, “And fail to receive the answers I want to hear I will find unprecedented amount of enjoyment in removing your heads and mounting it upon fucking stick! My mother, the princess, and that fucking cunt of a traitor Adele I want them fucking found and brought to me dead or alive!” The grasp of shock from the mention of her mothers name seemed to echo throughout the air. The princess posed a threat to her rule, Adele knew of all her deepest and darkest secrets, but her mother although she consistently voiced her disdain of her daughters actions she had done nothing to warrant the removal of her life. In fact, silently they all respected her mother greatly despite giving life to the devil herself she was humble and treated everyone fairly. She was the only one who could ridicule her snake for a daughter in the public eye and live to see another day. No one voiced it but secretly they all were curious to know why the queen had ordered the death of her own mother.

“Have the scouts reached Natticulus?”

“They set to arrive three sunrises from today.”

“And?”

“Once there they will be able to gain assessment of the city, castle, and its defenses.”

“Good when they arrive I want to be informed immediately Queen Maia is a strategic thinker and no fool if I am to defeat her it is going to take much more than a powerful army to do so.”

“Your majesty, this will not be an easy battle.”

“I am aware, if I do not approach this in the right manner it could destroy all that I have accomplished thus far.”

“You have our word to lose is not an option your majesty.”

“Good now leave me and do as commanded, “she yells. As the last of her advisors exited the tent she sat down at her desk. Opening the bottom drawer she removed a neatly rolled scroll. Unfolding it she stares at the contents a neatly drawn map slowly, running her fingers over the paper she smiles.

“No longer hidden soon we shall meet, “she says with a devilish grin.

100 miles East of Natticulus…..