Page 118 of Knight's End
"Connor once told me that he'd trust Donaloo until the man proved him wrong. We should probably apply that same outlook here. We’re going to have to hire a lot of new people to restore the kingdom. It's going to require a lot of trust," I said.
My knights nodded, and Ryan squeezed my hips. "I can't believe you once thought that you'd be a terrible queen."
Our talk turned to restoring the kingdom, to the division of responsibilities, to Ryan and Declan's need to work quickly to ensure that we had enough food for this winter.
That monotonous conversation brought out Blue’s snark. "While you knights focus on that, I'm gonna focus on the long-term future of our kingdom."
"Oh really?" Connor asked running a hand through his messy curls. "And how are you gonna do that?"
"I'll take care of the heir-making."
Blue winked at me as a playful argument broke out amongst the rest of my knights.
“No, we need the smartest daughter, so clearly, I’m the best candidate,” Declan said.
“We need a girl who’s strong, I should be the one to focus on that,” Ryan said.
“I just want to give Bloss an endless string of orgasms,” Connor countered.
At that, all the knights pelted him with whatever they had on hand. Coins, the bags of clams Avia had sent us with. “You ass-kissing scalawag!”
I laughed. Long and hard.
This was why we’d fought. For moments like this. Moments of light and silliness and hope for the future.
The undead had fought for the opposite reason. For an end to the future.
We arrived at the old hedgewitch lodge near sunset. The place had been overgrown by Dini’s thorns. I’d arrived and spoken with the oversized flower as she’d shrunk down to a single bloom. She’d been happy to hear Posey had found a temporary new calling, helping my sister.
“You let her know, I’ll be here, guarding this place, whenever she’s ready,” Dini squeaked.
I nodded.
Then I turned and shook hands with General Enderson. “Thank you, General. For all your help.”
On my signal, Ryan reduced the house to rubble, and we all worked to move it aside until we found the trapdoor. I’d pulled it open and called the General over.
Enderson had nodded once at me, the flap in his cheek smacking against his face. And then he’d descended down the ladder.
He was the first to disappear in a cloud of dust. Hundreds followed him; the dust pile grew so that it filled the hidden room. Ryan had to reduce the dust several times so that everyone could touch them.
We watched silently as the sun set and night stretched out, until the undead army was gone and my knights, my new messenger, and myself were the only ones left.
Ryan limped over and pulled the trap door closed.
“Think that Queen Orgasm will hate us for this?”
I shrugged. “We can always wrap an amulet in a pretty box and try to gift it to her.”
Everyone laughed at that as Dini regrew her thorns and encircled the secret room in the ground.
Then we mounted up, Blue allowing the messenger to ride in front of him.
And we headed home.
We flew through the night, under a magical canopy of stars.
We landed in front of the castle just as the first streak of dawn broke through the shivering blackness of the night sky.
