Chapter II: Queen

The band of travellers set off back up the country lane to continue the journey to the city of Rox-En-Rollov in hope that they will be able to have an audience with Queen Frebrirojo known to many as the White Queen. Would they get to meet her? Would she be able to help? After all she may not wish to interfere with matters concerning her evil nephew, the Conqueror.

It took two hours to arrive at the city, the contrast of Roxtopia's humble yet far poorer location was significantly obvious as they noticed the finery in the locals clothing, satins, silks, rare animal furs and leathers and highest quality of chainmail on the city's soldiers and guardsmen was pristine. The colours on the buildings were clean and bright, yellows, oranges, reds and pinks. Lots of other travellers were attempting to barter and trade their goods for a good price in the market square. A substantial meal was far dearer than that of Roxtopia and the prices they were used to paying at the Fountain of Salmacis. Nevertheless, the food was different and had a much wider range of beast and foul on the menu. Ruthael was purchasing a leg of boar for one rift and two medz. Ruthael's eyebrows rose as the far more expensive joint of meat. "Good sir this is very costly for a man who has travelled from your neighbouring village down south, surely you know we pay far less for something similar!" The seller sympathised "I'm sorry young stranger but I have to charge high prices. You see recently it's been a lot harder to raise, hunt, butcher and trade higher quality meat what with the Conqueror taking ownership of so much over the last three years. So it's ever this or a far smaller joint or possibly a wing of pheasant for one cord instead" Collip who was with Ruthael joined the conversation with the seller "It would appear that more people have business with the Conqueror. We are going to get an audience with the White Queen to be granted safe passage across the Seven Seas of Rhye to deal with the Conqueror and rescue our friend Limbo's sister Dusk"

Across the courtyard a scuffle had broken out between a Minotaur and an elf archer that were trying to purchase the same sack of vegetables. As funny as it might sound these two vegetarians are quite dangerous when angry and even worse when hunger is added to the equation.  The fight had got a lot more heated when the Minotaur stumbled back into Limbo causing Limbo's tankard of ale to soak the bullish thug. As soon as this huge brute realised he had gotten wet he turned and looked down at the student wizard and snorted steam and ale sprayed out his nostrils. "You, you think that was funny?" Limbo responded with no voice and just his hand gestures. "I'm sorry was accident!"  

Airthul the tiny old witch spoke up to the huge bovine beast "I assume you wish to keep yourself alive?" Somehow this large creature must have either known of her or knew what she was because this colossus backed off and cowered "Sorry lady Airthul I didn't know this young man was of  your kin I apologies for being a clumsy fool" Limbo looked at her and signed "Thank you!" Airthul reassured him "No need to thank me you are doing all right, we will face greater fools and bigger threats throughout our adventure!" Harold was performing for a small crowd of locals who seemed to be appreciating his tales, songs and stories judging by the amount of riftz and trakz that had been thrown into his hat by his feet. He was telling the legendary account of an ancient pirate who sailed the Seven Seas of Rhye long ago. He was known as Khashoggi and he captained his vessel along the coastline and from continent to continent, island to island for many, many years, trading, stealing, fighting, making friends, loving lots of women of various levels of class and status. Not a lot is now known about the whereabouts of Khashoggi's Ship, The Wild Wind also there currently are no actual records referencing the last time Khashoggi was able to ride the wild wind. So all that Harold was able to tell was what was passed down from story teller to story teller, generation to generation. Myths and legends often merge over time.  Once he noticed Limbo, Ruthael, Collip and Airthul had come over to him. Harold brought his tale to a close "Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, masculine and feminine you have shown your generosity greatly and it will not be forgotten. My travelling companions and I have to bid you a fond farewell as we have many miles to travel"    

Approximately one hundred yards away, further north was a huge, wide, high stone wall that would've been about two hundred yards across and fifteen feet tall had steel spikes on top to deter any trespassers from attempting to climb over. In the centre of this wall dividing each half was a immensely strong metal gate with the Rox-En-Rollov royal seal it depicted a magnificent phoenix with its wings spread wide rising from flames above a large crab the beside each claw was a lion raised on its hind legs. Standing on guard inside the Castle grounds behind the gate were two very well built intimidating knights from head to toe in very well polished armour and a very long stylish crimson cloak that had the royal seal embodied with gold yarn. These guards were trained to be able to protect the Queen and her associates from any threat foreign or domestic, physical or magical. So as long as these two guards were able to protect the Queen everybody was pretty much very safe.

Harold reached up and pulled a rope that rung a bronze bell that hung in the middle of the arch of the gate it went (Dong!!). One of the guards responded immediately with very little hospitality and rightly so he was on duty "What are you wanting here?" Harold replied "Five Royalist travellers from Roxtopia wish an urgent audience with her majesty" The other guard who seemed to be the senior of the two asked "I want names and occupation of each and every one of you, you know just so we are aware of just who wishes to see the Queen" Harold replied "I'm Harold Lurker, a travelling minstrel, teller of stories and singer of songs. You may have heard of me as Harold the Barrel" The guard frowned whilst writing this down "Next!" Harold referred to Limbo "This is Limbo, he's a deaf, mute, farmer and wood cutter who is also an apprentice Wizard" "A WIZARD!!" The first guard shouted "He better not be a meddler of the black arts or here to cause the Queen any harm!!" Harold patted his hands down in a calming peaceful gesture "You have nothing to fear, Limbo is most definitely a user of good magic and to see that this remains just so we have Airthul one of the last remaining Chromicler Chroniclers also known as the Highborn Silver Pure Dwarf Witches from the Blooz Mountains" The second guard with the parchment and scribe continued writing down the notes of reference "Alright that makes three of you what about you two young men with the crossbows, swords and axes?" Ruthael leaned forward "I am Ruthael and this is my younger brother Collip we are huntsmen and foragers" The second guard took the parchment and showed it to the first and then asked Harold "What sort of business do you have with the White Queen?"   Harold replied "We wish to be granted safe passage across the Seven Seas of Rhye and to the Island of Classishe so that we can...." "Attack the Conqueror!!" The first guard interrupted "You must be stone cold crazy to be thinking of a thing like that" Harold tried to reassure the guards that they very serious and have good reasons to see their mission through "So many of us have been living under this great king rat that we refer to as the Conqueror, he's evil, cruel, he's the liar who destroys all and everything in his path without compassion or remorse. He needs to be dealt with and all those that have been hurt or killed should be avenged"

Whilst all this discussion was going on thousands upon thousands of carrion birds, crows, rooks and ravens were circling overhead, in fact directly above the Castle Rox-En-Rollov. Above the vast flock of birds the clouds had thickened and got deathly black, the wind had picked up; rumbles of thunder were starting to be added with more frequent violent flashes of lightning. The two guards quickly opened the gate hurried the travellers and their rides in, bolted the gate close behind them "Hurry everyone get into the castle as quickly as possible!" The first guard encouraged. "I'm sure this is the Conqueror's doing and has a lot to do with why you need to see the White Queen!"

Pretty much as soon as they were safely in the Castle's throne room there was a shuddering clap of thunder that could've been mistaken for a form of speech because Airthul's head spun round back towards the main door and with grave concern "Oh no! This is not good!!" "What isn't good Airthul?" Collip quickly asked. "It's the march of the Black Queen! Mematade has returned!!"  Airthul tried to explain. Just then the very superior yet aged voice was heard from the other end of the spectacular throne room, their eyes followed the voice and saw a large ornate red and gold throne encrusted with lots of rubies and amethysts. Sitting on this rather impressive throne was an elegant thin mature lady that certainly didn't match her voice facially you would assume she was no more than fifty or sixty at best. "Is that you my old friend Airthul, I thought you had passed to the dwarves spirit world years ago" Airthul hobbled towards the old Queen "Ha ha! No there are many more years left in me just as their seems to be plenty in you" " Ah Queen Frebrirojo, if what I believe is true your nephew has brought your sister Mermatade, his mother back from the dead to assist with his ghastly dark conquest of the realm" The White Queen brought her hands to her face and sobbed but only briefly then started to laugh "My deluded nephew will always be the loser in the end and he'll have a sheer heart attack" Airthul was initially puzzled and looked from Queen Frebrirojo to Limbo, Harold, Ruthael and Collip then back towards the Queen "You have some knowledge of certain aspects of the future?" The White Queen smiled got up from her throne and calmly approached her "Oh yes, for many years I've been preparing myself for the Killer Queen or should I say the return of the Killer Queen" Harold stepped forward and bowed "Milady I'..." The Queen hushed him "Harold the Barrel you've come here with my old friend Airthul and your three young friends two brother hunters Ruthael and Collip along with their friend Limbo the deaf, mute apprentice sorcerer, as I started to explain I've been preparing myself for the return of the Killer Queen and that included all of your paramount important involvement" Harold's jaw was hung open with his eyes starring in disbelief, along with the others showing their stunned expressions "Sorry that was rude of me, I'm very pleased that my people wish to show courage and heroism in these dark days" they all seemed pleased and nodded to each other giving a positive raised fist in the air at Limbo. The White Queen continued "but I'd prefer you not to go in blindly and without the right amount of preparation and knowledge, no disrespect Airthul but the level of magic and amount of power to deal with both my nephew and my un dead sister not to mention all the grotesque monsters and creatures at their command" The positive morale rapidly dropped yet something incredible ignited inside Collip "Your majesty our mission is of paramount of importance and yes we are not afraid because we are the champions of Roxtopia and will be victorious!"  The Queen looked at him sternly then raised one eyebrow and gave a very strong genuine smile of approval and gave him a wink "Your steadfastness gives me a lot of confidence in your mission because I don't know your outcome I only had one vision and that was the revelation of my sisters return, your involvement and my nephews death from a heart attack"  

Collip took a deep breath, swallowed and plucked up more courage and carried on putting their case forward "Thank you my Queen, me take your council with great appreciation and respect but not only are we going to have to defeat your sister and your nephew but we also have to rescue Limbo's sister Dusk!" The White Queen was surprised "Oh really? I didn't know they still had prisoners in their dungeon" Collip continued "You see Dusk is the love of my life ever since we were very young right up to the point she was untimely snatched from the village we both have always known that we were meant to be"