Amaya whistled appreciatively as a pair of handsome looking young men trotted their horses by the wagon. Annie blushed, but still managed to giggle slightly as the pair of young Amazons watched the riders go by them. One of the young men smirked and tipped a hat to them, and once the pair was out of sight the two girls laughed together.

“I’ve got to tell you, I love coming up to the Empire,” Amaya said, “the boys here are so bold compared to back home.” She glanced back at the wagon a moment, Clyde and Svetlana were snoozing inside of it, the pair having taken the night watch the evening before. “Is the cute guy with you?” Amaya asked conspiratorially.

“Yep, he’s mine,” Annie said with a wink.

“Lucky girl,” Amaya muttered, “trust me, once you get into the Queendom the men get hard to talk to.”

“What’s wrong with them?” Annie teased, “they don’t like tall girls?”

“Down in the Queendom they’ve got two Amazons and a Little Sister each to pick from,” Amaya grumbled, “they’re picky, and they don’t like hearing about guns, spears, or swords. If you meet a good looking one in a tavern? He wants you to buy him a drink!”

“You hardly strike me as too poor to afford a drink for yourself or a comely man,” Palledia said neutrally. She trotted alongside the wagon, her spear over her shoulder. The older Amazon had been scouting along the edges of the road, trying to spot any sign of ambush. So far, she hadn’t found anything, save for one particularly unlucky pair of highwaymen who had been turned over, shaken but unharmed, to a stunned Imperial Road guard.  

“It’s the principle of the thing,” Amaya explained with a shrug, “Queendom men are so aloof, always with their noses in books, and not interesting ones.”

Goddess, it’s like Cora all over again, Palledia thought. “Queendom men are proper and raise brave and powerful daughters,” she said with a scowl, “Scholarship is an excellent preoccupation for a man of good breeding! Such men don’t want to hear about gore and the stink of a battlefield, they want a woman who will make sure they never have to think of such things!”

Amaya snorted, “Well you can have the men of good breeding when we get home. Me? I want a man who doesn’t mind getting dirty, maybe going out in the jungle and having a goldscale hunt with me!”

“I’ve always been fond of the brave ones myself,” Annie said, smiling as she looked back at Clyde’s sleeping form.

Palledia glanced at the wagon, Clyde’s an imperial, he’ll get some leeway at court, she thought, his manners are good enough… blast, I’ll need to find one of those learned men who can give him a good reading list, it won’t do at all if all the other husbands are discussing philosophy and Annie’s man goes on about cracking a lance on some fool’s chestplate.

“And would you look at that,” Amaya said with a grin, pointing to the horizon.

The three of them squinted, taking in the thin green line of the beginning of the jungle trees. They would start thin at first, growing thicker and the air more humid as they got closer. The Queendom’s border wasn’t well marked, though it was much more traveled than it had been in Palledia’s day. Even from here at least three other wagon trains could be seen, variously coming and going from the road to Rain’s End that had been hewn through the jungle.

“There’s a well a little further up the road,” Amaya said, “we should water the horses and rest a spell, after this it’s straight on until Rain’s End, and I don’t want to linger there too long.”

“Yes,” Palledia said a little too quickly, “let’s water the animals here… it wouldn’t do to get bogged down in town.”

…

The sound of cracking wood split the air as Amaya and Annie practiced swordplay with a pair of heavy sticks they were using in place of blades. Clyde sat on a nearby stump, watching the two intently with a small smile on his face as Annie combined the Amazon and Imperial sword styles.

“You’re good!” Amaya laughed, parrying Annie’s strike and leaping backwards.

“Thanks!” Annie beamed, “I’ve had a good pair of teachers!”

Palledia watched from a distance, leaning against the wagon. She couldn’t help but smile as Annie deftly weaved around Amaya’s counterattack. It was a mix of her own style and Clydes, certainly effective against the more seasoned Amazon girl.

“Amaya’s got her mother’s swordplay down exactly, ” Palledia marveled. She scowled as she saw Amaya leaving herself wide open in order to press Annie backwards, “Cora was always so aggressive in battle, too aggressive maybe.”

“I wasn’t there, but from the way you told it in your story this Cora girl kicked your ass?” Svetlana asked with a smirk, leaping down from the wagon.

“It could have gone either way,” Palledia growled.

“I’m sure,” Svetlana murmured. “You sure you’re okay with this? Working with your arch enemy’s daughter?”

“Dirk and Cora aren’t my enemies,” Palledia said, rolling her eye, “They’re two people I wronged a long time ago…” She sighed, crossing her arms as she watched the two girls spar. She felt a bitterness in her, one she tried to quash as a serious look came over Amaya’s face, That’s your father all right, Palledia thought as Amaya rushed under Annie’s guard, tackling the other girl and bringing the point of her stick just under Annie’s chin.

“Nice,” Annie breathed, looking at the other girl with awe.

Amaya smirked, tossing the stick away and standing up, extending a hand to the other girl, “that one was one of my dad’s, he’s no swordsman, but he still taught me a thing or two.” She patted her pistol, “Say, do you want to give this a try?” She slowly lifted the gun out, and while Palledia had little personal interest in firearms, she found herself staring at the device in awe all the same.

“That’s quite the gun,” Clyde nodded, “I doubt I’d be able to lift it.”

“It’s made for a woman’s hand,” Amaya said with a grin, “my dad and his dwarf friend designed a lot of stuff for the Queendom’s army, most of it is just scaled up Imperial guns, but they made mine special.” She ran a finger over the pepperbox revolver’s cylinders, “Six shots,” she explained with a grin, “and with an extra barrel right here below the top one with a shotgun shell.”

“Gods above,” Clyde chuckled, “that thing would be a monster on any battlefield.”

“Yep,” Amaya said, handing it to Annie, who hefted it appreciatively. “It’s a little too pricey for the army, so I’m the only one with this model out there right now. Now the key to shooting is the sights here…”

Palledia watched, wincing with the gunshots as Amaya taught a gleeful Annie how to handle the weapon. Everything, from the way she aimed, to the flourish of her pistol, was like watching Dirk Sommer all over again.

…

The journey into the Queendom didn’t have the emotional impact Palledia had expected, instead of overwhelming sorrow, guilt, fear, she’d only felt number. She’d looked at the wide expanses of green jungle trees, no doubt crawling with the razorlizards she’d hunted in her youth, and couldn’t manage to summon an emotional response to any of it.

“Northstar Ranch – 5 miles” read the sign on the side of the road as they passed. Amaya gulped, whipping the reigns of the draft horse to get them to pick up speed.

“Are you really so scared of seeing your parents?” Annie asked with a frown.

“The whole mess with Tebryn Darkscale’s robbery of the Ironshield Estate was pretty big news back when it happened,” Amaya explained, “if mom or dad happens to be out for a ride and sees me with a wagon of Ironshield rum? I’m getting dragged home by my ear.”

The thought of Dirk Sommer, that grim rifleman from her past dragging his protesting daughter, twice his size, home by the ear brought a smile to Palledia’s face.

…

Rain’s End was unrecognizable from Palledia’s time, and she couldn’t help but gawk at her old fief. The entirety of the old town had been swallowed up by main street, and only a handful of buildings from those days remained. The temple to Diana, no doubt still run by Cynthia, was a towering stone cathedral now, with elaborate and expensive looking stain glassed windows and even a pair of gas powered lamps on either side of the immense wooden door. The streets were crowded with throngs of people, towering Amazons and their massive wagons jammed traffic as they moved through the town to various warehouses for trade. A massive factory complex was visible at the edge of the new homes that had sprung up, standing just a little higher than the walls of Griselda’s old stone castle, a large set of letters across the building’s top read “Sommer and Hammerfist Arms and Munitions.”

That wasn’t the only new industry in town, as they went Palledia took in all manner of strange trades and traders, peddling exotic and expensive fabrics, spices, and materials, all of which she’d have never expected to see in a small settlement like Rain’s End.

It truly is the gateway to the Queendom now, she thought, stunned. It’s everything I wanted it to be, better even. She stared at a shop with an Amazon and a man half her size setting out a sale banner, from what she could tell they sold nothing but clocks, Dirk and Cora invested their gold well, she thought sadly, I could have never done this well, not in my wildest dreams… For all that she was happy to see her old subjects thriving, it did sting.

Palledia had to scowl as she saw The Silver Tongue, the old whorehouse, was still in operation, with only a new coat of paint to mark the passing of years. If anything, the men there had only grown more scandalous with their winks and flirtatious waves as their wagon passed by.

“Come my ladies,” a man in a blonde wig and a royal purple robe shouted, “Conquer the human emperor in our wonderful throne room dungeon! All three of you if you like!” the man, an obscenely handsome square jawed fellow in his twenties, blew a kiss that made Amaya chuckle and Annie blush.

“W-What does he mean conquer the human emperor?” Annie asked with a whisper.

“It’s a house of ill repute,” Palledia explained darkly, “the men there provide… services. ”

“Oh,” Annie said, her face going red, “I-I didn’t realize they had places like that where you could hire men. ”

“In the Queendom they’re almost all men,” Palledia said. In spite of the lewd topic she couldn’t help but chuckle, Annie you’ve so much to get used to…

“Out of curiosity,” Svetlana asked, glancing back at the human, “How much do you suppose it costs to ravage that blonde guy dressed like the emperor? Strictly as a hypothetical.”

“Too much,” Amaya snorted. She suddenly cleared her throat, “or so I’ve heard.”

“What’s all this about the emperor?” Clyde asked, poking his head out of the wagon.

“Nothing,” all the women said at once.

…

Theo Spearwall was taking a stroll through town, at his age walking was said to be good for the body, though he found that Rain’s End was so busy anymore that going up and down main street wasn’t so relaxing as it might have been in his own father’s day.

His brow furrowed as he spotted his granddaughter, Amaya, guiding a wagon through town.

That’s odd, he thought, Amaya almost always stops to say hi to me, or her aunt and sisters at the temple… His heart skipped a beat as he recognized the second passenger in the wagon, someone he’d hoped never to see again, Griselda!

He stumbled back, shaken, ducking into a store and watching through the window as the wagon rolled by.

“You okay oldtimer?” the storekeep, a concerned looking amazon, asked. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost!”

“Close enough,” Theo growled. That was her, I’m sure of it! Amaya’s in danger!

…

“And focus,” Cynthia said, holding out her hand and letting the fireball slowly drift back and forth in a smooth dance over her palm. “It won’t burn you if you don’t will it to be hot.”

“B-But mother,” Milly, her daughter, stammered, “If I make a mistake it’ll burn!”

“Then don’t make a mistake,” Cynthia said with a smile.

“Yeah Milly,” her sister Lily smirked, “Just keep focused and the fire won’t- OUCH!” the dark haired girl scowled and waved her hand as her fireball dissipated.

Cynthia sighed, shaking her head at her two daughters. The girls were identical twins, one with their father Dirk Sommer’s blond hair, and the other with her own darker color. Though barely sixteen both of her daughters stood a head taller than her, looming at over eight feet and still growing. While they’d never be tall by Amazon standards Cynthia couldn’t help but be a little happy they’d never be as short as their mother, and both were strong in magic, as she was.

“Now let’s try this again,” Cynthia began. She was interrupted before she could cast her spell by the wooden doors of the temple bursting open. Cynthia’s face grew serious as she saw Theo storming in, a panicked look on his face.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“ She’s back!” Theo wheezed, bending over to catch his breath, “Griselda’s back! And she’s got Amaya!”

“Goddess help us,” Cynthia whispered, “Where are they?”

“They were in a wagon headed south,” Theo said, “I don’t know if Amaya is her prisoner, or what her scheme is, but she had a few others with her, an Imperial, another Amazon, and an elf!”

“They must be mercenaries, that’s the only way they could overwhelm someone like Amaya,” Cynthia mused. She turned to her daughters, “Lily! Milly! Get on your horses and go tell your father and your Aunt Cora what’s happened immediately! Then get back here and tend to the temple while we’re gone!

“Gone?” Lily asked meekly, “w-where are you going?”

“To save your sister of course!” Cynthia snapped, “Did you not hear Theo? Griselda has returned for revenge on all of us! Now go! I’ll no doubt need your father and your aunt’s help to save her!” 

…

Dirk watched from his porch, rocking back and forth in one of the house’s few man-sized pieces of furniture as his massive aurochs grazed peacefully under the pale blue sky. He sighed contentedly, he’d become a very wealthy man over the years, owning more money and hiring more people than he’d ever dreamed. Plenty of people had asked him why kept the ranch at all, but however complicated his life had gotten he was a simple man at heart, and there was nothing that made him happier than roping and riding on his own range.

“It sure is quiet out here with Amaya gone,” Cora said, the boards creaking under her massive frame as she joined her husband in watching their aurochs.

“She’s just doing some simple caravan guard jobs,” Dirk said with a nod, “she’ll be back home before you know it, eating our food and staying up way too late reading those one thaler adventure novels.”

The two were silent for a moment, enjoying the distant mooing of the cattle and the sound of the distant jungle trees swaying in the wind.

“You ever think about the first day you showed up here?” Dirk asked with a smirk, “it was right over there,” he pointed.

“I remember you challenging me to a wrestling match for some free labor,” Cora giggled, tipping her husband’s hat rim playfully, “that humbled you pretty quick.”

“I’ll still beat you one of these days,” Dirk said with a smirk as he fixed his hat, “I’ve just been biding my time, waiting for the right moment.”

Cora stepped in front of him, blocking his view of the field and letting him gaze up at her impressive form, “Care to try right now? I’ll carry you up to the bedroom.”

Dirk was about to agree to a rematch, when he spotted a pair of galloping horses approaching, the large drafts that Amazons rode. He stood up out of his chair seeing the two daughters he’d had by Cynthia, his second wife, and he felt adrenaline filling his veins as he saw the panicked looks on their faces.

“D-Dad!” Lily shouted, “Amaya’s in trouble!”

“What!?” Cora shouted, turning to them.

“It’s Lady Griselda!” Milly said, leaping off her horse and running to them, “She’s got Amaya and they’re headed south!”

Griselda!? Dirk felt numb, he hadn’t thought about the noblewoman in years, she’d been relegated to a villain in a bedtime story for his daughters, and when they’d grown too big for such things that had been the end of her presence in his life. He felt rage beginning to boil within him, as his daughters looked on. Cora was questioning them, but Dirk wasn’t listening.

“Lily, Milly,” he growled, cutting off their frenzied explanations, “Saddle my horse.”

Without waiting for a reply he marched as a man possessed back into the massive Amazon sized farmhouse. It was like watching someone else as he stepped up to the mantle over their fireplace, the massive stone hearth more fit for a castle than a farmstead, and with a grunt he pushed his chair against it, using the added height from standing atop it to reach his old army rifle.

He leapt down, ignoring the slight pain in his knees and walking on as if he were a younger man, checking the dusty old gun as he went. Satisfied, he slung it over his shoulder as he stepped outside.

Lily and Milly stared at him, stunned they’d always heard stories of his exploits, but they’d only ever known him as a kindly father, someone who cared for them when sick, who taught them to ride and tie their shoelaces. Seeing him like this was like seeing a stranger in their father’s skin, an angry stranger.

“D-Daddy?” Lilly stammered, “Is everything-“

“I told you two to saddle my horse,” he said sternly, causing the two to squeak and run for the barn.

“Dirk,” Cora said softly, “I know how you’re feeling, goddess knows I feel the same way, but you need to calm down.”

“Yeah,” he sighed, taking a deep breath and nodding up at his wife. He shifted slightly, very aware of the weight of the gun across his back, It’s time to do what I should have done years ago Griselda…

…

“I think we made through without anyone I know spotting us,” Amaya said, glancing back at the road towards Rain’s End with a mischievous smile on her face. “The Ironshield estate’s not too far, we’ll be there by the end of the week!” She nudged a stone faced Palledia excitedly, “then we’ll get our reward, you can replace that grimy old eyepatch with a fancy glass eye!”

Palledia frowned, touching the black leather eyepatch unconsciously, “Of course,” she said politely.

…

The trip through the jungles to the Ironshield Estate was a mostly calm one, though several days in, on a stretch of abandoned dirt road, the rustling in the trees had spooked their horses, and the animals would go no further until the threat was dealt with.

“Razorlizards,” Palledia sighed, leaping from the wagon and gripping her spear as she scanned the treeline. “They’re as common here as wolves are in the Empire, they must be hungry to be stalking a caravan with three Amazons in it.”

“Right,” Clyde said, sliding down from the back of the caravan and unslinging his carbine, “Gods know I’ve taken care of my share of wolves…”

“Men stay in the wagon,” Palledia said without thinking.

“Now really,” Clyde said with a frown, “I know this is the queendom, but-“

“I don’t want to be Miss Chauvinist,” Amaya said as she unbuckled her pistol, “but these things are a lot nastier and smarter than wolves, one of them almost killed my dad and he was a veteran of that Elven stuff in the Empire’s army.”

“Hey,” Annie said angrily, “Clyde can handle an overgrown lizard,” she drew her sword and stepped to his side, “and he’ll be with me anyways, isn’t that right?” Clyde blushed, but nodded with a smile.

“Look, Clyde,” Amaya said, holding up a hand, “I respect men, really, but this is women’s work-“

“No,” Palledia sighed, cutting her off. Goddess am I really going to defend a man’s combat prowess? She wondered. “Clyde can handle Lizardfolk and he crossed blades with Tebryn Darkscale, he can handle himself with some razorlizards.”

“Thank you Palledia,” Clyde said, looking up at her with a bit of surprise.

“Just keep that armor on, stay close to Annie, and please use the gun and not your sword,” Palledia finished.

Clyde scowled, “Very well,” he said, following Annie into the brush.

“I’m with Palledia!” Svetlana shouted, leaping off the wagon and following the older Amazon, sparks of magic rolling along her knuckles.

“Shit, guess I’ll guard the horses,” Amaya muttered, cocking her pistol as she watched the rustling bushes.

Palledia gingerly stepped between the trees, her spear ready. She hadn’t hunted razorlizards since she was a girl, but it wasn’t something a person forgot how to do, even men hunted the beasts on occasion, and she felt no fear as she searched for the creatures.

“Hey,” Svetlana said in a hushed tone, “I wanted to ask, what’s our plan when we get where we’re going?”

“We show the steward of the estate the mark on Annie’s shoulder, that should be more than enough proof,” Palledia said dismissively.

“And if she doesn’t feel like turning over a rich sugar plantation, distillery, and mansion?” Svetlana asked, raising an eyebrow.

“The Ironshields will doubtless have had one of their finest servants to the task,” Palledia said dismissively, “an Amazon’s Amazon who will be eager for her mistress’s return.”

“Hmm… right,” Svetlana murmured, “Thing is Palledia you seem like you were a pretty upstanding noble at one point too, and you fucked up pretty bad.” Palledia turned to her with an angry look, but the elf just giggled and shrugged, “Am I wrong?”

“No,” Palledia admitted, “but few fall as far as I did…” she froze as she spotted one of the lizards, the creature was a few dozen paces away from them, waiting in a clearing and clacking its claws.

“Huh, I thought you said they were smart?” Svetlana asked, readying a gesture to toss lightning at the creature.

“They are,” Palledia said in a low voice, “the one in front is a distraction, the attack will come from the sides.”

“Clever girl,” Svetlana said with a nod. She pointed her fingers to her sides, and there was a boom as the bushes exploded on their right and left, the smell of smoke and the shrieks of reptilian pain reaching them as the elf raised her arms in an open challenge to the jungle. “Anyone else want some!?” she shouted. The only response was clawed scurrying as the remaining pack stalking them fled deeper into the thick jungle.

“Well, there’s hardly any sport in that ,” Palledia muttered.

“My people aren’t really about fair play,” Svetlana said with a shrug.

…

The sugar plantations around the Ironshield Estate were visible long before the castle itself was, and Annie looked in awe as she saw Amazons in the fields, collecting the sweet crop while a smokestack from the distillery puffed white clouds into the clear blue sky.

“T-This is all mine?” Annie whispered to Palledia.

Palledia just smiled and nodded, taking a moment to appreciate it herself as Amaya guided the wagon along the cobblestone road. The Ironshield manor was a large stone castle, not unlike the one Palledia had once had, with a stone wall around a perimeter with bored looking guards atop the battlements. They carried both swords as Palledia remembered, and large rifles across their backs, no doubt received in trade from Rain’s End.

“Open up!” Amaya shouted up to the guards, waving excitedly, “I need to see the steward immediately!”

The gate creaked open, and the party accompanied their wagon into the large courtyard. Unlike Rain’s End, the Ironshield castle hadn’t changed much since Palledia had last visited it decades ago. It was still grand of course, the stables, armories, and the mansion itself were all among the finest in the Queendom, and the guards wore shining and new armor to go with their imported weapons.

An Amazon just a hair taller than Palledia strode into the courtyard, and Palledia scowled as she recognized the woman. She was a regal looking type, with a well trimmed suit of silver armor and a sword and pistol at her side. Like Palledia her hair was mostly grey, but her face was sharp as ever.

“I am Lady Christina Fullquiver,” she said, looking at the party over, “Steward and Mistress of the Ironshield estate. The guards said you had business with me?”

“Name’s Amaya Spearwall, and I’ve got a load of your rum,” Amaya said with a grin, jerking her thumb at the wagon. “Stole it right out from under Tebryn Darkscale’s snout!”

“Indeed,” Christina nodded. She frowned as her gaze landed on Palledia, “girl, do you know who this is you’ve brought into my home?”

Amaya frowned, “Palledia?”

“Palledia Griselda, ” Christina sneered.

“Good to see you again too Christina,” Palledia said darkly.

“Wait, Griselda!?” Amaya balked, almost falling over herself as she leapt back from Palledia, her hand going to her pistol.

“Peace girl,” Palledia called sternly, raising her empty hands.

“You tried to kill my mom and marry my dad!” Amaya shouted, cocking the gun as she drew it, “and you’ve just been traveling with me this whole time!?”

“Amaya,” Annie said softly, putting a hand on her wrist, “please put the gun down…” She sighed, stepping in front of the group. “Lady Christina, I am Annie Ironshield, daughter of Alma Ironshield.” She put her hands on her hips in a way that she hoped looked impressive, “A-And I’m here to claim my birthright!”

Christina blinked, the guards around her shifted uncomfortably, “she does look like Alma,” one of the amazons whispered. Around them murmurs rose through the courtyard.

“That’s a bold claim girl,” Christina said slowly, “have you any proof?”

Annie raised her sleeve, revealing the star pointed tattoo with the runic writing on it, “My mother had this placed upon me as a babe, so that my divine blessing would be hidden and I could grow up in the mannish realm.”

“It will still bear the magical signature of those who crafted it,” Svetlana said, stepping forward, “if you have a priestess who knew Annie’s mother, the truth of things could be easily verified.”

“Alma Ironshield’s preferred priestess was a woman named Arabella,” Christina said cautiously, “I will send riders to see if she still resides at the temple of Diana in Alabaster Cliffs.”

“S-Surely that’s just a formality mistress?” The guard to her left said excitedly, “Look at her, she’s the spitting image of Lady Alma! And she’s got the seal!”

The other guards were grinning and nodding, and Christina’s face was cold as she spoke up again, “Very well, Lady Ironshield, ” she said, “let me welcome you back home… This is a rather momentous occasion, I’ll write the Queen at once, she’ll no doubt wish to welcome one of the Queendom’s finest lineages back herself.”

“T-The Queen?” Annie stammered, her eyes wide.

“Among others, a fine ball will need to be thrown I’m sure,” Christina said. She snapped her fingers, “Prepare them rooms, and… Take our liege to her personal quarters.” She bowed deeply to Annie, “my lady I must begin writing letters and preparing announcements, by your leave?”

Annie blinked, looking at the eager women around her, “Yeah,” she said, waving weakly, “go…”

“Right this way lady Ironshield!” one of the guards said, waving the party through the main doors.

“Well this is a weird one,” Amaya muttered, shooting Palledia a side eye. She holstered her pistol and followed the rest of them in, “What’s this all about Lady Griselda? ” she spat, “are you still trying to marry my dad? Were you being nice to me to try to make it easier to be my stepmother or something!?”

She rolled her good eye, “I’ve moved on girl, if I really wanted to hurt you, I’d have done it while you were sleeping beneath my watchful eye during our travels together.”

Amaya just scowled, “I’m watching you,” she muttered, pointing to her eyes and then to Palledia. “Hey Annie,” she barked, “since you’re running this place, who do I speak to about getting my reward money?”

…

The castle was abuzz with activity, and by the time they’d reached their bedrooms every servant, cook, and fieldhand had heard the news, Annie Ironshield was back! The smell of fine roasted turkey wafted up through the castle as the chef hastily prepared a feast for the party, and Annie looked out the window of her tall tower, beaming and waving as a passing group of fieldhands, Amazons, men, and little sisters, all cheered on spotting her.

“This is all like a dream,” Annie whispered, stepping away from the window. “I’m…” she giggled, “we’re in my tower Clyde!”

“Not bad for an orphaned barmaid,” the knight said with a smirk, taking his boots off. He looked around the room a moment, “Gods,” he muttered, “everything in this country is so large! It makes a man feel small… And so many amazons around, I must admit they make me nervous.”

“Palledia and I are Amazons, do we make you nervous?” Annie asked with a smile. Without waiting for an answer, she scooped him up, playfully tossing him to the Amazon sized bed. She had to stifled a giggle as she realized that his legs dangled over the side of the gigantic mattress.

“I know the two of you,” he chuckled, “It’s an odd thing to have so many people around me who could so easily overwhelm me physically… and they’ve been giving me some very amorous looks Annie!”

Annie frowned, “Well too bad for them, you’re mine! The new man of the house on the Ironshield estate!” She reached for his shirt, gripping it and tearing at it so hard the button’s nearly popped off as she pushed him down.

Clyde grunted, gritting his teeth with a smile as he tried feebly to wrestle against Annie. She toyed with him for a moment, slowly, but firmly pushing his arms down to the bed and pinning him as they shook with exertion. She brought his arms up over his head, gripping his wrists with her hand and causally holding them as her free hand traced down over his chest, the slight scratching of the Amazon woman’s nails causing him to shiver as he lay there helpless before her.

“Let’s get these off,” she growled, pulling at the hem of his pants, grinning as she saw his erection spring free as she drew down his trousers and underwear in one forceful tug. “Beautiful,” she said with a wink. She stood up, snapping her fingers for Clyde to follow her.

“W-What are we doing?” he asked hesitantly.

“We are going to take a bath together,” Annie grinned, pointing to a large porcelain tub in the corner of the regal room. Clyde nodded, not really listening as he watched Annie lift her shirt over her head, exposing her toned physique as she loomed over him.

…

Clyde sighed contentedly as he lay against Annie, his head nestled between the two immense breasts that warmed either side of his face as the warm water lapped against his chest. The tub itself was large enough for Annie to lay down in, and they’d been delighted to find that it had hot running water. The exquisite soaps were like nothing either of them had ever sampled, and the lilac scented suds gave the water a slightly cloudy and bubbly texture as the pair relaxed.

“I only ever used ash soap,” he chuckled, inhaling the soft aroma, “This is quite a change…”

“I want you to smell nice for me all the time,” Annie murmured, letting her hand drift to his manhood beneath the water. He winced in surprise as she gripped him, her other arm drifting across him like an iron bar and holding him in place.

“W-Well most men don’t use ah gods, most men don’t use scented soaps,” he wheezed, fighting the waves of pleasure going up his spine.

“Here in the Queendom they do,” Annie whispered in his ear, “you want to smell nice and pretty for the girls when we come back in at the end of the day.” She growled lustfully as she stroked him harder, squeezing to keep his soapy body from writhing out of her grip. “Look at all of those,” she said, glancing at the small shelf, “we’ve got strawberry, cantaloupe, roses… ”

“Annie please,” Clyde begged, looking up at her pathetically.

“You are so cute when you beg,” Annie laughed. She gripped his manhood and with a few quick tugs finished him off, causing him to spray his seed into the soapy water, moaning her name as she milked it all out.

He lay against her, panting and sliding down slightly as she released him. He was still in a daze as she reached over and opened the jar, scooping the pink beads of soap into her hand. Her strong fingers slowly began working it into his scalp, coating him with the thick floral scent of roses.

“See Clyde?” she giggled, “you’re going to smell so nice at dinner!” She scooped a bit of water into her palm, pouring it over him, “I’m going to comb this hair of yours too, I really want to show you off tonight.”

“Y-Yes Annie,” he stammered, feeling himself falling back against her again, sighing contendly as she massaged the soap into his scalp. Maybe I could get used to smelling like roses, sometimes anyway…

…

Palledia tied her belongings tightly into her pack, tossing it over her shoulder. She reached for her mother’s spear, leaning against the wall, and set out for the gate.

“Leaving?” Lady Christina asked, glancing at her as she went about her own business.

“Yes,” Palledia said with a sigh, “Annie’s home, there’s nothing more I can do for her, and with my reputation I’d only be a burden to her now.”

“That’s for the best,” Christina agreed, “It wouldn’t do to have her meet the queen and take over things with someone like you at her side.”

Palledia frowned, “Take care of her.” With that she pushed by the other woman.

Christina watched her go, a smug smirk on her face.

…

There was a small town on the edge of the Armstrong Estate, not nearly so big as Rain’s End had become, but maybe about the size it had been once. Palledia had decided to stay the night in an inn there, before moving on. She wasn’t sure exactly where she’d go, but it didn’t really matter.

She blinked away a tear as she walked alone on the deserted road, Annie… Live well.

…

Christina growled angrily as she walked into her own room, a large and expansive chamber decorated with art and finery she’d had moved from other parts of the castle, her castle. She slammed the door behind her and took in her guest.

“Why are you in my home?” she hissed at the black scaled lizard lounging in a man-sized leather chair.

“My quarry iss here,” he said with a toothy grin. His red eyes flashed from beneath his wide brimmed hat as he stood up.

“You were supposed to kill her in the Empire,” Christina said angrily, “when I gave you the girl’s location, you promised me this would be over! Now she’s here you scaley piece of filth!”

“It hass been a difficult hunt,” Tebryn said dismissively, “the old one has protected her and guided her well… It iss almosst admirable.”

“You were supposed to be this grand assassin,” Christina said, her voice rising, “a deadly mage and swordsman who hunted the finest Amazons for sport! The whole castle, the whole town knows she’s here now! Do you have any idea how difficult a position that puts me in?”

“And sshe will tragically be killed sshortly after her homecoming,” Tebryn said reassuringly, “and do not complain to me about your possition, you have profited well!” he gestured around, “Thiss esstate iss yourss in all but name, you have received a generous portion of what I take from thiss place and sell in the north!”

“I should call my guards in here and have your hide turned into a pair of gloves!” Christina growled.

Tebryn tilted his head and flicked his wrist. Invisible bonds lifted Christina off the ground, and she grunted in pain as she was slammed into the stone wall. A flaming sword appeared in the air, the point dangerously close to Christina’s throat as she gulped nervously.

“I will kill the girl and her lover tonight at the feasst,” Tebryn said, “before you and all of your guardss, if you continue to test my patience, I will kill you as well.” He turned away and Christina fell to the floor, gasping as she rubbed her neck, feeling the scalded skin where the point of the flame had danced. “You will follow my instructionss, yess?” he hissed, not bothering to look at her.

“Y-Yes,” she stammered, scurrying to her feet.

“I wish for the other one, Amay Sspearwall as well,” he continued, “sshe is not sso great a prize as the Ironsshield girl, but sshe has interfered with my busssiness and sspat in my eye.”

“She’ll be yours,” Christina said, “I never cared for Dirk Sommer or his brats anyway.”

“Good,” he nodded, “now here iss what you will do…”

…

Palledia sat at the bar of the small tavern, sighing as she looked down into the cup of strong ale she’d ordered. She’d known she would need to leave Annie when they arrived, but it hurt so much more than she’d expected.

“Another,” she called, draining her cup in one long gulp and slamming it on the table. There is something oddly comforting about being in a place with properly sized furniture again, she thought.

“Order one for me!” Svetlana called.

“Oh goddess,” Palledia sighed as the dark elf scrambled up into the stool. She had to get up on her knees to see over the bar, but her eyes lit up as the barkeep placed an Amazon sized beer in front of her.

“I figured you’d try to slink away,” Svetlana said with a smile, “so I decided to come drag you back!”

“ You are going to drag me back?” Palledia asked, an amused smirk on her face as she looked down at the elf. “You barely come up to my buttocks.”

“I’ll just shrink you,” Svetlana said dismissively. “You Amazons are a little hard to land size change spells on, but I’m pretty good at them, with a few tries I’m sure I could get you pocket sized.”

“I did what I had to do,” Palledia muttered, “let me slink back into oblivion.”

“Yeah no,” Svetlana said, gripping the massive beer mug with two hands, “Annie is not done needing you, and you know it.”

“She’s got you and she’s got Clyde,” Palledia said dismissively, “and she’s got Lady Christina now too.”

“I don’t trust her,” Svetlana said with a scowl. “She didn’t seem all that happy to have her liege lady return.”

“This isn’t the Winter Court,” Palledia said, “there is no skullduggery here.”

“There is skullduggery everywhere, ” Svetlana countered, “different cultures just dress it up in different ways.”

Palledia set her drink down and glowered at the elf, who didn’t flinch under the towering woman’s gaze, “There is nothing in the world that will drag me back to that castle,” Palledia said firmly.

The sound of a rifle cocking across the deserted bar drew their attention, “Evening,” Dirk Sommer growled, stalking into the bar.

Behind him came Cynthia, in her ceremonial robes and with her staff at her side, and Cora, her sword already drawn. Palledia stared at them all a moment, taking the trio in. Cora had become a true woman, with a steely gaze and a sharper face than the youthful one she remembered. Cynthia, that tiny priestess, had just one or two grey hairs poking out from beneath the razorlizard skull cap, and the elaborate designs traced on her black fur robe signified that she’d advanced through the ranks of Diana’s priestesses over the years. Dirk almost looked like he hadn’t aged at all, with his face only looking a little more weathered from when she’d put him in wedding robes all those years ago.

“I suppose the goddess felt my life was going too easily,” Palledia muttered, “Barkeep! Something strong!” she called, but the Amazon innkeeper had seen the weapons drawn and wisely disappeared to her back room.

“All right guys,” Svetlana said, magic dancing along her knuckles, “Let’s not do anything hasty!”

“Ha, your foul harlot of a goddess Turis is no match for Diana!” Cynthia called, leveling her staff.

“That was uncalled for!” Svetlana growled, “and I’ll have you know I sometimes worship Zenovia too!”

“Where’s my daughter, Griselda?” Cora said, stepping forward and brandishing her sword.

“She’s up at the castle, no doubt readying for the banquet with everyone else,” Palledia replied dismissively.

“If you’re lying, I’ll blow your brains out,” Dirk sneered.

“That sounds like a wonderful way to end this whole mess,” Palledia said, the beer starting to take effect. She swiveled around on her chair, throwing her arms open in a mocking gesture. “Come on Dirk, you could shoot a fly’s wings off at a half a mile away, can you manage a kill shot from twenty feet?”

Cora muttered a swear under her breath and stepped forward, lowering her blade and slapping the former noblewoman hard across the face, “What the hell happened to you?” Cora spat, “what the hell is this? You kidnap our daughter and when we come and confront you, we find you drinking with a Summer Court elf?”

“Winter Court elf!” Svetlana corrected.

“That’s true Cora,” Dirk muttered, “They really don’t like to be confused for one another.”

“Even when you were doing evil things, you used to be better than this,” Cora continued, “You were an Amazon, a noblewoman! Is this some plot for revenge? If so, this is just goddess damned sad Griselda, if I have to kill you, rise up and meet me as the woman I followed during the Lizard War!”

“Yeah Palledia, stop moping!” Svetlana added, keeping her eyes on Cynthia as the two readied spells.

Palledia let out a long sigh mixed with a grumble, so destitute and tired that the tension seemed to drain from the room. She slid off the stool, holding her hands up dismissively to Cora as she approached.

“I have no desire for revenge on any of you, Dirk, Cora, your daughter is a brash straw-headed fool, but she’s a fine Amazon, if my opinion matters for anything.”

“Yeah, she’s met Amaya,” Dirk muttered, lowering his rifle.

“Where is she?” Cora repeated sternly.

“She’s likely up at the manor house,” Palledia sighed, “the lost Ironshield heir has returned to claim her birthright… Amaya and I were traveling with her, your daughter is a guest of honor at the banquet tonight.”

“And we are too,” Svetlana said angrily, “and they’re probably taking pre-dinner drink orders right now!”

“Let’s go then,” Cora said, staring Palledia down, “but if my daughter isn’t there… I’m taking your head.”

“Fair enough,” Palledia muttered.

“Sweet,” Svetlana laughed, “I have to thank you guys, I thought I was going to have to shrink her and stuff her in my boot or something.”

“Griselda, who is this?” Dirks asked, eyeing the elf warily, “I’ve had some bad experiences with elves…”

“This one’s mostly good,” Palledia said as the group walked out of the tavern.

“Mostly!?” Svetlana balked. “And here I was about to shrink and stomp three people to save you!”

“You’d have never managed it,” Cynthia sneered, “I’ve studied your elven shrinking spells at length in Dirk’s dreams, I can dissipate them with a thought!”

“Try throwing a fireball at me and you’ll be licking my feet clean before you can say Humanity’s Downfall!” Svetlana countered.

“Let’s all try not to kill each other until we get there,” Palledia growled, leading the group back towards the Ironshield estate. Diana damn me, why can’t anything ever be easy?