Ilosovic Stayne stood next to the throne of the Red Queen, scowling down at the crowd of men before them. Some of Her Majesty's advisors had just returned from a group of islands across the sea, farther even than the Outlands. The islands were ungoverned, populated by thousands upon thousands of savages with no direction. The Queen needed more men for her armies, and these savages would do nicely.
The advisors had brought one hundred savage men back with them, all of them lean and toned like wild horses. They all had smooth skin the color of dry mud, and Stayne had never seen so many shades of brown hair in his life. From a light, almost golden brown to a deep, rich mahogany… all of it thick, curly, and wild. All of the men were dressed identically in black tunics and trousers, and they all wore the same, stoic expressions.
The men were accompanied by an older man that Stayne understood was some sort of chief. His name was Ledney Parrisha. He was built like the other men, but he wore a deep yellow tunic over blue trousers and, while the other men were clean-shaven, this man had a thick beard that made him look surprisingly menacing. However, when he opened his mouth, his voice was friendly and almost musical. He spoke their tongue well, with the slightest accent.
A woman silently stood a step behind him, her eyes downcast. She wore a long, dark blue dress and had a thick brown hood obscuring her hair and most of her face. Her presence had not yet been explained.
"These, they are our hundred finest soldiers, my Queen." Ledney was saying. "They are the best in their fields. If they please you, then we shall send more." He smiled up at the Queen. "All of our men are at your disposal, my Queen."
"But what are you asking in return?" The Queen's voice held a twinge of annoyance. They'd gone back and forth like this quite a few times already. "You are not giving these men to me freely."
Ledney frowned, then suddenly turned to the woman behind him. After a quick, whispered conversation, he ushered her forward. She gave a heavy sigh as she stood before them.
"I also give you my daughter." Ledney said quickly. The Queen frowned.
"No, I am not asking for more! I simply wish to know what you want from me!" the Queen cried.
The woman turned to Ledney, whispering something. Reluctantly, he nodded. The woman turned back to the Queen, pushing her hood back. A mass of brown curls was pulled back behind her head, and her wide, dark eyes were fearful.
"If you will permit me to speak, my Queen?" she said gently.
The Queen nodded, scowling. Stayne smirked. The girl was dainty. No Largeness or anything. Far too pretty to appeal to her.
"I will summarize my father's previous statement." She began. "He wishes to give you these one hundred men, the best men he has to offer. Should you need more, he will send as many as you may need. He also wishes to leave me here as a token of the bargain." The Queen started to speak, but the girl quickly plowed forward. "As for the part that he has not been able to explain… In return, he asks that we be given permission to swear our loyalty to your kingdom. He wishes for our lands to be under your rule and your protection."
"…What sort of rule do your lands require?" the Queen asked. Despite her dislike for the girl, it was clear that her interest was piqued.
"Our culture is rooted in generations of tradition. Traditions that have left us trailing behind. We are a simple people, my Queen. We have no true laws, and our societies are splintering. My father asks that you send governing bodies to our lands to oversee a reformation of the societies, to weed out the corruption, and ultimately to allow us to adapt your culture, which is highly superior to our own." The girl lowered her eyes. "He once said that it would be easier to herd cats into a river than to repair what our societies have become."
The Queen's lips curled into a soft smile.
"And… what does he wish for me to do with you, my dear?"
"He…" Her tan cheeks grew slightly red. "He wishes for you to make me a part of your court, and to teach me the ways of a proper lady."
"Hmm…" The Queen leaned back in her throne, frowning. Her advisors rushed forward eagerly.
"My Queen, forgive me, this is a very wise bargain!"
"Indeed… these men are truly as skilled as the ones here!"
As the Queen discussed the bargain in whispers with her advisors, Stayne allowed himself to study Ledney's daughter. She was certainly very pretty. And just being in the court, among the ladies with more pronounced features… Her lack of feature would certainly make her unique. But how would a savage adapt to courtly life?
"Stayne!"
Stayne jumped, immediately turning to the Queen, who was scowling suspiciously at him.
"Forgive me, your majesty." He breathed. "I was simply trying to recall the young woman's name…"
"Her name was never given." Ledney spoke up. "She has no name."
The Queen stared at him.
"No name?"
"No, my Queen. Our girls are not given names. They are trained to do domestic work, to pleasure, and act as companions. They are not to form identities outside of their duties, therefore they do not receive a name until they swear themselves to another's service. A husband, a trade master, a queen…" Ledney trailed off, smiling. "If you accept her, then she will be permitted to be named."
The Queen's lips tightened. She looked sharply at her advisors, then at Stayne.
Accept. Stayne urged silently. Come now… She's trained to pleasure, for God's sake!
Alright, perhaps it wasn't so much Stayne urging it as it was his now throbbing erection.
The Queen nodded at Ledney.
"These terms are accepted." She said sharply. "Your lands and people are under my rule, and I will assign a council to travel back with you to begin the reformation."
Ledney beamed, turning to the solemn-faced men.
"My friends! Long live your queen, Iracebeth of Crims!"
As if they were one, all one hundred men dropped to their knees, shouting in unison.
"Long live the Red Queen!" they chanted. "Hail Queen Iracebeth of Crims!"
The Queen smiled, although her lip curled when she caught Stayne eyeing Ledney's daughter.
The girl had better watch herself. She thought to herself, scowling at the pretty thing. Or she'll find herself a head shorter.
