The Draconia Chronicles: Knights of the Westfold

Chapter 14: Law of the Land

Two weeks had passed since the great battle. The sky was still thick with crows feeding to their hearts content on the dead dragons that littered the banks of the River Righ. We since gathered our dead from the field. I gave Queen Oscura permission to bury her dead, it appears this was her response. They all died much meaningless deaths, all for their queen. As the crowned Queen of the Westfold, I set about reconstruction of the lands, and even made the Light Dragon Elyss one of my chief advisors.

Since taking the throne, it warms my heart to know that I have been accepted by the people, both badger and dragon alike. I have heard the many titles come to my ear in these passed few weeks; Good Queen Joanna, Joanna of the Broken Axe, Joanna the Blond, but a good queen must rule her people with a fair and gentle hand. I walked up to a window in the throne room after an evening of scribing a series of laws that will come into place among the people to go along with the land's standard laws.

"Why do you stay up so late these passed few weeks? You need your sleep, My Queen," Lady Elyss said coming into the chambers. I thank her for her concern, but there is something else. Queen Oscura has yet to send me a reply as I sent her a letter stating the Westfold's terms. I had written down a second copy in case Oscura decides to burn the one I had sent to her, "you know Queen Oscura is not going to give in to your terms very easily," Lady Elyss stated as she stood by my side looking out the window.

"I know, which is why I am going to see the Queen personally to discuss this matter," I replied, part of me was telling me that this is what Queen Oscura would want so she could kill me herself. The other was saying that she may want to discuss the terms one queen to another. Either way, this is something I must see to by myself, but I should not go alone, "Lady Elyss I need for you to summon Lady Qualin and Lady Blue to Whitestone, Lady Noemi may come if she so desires," I requested from Lady Elyss

"Yes, My Queen," Lady Elyss replied. The next morning over breakfast, I was greeted by the very dragons that defected from the Dragon Kingdom and became my subjects in the court. I have given them titles, land, and freedom for what they have done for these lands. These dragons have earned their place in these lands. I welcomed them to my table to dine over sausages filled with cheese, and eggs I had scrambled and gathered from the royal chicken coop. I maybe queen, but I can look after myself.

I have a few attendants. I do my part to help keep the castle clean. This is my home as well as the home of my servants. I am above the people by my title, but I am still a badger more than willing to help out others, "Come dine with me," I said to my guests, "I made this myself...with help," I said looking at one of my attendants named Florence. The young badger tittered as I gave her wink. If I did not have her help with making breakfast, I don't think this castle would be standing for much longer.

"Thank you for inviting us, My Queen," said Lady Noemi in full armor without her helmet and wearing a chainmail coif in it's place. I was proud to see Lady Blue and Noemi so happy together. In a few weeks, I am to see to their marriage. Blue is a very beautiful dragoness, and she is blessed with such a fine knight at her side. Lady Noemi and the others sat down to eat, "I am sorry to say, but Lady Glenda could attend this gathering, she is seeing to her crops for the Autumn Harvest," Lady Noemi informed me.

"You made this? You are something else, Your Highness," Qualin asked, seeing the food was delicious to her pallet. If I can eat my own cooking, it should give my advisors the notion that the food is not poisoned. I would never do such a cowardly act to my own advisors. The fact that they are dragons means nothing. They are equals in these lands, "when we were living in the Dragonlands, I don't think Queen Oscura ever stepped foot into the Royal Kitchen," I laughed with the other dragons at the joke.

I then decided to move on to business, "You all have been informed as to why I have gathered you all here, I am soon to ride out to the Dragon Kingdom to have a meeting of sorts with Queen Oscura to discuss the terms of these lands, you have all helped me in writing these terms which will soon come into law," I explained to my guests as I cut and ate a piece of sausage, "I have called upon you all to be my escorts, and I know you all have the stones to see the Queen let alone fight against her armies,"

"But My Queen, she'll kill you!" Blue said heatedly in protest to my decision, standing up from the table. Noemi put a hand on her shoulder to calm her down, "I know Oscura, she is not going to let this go nor is she going to give in to your terms, I fully accept them as do my friends, you're Queen of the Westfold, and as an advisor in your court, neither I nor Noemi want anything to happen to you," I understood her concerns, and she had a point, but I don't want to be seen as a coward to Queen Oscura.

"I know you are concerned," Lady Noemi said to the one she loves, "but she is our Queen, and this is her duty," I nodded to Lady Noemi. When breakfast was concluded, it seemed everyone was in agreement, "when do we ride?" Noemi asked me, two badgers and three dragons. Some in these lands would have thought that such a thing would never happen unless Queen Oscura was pulling the puppet strings in the background. It was my choice to place these dragons and badgers around me in my court.

"We ride...and fly out tomorrow morning at first light, this meeting is adjourned," I said and helped clean the table with my attendants and helped wash the plates and cups. As I worked, I knew this was my time to stand up to Queen Oscura in her court. I fought her on the battlefield, and won the freedom of my lands. This was a different battlefield, on of politics. Though I carry my sword at my side, I have to use a pen to bring laws and terms into being. Everything I do is for my people. I will die for them.

To Her Majesty Queen Oscura of the Dragon Kingdom,

In recognition of my people's freedom and the freedom of the dragons that have defected to my lands. I write to you now these terms which are the terms of the Westfold as scribed by me and my chief advisors. Should you decide to agree to these terms, then these terms will become part of the laws in my land. If not, then they will still become laws in my land. For you now hold no sway over my people or the dragons that live in peace in these lands.

I. Any Dragon that decides to leave and settle in the Westfold is free to do so without the need of your consent.

II. Dragons and Badgers are free to have friendships, live together, and marry as they please in the Westfold Lands

III. Dragon merchants are free to sell their goods within the Westfold Lands and Tiger Territories without fear of persecution

IV. Badger merchants are free to sell their goods within the Dragon Kingdom and Tiger Territories without fear of persecution

V. Dragons and Badgers are free to practice their religious beliefs.

VI. Dragons that live in the Westfold Lands will pay the same equal taxes as Badgers do to the queen.

VII. Dragons can voluntarily serve in the Westfold Queen's armies or the armies of the Westfold Clans if they so desire

VIII. Dragons are allowed to own their own lands, and grow their own crops.

IX. Dragons the live in the Westfold are allowed to work in any profession that they so desire.

X. Any act of killing a badger in the Dragon Kingdom or Tiger Territories or a defected dragon in said lands will be considered an act of war.

These are the Terms of the Westfold as written by and agreed to by the Queen of the Westfold and her chief advisors. The Westfold is a free land, and will always be so to every queen that takes to the throne after me when I pass on into the next world. It is my wish to see that the times of war can end, and a time of peace can take it's place. As you are Queen of the Dragon Kingdom, the decision is yours to make. I pray now that you make the wise one.

Sincerely,

Queen Joanna of the Westfold