Chapter 3: God Bless the Queens
As Neptune lumbered through the streets, Aaric noted the eerie silence. London, once bustling and alive, now seemed hollow. Shops were shuttered, and the streets were empty. Even Neptune, who usually strutted through the city with pride, showcasing his immense size and strength, walked quietly.
When they reached the stone bridge spanning the Thames they saw several guards mounted on Baryonyx who were stationed strategically: two flanked the entrance, two patrolled the bridge, and two more watched the path leading to the riverbank. The bridge's importance was clear-it was a direct route to the royal palace, a grand fortress of timber and stone visible for kilometers.
As Neptune approached, one of the Baryriders-Aaric's preferred term for the guards-moved forward, blocking their path.
"Halt! State your business!" the guard commanded.
His Baryonyx snapped its powerful jaws at Neptune and released a guttural roar, clearly meant to intimidate. Unfortunately, it had the opposite effect. Neptune roared back with deafening ferocity, rearing onto his hind legs, ready to strike.
"Whoa, easy boy!" Aaric called, pulling hard on the reins. "No need to attack the guard; he's just doing his job."
Turning to the Baryrider, Aaric added apologetically, "My deepest apologies. Neptune doesn't take kindly to challenges. I'm Sir Aaric Godwin. The Queen has summoned me, so I request passage across the bridge."
The guard hesitated before nodding. "Ah, yes, Sir Aaric. We've been instructed to grant you access. You may proceed."
The Baryrider quickly moved aside, allowing Neptune to stride forward. As they crossed the bridge, Neptune let out a low, menacing growl toward the patrolling Baryriders, his way of warning them to keep their distance.
"Neptune, behave," Aaric murmured, patting the Spinosaurus on the neck.
Neptune groaned but refrained from further hostility as they continued toward the towering fortress. The crenellated walls and watchtowers grew more imposing with each step.
At last, they reached the massive gatehouse, where an array of guards mounted on various dinosaurs patrolled and stood watch. As Neptune approached, several raptor-mounted guards flanked him, forming an escort toward the gate.
The Spinosaurus, clearly on edge, snapped his jaws at the raptors several times. Despite his irritation, Neptune held back from outright aggression.
The massive gates creaked open, and Neptune lowered himself onto all fours to walk through the entrance. Once inside, the escort fell back, returning to their posts as they were not permitted to proceed beyond the gate.
Neptune and Aaric found themselves in the castle's lush inner gardens. Dismounting, Aaric grabbed the reins as a butler approached.
"Greetings, Sir Aaric," the butler said with a formal bow. "Allow me to take your mount to the royal stables. Her Majesty and the council await you in the throne room."
Aaric hesitated, tightening his grip on the reins. The butler noticed and reassured him, "Rest assured, Sir. Your mount will be treated with the utmost care."
"It's not Neptune's safety I'm concerned about," Aaric replied. "It's what he'll do that worries me. He can be... difficult."
Turning to Neptune, Aaric sighed. "Alright, boy, you'll have to stay at the stables for a while. Try not to destroy anything, alright? Remember our deal-behave, and you'll get that fish we talked about."
Neptune shot him a look that seemed to say, Yeah, yeah, I get it.
Reluctantly, Aaric handed the reins to the butler. Neptune followed him toward the rear of the gardens, grumbling but compliant.
He waited until Neptune and the Butler were out of view before proceeding to the inner gate, which was guarded by two guards and their Iguanodons, they stood with their spears in a way that the spears blocked the entrance.
He waited until Neptune and the butler were out of view before proceeding to the inner gate. The entrance was guarded by two soldiers and their Iguanodons, the creatures standing watch with an air of quiet menace. The guards held their spears crossed, blocking the path forward.
As Aaric approached, one of them called out, "Name and title, please."
Aaric replied, "Sir Aaric Godwin. The Queen sent for me."
The guard nodded, consulting a list briefly before adding, "Your name checks out. However, by order of the council, this meeting is to be weapons-free. Please surrender your twin blades."
Aaric's expression hardened as he shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I can't do that. These weapons stay with me-knight's honor and all that."
The guard frowned, clearly debating whether to press the issue, but his companion intervened. "Alright. Just don't unsheathe them, and all should be well."
With a brief nod, the two guards stepped aside, their spears parting to allow Aaric through.
Inside the castle there were massive halls that exuded opulence and military might, with paintings and knight armour sets adorning the walls and iron chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The security was not lax either, Aaric saw many guards standing guard with what looked to be Eotyrannus. No wonder the halls were so big, to allow the smallish medium carnivores to roam freely.
A guard stepped forward and motioned Aaric to follow him, which he did. The guard, clearly not one for words, led him to the throne room.
The throne room was a marvel of its own, a grand hall, vast and echoing with authority, designed to both awe and intimidate all who entered. The floors were polished stone, their surface shimmering faintly in the light of towering gold chandeliers that hung from the vaulted ceiling, their flickering flames casting long shadows. A crimson carpet, embroidered with golden thread in intricate patterns of royal insignias and mythical beasts, had stretched the length of the room, leading directly to the throne, many guards were also seen standing next to the walls, Aaric counted 12 on each side, each with their own Eotyrannus, the security was tight around here.
The walls had been adorned with rich tapestries depicting the kingdom's greatest victories, its noble lineage, and scenes of divine favor, woven in vibrant blues, reds, and golds. Stained glass windows lined the upper reaches of the hall, their panes glowing with sunlight that filtered through, painting the room in hues of ruby, emerald, and sapphire. Each window told a story of the realm's history-crowning ceremonies, battles won, and alliances forged.
The throne itself was an imposing masterpiece, carved from dark oak and inlaid with gold and silver filigree. The high back rose like a spire, topped with the royal crest, and the armrests were shaped into the forms of what looked like roaring lions or other heraldic beasts. The seat had been cushioned with rich velvet, dyed deep crimson, and studded with small gemstones.
Directly infront of the Throne was a massive roundtable that looked to be engraved into the floor, in its center was the map of Europe with the current borders and proper geography. The table was mostly empty except for a middle aged woman sitting on the seat next to the throne, and of course the Queen herself, a relatively young woman, sat on the throne, deep in conversation with the other lady.
Aaric walked up to the table and bowed deeply. "Your Majesty."
Both the Queen and the other woman stopped their discussion and looked at him. The Queen said, "Ah, Sir Aaric, a pleasure to finally meet you. Please, take a seat at the round table. We've been expecting you."
Aaric nodded and took the chair opposite the throne. "I must say, it was a surprise when the Sinomacrops landed at my gate to deliver the summons. If I may be so bold-why was my presence required?"
The Queen waved a hand dismissively. "All in good time, Sir Aaric. For now, allow me to introduce you to Anya, the Queen and Grand Duchess of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth."
Aaric inclined his head respectfully, as bowing while seated was impractical. "Your Majesty, a pleasure to meet you."
Anya replied with a thick Eastern European accent, "The pleasure is mine. Please, just call me 'Queen'-the official title is more of a burden than a blessing."
Aaric chuckled softly. "As you wish. Now, may we get down to business?"
The Queen sighed lightly. "Patience, Sir Aaric. We are still waiting for Anya's champion to arrive. Ah, there she is. Welcome, Lina!"
Aaric turned to see the strangest dinosaur he had ever laid eyes on. It resembled a raptor but was far larger than the velociraptors that patrolled London. Unlike those, this one was fully feathered, with much larger arms tipped with strong singular claws. Its feet were massive and muscular, each equipped with three claws, one of which was significantly larger than the others. Its plumage displayed an unusual gradient of colors, transitioning from gray to brown to light brown.
The dinosaur bore a saddle, indicating it was a ridden mount.
Beside the raptor stood a woman who looked to be in her early twenties. She wore brown leather armor, and a spear was strapped to her back. That must be Lina. She bowed and said, "Greetings, Your Majesties."
Both queens nodded, and Queen Sophia spoke warmly. "Welcome, Lina! I see you've brought Nyra with you. She's as majestic as Queen Anya described. Please, take a seat."
Lina smiled. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I take great pride in caring for her."
She chose the seat to Aaric's left and sat down. Aaric turned to her, his curiosity evident. "What exactly is Nyra? And how did you get her inside? Surely the guards didn't allow it."
Lina smirked. "Nyra is an Ostrommaysi, native to the New World. And once a Winged Hussar bonds with their mount, we are rarely separated unless forced."
Queen Sophia interjected, "Now that we're all present, let us begin. I'll introduce you two champions to each other. Lina, this is Sir Aaric Godwin, the wandering knight. His mount is Neptune, a Spinosaurus renowned for its strength and skill. Aaric, this is Lina, the strongest of the Winged Hussars and Nyra's rider."
Ah, the Winged Hussars. Aaric had heard tales of this fierce strike force from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth-ruthless hunters astride feathered dinosaurs, guarding their nation's territories with pride and power.
He inclined his head slightly toward Lina. "A pleasure to meet you."
She replied, "Likewise, Sir Aaric. It has been ages since I've met a knight. We do not have many of those in Eastern Europe."
Aaric chuckled. "And we don't have any Winged Hussars here in England, yet here you are. Please, just call me Aaric-I'm no more a knight than you are. It's just a title given to me because of Neptune."
Queen Anya interrupted. "Alright, let's get down to business. Two of our three champions are here, with the third expected to arrive by tomorrow morning. I think it's safe to proceed with the next part of the plan."
Queen Sophia nodded. "Indeed. I'd say we're more than ready."
Aaric frowned slightly. Champions? For what? Lina appeared just as confused, as she asked, "It is not my duty to question my Queen, even when she brought us here to England-a place that has been on less-than-neutral terms with us for years. But now, I am intrigued. What is this whole champion business? May I ask why?"
Queen Sophia nodded. "Indeed, you may. As you know, about two weeks ago, my father was assassinated by Prussian spies. While I still mourn his loss, I want revenge. So, I contacted the Queen of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Queen Anya, knowing of her nation's hatred for Prussia. I proposed a long-term alliance against them, which she agreed to."
Queen Anya continued, "Queen Sophia understood that England would need strong allies, especially since Prussia has the Holy Roman Empire and France on its side. While Portugal is an old ally of England, it lacks the army and support my nation can provide. Hence, our alliance."
Aaric interjected, "That's all well and good, but I'm still unclear on why we're here. I was helping English soldiers quell the Scottish rebellions in the north when I received a letter bearing the royal emblem but no signature. While I acknowledge this is more pressing, I'd like to know why I'm needed."
Queen Sophia explained, "Yes, we were just getting to that. Queen Anya and I agreed that while armies can win wars, champions send a message. Figures of legend-like you, Lina, and the third champion-would inspire not just our people, but also warn our enemies. We need you to be more than warriors; we need you to be symbols of strength, hope and peace."
Queen Anya added, "Sir Aaric, you are one of the few who have tamed a Spinosaurus, and even fewer of whom who actually dedicate their lives to travelling and fighting for innocent lives. Lina, you are perhaps the most skilled raptor rider in Europe. And the third champion is a legend in his own right. Together, you will be a force to be reckoned with."
Silence followed as Aaric and Lina considered the queens' words. Aaric could see the logic. If he were a leader, he might do the same. But he was uncomfortable with the idea of working with others. He was a lone knight for a reason. Fame, too, was something he despised-he was just a simple man seeking a fun and mostly normal life
Still, his nation needed him, and he would not back down. Finally, he said, "I must admit, this is an ingenious plan, Your Majesties. Though I'm not accustomed to working with others, I will do my best to commit to this trio of warriors."
Lina added, "Agreed. For my part, I'm excited to meet the third member. What are our orders?"
Queen Sophia chuckled. "I'm glad to hear that. For now, there are no orders. We've assigned you to the royal barracks, which are spacious enough to house both you and your mounts-even Neptune. Tomorrow, you'll meet the third champion and be debriefed by the leader of our combined armies. You're dismissed for now."
She gestured to a guard. "Escort our champions to the royal barracks."
Aaric rose, bowed deeply, and followed the guard. Behind him, Lina whistled to Nyra, likely commanding her to follow, before bowing and catching up.
As they left, Aaric could hear the queens resuming their conversation. Their voices grew faint as the throne room doors closed behind him.
Nyra the Ostrommaysi (an Ostrommaysi is just a famous word for Utahraptor)
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