Chapter 45

"Is that a good idea?" Arion asked after her.

"It'll be fine. Trust me please." She didn't bother looking back at him.

Arriana stood there for a few minutes looking from one man to the next. Most of them looked young, too young. She shook her head as she stared into the sad, dirty faces.

"Who stabbed me?" Arriana asked calmly.

Nobody uttered a word.

"Nobody? The gaping hole in my side was imaginary?" she asked, raising her voice just a bit more.

"I, I did," a small voice squeaked up from the back of the last wagon.

Arriana walked over to where the voice sounded from. "Who said that? Who is the one that stabbed me?"

A young boy crawled to the front. He was no more than twelve. He sat there and bit his lower lip trying to fight back the tears.

"Are you going to kill me now?" he choked back a sob.

She looked at him for a few moments longer, the hard expression on her face softening into sadness. "Where would you get a crazy idea like that from? How old are you?"

"Ki-king Lu-Luc-Lucas said you were going to kill all of us if you caught us!" he sobbed, "an-an-and I'm twelve."

He looked up with tear streaks on his dirty little face.

"I'm not going to kill you. I'm not going to kill any of you. I'm not like Lucas. I do not rule with an iron fist. I know most of you have only known what he has told you, seen how he rules. I can assure you, I am not like that. My father, King Charles, was not like that." She looked from sad face to sad face.

"You mean it? You're not going to kill us?" another boy asked.

She shook her head. "Absolutely not. In fact, Victoria? Will you bring food and water?"

The girl smiled and nodded enthusiastically.

"Are you all hungry?" she asked them.

They nodded their heads vigorously.

"Good. You will eat and get cleaned up. Tonight, you will stay in our jail over there. Tomorrow, I will speak with all of you. For the night I want you all to rest but think about something. Do you want to end up dead? Do you want to live under the tyrannical rule of Lucas? Or would you rather live in a free Coresova. Yes, you will have to coexist with witches, wizards, mythics and other creatures that are not normal. If you can handle this, I am inviting you with open arms to join our army and our village." She turned and walked away before anyone could speak.

Arriana went up to Barwick and instructed him to be sure that all the boys and men had clean clothing, new boots and were cleaned up before they were put into the jail. Barwick smiled and nodded his head at the kind, just and caring queen. She did know that those they had rescued would not be happy about the kindness extended to the newest prisoners.

I hope I can smooth things over with them tomorrow. Can my words keep peace with everyone? If I can't keep peace in a small village how will I in an entire world?

Sighing heavily, the tired queen headed to her couch with her dog. She quickly changed out of her torn, bloody dress and into her shorts and t-shirt. She curled up on the couch and hugged Beau.

"I've had a bad day," she cried into his soft fur.

"I know," he replied, nuzzling her.

"Thank you."

"For what my dear, Arriana?" He looked at her confused.

"Being here right now." She smiled at him and closed her eyes falling into a deep slumber.