The Ruling Queen

by R. E. Steele

  “We got it, but at great cost,” said Vasilis.

  Everyone took a quick look at those who had returned. They were all expecting to see someone missing, that someone had died. But no, all those who set out last evening were there, looking whole and healthy. Roxanna, like everyone else, was confused. Thankfully, Vasilis was in no mood to leave them in suspense.

  “Nikolos was there during the attack, and he recognized me,” he said. “They now know we are the ones behind their losses.”

  A stunned silence filled the air. Roxanna could feel the dread coming from the others.

  “How?” asked Roxanna. “If he was at the fort, how could you have taken it?”

  “We were nearly finished by the time he realized what was going on. But he escaped on his horse. There is no doubt he is coming back with a large army to destroy us,” said Vasilis.

  “But you have the outposts and the fort,” she pointed out. “Surely they can withstand what he throws at us. He can’t spare many men, since he needs them to protect the rest of the lands he claims.”

  “You would be surprised what a man is willing to risk when it comes to personal matters,” said Vasilis. “We took the fort he was staying in. He will not take kindly to that fact, and will be eager to reassert himself as my superior.”

  Roxanna still doubted the situation was so dire. Even if Nikolos had a personal grudge against Vasilis, which Vasilis’s words suggested he did. Nikolos could still only do so much with the resources he had at his immediate disposal. Sure, given time, he could probably raise a massive army if he chose. But that would take time, time that Vasilis and his gang could use to prepare. The Kalarian Empire was a large beast, and therefore, moved rather slowly most of the time. She hoped Vasilis realized this. But his behavior was not promising.

  “So, you are just going to abandon the fort and the outposts?” she asked with a combination of anger and disbelief. “After all the trouble you have gone to? After all the sacrifices your people have made?”

  He didn’t answer, but the look in his eyes said he was leaning in that direction. Roxanna heard restless shifting behind her. Her words had probably stirred something in the Lystra Gang. They were, no doubt, displeased with the idea of abandoning the outposts and fort, for then all their efforts would be wasted. She hadn’t contributed much in comparison to them, and even she felt the loss.

  Unable to utter another word without losing her composure, a very unqueenly thing to do, Roxanna turned on her heel, and marched off to her quarters. She needed to be alone to think, and she didn’t much like the idea of anyone seeing her go through the many emotions she felt brewing inside of her. She didn’t even want her sisters to see what she knew was coming, even though she trusted them the most out of anyone.

  She began by pacing the room. It wasn’t a large one by any means, though still comfortable in comparison to the tent she once inhabited. When in a better mood, she sometimes wondered how she hadn’t worn through the floor with all her pacing. But at the moment, all she felt was frustration, and the need to move as she worked through her agitated thoughts.

  Once she was able to get past her anger toward Vasilis, she realized she needed to come up with some sort of plan. Vasilis being recognized was a danger to her and her people. Nikolos already knew she and her attendants were with the Lystra Gang. Nikolos now knew where they were, or at least, was able to narrow it down to a few likely choices. If Vasilis chose to stay, there would be danger of being captured. Worse, if Vasilis chose to abandon the outposts and fort, they would be even more vulnerable to attack. No doubt, Nikolos was arranging for spies to keep an eye on them even now.

  So, what should she do? Should she leave and hope she was faster than the spies? It was a grave risk, for even if they left soon enough, they were bound to run into a patrol. While they could probably handle a small number of imperial soldiers, a large band, or even a highly skilled one, might spell the end.

  Staying seemed like the best option, but would they be able to if Vasilis chose to flee? Though the fort would offer better protection to her small band, than if they were caught on the road, it still would be impossible to defend for long, with such a small number of people. They needed Vasilis’s gang in order to hold on.

  Should she then go with Vasilis if he did leave, despite the cowardice she felt it showed? As much as her feelings revolted against the idea, she had to admit, such an option was probably the safest. They had to stick with the gang, for they didn’t have the numbers to do much on their own. Yes, fleeing probably wasn’t the wisest decision Vasilis could make, but Roxanna wasn’t in a position to oppose him. Her safety, and that of her people, was at the mercy of his whims, as much as she hated to admit it. She was still too far away to reunite with her army. She doubted her soldiers even knew where she was.

  This realization, when she was willing to recognize it, angered her more than the idea that Vasilis might flee. She hated to think she was dependent on someone who she didn’t hold in the highest opinion.

  “Why God? Why did You put me in this situation?” she demanded to know.

  She didn’t hear an answer, nor was she in a humor to wait long. She wished she could go out into the woods and find the old noblewoman. Even if she didn’t have a way for Roxanna to escape this madness, she would at least be sympathetic to Roxanna’ plight. She wasn’t blinded by Vasilis’s charm. But that was not to be. Vasilis may very well have been followed, so there was great danger in leaving the security of the outpost alone. Like it or not, there was nothing she could do at the moment. She was stuck.

  Chapter 42

  Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

  ~ Psalm 27:14

  Vasilis was sorely tempted to give into Roxanna’s wishes. Even he in his fearful state, could see that to abandon all they had gained now, would be great cowardice. His people too, were obviously not in support of it. Had she chosen to leave then, Vasilis rather wondered how many of his people would have joined her. But she wouldn’t leave. She had no guarantee anyone other than her attendants would join her. If it was just them, the risk would be great, too great, and she was wise enough to see it. Though no doubt angry, Roxanna was not one to make such an important decision on the mere whim of anger, not after she had been captured by Nikolos. At least that, Vasilis could count on.

  One interesting aspect of that incident, was it did prove that Vasilis was capable of beating Nikolos. But Vasilis already knew that. He had known for some time. They had crossed blades for the first time years before, and Vasilis had been able to come away unscathed. It was a great feat, considering he had been the target of a manhunt, and had been directly challenged by Nikolos himself. They had fought hard, but Vasilis came out on top, and used his victory to escape. It wasn’t that Nikolos was a bad swordsman. On the contrary, anyone could see he was one of the best. But Vasilis was one of the best too, and he had one thing going for him that Nikolos didn’t.

  Vasilis was far more willing to resort to trickery than Nikolos was. Vasilis had once heard a rumor that Nikolos preferred straightforward dealings to schemes and plots. If his style of swordsmanship was any indication, Vasilis felt the rumor was true. It would explain why Nikolos chose to flee the fort, rather than stick around and try to defend it. A swordsman of his caliber might choose to stay, despite being greatly outnumbered, for the sake of his pride. But Nikolos offered no fight other than as a means of escape. It proved that even he recognized that Vasilis was the superior swordsman, even if only by a little.

  But that was small comfort for Vasilis. It was only further confirmation that Nikolos knew exactly who he was. Nikolos may not win in a one-on-one confrontation, but he had the bigger army, and was more capable of using it. It had ultimately been superior tactics, and a superior ability to plan ahead, that had allowed Nikolos to win Achlys. Vasilis could only do so much as a lone swordsman, and they both knew it.

  Nikolos probably had other reasons for wi
shing to hunt him down. Everyone knew the Kalarians were a competitive, and at times, ruthless people. If Vasilis were captured by someone other than Nikolos, it was reasonable to assume some disgruntle Kalarian noble would try use him to assassinate Nikolos, a fate that had met several Kalarian Emperors before him. Leading an army may not be Vasilis strong point, but pulling off a covert mission, where only he needed to be involved, was something he knew he was quite capable of. But Vasilis had no wish to be captured by such a person. Besides the restriction it would put on his beloved freedom, Vasilis, despite his dislike of Nikolos, had no desire to kill him in cold blood. Killing him on the battlefield was one thing. Stabbing him in the back with an assassin’s blade was another, even if it would have solved many of Vasilis’s problems. Vasilis felt his reputation had already suffered enough due to this war with the Kalarians. He didn’t want it damaged more by such an act.

  So that left Vasilis with one of two choices: either stay and face Nikolos’s forces, which he was surely gathering, or abandon the fort and the outposts, and hope he and his gang were able to disappear into the woods before they were found. Certainly, the fort offered better protection than the woods, in the direct sense anyway. But Nikolos would know exactly where they were. The woods had proven to be the better refuge.

  Vasilis supposed he could pull off a big raid and try to use that as a distraction. But he quickly thought better of it. Besides the fact he didn’t think he was capable of pulling off something as massive as he would need, he didn’t think any raid would be distraction enough to get Nikolos off his trail. Nikolos wanted more than just Vasilis in his custody. He wanted Roxanna too. She was proving herself to be a worthy opponent, something the Kalarians would approve of in their empress.

  When Vasilis thought of Roxanna, he wondered why he wasn’t plagued with doubts when he rescued her. Of course, he had known he needed a small operation in order to not draw attention. His plan had to be well thought out and executed in order to work. But no, a million things could have gone wrong. Yet Vasilis didn’t hesitate. He still immediately went to work thinking of how he could free her.

  What was it about Roxanna that made him willing to forget his caution so easily? He knew the answer. He loved her, and he was willing to do anything to make sure she was safe. It also helped that he knew if Nikolos had a hold of her for too long, Vasilis would never be able to get her back. But staying in the fort was no guarantee that her precious safety would be assured. Vasilis decided they would be moving again.

  Chapter 43

  For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

  ~ James 1:20

  When Roxanna woke the next morning, the news she dreaded was given to her. It was Celena who told her, which infuriated Roxanna even more. She could well guess that Vasilis didn’t have the courage to tell her directly, and that Estella and Theodoros had no desire to either. So, they sent the most timid of the sisters, because they knew Roxanna would never lash out at her.

  Celena knew this too, but she still looked pale and frightened when she gave Roxanna the news.

  “Roxanna, we are moving again,” she said softly. “We need you to help with the preparations.”

  Roxanna didn’t say anything. She didn’t even look at her sister. She only glared at the wall, as if it were Vasilis. At the moment, she felt as if she disliked no one more than Vasilis. Even Nikolos was more tolerable. Nikolos at least had the decency to act with courage. Vasilis was a dirty coward, and there was no denying it.

  Roxanna left her room in sullen silence. She had no wish to lend her aid in this effort. She wanted to leave, abandon Vasilis to his fate. But she didn’t believe he was capable of doing the preparations properly. He was too scared and careless to pay attention to what he should. Besides, she and her people would be affected too. But she didn’t go about her work cheerfully. Smoke and flames almost seemed to shoot out of her head.

  That being the case, Roxanna was more snappish than she intended to be. Her exacting standards were getting on the nerves of the others, but she didn’t feel as much sympathy for them as she probably would have otherwise. At the moment, she blamed them for her problems, for in their weakness, they continued to follow that coward, Vasilis. If they left him and joined her, then she would stand a chance of regaining her kingdom. But no, they chose to stay with Vasilis, out of a misguided sense of loyalty.

  Roxanna did feel some regret for her temper. She knew it was unbecoming in a queen to show so much emotion, particularly at this moment. She could be angry, but not so angry as to take it out on others. Had it just been Vasilis she was dealing with; she would have had no regret at all. He deserved every bit of her vitriol. But the others, she had to admit, didn’t deserve the criticism she gave them.

  What was worse, was she found herself snapping at her own people, and then even Estella. The thing that triggered her the most, was the way Estella and Theodoros were so frequently near each other. They were smiling, and even laughing together, as if the infuriating turn of events didn’t trouble them as much as it should. Though she wouldn’t admit it, her lashing out was also due to jealousy. In Theodoros, Estella had someone she could count on. He tried to please her. He didn’t do things to infuriate her. But he was unwilling to rebel against his brother, for his own good, and that of the others. Of course, in her unreasonableness, Roxanna didn’t take into account that she too could rebel against Vasilis, and at least attempt to take back what she wanted. But her mood being what it was, she wasn’t reasonable at all.

  “You need to pack the trunks more tightly,” she snapped at Estella.

  Estella had enough.

  “Shut up Roxanna, and take your ill-temper somewhere else!” she exclaimed. “None of us want to leave either, but you are causing more harm than good!”

  Roxanna was so stunned by her sister’s words, she was speechless. Even Estella seemed surprised by her boldness. Though the two did occasionally have arguments, they mostly got along, and Estella had never confronted her so angrily. But Estella had, and in her present mood, Roxanna wasn’t about to take it lightly.

  “Very well,” I will retire to my room until we are ready to move out,” she snapped. “We shall see how well you do without me.”

  Roxanna then turned on her heel and stormed off. She just caught Vasilis giving her a disappointed look, which only angered her more. She ought to be the disappointed one, not him! Roxanna was more than tempted to sneak out of the fort and head off on her own. But she knew she couldn’t do it without being noticed, and there was still the danger of being caught by the Kalarians. No, she would remain with the gang, but she would offer them no other support than what earning her own keep required. Outside of that, they were on their own, until they had the sense to realize that Vasilis wasn’t worth following.

  Therefore, when the time came to leave, Roxanna was uncharacteristically silent. She merely went to the transport, climbed in with assistance from Bedros, and said nothing. She refused to even look at Vasilis, or ask him any questions. She was as still as a stone, and her stony expression reflected this too. She wouldn’t look at Estella either. She just stared out the window, or straight ahead, when one of the Lystra Gang was near enough to see her. Only Celena was worthy of her notice, and she was too upset to say much. So, the journey proceeded in uncomfortable silence. Roxanna refused to do anything to relieve it.

  Chapter 44

  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

  ~ Proverbs 3:6

  It was a relief to Vasilis when they reached their campsite for the night. As everyone settled down for the evening, Roxanna went to her tent, speaking as little as possible. Some of the tension left with her presence, but not all of it. Though the Lystra Gang didn’t care for her highhanded ways, they agreed with her in that they should have tried to keep the fort and the outposts, rather than abandon them. While they wouldn’t rebel against Vasilis, at least not yet, such feelings would become dangerous if not dealt with soon.
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br />   Vasilis closed his eyes and sighed when he finally sat down in his own tent. His supper was waiting for him, but he was too tired to touch it at the moment. The others were eating together, but his food had been brought to him. Anyone else would have seen this as a courtesy, but Vasilis knew it was his gang’s way of saying they wished to discuss matters out of his hearing. It was a bad sign. They would never become violent against him. He knew that. But if they left him, it was questionable how long he would last without them.

  He released another sigh as he thought about Roxanna. Though she stayed silent the entire journey, not so much as murmuring a hint of complaint. It was uncomfortable to travel with a woman who insisted on acting like a stone statue. Though she refused to meet his face, he could feel her fiery hot eyes, boring into the back of his skull as they travelled. He once dared to look back, if nothing else, to force those eyes into looking another direction. But she had already turned, as if knowing he was going to look at her.

  But he could neither afford to, or wish to dwell on the aggravating woman. He must consider what his next move should be. So far, their journey had gone unhindered, but Vasilis doubted that would last long. It was only a matter of time before Nikolos assembled a large enough force, that it would be difficult to elude. Numbers meant more eyes on the watch, and disguises only went so far. Nor did Vasilis wish to put the most vulnerable of his gang; the women, children, and elderly, in danger.

  Vasilis was in no doubt that Nikolos would be able to bring large numbers into this chase too. Nikolos wouldn’t have to choose whether to leave important locations unprotected or not. The Kalarian Empire was so heavily populated, that it would be nothing to send thousands of men into the woods, while maintaining a secure hold over his other possessions.