06-03-2015, 10:28 AM
She had fought in the army, in her day. She had trained and done a few battles, though nothing of any real significance. But if nothing else, she wasn’t completely worthless in a fight. She wasn’t necessarily a threat in a fight either, but she wouldn’t be bowled over by the first stallion that got an idea in his head during breeding season either. Not that any of them had ever tried. Must be something about her.
But in the end, diplomacy had suited her goals more. It was endless more useful to be clever and skilled with words when the need arose than it had been for her to kick others. Not that, sometimes, she didn’t want to just kick them instead. It would be easier, and she always liked easier. After all, if the situation allowed, she was blunt and honest. It saved so much time.
Her rise from princess to lady to queen was an interesting one. The first step was nothing but hard work, and to be fair, the second step was hard work as well. If she hadn’t deserved the title, her fellow kingdom mates would have had her head. The Chamber isn’t exactly known for being full of tolerant pushovers. But still, she had sold her own father for a crown. That part was fun, and no real secret. He stopped deserving the crown, and so she stopped letting him wear it.
If only the story were actually that cut and dry. But for the masses, it was. Eight and the Valley took most of the blame for the takeover, and Straia took just a bit. It looks good to the world, it allied the two kingdoms that had been fighting for far too long, and brought some life back to the once dead kingdom. All in all, she saw it as a win. Except for the part where her father and sister now hated her, but everything comes with a cost. That was the cost. She had known it, and she was willing to pay it.
In the end, she would pay the Chamber far more than just that. She knew this. Atrox had given her heart, Warship his freedom, Makai his life. The Chamber was a cruel mistress, but those that loved it served loyally despite this. Or maybe because of it. She still wasn’t entirely sure.
He answers, and she likes his answer. Direct and honest, just the way she enjoys the world to be. It never is, of course, and she will always lament this. But she does her best to surround herself with others that tell her what they want. She’s inclined to give these things so long as they prove their worth. And also inclined to take them away when they stop being worthy. She operates under those principles, and expects the same from anyone else.
“I suspect most kingdoms can offer you that,” she says truthfully, because everyone was seeking more members. Everyone had an army, and eventually they needed new generals. New lords and advisors and whatever other titles they had created. She needed all of the above in the Chamber. Her current Commander was beginning to disappoint her, and she was inclined to replace him if he didn’t shape up soon. “I can certainly offer you a place in the Chamber army, and I love promoting those that prove themselves.” Hell, it wouldn’t even be that hard. Her army did nothing. She wanted them to train, challenge, mock. Apparently she couldn’t rely on anyone to get them moving besides herself though, and she has added that to her list of tasks. After yelling at the diplomats for failing to tell her what they found on their kingdom visits.
Seriously, did she have to do everything? Not entirely true, Kavi and Erebor were quite useful as well.
“I suppose where we differ from other kingdoms are the type of horses you are likely to find. We are all rather determined,” there’s a slight emphasis on the word. She wouldn’t call them evil, because she didn’t plan to necessarily do evil things. Simply things that benefited the Chamber, whatever they might be. “No one will coddle you, or call you Brother,” this was no particular reference to Errant and the brothers, but rather she figured Sister was inappropriate. “But you will find that we have each other’s backs. You are welcome to come, take a look, and decide what you think. No one will force you to stay.” And then she falls silent, waiting to see what Errant would say, and what Killdare would think of it all. She thinks he would do well in the Chamber, but he could likely to equally well elsewhere with his drive.
But in the end, diplomacy had suited her goals more. It was endless more useful to be clever and skilled with words when the need arose than it had been for her to kick others. Not that, sometimes, she didn’t want to just kick them instead. It would be easier, and she always liked easier. After all, if the situation allowed, she was blunt and honest. It saved so much time.
Her rise from princess to lady to queen was an interesting one. The first step was nothing but hard work, and to be fair, the second step was hard work as well. If she hadn’t deserved the title, her fellow kingdom mates would have had her head. The Chamber isn’t exactly known for being full of tolerant pushovers. But still, she had sold her own father for a crown. That part was fun, and no real secret. He stopped deserving the crown, and so she stopped letting him wear it.
If only the story were actually that cut and dry. But for the masses, it was. Eight and the Valley took most of the blame for the takeover, and Straia took just a bit. It looks good to the world, it allied the two kingdoms that had been fighting for far too long, and brought some life back to the once dead kingdom. All in all, she saw it as a win. Except for the part where her father and sister now hated her, but everything comes with a cost. That was the cost. She had known it, and she was willing to pay it.
In the end, she would pay the Chamber far more than just that. She knew this. Atrox had given her heart, Warship his freedom, Makai his life. The Chamber was a cruel mistress, but those that loved it served loyally despite this. Or maybe because of it. She still wasn’t entirely sure.
He answers, and she likes his answer. Direct and honest, just the way she enjoys the world to be. It never is, of course, and she will always lament this. But she does her best to surround herself with others that tell her what they want. She’s inclined to give these things so long as they prove their worth. And also inclined to take them away when they stop being worthy. She operates under those principles, and expects the same from anyone else.
“I suspect most kingdoms can offer you that,” she says truthfully, because everyone was seeking more members. Everyone had an army, and eventually they needed new generals. New lords and advisors and whatever other titles they had created. She needed all of the above in the Chamber. Her current Commander was beginning to disappoint her, and she was inclined to replace him if he didn’t shape up soon. “I can certainly offer you a place in the Chamber army, and I love promoting those that prove themselves.” Hell, it wouldn’t even be that hard. Her army did nothing. She wanted them to train, challenge, mock. Apparently she couldn’t rely on anyone to get them moving besides herself though, and she has added that to her list of tasks. After yelling at the diplomats for failing to tell her what they found on their kingdom visits.
Seriously, did she have to do everything? Not entirely true, Kavi and Erebor were quite useful as well.
“I suppose where we differ from other kingdoms are the type of horses you are likely to find. We are all rather determined,” there’s a slight emphasis on the word. She wouldn’t call them evil, because she didn’t plan to necessarily do evil things. Simply things that benefited the Chamber, whatever they might be. “No one will coddle you, or call you Brother,” this was no particular reference to Errant and the brothers, but rather she figured Sister was inappropriate. “But you will find that we have each other’s backs. You are welcome to come, take a look, and decide what you think. No one will force you to stay.” And then she falls silent, waiting to see what Errant would say, and what Killdare would think of it all. She thinks he would do well in the Chamber, but he could likely to equally well elsewhere with his drive.
straia
queen of the chamber