Jularra rubbed her eyes as she thought. “Do you think we should root them out sooner rather than later?”
“We could, but I’d feel better if we finished securing what we’ve taken before engaging in any new conflicts. Especially since it’s such a large area.”
“I agree. I don’t think we have enough information on what’s left to push out to the borders. Finish securing Brinnock, and establish or fortify those outer garrisons. Maintain regular rotations of scouts to confirm what’s left out there.”
Korden bowed his head as a mixed group of Spire and Bedrock turned a corner and spotted their queen. The group pulled to a halt and enthusiastically leapt to attention in their respective group’s appropriate posture.
Jularra smiled widely at the sight. She waved her hand. “Carry on!”
The group of men and women responded with their combined greetings of respect.
“'Zah!”
“Strike!”
Jularra turned to Korden, beaming with pride, but as the Bedrock and Spire passed, something else drew Jularra’s attention.
Out from a nearby alleyway plodded a sizeable group of approximately fifty naked men, all chained and shackled together at the hands and ankles. Once they had emerged into the square, a smaller group of strapping men, all clothed, held the ends of chains and ropes. Immediately behind the dressed men followed Bolblissa, a woman known well to aristocratic circles throughout Acorilan and arguably the most successful procuress in the region.
Jularra watched curiously as the group walked on, but finally acted on her intention to speak up.
“Whoa!” Jularra boomed.
Almost everyone nearby turned to look, though most kept walking, including the group of men, Bolblissa, and her assistants.
“You, there. Stop!” Jularra commanded. She looked at Korden, silently beckoning him to follow her.
They marched over to the naked men. As they approached, Bolblissa swung out confidently from the back to intercept the queen. Bolblissa’s face was hard to read. Jularra knew the madam had years of shrewd negotiations and autonomous survival under her belt.
“Your Majesty,” Bolblissa began, “let me congratulate you again on the—”
“Who are these men?” Jularra interrupted tersely.
Bolblissa shuffled her feet for only the length of a blink before replying.
“Ah, yes, these are some native Torgurians, my queen.”
Jularra went from considering the men's faces to a hateful glare at Bolblissa.
“If you waste my time with such a flippant answer again, I’ll have you in shackles yourself. Now tell me: why are these men naked, why are they shackled, and why are you with them?”
Bolblissa smiled at the queen’s assertiveness and licked her lips.
“These were some of the men defeated during the siege of Brinnock, Your Majesty. I have arranged to put them in my service.”
Jularra snapped her eyes to Korden, then back to Bolblissa.
“Put them in your service,” Jularra echoed. “As paid employees, you mean?”
Bolblissa bit her lip and shuffled her feet again. Jularra didn’t let her reply.
“Why would paid employees be in shackles without the dignity of undergarments, hmm?”
Bolblissa attempted to rattle off her justification. “Your Majesty, this isn’t Acorilan, and these men are Torgur—”
Jularra whipped back, slamming the back of her fist into Bolblissa’s jaw. Bolblissa was knocked sideways, before crashing into the legs of the men she’d hoped to use as sex slaves.
“The day I took Brinnock,” Jularra said loudly, “was the day Brinnock became a city of Acorilan.”
Bolblissa glared up at her with furious eyes and a bloody mouth. Jularra bent down to educate her further.
“And in Acorilan,” Jularra continued, “there is no slavery, and there are no unpaid sex workers.”
Jularra held Bolblissa’s cold stare.
“Should I have my scribe send you a copy of my decree on this matter?”
Bolblissa shook her head, once. Jularra motioned for a pair of Bedrock to approach.
“Take these men, unshackle them, and have them dressed,” she directed. “You all were members of the Brinnock defense?” she asked of the group.
Most nodded or mumbled answers to the affirmative.
“Right,” she acknowledged, turning back to the Bedrock. “See to it that they are found work, if not with the Bedrock, at least in the regular infantry. If there are any problems, have them directed to Korden or myself.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” one of the Bedrock complied.
Korden pointed at himself, suggesting to the Bedrock that he be notified first.
“I apologize on behalf of this… ambitious woman for her disrespect, gentlemen,” Jularra offered.
The group of Torgurians began to shuffle away, led by their Bedrock escorts. Other than Korden, a pair of Spire remained by Jularra’s side. While looking at Bolblissa, she gave the Spire their own order.
“Make sure that she is returned to Morganon. Or anywhere that isn’t here.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the Spire complied.
Korden couldn’t help but laugh softly as Bolblissa was helped to her feet and ushered away. Jularra heard him and smiled through her own irritation.
“I know,” she said to him. “Even in a world made from scraps, some vultures need to be told what not to pick at.”
Jularra sighed to clear her mind as another group of Spire and Bedrock walked past.
“As I was saying,” she said with another huff to resume their previous topic, “I can’t tell you how proud I am. They took my orders to wage a pre-emptive attack on an otherwise friendly nation and executed them with surgical accuracy and veteran efficiency—despite not being involved in a major battle in years.”
“You sound surprised. I’m not.”
Jularra raised an enquiring eyebrow.
“They had a true, good reason, provided by a great leader,” he added. “Our people needed food. It was either take it, or starve. Many of them would probably say there was no choice.”
She smiled at Korden, blinking rapidly.
“And I know they are proud of you,” he added.
Jularra swallowed and surveyed the streets and corridors of Brinnock as Korden’s words soaked in. She began to itch with discomfort from his praise.
“Your illusion allowed us to get in quickly and gain control. You say others minimized the loss of life on both sides, but you deserve most of that credit. We’re already hearing that our cause is being received well by many of the Torgurians.”
Jularra grunted at
