The bounties on nobles and merchants.

vTrue queen's guard Mucko
Tabius
true Queen guard Thomas Gerrat

Treasurer Phillip Tera
Queen Marissa
Grey Arm

Bender Hiest
Jules mile
Oliva
Mecon Deat

         The watch captured in the carriage is in it with in the carriage was Tabius. The carriage had

curtains drawn in the cabin, They opened the door, the woman turned to face the guards who were

opening her door, they had reached out to grab her by her wrists. She tried to claw herselff loose

from their grasp, she spat at at them.


         The door on the other siide, was opened by the guards on the other side of the carriage the

man sitting there turned to face the guards on his side. The guards looked grim, their massive hands

grasped his arms at the wrist. They hauled him from his seat to be out of the coach. He looked like

a noble. He said, "Unhand me. Unhand me,"


         He kicked and screamed as they hauled him out. They held him off the ground by a foot to a

foot and half. He kicked and tried to squirm out. Then Mucka closed the gap. Tabius' feet tried to

kick him, Mucka drew back a huge hamhock to hit him with. The hand caught him in the face.


         Blood spilled and ran down his cheeks, tears spilled from his eyes. Mucka said,"Are you

going to listen to me and talk. Or do I have to hit you again,"


         "I refuse to speak to you." Tabius said, he spat at the watch commander, his spit did not

touch the commander.

         "FIne, we'll see won't we?" Mucka said as he with drew one of his gloves to hit the door of

the coach that was open. The glove created a s smacking sound, Mucka laughed as he walked

away from him.


         The guards continued to hammer him with their fists.

         Mucko approached the woman being held by the guards. Mucka said,"You wish to talk. Don't

you deary."


         "Yes, I will talk." she said as she looked at the pinpricks for eyes of Mucka, tears spilled

down her cheeks. She struggled to be free, but the men's hands held her taunt like a sail caught in a

gale force wind. She tried to kick, but found they were to far away from her to do this.


         "I want to know, what you were told to do, and by who told you to do this?" Mucko asked as

he touched her cheek with his bare hand. Her lipstick was smeared, the eyeshadow ran down her

cheeks to have her have black lines down her face.


         "The man I met was in the hotel where I was boarding. He had a great deal of coin in his

hands. He told me and few other women that we would go for a ride. We have nothing to worry

about. Then you attacked the coach we were in. Forced it to stop, We were given this order by the

viceroy from his mouth to my ears," the woman said.


         Mucko slammed his glove on the side of the carriage, and said, “We have arrested you for

taking the woman who posed as the queen. She is the false queen, it seemed as if she had been

harming the kingdom while she was there.”


         Tabius had a smile on his face as he asked, “Whar do you mean the Queen, There;s only

me plus the other raiders and of course the woman in the carriage?" He laughed “My we certainly

have been able to attract your attention, haven’t we.”


         “Okay smiley, you had us, but we can do whatever we want to you. No one will bat an eye at

your disappearance. Do you understand the mess your in,:” Mucko said as he drove his right hand

into Tabuis’ chest. Tabius was now gasping to breath, the smile vanished as if it was behind a cloud

cover.


         Mucko grabbed him by his collar lifted him shook him like a leaf in a hurricane. Tabius

realised what he was he had done. He peed his pants. He was now trembling.


         "What queen! I have nothing to do with a Queen going anywhere?"Tabius said, his eyes

wide, he was choking. He trembled as he looked into the eyes of Mucko.


         Mucko's eyes at the moment were pinpricks, his skin was white as pearls. said, "Well,

this queen whom you have no knowledge of has vanished from the castle. That is why we

are placing you under arrest for taking this carriage."


         "What do you mean? That I am responsible for you to find the carriage in my possession,"

Tabius said, he was shaking as if afraid to do anything else.


         "Can you tell me, what happened to you for you to do this? Why did you do this?" Mucko

said. as he sat down beside Tabius and nudged the coin purse, several gold coins fell out of it.


         "I was paid a great pile of coins to do this. A noble gave me the coinage to do this. It's in my

bag!" Tabius wimpered, looking into Mucko's face at Mucko his blood was boiling. He was angry,

having ridden here only to find Tabius how he did not know the answer to this problem.

####

         An imposing figure with muscles where no muscle should be walked toward. This figure

closed his hands as he approached. He saw in the light, the surcoat of the watch on him. There

hung from his belt a sword and a mace, Seeing people stepping away from him, they looked

frightened.


         The face of the member of the watch advanced toward him, the man was without an eye, his

forehead had an indentation of something that struck him in the face, his nose had a bend in it.

Vincent recognised his face, it was one of the watch commanders. It was someone he did not want

to argue with him. It was best if you did not disagree with him. What was he doing here?


         Vincent looked into the face of Thomas his face bore was deep frown as he stepped into the

shadows where Vincent was. His breastplate was large, the paladrones were bronze in color.

Vincent decided he was to close for comfort.


         They were in a tavern, it was calm not much was happening here. No one would dare to

intervene in a matter involve a member of the watch. He himself was not afluent, there were cronies

here who might step in if there was something to attract there attention, he did not have any coins

aside from the ones he had already spent to be here. His mug of ale sat on the table he had just

gotten up from to be here.


         He said,"Thomas, what is it you wish?"


         Most of the people in the tavern watched them both, They wanted to know what Vincent was

involved in doing, The patrons hands lingered near their weapons of choice, they saw that there

were more members of the watch who had slipped silently into the tavern, They appeared as if they

were ghoists. The members were cautious as they slithered inside the tavern.


         Thomas threw a gloved hand at his shoulder to throw him off balance. Thomas growled, "I

want answers to questions, That needed answers long ago."


         VIncent slipped out of the path of that fist, it connected with the pillar behind him. Vincent

rubbed his brow, to get a tail of hair from his face. His jacket was loose fitting, there was a sword and

a dagger on it. His hair was hid beneath a bandania. His eyebrows were bushy. He said,"Answers

you say, What questions should be asked?"


         "Do you know a scrawny man, with a van dyke. DRessed as a noble, his jacket had puffy

sleeves, the jacket stopped at his thighs. He was holding gold with an eagle on it from the royal

treasury. He had the queen with him. Do you remembrt any of these things?" Thomas said as he

watched the thief standing there as he scratched his chin.


         "The queen you say, You mean the queen is involved in this matter?" Vincent said as he

looked into the face of Thomas, his own brow was furrowed, his hand faltered.


         "That is indeed what I am trying to say, Vincent? I have heard a rumor. That you were

speaking with Androse."


         "Small world you know her as well? Fancy that."


         Thomas saw the patrons begun to lift their weapons from their sheathes. Thomas saw this

happening, he said, "I think you should join me, if you wouldn;t mind doing this of course.":


         Vincent felt that they were in endanger here. he slowly lifted himself from his seat to walk

with him,"So, you do indeed know her."


         "Yes, I do. What does this involve her in this matter?"


         "She said, a vincent said, that he saw the Queen get into a carriage at night fall. Are you

in fact this Vincent?" Thomas was not happy with him presently. Thomas heard that he had been

talking to the scribe about what he knew. The scribe had mentioned to him that Vincent. It

was this Vincent. Vincent spoke about the fact he saw the Queen leaving the kingdom.

you would.


         No one seemed to be aware of this happening, but Vincent and also the number of the false

Queen's guards vanished.


         Thomas wanted to speak with Vincent. He had him. Vincent hung from his hand. His feet

began to kick as he hung there.


         Thomas said,"Tell me, what do you know?"


         “Tell you what? Well you see I was born in a hamlet. Then I stumbled into the arms of Belinda

who took me here." Vincent said and blushed, he was dressed in a cloak a lock of red hair rose from

his head like a stray tree in a field. His face was freckled.


         "About the Queen, who was here. Until now. Where did she go?" Thomas said as he looked

at him. He did not know what he would tell him. He questioned the fact that was able to do this. How

could he have done this. Didn't he see the notices that were posted within the kingdom's walls they

were all over the place. How could you not see this.


         "I don't know, She left when Lord Milet did. The same night, he left and she did too." Vincent

said, as he thought about it. He was a ruffian, he did not know how to read, nor did his friends. They

tried to keep out of the watch of the nobles, and the watch. That was how they did not get arrested

by the watch.


         "Why didn't you tell us?" Thomas asked as he shook him.


         "Tell you. You didn't you think to ask," Vincent said as he brought his hands to shove himself

from Thomas' grasp, but found he was unable to do this.


         "We did ask, the heralds spoke of this having happened. Didn't you hear the heralds say

this,"


         Vincent rubbed his neck about where Thomas' hand held him above the ground to sooth

the tension in his neck.his eyes were huge his mouth hung agape as Vincent said, "What do you

mean false queen? That is not possible, she is the Queen isn't she? The queen is real isn't she?"


         "The one we have returned to the throne. Is indeed the Queen."


         This woman that Lord Mile said was the true queen. No one sad this until now, but you by

your word is that she is not the queen." Vincent said, his mouth hung a gape. His eye brows were up

and arched his eyes were large enough to called an eggs instead of eyes.


         "We have brought the true queen here as she was with us. Until we arrived here. Do you

know anything else about the Queen's leaving here?" Thomas asked, his eyes were just dots. His

mind tore through the pain that was residing there in his heart.


         "The fake queen went to the west. She boarded a ship going to Grimale," Vincent supplied

as Thomas released his hold about Vincent's neck.Thomas reached down to lift his coin purse up,

he opened it to give Vincent some coins for answering his questions.


         "How do you know this," Thomas asked as he stepped back from Vincent.


          "One of the riders sent an eagle back. Thank you."

####

         The King's guard had not realised this having happened. They had arrived in the

kingdom. Sir Grey Arm wanted to find this woman that was impersonating the Queen. Grey

Arm wanted to have her tried for treason. The viceroy had brought the woman here to

impersonate her.


         The king had heard rumblings that the kingdom was spoillng for a war with another

coastal kingdom. It did not make sense as a good thing to do. There were rumours that

soldiers have been attacking people riding from these communities. The soldiers are said to

be wearing the tabard of the king of their kingdom.


         The people had not returned from where they had gone. The people were concerned

with what has happened, they have been asking questions of the people who ride the various

roads to these communities if they have seen any of their people there. The rangers do not

know what has been happening there.'


         The soldiers of this kingdom have been met by rangers on the road to these

communities, where they have been asked if they had seen any of these people who have

vanished. The soldiers do not know any of this having happened on these roads. The

soldiers have returned to the kingdom with these questions echoing in their ears.


         They seem concerned about this matter being brought to their attention. It did not make

sense that the rangers were asking these questions to their ears. The stories about the

soldiers laying way to the people on these roads. The soldiers knew that they did not do this,

yet this was what they had heard when they wandered into the communities where these

people vanished from.


         Sir Grey Arm wanted the viceroy's head on a platter for the Queen..

####

         About three days later, a letter is received by the treasurer from what he believes is the

queen. He looked at the letter, he smiled grimly as he began to count out an amount of

coinage that was prescribed by the letter.


         There was a knock at the door, he looked up from where he was. He laughed as he

saw Queen standing at his door with her usual escort, these guards were not the usual

guards. He remembered them from somewhere, but where he could not place the answer to

this quandary. . He walked toward the door to open it for her. His handlebar moustache was

about a third of his lip per side. His hair was in a widow’s peak. His face had on it deep

etched lines on his mouth. His hands were narrow, his arms were concealed in the sleeves

of his shirt, and his legs were hidden in black pants. He winked as he said, “It is good to see

you.”


         Queen Marissa smiled back, she motioned for him to allow her to enter. He opened the

door, and she slipped silently as smoke went into the fog. She asked, “What has been

happening here?”


         “Why are you looking for someone who looks exactly like you?” Phillip asked as he

looked into her face. “That’s quite a bounty you have put up to bring her to the kingdom or

having the body brought back to the kingdom.”


         “It has happened that this person was here acting as me. For the last three years.

Thanks to the viceroy putting her in my place. Does this explain to you why I have done

this,” the Queen said as she put her finger beneath his chin to lift his face to look into her

eyes.


         “It does. If I may ask, Why are you wanting to buy a lot of weapons? Realise that you

have been trying to make us more military in strength than we have been in years,” Phillip

said as he rechecked the letter he was given, checking the seal on the document, whoever

was holding the seal and has been doing for quite a time the buying the weapons, that

weren’t needed presently. He had heard rumours from the people in the kingdom of the

tempers that have been framed,


         “What are you talking about?” Queen Marissa asked as she looked about the room.


         Sir Grey Arm appeared at the door now, he was concerned about something that she did not

know. His face was pale, his hand trembled as he lifted his hand from the door. Sir Grey said, “There

are things that are a miss. These things shouldn’t have happened, but they did!”


         Phillip turned about hearing Sir Grey’s voice behind him, he twisted about to see what was

going on? A smile slithered across his face seeing Sir Grey at the entrance. Said, “Good to see you.

My friend, what is wrong?”


         “Someone ordered an attack on a figure on Mateast who was a merchant of Caroca to our

kingdom’s east.” Sir Grey said as he looked at the Queen. The queen faltered in her approach

further inside the room.


         “What happened, who was attacked on the street?” the queen asked as she looked at Sir

Grey her eyes were wide with horror she recognised her name from somewhere but where she did

not know.


          “I do not understand what you are talking about!” Phillip said, from what he knew there have

never been any problems with the people of Caroca. His eyes widened as he heard this. His breath

caught in his throat, he grabbed the chair he rose from to answer the door to his office, his glasses

hung by a thread about his neck.


         “A lady with a great deal of strength and knowledge of the merchandise she would bring to

us. Her name is Marta Colate.” Sir Grey said as he looked at him.


         “What do you mean? Who would dare to do this?” The Queen said.


         Sir Grey stood there with his mouth open as he tried to understand what this person was

doing there. He said, “This person had been jumped by a few others who desired to cause trouble

with our ranks. The person was captured.”


         “That is good, isn’t it,” Phillip said as he looked at Sir Grey as he sat down.


         “Marta has filed a complaint with the merchant's guild. She is tending to remove her family’s

money from our ledgers and her spice as well as the oil she brings here.” Sir Grey said.


         “We will have to appease the lady and her moral convictions about what had happened

to her. There were rumours that Lady Marta had taken a great deal of men from their homes

to satisfy her desire,” Sir Grey said as he looked at his queen, mortified by the words he spoke.


         “Surely her guards would have protected her from the person who attacked her,” Phillip said

as he turned to lift his goblet off from the table he was writing on. There were sacks on the floor.

There were barrels of wine and oil.


         “They were compromised, I am not sure how this had happened?” Sir Grey said, removing

his gloves from his hands.


         Phillip looked long and hard at Sir Grey, there had to be an explanation for this to have

happened. He rubbed his glasses on his sleeve, lifting the quill up from the ink pot. He cleared his

throat, and said, “Do you have any witnesses to this happening to her?”


          “Several of them saw it happen to her?” Sir Grey said.


         “There has to be a reason that you are here?” Queen Marissa said as she looked at him.

She closed her hands as she tried to determine what should happen in this matter, she knew that he

should have to be talking to the sheriff not her.


         “If she does this, then we will be out of oil in the kingdom. I found this out by asking a few

questions to our other merchants.” Sir Grey said, “Also I found this on one of the trees outside of

our castle.”


         Sir Grey handed the treasurer a picture of a felon wanted for banditry having the face of

Marta on it. The gold was 500 if captured 250 if killed.


         "Who put out this bounty on her?" he asked the treasurer, dropping the sheet of paper

on the table.


         "Who is she? I think the queen put out the bounty on her," the treasurer said, as he

looked away from the picture that rested on the table.



"An attempt made on the Queen"