The Lady of Shadows

Progress of the simple life

    With Dominic helping around the village it opened up time for me to do two very important things, train to increase my stamina for endless magic use, and check out the needs of the villages to see where we stood on getting a trade route started. I would not be stalled on my plans and I would not allow someone else to use up all my magic and leave me defenseless again. 

    I began with the easier task. Walking around the village gave me a clear view of what was needed... Supplies being the most obvious... The blacksmith was melting down bits of iron trying to make a single dagger... The baker wasn't able to make bread due to lack of flour... Shoe maker had no leather... So much was needed to even begin... I sighed and made my way to the water fall I had formed the river from. I stripped down and centered myself under the crashing water. I let my mind wonder as my body drifted. The cold water crashed around me luring me to sleep but also keeping me awake. I started with low outputs of constant magic. continuously drying myself off using heat magic. While I focused on this my mind ran wild in the background, making plans for the village. 

Metals would be easy enough using seeking magic. Leather would come with the hunted animals for food. Flour would be a problem until the fields matured... Other small things I could think of as I trained... before long it was night and my body had long gone numb from the rapid cooling and heating from the water and my own magic. So I climbed out and dried off before getting dressed. On my way home I used seeking magic to find several different things. I made a mental note of them as I did so. 

The old man was waiting by the gate when I arrived. I tilted my head and listened as I drew near. 

 "Good evening." I said.

"Lady Shadow, good evening. I'm glad to see you returned safely." He said. I nearly laughed. 

   "I was doing some magic stamina training and trying to figure out the next step to help establish a lasting economy for the village." I said, "Nothing dangerous." 

    "I see, you are always thinking ahead... We greatly appreciate it." The old man said.

    "So what has you waiting on me?" I asked. I heard his heart nearly skip a beat as he struggled to answer the question.

    "While you were out there was a visitor... They came in a golden carriage... The man introduced himself as the Warlord King Axel... He demanded our land." I stopped. For a moment I saw red, but then a glance around told me everything was still standing... 

    "And what happened?" I asked trying not to sound so cold.

    "Master Dominic told him that for the time being he was in charge, and if the proclaimed king wanted to take the land he'd have to fight for it. Master Dominic also added that he was simply the keeper of the village in the Lady's absence and that if the Lady were to return to see them, the unwelcomed guest... Well to put it simply he said you would kill them in a very graphic and detailed manor." The old man explained. A giggle bubbled up in me. It did not take long before I was laughing so hard it hurt. I let the laughter subside and took a breath.

    "I see. Lovely. Thank you." I said as I walked past him, "Tomorrow I will stay in the village and deal with them when they come back. I won't allow them to steal your land." 

    "Thank you, My lady." I heard the old man choke out. I smiled. This would be much easier than I thought. With a proclaimed king showing up, I could kill him and claim his land as well. Then I could bridge the cities together. and that would solve more of the current issues and if they had a king I was willing to bet they already had a trade route that I could expand to the village as well. First I would need a king to replace the fool. 

***

The next day I stayed in the village and sure enough the self proclaimed king came in search of me. I could hear him at the gates yelling as if he was someone important.

    "Where is this Lady of the land, who dare take claim on my soil and people?" I heard the yells over and over again. I made my way to them as he began to get angry and cursed anyone who tried to speak to him until he spoke to me. I walked up and before I could even say anything he spat a string of curses at me and threatened to piss on me.

    "Ohhh, bad start." I heard Dominic whisper. I could hear him chuckling as he moved to stand beside me. He made a show of bowing to me as well.

    "Dominic, so lovely of you to join me." I said. He grinned with an adorable 'time for trouble' look that seemed to make the women of the village swoon in awe.

    "You? A child dares to defy me?" The king yelled.

    "I am young, but no child, and you will do well to keep that in mind." I snapped, "Now what self proclaimed king would dare disgrace himself in the ways you have? Speak now. What do you want?" I ordered.

    "This is my land and I am the king, little girl. IF you continue to disrespect me.... I have the ideal punishment for you.." He licked his lips and laughed.

    "Gross." Dominic said as I sighed. I waved my hand and a gust of wind flipped his carriage over. When the king stood up I was in his face.

    "Think twice before you lose your life. You filthy disgusting swine! If you dare insult me again I will have you castrated before everyone here. You are no king. You are a boy playing pretend. Any punishment you think you could push on me, I can cut in half with just a glance. I am not to be taken lightly. I may be small in build but I am stronger, faster, smarter, and so much more powerful than your whole army combined over the past 100 years. You come here to steal the land these people have worked their lives on, you left them here to starve when the water dried up, you are no king. I came and gave them water. I supplied them with food until they grew strong enough to hunt their own once more. I have given them homes that protect them from the weather, and I have protected them. Of the two of us, Which is more kingly? The swine who only hurts his people or the Lady who has their respect and gratitude for helping without asking for anything in return? You need to sit down and take some notes before you come insulting me." I yelled in his face, "I will give you this choice now, Leave and never return, or die and concede your land to me. I will take far better care of it than you could ever hope to." I snarled.

    The village watched in awe and the knights were to frightened to move. I stared into the kings soul as he processed what just happened. A wave of order hit my nose making me draw back and stare in disgust as he emptied his bowels before me.

    "I concede." He cried as the wet spot spread over his pants. I knew I was powerful, and I knew that I could be scary when I desired so... but how pathetic was this man to piss himself after all I did was yell at him? 

***

I made sure the carriage was unharmed as I helped to get it straight again. After that was done I left Dominic in charge and went to the Kings city to claim the new property. It was a smooth transfer as he had no wife or children and it seemed as if the civilians hated him anyways. I branched the trade route out to start the next day and I paid for the supplies for the first month using the wealth the king had stored away. I then took a look at all the documents on his desk that needed sorted and decided to throw it all out. I wrote up a new reform to benefit the people. The new laws would be effective at once.

I began with ending the slave trade, Removing special rights to those that had favor with the previous king, then changing the taxes from 30% of total income to 10% of profits only. I also threw in some laws to protect the women and children, and included the basic... no stealing or killing and other common sense laws. I signed the reform and handed it off to be made public, along with a declaration that if this does not solve any previous issues to resubmit a request under the new reform and that I would see to the needs. 

With that Step two has officially begun. The village is about to have a major increase in quality of life, and I have made it to a new city with a trade route. meaning soon my name would spread and I would be granted a title soon... Or I could simply form my own nation and take the title of Queen.... But for now this small area would do and I will begin to push for the merge with the village soon.