2.5 Men's Rights: A Day in the Life of the Queen

Queen Seraphina Stormcrown, sole monarch of the Kingdom of Stormhaven and bestest friend of the Great Mage Kyros Magnus, watched her capital city from a balcony in the royal palace. Her eyes casually scanned the luxurious noble mansions, cozy homes of the common people, and the faraway towers of the Stormhaven Academy of Magic. They then wandered over the temples, colleges, theaters, markets, and ports of the great capital and lingered for a moment on the distant ships and the endless horizon before returning to the city along the course of the mighty River Stormsteeth.

Everywhere she saw there was life and movement. Her people were busy with their daily lives, wandering hither and thither, engaging in trade and commerce, and trying to lead decent and fulfilling lives. She followed this sea of humanity all the way to the faraway city walls, and then past them towards the Nimbus Hill, where, like a beautiful and enigmatic diamond radiating worldly power and arcane might, sat the Magnus Estate.

"I wonder what Liri is doing," she said out loud. "Kyros must be home right now. I bet Aunty Mabel has cooked something delicious. And I bet they are all having fun, while I am stuck here, dreading what Prime Minister Blackthorn is going to torment me with next. What do you think it will be, Uncle? Do you think he will go for fertilizer tax rates, or import duties on leather furniture? I bet he has already prepared a new report about why my plan for improved communication crystal mining and production is not feasible."

"I am sure whatever Prime Minister Blackthorn comes up with will be advantageous to the kingdom and your rule, Your Majesty," said Sir Arthur Stormshield, Commander of the Royal Guard, and Queen Seraphina's sort of uncle (father's cousin).

The Queen snorted. "Even his name sounds like a villain from a cheap romance novel. Or one of those made-up evil archmages that Kyros has to fight in his comic books. I mean, Blackthorn, really? Of all the things you could pass on to your child, you decide to give him the name Blackthorn."

"Well, Your Majesty, the Blackthorns are a noble family of the kingdom, very minor and much impoverished though they may be. I believe the family was named after the black-thorned roses they used to grow during your great-great-grandfather's time."

"I wish we could go back to the time of nepotism. I could just fire him and appoint another one who didn't bother me so much. Now because of all these pesky civil service exams, I have to deal with Prime Minister Thorn in my side every day. And why does he have to be so smart? Always ready with his next report. Doesn't he have anything else to do besides governance? Even at home, I bet all he does is paperwork, instead of relaxing like normal people. I doubt he has any friends. He should seriously get a life. You know what I think? I think I should find him a girlfriend. That would cure most of his issues. What do you say, Uncle?"

When Queen Sera turned around to look at Sir Arthur, she thought she glimpsed a faint smile on his face. Then she remembered that this was Uncle Arthur, and Uncle Arthur did not smile, ever.

Suddenly, the Queen heard a buzzing sound, and then a voice, followed by many others. They sounded dim, as if they were coming from a great distance, and she could not make out any of the words or their intent. "Uncle, do you hear that?" she asked.

Sir Arthur came closer, and his brows furrowed in alarm. "Your Majesty, get back from the railing," he quickly said. "Let me check this out. Please stay behind me."

Sera did as she was told. Sir Arthur placed his golden-armored hands on the railing for support and leaned over, his immaculate golden breastplate almost grazing the balustrade, to scan the palace grounds for any sign of threats.

"I don't see anything, Your Majesty," he said. "Please wait a few more moments."

He took out a small spyglass from a leather casing attached to his golden belt and once again scanned inside and around the palace, hunting for the source of those voices.

"You see anything, Uncle?"

"I do, Your Majesty." Sir Arthur once again stood straight and handed the spyglass over to the Queen while shaking his head in disapproval. "I see a troupe of clowns," he said. "See for yourself, Your Majesty, but please be mindful of the railing."

Queen Sera used the spyglass to check out the spot where Sir Arthur was pointing.

"Hey, that's Kyros," she cried out. "What's he doing? I can't hear them properly. Uncle, do you understand what they are saying?"

"I heard words such as 'Rights' and 'Oppression', Your Majesty. It appears to be some sort of protest."

"Hmm... interesting. And who are these people with him? Oh! There is Master Stonebottom. How did these two meet up?"

"Master Stonebottom often frequents the Gilded Horn, Your Majesty. Apparently he finds the establishments in the Financial and Palace districts too pompous for his taste. He is a known drinking comrade of Lord Magnus."

"I see. I didn't know that. He has good taste, though. Cami's ale is top quality."

Sir Arthur had no comments on the quality of ale.

The Queen then focused her spyglass on the small figure sitting on top of Kyros. "Hey! I recognize that brat. That's Esmeralda. I told you about her, Uncle. Do you remember? Me and Liri, we met her on the day we went to that Kyros fan club meeting."

"I remember, Your Majesty," Sir Arthur said dryly. "The day you sneaked out with Lady Magnus, without informing your loyal guards."

Sera chuckled and continued to observe the group. "I don't recognize the rest of them. There is a man, a dark elf, and an orc. What an odd bunch. Where did he even pick them all up?"

"The man is Esmeralda's father, Your Majesty. A veteran of the Lich War. The dark elf is Valdek Moonshade, youngest son of the Moonshade family from Noxumbra. He is working under Master Stonebottom."

The Queen folded the spyglass and handed it back to the knight. "Do you keep tabs on everyone, Uncle?"

"This is part of the basic security protocols, Your Majesty, nothing intrusive."

"Hmm... I bet even you don't know who the orc is. He looks like one of those merchants from the Skullsmashers tribe."

"That is true. He is just a regular orc, but his betrothed is not. She is the granddaughter of Warchief Bulguk of the Headtakers, or should I say ex-Warchief; perhaps ex-Chieftain would be more precise these days."

"Oh! I see. I suppose you have been keeping an eye on the lovebirds, then?"

"Indeed, Your Majesty."

"And what about Kyros? Do you keep tabs on him too?"

"I try, Your Majesty."

Sera looked curiously at Sir Arthur. "What does that mean, Uncle?"

"Things get complicated with the Grea... Lord Magnus, just like with other archmages. But it is even more so with him."

"Because of the teleportation?"

"Not just that. Sometimes... sometimes I get reports of people seeing him in multiple locations at the exact same time, down to the second."

"Must be illusions, then. When we were kids, Archmage Sunrider used to show us multiple extremely complex illusions of himself."

"No, Your Majesty, they are not illusions. I have checked."

Sera contemplated this for a moment, and then she smiled. "Serves you right for spying on my friends, Uncle. Now come on, let's go and meet the clowns."

"Your Majesty, shall I summon a battalion of Royal Guards?"

"What for?"

"In case the protest gets out of hand."

"There are only seven people there, Uncle. And two of them are kids."

"But they have Lord Magnus with them."

"And how do you plan on fighting him with just a battalion? If he really wanted to do something, nothing in the world could stop him."

"I... Fair point, Your Majesty."

"Just bring one or two people to hold him, in case he tries to throw up on me," Queen Seraphina said. "He looks drunk."

"Yes... Your Majesty."