Morning dawned clear and cold and the pale sun shone weakly on Zelgadis as he saddled his horse, an ex-racing stallion named Ganthet who's stamina on the track was lengendary. There were still a number of years left in the big roan, and it showed in the way he tossed his mane and snorted, eager to get moving.
Nearby, the knights of Seyrun, under the Command of a Sir Kilmer, also saddled their horses as their suits waited nearby.
The armor used by the Knights wasn't so much a suit of armor as it was a golem, controlled by thought. Because of its size, the Horses used by the Seyrun Knights were among the largest in the world, enhanced by magic and bred for speed, size, strength and intelligence.
Straightening, Zelgadis looked over at the group of travelers. Some had never been on a horse before and it showed, others seemed to know a little something about riding and one or two sat on the horse as though they had been born there.
Zelgadis hid a smile as he double checked the saddle belt. For some reason, seeing the one called Conrad look a little unsure of himself on a horse made his day brighter.
Amelia was practically beaming as she walked to the throne room. She was decked out in her offical robes of state, and try as she might, she could not keep the smile off of her face.
Close behind her, dressed in their best, came Lina and Gourry.
"Ameila, are you sure this is a good idea?" Lina asked.
"No. But I'll take any opening to get rid of Jerrwell." Ameila replied as the trumpets blared. Regally, Ameila swept into the throne room and sat.
The Baron of Jerrwell was a stout man with a florid face and beady eyes. His gray hair was combed to cover his growing baldness and he had no chin to speak off. His eyes widened as Ameila entered and then he recovered and bowed.
"Your Highness."
"My Lord Baron." Ameila said formally. "What bisnuess brings you before the throne?" Again, Jerrwell was thrown off balance.
"Your Highness, I am concerned about certain moral blemishes which have so recently come to my attention and I feel that is my duty to report them to the crown."
"Such as my pregnancy?" Ameila asked archly. Jerwell faltered.
"N-No."
"Yes." Ameila said. "To be perfectly honest Baron, I'm getting a little tired of this and I have a long day ahead. So let's settle this once and for all. Moral blemish or not, I will have this baby. I have no intention of marrying the father or anyone. The child is of royal blood and I will raise him or her as the heir to the crown of Sailoon!"
"But-But Cephied - "
"Somehow I doubt Ceiphed will object. Having met Him I know that Queens having children out of wedlock is the least of His worries." Ameila said dryly.
"Blas-Blasphemy!" Jerrwell gasped. "The book - "
"The book of Gena?" Ameila inturuppted. "As I recall, Gena received his religious relevation after three days of fasting in the desert. From a cactus wasn't it?"
"I think that was it." Lina said archly.
"Lord Ceiphed spoke through the cactus so as not to blind the prophet with His holy light!"
"Gena was hallucinating." Ameila replied. "A religious relavation that comes to someone after having their brains baked in the sun for three days of fasting is hardly credible."
"Gena did it to prove his faith!"
"He did it because he was an idiot!" Ameila snapped. "Do you really think Ceiphed cares about who we humans marry? Who we share our beds with and what gender or race they are? He's the God of the Dragons for L-Sama's sake! He's got bigger things to worry about then that!"
Jerrwell was pasty white by now and visibly trembling.
"You disgust me Jerrwell." Ameila said coldly. "Unfortunutly, there's nothing I can do about that. But there is about this." She tossed a scroll at him, which he caught by reflex. "That's a copy of the writ which created your barony, which as of today, exists no longer as you have violated the terms."
"Imp-impossible! My wheat fields are at their highest levels of production ever!"
"So they are. However," Ameila unrolled her copy and read aloud. "And to prove the cost effectivness of this method, the Barony must show a monthy profit of no less then three hundred gold per month and a yield of no less then one hundred tons." She rolled the scroll back up and handed it to Sendar. "According to your financial report Baron, you monthly profit has been well below the three hundred mark for the past two years. This is well beyond unacceptable. As per the terms of the writ, I am hereby dissolving the barony and removing the Jerrwells from the List of Nobility."
Tears shown in Jerrwell's eyes.
"From this day forward, you are no longer counted on the ranks of Nobilty." Ameila smiled and could not quite keep the gloat out of her voice. "Welcome to the Middle class. Sendar, show Master Merchant Jerrwell out if you would."
"Yes Highness." Sendar said, bowing. Turning, he walked over to the blubbering Baron, helped him to his feet and escorted him out the door.
"Oh that felt good. Ameila grinned.
"Nicely played sir." Sendar said as he and the former Baron walked through the halls of the Palace. "My apologies for the loss of your family's title."
"No need for all this 'sir' bisnuess Brother Sendar." Jerrwell said expansivly. "We who are the Chosen are Brothers and Sisters under Ceiphed's Holy Guidance."
"As you say Brother Jerrwell." Sendar replied with a smile.
"Yes. And what news from Brother Varis?"
"The arms arrived late last night. All will be ready by tonight."
"Then at Dawn we strike." Jerrwell proclaimed. "That foul witch and her blasphemy shall be struck from the throne and imprisoned, the sorceress Inverse and her Mazoku spawned brethern shall be burnt at the stake, and the fool Gabriev's so called Sword Of Light shall be exposed for the sham that it is and Gabriev hanged."
"Praise be to Ceiphed." Sendar replied.