From their perch atop the tower, tied to thin wooden poles and tightly gagged, the two princesses watched the massive army march onward. Another army, approaching from the south, was poised to meet it. Though they couldn’t tell one person from another, they both knew who it was that would be leading them. And they were both helpless for the forthcoming battle.

The poles atop the dark stone tower sat about five feet apart. Both princesses wore their respective dresses. Mirelle, fair of skin, with bright hair the colour of mint green and soft red eyes, battled ropes hugging tight to her body and leather keeping her silent. They started at her ankles, going over her leather, knee high boots and pinning them together as well as to the wooden pole behind her. The same went for her calves, just below the knees and above her boots. Another coil tightly held her elegant thighs, shown off by the split up both sides of the skirt of her green and brown dress.

More of the rope tightly framed her chest with two thick coils wrapped around her arms and torso, pinning her arms to her sides and the pole. Behind the pole, her wrists were locked together, crossed in an ‘x’ position, tightly held there by sturdy rope with no knots in reach. A thick leather panel covered her mouth, sealing in several cloths that stuffed her mouth full, bulging out her cheeks slightly.

“Mmmph...” she grunted, her soft eyes turning to her wife.

The ebony skinned princess was bound and gagged identically to Mirelle. But Luna, with her pale eyes, long, light blue hair tied back in a pretty braid, her silken blue dress, with a similar split up both sides of her skirt and blue leather, strappy sandals that reached just below her knees stood in stark contrast to the woman of her heart.

Her eyes, usually cold and distant, blazed with fire at the scene unfolding before them. And the fact that she was helpless to stop it.

“Mmmrrrpphh!” Luna fumed, struggling against the tight bonds that held her captive.

On the ground before them were two armies. One a mass of snarling, angry creatures moving in unison, jagged, sharp weapons at the ready; their numbers growing with each passing moment. This army poured out of the tower just below them, rapidly approaching the distant army in the massive open field stretched before them. This was the edge of Central Esterlin, the largest plain in all the land, where the armies of all seven kingdoms had converged.

Not all of the soldiers of the kingdoms could get there in time. So the armies of Esterlin were smaller than expected. And greatly outnumbered by the forces of the cursed pirate Nara the Blade. Worse, Mirelle spotted myriad pirate ships dotting the coast to the east, watching the sun rise as the ships sailed on toward the armies, ready to grind them down with canon fire.

Luna and Mirelle felt despair in their hearts as they battled their unyielding bonds, unable to help the armies below.

On the ground, a lone figure steps in front of the massed armies of Esterlin. Her angry, green eyes scan the crowd of soldiers. She spies the seven banners flying among them, holding aloft a spear bearing her own banner; a black flag with a red griffin adorning both sides.

She sees the white banner, the Purple Shield, of Onellia; the Silver Lightning on the black banner of Dosette and the Blue Tiger on the green banner of Trivalia. The Griffin Knight, standing before the amassed people, knows that even Princess Mirelle can spot the earthen banner of the Green Tree of Fort Quatran. And her wife can see the blue banner of the White Bear from her northern kingdom of Fivellin. Princess Elyn stands among the troops, holding aloft the red banner of the Raging Flames of Sixellia herself. And finally, bearing the black banner of the Golden Wolf... Princess Meryn meets the eyes of their commander. The most experienced warrior in Esterlin, with The Shroud beside her and their differences aside... The Griffin Knight stands ready, planting the spear in the dirt and letting the breeze toss her own banner.

“You all know it,” Starling, the Griffin Knight begins. “I am cursed. Just as the pirate atop that tower holding our greatest hope hostage. And yet... you elected me as your commander.”

Starling paused for a breath. “I will not fail that honour. As your belief lies in me... so does mine in you. The people of Esterlin. The protectors of our new Union and the Republic that is to follow.”

Another breath and a pause allowed them to hear the distant snarling of the massive approaching army that far outnumbered their own.

“Our task is a simple one. Cut through them all. Princess Meryn’s ships lie in wait. The navy of the Seven Islands lies ready to strike an ambush upon the pirates waiting to cut us down. So we need not fear them.”

Another pause. More snarling, getting louder, and the heavy footfalls of a thousand score soldiers.

“I cannot fathom your belief in me as your commander,” Starling said. “And I ask that you guide your faith elsewhere. Not with me. But with them. Lady Luna. And Lady Mirelle.”

Starling’s eyes met Leila’s for a moment and the anger stirred in her heart. “They are all that stands between Esterlin and the oblivion of blind servitude! So it is they who deserve your faith. Not I.”

She paused again. Some of the soldiers flinched at the sound.

“Fear is natural,” Starling said, changing tact. “Fear is human. Fear... is what will drive us. As we confront it.”

She took in a breath and began pacing, meeting the eyes of soldiers as she walked up and down the front line. “But it is not just fear that will drive us. But love. Love of your home. Your people. Your only hope, being held captive atop that blasted, cursed tower! And there is only one way through to it.”

Starling stopped and met the fearful eyes of a young man, perhaps even still in his teens. “We shall fear not that feeling of love. And we shall fear not the spectre of death. It is our duty to stare death in the eyes, look upon him with fear, and in spite of our fear, we say one simple thing: Not on this day.”

The young man had lowered his eyes but now, with Starling stepping closer, he met her eyes again.

“Not on this day!” she said, shouting it as a command and beginning to pace again. “Our faith in those two princesses up there, and in each other, it shall not waver! If I am to command you then I shall be first into the fight!”

She drew the sword at her side and sliced clean through the wooden handle of the spear she had planted, toppling her own banner. “I have committed a grave ill. And the knight you know... she is no more. I accepted the same curse as that pirate who wishes to cut you down. I deserve naught but to suffer an ill fate... and yet I say it again. Not on this day. And now I need only one word from you, soldiers, warriors, heroes of Esterlin...”

“If you can set us all free by forgiving even my sins... then you can throttle this army before you. One word, I shall hear you shout it to the skies! As I ask... you shall answer! Will you raise your blades in defence of your home? Say only one thing... Aye!” Starling lifted her sword in the air.

“Aye!” The shout came, echoing across the barren plain and up the slope toward the high ground where Nara’s army continued getting closer.

“Will you meet the eyes and jaws of death and spit in his face to declare ‘not on this day’!?” She raised her sword again and the cacophonous call answered her again.

“Aye!”

“Will you fight for the honour, our greatest hope, of Lady Mirelle and Lady Luna!?”

A raised sword and another shout.

“Aye!”

“And, most of all, will you battle with me until the blood of every last one of these cursed creatures stains the very bones of the land beneath us!?”

“Aye!”

Starling turned her back to the soldiers, sword in hand, eyeing up the approaching horde of cursed, humanoid creatures drenched in shadow, snarling and already flailing their jagged weapons.

“Will you follow at my back, warriors of Esterlin!?”

“Aye!”

“Then let these creatures know fear as these fields flow with rivers of their blood!”

Starling was the first to charge in, the remaining soldiers behind her following her lead. The princesses watched helplessly and winced as the two masses crashed into each other, shouts and clashing steel echoing all about the field as they met.

Even from their vantage point so far away, Mirelle and Luna could spot their allies in battle as they saw the creatures falling in droves around five distinct figures.

Starling led the charge, untouchable and her rage unquenchable. Leila, cool and calculated, took the creatures down methodically and efficiently. Meryn’s paralleled focus led her to cut down many foes. Elyn, as surprising as ever, proved a formidable force with her fire magic and wearing thin gauntlets with spikes in their knuckles, basically brawling and fist fighting her way through the shadowy creatures. And supporting them all, vigilant, strong, and perhaps the most ferocious among them, was Captain Vera. But even they seemed to be having a difficult time gaining ground against Nara’s army and both of them seemed to reach a stalemate for the time being.

Luna and Mirelle both struggled to free themselves, mewling into their gags, their frustrating voices muffled and their movements painfully limited. But they fought on anyway, making no headway against the bonds that held them.

But as they struggled, both stopped when they heard a familiar voice speak out, reaching both of their minds at once.

“Princess of Ice,” the voice said.

“Thmmm fmmphlmmph!” Mirelle said, muffled by her gag. It was The Faceless. They were speaking to both princesses.

“Princess of Earth... Your Elements call to you.”

“Hmmph?” Luna asked, her voice unintelligible behind the gag.

“Princess of Ice, Lady Luna...” The Faceless began. “The Ice... the Tides... the Moon... they speak to you. Though you find yourself bound, your Element, your power here in Esterlin, it is bound to you. Harness it. Focus your mind. Remember the White Bear... and listen for the Moon’s Call.”

“Hmmph!?” How do they know about-

“We Mageians...” The Faceless said, interrupting Luna’s thoughts. “We created our world. And influenced everything, across all worlds, with our power. We are the beginning and the end. It is from us that your tribe descends, Princess of Ice.”

Luna’s eyes widened. Wait... what?

“We split off from the Tribe of the Moon millennia ago. But their blood courses through your veins. Your Element in Esterlin has been calling to you. And you have not known to listen. The Moon has always spoken to you and you have spoken back. But here... you have not known that this world’s Moon hears you too. It is your tribe’s moon, Princess of Ice. Listen... and awaken the power within. You shall be free of your bonds.”

The Faceless went silent for a time before speaking again. “Princess of Earth... you learned power not of this world. But you were drawn here with your allies nonetheless. The Earth, the stones, the soil, the trees and their roots, the plants, the very bedrock beneath you... it has always called to you. You are an Earthen One, Princess of Earth. It is why your unique hair is the lustre of the pale forest. It is why you choose your attire in the hues that you do. And it is why you can wield both blade and magic in equal measure. You, the last Earthen One of all of Mageila, must heed the call of your Element. And you, too, shall be free of your bonds. But you must first listen... calm your minds. And listen...”

Despite being in a coma, The Faceless was able to reach both princesses and, though they were baffled by her words, they decided there was no other choice. Bound and gagged as they were, if they stood any chance of freeing themselves they both felt they should take it. So they heeded the words of The Faceless, both women closing their eyes... and listening for the call of their Elements.

They both began to feel stronger in that moment, though it would not enough to free them. It would take more than that, they both knew... but they didn’t know how much time they had. As the battle raged on below... the princesses gathered their strength.

...

Despite their initial advance, the forces of Esterlin were now being pushed back by Nara’s army and forced to retreat. Their first wounded were sent back to their temporary base of operations and more wounded began to pile on. Starling hoped she would not have to start counting the dead...

So she fought on. Relentlessly. Recklessly. The Griffin Knight was a sight to behold. The creatures swarmed her, viewing her as the largest threat, but they could not touch her. One of the beings of shadow, large and muscular in form, wielded a deadly, jagged scythe and forced many of the Esterlin forces back. But not Starling. It growled and swung at her, only for the scythe to not only be stopped in its deadly path but it broke upon meeting the sword of the Griffin Knight, the white runes glowing bright as she swung upward with full force, meeting the handle of the scythe and shattering it to pieces. The blade fell uselessly from the weapon, clattering to the ground as Starling continued forward and her blade pierced the creature, its form falling to the ground in nothing but an oozing pile of darkness, spreading into the grass and going still.

She continued like this, scores of the creatures falling to her blade. But they were innumerable. They just kept coming. And as they swarmed her, the power of her runes was beginning to feel like it was not enough. The Griffin Knight felt herself tire. Her muscles ached. Her breathing became heavy. Her movements slower... and one of the creatures was behind her, ready to skewer her with a deadly spear.

“Watch out!”

A young man’s voice made her turn around, just as she dealt with another creature, and the spear had nearly reached her, ready to pierce through her armour... but the young man, the frightened one from before when she gave her speech, tackled the creature and tumbled to the ground with it, cutting open its throat with his knife, getting up off it and turning to Starling.

“Well struck,” Starling said. “I owe you a debt.”

The young man said nothing but he smiled when she spoke, simply nodding to her. But this distraction allowed more of the creatures to swarm in. “Look out!”

Her warning didn’t reach him in enough time. He moved but a blade struck him, piercing his shoulder and passing through his chainmail part way. The creature pressed in harder and the blade went deeper, breaking through the chainmail. The young man grunted as he fell forward from the blow struck from behind. But the creature didn’t get a chance to finish him.

Starling cleaved the creature in two with her blade, fighting off several more who had come in at the sight of the young man’s blood.

His wound was severe and now, with the weapon removed, he losing blood quickly. Starling bent low to help him up.

“We’ll get you to a medic,” Starling said. “Hang on.”

As she picked him up, she felt a sharp pain in her lower back as something jabbed through the gap in her cuirass. Another found a gap in her left shoulder between cuirass and pauldron. Her chainmail beneath protected her but the wounds were deep enough send her senses reeling.

With a growl, Starling struck out at the creatures who had wounded her and, cutting them down as she had so many others. But in her anger, and now slowed reflexes, she didn’t see another that stabbed through a gap in her armour behind her knee, taking her down to one knee on the ground. With the young man still bleeding on the ground, the creatures had been moving in but, even then, they didn’t get the chance to finish the job.

Leila arrived, her heavy staff moving with lightning speed and cracking through the creatures’ bones and skulls, taking them to the ground where they would melt away like their fallen brethren. They were forced back by more of the Esterlin forces circling around their commander, holding them at bay while Leila stooped low, supporting Starling over one shoulder and helping her stand on her undamaged leg.

“What are you doing?”

“We are allies in this battle,” Leila said. “And you must survive.”

“No. I must fight,” Starling said. “Let go of me.”

“You are in no state to fight,” Leila said, carrying her rival through the throng of Esterlin soldiers around them back toward their encampment where the medics waited.

“What about him? I will not-”

“I’ve got him,” another woman said, grunting a bit with the effort. But Captain Vera walked alongside them, the wounded young man in her arms, walking along at a steady pace.

“What about-”

“They will handle it,” Vera said, nodding back toward Meryn and Elyn, both now taking the lion’s share of the swarming creatures. They fared well and, more rested than the wounded commander, would last longer. But they were still being pushed back.

“We’re losing ground,” Starling said. “I must return.”

“You must be healed,” Leila said. “Your battle is done. You have fought well.”

“Don’t- I’m not taking orders from you!” Starling growled. “Not again...”

“You must survive. That is all,” Leila said. “And I will ensure it.”

Starling gritted her teeth. “Then push back and regain what has been lost. Save the princesses.”

While Leila helped carry her, Starling caught a glimpse of the coast where the pirates did battle with Meryn’s navy. The naval ships had forced them back and brought all of their attention to them.

“At least the ships do well...” Starling said. “But Leila-”

“I know,” Leila said. “I will. We will. Right after you are seen to.”

Starling looked back and could see more of the soldiers falling to wounds, forced back, and knew it was only a matter of time before they would start losing their lives. But they fought on anyway, losing more and more ground as the endless shadow army of Nara pressed forward, tireless, ferocious, endless...

But she forced Leila to stop when she spotted something at the top of the hill, near the base of the tower. Something... glowing. Two figures, one in pale blue, the other in green. Surrounded by... some kind of aura.

“What is that?”

Leila turned to look with her. Vera stopped and the young man opened his eyes. He gasped. “It’s them!”

“Lady Mirelle...” Vera said. “And Lady Luna... it can’t be.”

Starling narrowed her gaze. “It is. Something is... different. I can feel their power, even from here.”

“You’re right. I can too,” Leila said. “They’ve awakened something, within themselves. I sense... cold. Ice. And I can smell... earth. And leaves.”

“I knew they had power,” Vera said. “But I didn’t know it was this kind of power...”

“Who’s that behind them?” Starling asked, glaring. She recognized that shape. As did Leila.

“That being.... it’s The Faceless One.”

“What are they doing here? What have they done to the princesses?” Starling asked.

“They’re separating...” Leila said.

As she said, The Faceless headed for the dark tower where Nara still hid herself away. The princesses charged for the battle, streaks of green and blue light following their path. Hand in hand as they travelled, they both picked their targets, separated from each other, and drew weapons at their sides.

“They’re fighting...” Vera said. “We’re saved! They strike from the army’s back! They will not be prepared!”

Vera was correct as both Mirelle and Luna rushed in, sweeping through swathes of unsuspecting creatures. Mirelle swung her sword, and a wide beam of light came from it, with waves of verdant leaves sweeping along with it. The creatures were cut down before they even knew what happened, falling by the dozens.

Luna held a short axe in her hand and swung it wide, hitting another wave of creatures with a blast of chill air, the ice and frost sweeping over them in a wave, freezing them in place and making them shatter to pieces.

As their forces began to crumble, Esterlin’s soldiers pushed forward and finally began to take back the ground they had lost. But with their quarry safe and sound, now they simply fought to keep the horde of creatures at bay. And now with the two princesses and their newfound power pushing themselves through to meet them, that task was far easier.

With the battle well in hand, Starling finally relaxed and relented to allow her rival to take her to a medic to begin healing her wounds. Vera rushed on ahead of them to find some help for the young man, who was now losing consciousness from his blood loss.

Even despite all this, Starling allowed herself to feel hopeful. With the princesses safe and the battle as good as won, their task was all but done. Now there was only Nara to deal with...

...

From within the tower, the walls shook from the anger of the being that entered, seeking their vengeance. And their book. Nara fled through the halls, hoping to outpace the person on their heels but The Faceless would not give in. It seemed Starling was not the only person with Nara in their mind.

Nara stopped dead as she ran out of places to run, backed against a wall, clutching the ancient book and trying to draw on more of its power. But something washed over her and brought her to her knees and she felt weak... Her eyes returned to normal, no longer holding the darkness they once did, and the dark aura surrounding her disappeared. But still she held on to the book.

She climbed back to her feet and turned around. The Faceless, dressed in their pale brown robes and the cloth wrappings covering their limbs, stood there with an arm outstretched, walking slowly toward the pirate captain.

“Stay back!” Nara said, holding the book between her and The Faceless.

“The book. Give me my book. Now.”

The powerful book, Midanyami, still seemed to radiate its dark magic as Nara held it in her hands. But she could no longer draw on it. Its creator had blocked her out.

“I... I won’t! You’ll destroy my kingdom!”

“Your kingdom?” The Faceless asked. “The one you tried to take by force? It seems you are the force out to destroy Esterlin, pirate. Not I.”

“I would never... I deserve to rule! All that power is mine to take!”

“No. Power belongs to no one. It just is. And it must be harnessed and utilized... for the greater good.”

“That’s what I’m doing!”

“It is not,” The Faceless continued. “Your desires are selfish. Power is not yours to command. And the power you wielded.... was created and controlled by me. It cannot be yours.”

“But the book is now!” Nara said. “You can’t have it! I won’t let you destroy everything!”

“The book is a curse. I saw that when last I held it in my hands. It nearly corrupted my mind, as it has done to yours. Even as you obsessed over it, its hold upon you began before you ever laid eyes upon it. Midanyami... cannot be allowed to exist.”

The Faceless waved their arms and the book wrenched itself from Nara’s grasp, flying across the room where The Faceless caught it in one hand. They heard it then. The whispers of their own voice. The power within.

“When I made this book, I sought to have control over everything. A solution to my own problems, if you will. Cast out of Mageia, I sought to create something bigger. Something more. To show them their mistake. But now I see why they cast me out. What I sought was to wield and control power for myself... instead of accepting that it just is. Power is meant to be used for all. Not for one. I made the same mistake as you.”

With the whispers still creeping into their mind, The Faceless squeezed tight with their hand and the book began to smoke. Burning embered tinged the edges of the leather and paper, beginning to burn away at the cover.

“I aim to correct that mistake now,” The Faceless said, now gripping the book in both hands. Flames began to engulf it but the book resisted their fire. “The book... it must be destroyed!”

Nara could only watch as The Faceless fought hard, using more and more strength to burn the book to ashes. The whispered became louder, practically screaming, as flames began to consume the book.

“It... will... be... done!” The Faceless said, speaking as though through gritted teeth, grunting and growling from the effort of battling against the book. But finally, with as much strength as they could muster, the book was engulfed in flame, one final screech echoing around the corridor, before the thing evaporated into ash, not one shred of it left in existence. With a heavy sigh, The Faceless lowered their hooded face, where only darkness lay, and rested a hand to where their forehead would be.

“And now it is done. The book... is no more.”

Nara still said nothing but now considered her options. She flinched as she tried to run past The Faceless but something wrapped itself around her ankles, holding them in place. She looked down and saw chains there.

“What?”

“What you have done... cannot go unpunished,” The Faceless said. “You will be bound. Kept alive. I will see to it. And I will watch over you until I deem the time has come where you have paid for your crimes.”

More chains wrapped around Nara’s strong thighs.

“Stop this!’

“Cease your words,” The Faceless said. A leather muzzle fitted itself over Nara’s mouth, the straps fixing themselves tightly around her head. Shackles locked her wrists behind her back. Further chains wrapped up her arms and torso, from elbows to shoulders, keeping them trapped. She fell to the floor, struggling and thrashing.

“Mmmrrph! Nmmmm!”

“I will send you to the dungeon you wished to trap the princesses within. Your own dungeon. It will be under my control now. And from there I shall watch you, chained as you are, until I deem it is time.”

“Dmmt ymmm dmmrr! Mmll gmmt ymmm! MMMMPPHHH!!”

“Begone, pirate. Your sentence has begun.”

With a wave of their hand, Nara was gone in an instant, transported to the deepest cell within her own dungeon in Central Esterlin. The Faceless said nothing more, their task complete, and snapped their fingers. They, too, were gone in an instant. As were the army of shadow creatures outside. And, for the moment, everything fell silent.

...

It was days later when the princesses convened with the others present. Elyn and Meryn joined their council, as did Starling and Leila. Luna’s Fivellin general Linden joined them as well, as did the magistrate of the Seven Islands, Ronn. Trivalia’s chancellor, Garrett, also agreed to join them.

The Faceless left a note behind for Mirelle and Luna, telling them what had been done with Nara and what they had done before disappearing. From that day forward, they never saw The Faceless again, though they both wished to thank them. Their new power had granted them strength they never had before but it soon faded now that The Faceless was gone. Whatever Mageian strength they held was taken with them when they disappeared. But they couldn’t dwell on that. Now the real work had to begin.

With everyone gathered, the plans for the new united Republic of Esterlin began to take shape. The only thing agreed upon was that someone had to become the leader. A Prime Minister was to be elected by the people of Esterlin. And the ballot had almost been finalized.

Now, Starling and Leila had called the newly formed and temporary council together to finalize the ballot. Because, thus far, Mirelle and Luna had both refused to be on it.

“We both see no further need of our old monarchies,” Mirelle said. “And our task is finished. There are many others far more qualified to take the lead.”

“As she says. Our time has passed. We are the old guard,” Luna agreed. “It is time for something new.”

“But we are all there is,” Starling said. “It may up to the old guard to change into something new.”

Mirelle sighed. “Who is on the current ballot?”

They both looked to the Griffin Knight. She looked different without her armour. She still wore black and the runes on her sword and helmet had already turned back from white to their old orange like embers. But she kept her armour and general appearance in black. Right then, she wore a black tunic, trimmed in silver, with her own Griffin crest adorning her chest, tight black breeches and tall leather boots. Starling was still a large, imposing woman with her hardened, angry green eyes and thick red hair, tied back in a ponytail. The scars on her face aged her and made her even more intimidating than perhaps when she wore her helmet, concealing her face.

“The other five princesses of the Guild have agreed to be on the ballot. Permission was obtained by Princess Elyn.”

“Just... Elyn now,” Elyn said. “The monarchy is done. Remember?”

“Yes... yes of course. But Lady Elyn gathered the permission of the absent members of your Guild. So those five names appear here. As for the others, Magistrate Ronn. Chancellor Garrett, and General Linden are the remaining names. But there are two absent.”

“No there are not,” Luna said. “We are not joining the ballot. It is complete.”

Starling stopped pacing the room and looked to Leila, who stood from her seat at the table. “Will you allow me to say something?”

“That’s what the council is for,” Mirelle said. “Go on.”

“Starling and polled one hundred citizens of Esterlin, chosen at random from every walk of life. Would you hear our findings?”

“If you would like to, of course,” Mirelle said.

“As evidenced by these numbers, you, Lady Mirelle, and you, Lady Luna, are the ones to lead Esterlin into this new era. You brought peace to the land. But the work is not yet done. Brigands still plague Trivalia and there is fear they may never retreat.”

“I suspect as much,” Chancellor Garrett said. The old man folded his arms. “There activity has been relentless for hundreds of years. But we might yet stand a chance. If a peaceful ruler is elected. Like... like you, Lady Mirelle.”

“I... see...” Mirelle said. “Leila, continue.”

“Though problems remain in Esterlin, there is peace. And there is no one better suited to lead the people than the two of you,” Leila said. “And...” She stepped to an easel where a cloth covered something. A large piece of parchment hung from it, waiting to be revealed.

“The people agree.” Leila pulled back the cloth. Ten names were written on the parchment with a number beside each name.

“What is this?” Mirelle asked.

“Our findings,” Leila said. “When Starling and I polled the people, we included the names of you and Lady Luna. And the people... choose you. According to the ones we polled, at the very least.”

“It is just a sample size. But this is people from every walk of life across the Republic, Lady Mirelle,” Starling said.

“Fifty-five would elect you as Prime Minister, Lady Mirelle,” Leila said. “While Thirty=Two said they would elect Lady Luna. Which, under the agreed upon rules, would make her Deputy Prime Minister. To lead by your side.”

Mirelle and Luna looked at each. “We... didn’t expect this,” Luna said, looking back to Leila. “We never thought the people would-”

“The people love you. For what you did. And they believe in your strength. As do we all,” Leila said.

“What of the remaining votes?” Mirelle asked. “You only counted 87 between us.”

“Yes, well, four said they would vote for Lady Elyn. Another two chose Lady Artema, citing her Guild leadership as a reason. The remaining candidates received a single vote,” Leila said.

“Which would mean they would make up your entire council,” Starling said. “As agreed upon.”

Mirelle nodded. “Well... I believe that changes things.” She turned to her wife. “What do you say, Luna?”

Luna took in a sharp breath. “If the people will it... we should join the ballot. Very well. We will do so.”

“I agree,” Mirelle said. “Let us enter the vote. And we shall see if what the people decide.”

With the ballot complete, the vote was scheduled and the meeting adjourned. The ten candidates awaited the day and what the choice of the people would be.

Starling and Leila ensured every citizen got a voice, travelling far and wide to take in the votes and gathering them all together to be counted by the various former aides and officials from each of the former seven kingdoms. Their initial poll was slightly off, based on the percentages, but the prediction had been correct.

The people chose Mirelle as the Republic’s first Prime Minister as she secured a majority of the votes, and entire fifty-two percent. Luna’s vote share was higher than predicted, coming at at thirty-four percent, making her the Deputy Prime Minister. The remaining former princesses returned to Esterlin to hear the vote count and attend the first council. Artema received an equal percentage of the vote to Elyn, as both former princesses received five percent each. The remaining candidates each received roughly one percent of the vote and, thus, the council was established.

With the people’s will decided, Mirelle would lead Esterlin with Luna by her side. The Prime Minister and her council would decide upon many new things, outlining new laws, ridding the land of archaic rules and traditions, and generally moving forward with their new Republic. But all that work lay ahead of them in a land of peace. Because Mirelle and Luna had won. And, better still, they would lead in service to the people. They cared about the plight of all. They both desired nothing more than to make life comfortable, healthy and, above all, peaceful for the citizens of their Republic. And, leading the land hand in hand, they would do just that.

People called them Queens. Together. It was all they knew and many still were not used to the new terms. But that would come with time. But Luna and Mirelle, they knew they were no longer Queens. They were the leaders of the new Republic of Esterlin, elected by the people, to lead them forward and away from the quarrelling days of old. Though there may be hard days, and much work to be done, the people, the council, their friends, everyone had faith in the peace the two women had wrought. And so they chose to as well. For the future.

Story Theme Song: The Motherless Bastards- Say Aye