The country of O’Bell was a land in the far Northern region of Kronos. The weather was cooler, and they experienced more rain and snow than most of the continent. Unlike most of the countries, O’Bell was surrounded by tall craggy mountains. The three passes that allowed entry or exit to the land were guarded by O’Bell troops, and only those with entry papers were allowed to enter.

Princess Lydia O’Bell road up to the Eastern Gate, which lay on the border of O’Bell and Wingard. She rode side by side with her best friend and official advisor, Meisha Bannon. Behind them were the dozen female warriors that were assigned to her and served as her personal guard. The O’Bell had a very controlled society, and unlike the rest of Kronos, they regulated very strictly who could and could not live amongst them. The country of O’Bell was completely female dominated to the point that if you saw a man within their borders, you could safely assume that he was a slave. When they were within clear sight of the border crossing, the pair of female guards came to attention.

“Welcome back, your highness.”, the guard on the left called out. She, like her partner and all the princess’ guards wore the banner of the Virgin Queen on their tunics. Though not currently on a war footing with any country, they all wore heavy plate armor. When on duty, they all wore sparkling helmets, shined to a mirror-like finish with different devices on the crown according to their place in the service. The princess’ guards all wore a long beautiful shock of straight hair that sprouted from the tops of their helmets and were meant to look like a horse’s tail. They wore white because the princess was still a maiden, unmarried and without any children. The border guards wore bright red feathers from their helmets, and they had dark brown tunics.

Lydia was tall, even for an O’Bell, who were unusually tall women. She loved to fight and had been sparring with Meisha since they were five years old. The years of constant fighting gave her uncommon strength and stamina, and she was highly regarded as a more than competent warrior. Lydia certainly was not ‘unattractive’, though for most men’s tastes, she was at best, ‘pretty’.

When they were close enough, the guard approached the princess, and saluted. When the salute was returned, she spoke. “Princess, we received word from the Queen a couple of days ago, she wants you to proceed directly to the capital.”

“Do you know what matter commands such urgency?”, she asked of the guard.

“I do not your highness. I am not sure that it is a matter of urgency, per se. I got the impression that she just did not want to wait for you to take any detours on your way back to her side.”

“Thank you for your candor.”, she told the guard. The woman and her partner worked a counterweight that raised a long steel arm that served to block the way for horses and carriages. They passed through, and the barrier was again lowered into place.

The princess and her entourage rode through the countryside at a leisurely pace. She would head directly to the castle; but there was no need to rush. The Eastern part of O’Bell was her favorite. With ample water, there were lush forests separated by huge grassy plains, purple, orange and yellow flowers were mixed in the grasses so that from horse top, it looked like a vast green ocean with streaks of color woven throughout. They passed farms on the way; men were working at harvesting grapes for the fine wines that O’Bell was known for. When they saw the princess, the all dropped to their knees, facing down, afraid to accidentally meet her gaze.

She tried to laugh to herself; but Meisha heard it and saw the look on her friend’s face.

“Yes Lydia?”, Meisha asked smiling.

“Just looking at these… ‘men’. So hard to believe that they hold power in the other countries.”, she looked at a man with his face almost down in the mud between the rows of grapevines. He wore loose, tattered clothing, enough for modesty, but not really enough for protection against the elements. “How pitiful they are. If we didn’t need the labor, I would be the first to drive them out.”

“They do have, other uses, my princess.”, she said smiling at her friend. Meisha was not as strong as her princess or as good a warrior; but her darker skin and dark wavy hair made her very attractive by most men’s standards.

“What would that be?”, Lydia almost spat the words.

“I know that you are still… inexperienced; but you have to know what I am talking about.” Meisha loved to tease her princess, who was such an easy target for such jests.

“Oh, that again.”, she said bitterly. “You’ve only tried it the one time, and you said it hurt more than me beating you at grappling.”

Meisha leaned in, “I may have forgotten to mention, m’lady, that I did try it… a few more times.”

“What! How could you not tell me?”, Lydia demanded, looking at her friend with a betrayed expression on her face.

“I know your sensitive about these things. That’s why I like to tease you about it.”, she leaned in so only the princess could hear. “Truly the first time did hurt; but still it was… incredible. The second time hurt just a wee bit, and the other times, it was very much to my liking.”

“How could you?”, the princess was near tears. “Men are useless, and so disgusting!” They rode in silence for a few minutes, then suddenly. “I think the Queen would want me before her sooner rather than later. I’ll go ahead.”, she turned to her retinue, “I’ll be fine, no need to keep pace!”, and she rode off in a huff.

When she was far away and out of earshot, the Captain of the guard came side by side with Meisha. She looked at her disapprovingly. “Friend or no, you go too far sometimes.”

“She’s obviously a big girl. If she can’t take that, how will she ever be a queen?”

“I heard what you said to her. You really enjoy laying with them?”, the guard asked. “I have only tried it a few times, to get my daughter, and… the other one.”

“Your son? Having a son is not a crime, though thank goodness you also had a daughter.”, she laughed at her riding companion. “If you find the right one, not a field hand like the type we keep around here; but a real man, who will dominate you and worship you all in the same night.”, she looked to the heavens with such a smile. “’That’ is a man that will bring you pleasure, unlike what another woman can.”

“Still, why toy with the princess? Are you not her closest friend and confidant?”, the Captain asked.

“Believe me, it is nothing compared to what waits for her at the Castle.”

“You know why the Queen has summoned her?”

“She is turning seventeen in a few days. It can mean only one thing.”, she said wisely.

The guard looked off in the distance, no longer able to see her master. “Oh, my.”

The audience room of Queen Vandressa O’Bell was more of a square theatre than a long hall, that the male kings seemed to always construct. She sat on chair with huge cushions, surrounded by silks and furs. The walls had the finest tapestries, depicting the many O’Bell conquests out in the world of man, they showed the Gods and how they favored House O’Bell. There were glass vases on pedestals and almost every open area had a plant. The ceiling was high, and the walls had great folding doors that allowed in the sun and wind. A couple of small framed men were walking about watering and caring for the plants, so that they stayed green and perfect.

Princess Lydia walked in unannounced as usual and walked to where her mother was studying a few dispatches. “Get out!”, she barked without looking at anyone. The men knew that it was addressed to them, and they hopped to their feet and left the room with all haste. At the sound of her oldest daughter’s voice, Vandressa looked up. She was not as tall as her daughter; but taller than most. She once had the body of a feared warrior; but motherhood and the affairs of state had caused her to let her body settle into a more traditionally feminine shape. She was ample of breast and thigh; her long brown hair was worked into a braid with gold rope crossing down the length of the ponytail. Her dress was made of an off-white fabric that was light and moved in the subtle breeze. She looked at her daughter and smiled.

“Come closer, Lydia dear. Let me look at you.”, she said with her arms out.

Princess Lydia walked up to embrace her mother, then backed up a couple of feet. She waited for her mother’s usual evaluation.

“So lovely, you have become! You take after me I think, not too bold of me to say so.”, she did the thing with the index finger, letting Lydia know that she was to turn around. The Queen looked her over with the love of a parent; but also, with something else.

“Why did you call for me mother. It sounded urgent, so I rode ahead of my guard.”

“Urgent? No, not urgent; but… the time ‘has’ come.”, she looked pleased with what she saw in her daughter.

“Time for what mother. Why do you speak in riddles, you know I hate them?”

“Lydia, you are becoming a woman in just a few days. You are in your prime physical condition; it is the best time for you to give House O’Bell the next generation. You will be Queen after me, and your daughter will follow you.”, she said as if it was not even worth discussing.

Lydia turned white as a ghost and started to swoon. He mother stepped forward to catch her before she could topple over. She sputtered; but no words parted her lips. The Queen eased her onto the throne where she would be propped up by the silken cushions, and then took a fan from a pocket and proceeded to cool off her first born. She rang a bell, a man appeared at one of the side doors.

“Water.”, she said. He disappeared and returned with water in mere seconds. “Now dear, you knew this day would come. I have been working with a few agents to find a suitable match for you. I am looking for someone who knows that his purpose is to give you a daughter, and that he is not truly getting a wife, and of course, will never inherit anything.

When the princess started to get her color back, the Queen sat down next to her on the wide seat and began fanning herself. “We shall have a huge feast in celebration of your birthday. Shortly thereafter, I will send you out to interview the first contender.”

The princess looked glum and leaning over, began to weep into her mother’s shoulder.