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Tanya's Third Life as a Barbarian Queen, Chapter XIV
🕑 Added 2025-01-11 15:52:46 +0000 UTCI will have the chapter as links to download at the bottom of the post. As well as a link to the Google Document page.
Fort Tolis
Tyuule, Former High Queen of the Lepus. Slave to Zorzal El Caesar Augustus.
Zorzal’s audience chamber had a crisis of identity. Once a small meeting hall for a fortress at the edge of the Saderan Empire now it hosted a gilded wooden throne, carpets and silks and a host of dour faced human sycophants who had to watch as Zorzal had me sit in his lap while he took audience with the commanders of his host.
It was clear that this modest structure could not contain the vast expectations of the young prince who called himself my master. They were a soft lot in the Empire and it was galling that it was they who were possessed with numbers beyond imagining and potent Wyverns. As ever the gods played favourites with the humans and we proud Lepus had to contend with that reality.
I shifted in place as the human’s hand wandered but did not refuse the indignity. It was an odd position for me to occupy, being an object of desire, a ‘warbride’ as the humans called it. I was no stranger to taking husbands from subordinate tribes nor was it uncommon for a victorious queen to have her husbands attend to her while meeting with trusted subordinates.
It just seemed... comical. I was playing the part of a husband, to act as a lowly human female, to cast off command of my own destiny. I sighed and shifted in Zorzals lap once more earning a slap to the thigh that I had to pretend hurt with an exaggeratedly startled yelp. The boisterous laugh from the Boy Prince was a humiliation I resigned myself to endure for the good of my people.
The weeks of service to Zorzal as he left Lepus lands was boring quite frankly, with nocturnal activities short enough that I did not grow mad with shame at having a male, let alone a human lay atop me. For the first time I wondered what men of my harem did for entertainment when their wife was busy but such musings weighed upon my soul.
My wealth, my harem. I mourned the loss of the things I had acquired over a lifetime, the loot taken from a thousand battles. The rightful plunder of a selfless queen. They were most likely being distributed to the Queens of the eleven tribes by whomever of the Pomi had taken up the mantle of High Queen in order to secure alliances in the new order of Imperial Vassalage. With Goblin, Centaur and Orc settlements no longer being targets for raiding, much conflict would turn inwards or to the races of the far north east and west.
I hoped my successor had the good sense to offer nothing to Tanya. The thought of the craven sorceress of the Tanaoi laying her hands upon my men was repugnant to me. I had been right in casting out the servile minion who whispered poison into my ear when called upon to war.
I was resolved in my decision to maintain the homeland of the Lepus with some petty concessions and my own sacrifice rather than burn our lands to the ground and flee to the north. She had the right of it that we could not defeat their Wyverns in the field but to cast everything to the fire? She would have condemned us to death in the white fields of the north or total submission to Sadera.
I suppressed a yawn as I turned my attention to the prattling of the Humans talking about goings on in far away Sadera. It occurred to me that I would be taken to that city with Zorzal. I was curious if what that Tanaoi wretch had told me of the city was true.
In a lul of the Human conversation I made ready to ask a question of Zorzal in a way my own husbands would often ask of me. But as I tried to remember how they would hold themselves the doors of the hall burst open and a trio of armoured Humans strode forwards. They were haggard and bore haunted looks upon their faces blinking in surprise as they beheld me upon the overgrown human’s lap.
“What is the meaning of this?!” Zorzal snapped, pushing me off of him and onto the floor as he got to his feet in a rage at having been interrupted.
“Legate.” A grim faced bald man that I knew as the Tolis fort commander marched into the audience hall behind the trio of armoured men. “This cannot wait, many Equites have arrived in the hour from Godensen’s detachment. They speak of a terrible defeat the man has suffered and the shattering of our cavalry force. The Tanaoi have the better of him in the field.” I felt my heart skip a beat. I looked back at Zorzal who looked more baffled than furious.
“What of the Wyvern Knights? Has Godensen lost all sense and taken to battle without the Knights? Out with it man, what happened?” Zorzal was a rare human who stood taller than most Lepus and as he marched forwards the men cowered in his presence as males often did.
“She killed them!” One of the armoured men shouted in a panic. “She called down thunder and cast them from the sky. There was a great blinding light and they fell. The Wyverns and their knights are dead!” That was impossible.
“What madness is this?” Zorzal snapped back. “Who killed them?”
“The Tanaoi Queen.” The fort commander replied with a grim tone. I was dumbstruck, there had to be a mistake, I had expected the Tanaoi to be a problem for the peace I had brought and recommended that a show of force was required to bring them to heel as well as the removal of their Queen but...
She had betrayed me! I clenched my fists and took in a deep breath, blood rage making my teeth itch and stomach turn. All knew that Tanya was a sorceress of some power, she often spoke of magic and offered her cryptic advice when asked. But to think that she was possessed of a power that could cast the damned Wyvern Knights from the sky.
And she had conspired to keep that power from me!
Of course, it had always been her plan, how she had preserved her warbands by not heeding my call to arms, how she had refused to offer advice that would not bring the other tribes to ruin. The wretch had the magic that would have allowed the Lepus to defeat the Saderans but had conspired that I was unseated as High Queen before striking at the Empire with her power.
Did the hundreds of thousands that were killed in the Imperial Invasion mean nothing to her?! If she had served her High Queen faithfully I would have furnished her with gold and men a hundredfold in my benevolence.
“The traitor!” I cursed, causing the men around me to startle, except Zorzal who merely looked confused. “Tanya, Queen of the Tanaoi. She is a sorceress.”
“Fool!” Zorzal snapped and brought his hand across my face. “You did not tell me she had such power!” He accused as I rubbed the welt forming on my cheek.
“I did not know she had such power as to slay a Wyvern.” I replied. “I had warned you of the tribe and the perfidy of its Queen.”
“Regardless of that, we have a problem.” One of Zorzals advisors began. “With Godensen crushed and missing the Tanaoi have nothing to stand before them and Kontia and if this Queen has this power. Well I cannot imagine that the walls will stand for long.” I blinked, how had the Tanaoi made its way to Kontia? This fortress was between Tanaoi lands and the Imperial City to the south.
“You let her bypass this fortress?” I asked, baffled.
“She moved faster overland than expected.” Zorzal said weakly before catching himself. “But that is enough of you, go to my chambers and be silent, woman.” My cheeks burned with shame as I was dismissed as I often had to dismiss annoying husbands who thought to prattle on at me in the past. But with the accord struck with Zorzal undermined by the threat of the Tanaoi and Tanya’s treason I had little choice but to bow my head and retire to his chambers.
I briefly considered vanishing into the steppe and returning to my tribe. If Tanya had the power to strike the strength of Sadera from the sky then true resistance could be mustered. But if Tanya was unwilling to offer me this power before I had little doubt that she would strive to do away with me if I returned.
My options were limited and without a clear understanding of the current conflict between the Tanaoi and Sadera and how it reflected on the other tribes it was foolish to take rash action. My position at Zorzals side was without dignity but made me adjacent to Saderan power. I would have to devise a means of acting in the interest of the Lepus from that position.
Resolved I settled into Zorzals personal chambers and tested the chains on my body, metal and enchantments glowing in protest as I tested my strength against them. Confident that should I need to I could do away with the restraints. I settled down onto a pile of pillows and allowed myself to rest.
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Kontia
Delilah, Lieutenant of the 111th Company
I was called to a small walled estate just inside of the walls to the south of the gate we had taken. The stronghold had been the property of some Orcish merchant and had hosted a small bodyguard that the 106th Company had overcome. The estate itself was well positioned on the right flank of our intrusion into Kontia with some distance between it and any other building.
Enya had taken the estate as her headquarters and preparations were being made to extend our operations around the structure using Lepus slaves that had joined us to hold onto ground taken. Such operations were slowed by the absurd caution of Enya and her Tanaoi staff. But with the Orcs and Humans resorting to harassment with fire and archers and fleeing before we could offer a reprisal I could understand some trepidation.
It was galling to admit that I had indeed been wrong. With a settlement of this size it did not matter that we had bypassed the walls that had not concluded the siege, it had simply turned a blockade into a war of attrition. One that we were by my reckoning, winning. Since I had taken command only four women had perished and this was from wounds taken in taking the gate.
I had also strengthened the company from just sixty women without any serious wounds to seventy two, incorporating a group of Lepus slaves of the Corra into the company at Enya’s leave. They were well adjusted if suffering somewhat from malnutrition. Other companies had taken on Lepus from the city but there were yet more Lepus that were not deemed ‘fit’ for battle by Enya. We had around six hundred women split into seven companies who met Enya’s standards and another seven hundred Lepus who were simply being housed and fed as we waited for the Tanaoi migration to arrive.
If I was in command, I would have at least formed new companies with the Lepus doing nothing. But Enya was content to allow them to rest without any expectation that they were to aid in the siege. It was something I was hoping to broach as a topic, at the very least the Lepus not assigned to a company could venture to outlying villages and homesteads to gather supplies and wealth.
As I entered the estate I was ushered into the main structure and up a set of stairs before being led into a large room containing only a table and a small writing desk manned by one of Enya’s young attendants. I was not surprised to see Enya as well as the commanders of the 94th, 106th, 107th, 108th 109th and 110th present but there were three Lepus I was unfamiliar with clad in gilded plate armour likely taking from a Human noble.
“Ah, you are the last to arrive, we can get started.” Enya called out, taking a seat and nodding to the girl at the writing desk. I took a seat and noticed the commander of the 108th glaring at me. Nalia of the Yutoi I believe, she had seemingly taken a dislike of me and was fermenting a friction between my company and hers to what end I could not say. Grinned at her before turning to Enya who was squinting at a small leather bound book.
“A few days ago our Queen engaged one of the Imperial armies, an army that was possessed of three Wyvern Knights.” I felt my jaw clench, I had seen firsthand the devastation the fire of the Wyverns could bring. The thousands that the beasts could immolate in a single terrible attack.
“How many are left?” I asked in a solemn tone that was shared in the expressions of the other Company commanders.
“A few noble warriors fell in that battle. But our losses have been negligible!” One of the armoured women said in good cheer. “Our Queen struck the beasts from the sky and put the Imperials to flight!” I stared dumbfounded at the armoured Lepus as she spoke.
“How?” Intoned Nalia, joined by similar inquiries from the other officers at the table.
“I would like to know this too.” Enya said pointedly at the armoured trio. “I have a report from our Queen but as always she is sparse with explanations. Merely stating that she ‘destroyed’ two Wyvern knights and their mounts during the battle.”
“It was a spell, first she used it upon the Imperial army killing scores of men before turning it to the sky and slaughtering the beasts with a thundering boom and fay light.” One of the armoured Lepus said.
“But how is such powerful magic possible?” I questioned. I had faced countless Goblin shamans as well as Imperial and Lepus mages in my life and I could not imagine any magic with the potency to challenge a Wyvern.
“The Gods are with us, there can be no other explanation.” The same Lepus replied. “It is often ones with strange minds whom the Gods take as their champions. Who can doubt that Tanya is not one with such a mind? Regardless of what we believe is possible the Gods have decided that she should have the power to do away with the Wyvern Knights and thus she does.”
Despite her words I was unsettled when I should be joyous. If the Tanaoi Queen had truly dispatched Wyvern Knights then the entire war would turn upon its head. I could not imagine the Saderans would accept such a loss gracefully nor sue for peace with the Gods so clearly favouring an enemy.
“We shall learn more of what happened in a week or so when our Queen arrives.” Enya said stiffly.
“So late? We expected her yesterday.” Nalia complained.
“Our Queen found many Lepus slaves with the Imperials she defeated and they have delayed her arrival considerably.” Enya explained. “What is more worrisome is that of the force put to flight a considerable number have reformed and are on way to Kontia as we speak. Talia told me that they saw a force of perhaps three thousand horsemen who attempted to shadow their companies but fell behind.” One of the armoured Lepus nodded at Enya’s words.
“It’s true, our Queen dispatched us to reinforce you, she had expected the Imperials to take longer before they would organise themselves into a battle ready formation but it seems shortly after they were shattered a large host of them pushed to relieve the siege.” What was likely Talia spoke.
“Do they know we have besieged Kontia?” I questioned. “Perhaps they expect to outrun Queen Tanya’s forces and expect shelter in the walled city.”
“Perhaps that is true.” Enya conceded. “But regardless we have thousands of Imperials approaching with horse. With the people of this city pressing upon us they represent a considerable threat to us. Talia has arrived with three hundred women but with the approaching army I do not think it is wise to extend our operations. I will instead have you reinforce your positions ready to defend against the inevitable attempt to dislodge us from our position in the city.”
“This would confine us to the city itself, if the Imperials are allowed to move as they please outside of the city we would become the besieged party.” Nalia pointed out and I had to admit she was correct in this case.
“There is little that can be done about that. We have the supplies to last many weeks yet without resupply and our Queen will arrive in good order. I have already ordered everyone back to the city and I shall close the gate when the Saderan horsemen arrive.” With that concluded Enya moved on to various other important matters pertaining to the siege, asking questions about the wounded, the state of supplies and the pressure each company was under from the Imperial attacks.
All the while I could not help but feel a sense of confinement, of restriction. Enya’s gambit had been bold and sensible but I couldn't help but feel as if she was failing to conclude the siege not because of a lack of capabilities but of a craven fear of failure. She was allowing us to become the besieged party by not pushing towards Kontia Governor's palace with the three hundred additional warriors and taking the city as a whole.
When I left with the rest of the Officers to give our new orders to the women under our command I was stopped by Nalia who blocked my way with an ugly expression.
“It is disrespectful to the one hundred and eleventh, that they should subordinate themselves to you.” She spat.
“Have I wronged you Nalia?” I challenged, rolling my shoulders and testing my weight from side to side.
“I do not advocate for myself.” She insisted. “Know that while you have Enya’s favour it is you who chose to overstep your bounds.” I stared blankly at her for a moment.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” I replied brusquely.
“Don’t pretend ignorance in this matter. Know that when the Queen arrives I shall correct this mistake.” She spat at my feet and turned her back to me as I stared at her fluffy tail swaying at her leave.
“What was that about?” I muttered to myself before making my way back to my Company.
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https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RHdpO3wnp2j-Ua1pRBQgGpKIr2Z_qnQH2fT6MqA9DtU/edit?tab=t.0
Comments
Aaron
yeah seriously that guy is an absolute moron in the anime get the emperor to be the target of being X as that would make a whole lot more sense than Zorzal
Guerinology
What am I looking at here? Is Zorzal actually taking things seriously, and showing something resembling intelligence? What is this debaclery? This stinks of Being Xs doing.
Tony
Loved the chapter, but Kinda feel bad for Tanya. I'm sure all she wanted was peaceful life if raiding and maraudering among her follow Lepus, but everything seems to keep pushing her to trial after trial. And of course Tanya being the competent person she is has been acing those trials, from her exile to taking her tribe, from her new weapons to breaking the Non Roman army. Im sure she still has a lot of trials ahead of her, to keep her people's alive, the retaliation of the Non Romans and the, brain... indoctr... training of the youngest Lepus survivors into a better suited standing army among other things. It almost feels like the gods are playing with her, paying competence with even more work, having her never stopping the creation of a new empire, its almost like some Dude X has been scheming to keep her from her peaceful times. (or at least that's whats she's probably telling herself.)
Old Hammer
Damn that was a great chapter. Crazy to see how Tyuule sees things, understandable since she has no idea the Zorzal did not honor the agreement. Fascinating look into her head. I wonder if Elya will pull a Caeser. You know trapped in a siege within a siege but able to pull a win like Julius did at Alesia.
Emdee Kay
I think it has to do with Delilah being the former Queen's bodyguard or something.
FallQM
Tyruule does not currently know what happened to her people and Tanya will attempt to build a nation with what she has. Tanya was meant to arrive at Kontia several days ago with her army while the camp containing the children, slaves and Lepus not meeting Tanya's standards for soldiery would arrive later. But she had to change her plans and do battle with the Cavalry force. Then she had a lot of Lepus children who were slaves of the Cavalry force she had to relocate to her main camp, this has taken several days and slowed everything down regardless of the capture of horses.
Nicholas Hammond
So recap, when does Tyruule learn the truth of her people and can Tanya build a nation from her horde? The timeline of the forces arrival are unclear. I thought that with captured horses her exodus would be faster?
Nicholas Hammond
Maybe she was promoted without being pure blood?
Emdee Kay
I wonder what is the problem between Nalia and Delilah. Did I miss something? hmm...
