“Let us explain,”

said the Bee Queen.

“Our daughter, the Princess,

has come of age,

and we have promised her

in holy matrimony

to the Prince of the Underwinter.”

“Underwinter?”

Vaila asked.

“Yes.

It is a little know fact

that beneath the Sweet Lands

lies the Underwinter,

a cold, underground world

governed by frost

and darkness.

It is inhabited by a

fierce race of men

known as the Fourings,

and their King

and I

seek to unite our dominions.”

“I see,” said Vaila.

“So where do I come in?”

“Yes,” said the Bee Queen.

“You are essential.”

“The journey

to the Underwinter

is arduous,”

the Bee Queen explained,

“and both the Bee People

and the Fourings

have many enemies

who would risk much

for a prize such as

the Princess.”

“So you wish for me

to escort her?

How do I get there?”

“There is a cave

a day to the southeast,”

the Bee Queen said.

“Inside, you will board a boat

to the Underwinter.”

“Will I have a guide?”

“You will be accompanied

by the Princess’s guard

until you reach the boat,

and then Fourings will guide you

the rest of the way.”

Vaila considered

the Queen’s request.

The Matron at the Hospital

had said it would take

ten days

for He-Thing to recover.

But —

nothing was simple.

She knew she could not

refuse

the Queen’s request.

However,

she was also well aware

that there would be

complications.

“Is there anything else

I should know?”

Vaila asked.

The Queen smiled.

“The Princess is...

stubborn.”

Of course she is,

thought Vaila.

“May I see her?”

Vaila asked.

The Bee Queen turned her head.

“Zzala! Come!”

Out of the wing of the throne room

came a tall, dainty

young girl,

no older than fourteen,

in a flowing dress,

with shimmering

blue, oval eyes,

and frizzy purple hair

falling to her waist.

“Yes, mother,”

Zzala said scornfully.

She curtsied to Vaila,

and then took her place

by her mother’s side.

“Zzala, this is Vaila,

Champion Huntress

of the Empire of Asmodel.

She will deliver you

to your betrothed.”

“It is an honor to meet you,your highness,”

said Vaila,

“And it will be an even greater honor

to escort you to your destiny.”

Princess Zzala

spinned on her heel

and stormed off.

“Like we said,”

the Queen smiled,

“The Princess is stubborn.”

“Now, you understand,”

explained Vaila,

“Since I am an agent

of the Empire,

you will be assessed

for a tax for my services,

calculated by your position,

and the difficulty of the

request.

The Empire always tries

to be equitable in these matters,

as no one chooses

misfortune,

but someone of your status...”

“We accept the cost,” the Queen said.

“Then it is

written in stone,”

said Vaila.

How many times

had she said those words,

or heard her father

or He-Thing say them?

It was an ancient promise,

first spoken

during the Age of Heroes,

when Asmodel was just a glimmer

and the Omniverse

had yet to be

constituted.

And here she was,

a Virgin Huntress,

like those who had come before her —

those who attained glory;

those that attained dishonor;

and those that attained oblivion.

The Bee Queen smiled,

visibly displaying relief,

and Vaila wondered,

as many Champions had wondered

before her,

What have I gotten myself into?

to be continued...