Free Last Knight (The Champion Chronicles Book 2) by Brad Clark Page B

thought of forcing people to bow in the presence of a king or queen was just silly.  “On your feet!” She said angrily.  To the guardsman, she said, “Look at me!”
                  The guardsman did.  His face was white with fear and his hands shook.
                  “Why is it that you were not going to give me a full bucket?”
                  “I…I… did not know that you were the queen.”
                  “Who did you think I was?”
                  “I…I… don’t know.  We had orders!”
                  “From whom? And for what?”
                  “The merchants and others can get full buckets.  The rags from the wall only get a quarter bucket.  It is what we were told to do!”
                  Queen Elissa stepped up onto the edge of the well and turned to the crowed.  “Listen up!  Anyone who comes to a city well will get a full bucket.  No one will go thirsty, and no one will go lacking.”  She looked down at the guardsman, who was still shaking.  “Is that clear?”
                  “Of course, Your Majesty,” the soldier said. 
     
    ***
     
    Lord Martin shook his head at her.  “My dear,” he said with a fatherly voice.  “I know that you thought you were trying to do good, but with several of the wells undrinkable, we cannot be giving away so much water to everyone.”
                  Elissa stood in front of Lord Martin and Lord Kirwal, governor of the city of Tyre.  Lord Kirwal was staying in the city to help the queen govern.  He was the eldest and most experienced lord, as well as being one of her father’s most trusted confidants.  For the moment, he remained silent, allowing Lord Martin do all the talking.
    “Am I not the queen?” Elissa asked trying not to let her emotion show in her voice.  “Did you not all swear fealty to me?  And Lord Martin, was it not you who demanded that I be given the throne?”
    Her arms were crossed and her mood was sour.  She did not like being treated like a little girl.  But that is what they always did to her.  When they needed her to act like a queen, they let her.  But once they began to disagree with her, they turned on their fatherly voice and treated her like a little child.  Nothing made her angrier.
                  Lord Martin cleared his throat and glanced at the Lord Kirwal, hoping to gain backing.  But the governor of Tyre had conveniently grabbed a nearby goblet and was taking a drink from it.
                  “Your Majesty,” Lord Martin said.  He was hoping more words would come, but they did not.
                  “Queen Elissa,” Lord Kirwal said in his deep voice.  He stepped forward once Lord Martin ran out of words.  “We of course all have sworn our fealty to you, but also to this kingdom.  Being queen is more than just wearing the crown.  It is making sound judgments that benefit the kingdom as a whole.  Kings are not just born, they are raised.  Boys are taught and instructed from the youngest ages to handle situations just like what you experienced in the city.  Water is scarce right now.  We have to properly ration the good water.  The merchants rely on good clean water to help serve their guests.  What they are allotted right now barely allows them to serve those guests.”
                  “And what is allotted for the people of the slums barely allows them to live!” Elissa snapped back, raising her voice.  “No one seems to care about them.  They are allowed to just live and die without anyone really thinking about them.  Those wells have been polluted and are making many of them sick.”
                  Lord Martin returned a compassionate look and replied, “No one knew, your majesty.  If we had known, then…”
                  “No one knew because no one cared!” Queen Elissa