Now that was just plain fun.
For a bit, I’d thought the Queen would be the main character, and thought the story should’ve started with the middle paragraph so as not to cut from the ending.
Was I wrong, though. Great twist!
Seems you and I both had ideas to subvert expectations on the whole “Str v Int” themes.
I like your setting much better though, the conflict is better established, and the action was gripping.
… might have to steal thi- I mean, take inspiration from this for an adventure I create for the AoF RPG I’m developing.