Forging a Queen

I set my sword down on the weapon rack for a moment and quietly make my way around the training hall. One by one, I light the lamps until the enormous room is fully illuminated. Then I walk over to the fireplace. Crouching down, I arrange a couple of logs, stir the embers that still hold a bit of warmth, and little by little, the fire comes back to life. The crackling wood breaks the silence, and