An hour later, the Great Hall was already alive.

It was a massive, jagged cavern mouth gaping out of the mountainside, leading into a network of damp tunnels. The floor was packed dirt and stone, slippery with mud and spilled booze.

Three massive bonfires roared in the centre, fed with whole logs and smashed furniture stolen from raided villages.

The black smoke from the fire curled up to the soot stained ceiling, mixing with the thick stench of roasting boar, cheap ale, and the sweat of more than a couple of hundred killers.

These bandits weren't the trash Leo had farmed when he arrived in this world.

There were hulking brutes with scars that crossed their entire bodies. They were big, bulky, muscular, nasty looking fighters with scars, missing ears, and even missing limbs.

They were loud, rude, and violent. They fought over seats, threw food at each other, and chugged ale from horns.

But there was also confusion in many eyes.

"The fuck is this about?" a bandit with a nose that had been sliced off long ago grunted, ripping a chunk of meat off a bone with his yellow crooked teeth, "We ain't raided shit in a week. Why is she celebrating?"

"Why's the Boss wasting the good ale?"

"Maybe the Boss finally decided to celebrate killing a noble," a heavily tattooed bald man spat, wiping grease on his leather vest, "Or maybe she just wants to get us drunk before she finally lets us ride her all night," The man lecherously grinned.

"Shut your hole, Bastard," a one-eyed mercenary growled, leaning in, "That ain't never gonna happen."

"I saw Bane earlier. By the latrines. The little weasel looked like he'd swallowed shit. Shaking like a virgin in a brothel."

"Yeah?" The noseless bandit laughed, spraying crumbs, "I heard he dragged in fresh meat last night."

"He went to rob a magical artifact. But then I heard he messed it up. Brought back some weak fishes instead of the prize. Maybe the Boss is going to execute him and the fishes publicly?"

"Useless," the mercenary scoffed, "Unless the Boss is gonna gut him for show. I bet that's it."

He slammed his hand on the table, eyes gleaming with cruelty.

"It's been too long since we had a good show. I got dibs on Bane's boots when he's done twitching."

"Fuck the boots," the tattooed man grinned, tapping the hilt of his jagged knife, "I want to hear him scream. If Bella's in a mood, she might let us take turns peeling him. That's better than any feast."

Just then a horn blew interrupting them.

BUUUMM! BUM! BUM! BUM! BUUUMM!

The deep, resonating sound shook the dust from the ceiling, and silenced the room instantly. The conversation stopped, fighting stopped, eating stopped. All eyes turned toward the massive double doors at the far end of the hall.

The doors swung open with a groan of heavy hinges, and Belladonna walked in first.

She had bathed and changed. She wore a fresh gown made of black velvet and silver silk. Her hair was pinned up in a crown of braids, and her makeup was flawless. She radiated the authority of a true queen.

And walking beside her, in her shadow was Leo.

He was wearing new clothes that Belladonna had provided him, most likely looted in some raid. It was a fine black tunic embroidered with silver thread, tailored trousers, and fresh boots.

The clothes fit him perfectly.

He walked with his hands clasped behind his back, looking calm, bored, and looking around the room full of savage bandits.

Shadow walked a step behind them. The veil was back on her face, her eyes darting around the room, radiating killing intent toward anyone who would dare to look at Leo wrong.

Bane trailed at the very back, looking confused, nervous, and twitchy.

At the sight of Belladonna, the entire hall stood up in a wave of motion.

Hundreds of fists slammed against their chests.

BAM! BAM!

"HAIL THE QUEEN!" they roared in unison, showing their absolute loyalty.

Then, the hall echoed with the heavy stomping of boots.

Stomp! Stomp! Clap! Clap!

"Oh, the blood flows red and the gold shines bright!"

"We feast in the day and we kill in the night!"

"Our Queen she laughs as the nobles cry!"

"We rob and drink their wine until we die!"

"Build the pile! Higher! Higher!"

"Set the world on fuckin' fire!"

"HAHAHAHAHA!"

The song ended with a roar of laughter and cheering.

But Belladonna didn't smile. She walked to the raised dais at the front of the room. There was a large stone throne there, covered in furs.

It was her throne. But today, she didn't sit on it.

She stood in front of the throne and raised her hand.

The hall went pin drop silent.

She looked out at her army. Her blue eyes were cold, scanning the faces of every man who would die for her.

"Brothers," she said, her voice ringing clear and commanding without shouting, "We have ruled these woods for more than ten years. We have fought, bled and taken what was never ours."

"BLOOD AND GOLD!" the bandits cheered in response.

Belladonna waited for them to quiet down.

"But today," she continued, her expression shifted, "The hierarchy changes."

She turned to Leo.

She took his hand.

A ripple of shock went through the front rows. The Queen had never touched a man before.

She pulled him forward, placing him directly in front of the throne. And she herself stepped down a stair, standing a level below him.

"Look at him," Belladonna's voice reverberated in the hall, "Look at your new King."

The bandits were left startled. They stared at the scrawny, young, handsome man, and his thin, pale hands prettier than a girl's.

Confusion rippled through the crowd like a wave.

Is this a joke?

Is the Queen mad?

Is she drunk?

Belladonna's eyes flashed with a dangerous warning.

"From this moment forth," she announced, "The Blackfang Bandits answer to him. His word is my word. His will is law. You will serve him as you have served me. You will die for him as you would die for me."

She paused, letting the weight of the impossible statement settle over them.

Then she looked at Leo with devotion, and back at the crowd with a threat.

"Kneel before your King!"

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