"Our king, such as he is," the knight in her armor replied as she blocked his sword yet again, not allowing him to get the distance needed for him to use his hands to cast his spells, "asked for my loyalty. He requested I aid him in ending this war with as few lives lost as possible."
"And yet he is not here," the villain countered, "He sends you to fight his fights for him."
"We all have our parts to play," she countered, "A baker bakes, a king makes laws, and a knight defends the people."
"And yet he lives in a castle, but the people do not."
"Our king lives in a modest townhouse in the capital and wears no crown," she replied, "Our castles are to defend the people when those like you decide to invade. Or did you forget that you invaded our lands? We did not. The children of the village of Tanzliebe remember your flag well."
"Those who serve under me do so willingly," he argued, not answering for what she'd said as he once again tried to put distance between them, "They agree to fight in exchange for the security I provide."
"And those that refuse are killed," she snapped, using his brief glance behind himself to throw a dagger at the spellbook in his right hand, damaging several pages and knocking it out of his grasp, "Your workers are fed enough to keep them going, but not enough to thrive. Those children of the towns you conquered were never chased as monsters in this land! We are a peaceful people that you attacked!" Another dagger cracked the magic flute on his hip, causing the magic to burst out. "You pillage our lands! Enslave our people! And still you call it justice?!"
He tried to shout over her, regain any semblance of control over the situation, but she pressed on, forcing him to stick to the defensive as she continued.
"Every member of our army volunteered to join this fight! Every last one of us chose to stop you from trying to kill us piece by piece and you want me to call your actions good?! You want praise for keeping your minions safe to continue serving you? You want praise for providing for widows of soldiers who you conscript into wars in which you turn other women and children into slaves to grow your wealth?!"
She swung more forcefully and rapidly, and he continued trying to back away, now attempting to retreat without her being transported with him.
"I was a child when you burned my home to the ground! I was there when the musicians of Tanzliebe were to the last man and woman put to the sword over a bard's song mocking your flag! You conscripted farmboys and the daughters of millers and cast the rest aside to freeze in the winter's chill!" she snarled, "My neighbors! My friends! My family! All burned or crushed under your oh so gracious hand! My king asks for loyalty and works to earn it! My king serves his people! My king is the breaker of chains and the son of farmers! And my king rides even now to free your captured dragon!"
His eyes widened in terror as her words sunk in. Desperately, he reached for the amulet that would allow him to summon his draconic thrall to him before the enchantments that bound it to his will could be severed. As he grabbed it, however, the red gem burst in his hand and a triumphant roar could be heard from the mountain in which the beast was kept.
He could still salvage this. He just needed to get to the teleportation rune behind his throne.
The sharp stinging of her sword's point in his shoulder tore him from his panicked musings as he dropped his own blade.
She flicked a gemstone at his chest, which stuck there and stung fiercely before it became a crest. A Binding of Judgment. His spells were useless now.
"Your soldiers surrendered when my sworn brothers revealed their families were freed," she stated plainly, "Your workers left their posts when given the first chance. Your minions were harder. You'd indoctrinated them thoroughly, but our queen showed that we meant them no harm and were persuaded to come with her for healing of their injuries. Peace, O Gracious, Noble Villain. That is what my king provides. Peace and a path forward."
