A bead of sweat formed on the princess's temple. She sat across from her kingdom's most trusted advisor--Bellus--a fat mustachioed man in his forties who was practically a second father to her. Bellus had no official standing or holding within the kingdom beyond Royal Aid, but he carried more sway and influence than those who inherited or were appointed.
Princess Miriam's father--the king--was bedridden, his health deteriorating over the last many moons. "It's time for you to take over for me, darling," the king said to her from his bed weeks before. His breath was short. Princess Miriam held his hand. He finally caught his breath after a fit of coughing and said, "Bellus will be there to help. Trust him, and it'll all work out."
The candles on the table flickered as Princess Miriam and Bellus sat at the centuries-old wooden table in the Council Room.
"Is there nothing else we can do? My kingdom's reputation is at stake. No one will want to trade with us, and my people are scared. We've offered enough gold for a man to fund a rival kingdom. We've brought in a so-called slayer from the Sumar Isles. We'll run out of brave fools soon enough, and then we'll have nothing to hope for."
Bellus stroked his mustache and stared at Miriam. A slight smile came to his face. "I do have one last idea... But I'm afraid you're not going to like it."
"Stop being coy, Bellus, and just tell me. I'd do anything at this point to protect my people, whatever the cost."
"All right, my grace. But first, promise me you won't dismiss me flippantly. It is, after all, just an idea."
"Gods, what do you have in mind? Fine, fine, I promise."
"There is one thing we can offer that no one else has. Something that will inspire bravery beyond compare. An offer those not stupid enough to risk their lives yet would gladly throw away everything for. Something no amount of gold can buy."
"My hand? Bellus, are you mad? We'd be throwing away a chance to make a lasting alliance with any number of powerful kingdoms."
"No, my dear, not your hand..."
"Then... what?"
"Your maidenhood."
The candles flickered as the air in the room changed. The princess's face turned bright red. She pushed her chair away from the table and stood up.
"Bellus! How dare you!"
"An idea, just an idea, your grace."
"No one would want to marry a princess who is not a maiden. My people will think I'm a slut!"
"The reward will not be known to all. And we can make sure our hero speaks no word of it. Craxam can brew just the potion..."
"I-I-I wouldn't even know what to do."
"It is quite simple, your grace. Pardon my crudeness, but you suck, you fuck, you make him come, and it'll be over before you know it."
"My father would never approve of this! He'd have your tongue just for suggesting it."
"But your father's not here."
"I've dreamed of that night my entire life, and you want me to give it away as a reward as if it's something that can be exchanged? Have you no respect for me, Bellus?"
"I don't see any other options. People are fleeing and dying faster than their giving birth. No one wants to move here, it's too dangerous. Trade has all but dried up to a trickle. The future of the kingdom is at stake. Your grace, you must do this for your people, for your kingdom."
Princess Miriam sat back down and put her head in her hands.
"Fine, for my kingdom," she said. "Make it so."
• • •
Word spread through the kingdom and beyond of the princess's reward. No one knew exactly what it was, and most assumed it was her hand in marriage or her family's most treasured item--the black greatsword called Obsidian. It took weeks for the word to spread far enough to find new heroes who'd risk their lives against such an adversary. But they began to eventually show up again.
• • •
"Have you any updates on the situation?" Princess Miriam asked Bellus in the Council Chamber.
"An elderly wizard set off and was never heard from again. A young, queer witch from the north told the innkeeper one morn that she would be back in time for dinner but was never heard from again. There have been mournings of others, but none with any success. Be patient, my princess. It will take time for the right people to hear word and make the journey and do the work. We cannot rush it."
"Yet we cannot afford to wait much longer. Or there will be no kingdom worth saving."
"True enough, your grace. But patience for now."
• • •
Princess Miriam sat in her father's chamber, gripping his hand. "Stay strong, father. Is there anything I can get you?"
"No," he whispered, his voice hoarse. She could hardly hear him.
Craxam handed her a bottle with a viscous blue liquid inside. "Help him drink this, princess."
"Have you and Bellus taken care of the problem?" the king asked.
"We're doing everything we can, Father, I promise."
The king squeezed her hand, the first sign of strength she'd seen in him in weeks. "My legacy is at stake. Your legacy is at stake. Do what must be done, darling."
"Yes, father. I will."
The king drifted off to sleep, his lips stained blue.
• • •
Bellus burst into Princess Miriam's bedchamber, which was larger than most of her subjects' entire homes, his face pink, panting, and sweating profusely.
"Your grace, your grace!"
"Yes, Bellus?"
"They've done it, they've done it! Your audience," he paused to catch his breath. "Is requested in the throne room. They've something to show you. Gods, they've done it!"
"They, what do you mean, they?"
"It's a group of them, they're waiting for you right now."
"My dear, sweet Bellus. There is no way to split the reward like a sack of gold for them. How will this even work? Do they have a leader?"
"Yes, yes. We will sort it out. I'm sure one of them did most of the work. Let's hear what they have to say first."
The princess followed Bellus to the throne room. They entered through the door near the throne. The princess walked up the steps and sat on the throne. She surveyed the room. Six people stood near the entrance, all inconspicuous. Her paltry royal guard stood behind them. Craxam stood in the corner, watching.
"Princess Miriam, I present to you, Vulture and his band of heroes," Bellus said, moving his body and arms theatrically.
Vulture and the five others with him stepped forward. Each of them carried a woven sack in their hands.
"Your grace, it's an honor to meet you," Vulture said. He was terrifyingly handsome. His hair was black as a moonless night. Tall and muscular with graceful movements. His dark eyes didn't waver when he stared at the princess. "We come bearing gifts, m'lady. Let me introduce my companions."
Vulture's companions fanned out and he started at the end and worked his way across.
"Trellar, a renowned archer who never misses their mark." The petite elf took a bow and then stuck their hand into their bag. They pulled out an eye, although it wasn't messy. It had somehow already been preserved. They set it on the table in front of the princess's throne. "We present you the eye of the beast, who shall never witness another moment again."
The elf archer stepped back in line.
"Veranth, a witch from the far west with spells unlike any this continent has seen before." The witch stepped forward, only her face visible through her hooded cloak. She reached into her bag and hard, flat, shiny object. "We present you the scale of the beast, which shall never deflect another arrow again."
Vulture introduced the three remaining companions--a sturdy dwarf named Yort who gifted a fanged tooth larger than his hammer, a portly bruiser named Vega who gifted a talon, and a tall fencer named Leera who gifted the tip of a tail.
"And, finally, I, Vulture, present you with this."
He reached into his bag and unfurled a tongue five feet in length, forked at the end.
"No longer shall this beast spray fire amongst your people, your fields, and your structures."
Vulture slammed the tongue down on the table.
Princess Miriam stood up and clapped. "Bravo, bravo, Vulture and his brave companions. Well done. You have not only my thanks but the entire kingdom's. They will write songs of you all, they will erect statues of you all, they will know you across the entire continent and beyond."
Vulture and his companions bowed as if they had just returned to the stage after the completion of a play.
"Now what is this mysterious reward we have all worked so hard for, m'lady?" Vulture asked.
"In addition to my gratitude, you shall receive a gift only I can give. Craxam will prepare you, and then Bellus will lead you to my chambers. Until then."
The princess kept her composure as she turned and left the throne room through the royal entrance behind her.
• • •
The princess sat on the edge of her bed in her chambers and took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. "I can do this," she said to herself in a whisper. "I must be strong like my father. Vulture is surely handsome enough..."
She leapt up, startled, from the knock on her door.
"Yes, you may enter," the princess said.
"It's only me," said Bellus as he entered and closed the door behind him in a frenzy. His hands were on his knees, breathing heavily, he gained enough composure to spout out what he needed to.
"M'lady... Vulture and his companions, they say they all want to split the reward. I told them that's simply not possible. Vulture asked to know what the reward is, and I told him, given that they've drank the potion. He laughed, pulled out his blade, and said that reward can easily be split. I-I don't know what to do, your grace. I'm not sure our guard can handle them if I'm being perfect honestly. We lost our best to the beast in the early days..."
"The nightmare continues," said Princess Miriam, her head in her hands. "What a mess you've gotten me in, Bellus. But the beast is gone, and it is my duty as the princess to give them their reward. Tell them to come in--all of them."
"But m'lady, are you certain?"
