Chapter 517 - Returning From An Ardous Voyage Part I

Honoria stood at the ramparts of her makeshift walls. Over the past few weeks, she and her crew had used the resources at their disposal to fortify the mountain village which they conquered. Using the local population as slave labor, they were able to rapidly construct superior defenses as a timber star fort. 

Since the establishment of the fortress, she had issued patrols from the mountain pass down to the beaches below to secure supply lines, with the crew maintaining control over the Iron-Clad sloop of war.

There had been several attacks on the village since Honoria and her crew established control, but with superior armament and defenses, these hostile forces who had once ambushed her crew during their long treck were easily defeated. 

Although they had brought ample supplies to ensure their survivability in this foreign land, munitions were running low after repeated assaults by the enemy and the supply caravans which had transported potatoes en masse to the ship had become more burdened under the onslaught of native war bands. 

It was becoming abundantly clear that any attempt to establish a permanent settlement in this region would require thousands of soldiers and a constant supply of munitions from the Fatherland. An effort that Honoria was unsure whether it was worth the cost. 

The Pirate Queen sighed heavily as she turned to her first mate, Melissa, who had been by her side throughout the entire ordeal. She knew they would soon be overrun by the enemy's attempts to drive them from these lands.

Honoria only hoped that their limited contact with the natives would spread disease like it had in New Vienna, and in doing so, wipe out much of the local populace so that future colonization efforts would not end in vain. 

"Melissa, it is time to withdraw from our position. We have transported enough of these strange vegetables to our cargo hold. I hope they will be worth something to our King when we finally return to the fatherland."

Melissa nodded her head in silence. She agreed with her captain. Casualties were higher than expected, and the crew was growing more discontent by the day. They were dangerously close to another mutiny attempt. 

Noticing her first mate's reaction, Honoria gave out her orders. 

"Tell the crew to pack up our supplies and prepare to depart. We will leave this outpost and return to the vessel, from their we will set sail for the fatherland. We have explored enough of the region. The intelligence we can provide to the Austrian crown will surely be worth a fortune." 

The former prostitute saluted her captain before responding in the affirmative. 

"Yes ma'am, we I will dispatch your orders immediately."

After saying this, Melissa departed from Honoria's hut and began giving out the orders. Within a matter of hours, the crew was fully prepared to withdraw from the continent. Though there would be a brief period of conflict as they descended from the mountains, ultimately those who had survived thus far would make it back to the vessel without significant injury. 

As for the journey home, it was relatively uneventful. Considering Honoria and her crew were some of the few people who knew about the existence of the new world, the only threat they would have to face would be the weather itself.

However, they were not sailing on wooden ships, instead they used a watertight ironclad. In doing so, they ensured that the weather was less of a concern than it was during the age of exploration in Berengar's past life. 

After several weeks, the day finally arrived for Honoria and her crew to return to the fatherland. Where she immediately departed from her vessel and aided her crew in transporting the cargo of potatoes to a railcar which would make its way to the capital. As for the rest of her Crew Honoria addressed them one last time before parting ways. 

"As promised, I will negotiate with the King for the price of the information we have got, and the cargo we have gained throughout our exploits. An equal share will be given to all members of the crew, for those who passed away on our adventure. I promise their families will be taken care of.

For now, wait in Kufstein until you have received your pay. Then you are welcome to do as you please until I call upon you again. Just remember that everything you witnessed on this journey is a state secret, and there will be strict punishments for whoever leaks any information regarding what we discovered. 

The price to pay for such treachery would be none other than death, so I advise you all to keep your lips sealed. Now I must return to the palace. I will call upon you when I have decided on our next adventure."

After saying this, Honoria departed from her crew and took the next train back to Kufstein. When she finally arrived at the Palace's gates, her appearance was quite haggard. She had seen much difficulty on her expedition to the Andes and had not bathed in weeks. However, she felt confident that her husband would still be pleased to see her. 

The guards instantly recognized the Third Queen and allowed her to pass through the gates without incident. It was only after she knocked on the door to the Royal Palace that she finally felt relaxed. A servant quickly answered the door and was shocked to see the disheveled appearance of the Third Queen.

"Queen Honoria, you have returned? Quickly, come with me. The King is in the bath, and I am certain that he will be happy to see you safe and sound."

Honoria smiled pleasantly and nodded her head when she heard this. It had been some time since she had seen her husband, and her body was aching for his embrace. Thus, she was happy to follow the servant into the bath where she stripped out of her muddy clothes, and silently approached Berengar, who was leaning against the edge of the pool. 

The Princess of Byzantium stealthily approached her husband, where she placed her hands around his eyes and disguised her voice.

"Guess who?"

Berengar chuckled when he heard his Third Wife's attempt to prank him and quickly answered her question.

"Honoria, I did not know you would return home so soon. You know you smell foul, don't you?"

The young woman released her grip over her husband's eyes and jumped into the pool. As she entered the body of steaming water, the sweat and grime that covered her body soaked away as an oily film floated to the surface. 

After rising to the surface and taking a deep breath, Honoria pouted before asking Berengar the question in her mind.

"How did you know it was me?"

Berengar stared studiously at the woman's breasts before answering her question.

"I could tell by the size and shape of what was squeezing against my back. Clearly they were bigger than Adela's, but were smaller than Linde's and Yasmins. Thus, by a process of elimination, there was only one woman who has access to my bathhouse that could pose such a riddle."

Honoria pouted further as she heard the response. So her breasts had given her away? This man really was a pervert, if he could glean such information simply by the size and shape of her chest. Eventually, she smiled before she told her husband of her adventure.

"Anyway, I just got back from my expedition to the new world, and have brought some valuable intelligence, as well as some strange new food that I think you will enjoy!"

Berengar's brows raised as excitement filled his sapphire blue eyes. A single question filled his thoughts as he gazed upon his third wife with a renewed sense of attraction.

Did she find potatoes?

Before Berengar could inquire further about the matter, the young woman approached him and wrapped her arms around his neck before planning a passionate kiss on his lips. After doing so, she whispered in his ear in a seductive voice.

"I expect to be well rewarded for my discoveries..."

Berengar smiled mischievously as he heard these words and nodded his head before responding.

"Very well. I will inspect your goods and determine their value for myself. If they meet my expectations, I promise that you and your girls will be well compensated for your efforts. However, there is an important matter that must come first!"

Honoria could tell by the massive thing pressing against her belly just what Berengar had in mind, but rather than take the initiative, she played coy as she put on a questioning facade.

"Oh? What could that possibly be?"

The young King of Austria broke out into a small fit of laughter as he whispered in His wife's ears after inserting his shaft into her tight, and moist cave.

"You have been severely lacking in your wifely duties. It is time you take responsibility for your absence." 

Thus, the King and his third wife enjoyed some time in the bath as they reunited in each other's loving embrace.