At the Queen's Mercy

A seasoned traveler narrates his own tale with a blend of plain honesty and vivid imagination. Stranded in the African interior after months of ivory trade, he and his flamboyant companion, Gaston Lestrade, find themselves hungry, wet, and surrounded by hostile forces. Their fire‑lit night by the river becomes a launchpad for a story that mixes gritty survival with hints of the uncanny, as the narrator hints at a mysterious queen whose beauty is likened to a poisonous flower.

From that uneasy campfire, the narrative spirals into a series of daring episodes—secret slaves, blood‑stained passes, and enigmatic quests that lead the duo toward courts of high priests and cages of unknown beasts. Along the way, mythic characters such as the mighty Zobo and the white dove Astolba appear, promising both danger and wonder. Listeners will be drawn into a world where the line between reality and fantasy blurs, setting the stage for a grand adventure that unfolds one striking chapter at a time.