[Critique Group 1] Cleora's submission for 8/269/26/18 session

[sitting.duck at springmail.com]

In addition to the next chapter, I'm also interested in how well I have told the story so far.

1283 words 

The story so far.
Sitting Duck, a visually impaired fowl who finds it difficult to do duck like things because of her poor sight, befriended a cripple grasshopper on her way walking south for the winter.
Somehow, she and her grasshopper friend wondered into a strange world where trolls, avains, Halflings, humans, elves, fairies, dwarves, and undead all live one kingdom made up of provinces of a single race.
The rulers of the individual provinces elect one to be monarch of the Kingdom.
Unfortunately, Sitting and her grasshopper friend have wondered into the land at a time when they are at war with a stronger evil kingdom bent on their destruction.
The enemy kingdom has a pattern of starting to destroy which ever province is ruled by the kingdom's monarch.
The rulers have elected Sitting to be their monarch figuring that if she and her province are destroyed, it will be no big loss.
Sitting must prove herself a worthy monarch by finding a way out of the situation.

Part Four: 
A stuffed Duck

“Don't worry, you will be fine. We have all been new at this the first time. The tools of this land are smart. You can ask them anything. Also, feel free to call on me and Regis if there is something you don't understand. I'm sure Sir Dragon will also be willing to help as soon as he gets his own province back in order.” 
“What is the grey area on the globe?” asked grasshopper.
“That is land that has been captured by our warriors. It will be added to our kingdom. The province that captured it will receive food and taxes produced by the peasants on the new land. If you capture supplies, as in the recent battle, you will receive any food, gold, and supplies the army you defeated had.”
"Would you like to try and send a message, now?”
They heard a buzzing and turned around to see some bees behind them.
“Please pardon the interruption, my liege,“ said one of the bees. "Sir Regis has the dragon on the bank and wants to know what you want done with it.”
“I think we need to have a meeting. Can I send a message to everyone in the kingdom?”
“What is your message?” asked the crystal ball.
Sitting stared at the ball, then looked up at Dark Merlin. He nodded. “You got it,” he said with a grin.
Sitting turned back to the ball. “Everyone meet on the bank of the crystal pond ASAP.”
“Are you ready to send it?”
“Yes.”
“Message sent.”
Sitting felt numb and like things were out of control as she got up and her and Merlin followed the swarm of bees down to the crystal pond.
Regis and the others had the dragon stretched out along the bank. A tusk as long as she was tall protruded from the mouth of the only head she could see. The body of the beast stretched away from the castle.
“Wow!” said Grasshopper. "its tail spike is as tall as a tree.”
Regis walked up. “We can cut into the vein from a spot behind the ear and drain the blood into some barrels.” He stood looking at her.
Sitting stared back at him, her mind whirling with fear and confusion. “Um, I wonder if the hide could be made into suits of mail that would fit a thirty foot warrior.”
“I could do that for you,” announced Dog Breath. “I could use those tusks and tail spikes if you don't want them.”
Sitting took a deep breath, a plan forming in her mind. “It would be nice to have a trophy of this experience. I thought about the heads mounted on the walls in the receiving room, but I see they are too big.”
“I think one of the heads along with the shoulders could be mounted on top of the castle,” said Regis. “I'm going to have to lift it up by the tail to drain all the blood. I could just drop it on the castle, if you like.”
After some discussion and negotiation, a joyous Regis ended up with 200 barrels of dragon blood, Dog breath took the tusks of all but one of the dragon heads, and the three tail spikes. Dark Merlin helped Regis mount the dragon so that it looked like one of the heads was peering down from the castle, the front claws gripped the edge of the roof, and the wings stretched out above like it was just about to pounce on anyone approaching the castle. Dark Merlin took a supply of the fire wine from the spoils from the army Sitting had defeated. Dog Breath made up 200 suits of mail from the dragon hide.
The dragon meat was cut into stakes for the trolls, the smaller parts into squares for shish kebabs for the fairies, avian,  and Halflings, the shoulders and hind quarters made some nice roasts for the dwarves, humans, and elves. Everyone was invited to the feast of barbeque dragon with all the trimmings and all you could drink.
While they feasted, Sitting talked with the other rulers. She learned it was possible to hire the dragons in the land to attack another kingdom; the kingdom gained or lost gold, goods, and land depending on the outcome of battles; some creatures in the land were professional thieves, sorcerers, or warriors; and that they all worked together to help each other to defend and advance their kingdom. Her job as monarch was to lead the kingdom, and negotiate with other kingdom rulers and monarchs.
“How much will it take and how do we hire a dragon?” asked Sitting.
“The Overloards have set the price for our kingdom at 18 million gold coins. Our kingdom gets the gold together, decide what kind of dragon we want, and then hire the dragon,” said Lady Doom of the Scarlet Witch.
“What kind of dragons are there?”
“There are ruby, emerald, Sapphire, and gold dragons. I don't remember which does what,” said Dark Merlin.
“All dragons will attack and devour soldiers and peasants, but some dragons have additional powers. Emerald dragons have an aura  that mystifies their prey. Sapphire dragons block magic spells. Gold dragons burn crops and buildings. Ruby dragons only toast and eat living creatures,” said Sir Dragon. “I considered sending one when I first took over as monarch.” But, I didn't have the money to fund it, and I feared Silent Enigma wouldn't accept the peace offer if we sent a dragon.”
All ate and drank to the fullness of their capacity, 
The ant colony from the rear of the castle showed up in full force to clear away all the crumbs left over from the celebration.
By the time the party was over, Sitting’s gizzard was fuller than she could ever remember it being, she understood more about the land she had wondered into, made friends among its residents, and her barns were filled to the brim with supplies to last for a month or more. She was particularly happy about the dragon meat. Fruits and grain was fine for the rest of her subjects, but the dragon meat was more to her taste. She bad all her new friends goodbye and a weary sitting waddled her way up the stairs to one of the bedrooms in the castle. Grasshopper hopped off her head and together they crawled under the bed and went to sleep.
Next morning, Sitting was awakened by an urgent buzzing. “My liege, My liege,” Queen bee was saying.
“What?” asked a sleepy Sitting.
“I am so sorry to wake you, but I have urgent news.
To be continued