James hoped he was not arranging his own death.
The inner room of the palace was crowded. He had chosen it, and not the throne room, as it was more secure. Two extra rings of guards could be set up around them, keeping trouble out... or in. Mostly in. He let his gaze wander around the room as he sat in what he considered his "spare throne". Every noble and officer, from both the island and the mainland, stood before him. Every important male, called to a gathering of an importance they were just beginning to understand. As James observed them, all eyes were not on him, but on Ola. The slim Chamberlain stood beside the King on the raised dais, reading from a small leather bound book. His words were clear, practiced.
"Tonight. Someone woke me. It was the beautiful Elf woman. She was next to my bed. She told me she needed me to hide something. I said I had a secret spot nobody knew about. She asked me where it was, but I did not tell her because it was a secret. She smiled, and said that was a test and that I was a good boy for keeping it a secret! My face got red! She gave me a book, told me to hide it. She said it was a magic book that nobody should read, and I was not to open it. She made me promise. I promised. The pretty woman then kissed me on the forehead! She kissed me! I promised to hide the book and never tell anyone! She kissed me again, then vanished! She said some words, and vanished! Wow! Magic! I hid the book here next to this diary. Now, God, I promised that nobody would read it, so please do not read it, or let your Son or Wife read it. I promised. Thank you. Don't tell Mom, either."
Ola closed the book slowly, reverently, placing it down on a small carved table before him. Turning to James, he bowed, stepping back. Silence filled the room. The King let out a sigh.
"Those were the final recorded words of Prince Kostek, son of King Lawenza. The diary was found in a charred chest, given to me by people unknown." His eyes fell on Captain Putaski. The man's face was red, uniformed body as stiff as stone. James moved his gaze away. "I have had it read to you because events are moving in ways which make secrecy our enemy. All must be put on the table, so we may deal with it. If it comes to pass that those in this room, those who make up the power of this nation, believe I should no longer be King due to my actions, so be it. All Kings must serve at the whim of the people. There is much which must be discussed before that comes to pass, however, and I will not go without... presenting my case."
"What have you done... Your Grace?" The Captain's voice was hard. No other sound could be heard in the room.
"Many things. First, however, a question." James leaned forward, hands clasped before him. "Who here knew of the King's infidelity?"
His eyes ignored the nobles. Their hands would be clean. Furtive glances were exchanged among some of the officers, however. Commanders, those who would have had the most contact with the King. Piotr's father, Commander of the Winged Hussars, gave the King a long, hard stare. Moving away from the wall he had been leaning against, he came to stand apart from the others.
"There were... rumors, Your Grace."
"I know," he said. "Ola said he himself had a servant beaten for mentioning such a rumor. I asked who KNEW." The King's eyes flicked to Captain Putaski. The man stayed silent. James nodded. "OK. I bear no ill will for those who might have known, who kept the King's secret. Only those who lie while before me will suffer my displeasure." He smiled, noting who exchanged uncomfortable looks. He hoped Ola was doing the same. He sat up a little.
"Now, then, to more recent matters. We know, from our newly reunited countrymen, civil war has erupted among the Elves. This is NOT joyous news for our Kingdom, despite the pleasure the thought probably brings us. An unstable enemy is a dangerous enemy. I want the Elves peaceful, content, not lashing out at those around them."
"Diplomacy does NOT work with their kind," Captain Putaski said, voice loud. James nodded.
"Neither, we have found out, does its lack. That leaves us in a bit of a bind, I think you'll agree." He let his gaze leave the man, traveling over the room. "I sent a small party of trusted Poles to the city of Saribit, in the hope of learning more about the state of the Elven Kingdom. We were not pursued in our retreat, but the distance between them and us is not so great that their armies could not march against us. We must ever be vigilant, which requires information. Shanna, the Dark Hussar, led the expedition. She returned two days ago, making her report.
"The Elven Queen is dead."
There were cries of shock, as well as cheers. James held up his hand.
"She was killed by her inner circle, tortured for her affair with King Lawenza. The unborn son of our King was cut from her body and butchered."
Bedlam. Nobles, shouting, at each other, at the universe in general. Those of a military bent were quieter, but no less agitated. Heads leaned towards one another, hurried whispers passed. James tried to sort the reaction out. Joy at her death was tempered by the fact Elves had done it. After all, if the Elves wanted her dead, perhaps the Poles wanted her alive? And the child. That, James felt, was going to be key. The knowledge that such a boy could exist would be a downside, most likely, given the xenophobia these people (understandably) had, yet his death could gain Catty sympathy. Or it could result in calls for her death so that could not happen again. James had to admit he didn't know what he was doing here. It was too big. Still, he was committed. He raised his hand.
"Quiet!"
The guard Duda, standing beside the throne, slammed the butt of his pike against the wood floor. The crack reverberated through the room. Silence slowly fell upon them. James lowered his hand.
"There is more. The eldest Elven Princess, daughter to the Queen, has also fallen, brought down by an illness after fleeing her own people. Only one member of the Royal family still survives. A young girl, not yet a woman. She is the heir to the Elven throne, but has disowned her own people. Disowned her own race. She fled across the world, seeking sanctuary.
"She is now my guest."
****
"That went well."
James let his body collapse into the large stuffed chair in the middle of the living chamber. He felt tired. Drained. Two hours. Two hours of calls to have the Elf Queen crucified before the church steps, to put her in a zoo, to convert her to Christianity and send her back to bring her people to Jesus. All to have it circle around and end up with things exactly as they had been.
He hoped to God he had done the right thing. At least there had been no voices raised against him, personally.
"I heard," Ewa said. The teen lay on a thick rug before him, playing with the baby Marik. The infant was starting to learn how to move around, half crawling, half pulling himself by whatever was available as he explored the world of the rug. Carved and painted wooden toys were scattered around him, as well as cloth stuffed animals. As James watched, Ewa grabbed a toy wagon and pulled it towards her. Marik's eyes followed. As it passed by, he made a grab for it. Ewa let him capture the intruder, which he then proceeded to bang on the carpet.
James couldn't help but smile, both at the child and at Ewa. She had been listening. James had designed certain rooms on the first floor in such a way so that the sound would carry up to the second. He had also sent trusted people through to test and confirm the reverse would not be true.
Then confirmed it himself.
"Did anything strike you?" he asked. Hand now holding a stuffed bear, she looked up at him and shook her head.
"No. They were all confused. The one in favor of crucifixion was very vocal, though."
"Yes," James snorted. "The loudest are usually the stupidest."
"You AREN'T going to marry her, right?" Ewa gave the bear to Marik, pushing herself up into a sitting position. Her eyes were worried. James shook his head.
"No. No, that's not happening. The bigots are right about that, there's no way the people would accept a royal marriage between Pole and Elf. Also," he said, smiling, "she's a bit too green for me. I'm no Captain Kirk."
"Who?"
"Someone from stories back home. He'd fuck anyone of any race or skin color."
"Does color matter to you?" she asked. He frowned.
"No." He hoped he didn't sound as insulted as he felt. The question, in a world where only one human had a different skin color from the rest, had a different connotation than it would at home. "It's the whole non-human part. Shanna is, mostly, human."
Ewa laughed.
There was a knock at the door. Doors. James was so happy to now be somewhere with doors, to have some privacy as King. Not much, but some. He rotated his neck, feeling muscles crack.
"Enter."
Duda opened the door. The guard bowed his head.
"Your Grace. Captain Putaski would like to see you."
James groaned.
"Not now. Have him talk to Ola. We'll set up something..."
The black haired Captain appeared behind Duda. He pushed the guard aside, strolling into the room. James shot to his feet, Ewa doing the same, scooping up Marik. The boy bit the teddy bear's ear, unaware anything was wrong.
"Guards!" James' command was sharp. Duda already had his sword out, moving to put himself between Putaski and the King. The Captain stopped where he was. His face was as it had been down below, hard, angry. A half dozen of the King's hand picked guard rushed into the chamber, swords out. James noticed the Captain was unarmed.
"Captain Putaski," he said, willing his voice calm. "There are certain protocols regarding entering the King's presence. I do not think all of them are necessary, true, but this is not a good time to be annoying me."
"None of us like being... annoyed, Your Grace."
"Very true." Outside the doorway, James saw Ewa's brother staring in, eyes terrified. James turned to her. "Ewa, perhaps you should check on the kitchen."
"Alright, James." Her use of his name in front of the officer was intentionally provocative. Her eyes shot daggers into the man as she slowly made her way around him. As she exited, she closed the door behind her, but not before giving James one final glance. There was uncertainty, fear, as well as love, trust. So much could be said with just those eyes.
He heard the door's latch catch.
"OK, then," James said, hands motioning his men to lower their weapons. Duda was now at his side, the burly man doing much to calm the King just by his presence. "What's on your mind, Captain?"
"I want to know if you've lost yours, Your Grace."
The look on the guards' faces was comical, almost. James considered that lesser men would probably be punished for speaking thus to the King. Hell, greater men might be killed outright, being as they were a greater threat. He regarded the man.
"Why didn't you tell me about the Elf Queen?" James folded his arms across his chest. He was guessing, here. Obviously the old Captain of the Royal Guard had kept much from him, but exactly what was unknown. The man's eyes narrowed.
"It was not important."
"Then it is not important that the information is now public." James almost thought he heard the Captain growl under his breath. He held up his hand, forestalling a reply. "You withheld information from me, Captain, causing me to no longer trust you. I was forced to go elsewhere for my information. Would I have come to you when Shanna discovered the Elf girl? Yes. In fact, I almost did. What would you have told me to do?"
"To send her away. Elves can not be trusted. Or," he added, considering, "kill her."
"Yes," James nodded. "That's why you are a soldier, and not a diplomat. It may be we'll end up killing Catty later, if events come to that, but she is still valuable. You can not un-kill someone, so that should be your last response, not your first."
"The whole world now knows she's here! The people will rise up against you!"
"We'll see. There's a saying in my old world, that hiding a mistake or crime always leads to more problems than the mistake itself. Rumors were going to spread. The people were going to hear, and spread, evil stories about me, the Palace, just as they had about King Lawenza. I've put a stop to that. They may not like what I've done, but I've done it in public. There is no evil conspiracy."
"So you say, Your Grace."
There was silence. James hoped to God he hadn't destroyed his relationship with this man. He needed him. The nation needed him. James was still ignorant in so many ways. It was just... the man had made him King. If that was to have any meaning, ALL had to be loyal, subservient, at least to some degree. That had to include Captain Putaski.
The Captain's whole body seemed to deflate. Around them, the guards relaxed, sensing the change in the man they had known for years.
"It was stupid," he said, eyes looking around the room, "but it is done. You still have my loyalty."
"Your loyalty to the Kingdom was never in question," James said. Which was true. It was only whether that trumped loyalty to the King which was the issue. The man straightened, eyes meeting the King's.
"That said, you now must marry. Immediately, or at least pick your bride. There must be NO thought of a union between the Elf Queen and yourself. No rumor that the unnatural lusts of King Lawenza have found a home in you. They will think you are bewitched."
"And for me to consider that, they would probably be right." Feeling tired again, he sat back in the comfy chair, its cushions molding themselves around his body. "I assume Ewa is still not acceptable?"
"Better than an Elf, by far, but... no. Not with so many eligible Noble girls. And you now need to reaffirm your commitment to them. Pick one, your grace, fuck her a few times until her belly swells with a son, then ignore her in favor of your commoner girl. It is the way of Kings."
"The ways of nobility become less noble every day." James sighed. "I'll do it. Let me think. Pass the word that I will name a bride within a week."
"I will pass that on to Ola." The soldier bowed. James raised an eyebrow at him.
"Also pass on that the next guard to let you by without my permission will be whipped." James smiled, motioning to Duda. "Escort him out, please."
****
Shanna watched the nobles walk down the wide stone path, filing from the Palace like dazed children. They noticed her, of course. Almost every eye seemed to focus on the warrior woman, conversations halting mid-word at her visual intrusion. She smiled, enjoying herself. Making middle aged guys nervous had become a hobby of hers.
From the lack of word from the Palace, she assumed James had not fucked up too much. From the demeanor of those now making their way to the city below, open rebellion was not in the immediate offing. Nor was she seeing any eyes traveling past her to the fort. She would increase the watch, naturally, but it did not seem there would be a threat to the Elf Queen quite yet.
Soon, though. There was always some crazy radical.
Deciding she had seen enough, Shanna pushed off of the tree she had been leaning against. Turning her armored back to the last of the nobles, she made her way around the side of the Palace. Dinner. She wanted to get back for dinner. Maybe some quick sparring with Anelie. After, she could send a runner to see if Piotr was up for a little late night sparring...
"Shanna!"
Piotr was standing before the stables, his mount saddled next to him. His men were also gearing up. Talk about good timing. Raising her arm in a friendly wave, she headed over.
As she approached, her heart sank. The men were mounting their horses. Piotr was leaving, not arriving. She spoke before he could say anything.
"I suppose an evening get-together is out of the question."
Piotr let out a sigh, releasing the reins of his mount to take her hands. He gave an apologetic half smile.
"His Grace ordered us to do a patrol of the city."
"What the fuck for?" As always, his eyes seemed to wince when she questioned the King like that.
"His Grace said 'public relations', whatever that means. The rumors are going to be flying fast tonight. He wants us out there in full armor, talking to people." Shanna let out a snort of disgust. Piotr squeezed her hands, expression turning apologetic. "MAYBE I can try to come over after. It will be late, but..."
"Nah," she said, shaking her head. "You'll need your sleep. Especially if this PR requires stops at a few taverns."
"Pee Are..."
"Never mind." She gave him a quick kiss. "Go on. Do some soldiering. Stop by tomorrow."
"I will," he said. Shanna stepped back as he mounted. He looked so mature, armored and horseback like that. Why couldn't he be like that all the time?
Turning as he rode off, she went to find her own mount. She'd have to find different entertainment.
****
"Yaaah!"
Anelie's battle yell, as always, brought a smile to Shanna's lips. It was more cute than fierce, even as the girl's form became stronger, more lethal. Shanna raised her shield, the teen's wooden sword crashing into the blackened metal disc. It was a good blow, the force of the impact traveling down her arm. Anelie's shield was perfectly positioned to guard against any attack by her, so she decided to ignore it. Her body spun, shield keeping contact with the girl's sword as she moved around behind Anelie. Shanna whipped her head around, bringing the girl back into view, her sword starting its swing...
Only to find the girl had spun as well in the opposite direction, her shield in position, barely, to accept the incoming blow. Shanna grinned.
"Nice!" She stepped back, disengaging. Anelie did the same. The redhead was breathing hard, her chest heaving under the black breastplate. Her green eyes widened.
"Really?"
"Really. You're much better than that oaf of a brother of yours."
Bogdi's deep laugh came from the wooden steps where he sat with the other soldiers.
"Did you hear that, Anelie? She insulted your brother's honor! Avenge me!"
Anelie lowered her sword and shield, turning to him.
"Wait. How is my being better than you an insult? You've just insulted me!" She pointed her sword at her brother. "Fight me, Bogdi, that I may avenge my honor!"
"I am injured," he said, motioning to his bandaged shoulder. "There is no honor in fighting an injured man."
"Nor," Shanna laughed, "in fighting Bogdi in general! Let him be, Anelie. He's only a MAN after all."
As the gathered reacted as relaxed solders do, Shanna saw Anelie blush. Damn it, she hadn't meant to make a reference, however small, to the girl's... well, romantic inclinations. That was not a joking matter. As she looked around the fort parade ground, she saw Bogdi also staring at his sister with concern. His eyes shifted, catching hers. There was something... unspoken, there. Some thought which needed words. He nodded, responding to something he saw in her eyes.
She wondered what it was.
****
"She does love you, Lady."
Shanna could not help but let out a long sigh at Bogdi's words. They sat in a corner of the dining hall, the room empty, silent apart from the sound of the last few dishes being cleaned. Most of the lamps had been snuffed, giving an even greater sense of isolation. Raising her mug, Shanna took a long swig of her ale.
"Which doesn't make things easier."
"True, Lady, but as her brother I'm just happy that she's happy."
"And when I break her heart?"
"I beat you up."
Shanna almost choked on her drink. Bogdi grinned at her like an idiot, thick brown mustache like a second smile on his face. Shanna carefully put her mug down, reaching up to adjust her glasses which had begun sliding down her nose.
"What I mean, Bogdi, is... I don't go with girls. I like guys. I'm with Piotr. She has to understand that."
"She does, and I think she's OK with that. I've talked to her. Anelie will be perfectly happy just being with you, playing with herself at night to take care of any urges she's built up."
Shanna's face went red. She would have choked on her drink again if it wasn't safely deposited on the table.
"That's an image I don't need, Bogdi."
Yet... she imagined it. Imagined Anelie on top of her bed, her slim, muscular body nude. Saw her legs spread, a patch of red fur glowing in the moonlight. One hand sliding down, the other cupping a small breast...
Saw a larger, yet still feminine, brown skinned hand cup the other...
"I love Piotr," she said. Bogdi said nothing, her words sounding hollow even to her. She grabbed her mug, downing even more of the smooth ale.
Drinking always helped.