Princess Rescue Inc

by Chris Hechtl

  He looked around catching and locking eyes on each of the opposition leaders one by one until they ducked away. Duke Troy nodded, fully ready to support him and the Queen. “My rules, my way. The Queen is your ruler and I respect her. Take it or leave it,” he smiled grimly as the crowd murmured quietly but none stepped forward. He nodded once more. “Some of the things I do you will not like. In fact I can guarantee you won’t,” he smiled wickedly. This had even the pale nobles starting to color as they recovered and digested his words. Deidra glanced at her mother uncertainly.

  “Others will be interesting for you, and your descedents. Like treating or curing many diseases you've been afflicted by, and doing our best to end hunger and starvation,” he continued on, ignoring the looks. The crowd murmured and then stopped. “But when we are done your Imperium will be the strongest in the world. Duluth will find that out the hard way shortly,” he said determination etched into his being. He smiled again grimly.

  The murmurs grew, then cheers broke out. After a moment someone started clapping, then another and another until the entire room was thundering with applause. Some of it was polite, politicians who were going along with the masses. That was fine in his book he thought as he surveyed them, locking each who didn't look too happy into his memory. He nodded tightly as he holstered his guns and then as the crowd began to settle he bowed to the Queen. “Your majesty you were saying?” he said politely, voice returning to normal. All eyes turned to her as the voices faded.

  She cleared her throat in the silence. Her white make up didn't go at all well with her black dress and veil Ryans thought. She bowed her head slightly to Ryans, pursing her lips. She was shaken by the turn of events, but hid it well. “I think a recess is in order for the moment.” She nodded again and then turned.

  The Queen had them recess for a few moments as servants arrived to carry the body of the baron away and air out the room. The courtiers retired to the outer vestibules and the courtyard for air and light discussion. In the interim Deidra got to Ryans and hugged him. “Are you okay?” he asked stroking her hair gently. He knew he had some back spray on him from the baron but at that moment he didn't give a damn if she didn't.

  She looked surprised. “Me?” she asked, mouth curving into a smile. Her fierce eyes softened.

  He smiled back. “Yeah you missy, I know he hurt you with that bull pucky.”

  She nodded looking away then hugging herself to him once more. “Thanks,” she said softly. He nodded. “My hero,” she murmured teasing him. He chuckled softly as she leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. A few nearby caught sight of this and murmured. She caught a few of their expressions and then smiled a little coquettishly as they turned away and started to murmur. She whispered in his ear “Well done.”

  He smiled again as they broke the embrace and then grimaced at the gossips clucking away and shooting sidelong glanced their way. “Like hens,” he sighed. “It'll be all over the castle before long,” he griped. She chuckled. He wanted to hold her and kiss her but restrained himself. His voice softened. “I'm sorry about your dad. I know it's hard losing a parent.”

  She nodded, eyes down, fighting tears. “It was his time,” she murmured. “I know the doctor did what she could. For him to live as long as he did after the first attack...” she sighed.

  He sighed as well, massaging her back. He knew he smelled of cordite and blood but she didn't seem to mind. “I wish we could have done more. Maybe someday we'll be able to,” he grimaced. “I'm sorry if I overstepped my bounds with that.” He indicated the servants hefting the body. One had the late baron by the legs, one leg tucked under each armpit. The other guy had his head turned away as he carried the dripping top end. Bits dribbled out from under the rags covering what was left of his head. The man gagged, turning green and manfully struggled with his burden. They maneuvered the body out the door and away into the courtyard. Nobles parted and fluttered fans in their faces as the men and body passed them.

  “What?” she asked looking up to him after the body passed. He grimaced turning back to her. Their eyes met.

  “I know you can and will fight your own battles. If I stepped on your toes I apologize,” he said.

  Her eyes went wide for a moment and then her lips curved in a sexy smile. “Thank you for that as well. It's traditional for a man to defend a woman's honor though,” she said with just a hint of mischief in her voice. Mother had told her to bind this man to her side, defending her honor was one way.

  His eyes glittered. “Traditions be damned. I know you can take care of yourself,” he growled. He smiled down at her. “I saw what you could do in the courtyard remember? If I hadn't gotten a hold of him first you would have,” he said. She blushed again and looked away. “Right?” he teased. After a moment she stepped on his foot and bit her lip before she reluctantly nodded. He chuckled.

  “So why did you intervene?” she finally asked.

  “Cause I just killed him. You would have chopped him into little bits and had fun doing it,” he replied chuckling. “You would have made him suffer. Not something that would help you in the long run.”

  “Ah,” she said thoughtfully as she nodded. He was a wily one, smart, able to think and plan the long game. Yes, mother was right, he'd do. She had to be the soft one, had to be tough but fair, and approachable. He was destined to be the hard fist, fear was a great motivator of people, and it kept them honest she knew. Softly she guided him away from the spot he had been standing on so the servants could clean up the mess on the floor.

  <==={}------------>

  Duke Rojer held his wife, more for her support than his. He'd underestimated the gaijin, he admitted that. The baron obviously had, obviously underestimated the support the gaijin threw to the Queen. The baron... could his actions have precipitated this? He wasn't certain. What he was certain of was that he was heartily glad this gaijin Ryans had interrupted the baron before the fool could have nominated him for the throne. That would have been disastrous. He would have been forced into a civil war, or been put to death right then and there to prevent one.

  “What do we do?” Serena asked softly.

  “Nothing. Nothing at all. We prepare for war and do as we're told for now,” he murmured in her ear as he stroked her hair. There will be time enough for other things when the dust had settled.

  “It was so brutal, so shocking,” Serena said, clearly shaken. He grunted.

  He'd seen men die of course; he'd killed a few in his time and put some to death. And of course he'd ordered men and women put the death. “Is that how the battle will go?” Serena asked.

  “I don't know,” he ground out. For once he feared for the future, what it would bring once these new weapons became common among the royal army. No force could stand against them, of that he was certain. It was terrifying, knowing that he couldn't resist such might. He had to swallow his pride.

  “You'll need to show your support,” Serena murmured to him, looking up into his eyes. He nodded. “Sign the gaijin treaty. It will smooth things over with them and they will eventually let down their guard,” she murmured.

  “I...” He thought about it briefly and then shrugged mentally. “All right,” he said grudgingly.

  “I must write baroness Muchinson. Anna must be told of her husband,” Serena said with a moue.

  “I do not envy you that task love,” Rojer said, hugging her.

  “She is gravid with another child. That is why she didn't come to court,” she said. Which was true but the baron of course had his own reasons for getting his wife pregnant. And Anna had her own reasons to stay behind. Both were surprisingly similar. He didn't want her to see him having affairs with other women, and she didn't want to see it either. And with her pregnant he assumed she wouldn't be interested in trysts of her own. What fools men could be, Serena thought, turning away slightly to see the gaijin. “They have wrought great change in such a short time. I wonder what else they have in store for us?” she murmured as the gaijin officer approa
ched his leader.

  “I don't know,” Rojer said. He looked into the future and shuddered. “I just don't know,” he murmured.

  <==={}------------>

  “Well, that was a bit overdone,” Perry said grimacing as he caught up with Ryans. “Indiana Jones has nothing on you,” he teased.

  Ryans shook his head. Deidra had been called away to consult with her mother and sister for the moment. “You didn't think I had it in me?” he asked.

  Perry shook his head. “Well, it's done now,” he sighed. He hadn't honestly thought that Ryans could kill in cold blood. Technically he didn't, the other man had been armed and had lethal intent but seeing Ryans in action had tripped up his mental image of the civilian once more.

  Ryans shrugged it off. He knew what Perry was thinking, what some of the others were thinking. It really had all the hallmarks of an execution in many ways, all ways but one really. “You expected me to go up against a master swordsman? Like I said, I play on my own field, with my own tools,” he smiled grimly. “I know better than to play with a sword. Liable to cut myself with the damn thing as it is,” he said, turning away in mock disgust.

  Perry snorted. “Probably, you're just lucky none of those shots killed anyone in the crowd.”

  Ryans winced. “Don't remind me,” he breathed. Now that it was over and done with the very thought appalled him. He should have taken it outside, away from the crowd. He threw his hands up, ignoring the flash of nausea. “Yeah, I screwed it there. Just remember, it was you that suggested using the guns,” he said eying the officer. Perry snorted.

  “So where did you learn to shoot like that?” Perry finally asked. He'd been meaning to ask about that since last night.

  Ryans smiled in fond memory. “My granddad, he took me in after my parents died. He and grams, He was a vet. Korean vet. Nam too, though he didn't talk about that much. He was gung ho though, a real gun nut. He really loved the service and pushed for me to go into the military.” He snorted at the thought. At one point he'd seriously considered it. His not joining wasn't the act of defiant independence his grandfather had alluded to; it had been a logical decision on his part. “Even had me in a military summer camp at one point, till I got wind it was teaching some people white power militia crap and put my foot down,” he growled. Perry scowled and reluctantly nodded. He'd heard about crap like that from the grapevine.

  Ryans grimaced. “I don't like anyone force feeding me religion or bigotry. Granddad didn't believe me at first till I showed him a sermon I recorded with my camera. His friend was the camp owner, boy did they have words!” He laughed in memory at that rather spectacular blow up. He shrugged the thought aside. “Needless to say I got some training, but I was turned off. Loved military history, tactics, military strategy games, even a few FPSs but I fell in love with electronics more.”

  “Ah,” Perry nodded. “And with your bucks...”

  Ryans nodded and smiled a half smile. “Exactly. I started in junior high school. Granddad was pushing for me to be into football and ROTC, but I got into electronics and programming. I got into the college classes and the engineering challenges, I loved the robotics challenges! When I turned sixteen I started selling stuff to teachers and students and on the web. We had a big row when he found out I wasn't playing his play book... Till he saw me doing my accounting,” he snorted in memory once more. His grandfather's expression had been priceless. He hadn't known the old man's eyebrows could go that high or his jaw could drop that low. Of course the number of zeroes in his check book had something to do with it. Ryans hadn't had access to the insurance money, just his allowance. But he'd turned that little nest egg into quite a hefty profit for himself. “He thought it was math homework till I explained what it was. I had to show him my bank statement. When he finally caught on he reluctantly came around,” he smiled fondly. Reluctance was the key thing. Gramps had been a grump for a long time.

  “Maybe gram had a talk with him. I'm not sure,” he said after a moment and then shrugged. It was a moot point anyway, long past the time or relevance.

  “Why did you stay with them?” Perry asked.

  “Oh, I had family on the other side, mom's family. There was even a big custody battle over me. I found out when I was fifteen. It had dragged out for three years. When I was made to go to court I made it clear to them, the money is in escrow till I turn eighteen then its' mine,” he smiled grimly. “You should have seen them back away after that. We were ah, just looking out for your welfare,” he snorted using air quotes. “Yeah right, I always wondered about the expensive gifts and the talks they tried to give me. Tried to get me to say crap about grams and granddad.” He shook his head. Of course after that court appointment the gifts and concerned calls had dried up overnight.

  “Ah well, over and done with now.” He looked over to the Queen. She was pale even under the makeup. He wasn't sure if it was because of the events or the over use of makeup medieval societies used. She looked like death warmed over... paper white. He shook his head. Deidra and Zara had the right idea, borrowing make up from Wanda, Charlie, or Doc. She looked more natural, not a Victorian caricature or a doll.

  “Talk about the mother-in-law from hell,” Perry snorted nodding to her.

  “Yeah, I think she just got a wake up call that everything's not going to go as easily and neatly as she thought though,” Ryans said as he smiled grimly, looking over to the Queen and nodding politely to a courtier facing them. She turned away and fanned herself. “At least I hope so.”

  Perry nodded. “So you’re staying?”

  Ryans turned, catching a view of the town below. A slow wave of black mourning flags and banners was spreading outward with the castle at the center. He turned away from the sight. “Oh hell, I dunno, I don't want to,” Ryans sighed. “But I'll get our people home safe. Or try. I dunno beyond that, I guess I'll have to play it by ear and burn that bridge when I come to it,” he vowed as he grimaced. Perry nodded.

  <==={}------------>

  Two days later he tried to keep from scowling as they walked down the main road through town. The funeral procession was decked in black. Mourners lined both sides of the road also decked in black or dark brown. The King was laid out on a carriage for all to see. He looked peaceful, arms crossed on his chest holding a sword. He was dressed in his armor, with his shield against one thigh. White alien flowers framed his body.

  The court walked behind the carriage in order of importance. They were arrayed according to rank, with the Dukes immediately behind the royals, and then on and on through the various ranks. Each of them were subdued, none had lashed out for fear of Ryan's wrath. Indeed Duke Rojer had even gone so far as to finally sign the gaijin treaty. Others who had also held out had also signed it, publicly regretting the oversight.

  All were dressed in black; all were quiet, reflecting on the event and what the future entailed. They marched to the slow beat of a drum. Ryans glanced over his shoulder to see the soldiers. There were a lot of them, some forming perimeter security, others marching in respect to their fallen sovereign.

  The Queen had insisted on using the new troops and weapons. To disguise their true purpose it looked like Perry had ordered them to fix bayonets. Anyone without knowledge of gunpowder would assume they were some sort of spear or club from a distance. They weren't taking any chances of a spy in the rank and file of the spectators getting word back to the enemy of just how many they really had.

  He turned his eyes to the heavy, leaden sky with a sigh. Perfect weather, downright dreary. It was going to rain, you could feel it. A big rush of humidity the day before followed by a sudden sharp drop in temperature and clouds darkening the sky from horizon to horizon. He felt a rustle as a puff of wind blew through the procession, making the light silk muslin ruffle and snap. After a moment he felt the first drops of mist on his arms.

  “Perfect,” he muttered to himself as they walked. He glanced up to the various people on the street and in the windows. They made their way to the town
square where a bonfire was set up.

  Workers, also dressed in black moved the King's body to the fire. The mourners filled the square, ringing the pile.

  The Queen looked out over the assembly then took his hand. Carefully he helped her up the stairs to stand on the platform. Both daughters joined her.

  “Let us bow our heads in memory of King Andreas, a wise and just ruler...”

  Ryans bowed his head, trying to ignore the speech. When it was concluded he looked up to see Zara's face streaked and wet despite being downcast. He couldn't blame the girl, it was hard. The rain was really coming down now, her hair was limp and damp, despite the black shawl.

  The seneschal handed her a torch. She gulped, looked at it, and then appealingly looked to her mother and sister. Her sister nodded taking the torch. She hefted it high into the air. There was a hush from the audience.

  “May he continue to watch over his subjects and forever be remembered. The just shall prevail!” she thundered. A crack of thunder echoed as the rest of her words were drowned out. She turned and looked to her mother the Queen.

  Her mother nodded. Together they held hands and thrust the torch into the straw pile. After a brief moment it caught. It burned lightly for a moment then started to go out.

  Max stepped forward and held up a plastic jug. “Here, use this princess. But be careful. Step back cause it packs a wallop.”

  Deidra smiled politely in thanks and bent to take the jug. She took the cap off and then sniffed it. She wrinkled her nose and shot a glance to Ryans who shrugged.

  She sprinkled a few drops on the dying embers. Suddenly they flared into a bluish flame. She smiled and then sprayed some off to one side where the fire had yet to catch.