by Alex Avrio
“We will not yield to the feelings of this enchantment,” Jaeger said.
Regina let out a sigh. Jaeger was nothing if not stubborn. He would suffer, and make her suffer too, to uphold the principle of not doing what they were cursed to do.
“We should distract ourselves. What better way than sword practice?” He drew his sword.
Regina reluctantly drew hers.
Jaeger came at her with a textbook attack, which she parried with ease. His eyes shone with the intensity of the fervor of battle. This was what he would have been like as an officer in the Imperial Eressian Army, Regina thought. They would have killed each other without hesitation if they met on the battlefield. She wasn’t sure if these feelings were her own, but Regina felt her resentment rising, and met his strikes firmly with her own. It was she who was doing him a favor to even consider having any kind of relationship with him, a former Eressian officer. A man tainted by his past. Regina quickly rose to match the intensity. She felt she would gladly skewer him given the chance.
5 OLD ACQUAINTANCES
REGINA and Jaeger entered the west gate of Bondesburg on market day. The guards gave their papers a quick look and waved them through. They passed carts full of vegetables and fruits, stalls with meat hanging from large hooks and tables filled with pots and pans, knives and knife sharpeners and tablecloths. Regina noticed a lack of luxury goods on sale. Jaeger leaned from his saddle towards an old woman selling apples and asked for half a dozen. She gave him a toothless smile, her eyes lit up and she put a good dozen of them in his saddlebag. He smiled back at her and counted the money into her palm, but she accepted only the amount for half of them. Jaeger protested but she interrupted him with a wave of her hand.
"My son was a soldier," she said. Jaeger nodded and accepted the fruit. Regina noted that his accent became thicker when he was speaking with other Eressians.
They moved further along and found their inn, The Swine Herder’s Head. Regina suppressed a little smile. Only the Eressians, she thought. Inside the wooden floors and tables were clean and the fire blazing, sending wisps of wood smoke across the large room. Regina sat at a table and ordered their dinner and drinks while Jaeger went to sort out rooms. A steaming bowl of soup was waiting for him when he returned.
"They're full with the market and all the soldiers coming to escort the Princess," Jaeger said. Regina looked at him.
"Are we homeless for the night?" she asked.
"No. I asked nicely and they found a room for us."
Regina gave him a look.
"I can be charming when I want to be," Jaeger said.
"Pity you don't want to be a bit more often," Regina commented.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Jaeger replied with a cheeky shrug.
The following morning, Regina and Jaeger woke up early and, having scrubbed up in cold water to the best of their abilities, went to report to Colonel Meyer at Bondesburg Palace. The guards took one look at their blue mercenary coats and directed them to the tradesmen entrance. Jaeger frowned but made no comment. Inside a maid took them to a butler who led them to a waiting room and asked if they would like something to drink while he informed Colonel Meyer of their arrival. The couches were richly upholstered in azure velvet, the wooden carvings gilded, and the carpet was the thickest Regina had ever stepped on. Fat painted cherubs sat in the corners of the high ceilings holding flowing ribbons and armfuls of flowers. In the center of the wall to the left of the couch was a mirror with elaborate golden decorations. Opposite the mirror hung a painting depicting naked young women fighting off heavily armored and armed horsemen.
"Will you sit down?" Regina asked. Jaeger instead moved closer to the painting to observe some detail.
"You know what that is?" Regina asked.
"Of course I do. All Eressians would. It's an old story about how the Eressian women defended their homes from a raid of the Horsemen from the Eastern Steppes while their men were away. Though, I doubt that they fought them off naked like that."
Jaeger moved to observe another painting. It depicted a young woman tied on a rock with heavy chains. A young knight was locked in mortal combat with a dragon for her life.
“Even you know what this is?” Jaeger commented.
“Saint George and the Dragon?” Regina shrugged.
“Saint Georg is one of our earliest Kherrs.”
“Surely not,” Regina exclaimed incredulously.
“A Kherr is a knight of Eressia, the best fighters we had to send against the eastern hordes and any other threat to the empire. It is a title originally bestowed by the first Emperors of Eressia and cannot be merely inherited. It is passed down from a parent that is a Kherr to a son or daughter that serves in the military and sheds blood for the Motherland.”
“I know what a Kherr is, Jaeger,” Regina snapped. “You can stand there till the end of time saying whatever you want: Saint George is well known to be a Merrovigian Knight and that won’t change, no matter how many paintings Eressians paint.”
The door opened, and a tall man wearing the uniform of an Eressian Major entered. He bore an ugly scar like an upside down crescent moon on his right cheek and a cold sneer on his lips. His eyes fell on Jaeger.
"I heard that you'd become a whore for hire, Jaeger," he said. Jaeger's face paled and his back stiffened. "But I hadn't thought that even you would have a Merrovigian sow as a pimp."
Regina raised her eyebrows. She'd broken the nose of the last man who'd called her a Merrovigian sow. But, unfortunately, this wasn't the place, much as she'd like to give the ugly bastard a kick in the balls.
"Old boyfriend, Jaeger?" she asked. The man was not amused. Jaeger went red in the face but remained silent. Regina knew him well enough now to know that he didn't trust himself to speak.
"Well, Major," Regina went on, "we charge by the hour. So, if Meyer sent you, start speaking, or toddle off – because we're not cheap, you know."
The Major’s face reddened and he drew his sword. Jaeger's met it instantly. Fortunately at that moment the butler escorted Colonel Meyer into the room.
"Major Morgenstern, Kapitan Jaeger!" he shouted. "Stop this immediately. How dare you draw your swords in here!"
He rushed to stand between the two men. They hastily resheathed their swords. Meyer fumed but didn't get a chance to speak further because he was interrupted by a squeal of delight.
"Is that them?" a young woman's voice asked. She walked into the room accompanied by a female Eressian lieutenant. The lieutenant was tall, and would have been pretty but for a scar that began at the bottom of her nose and ended under her lower lip. Regina guessed that she'd met the hand guard of a saber or the butt of a musket. The young woman, a girl really, was on the short side, with light blonde hair and bright cornflower-blue eyes. She walked past the lieutenant, the major and the colonel and stood in front of Jaeger.
"Are you really a Merchant Blade?" she asked him.
"Yes, Madam," he said dryly. The young woman clapped her hands in delight. She turned towards Regina.
"You as well?"
"Yes, Madam."
The young woman studied her for a moment. "But you're pretty," she said. "I thought only ugly women joined the Merchant Blades."
Regina didn't know how to answer so she said nothing. The woman turned to Meyer.
"I am– I mean, the Princess is most pleased that you hired them. Real Merchant Blades! We've read so much about them. They must travel with us. They simply must. "
Meyer's mouth twitched. Clearly this wasn't what he had intended.
"Of course, my lady," he muttered. The young woman stared at Meyer as if expecting something more. He suddenly understood.
"This is Lady Emilia, lady-in-waiting to Princess Rosamynd." Lady Emilia gave them a beaming smile. "My Lady, may I present to you, Captain Regina Fitzwaters and Kapitan Maximillian Kherr Jaeger."
Lady Emilia brought her hands together in glee. "We have been reading so many books about Merchant Blades adventures," she said. "P
rincess Rosamynd and Baroness Orsy are going to love having you with us on the journey." With that she left the room. The lieutenant hurried after her, an amused look in her eyes while Morgenstern's expression was sheer malice. Meyer gave him and Jaeger both a look that indicated that he hadn't finished with either of them. Then he took a deep breath.
"Well," he said, "this wasn't what I planned at all."
6 THE PRINCESS BRIDE
JAEGER spent the rest of the day engrossed in preparations for the job. Regina knew by now that if he didn't want to talk about something he wouldn't. Meyer had told them the plan was for the Blades to stay in the rearguard, and keep an eye out for any strange behavior in the column of Hussars as well as in the surroundings. Meyer was hoping that Lady Emilia would forget about the Merchant Blades by the time the convoy would leave. Judging from the excited squeak she'd let out, Regina didn't think that she'd be so easily distracted. Jaeger spent the evening next to the fire, drinking. Regina let him be. She went through the maps and the details one more time and then went to bed for an early night. Briggs and the rest of the gang were due to arrive tomorrow. Regina undressed, got into her bedclothes and unbraided her hair. It took some time to untangle it and brush it back into submission. She made a new braid to sleep in and got into bed. She took a moment to savor the luxury of sleeping in a bed with clean linen, a quilt, warm blankets and a roof over her head. It would be a while before she was likely to get the chance again. She wondered why people thought mercenaries lived a glamorous life. The penny books, she thought, filled with made-up adventures, written by someone who hadn't spent a day in their life soldiering. Regina was still awake when Jaeger finally staggered in and crawled into bed. He put his arm around her waist like he usually did when it was cold.
"Old enemy?" she whispered. Jaeger didn't reply and Regina thought he'd fallen asleep.
"Old friend," he finally said.
"Gold as your boss, Morgenstern as your friend. I'm worried about the rest of your acquaintances," she muttered. Jaeger just nuzzled his face in the nape of her neck. She could smell the alcohol on his breath. For a moment she wondered what he would do next. What she would do next. But in the next heartbeat she heard a snore, and the question was answered.
Next morning the rest of the team arrived at the Inn. Briggs gave Regina a big bear hug and handed Jaeger a letter, which he put into his waistcoat pocket to read later. Amanates was dressed proudly in a brand new blue mercenary coat. Regina was certain he still thought of his family in The South Across the Water and this job would be good for him to earn money towards his passage back home. The people at the inn were unaccustomed to someone so dark-skinned and gave him a few curious looks, but nothing more.
"Hello, Kapitan Hunting Dog!"
Jaeger looked up sharply from the map he was studying, to see Charlie. Regina suppressed a laugh.
"What are you doing here?" he growled. "I thought you and Thomas were doing business in Border Town."
Charlie frowned. "I don't know what you guys gave Gold and Honesty, but right now Border Town isn't a healthy place to be for people who've been seen with you." She gave them a smile and a shrug. "Plus, a wedding is a great place to sell exotic goods."
Jaeger narrowed his eyes. "Did you tell them to come here?" he asked Regina. Wherever Charlie was, Thomas wouldn't be too far behind.
"I did," she said. "Apart from our usual team, I think we'll need people with special skills in this job."
Jaeger raised a questioning eyebrow.
"Among Charlie’s accomplishments, she used to be a maid. Meyer has agreed to place her in the princess's staff, and she can keep an eye out there from inside. Thomas will be a serving boy."
“Are the rest with you?” Jaeger asked.
Briggs didn't need to answer, as Summers, Jackson, Eleven and Thomas came bundling through the door in high spirits.
Jackson waved to the waitress for food and drinks. "I'm famished," she declared.
"I'm parched," Eleven chipped in sitting down, stretching her legs in front of the fire. "So, how’s the honeymoon going?"
Regina and Jaeger both looked uncomfortable.
"Captains," Briggs stepped in, "tell us about the job."
The princess decided to prolong her stay with her cousin, so the procession that would accompany the princess was to form up three days later. Lady Emilia hadn't forgotten about the Merchant Blades, and to Meyer's evident dismay she had infected the Baroness and the Princess with her enthusiasm, requesting that Meyer arrange for the two Merchant Blades officers to have a brief visit on the eve of their departure.
"I don't like this at all," Regina said, readjusting her scabbard buckle as they waited to be presented to the Princess and her ladies-in-waiting. "Polishing up and performing like monkeys when we should be preparing for tomorrow. By the time we're done and back at the Inn we'll have barely time for a few hours of sleep."
"Stop complaining," Jaeger told her. "Think of it as an opportunity. If they like us they might keep us as pet monkeys in their court."
Regina's expression soured even further.
"Weren't you trying to get a position in the Duchess of Korthi's court last year?" Jaeger asked. Regina gave him a look that would have withered a lesser man. Jaeger just smiled. A position in court, Regina thought, but an Eressian court? She wasn't sure how much she wanted a position in an Eressian court, even if it would mean an end to her wandering days. But if they offered Jaeger a position, would she even get a choice? A manservant in a livery coat opened the door and ushered them into the Princess's drawing room.
A roaring fire kept the room warm enough for the ladies to wear their fine dresses. The ceiling was dark blue with yellow stars accurately depicting the constellations. A large chandelier amplified the light through an elaborate use of mirrors inside the candle holders. On one wall hung a painting of a man who could only be the Prince of Eraden, provincial ruler and father of the bride. The painter had done all he could to make the prince pleasing to the eye, yet it was evident to Regina that the Princess must have taken her mother's looks. While Meyer made the introductions Regina studied Princess Rosamynd. She was elegant, with golden hair and eyes the color of sapphires. She had graceful long limbs and a swan's long neck. Her cheekbones were high and her teeth perfect when she smiled. Jaeger bowed and kissed her hand.
"I'm pleased to make your acquaintance, Kapitan," she said.
Regina disliked her even more when she heard her pleasant melodious voice and intelligent manner. She turned to Regina.
"Yours as well, Captain Fitzwaters."
Regina gave her best smile. Jaeger bowed and made to kiss the hands of the other two ladies attending. One was introduced as Baroness Adel Orsy. She sat next to the princess, observing the happenings quietly. One might be tempted think that she was sulking. Regina thought well she might, having to sit next to a princess who was so pretty. The Baroness had a round face with large plump cheeks, watery blue eyes and the teeth of a donkey. The Baroness's eyes lit up as Jaeger turned his attention to her and gently kissed her hand. She gave him a broad smile. Finally, he turned towards Lady Emilia who had been waiting impatiently for her turn. She squeaked as he kissed her hand and patted the space next to her with the other one.
"Sit here, Kapitan," she said. "Captain Fitzwaters, sit next to the Baroness. Aren't they as amazing as I told you?" she asked the other ladies. Meyer’s expression indicated that he didn't think so but refrained from saying so. As she sat down, Regina could see his hopes – for the ladies to forget about the mercenaries – decisively dwindle.
"You have to tell us about your adventures," Emilia said, unbridled excitement in her voice. "Tell us about your last assignment."
7 LEGENDARY ERESSIAN PRECISION
THE following morning, waking up well before the crack of dawn, Regina was sick in the wash bowl. Swearing under her breath, cleaning up as best she could, she got dressed slowly, and made her way down to the team. From the sullen looks on their faces it was clear
that Jaeger had been working his Eressian charm. She sat down and braced herself for a telling off, since he’d already been up and out doing her job, but he said nothing. The waitress brought a large serving tray with food and everyone tucked in. Regina reached for a beer mug but Jaeger pushed it out of reach and ordered herbal tea for her instead.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Can’t have a woman in your condition having that,” he said simply. Regina sighed. Of course he knew she'd been ill this morning. There was little they could hide from each other these days.
“I can’t have you ill from the first day of the job,” Jaeger clarified, taking the tea from the waitress and putting it into Regina’s hands. She’d expected him to be angry, but this was almost gentle. Regina took the tea and sipped it. Maybe it would help ease her stomach. She made a mental list of the things she’d eaten yesterday that might have upset her. She couldn’t think of any.
After breakfast they packed up and made for the palace. The closer they got, the more tense Jaeger became. They reached the gates, the guards waved them in and the team took their place at the end of the procession. Jaeger nudged his horse and went over to the Hussars to have a word with Meyer. A sneer crossed Morgenstern’s face but they didn’t speak. Regina took Charlie aside, when Charlie, seeing how many Eressian Hussars would be traveling with them, nearly bolted.
"While you are in the princess's employ, none will dare trouble you,” Regina reassured her. “Not all military men are like the ones in the house you worked. Most are good men.”
"Most," Charlie repeated, still unsure.
Amanates overheard and came over, towering over them both.
"If anyone harms you, little sister, consider it promised that I shall kill them," he declared.
Charlie seemed much more reassured by Amanates’ words. We could also do that, Regina thought.
