Princess Rescue Inc (30 page)

“For
a lot of people Master Sergeant,” Perry said waving. “If you'll excuse us.” He
retreated with the Master Sergeant in tow.

“Interesting
men.”

“Earl
Peta... Um...” Sue glanced to Zara.

“Pettigrew,”
Zara supplied.

“Ah,”
Sue replied. She nodded as the lord studied her with his jowls and heavy brows.
He looked like an ogre. “Sorry, Earl Pettigrew. I think you and I should have a
chat about your health. From the looks of your fingers you're ripe for a heart
attack yourself and we need to head that off before it happens.”

The
lord harrumphed. He waved away the thought irritably but froze at the look of
his wife's face. His lady looked to Sue and then nodded. “I'll make sure he
attends,” she said. Her husband looked at her and then harrumphed again. She
poked him. There was a small titter at that but finally he nodded.

Sue
smiled. “Good to hear.”

Sue
insisted they build a servants' quarters. They talked it over with the
chamberlain and the castle Castiles... then the head steward. Ryans pointed out
a store room near the kitchen that was not used. He had them clean it out, and
then they brought in a carpenter with a pair of assistants. The native wood
crafter had his apprentices bring in loads of materials.

One
of the first things he wanted done was to repair or remake the battered and
rotten door. He set them on it while he checked them out.

“Is
that plywood?” Ryans asked in surprise, picking up a small sixty centimeter
wide by one hundred twenty centimeter long panel. He examined it. The outer
layers looked like plant material. He looked at the side. It looked like it was
made up of layers. He looked at one of the men.

“Ah...
Laminated. Glue and material?” he asked tapping the board. The man looked
confused.

“Gluten...
ah... sticky stuff?” He frowned; knowing the translation wasn't working, the
guy just didn't get it. He tapped the board again and asked how it was made.

The
man shrugged. Another came in and he asked again. He cocked his head. “Secret.”

Ryans
frowned. “Well, not to us, I have an idea how it's made I just wanted to confirm
it. It looks like plywood we use on Earth.”

“Ah...
Okay.” The man shrugged. “My Dominus are you here to supervise?”

“No,
I'm here to help,” Ryans watched as the men exchanged dubious looks. He
snorted. “Just bring the materials in. I'll get some tools.” One left while the
other went about his business.

Ryans
watched him work then called Max. “What? What now?” Max answered irritably.
Ryans moved next to the window to get better reception. After a few static
pocked moments he half hung out it to get a clear signal.

“Max
do we have any carpentry equipment? Skill saw? Circular saw? Drill?”

“What
the hell do you need that... ah hell, let me check inventory.” Max paused.
Ryans could hear typing in the background. “Yeah, I got one here, a couple of
drills of course, a circular saw, and a reciprocating saw. The rest is in the
cache.”

Ryans
nodded. “Okay, I'll drop by and grab the circular saw and a drill. I've got a
project and I'd like to get it done by tonight.” He nodded to the carpenter as
he closed the phone and put it away. “I'm going to get some tools and be right
back.” The man looked amused and waved.

Ryans
came back an hour later with a pair of hammers, the circular saw, and a bag of
nails and screws. The carpenters had finished repairing the door. He sighed
swinging it back and forth. Leather hinges... it would have to do.

“Okay,
we want bunk beds,” he said. He used his hands then grabbed some scraps of wood
and explained. The carpenter and his assistant were confused. Ryans pulled out
some scrap paper from his pocket and drew out what he's talking about. The men
nodded but he was sure they weren't getting the concept.

“Okay
then,” he waved. “Let us see if we can do this.” They started with a pair of
saw horses and then move on.

He
spent the day with them laying out the materials and putting the first bed
together. They were impressed by the circular saw and examined it. He watched
as they block sanded and fit the pieces together. Once the first bed was
together they tested both bunks.

The
carpenter grinned at the idea. He ran his weathered and callused hands over the
wood. “A little stain and it'll be as good as anything back on earth. Patria.
Good job fellas,” Ryans said giving them a thumbs up.

They
moved the bunk to a spot laid out with chalk then got started on a second set.
Ryans realized the time when his phone rang.

“Where
the hell are you?” Wanda demanded when he answered.  He winced. He had the
thing on speaker phone and the carpenters were staring at him and the little
box in his hand. “You know half the damn castle is looking for you?”

“And
they didn't call because...?” he asked pausing.

“Cause
they don't have a phone jack ass. You've missed two appointments and the Queen
and princess are pissed. The guards don't know where the hell you are,” Wanda
replied.

“I'm
surprised I've got reception,” he replied thoughtfully, looking around. “I'm in
the new servant's quarters. Sue insisted we get that squared away today. Once
we get this sorted out I'm going to turn these lads loose making new quarters for
the barracks.”

“Oh.
Well, get your ass cleaned up and go talk to the Queen for god’s sake before
she starts clawing the tapestries.”

“Oh
sure, like I want to be her scratching post,” Ryans muttered.

“Bitch,
bitch. That's what you get for hiding and playing with yourself instead of
doing what you’re told,” Wanda replied and then hung up. He sighed.

“Sorry
gents, playtime is over. I'll check in on you later. Get some food now and then
finish what you can.” He looked up. The room's single window was only giving a
small amount of light. He looked over to a pair of oil lamps on the wall
sconces.

“I
must be slipping if I missed that. On second thoughts, let's knock off for the
afternoon... or take this outside,” he waved. He knew better than to try to
stain something in an enclosed space.

Out
in the courtyard they set up in a well lit area. The men ate some bread they
had brought along. He let the carpenter know he needed them to return the saw
and drill to Max. He explained that the power was low and they needed
recharging. Reluctantly the men agreed.

A
page rushed up and bowed. He panted as he told Ryans he was required to attend
the Queen at dinner. Ryans sighed. “See that these men get fed. And let the
staff know about the servants' quarters. They will need reed mattresses and
blankets. I'm going to go get cleaned up then I'll see the Queen. Go on lad,
let her know I'll be there in a bit,” Ryans said with a wave. The boy gave him
a dubious look over his shoulder then shrugged and rushed off.

<==={}------------>

Nate
gave him a look as he passed him on his way to the great hall. “Boss you are in
deep Kiamichi.”

Ryans
grimaced. “I've been busy,” he growled and then shrugged. He flexed his
fingers. “Getting my hands dirty was fun. Now that they know what to do I won't
be needed. I hope.” He said.

“The
carpenter and his apprentice?” Nate asked nodding his chin to the carpenters.

“Yeah,”
Ryans said turning. He waved and then moved on.

“They
were supposed to be setting up the hoardings on the walls of the castle you
know,” Nate replied. Ryans turned. “Just saying.” He held up his hands.

“They
can do it later, or get someone else to do it,” he growled as they entered the
hall. He felt and sensed the over powering smells and sound wash over him for a
moment. He caught sight of the Queen talking with someone. She looked up and
nodded to him. He smiled politely and walked with a steward to his seat.

“Sorry
I'm late, I've been working on a project,” he said. He smiled politely to his
dinner companions. “Did I miss much?” he asked as a platter of dripping meat
was set in front of him.

<==={}------------>

“That
bunk bed thing, you got something going there,” Perry said smiling the next
morning. “I've got the carpenters working on them in the barracks. I think we
can get that sorted out nicely.”

“That
was the plan,” Ryans replied. Well, part of it, he admitted to himself. The
other was to get his hands dirty and a little subtle reminder to himself and the
women that he wasn't going to be pushed around or bullied.

“We'll
have them sorted out soon,” Perry said. He nodded his chin as a pair of boys
approached.

“Who's
this?” Ryans asked turning as the boys looked at each other and then bowed.

“Corgi
my Dominus. Page to the royal court,” the red haired boy with the bowl cut
said. He smiled. He had a gap between his teeth. “This is Answorth he and I
have been assigned as your pages.” The boy in the red and black tunic nodded.
He was Asian, with black hair. Both kids looked about ten.

“Mine?”
Ryans asked surprised.

“Well,
mine as well apparently,” Perry snorted.

“So
we've got our own keepers now?” Ryans asked amused. The boys looked amused.
Apparently this was the Queen's way of getting him back for being out of contact,
great.

“Helping
hands. Trainees if you will.” Perry replied shrugging. “It'll grow on you I
guess.” He nodded to Corgi.

“You
two should be in school, not running errands,” Ryans growled, eying them.

“They
are. They're pages. Once they get to a certain age they become squires, then
knights, then lords. Think of us as tutors,” Perry replied.

“Oh
just peachy,” Ryans growled. He knew all that, knew these people learned on the
job but every once in a while his American values and conditioning came boiling
to the top. “Okay so where do you sleep? In the bunkhouse?”

Ah,
no my Dominus,” Answorth glanced at Corgi. “I ah, sleep in your room my
Dominus.”

“On
that cot at the foot of the bed?” Ryans asked wrinkling his nose. He wasn't at
all thrilled about sharing his room with a little kid.

“Yes
my Dominus.”

“Well,
as Nate said, bugger to that. We'll get you into a decent sized bed kid. Even
if I have to build it myself. Do you know how to read?”

The
boy gulped and nodded.

“What
about math?” Ryans asked. The kid looked uncertain. “I take it only basic
math?” he asked. “You know counting, subtraction and addition?” The boys
nodded.

“Oh
boy,” he sighed. “Well you know this castle in and out so you’re a guide too I
suppose.” The boys nodded.

“And
we are to keep your schedule my Dominus,” Corgi said nodding. “Their majesties
wish it.”

“I've
got an app. for that actually,” Ryans said holding up his phone. “Okay, well,
I'll figure something out. Until then, you...”

“Answorth,”
Perry supplied.

“I
knew that,” Ryans said giving him a dirty look. He turned back to the boys.
“You go find out the schedule. I've got an appointment with my team and then
I'm getting a rescheduled tour of the factory districts. I want you to check in
with Max and let him know and help him out if he needs it.” He waved as the boy
started to back away.

“Yes
my Dominus,” he rushed off.

“You
know you could call him,” Perry said amused.

“And
not have something else for the kid to do? I've got to figure this out. I don't
like a shadow,” Ryans frowned. Corgi had separated from them and was talking
with a milk maid.

“Yeah...
I'm not exactly keen about the idea either,” Perry said observing the duo. “I
think we'll need that school set up just to keep them busy.”

“Good
idea,” Ryans said smiling. “That just jumped to the top ten in the list.” He
shrugged. “I'll see you at the meeting?”

“Yup.”

<==={}------------>

“Your
majesty about the gaijin leader's wardrobe...” Druzilla asked, dry washing her
hands.

“Yes,
it is... different isn't it?” the Queen asked, looking up from a parchment she
was reading. She'd taken over a room next to her husband's to keep tabs on him.
Her door was open so she could see who came to his door.

“I...
he needs proper clothing majesty. Something in the royal colors perhaps? To
remind others of his pending status?”

“Interesting,”
the Queen murmured. She set her hands in her lap.

“Those
drab greens and browns are so unbecoming. They may be fashionable in the wild but
here? In the Imperium court?” the old woman said with a dry sniff.

“Perhaps
we can arrange a fitting,” the Queen replied. She looked over to the woman.
“See to it,” she ordered.

“I've
tried majesty but he seems uninterested in such things.”

“I'll
have his page rearrange his schedule then,” the Queen said in good humor.