Princess Rescue Inc (72 page)

Those
closest examined his arm, seeing the white still puffy scar tissue and fresh
bruises. Some jostled others to see. They murmured to each other. A few patted
his shoulder. He winced. “We are doubly indebted to you then. You have shown
your worth in battle then,” Duke Troy said, giving the other courtiers and
lords a meaningful look.

“Crap,”
Ryans murmured. He realized now he'd fallen into the trap and wasn't sure how
to get out of it.

The
Queen arrived to some fanfare and by announcement of a herald with a trumpet.
Everyone rose and turned to her. Deidra rose with his help, still seemingly
graceful though she leaned on his arm for support and kept her right foot up,
resting all her weight on him and her left foot.

The
Queen made her way at a stately pace through the throng, murmuring politely to
one person or another in passing. Deidra’s arm clutched at his. There was
something there... the Queen was wearing black. He sighed. The Queen reached the
dais and rose upon it, then turned to the assembled throng. Her skin was paper
white, he wasn't sure if it was the makeup, circumstances or the contrast with
the black dress of mourning she was wearing. Either way she looked like a
Victorian vampire.

“The
King is gravely ill. He will most likely not live out the night according to
our most accomplished gaijin healers,” she said. She nodded politely to Ryans
whose jaw hardened. “This war must be won; our country is on the brink of
collapse. The crown asks for your aide and patience in this.” She eyed several
in the group then turned back to Deidra. “It's good to see you well daughter,”
she said. Deidra flushed a little. The Queen turned slightly to Ryans. “And
you, her protector, I see she has insisted you stay at her side. As is right
and proper,” she said, noting his missing jacket and rolled up sleeve. Her eyes
quirked and she smiled slightly. He flushed again. The Queen nodded politely
and then turned her regal gaze on the group as a whole once more.

“The
King's will shall be read when he passes,” she said, returning her attention to
the throng. Murmurs had stirred at her pause but they were quickly silenced.
“Until then we have to go on as the King would want. Please attend to your
duties,” she said looking around. Many of courtiers took this as a dismissal
and moved off. The Queen watched a few go, pursing her lips and then approached
the couple.

Zara
broke through the throng to arrive as well. “I didn't know you'd been clawed so
badly by the
basilisk
!” she said, eyes wide.

He
shrugged it off as he put his jacket on. “Over and done with now,” he said. “Is
that why you wished for me to be here your majesty?” he asked. “To reassure
them?” he asked, politely ignoring the political maneuvers she had put him up
to. She knew he was unhappy about being manipulated but he knew better than to
take his ire out on her right now.

 She
smiled, a knowing light in her eyes. “It does have its moments,” she said. To
his surprise her stomach growled and then Deidra's did. “I'm famished. I think
it's time to eat.” She motioned to the doors to the dining chamber. “Come.” She
motioned for the girls to sit at the head of the table. The King's throne
remained empty. Ryans grumbled under his breath until Deidra shot him a warning
glance then he settled down and sat beside her. Duke Pyror looked amused; Duke
Rojer's face was tight with anger. Duke Troy looked concerned by the sudden
change in events.

“You
realize you're setting me up for an assassin or something right?” he murmured
to her. She looked at him. “When your father passes, the knives will come out.
Guess who is number one on the list?” he asked. “Even if I don't want it,” he
sighed.

She
smiled sweetly to him then turned as a platter was placed in front of them.
“Eat and be merry for tomorrow we may die,” the Queen said lightly. He sighed
again.

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

After
dinner he tried to retreat but the royal trio wouldn't allow it. Stymied he
spoke with several of the courtiers as Deidra and her family spoke with others.
At least one of them stuck to him like glue, not allowing him to leave. Even
his request to go to the bathroom had been ignored. “So, the Queen shall
continue her reign,” he said giving each a look. They looked at each other then
to him.

“The
Queen is only Queen by marriage,” one said.

His
fellow shook his head. “No, hast thee forgotten? Her majesty is the true heir.
She will not continue when the King passes though,” he said, turning to Ryans.

He
snorted. “Why? She's got the skills for it,” he replied. “And our support.”

Duke
Troy looked amused. “I don't see her on a war beast.” The men chuckled at that.

“That
depends, I for one wouldn't want to go into combat against her,” Ryans said as
he motioned to see her arguing with another lord. The lord she was berating
quietly was shrinking back. “Granted skills on the battlefield are a part of
it, but so are domestic management skills,” he said. He motioned to the hall as
Troy grunted.

“You’re
equating managing a party with managing a Kingdom? Surely you jest?” Troy
asked.

Ryans
shook his head. “Just a matter of scale actually. Diplomacy?” He cocked his
head. “Organization? Delegation? Leadership, planning? Execution? Each is a
skill hard taught on the battlefield, or in running a duchy or realm, as each
of you should know from experience. Mishandling can lead to quite a mess as you
know,” he said. Troy and his lady nodded.

The
lady Troy bowed her head slightly. “Thank you for the compliment.”

He
smiled politely to her. “Just observing the obvious Domina, I know you ladies
don't just sit around looking pretty all day. You put a lot of effort into the
world around you. We men just fail to see that from time to time and must be
reminded,” he smiled. “On Terra women in many countries have taken equal place
in politics, war, religion, and commerce.”

Troy
shot the Queen a startled look. Ryans smiled again. “A female Queen as sole
ruler?” Troy asked, suddenly trying to wrestle with the concept.

Ryans’
smile turned into a chuckle. “It's been done before on Earth believe it or not.
Queen Elizabeth took the throne and ruled for nearly ninety years. She was a
brilliant leader. Her descendant Elizabeth the second led her people during
several wars in the past century. Granted she was never on the battlefield, but
she inspired her people during a great war and was quite adept at both managing
the diplomacy and commerce of her realm of sixteen sovereign states.”

Troy
rubbed his jaw. “If you wish to learn more, the Doc, Sydney our historian, or
Miss Yarbrough could tell you if they have time. Or one of us could show you if
we have time.” He indicated his tablet. “Here,” he said. He typed and pulled up
the Queen of England. He showed it to the Duke of Troy and his lady. He pressed
play and held the tablet to his chest so they could all see. They watched
fascinated as the Queen gave a speech.

“Quite
a firecracker,” he said smiling as the clip ended. They of course couldn't
understand more than a tenth of what she had said but they got the gist. The
courtiers were awed, he wasn't sure if it was due to the content or the media
he used to present it. He was pretty sure they couldn't follow the speech,
English may be based on Latin but it was still a transition few could leap
easily.

The
Queen smiled as she came up to them, timing her entrance perfectly. “How are we
this evening?” she asked, Deidra on her arm. Deidra separated to cling to
Ryans’ arm.

“They
make a lovely couple,” the lady Troy said. “When are they getting married?” she
asked the Queen.

“Soon
enough,” the Queen replied airily, ignoring the fulminating look Ryans shot her
way. “Soon enough, this dratted war has intruded on that. I was wondering Duke
Troy, Baron Siegfried is having trouble at his northern border...” she said,
drawing the Troys off to one side for a private conversation.

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

When
the music began he managed to plead fatigue and sore muscles. In truth he
wasn't at all interested in prancing around like the natives were doing. It was
almost a Victorian ballet, stiff and formal, with a lot of bowing and scraping
and hand holding but little else. The lilting string instruments might seem
elegant to most, but he was too used to his own tastes.

Fortunately
for him Deidra was injured and uninterested in dancing as well. He escorted
Deidra up to see her father. He was still seething with anger; she felt it but
said nothing. Deidra sat in the chair at her father's side, holding his hand.
“Bad, Doc?” Ryans asked pulling her off to the side out of earshot.

Doc
wearily agreed. “Nice duds,” she smiled, giving him the once over. His jaw
tightened. “Wrong thing I said?” she asked tiredly.

“Not
your fault Doc, I got caught up in the works and I'm not happy about it. Some
people are trying to get me to toe the line and I'm... Never mind,” he sighed.
“Politics at its lowest. The gloves are coming off and the knives are coming
out.”

Sue's
tired eyes widened. Wanda came over, “how bad?” she asked eying him.

He
sighed. “Who are you talking to her, him, or me?” he asked. He was fairly
certain now who he had to blame for this damn tux thing.

“Either,
both, just one at a time,” she replied testily. He chuckled with Doc.

“I
thought you were playing with your chemistry set?” he asked.

She
snorted. “I'd be at it all day every day and still come up short, I don't have
the time. I've already run out of specimen bags and containers,” she sighed.
“Filled up over a hundred terabytes with data. It's insane,” she said. Nate was
having a field day taking samples. He didn't envy her dealing with the dung and
saliva samples, let alone the urine ones. He wasn't sure why the biologist was
insisting on multiple samples from each animal, and five animals from each
species. She shook her head. “It's going to take a lifetime, going over all of
it,” she growled. He chuckled.

Doc
snorted softly but then sobered. “The King is dying,” she said softly. That
sobered them. “The only things keeping him alive are that machine and his
concern for his family and Kingdom. Sheer will power has its place, but it too
will falter given time,” she sighed. “There's nothing I can do. His heart isn't
in it anymore. A bypass would be useless,” she shook her head.

Wanda's
lips pursed in a silent whistle. “Damn, that bad huh, that's real bad.” She
shook her head. “Heard you're engaged?” she asked Ryans, trying to change the
subject.

His
jaw tightened and fist clenched. “Yeah, I was informed the same thing right
after putting this thing on,” he growled. His eyes flashed dangerously.

“Easy
mate,” Wanda murmured, taking in his suppressed rage. “Else you'll blow a
gasket and be in a bed right beside his nibs,” she joked, indicating the bed.
He turned to Deidra who was lying across her father's shoulder. She was crying
softly. He sighed.

“That
bad huh...” Sue said sitting back. She took a sip of water.

He
frowned. “Bad enough, they've been hinting for a while now, then getting
insistent. Tonight Duke Troy and the Queen set me up and then sprang it on me
in front of the court,” he growled.

Sue
snorted. “Made you take it raw? Bet that went over well,” she said shaking her
head.

He
smiled. “Deidra had me show off my battle scars and then pulled me out before I
popped,” he said looking toward the princes and King.

Sue
and Wanda gave him a look then a small smile. “She did; did she?” Sue murmured.
She was fairly certain Deidra had been in on the planning of that little
incident now. The royal women were getting a little better at managing Ryans.
She'd noticed him carrying her through the castle earlier in the day.

“Don't
push it,” he growled, noting her mischievous approval and then sighed.

 “Since
she's going to be here, I'm going to go check in and put out what fires I can
then get some down time. You need some too Doc, you're all done in,” he said gruffly,
still pissed. What he really wanted to do was go to the firing range and
pretend the Queen and a few of her courtiers were standing in front of the
targets. She nodded wearily.

Wanda
did too. “You need food and rest Sue, you're no good to them worn down to a
nub. Here I'll wash up and do a couple of rounds then do a shift. I'll have
Charlie cover for me in a couple of hours. That way you can get a full eight in
the sack.”

Sue
nodded tiredly, patting Wanda's arm. “Thanks Wanda but I couldn't...”

“Oh
hell yes you can girl!” Wanda smiled. There were teeth in that smile.

“Can
and will Doc. That's an order,” Ryans said smiling tightly at her. “Food, clean
yourself up, then rest. At least eight hours of pillow time Doc. Not a damn cat
nap.” He pointed a finger at her. She looked like she was out on her feet.
“You're no fun to push around like this. You need your rest so you can boss the
staff and patients around.”

“Tyrant,”
she murmured.

He
chuckled. “And don't you forget it,” he said leaving.