Chloë (19 page)

Both
of the girls tried to sleep, they were certainly tired enough, but sleep would not
come and they all gave up and headed out in the predawn gloom.  The rain
was lighter now; it just seemed more oppressive.  Raymond had taken care
of
things
and the other horses were scattered after a quick
search.  Raymond had growled in bitter rage as the search of the
assailants’ equipment revealed a tracer and a corresponding RFID tag mixed in
with their own packs.  In the midst of all the free wares and generosity
of the townsfolk, someone had slipped in a tracking device!  Normally designed
for tracking livestock, it had done more than an adequate job tracking
them.  Raymond went through every piece of equipment, every towel and
blanket, checking and double checking for any more surprises.

 Chloë
was furious, good people had done so much for them, yet rotten hearts still
sought to exploit the situation for their own gain!  While she had no
great love of the town, stinky or otherwise, the people were dear to her
heart.  How could such people, such animals, live amongst such kind and
honest people?  Her rage grew shallow and her own anger made her cry as
she realized what
she
had done, what she had been forced to do… 
Heather must have seen the despair in her eyes for she closed and held her
tight.  A true friend can make good of any trouble…

Chloë
and Raymond had a small round of humor as Heather was actually able to mount
her horse on the first try.   It was only a minor victory, but every
one counted.  Something was needed to fight back the inky darkness. 
They soon headed out, out into the gloom.

“There
is another settlement not too far ahead,” began Raymond.  “If we go around
it, it will add another four hours we need to get in today.  Granted we
are headed out awful early already, but I don’t know how long you two want to
stay on horseback.”

“I
could go for a warm bath and a change of clothes,” murmured Chloë.

“I’ll
shut up and let Chloë do the talking this time.  Maybe we can get in and
out unnoticed.”

“My
concern is we are a very distinctive group at this point.  But I’m with
you: a warm bath and a hot meal sounds awfully good about now,” replied
Raymond.  “What we might want to do…”

Raymond’s
pack chirped.  This time they all immediately recognized the sound: the
emergency radio!  He quickly found the radio and turned it on and a
familiar mechanical voice chimed, “Sunrise… sunrise…”  Raymond grinned
broadly as he fitted a second transponder to the radio and cued the microphone,
“Good morning!”

“Good
morning, brave palace cat!” came Watzkel’s voice.

Chloë
never thought a Shukurae’s voice could sound
cheerful
but Watzkel’s did!

“We
had a crappy night, new complications.  Please say you have good news.”

“Aw,
did the little kitty’s fur get all wet?  You built a nice lean-to…”

“Um…
you can you
see
us?”

“Yes
indeed!  I’m with the advanced team on the hill between you and the
town.  What say you link up with us and then go into town for a nice cup
of hot coffee.”

“That
sounds
wonderful
, ma’am!”

“I
take it the complication revolved around the giant flash about an hour ago?”

“Yes
indeed, but all parties on this end are doing well.”

“Excellent. 
We are holding our vantage point, waiting on you.”

“We’ll
be right there, ma’am!  Out!”

Everyone
was grinning, the thought of both the Shukurae
and
a stop in the warm town
was quite appealing!   Almost enough to shake off the gloom… almost…

The
group must have made quite a sight as they approached the Shukurae for all of
them seemed to have trouble stifling a laugh.  With fur and hair matted,
even if it was warm under the wool poncho, Chloë could only guess how
disheveled they must look.  She wasn’t offended by their outburst, but
rather took it as the comfort of familiarity.  Familiarity with a rather
formidable set of friends!  Much to Chloë’s amusement, the horses seemed
perfectly calm around their new companions.  After dealing with Heather,
everything must seem sedate!

Raymond
grinned and happily shook Watzkel’s hand.  Her great three meter frame
made that a simple task even though he was still seated on his horse. 
Raymond quickly and clinically described the previous day’s activities. 
He finished apologetically, “I knew we shouldn’t have made a scene in the town,
but things were going smoothly and the girls… the
ladies
needed the
distraction.”

“You
tried to be a gracious guest, do not dwell on it.  Had
we
made
better our escape from the moon, then none of this would be important.  I
take it even from the rain soaked grin of Lady Heather now, that a good time
was had at the party.”

“Yes! 
Yes ma’am!” grinned Heather.  “Next time we get to find out how well you
can dance!”

Watzkel
grinned at that, “I do hope we are all spared my feeble attempts to engage in
one of your dances.”

“Ah! 
A tough student, I love the challenge!”

A
deep belly laugh from Watzkel filled the air, “Oh, brave palace cat, I now
understand what you must have suffered through!”

Raymond
grinned, “It was fun, actually.  But, um… can we lose the ‘palace’
thing?  I’ve made my mind to resign my commission.”

Watzkel’s
grin was so broad that Chloë feared the Shukurae’s head might come unhinged, “
That
,
that is the second best news I’ve heard yet.”

“Well,
you could just refer to him as Heather’s boyfriend,” offered Chloë with a grin,
and got an elbow in the ribs from Heather for her comment.

Raymond’s
fur stood on end and his ears flushed as Watzkel stared at him. 

“So
it’s true then?” she grinned.

“True
enough that I can’t avoid it,” murmured Raymond.

“Young
love, it is a wonderful thing.  Raymond Stratford… it does flow well.”

“We
aren’t
that
serious…”

Watzkel
grinned, “I understand, but I’m having to make up for two days worth of teasing
you.”

Chloë
laughed at the exchange.  Partially as she enjoyed watching Raymond’s
responses, but mostly at the humor of the Shukurae.  They had always been
so alien, and then so serious.  And now here they were joking alongside
them as if there was no difference in their race at all.  Yep!  Time
to fire all the old tutors back at the palace!

The
sun had risen by the time the motley group made it to the edge of town. 
The rain clouds still held fast, but at least it was brighter.  Chloë
tried to imagine it as a calm Spring shower and in the company of so many
friends that wasn’t so much of a mental stretch.  The early morning
townsfolk were polite if not a little standoffish.  It was a mix of races,
human and Taik, but no one seemed to know quite what to do about an armed group
of Shukurae…

“We
will sell the horses,” Watzkel offered.  “You’ll ride with us from here.”

“Donate
them and the extra supplies.  There has to be some charity that could make
use of them,” suggested Raymond.  “They were given freely to us; we should
pass on the good favor.”  He quickly pulled out their few personal effects
and saved a few extra blankets.

Watzkel
nodded and grinned as she barked in her native tongue and two of the others
quickly led the horses off down the street.  With the beasts gone she
turned her attention back to her charges and the building at hand, “If I read
this right, it is a hotel, yes?”

“Um,
of sorts…  I’d suggest the one across the street.  It should be more
socially acceptable.”

Watzkel
nodded and they moved across the street.

“What
was wrong with the first place?” asked Chloë curiously.

“That
place was more into gambling and entertainment.”

Chloë
nodded still unsure why it was such a bad idea, the place
looked
nicer
than their second choice, but she yielded to his experience.  She studied
the ground carefully as they picked their way across the street.  Lots of
animals had been by… She squeaked with surprise as one of the Shukurae
laughingly scooped her up and carried her across the filthy street.

 Watzkel
held the door while Chloë took Heather’s hand and they, along with Raymond,
entered the building.  The lobby was nice enough, clean, elegant and well lit. 
The receptionist was an older human lady with an honest and pleasant
smile.  “Good morning!  Good to be out of the rain, eh?  Would
you three be looking for a room?”

“Rooms. 
At least three, please, ma’am,” replied Raymond.

“Heather
and I can share a room if we need to watch the costs,” offered Chloë.

“We’ll
arrange the finances, Lady Chloë,” grinned Watzkel as she entered behind
them.  “If you have any simple dorms, or even just someplace dry, there
are twenty four of us in addition to the three Taik.  You
do
take
Ptirs, yes?”

The
old lady’s eyes went wide as she looked Watzkel over, “Um, we do take Ptir’s,
yes sir.  We may have problems making small change…”

“It’s
‘ma’am’ not ‘sir,’” corrected Chloë with a smile as she pointed to
Watzkel.  “Line Centurion Watzkel is a
she
.”

“I’m
so terribly sorry…” began the old lady meekly.

Watzkel
just chuckled, “It is not a major concern.  We will worry about making
change when we depart.  You do offer meals here as well, yes?  Not so
much for us, but the three Taiks could definitely do with hot food.”

The
lady quickly rebounded, “Yes, ma’am.  We have many options for dining, and
we’d be happy to serve you and your… troops as well.  We do not have
dorms, but there a reception hall over the main dining room that may suit your
needs.  It has high ceilings, too.”

“That
sounds perfect, ma’am,” smiled Watzkel.  “But if you could take care of
these three first: I imagine they are wanting a warm bath and a hot breakfast.”

“Yes
indeed!” smiled the lady, finally back in full form.  “My name is
Isabel.  If you need anything don’t hesitate to ask.  Come,
come!  I’ll show you to your rooms.  Would you like adjoining rooms?”

“For
Heather and I, that would be fine.  But you better put Raymond across the
hall from Heather,” grinned Chloë.

“We
are strangers in a new town and you are already embarrassing us,” mock scolded
Heather with a grin.

Isabel
just laughed as she led them up a single flight of stairs.  “Be careful of
the hot water in the tubs: there is plenty enough to go around, it’s just that
the temperature isn’t as stable as we’d like.  Don’t want you to scald
yourself!”  She led them to a series of small but efficient and clean
rooms, each with its own bath. 

Chloë
grinned as she entered and gave the bed a quick bounce.  It was out of
habit more than anything else, a blanket on the floor would be wonderful so
long as it was dry.  But it was the tub more than the bed that was calling
and she soon found herself enjoying a long warm soak. 

Chloë
giggled to herself as she heard Heather approach.  “What is it, oh! hyper
girl?” asked Chloë.

Heather
laughed as she poked her head in the room.  Her hair was all out of sorts,
but it was clean and dry as was her fur.  “Waiting for you before we head
to breakfast.  Can’t eat alone with Raymond, it might cause a scandal!”

“Would
you like Raymond any less if I didn’t tease you?”  Chloë asked with a
grin.

“Nope…
but it is fun watching him squirm.  To know that getting caught bothers
him and yet he keeps coming back…”

“I
do
think Father and First Mother will like him,” Chloë said with a
grin.  “You’ve got two years before you can start worrying about being too
serious…”

“One
year and three months, but who’s counting?” grinned Heather.

Chloë
laughed, “Ah!  All the more reason to find you a suitable job!  A
proper apprenticeship, young lady!”

“Ack! 
There you go, being practical!  Spoiling the whole mood!”  fired off
Heather with false remorse.

“Go
on!  Raymond will be safe!  I’ll be down in a few minutes.”

Heather
grinned and disappeared in a flash.

Chloë
drained the tub and took a quick shower to rinse off the suds. 
Raymond.  He was really a nice young man.  Back at the palace he had
been so… professional… How many other people back there were
wonderful
people who were just never given the chance to shine, to be themselves? 
The palace seemed to stifle
everyone…
Chloë concentrated on happier
things as she dried and stepped back into the bedroom.  Much to her
surprise there was a new skirt and blouse sitting on her bed!  With a
gracious heart for whoever it was, she donned the new, and mercifully dry,
clothes.  Wait a minute!  Heather had been wearing something new,
too!  Chloë laughed to herself as she made her way back downstairs.

Isabel
beamed as Chloë entered the lobby, “Ah, good!  It seems they fit you too!”

Chloë
grinned as she gave the skirt a quick twirl, “Do I have you to thank for
these?”

Isabel
laughed, “It was Raymond’s idea and he picked out the style and colors, I just
did my best to guess the size and fit!”

“Um,
there wasn’t a problem paying for these was there?” asked Chloë apologetically.

Isabel
shook her said and smiled, “Watzkel put down a Ptir as a retainer for her
troops and for you three as well.  I’m not sure the exact exchange rate
right now, but a Ptir comes in at around twelve-
thousand
talirs or
so.  Those are trade coins, not the type thing you walk into a regular
store with.  Hence my worry of making change!”

“One
more reason to thank her and her wonderful troops,” grinned Chloë.  “She
has the
scariest
‘friendly’ face…”

Isabel
laughed, “Yes.  Yes Shukurae are quite imposing looking, and it was my bad
manners that I recoiled as I did this morning.  I know they are good
people.  They are just a bit…
”

“Serious?”

“Excellent
choice of words!” beamed Isabel as she handed Chloë a folding menu, “Now,
speaking of choices, what would you like for breakfast?”

Chloë
beamed as she looked at all the choices, they all looked wonderful and seventy
percent of them made it past her most demanding criteria: warm!  She
laughed as she picked out an old favorite and then skipped on her way to the
dining room.  Raymond and Heather were snuggled up at a booth, while
Watzkel and three other Shukurae made do with awkward seating arrangements in
the far corner.  Heather was playfully nuzzling Raymond as she
approached.  “May I sit here, or are you two trying to salvage your
privacy?” grinned Chloë.

“Sit! 
Sit!” laughed Heather.  “Always happy to eat with family.  Besides,
Watzkel is such a bad chaperone that it takes some of the sport out of it!”

Heather
jumped as Watzkel fired back from across the room, “I thought I was doing quite
well.  So long as you don’t throw a kitten
before
I get you back
home, I’ve done my job.”

Heather’s
nose and ears flushed as her fur stood on end prompting a belly laugh from both
Raymond and Chloë.  “Don’t tease the Shukurae,” admonished Raymond with a
grin.  “They have excellent hearing and a wicked sense of humor.”

The
room went quiet as a stranger entered: an older human easily in his
fifties.  It wasn’t him being a human so much that stuck out in everyone’s
mind: it was his mannerisms.  He was obviously in a hurry and looking for
something, or someone…

He
made square eye contact with Heather and everyone at the table suddenly became
tense.  “Are you Ivy Stratford’s daughter by any chance?” he asked
carefully.

“Um,
yes?” replied Heather, her apprehension showing.

The
man grinned broadly, “I
thought
you looked familiar.  Jake
Ellington.  I think I last saw you when Edward got married.  You were
little then!”

Heather
laughed and grinned, “I was all of three years old at that point.  Trevor
brought your name up just a few weeks ago.”

“Trevor?”
grinned Jake.  “I thought he had retired.  What was he need’n a
sniper for?”

Heather
grinned, “You know Trevor, he’s as retired as Gillian will let him be. 
Oh!  This is my sister, Chloë, and my boyfriend, Raymond!”

Jake
smiled and shook hands with both, “Jake Ellington, formerly of the 512
^th
CSOG.  Well, formerly of a lot of things, but it was with the Shukurae
that I got introduced to the Highlanders.  I’ve got to get back before I’m
missed.  I’m here visiting my daughter and her husband and I think we are
about ready to head out to the country.  Take care and say ‘hi’ to your
parents for me!”

Heather
smiled broadly, “Well, get!  Go!   Don’t be late on our account,
and I’ll be sure to pass along the greeting!”

Jake
shook their hands one last time and then hurried from the room.

Raymond
beamed at Heather,  “It seems people that
actually
know your
parents think quite highly of them.  I do think it would be amusing to
have the Crown Prince and Llewellyn to actually meet face to face. 
Especially if the Prince didn’t know who he was.”

“Devious!”
grinned Heather.  “I like it!”  Her grin vanished as Watzkel’s giant
form sudden loomed over them.  “Um, yes?” Heather asked meekly.

“Trouble. 
Your uncle Edward fought with the 517
^th
not the 512
^th
.”

Chloë
clinched her teeth, “So, he wasn’t the real Jake Ellington and was probably trouble
waiting to happen.”

“Are
you certain he was a fraud?” asked Raymond with eyes clenched shut. 

“My
sister, Kadu, served in the 517
^th
; I know the lore well!”

 “So
that
is how you knew of House Stratford,” grinned Heather.

“And
even more of House Rose.  But the point at hand: what do we do about the
fraudster?”

“Oh
no, not back out in the rain,” fretted Chloë.

“No
ma’am!” retorted Raymond.  “We just got clean and dry.”  Suddenly he
stopped, lost in thought.  He held up a hand for silence as he stood up
and moved to the end of the table.  A quick look later and he produced a
small electronic bug from the underside of the table where “Jake” had been
standing.  He sighed and rolled his eyes but Watzkel just grinned.

“Okay,
this is easy enough,” began Watzkel with a broad grin.  “We hire out three
extra rooms up a floor and move everyone up a floor.  We put guards in
their old rooms and wait for the fun.” 

They
all smiled and nodded.

“Come
on, let’s let Chloë eat her breakfast and then we’ll worry about such things
later,” grinned Raymond.

“So
what is planned for the day?” asked Chloë as she poked Heather playfully in the
ribs.

“Not
a darn thing!  They have a library in town; I figure that is good for most
of the afternoon.”

“What,
no elaborate dances planned?”  teased Chloë back.

“Heavens,
no!  Besides, you’ve seen my newest student: Watzkel!  I’m not sure
she has the time to spare.”

“I
think it would take the better part of a month to make me graceful, Lady
Heather.”

Heather
grinned, “I do so love a good challenge!”