Preserving the Ingenairii (56 page)

“She thinks she will be even more valuable as a family asset, now that she can be portrayed as the woman who survived the exotic life among the barbarians,” Stracha told him.
 
“And she doesn’t want that.”

They were back on the borders of the camp, and Alec felt anguished.
 
“You need to know this.
 
Make her departure as peaceful as possible.
 
Use your spiritual powers and give her comfort,” Stracha told him.
 
“I’ve only known her a few days, but she is a dear girl.
 
And don’t tell her that I’ve told you all of this, please.”

“Stracha, I would rest easier if I didn’t know this, but I think you are right to tell me.
 
I knew she was fond of me, at least as a friend; we had a very comfortable relationship while we were in the wilderness.
 
I will try to bring some comfort to her,” Alec felt great sadness at the thought of Jeswyne’s discomfort.

“I know you’ll do the right thing,” Stracha said with a smugness that caused Alec to scrutinize her closely.

“You said that like, I don’t know, like you know something,” Alec accused.

“Don’t you worry, your majesty,” Stracha reached up and patted him on the cheek as they reached camp.
 
She left him to return to Jeswyne.

Alec was disconcerted by his conversation, and walked aimlessly through the camp as he tried to digest the information Stracha had given him.
 
He found himself in front of the infirmary tent, and paused.
 
As an idea occurred to him, he turned and walked rapidly back to where Lady Jeswyne’s tent stood.

“Is Lady Jeswyne available to take a stroll?” Alec asked Givens in a formal tone.
 
A half minute later, Jeswyne stood at the tent entrance.
 
“Would you like to take a walk with me today?” Alec asked.

“Certainly Alec,” She said with a smile.

They began to stroll through the camp.
 
“I’d like to know if you’d be interested in a little game tomorrow?” he asked.

She looked at him quizzically.
 
“You won’t really have time for games until you give me back to the Michian forces, will you?” she asked.

“I was thinking that we might have the fun of putting veils on you when we approach them for the parley,” Alec told her.
 
“They don’t know that you are with us, and they don’t know that we intend to repatriate you.
 
So if we could get you inside the tent before unveiling you, we could see the shock on their faces!

“It’s juvenile, I know, but it’s the only thing I can think of that will lessen the sadness I will feel at your departure,” he said.
 
They had reached the infirmary tent, and stood.
 
“You have been a good friend for months, and a consolation for my grief.
 
I will remember you always Jeswyne.”

Her eyes were brimming with tears.
 
“You promised me one time that you would take me to the promenade for the emperor someday, so that we could eat food from the booths and shop among the vendors and get jostled by the crowds, Alec.
 
I will hold you to that promise.

“Why have we stopped here?” she asked as she dabbed a cloth at her eyes.

“This is the infirmary tent.
 
I thought I would introduce you to these soldiers, and let them know that there are good folks in Michian.
 
I’ve come here to do some healing.
 
It steadies my nerves to use my energy this way.”

He took her hand and stepped inside.
 
Fortunately, he noted, the cots that held soldiers were greatly outnumbered by those without occupants.
 
All six sets of eyes turned to look at them, and a medic stood up.
 
“Can I help you?” he asked Alec, who wore no badges or stripes denoting his rank.

“I am here to help you,” Alec replied.
 
“Your friends here in the infirmary would appreciate the chance to go back to their units, I’m sure.

“I am Alec, the demonslayer, and I’ve just arrived to join the army.
 
This is our guest, the Lady Jeswyne of Michian, who is a visitor among us.
 
We are here today to do some good works for all of you.”
 
He stepped to the nearest man, whose leg was heavily splinted.
 
“Let’s send him back,” Alec touched his leg.

“Take off your splints and go,” Alec told him.
 

He took Jeswyne with him and stepped over to see a woman who was pale and sweaty.
 
He placed his hand on her forehead.
 
“You are healed as well.
 
Go to the showers to freshen yourself,
then
return to your unit.”

The medic stepped forward.
 
“Sir, this is unorthodox.
 
I can’t allow someone to step in here and confuse my charges like this,” he began.

“It’s alright Scrivens,” a voice said behind them, and they turned to see the man with the formerly splinted leg standing by his cot.
 
“His healing worked for me!
 
Everything is fine.
 
I’m going back to the 19
^th
.”

“Are you from the Oyster Bay 19
^th
regiment?”
 
Alec asked.

“Yes, sir,” the man answered.
 
“Why?”

“No reason,” Alec answered.
 
“I’m glad to know you’re here.

“I’m leaving too,” said the formerly sick woman.
 
“Scrivens, he’ll put you out of business if he sticks around.
 
Thank you, sir,” she said to Alec.
 
“I’m leaving,” she called behind her as she hoisted a pack of goods and disappeared out the door.

In the face of the two miraculous healings, the medic backed down, and Alec quickly healed the rest of the patients, sending them all away.
 
“You stay here,” Alec told the medic.
 
“There’ll be more people get sick or injured who need your help, and I won’t be here to do this.”
 
And with that he led Jeswyne out of the tent and back towards her own.

“I’ll have veils prepared for tomorrow,” she said after several steps.

“What?” Alec asked.

“To go along with your little game at the parlay tomorrow, I’ll wear the veils, and you can
unwrap
me like a gift,” Jeswyne said.

“Alec, why did we go to that healing tent?” she asked.

“I wanted you to see that.
 
I would rather heal than wound.
 
That is something I want you to know about me as a ruler in the Dominion.
 
When you’re back with your family, let them know that I am a warrior, but I would prefer to be a healer.
 
I hope they will call this war off, and we can learn to live in peace again.

“And I hope you know that in my heart, I would rather be a healer than a warrior.
 
Just as I told you once that I didn’t want to be king, because it will forever imprison me in court etiquette and customs and schedules.
 
I would rather be a simple healer, but I will do what I have to do for the Dominion.”

They had reached the door of her tent.

“I will call upon you tomorrow, Lady Jeswyne,” he said.
For the last time
, he silently added with sadness.

“Thank you for the visit, your majesty,” Jeswyne said formally.
 
“I will await your return,” she added with a strained voice.

Alec closed his eyes, bowed deeply over her hand, then turned and walked rapidly away.

He went in search of Field Marshal Ulltar.
 
“I would like to use Oyster Bay’s 19
^th
regiment to provide the escort to the parley tomorrow, if I may make such a request.
 
Would that upset any plans you have?”

Ulltar looked at him.
 
“They still claim the name of the Crown Protector’s own.
 
Was it true?”

“They were with me in the lacertii war,” Alec confirmed.
 
“And I just met one of their members in the infirmary.”

“Your request will be met.
 
I’ll send a message to their captain,” Ulltar promised.

Alec left the field marshal to return to his own tent for the rest of the day.

Chapter 44 – Jeswyne’s Departure

The day of the parlay opened with a bright sunrise.
 
Alec had breakfast with a staff officer,
then
arrived at the rendezvous point for the departure.
 
Oyster Bay’s Nineteenth Regiment stood prepared.
 
“Thank you for the honor, your majesty,” the captain told Alec.
 
“We know our title, and we’ll live up to it.”

Alec was distracted from hearing the comment, as he watched Stracha, Danels, and Givens escort Jeswyne to the site.
 
She wore an armless gown, topped by the elaborate veils that covered her face below her eyes.
 
As Alec watched her squint slightly, he was struck by an idea.
 
He stepped out front to meet Jeswyne.

“Let me give you one last gift, Lady Jeswyne,” he said.
 
He reached his left hand up and touched a finger on the bridge of her nose, laughing as he watched her eyes cross while she tried to follow the finger.
 
He released a gentle dose of
healing,
barely affecting the curvation of her corneas, then took his finger away.

“You won’t have to squint any longer, my lady,” he told her.
 
“I’ve fixed your near-sightedness, so that you’ll be able to see clearly in the distance.”

Her eyes widened expressively, and Alec imagined the smile hidden beneath the veil.
 
“Thank you again, Alec,” she said in a husky voice.

“I wanted you to have something to remember me by,” he told her gently.
 
“Now, if you’re ready, we’ll begin the procession.”
 
He nodded to captain of the Nineteenth, and they began marching precisely out into the open space between the two fronts.

The forces of the Dominion and Michian were separated by a space just a bit longer than the distance a good archer could shoot an arrow.
 
The march across the field only took brief minutes, until the soldiers of the Nineteenth pulled up in formation just yards away from where a group of officers stood in front of their own Michian lines.
 
Alec offered his arm to Jeswyne, who took it, and he led her forward, with Moab following discreetly.

“I am General Bronson,” a man said stepping forward.
 
He wore a green jacket, with gold facing.

“You are a member of the Emeral clan?” Alec asked, remembering the color and clan as one of the great clans of the empire.

“I am, sir,” the general said politely.
 
“We have a tent prepared, if you wish to come sit and have
a refreshment
.
 
We’re curious about what has prompted this request for a parlay?”

“Thank you,” Alec said.
 
“We’ll join you,” he motioned to Jeswyne to go forward behind the moving Michian officers, and turned back to his own forces to assure them it was okay for him to go on.

“You now know my name, and apparently something about me,” Bronson said as he sat down under a tent and began to pour cups of water for those at the table they used.

“My name is Alec, also known now as the demonslayer,” Alec said, and paused as the gasps in the tent died down.
 
“I am the king of the Dominion, and sworn to its defense, though that is not the topic we have to discuss here, yet.”