Princess Rescue Inc (40 page)

“That
was here?” Ryans asked. He was keenly interested in the secret passages of this
warren. If there were any, Zara had just confirmed that the natives knew and
had made use of them.

Zara
shook her head. “No, it was in duchy Rojer. Although it wasn't known as that of
course.”

“Ah.”

“Hasana
became the duchess there with her daughter. Remus supplanted them with his
youngest son but his eldest died with fire head. He was forced to bring his
youngest son Cedric the younger back to the capital.”

“Ah.
So Hasana's heirs inherited the Rojer duchy once more? But they were bitter?”

“Exactly,
Sejani died in childbirth a short time later. They didn't communicate with the King
for some time. Even when there was famine they didn't ask for aid.”

“Ah,
the sins of pride,” Sydney sighed.

Zara
sighed. “Yes, many suffered on both sides.”

“So
that's why your sister isn't amused? Precedence?” Ryans asked.

“Well,
the law has been enacted twice more. The second time prince Zuko married a
commoner immigrant woman. He was betrothed at the time. It was quite a scandal.
He insisted on following precedent because it would bring new blood to the
royal lineage. She grimaced.

“Did
he...”

“He
is said to have saved her from an Anasazi. A giant creature that stung a person
and then wrapped them in goo it spat from its mouth.”

“Ewe,
yuck. I'd think she'd be dead.”

“No,
it didn't get her. Or so they said. He saved her before it could strike.”

Sydney
raised an eyebrow, dubious of that. Predators killed fast, they rarely played
with their prey. Killing it in ambush made sure it couldn't fight back or get
away. “He was in the nick of time?”

“Yes,
for both of them. He was to be married the next day.”

“Well
fancy that.” Ryans snorted.

“It
isn't as it seems. Or at least not as rumors were. She was a pleasant enough
woman... or so history said, but not a beautiful one. She wasn't happy about
being married, however. At least, not at first,” she grimaced.

“Shotgun
wedding. Who could blame the gal,” Ryans snorted. He was having his own problem
with that idea.

“You
have looked upon her portrait in the hall,” Zara said after a moment.

Ryans
frowned. He tried to imagine the portrait. Some were faded to vague shapes.
“Um... no offense princess, but um... some aren't all that good.”

“Yes,
I know,” she sighed and then grimaced. “But you get the idea. Her image is the
one of the fat woman with long braids in the purple gown.”

“Okay....”

“The
one with jowls, seen it,” Sydney said nodding. They both looked to him. He
shrugged. “My gram had the same problem. And a mole right on her chin.”

“Yeah,
okay. So she's your ancestor?” Ryans asked looking at Zara. She shook her head.

“No,
not directly, for Zuko's children died in a plague. I and our line are from his
sister Emilina.”

“Ah.”

“So
there was another?” Sydney asked trying to get back to the subject at hand. “I
mean another um... rescue marriage,” he said awkwardly.

Zara
froze then nodded. “Yes,” she hissed. Her eyes glittered darkly. “Once by
force,” she said tightly.

“
Droit
de
seigneur
?”
Sydney asked, eyebrow raised in surprise.

“Ah...”
Ryans said stalling for time while he tried to think of a diplomatic way of
stating the obvious.

“I
know the term,” Zara said tightly, hand raised. “And yes it was... bad. Three
generations ago, my grandfather went to war to defend duchy Emroy from the
duchy Troy. When the war was over he demanded the hand of Duke Troy's daughter
in return for letting the lords live.”

“That
doesn't have...”

“Oh,
but it does. He claimed that since he spared her life it was part of the Herod
pack, the Vita Sodalis,” she practically spat it out.

“Ah...
crap. Legal mumbo jumbo. He twisted it,” Sydney said in disgust.

“Yes.
And he... forced himself upon my grandmother. I have read her diary scrolls.
She was spiteful of him and her father for allowing it. She had been intended
for another who had died in the war.”

Sydney
winced. “Crap. Yeah, that must have been an interesting marriage.”

“Yes.
He threatened to have her tongue removed like Hasani's was. Only once. After
that she stayed quiet and as far away from him as she possibly could.”

“Smart
lady.”

“I
would think so,” Zara smiled. “She killed him,” she said softly after a moment.
The men looked at her surprised.

“Poison?”
Ryans asked after a moment. Zara nodded, this time she was a little surprised.

“It's
the weapon of choice for a woman. Non confrontational. You can poison a guy and
smile to his face and he's oblivious,” Ryans replied to her questioning look.
Sydney looked down at the drink he was holding and then carefully set it aside.
Ryans snorted. It did put a new twist on Perry's recent mischief though.

“Indeed,”
Zara said getting up. Both men did as well. “You may wish to dwell on that for
a time,” she said walking out with a backwards look.

“Ah
crap,” Ryans muttered. The kids around the room were staring at him.

Sydney
shook his head and clapped him on the shoulder. “Yup, in a nutshell boss. I
don't envy you a bit. She's being forced and... Ohhh boy. Nope, I don't envy
you in the slightest.”

“Gee
thanks a lot. Trade yah?” Ryans said shaking his head.

“Not
on your life. Or mine for that matter. Not even on a bet,” Sydney chuckled. “If
you don't mind I've got to get this lot back on track here.”

“Sure,”
Ryans said walking out feeling like his head was ready to explode.

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

The
next morning Ryans snuck into the ward. He smiled as he caught sight of Perry
sitting up in bed. He had a monitor attached to one wrist but otherwise looked
much better. No oxygen tank or anything at least. His eyes were alert.

“You’re
awake? Thought we lost you,” he said coming over. Perry tried to talk but only
a hoarse croak came out. A nurse turned and gave him a dirty look.

She
turned that look on Ryans after a moment. “He's not allowed to talk. He needs
to rest,” she said, pointedly looking at Ryans and then the door.

“Sorry,
be gone in just a minute,” he said, giving Perry an amused but exasperated
look. The lieutenant rolled his eyes. “Least you've got... feisty nurses to
keep you company. Enjoy it while you can. Can't play grab ass in the barracks.”

Perry
grinned. Sue snorted. They turned to see her. “Damn well better
not
here
with
my
nurses or I'll order an enema for the both of you,” she mock
growled. Ryans held up his hands.

“I'm
not one of your patient’s Doc,” he said, hands up, backing towards the open
door.

“
Yet
.
That can change real quick,” she replied with a toothy grin. He made a hasty
retreat. She turned, smiling to Perry. “All right LT, open your mouth stick out
your tongue and do your best
not
to say ah.”

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

“Max,
why aren't you an engineer? You know all this... I mean, why just a
machinist?" Scooter asked as he lubed part of the lathe with oil. It was
the second they had built, he thought they'd gotten the kinks out of building
the thing, but not yet apparently. This would make the second tracing lathe
they had finished... if it worked. So far it had been a bit buggy.

Max
snorted. “What's wrong with that? You’re a driver! Side’s you’re a fair to
middlin' mechanic.”

“Gee
thanks... I think,” Scooter said eying the machinist.

Max
was both appalled and enthused about the projects ahead of him. He'd explained
everything to Scooter when he felt overwhelmed two weeks ago. “Start with a
power lathe and the simple tools, and then work out from there, Max.” Scooter
had told him. Easier said than done.

“God,
where to start, where to... yeah, a lathe is as good as any. We'll need another
better rifling bench too.” He shook his head. “I saw that spoke bench they use,
not bad. My daddy and I used to watch those old PBS shows, and then mechanical
shows when I was older, maybe I can help them out here and there...” He
grimaced.

“Lathe
Max,” Scooter replied indicating the project in front of them. He'd heard Max
had been off on every project under the sun. Now that he had a handle on the
vehicle maintenance and wasn't playing guard, he had time to lend a helping
hand.

“When
can we get the gear we stuck in that cave and in that ravine?” Max asked
suddenly, looking to Scooter and then to the approaching Ryans.

“Not
anytime soon I'm afraid. We might be able to sneak a team in, but I doubt it.
It's not worth it Max, trust me,” Ryans replied with a frown.

“Oh
but it is, I raided the machine shops before we left. Took everything not
bolted down, and quite a bit that was,” Max grimaced. Scooter nodded. “We could
use that stuff now! I mean...” He waved to the crude workshop around them.
“Honestly! You want me to make modern weapons from that?” The first musket had
been a dismal failure. The barrel had exploded. He had thought they had put too
much powder into it but was now certain it was the quality of the iron
smelting. They were working on a replacement now.

“Everyone's
got to start somewhere. Break it down into incremental steps... and even
further subdivisions if you have to. Get people to help at each stage, then
once you have it sorted out, farm it out to them and move on to the next. In
other words, delegate Max,” Ryans replied calmly. “Even the natives can handle
a simple project if you explain it in small words and gestures and keep to the
KISS principle.”

“Right.
Right. That might help. A little,” Max sighed running his hands through the
stubble of his hair. “This is either going to be fun or the worst year of my
friggin' life,” he said. Scooter and Ryans chuckled.

“We'll
get back to you on that,” Scooter said, slapping the man on the shoulder.

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

Wanda
sighed, rolling her shoulders. One of the great things about working the hours
she did was that she didn't have to put up with a crowd when she wanted to eat.
The downside was she either got leftovers or she heated an MRE. After what
happened to Perry she stuck to MREs even though they stuck to her gut like a
lead weight.

She
stirred the mystery meat stew thinking blue thoughts for a moment. She looked
up as footfalls approached. Zara stood nearby.

“Yes,
princess?” she said then couldn't help but yawn. “Sorry,” she said shrugging.

“You’re
tired,” the young princess said, nodding. “It's to be expected.” She adjusted
the sash on her kimono robe then sat in a chair nearby.

“Yeah,
I've got a lot on my plate,” Wanda frowned.

“Not
from the looks of it,” Zara said indicating the MRE. “That's the food we had on
the trip here right?”

Wanda
nodded. “Yeah, it's high in calories though. Military rations to keep them
fueled in combat,” she explained. She grimaced and played with the stew some
more. “Not quite what I want before going to bed, but it works.”

Zara
frowned then looked over to the kitchen door. She cleared her throat then
clapped her hands loudly. After a moment a sleepy boy came out rubbing his
eyes. His eyes widened at the sight of the princess.

“Y-y-your
majesty?” he stutter asked, hastening to her.

“Food
for two. Make it quick,” she said nodding. The boy nodded and bolted for the
door.

“Kinda
hoity toity but okay, I'll roll with it,” Wanda said sitting back. “I know
lords have servants and retainers, but I thought the grapevine said you don't
have slaves?” she asked looking over to Zara.

Zara
shook her head. “No. My ancestor, Herod the great put a stop to slavery.”

“Ah,
but you have serfs. That's another form of slavery, just with a different
name,” Wanda said gently. Sue gave her a warning look. Wanda ignored it and
then shrugged to her when Zara wasn't looking their way.

“No,
in truth a serf may go where he or she pleases. They can leave if a Dominus is
too brutal, or if the land they rent becomes impossible for them to maintain,”
Zara frowned. She turned and lifted a tapestry near the throne.

“Here
it is,” she said. She tugged the tapestry aside exposing a tablet mounted into
the wall. It was ancient, written in various languages. “This was said to have
been carved by Herod himself,” she said proudly. She ran her hand over the
dusty tablet.

Wanda
got up and came over. “My Latin is a bit rusty, and don't get me started on
this language,” she said, looking at it. The column on the left was in Latin,
the one on the right was in Chinese or some other cuneiform. The middle was a
mix of the two. She was curious as to why. “We need to show this to the others.
Why is it covered?”