Princess Rescue Inc (96 page)

“No,
contrary to your belief we do have our own twists on fashion,” she smiled
devilishly, curtsying to him. He chuckled. “I wish your wonder machines could
make it cooler though. I know about the vehicles,” she waved to the courtyard
below. “But they are too small to sleep in.”

He
chuckled. “The camper and science vehicle back at the capital aren't, but
they're occupied right about now. And half the town would want to join us,” he
said. He shook his head. They were in the Duchy of Emroy's castle, tucked away
in their own private suite.

“What
do you do in the castle to keep cool?” he asked. She blinked at him in
confusion.

“Well,
the people of the castle move back and forth. In the summer we occupy the lower
Eastern rooms since they are much cooler then the Western ones.”

“Ah.
The suns, right,” he nodded thoughtfully.

She
nodded. “In the winter we move to the warmer Western rooms.”

“Again,
the suns,” he observed. He nodded once more.

“In
winter we also save ice and snow in the deepest caves and dungeons. It keeps
the food that will pass in time cold and better longer, and makes nice snacks
in the heat,” she said. She sighed as he wrapped his hands around her.

“Snow
cones and ice drinks. Gotcha,” he smiled. “We've got them too. Also sherbets,
ice cream, and ...” She put her finger over his mouth to silence him.

“Show
off,” she growled mockingly. He chuckled. She kissed him, eyes twinkling to get
him to stop. His fingers danced on her sides, she squirmed laughing.

They
play fought, tickling each other until he ended up with his back to the bed.
With a deft twist she tossed him onto the bed, and then as he oofed climbed on
top. She caught each of his wrists then pinned them above his head.

“I
win,” she said as she smiled wickedly down at him. Her hair made a nice tent
around them. He squirmed a bit, then stopped when she pushed down harder and
dug her claws into him.

“All
right, I give. What are you going to do with me?” he asked, smiling. Her eyes
danced.

“Oh....
Maybe this...” She nibbled on his ear. He squirmed again, but didn't put up
enough of a fight to stop her.

“Hey...”
he protested weakly as she kissed him then nipped his shoulder.

“You're
mine now remember? And I'm not letting you go,” she murmured between nips. He
smiled as she kept one hand pinning his above his head while the other rubbed
at his chest and hers. Her kimono slipped off one shoulder, showing bare skin.
He wriggled a little and the cloth came off other shoulder and was now bare.

“Stop
that,” she murmured, hand exploring his pecs. Her claws dug into his chest
hairs.

“You
first,” he murmured as she bent forward and kissed him hungrily once more. Time
seemed to go away after that.

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

Two
weeks after the momentous battle the army returned to the capital in triumph.
They marched down the main boulevard in a stately parade, decked out in their
finest outfits as people lined the streets and cheered.

Many
of the people were out, the Queen had declared the day a holiday in order for
all to participate. Brightly colored banners of the various noble houses and
the royal house hung or snapped from everywhere. The air was filled with
flowers and petals as people threw them from the rooftops.

“Gee,
our own ticker tape parade,” Lewis said, catching a flower and sniffing it in
appreciation. She waved.

The
nobles rode on their grand steeds, waving to the cheering crowd. But the cheers
doubled when the throngs spotted the gaijin. Children flocked to them. A few of
the lords were put out by this behavior but Duke Pryor waved it off.

At
the center of the city the burgher met them. He held a small ceremony there.
The Queen stood beside him, dressed in her royal outfit under an awning of
royal red and gold.

She
rose as the lords dismounted. Ryans met up with Deidra and Perry. “You're going
to behave right?” Deidra murmured to him, looking at him out of the corner of
her eye as each lord was announced and came forward to receive royal
recognition and thanks.

“Do
I have a choice?” Ryans asked as she took his hand in hers. She growled softly.
“Thought not,” he said, rolling his eyes to Perry. Perry snorted.

When
it was their turn they let Deidra set the pace. Perry murmured. “We're off to
see the wizard,” making Ryans smile slightly at his whimsy. It helped take the
butterflies out of his stomach.

“I
thank thee for your service to me and my people,” the Queen said when they
arrived at the dais. The burgher was standing there, hands tucked into his
vest, smiling. He looked like his cheeks were going to burst. Ryans and Perry
bowed slightly to her from the waist; Deidra dropped his captured hand to
curtsy.

“And
you our daughter, you have served our people well on the field of battle,” the
Queen said, eying the princess.

“Thank
you your majesty,” the princess murmured humbly. The Queen smiled and then
waved airily to a servant holding a plush purple pillow. Deidra's breath caught
as she saw the ribbons on it.

One
by one the Queen placed a ribbon over each of their necks, each bowing their
heads to allow her to do so. Ryans thought about diplomacy and let her get on
with it. There was no point in making a scene, and every point not to do so.

“Each
of you will have lands and titles to go along with your deeds. We shall sort that
out later,” the Queen said smiling slightly. A servant fanned her from behind
with a giant fan on a pole. “But for now let us finish this and get out of this
dreadful heat,” she said.

“Aye
aye,” Ryans said with a grin. He turned with Perry and Deidra to wave to the
cheering crowd. The cheers doubled as Deidra took his hand in hers once more
and then caught up in the moment he bent and kissed her. He caught the Queen's
smile of approval out of the corner of his eyes as the crowd thundered in
applause and approval.

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

“There
are great issues to discuss, otherwise I would leave you to let you rest,” the
Queen said the next morning. The three of them waved that off. “What's going
on?” Ryans asked as they followed the Queen into the court. He slowed and then
paused at the sight of the surviving lords from Duluth.

The
surviving lords of Duluth explained that the monarchy was chosen by the
greatest warrior lord if it is open and no surviving patriarch was left. Since
the Terrans had beaten them, it was now in the hands of Perry. Perry quickly
stated that he was just an officer; he was following orders and pointed to
Ryans. “Gee, thanks a lot good buddy,” Ryans snarled under his breath.

“No
problem, anytime,” Perry murmured back cheerfully while smiling wickedly.

“Remind
me to do you the same favor sometime,” Ryans growled. Perry chuckled. Ryans put
the discussion off for now; he wanted to get a better idea of Dominus Wedst and
Fargut before answering their request.

Arthur,
the King of Duluth had been killed in battle against the Imperium, his only two
tiny children having died the previous year during a plague of influenza. Only
a handful of lords had survived the battle, they had started to fall upon one
another over who was to rule even while in captivity the Queen explained. Last
night several demanded that Duluth become part of the Imperium and benefit from
the Terrans. This gained favor with some of the others, better to not have to
fight over a dying Kingdom. The Queen was amused and aghast at the idea. Ryans
was also amused and aghast, but for different reasons. He found that Duke Pyror
had a hand in things behind the scenes. Apparently the Duke had sat down with
Dominus Fargut and explained the concept of the British constitution and how
the United Kingdom worked.

The
Queen appointed the Duke as a royal governor with the surviving Duluth lords to
form a royal house of parliament. They picked up on the constitutional monarchy
and began to debate it immediately. The Queen in a good will gesture housed and
treated the Duluth lords as lords instead of in a dungeon. She even sent a
convoy of food and materials to Duluth, with news of the battle and a royal
summons for any remaining lords that had remained behind, or the heirs of those
lost in battle.

Ryans
pointed out to her in an aside at one time that if she required the children of
the lords to be trained in the capital for a period of three years or more,
then they could be properly educated.

Perry
snorted. “You mean indoctrinated. Besides they'd make great hostages if anyone
got any wild ideas of revolting.”

Ryans
shrugged as the Queen gave him a shrewd look. “It would be an enticement as
well, some of the lords will have to be in parliament of course,” he said. “Of
course they will need their own parliament if the two countries are going to be
separate branches with separate parliaments. I believe that is yet to be
determined? If they are one house then they can be integrated over time right?”
he asked. The Queen pursed her lips.

She
nodded. “So they can be with their family. Yes. I see.”

He
nodded. “And of course they could get vacation time to go home, for holidays or
during the winter to see to their subjects needs.”

The
Queen chuckled, eyes dancing. “So we don't have to feed them. Good,” she said.
She most hated that here, feeding lazy, layabout lords and ladies who drank and
stank up the place. She nodded again. “How are you going to sell it to the
lords?”

He
smiled. “Oh, I think we should have a lords' school and college established. If
a whisper campaign is started... something saying that it would give the lords
a leg up on Terran innovations for their children over their competition... and
that the state would foot the bill...” He bowed slightly to her. “...and would
also provide military training for those who desire it...”

She
nodded, smoothing out her skirts. “Yes... that could work, especially with your
requirement of public education. The competition will force those on the fence
to decide quickly or be left out.” She nodded again. “They will want to get in
first to best take advantage of things,” she said and smiled again.

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

Duke
Rojer met with lord Pettigrew and Serena once the word of this new college was
announced. They had mixed feelings about the entire affair, and incorporating
Duluth into their country? Sending aide to them? Pettigrew was unhappy but he
was not about to risk his neck the Duke realized. “None can stand up to the
Queen or the gaijin since they have those terrible weapons,” the Dominus said,
shaking his head until his jowls flapped.

Serena
looked at her husband and frowned. “Was it truly that frightening?”

“Frightening
my lady? An understatement! Terrible, just terrible, men should not war with
such devices; there is no honor in such slaughter!” Pettigrew said, voice
shaking. He looked to the Duke who slowly nodded.

“We
must be patient, build new alliances and we dare not act until the time is
right,” the Duke murmured. He was afraid though, afraid of what the future
would bring. His wife and lady took in his hidden concern and slowly nodded.

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

“Your
present, Princess,” he said coming up behind her. She turned smiling then her
eyes widened in surprise. He was pushing a silver cart.

“Been
demoted to waiter I see,” Perry said smiling. Some of the other lords eyed him.

“No,
just had to do this personally,” Ryans answered. He brought the covered tray up
to the table then lifted the gilded cover off. “Voila!”

Deidra’s
eyes widened at the sight of snow. “How?” she exclaimed, looking at the icy
treats. She looked up to him. He chuckled.

“Do
you have a favorite flavor?” he asked. She blinked. “Berry? Plain?” He pointed
to the different colors.

“How
could you do this?” Duke Emroy asked. He like the other lords had all returned
to the capital. The Duluth lords present nodded.

Ryans
shrugged. “Simple, I used the freezer we had stored to make ice, and then
shaved them with the blender.”

“Now
I see why you wanted that here,” Perry murmured nodding.

“You
have machines that can make ice even in the heat of summer?” a lord asked, hand
itching to grab a platter of the melting ice.

“Here
my lords,” Deidra smiled, handing each one a platter. “To your health,” she
smiled politely at them. They bowed slightly. She took up the spoon and took a
bite. “Oh heavenly, berry,” she smiled her thanks to Ryans.

“An
honor to bring a smile to such a lovely face,” he smiled back, bowing slightly.
He turned to the lord. “We can do many things. An alliance of some sort between
your countries may give you access to these things. Simple on Earth, but they
do make quite an impact here.” He smiled tat Deidra who chuckled, licking the
spoon. The lords looked thoughtfully at the icy treats in front of them.

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

He
smiled as he rubbed her shoulders in the darkness later that evening. “Hot,”
she sighed, feeling the breeze on her silken nightgown. She fanned herself with
her fan.