Red Queen

by Jolie Jaquinta

  Chapter 34

  Tools of the Trade

  The Queen, once more, threaded the non-public corridors of the palace. This time it was down stairs to her secure personal chambers. Phyllis preceded her and Clive followed. Clive had passed her an apple as they started their brisk journey and she devoured it, earnestly. She didn't know when she would eat again. Best to take what should could now.

  “I'll get the cloth wears, you see to the armor”, Phyllis said to Clive as they entered her personal armory. She moved to the chests in the back of the room. Jesca quickly disrobed down to the bare minimum as Clive started unbuckling the straps from a stand of armor. It was the royal battle armor, designed for war. It was not pretty, other than in the way a well-crafted tool could be said to be pretty.

  It was fluted in folds and creases, but they were purely there to add strength. They were not teased into fanciful patterns mimicking contemporary fashion, like the ceremonial dress armor to its left. That one was for formal occasions, and had that, along with intricate engraving and enamel inlays. Although of exquisite workmanship and no shortage of magical protection, it held the design compromise of being a show piece.

  The pieces that Clive laid out on the floor were weighty. Made from magically forged alloys of noble metals, it was supernaturally sturdy and could have been imbued with being much lighter, as the travelling armor on the right. However that armor also had the design criteria of being practical, transportable, and comfortable. That armor could be donned and doffed by the wearer. This was not. And the pieces retained some of their material weight since its protection was not in hardness alone, but the ability to slow the momentum of incoming blows.

  As Clive finished readying the armored pieces, Phyllis returned with her hands full of cloth. First she strapped a wide leather girdle onto Jesca. It was curved to fit her body and lined with a thin layer of felt. Phyllis threaded the many eyelets with strong cord and stitched her into it, forcing her to inhale deeply for the tightest fit that would not constrict her breathing. It was virtually the only piece in the full set that was unique to Jesca. Most of the rest had been made for Scioni, or acquired from old royal hoards. The cost of such equipment was so fantastic that the magic they were imbued with ensured they would alter their size and shape as necessary for the bearer. The lowly girdle was not so ensorcelled, and so was of common work.

  Thus girded, Jesca stepped into the legs of the gambeson and Phyllis tied the tops to the girdle. Made of many layers of fine silk, magically compressed, it formed a spongy material that was both a final defense, and also a guard against the armor that would go over it. They were long tubes and covered her from the point of her hip, where they tied, down to her ankle. Narrowing or flaring as necessary. Only the backs of the knees were left open, allowing for maximum flexibility. Phyllis lifted a short tunic of similar material over Jesca's head. Small leather straps tightened this at her sides until it was tightly bound to her. The two arms were tied at points to her shoulders, similar to the legs, with the same cut outs in the pits of her elbow. When the final knot was tied Jesca did some deep bends and stretches, testing the fit was secure, but not impeding. Small adjustments were made, and she nodded her satisfaction. Lastly, heavy reinforced boots were laced to her feet.

  Clive stepped forward, holding the disembodied metal shell of a leg. The entire articulated piece moved soundlessly in his grasp as he checked the joints and maneuvered it into place. In the same fashion as the gambeson, he attached this to the girdle at the point of her hip. This time, however, a leather strap was used instead of a lace. Jesca propped her foot up on a block and he wrapped the well-oiled and hinged plates around her. The calf and thigh were locked into place with tight fitting pins. The poleyn was strapped into place, with a wide wing providing cover for the back of the knee. Tassets completed the lower half of her armor. These were flared plates, belted to the girdle and hanging down to the front and sides. Neither the under or over layer of the legs covered about the topmost curve of her leg. No rigid protection could and still let her bend her legs. So the tassets filled the gap. The plates were rigid, but there were enough of them to allow for flexibility.

  Jesca swallowed, and held her head up high as Clive clipped a gorget in place around her neck. Hanging from this was a wide plate that covered her sternum in the front and the top of her spine in the back. There were intricate argentum traceries on this, but the patterns were functional, not artistic. It was the primary component in the magical defenses of the suit. Over this a solid breast plate and back plate were lowered, hinged by a wide strap over the shoulders. The armor had adapted to her form at the first fitting. It was more pigeon chested than when worn by Scioni, but not enough to restrict the motion of her arms. More straps held the two plates as one from the armpit to the waist.

  Arms, in the same manner of the legs, were tied to the shoulder points of the gambeson, pinned and strapped into place. Pauldrons settled into place on her shoulders, with overlapping lames running up to the gorget, and down to her rerebrace. Gauntlets were added over the hands. Jesca stepped back and did a number of other moves, testing her flexibility. A few straps were adjusted, and a few laces tightened.

  Phyllis picked up the next item from her pile. A long surcoat fitted snugly over the armor, and flared at the hips, with slits in front and back allowing for movement. The royal coat of arms of Romitu shone brightly from this in magical inks. She then belted over this the heavy harness of the battle sword that was Jesca token of office, pulling it very tight. Jesca drew and replaced this several times, sliding the best slightly around her waist until the motion was effortless. Then she jumped up and down a few times to make sure all the pieces had settled. Phyllis stood back, holding her helmet, next to Clive who held her shield.

  “Are you proud of yourself?” asked Clive.

  Jesca looked levelly at him, at his height now with her boots. “Are you trying to talk me out of this?”

  He shook his head. “This does not seem the right course of action to me, but I do not have all the information you have so I cannot be sure of that. And, since I do not bear the responsibility for that decision, it would not be my place to second guess you on it.” She looked relieved. “But my question still stands: are you proud of yourself.”

  Jesca took in a deep breath, and let it go, taking the question at face value. “I have convinced my principles in this action without use of deceit. I feel it is the best for Romitu. And I stand ready to put my life on the line for this decision.” He waited. “I'm not sure I am proud of myself yet, but I intend to pursue this course in a way that will lead to accomplishments I can be proud in.”

  “That is important to remember”, said Clive, soberly. “Scioni always said the sword you now bear is more than just being a symbol of your office. The gem in its pommel magnifies your leadership. It is probably the most important item of magic you bear. The confidence you have will be felt by your troops, and they will fight the better for it. But, if you lose confidence in yourself, they will feel that to. Bear this in mind at all times.”

  Jesca took another deep breath, and nodded. “I am ready”, she said.