by Chris Hechtl
As guests of honor Perry, Sue, and Ryans were seated with the royal family. Deidra didn't look at all happy about that.
“It's a little tart,” a lady down the table sniffed. Crystal goblets tinkled as people scooped up the treat. Ryans wondered why the salt was close to the Dukes and not strategically placed for everyone to have access to. It must be a political thing, something subtle he was missing. Either that or someone wanted them to die of heart disease.
“I like tart. Reminds me of granny smith apple pies my great grandmother made,” Perry said getting another fork full.
“The Kedara fruit is small and tart when harvested in the spring. It grows sweeter and much larger if left to ripen until fall,” Zara explained.
“Ah,” Perry nodded. “So why pick it now? Other than for the tart taste,” he smiled politely as he dabbed at his mouth with a linen napkin. He removed the cover from his drink to take a sip.
The princess smiled back a little. “The war I believe. The orchards these came from are near the Duluth army. The grower picked what he could before he fled here.” She made a moue. “His loss, our gain.”
“Ah.” Perry looked up to see a nervous looking guy coming over wiping his hands on an apron.
“You called for me my Dominus?” the man asked.
“Ah, not that I know of. Wait you’re the chef?” Perry asked. The man bobbed a nervous nod.
“Good food. You are quite the cook. What's your name?”
“Cassius my Dominus, if it pleases you,” the chef said glowing a little. Perry smiled.
“It pleases me greatly to meet you Cassius, you’re a good chef. I bet you'd give any restaurant chef back home a run for their money.” He hefted the platter.
The chef smiled a little. “What is this term chef?” he asked.
“Ah...” Perry looked over to Ryans.
“It's a formal title for a professional cook. A culinary artist,” Ryans explained. He frowned as the bluetooth bounced that last bit back. “It is a title of respect for those who cook good food,” he repeated, dumbing it down further.
“Ah,” Cassius nodded.
“Food is the building block of life Cassius; remind me to get you some of our recipes from the files. I bet you'd have a ball,” Ryans said.
The chef looked a little confused and then bobbed a nod. That seemed safe to him.
“Cassius, food, cooked food that is, is what made us smart. Well, that and walking upright and these.” He held up his thumbs and wiggled them.
“Science channel Ryans? Really?” Perry replied snorting.
“No, it's true when you look at it. At least it's an interesting perspective,” Ryans said and turned back to his audience. “You see raw food takes a lot of time, space, and energy to digest. That is why cows have multiple stomachs and chew their cud.” He saw a few of the ladies sniff and looked disdainfully at him.
“What I mean is, we can't get the same energy out of raw food as we can from cooked. The cooking breaks down the materials and makes it much easier for our bodies to digest. We get less than ten percent of the nutrition of one of these fruits if it was eaten raw.”
The chef looked alarmed. “You cannot eat this raw my Dominus. The fruit is poisonous.”
“Oh. Like a potato. Okay. Got it.” Ryans shrugged. The chef nodded.
“Anyway, when it's cooked; food is easier to digest and less is needed to fuel your body. With a need for less food we can do more and eat less. At least some of us.” He turned a mock glower on Perry who was scraping his plate clean.
Perry looked up, fork raised, chin dribbling with purple juice. “What?” he garbled out of a full mouth. Ryans chuckled.
“Thank you my good man,” Deidra said nodding to the chef. He bowed deeply then withdrew quickly.
“You are going to be as big around as earl Pettigrew over there if you’re not careful,” Zara stage whispered to Perry.
“Not likely. Besides I'm a growing boy,” Perry said smiling to her.
“You said you can heal many things. Can you prevent death?” a voice asked. Sue frowned.
“No one can cheat death. We will all die eventually, it is a part of the cycle of life,” she replied and then grimaced as the voices murmured. “But that doesn't mean we can give in to it gracefully in all instances.”
“How old can you live on patria?” Earl Pettigrew asked.
“Well, the oldest recorded is one hundred and thirty years,” Ryans replied casually. “The average is about eighty for men, and ninety for women in most modern cultures,” he replied. People began to chatter as he finished that statement.
“And they... can still get about?” A surprised voice asked, cutting through the hubbub. The voices quieted to hear his answer.
He nodded. “Oh yes, many do not retire from doing work until they are seventy or older. Some do productive work into their ninth decade. They learn their limits though. A few, a small few who can continue on can get about on their own even when they are over one hundred.”
“It's called geriatrics,” Perry said looking up. “Sue here knows about it. As your bodies age they go through different stages. Certain medicines, diet, and exercise and changing your lifestyle can do wonders for how long you can live.” He turned as Sergeant Waters came in. “Take the Master Sergeant here for an example.”
The Master Sergeant frowned as he came to attention. “Sir we have another intel dump...” The Lieutenant got up.
“Okay, just a sec.” He turned to the group. “Sergeant how old are you?”
The Sergeant stiffened further then gave a minuscule shrug. “Sixty sir.” It seemed he wasn't at all happy about admitting that fact. There was a slight murmur as the court digested that news.
“You've been a marine for forty years?” Ryans asked.
Waters nodded. “Yes sir. Forty two. I will be retiring when this tour is over. In fact I was offered early retirement for doing this mission.”
“Ah,” Ryans nodded.
“You've been a soldier for over forty years?” a lady asked surprised. The master Sergeant nodded.
“Yes ma'am. Forty two years. I signed up when I was a shave tail eighteen year old. I've been through four wars and nine campaigns,” he said. That elicited a murmur from the court once more. The Queen glanced at Deidra. Deidra nodded.
“A worthy soldier indeed,” she murmured.
“Impressive,” another courtier observed.
“Yes, it is.” Ryans replied nodding.
“What do you plan to do when you retire?” the lady asked.
“I'd like to see my mother in Florida ma'am. She's in a retirement home there. She's eighty-five,” she blinked at him. He shrugged. “I haven't had much thought beyond that ma’am; the corps has been my life.”
“For a lot of people Master Sergeant,” Perry said waving. “If you'll excuse us.” He retreated with the Master Sergeant in tow.
“Interesting men.”
“Earl Peta... Um...” Sue glanced to Zara.
“Pettigrew,” Zara supplied.
“Ah,” Sue replied. She nodded as the lord studied her with his jowls and heavy brows. He looked like an ogre. “Sorry, Earl Pettigrew. I think you and I should have a chat about your health. From the looks of your fingers you're ripe for a heart attack yourself and we need to head that off before it happens.”
The lord harrumphed. He waved away the thought irritably but froze at the look of his wife's face. His lady looked to Sue and then nodded. “I'll make sure he attends,” she said. Her husband looked at her and then harrumphed again. She poked him. There was a small titter at that but finally he nodded.
Sue smiled. “Good to hear.”
Chapter 6
Sue insisted they build a servants' quarters. They talked it over with the chamberlain and the castle Castiles... then the head steward. Ryans pointed out a store room near the kitchen that was not used. He had them clean it out, and then they brought in a carpenter with a pair of assistants. The native wood crafter had his
apprentices bring in loads of materials.
One of the first things he wanted done was to repair or remake the battered and rotten door. He set them on it while he checked them out.
“Is that plywood?” Ryans asked in surprise, picking up a small sixty centimeter wide by one hundred twenty centimeter long panel. He examined it. The outer layers looked like plant material. He looked at the side. It looked like it was made up of layers. He looked at one of the men.
“Ah... Laminated. Glue and material?” he asked tapping the board. The man looked confused.
“Gluten... ah... sticky stuff?” He frowned; knowing the translation wasn't working, the guy just didn't get it. He tapped the board again and asked how it was made.
The man shrugged. Another came in and he asked again. He cocked his head. “Secret.”
Ryans frowned. “Well, not to us, I have an idea how it's made I just wanted to confirm it. It looks like plywood we use on Earth.”
“Ah... Okay.” The man shrugged. “My Dominus are you here to supervise?”
“No, I'm here to help,” Ryans watched as the men exchanged dubious looks. He snorted. “Just bring the materials in. I'll get some tools.” One left while the other went about his business.
Ryans watched him work then called Max. “What? What now?” Max answered irritably. Ryans moved next to the window to get better reception. After a few static pocked moments he half hung out it to get a clear signal.
“Max do we have any carpentry equipment? Skill saw? Circular saw? Drill?”
“What the hell do you need that... ah hell, let me check inventory.” Max paused. Ryans could hear typing in the background. “Yeah, I got one here, a couple of drills of course, a circular saw, and a reciprocating saw. The rest is in the cache.”
Ryans nodded. “Okay, I'll drop by and grab the circular saw and a drill. I've got a project and I'd like to get it done by tonight.” He nodded to the carpenter as he closed the phone and put it away. “I'm going to get some tools and be right back.” The man looked amused and waved.
Ryans came back an hour later with a pair of hammers, the circular saw, and a bag of nails and screws. The carpenters had finished repairing the door. He sighed swinging it back and forth. Leather hinges... it would have to do.
“Okay, we want bunk beds,” he said. He used his hands then grabbed some scraps of wood and explained. The carpenter and his assistant were confused. Ryans pulled out some scrap paper from his pocket and drew out what he's talking about. The men nodded but he was sure they weren't getting the concept.
“Okay then,” he waved. “Let us see if we can do this.” They started with a pair of saw horses and then move on.
He spent the day with them laying out the materials and putting the first bed together. They were impressed by the circular saw and examined it. He watched as they block sanded and fit the pieces together. Once the first bed was together they tested both bunks.
The carpenter grinned at the idea. He ran his weathered and callused hands over the wood. “A little stain and it'll be as good as anything back on earth. Patria. Good job fellas,” Ryans said giving them a thumbs up.
They moved the bunk to a spot laid out with chalk then got started on a second set. Ryans realized the time when his phone rang.
“Where the hell are you?” Wanda demanded when he answered. He winced. He had the thing on speaker phone and the carpenters were staring at him and the little box in his hand. “You know half the damn castle is looking for you?”
“And they didn't call because...?” he asked pausing.
“Cause they don't have a phone jack ass. You've missed two appointments and the Queen and princess are pissed. The guards don't know where the hell you are,” Wanda replied.
“I'm surprised I've got reception,” he replied thoughtfully, looking around. “I'm in the new servant's quarters. Sue insisted we get that squared away today. Once we get this sorted out I'm going to turn these lads loose making new quarters for the barracks.”
“Oh. Well, get your ass cleaned up and go talk to the Queen for god’s sake before she starts clawing the tapestries.”
“Oh sure, like I want to be her scratching post,” Ryans muttered.
“Bitch, bitch. That's what you get for hiding and playing with yourself instead of doing what you’re told,” Wanda replied and then hung up. He sighed.
“Sorry gents, playtime is over. I'll check in on you later. Get some food now and then finish what you can.” He looked up. The room's single window was only giving a small amount of light. He looked over to a pair of oil lamps on the wall sconces.
“I must be slipping if I missed that. On second thoughts, let's knock off for the afternoon... or take this outside,” he waved. He knew better than to try to stain something in an enclosed space.
Out in the courtyard they set up in a well lit area. The men ate some bread they had brought along. He let the carpenter know he needed them to return the saw and drill to Max. He explained that the power was low and they needed recharging. Reluctantly the men agreed.
A page rushed up and bowed. He panted as he told Ryans he was required to attend the Queen at dinner. Ryans sighed. “See that these men get fed. And let the staff know about the servants' quarters. They will need reed mattresses and blankets. I'm going to go get cleaned up then I'll see the Queen. Go on lad, let her know I'll be there in a bit,” Ryans said with a wave. The boy gave him a dubious look over his shoulder then shrugged and rushed off.
<==={}------------>
Nate gave him a look as he passed him on his way to the great hall. “Boss you are in deep Kiamichi.”
Ryans grimaced. “I've been busy,” he growled and then shrugged. He flexed his fingers. “Getting my hands dirty was fun. Now that they know what to do I won't be needed. I hope.” He said.
“The carpenter and his apprentice?” Nate asked nodding his chin to the carpenters.
“Yeah,” Ryans said turning. He waved and then moved on.
“They were supposed to be setting up the hoardings on the walls of the castle you know,” Nate replied. Ryans turned. “Just saying.” He held up his hands.
“They can do it later, or get someone else to do it,” he growled as they entered the hall. He felt and sensed the over powering smells and sound wash over him for a moment. He caught sight of the Queen talking with someone. She looked up and nodded to him. He smiled politely and walked with a steward to his seat.
“Sorry I'm late, I've been working on a project,” he said. He smiled politely to his dinner companions. “Did I miss much?” he asked as a platter of dripping meat was set in front of him.
<==={}------------>
“That bunk bed thing, you got something going there,” Perry said smiling the next morning. “I've got the carpenters working on them in the barracks. I think we can get that sorted out nicely.”
“That was the plan,” Ryans replied. Well, part of it, he admitted to himself. The other was to get his hands dirty and a little subtle reminder to himself and the women that he wasn't going to be pushed around or bullied.
“We'll have them sorted out soon,” Perry said. He nodded his chin as a pair of boys approached.
“Who's this?” Ryans asked turning as the boys looked at each other and then bowed.
“Corgi my Dominus. Page to the royal court,” the red haired boy with the bowl cut said. He smiled. He had a gap between his teeth. “This is Answorth he and I have been assigned as your pages.” The boy in the red and black tunic nodded. He was Asian, with black hair. Both kids looked about ten.
“Mine?” Ryans asked surprised.
“Well, mine as well apparently,” Perry snorted.
“So we've got our own keepers now?” Ryans asked amused. The boys looked amused. Apparently this was the Queen's way of getting him back for being out of contact, great.
“Helping hands. Trainees if you will.” Perry replied shrugging. “It'll grow on you I guess.” He nodded to Corgi.
“You two should be in sch
ool, not running errands,” Ryans growled, eying them.
“They are. They're pages. Once they get to a certain age they become squires, then knights, then lords. Think of us as tutors,” Perry replied.
“Oh just peachy,” Ryans growled. He knew all that, knew these people learned on the job but every once in a while his American values and conditioning came boiling to the top. “Okay so where do you sleep? In the bunkhouse?”
Ah, no my Dominus,” Answorth glanced at Corgi. “I ah, sleep in your room my Dominus.”
“On that cot at the foot of the bed?” Ryans asked wrinkling his nose. He wasn't at all thrilled about sharing his room with a little kid.
“Yes my Dominus.”
“Well, as Nate said, bugger to that. We'll get you into a decent sized bed kid. Even if I have to build it myself. Do you know how to read?”
The boy gulped and nodded.
“What about math?” Ryans asked. The kid looked uncertain. “I take it only basic math?” he asked. “You know counting, subtraction and addition?” The boys nodded.
“Oh boy,” he sighed. “Well you know this castle in and out so you’re a guide too I suppose.” The boys nodded.
“And we are to keep your schedule my Dominus,” Corgi said nodding. “Their majesties wish it.”
“I've got an app. for that actually,” Ryans said holding up his phone. “Okay, well, I'll figure something out. Until then, you...”
“Answorth,” Perry supplied.
“I knew that,” Ryans said giving him a dirty look. He turned back to the boys. “You go find out the schedule. I've got an appointment with my team and then I'm getting a rescheduled tour of the factory districts. I want you to check in with Max and let him know and help him out if he needs it.” He waved as the boy started to back away.
“Yes my Dominus,” he rushed off.
“You know you could call him,” Perry said amused.
“And not have something else for the kid to do? I've got to figure this out. I don't like a shadow,” Ryans frowned. Corgi had separated from them and was talking with a milk maid.