by Alex Avrio
“Exactly. Whatever Meyer may have told us, a company of Hussars should be able to keep a princess safe. If they can't, I can’t see that a few mercenaries will make a difference.”
Regina finished her beer and took a deep breath. She’d been feeling strange from the time she woke up. She refocused on the conversation with Jaeger.
“Maybe we should just pass on this one,” she said.
“You might be right, but I’m afraid I can’t. Despite what you think of me, I'm still a proud Eressian, and I care for my country. I need to do this job. Keep our eyes open for any funny business, and make sure the bride gets safely to the groom.”
Regina got up. "So now you expect me to do jobs for the good of Eressia?" she said.
"Well, I've already decided I'm doing it, whatever the risk. You can come along and help, or follow along in the trees, but either way with the curse you don't have much choice about staying close. I think you know which would be the more comfortable option. Your choice."
"We're being dragged into a situation we can't control, and all your little Eressian friends are probably going to start trying to kill each other - and us - along the way."
"That's about the size of it."
"I thought we agreed that we would make joint decisions on jobs until we can work out how to get this curse lifted.”
“That was before I knew that Eressia needed me.”
“You're insufferable. We won’t make any difference!”
“I don't know. I really don't. But there's a chance what I do could help Eressia get through. I'm not going to turn my back.”
“Though they turned theirs on you? So you have already made your mind up?”
Jaeger nodded. “Pretty much yes.”
“Well think again. If you think for a minute that I’ll be taking jobs for the good of the Eressian military you are very much mistaken.” She crossed her arms. Jaeger looked at her, his mouth a thin line.
“This is an important job, Fitzwaters. I don’t expect you to understand, you’re an outsider.”
I am a Merrovigian, who’s killed plenty of your military and had plenty of comrades slaughtered in return, Regina thought.
“Enlighten me,” she said instead. “I know you can be eloquent when you want to.”
“I can when I need to.”
“You need to. I assure you.”
Jaeger frowned. He rubbed the scar under his eye as he gathered his thoughts.
“Right. Firstly this is paramount for the good of Eressia.” He paused as if this might be enough. Regina’s look told him there better be more coming. “Let me start again. This job puts us back on the map. We do a job for the Eressian military and we renew our contacts with the army and the officers.”
“By we, you mean you.”
“Currently it’s the same, isn’t it?”
Regina’s nostrils flared but she couldn’t find a suitable reply.
“If I renew my acquaintances, we’ll get better contracts. We’ll come in contact with nobility who’d normally pass us by in a gilded carriage. If we make a favorable impression we just might end up with a court position, and I know you want one of those.”
Regina pursed her lips and shot him a dirty look but didn’t voice any objections. Jaeger pressed on.
“The money is good and it’ll keep us going for a while. Right now our finances are worse than a luxury merchant in Nassay-Beden.”
“Supposing I agree to take this job,” Regina said slowly, “who’s going to lead it?”
“I am of course,” he said.
“Are you now?” Regina’s eyes flashed dangerously. “Because you have exhibited such extraordinary decision making skills in the past?”
Jaeger’s face turned a violent shade of red. The reference to Border Town and his previous life hit the mark like a cannonball.
“I might have not made the best decisions in the past but at least I don’t let anyone join for free when escorting a group, or lose reward money,” he answered, his face still red. “You let the travelers join and they didn’t pay us, and we never collected the bounty on the Black Fox’s gang members we killed.”
Regina’s eyes widened in surprise. “What? Are you kidding me? We were chased by Abidari wolves and then imprisoned in the palace in Pella.”
Jaeger stared at Regina but said nothing.
“How dare you, how dare you challenge my leadership skills? I got everyone back alive. If it wasn’t for me…” She caught herself just in time. If it wasn’t for her he’d be dead and if it wasn’t for him she’d have much more money in her purse right now. She bit her lip to stop herself saying words that would cause a permanent wound. Jaeger was well aware how much he owed her. She didn’t want to throw it in his face that he was still alive because of her, even though he deserved to hear it.
Jaeger took a few breaths.
“The fact of the matter is we’re broke. We could rent our pockets to tenants. This job will get us money to get by for a while. It might lead to other jobs too. I know you don’t like working for Eressians but with our situation we should be grateful for what we can get.”
“I don’t like working for the Eressian military,” Regina corrected him. “I’ve got nothing against Eressians in general. Except you.”
Jaeger put his hand over his heart and bowed his head slightly. “Like it or not, it’s what we’ll have to do. Unless you want us to go back to Madam Ester, as employees this time?”
Regina’s face twisted with distaste.
“Thought so. As for me being captain, even you know it makes sense. We’ll be working with Eressian officers and nobility. If they were Merrovigian you’d be captain.”
“I hate you,” she muttered. “You and sensible decisions and all this. Everything. But most of all you.” Regina picked up her cup and drank deeply. “Well, I survived the charge of Feneryn. Let’s take on a few more of your poxy Hussars.”
“I take it for a yes," Jaeger said with a smile. "Meyer will give us a contract and the Guild can look it over. They’ll get us paid enough to make you feel better about it.” Jaeger drained his cup.
“You might want to order another. I’ve got some things to do,” Regina said.
“What things?” Jaeger asked with a frown.
“Things you don’t need to know about,” Regina snapped. “By the Mother, I miss the times I could go where I wanted when I wanted.” A few moments of silence passed. “I’m going where even the Empress goes unattended, alright?”
Jaeger shrugged and took another swig of his drink.
“We’ve tried this before. Thanks to Nephthys, being too far apart is a deal breaker. You could be in the Guild in half an hour – but the pain would be excruciating. It’s not worth it. I’ll be ready soon.”
Jaeger muttered something indistinguishable and poured himself another drink.
“It’s not like I love this either, sunshine,” Regina said. “There’s no alternative, that I’m aware of.”
Jaeger shot her a venomous look but said nothing.
“Thought so,” Regina said. When they'd first realized the nature of the curse, after heated arguments they’d finally figured out that they’d still be stuck together whether they were civil or foul to each other. At least the mutual professional respect they’d developed during the mission to recover the Alchemist's Box helped.
Regina pulled some paper and a pencil out of her pack and started writing a letter.
“I thought you had to go somewhere. Who are you writing to?” Jaeger snapped.
“Briggs. If we’re going to do this we'll need people we trust with us, and to get them over here as soon as possible.”
“To counterbalance all those Eressians?” Jaeger asked.
“I’ve been feeling bad for abandoning Amanates in a foreign land.”
“He’s hardly abandoned, he’s with Briggs,” Jaeger said, sipping his beer. “Briggs’ll have Amanates kitted out, and we left excellent letters of reference. He'll be a fully paid up membe
r of the guild by now.”
Regina finished the letter, and got up to leave the room. She opened the door just as Meyer appeared the other side of it, his hand raised to knock.
“Colonel, long time, no see,” Regina said.
“Please, Captain,” Meyer gestured for her to sit down, “I came to see if you both had an answer for me yet. I was going to hire Merchant Blades to escort the princess, but I was glad that I ran into you, Max. I’m hoping you will take the job. If nothing else I know you are a man of integrity.” Jaeger’s ears turned red.
“Captain Fitzwaters, Max has assured me of your dependability, capability and honor.” It was Regina’s turn to redden. Meyer took a deep breath as if he was about to say something difficult.
“I have come to talk to you both in confidence– It pains me to say it, but I fear my own Hussars are not to be trusted.”
4 CONFIDENTIAL AFFAIRS
REGINA’S mouth fell open: a commander speaking thus of his own Regiment. Regina walked over to the decanter and drank down a full glass of brandy. Of course, there was no such thing as an easy job. Might as well believe in unicorns. Jaeger could have sentimental and patriotic reasons all he liked for this job. She had to think, and carefully.
“Your Hussars! The Hussars are the pride of Eressia, the most faithful soldiers of the Empire, sworn to serve,” Jaeger said. He poured himself some brandy and drank. “They'll charge into the mouth of firing cannons. Recklessly, impetuously brave maybe – you don’t see many over thirty. Disloyal?”
“Sworn to serve what? Sworn to serve whom? Most remain loyal,” Meyer said, “but also some whisper we owe allegiance to Empire not man. Not to the Emperor. Can you see where this leads?”
Jaeger paled.
“When some speak against the Emperor, and some are influenced, I don’t know who I can trust.”
“That’s not good,” Regina said.
“Indeed,” Meyer said. “I need to get the princess safely to her suitor. This marriage will buy the prime minister some time to try and find a solution to the brewing crisis. He'll broker a deal, pass some measures to deal with the concerns of the provinces. What I do not want is anything triggering a reaction before he has time to work things out.”
“I hadn’t realized the situation with the provinces was so serious,” Jaeger said solemnly.
“It runs deep, and it’s clear that there's a split forming between provinces loyal to the Emperor, and those that think change is needed to save Eressia from herself. It’s unfortunate that our Emperor chooses to ignore the signs. He says he governs by the grace of the Mother and Child,” Meyer said taking a sip from his glass.
“So you don’t trust your own men but you trust the Merchant Blades?” Regina asked.
“The Merchant Blades have a reputation. You sign a contract which you honor or you die. If you fail, you sully the reputation of your Guild, and they will hunt you down themselves to restore the faith of their clients. Yes, I trust if you sign the document, whether you're Eressian, Merrovigian, or from the Eastern Steppes, you will fulfil the terms, with your last breath.” Meyer took a large parchment from his bag and unfolded it in front of Jaeger. He offered him a pen.
“Will you take the job?”
“Why didn’t you tell us your concerns at the Baron’s house?”
“Because I don’t trust him either.”
Jaeger moved to sign, but Regina swept up the parchment and rolled it.
“We are honored by your offer, Colonel. Signing a contract, however, needs study and no misunderstandings. In both our best interests.”
The Colonel got up and bowed. “Of course. I will give you a few days to read it, but I must have your answer by the end of the week. The Princess is currently in Bondesburg visiting her cousin but we intend to get back on the road early next week. I hope you will be joining us.”
Regina watched him walk out of the room.
“I have a feeling,” Regina said, “that this won’t be an easy job.”
“I don’t have those,” Jaeger said, finishing his drink. “Let’s go to the Guild.”
“In ten minutes. Have another drink,” Regina said going to the door, “while I do something I need to do.”
The guild representative, a short lieutenant called Parlotti, made up in intelligence and spirit what she lacked in height. She studied the contract meticulously, taking them through the finer points of the agreement. As Regina sat next to Jaeger, both listening intently, she caught a whiff of the soap he’d used to shave that morning. She observed the curve of his jaw, the scar under his eye, tiny flecks of gold in the center of his eyes as he concentrated hard on Parlotti's words. Jaeger held his pencil so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
Parlotti stopped, noticing they were both distracted.
“Why don’t you leave it with me? I can go through it in my own time and advise you tomorrow.” She tapped her finger on the table. “For the usual fee we can also arrange the equipment for the job. Would you like us to look into it?”
Regina readily agreed. Something in that place distracted her, and her mind kept wandering to Jaeger and their time at the Crow. Once out of the Guild Jaeger rubbed his temples.
“Headache?” Regina asked. He nodded.
“I need to pay a short visit to the Mother’s Temple a few blocks away,” Jaeger said.
“Why not,” Regina shrugged.
When they reached the Temple, Jaeger climbed the stairs briskly and headed straight to the font. Regina followed with less haste, making her way first to the place of offerings. She didn’t often visit temples, but it couldn't do any harm, and if they were going to get through this one, they might need some help from above. The Temple of the Mother and Child was more austere than the Temple in Pella. The decorations were simple, lacking the opulence and wealth of the Duchy of Pella. The floors were of modest wood not marble, and the fabrics hanging on the walls were wool, not silks or velvets. The chairs were wooden without cushions or gilded details. But the devotion of the people was as strong as everywhere else. Seasonal flowers adorned the base of the statue of the Mother who was holding the Child tenderly. Regina had a feeling she might be more sympathetic to her plights and prayers than the one in Pella. She dropped a handful of copper coins into the donation box, and lit a candle, touching the wick to the flame of one that was already burning brightly. The last time she’d prayed Regina had asked for a change in her life. She couldn't deny that particular prayer had been answered in spades. She wondered whether she should more carefully consider the wording of her requests. Maybe she should just ask for good health and good fortune.
Regina took a deep breath and tried to focus. She believed the Mother and Child heard your prayers wherever you chose to offer them, but maybe there was something special in offering them in a holy place. She struggled to put what she wanted into words. She wanted to get out of this messy curse with Jaeger. These feelings she had for him weren’t real. She had a vague sense that they'd started to become close before they ran into Nephthys, except that all recent memories now felt untrustworthy. Jaeger was too stubborn and too proud to ever allow himself to succumb to feelings induced by enchantment. Regina’s emotions were in turmoil. The approaching full moon made it worse. Though she ached inside to the marrow, she'd learnt the hard way, from growing up with brothers, never to let males see they’ve hurt you.
Jaeger came to the back and motioned to her that they were leaving. She quickly offered her prayer.
“That was quick,” Regina commented. Jaeger’s expression was stern.
“My– sensual thoughts were defiling this holy place,” he said.
Regina breathed in. “You’re feeling it too?” she asked.
“All morning,” he admitted. He bit his lower lip. “Tonight will be the first of the full moon,” he said in a low voice. He seemed embarrassed about it, like somehow it was his fault. “I fear it will get worse.” He paused. “We can't let that bitch beat us.”
Regina didn’t sa
y anything. She didn’t know what to say. The sky had become slate gray and rain had started to spittle down. A thin mist hovered in the air, a faint crackling of a faraway storm.
“We should head back,” Regina said, looking at the clouds. Jaeger must have taken this as a hint to change the subject because he didn’t speak of it again.
Regina and Jaeger found a spot near the fire at the Inn and settled down with a mug of beer.
“At least the money’s good on this job,” Regina commented.
“That’s the only good thing about it,” Jaeger said.
“You jumped at the opportunity to reconnect with the military and the court.”
He didn’t reply. He stared at the fire for a long while and finally got up in frustration.
“This is torture,” he muttered as he walked up and down in front of the fireplace. This is unbridled lust, more like, thought Regina. Trying to resist it might send them mad.
He turned towards her. “I have something to ask I couldn’t possibly ask,” he said. Regina wondered if he was thinking aloud.
She leaned towards him. “In case you haven’t noticed, I‘m having the same problem,” she said.
He bent and kissed her. Then he pulled back.
“I– don’t want to impose myself on you.”
Regina gave him her hand. He took it. She smiled at him impishly. “If needs must–”
“No,” he said. “We are stronger than this. Better than this.”
Regina looked at him without saying anything.
“I– we will not succumb to this malicious curse, this dark magic. Now, we feel that it is our feelings making this desire for each other; but we know, both of us, that it is not so. It is the curse of Nephthys. We discussed this before the full moon, how we would resist. We are colleagues, we work together. This can only do us harm.” He began to cross the room without letting go of her hand, leading her to the back courtyard. The courtyard was fenced off the adjoining alley with a tall wooden fence and the two other sides bordered with other houses. It was deserted this time of day.