by Alex Avrio
“There are plenty of people out there who’ll knock you down. Don’t do it for them. Don’t be one of them.”
Jaeger looked unconvinced.
“You’re better than the bad things you’ve done. We all are.”
“The worst lies are the ones we tell ourselves,” Jaeger said. “When I resigned my commission, I told myself it would be for a little while, just to pay off the debts. I would return to my career, my family, my home. Nothing would change, because so many of us were doing the same. Then I started doing things I knew weren’t quite right, but I eased my conscience because they were this side of acceptable. I wasn’t doing much harm and I didn’t have much choice. Gold and Honesty came along and made me their creature and I said I had no choice whatever.
“But I should have known better. The truth is always there, in front of our eyes. We don’t want to see it because it will damage us as sure as looking at the sun.
“I know Eressia and I know how things are, how they work. I know most of the aristocracy – if not personally, then at least by reputation – and have a good idea of how they think and behave. I should have followed more carefully what was going on in my country and I should have given this assignment much more thought before I accepted it and dragged you into it. Maybe Morgenstern was right. I have disobeyed orders in the past. I let my feelings cloud my judgement. Maybe I’m no longer fit to command Eressian troops or Merchant Blades.”
“Above all, I shouldn’t have been an idiot and refused to discuss our particular predicament. This is not a lonely curse, even though it is for Nephthys’s amusement. We need to find out all we can about it.”
A hard knock sounded on the door, making both of them jump. “Come on, time’s up,” a nasal voice called.
Regina glanced at the candle, cut to last the appointed time; now almost a stub.
“So it is,” Jaeger said. He got up and offered Regina his hand to help her up. “Let's leave this place,” he said. “I wouldn’t want to keep any woman here more than necessary, much more a lady I am very fond of.”
36 THE COUNTESS OF SYLERIA
WHEN Regina and Jaeger returned to the inn the team crowded them, eager for news. Regina was surprised to see Thomas among them.
“How did you get here?” she asked, once they were all seated at a table close to the fireplace. The logs crackled and hissed. Thomas smiled and his three scars creased together on his cheek.
“Colonel Meyer sent me to see what’s happening. I came with Kyfer, Peeter and Johannes.”
Regina looked at the table next to theirs and recognized Meyer’s men.
“That was stupid of him,” Jaeger observed. “It draws attention. The last thing we need is a child.”
“Meyer wants to know what's happening, and so do we,” Schaefer said, pushing forward. “In your own time,” she said sarcastically.
“Don’t worry, Lieutenant. You’ve got plenty of time to get ready,” Regina said.
“For what?”
“You and the Major are going to a ball.”
“Are we?” Morgenstern asked. “And where will your excellent selves be?”
“We’re the help. We’ll talk later. For the moment let’s have some food and a drop to drink. The way things are going, they might well be our last.”
A week later, the city was caught in the fever of the carnival celebrations. Jaeger had been accepted as another trial recruit for the guard, and they’d been measured up, given uniforms, weapons and an introduction to the palace grounds. They hadn’t seen a hair of the princesses – in truth, they hadn’t expected to.
Morgenstern and Schaefer were putting the final touches to their costumes. They’d paid handsomely to have them ready in a week. Eleven was to follow Schaefer in as her maid, and Briggs would be Morgenstern’s man. The Duke’s ball began at sunset, the great and the good of Korthi in attendance.
Regina and Jaeger had been in the palace since daybreak. Ten’Daertha had assembled the guards.
“A few words for the new recruits. You will form the guard for the Duke's new wife. She will be referred to as the Young Duchess. The Mother of the Duke is addressed as The Duchess. Call her 'old' at your peril.” There were a few smiles among the guard.
“This ball is your final test. Keep the peace and keep everyone safe. The safety and comfort of the guests is paramount. Anything that happens reflects on the Duke. If the Duke loses face, you lose your head. Understood?”
Regina quickly checked her sword belt and put on her black mask. The Duke wanted his guards to blend in seamlessly. With the amount of elaborate embroidery on their coats Regina and Jaeger could easily pass for guests themselves.
Jaeger gave her a small bow. “My lady,” he said, smiling.
“Stop being a fool,” Regina said without reprimand in her voice. “Now's a good chance to make contact with the ladies. We’ll go to their room and say we were sent to escort them to the ballroom.”
Jaeger nodded. Regina and Jaeger made their way to a wing of the palace that had been off limits. Other guards had hinted it housed an important guest who wished to remain undisturbed. They passed through the golden hall, a crystal chandelier hanging every hundred feet, a thousand aromatic candles dispersing their light and fragrance. The gilt-edged mirrors in every second alcove amplified the candlelight, alternating with alabaster statues of young women and men trying to wrap a minuscule tunic around themselves in a false attempt to preserve any modesty whatsoever. Despite the lifelike beauty of the statues and the sheer spectacle of the shining mirrors there was no time to stop and take in the majesty of it all.
Regina climbed a flight of stairs, the sound of her steps drowned in the thick crimson carpet, like stepping on a cloud rather than a staircase. At the top a portrait of the Duchess, beautiful in the prime of youth, watched their progress. Her youth might be gone but her power was greater than ever. The walls of the corridor were lined with huge paintings depicting Korthi trading vessels sailing to all the corners of the earth, bringing back the riches of trade, the Dukes and nobility waving them away, sea nymphs and Tritons greeting them on the waves.
Two guards stepped in their way as they turned into a smaller corridor. “You’re not meant to come up here,” the taller one said.
“We’re here to escort the ladies to the ball,” Regina said confidently.
The man narrowed his eyes. “It’s too early.”
“Look, we’re just following orders,” Regina said, shrugging. “Ten’Daertha sent us, and I’ll bet she was asked by the Duchess. If you’ve got any objections, take it up with them. I’m sure Ten‘Daertha has nothing better to do right now than have you question her orders.”
The man stared at her but Regina held his gaze. He stepped out of her way. “It’s the third door on the left. They’ve been in there all day getting ready.”
Regina nodded and moved on. They reached the door under the watchful gaze of the guards, knocked and entered. The three women turned to face them. Rosamynd was dressed in turquoise, Emilia in a magnificent golden dress. The third woman wore a silver and white gown. Regina took a moment to recognize her as Charlie, who was looking at them with concern on her face.
Regina removed her mask and Charlie’s frown disappeared; a smile bloomed on her face and she went quickly towards Regina, stopping short of hugging her only because it would be exceedingly difficult in such a dress.
“I’m so glad you've found us,” Charlie said.
“Yes,” Emilia said dryly, “finally you’re here.”
“You realize we were attacked? That many of the Hussars were injured?” Jaeger said.
Emilia opened her fan with a flick of her wrist. “Well, at least you’ve arrived. Eventually.”
“I don’t think you’ve been in that much discomfort,” Jaeger observed.
“That’s what you think. You didn’t have to deal with Francesco’s amorous advances,” Emilia replied huffily. Regina noticed Rosamynd rolling her eyes.
“He’s an excelle
nt young man,” Rosamynd observed.
“Someone has a crush,” Emilia laughed. Rosamynd turned red.
“At least it’s on someone who's my equal in social rank and standing,” she said. It was Emilia’s turn to go red.
“Ladies,” Regina said, “much as I love gossip, we’re on a tight schedule. We need to get you out of here, and we need to leave now.”
“What do you mean, get us out?” Rosamynd said. “Isn’t the Duke returning us to our escort?”
“It’s a bit more complicated than that, Your Grace,” Regina replied.
“Well, I’m not going then,” Rosamynd said, crossing her arms across her bosom.
“Excuse me?” Jaeger said. “What?”
“I am not coming. I am not leaving this room unless it is to return to Eressia with a formal escort.”
“We are the formal escort,” Regina said in exasperation. She could feel Jaeger’s patience evaporating by the minute.
“No, you’re not,” Rosamynd insisted. “You’ve sneaked in here. Last time I snuck away I had to walk through mud, I cut my hands and feet, froze in the cold night and mist and went through unimaginable horrors. No. I’m staying right here until my father’s own guard comes for me.”
Jaeger’s mouth twitched.
“Rosamynd, I think it’s best if we go with them,” Charlie said in a soothing voice.
“I think so too. I don’t think the Duke has our best interests in mind,” Emilia said.
“I understand why you want to go with them,” Rosamynd said to Charlie, “and you,” she said nodding at Emilia, “are in trouble with your brother. I am in trouble with no one. I was abducted. And I am staying here.”
“Rosamynd, we really need to go,” Charlie said, more insistently this time.
“No, we don’t. We can wait until the proper escort comes for us. The only reason they are in such a hurry is that they are in trouble for losing us. They are trying to get us back because they think it'll get them out of trouble. Which is quite untrue. And don’t think that just because you’re a countess you can tell me what to do.”
“What?” Regina blinked. “You’re a countess? How did that happen?”
“A Royal Princess can create new nobility,” Jaeger said. His voice was ominously calm on the surface, but underneath swam something ugly. “Pray tell, Charlie, what have they made you, Countess of Mischief and Disruption?”
“We thought it would be good fun to make her a Countess of Syleria,” Emilia replied with an impish smile. Jaeger’s face turned crimson. He grabbed a bust from a side table and hurled it at the opposite wall. The gypsum head smashed into the full-length mirror, an ear-shattering crash, a blizzard of plaster and glass raining down.
“You think this a game?” he shouted. “People have died and more will die to get you out of here. The reward for those who make it back is a firing squad. The repercussions are so much more than your little brains can hold. Instead of behaving like princesses you act like naughty, stupid children. So that’s how I’ll treat you from now on.” He turned towards Emilia who’d gone pale and took a step away. “Making her a countess of Syleria just to mock me? Is that what you find amusing, Your Highness? That now I am honor-bound to owe allegiance to Charlie?”
Before Emilia could utter a response, the doors barged open and four guards, sabers drawn, ran into the room.
37 BIG GIRLS CRY TOO
“WHAT do you lot want?” Emilia shouted.
“My Lady, we thought you were hurt,” the sergeant said.
“These fools had the temerity to tell me to hurry up.” She pointed to Regina and Jaeger dismissively. “I won’t be told what to do by servants. In fact,” she said, sending a withering look towards the sergeant and his men, “I do not like them speaking to me at all unless I address them directly. Is that understood? Now go.”
The man bowed hurriedly and left. Regina and Jaeger turned to follow them.
“Not you two,” Emilia said sourly. “You two stay, until I say you can leave.”
Ordering servants around came naturally to Emilia, it seemed. Regina had never asked Jaeger which part of Eressia he came from, but it must have been clear to any other Eressian from his accent. Now she knew Jaeger was from the Princedom of Syleria. She could see the humor in the situation even if Jaeger clearly couldn’t. He also couldn’t see how close to girls these young women were.
“Good going there, Kapitan Subtle,” Regina reprimanded him, once the guards were out the room. His glare made her good humor evaporate.
“You are coming with us, whether you like it or not,” Jaeger told the princesses firmly. He heard no words of protest, so he went on. “Now we will take you to the ball. There will be a distraction and we’ll smuggle you out in the confusion.” The two ladies nodded quietly.
“Well, that went well,” Regina said to Jaeger when they were back in the ballroom, having left the princesses outside the ballroom to prepare for a good entrance.
“The plan was to get them out before the ball started, but that took so long that it is now dead in the water,” he muttered.
“Look on the bright side,” Regina smiled. “We’re going dancing.”
The guests trickled, then poured in, as the ball began. Keeping track of who was who and where they went was going to be tougher than Regina had expected. Against the usual protocols, the guests were not announced as they entered, and their faces were hidden by their masks. The guests reveled in anonymity and the liberties it gave. The cavernous hall was filled with elaborately-costumed men and women, their faces obscured by leather, porcelain, or even glass masks tied on with ribbons. Regina spotted one, a gilded sun, sunbeam spikes rising high to compete with the ladies’ hairdos. Another glittered and sparkled, a rainbow of colors as light fell on its encrusted jewels. A man in green wearing a mask adorned with a full set of antlers danced with a goldfinch, its beak surrounded by yellow and black feathers. Others wore more practical masks: one with a prominent nose and a beak-like chin allowed the guest to eat and drink at their pleasure. There were more sinister masks, skulls, or plague masks with long beak and dark history.
The presence of so many people dancing heated the air, causing the candles to release their aromatic essence, which mingled with the ladies’ perfumes creating a heady bouquet of sandalwood and cinnamon mixed with myrrh and the scent of a flower garden. Couples swirled on the dance floor. Regina was relieved when she saw the three wood nymphs wearing green masks decorated with leaves enter the hall. The Young Duchess, Bianca di Korthi, formerly di Angelo, in her magnificent costume was at the side of the dancefloor, surrounded by her ladies. She suddenly looked Regina’s way, and briefly caught her eye. A wicked smile crossed Bianca's face as she looked away. Then she exchanged a few words with a man in a raven mask.
“They're in,” Regina whispered to Jaeger.
He offered her his hand. “A dance?”
“We’re working, Max.”
“One dance won’t do any harm. Ten’Daertha wanted us to get in amongst the guests on the dance floor.”
Jaeger smelt faintly like a citrus garden. He was a good dancer and she let herself go for a few minutes, forgetting they were there for a job. She imagined how it would be if he let himself go as much as she was doing right now: following the notes, dancing to the tune, leaving herself open to all the hurt of their impossible situation. For a moment she lost herself in his embrace in the dance until suddenly the dance was over and she regretted those feelings. As they separated, a woman in a blue mask approached them, and tapped Jaeger on the shoulder.
“Maximillian?”
Regina’s heart sank.
“Chastity? Is that you? I hadn’t realized that you would be here,” Jaeger said.
“Dance with me,” was all she replied.
The moment that Kapitan Maximillian Jaeger held Chastity in a close embrace, her silken gown shimmering gold as it caught the light, Regina realized the truth. This had always been meant as torture, nothing other than excruc
iating pain, a punishment from Nephthys for their trespass. Regina closed a door in her mind. If he didn’t want this, whatever it was that they had, she didn’t either. She had given it a chance but it was time to stop. There would always be some Chastity or other. From now on she would keep this a working relationship with strings, a friendship acknowledging their special situation. Nothing more. Nothing less.
38 THE SECOND DEATH OF KAPITAN MAXIMILLIAN JAEGER
REGINA tried to find her way off the dance floor, but a man stood in her way, his hand extended in invitation. Regina had no choice. If a guest asked to dance with her, her instructions were to accept. Regina put her hand on the man’s shoulder. There was something vaguely familiar about him, but she couldn’t quite place him, his face hidden by a raven mask.
He danced with such lightness that time seemed to slow as they moved through the steps. There was something of ancient forests and the wild on him.
“If you and your friends are here after midnight, there will be nothing I can do to help you,” he whispered in her ear. Regina almost lost her footing.
“Captain Fortuna?”
The man laughed quietly. “Would you believe that we are all here, prisoners of our own making?”
“Excuse me?”
They spun, gliding around the room.
“I have some experience in things that are not what they seem. I shall tell you now as plainly as I can. Leave now. After midnight the river will have found its course.”
Regina looked at him more carefully. Fortuna had black hair. She couldn’t make out his hair behind the large raven feathers. But she could see amber eyes.
“Demetrius?”
“Very good, my dear. It took you long enough. Now take your pets and go.”