Fourth Vector Ch. 19

Feeling confident at getting the better of the slippery Swabians, Aedan decided to push his luck. He rather enjoyed the sight of Magda's rapidly disappearing smile as he began to shake his head. "I'm canceling the training movements."

Magda's hands were up in an instant. "Really, Your Majesty, I must protest this! What use will our troops be to Picardy if we aren't able to work together? We're just as likely to get in each other's way should the Carinthians attack! There really is no precedence for this!"

"You're right, but I don't care," said Aedan. "There is no need for the training movements since there won't even be a war."

"Excuse me?" asked Magda. "What are you talking about?"

Aedan smiled. "At this very moment, my agents are mediating the dispute with the Carinthians. We are confident that they will find a peaceful resolution to this situation. There will be no war."

Magda scoffed. "You know how the Carinthians are with their honor. They are bound to fight to avenge their countrymen."

"You forget that the Carinthians used to be allies of Picardy long before Swabia was. I'm willing to bet they won't forget that legacy. I'm willing to believe they will put aside our recent differences to prevent a war."

"Then you're relying on hope alone? Hardly the measure of a king to resort to nothing but hope," spat Magda.

"You know nothing of kingship," said Aedan. "Leave those matters to me."

Magda breathed heavily, her body nearly shaking with rage. Beside her, Adalbert looked just as furious. Aedan resisted the urge to smile wider. It was a unique feeling to finally be the one giving orders instead of receiving ultimatums, and he relished the feeling of the shoe being on the other foot.

"You are putting our new alliance in jeopardy," said Magda finally, crossing her arms under her bosom. "Lord Avila will not like these new developments. He may leave you to the wrath of the Carinthians. And with it, so goes our new trading arrangement."

"I'm sure the merchants will be upset about losing a few pieces of Swabian clothes," replied Aedan sarcastically. "I will await Avila's response. But make sure he knows that if he wants to continue to work with Picardy, it will be as equal partners. You're both dismissed."

For the first time, Aedan turned around, showing his back to the shocked Swabians and facing his wife, who was still seated in the corner and had watched the entire interaction with an amused expression on her face. There was something else present in her expression as well. For the first time in a long while, Aedan saw pride written into every contour. As the Swabians exited the room, he relished the newfound satisfaction that she displayed so clearly.

There was no better feeling.

"Aedan!" said a mildly-shocked Ciara as she pushed up gingerly from her chair. "Where did all that come from?"

Aedan managed a half grin. "I told you I was going to give them a piece of my mind. What did you think? Did I do well?"

She closed the distance between them and enfolded him in a large embrace. "You did wonderfully! I never knew you had in you. You should've seen the looks on their faces from over here."

Aedan started to chuckle. "The look on their faces from up close was satisfying enough. I daresay we gave quite a message to Lord Avila today. He won't find pushovers here in Picardy."

"No, he won't," agreed Ciara as she looked up at him with pride. "I'm so proud of you, Aedan. Even the baby is too." She grabbed his hand, positioning it over her enlarged stomach. "Feel that?"

"What am I feeling—oh! There it is. He's kicking!"

"I like to think he's saying 'good job, daddy,''' said Ciara with a giggle. "He started taking off as soon as you started to yell."

"You really think it was good? It wasn't too much, right?"

She shook her head quickly. "It was just right. Trust me on this. I think they'll think twice before trying to bully you into anything further. Then maybe once we get word that the Carinthians have been sated, we might be able to kick them out of Picardy fully?"

Aedan took a moment to think that over before giving a begrudging nod. "Perhaps. This hasn't worked out the way I expected it. I had thought they would be better partners. Maybe they had just been misunderstood this entire time, and I could be the one to finally find a way to work with them. Perhaps I was being naive. They really aren't pleasant people."

"You were trying to be pragmatic," said Ciara, reaching up to kiss his cheek. "You were looking for a solution that hadn't been done before. I can't fault you for wanting to try something new."

"Either way, it's done now," he said. "I'll ask them to leave as long as we can avoid the war. That way, we should be in a better spot altogether and won't have to fear for their reprisals."

"That's a sensible idea from a very sensible and handsome man," purred Ciara, tightening her grip around his neck.

Aedan arched an eyebrow. "Ciara, what's gotten into you?"

"Maybe it was watching you rip into those two, but I must say, I highly enjoyed it," she said with flushed cheeks.

"Enjoyed it in what way?"

"Why don't you stick your fingers between my thighs and find out for yourself?" she said with a wink.

"Ciara!" Aedan laughed heartily and kissed her. "Do you have anywhere you need to be in the next half hour?"

"Just your bed, Your Majesty," she said coyly.

Aedan grinned and rushed out of the room toward the royal bedroom. "If I'd known you enjoyed that kind of display earlier, I would have found an excuse to do it sooner."

Ciara's giggle could be heard echoing down the hall, only stopping when the door to the bedroom was firmly slammed shut.

*****

"That useless sack of spoiled dog shit!"

Magda was positively rabid on the way back to their warehouse headquarters. Adalbert was practically running to keep up with her fast pace as a steady stream of insults rolled off her tongue.

"How dare he treat us that way? How dare he treat Lord Avila that way! He'll pay for this if it's the last thing I do," muttered Magda as she forced her way through a crowded intersection right beyond the palace grounds. The nearby Picards yelled out after her, but she ignored them on her quest to get away from the palace.

"What I'm trying to figure out is who suddenly gave the Picard king a spine?" said Adalbert. "He wasn't like this the last meeting so what changed? He's been perfectly content to be our puppet up until now."

"Does it matter?" yelled Magda. "Whatever the reason, he's putting our plans in jeopardy. Lord Avila's plans don't work without our own soldiers occupying the major cities. If all of them are confined to Daban, it's going to make this upcoming conflict much harder."

"Which conflict is that? The one against the Carinthians?" asked Adalbert with a sly smirk. "Or the one against the Picards?"

Magda swatted his chest. "Not now. I'm in no mood for games. Our position is more tenuous than when we awoke this morning. I have to find out what to do with those ships now lest your cousin find out this part of the plan went awry."

"It's clear that Aedan feels like he has an ace in the hole," said Adalbert. "His confidence doesn't come out of the blue. He really feels like they are going to avoid a war with the Carinthians."

"Then he's a bigger fool than we expected," spat Magda. "Like they are just going to forgive him for sinking one of their ships. Even we know how the Carinthians are. They aren't going to forgive that. But if they get a better grip on this country before we do, we'll have a big fight in this country. That's precisely the kind of conflict we need to avoid. We need the Picards to fight with us to eject the Carinthians and then when they are worn out completely, then we can take over."

Magda was being very open about her plans, earning several looks of disgust and astonishment as they passed ordinary Picards on their way through the city. It was enough to make Adalbert grab her arm. "Can you talk any louder? I doubt Aedan is the only one in the city that doesn't know the plan by now."

Magda continued to swear as they entered the warehouse district but at least it was confined to threats against Aedan instead of further reveals of Lord Avila's plan. It wasn't until they reached the warehouse and locked the door behind them that she was content to start throwing things, being even louder than before. This time, she had more of an audience though, being watched by several squads of soldiers who were now barracked in the front portion of the warehouse.

"We need to accelerate our schedule," she said finally. "Our soldiers have free rein of the city, but we need to get them to key spots to prepare a defense. If the Carinthians come to invade and they get a foothold, they'll be strong enough to push us off the island or at best, contest our control of it. With the Picard army so weak, we need Swabian soldiers manning the defenses to repel the Carinthians."

"What's your point, Magda? Aedan has largely prevented us from putting our men side by side his own in their fortifications, especially the more important ones, like the shore batteries," said Adalbert. "With his newly found balls, I doubt he'll allow it now."

"Then we'll just do it instead of asking permission," said Magda. "He may have found his bark, but I still think there's no bite behind his words. How can there be? Half of their forces are still down with the plague!"

"Some of our men are starting to catch it too," admitted Adalbert.

"Collateral damage," said Magda with a shrug. "Our forces are in much better shape. Plus there's plenty more of them available if we need them," she said while pointing to the nearest soldier, who was at the moment cleaning his rifle.

"So what do you suggest then? We occupy the entire city and somehow prevent Aedan from getting more pissed and ejecting us completely?"

"I couldn't care less what that weak-minded fool thinks at this point," said Magda. "We are so close to success that I can almost hear Lord Avila's praise when we deliver Picardy to him on a silver platter. I won't let it get derailed at this critical juncture. Send the orders out. I want our men to occupy all the key installations in the city, especially the three shore batteries. If those Carinthians come, we'll be prepared."

"And Aedan?" asked Adalbert. "What do you want to do about him when he finds out?"

Magda pulled a pistol out from her belt. She pulled the magazine from the grip to make sure it was loaded and then reinserted it, cocking the hammer. "Then Aedan finds out who's really in charge of Picardy. The time for politeness is over."

*****

The following day, Jack stood at the window of his room at the palace, looking out at the view of the Grove. It seemed that almost every room he was in at the palace had a spectacular view of the Grove, and it quickly became his favorite way to pass time while in the capital city. There was just so much life to see there. At this very moment, he was watching a doe walk by with her young fawn, the spotted offspring never drifting far from his mother's side.

Prior to his visit to Polana, it was a sight he would have considered foreign. To see such wildlife in the middle of a bustling city was certainly odd to his eyes, but welcome nonetheless. It made everything else seem peaceful by comparison. All the stress of the previous weeks seemed to melt away as he watched the doe make its way across his window.

How simple life seemed when viewed through such a lens.

He'd been so concentrated on the scene of nature in front of him that he scarcely heard the sound of a closing door behind him. He didn't even need to turn his head to feel Kat's presence. It was a soothing feeling that instantly provided a measure of warmth through his chest and stomach. It was even more pronounced when her soft arms slipped around his sides, hugging him from behind as her breasts crushed against his back.

"What are you doing?" she whispered quietly against his neck.

"Just watching the wildlife," he said, pointing to the fawn that was now grazing. "It's so peaceful."

Kat slipped out from behind him and nuzzled into his arm, her head in its now familiar place on his shoulder. "Can you see why I've always liked it here? It's a wonderful place, this city."

"It surely is. Made all the more better by the Grove," he replied. "Some day, when I'm old and gray, this is the kind of place I'd like to spend the rest of my days."

Kat smiled. "Maybe like a little place in the forest, surrounded by a big lake? Where the sun is always shining and there's never any shortage of peace?"

"Sounds heavenly," he said, holding her tighter.

"It sure does." Kat turned to look at him. "I'd like to do that with you."

"What? Live with me in our natural paradise or grow old with me?"

"Both," she said, sealing her sweet words with a gentle kiss.

"It may be a long time before we'd ever get to do such a thing," he warned. "By the sounds of it, we have a long journey in front of us."

"I'm not worried about the journey. We'll get through it. But if we know the destination? That will make getting there that much sweeter."

Jack smiled. "I like the sound of that."

They kissed several more times before Jack noticed that she was dressed to leave. Her pack was slung across her shoulders, and she was once more wearing her forest green attire.

He gave her a confused look. "Are you going somewhere?"

Kat nodded. "I got word that Vera has just woken up. It's been nearly a week since they've been in the infirmary but I want to go see her. I just . . . miss my friend."

"That's perfectly fine," he said, kissing her forehead. "Although, I should probably stay here, just in case Reina wants to meet with us."

Kat made a face. "I doubt that she'll do anything today which is the only reason I'd chance the two hour ride back to the port. My gut feeling tells me tomorrow. But if she does get word to you, let me know immediately so I can get back, okay?"

"I will, don't worry. Just be safe, all right? Take the marines with you to keep you safe. Especially now that it's no secret that you're in Carinthia."

Kat smiled. "I'll take a couple of them with me, but I'm leaving the other half with you. Dustin too. You're much more important than me."

"I should probably have a talk with Dustin anyway. We never resolved that conversation from yesterday."

Kat looked out the window and pointed to another spot in the Grove. "It appears he's of a similar mind as you when it comes to the Grove. I can just see him over there."

Jack looked at the spot that she pointed, and he could just make out Dustin's features along a small clearing.

"Maybe this will be a good opportunity for us to talk," he said.

Kat nodded. "I think it will be good for the both of you."

"Okay, then I will."

Kat patted his back. "Anything you want me to pass along to Greg and Vera?"

"Just tell them to get better soon and that we miss them terribly."

Kat smiled and kissed him. "I surely will. Talk soon, Jack. I love you."

"I love you too."

He watched as she gathered the last of her things and soon she was off. Once he saw that she'd grabbed two of the marines to act as her escort, he let himself relax, taking several deep breaths before he too headed for the back exit to find Dustin.

The man was still in the same spot as before, a small clearing surrounded by old trees with thick trunks many hundreds of years old. Dustin had a pensive look on his face as Jack approached, and he quickly realized he wasn't alone any longer when he patted the dirt beside him.

"It's not much, but I figured you wouldn't be one to stick your nose up at sitting on the ground," said Dustin with a guffaw as Jack closed the distance.

Jack chuckled. "Not at all." He moved to sit beside the marine, resting his hands against his knees. "Not a bad spot you've found here."

"I rather like it. I've been exploring as much of the Grove as I can since we've arrived. I've figured out there's at least fifty acres of land here, which for this city is impressive," said Dustin. "You can be right in the middle and never know you're still in the city."

"Whoever built the city was wise to leave it here," said Jack. "It's a perfect refuge. I can't help but look out at the Grove and wish it was the only thing for miles around."

"It reminds me of home, truthfully," said Dustin. "Of Tyrol."

Jack turned to look at him. "I had no idea you were Tyrolean, Dustin."

"Why?" asked Dustin with a grin. "Because I'm not some kind of backwards degenerate who's married to my own sister?"

Jack had to laugh at that. "No, more or less because I know there's no love lost between your people and the emperor."

"It goes both ways, let me assure you that," said Dustin dryly. "It's been scarcely one hundred and fifty years since Tyrol was conquered by the emperors and the whole island was united as the Javan Empire, but it hasn't been nearly enough time for us to forget who we are."

"Those were devastating wars, I've heard," said Jack. "The Tyrolean armies were excellent at setting ambushes. How many armies were destroyed in the mountains of Tyrol?"

"Too many to count," said Dustin with a prominent grin. "It's in our very blood. We were born and bred as hunters first. You had to be, to carve out a living in Tyrol. Even today, there aren't many towns and only a couple cities. Most of the Tyrolean people are comfortable living on their farms in the mountains. Hunting was a necessity that just translated over to being a good soldier."

"I'm sure it was a difficult decision to fight for the empire with your family," said Jack. "Given the history of your people."

"It caused a few shocked faces, my mother most of all," said Dustin as he poked at the ground with a stick. "Yet, it's what we do. Fighting is in my blood, Jack, and fighting for the empire that now contains my home only seemed like the natural thing to do. It's not like I was going to cross the straights and fight for the Ruthenians."

"Some of your blood have done that very thing," noted Jack.

"Fools," said Dustin dismissively. "Like the Ruthenians would distinguish between Tyrol and the rest of Java in a war. They've destroyed anything in their path and asked questions later. The fools who went to fight for them would end up killing their own people. It's better to fight for the empire than it is against it."

"Makes a lot of sense," said Jack. "You seem to have a better grasp on it than most other Tyrolean folks I've met."

Dustin nodded and then turned to look at him. "I know a lot about dual loyalty, Jack. My situation is not unlike your own."

"Which was part of the reason why I wanted to come talk to you, Dustin. I know we never really finished our conversation from yesterday."

The marine nodded. "You don't have to worry about me. I'll keep your secret. I won't tell anyone."

"I appreciate that, but I want you to know that Java is my home. This whole Galician business has been recent, and even though I haven't worked out my feelings about it, I'm still Javan."

"Can't you just renounce it? Tell them you don't want to be their king and be done with it?"

Jack chuckled. "I wish it was that easy. You saw what happened when we met with Reina. The birthmark and the sword mark me for who I am. It's not something I can just put down. It's part of my identity."

"I guess I just worry about what might happen when you're forced to choose between the two, Jack. Especially as the head of this task force. Doesn't that compromise you?"

"At this point in time, no," said Jack quickly.

"What about at a later time?"

Jack shrugged. "I can't answer that question, Dustin. I imagine it would be the same result if the emperor asked you to fight against your own family. What if there was another Tyrolean revolt?"