Strange Bedfellows Ch. 05

"Titus is a Millarian, as are the rest of my inner circle except Kyselius." Kalus said, then he smiled. "The other Millarians along with the other commanders are the key, and I have a plan."

"My castle is still occupied." King Bracken pointed out.

Kalus tapped his finger on his belt as he considered this. "We'll rotate the guard." He looked at Aurelius. "If you would allow it, would some of your men be willing to act as messengers for this? No one would question orders delivered by a king's guard, and the men in the castle might well believe that King Tyso allowed them to serve only half shift if the idea is presented correctly. That would allow men from my legion to take positions in the castle. Once it is ours, we can release and rearm the Timarian soldiers who Tyso imprisoned."

"Aye, I'll allow it." Aurelius gave him a nod of respect and smiled. "Leave it to Commander Kalus to come up with a plan to take a castle without bloodshed. There are only three centuries in the castle at present; the remainder left once it was secured."

Kalus smiled. "If one of the king's guard will alert my herald, he'll ensure that my centurions Octavian, Pernilus, and Asikan are at the castle within the hour. They are the best of men."

"It will be done, but what about afterwards?" The guard captain asked.

Kalus grinned. "As I said, I have a plan."

* * *

Shara couldn't help but smile as she watched her husband. He had taken command of the situation immediately without being overbearing. Now King Bracken and Aurelius were looking to him for guidance and taking orders from him, despite himtechnically having no standing to give those orders. It was a testament to his leadership and strength of characte, and she found herself captivated by it. By him.

She didn't feel any guilt about that now.

He had said he would become a citizen of Timarou and he would keep his word. He wasn't the enemy anymore. In fact, he had saved Timarou by killing King Tyso, and good riddance to the dead king. She was wed to Commander Kalus, the savior of Timarou. For the first time since her castle's warning bells had sounded over a week ago, her heart felt at peace.

Truly at peace.

Lyra stood beside her and gave her a grin. "You know, it's kind of hot that we're married to a hero of Timarou."

Shara almost rolled her eyes, but resisted. Did the blonde ever find anything about Kalusnot hot? Still, she had a point. Kalus was her husband, the father of her child, a good man, and judging by his treatment of Lyra, an incredible lover too. Moreover, Shara herself was his wife, meaning that she could have the same.

"Oh, I know that look." Her fellow wife grinned from ear to ear. She stepped in and whispered into the princess's ear. "Now that you're on board, how about we tag-team him tonight? You know, reward our hero properly? I bet we could rock his world together."

The amber-haired girl nodded mutely, not sure how to 'rock his world', but more than willing to try.

Shara felt a hand on her shoulder and looked to see her mother standing there, her eyes shining with happiness. "Shara my dear girl, are you truly that happily wed?"

She nodded. "I hated him at first, but now..." She looked at her husband explaining his plan to the men and felt a smile creep unbidden onto her face.

She sighed.

"Oh my darling girl." Hylea said, wrapping her arms around her daughter. Moments later, the queen reached out and pulled Lyra into the hug as well. The horsewoman made a sound that could only indicate surprise and her cheeks went red, but she hugged both queen and princess back like she would anyone else.

"And you, co-wife to a princess?" The queen said when the hug broke. "You must be an uncommonly wonderful woman."

"She is." Shara volunteered as Lyra went an amusing shade of red, but she also beamed.

* * *

Kalus surveyed the scene in King Bracken's throne room some time later, making sure everything was ready. The dead king's body had been removed and the stone cleaned. His three most loyal centuries were firmly ensconced in the castle's defenses and the ladies were safely tucked away on a balcony that overlooked the throne room under the ever-watchful eye of Octavian and his finest men. King Bracken's own men had been released and rearmed, though they were out of sight for the moment.

They were ready.

He looked at Kyselius. "Bring them in."

His herald nodded, then strode out of the room. Kalus glanced up towards the balcony where his wives were speaking with Queen Hylea. They seemed to be getting on famously, with Shara beaming and Lyra looking no less happy, though a good deal more like a fish out of water. He caught the ash blonde's eye and she gave him a radiant smile before turning back to the queen.

He smiled in return, glad that the one person who might have felt out of place seemed to have found one. Unless he missed his guess, there was a maternal look in Queen Hylea's eye.

The double doors to the throne room opened and nearly thirty men walked in, Titus and the rest of his war council among them. His inner circle knew what was coming but the others didn't and the swagger in their step faltered when they saw that King Bracken was on the throne and Kalus was standing next to the throne. Tyso was nowhere to be seen of course. Kalus was glad to see that of the twenty-plus men, only a dozen were armed and half of those were his own war council.

"What the fuck is this!?" Marcellus growled. He was the most senior commander in the army and had been Tyso's right-hand man. His appetites were no less revolting than his king's, and were possibly worse. Frankly, he'd done enough to warrant the death penalty in Kalus's book, and according to Illuminar's Book of Light as well.

"This is an offer." Kalus replied, stepping down from near the throne and striding towards the man. "A way that you can avoid the fate of King Tyso."

That got everyone's attention.

Kalus raised his hand and gestured for Kyselius to come forward. He did, carrying a box. Only when he was close enough did he open the box's lid to reveal King Tyso's severed head. Kalus didn't like being this graphic, but sometimes a statement needed to be made.

Everyone stared.

Many jaws went slack.

Statement made.

Kalus pulled out a folded piece of paper and held it with his left hand. His right hand was on his belt, hear the hilt of a borrowed short sword that he had recently attached for this meeting instead of his usual longsword.

Marcellus glowered at him. "Traitor."

Kalus ignored the look and spoke. "Now, this is a writ of safe passage that I'm giving to you in advance. You will use it to bring your army back to Har'peton and tell them that the invasion wasn't successful. Timarou's army won't interfere while you leave, and you will explain to your men that this is what's best for everyone."

Marcellus spat on the ground at Kalus's feet and raised himself up to his full height, which was taller than Kalus. "Keep the writ, it'll be your funeral. It doesn't matter where you go, or how far you run. I will hunt you down, and the last thing you see will be my blade."

"That is unfortunate." Kalus nodded his head slowly for a moment, and then quick as a flash he whipped the short sword out. He drew it directly into a cut, slicing completely through Marcellus' neck before the man could react.

Kalus took a step back as the body crumpled to the floor.

He wiped the blade off on Marcellus' clothes then waved at the king's guard, who brought the next most senior man forward. The man stumbled, ending up on his knees.

Like before, Kalus raised the folded piece of paper and began to recite again. "Now, this is a writ of safe passage I'm giving to you in advance. You will use it to--"

"Oh I get it." The man interrupted, speaking very fast. "The army will leave Timarou. Best thing for everyone. I'm right there with you."

* * *

Lyra had watched the entire spectacle, slightly gruesome though it was. She was trying to decide if she should be horrified that her husband had so calmly killed a man or impressed that he had gotten the entire army to leave with only a single casualty, and a wicked one too according to Kalus. After the execution of Marcellus, not a single enemy soldier dared to question him.

"It's a different world." The queen said from behind the blonde girl, not long after Shara had excused herself to use the latrine.

"Hmm?" She turned to face her.

"The world of men, the military, and warfare." Hylea replied. "It's rough, course, and often brutal. It is well that we women aren't required to take part, for few would suffer it well."

"I know I wouldn't." Lyra nodded.

"That is part of what we women can offer our husbands." The Queen continued. "A reminder that the world needn't always be rough and brutal, that it can be soft, tender, and beautiful. We offer hearth and home; a place that a man can direct his energies towards building, creating, and nurturing, instead of conquering, ruining, and destroying."

"I like that." She smiled.

"Me too." Hylea smiled back, then fixed her gaze on the younger girl. "Make his home his sanctuary; a place where he need not fear conflict nor strife. Make it a place where he can relax and take refuge from the struggles of the world. And most especially make it a place where he might partake of beauty freely, fully, and to his heart's content."

Lyra felt her cheeks get warm as she realized what the queen meant by 'partake of beauty'.

Hylea gave her an understanding smile. "Do these things and he will endeavor to spend his energies on domestic concerns instead of on the field of battle. If more wives took this to heart, the world would be a better place." She looked at Lyra pointedly. "And from what I've seen, you will make the world a better place."

She finished with a smile that warmed the ash blonde's heart.

"Thank you." She replied, not quite knowing what to do with such a wonderful compliment.

"Lyra, I do enjoy the occasional ride about the countryside on my mare, Starling." The queen continued. "Would you by any chance wish to join me sometime? Just the two of us? I rather wish to know you better."

The horsewoman beamed, her eyes feeling a bit moist and her voice cracking slightly as she replied. "I would love that."

* * *

Kalus rode Tornado through the streets of Laerten with Titus in tow. Aurelius and half the king's guard were following behind them because they had insisted he might need the protection. He welcomed the protection, but he was rather uncomfortable about what that said about himself; the king's guard followed no one but the king.

Kyselius rode up to him as he reached the main thoroughfare.

"What's the news?" Kalus asked.

"The eastern and southern portions of the city have been emptied of Har'petonian troops, and the western and northern sections are moving out now. Slowly, but they are."

"Any problems?"

His herald shook his head. "No, though I might have insinuated that those who didn't leave of their own accord would be evicted by your legion. There were no problems after that."

Kalus felt his heart swell a bit at that; his men were the best in the army and worth two men from any other legion. Apparently the rest of the army knew that and didn't want to face them.

"Further, every man in our legion requested to remain in Timarou with you." Kyselius continued. "Though the men with families all stipulated that they needed to bring their families too."

"I'm sure King Bracken would agree; tell them they have permission." Kalus replied. "How is the morale among the other legions?"

"Not as bad as you might expect." The herald replied. "After the ambush in the forest, most are ready to go home and few -- if any -- will mourn Tyso. Several hundred have requested to remain in Timarou under your command, again stipulating that their families be allowed to join them here."

Kalus frowned, then tapped the hilt of his sword with his index finger for several seconds before he turned to Titus. "What say you?"

The grizzled war veteran made a thoughtful sound and stroked his beard for a moment. "They know your policies and restrictions and yet wish to be under your command anyway. If it's only several hundred, I would split them up, one to each of our squads that has taken casualties so our veterans can watch them. I expect they'll behave though, since they know what they're signing up for."

Kalus nodded, then looked at Kyselius. "Make it so."

"I shall assemble them just south of the city and brief them." Kyselius saluted, then rode away.

"There's still the matter of the families still in Har'peton." Titus said, and Kalus knew the man was thinking of his own wife and children.

"We will send a recovery force to retrieve all the families of those who wish to remain." Kalus replied. "They can ride ahead to Har'peton and retrieve the families before word spreads."

"Wise." Titus replied. "I would not want my family to be in Har'peton when word of this gets out."

"Then you will be the perfect man to lead the recovery force." Kalus replied. "Send it down the chain; any man with family in Har'peton should provide the number and location of his family. Then you can take volunteers to retrieve them and bring them safely back to Timarou."

The corners of Titus' mouth bent upwards. "If I might have leave to requisition whatever is necessary from our stores, I'll assemble them today and leave at first light."

"You have leave, and bring as many horses as possible." Kalus said.

"The womenfolk and children won't like leaving everything behind." Titus replied.

"It's better than leaving their lives behind when Har'peton hears of this." Kalus answered, then cocked his head to one side. "Allow them to bring what cannot be left, but make all haste to return."

"Aye." Titus saluted. "We'll leave at first light."

"Until then, I will ensure that few or no people leave to spread the word north or East towards Har'peton." Kalus said.

Titus put a hand on his shoulder. "My friend, you are a great man."

Kalus nodded in respect back. "No greater than those who taught me."

Titus laughed. "The pupil has surpassed the teacher. Adieu Commander; I shall have my wife on my arm when next we meet."

"And that is truly a wonderful thing." He replied, and from experience.

"Speaking of, don't neglect that blonde wife of yours for too long." Titus winked, then lowered his voice to a mock-conspiratorial whisper. "She's liable to teach that princess of yours that two women can enjoy each other and then you'll be completely put out."

Kalus laughed.

* * *

Shara stared at Lyra, not quite believing what she was hearing. "You want to... what?" Her mouth fell open and hung there.

This was a strange conversation to be having in the princess's bedroom of all places. She'd grown up here as a child. Her childhood dolls were in this room for Illuminar's sake. The enormous four-poster bed that she'd slept in when she was a toddler was in here too, and she couldn't reconcile that reminder of her innocent childhood with the idea Lyra was suggesting.

"I think he'll enjoy it." The blonde replied. "I mean, he said that he had seen 'few fairer sights' in his life, so he probably will."

"B-but... but you're a girl." The amber-haired girl looked at her. "Girls are supposed to kiss men, not other girls."

"Says who?" Lyra countered with a twinkle in her eye. "Come on, you can't tell me that you aren't a little curious."

"I'm not a little curious." Shara replied, though she looked around her childhood bedroom as she said it. Not so she wouldn't have to meet Lyra's eye though. No, it was for a different reason. She couldn't think of one, but it definitely was.

"Apparently I wasn't clear." Lyra crossed her arms over her chest with an accusing frown. "I meant that you can'thonestly tell me that you aren't a little curious."

Shara bit her lip.

"I knew it!" The blonde pumped her fist and let out a squeal of delight. "I knew you were interested."

"I didn't say I was." Shara huffed, folding her arms over her chest.

"You didn't have to." Lyra grinned.

"Well, we were up here because you asked about proper dining anyway." The princess said, hoping that particular point of concern for the blonde might distract her.

"Nuh-uh." Lyra shook her head. "You're not getting out of it that easily."

"Are you sure?" The princess countered. "My father invited everyone in his court to dinner, plus our husband and Aurelius. You were so worried about doing dinner properly."

"I'm more worried about 'doing' our husband properly." She winked.

"Either we talk about dinner etiquette now or I'll let you figure it out yourself." Shara countered.

"Meany." Lyra stuck out her tongue, but that didn't conceal her smile.

Five minutes later, Shara had set up a proper place setting to teach the horsewoman proper table etiquette and started explaining what the different forks were for.

"This is stupid!" The ash blonde blurted out. "There's like, five forks here!"

"Well yes, dinner is served in multiple courses and--"

"But why in Saidow's lair are therefive forks?"

Shara sighed. "Because you use a different fork for every course to make sure you don't get the flavors of the previous course on the next course."

Lyra raised her eyebrow. "I can clean my fork well enough for that in about three seconds, so no need."

"How?"

The blonde grabbed a fork at random, stuck it in her mouth, and slowly pulled it out while keeping her lips pressed tightly to the tines, then held it up. "See, clean enough to not transfer flavors, and it takes less washing. I hate washing dishes."

"The servants will do the washing and my father pays them very well to do it." The princess replied with a sigh.

"Okay, butfive forks? Isn't that excessive?"

Shara sighed again; it was going to be a long afternoon before dinner that night.

* * *

Kalus did his best to keep a smile off of his face during dinner as he watched Lyra eat. She was stubbornly using the outermost fork at her place setting and had completely ignored the other ones. On his left side -- sitting next to her mother, who was sitting next to the king -- Shara occasionally gave the fork-refusing horsewoman a longsuffering look and sighed. Lyra was trying to do everything else correctly though and would occasionally whisper to her fellow wife to get something right.

His wives were now clad in dresses that might be worth more than his hazard pay for the entire campaign, but they looked marvelous. Lyra had a sunflower yellow dress that Shara had informed him was made from 'bias cut silk'. Whatever it was made of, it hugged her figure perfectly and was incredibly fetching. It was conservatively cut and didn't reveal much skin, but the way it draped made her look incredibly sexy anyway.

By contrast, Shara was wearing a more demure dress that was also made of silk, but it didn't hug her figure as Lyra's did. It was a delicate shade of pink that complimented her amber hair and was both beautiful and subtly understated; a perfect match for his more reserved wife. The dress was cut very well and managed to make the princess look like a full woman without doing anything to emphasize her womanly features. The tailor must be a genius.

The cook was no less so.

While Kalus wasn't an expert in eating properly for a royal court, he muddled through with some whispered help from Shara. It was obvious that the princess was in her element and despite that -- and aside from Lyra's refusal to use the proper fork -- she offered aid without the slightest hint of condescension.

The room was large and square, lit with hanging chandeliers and a few stained-glass windows. The guests were seated at three long tables arranged in a "U" shape. The king and queen sat in the center of the middle table and the nobles were seated in decreasing order of prominence as you went down and around. Aurelius -- the former head of Tyso's personal guard -- was seated at the high table, though nearer the end. Still, it was a position of high honor for him.