Five Hertz Of Separation (chapters 51-55 Of 61) free porn video

CHAPTER FIFTY ONE There is certainly a different feeling to the Palace under the new rule. Politics is always politics but the threat of death, or worse, has been lifted. That brings a new set of challenges, ones that the Witches Council seems incapable of dealing with. They all mean well but good intentions will not feed the horse. They are too divided to truly rule this world and they fail to inspire the kind of loyalty needed among both the people and the Queen's Guard. There is no doubt that Opulessa was worse but things could certainly be better. The troubles have been increasing rapidly ever since they took ... well, I can't say control, that is the problem. Certainly since Opulessa was killed. However, I bring information that may change the situation. If only Mistress Denson would keep a reliable schedule! I have been waiting twenty decicycles past my appointed time yet there is no sign of her, or her secretary. The woman who is here assures me she will soon arrive but she has been saying that for the last fifteen decicycles. Finally, I hear a commotion at the end of the hall leading to this office and Mistress Denson sweeps in, her secretary at her heels. Some things never change. "I am so sorry to keep you waiting, General Packer. The Council meeting ran longer than expected." They always do. "I am at your service, Mistress. My time is yours to command." "I wish all my appointments were as understanding as you, General. I will see you in ..." she looks at her secretary "ten decicycles?" Her secretary nods in confirmation. "As you wish, Mistress." Surprisingly, I am called after only eight decicycles. A pleasant change. Once I am seated, the secretary leaves us, though I have no illusions that we are truly alone. I am certain that someone is recording our conversation. "What do you have to report concerning the numerous rebellions, General Packer?" "A surprising amount of very good news, Mistress." "Really? There has not been much of that these past few months." "No indeed. The information that I have is all second hand. None of my men have witnessed any of the battles I am reporting about today." "I do not understand. How could your men not witness battles they participated in?" "These fights did not involve the Queen's Guard in any way." "Are the rebel groups turning on one another?" she asks, hope in her voice. "Not exactly. There was some of that in the early months as different groups fought for territory, but that has faded away. No, these reports are from the statements of the survivors of these different battles, of which there are surprisingly large numbers." "Proceed." "Thank you, Mistress. It seems to have started in the East, near New Amsterdam. One of the minor rebel groups, less than 700 in numbers, was utterly routed by a single witch. She killed a group of men in an extraordinarily theatrical manner but it was very effective. If the reports are true, I must raise my hat to her. She then called upon, and remember, these are unconfirmed but completely consistent reports, a fire breathing dragon to bring total destruction to the property of the rebel leader, a Thalyn Burns." She blinks twice before responding. "Did you say a dragon?" "A fire breathing dragon. A rather large one, though that is where some of the reports vary." "Since dragons do not exist at all, I can understand why the reports are not consistent, General." "I do not doubt these reports, Mistress Denson. I have spoken to many of these men myself. Some used to be part of the Queen's Guard who have returned, begging to be allowed to rejoin." "Why would they do that?" "Allow me to provide some additional information before I answer that question. As I said, this began in the East but quickly spread. Different groups were attacked in similar ways, though there were no further theatrical executions. Always a single witch and the dragon, which appears to be impossible to kill or even harm in any way." "The witch or the dragon?" "Both, Mistress. Also consistent is, though the attacks are nearly unstoppable, there are no reports of casualties, no prisoners taken, except for that first attack in New Amsterdam, and, before each attack, the witch clearly identifies herself as Queen Alexia. She gives the men a chance to run away, to return to her service and those who do not will, and this is important, ultimately die." "Which explains the sudden increase in the number of your troops." "Exactly, Mistress. The most recent reports have Queen Alexia riding the dragon as if it were a horse, directing it through the air and destroying at will." "Has all this been effective?" "Exceedingly so. The survivors of one attack scatter but they tell their stories wherever they go. The stories are now almost legendary and the mere appearance of Queen Alexia and her dragon sends the rebels running." "I thought you said she was not killing anyone, with those first exceptions." "That is correct but most of the rebels view that as their good luck and cannot see the genius in the plan. I honestly cannot say that I would stand in the face of a giant, fire breathing dragon even if there was a good chance I might survive. It would take someone stronger than I to do that." "You said 'Queen Alexia.' Do you believe it to be her?" "Of that I have no doubt. The description of the witch is her to the top of her head. The wish to not kill fits exactly, though she has turned that to her advantage, so far. In addition, is there another witch out there who could create a huge magical beast and maintain it for many decicycles?" "Alexia was not strong enough to do that when she left this world. Somehow, she has become even stronger in her absence." "I assumed this information would be a surprise but you have accepted my statements rather easily. Is there something I should know, Mistress Denson?" She takes a sip from a cup of warm tea flavored with honey that is always on her desk during meetings. Swallowing slowly, she looks at me over the lip of the cup. The effect is uncomfortable, as if I am being studied by an old, maiden aunt. She returns the cup to a holder above a small lit candle. "Your information is not a complete surprise. The news about the various rebel groups is a happy surprise. As for Alexia, I had sent for her well over a month ago." "Sent for her?" "I ordered Miran Pegues to return to the other world, find Alex Thompson and convince him to return to this world. The concept of a Witches Council has failed. History may argue exactly why that has happened but there is no argument that the statement is not true." It is a relief to hear her say that but I do not want to react too strongly. It was her pet project and she poured a great deal of effort in trying to make it work. "It was a noble experiment, Mistress." "One which I believe you predicted would fail." "I am not a visionary, Mistress Denson. It is not my place to make policy but to implement it. I kept my misgivings to myself and always followed orders." "And earned my eternal respect for doing so. Thank you for your hard work in these difficult times, General Packer. I believe that if the Council broke apart without another option in place, the fighting would rapidly spread and become an all out civil war, fracturing the Queen's Guard further in the process." "An astute observation, Mistress." "Thank you. Alexia was the obvious choice from the standpoint of a dominant witch. We all know her and what she is capable of. None of us are her equal, not even if we band together." "Which you clearly cannot do." The look on her face tells me I have struck a sore spot. "Yes, General. We witches cannot seem to agree on anything." "If I may ask, did you seek the agreement of your sister witches on the return of Alexia?" "I did not." "Was that because they would not agree with your plan?" "It was because there would not be unanimous agreement." "Mistress Beckwith." "At the least, General." I am not one to put great stock in rumors but a man in my position cannot afford to ignore them completely. Some have said that Mistress Beckwith, in league with others, would not object to the collapse of the Witches Council. It would give her the opening to create a more active and forceful government. I myself have received some subtle inquiries from her representatives which were cut short when I told them that I was loyal to the current government and would never seek to change it but that if change happened on its own, I would be loyal to the new government. "Do your sister witches know of your plan now?" "They know Alexia has returned." "How do they know this to be true?" "Because we can feel her. A witch as powerful as Alexia does not move about unnoticed by other witches. The long suppression by Opulessa made many of us sensitive to the presence of large amounts of magic. Three days ago, the well ran over. It practically gushed from the well house." "That strong?" "It was as if she was standing in the room with us but she was not. Alexia is finally in the city. I had asked Pegues to bring her back to me but, clearly, that did not happen. From your reports, Alexia has been quite busy completing her own plan for our world." "Do you have any idea what that is?" "None." "Does that frighten you?" "How could it not?" "Mistress Beckwith?" A tight smile creeps across her face. "Is disappointed." * * * *** * * * *** * * * It's been a busy few weeks for Johnathyn and me. I'd fly us to an area, we'd scout out the local militia loyal to this Queen or that Queen, plan my attack, scare the shit out of them and move on. We've moved all around Glory but kept away from the city itself. I wanted to give time for word of my return to spread naturally. It helps with putting the rebels on the run. Johnathyn has been a bit of a pain in the ass about what I can and can't destroy. When you're packing a kick-ass fire breathing dragon, you just gotta burn something! He's all worried about local economies, the cost of repairs and so on but I have to do something to prove to the non-believers that I mean business. If I'm not going to roast a few rebels on the spit, we both strongly agree with that, then I'm limited to property damage. I know Johnathyn is thinking back to the shock of finding his own home trashed but I gotta do something. Property damage is the lesser of evils, though as my rep spreads, it takes less of that each time. Occasionally, I recognize familiar faces in the fleeing crowds as Lilly and I cruise overhead. I need that to happen to spread the word but still, it's disappointing. It means that I'm not getting through to some people. Sooner or later, I'm going to have to escalate and I don't want to think about what that means. I mean, there's got to be people on this world who would be just as determined to fight against me as I would be if I were in their shoes. What would it take to make me surrender to me? A hell of a lot, maybe a lot more than I'm ready to do. All Johnathyn and I have really done so far is rattle a whole lot of cages. They aren't causing trouble for the common people because they're too busy running, which is better than nothing but, as history has proven, you can't win a war strictly from the air. Ya' gotta put boots on the ground. After that last group near the South coast, it was clear that we had done about all we could by ourselves, which is why we returned to Glory. Riding in on a couple of horses we liberated from a rebel group, it is interesting to see how the city has changed since I left. There's still security but it's mostly outside of the city limits, defending against invading armies not individuals. There are still troops around the Palace but not as many as before. In fact, the total number of Queen's Guard that we see as we move into and through town seems to be fewer than before. Way fewer. That could mean a couple of things. They could be out fighting rebel groups but we never ran into anything like that when we were out and about. If that was the case, you think we would have seen it. A second explanation is there's been a lot of casualties. I think Packer is too smart to waste his men like that, assuming Packer is still in charge of the Queen's Guard. A third answer would be desertions. Guess I'll find out eventually. Right now, I need to check on my popularity with the people. Johnathyn and I rein the horses in front of the building that Beckwith damaged during the attack on Opulessa. I'm glad to see that they have fixed it. "How do we know if they still live here, Alexia?" "We don't, but it's as good a place to start as any." "Should we not see Dierdra first before all others? She asked for you to return so she should be pleased to see you." "You're right but she may not know what's really going on. Leaders often live in a bubble of what we call 'Yes men', subordinates who do not like delivering bad news so they only deliver good news, even if they have to make it up. They always agree with whatever idea or plan their boss supports, right or wrong. You get surrounded by 'Yes men' and pretty soon, you're completely out of touch with reality. I need the unvarnished truth, Johnathyn. Good or bad." "And you think the Cantell woman can give you that?" "I hurt her and her family. I fixed it but that's not a good way to start a relationship. I then left and we both know what happened after that. She's got reasons to both like and hate me, stronger personal reasons than most. She seemed smart and tuned into the pulse of the populace. I'm sure she'd be a good sounding board if she's willing to talk to me. If we can find her." "If this remains her home, she should be in the courtyard, as it is past the middle of the day. Do you wish for me to search for her?" "No, I better do it. She's seen you and you're hard to forget." He smiles slyly. "As are you, my Wife." I had gotten past the change while we were out rousting rebel groups. My head caught up with my body. It was like a second honeymoon for us: traveling around the country, staying at little out of the way inns, eating the local cuisine, seeing the sights and screwing like rabbits at night. We had left Leeanna with the Collens at New Amsterdam. Kinda took the pressure off for both of us. Picking up where we had left off, it was simply glorious! A lot of pressure had built up in Johnathyn and he gave me every bit of it. "While we both may be unforgettable, my Husband, only I can do this." I dismount, stroll a few feet away to an alcove, step in so that no one can see me and quickly transform, exiting as a dead ringer for my young witch friend Penelope. "I had forgotten you could do that, Alexia. It gives me an idea. Do you suppose you could become a ..." "Think twice before saying anything else, my Husband." "Perhaps later, when you are in a more receptive mood." "Hold that thought, Johnathyn. We've got work to do. You hang tight here and I'll see what I can find out." He also dismounts, grabs the reins of both horses and steps away from the street into the shadows of several small trees. I enter the open courtyard through a large stone arch. It takes me several milicycles to spot Codii Cantell. I thought I'd pick her out of the crowd of children almost immediately but she has grown so much in the three quarters of a year since I left. Has it been that long? It takes even longer to locate Emery, the baby boy. He's closer to a toddler. Do kids grow up faster on this world or is it just me? I'd never have recognized him if his mother hadn't picked him up and cleaned his hands. I amble over to the bench on which Marta is sitting, holding Emery on her lap, taking a round-about path through the playing children. They race about me, chasing each other, screaming, shouting, giggling and laughing. Pure joy unrestrained. I can't remember Terry and me ever playing like that. Maybe we were younger, that age where you can't recall what happened, like your second or third or even fourth birthdays. To live in a household with that kind of natural, unfettered, youthful happiness must be wonderful. Though there are also poopie diapers, the terrible twos and picky eaters who live on spinach for a week and then won't touch it for a year. Children are a mixed bag, at best. My brain says that but my hormones are making my arms ache to hold one of those little racing imps. I look up to see Marta intently staring at me. I mosey her direction, smiling at her. "That is a beautiful boy you have!" I exclaim. "Does he take after his father?" She smiles back. "Very much so. Have we met before? You seem so familiar?" "May I sit?" Marta offers me a spot next to her. I settle down, smoothing my dress underneath me. "I have just recently arrived in Glory, so it is unlikely we have met before. I am Penelope Lightner." "I am Marta Cantell and this young pup is my son, Emery. That dirty scamp over there is my daughter, Codii." "A lovely girl she is." "Where do you hail from?" "East, near New Amsterdam. A small town. It is nothing to compare to Glory." "But many have heard of it! They say that Queen Alexia has returned and was in New Amsterdam not long ago. Is that true?" "It is true. I saw her myself." "Gods preserve us! I have heard so many rumors that one has no idea what to believe or if to believe any of them at all. And now you say that you saw her with your own eyes." "She said she was Queen Alexia. I have never seen her before so I could not say for certain." "You would know her because there are no others like her." "In what way?" "It is hard to say. You can feel her presence. Did you not when you saw her?" Crap. "Certainly! I had never met a Queen before so I didn't know what to expect. Quite a presence." Marta gives me the look familiar to a billion mothers. She knows a fib when she hears it. Don't give her time to think about it. "Are you happy she has returned?" She continues to look at me, pulling her son closer to her. "Queen Alexia shall set things right." "What needs to be set right?" "What does not?" Not a big help. I can't interrogate her, her suspicion's already on alert. I could go back to more innocuous subjects but don't really have the time to regain her confidence. A group of children go running by us. Codii is among them but as she nears me, she pulls up, suddenly stopping. The two children behind her run into her, pushing her to the ground as they spin off and away. She doesn't cry but looks up at me from the dust at my feet. "Codii!" Marta shouts, trying to reach for her while still holding Emery on her lap. "I'll get her," I volunteer, reaching down and gently picking her up, then setting her on her feet and carefully dusting her off, all the while rebuilding my trustworthiness with Marta. "She is a little Darter Fish, that one is," Marta sighs. "Everywhere, fast as possible, always running into things." "Enjoy it while you can. Emery will join her soon enough," I say as I finish dusting Codii off. I catch myself licking my thumb, preparing to rub a spot of dirt off her cheek with my saliva. That would have been a bit too much. Codii curtseys to me. "Thank you, Queen Alexia," she says, curtseying again. "Why do you not look like yourself?" "Uhhhhhh ..." I glance towards Marta. She knows. I can see it in her eyes. No use pretending otherwise. I give her a waning smile. "Sorry. Gotta go." I bolt off the bench, ready to sprint for the exit but Codii grabs my dress with both hands. "Do not run away, Queen Alexia! Stay and have tea with us, PLEASE? I will make you a cake," she pleads. She's latched onto my dress like only a desperate child can. I'd have to pry her fingers off or take her with me. So much for the fast escape. Marta touches my shoulder. "Yes, Penelope. Please join us for tea. Codii makes delicious cakes." Codii nods her head vigorously. With Codii doing her impersonation of a bear trap, I'm effectively snared. "Certainly," I sigh. "How could I pass on such a pleasant invitation? Lead the way, Miss Codii Cantell." She instantly releases my dress. For about a nanocycle I think about making a break for it but she grabs my hand with both of hers and begins pulling with all her might towards the exit of the courtyard. "Codii!" Marta hisses. "The Queen is a guest, not a toy! How have I told you to treat a guest?" "With kindness," she grumps in response. She stops pulling but doesn't let go. Marta leads the way, Emery perched on her rolling hip. As we reach the exit, I catch Johnathyn's eye and waive him off with a subtle shake of my head. He settles back into the shadows while we enter the building and walk down a surprisingly dark hallway. Codii's enthusiasm is getting the better of her and she is pulling harder as we approach their home. Marta removes a large, ornate key from the pocket of her dress, inserts it into a slot in the doorframe and turns it. Codii pushes the door open with her back, towing me inside as she does. Marta follows us, closing it behind her and then letting Emery slide down her leg until his feet gently touch the floor. He toddles away unsteadily, giggling and laughing at his hyper sister. Marta squats down at her eye level. "Codii. Since this is a special tea, perhaps you would allow me to make the tea while you clean up and then make the cake?" "How many should I make, Mother?" "I would think three are plenty, wouldn't you?" "Yes!" she exclaims, clapping her hands. "Three cakes!" She scurries towards what I think is the kitchen, jumps onto a short stool, pours some water out of a bucket with a ladle into a small, shallow pan, picks up a cloth, wets it and begins to rapidly scrub first her face and then her arms and hands. She seems to do a thorough job and then hangs the cloth on the edge of the bucket. Hopping off the stool, she disappears around a corner as Marta enters the kitchen, opening the stove door, stirring some ashes and adding a few sticks to the fire box. They quickly catch fire and she puts a metal kettle on the fire. "You may ... relax, if you wish," she says without turning around. "No one will see you here." She keeps her back turned, giving me some privacy. I let the magic fall away, returning to my original form. I give the place a closer inspection while she's not watching. Stone walls, pretty thick judging by the recessed window wells. More light than the hallway but still a bit dark. The furniture is the same style as Johnathyn's was but his seems to have been of a better quality. The kitchen has a few pots and pans out on the wooden counter tops but there are shelves and cabinets. It is all neat and spotless, which is a hell of a trick with two youngsters. "You have a nice home, Marta." She speaks as she turns, "Thank you ..." Her eyes are wide in disbelief as she sees me, like she knew it was me but didn't actually believe it until she saw it with her own eyes. "My Queen!" "We talked about this. How about just calling me Alexia? I get more than enough of 'my Queen.'" She gulps hard. "Yes, Alexia." Then smiles in response to my smile. "Why did you hide your true identity?" "Apparently, I didn't. I think you suspected something was up from the start, you just couldn't put your finger on it. Codii knew right away. How'd she do that?" "Codii knows all the witches who cared for her. Some even visit us now and then, including Mistress Denson. She knows when they are near her, even if they ride by in a covered coach. I sometimes feel something when Mistress Denson is close by but Codii knows them all, including you. Even I felt your presence but was confused, as you did not look like you." "Yeah, about that. I'm sorry about the disguise but no one knows I'm back in town yet and I'd kinda like to keep it that way for a little bit longer." "The whole city knows you are back, my ... Alexia. They know what you have done and that you have a dragon at your command! How is that possible? Dragons do not exist; they are a child's fantasy." "Not just a child's fantasy. It exists because I wish it to exist. I think your water is boiling." Marta rushes to the stove, removes the lid of the kettle and adds loose crumbled leaves to the pot. No tea bags, no tea ball. This is a market opportunity for someone. "Marta, has anyone ever suggested putting the tea in something before putting it in the water?" "What kind of thing?" "Oh, I don't know. A little hollow sphere with very small holes in it so that the water could easily flow in and out but the leaves stay inside." "What is a sphere?" "A round, hollow ball." "How would the tea get inside this hollow ball?" "You'd unscrew it ..." From the look on her face I can tell she's got no idea what I'm talking about. "Never mind. I'll talk to Johnathyn about it. He might be able to make something." She places a dark colored cloth over a cup and pours the hot water through it into the cup, trapping the leaves. From the looks of the cloth, they drink a lot of tea. She repeats the process for two more cups and hands me one. "Your husband is a clever man, Alexia." "He is that. While we were out on the road, we cooked on a portable stove that he made out of flattened metal sheets that folded together. It smoked a bit but was a lot easier than cooking over an open fire, though I'd have killed to have a kitchen as nice as yours." I take a sip of the tea. Not bad at all. Marta takes her cup and leads me back into the main room. "I preferred the kitchen of our old home. It was brighter. Please, be seated." "Thanks. Who's the third cup for?" "Codii, once she is done with the cakes." "How is she baking cakes outside of the ..." Codii walks back into the kitchen from wherever she was at, carrying a large tray with three empty plates laid out on the tray. "I am ready, Mother!" she shouts. "Then come in and have a seat with us. Fetch your cup of tea while you are in the kitchen." "Yes, Mother." She reaches up to grasp the cup, carefully transfers it to her tray and then gingerly walks into the main room, not spilling a drop. She has had some practice at this. It suddenly hits me that I am at a tea party with pretend food. Thank Zaphod Marta offered to make the tea. Codii sets the tray down on a low table between the three of us then rushes over to a smaller chair, dragging it to where she had been standing and plops down, smiling to beat the band. Nobody does or says anything for several milicycles. "Is there some tradition about this tea that I'm not familiar with?" I inquire. "As the guest, you go first" Marta replies, Codii smiling and nodding her head in agreement. "Thank you. It's been awhile since I was invited to a tea party." "Did you have tea parties when you were a little girl?" Codii asks. "No, not exactly. My twin brother often invited me to his tea parties but I usually had other things to do." Codii covers her mouth with her hands, giggling wildly. "Boys don't have tea parties, only girls." "You had to know Terry. There's nothing wrong with boys at a tea party, as long as they behave themselves." I lean down and take a theatric sniff of the nearest empty plate. "Besides, who wouldn't want some of this wonderful cake!" I pick up the imaginary muffin like cake and take a small bite. "It's the best cake I've had in ages! Did you fix these all by yourself, Codii?" She dives in, grabbing her piece from the plate and taking a large bite, chewing vigorously and then wiping her mouth with a napkin that was sitting beneath her plate. "Yes, my Queen, all by myself." I take another small bite, chewing thoughtfully. "How many eggs do you use?" "Three. And a cup of sugar, four cups of flour, a decistone of butter and a toogle of salt." I take a third small bite. "That sounds like a lot of butter to me but you can't argue with the results. I must have your recipe before I leave." "You are leaving?" Codii cries out, sounding heartbroken. "NO! Not right away! Eventually, later on today but not right now. Was there something you wanted of me before I left?" Now she turns all shy on me, leaving me to coax whatever she wants me to know out of her. After several, quiet requests, she finally relents and blurts out what she wants. "I want to see your dragon!" "Well, unfortunately, Lilly's not with me today. I didn't want to scare a bunch of people and she has a tendency to do that kind of thing." "Your dragon is named Lilly and she's a GIRL?" an incredulous Codii asks. "Yes to both questions." "But Bobby Compers said it was a boy dragon." "Who is this Bobby Compers?" "Just a boy who lives on the third floor where we used to live." "Do you think this Bobby Compers know more about dragons than I do?" "No, my Queen." "Darn tooting. Next time you see this boy, you tell him that Queen Alexia's dragon is a girl and her name is Lilly. And if he doesn't believe you, tell him he can see for himself when she and I stop by to give you a ride." Marta looks at me like I was the old, eccentric aunt who just promised to give a teenage boy who had recently passed his driving exam a Shelby Cobra Mustang. "Do not trouble yourself, Alexia. Please, do not!" I don't take the hint. "Nonsense, no trouble at all." Codii is beside herself with excitement, hopping around on both feet. "It is the least I can do for someone who invites me to such a fine tea." "I must tell all my friends right away! Mother, may I be excused?" "Not quite yet, Codii. I need to speak with the Queen alone for a few minutes to work out some details. Please go to your room." She bolts from the room, stops, turns on a dime and runs right back. "Thank you, Queen Alexia! Thank you, thank you!" I smile and pat her head. "You are very welcome. Now, run along and let me talk with your mother. She seems to have some concerns." Codii is gone in a flash, leaving me with a thoroughly pissed off woman. "Go ahead," I say. "I do not know where to start," she says, totally exasperated. "Well, let me say this up front. I have flown with my own daughter, admittedly not with Lilly but Lilly is just a magical manifestation from my own mind. She could be a dragon or a unicorn or a pink pony, or a giant turtle with four enormous elephants on her back." "I don't know what a unicorn is." "My point is, this is safe. I would not endanger my own child's welfare for a single milicycle if there was any reasonable danger at all." "What about an unreasonable danger?" "You mean like the sun exploding; a gigantic earthquake splitting the ground open and swallowing us all; an epidemic of illness sweeping across the world, decimating the population? That kind of unreasonable danger?" She looks at me, fear still in her eyes but it is lessened. "You are telling me this is safe?" "Safe as kittens. I owe her something for all the harm I caused her." "We were both injured but it was not your doing." "I didn't anticipate it so I take the blame. You want a ride too? Lilly can handle the load." She considers my offer. "Perhaps that would be best for all. I could be certain Codii was unharmed and not too frightened." I smile. "Yeah. Right. All about Codii. Do we have a deal?" "Permit me to discuss this with Marteen. If he agrees, I will consider it." "You do that. Now to why I came here in the first place. How do the people feel about my return? Are they happy, angry, upset, accepting? What do they think about it?" "Why does that matter? You are the Queen. Their feelings have never been important before." "They are to me. I want to help people but I'm also going to change this world. Some will not be happy with those changes." "What kind of changes?" "Equal rights for women, to start. No more violence against women just because they are women. No debt labor for anyone; man, woman or child. I am improving the health and education systems as quickly as possible. Better roads, better transportation systems, better communication systems and an end to corruption. No more bribes." "Who could object to any of that?" "Well, men for one. Lenders for another, bureaucrats for a third. The list goes on. Some things I can do quickly, some will take time. Some may take generations before they are generally accepted but you have to start somewhere. I would prefer to fight as few people as possible and maybe get more to support some of these changes than fight them. That would help a lot. If I know what the people think, that helps me put my plans in effect and improves the chances of them working. Ultimately, I hope to put myself out of business, to make this world a self-governing democracy but we're a long way away from that. However, even the longest journey begins with a few, simple steps." "That is very wise of you." "I got 'Bartlett's Book of Quotations' on my laptop. It makes me sound much smarter than I actually am." "Why ask this of me, Alexia? I am not an important person." "I won't insult you and say you represent the common man. You're too smart for that. You and your family represent a lot of the demographics I'm shooting for, and yes, I know you've never heard of 'demographics' before and, Zaphod willing, you'll never hear it again. You and your husband are smart, aware people who have their fingers on the pulse of public opinion. You listen and discuss. Knowing what you know helps me. You're not the only people I'm talking too but you are one of the most important because you have already been harmed by my actions or inactions. If you can forgive me and move on, then others might follow you because your support is sincere. That's it in a nutshell. Do you think people will give me the benefit of the doubt? Will they give me a chance to keep my promises?" Marta sits and looks up at me, thinking about the kind of world I am offering to bring with me onto the throne. She doesn't answer for at least five decicycles and I don't push her. Finally, she answers. "I cannot speak for all, you know that, Alexia?" "I do and wouldn't expect you to. Yours is just a voice among many but it is an important voice nonetheless. Will they give me a chance?" "I believe they will, though early results could bring greater support." "That's almost always the case." I stand, as does she. "Thank you for a lovely tea. Consider my offer for a quick flight around town. Codii will be the envy of all her friends and you might enjoy it too. Haven't met anyone yet who completely hated it. Frankly, it's just a hoot and a half to fly." "I understand. Marteen and I will talk about it. Should you wish to know what I think about other matters, I would be pleased to speak with you, as would be some of my neighbors." Great. My first Focus Group. CHAPTER FIFTY TWO There was a knock at my door late at night. I had been reviewing revised troop estimates for both the Queen's Guard and the rebel groups for the last hour. The Guard had rebuilt some of their lost strength thanks to those who returned at the Queen's "suggestion." Likewise, most of the rebel groups had lost many men, some to the point of disappearing altogether. All except the group funded by First Minister Dupree. In fact, the hard core rebels that Queen Alexia had put on the run seem to have joined his side. His men likely outnumber the Guard, though we are better trained and equipped. The knock at my door is an old scrub woman, here to clean my office. "It is not necessary, old woman." "I have waited all night, Sir," she croaks. "You are my last. Once finished, I can go home to my husband and child and prepare their meal." "This late? Can they not do that for themselves?" "In all these years, they have not shown a desire to do so, Sir." "Fine, be quick about it." "Thank you, Sir. I will be as quick as possible." I return to my papers but keep one eye on her as she bustles about, dusting and sweeping. Using domestic workers as spies is a time honored tradition and should always be guarded against. This gray haired and bowed woman seems too old to still have a child at home but she could be an unwed daughter. Her appearance may not reveal her true age, as this kind of work often makes the women appear older than they actually are, much to the distress of their husbands, no doubt. The woman is humming, which makes concentration difficult. No spy would bring such attention to herself. "What is that song you are humming, woman?" "Beg your pardon, Sir. Just a habit of mine. Tis' a folk tune from where I hail. 'Bohemian Rhapsody' by Freddy Mercury. A popular ditty." "Never heard of it." "Can't say I'm surprised. Are the men happy to have the Queen return?" "What did you ask?" "Well, the town is full of rumors that Queen Alexia has returned and I was asking if the men were happy that there's now a Queen for the Queen's Guard to actually guard." "Why is that any of your concern?" "I have a son who serves, you see. That is how I got this job. He seems to be happy about her return and I was just curious if that feeling was more widespread." "It is curiosity that will get you fired from this job, woman." "Didn't mean nothing by it, Sir. Just idle talk to help the time move by quicker." "Idle talk indeed. What makes the job go faster is working harder. Finish and be gone." The cleaning woman straightens up, standing taller. "You are not making this easy, General." Her voice is younger, deeper. As I reach for my sword, she is awash with a bright glow that only lasts a few milicycles before fading rapidly away, leaving me blinking in momentary blindness in my dark office but ready to attack at the slightest provocation. "Put the sword down, General Packer," says a familiar voice. "I'd hate to make you eat it." I return it to its sheath. "It's more ceremonial than anything else, Alexia. The men expect it. Not very useful in a battle in this day and age." It takes another few milicycles before my vision is restored. Alexia is standing before me, dressed in her usual plain garb but, for some reason, her breasts seem more prominent than I have observed before. Perhaps it is a trick of the eye. A happy one. She is watching me with a half-smile on her face. "Glad to see you remember our conversation, General. It's like pulling teeth to get anyone around here to call me 'Alexia.'" "I am equally pleased that you also recall that conversation. It proves you are who you appear to be. Someone who could transform into a cleaning woman could also transform into Alexia." The smile breaks into a full one. "You are a suspicious bastard, General." "It is one of the reasons I am alive today. I understand that you also are, as you say, a suspicious bastard." "Probably more paranoid than suspicious but that's splitting hairs." "Why are you here, Alexia?" "Just why I said. I want to know how the Queen's Guard will react when I return to the throne." "A disguise was not necessary. You could have simply asked. I would have told you what I thought, just as I did when asked about the Witches Council." "Yeah. About that. You were right and I was wrong. I've done what I could to correct that mistake." I glance at the stack of reports on my desk. "You have indeed been busy and accomplished much, more than The Guard could have, to be honest, but I am afraid we have moved past the frighten and bluff stage of operations." "Frighten and bluff?" "Yes. My reports say that, with a very few spectacular exceptions, you have avoided actually killing or even injuring the rebels you have attacked. In fact, you have recruited many of the faux witch Queens to your cause." "I have my reasons for both, General." "Good reasons, I am certain and I will not argue with your success so far. It is just that you have now picked off all of the easy targets and made the harder targets more resolved." "You mean that I separated the truly committed rebels from the wannabes and dumped the worst of the worst in one spot." "I believe you understand my point." "And that one spot is owned by First Minister Dupree, correct?" "Again, you understand me. His is the largest, best trained, best equipped of the rebel groups. He also has the strongest witch available, Karren Tammy." "Is she better than me?" "I do not believe so but she is not to be taken lightly. She has been hunted most of her life but she remains alive. Her years in hiding have let her lacking in the social graces but more than capable of defending herself. In some respects, she is more dangerous than Opulessa." "Why is that?" "Opulessa was busy being the Queen. Karren Tammy is only concerned about surviving." "And she gets to survive in fine style if Dupree wins." "Exactly so. If he falls, it should put an end to all of the groups. His defeat would cause them to either surrender or sue for peace. Up until now, he has been content to remain in the North and become stronger, letting all the other groups attack in turn, sapping our manpower and resources." "A problem that I just took care of." "Yes, you did but in a way that will no longer be effective. The Guard will take it from here, Alexia." "I'm the Queen, General. Don't I call the shots?" "You are not yet restored to the throne as Queen and even if you were, that is not how the system works in this world." "Really! How does 'the system' work in my world?" Saying that may have been a mistake. Her words are not angry but I can hear the emotions behind them. I best tread lightly. "As you have discovered, this is a world resistant to change. Everyone in it has grown up with a witch Queen as the ruler, a man serving as First Minister and the Queen's Guard keeping the peace. It is what we know, what we have accepted, what we want." I pause, waiting to see her reaction. There is none but a tight smile. "Go on," she says. "The Queen is the figurehead. She sets the tone of her rule. The First Minister carries out her orders and the Guard ensures stability. If you disrupt this careful balance, chaos ensues." "How many women serve in the Guard, General?" "Women? None! Women are not suitable for such work. The men are there to protect their women." "I see. How many women have served as First Minister or in other capacities like Patron or in charge of cities, towns or villages?" "None that I am aware of. Again, they are not suitable for such work." She says nothing for almost a decicycle, just tapping the wall next to her with her finger. "You're not married, are you General Packer?" "I am married to my job. I have not had time to find a spouse and am too old now to father a child." "That's a pity. Don't take this the wrong way but you have no grasp of what life is like outside of Glory, outside of the Guard. I have traveled across my world. I have seen the abuse that takes place out there on a daily basis. I have heard the cries of the women who are ignored, mistreated and kept in servitude. I have seen the needs of the people for better education, better healthcare and General, I'm gonna give it to them. You're right about one thing, though." "Only one?" "Well, likely more than one but the important one right now is that my world is reluctant to change. It can't handle rapid change. Actually, very few systems can handle rapid change. Doesn't matter, change is coming. I've got time. Opulessa was Queen for over two hundred years. I can get a lot done in two hundred years." "She had the support of the Guard." "So will I. When you go after Dupree. I'm going with you." "That is impossible! We fight for the Queen! The Queen does not involve herself in these matters. The men will never accept your presence on the battlefield!" "They will. What you're worried about is I'm going to interfere with how you run the war. I won't. I'm not a soldier; in fact, I'm more like a rebel than anything else. I can understand why they won't accept me but it's not because they oppose my ideas. They want power. They love the status quo as long as they're at the top. It'll be the same song just a different band. It's a fluke that the person in charge of the status quo wants to change it. You'll be fighting to give me that chance and I'm going to do everything I can do to help you and keep my Guard alive. No one's going to die fighting for me. Not if I can help it, General." "That is unrealistic, Alexia. This is not a game, it is war. Men are hurt, men die. That is the way it has always been. You cannot change that. For you to be even near the battlefield is dangerous enough. Men are expendable but the Queen is not." "They aren't expendable to their families, their wives and children, their mothers and fathers. If they are willing to fight for me, I've got to be willing to take care of them and that means out where they are. I know I'm not a soldier but I'm probably the best Healer there is in this world. Besides, there's not a gun out there that can hurt me. I can handle bullets." "There are more than guns on the battlefield." "You mean a cannon? I ran into them a couple of times. I deflected the ball and then took care of the cannon. They'll only get one shot at me." "Sometimes, one shot is all that is necessary." "I'm not worried about it, you shouldn't worry about it either. Look, General, you know that I'm serious about this and there's nothing you can say that'll change my mind. You might as well learn how to use me. I'd think that you'd like to have command of the skies over a battle." "Of what use is that?" "Oh General Packer! Do I have something for you to read about Cover Air Patrol." * * * *** * * * *** * * * A man came running up the path to my tent. It was a pleasant day and I had been eating lunch outside, watching my men drilling on the fields below the hill where my tent was perched. He came to a halt and saluted smartly, breathing heavily. "First Minister ... I have ... news," he gasps between breaths. "Tell me, man!" "We have engaged the Queen's Guard just south of Pottstowne. She and her dragon were there!" "That should have made no difference. She refuses to kill, the sentimental whore!" "It was a fearsome sight, First Minister. Many of the men fled." "They were not our best troops," I say, looking down at the men training below. I am saving the best for last but I still expect them all to put up a fight. At least for awhile. "Did the men withdraw as planned?" "Yes, First Minister, though they suffered higher casualties than expected, nor did they inflict as many casualties as we had hoped." "Why is that? We fought from a fortified position and forced them to attack uphill. We should have given them a very bloody nose before retreating to the new redoubt." "The dragon may not attack men but it had no problem attacking the fortifications. It set it ablaze, forcing our men to flee. It also burned the obstacles on the hillside, clearing the route for the Guard. After that, the witch and her pet circled the land below, guiding the Guard to our men as they fled." "How were they talking?" "Unkown, but it was General Tasher's belief that some kind of communication was taking place. He requests that you release the secret weapon to him to kill the dragon." "Request denied. The weapon would not kill the dragon. The dragon is pure magic. Nothing can kill it." The witch Alexia, on the other hand ... "We lost many men today, First Minister." "I will lose many more before this is done. We must lure the witch Alexia to where we want her before striking the fatal blow but we must be careful in doing so. The Guard must feel as if they are winning but not too easily. Return to your post." He salutes. "Yes, First Minister." He turns and runs back the way he came. There is a smaller tent next to mine that holds several crates. They are our entire remaining supply of what the man from the Winthrop Group called the 'Russian Model 7 RPG.' We have used almost a third in training but we must be certain to kill her when we get the chance. If we lose the element of surprise, all will be lost. That she is flying about on that dragon should give us the opportunity sooner than we might have hoped for and make the attack more effective. Alexia may be the most powerful witch in this world but even she cannot manifest a dragon, fly and shield herself from the most powerful explosives found on this world all at the same time. General Tasher will just need to be more careful in the future. * * * *** * * * *** * * * I will be the first to admit that I was wrong. At the outset, my concerns were proven valid. The men resented Alexia's presence and were very upset that she was planning to fly over their heads riding that dragon. The idea that there was a dragon in the air above them made the Guard very nervous, despite my assurances that it was completely under Alexia's control. I sincerely hoped I was not lying to them. I will also admit that the value of having control of the skies had never occurred to me. That one could observe and report to troops on the ground, directing them towards the enemy and alerting them to potential traps was a new tactic. Alexia had several devices that permitted her to talk to others while she was flying overhead. The men grasped the value immediately. During our first fight with Dupree's men, it appeared that they had us at a great disadvantage. They held the high ground, the hillside was full of assorted barriers and they were well dug in. In a matter of decicycles, Alexia changed all that. She flew low over the battlefield and burned several clear paths through the barriers on the hillside. In addition, she attacked the rebel's fortifications, scattering the red clad rebels back to their lines. She called it aerial bombardment. The men called it a miracle. An attack that would have cost me many men became a clean up mission. Even then, several Guards were wounded in the fight with Dupree's men, two severely. When that was reported to Alexia, she swooped down, grabbed the men with the claws of the dragon and brought them back to our camp within decicycles. She dismounted, the dragon disappeared in the blink of an eye, and she immediately turned to caring for the injured men. I had never seen a Healer work so hard before. Usually, the patient is sick or has some kind of minor injury. These men had been shot, some more than once, one of them in the head. Before, none of them would have lived but Alexia saved them all, even the man with the head wound, though he will need more time to fully recover. By the third day, most of the men had removed the old yellow insignia from their black tunics and were sporting hand drawn dragons on the breast plates of their uniforms. They cheered wildly whenever the Queen appeared. She was one of them. Opulessa never had that kind of support, not even when she sent them wagon loads of Klatch. * * * *** * * * *** * * * "General Tasher, for the last time, we cannot afford to squander these weapons in the weekly skirmishes with the Queen's Guard." "Skirmishes? First Minister, we are getting our heads bounced! That Zaphod forsaken witch and her pet are destroying everything in her path. We might as well be fighting in open fields. The only protection we have is rocky high ground and that is not much." "We outnumber them, General." "And they know exactly where we are. They avoid our ambushes and we fall into theirs. My men are being reaped like corn!" "Not your men, General Tasher. MY men. I paid for them. I bought their weapons. I found the man in the Winthrop Group who was willing to smuggle their rifles and our limited supply of the precious RPGs into our world without the knowledge of the Queen's Guard." "You cannot pay a man enough to die. If we do not spring this miraculous trap you speak of, your men will not be around long." Someone rang the bell at the entrance of my tent. "Yes!" I call out. One of Queen Tammy's Special Guard pulls the flap of the tent back and enters. "Queen Tammy requests the honor of your presence, First Minister," rolling his eyes at the mention of "Queen Tammy." "What does the hag want?" asks Tasher. "I do not know, General. She does not discuss these matters with us. She just orders us about." "Gentlemen," I warn, "be careful how you speak of the future ruler of this world. Tammy is no Opulessa but Opulessa did not begin as Opulessa. She became more skilled as she grew older." "Then she best become very skilled very quickly because she is insisting on challenging Queen Alexia," says the trooper. "Is she daft?" asks Tasher. "She claims to be more powerful than she has ever been in her life." "That is likely true," I say. "With Alexia in the area, there is more magic available and Queen Tammy is using that extra power. Unfortunately, that goes both ways and Alexia is more powerful with Queen Tammy nearby, though, as I understand it, Queen Tammy gets the net gain because Alexia is the stronger of the two." "How do you know this, First Minister?" asks Tasher. "I found it best to discover as much as I could about magic when dealing with Opulessa. It is best to know as much about your friends as you do about your enemies. Let us go visit Queen Tammy." "Do we have the time to humor the hag?" "General Tasher, when we defeat the witch Alexia, Tammy will be the witch on the throne. Would you wish her to think kindly of you or unkindly of you?" "Bah! It is a waste of time but I see your point. No harm in being nice now. It may benefit us in the future." He stands up, dusting off his jacket and straightening his sheathed sword. "Lead the way, soldier." The trooper holds the tent flap back, clearing the way for the General and I to exit. As we leave the tent, the trooper hurries ahead to escort us down the hill to where Queen Tammy's tent has been erected. It is at least eighty decileagues from mine and further downhill. All the better for me to keep an eye on her. Sometimes, hired underlings are just not good enough. It is always best to see things with the naked eye, to observe what others might miss. As we tromp down the hill, the men move off, saluting as we pass. The same occurs at Queen Tammy's tent where there are two guards. "Who ordered the guards?" demands Tasher. "She did," answers our escort. "Afraid of being snuck up upon in the dead of night. Or any other time. Usually there are three times as many men out here but it is mess time so there's only two." "Waste of manpower," grumbles the General as he reaches for the tent flap. One of the guards gently blocks his hand. "Sorry, Sir," he apologizes. "Have to announce you. Her orders." The General glares at the guard, frustration clear on his face but he holds his tongue, dropping his hand and nodding curtly at the guard. "Thank you, Sir," whispers the trooper as he steps through the flap into the tent. "General Tasher and First Minister Dupree reporting as ordered, my Queen." "As ordered?" Tasher grumbles. "Be respectful, General. We need a witch and she is the best choice of the lot. As a Sixty Three, she may be the second most powerful witch in the land." "For all the good it does us," he says before plunging through the opening in the tent. I follow right behind. We find my witch, Kareen Tammy, fifty two years of age and showing every one of those years, dressed in the finery of a woman half her age, sitting in an old wooden chair placed on a six milileague raised platform, a Special Guard on either side looking thoroughly embarrassed. I would laugh at the sight if she was not so necessary for my plans. I bow deeply before Queen Tammy. The General eventually follows my example. It is easier for me. I had much practice with Opulessa. She bids us rise with a flick of her wrist. "Thank you for answering my call so promptly, Gentlemen." "We live to serve, my Queen," I answer, oozing charm as I stand. I nudge the General, who also rises up but remains silent. That is likely best for both our sakes. "Did Your Majesty have something specific you wished to discuss?" "Yes, Dupree." I cringe almost imperceptibly at her failure to use my title. Such an uncouth woman! Still, it is probable that her lack of contact with the real world saved her life. Opulessa would never have permitted a Sixty Three witch to survive, no matter how good a Healer she was. Tammy was not much of a Healer. In fact, there are few of the skills most witches possess that she has mastered, except the art of killing. At that, she is very good. Another reason that she has survived the many witch hunts held since her birth. Despite her uncivilized behavior and unfashionable airs, it is best that I not forget she is much more dangerous than she looks. Even if humored, she might strike out in anger or frustration. "I believe that we have waited long enough to allow that trollop Alexia to become over confident enough for me to challenge her. Please arrange a contest as quickly as possible." The General is less successful than I at stifling his laughter. I have warned him repeatedly in the past not to take Tammy at face value. "Did you find something I said humorous, General Tasher?" "No, my Queen, it is just that Alexia is not likely to accept your challenge, seeing as they are mostly winning on the battlefield." "She will have no choice. It is how we live, General." "Or die. No offense, Queen Tammy, but you couldn't have beaten Opulessa and she did." "She was fortunate." "No, my Queen," I say. "Alexia was good and she has become stronger." "As have I." Tasher sighs loudly. "Enough of this. Show me your dragon." Tammy is confused. "My what?" "Your dragon, my Queen. The large, fire breathing creature that you ride as it flies across the sky, obliterating all structures before it. The one that I have seen is as black as midnight but glisten like a fine jewel in the sun. What color is yours, my Queen?" Tammy turns to me. "Of what is he speaking?" "I believe that General Tasher is making the suggestion that unless you can at least duplicate the magic of Alexia you would have little chance of winning any challenge you might make. Your survival is vital to our plans for the future, my Queen. It would be best that you leave the pursuit of this war to the professionals. Is there anything else you need from us?" "It is the way of our world that one Queen succeeds another through direct conflict. The people will accept nothing less, Dupree." "You could be correct, my Queen. We will deal with it when the time is right. Good day." Both I and General Tasher briefly bow and stride out, walking back up the hill to my tent. "First Minister. That woman is more trouble than she is worth but she does raise a valid point. The tradition is quite clear. One witch must defeat the other. How is Karren Tammy ever going to defeat Alexia?" "What is important is that Alexia die, General. Who is to say that Queen Tammy did not do so? One witch dead, one witch alive. We can tell whatever story we wish as to how that happened. I doubt that Queen Tammy will be interested in correcting us when the throne is within her grasp." CHAPTER FIFTY THREE It had been weeks since we had faced any serious fighting. Not that I'm complaining. No bad injuries to fix. We're making steady progress, moving further North into heavily forested areas of this world. It's getting harder for me to see what's going on below as Lilly and I glide through the skies above the tree tops. General Packer keeps warning me not to get too close to the trees. There could be snipers high up, just waiting for me, cutting down my reaction time but I'm not much use two leagues above the action. The men have completely accepted me. The armorers made me a uniform that matches theirs only mine has a full black skirt instead of black pants and the breastplate is a little fuller than the usual troopers. We wear the same basic black uniform that was the style when Opulessa was Queen. General Packer offered to make changes but I told him not to bother, that there were more important things to worry about. Ultimately, the men took matters in their own hands and changed the uniforms themselves. Most of them removed the old yellow insignia from their long, heavy cloth shirts and replaced it with hand dawn pictures of Lilly. Some did it themselves and others hired more skilled artists to do it for a fee. There were many different styles. When this is done, I should hold a contest for the creation of a new insignia. I have my meals with General Packer most every day in his tent. Sometimes we both eat with the men but it's mostly in his tent. We make sure to eat the same food that the men do but, somehow, I think there is a little more care taken in the preparation of our servings than theirs. The privileges of rank and all. I gently try to push Packer to be more aggressive but he's the cautious type. I have to respect that. It's not my life on the line out there. Sure, someone could get lucky and pick me off but I'm at much less risk than all the men on the ground. I won't do anything to increase their risk. It's already unnerving enough to have someone actually risking their lives to protect mine or to fight in my name. I've always taken care of myself and my family, fought my own battles. That's MY job. But now ... there are so many of them. Some are just young kids. I know, I'm just twenty two. There are officers who have daughters my age or older but there are also kids barely eighteen. Lots of the men are married, have children. They're just regular guys. All their lives are on the line because of me. Packer assures me that it's nothing personal. I'm the Queen. There's always been a Queen. If it wasn't me, it would be some other witch but we both know that's not true. I'm the one who upset the apple cart, the one who shattered the status quo. Is this better than what came before? Right now, maybe not. It's the promise of a better future and these guys are paying that forward. One of my current jobs is that as many of them as possible live to enjoy that better future. When I enter his tent this morning, Packer quickly stands and greets me. "Good morning, Alexia. You are looking beautiful this morning. As always. You do the uniform proud. Did you sleep well?" "Thank you. Yes, I did. Any news from the front?" "Let us enjoy our breakfast before discussing the war." He walks over to a small folding table that has our breakfast laid out on it. "What would you care for this morning? We have the usual eggs, sausage, oatmeal and fried corn mush with syrup." I usually dig right in, eating more than my fair share. Lately, I've been hungrier than normal, maybe it's all the magical energy I've been expending but, for some reason, this morning, just the thought of eating turns my stomach. It's all I can do to keep from throwing up. "No thanks, General. I'm feeling just a little bit off this morning." "Are you ill?" The concern is clear in his voice. "No. No, I'm sure I'm not. I'll just have a cup of hot tea and sit over here while you eat." "Protocol dictates that if you do not eat then I cannot." "General, when have we ever followed protocol? You eat, I'll drink my tea and all will be right with the world." "As you wish, Alexia." He hands me a metal cup three quarters full of steaming hot tea and I sit as far away from the food as possible because even the smell upsets my stomach. After a few sips, I'm feeling better. Not well enough to eat but better. We picked up our conversation from where we left off yesterday after supper. I was explaining to him what a printing press was and how it had changed my old world. He had been very enthusiastic last night. "I do enjoy reading, Alexia. A man cannot be a soldier all his life. Even generals can get too old. Our wits are not as sharp, our judgments not as good. It is always best to get some young blood in the upper ranks." "I don't know if I would trust anyone else, General Packer." "You are too kind, Alexia, but t