Chapter 7

North had already finished his ablutions and was buttoning his shirt when the sharp rap on the door sounded. He glanced over at Cochannel who lay sprawled across his bed, her legs spread obscenely since their last coupling only a little while ago. She had protested that she was sore, but North had pressed ahead, spearing her with his erection. She eased into the mood soon enough, joining him in mutual thrusts of want and hunger for another release.

He opened the door immediately, knowing full well that someone of importance wanted his attention. First thing in the morning was always a good clue. He bowed low and offered his Queen entry without saying a word.

“A hearty morning to you, my Jack of Spades,” she announced while staring at his bed. Cochannel squeaked in fear and tumbled out of bed. She perched on her knees with her head bowed so far that her chin was almost touching her breastbone.

“How was the little morsel I sent you?” the Queen asked.

“Adequate,” North replied, trying to keep any hint of surprise off his face. “She listens to instruction but lacks drive.”

“She looks well used, I’ll give you that,” she said. “Lieutenant Bordo has asked to train with you this morning and I have granted my permission. Nonetheless, I need you to press for better results on the other practice fields. There will be a briefing this afternoon you will need to attend.” She tut-tutted. “Someone will be officially assigned to you as an administrative assistant today. Please don’t lop off their head when they introduce themselves.”

Setting her face into a regal form of scorn, the Queen stepped over to the young woman who was shaking on her knees. “You will not disappoint me again, Cochannel. If you failed to hear my message after dinner, let me confirm that your father can no longer protect you. My Jack of Spades must be able to read and write at a proficient level in three weeks. Do not ask what will happen if you fail to bring him up to speed for you already know.”

She strode to the doorway, looking back with a touch of theater. “We may only have three weeks before I send you out on expedition. You must be able to read my orders and missives, Jack of Spades, and respond. There is no room for miscommunication.” She departed, leaving silence in her place.

“Get dressed,” North harshly ordered Cochannel. “My Commander in Chief does not scare easily, and she is greatly concerned. You will begin teaching me later this afternoon. Further, you’ve embarrassed me. From now on, you will keep a soldier’s hours and you will be dressed first thing every morning you’re here. Now, move!”

He heard the sob, but he ignored it as he belted his sword and left for what promised to be a busy day.

Bordo put North through his moves. More than once, North flashed back to some unmapped field at dawn where his regiment spent a few hours “toughening up” each other. If the scouts and the sentries agreed, Aegis would continue with Power drills and forms. “Now, dung brain!” Bordo would call out, leaving North with the imperative to focus mixed with the nostalgia of those marching days. Then Alomar piled on and a bruised and battered North rose to his feet one last time and called for a ceasefire. Considering five others were also trying to dig themselves out of the ground where their thrown bodies had created furrows, the call was accepted.

Filthy from head to toe, North insisted that his fellows follow him to the novice practice fields and put in some effort with the recruits. Their appearance made an impression. By the time the sun was at midpoint in the sky, there was no soldier on the field not covered in muck and mud. To make his point absolute, North made the entire company run the long way around the complex to the barracks.

He limped into the back of the kitchen and was promptly thrown out empty-handed. Making his way to the Queen’s tower, an older teenager stopped him and introduced himself as his personal aide. He ordered the young man to get him some food and then find him some “frickin’ clothes” to appear before the queen. Every joint ached.

Three buckets of water later, North assumed he was reasonably clean. “What’s your name again,” North asked as he slipped on his last pair of clean underwear.

“Botham, sir. Eh, where did you get such an undergarment, sir; it looks interesting.”

“In a market only accessible by taking the Celestial Way, Botham. How did you know I’m eligible to wear the Queen’s Regiment garb?”

Botham bowed slightly. “For one, you live in the Queen’s Tower. However, to directly answer your query, sir, when I pulled the uniform from the quartermaster’s shelves, no one complained or told me to stop.”

North liked that response. “Good answer, you can stay. Where am I supposed to go, now?”

“At two-bells, which is in a half-bell, you are to report to the Queen’s map room for a briefing with the commander of the Second Regiment. We will need twenty minutes to make our way to the assigned room.”

North grunted. “I have reading lessons late this afternoon with Cochannel whatever-her-surname-is. Find out when and where. You need to fill out my wardrobe because I have no clue what is required. I want you to personally wash my underwear, the only valuable pieces of clothing I own. No one else is to touch them. The rest of my clothes can go to the washerwomen. If I need a pair of polished boots for these meetings and these dinners, you’re detailed the duty.’”

“I’m already on task, honored sir,” Botham said. “The staff and I will have you kitted out and on your way in no time. I will contact Cochannel Ne Bosh and set your schedule with her as well. Will she be warming your bed tonight again?”

North started. “You know? Does everybody in this puppet show know?”

“Sir, we share a mutual friend,” Botham said, taking a glance at the open door to the hallway and dropping his voice. “As he must for his obligations to the Queen, he keeps tabs on all things that happen within the Court of the Crimson King. Our friend recommended me for this job serving you. He can produce a naughty and wicked puppet show upon request as well.” When Botham saw North’s reaction he continued, “Maiden Ne Bosh was the source of many ribald jokes this morning at the Queen’s breakfast table. The ignorant girl didn’t know how to come to a man’s bed prepared. She had to take the Walk of Shame back to her dormitory after you departed for the practice fields.”

North sat heavily in his chair. “I believe that her humiliation this morning was deliberate. These circumstances are a testing of her resilience, which has been taken for granted in the past. She has three weeks to prove herself made of tempered steel. I don’t trust her, but she’s dependent upon me for the next weeks. In this matter, Botham, you will do the minimum necessary to keep her at her tasks and the utmost to keep me at a step removed from the gossip.” North sighed. “Now?”