The Coat
"Come lady, let us not tarry long. The choice is before you. If you and your sister keep my company for the occupation, you shall be spared the pillage and rapine of the soldiers that now roam the streets of our newly won city," The Major-General reclined on the wooden chair, his uniform was black and trimmed with silver. The King's Legion badge shined in the weak sunlight of the morning. The city has been besieged, and it had been unfortunately bloody but short. The defenders, a hastily cobbled militia had either been killed or fled. It was now the King's men that would be granted 'liberty' upon the city and the women, children and old would have to suffer the privations of soldiers; bent on rapine and plunder. The women, he sought had a large white expensive home in the wealthy part of the city, columns at their door, and a beautiful townhouse with high windows. Their house marked them as one of the gentry, whose money had come from mercantile endeavour, their grandfather had been the Mayor, and their father the Alderman and Guid Chairman, making a large fortune.
"How do I know you will keep your word and keep us safe?" Faith asked tartly. She was a tall slender woman, whose husband had been lost to the war raging for the last three years. She had taken refuge with her twin sister in the city of Dolton, in the shires of the North. Both women were placed in an impossible situation, either they agree to his proposal and serve him both in and out of their bed or watch him leave the house and remove his long coat from the lantern hook that proudly displayed his emblem and rank and thus told the other soldiers that this house of out of bounds and so forbidden to enter.
"I am a Major General of the King's Legion. My word is my bond!" He stood. His tall black leather boots echoed as he stood, "But the choice is yours?" In truth, there was no choice and all parties knew it. The silver uniform was one of long-standing and generally honourable and he had worn it since his youth and fought bravely and honourably. As the war progressed, more regions took sides between the Monarchy and the Republic, and as the conflict entered its third year, more cities fell to the enemy and then relieved and lost once again and each time, the populace suffered. The Major General was expecting to be given the chain of governorship of Dolton, Albany and the Shires of the North. Now, after the chaos of the siege he craved sweet attention and to purge himself of the sins and death that he wrought on others in the weeks.
These sisters were perfect. He had spied them upon the breach of the walls and took precautions to separate them from the roving bands of lustful and avaricious men. He also was convinced that they would be the first people approached by the Republic to act as spies for them.
"We agree to house you and serve you until your occupation has ended!" Chariity fixed a hard stare upon him. The officer nodded.
"Then it is decided. My coat shall be thy protection, but now I require a bath and your company ladies!" The Major-General gave them a wolfish grin as he waited for them to show him the way into their home and to the white enamel-tiled bathroom. Since the siege was short, the amenities of life had but been cut off. The city had its water, and electricity restored easily. The roads had been cleared within hours and now trucks and private vehicles trundled on their way to and from the city gates. Trade and commerce waited for no one, so the city of Dolton breathed with life again. With the sister's agreement, the large townhouse would be his headquarters. He would govern this city from here and his evenings would be comfortable with the sisters to tend him. They would be comfortable too, with the city recovering, gold sovereigns would flow into their lives. They would be safe, fed and as his star rose, so would theirs. The situation would benefit all.
But beneath the faΓ§ade, women and men were forced to make new alliances with their conquerors between the sheets of bed chambers, the floor of poor hovels and even the back alleys of the thoroughfares, such was the lust of the soldiers.
As The Major-General stepped out of the large hall, to confer with his man-servant, the sisters conferred,
"With this arrangement, our property will be safe and once order is restored, the man may well be posted away," Faith whispered,