10
Galen sat under the canopy a few hundred yards into the open field to the northwest of the kingdom of Redd. The canopy had a white tarp covering it as well as a white flag flying high on a pole sticking out of the middle of the roof. The sun was taking its time rising on the horizon, and he took a deep breath of the cool morning air. He faced the northwest toward where the imperial army was camped just over a small ridge. The small table in front of him had a few documents held down by a fist-sized rock on each corner to keep them from flying away. He chuckled slightly as they fluttered in the morning breeze. "Any rock will do," he said softly to himself.
"My lord?" Priscilla asked from the pole in front of him and to his left. She stood rigid with her back straight, her now blonde flowing freely in the breeze. She wore a simple white dress that covered her neck to her ankles, and her hands dangled loosely at her sides. Her eyes were a radiant blue as she looked at him.
"Nothing," he said. She nodded and returned her attention to the ridge. He looked over to the pole in front and to his right and smiled at the back of his warrior wife. While she wasn't wearing armor, as he'd instructed, she refused to wear anything other than her uniform. Her long braid of red hair snaked down her back to just above her perfect ass. ["Your ass looks amazing in your uniform without your armor,"] he thought to her. ["Did you know that?"]
She stiffened slightly and turned to look at him. Her eyes twinkled, and the corners of her lips turned up in a slight smile. She winked at him and returned her gaze forward. ["She says you look good enough to eat in that suit you're wearing,"] Devi said with a giggle.
["What? This old thing?"] he thought with a chuckle. Just then, the sun trickled golden light across the field, and Galen caught sight of three figures lazily advancing from the ridge line. They were riding white war horses decorated in plate armor. The three figures also wore plate armor that gleamed brightly in the rising sun. The light flickered off of the shiny plate mail as they moved. All three wore matching helms with a white feather protruding from the top of the skull.
["Lucinda is as tense as a rubber band at its breaking point,"] Devi told him, and he looked at his wife. She was indeed so tense she was shaking slightly. ["She wants to know if you're sure it's a good idea to reveal herself."]
["Too late now to back out,"] he thought to them both. ["They'll see it as an act of aggression if you put your helm on now, my love. Just relax. It'll all work itself out."]
Lucinda visibly relaxed, but he could tell she was still anxious about the whole ordeal. The three figures approached, and only the one in the middle got off his horse and removed his helm. He was younger than Galen expected, though older than Galen himself, in this world anyway. The man looked at the two women, and recognition briefly crossed his features at seeing Lucinda. Then, he looked at Galen and bowed slightly at the waist, never taking his eyes off him. "Baron Jaxon Chase, Captain of His Majesty's Imperial Army," he said. His tone was clear, practiced, and professional. "May I know the name of the man I address?"
Galen stood and nodded slightly. He heard Una and Ula bristle somewhat from either side and behind him but ignored them since they were invisible anyway. "Lord Galen Ford, Ruler of the Kingdom of Redd and presiding Duke of Spellthorn," he replied. Lucinda had coached him half the night on what to say and how to act. "I have to ask, Captain, and I mean no disrespect, but I was expecting someone of a bit higher rank to be commanding an army as large as yours."
The man only bristled slightly, and Galen inwardly winced. "My apologies, King Galen," the man replied. "Duke Latham Lanthrey of Whittaker commands the army. He sent me to ascertain the purpose of the parley. Do you wish to surrender?"
"I do not, Captain," Galen replied with a slight huff, and it was his turn to bristle. The man took an involuntary step back. ["Good,"] he thought to Devi. ["They've heard the story, at least."] Then, to the man, he continued heatedly as he picked up one of the rocks on the table he was using for a paperweight and crushed it in his palm, "I only wish to avoid bloodshed, if possible. Inform Duke Lanthrey that if he doesn't see fit to honor a parley himself, then I'll simply eradicate your army myself and be done with it. Though I'd rather not."
The man's eyes went wide at the display of power and the other two men gasped as their horses danced nervously in place for a moment. Baron Chase nodded, bowed at the waist, and quickly retreated, climbing back on his horse. All three turned about and bolted back up the hill. In his haste, the captain had dropped his helm and left it behind. Galen dusted off his hands of the powdered rock and walked out to retrieve the helm. He placed it on the table next to him as he sat back down.
["He nearly pissed himself,"] Devi giggled, and Lucinda stifled a laugh.
Priscilla eyed her with a questioning eyebrow but didn't comment. To placate her curiosity, Galen said out loud, "I do believe he was so scared he almost pissed his pants." She still didn't comment, but Galen could see the corner of her mouth turn up slightly.
Ten minutes later, a small contingent of approximately thirty horses with riders crested the hill and galloped unhurriedly in Galen's direction, Captain Chase among them. "Only thirty?" Priscilla muttered, and Galen cocked an eyebrow at her. As she was facing away from him, she didn't see it.
"Here we go," Lucinda whispered.
"It's okay, love," Galen said softly, reassuring her.
"No one will harm you, my lady," Priscilla whispered softly, and again, Galen cocked an eyebrow at her in surprise.
["You two must be getting along much better than I realized,"] he thought to Lucinda. By way of answer, she just barely flicked her left hand backward in his direction without a backward glance.
["She says they had been talking at length since breakfast yesterday,"] Devi translated. ["Now, shut up and concentrate."]
Galen chuckled as he felt a light tap on the back of his head. ["Yes, mom,"] he said and laughed silently.
As they approached, the main body of the contingent held back some fifty yards away. Only Captain Chase and another approached. Reaching the tent, the two men dismounted. Galen stood and, grabbing the baron's helm, slowly walked it to him. Without a word, Galen handed the man his helm and walked back to the table, turning his back to them. When Galen was back on his side of the table, the two men approached and stood just outside the eave of the canopy. Galen was the first to speak. "Duke Latham Lanthrey, I presume?" he asked in a cheerful tone. "I bid you welcome to the kingdom of Redd. Would you care to join me at the table? I have refreshments prepared if you so desire."
The duke gave a slight sideways glance to the baron before removing his helm. He was an older man, probably in his early fifties. He had red hair peppered with gray and piercing gray eyes. His face was smooth-shaven, and his lips turned down in a scowl. It seemed to Galen the man's face would crack and shatter if he tried to smile. He looked at the two women, and as his eyes landed on Lucinda, he bowed low at the waist, but not so low as to interrupt his sight. "Your Royal Highness," the duke said, and his voice was deep and sure. "I wasn't sure if the baron spoke true when he informed me you were here."
Lucinda bristled. "Well, now you know, Latham," she said, an edge to her tone. "Now, are you going to address my husband, the king? Or have you forgotten the formalities of a proper parley?"
The duke's eyes went wide. His head shot back to Galen, and Galen held up a single piece of parchment. "Fortunately, I don't stand on such pomp and circumstance, Duke Latham, so I'm not even marginally offended," Galen said. Then, with warning in his voice, he said, "Yet."
The duke composed himself and strode forward. He sat and took the proffered document. Galen sat and waited for the duke to verify the document's authenticity. "It seems to be in order," the duke said. "However, the signet seal is that of King Jasper, whereas your signature is on it."
"Yes, well," Galen said as he held up his hand with the signet ring. "You keep what you kill and all that. Until I can have a proper signet ring crafted, I might as well use what the people are familiar with." A servant behind Galen placed a cup before him and poured water into it. "Water?" He motioned with his hand to the duke, offering the cup. When the duke hesitated, he said, "You can inspect the pitcher if you like. We both will drink from the same pitcher, so what you ingest, I will also."
