Getting things back on track. What? You thought I would listen in to three girls gossiping? On the first hand, that’s rude; on the second hand, it’s boring. On the gripping hand Aurie would kill me.

So, it’s the next day. A little exercise before Aurie meets with the Texas Secretary of State. Who will be mad as a hornet about the blockade.

Enjoy my content? Buy me a beer! 

Getting up before anyone else, Eloise slipped into the sweats she’d been loaned and made for the door.  A few looks from the legionaries, all men, all White, had her doing some stretches.  I’d like to go at least for a five klick run, but am still a guest here…  She was startled by the hand on her shoulder.  Of course.

“A run?” Aurelia asked.  “Not something I like, but I did keep you two up past midnight telling stories, so I owe you.”

“What exercise do you like?” Eloise asked, trying to be polite as the Regent took her hand and led her to where other men were also doing morning exercise.

“All my family are swimmers; goes way back.  When there’s no pool, I just do sit and pushups.  Hey!” she shouted.  About a dozen looked at them.  Out of uniform, just in a tee-shirt and torn shorts, no one saluted.  “We’re gonna go run!  Us girls need four guys as escorts!  Who’s up!  No!  Not that way!”

The men laughed and they all stepped forward.

“Branson, Stiers, McDonald, Conley.  Y’all are with us.  Just so you know:  this is my guest and a close friend of Crown Prince Robert.  And if y’all’s not kept up with the news, I’m married.” She smiled at the four she named.  “So don’t bother!”

Even Eloise could sense their disappointment.  Still, two went ahead and two behind as they trotted out the front gate of the steel and masonry fort.

“Too slow!” Aurelia called.  “Pick up the pace!  We can shower together when we get back.”

Eloise laughed at that, running faster but still a little slow for her.

“You think I’m kidding?” Aurelia looked over.  My God, she’s not.

“Didn’t you say we’re meeting some official from Texas this morning?” Eloise asked, not at all winded.

“Yep.  Two hours.  The politics are complicated:  I’m asking for my cousin, so should be on their side of the river.  But they detained her, so, eff them, they can come to me.” She told the men in the lead to take them down the hill and loop around it.  “Compromise would be in the middle of the rail bridge.  But I’m in no mood for compromises.”

“And this girl’s mother is leading some fleet and blockading Texas right now?”

“Ryland Rupert.  And, just Galveston and Houston, but that must be costing them millions each day.” The Regent shook her head.  “Poor Ry; she finally is reunited with her missing husband… but in such a state…”

I want to ask, but this is a family matter.   Something I now know is an obsession with these people.  Their little group, attracting plenty of stares, turned toward the great river.  Another turn right had them north, following a smaller river.

“Let’s back up the hill, men!  And switch places so Conley and Branson can look at our butts!”

I cannot imagine this informality, she thought, and playfulness.  But she’s not just a general.  She is a sovereign.  This girl shorter than me has the power of life and death on this earth and off it.  And these warriors just laugh.

Spying the battlements of her fort through the trees, Aurelia suddenly pushed between the men in front, leaving all five of them behind.  They tried, and failed, to catch up to her.  Nearly sick sprinting uphill, Eloise paused at the main gate.  The princess stood there smiling.  Her breath normal.

“More human than human,” Aurelia said, taking her hand once again.  “Let’s get cleaned up before my meeting.”

“I…” This is not a good idea.  “I’m a Canadian officer.  I cannot be at a diplomatic – ”

“Hush,” Aurelia ordered.  “You’ll be in civilian clothes.  You and Colour will look like my secretaries.”

“After what you have done to me,” Eloise jerked to a halt, stopping Aurelia, as well, “my face is very well known by our Security Service and they will be looking for additional clues to have me shot!”

“Yeah.  Sucks to be you, doesn’t it?” she said with a tug.  “So resign your commission and swear personal loyalty to me.”

She stopped them in front of some smaller building.

“I cannot do that.” I want to!  I want Bob!  “Yet.”

“Okay.” The Regent pulled the door open while pulling her tee shirt off.  Not even a bra.  This is a locker room?  Aurelia stepped out of her shorts.  And no panties.  “Let’s shower off and get a bite.  That work for you, Lieutenant?”

She pushed open another door as Eloise was taking her running clothes off –

“There are men in here!” she cried.

“It’s a legionary fort,” Aurelia said with some puzzlement, her brows knitting together.  “Of course there are.  Come, time is fleeting.”

At her voice, the three men Eloise could see in the open shower looked over.  One, a kid, seemed embarrassed, but the other two just rinsed their soap off before getting their towels.  One called her Regent and the other General.  Aurelia just waved while rubbing a bar of soap into her black-purple hair.

“I need to shave,” she heard Aurelia mutter, her head under the falling water.  “Tomorrow.  More importantly, need to find a way to get Jimmy to talk to our son.  That will be Ai and Dorina.”

Utterly lost, but orders are orders, Eloise shucked the rest of her clothes and stood under the nozzle next to Aurelia, knowing her cheeks were bright red.

I’ve rinsed off in rivers and streams in our army, but the men and women were always a ways apart.  Everyone here…

“Aurelia?” she bagan.

“Yes?” She turned her water off.

“You, that is, men and women, in a shower…”

She was surprised to feel the Regent’s hand caress her face.

“We’re different.  I feel no shame for what I am.  And, I know there is not a legionary alive who would every bother me or mine.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I’m aware.”

Eloise was unsure if it was shower water or tears down her own face.  She cleaned up as fast as she could.  Aurelia handed her a towel.

“I had your business clothes brought over while you were panicking,” she said.  “So dress here.  I am the literal heir right now, with another within me.  I could walk completely naked to my room with no more than a few prurient glances.  But I need you to have all your wits together, so my clothes are here, too.”

“Then a snack then down to the railhead.  We’ve thirty minutes, Eloise Patel.  Get a move on.”

“Yes, Ma’am.”