“But I know I cannot get sloshed in this company.” [Narrator’s Voice: but we know she does]

Moving ahead to the opening scene of part four in my notes. I was going to have Bob be the central character, but that gives me Konev, Eloise, Bob. I think that is confusing to a reader and also sloppy writing in that it leaves Konev’s story sort of hanging. So, as of typing this, it’s going to be the Russian sergeant with Bob playing a strong supporting role. I am absolutely determined to get “Joseph,” that demon, back on stage, as well as either resolve, or, me being me, making the situation with the Spetsnaz troopers worse.

The epilogue might be one of their team taking indirect action against Reina (direct action is effectively impossible as she’s not “anywhere”), such as taking some of the Russian Imperial Family hostage and demanding her resignation. That’s for the future, so I’ll think about it.

Alex Hood is, as they say here, one of Faustina’s boss monsters, from Goddess’ Crusade. She kills the empress – again; she gets better – but nearly dies herself. Faustina does all in her power to keep another demi-human alive.

Aurie’s grant of permission for El and Bob to have a relationship surprised me. I think her human husband, and now being pregnant, is mellowing her out rather quickly.

Enjoy my content? Buy me a beer!

“So what made the Texans change their minds?” Eloise asked, adding some soda water to her Old Saul Rye, made just a few kilometers east, in Jackson.  It’s pretty good, too.  These imperials have a knack for this.  But I know I cannot get sloshed in this company.

At a rather rough-hewn table looking like something you’d find in a park, made from a wood she didn’t recognize, Eloise had Colour at her right and they both looked across to Aurelia.  To match Eloise’s bottle, Colour had one of a white wine.  The regent just had a carafe of spring water.  It was dark and rather than electric lights, torches were lit about them.

“Help often comes unexpectedly,” Aurelia admitted.  “The blockade was Ryland’s idea – she thinks in terms of the seas – and the closure of the bridges mine.  What I didn’t think of, because I’m a polite, diplomatic young lady – ”

Colour snorted a laugh.

“…was more direct action.  I found out just after we split up earlier that electric power to greater Houston was out.”

“One of the, ah, Machines?” Eloise asked, already fearing for Toronto.

“Nope.  A demi-human who was Faustina’s ‘boss monster,’ as it were, back when she was putting the imperium together,” Aurelia said, pausing while some boiled crawdads were set before them along with three smaller plates.  The regent said a short prayer.

“Alexandra Hood,” she gave a name.  “Modified at the same time my dad was by the Machine Pavel, who was nuts back then.  To sum up, she ended up running former Fort Benning in western Georgia like a queen.  A damaged, psychotic one, but a queen.  A religion was even beginning to be built around her.”

“But why would the Empress’ enemy…” Colour began, picking up some of the shellfish.

“Because after Faustina beat her and her army, she prayed, nagged, and cajoled until Alex gave up and became a semi-friend,” Aurelia said.  “They’ve never been buddy-buddy and all that; they never hang out or chit-chat.  She lives on the Gulf about a dozen miles east of Pensacola, tending to her animals and often going fishing.”

“Family?” Eloise asked, not at all sure about these tiny lobster-like things.  Aurelia shook her head.

“No siblings.  Parents died when she was young.  Never evinced an interest in getting married.” A shrug.  “Every now and then one of us sees evidence of her activity in the Void.  But until now, she has done nothing to aid the government.”

“I do have a guess, though,” she said with a look to Colour than Eloise caught.  Not for me to know, obviously.  “Oh, here comes the fried catfish!”

“And that, evidence,” Colour said carefully, taking some fish from the serving platter, “is why you think she did it?”

“More like ‘is doing it,’” Aurelia smiled.  “Power’s still out and shall stay out until, as I said, Livia is in my arms.”

“I still don’t get why she’s helping,” Eloise said, taking some cornbread with the fish.  She looked around for butter and added that to the bread.

“She’ll tell us when she wants,” Aurelia said, emptying her glass and refilling it.  “Gift horses, and all that.  You like cornbread, El?”

“It’s considered an exotic treat in Canada,” she admitted, “so, yes.”

I wonder if I should ask when I’m leaving…

“In the morning,” a typical demi answer to an unasked question.  “I don’t want CSIS to think they have me on the hop.”

“And,” the Regent kept right on, “there are things I need to do to your mind before you go.”

“Excuse me?”

“And I’m going to chip you, too.  I did that to my Intended,” she carried right on, “so we could track him.”

“I’m not some dog…!” Eloise began.

“Of course not.  You are much more important than that.  Hmm.  I might chip you twice.”

Colour spat out some of her wine, laughing.

“You think this is funny, too?” Eloise demanded.

“Oh, yes,” Colour smiled.  “And I bet she’s already done it.  You were in the infirmary, you know?”

They watched the Canadian run her left hand over the back of her neck.

“You can’t reach it, so don’t try,” Aurelia said before taking another mouthful of fish.

Eloise forced herself to be calm before these two.  Especially her.

“It… it will help Bob find me, right?” she asked with her eyes down, not really hungry any more but taking another drink.

“I’ll give him permission to bang you,” Aurelia said in a low voice, leaning across the table.  “But your job is to stay alive until Robbie gets back.  Consider that an imperial order.”

About to object about chains-of-command, Eloise just nodded and took yet another drink.

“The changes I need to make to your mind,” the Regent went on, leaning back, “can be done if you are awake or asleep.  In fact, keep drinking.  It will be easier if you are out.  You’ll be on either a jet or one of our craft at oh-nine-hundred, so don’t worry about a hangover, as you people call it.”

Colour noted her young, impulsive friend make a motion with her left hand.  The food was cleared away and Aurelia drank the last of her water.

“Colour?  If you need help carrying her to her quarters, ask any of my men.  Stay with her until I show up; maybe two hours?  I’ve regent stuff to do.” She turned to look west.  “Liv’s plane is wheels up.  It’ll be about an hour and a half before she’s here.  We’ve cleared a section of the old highway just east of here to function as a runway if needed.  Once I’ve seen to her, I’ll be by.”

“Of course, Friend.” Colour dropped her eyes to the Canadian girl who was just staring into her highball glass.  “You okay, Eloise?”

“I hate you people so much,” she mumbled, tossing the rest back and pouring more.  With no water added.  Aurelia walked quickly away and Colour poured herself more wine.

“And why is that?” Colour asked.

“Not, *hic*, not so much you, her.  Them.” She raised the glass to her lips and made an odd sound before setting it down.  “So sure; so confident.  Even Bob.  They think this entire world is theirs.”

“Not just this one, Eloise… whup!” Only the older woman’s reflexes kept the younger’s head from impacting the wooden table.  She was already snoring.  “Some help here?”