Jana woke up in a strange bed, next to Andromache. As she stirred, the girl of the city opened her pretty brown eyes. “Oh, good morning, Jana!” she greeted her new friend, sitting up and stretching. She was as tall as Jana, but her skin was more delicate, and still bore the marks of the crushed bedclothes on which she had slept.
“You thrashed about all night,” Jana told her, as the girl got to her feet, easy in her nakedness, all suppleness and grace. Accustomed as Jana was to have her legs and arms bare, nudity was still strange to her. She had never seen a naked woman before.
Andromache laughed. “I always do that; I’m sorry! My bedclothes are always on the floor when I wake!” She had a pretty laugh. She was more woman than warrior, Jana thought, feeling drawn to her. Providentially, there was a separate bath for the few women guards, and they all bathed naked, making Jana blush. Among the horse-people, one bathed at wells or in rivers, with a bathing-cloth; never like this! But the girls said nothing to embarrass Jana. They scrubbed each other and wiped each other dry as if it was the most ordinary thing. Jana had to endure Andromache wiping her, and had to return the favor. At least they were not men, she thought to herself.
“What a pity it is, that you must go! We had such fun together!”
Jana hung her head, wrapping a towel about herself. “But I must stay,” she said. “The King said that I must serve here.”
“Oh, wonderful!” said Andromache, clearly delighted. She gave Jana a quick hug, and stepped back to smile. “Don’t be sad; see, already you have friends! We will make you comfortable here! And the prince is a decent little fellow; they are good people.”
“I know,” said Jana, thinking that he was not such a little fellow as all that. But the prospect of having Stefan panting after her every day made her want to return home.
Jana came to the dining room, and stood gloomily watching her troop eat breakfast.
“Why don’t you eat, soldier?” asked the Captain, making room for her. He was fond of her, and as unhappy to leave her behind as she was to stay. But orders were orders.
Jana kept standing. “I have been asked to come to the palace for breakfast, my lord Captain,” she said, unable to stop the tears filling her eyes.
“You knew all along that you’d have to stay,” said the Captain, gently.
“I was hoping, by some miracle ...” a big tear rolled down Jana’s cheek.
The captain’s face became red. He glared about him, and the men who were watching suddenly became interested in their breakfasts.
He got to his feet. “Kindly follow me, soldier!” he said, and marched to the door and outside. Jana swallowed, and obeyed.
“Attention!”
Jana snapped to attention.
“You will report to the Palace now. At seven-thirty, the troop will be at the Palace grounds, ready to present arms to the Queen. When the Queen has reviewed the troop, I will place you on detached duty. Is that clear?”
“Yes, Captain!” Anger and hurt warred with an irrational desire to laugh inside Jana.
The Captain smiled. “At ease soldier!”
Jana giggled. Already, she missed the Captain, and he hadn’t even left yet.
“People are people, Jana,” he said kindly. “These folk will like you, just as the troopers did. When your work is done, the Horse People will always be there, and the King’s Own!” He punched her on the shoulder, and went inside.
Andromache ran around the back to meet her. “What’s up?” she asked, looking worried.
Jana managed a smile for her. “I have to go the Palace, I told you!” She heaved a long sigh of misery. “I should get my things ...”
“Oh, just go! I will keep your things safe with me, Jana!”
Jana nodded, and turned towards the Palace. It was good to have Andromache as a friend here.
Knowing her way only to the front steps, Jana went there. To her surprise, the Prince was waiting at the doors, with the Princess peeking out from behind him.
“Welcome!” he cried, happily, stepping aside to let her in, and Jana bowed to the bright-eyed Princess, who seemed interested to see Jana in full daylight. They conducted her to the Palace kitchen.
The Kitchen was actually one of two, Jana later found out. This was the bigger kitchen, a large room, actually a courtyard, open to the sky, with covered stoves, ovens and fireplaces along the sides, which were roofed over, and a large marble table in the center, with stone benches around it. It was as large as Ole and Eva’s house and yard taken together. Jana was made to sit at the table, and a plate of warm bread was brought to her, and another of cold meats, and a bowl of fruit. A smiling girl of about seven brought her a mug of milk.
“When you’re done, the Queen would like to meet you, Jana! One of the girls will show you in! Enjoy your meal!” With those words, the Prince departed to join the family.
There were two girls, the younger one was about seven, and the older one could have been anything from twelve to eighteen. They both warmed Jana with friendly grins, and an elderly woman watched with a smile from the vicinity of the oven. They were all dressed, like Jana, in dark colored tunics, the little one’s tunic so long that it flopped over her belt a good six inches.
Jana dug into the food, discovering she was hungry.
“What’s your name?” Jana asked the little one, between bites.
“Nina, Lady!” she answered, with a quick little curtsey and a smile.
“I’m not a lady,” Jana said, washing down a mouthful with a sip of milk, “I’m a soldier. You can call me Jana.”
“I’m Sophie,” said the older girl, and Jana nodded politely, her mouth full.
“This is good,” said Jana appreciatively, pointing at the food, and swallowing an extra-large mouthful. The girls giggled merrily.
Suddenly, Jana remembered about the presenting of arms at seven-thirty.
“Where is the Queen?” she asked in alarm.
“Inside,” said Sophie, wide-eyed.
“Tell them,” said Jana, anxiously, “that the Horse People will be at the Palace steps at seven-thirty to present arms to the Queen!”
Sophie scooted off, and Jana concentrated on trying to eat as fast as she could.
She heard footsteps behind her. It was the Queen herself; Jana saw the resemblance between her and the children, except that instead of being slightly built, she was a large woman, tall and regal. She was dressed in a white chiton of the finest linen, with a heavy blue border, and her hair was braided and pinned up on her head, and she was beautiful. Jana chewed her mouthful, and got to her feet, swallowing with difficulty. She knelt and bowed quickly.
“Please sit, girl,” said the Queen. “You must be Jana.” The blue eyes studied her coolly.
“Yes, your majesty!” said Jana, sitting nervously.
“Take your time and eat. I’ll keep them busy until you get there! I take it you’re supposed to be there to see them off?”
“I will be placed on detached assignment, my lady, -- I mean, your majesty!” Jana heard a quickly smothered giggle from behind her.
“As is proper. Eat slowly.”
And the Queen went inside. Jana tried to eat slowly, thinking that thieves would have a wonderful time breaking into this palace, with its open courtyards.
Despite the Queen’s instructions, Jana finished her breakfast in fifteen minutes, finishing up the last of the milk, and let out a cheerful belch, startling herself, and thoroughly amusing little Nina. Jana had dressed in the uniform of the King’s Own, without the arms and the armor. Jana marched to the door of the Queen’s private dining-room, preceded by Sophie, and stood at attention while Sophie knocked. She could see Sophie’s intelligent eyes taking in everything about her. It was the young princess who opened the door, and shortly they all emerged; the Queen, the Prince and the Princess. “Come,” said the Queen to Jana, “we must greet your people with the proper respect. Follow us, and come forward after I finish speaking to them.”
“Yes, my lady. I mean ...”
“That will be fine!”
“Yes, my lady.” They all headed out to the steps.
Suspicious as she had been of the infamous Jana, the Queen thought that she looked hardly the calculating vixen she had expected. It was even more surprising that the unprepossessing girl could have wrought such positive changes in her son. She decided that it must be homesickness that kept the girl so off-balance. Now it remained to review the contingent of Horse People, and thank them.
Arrayed in the courtyard were the forty troops that had escorted her son home from the horse lands. They had kept him safe, taught him a number of new things, and had stolen his heart! She sighed.
There was a fearful noise, and she realized it was the call to present arms in the language of the horse people. As one, the swords were drawn and held in salute. The horses were perfectly still. The Captain dismounted, handing his reins to his second, and marched smartly up the steps.
“Your Majesty!” He knelt quickly, and rose at once, standing smartly at attention.
“Welcome, er, ...”
“Captain, your Majesty!”
“Welcome, Captain.”
“I bring you greetings from his Majesty, King Ahaz of the tribes and lands of the Horse People!”
“What were your orders, Captain?”
“We were to conduct your son safely home, and if it suited your majesty, to station with you Trooper Jana, who had begun His Highness’s training in arms!”
The Queen regarded the Captain’s handsome face.
“Is she a spy, Captain?”
After a moment’s confusion, the Captain grinned.
“I was not informed, your majesty! To the best of my knowledge, the King stands behind your throne. No doubt detailed diplomatic messages will be arriving presently!”
“No doubt,” agreed the Queen, with a dry smile. “Captain, I would like to state my thanks to your troops directly. Will you translate?”
The Captain gestured graciously towards his men, and informed her that no translation was needed; she would be understood perfectly. The Queen declared in a voice that carried to every rider, and not any further, that the Horse People had been more than kind to her and her son, and that she was deeply indebted to them all.
The troops shouted their appreciation with one voice, with big smiles. The Queen acknowledged them with a smile and a gracious inclination of her head.
Standing at the top of the Palace steps, Jana realized for the first time the enormous size of the City laid out before her; with terrace upon terrace of great buildings, all the way down to the sea. Her countrymen would shortly be leaving. She felt thoroughly homesick, and a huge lump rose in her throat. The Captain saluted to the Queen, and marched halfway down the steps to an extra wide step a little below where the Queen stood.
“Trooper Jana, step forward!” Jana went down the steps, and marched to the Captain. “You are hereby promoted to Horse Officer, first class,” he said, and stepped forward to place a ribbon in her hand. Jana was taken totally by surprise. “Secondly, at the order of the King, you are herewith placed on detached duty under the orders of her Majesty Queen Ione!” He handed her a scroll tied and sealed, and stepped back. They both saluted, after which the Captain ran down the steps, bowed to the Queen, mounted his horse, and the troop left, in beautiful order. Jana was proud and homesick all at once. She watched, as they rode away along the south road through the city, until they were out of sight. Then Jana turned towards the palace, her heart heavy inside her.
Ianthe watched Stefan, as Stefan watched Jana, who watched her troop depart, with sad eyes. Her eyes were dry as she turned towards them. How grim she looks, Ianthe thought. Can she long for the plains, when she can be here, in fair Heliopolis?
“Come Jana, I want to talk to you.” The Queen’s voice had an edge to it, and Ianthe felt pity for the big warrior.
They were in a small audience-chamber. The Queen was seated in a small throne-like chair, and Ianthe sat on a low stool. “Why were you given to teach the boy arms?”
“He said he was afraid to be taught by a man, my Lady.”
“Yet he seems confident enough with the men!”
“He even drilled with the Captain, my Lady.”
“What has he learned?”
Jana recited a list of the Prince’s accomplishments. The Queen appeared impressed. Now it was time for the more difficult questions.
“Why were you sent here, Jana? We have instructors here; there are even women here, who could teach the Prince. Why?”
Jana hung her head. “When our patrol fought off the cats that had attacked his party, we took the prince into custody. At that time ... at that time ... he became attached to me, my Lady.” The Queen made a strong effort to shield herself against those sad grey eyes. “When we reached the palace, the Prince persuaded the King to ... to send me home with him.”
“What wiles did you use to charm him, girl?”
Jana slowly looked up, her face proud.
“I did not know he was a prince, your majesty. I saw a frightened boy, and had pity on him!” There was a brief silence, and Jana hung her head. “I was ready to leave with the troop, your majesty, but ... their Highnesses, your children intervened, my lady!”
“Children?” Jana nodded. She did not feel in the least like a proud soldier, but rather like a thief caught with the goods.
“Look at me!” Jana raised her head, to meet the eyes of the Queen. “My daughter asked you to stay?”
“Yes.” She drew a long breath, almost a sigh. “Perhaps, ... perhaps in loyalty to the young Prince, my lady.”
“But the King ordered you to my court.”
Would it never end?
“Yes, your majesty.”
“And what did he say?”
Jana close her eyes and hung her head. This was awful. Must she betray the King, too?
“Speak, girl! Do you bring evil here?”
“He told me to keep my eyes open!”
“Did he indeed?” the Queen breathed. “What does he want with us? Is he not satisfied with his lands? Will he make slaves of us, then?”
With hysteria threatening, Jana was as calm as ice.
“No, your majesty. He was very clear. He has no designs on your throne.”
“What were his words? Think carefully!”
“He said: “I need Ione to be strong!” Begging your pardon, your Majesty. Those were his words.”
The Queen slowly exhaled, and with her breath slowly departed most of her anger and fear.
“You may stay -- for a while, Horse Officer Jana.” Jana rose to her feet. “Sit! I have not dismissed you yet!” Jana slowly sat back down. “As I said, you may stay for a while.”
“I will leave as soon as is convenient.”
The Queen glared at her. “You are entirely too clever, young woman! You must first learn to be civil!”
“Your majesty,” said Jana softly, “it is not my words that hurt you, it is myself! I would put it all --behind me, but ...”
“But yes, your King rubs your face in your folly. My face, too!”
“The King thinks he is being helpful!” Jana exclaimed.
The Queen was taken aback. The girl was hard to understand. She was a lying opportunist, but she was loyal to her King. The Queen felt utterly at a loss.
There was only one thing to do; she would have to watch the girl carefully, study her behavior, see what she was up to. “All right. Your duties are to continue the Prince’s training, until he leaves again for his schooling in the fall. You may go.” The Queen swept out of the room. Jana was left behind, feeling wretched.
Stefan accosted his mother. “What happened?” he demanded.
“I’ve just been finding out what a wonderful old time you’ve had out there,” said the Queen, furious. “Go. She’s here to teach you to fight; don’t waste time!”
“Mother, why...”
“Go! Go now! She’s waiting!”
Stefan fled.
Ianthe was watching from a second floor window when her mother joined her.
“She’s crying! What did you say to her?”
“Never mind. Listen. I don’t understand anything she says. I don’t trust her; I want you to watch her all the time. See what she does, with Stefan, as well as in her spare time! I want to know every little detail!”
“Why?” Ianthe was astounded. Her mother had never been this way.
“She might be a spy, but for whom, and on whom?”
“A spy!” exclaimed Ianthe. The Queen nodded. “We should tell Nemo at once!”
“No. This is too subtle for Nemo. You and I must handle it.”
And so Ianthe settled down patiently to watch Jana and her brother.
“Where is there a training yard here?”
“You’ve been crying!”
“I asked you a question! Practice swords, padding, targets...”
“Come on; it hasn’t been used since father died.” He led the way to a courtyard. A room adjoining it held all the equipment they needed.
“She isn’t always like this, Jana! Believe me!”
She supervised his padding up, and put on her own. It was different, but just as effective as what they had used before. When they were ready, they began with the blunt swords.
[Next installment: Episode 6]
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