The reply came swiftly. The soldiers caught by surprise, and fell with ease. Colonel Janus whistled.

“So this right here, is a musket?”

“That’s right. How’s it feeling?”

“Powerful, Your Majesty. Extremely so. This could change the tide of every single war.”

“I know.”

The hot smoke of gunpowder filled his nostrils. Ideally, he would have created a weapon similar to the ones used by a modern day military. Rifles and the like. But those were far too complex, even for the best craftsmen. The flintlock mechanics were far easier to make.

“Now then...”

Francis turned his attention to the downed soldiers. Colonel Janus squatted down, his executive blue uniform pulled taut across his legs. Beads of sweat rolled down his face.

There was only one ranker left alive. The poor soul shook in his own boots, as he desperately clutched onto his spear. He dragged his butt across the rocky ground, trying his best to flee from the invaders.

“Where is your lieutenant? Or captain, if possible. The highest ranking person here. We wish to discuss the terms of your surrender.”

The soldier spoke in an unknown language. Colonel Janus stood back up and shook his head.

“He doesn’t understand us. I can attempt to translate if you’d like, but keep in mind that I’m not fluent in it.”

“Go ahead.”

With a nod, Colonel Janus began talking in the same Loyran tongue. They exchanged words quickly, and the soldier seemed to hand over information without resistance. He did not want to end up like the dead bodies strewn around the outpost site.

“He says that the lieutenant is currently returning after an urgent meeting was called with the captain,” Colonel Janus switched back to the language of the empire.

“How far away is the main encampment?” The colonel nodded and relayed the message.

“Not that far away. 15 minutes by horse, thereabouts.”

“Good. Tie him up and keep him alive. We’ll wait for the lieutenant to return.”

The Colonel gave a curt nod as he tied the soldier up. His stubble soaked up his sweat as the oppressive sun continued to crash down on their battered bodies. Francis sat on a rock outcrop as he rested.

“Colonel, you liking the musket so far?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. It’s an amazing weapon.”

“Good. Minister Wynt made a good choice.”

“Hah. Is that so?”

A warm breeze blew up, kicking up sand and dust. Colonel Janus took out a small box that fit within his hand, and shook out a short tube of white and orange.

“Your Majesty, may I?” He held up his cigarette with his thumb and index finger.

“Go ahead. I don’t want any.”

“If you say so.”

With a flick of his finger, a small blue flame sprouted out from the tip of his longest finger. It lit the end of the cigarette with ease. Colonel Janus took a deep puff, stashing the box in a back pocket.

“Colonel.” Francis calling for him caused his stress. He removed the cigarette from his mouth and prepared to stamp it out. “No need for that.”

“Your Majesty?” He stuck it back into his mouth in between his words.

“Do you know why I wanted to speak to you?”

“Not really, sir.” He looked uncomfortable as he spoke. “Um, pardon my insulting words, Your Majesty.”

“Go ahead and say what you want. I was going to ask questions that might make you uncomfortable anyway.”

“Ah, then... Your Majesty, I’m not quite certain. Are you sir, or ma'am?”

“Hah. That’s a question a lot of people ask me. Personally, I don’t really care. I’m only in a dress because I like it, not because I’m trying to be a woman. If you want to treat me like a woman, then so be it. If you’d rather think of me as a man, then so be it.”

“Oh, is that right? Because if you were the case that I thought you were, I could refer you to a skilled mage that could help, ahem, make the switch.”

“You’ve had experience with it?”

“My si- Sorry, brother. Went through the procedure a few years ago.”

“Send me a memo of the mage. If I ever change my mind, I’ll know who to go to.”

“Very well, Your Majesty. And your question was?”

“Yes, you’re popular with the troops, or so I was told.”

“Well I wouldn’t quite consider myself popular.”

“Others thinking you’re popular is good enough. The troops, what do they think of me?”

“That’s a touchy question.”

“I know. Which is why I’m asking you. Don’t mince or sugarcoat it.”

“Well... Pardon my words, Your Majesty. They- The soldiers want to...”

“Fuck me?”

“To put it bluntly ma’am, they want to rape you.”

“More or less what I expected then. And what about my companions?”

“They haven’t paid as much attention to your friends. The Honourable Mage, the soldiers fear her. Lady Katalina receives the same fear. Her Majesty is dismissed entirely.”

“Good, that’s good.”

“Your Majesty, you have to understand where they’re coming from. They’re men, deprived of pleasure in a painful war. And your companions are far too strong for them to reasonably be comfortable with. But, and with the purest intentions in mind, you’re weak. I often hear word of the soldiers wanting to, ahem, ‘have their way with you.’”

“I am most aware, Colonel. The only time when there are no lecherous eyes on me is when I’m surrounded by the most powerful people. As you’ve said, Katalina and Hye-Sung are feared, while I am not.”

“Your Majesty, might I ask why you seem... Somewhat happy that the soldiers look at you that way?”

“Happy? Far from it. But it does provide solace that they’re only looking at me. If they gazed at my companions with the same eyes, I'd have a collection of eyeballs.”

“Ah. So that’s the case.”

Soon enough, a horse clopped against the hard rock ground. It neighed as the man riding it pulled to a stop and drew his sword. Without speaking, he took up a defensive stance. Was he counting the number of opponents? If so, he was probably wrong. Visible in open air was three. Francis, Colonel Janus, and Katalina. What was hidden however, was Hye-Sung.

“Lieutenant, I believe?” Francis said.

“That right,” he replied in broken Varexian.

“Lay down your weapons. Or weapon, seeing how unarmed you are.”

“You did this?” With the blade still in hand, he motioned to the chaos around the outpost.

“Fuck it, Colonel Janus translate.”

“Yes, Yo-”

“Don’t say that. It's best if he doesn't know who I am.”

“Very well.” He switched to Loyran.

“Tell him to lay down his sword. The alternative is learning the same skills with his left hand.”

With a slow and cautious descent, the lieutenant placed his sword down. He raised his hands at his sides, and spoke.

“He asks for you to kill him.”

“Tell him to fuck off. Ask if he has a way to communicate with his higher ups. The highest person I can get, ideally.”

“Fine. Are you sure you want that choice of words, Your Majesty?”

“I don’t believe I stuttered.”

“Very well.” The two exchanged words again. “The highest person you can contact is the captain, but the captain can reach the general.”

“Urg. Fine, get him to make contact. How is he gonna do it?”

“Inside his quarters, there’s a device that allows for quick emergency messages.”

“Hye-Sung, could you check the nicest quarters?”

“You think I haven’t raided it already? There’s one thing here that’s charged with magic.”

“Get him to describe what the device looks like.”

“A small notepad, it seems.”

“What does it look like?”

“A small book, kinda.”

“That’s our key. Could you bring it here please?”

“Sure thing.”