Chapter 10: Lady’s Port

“We found them.”

“Whoop, whoop!” Electra punched a fist into the air. “Not gonna lie, Em, it’s nice to be on the side of your schemes for a change.”

“I aim to please.” I gave my trademark signature smirk, pretending not to notice how my erstwhile nemesis still shivered at the sight of it. What could I say, I was just the best. “Now all that’s left is to root them out like the rats they are.”

"Did you get all of them?” Rel glanced towards the hunter who’d accompanied me, still standing next to my Griffin. “Not that I doubt Wulgar’s Skill, but if there was such a large group of them in the nearby jungle, surely we would have heard of them already.”

Wulgar shook his head. “Not all, just one batch. Seems like they are spread out ‘cross several camps.”

“Even still, any loss of manpower at this point will be devastating.” I waved a hand. “And I’ve never been one to wait.”

Electra hummed. “Normally I’d agree, but like, if they’re just a bunch of separate cells, taking out one will just make the rest harder to find, wouldn’t it?”

I opened my mouth, then I paused. “Hmm.” I folded my arms. “I guess them being so disorganized actually does work against us this time.”

I paused for a moment, taking stock. My thoughts were a bit sluggish, which is why I missed the obvious consequences of stomping on the lone group of mercenaries. It was early morning, and Wulgar and I had just flown back in from our reconnaissance mission. My eyes felt heavy, but it was necessary to set a few things into motion before I caught a quick nap, and then, presumably, set more things into motion.

The five of us—Electra, Rel, Ishanti, Wulgar, and I—were standing on the third floor balcony of the Lightning Mill as the light rose slowly over the eastern part of the island. Below, the street lights had just been extinguished, and the farmers and morning shift workers were just beginning to rise. There was always so much to be done, a never-ending stream of people bringing my dream into reality.

I was nothing if not prideful, but even still, it was a humbling sight.

“Separate cells?” Electra shrugged. “Back on Earth, I was usually taking out tiny groups of villains ‘n stuff.”

“And I was the tiny group of villains and ‘n stuff’.” I smirked.

“High five!” Electra held out her hand. I rolled my eyes, but slapped my palm against hers all the same.

Ishanti blinked at our byplay, though it really caught my attention when Rel tried to hide a frown. I had a sudden jolt of realization, thinking back to when I’d pretended to replace her with Electra in my little gang back in Silverwall. I should probably do something to make sure she didn’t think I was doing something so stupid for real this time or—

“Then, would you both not be versed in the methods of such small groups, operating under the auspices of a larger power?” Ishanti’s voice drew me back to the conversation at hand. “As well as the methods of best effect against such a disorganized foe?”

This time it was my turn to blink. Electra and I shared a glance, and I felt my thoughts kicking back into gear through the fog of sleep.

No, I’d been in situations like this before. It just took me a minute because usually I was the one hiding out in the middle of enemy territory.

“You know, now that you mention it, I did have that one job in the Amazon.” Electra tapped her chin. “Buzzkill was running some cuckoo slash and burn op, or something.” she shrugged

I hummed. “Well, I’ve never been camped out in a jungle, but I certainly know a thing or two about small unit tactics.” I bit my lip. “Though, usually, I benefited from instant communication.” Last I checked, we were the only ones who had cell phones in this world. I hadn’t yet had the opportunity to set up a bigger operation for them; I didn’t have an enchanter, and Maarin was still back in Silverwall.

“Wouldn’t that just make them all easier to track down?”

I looked over at Electra. “Not quite. Rogue cells already operate independently, but they have some amount of communication. Without that, it’s even harder to predict how any individual group will react to outside pressure.” I frowned. “Normally a huge defeat like the one we just dealt to them would be all throughout a network within a day, just from the news if nothing else.”

Electra smacked a fist into her palm. “But instead, we won’t even know when they all know that we know…about…them.”

“Yes, Electra, how eloquently put.” I shook my head, as a wave of light laughter swept the balcony. “Still, you know about more about anti-terrorism operations than I do. You’re in charge of that; get me a workable plan for you and your men ASAP.” I turn to the hunter. “As for you, your help was invaluable. We’re going to need more hunters and trackers; we’re going to take the fight to the bandits hiding in the jungle.”

The man nodded. “Always a few lads interested in learning a thing or two from the old man.” He scratched his beard. “I’ll see if anyone has the aptitude to take a new job.” I nodded, before dismissing him.

“Well, if that’s everything…” I stretched my hands up over my head. “I need to catch up on my sleep.” I moved towards the door, only for Rel to remain standing in my way. I cocked an eyebrow.

“Actually, My Lady, there is one more thing,” my right-hand woman said. “Today is the christening of the first ship, after all.”

I came up short, before huffing. “Shit, was that really today?”

Electra nodded. “Now that you mention it, I think you said somethin’ about ‘they’ll probably attack before then anyway’, but, yanno…”

I stared at her for a moment, before she blushed, shrugging.

“I forgot my scheduled events a few too many times, so I started working harder at it.”

I sighed. “I guess that makes sense.” I rubbed my brow for a moment. I’d been up about a full day at this point, but it wasn’t the first time I’d burned the candle at both ends. “Rel, dear, can you get me a stiff cup of…tea?”

Curse my arrogance for not discovering a coffee demon yet.

“I’ll have Mama make something strong.”

I patted her on the hip. “Oh, honey, you don’t know the meaning of the word.”

I stepped past her, smirking at Rel’s blush. She really was too cute at times.

Behind me, I heard Electra say. “Your lady there izza ‘I like my coffee black, like my soul’ type of person.” I could hear the smirk in her voice. “She likes most things sharp and to the point, yanno? Just some friendly advice.”

I heard Rel choking on nothing as I stepped back into the Lightning Mill. As always, I didn’t have the time to follow up on things like that. There was always too much to do.

Ishanti was waiting demurely inside, hands folded in front of her. On my desk was a folded flag. “That’ll be for the new ship?” I nodded towards it.

Ishanti nodded. “It is so. Tradition dictates that the ruler of the settlement carry the flag to the port for the first christening. It is oft a fiercely contested role.”

I ran a finger over the fabric, brow crinkling in thought. “Back when Silverwall had a port, did your family christen the new ships?”

Her eyebrows rose slightly, before she nodded. After a moment, she added. “When the port was destroyed, Seneschal Hawkwright deemed the expense of rebuilding it too great, as Vecorvia has had uncontested dominance of the surrounding waters for nigh on half a century.”

“And thus stripped another bit of power away from the Royal Family…”

Ishanti bowed her head, but said nothing. In any case I was beginning to see how the Royalty here seemed to have lost almost all control of the country. And while it clearly hadn’t been in a French Revolution, well…they clearly hadn’t signed a Magna Carta.

Not with ink at least. There was still the unanswered question of why the Senate and other administrators of the republic kept such a large number of royals…around.

“Walk with me to the port,” I said.

Ishanti’s head snapped back up at that.

I met her confused gaze evenly. “Everyone here already knows that you’re important, even if they haven’t quite put two and two together. I won’t have you hiding away, since you and Rel put this whole show on in the first place.”

Her lips curled into a faint smile. “It would be an honor.”

I nodded, gathering the flag up into my arms. “You’ll be at my left, and Rel at my right.” I cocked an eyebrow. “Unless there are any problems or unstated implications of such things?”

“The right hand is the higher position.” Ishanti dipped into a curtsey. “As it seems in your own world. Ah, traditionally, the head of the guard would also be present.”

“You hear that ‘lectra?” I called over my shoulder. “Wanna come along?”

She groaned as she and Rel rejoined us in my office. “Do I have to?”

I gestured to her. “There you go. You and the soldiers can get some sleep instead. We’ll have another parade tomorrow.”

“Deal.”

We shook on it.

“Well, let’s get this over with.” I left the office, Rel and Ishanti trailing in my wake. At the first floor, I saw Rel give a quick signal to her own little helper. As the tiny slip of a girl rushed off to take care of some task, I leaned over to Rel. “If you’re going to keep her, make sure she has everything she needs.”

Rel blushed again. “Yes, My Lady.”

I smiled. It was nice to see my little duckling come into her own. I took one last breath.

Showtime.

I walked out of the Lightning Mill to see a small crowd already gathering. A cheer went up as I raised my hand and waved. Still, Ishanti and Rel had briefed me on what I was supposed to do, and I quickly started walking towards the port.

On the way we gathered more and more people behind us, almost like a parade, and when I finally came out around the corner and caught sight of the ocean, it felt like nearly half the town was behind me.

The other half was already waiting at the dock.

A bigger cheer went up, as the sound of music began to fill the air. I blinked in surprise, smiling wider, as I saw a mishmash of people sitting on a raised platform playing an array of simple strings and pipes. “You didn’t tell me we had music.”

“Only because we had so long to prepare.” Rel flicked a concerned glance towards me. “A few of them have even taken musician classes.”

“Good.” I nodded. I began walking again, stepping in tune with the beat. “Specialization is necessary in any complex society.” I gave a little laugh. “Besides, I might have been evil back on my world, but I’d never stoop so low as to ban music!”

There was a set of steps, leading up the deck of the sloop, a pair of beaming sailors next to its mast. With a salute, one hand pressed in a fist over my chest, I handed them the flag.

“Captain, what is the name of this fine vessel?”

The crowd cheered at my words, almost swallowing up his reply.

“The Little Mistress of Lady’s Port.”

I blinked, head snapping over to Rel and Ishanti. They shared a sly smile.

“It was decided upon by the people, Lady Via,” Ishanti said.

Rel nodded. “In fact, most of the newcomers didn’t even know the old name of the village, but everything belonged to the Lady, after all.”

I huffed at the joke, but I couldn’t cover up the surge of warmth that rushed through my chest. “Well, I’ve always been a woman of the people.” I managed to hold back the laughing sob threatening to escape my throat. I turned back to the captain and his first mate. “It’s a fine name, and I shall christen the vessel with pride.”

They smiled even wider, which I hadn’t thought possible.

I walked towards the prow of the ship, overlooking the roaring crowd. When I raised my hand, they only cheered louder. I had to wait for nearly a minute for them to quiet down. I lowered my hand, looking over the port with something akin to shock.

I’d seen the numbers, on scraps of paper and piles of reports, but…I hadn’t quite believed it until I saw this port, with its three docks, packed from shore all the way up to the closest houses. There were over a thousand people who now called Lady’s Port home. Nearly two.

I’d never once been responsible for so many people in my life.

And I’d certainly never been cheered by so many.

Still, I was nothing if not dramatic. With a flourish, a flicked my cloak out behind me. “You built this ship!” I declared.

My voice rang out over the docks and over the houses, over the waves and crowd both pressing tight against the shore.

“You cut the lumber, and wove the sails. You built the roads and spun the thread.” I looked over them, a sea of faces. “You built houses and cooked meals for us, you carried messages and organized the work. You came from miles around and lent your hands to this, our first undertaking as a town.”

I smiled; I couldn’t help myself. “It is said, back in my homeland, that it takes a village to raise a child. It seems it takes even more to christen a ship.” I raised my hand again, a fist rising up in the air. “And so it is with the utmost pride that I name this vessel the Little Mistress of Lady’s Port.” I let my lips curl into a smile as the crowd cheered again, pumping their fists in the air.

“Long May She Reign.”