Night 7

After diner with Zazo, Tẽra called for everyone to meet her, even though it was late.

So, Joe, Natrica, Spice, Rosaleighm, Nikki, James, Kerri and Rachael came.

“Where are the others?” Tẽra asked.

“I have no idea.” Nikki said.

“Please let them know what I am deciding. But first let me explain. You all have been unfair to me, promising to help but not being there when I need you. You are comfortable as guests in the castle. Well, it needs to change, you need to pull your weight. I have become queen and now this is what I am doing.” She paused

“What are you doing? How are you helping? This world is my responsibility now. I played the part and now I am punished with the responsibilities. Basically, pull your weight or get out of my castle.” Tẽra said.

Everyone was surprised. Nikki raised her hand.

“You don’t have to raise your hand.” Tẽra said.

“Does this mean I can’t go climbing the mountain anymore?” Nikki paused

“If you had asked, I would have helped” she added.

“You may still climb the mountain. But Shrew goes with you. I can’t handle that irritating man. And I did ask. But you couldn’t be found.”

Nikki was sad. She realized she had hurt her friend and she had been willing to use her friends new found wealth and power but she had been absent.

“I am sorry. I will cancel the trip.” Nikki said.

“No, you will take Shrew far away from me and we will call it even.” Tẽra said.

“What would you like me to do?” James asked.

“Learn a skill. Make yourself useful.” Tẽra replied.

Kerri realized her ideas of a trip might not happen.

“I have been trying to understand ‘sugs’ so I can find us a way home.” Kerri said

“That can be your second thing. You are meant to be helping me learn the language so I don’t get caught. Remember if I get brought down. All of you come with me.” Tẽra looked around the room

“So, what skills can you offer me? What can you bring to the table?”

“So, I can leave?” Joe asked.

“Yes” Tẽra said.

“No” Kerri said “I need to understand how we got here.”

“So, I can leave?” Joe asked again.

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The woman looked at each other.

“Yes. Just send a letter letting us know how to reach you. So, when Kerri figures it out. She can send for you.” Tẽra answered.

“James what was your profession on earth?” Tẽra asked.

“I’m an ecologist.”

“So, you can help with the bug problem in the fields?”

“Possibly, but how would anyone understand me?”

“Kerri-liana I guess you now have a third job. Translator. I have received reports about crop failure due to bugs. You will go with James, translate. Record in English and the queen’s tongue.”

Tẽra beckoned for a slave

“I would like to see the general. Now please”

The slave ran off.

“Rachael what were your skills on earth?”

“I worked with horses. I sold horses. I trained some. I have two in your stables.”

“I can work with this. You will work with horses, train, care for etc. Keep me informed about the stables, improve them. We are from earth, so we won’t break time by improving things.”

“Natrica what did you do on earth?”

“I am a poll dancer”

Tẽra looked at her expecting her to change her answer. But she didn’t.

“What other skills do you have?”

“I can sew. I made some of my own outfits.”

“Find something to improve” Tẽra said.

She wasn’t sure how any of this was useful.

“We need to feed that child.” Tẽra said referring to Rosaleighm.

Rosaleighm was a skinny child who was short for her age.

“Joe what did you do on earth?”

“Hey I want to leave. I thought I had to be here. I am happy to go.”

“But I want to stay.” Natrica said giving her a please look.

“What about that guy, who harasses you that’s in the castle?”

“I can avoid him.” Natrica said.

“Who is harassing you?” Tẽra asked.

“Just a solider. I can avoid him.” Natrica said less convincingly.

“It’s best if the four of us leave.” Joe said.

“Why would all of you go?” Rachael asked.

Tẽra was about to ask that.

“It’s a choice. Spice follows Joe, and I believe Joe and I were meant to meet for this journey. The child follows Joe as well.”

“So, if Joe goes you all go?” Tẽra asked.

“Yes” Natrica answered looking at Joe

“Spice is a doctor, right?” Tẽra asked.

“Physician” Kerri corrected.

“Well Joe you are welcome to stay, it would be great if your friends could put their skills to use here in the castle. But you are free to go.”

Joe looked at everyone. She didn’t like being around people so much. Castle life was busy and boring. Playing with Rosaleighm was great but she wanted more.

“I take care of problems” Joe said “That’s what I did on earth.”

“That could be useful. What kind of problems?” Tẽra asked hopefully.

“The people kind.”

It took Tẽra a second to figure it out. Everyone else felt awkward.

“Who did you work for?” Tẽra ventured.

“That I cannot tell you. Because if we do return to earth, I would have to take care of you.”

Did she just threaten me? Tẽra asked herself.

“What would you like to do?” Tẽra asked Joe.

The General arrived.

“Please see to it that James and Kerri are taken to the bug infested fields tomorrow. Also, Rachael here will be working in the stables.”

“Yes, my queen. Will the woman be training us as per your plan?”

“You mean Joe?” Tẽra asked.

“My queen?”

The general was confused.

“Refresh my memory please”

“You had that Lovac woman bring Joe back to the castle. You wanted her to train us. She is the woman that killed your men in the surrounding town and she had help, killing your men outside the castle. The Lovac woman is searching for the other woman involved.”

“Did you kill my men outside the castle? Tẽra asked Joe.

“They weren’t your men.” Joe answered.

“So, Natrica was right about you.” Rachael said surprised

“Teach me to fight. Please” Rachael requested.

“I’m not running a fighting club” Joe objected.

“Are you able to train my men or maybe a small group of trusted men?” Tẽra asked.

“Here is the deal. I will stay and teach your trusted men. But that man who attacked Natrica in Point must go. And everyone gets dancing lessons from Natrica.” Joe said.

“What?!” Rachael blurted

“I’m a civilized woman I don’t poll dance!”

“Then I don’t teach you.” Joe replied.

“Do I have to poll dance?” James asked.

“You can try.” Joe said.

“I don’t get you?” Rachael said.

“If killing people is a skill so is dancing.”

“I agree.” Tẽra said reluctantly “I will give Natrica a studio to work from. I will attend dance lessons once a week.”

“No, daily. One hour lesson daily.” Joe said.

“You don’t need to do this” Natrica whispered to Joe.

“Yes, I do. I pushed you too hard. I am making up for it.”

Everyone looked at each other. Poll dancing because Joe is making it up to her, Really?

They felt put off. But Joe had set out her terms and she wanted to leave so making her stay was more difficult. Also, a very good physician would leave if Joe left. So, keeping Joe around was twofold.

“General. Joe will be training some men. Only trusted men. Men you trust with your life. They can come see me tomorrow. They will be trained. I want this kept secret.”

“Yes, my queen.”

‘Trust with your life’ the general felt that she was telling him that if the men he delivered failed her she would kill him for it.

Did he really trust anyone that much?

Tẽra finally went to bed. She had put her earthlings to work. She had come up with a peace plan and she had gotten rid of Shrew. Her day was ending on a high note.

James went to his room, wondering where Lakisha was.

He hadn’t seen her all day which was odd, he had been so caught up with Kerri that he hadn’t gone to find her. He didn’t need to check up with her but it was odd she wasn’t around. He checked her room, it was empty. So, he left a letter on her bed telling her about the bug problem and that they are leaving in the morning with Kerri-liana to find a solution.