Black powder and lace
copyright 2011 Faeriemage
When the entire universe is stacked against you, all you can do is change the game.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE: I find myself actually fighting with myself to keep pacing for once. I like the battle. Changing the outcome of scenes is something I've thought about in the past but usually just ignored. For now, I will try to keep everything progressing at a moderate pace.

My working on this story does not mean that I am dropping any of my other projects. I am still working on a complete revision and edit of '12-String: Opening Act,' and I will be continuing 'What was lost...' as well sometime soon. I just simply want to get this story established first.

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Anhelette shut the door behind her and let out a huge sigh. Before trying to disrobe, she looked at herself in the full length mirror.

"Remember who you are, girl. The dashing young gentleman may be handsome, but you're not here for that."

"Wise words, corporal. And I never knew that he was your type."

Anhelette's breath caught in her throat stifling the scream that wanted to be born. She threw her glove at the figure lounging on her bed.

"It isn't done for a man to be alone in a lady's room, lounging on her bed, in the middle of the night."

"Good thing you aren't a lady, corporal."

Anhelette threw her other glove at him.

"Temper," he cautioned, "so, what news do you have?"

"None, sir. None whatsoever. These people are as tight lipped as any you'd ever care to know. Apparently Collins should have figured out that the hair color thing is dye. And it is just not done for a woman to be seen in public with her hair down." Anhelette blushed, "Or at least I should say in civilized society."

"You mean…"

Anhelette just nodded and blushed even hotter.

"Well, that would have been a good thing to know, but this wasn't Collins' fault. Two days, corporal. Two. And half that time he spent in jail for public indecency. That left you as the only choice. He was only able to figure out that all of their scientific writings are in Latin."

"It still amazes me that they were able to hold onto that knowledge when so many other things were lost."

"Well, since you are the only one on my ship who speaks Latin, and that fluently, you get the job."

"But this? I'm suffocating!" Anhelette was gesturing at the clothing she was wearing. When they'd first recruited her it had all been about scientific discovery and safeguarding the future of humanity. Not parading about like a trussed up ham on its way to the banquet.

"Get used to it. You look good in a corset, corporal."

Anhelette fell to the ground trying to get her boot off so she could throw that. There was a knock at the door and a maid came in.

"Is everything alright, Miss Livingston? I thought I heard a man's voice in here."

"No, as you can see I'm alone…although I am having trouble with my boots. I think my feet swelled with all of this nights dancing. I am not used to this."

"I can imagine not," the maid said with a glance toward Anhelette's hair.

"It was normal for a woman to wear her hair down where I came from, Monique."

"You should have listened to me earlier, Miss. Now it is simply too late."

"What do you mean?" Anhelette paled as the blood rushed from her face.

"Because you started a complete riot, Miss. Lady Amherst said that she will have to wear her hair down for the next dance."

"She didn't."

"She did. It seems that it is public knowledge that she has set her sights on the young lieutenant, and she feels that if she were to…conform…to his preferred look that she might have a chance."

Anhelette just stared at her maid. Well, it was the house maid that had been assigned to help her when she rented the room, but Anhelette felt a bit of pride for the diminutive thirteen year old.

"It's true, Miss. I overheard Lady Amherst's maid tell Marquise Chanteux's maid all about it just before I left. It seems that they, the grand ladies mentioned, feel he spent too much time with you this evening."

Anhelette blushed crimson, and smiled. Why did she feel this way? She couldn't be close to these people. She would have to betray them in the end, wouldn't she? That was the mission after all. Mar wasn't even her type.

"The Lady thought that she had a chance as Mar has never in the past paid the slightest attention to any of the eligible girls thrust upon him."

"Why all the interest in one junior officer?"

"The Handel family is one of the oldest, and wealthiest, families in all of Flees, Miss. It is not the man, but the gold that they all seek."

"He didn't seem wealthy."

"That is because he decided to strike out on his own. Some think that it was a term of the will."

Anhelette smiled at the thought.

"I thought that is why you spent so much time with him tonight, Miss."

"Caleene, I spent so much time with him because he is flattering, and an excellent dancer."

"He doesn't look bad either."

"Just get me out of this dress, Cal."

Caleene blanched, and Anhelette turned around to face her directly instead of looking at her in the mirror as she had been.

"What's wrong? What did I say?"

"It's just not done, Miss. My name is Caleene. I am a woman and proud of it, Miss."

"I didn't…"

"I know you're foreign, Miss, but that is…it is…"

"I am so sorry, Caleene. I truly am. What can I do to make it up to you? I think of you as friend more than servant. I do not want to lose you."

"You…thank you, Miss."

"Call me Anhelette, please. I do still need help getting into and out of these…torture devices called clothing, but other than that…"

"Other than that, Anhelette? That is the bulk of the duties I perform for you. I have to say that you strip the bed even before I can get to it. You really act as though you've been cleaning up after yourself your entire life."

"Don't tell anyone, but I have."

Caleene's jaw dropped. Confusion warred with a pleased smile for a few moments before the smile won out. "You are a strange woman, Anhelette."

Anhelette thought to herself that the maid didn't even know the half of it. Caleene helped her to remove the over dress, hoop skirt, and corset before finally ensconcing Anhelette in her bed. Anhelette breathed a sigh of relief when she finally found herself alone, and free to breathe, in her bed. She was asleep before the door closed.

Anhelette grimaced as she downed the concoction called, but totally unlike, coffee. If anything it tasted a bit like burnt unsweetened chocolate with a hint of sage as an afterthought. It was hot, however, and the caffeine content fairly buzzed in her veins after the first sip.

If she knew what the local word for a sugar variant was, she'd ask for it.

"Caleene? Do people put milk in their…coffee?"

"Why no, Miss…"

"Anhelette, please. If you need to call me Miss Anhelette when other's are here, by all means. But when it is just the two of us…"

"No, Anhelette. It is felt that diluting it in any way…"

"Well, let me have it diluted. I dare say this is strong enough to clean off the cobbles outside."

Caleene snickered at this, but when to fetch some milk. Anhelette allowed the saucer to rest there on her table as she looked out the window at the rising sun. The mountain's surrounding the city state meant that even though it was only just peaking over the horizon the hands on the clock were well past the eleventh hour.

She heard a sound from behind her. "Just place it here on the table, Caleene and I'll add it myself."

"I'll do no such thing, child."

Anhelette rose and spun to see her intruder. It was one of the older ladies from the previous evening. Anhelette wasn't sure whether to bow, or curtsey, or…whatever. Feeling that something was better than nothing, and knowing by the tone of voice that she was used to command, Anhelette dropped into the lowest curtsey that she could.

"A curtsey, how quaint. I'd heard that you were not versed in our customs, and now I see that this is the case. A proper woman tilts her head to her betters, child. I assume that lack of knowledge is also the reason you neglected to visit me upon your first arrival here?"

"I…yes…I mean."

"Well, spit it out, child. I'm only the city's matron, after all."

"Matron, I'm sorry. You are right. I simply didn't know the city's custom."

"How far away are you from?"

"Roma, Matron."

"Roma? I've never heard of that city."

Anhelette smiled at this, albeit a small one. Roma was the name of a planet.

"It is a long way from here, Matron. I've been wandering so long that even I no longer know where exactly it is. My home was on the shore of the most beautiful azure sea."

"You poor dear. How did you come to be here in my city?"

Anhelette had no way to tell her the truth, and the story that they had concocted suddenly didn't ring true enough for her. She began to cry.

"There there, child. Peace. By your bearing, I take it you were noble?"

"Yes, Matron. I was the first born child of the legate."

Two things occurred to Anhelette as she spoke this last sentence. The first was that the word she'd said was not 'legate' but 'legatus'. The second was that she'd used the masculine ending for the word child.

"Child, you should not speak that tongue where men could hear."

Anhelette blushed bright red and found herself unable to reply.

"So, you were a scientist, were you my dear?"

"Yes, Matron. I didn't mean to cause offense."

"Hush, child. It has been years since I have heard more than the patois that my fellow sisters choose to assault my ears with. I must say, however, that your pronunciation is not something I am used to. You must be from far away indeed."

"Yes, Matron."

"So…natural, physical, or chemical."

It took Anhelette a moment or two to piece together what had been said to her. She should have stated chemical, but something made her change her mind at the last minute. Something about that white light from earlier in the week.

"Physical sciences, Matron."

"Physics. Well, if you'd like, I could introduce you to some girls your age who are interested in the same discipline."

Anhelette's smile glowed. Her mission was finally moving forward as it was supposed to.

"So, Lieutenant, we hear you dipped into the treasure that this town has to offer."

"Attention!" Mar said, but she was smiling all the same. "Sergeant Sikes. It seems that the men have an excess of energy today!"

"Aye, sir. A sad state of affairs if I ever saw one."

"What shall we do about it?"

"Well, you did promise to bury Bearings in the latrine…"

"Sarge!"

"An excellent idea, Sikes. And since you volunteered…oversee the men mucking out the latrine."

There were general groans, since that was one of the worst duties that they had to perform. The women always promised that they had some new invention just around the corner that would remove the necessity. However, they always seemed to put it at a lower priority because the men were the ones who did the…dirty work.

That, and the fact that they found the entire concept distasteful.

A boy ran up to the formation of men, stopping just short of Mar.

"Lieutenant Mar Handel?" he asked, out of breath.

"Relax, boy. You've reached your destination."

"My mistress requests a response."

"Sergeant, see the men through their drills. Light labor today as we are on night watch again."

There were cheers from the men when they heard their real task for the day, quickly silenced by a glare from Sikes. "All right, you layabouts. You're slower than dog snot in winter. I've seen raw recruits reload faster than you lot. We should have been able to put two shots into those ruffians the other night, but you lot just fired and went to swords. We're going to drill until your dead, or I'm satisfied, and mama Sikes boy is never satisfied!"

There were some groans at this, and Bearings mimed the last line back at Sikes, but they went off to their drills in high spirits. The best of them knew that these drills might save their lives some day, and the worst of them knew not to complain too loudly.

Mar took the letter back to his room. She tore it open eagerly only to find it wasn't from the object of her interest, but Lady Amherst.

Mar was tempted to crumple the missive into a ball and throw it into the corner, but the messenger was still waiting for a reply, so reply he must.

The Esteemed Mar Handel,

You seem to have caused quite a stir with your actions at my party last night. The ladies of society can't seem to stop talking about you, and many seek to become better acquainted with such a dashing figure as yourself. News of your actions only two days ago in safeguarding this city have reached even these lovely ears.

While it would be over stepping my bounds to invite you openly, I am in dire need of an escort to Mme. LaFleur's event this Saturday. It is sure to be the social gathering of the season, and escorting me would ensure your ability to attend.

I stand ever at your disposal,
Lady Lorentia Amherst

Immediately, Mar's mind went back to the events of the night before. She replayed all of the moments that she was captured by the force of Anhelette's presence. Never had she ever felt so drawn to anyone, and to have it be another woman…

Mar recoiled at the very thought. It was not right, no matter how she presented herself. Someday she would have to give up this life, she knew it. When that time came she would just have to resign herself to a loveless marriage and the bearing of children, should she still be able.

She could not…do that.

But even as she tried to push thoughts of the bewitching creature from her mind, she again saw that first moment when their eyes met. The twinkle of amusement that sparkled in the amber depths.

Almost of its own accord, she found her hands taking out paper and quill and beginning to pen her response to Lady Amherst. If there was even a chance of seeing Anhelette at this party, then she wanted to be there. She might never be able to do more than watch her, but Mar wanted to do just that.

To watch her, study her, commit every movement to memory so that Anhelette would be with her no matter where life took the young soldier.

"Take this to your mistress, boy. And take this for your trouble." Mar pressed a few coins into the child's hands and watched with amusement as the boy took off running again. As soon as he thought he was out of earshot, the boy let out a whoop of joy.

Mar shook her head, smiling, and dug into the paperwork that seemed her lot in life any more.

Anhelette followed the Matron into the sitting room. This time her hair was properly done up and netted as it should have been previously. She wore a dove colored outer dress this time, hoping that the more muted color would help her better to fit in. The girls in the room grew quiet upon seeing the Matron.

"Girls, may I present Anhelette Livingston."

"What sort of a name is Anhelette?" one of the girls whispered.

"Mine," Anhelette replied, "and I have excellent hearing as well."

The Matron smiled at this, but said nothing about it, "Anhelette states she is of the physical discipline. Please make her feel welcome."

Anhelette sat down in the gaggle of young women, feeling completely out of her depth. As soon as the door was locked, they began to speak exclusively in Latin, and Anhelette sat there smiling.

"I think we have left our compatriot behind," said one of them after a couple of minutes.

"She seemed a bit daft yesterday at the dance. Imagine arriving with your hair down. I'd as soon arrive without a stitch of clothing."

Anhelette began to laugh, "I grew up speaking Latin in my home. It wasn't a secret language there, but the only language. That you country bumpkins think yourselves my superior because you have a passing understanding of my native tongue…" She made sure to use the proper gender of her terms this time, so when they began to stare she blushed. She didn't know what she'd done to offend, but she knew it was something…

"People speak Latin somewhere? We all thought it a long dead language."

"If there is a language that someone else doesn't understand there will always be people who use it for just that reason."

"We all know your name, Anhelette. Let me introduce us to you." Starting at the left end of the circle, the young woman went through and introduced each of the girls she was sitting with: Natallia, Brianne, Lucette, and Orellia.

"It's a pleasure to meet you all."

"The pleasure is ours."

Anhelette still felt like an outsider in this group, but their topic was something that she could understand completely. The primary concern related to making the wall around the town proof against cannon. Anhelette smiled as she began to explain to them what a glacis was.

They marched into the dark of the sleeping city. The torches had long since burnt out, and Mar smiled to herself. She only truly felt alive when she was on patrol like this. The last time they'd had a clear goal: Stop people breaking the king's laws.

Now, however, there was no clear goal. Like usual on night watch they were simply there to keep the peace.

Something about the air didn't feel right to Mar. The night wasn't quite as still as it should be, and she heard the occasional furtive scuttling sound coming from somewhere up ahead.

"Sikes," she whispered.

"Yes, sir?"

"Who is the quietest?"

"I'd say you and I, but in a pinch Bearings isn't too bad."

"Pass on to the men that they're to stay here until we call them forward. You Bearings and I will then move forward. There's something not right about the air tonight."

"Someone's out and about, besides us, that's for sure."

Mar could hear the sounds of creaking leather from the other members of the platoon long after they'd left them behind. The sounds of scraping became louder the further they went, and the slight glow of a lantern became visible.

The three of them stepped into the alley way, drawing their swords as they did so. Mar stopped in shock at the sight that met her. It wasn't the sight of the men wearing uniform of the elite guard of Genin that surprised her. It was the bag of gold that Lord Amherst was counting.