Cavalier's Gambit 2 -ch 8-

Chapter 8

Wayne pulled at the edge of his jacket, feeling it settle into place.

He was dressed for a dinner date with his fiance, Josephine Mirkil, and her father, the crown prince. While he would’ve preferred it to be just Josephine, he couldn’t fault the man.

Their introduction to one another had been brief and in a very wild and chaotic time, the Mirkil family imploding and losing many of it’s heirs, but it hadn’t been a bad meeting.

Just strained.

Short.

And Patchwork was covered in human-shit after Josie had been playing crotch-jockey on me for hours on end. That was… a very awkward day.

I now remember why I try not to remember it.

Yes, let’s… forget it.

Standing in front of the restaurant Josephine had wanted to meet him at, he felt rather silly. She had booked it in advance in such a way that security had been present to more or less run everything off.

The entire area was locked down and he could see security forces, the white-bars of their tools, weapons, comms equipment, and even in some cases, listening devices, all registering as he looked about.

He was more or less used to the constant flood of information by this point.

It didn’t even bother him much.

As he turned slowly, he saw Josephine approaching him. She’d stepped out of a land-skipper, as if it had simply dropped down from the sky right at this location and she’d stepped off and away from it.

Josephines bright brown hair was growing out now. It was creeping past her jaw and moving right out of most MDF regulations.

It had also been styled, and set to it’s current position clearly with intent. In a way that made Wayne very glad he had dressed up, done his hair, and made sure he looked correct.

He was wearing the silly ‘not Josephine Mirkil’ family colors once more for her, she however, matched him this time exactly

A long flowing dress that left her shoulders mostly uncovered but was still modest and didn’t drop too far down or expose much of her.

Her striking brown eyes that demanded attention and respect were locked on him and a full smile on rather pink lips was being gifted to him.

Her looks and her facial features were sharp, though her mouth and lips were generous.

Her figure better than average figure was flattered deeply by her clothes, the coloring, and the shades that the fabric held.

“I… need a camera,” Wayne blurted out as she walked up to him.

Causing the royal princess to break out into laugher, her shoulders coming up, her lip catching between her teeth as the laughter fades, and she turns partly to one side.

“Oh, is that how you greet your fiance?” she asked, coming to stop in front of him, her eyes picking him over. As if making sure he was all here.

That he was indeed, still Wayne.

“I mean, I could kiss you if you like. Almost did when we were playing cuddle puddle in the dark when I saved my princess,” he said, watching her.

“I… well… ah… the-the engagement isn’t a joke, Wayne,” she said, watching him. “It’s for real and-and you’ll be my husband. I’ll need heirs for both the Mirkil line and the Hesh line, though… though it’ll certainly be interesting to see how that-that changes… ah…?”

Wayne had taken the initiative and leaned in toward her.

He planted a soft, brief, chaste kiss on her lips. He’d gotten a lot of kissing in with Tink as well as Miriam. Practice he had needed and was now thankful for.

“—things,” whispers Josephine, staring at him with half lidded eyes. As if he were an entirely different creature all of a sudden. “Are… you sure you’re Wayne?”

“Oh very sure, positive of it. I just know that it isn’t a game. I know it’s serious,” he said, smiling at her, watching her face for any possible change. Trying to desperately gauge her feelings in the moment. “In the same way that I know you’re aware of how I feel about Tink, Miriam, and yourself. Yet you’re all happy with your own piece. It took me some time to realize it, but I have.

“Though I’m terrified of Cara.

“I do think at some point she’s going to kick down my door and ‘fuck to the death’ with me unless I hire Barbie to guard my bed. But that means having Barbie in there and… well, Barbie.”

Josephine had drifted closer to him, watching him silently. Then her hand came up and stuck her fingers into his jacket pocket. Holding onto him in an almost possessive way.

“Yeah,” Josephine said, staring up at him, her fingers curling into his pocket tightly. “I really love the look of you in my colors. It makes me feel a strange way and I’m not quite sure what to think about it.

“Honestly, I barely know what to think of any of this. It’s all moving so fast and-and it’s just fast. I went from an MDF officer somewhat removed from the throne and somewhat more of a show piece.

“Then… my sister and a rebel faction more or less pruned the royal tree and here I am. Second in line for the throne and suddenly needing a husband immediately.

“And you fell in my lap. Or I guess I was in your lap.

“I’m just… I’m struggling to keep up. With anything. I’m failing. Not very amazing to see this from your Lady Mirkil, is it?”

“I’m sorry,” murmured Wayne, followed by a sigh. Then, without thinking about it, he wrapped Josephine up in his arms and drew her in close. He stuck his chin to the top of her head, his hands pressing to her shoulderblades as he held her. “You will always be Lady Mirkil to me. The difference now though is that I also have Josie. Just a young woman who’s been stuck into a situation well beyond what most people could endure, or would even contemplating enduring.

“No one should have to watch as a large portion of their family simply… vanishes. All while surviving an attempt on your life and being forced to contemplate your little sister being behind it.

“So no, I’m not bothered by Lady Mirkil suffering, because she’s just an idea. You’re the actual person behind it and even at your best as Lady Mirkil you suffered setbacks and hardships.”

Wayne pulled Josephine closer against himself. As if he could shield her from everything.

For her part, Josephine didn’t fight him in the least. She leaned into him and had stepped fully into his embrace. Her hands slipping into his jacket pockets and holding to him.

“You’re not Wayne. You’re some strange thoughtful man who’s wearing his handsome face,” Josephine grumbled. “But I’m feeling a lot better already. A lot better. Thank you, Not-Wayne.”

Unable to help himself, he chuckled, his arms tightening around Josephine.

“I’m glad you’re feeling better. Now… how long do I get to hold you like this before your father shows up? Because your dress is really thin and you feel really good pressed up against me,” Wayne confessed, his hands still quite firmly pressing on her back and causing her to more or less be molded to the front of himself.

“I… ah… yes. You’re still very much Wayne,” she got out in a warm tone that carried a chuckle with it. Only to push closer to him. “Father will be here in roughly five or ten minutes. He was a little behind because he had to finish up a meeting with the Confed envoy.

“Given the situation with Feda and Ginil, the Confed is trying to bring in other houses to slow it down or stop it outright. Mirkil is negotiating possibly entering as a peacekeeping force in certain areas for refugees, but we’re certainly not going to do it unless the price is right.

“We already had one situation that nearly cost Mirkil it’s newest Cavalier as well as my fiance. We’re not going to rush back into something just to get bopped on the nose again.”

“Smart,” Wayne muttered, then, before he could understand what his brain told him to do, he kissed her temple. “I take it dad’s getting the right price for the right assistance? Because if this little proxy war, this shadow war kicks off, it’s going to start dragging other Houses in.

“Is the Confed not bothered or concerned about it at all? Are they just not really… bothered by it?”

“They are,” Josephine said in a quiet voice, her hands curled in his jacket pockets. “My understanding from what dad said is that they’re deeply concerned about it become a live war. There’s a lot of smaller houses and others that could get involved, too.

“Hell… even we have a number of contracts with House Bertson that’d leave us somewhat exposed. And yes, before you ask, we have some with House Feda, too. Almost all the larger houses like ours have existing agreements and the like with each other.

“It’s like living on a street for twenty years. You know every neighbor, every fight, and every man or woman who’s stepped out on their marriage. It’s all intertwined.”

“Oh? What do the neighbors think of you marrying down?” Wayne asked with a laugh.

“I’m not though? You’re nobility. You have territorial rights that even… most… houses… uhm… Wayne, dear?” Josephine asked in a sudden and sweet way. Lifting her head off his shoulder to look at him with a wide smile.

“Yes?” he asked, wondering what trip-line had just tripped in her mind. Something had just changed in her thinking.

Josephine, peered up at him, grinning ear to ear.

“Would you be willing to colonize and claim some land for your fiance? I could… ah… that—” her voice trailed off as she gazed up at him. Her eyes tracking down from his eyes, to his mouth.

I know this!

I know this one! Tink does this!

Yes!

Wayne leaned in and kissed Josephine in that moment. Letting it linger for a handful of seconds and then pulled away.

“Yes, Josie?” he asked, watching her eyes slide open and stare up at him. Her breathing slow and deliberate.

“Would you take some planets, asteroids, and planetoids for Mirkil under your banner, but allow me to have rights to them?” she asked in a whisper, gazing at him in an odd way. It was often how Tink looked when he’d kissed her a bit too much. She’d described it as a ‘heavy feeling’ in her head. That it became harder to think.

“Of course I would. It’s not like I know what to do with it or even how to do it,” he says with a laugh. “Put it in front of me, I’ll look it over, and see what you want. Though you likely can’t do much with it till we’re married, can you?

“Once you’re my wife, then you’d likely have legal abilities to negotiate and officiate on my behalf where you can’t right now. In fact, the Confed might not even let you. They might get fussy about it.

“Well, maybe. I could be way off base.

“Do House’s normally marry Cavalier’s for land rights with whatever you’re thinking in mind?”

“Ah, no. Not really,” Josephine said, still gazing up at him. “Wayne, most Cavalier’s more or less retire the moment they get their status. They form small houses, develop trade, use their name, ply it and get parts and parcels of planets and stations to settle and call their own.

“You just… kept… being you. You didn’t go the normal route and preserve yourself and your house. You threw yourself right back in. It’s… bold and heroic.”

Josephine was still staring at him even now in a way that made him feel a bit giddy about it. She was giving him a look he’d often seen on Tink that led to her dragging him to a bedroom.

“A lot of small houses grew out of Cavaliers or Privateers. Some of them became more than that,” she whispered, still staring up at him. “So, no, Cavalier’s don’t just marry their brand new house into another house. It subsumes them.”

Wayne nodded his head, thinking of that. That didn’t quite sounds great now that he’s considering it. He liked the idea of the House of Hesh being a thing.

“I know,” Josephine said, her hands gently pulling at his pockets. “I know. I get it. I agreed. I promise you that after we secure my family legacy, House Hesh will get it’s heirs from me. And… Miri… too. Probably Cara. And-damnit-Barbie. I played back the comms with her. She wants you and she’s playing coy about it. I know it.

“Anyways, it won’t be an issue. House Hesh will have it’s members. House Mirkil will get it’s heirs. And Hesh and Mirkil will just end up as a family house. If I use your settlement rights it’ll be a Hesh House planet as the owner, with Mirkil House as the lesser partner.”

“I mean… eh… alright,” he said, laughed, and just smiled at Josephine. “I’m alright with that. With your entire plan. Kinda weird that you think Cara and Barbie are suddenly in a relationship with me.”

Josephine gave him a grimace that was partially a smile, watching him as she chewed on that statement. As if she didn’t want to actually respond to it.

“Ah, hello,” said a male voice from the side.

Wayne’s head snapped to the side and he found himself looking at the crowned prince of the Mirkil house. Jeremy Mirkil. He shared all teh features that Josephine did, but was taller, a bit broader in the shoulders, and looked a little better than the last time he saw him.

“Father,” Josephine hissed, hesitated, then released Wayne, but didn’t move away from him. Then she squirmed in position, and reached up and stuck one of her hands in his jacket pocket. “You could’ve… mmm… everything go alright?”

“Your highness,” Wayne said and bowed appropriately at the waist.

“Oh, none of that Wayne,” Jeremy said with a chuckle. “You’re going to be my son-in-law and… well… honestly, I owe you far more than I’d ever like to admit. From saving her, to breaking the back of the invasion fleet, and everything in between.

“I can reasonably say that without you, and your work, it’d have been much harder for House Mirkil to come out as well as it did. We’re… we lost many lives, many friends, many relatives.

“But it was a crucible that now we’ve passed through it, we’ve come out much stronger. I won’t bore you with examples or numbers but Mirkil as a whole is much better prepared now.”

“Do… I call you dad?” Wayne asked rather than respond to anything else.

Jeremy’s face broke in half in a smile at that and he nodded his head.

“You can most definitely call me that. Just make sure you do it when a reporter is around so that everyone knows that this isn’t just politics,” Jeremy said with a laugh and held his hand out to Wayne. To which Wayne immediately took it and shook it in return.

Josephine was still holding onto Wayne’s pocket even as he shook her father’s hand.

“Sorry about being late,” Jeremy said, blew out a breath, and let his eyes fall to the ground as he released Wayne’s hand. “House Feda and House Bertson just went into a full blown war. Feda and Zan against Bertson and Ginil. In fact, house Ginil reclaimed more than a few of their planets and resources in the sudden and immediate attack by Bertson.”

Wayne couldn’t quite process those words.

That just after the Confed put down a Blood incursion they’d now get drawn into a House War. A House War that was now two on two and likely to bring in more Houses as the chain of alliances kept spreading outward. Kept drawing in new combatants whether through trade deals or outright military agreements.

“We’ve been called to assist by Bertson,” Jeremy muttered, took in a slow breath, and just held it. Staring at Wayne and Josephine. As if he could somehow pause time by not breathing.

“I see,” whispered Josephine, her hand in Wayne’s pocket tightening. “We don’t have any military agreements for aggression, but we do have some defensive contracts. I take it they want us to help protect a system or something along those lines?”

“More or less. We’re being called to help defend their… their homeworld as well as a border system on the far edge where at certain times every three years it borders to House Feda. Which… is right now for the next six months till the system slides further away outside of an easy constant burn.”

I hate trying to figure out system, planet, and navigational movements.

It never makes any sense to me.

Maybe I should get one of those astral-bodies AIs and eat it so it could do this nonsense for me if it ever came up. Ridiculous.

“— home system,” Josephine said in a shocked voice. “Their home… planet. I don’t even—how…? Why? That’s the most insane thing I’ve ever heard. I couldn’t even begin to contemplate how they would want someone to watch over their home planet! What if we did something and just decided to take it?”

“House Feda and House Zane have committed to hiring an entire mercenary force for their homeworlds and are pitching all their forces into the fight,” Jeremy explained with a slow shake of his head as if he couldn’t believe it. “They’re clearing every soldier on both sides and getting them ready for combat.

“It’s going to be insane, I think. With full on capital ship deep space battles, privateers and stealth attacks, shipping lane obliteration, and of course terrestrial combat. Full on Walker companies are being hired and shipped out. It’s… we went from a proxy war with some high stakes situations to just absolute full on war. I don’t even know what to say about it.”

“Let me guess,” hissed Josephine her hand suddenly spasming shut on Wayne’s jacket pocket, then pulling him closer to herself. “They want Cavalier Hesh somewhere specific. Somewhere that I won’t like very much.”

“Border system,” Jeremy admitted and sighed. “They want him at the border system to match a mercenary company that was hired to also watch the border system on the other side. It’s a full company there so… they… want to pay directly to have Cavalier Hesh outfitted with a company and be there. They’re paying triple what it would cost.

“Or at least, proposing it.

“I’ve told them that under no terms could I ever speak for you, as while you’re part of the MDF, that’s not a job or a mission I would willingly send you to without you wanting to go there.”

Wayne blew out a slow breath, realizing the whole Confed was going to go blow itself up in a hurry. His basic galaxy-politics discussion had never even covered the idea of an actual war breaking out.

“Great,” Wayne mumbled.