The Assassin's Tale; A Triumphal Procession

Credits; Krell, Rea,

"Morning Shannon."
"Admiral!  It's an honor."
"Thank you Shannon, could you send a message up to the palace for us?"
"Then the day has come at last?  I shall wire the steward at once.  How many will be going?"
"Four of us, Cyssie and Igor of course, then Rea and I as well.  Nothing to exorbitant mind you, just that they know we're coming."
"Of course.  My Mistress is not a formal person.  Perhaps the Creator loved dramatics, but My Mistress is not of the same mind."
"You knew Thalia?"
"Knew?  Oh, yes I suppose I do, did.  Perhaps I have not properly introduced myself; Viscountess General Shannon Krouney of Her Imperial Majesty's Fourth Legion.  I was assigned to My Mistress' protection detail following the war, so that she need not worry about her own safety."
Was anyone normal any more?  Even the receptionist had rank and title these days.  Nao the guide had turned out to be the Spearhead, Rea the cheery fangirl turned out to be a dour and dedicated assassin, Liss the maid would probably turn out to be the lost lady of Anatolia at this rate.  What made it worse is that he actually knew of General Krouney and the Fourth Legion; he'd studied her use of mixed infantry back when he had started playing TacSim, she was regarded as one of the most effective defensive commanders in all Gravaga.  In any normal society she'd be giving lectures and touring bases, not answering phones for the mad scientist who apparently ruled the country.  Krell took a deep breath and continued. 
"It's an honor to finally meet you General; I've studied you quite intensely over the years."
"I am glad to have provided a suitable example to future generations."

Cyssie and Igor stepped out of the elevator.  She was wearing a purple blouse and skirt, and a leather apron covered in burns and sprouting wrenches and screwdrivers and pouches all along the belt, with a holster for some sort of pistol.  Doubtless it did far more, or less, than simply shooting things; after all they were mad scientists.  Igor was wearing a leather jacket and a long black shirt.  He had a whole array of tools and gizmos sticking out of pockets, and he was sure every pocket was far deeper than the jacket was long, and it was quite long.  They looked nice, in their own rather practical sort of way.  And they'd bathed that morning, which had made a very noticeable improvement on their appearances.  Both stepped outside cautiously, and Rea followed up behind.  She had worn a dress.  He'd seen her in a dress before, but he hadn't seen her with quite this little make-up.  What's more her hair had changed color.  The odd thing was that it wasn't dyed or enchanted; apparently she was a natural redhead.  She'd braided it too, presumably to match Cyssie's hair.  She had her gauntlet on, and he saw the amulet he'd given her for Junsrew hanging from her neck.  She looked...well it was just as disturbing as ever really.  She was pretty, and even without trying to look older she did look older than her age, and a lot younger than her true age.  He doubted it would ever stop bothering him that he found her attractive.  She was...a problem.  And one of these days he'd have to face it. 

Despite his requesting that there not be too much fuss, all of Gravaga seemed to have turned out to watch them go up to the palace.  The Steward of the palace had sent a car down to pick them up.  It was rather traditional looking, low flying and open roofed, and the driver was flying purposefully slow.  As they entered the city a guard escort fell in around them and he could see that the streets had been closed off ahead.  It wasn't quite a parade, but it was obvious that the Gravagans would have held one if they'd had another four hours notice.  Confetti was already starting to appear from the windows around them, and he could have sworn he saw sparklers. 
"They're quite excited, aren't they?"
Krell looked back at Rea.  She looked a little bit cramped in the back seat.  Igor and Cyssie were both much taller than she was, and their clothes were rather heavier so it didn't leave her much space. 
"They haven't had a proper ruler in two thousand and a bit years.  Of course they're excited."
"Still, its rather loud isn't it?"
Krell then realized how uncomfortable Rea was.  Not just being crammed in the back seat with much larger people, she was also the focus of attention.  She was in the middle of a cheering crowd, and they weren't just cheering for Cyssie and Igor, they were cheering for him and Rea for bringing them Cyssie and Igor.  And Rea wasn't used to being cheered for.  She lurked in shadows and sat in corners.  She was as much a hero as Tala or Petra was, but she'd never gotten the same sort of attention.  And now that she had it she wasn't sure how to react. 
"Yes, it is.  Bet this doesn't happen to you very often."
"What?  A parade you mean?"
"People cheering for you."
"No.  Usually crowds come after me with torches and pitchforks."  Igor started up at the phrase torches and pitchforks.  Rea got jostled a bit and grimmaced at him.  Krell turned towards the driver. 
"We're on a bit of a schedule here, think you could pick up the pace?"
"I think it is possible."
There was no attempt to speed up.  Krell glanced back and saw that Rea was starting to fidget. 
"Could you speed up, now?"
"Yes."
Still nothing.  Krell took a deep breath. 
"Get us to the palace, now."
"I am."
"Faster."
"Sorry, I can't do that."
"Then get out.  The Mistress and her companions are on a schedule." 
He could recognize Shannon's voice over the radio and saw a Mechanized Armor Suit walking alongside them with a mark of a combined four and an L.  They really weren't sparing anything for this day. 
"But by the command of the Steward..."
"The Mistress' needs come before those of the Steward.  And her need is swift arrival.  Obey or Defy?"
"I obey Viscountess.  For The Mistress."
The car accelerated to three times its prior speed and in mere seconds they arrived at the palace.  Krell looked back as the gates began to shut and saw the Armor suit manage a salute.  He returned it and then went to join the others.  He should have known not to underestimate a receptionist who wore Army boots.