Oh you’re awake?

Sir Colton coughed and called out as best he could to the men running for their lives, "Stop, we have the girls, they won't fire on us! Quickly grab the women, use them as human shields!"

One of the young soldiers who was hesitant to jump in the river for fear of drowning called out, "Sir Colton's right, grab the women!"

A few of the men who were of similar mindset about the river, all turned to Teslaimia and Emily. They quickly subdued Teslaimia and grabbed the still unconscious Emily and moved them to the center of the boat, one man holding a dagger to Teslaimia's neck.

The huge airship dropped down fifty feet as the basket was lowered down. The eleven men in the basket were outnumbered by the fifteen or twenty left on the boat. Smitty who was in the lead was smiling at the men as his soldiers jumped out of the basket and secured it to the boat.

Sir Colton called out, "If you take out any weapons, my men will kill them. We just want to get to the Windsor Kingdom and then we'll release the hostages."

Smitty spit out a wad of chewing tobacco from his mouth and then said, "Let me get this straight. You're going to kidnap her highness Emily Windsor-Smith, the Princess of the Windsor Kingdom, beloved niece of King Andrew Windsor. Go to his Windsor Kingdom and expect to be what? Treated as friendlies? Was it your boys that smacked her upside the head so hard that's she unconscious too?"

Sir Colton suddenly looked closely at the woman, "Don't try to play games with me, these are the women of that savage Emperor."

Smitty shook his head and said, "The prettier one there, fussing about like a wildcat, she's Princess Teslaimia Cassandra of Fursia. The other, well, I just told you who she was, you know what you should be asking right now? Who are we?" He motioned to him and his men.

Sir Colton's brow twitched slightly, "Aren't you soldiers from this Empire?"

Smitty chuckled and shook his head no, "We're the crew of CCAS Zealous. The Zealous here is the first Sky Destroyer of the Connaissance Defense Fleet."

Sir Colton looked confused, "Connaissance? The City that Cardinal Windsor had destroyed?"

Smitty shook his head, "You Church boys really can't put two and two together, can you? She's the King's beloved niece. We are military from the City of Connaissance. Fursia, the Windsor Kingdom, the Holy Chadtom Empire, and our City of Connaissance are thick as thieves. Your Church is a dying animal mate. Just one ship from our fleet, the smallest class, was all it took to kill half a million of you jokers and you are still trying to threaten a couple of Princesses from our allies? Here. I am gonna make you an offer, cause I am feeling generous. Why don't you let me take these Princesses off your hands and back to my ship, that way my Captain will treat me like a hero for a few hours, you and the rest of your boys here can have this boat and do whatever you want with it? You see, all we want is the girls, no one ordered us to kill you boys, or capture this boat."

Sir Colton asked, "Are they armed?"

One of the young soldiers shook his head no, "They don't appear to be armed."

Sir Colton asked, "If I let you have them, I want your word that your ship won't fire on us."

Smitty nodded and said, "You have my word that won't happen. We need the girls, nothing else."

Sir Colton felt the energy drain out of his body, "Let them take the girls."

"But Sir Colton, where will we go?"

Sir Colton shook his head and pointed up, "That. Is why the Church wouldn't allow the Kingdoms to trade in Science. The City of Connaissance could have used such great power to take anything they wanted on Hanston but are content with their tiny City. That's why we can trust these men."

Smitty's men quickly brought Emily and Teslaimia up into the basket and cut themselves free of the boat. As they were being hoisted up Smitty gave them a friendly wave and then a thumbs up to the crew hauling the basket back up to the ship. Once they safely aboard the Zealous, it unfurled all of its sails and started to take off back to Connaissance.

Sir Colton was laying back looking up at the airship as it flew to the east, "Amazing. Sky Destroyer, more like world-destroyer. He said it was the smallest of their fleet."

A few minutes later one of the young soldiers cried out, "A boat is coming! It's the Empire!"

*****

Emily opened her eyes only to find that she was in a strange room. She tried to sit up, but she didn't have the strength as she looked around she recognized some of her possessions, her butler Edmonds entered the room and smiled, "Your Highness, you are awake! Oh, there are some people in the other room who will be very excited. Is there anything I can get for you? Water?"

Emily opened her mouth to talk but could only form some sounds. Edmonds filled a glass of water and brought it to her lips not letting her drink fast.

Princess Teslaimia came rushing to the door and peeked in, seeing Emily awake she broke out into tears and slowly walked forward until she collapsed next to the bed holding Emily's hand.

Emily wanted to ask her how long she had been out but again it was just guttural sounds.

Teslaimia brushed the hair out of Emily's eyes and answered her, "It's been one month. The Zealous rescued us and brought us home. Emperor Iopolo sent his most sincere apologies for failing you and asks that when you have the strength for it to come for a visit. King Andrew also sent his sincere apologies. and told you those men will never be welcome in his Kingdom again."

Emily made some sounds and tried to move her arm to Which Teslaimia answered, "The doctor said that sometimes after people wake up from near-death they need to take some time relearning some things like talking and walking. It will all come back. You just haven't been moving for the last month."

Emily nodded slightly her eyes moved to the large window by her bed. Teslaimia wiped her eyes, "Your new residence. They managed to open two of the residential buildings already. Mr. Duke wanted you to have this penthouse as it looks out over phase two. I am not entirely sure what that is but he said you'd like it. Mr. Duke and the others have already installed the antismoke system in the city. The soot is gone and the people know it was you who made it happen. Oh, um, I saved the papers for you so you can read them and catch up on the gossip here in the city." In the sky above the city, the Zealous floated over gracefully. It seemed to Emily it looked different somehow. Teslaimia followed her eyes, "They are using it to carry completed parts for the buildings. It's faster than a crane in some cases."

Emily smiled at Teslaimia and motioned to the bed beside her. Teslaimia nodded and crawled into bed next to her and took out the first paper opening it up so it could be read. Teslaimia smiled at her and said, "I was reading these to you every day. I was hoping that you'd hear me talking to you and know I was here for you." Emily smiled and leaned into her and made a sound. "Yeah, I know. I love you too."

Edmonds cleared his throat and said, "Captain Alexander here to see you, Princess." Emily rolled her eyes.

Teslaimia looked at Emily and asked, "Shall I have him come another time?" Emily shook her head no. "Send him in please, Edmonds."

Captain Alexander walked in looking heroic, his hair was immaculate, his uniform pressed and cleaned. When he saw that Emily was awake he looked shocked and near ran over to take a knee, "Your Highness, forgive me. I failed as your guard to allow you to come to this harm. I knew. I knew I should have been on that ship."

Emily looked at him coldly not speaking. She turned to Teslaimia looking for her to explain. The Princess nodded and said, "Jon, she has only just awoken and can't properly speak yet. Can I ask why you have come?"

He looked up with a confused look in his eyes, "Ah, well, it doesn't matter anymore. I understand that you probably won't have any free time... I was just going to invite you out for lunch is all."

Teslaimia tilted her head a little, "Is that why you are all dressed up again?"

He chuckled dryly, "Your Highness, Princess Teslaimia, I'll be taking my leave. I need to get back to work anyway." Emily closed her eyes and shook her head.

After he left Teslaimia smirked, "It's like this every day with you asleep Emmy, they take turns just randomly showing up to invite me here and there. The papers have me seeing them all in their gossip section. It would be funny if they weren't all serious about it." She smiled as she lifted Emily's chin with her finger, "It will be good when you are well again so the papers can have them all dating you again as well."

Emily rolled her eyes at Teslaimia. Teslaimia laughed happily, "You jealous little thing, you think I would really be interested in any of them?"

Edmonds knocked on the door this time, "Pardon my intrusion. Sir Daniel Conners to see you, Your Highness."

Emily looked a little surprised, she looked at Teslaimia, who answered in her stead, "Please show him in Edmonds."

Daniel came walking into the room with usual cockiness. He walked up close to the bed and asked, "Got room for me?" Which caused Teslaimia to laugh happily and Emily to roll her eyes again.

Teslaimia asked, "Did you see Jon? He was all dressed up in his clean uniform and yet you look like you just got done with your sword practice. Did you even bathe?"

Daniel looked down and then smelled his armpit, "What? I took a bath on Tuesday?"

Teslaimia stuck her tongue out and made a horrified face, "It's Friday oaf."

Daniel smirked and then commented, "Emmy, Edmonds said you can't talk, which means I can finally say to you what I have always wanted to say and you can't embarrass me with your wit and humor."

Teslaimia leaned close to Emily and nodded as if she was listening to whispering, "She wants to know if you can still remember holding her while she was in swaddling clothes. Oh and if you first got your feelings for her before or after she got her first hair down there."

Emily's eyes showed honest happiness which made it seem as if Teslaimia was truly speaking the words Emily had whispered. Daniel stiffened and then pointed at the two women one by one, "You! You are both terrible. Can't even let a man speak from the heart. Terrible." He looked at Teslaimia, "How would I know if she had hair there or not, it's not like I was peeping on her in the bath."

Teslaimia smiled and giggled adding, "Guess you weren't trying hard enough."

Daniel pointed at Teslaimia and wanted to retort but backed out of the room instead. Then from the other room as he was about to leave he called out, "I'll try harder next time then."

Teslaimia replied at equal volume, "Creepy."