Chapter 11c

“Hey! Not guilty.” Creed said defensively. “That was Rowan being presumptuous.”

“With all respect, Sir, you told me she had you pinned to the bed.” Rowan overheard the conversation. “What was a fellow supposed to think?” Kore just looked at Creed in surprise.

“And you took it out of context, Rowan. Actually, you did have me pinned to the bed, Kore, so I think we've found the source of the rumour.” Creed nudged Ben in the ribs and Kore started to laugh.

“It was Jyp who told Blacklock and Shawn you had a Soldier fancy-man.” Faust came over to join the party.

“Jyp also saying him useless.” Jyp said in his own defence and Creed looked rather offended. “Jyp have seen ladies before, you know. Thems dress up all pretty like for fancy-mens, as Little Lady have doing. All frilly ribbons and dress having no front on. Not good for protection, by the ways, Little Lady.”

“Not much armour protection eh Jyp?” Ben laughed. “So Kore! It certainly does look like you started all this romantic speculation.”

“Horse-shit.” Kore was still laughing. “It's you lot with bad minds.”

“About this dress with no front on.” Ben turned to face Kore.

“Sod off.”

“Not a bad description actually. I saw it remember.” Creed mused.

“OK I'm going home.” Kore shook her head and stood up. “To be serious for a while, I can't believe I have so much help from such genuine people here. The last time me and Leo needed serious help we received it from more or less the exact same people, or at least, like minded people. I don't think I've ever had to rely on anyone as much as I'm doing now. I ... well ... I'm ...” Kore floundered and looked at her boots. She was exhausted, worried, and completely overwhelmed at her new company of friends. It had thrown her into complete turmoil. “I'm just not used to it. Sorry.” She sniffed and wiped her nose on her sleeve. Ben had seen her do that ten years ago and right now, she looked exactly the same as she had then, frightened, lost and confused.

“Well you'd better start getting used to it.” Rowan said flatly. “We are the true Azorian Military, not that corrupt rabble up there. We're sworn to protect and defend Azoria and it's people, all of it's people.”

“Yep!” Ben agreed. “He's dead right, well said Rowan. Jyp, she's exhausted, you can see that.” Jyp nodded. “So if she suddenly decides she has to go somewhere, or do something, take no notice of her.” Jyp didn't look too sure about this. “No matter how much she yells and swears about it, just pick her up, take her home and stand in front of the door so she can't do a runner.” Kore smiled at the expression on Jyp's serious face.

“Jyp won't let me go anywhere” She helped. “I'm too tired to make sensible decisions Jyp, so we'll take the General's orders.” Jyp nodded at this and hoisted Kore up onto his shoulders. “Good night gentlemen.”

“Good night allbody.” Jyp echoed and wandered off into the darkness.

“That arsehole needs thrown out of Azoria altogether, and prosecuted, in which ever order hurts the most.” Faust grumbled.

“Which one?” Ben asked. “Pape, Marx, or Bonetti? You do realise he's next in line for Governor? The way Toller carries himself on, he doesn't know where he is half the time so the people need a new hero.” He had the situation weighed up pretty well seeing as he'd been 'out of the loop' just recently. This was the reason why Ben was such an asset in whichever area he was involved in. Faust had taught him well to disregard confusion and interpret only what he saw. That included his perception of people. Ben knew that Kore's reactions and opinions were trusted because she had no reason to project any other sort. “I've not had chance to see Leo yet. Has anyone else? Apart from Marx, that is.” The other men shook their heads. “I can't get my head round the pair of them still being here.”

“Well I knew Kore was here although I didn't know who she was at all.” Creed said. “I'm often on guard in the arena.”

“Never was my pot of ale.” Faust said. “I expected Blacklock to safeguard them and keep them out of sight but I didn't expecting him training them up.” He laughed. “He's so very proud of them, Ben. Even though Leo took his way out of the game, he couldn't be more proud if they were his own. He was telling me about them growing up and he was close to tears, and that's quite an occurrence in someone like Blacklock. Even an old stiff like me was a bit ... wafty ... when I found out about them, and especially when I actually saw the girl.”

“I was their age when I promised them it would be OK.” Ben said. “That hasn't changed, even though ten years has passed. How the hell can a gladiator look like that?” This made the other men laugh, given Ben's reputation with the fairer sex. “I'm serious!” He laughed. “Gladiators have the obligatory facial scar and half an ear, and that goes for both genders. What's more, they're all at least six feet tall!”

“That's the only difference between Kore and Leo.” Creed commented. “Gender and height.”

“Well thank you for ruining that, Vespus.” Ben said sarcastically. “So do you think if we all went home for some rest, anything catastrophic will happen?”

“Doubtful.” Creed rubbed his eyes. “Jyp won't let her move, I wouldn't have thought. Do you intend going to see Leo, Ben? There's no way Marx will have me within a mile of him.”

“I'll go and see him tomorrow.” Ben nodded. “Now that Kore isn't here, do any of you think that it's remotely possible that Leo actually is involved with Lady Toller? She's a very refined and elegant woman and she's a total mis-match for that silly old fool.”

“Even if he was, like Kore said, he wouldn't be stupid enough to leave his undergarments strewn all over her rooms, nor her his.” Creed said. “I've met Ursus Toller a few times and I agree with you Ben. Good woman wilting away with a man like that. I doubt her and Leo are involved, but they damned well should be.” He noticed the look of shock on Rowan's face at this candid talk. “No ranks regarding this, Rowan.” He shrugged. “No Sirs, Captains, or Generals. It's far more important than that.”

“Yes it is.” Rowan agreed. “It's obscene and frightening what our own authorities are doing. If this situation hadn't arose then I wanted out. I didn't want to be a part of that crap and I'm not the only one who thinks like that. Lumni, for one, has requested a relocation to Tibrae. Sir I honestly think that if the worst happens and the Government does get it's revolt, then it'll get a sharp shock as to it's lack of Military support.”

“It'll only get it's revolt if the gladiators have need to support Kore.” Faust said. “Her emotions and temperament are the only ammunition they have at the moment, the bastards. So far Creed has appealed to her intelligence and sense, very successfully.” Faust nodded his respect at Creed. “Intelligence sometimes doesn't come into the picture when your patience runs out. She needs to be redirected away from rash actions. She needs to be ... kept usefully busy ... for want of a better phrase.”

“Well she'll be usefully busy in that arena tomorrow.” Creed stated. “I pity the poor bugger who's in there with her just now.”