Chapter 11

 ELEVEN

Cossette slowly woke up. Keeping her eyes shut in a vain attempt to get some more sleep, she pawed around the other side of the bed. Feeling nothing, she slowly opened her eyes, it took them a moment to adjust to the morning sunlight flowing in through the windows. She sleepily looked around the room getting her bearings and looking for Trigger. Of course, this is my room, and he didn’t stay over last night she thought to herself frustrated.

 

It was a necessary precaution, outside of their first rendezvous, Trigger hadn’t stayed over at her apartment. Instead the two elected to meet either at hotels or his apartment when they were playing the part of the couple.

Getting out of bed Cossette stretched her arms out and yawned. One day, she absently thought to herself, grabbing a towel and walking towards the shower, hoping the warm water would alleviate the grogginess that was plaguing her.

 

She thought back to the dream she had the night previous. It had been disjointed and confusing. It was the same dream she had been having since Tyler Island. She was sitting on the plane peacefully reading her book, her faithful dog resting his head on her knee watching some passengers mull about the cabin. Then in an instant, the plane lurches, people are thrown helplessly against the bulkheads and Cossette could hear the high-pitched whine of the engines increase in volume. Then in a moment of sheer terror, Cossette watched helplessly as the fuselage tore open and passengers were torn asunder by cannon rounds.  Next thing she knows, she can see the whitecaps of the waves as the fatally wounded passenger jet claws its way towards the land, She could hear the pilots desperate pleas on the radio, the  cries of the other passengers, and as the island grew closer through the breaks in the fuselage; Nothing.

 

She hadn’t mentioned these dreams to Trigger yet. He was a restless sleeper as is, and she didn’t want to worry him. Besides, she thought to herself, I don’t have these nightmares when I’m with him.
It was one of the many reasons she didn’t like waking up alone. No matter what they had faced so far, she felt like she could weather anything if he was by her side. Cossette stood under the showerhead and felt the water fall over her. What would he even say? She wondered to herself.

 

Finishing her shower, she stepped back out to the bedroom, she took a moment to make her bed, adjusting the crisp white sheets until they looked immaculate. Then she made her way to the vanity in the corner of the room. She grabbed one of her hairbrushes and ran it through her hair.

***
“Rosa dear, I know this is a big change for you, but you need to understand this is more than just us” The newly crowned Queen D’Elise explained, brushing her daughter’s long blond hair. Her husband’s appointment to the throne was a jarring change for the entire family. Her brother in law and his wife, the previous King and Duchess of Erusea hadn’t been dead more than an hour when the knock came at their residence.

Quickly in the dead of night Her husband, Herself and their young daughter Rosa were spirited away from their home and the life they knew by Erusean officials to the Royal Residence in Farbanti.

Rosa had just had her tenth birthday party, she was finally making friends at her new school and living the life of a ‘normal’ girl, away from the public scrutiny royals generally received.

“Its just not fair” Rosa pouted.

For many girls, becoming a princess would be a dream come true, for her daughter, it had been yet another curve ball in a life that seemed to throw them at the young girl constantly. Queen D’Elise crouched down to get to eye level with her daughter.

“Rosa, one day all that has happened will make sense, you just need to be brave until that day comes sweety” the Queen said reassuringly, taking her daughter in a hug. It broke her heart to see the pain welling up in her daughters troubled eyes.

***

Cossette put the brush down. It had been six months since both of her parent’s had died. It still hadn’t struck her as real that she would never have her mom help her with her hair again, or never have to hear another audacious tale from her father.

She looked around the cluttered vanity for any pictures she even had of either of them. Finding none, Cossette sighed heavily. She wondered how much her busy schedule was a blessing, she didn’t have enough time to grieve her losses with her newfound position as the head of state. Standing up from the desk she did notice one picture that caught her eye.

It was one she took of Trigger and herself during one of the few days they had to spend together.

She smiled at the memory of that day. It was the week after Valentines Day, Trigger had been so preoccupied with his Air Force duties that their date was the first time he had been off base in the previous week. They elected instead of a traditional dinner at a high-end restaurant, to spend the day having a picnic at a local recreational park. She remembered how it felt when they were lying together on the blanket as he held her close, watching the clouds roll past the space elevator.

 

Cossette looked at the clock on the bedside table. She still had enough time to get fully dressed and have a light breakfast before her workday truly began. She opened her dresser and pulled out one of the many dress suits she had delivered to the room. Today was a white button up shirt, and black skirt and jacket combination.

 

She looked at herself in the mirror, and quickly grabbed her phone and sent a picture of the outfit to Trigger.

 

As she walked out her phone buzzed

T: Cute

She felt her face get warm reading the text message. She was smiling the entire way through breakfast and when one of her aids knocked on the door.

“Your Highness, the Communications line is ready whenever your available.” The aid reported in a soft tone.

“Thank you, Gretchen,” Cossette said, padding her face with the napkin and standing up.

Gretchen Penbrook was one of the aid’s that served under Cossette’s Father. Cossette wasn’t sure how she made her way from the hell that was Farbanti to Selatapura, but a week after the war ended, the fifty-three-year-old Gretchen had arrived with the goal to assist Cossette. Truthfully Cossette was glad to have the familiar face around.

The two walked their way to the teleconferencing room in the Hotel, “If I may Your Highness-” Gretchen started “-You look quite pleased today, did something good happen at the meeting last night?”

“Oh no, nothing that exciting. I’m just in a good mood today, that’s all” Cossette said, dodging the question.

“Is it a boy?” Gretchen asked

Cossette stopped and looked at her.

“Did I perhaps speak out of turn?” The elder asked.

“And if it Is?” Cossette questioned, studying the reaction of her aid

“If it is a boy, I would have to say I am happy for you. And god help him if he breaks your heart” Gretchen said with a mischievous grin.

“Thank you, Auntie, I will keep that in mind” Cossette replied smiling.

Gretchen had been a close confidant of the Monarchy even before her father ascended to the throne. Cossette felt that if there was one person she may be able to trust aside from Trigger or Avril, it was Gretchen.

Walking in Cossette could see the large display screen was already showing one of her military advisors. Colonel Antonio Andre was a purported legend in the Erusean Military, serving with distinction along with the likes of Torres, Ly, Shilage or Martin. He had been promoted all the way to Major General, before being demoted back down to Colonel for his dissention at the idea of an autonomous air force. Now Colonel Andre was the acting liaison between the Erusean Monarchy and the remaining military she still had.

“Good Morning your Highness” he greeted, his voice emanating from a speaker at the center of the room.

“Good morning Colonel, what do you have to report?”

“Well Ma’am, as documented on page six of my report, I am happy to say that we should have Farbanti secured within the next month and a half. With the help from the Osean’s  we’ve been able to break most of the insurgent forces hiding in the city, and routed the remaining military forces.” He explained

“Just be sure there’s a city for us to come back to Colonel” Cossette said concerned.

“Of course, your highness. Currently most of the Radicals are still holed up around Mount Lambert, With the joint bombing campaign from our remaining Tu-95’s and the Osean’s B-52’s, we should have them crushed before the end of the year.” He continued.

“is Voslage providing any assistance?” Cossette asked

The Colonel sighed “Unfortunately no, reports we get from the state of Voslage is that the Radicals are starting to press in on them as well. General Harper has deployed a few regiments to shore up their defenses, but they currently are one of our weaker links”

Cossette steepled her hands. She wondered how her friend Ionela was doing. Both Shilage sisters, Ionela and Alma along with their grandfather Mihaly, had taken up residence at the base of the Elevator. The elder Mihaly had briefly been the figurehead of the rebellious states of Volsage and Shilage, but with his advanced age and failing body, he was unable to stay in the role of a leader. Last Cossette had seen of him, He was now acting as a technical advisor, leveraging his experience as a test pilot, to assist with the Space Elevator.

“Is there anything else to report Colonel Andre?” Cossette asked

“Nothing else to report Your Highness.” The Colonel sharply replied.

***
Cossette Opened the secure mail container an inspected the contents. Like she had come to expect, she had a mountain of paperwork ahead of her from every corner of the Erusean Government.

Military Orders, Acquisitions requests, warrants. All had to be inspected and authorized by the current monarch.

As Cossette read through a request from the Navy on the preliminary authorization to purchase another aircraft carrier, she let her mind wander. If I could only get one of those automatic signing machines, that would really make my life so much easier.

After making some approvals, and an over abundance of denials, Cossette checked the clock. It had just turned to noon; Halfway done she thought to herself. She walked over to the kitchen and made herself lunch. She peered at her schedule to see what she had next.

“The Refugee camp?” she muttered to herself.

The Usean refugee camp was formerly located at the base of the Space Elevator, however with assistance from the IUN, Yuktobanian and Osean government, They were able to move the Refugee’s to more secure area’s in mainland Usea, away from the fighting.

Months after the founding, there was only a small remnant of the former Refugee community in Selatapura.

Cossette made her way to the meeting hall, a few minutes before the scheduled time. Inside sat a bored looking Yuktobanian Naval officer. He stood up to greet Cossette when she walked in.

“Ah, Miss D’Elise” he said, “I am Counter Admiral Marko Borodin of the Yuktobanian Navy” he Introduced himself.

“And what do I have the pleasure of this meeting Admiral Borodin?” Cossette asked concerned

“May we sit?” The Admiral asked, motioning to the two chairs. Cossette obliging took the one across from him. “As your well enough aware, the Yuktobanian Navy has sent considerable resources to Gunther Bay to assist in the humanitarian effort caused by the war with the Oseans.” Borodin started.

“It has been the concern of the people of the Yuktobanian Union that these Resources are not squandered.”

“Admiral you must forgive me, but where are you going with this?” Cossette interrupted

Borodin laughed nervously “Of Course, What I came here to inform you of, is that I will be giving the order to cast off back to the Motherland at the end of the month. From what we have seen, the situation has largely been resolved and it is the Premier’s belief that our Hospital ship Milost would be better served elsewhere in the world.”

Cossette listened intently, The Admiral was correct in the assertion but it still felt like a punch to the gut.

“I understand Admiral, thank you for letting me know, and let the Premier know that Erusea is in his debt.” Cossette said tersely

“Of course, Your Highness, I will pass along the message.” Borodin said standing up and excusing himself.  Reaching the door, he paused and turned to meet Cossette’s gaze

“A word of advice, the people of Yuktobania have very long memories. We hope that in the event Yuktobania is in need, we may once again call upon the assistance of the Erusean people.” Borodin said before stepping out of the room.

Another political bargaining chip, Cossette thought to herself. The Eruseans and Yuktobanians history was one of constant give and take, this was just another transaction as far as she was concerned.

***

Cossette was thankful that the rest of her day passed without incident. Like her father, she made it a rule to be completed with her royal duties no later than six thirty in the evening. Cossette looked out towards the bay and the setting sun.

She remembered the first night her and Trigger spent together on that balcony.

One day, she thought to herself.