Mr Sometimes: Hey...she's only been in one royal bedroom...and that was when Charles VI died! Though there were a couple she might have WANTED to with though.
Sather: Yes, the Frogs! Le Blob Bleu!
Aliasing: As the guys say, that's technically impossible, but I like the idea about messing with her head!
Boris: Yup!
blsteen: You would! I agree, it'd be a nightmare.
Chris Taylor: Welcome back man! Missed you.
France won't start Protestant...but I've not played ahead too far so I'm not sure what will happen!
morningSIDEr: Very true - but you have to understand that she just escaped a burning...a fate which would be even worse for her since she can't die through normal means! Or of course she might die which is the worst outcome for her. So yeah...just keeping it up until she gets ashore and safe.
Past 600 posts too! You guys are awesome.
Chapter 14 – Return to France
22/6/1533
Talena had been given work to do, copying orders and documents. Though she was rather irritated that she would be asked to do menial work she did it. After all, the Count could probably have her thrown overboard if he wanted, and she was in no mind to end up in Spain again!
It had been hard. Speaking the language, especially with the translator, was easy. Writing it was hard, and the spelling was the issue.
So when Maria came around to her one day Talena stopped her. “Can’t you just tell him I can translate English? It’s been a century since I’ve written French!” she complained.
“My heart bleeds for you, Talena,” Maria said unsympathetically. “Thought you might like to know what it’s like to be a maid for a while rather than gallivanting over the world like Joan of Arc.”
Talena glared. “Hey, you chose to do that. And I do not gallivant!” she retorted crossly.
“Fine, I’ll do your work for you,” Maria said and snatched the papers up.
“So…you and the Count. Are you married or…” Talena asked.
“Of course not! I’m his Mistress! Well, his wife’s dead, but neither of us want to take it further for different reasons.”
“So you…” Talena asked, then stopped.
Maria rolled her eyes. “It is possible for a woman to have a heterosexual relationship, you know,” she said pointedly.
“Hey!” Talena said, a bit upset by the needling comments.
“I’m sorry, but I’ve got a job to do, and that job takes priority. And no, I’m not going to tell you what it is!”
Talena sighed. “I guess I wish I had a purpose.”
“When we get to Paris you’ll probably get one,” Maria said cryptically.
She said no more about it, and got down to work on Talena’s chores, occasionally muttering something under her breath.
Though Talena felt a bit bad she didn’t intercede and try to reclaim her work. Instead she headed outside into the fresh air.
9/7/1533
The voyage through the Straits of Gibraltar was comfortable, and despite a minor storm off the coast of Catalonia they were soon enough sailing into the port of Toulon in the south of France.
The port surrounded by its cliffs was a lovely place. As they sailed in they raised the royal ensign, and were acknowledged by the warships and forts defending the naval base. A new and powerful fortress had recently been built to guard the military harbour, and the many cannons it possessed bristled menacingly over the calm waters.
As the ship came into port Talena saw it for the first time in many, many years. She had last been here in 1403…in the old timeline anyway…when King Louis de Foix had accepted the surrender of the town from the Duke of Provence.
As they docked the Count stepped ashore, and Talena followed slowly. She wasn’t even paying attention. It was as though that long dead king from another time and place was before her again. She looked the same, but inside she wasn’t. It took her a moment to realise just how much she had changed.
Back then it was all new to her, the regeneration, the times, the situation. She had been expecting that she’d be long gone from the 15th century within ten years, not a century and a quarter. It all came back to this place.
Surprisingly Maria was beside her and talking to her in a low voice. They’d not talked much after their last confrontation, but now she was soothing.
“It’s alright, Talena…you can do it.”
Without acknowledging her, but internally grateful, Talena walked from the jetty and followed the Count into the streets. There was a carriage waiting, and while Maria was invited inside, Talena sat on the roof. Still, this didn’t irritate her too much. It was a nice day, and the omens were good that her second time in France would be even better than her first.