Test Subject Volunteer
POV: Alexandra
We walked into the tent and Doc waved down a few soldiers, “Hey do we have an open area where we can set up a desk and magical medical supplies for Her Grace? She has an assignment in medical research.” The soldiers said they would find a spot for me to have a desk. I told Doc that I would make some rounds. My first stop would be to visit Ronan. He probably didn’t get many visitors especially since Lucien told the Citadel soldiers not to bother him while he was in recovery. He gave me no such orders and my orders were to provide comfort to the ailing and Ronan was ailing. I had bet that he would want some company. I looked up at Derek, “I know His Majesty has ordered you not to bother the General so if you want you can hang around out here and help them set my section up.” He nodded, “I’m sure you will be fine with the General around. Even being down with an injury, I think he’d still be able to kick everyone’s ass.” I giggled, “Looking at those muscles of his, I had no doubt.” He cocked an eyebrow, “Should a certain someone be concerned about you falling for our General?” I sighed and rolled my eyes, “What the hell are you on about? I just said the man had big muscles, that’s all. I swear. Do you get some sort of weird energy from picking on me?” He shrugged, “No but I live for that look on your face. Did anyone ever tell you that you are very cute when you’re irritated?” I smirked at him, “Oh really? I wonder how a certain someone would feel with you telling me that. Should she be worried you’re falling for her best friend?” He gasped, “Oh the student has become the teacher, is it? I stand corrected. You really got me there, Lex. I will concede defeat. Give the old man my best wishes for a speedy recovery.” I nodded, “I will. Have fun helping Doc out.” He winked, “I always do.”
I turned towards the private section of the tent that was set up for Ronan. I poked my head into the room, “Ronan? Are you awake?” He was laying in bed staring up at the top of the tent and pushed his head up from the pillow, “Oh thank the Gods, I’m bored to tears in this stupid room. I’m wondering why no one has been by to keep me company.” I pulled a chair up next to his bed, “That’s because the King has ordered that your soldiers to leave you be. I think they’re all taking it literally, though I’m not quite sure that is what he meant. I think he meant no talk about the business of the Citadel.” He sighed as he slowly pulled himself up into a sitting position, “Can you do me a favor then?” I nodded, “What do you need Ronan?” He looked me straight in the eye, “Tell that guy that he needs to be more specific in his orders. I’ve been trying to teach him how to properly command his troops but he’s still got a long way to go. I often think that Talon Esperanza wouldn’t have had these troubles with His Majesty.” I giggled, “Talon would have his own frustrations with His Majesty. He can barely tolerate me at times.” He smiled, “That’s true. I miss the guy, I often wonder if he would come back to the Citadel. I was his second in command when he was the General. I long for the days when he was showing the realm how it was done. The strongest of us all. I see a lot of him in you, Alexandra. You have that fiery strength in you that is synonymous with the Esperanza name.” I patted his hands, “I appreciate you saying that, it was a trait I often admired hearing of my uncle. He has integrity and strength in spades, all of the things needed to be a great soldier. At least that is what I imagine.” He nodded, “No doubt about that. You also sometimes need tactical smarts. I think you would have made a great soldier.” I shook my head vigorously, “Oh Ronan, you really wouldn’t like my attitude. I question authority often, I’m too stubborn.”
He laughed hard, winced, and held his side, “I hate this shit. I just want to get up and walk around but that jerk in the white coat insists this is the best thing for me.” I nodded, “He’s not wrong. You just need to rest and you’ll be up and about in no time.” He sighed, “I wonder when that will be. Do you have some miracle cure that will speed that up?” I shook my head, “Not right now but I’m told that I have to come up with a new magic using my soul father’s power that he gave me.” I furrowed his brow, “How in the hell is that going to work.” I shrugged, “Beats me but I’m supposed to have come up with it while I’m out here. I’m not sure how since I’d likely have to test it out on someone to bring theory into practice.” He looked down at himself then back at me, “I’d be willing to be your test subject. I’m not useful to anyone laying down like this. If your Gods given magic can get me up and about sooner then that would be a bonus. Hell, you can have Doc set you up in here. Your company would be most welcome.” I widened my eyes at him, “Are you sure?” He nodded, “Yeah, I just hope it won’t hurt worse than it does now.” I stood up, “Well, I’ll have to inform the Doc about your decision then. Hopefully, he won’t deny your wishes.” He chuckled softly, “He wouldn’t dare!” I stuck my head out of the room, thankfully Derek was walking by with a chair, “Hey Derek, can you bring Doc to me? The General wants me to set up the lab in his room.” He was startled, “You said what?” I laughed, “The General has volunteered to be my test subject.” He frowned, “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” I heard a shout from behind me, “Can it Chalshin and get the doc, will?!” Derek stiffened up and shouted back, “Yes, sir!”
He hurried along, leaving the chair by the opening of the room. I giggled to myself watching him turn from looking like someone kicked his puppy to determined in the time it took for Ronan to yell at him. I turned around to him, “I need to borrow you sometimes to keep that one in line.” He smirked, “I have that effect on that guy. He’s a good soldier but sometimes he goofs off. If he had the focus of your uncle, he’d be the next General. I’m half certain of that.” I sat back down next to him with a sigh, “Only half certain.” He smiled, “Well, I have an interesting dilemma on my hands since I have two soldiers who could very well replace me. I have the strongest of amongst them in Derek and the smartest in Ashton. Many have said they don’t envy me when I finally decide to pass the command on.” I leaned back in my seat, “Would them both becoming Dukes interfere with that?” He shrugged, “No telling, most Generals come from the lesser noble families where they wouldn’t have to worry about titles. Is your father going to pass the title to Ashton?” I whispered, “Between you and me, yes. It’s a stipulation of his marrying Alesha Baltiliard.” He sighed, “How do you feel about that?” I shrugged, “I spent my entire life not knowing that I had a title. Becoming a Duchess was nothing I knew about until recently. It really doesn’t bother me.” He nodded, “I imagine it wouldn’t be big to you to lose something you didn’t know you had. I imagine you’re okay with that considering the role you’re in contention for.” I shrugged again, “It isn’t for a title but for the one I love. The title, of course, will be given the attention and seriousness it deserves as well though. Being a Queen isn’t something to take on lightly.”
Just then Doc came into the room, “You want to be her test subject?” He cocked an eyebrow at Ronan trying to challenge his decision. Ronan glared back at Doc, “Yes, might as well be me. Besides, I’m dying of boredom here.” Doc placed his hands on his hips, “You realize it will likely be painful to be tested on.” Ronan shrugged, “I can take it.” Doc sighed, “You were whining this morning about how your recovery was taking too long, and here you are volunteering for something that could quite possibly double that recovery time?” Ronan stared at Doc for a while and then he turned his gaze to me gently, “I have faith in The Batiste. She is a very capable person. I have no doubt that she will figure it out. Let her use me.” Doc threw his hands up in the air frustrated, “Fine, I’ll redirect them to set Her Grace up in here but don’t say I didn’t warn you. I don’t want to hear your blithering noise about how you’re useless laying in bed all day.” Ronan chuckled, “I won’t be useless if I can assist Her Grace in her research. If she can develop something for the good of this realm, she wholeheartedly has my support.” Doc gasped, “You…you do realize what you’re saying…right?” Ronan gave him a determined nod, “It’s something I’ve known for a while now.” Doc stared at him for a while trying to determine if there was a lie in anything he stated. He then glanced down at me, “You truly are a different breed, Your Grace. Getting a stubborn old jerk like him to have the highest faith in you. I don’t think you quite realize what this all means just yet.” I looked at him confused, “Huh?” Doc grinned and shook his head, “You’ll find out someday soon. When you do, it should be interesting to see how you react.” He looked back at Ronan, “Summon me when you clue her in. I want to see that reaction.” I looked over at Derek who had been hovering at the tent opening, hoping that he had some sort of clue as to what they meant by all this. Derek shrugged and mouthed at me, “I don’t know, Lex.”
I turned back to the middle-aged men who were bantering back and forth about cluing me into some great secret. I cleared my throat, “I don’t mean to break up your bromance here.” Ronan looked at me confused, “What on Vellum is a bromance?” I giggled, “Oh just a Terre saying. I don’t really feel like explaining it.” Doc grunted, “She’s basically saying that we have a friendship much like an old married couple if my understanding of that phrase is right.” I shrugged, “More or less. Anyhow, can I set up in here then?” Doc sighed, “Against my better judgment. Yeah, I’ll let it happen but this geezer here needs to sign a medical release form so he can’t bring charges against me or you if something goes awry.” Ronan laughed, “Bring it on. Where do I sign?” I looked back at Ronan again, “You’re sure you want to do this.” He rolled his eyes, “How many times are you both going to ask me about this? I don’t think my answer will change, no matter what anyone says.” Doc walked over to a chest of drawers and pulled out a clipboard and handed it to Ronan, “I swear, you have got to be the most stubborn person in all of Vellum.” I laughed, “You really don’t know me well, Doc. I’d say I could give the General a run for his money.” Ronan smirked at me as he quickly signed the paper, “Let’s get this started.”
