The King almost lost his head that day. A soldier threw himself into the blow instead. He walked back to his tent carrying the soldier’s bloodied armor. The enemy forces had withdrawn beyond the narrow mountain pass. More blood would be spilled. 

He placed the armor in the praying corner and muttered, "Your death will not be in vain." 

All he wanted was to curl up beneath a bed and disappear. Instead, he sat at the center table of the crowded communal tent, looking every inch the king. It was what he had been raised to do.

As the goblets filled, laughter slowly returned to the tent. His attention drifted to the loudest table. A score of richly dressed women sat surrounded by eager men. 

Following the King's gaze, his counsel smiled.

"A new group of maidens arrived last week.”

The King’s eyes focused on one woman who attracted the most attention.

"Rianna. She calls her service 'the Royal Treatment.’ Do you seek her companionship this night?”

The King nodded. The counsel approached her. She looked at the king as she answered.

The counsel returned alone. “She is taken for the next fortnight.”

“Did she know you were asking for me?”

“She said, all my clients are kings.”

The King thought he was prepared for the violence of the next days. 

Nobody was. 

The praying corner now had half a dozen armors.

Rianna glided in like a swan, proud yet graceful.

“My King, I am sorry you had to wait. I am all yours tonight.”

“I thank you for your service. The men need the escape.” 

The King turned away and poured himself a drink.

Rianna moved closer to the king, and touched him from behind. “Do you need an escape?”

He poured her a glass. “I hear you only take one man a night. What do you do for so long?”

“We start with a nice slow bath, and we mostly talk. Men like to talk if they find the right ears. Then we begin the boring stuff,” she winked.

“What do my men say? Are they tired of the war?”

“Of course they wish to go home. They are also honored to fight beside a king who bleeds with them by day and dines with them by night.”

“Why did you choose this profession?”

If she was surprised by the question, her face didnot show it. “I wanted to do my bit for the war. I am not allowed to fight. So I surrender every night.”

“You could have joined the kitchen or the healers.”

“An old patron once told me, 'Do what you are good at.' I took it to heart.” She placed the empty glasses on the table and guided him to the bed.

“Tell me about the boring part.” He said as she undressed him.

She undressed herself and climbed over him. “My clients decide almost everything. But for the act, I am always on top. Every king deserves a queen.”

The wind favored them. Hidden among the mountains, the enemy archers could no longer find their mark. At last, the pass was theirs. Peace was visible on the horizon. The King longed to return home. But at that moment, he longed for something more.

The swan returned. Her face was half covered by a veil. Only her kind eyes were visible. “My King, they will sing of your victory.“

“Are the men happy?”

“Please stop asking me about your men. Have your counsel find out.”

“Forgive me.”

“Not accepted. I'll show you how to repent.”

She undressed fully except for the veil and climbed on the bed. “Start from the legs.”

He began at her feet, moving slowly upward, never taking his eyes off hers.

As she trembled, the veil came undone. 

She reached for it too late. 

The king had seen the bruise.

“Who did it?”

She was silent.

“I'll have his head. Just tell me.”

“No, you won’t. Some men need violence. I let him do it. I liked it,” she lied.

The King left without another word. He never returned that night.

A week later, the war was over. The King spoke with the enemy commander for hours.

He left smiling, his army allowed to return home with gifts instead of chains.

The counsel said, “You are either incredibly stupid or smart. I honestly don’t know.”

 The counsel walked into Rianna’s tent as she held a sobbing young soldier in her arms.

“The king summons you.”

“Don’t you see I am working?”

“Silly Woman! It is an order.”

Rianna walked into his tent.

They hadn’t seen each other since last time.

They stood in silence.

“Don’t tell me you have fallen in love.” Rianna joked.

The King smiled. “I am not used to making an offer that one can deny.”

He led her to the praying corner. Bloodied armor lined the wall. 

“Do you want to be a soldier?”

If you enjoyed this story, you’ll probably love my flash fiction collection, Humanity Reinvented.

Check it out while you are here.