“So she doesn’t go and sell off anything.”
“I’m not going to sell anything off!”
“Okay, yes,” Rita promised without pause. “Soldiers will be monitoring the house. I’ll make sure they aren’t conspicuous, so they don’t get in the way. But it’s definitely a good idea to have troops around. I assume you are aware about the recent looting?” Rita asked the younger sister. “Things like that are liable to happen. The guards will be there to protect your assets rather than to make sure that you don’t sell anything. Please think of it that way. Agreed?”
“If you’re willing to send people out for free…well, yes, that would be great.”
“Wonderful.”
Needless to say, Rita didn’t really intend to dispatch anyone to monitor the place. She knew all too well that she lacked the headcount for such work. But the sisters were not party to the details of the Garrison’s situation, and there was no need to fill them in.
“You’re happy, then, big sister?”
“Don’t sound so puffed up,” the older sister snorted and folded her arms over her chest.
The two women squared their shoulders and left without exchanging another glance. From behind, they did look a little alike.
Once they were fully gone from view, Rita slumped over her desk and exhaled a long sigh.
“They were the last for today. I’m on my break,” Amanda declared, sorting her sheets and getting up. She failed to offer even one word of appreciation despite Rita’s obvious ordeal.
Thinking that at least she herself might, Rita said, “Thanks. Good work.”
“But I’m not done. I’ve got patrols after this.”
“Ah. Me too, I guess.” Rita felt her heart sink, but she supposed it was better than being forced into more admin work.
That was depressing in its own way.
I really am not the brightest person, am I…
Amanda paced out of the room, and Duccio entered to take her place.
“Great work. Next is patrols, right? I think I’m coming with you.”
“Oh, okay.”
She couldn’t appear lax in front of a trainee. Summoning all her remaining willpower, Rita got to her feet and straightened her back. Duccio, still a boy really, was like good cheer personified. Over the last few days he’d handled a workload not so different from Rita’s, enough to leave him exhausted, but he let none of it show. Instead he volunteered to help at every opportunity. He seemed to hold Rita in some kind of reverence.
“Ma’am, I took the liberty of fixing up your Vertical Maneuvering Equipment!”
“Thanks. But remember, I’m only the acting commander. I don’t have any real authority. I’m just trying to deal with things as they come in.”
“You shouldn’t be so modest! You’re super strong!”
It was, of course, her fighting skills that he held in esteem, Rita realized, and she felt a little down again.
“Yeah. I’m okay at it,” she conceded.
“Oh, and the owner at the bakery gave us some cake. It’s really sweet. Loads of honey. She said we’d need it to keep up our strength, so we could guard her business properly. Let’s eat them later!”
“That’s an open bribe, isn’t it?”
Maybe food couldn’t be helped, she could tacitly permit… No, it was probably best to keep a strict regime. Corruption probably spread from such trivial exchanges.
Another sigh crept out. “Definitely not cut out for the brain work…”
“What’s wrong?”
“Ah, nothing.” Rita came around the desk. “We should go do the patrols.”
“Yessum!”
“Then you’re going to the bakery to return those cakes.”
“Whaa…?” Duccio actually staggered with shock and dismay.
Thanks to him, Rita felt her heart and mind lighten a fraction.
Looking through the window, she noted black and gray clouds overlapping in the distant sky.