Rosanne did not disappoint. While her disapproval of my actions clearly present, she had called in the cavalry. Two other middle-aged women were gathered around me, deliberating on how to proceed. The first thing that they decided had to be addressed was my breasts. A lot of pain came with how tightly Edna was wrapping them. She had experience in helping royals into ballgowns and that required some strength. Corsets were hard to lace up. She blew a strand of hair out of face. "What do you think, Meredith? Will that be tight enough to use with the crystals."
Meredith worked as a fairy godmother of sorts. It was a hush hush kind of thing, but for the right price, she could give you crystals that could alter some features slightly. Kind of like draping a mirage over your own body. Completely changing a person's face or body was impossible, but she promised that it would be enough. "We just have to give you a rougher edge to your jawline, and keep those lady parts nice and hidden, and overall make you give off a presence of manly."
Rosanne had been busy making me pants and shirts to wear for any casual occasion. The Red Army uniform that regular soldiers wore would be issued upon arrival. I needed something to wear tomorrow, and Rosanne knew Ian well enough that she could make an outfit that would be most like him. Something casual, a little baggy, but still put together, as I, disguised as Ian, would be begging for a chance to prove myself.
"Here, dear," Meredith patted an empty chair. "You're going to have to sit down for this." She had a large needle in her hand. It took a moment for me to realize. Ian has his right ear pierced at the top. Thankfully, I had never wanted to do that. Regretfully, that means my first piercing is going to be done by someone other than a professional. "Now, the crystal is easy to pop out so long as you take the back of the earring off. You'll have to replace it every four days. Since it's so small, you'll get more of them from the crystals you've bought."
The tip of needle poked into the soft cartilage of my ear. I sucked in a breath. The stinging pain that shot through my body as she stabbed me, made me cry out in pain. "Oww. Owww! That hurts!" I complained, gripping the edge of the seat to keep from moving away.
Meredith laughed lightly. "Iris, you're going to be training with men much stronger than you. You'll have to learn to take pain without screaming like a girl. While my crystals can change your appearance, they cannot change your voice. You'll have to keep your octave a little lower." Sticking in the earring, she wiped away the little trickle of blood.
Going over to the mirror, I couldn't believe my eyes. It was me, but it was Ian. "This is crazy," I said, touching my chin to see if it was still the same. It felt like my chin and jaw… Running my fingers over my breasts, they were still there but, in the mirror, I couldn't tell. Magic is awesome.
Rosanne brought me some black slacks and a tan baggy long sleeved shirt. "Iris, I wish you would reconsider, but I know your pride won't let you," Rosanne said, watching me slid the pants on and the sliding a belt through the loops to keep it on my bony hips.
I smiled at her, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you for worrying about me, but this is what I was meant to do. Fighting was always my strong suit," I replied. Ian wouldn't survive the first week of army training.
Meredith handed me my satchel and slid the bag of crystal pieces into it. "You need to hurry. The Red Army loves rules, and all recruits must be present by 9AM, right?" She pointed to the clock that read 8:30. We'd been at this all night, and at this rate, I might be late.
Edna wrapped her arms around my neck. "This material is water resistant, so taking a bath should be alright. Just come see me on your off day and I'll redo it for you," she said, patting my back.
Rosanne and Meredith both hugged me tightly as well, giving more wishes of good luck.
Setting out to return to the Red Army Headquarters, I had to run through the Central Quarter to make it there on time. Catching my breath just outside of the main gates, a familiar voice came from beside me. It was the Queen of Hearts, Jonah. "You there. You should have already arrived to change into your uniform. What's your name?"
Damn. I didn't even think about that. "Ian Adley," I replied, getting an immediate frown out of him. With my showing up yesterday, Lancelot probably told him about me and Ian.
"You finally decided to serve like your uncle before you?" He asked, not believing it. After a moment of uncomfortable silence, he turned on his heel. "This way. King Lancelot will decide whether or not you will be accepted into the Red Army." He had an arrogant air about him, and he clearly did not like me.
Moving down the familiar hallways, we passed two others of the chosen thirteen, Zero and Kyle. Zero stopped mid-sentence, staring at me. He stepped into my path, and asked, "Are you Ian Adley?" He squinted at me, like he could see through my disguise.
"My sister insisted that I at least try," I replied, keeping my voice even and low. Being Ian isn't so hard. He's just a pushover who doesn't care about the military at all. At least this way I can make myself, well Iris, look good.
Jonah cleared his throat, standing at the door of Lancelot's office. "King Lancelot is very busy, soldier."
Slipping past Zero, I took a deep breath and entered his office. It's kind of nerve racking to be back here. The last time he had rejected me so blatantly. Ian wouldn't be impressive after he insulted the King of Hearts at the dinner. The silence was only broken when I said, "Iris told me what she tried to do, and then smacked me for running away."
Those clear blue eyes narrowed at me, and he folded his hands on the desk in front of him. "Yes, I do admire her resolve to take your place." He stood, walking around the desk and up to me. "It's because of her that I have made decision to allow you to join the Red Army as a regular soldier. Should you prove yourself to be worth of the title, in a year or two, the position of the Ten of Hearts will be taken into consideration."
That means I'm in, right? Schooling my features to keep from smiling at my small victory, I nodded my head. "I understand, King Lancelot."
Lancelot moved past me, toward the door. "Jonah will take you to the barracks where you will change and come to first exam. Should any of the officers want to take you under their command, then, and only then, will you be permitted into the Army." He left with a flutter of his cape and left no room for argument.
"It's unlikely due to your inexperience and the knowledge that you ran away from your duty," Jonah said before leaving me in a plain barrack room. He'd walked down in front of me, not bothering so much as to look at me. He wouldn't be on my side.
The uniform lying on the bed took longer to put on than I imagined, but I appreciated the privacy at the moment. There were actually two beds, making this a shared living space. Difficult to be a girl with a male roommate, but I'll make due. If everyone knows about Ian, then they'll have found out that he's quite strange and oddly girly. It wasn't a bad quality, and in fact, worked in my favor.
The clock struck nine just as I slid into the last spot at the very back of the rows of soldiers, all here to join the Red Army. Lancelot stood at the head, speaking about their duty and the training that we would all undergo as new recruits. The chosen thirteen were around him, surveying the men around me. My name being brought up caught my attention. Lancelot's harsh gaze was back on me, and the group of men moved out from around me. "Ian, since you didn't find it in your soul to fulfill your duty until just this morning, you will have to defeat our Ace of Hearts in a duel before you are permitted."
Great.
