Chapter 4: Every Inch a Lady
Horus smiled out at the various students in her class, doing her best to project a friendly aura of calm confidence. Beside her, Russ shifted nervously from foot to foot, warily eyeing the door. Unless Horus very much missed her guess, her newly found sister suffered badly from claustrophobia of some sort. It made sense. The Fenris Mountain Clans lived in wooden hovels with dirt floors, spending much of their lives under the open skies.
That rather endeared her to Horus, who herself felt as though she had been trapped in a gilded cage these past few years, ever since she had been brought into the palace as a girl. She was a woman now, 18 and no child. Granted, Russ was the same age as she, but her rather scruffy sister clearly was not used to the trappings of so-called "civilization."
And blessedly, she did not appear to threaten Horus' position as heir. True, with a little training Russ could easily defeat Horus one on one in battle. They'd seen that after only a single sparring session. Russ' genius for single combat was likely unmatched. But that alone an Empress did not make.
"I am pleased to meet you. My name is Horus Lupercal. Please, since we are to be classmates, forgo the formal titles. Just Ms. Luperical or Horus is fine. I look forward to working with you all."
The expressions on the various faces around the room ranged from polite reserve, to naked curiosity, some perverse sexual lust, and friendly cordiality. Horus would have to win these young men and women over if she wished to secure her future throne. They were the children of the upper class; heirs of generals and admirals, future officers themselves. Scions of merchant and banking clans, with wealth to finance armies and empires. Children of former Heads of State mother had brought to heel, or of the current crop of nobility. And of course, bright and upcoming commoners of great talent who would make their mark on the world.
Horus gave a special smile to Kittenus. A foundling boy that mother had taken an interest in, but who had risen to Student Body President as a mere Sophomore and with no connections. True talent. The dark skinned boy gave her a nervous smile back, and Horus calculated. He would make a worthy consort. He had social graces as well, and-
"Awright ye cunts. A'm Leman Pumpin' Russ. Wolf Queen o' th' Clans, 'n' deid sexiest motherfucker in this room. Ah kin kick a' yer arses, yin at a time, in pairs, or th' lot o' ye at wance. Sae awa' an' bile yer heid a', ye lowlander milksops."
People skills. The first thing Horus was teaching Russ were people skills. She was going to be Horus's headtaker one day, but that didn't mean Russ didn't need to learn some damned manners.
"Thank you, Ms. Russ. That was a most...unique introduction," the teacher coughed, looking rather put out at Russ. Fantastic. Alienating advisors was always a foolish move for a ruler, as Horus well knew. After all, it was what mother had managed to do to every single person who was smarter than a rock at court.
"Dinnae mind asking fur yer thoughts, ye uniquely hackit bas," Russ snapped, glaring at the instructor.
"What my sister means to say, Lord Commissar Cain, is that we both look forward to learning in your classroom," Horus said, grabbing Russ and jerking her sister back, then pushing her head down in a respectful (but not deferential) bow.
"Professor or just Cain is fine. I'm not one to stand on formality either," the famous HERO OF THE IMPERIUM said dryly. "Take your seats, ladies."
Horus sat up straight, her notebook and pencil in her hand as she scrupulously took notes on Cain's lecture. She very pointedly did not look at Russ, who was slouched in her chair one moment, half laying on the table the next, and then scribbling random doodles in her notebook the next.
"-now, here, we come to the Crux of the situation at the Battle of Ullanor, where the orks were finally stopped. Now, some people would suggest that the Empress was overmatched in this situation, but of course, our Glorious Overlord prevailed. Can anyone tell me why?" Cain looked at the sea of raised hands, including Horus' own, then nodded to the drooling and snoring Russ. "Ah, Ms. Russ, you seem to be thinking deeply on this, have something to share on the matter?"
Horus helpfully poked Russ in the side, and her sister immediately jerked to her feet, looking around wildly. "Whit's it, who's attacking? Ah will kick thair bluidin bahookie!"
"The Professor inquired as to your thoughts as to how the Empress," Horus very carefully did not say "mother" as that would have been grossly inappropriate and just a bit too condescending, "defeated the orks at the Battle of Ullanor."
"Och, that's a' ye'r aboot, is it?" Russ sat back down, folding her arms over her chest as Cain raised an interrogative eyebrow at her. With a single glance at the map, Russ took it all in. "It's deid simple; th' greenskins let her pick her ground. That's nae a mistake ony commander worth a damn won't punish, 'n' her heinie-ness isn't glaikit."
"Oh?" Cain said, looking rather nonplussed at the shockingly cognisant (if not comprehensible) response.
"I've fought 'n' gubbed greenies afore. They're cunnin', 'n' they're pure tough, bit th' beasties ainlie git bit yin wey tae rammy 'n' it's tae come straecht at ye, " Russ expounded.
"True. Fighting the orks in a head on fight is always a mistake. Remember that," Cain said, glaring around at his classroom. There was a furious scribbling of pens from everyone, even Horus, though her notes were rather different.
Not so stupid as she looks or acts. Do not mistake simple and uncultured for a lack of intelligence.
"Ah don't ken anythin' aboot this battle o' All-on-oar, bit ah kin jalouse whit th' Golden Harridan did. She lured th' orks intae a killing field, triggered a trap, or juist offed th' muckle yin 'n' let th' rest o' th' littler orks hae it oot fur who's in charge. Smart beasties, greenies. Aye hae a deid simple wey o' knowin' who's th' gaffer," Russ opined.
"It was all three," Cain said with a nod and scowl. "Though regardless of your familial connection to the Empress, you will refrain from besmirching Her good name in my classroom."
Russ rolled her eyes. "Och don't tell me you're yin o' they madmen wha worship her, urr ye? Bloody maniacs."
"This is not theology class, but it is the Imperial Academy, and I served her Eminence for many decades," Cain said stiffly. "If you cannot control your mouth, Ms. Russ, there will be consequences."
Russ rolled her eyes, but thankfully kept silent.
"Now, let us discuss the exact nature of the Empress's plans. We shall be running war games later in the semester, and your knowledge of tactics shall…"
Horus let her mind wander slightly. While she was willing to admit she had much to learn from CIAPHAS CAIN, HERO OF THE IMPERIUM when it came to tactical matters, merely reviewing old battles was old hat to her. At last, they were given a directive to split up into groups to work on tactical scenarios for.
Horus was about to suggest to Russ they work together, when a young woman with red hair in twin braids intruded on their table.
"So, they let you in here too, did they?" the girl demanded, grinning madly at Russ.
"Mibbie, who's asking?" Russ asked suspiciously
"Don't you recognize me? Or do I talk too fancy for you now?" the girl laughed.
"Och piss aff," Russ growled. "Ye lowlander cunts a' sound lik' ye'v git mush in yer mooths."
The red head smirked, and her accent suddenly changed. "Och ah kin speak properly, ah juist ken howfur tae changin thi words it intae snooty sae thae lowlander bastards kin ken me. Logan, o' Clan Grimnar."
"Weel dip me in sheep's guts 'n' ca' me a Prosperian, at least someone wha ah kin bloody weel ken! C'moan, ye'r fur me noo. 'N' juist howfur did a proper lassie lik' ye end up in a steid lik' this?" Russ grabbed Logan and hustled her off, leaving Horus alone for the moment.
That was fine, she had connections to make anyway. Horus looked around, spying a young woman she recognized. Her father was Baron Tarkeraddon Abaddon, and ruled the city of Cthonia. It was a wealthy industrial center close to the capital of Terra, and that made its future ruler a suitable partner for a future Empress.
Horus caught the girl's eye with a smile and a nod, and she hastily excused herself from the others who had sought to partner with her and hurried over to Horus.
"Yes, your highness?" she asked breathily, hastily curtsying.
Excellent. She was a highborn noble, but knew the score. "Oh, please Ezekyle, we're hardly strangers. Just Horus is fine. I think you would make an excellent partner."
"I would be honored," Ezekyle Abaddon agreed eagerly. "How can I help you, Lady Horus?"
"Well, I have some ideas as to how to solve our little tactical problem. You know something of logistics, do you not? I am sure your father the Baron Abaddon has seen to your schooling. I'd like to discuss my plans, and hear any suggestions you might have, Ezekyle."
Ezekyle hastily set about taking Horus's orders and suggestions down. She proved to have a functioning mind, offering pertinent suggestions and pointing out potential weaknesses, though she remained respectful and properly deferential to Horus.
"Thank you, I think that is all, Ezekyle. Turn these in to the professor for us, please," Horus said once the assignment was completed to her satisfaction. Her newest minion bowed and hurried off to follow her orders.
"Hmm? Oh, well, that's good then," Cain said, looking up from his steaming mug of pungent tea of some sort. He stood, nodding to the class. "Right then, that's all for today, you're dismissed. Report in tomorrow again at 0800 with the assignment if you have not yet finished it. And for the love of the Empress, put your names on the papers! I'm not an eldar mystic."
That got chuckles from the students, and Horus stood. Russ was in the back, Logan now on her lap and swapping spit. Of course. Well, Horus would tell Kittenus later to see to it that her sister turned in a satisfactory assignment, and would check on it herself. A personal touch was certainly merited there.
"Ezekyle, would you be so kind as to introduce me to some of the others here? I'm afraid I simply don't know everyone, and I would so like to make the right sort of friends here at the Academy," Horus said, handing her book bag over to Ezekyle to carry for her. The girl seemed rather pleased at the honor. A social climber, was she? Perfect, just the sort of woman Horus needed to begin building her empire.
I will rule this school within a week, Horus thought to herself, allowing a small satisfied smirk.
Ezekyle readily introduced Horus to several other nobles sons and daughters, though Horus noted that she avoided anyone who could potentially outrank herself and usurp her newfound position as Horus' second. Smart. That was good. It was so hard to find good help these days.
Author's Note
I've decided that all the space marine characters are genderbent as well. Who else is and isn't genderbent is going to be entirely arbitrary and based on what I think is funniest.