They both laughed, and Pieter gave silent thanks that he’d been stationed on this base with his former roommate. Derek was about as good a man as it was possible to be, and Pieter was looking forward to spending time with him again.
If anyone could understand where Pieter was coming from with the conflict with his parents, it was Derek. His parents weren’t royals, but they were wealthy — even more so than Pieter’s parents — and overprotective. They had demanded that Derek have extra security and protection in his college dormitory, which was how he and Pieter had ended up roommates on their own floor. Even though they’d grown up in different countries, they had so much in common that they’d become great friends. Pieter knew he could trust Derek with his secret, and he could rely on him to be a true friend during his time in Alaska.
As Derek gave him a tour of the base, Pieter realized it was going to take time to build camaraderie with people who didn’t know him or trust him yet. As he was thinking about workinghard to build new relationships, Sergeant Bailey’s beautiful, icy features appeared in his mind. She had the dark hair and porcelain skin of a woman in a fairy tale. Pieter had seen the flinty determination in her eyes as Derek introduced him, which switched to a weary acceptance that he was going to be the main thorn in her side as they fought for the same promotion.
“What can you tell me about Sergeant Bailey?” he asked.
“Eva?” Derek was quiet for a moment as he thought about the question. “She’s one of our best people. Hands down the best at training our new recruits. She’s tough, but our drop-out rate has fallen to almost nothing since she was put in charge of them. She’s got something that drives them to be the bestandmakes them believe the military is where they belong.”
“Wow, if that could be bottled and shared across the military, it would be quite something.”
“Agreed. You’ll see her in action this afternoon, so you can see for yourself.” Derek had a smile on his face that made Pieter wonder just how much of a chance he actually had at getting the promotion.
“She didn’t look very happy when you told her I’d be up for the sergeant major job too.”
“She loves a challenge,” Derek said. “But let’s face it, she’s probably sick of losing out to men.”
Pieter shot his friend a look, wondering at his meaning. “It sounds like she’s got this promotion in the bag, being so well-respected. But I like a challenge too.”
“I’m aware.” They walked for another minute, and then Derek said, “Can I ask you a question?”
“Of course.”
“What if your parents phone you in a week’s time and tell you to come back to Laagestein, that all is forgiven? Will you stay or will you go?”
It was an astute question. Pieter had thought about the very issue since deciding to come to Alaska. He knew his parents, and he fully expected that they would call him back home once their frustration at his ongoing noncompliance faded.
He didn’t want to lie to his friend, nor did he want to admit that he thought the moment would arrive sooner rather than later. “The truth is my focus right now is on settling in here and doing the very best job I can do. You know me, Derek. When I’m in, I’m all in.”
“Good answer,” Derek said, smiling.
Pieter smiled, too. He meant what he’d said, but he also knew he couldn’t ignore his parents forever. His brother Jan, the heir to the throne, had sent him a series of messages, trying his best to mediate the situation. The first message asked where Pieter was and if he was okay. When Pieter replied with the details, Jan had written:
Alaska? This really is an international situation, then. Pieter, I know they seem unreasonable to you and their attempts to steam-roller you have backfired. Just promise me you’ll keep safe while I try to work things out on this end.
Working things out with their parents was Jan’s way. He was the more laid-back brother, the calm one. Jan was the kinder one, if Pieter was being honest. Jan always acted as though he was ashamed to be the heir to the throne, that simply by being bornfirst, he’d stolen something that Pieter should have had rightful claim to.
Jan also fully accepted and understood Pieter’s love of the military life. He was proud of Pieter and regularly told him so. Pieter had been present at many family meetings when Jan had urged their parents to let Pieter have his career without royal obligations outside of a few official engagements every year. It would have been an ideal arrangement, but their parents had refused to go for it.
A short time after he’d sent the first message and after he had spoken to their parents, Jan sent Pieter another message:
Like two stubborn old mules, they’re insisting you’ll see the error of your ways and come back to the fold soon. Mother’s about to cave, I’m sure of it. She misses you terribly and wants you home. Father’s being more pig-headed. He thinks the longer you stay in the States, the more convinced you’ll be that Laagestein is paradise on earth.
Pieter snorted out loud at that. Their tiny nation was a kind of paradise, but royal duties definitely were not, or at least not for him. He hated people fussing over him, waiting for him to tell them what he wanted so they could do his bidding. He didn’t like or excel at small talk, and felt awkward at the many functions and events he had to attend.
Jan, on the other hand, had a way with people. Although naturally shy and serious, he had a kindness and warmth that people responded well to. Pieter watched him at events and gatherings and never failed to be impressed by his older brother. He would, one day, make an excellent and well-loved King of Laagestein.
Thinking fondly of his brother, Pieter sent him a reply:
Really sorry you are caught in the middle of this. Again. Maybe I shouldn’t have run away without trying to talk to them again, but I was backed into a corner. Don’t tell Father, but I’m not very popular here, and it’s only day one. I guess things can only get better.
Jan replied that he missed Pieter and would keep in touch to let him know how things were at home. Those words caused the same uncomfortable reaction in Pieter. His military barracks in Laagestein had felt like his true home, not the palace. He would have to work hard to make this base in Alaska feel like his home, and Pieter told himself to shake off thoughts of conflict with his parents and focus on getting settled into his new life.
They had arrived at Major Aston’s office, and Derek knocked on the door and announced himself.
“Come in!” the major called out with a voice like rolling thunder. He stood up behind his desk when Derek and Pieter walked in, and Pieter saw that he was very tall and very well-built. His face was square and severe, giving all indications that he was not a man to be messed with.
“Sir, I’d like to introduce Sergeant Pete Billings. He’ll be in charge of our second squad of new recruits.”
