Future Troubles

Disclaimers: The characters from the Queen of Swords are copyright to Fireworks Productions and Paramount. No copyright infringement is intended or revenue expected from their use. The story plot and other characters are copyright to the author, James Guy

A figure in black fights tyranny.

Brisa watched from a window of her home as her two children, Eduardo and Valiente both age ten, played in the small square of the village.

She smiled as the twins ran by racing each other, Valiente outdistancing her brother by several yards. Benedicto walked into the room.

"What is that smile for Brisa, are you remembering last night?" he asked with a smile on his own face.

"Husband, you are incorrigible," she replied. "Actually, I was watching our children play. That Valiente will break many hearts someday."

"Just like her mother," he said spinning her around and kissing her.

Brisa slipped her arms around her husband’s head and returned the kiss. Then she poked him in the stomach. "That was nice, now get out of my house and finish making my saddle. I can’t wait until you are finished. I want to ride on a new saddle."

"You just want to show off in front of my cousin," he grinned.

"Of course. You are the best saddle maker in the Cordoba," she said as he walked out the door.

"The Queen of Swords, get her!"

Brisa turned to see a black dressed figure run past the window being chased by a blue cloaked figure. The Queen ran well ahead of her pursuer and climbed a ladder to the room of a building.

She ran across the building and climbed down a tree on the other side. The soldier did the same. She caught her horse and rode around the square before dismounting again as the soldier also rode his horse around the square.

The Queen waited for the soldier and pulled her sword. The two started fighting as their swords collided. Back and forth they fought until the Queen’s sword struck the soldier. He staggered back mortally wounded, falling to the ground.

"Hah, Colonel Montoya," said the Queen. "Death to tyranny."

The Colonel jumped back up and grabbed her arm. "Alas my Queen, you only wounded me. You on the other hand are dead," he said as he put his hand inside his shirt pulled it out, pressing it to her chest.

"Bang."

"You missed," laughed the Queen.

"Did not."

"Did so."

"Did not."

"Did so, the bullet bounced off my corset."

"Eduardo, Valiente. Stop that arguing and get in the house this minute," said Brisa standing at the doorway. "And bring in those brooms."

The children retrieved their "horses" and came into the house. Brisa took the two cherry tree "swords" from them. "Who are you supposed to be?" she asked.

"I am the beautiful and brave Queen of Swords and he," she made a face, "he is the tyrannical Colonel Montoya," replied Valiente.

"She is a bandita," replied Edurado frowning.

"Well, I am the Queen of the Switches which I will use on your bottoms if you do not stop the arguing."

"Valiente, where did you get those black pants?" asked Brisa.

"I made them from your old black skirt like you taught me. I even made the mask from your old shawl."

"And your "swords?"

"Papa cut them for us," chimed in Eduardo.

"Men!" Brisa said shaking her head.

As the children went down the hallway to their rooms, Valiente stuck her tongue out at Eduardo and ran. Eduardo chased her. Brisa just shook her head.

Benedicto walked back into the house. "What is going on?’

"It’s all your fault," replied Brisa accusingly.

"Me? What did I do?"

"Ever since your Uncle Alejandro came back from Nueva Espana, those hellions have been playing the Queen and the Colonel," she said scowling.

Benedicto laughed. "Just because he owes his life to the Queen of Swords? He did seem to change his opinion of my cousin Tessa. He was determined to see her married or be brought back to Spain. What he didn’t realize is that Tessa has the Alvarado stubborn streak."

"Stubborn is right. All of you Alvarado’s are as stubborn as a mule," she grinned. "That’s why I married you."

"Me stubborn? I seem to remember falling in love with a young partisan girl who fought by my side against the French. Talk about stubborn," he replied. "You and I made a pair. Both of our families were outraged that we did what we did. Eduardo and Valiente come by their stubbornness naturally."

"It isn’t just Uncle Alejandro. That Englishman who has been telling tales of the Queen of Swords has made her a heroine in Spain. He did mention Tessa in his story."

"Yes he did say that the beautiful Senorita who ran her own hacienda was most charming," said Benedicto.

"Well, I for one worry and Tessa. All by herself in a wild land," said Brisa.

"I would worry about anyone who gets in her way. You didn’t know her when she was a young girl. She used to beat me up when we played," he grinned. "You remind me so much of her."

"Because I beat you up?"

"Because you love life, are beautiful and courageous."

"You are in love with your cousin?" she asked suspiciously.

"No, I love my cousin, because she is my cousin. I am in love with you. My cousin will need a strong man."

"You mean a strong man to control her?" asked Brisa with a frown.

"No. A strong man to put up with her," he laughed as he thought about his cousin Tessa.

"Anyone in mind?"

"No. But I pity the man who is either domineering or too stupid to realize that she loves him," said Benedicto.

"Down with tyranny, viva Reina des Espades, shouted Valiente as she stood on the bed with her "sword" held high.

The Queen of Swords returned home after visiting doctor Helm. She smiled as she rode home. "Someday Chico, I will marry and have a daughter, Valiente."

Suddenly the smile left her face. \Now why did that name come to me?\ she thought.