Prince Keren surprises Julina and leaves her speechless – for a little while

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Disclaimer:

The original characters and plot of this story are the property of the author. No infringement of pre-existing copyright is intended.
This story is copyright © 2013 - 2020 Julia Phillips. All rights reserved.

It uses some of the associated characters and situations that arise from the world called ‘Anmar’ created by Penny Lane, whose stories
are also copyright © 2010 - 2020 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

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The sky was blue. A bright, light blue, the night’s darker shades having long since been banished. A few puffy clouds were drifting along the hidden airways way up high overhead, their movement accentuated by the stationary peaks. Occasional avians would flit across patches of sky, their calls sweet, carried on the now-not-so-early morning breeze. The sun had reached down only as far as the Stone Sea diggings, up where the Larsenar hut had been. And yet there was already a lovely summery feeling in the air, in our surroundings. Some intangible thing that granted an ease, almost a glee, to us. Well, all I can say is that whatever it was, our spirits were lightened.

’Twas a warm morning after a warmish night. The entire family were out in our courtyard Tai Chiing along with the regular guests Surtree and Davvy. The banter had been free and easy all along this session and the feeling of togetherness had never been quite so strong, I felt certain.

That gorgeously peaceful start was just so good for everyone and we all felt the benefits of our gentle environment; our gentle, beautiful and strangely uplifting environment as we each limbered up for the day.

Of course, it had to come to an end sometime and it did, but gently in its way, no crash, bang, shocking disturbance. All too soon, in retrospect, there came a distant interruption to our near-perfect start.

We were all outside so none of us missed a sudden emergence consisting of many mounted men, and at least two women, from behind the Community Hall. We watched, still continuing our Tai Chi forms, as the great group made their way quite speedily down South Cross Lane and crossed East Street, upon which the early morning traffic had been halted by two soldiers, allowing this large collection of riders to pass unhindered. Once they had all ridden between the Steward’s house and the Watch compound, we naturally lost sight of them, the buildings obscuring any further glimpses from us. A few mental eyebrows were raised as we continued the Tai Chi, where we were now entering the last forms phase. The impression we all had was that that group had seemed to be laden with purposefulness.

Even as we finished our energising exercises and Swayga was chivvying the younger ones back into the house for their chores, Papa and I, flanked by Davvy and Surtree, saw a much smaller group, this one of a mere three mounted men, come out of South Cross Lane once more, travelling a little slower this time. Even at this distant remove, we could see they were guards from their posture, we had no need for the confirmation given by their uniforms. They reached East Street and turned right to descend it as all traffic does on that stretch. Nothing out of the ordinary so far. We four were about to turn away ourselves to go back into the house when we saw the guards turn off East Street again and into our approach lane, a lane that leads only to us, the one that runs alongside the Orchard, as we termed our fruit and vegetable ‘patch’ we shared with the Claw. We all stood outside, awaiting their arrival.

“Good morrow, Master Kordulen, Mistress Julina, Mistress Davobert, Surtree” said their spokesman formally. We all smiled faintly at his mispronunciations. I had recognised him as being Mon, one of the guards that had been down at the Retreat with us all.

“Good morrow Guardsmen all. To what do we owe the honour?” Naturally, Papa took the lead.

Mon drew himself up fully, and in the best ‘official’ voice he could muster, he formally stated: “Master Kordulen, we are here to escort Mistress Julina to His Honour’s house, that she might attend a meeting with His Honour and His Highness, Prince Keren, amongst others.”

His tones were most serious. So much so that we began to worry.

“Surely she is not being arrested?” said Papa anxiously.

“Not as far as I know, Master. Bailiss Michet shall also be attending and a similar group to ourselves has been despatched to escort Mistress Kellonika to the same meeting. The Prince did say that Mistress Davobert could also attend, but ’twas not necessary. But I know not the full reason behind the summons. Certainly we have not been instructed to take her into custody.”

“I deem, Papa, that this must be Salon business as ’tis the three leaders of that enterprise that seem to have been summoned.” I turned back to the guard. “Mon, I shall be a short while preparing myself. Why don’t you three men tie your beasts to that hitching rail there, and come into the house for some pel. I doubt not that we might find a few little bakeries as well, for I learnt about your soldierly likes when we were downvalley at the Retreat.”

I have rarely seem men move so fast. Just at the promise of a few things to nibble upon. It made me wonder at the standard of the cooking in their accommodation. Maybe I should do some investig… I dragged my thoughts, and actions, back to the need for speed as I went to change into more appropriate daywear.

I was using Davvy to help as there was clearly a degree of urgency about this, but – and I do not mean this nastily – with just one good hand, she was almost more of a hindrance. Kords, bless her, soon gathered that some haste was needed and she came to help too. Davvy was relieved to be able to pick things up as they were required and hand them to someone else who could use them more proficiently. But then Davvy’s presence was made worthwhile when she asked: “Do you know, ’Lina, if you shall be riding anywhere? For then they would surely want you to be wearing riding clothes!”

“Oh Davvy, be a dear and go ask them, would you please? That was an excellent thought of yours.”

Kords and I got the riding stuff out ready, just in case. In the end, as the soldiers were uncertain, we decided I should wear it after all. Such a little thing, that – scarce noticed in the rush and hecticity of my scrambling preparations. And yes, it was a day, of course, when my hair decided to be awkward. I think that returning to the grinning soldiery, as they tucked into third helpings of honey cakes, in just over a quarter of a bell was almost a miracle really.

In my haste, my tights were not quite sitting properly round my right foot and, whilst not in pain, I spent most of our walk towards the Steward’s house fiddling, fidgeting and looking down. Kords and Davvy were with me, in a sense, they were a stride or so behind me, discussing things for an event that I realised with a shock I had totally forgotten about. Today was the inaugural day for the Market, the first day when the entire Market Place would be blocked off for the morning, traffic being routed to East Street by the upper end of Main Street and then left into North Cross Lane. Now I did actually know about this event and its details because Blackstone Wagons were fully booked bringing men and supplies across from the Artisan’s Area. But it just hadn’t registered with me somehow that today was the day.

The three military men had not remounted and were walking with me, one in front and the others either side. As we passed the track that led from the Claw to the paddock, I saw Perry emerge from the Inn, leading a trio of frayen, obviously about to exercise them. They all looked a little glum somehow, so I called out to Perry, intending to cheer him up.

“Oh, good morrow Julina,” he said as his quick eyes scanned our little party. “Have you been arrested or something? That would be appropriate for this sad day!”

“Sad day?”

“Indeed. Even though we expected it, Nelke died in the night, in the stalls. I deem ’tis a world record for a frayen’s age, but still we are all sad. Beasts and humans alike.”

“As you say, Parry,” I managed to reply as the unexpected tears sprang to my eyes and to my throat. I raised a dispirited hand and fell into thinking about Nelke and then onto Epp, of course. Even the two girls behind were affected by my mood and we passed on in silence, more trudging than walking.

Thus it was a subdued group who skirted along the north side of the Claw, reached Main Street and turned right to pass the old VMS building. At the front entrance to the Steward’s house, Kords and Davvy continued on towards the Salon, whilst I was ushered into the Steward’s house by the three soldiers. I stumbled slightly on the top step and Mon’s hand shot out to steady me, for which I was grateful but too flustered for the moment to convey that. It was a firm grip he had on my elbow, which he maintained for some little while, just in case. So firm, that later I would be able to see the bruises he left. Mind you, I know I do bruise most easily.

I was ushered into a large room, obviously set up specially for this occasion, whatever that might be. There was a table to one side with various documents on it, positioned under another of the new-fangled clock things. Seated on the far side of that table were His Highness in the middle, Milady Countess Merizel to his left, His Honour to his right and Commander Feteran one place further right. The Commander’s wife, Mistress Jenet, was also seated – she was at the far end. Representative Jepp occupied the other end of the table, with his parchments, papers, reeds and reedlets spread out neatly and in a precisely ordered manner before him.

There was a sort of semi-circle made by three rows of chairs, all facing the table. The three chairs in the middle of the front row were empty when I walked in, although many of the other chairs were occupied by Assembly members and their wives or husbands, and other prominent citizens.

The Prince looked up at me almost immediately and smiled a wide smile of welcome. “You seem both sad and apprehensive, Mistress Julina. Good morrow to you, and I, we, thank you for attending this meeting at such short notice. You have nothing to fear here, I assure you.”

“Good morrow, Your Highness,” I replied, dropping a curtsey. “Uncertain as to the occasion, I am uncertain as to whether or not to thank you for the honour.”

He smiled at my reply, and asked: “You seem sad though?”

“Your Highness, on the way here, I learned of the death of a frayen. Stablemaster Parrier assures me that Nelke had reached a world record age for a frayen, but last night was the last. Nelke was older than I and has been here for at least twenty years now.”

“Maker! That is indeed a veritable age for such a beast. To whom ...”

He broke off as a bewildered-looking Kelly was ushered in. Smoothly he welcomed her: “Mistress Kellonika, thank you for attending this meeting at such short notice. Perchance yourself and Mistress Julina should occupy two of those three chairs set in the middle of the front row there. The third is for Bailiss Michet, whenever she arrives.”

“When she has put Quadrant Ponstib down, I deem,” rumbled the Commander with a laugh in his voice; a laugh that was matched by several in the room, including the guards stationed by the door.

I gasped slightly, for I had had my suspicions, but the Commander, seemingly, had just confirmed them. Kelly and I were both wondering what this was all about but the conversations flowed freely for the next five moments or, as we were rapidly learning, minutes or so. We gained no clue from any of it. Certainly the atmosphere here in this room was very calm and relaxed and my churning stomach and indeed my sadness about Nelke were calming down in response.

Before I gasped once again, more loudly this time.

For in had walked my entire family, all well-scrubbed and dressed up in their nicest clothes. My eyes shot to Kelly as most of her family entered too. I realised that at least one of hers would have had to stay behind to toll the bells. Kelly’s eyes met mine and we both shrugged in bewilderment, questions flashing between us in eye-speak of course. But we both tensed up again.

Soon after that, Em entered. But she stayed for a while by the door; I believe I saw her look a question to the assembled dignitaries whilst shrugging her shoulders. I could not look in two directions of course, and Kelly later told me that the Prince frowned, glanced at the Steward and the two of them indicated to Em to close the door and come forward. I saw her nod to the ‘top table’ in acknowledgement. She reached behind her, closed the door and straightened her back into a very guard-like stance. She marched, there was no other word to describe her gait, over to us at the front there, smiled at the two of us and spread her skirts out as she sat down, somehow managing to show she was sitting at ‘attend’.

The Prince stood up and an instant silence fell.

“Thank you everyone for attending this event, which despite current appearances, is more of an informal affair than you might all be expecting. I will be as brief as I can but, essentially speaking, we are all here today to observe me signing a number of documents, which will be accompanied by two others also signing each, witnessing therewith the authenticity of my signature. For the first one, those two shall be His Honour, Captain Bleskin, Steward of these lands and his son, Commander Feteran, in charge of Her Highness’ Guards.

“Let me commence with a short history, to keep all here aware of the background required. And also explain that our pleasant sojourn in these remoter parts of my father’s kingdom is soon to come to an end. We must depart in the next few days in order to avoid the rains on our long return journey to the Palace. Yes, we know the rains are more than a month away but we shall be unable to make a simple and direct return. We have people and places to visit and works to inspect as we go and I must needs attend to some other business in Palarand before the rains. I, we, must therefore make generous allowances for delays. We have set our departure to be in four days’ time. Indeed, several of our party are already no longer here. It is therefore incumbent upon myself to perform such formal duties as I am deemed to have within the next half-week. Today is the first of those occasions. And it will be a series of most pleasant duties, I can assure you.

“You will all be aware that the Princess and I departed here last autumn after an initial ‘fact finding’ tour, and we can all appreciate that much has happened since we left back then. Much has happened and much has changed. And we must all bear in mind that much more will happen and much more will change.

“Now, it has long been a tradition in my family for us to recognise excellence when we see it, and to reward it in some way. Indeed, there are few duties we have that afford us much more pleasure.

“And here in Blackstone is a shining example of such excellence. You will all understand from the three central characters seated just there in front of me that I am referring to the ‘Salon’, an enterprise built up from nothing by Mistress Julina who seized upon an idea by the then Mistress Michet and expanded it greatly. But Mistress Julina could not do this single-handedly and her most loyal assistant Mistress Kellonika has been included in the triumphant triumvirate, for ’tis she who now handles the day-to-day running of the said establishment.

“Accordingly, I have had drawn up as a certificate this parchment roll embossed with the Royal Coat of Arms and with the inscription: ‘In recognition of excellence, this Royal Seal of Approval is awarded to Mistresses Julina, Kellonika and Michet for their work in establishing the restaurant known as ‘The Salon’ situated in the town of Blackstone.’

“I shall now sign it in my capacity of the Heir to the Throne … so ... and I hereto attach my seal … so. Dated this day, the 25th of Keruvil, in the year 1175 since the Great Flood.”

With a flourish, he wrote on the parchment in front of him even as he said that. He followed this by pressing his signet ring into the prepared wax, which had been molten and added to the parchment for him by Representative Jepp.

“I call upon Captain Bleskin to attach his own signature in witness of mine.”

His Honour stood and did so.

“I call upon Commander Feteran to attach his signature in witness of mine.”

The Commander did likewise.

“I call upon Mistress Julina to come forth, with her two companions, to receive this scroll.”

As I walked forward in more than somewhat of a daze, my colleagues were on each side of me, but they stayed for some reason just a little behind me. We curtsied formally to His Highness who bowed in response and then I stretched out my hand. I received the scroll from the smiling Prince, who whispered to me as I took it: “I would suggest that you turn around, unroll the scroll and display it to all in the room.”

The whisper wasn’t really necessary, in fact ’twas almost too faint to hear, such was the outburst of applause that broke out when the precious scroll was placed into my hand. I did as the Prince had suggested and was surprised at the cheers that rang out - even though they were principally, I deemed, from our respective families.

The cheers and calls were subsiding when a further interruption occurred; one of which I was amongst the first to be aware since I was facing the right way, so as to speak.

I saw the door open quite forcefully. Which I suppose was only to be expected as ’twas Uncle Brydas who had done the opening. I wasn’t that surprised to see that he was accompanied by Senidet (with Maid Molleena of course) but I was torn as to which was the greater by two other things at which to be surprised.

One was that there was a third principal person with them; the surprise being that that person was Master Pyor.

The other surprise was what Senidet was wearing, Molleena being in a somehow lesser version. Whatever it was that they were wearing, ’twas certainly nothing like any of us Blackstonians had ever seen before. And that caused many a gasp from most of the females present who swung round in ever-increasing numbers as we all looked in amazement at the two women.

Their attire was of leather. A suit of leather it soon became apparent. I shall not fill these pages with a more detailed description for that will merely detract from the momentous events that were to follow. I will report simply that Senidet later told me ’twas termed an ‘Inventor’s Suit’. (It took some time, months and more, for me to appreciate the full value of such clothing.)

However, at that time and that place, I deem we women were all a little shocked, almost scandalised I would go so far as to say.

Uncle’s voice cut through the low hubbub: “My apologies for our tardiness Your Highness, Your Honour, and all others here present. But I am glad to announce, we have done it! We have made a workably robust ‘frog’! But we wanted not to interrupt the ceremonies, so we shall subside into the background.”

Everyone laughed at that. Two women in highly unusual garb, a small mountain of a man and a relative stranger were never likely to be able to fade from sight in a room, however big or however crowded.

Particularly when only a few present had actually managed to understand his words.

But the Prince had understood and smiled broadly as he congratulated them: “Good news indeed, very good news. Well done.

“But now we shall continue from where we were. For the late-comers ...” he smiled engagingly and most present chuckled or giggled slightly “… we have presented Mistress Julina and her team with her certificate of excellence as the first order of our business today.”

As an aside, he turned to face us once more. “You ladies will please come with Mistress Jenet into the neighbouring room once we are finished in here, but for now I have some other presentations to make and then we will allow you to be mobbed by your supporters. Mistress Julina, if I might suggest you place your scroll on the table here, for too much handling can be detrimental to parchment. Oils from the skin can accumulate and so on. It should be safe here amongst us.”

There were more chuckles and giggles from around as the audience considered anyone who might be bold, and stupid, enough to steal from the Prince.

His eyes twinkled kindly and I found myself blushing. I had actually been having a little difficulty with the thing, for its natural tendency to roll itself up of its own accord had been keeping my hands busy. I was constantly trying to stop it from doing so. I placed it on their table and then had to lurch forward as it tried to roll off. Master Jepp took it from my nervous hands and simply placed a weight on one corner which held it in place.

I jerked, jolted out of everything else as the start of an idea hit me. I needed to think about it, and ask some questions. Uncle Brydas or Senidet would be a good start. Then maybe Master ...

“Er... Mistress Julina?” asked the Prince.

“I apologise Your Highness,” I gabbled as I scurried back to my chair, now mentally returned embarrassingly to the room we were in and to the present.

With flaming cheeks.

Of course.

The Prince spoke up again: “And with the award of excellence made to an establishment, I now have the pleasant duty of making mention of several individuals who have made great contributions to this rapid development of Blackstone. Let their names be scribed in the annals of this community, where such mentions shall be formally acknowledged by my signature.

“First and foremost of course must be His Honour, Captain Bleskin, who has managed to control the so very many aspects of not only the Town but also the surrounding lands, for this Barony was greatly expanded soon after its formation, not something that had been envisaged when His Honour was first offered the post. But he has comfortably accommodated such expansion and put into place effective means to govern it. We are most impressed and most grateful.

“Next to be mentioned must be Master Bezan, who has managed all the variety of threads and demands and priorities with aplomb. Not without difficulties I need hardly say, but he has won through. His contributions cannot be overestimated, and my wife, myself and His Honour are so grateful for his shouldering of burdens that would otherwise have added to our workloads.

“Then there is Master Yarling, for his vision and expertise in mining upon which the fortunes of this Barony rest. His insistence upon searching for an alternative water supply...”

The Prince’s voice continued listing Yarling’s attributes and then continued on to several other notables and their achievements but frankly my brain was far away since it had, unbidden, started worrying at that germ of an idea I had just had.

But then I jerked back to attention again.

“… started with her and will now also conclude my list with Mistress Julina, for she has advanced matters in several ways; with several good ideas, or good introductions, or good actions and so on. A myriad of smaller things that have agglomerated into a large whole – that is a large totality, not a big hole in the ground.”

Again laughter rang out. His Highness waited until it had just started to fade before he spoke once more: “Let all these names be recorded formally, and I shall countersign them when the final records are completed.

“And now let all here gathered applaud those I have mentioned.”

There was a noise of clapping and cheering and even foot stomping. My mind was reeling, however, and I found I could not savour the moment. A great surge of people came up to us then and I swear my head was turning complete circles as I was greeted from every direction at once.

A familiar face that I was very glad to see appeared fairly soon into the chaos.

“Senidet! Thank the Maker! I have had an idea and need to discuss it with you to see if ’tis practicable. When might we talk on’t? Oh! And I deem I find your attire to be quite wonderful now I have started to become accustomed to it. I daresay the seamstresses shall be busy soon. But ’twas quite a shock to see it the first time!”

“This is not the first time I have encountered quite such a reaction, I can tell you. But you are amongst the swiftest to approve. We working women down in the capital are all wearing them nowadays so others are becoming used to seeing us here and there in them. But I was sensitive to the thoughts and feelings up here, so I have taken care not to appear in public too often in it. It has been a little annoying to keep changing into and out of it, I freely admit. And on top of that, despite our height up here, in summer it shows itself to be uncomfortably warm. Maker only knows what discomfort shall be achieved when the temperatures reach their warmest.

“’Tis not a fashion item though,” warned Senidet. “’Tis a working garb, designed for protection from the less safe places of work, where say hot metal might splash, or hot glass, or noxious substances like battery acids and the like. I have lent this to Haka for her to study, which is why I was without it for nigh on a week. I deem Haka shall become the expert soon. But there are only a few females involved in the ‘dirty’ businesses at the moment so these clothes are still of a novelty almost everywhere. Why they should be quite so novel, I fail to understand; the men after all have their leather aprons and few people find THEM shocking.

“Which reminds me, I have further told Haka about another new garment from downvalley, called an ‘overall’ which men may also wear over their normal clothes to protect them. A very practical garment is the overall; men can just step into it without a need to retire and change clothing. Hence its name.”

I scarce heard most of the last of what she had just uttered for one phrase she had said had grabbed my attention: “Hot glass, do you tell me? Have you been to a glassworks then?”

“Indeed I have, quite often as it happens.”

“Oh good! That would help with my idea. The thing is, what I really mean …”

… … …

“Your Highness! ’Tis surely far too much!”

Em, Kelly and I were in a side room with the Prince, the Countess and the Commander’s wife, and the associated maids of course.

“Not at all,” he said firmly. “’Tis a just reward for such excellence and ...” a shadow crossed his face just then “… my wife would insist upon it. You should send word of any breakages or pilfering, of course, but I deem the Royal Seal upon each shipment should be a fair guarantee that such losses shall be minimised.”

We three ‘Saloners’ looked at each other in amazement. For the Prince had just offered us a relatively large jump in our income. We were all already receiving enough coin to live upon in some relative comfort, considering the finances of most up here in Town, but this would probably tip the scales into the next level, enabling us all to start some serious savings.

(I grinned wryly at that, for my own income was derived from far more than the Salon alone and I had been not only saving but also investing for some time now. Of course, that income would not last forever, some of the Exclusivity Licences would expire, so I hoped that Master Schild, and Master Moshan’s organisation, had advised me well with regard to investments. I myself had invested in my companies, of course, and had bought several houses or building plots around Town, so my reserves were not so very plentiful.)

But back to the Prince and the private meeting we were having.

He had just promised us delivery of a dozen bottles of wine during each month not affected by the rains. But no ordinary wine, this. An exclusive wine produced solely for the Royal Family and so far served only in Dekarran Castle or in the Palace itself. The wine was cultivated from a private Royal vineyard near Teldor, so it was not as if it would have to travel all the way from Palarand City itself.

“… but I beg that you not cheapen it!” he had said with a twinkle. “Surely you must sell it for more than any of your other wines! Maybe offer a bottle as a special prize for some competition or other. Something along those lines. I deem you shall be far more adept at thinking of suitable things than a mere Prince! Despite each bottle having the Royal colours on it.”

He went on to explain that there was soon to be a new service connecting the Palar towns, something he called a ‘stage coach’, which would likely have spare luggage capacity and would enable speedier communications and deliveries of things that could not be left to the semaphore. These stage coaches were to be specially built wagons for passengers, wagons which had been in the design, building and testing phases ever since he and the Princess, again the shadowed look crossed his features, had been up here last time. They would be employed as well as the Shuttles, not instead of – and would have faster journey times, for their stops would not be quite so leisurely.

At the end of it all, Em and Kelly sort of pushed me forward to be the spokeswoman who formally thanked the Prince for his generosity and to give the solemn undertaking not to belittle the gifts he was bestowing upon us.

And then came yet another twist to an already twisted morning.

“Mistress Kellonika. There is another matter upon which I wish to have discussions with Mistress Julina, but which concerns you not at all. Might I ask you to go to the other room and from there to send in His Honour and the Commander, along with Sheriff Fedren? Oh, and Quadrant Ponstib should have concluded his allocated duties elsewhere and should have appeared by now, so he too? Countess Merizel will accompany you and keep you entertained whilst we discuss our business in here. Mistress Jenet and the Bailiss can both stay, and not just for the proprieties, since they too understand most of that which I shall soon reveal.”

This request was made so charmingly that Kelly automatically dropped into a deep curtsey before almost rushing to be useful to the Prince. The Countess and I shared a knowing smile even as the two women left this room.

My brain started whirring again. The Prince, the Steward, the Commander, the Quadrant, the Bailiss and the Commander’s wife. ’Twas almost certainly some military matter but what did that have to do with me? And the Sheriff was included as well!

I shrugged my shoulders for ’twould be fruitless for me to try to work it out, I would have to contain myself with patience. Never a strong point!

So I thought about my idea for a little while, recalling the delight with which Senidet had received it, breathing a soft “Of course!” as she swiftly took it on board, so as to speak. She had promised to go and make the necessary enquiries upon my behalf even as I was in the back room with the Prince and the others. How was she getting on, I wondered? Master Po…

“Thank you all for attending,” began the Prince, whilst I noticed with a start that the others had all come in and the door had been closed, “… and I accept the reservations from several of you about revealing military secrets to non-military personnel. However, Mistress Julina has been given the most glowing of recommendations by the Countess, by the Bailiss and by His Honour too so I feel that in her case we can be sure she shall remain tight-lipped about this all. The Steward informs me that she has already been present at some military planning meetings, so I deem this not to be so great a step further along that path. And Sheriff Fedren should also be aware, just in case, as we have all previously agreed.

“What I have to say, Mistress Julina, is of concern to you since you are the owner of the property that would be affected most. And I have been made aware that you were also involved to a certain extent in the design of the Community Hall and the accommodation floors on the upper levels.

“But first I must extract from you a solemn oath that whatever you now learn shall remain with you and never be revealed to anyone else without our express permission. Do you so swear?”

“I do so swear, your Highness!” I replied with scarce a thought. If these luminaries were prepared to trust me with secrets, then who was I to gainsay them?

“Heard and witnessed” was murmured by each person present in turn, going round the room from left to right until it came back to His Honour. I suddenly felt more serious, and slightly more worried, as to just what was about to occur.

Then the same extraction of a promise was repeated with Sheriff Fedren.

Only then did the Prince launch into the subject proper.

“I shall start by adding to your knowledge of those accommodation levels in the Community Hall.” He glanced around at the others so I did too. There were a few frowns but no major objections. “We hope that you did NOT notice, upon your infrequent visits to those floors, that we have some emergency exits built into the walls there. If we are ever attacked there (Maker forbid!), then any attackers would have to come up by way of the stairs, for that is the only access. They would then first encounter the guards from the guardroom on the lower level, then fight their way up another staircase and fight with those of us stationed up at the top. If things were getting tight all the way up there, then we have cunningly designed a few panels in the walls through which we could make a rapid and fairly easy descent to the ground outside after scrambling across the lower rooves.

“The same would apply should there be a dangerous break-out of fire for example on a lower level. Or some other emergency.

“But that principle has been applied also elsewhere.

“The same sort of surprise elements have been incorporated into the building of the barracks; you may remember some of the extensive work going on behind cloaking screens recently. The idea there is that any attackers would have to approach through the restrictions imposed by the Market Place and they would naturally concentrate upon the gates to the barrack complex. They should get surprised if a defensive force were to suddenly appear from, or through, a previously-imagined solid wall.”

He paused, nodding; we all found ourselves nodding back and murmuring in agreement.

“Or if a defensive force should attack them from the rear.”

Again a pause. This time to allow those of us not in the know to assimilate our slight surprise at that statement.

He turned directly to me: “And this is where YOU come in, Mistress Julina.

“We would like to use the ground floor of your Market Place Mansion as a hidden sally port from the barracks, by digging a tunnel or two under the road just there. We would continue that tunnel along to the Shuttle Shed as well. We cannot do this first part without your permission, of course. Hence the requirement for this meeting.

“The work can be hidden from public knowledge by simply announcing that we wish to extend the clock wires from a central point and that the works are to carry those wires to where we require them. Indeed we have determined that there shall be a ‘battery room’ in a cellar under the new house being built for the Valley Messenger Service. So wire tunnels shall emanate from there. It’s just that some of those tunnels shall be a deal larger than anyone else would expect.

“We got the idea from the Yodans, believe it or not. They had a network of tunnels under Palarand City from their Residency. Thus we have also included the Sheriff for he needs to know the possibilities for miscreants to escape justice, or maybe even for some of his deputies to be able to appear unexpectedly. But we would prefer the works to be kept as secret as possible, so would rather that any deputies remain in the dark, so to speak, at least for the first instances.

“So now we have made our proposals, we await your reply. Do you feel able to reply now, or should we grant you more time to consider the matter?”

I was aware of all the eyes looking at me and yet I strangely felt under no pressure. Somehow my mind was crystal clear. The answer to me was almost blindingly obvious.

“Your Highness, Your Honour, Commander, Quadrant, Bailiss. I am cognisant of the immense honour you have just done me in revealing military secrets and I confirm that I consider myself to be duly and humbly complimented.

“When formulating my reply, I confess I am able to recall other words I have had with several of those here gathered over the recent weeks and months. Some of the military matters discussed by His Honour and the Bailiss for example, when I was needed to take notes, made me feel somewhat queasy, but afforded me some small insight into the ways you military must think and plan. The gist of all that I have gathered under this heading is that we are up here at the end of a road which goes nowhere else. The chances, I have been repeatedly told, of a hostile force making it all the way up here are slim to none, so I confess I fail to see the actual necessity.

“However, it does make a certain sense in a remote chance sort of way, so I require no more thought. Her Highness, who is my liege, has in effect required of me a small sacrifice, one I feel both honoured to have been asked and honoured to grant. Please feel free to proceed.”

I think everyone was amazed at the ease with which their objectives were met. They looked a little taken aback, somehow. I got the distinct impression they had anticipated some long, drawn-out process with argumentations prepared in advance to persuade me.

And now those argumentations were completely unrequired.

There was a short, but definite, pause, during which I tried hard to suppress a smile or two. Both His Honour and His Highness are highly observant men and I have no doubt they detected the twitching of my lips. I shot a glance at Em whose face told me she too knew me very well.

“We thank you once again for your service to your community, Mistress Julina. Our faith in you appears to have been well-founded. The works shall commence in the morning. I should tell you that the tunnels under the mouth of East Street already reach more than half way across the road!”

He looked around at the others before announcing in a tone that was somehow more formal: “So the objectives have been achieved, ladies and gentlemen. The military requirements have been met.”

He turned to the others during this short sentence and they nodded back to him. Then he turned once more to me.

“And now that we have reached an agreement on this matter, I can bring up a further matter, one that shall require much deeper discussions. That is your intended use of the Market Place Mansion and your proposed Consociation of Cooks. I deem we should make an appointment to discuss this separately, it not being a requirement for the military minds presently around.”

Thus it was that I had another appointment with His Highness, this time to be also with the Countess but without the Commander, the Quadrant and the Sheriff. ’Twas to be on the morrow. And we would discuss his topics as we took a ride around the district, quite possibly his last such ride. He asked me to show him the fish farm as he had yet to actually see it. I agreed to do so.

… … …

“But where has it gone?”

I looked around the now nearly empty room but could not see it anywhere obviously.

“I know not, Mistress Julina. ’Twas there when you went into the back room with His Highness and the others. I know that, because I carefully moved it so I could get at some of my other papers.”

“Thank you, Representative. But that makes the mystery deeper in some way.”

I thought hard about earlier events, happenings that had seemed so trivial at the time. I started verbalising my thoughts, slowly and hesitantly. “I struggled with it, put it down on your table. I talked to so many people. There were Papa and Swayga, my siblings, Epp, some of the girls from the Salon, several townsfolk. Let me see now, who was the last before I left this room? Let me think. Think. Think. Hmmmm. I venture to say that I had just been talking about it with Sen…” A sudden flash of realisation zapped across my mind. “Ahah! I deem I now know where our certificate of excellence is gone. I expect Senidet to have taken it to measure its dimensions for a new idea I have had.”

“A new idea? Should we know about this? Ah! That was the distraction you had earlier before the Prince called you back from your thoughts?” His eager inquisitiveness almost made me blurt out what my idea was, but I just managed to control my tongue.

(I know, I know. A nigh-miracle, some of you would say!)

“Indeed so, Representative. But I would fain retain the secret for a while, for it may prove impossible to do, and would then render any explanation moot.”

“Very well, Mistress,” he replied with a most disappointed look upon his face. I clamped my lips firmly together as I turned away from him, for again the temptation to explain had been suddenly quite urgent, a fact that sort of shocked me somehow. My mind started worrying at that little fact. I left him to his scribing of Barony records and went towards the door, intent upon my next objective. I called Davvy and Surtree to my side.

I wanted to go and inspect the Market Place, for you shall recall this was the first day it was formally opened as such – it had all been a little hurried perchance, but now we knew officially that the Royal Party were to disappear again before the next one, ’twas understandable that ’twould happen today. I briefly wondered with my new military knowledge if they actually wanted to see the Market in action to gain more of an understanding of how ’twould all work on a crowded day. I later found out that I was not far off the mark with that supposition.

I exited the building, went some hand or so of strides and suddenly found myself confronted by a bitter and angry Konna who hissed at me: “So you were not arrested then? Shame. I had my hopes that you would get your just desserts. They told me that you were dragged by guards from your home to the Steward’s house, that you kept your eyes down, you were crying, even your friends wouldn’t walk with you and that the guards had to drag you in there.” She nodded to the Steward’s house.

The total misinterpretation of events that occurred on my way here produced immediately a strong and almost violent reaction on my part; one that surprised even myself.

I burst into laughter – loud, uproarious and almost uncontrollable laughter. I just brushed past her, still laughing. I said not a word. Davvy and Surtree stayed behind me slightly, each shaking their heads at the folly of the woman, which probably added to the flames I had ignited.

Looking back on the incident from a long while into the future, I can but say that this was not the wisest thing I have ever done in my life.

I had scarce taken a further hand of paces when I heard a hissed and venomous: “Why you hoity-toity little pile of pakh-droppings! I’ll teach you!” There was so much anger and hatred expressed in just those few words, it was almost a physical presence. Malevolence pure.

I suppose that I should not have turned around because that way my nose would not have connected with the stone she flung at me, but had I not done so then the back of my head might have been the meeting point which could have been far worse than ‘just’ a broken nose and copious bleeding all over my riding clothes.

To say I was shocked would be putting it mildly. I confess my thoughts were all concentrated upon myself so that I was largely unaware of events going on around me.

I became aware that I was sitting down on the ground and that dear Davvy had appeared from somewhere and was pressing a cloth against my nose, being ever so gentle whilst doing so. Almost too gentle, for the bleeding was still dripping onto my clothes. I scrabbled for my carry bag, to extract my own cloth, but she shushed me.

About three thousand (or was it three million?) people were all talking at once – most of them to or at me it seemed. Somewhere behind me I heard some shouting followed by a squeal, but my awareness was directed upon another figure who squatted down in front of me, gently taking over from Davvy.

“Now Julina, can you concentrate upon me?… No, don't try to nod your head you silly girl… I’m going to take the cloth away from your nose now as I inspect it. Your nose that is, not the cloth! And don't worry about your garb, a few more drops won't make that much difference now.”

Twaite peered closely firstly into my eyes before, with a little grunt of satisfaction at what she had seen there, she shifted her penetrative attention downwards to concentrate on my throbbing nose. “Ah! Yes, I see. A clean break it appears. Now I just need to run my fingers down each side to estimate the damage. I shall endeavour not to hurt you too much but there may just be a sudden short and sharp pain or two. It shall not last, though, I promise.”

She raised her hand up towards my nose, fingers and thumb spread. Starting at the top, she brought her thumb gently into contact with one side of it, her forefinger closing equally as gently on the other. They moved downwards, almost caressing the sk…

“Ow!" I squealed in shock, pain and outrage. "You said it wouldn't hurt so much!” Tears added their moisture to the mess dripping off my face and into my lap. “That was mean, Mistress Twaite. Evil even.”

“Well it doesn't hurt any more, does it? At least not so much.”

I suddenly realised that I was now once again breathing through my nose – to a certain extent. And that a lot of the throbbing had gone away.

She continued: “I have just clicked it back into place and no-one will ever be able to tell it was once a broken bone. You will have a small scar on one side, but 'tis all the evidence that shall remain. You were fortunate the rock hit you at an angle. Straight on and there would have been deep cuts in your cheek and possibly a nose driven completely sideways. A little higher, and you might have been blinded. A little lower and you might have lost some teeth along with damage to cheek and lips.”

She stood up then, looking down at me. “There may be a little more blood loss, but that should be all. A headache is almost certain and try hard not to do too much jiggling for a day or so. Keep your head as still as possible for the rest of this day and you should be back to normal on the morrow. No running or other exertions though, your blood vessels are even now attempting to heal themselves, so keep your blood pressure as low as possible.

“Now I have to go and mend the stupid pakh-brained woman who did this. It seems that she was assaulted by a throng of your defenders. It's such a shame that I don't know exactly where she has been deposited, is it not? She'll just have to put up with her pains that little while longer whilst I search for her.”

I surprisingly found myself almost giggling as she wandered off, making a big show of scanning either side of her – but in exactly the wrong direction as she went further and further away from Konna.

I was escorted by Davvy back into the building from which I had so recently emerged, learning from her chatter that Kords had dashed off to home to fetch a change of clothing for me. As soon as I was inside the door, I was enveloped by a soft and sturdy covering. Em had conjured up a voluminous mantle from somewhere that allowed me to remove my damaged clothing so that they could be plunged as soon as possible into cold water in an attempt to remove the blood stains before they dried into the cloth.

The Prince, quite naturally, demanded to know the details of attack and was quite shocked when the history of my dealings with Konna were revealed. A strange glint came into his eye and it was only later that I learned he had decided there and then that he would pay off Konna’s debts up here and then have her pay HIM back. Eventually, Konna was transported as a prisoner down to the capital and made to work down there.

But that wasn’t quite the end of my involvement with her. There was one other episode that came up a little way into the future.

Which is where it shall remain for now.

… … …

Some of you will have already noticed that, on the odd occasion, patience is not a strong point with me and just sitting around, near-naked under an enveloping mantle when I had so much more to do was never really going to be such a good idea. I believe I might have initially hurt Kords' feelings when I snatched my clothes from her hand and snapped at her verbally. The look that flitted across her face was sufficient of a warning though, as I struggled with getting more properly dressed whilst Em held the mantle to protect me from being observed wriggling during the time I was under everyone's gaze.

“Dear Kords, I'm so sorry to have been a tad testy with you but I was just feeling a little sorry for myself and took it out on you. I apologise unreservedly. I mean, look at you, you are still panting from your running. I feel really ashamed of myself right now.”

Now that speech looks fine as it is written down. It's just that it didn't actually come out like that. 'Just' sounded more like 'jud', 'myself' came out like 'myselb' and so on.

“I confess I was a trifle hurt, but I DO understand, so there's an end to it.”

“Thank you so very much, beloved sister of mine. … There, ready now. Let's away to see the market in action.”

Again my mispronunciations sounded strange.

And were those swiftly disguised grins I saw flitting across my companions' faces?

“Not so fast, young lady! Are you SURE you'll be alright? That was a nasty blow you took. Surely, you should rest?”

“Oh Em! Twaite fixed it up. Admittedly, my nose feels like a giant hawberry and I have a bit of a headache but her potion is working just fine in containing it – the headache that is – and I really need to go and see the market. Otherwise I must needs wait a further week. Maybe my looks today are a little embarrassing but I find that surprisingly I don't really care about that. I have been sat here all morning doing nothing. Well except for receiving accolades and inventing something that Senidet has gone off to investigate. I doubt I should yet attend the dining room, for 'tis still far too early for evening meal table settings and the lessons have been cancelled so that they can attend the market. I cannot just sit here a moment longer with so much that there is waiting to be done.”

There was no denying it – the others were indeed all grinning at the sounds I was producing. 'Ub' rather than 'up', 'liddle' instead of 'little' being just two examples. 'Udderwise'. 'Sedidet'. ‘Seddigs’.

And many more.

'Bordig' instead of 'morning'. 'Dining room' came out like 'die dee groob'.

'Wading to be dud' was how those last four words sounded.

Wretches! Laughing at a sufferer!

I tried to be irritated at them but found myself grinning at me as well.

“Very well,” said Em, reluctance dripping from her utterances. “Kords and I must away to the Salon for we have a delivery due and the others shall not yet be there, I expect. There is no duty across at the Tree today, for everyone will surely be here in Town. The pies and peet-zers are being prepared in the other kitchen today, to make more efficient use of transporting foodstuffs to the Market.”

She turned her gaze onto my companions. “Davvy, you are to look after her most closely, do you hear? And Surtree, you are to scamper to a healer if anything happens, if she gets light-headed or something. Or come and find me as swiftly as you may. Is that clear?” She was most fierce just then, and the two nodded fearfully back to her before promising aloud, at her insistence.

I thought it was all a bit of a fuss and totally unnecessary. My sit-down and forced inactivity for maybe twenty whole minutes must surely be enough? I felt fine really. Maybe the world seemed somehow to be bathed in a slightly more brittle light than usual, and it felt ever so slightly … off in a funny way, but I wasn't going to waste any more time, it was a precious commodity to me and 'twas slipping away inexorably.

I said my thanks and farewells to all there and stomped off towards the door and the steps down to Main Street.

It was at this point that I realised stomping was not a good idea. The vibrations it set up were most unpleasant to my poor damaged face. I rapidly modified my gait.

So it was at a slower pace than usual that we progressed up Main Street towards the unusual hubbub that we could hear even at that distance.

That is not, however, to say that we didn't talk as we went. I had wondered aloud what on Anmar the Prince wanted to discuss with me on the morrow.

“Didn't he say 'twas something to do with your Market Place Mansion?”

I had to think swiftly then, for some of this was discussed in that military meeting and I had sworn not to reveal anything about that.

“I'm not certain about that, Surtree. We have already done some private business about that. Surely he would have completed all the business on that topic at one go?”

“I suppose so. But what was the private business, then?”

Despite my ravaged face, it appeared that I could still manage to put a twinkle into my eyes since he just stuck out his tongue at me and grinned when I simply replied: “Private!”

But dropping that subject was not quite so easy and I needed to conjure up all my scattered wits to keep ahead of my two inquisitors, which began to be a bit tricky until I remembered with relief one little suggestion that had come up: “Right then, you two. I hadn't wanted to tell you anything just yet, since there are still many, many tests to be done, but there is a possibility – please note that word, 'possibility'; it was NOT ‘probability' – that a small service tunnel to carry clock wires from a new battery room to the barracks MIGHT, repeat MIGHT, pass under the Mansion and they wanted my permission to allow some men, sometime in the future, to investigate if that was feasible.

“They didn't want to announce this widely at this time in case the rains delay the start of the work, but the Mansion will be finished, albeit crudely, before the rains so they wanted to let me know that some work could be done then, away from the elements. It would mean tearing up some of the flooring which has only just been put down, but if the building was in use then the works might need to be curtained off for safety's sake.”

I saw both their brows relax as they processed that information and thought I had managed to confuffle the facts enough to get away from it.

But no! Brows furrowed once more.

“But why was it only the military and the Sheriff involved?”

I forced myself to laugh gaily. “Oh that's simple!” I declared, even though I knew it was far from being so. “How to explain? Er...” My mind was racing. “If the building is open for use, after all it is my loss if I have a building I cannot use, then we will need some … some … help, yes that's it, help … to prevent either accidents with people falling into the hole or disturbing the work by asking questions, or dropping things in or whatever. So they first asked the Sheriff if he could provide cover during the days, and if not, could the Militia or Rangers or whatever they are going to be called, provide enough men to handle the task. If that was also not possible, then should the Prince assign some of his soldiers to it? So that they would have to travel back to the Palace independently.”

To my great relief, my inventions, based around partial truths, were sound enough for my two companions to accept and the subject was dropped, helped no doubt by the fact that we were by now passing the Shuttle Shed and staring in wonder at the hordes in front of us. Throngs of people milling about, many stalls of wares, the like of which had never before been seen up here. The clamour, the bustle, the jostling, all were quite daunting. At first glance it seemed most chaotic, but careful observation revealed the orderly rows and patterns of the stalls and the passageways between them.

Housewives were calling gleefully to each other about this or that discovery. Stallholders were calling out their selling patter, hoping to attract the shoppers' attention. Most people were smiling, enjoying this new amenity that showed clearly we were developing into a sizeable Town now.

But, as with everything, not all were alike minded. Some were not smiling, as we discovered when we worked our way round the fringes towards my mansion; we saw something that made me frown in irritation. And nearby that was a group of men, well two groups actually. There was an obvious 'leader' of one group, surrounded by a hand or so of others, some of whom I recognised. This group was being berated by several others who formed a loose, unorganised group and who were protesting to the first group, or to the leader at least.

As we drew closer, I was struck by a simple fact that became obvious from body speak and actual words. The leader man was clearly he who had been placed in charge of the Market, a quite responsible job. Allocation of stall space, getting access for goods deliveries to the inner stalls, probably collecting the stall fees and so on. It became rapidly apparent that some of his decisions had not proven to be universally popular for a number of reasons.

What was shocking was that this man, now revealed to be a key member of the group who 'ran' the Market and would therefore have influence in the Assembly of the Town, was a complete and utter stranger to me. This was a shock to me as it became another, this one less pleasant, indicator of the rapid expansion that had and still was taking place. A minor official had been appointed, and I knew nothing about it!

We stood and listened as a few men aired their grievances and then went off. That left fewer in confontation, but the proceedings were taken over by one loud and angry man who berated him, demanding assurances that he would be able to have the same stall position every week. This man was getting increasingly angry as the Market Manager refused to grant him that, a request which would seem to be at the very least perfectly reasonable. Until my more detailed observations told me something else, and my sympathies immediately swung to the Market Manager, whose name it appeared was Filagor. He was requiring that the stallholder, yet to be named in my hearing, was to remove his stall immediately from where it was, which was not an approved stall 'spot'.

“In that case, Manager Filagor, you have no power over my positioning,” yelled the man triumphantly, waving his strangely small hands in the air as he tried apparently to shoo the other man away. “I was first here this morn, and I have staked my claim to this spot, which is the best here as it is under this wide porch roof. 'Tis not my fault the others are so slow on the uptake. Now mark my claim, add this spot to your allocations and make sure I have it each week.” His somewhat chubby cheeks glowed as he angrily set out his demands, one forearm sweeping his hair across his head as if to emphasise his point.

Surtree, who had wriggled his way through the crowds quicker than Davvy and I were able to do, reappeared suddenly by my side and hissed cryptically into my ear: “Keep that stall holder here for as long as it takes me fetch the Sheriff or a deputy.”

Before I could even reply, he had wiggled his way away once more. I quietly passed on his message to Davvy too. She looked as puzzled as I was but nodded her acceptance. I rapidly assessed my options and formed a vague plan.

So it was time for me to join in this argument.

“Excuse me, gentlemen. I believe that I might be able to assist in the resolution of this matter.”

They both looked at me, Filagor with marginally more interest than the other who took one look at my face and another at Davvy's arm before dismissing us with the words: “Oh it's the cripple twins. Run away and play elsewhere little girls. This is adult's business.”

“Indeed, young lady, ladies, I fail to see how you could resolve this business,” added Filagor far more kindly, but nevertheless equally dismissively.

“Well you see gentlemen, I am of some renown in this town and I can tell you that that stall there,” I pointed at the stall under the porch, “is in fact illegally placed. I see the marking sticks that had been placed to ensure a continuous walkway down that side of the road have been uprooted and tossed aside. I happen to know that there was a very definite policy of ensuring freedom of movement there. It was a major point at the planning stages of allowing the Market in the first place.”

“Oh pish, girl. They are just suggestions not definite fixtures. If it rains on a market day, anyone pitching their stall here would be out in the wet. I have merely ensured that myself and my customers shall remain dry. The walkway simply detours around my stall, see? Believe me, no-one will notice. And how would a scrap of a mere girl like YOU know what went on in the planning sessions anyway? Be off with you!”

In the interests of delay, I didn’t shoot his arguments down immediately. I branched off onto an apparently different track: “My name, sir, is Julina and I would have you know that I have long reached my majority. You shall address me in the future as Mistress Julina. And your name, sir?”

He turned to me fully now, his little 'o'-shaped mouth working as he ticked off several points to me with a strange gesture whereby his thumb touched first his index finger and then his middle finger as he moved onto the next of his points, and then back again to the previous finger as another point was reached. “You do not need to know my name, impudent pest. This is none of your business, believe me. You have jumped into someone else's conversation with no permission. You have no way of knowing all the facts here. You had better just move on before I grab you and teach you a lesson. A lesson you will not enjoy, trust me on that.”

I turned to the Manager. “Master Filagor, I promised I would help you resolve this and resolve it I shall. Mayhap you can inform me of this mean-spirited man's name?” Delay, delay, delay.

“Goodman Filagor, if it pleases. Mistress er … Julina, is that right?” I nodded. “Mistress Julina, I confess I fail to understand quite how you might help, but Goodman Gobitoo here ...”

He broke off as I laughed. Which actually was not difficult at all. I needed not to force it.

“Goodman?” I all but screeched as I loaded my voice with derision. “Goodman? You apply the term 'good' to this great orange buffoon? Well that is the largest misnomer I have heard for a long while. I ...” I skipped aside as Gobitoo clumsily swung at me, which instantly made all the onlookers gasp. The basic training I had been having in the Princess' so-called 'martial arts' meant that I could have floored him, but I didn't want a long-drawn fight. And anyway my nose might not have liked the exertions: even the skipping just then had proven to be uncomfortable. So I contented myself with simply skipping again further out of reach, doing so at a time of my choosing and thus under more control.

“You would hit a woman would you? An injured one at that? That shall be your last mistake here, Gobitoo,” I looked at him equally as scathingly as he had at me. I could say that relatively safely since two members of the crowd had by now grabbed his arms and were holding him. He berated them, swearing all sorts of dire revenge that would be visited upon them and their families. A not very wise thing to have done as more citizens solidified their stance against him. Threats to families were not easily accepted by our society up here.

I sneered at him, my temper by now fully engaged. Delay, delay, delay my brain was shouting to me through the red rage.

I swung away with disdain and addressed Filagor once more: “Anyway, as I have been trying to tell the both of you, a resolution to the matter is easily at hand. You will notice that the stall is positioned such that it blocks access to those double doors which in turn provide access to that building there. Unless the owner of that building has given this buffoon permission to place a stall there, then 'twill simply be removed. You see, resolution is indeed at hand.”

I was about to explain further when I was, a little rudely I deemed, interrupted again by Filagor: “But Goodman Gobitoo claims that he has the owner's permission. This was the very point I made to him at the beginning!”

“Well, it so happens that I can assure you that the owner of that building has done no such thing. I know for a fact that no such permission has been granted, and furthermore no such permission will ever be granted, particularly not to him.”

A voice called out from the crowd: “'Tis fine, Mistress Julina. We have the man now. He won't be attacking you again.”

I looked up and had a great surge of relief as there were now faces in the immediate crowd I recognised, and who recognised me, even with my damaged face. Mayhap the Town hadn't grown too big after all. I saw four men were holding Gobitoo now, easily resisting his red-faced almost violent attempts to wrench himself free.

“I thank you, Goodmen. Mayhap some of you might persuade this ked to start to pay attention to what is about to happen.” I had noticed Surtree and Suril approaching quickly, and I relaxed slightly, knowing that this could be finished now; I had been drawing it out to give Surtree his requested time. A number in the crowd were also in the know, for it was no great secret.

The message must have got through to the pakh-head's brain for he ceased some of his tantrums so he could hear better. Both he and Filagor audibly gasped when Suril came up to me and saluted. “Mistress Julina, how may we be of assistance?” We could all read the thoughts in their heads. Why would this deputy salute a mere girl?

They gasped again as I formally addressed him: “Deputy Suril. Thank you for coming so promptly.” How would a mere girl be so familiar with a Deputy?

I pointed to Gobitoo, saying clearly and as distinctly as my damaged nose would permit: “That man is called Gobitoo. He has parked his market stall in an unapproved position that blocks both the intended walkway there and the main access doors to that building. Can you please arrange for it to be removed as soon as is practicable?”

“Of course, Mistress Julina. It wouldn't do to be blocking that door just now as there are urgent construction works going on in there at the moment.” His eyes showed me that he was fully aware of the complete situation, and aware that neither of the men knew the full truth just yet. “I shall get some...”

“Hold!” came a forceful shout from nearby.

Suril turned. “Master Surtree? There are more urgent matters?”

“Indeed, Deputy Suril. Gobitoo's stall is set out with wares for sale. Now it just so happens that I have good reason to believe that amongst those wares lies an article, mayhap several articles, that could well be stolen!”

Everyone gasped at that and a silence fell in the immediate vicinity. A silence which seemed to spread outwards from us, causing more and more people's attention to be diverted our way. Gobitoo’s face grew even redder, appearing to me to be at an almost dangerous level.

I myself had gasped as I had not grasped the full significance of Surtree's earlier discovery.

Surtree waved me over to the stall, saying nothing; everyone could tell by his actions that he expected me to identify an item or two. My brain started up feverishly again. What could have attracted his attention so quickly?

I walked over there, the people easing out of my way as I went. My eyes started rapidly scanning the stall as I neared it. It took me a little while but then, finally, and with a little shock, I saw it. After that it seemed to beckon me, it was as if all other wares disappeared from my view. It held my attention even as my hand reached out and picked it up. I turned it round, examined it minutely, ran my finger tips along its shape and surfaces. I felt and saw the secret marks, which confirmed its identity.

The one missing Salon fork, stolen by Konna, had just been found.

I turned to thank Surtree for his astute observations but Suril's voice rang out once more, hastily, before I could say anything.

“Gobitoo! That fork that Mistress Julina just picked up from amongst your wares, the one just picked out by herself with no prompting, as observed by so many witnesses. Is that an item you have for sale?”

He was aware that there was some significance here, but was unaware exactly what. He nodded.

“In words, man, in words!”

“Indeed! That fork is one of several I have for sale. And ’tis the most expensive, the manufacture being particularly detailed. You will observe there are other forks though also on the cloth there.” Even then, he could not keep the disdain from his voice, implying that Suril was stupid or something.

“Goodman Gobitoo, you are under arrest for receiving and selling stolen goods.”

He just laughed at Suril. “No, no. That is not stolen! I purchased it fair and square. I even have a receipt here in my pocket to prove it.”

“That article was stolen a while ago now. It has distinct identifying marks and actually belongs to Bailiss Michet. We have been looking for it for many a week now. The secret identifying marks are known only to a hand of people. Mistress Julina there is one. The Bailiss will no doubt confirm her identification of it. So you will come with me now to the cells at the Watch House. You shall be held there until a trial can be arranged. And the person from whom you bought it shall also be arrested, for ‘tis illegal to offer stolen goods for sale, however far down the chain you go. I assume that person’s name to be on your claimed receipt.”

Gobitoo once again tried to struggle against the hands holding him, but his shoulders soon slumped. “What about my other goods? I can't just leave them there, they shall be stolen themselves.”

“Perhaps you could ask the owner of the building with the doors you have blocked if those wares can be carried into the relative safety of that building?”

“Who is he? I must do that before you take me away.”

Filagor couldn't resist: “But you must know him already. You told me you had permission from the owner. Others here heard that, you cannot deny it now. Unless, of course, you have been less than honest with me.”

Then it was his turn to stand there, mouth agape when Suril said: “Mistress Julina, as the stall is parked on your property, the items shall probably become yours, once any stolen goods have been identified and removed. As Gobitoo here is, I assume, not in a position to provide an inventory, then I shall have to ask you to provide one at your leisure.”

Gobitoo, for the first time, was struck dumb. And everyone was laughing at him. Something I knew instinctively he felt he could not allow, but it had actually happened.

His face was flushed as Suril led him away, arms bound and feet hobbled. I deem most will have thought this was from embarrassment but there was something deeper there I sensed. I knew that he was the type to never forget an insult or humiliation.

(Suril later confirmed to me that Gobitoo was already, even then, plotting revenge against Suril himself, Filagor, me, Surtree, Davvy and any and all of the witnesses to his humiliation. Suril warned me that Gobitoo was the sort to claim that things had gone missing which were not actually there in the first place, so we had to arrange for a witness to confirm the inventory take. As it happened, the later trial awarded the contents of his stall to be split between the Market Organisation and myself. I returned most of my portion to Gobitoo once he was released, but he didn’t seem very grateful. I was to learn much, much later just how vindictive he was, but fortunately he was arrested once again before he could do too much damage.)

I finally looked back at the Market Manager. Filagor, as mentioned, had allowed his mouth to drop open as he stared at me in total shock. In all the seconds that had passed since he learned the truth, his stance had not altered one whit. Davvy reached out her hand and gently closed his mouth.

“Yes, Goodman Filagor. That building does indeed belong to Mistress Julina.”

I went over to my main doors and flung them open before turning to the by-now thoroughly entertained throng outside: “Now we wouldn’t want Gobitoo’s property to get all wet if any light rains were to come, would we? Or maybe the strong sun might cause something to fade. Do I have some volunteers to help me carry it up the steps and indoors?”

Within an eye-blink, perchance as much as two, it was done.

… … …

But now we were inside, I decided to look around at exactly what was left to do. I knew there was some haste involved to get certain buildings watertight before the rains came, and that this building was on the … priority list, I suppose one would call it; but I knew not exactly what that might involve in terms of construction. We were aware that the rains weren’t due for a month and a half or so, but a priority list had to begin somewhere. No new builds were being started and all existing works under construction were scheduled to be at least watertight before the weather hit us. That way work on the inside could continue away from the elements.

As the Gobitoo stall was being carried in, I noticed that there was still some work being done on the outer walls and windows of this, the ground floor, over in the south-east corner. They had maybe three strides of each wall to finish, and even as I watched, a pre-made wall section was being manhandled into place on the Dam Road side; ’twas the final wall piece, I could easily see.

All the flooring was down, it appeared, and above us more than half the flooring of the upper storey was in place; again, it was apparent the construction up above was also working its way over towards the south-east corner. There were great piles of materials and tools dotted around the floor area, and I saw at least two of Senidet’s wheel-bros, one parked but full, while the other was being used by a man to convey something towards the hoist set up to lift things up to the floor above.

I waited until my recent helpers from the market crowd had left once more, then, when Davvy and Surtree had heaved the double doors shut, the three of us went across to the single crude stair that led upwards. When the building was finished, there would be two more ornate staircases, one each side, but, for the moment, the construction crew had just erected a temporary one halfway down the west side, in the position that the more grandly designed one would eventually occupy.

I had been thinking for some time just how I was going to use this building and so I had a fairly solid set of designs in my head. Obviously, Gyth would be involved when it got nearer the time, when the detail was required, but the principle was firmly established in my mind. I would have my personal space basically running the entire length of the upper west side storey, roughly taking around half the area of that upper floor, dividing it down the middle almost (which arrangement would thus provide me with a little more than half, since the southern wall curved round to meet the angled Dam Road one).

At the north end, the sunny side, windows would overlook the Market Place from above the double doors and a small eastward extension would take in the beginning of the angled wall that overlooked Dam Road. My west side length would overlook the upper end of East Street, separated from it by the walkway provided for people to access Julina Park from the Market Place. At the southern end of this division, I would have windows entirely overlooking Julina Park. I hadn’t quite decided upon how to lay out the rooms, but as there would be the Consociation sharing the building, I wouldn’t require a kitchen up there in my private quarters. A bedchamber, a bath chamber, a toilet facility, a sitting room, an office, maybe a guest room. Possibly even a dining room for private meals.

We got to the stairs and started scrambling awkwardly up, barely remaining upright. I was indeed tempted to use my hands as well as just my feet when there came a bellowed: “Hold! You there. You two women and the young man. Where do you think you are going?”

I spun round and slipped on the tread I was on. My foot, as a result, slammed down onto the lower step, jarring my nose considerably, which produced a few unwanted tears. I very nearly fell, but Surtree’s steadying hand saved me.

This was necessary for a red mist was descending across my vision as my temper threatened to boil over. This was MY house, Konna and Gobitoo had quite ruined my morning, my nose hurt. I was surprised in one way at how easily my ire was kindled, until I remembered that my Call was due the next day.

“And who wants to know?” I asked in my sweetest and most smiling way. A smile that my companions immediately saw never reached my eyes.

“No, ‘Lina!”

“Steady, Julina.”

Each of my companions knew me well enough by then to know that I was at the closest point to losing my temper as it was possible to get without actually losing it. Each reached out a hand to restrain me, and to try to calm me.

I shrugged them off and looked directly at the man who had called out. I do believe my gaze may have been quite forceful since the man visibly winced as I locked onto his eyes.

I could see his mind working on the facts that he had, and I think Davvy’s use of my full name was what tipped the balance in my favour.

He started to stammer: “Excuse me Mistress Julina, I recognised you not. Er… from behind that is.”

Nevertheless, my eyes flashed at him: “And how many women in our Town have this colour of hairs, and would walk into this building as if they owned it? And bring in market barrows full of wares?” My anger made me speak slightly awkwardly, but the man had the grace to blush.

“I’m sorry, Mistress. I have had to turn so many people out today, I was not quite so observant. I wanted to come running when I heard the commotion but had to help carry one of the pre-made modules into place at the far corner. I just dashed back as soon as I could.”

“Hmmm” I said, somewhat ungraciously, about which I was embarrassed when I finally thought about it all (the next day). I could have been nicer. A lot nicer. After all, the man was just in reality protecting my interests. But, as mentioned, my Call was due the following day and I was already on edge after the nose incident, and then that awful Gobitoo, so I sort of forgive myself.

However, I said nothing further, I just turned and went further up the stairs, the other two close behind me. Even before we attained the level of that first storey up, we were assailed by the noise, the scents and the sights of the chaos that was up there. And the dust. The clouds and clouds of dust.

If the ground floor had been littered with piles of materials, then this one was covered with them. I doubt ’twas possible to see the actual floor anywhere! There were all sorts of workers up here too. There was even a tool sharpener with a treadle-grinder sitting there, a seemingly great pile of tools around him as he pedalled away, offering the blades and edges of the metal to his flying grind wheel. None of the three of us wanted to climb the final two or three steps to join in the bedlam of activity! We turned and made a dignified retreat.

I suddenly realised that I was supposed to go riding with the Prince on the morrow but my Call would put a stop to that. I must somehow get a message to him. Now what wou…

… … …

When I opened my eyes, my face ached, my chest ached and I recognised the other aches from lower down still. Hold! Were my knees aching too?

I looked around at the familiar walls of my bedroom in some puzzlement.

Swayga was gently, but nevertheless insistently, shaking my shoulder, urging me to awaken.

Groggily, I turned to her and tried to force myself to concentrate on her words.

“… in a bell’s time. You must nee...”

I felt myself start to drift away again.

“JULINA!”

I jerked awake and looked the other way. There was a grinning but yet severe look on Epp’s face. I felt my poor brain creaking into life. What was Epp doing in my bedroom? Why …

All of a sudden, my senses flew back into their respective places and I started up in bed, only to lie back once more with a groan as all my aches decided ’twas time to start up in earnest. Each vied with the other for the most attention.

I raised a feeble hand, or feebly raised a hand I suppose would be more accurate.

“Now gently please! How am I in bed? Why do I ache do? Why is Epp here in my bedroom? Why are you waking me?” My voice gained strength and purpose as the long list of questions flew out of my mouth. “I last remember coming down some temporary stairs in my Market Place Mansion.”

“That was near a day ago, ’Lina,” chipped in Davvy’s voice from the back somewhere. “You slipped on one of the steps and fell forwards onto the floor. Mistress Twaite has seen over you and declared that you should rest today and tomorrow, particularly as your Call started. You were transported here on a bac and the driver carried you in here. He refused any payment, I must tell you!

“However, all this is very poor timing on your part. Very, very poor timing indeed. The Prince no less has had to reset his entire schedule to fit in a visit to you to ask you a most important question that affects all of Palarand! At least, that’s what Countess Merizel told us. She and the Prince shall arrive here in a bell’s time to discuss that matter in private. They were most insistent, the Prince even saying he would enter your bedchamber if it’s easier for you. A Prince! In your bedchamber! Well, I never!”

The idea intrigued me and I felt my mouth trying to twitch into a grin. Many of the folk tales told and retold amongst the mostly young girls were of handsome Princes galloping along to rescue the languishing maiden from her dread existence. These girls all dreamed of a Prince in their bedchambers!

“You must bathe and change immediately, young lady,” came Swayga’s tones, “that you are ready for the Royal visit. I must make sure the children have everything clean and tidy. Now show a leg outside of your bed covers, that I know you are aware enough of what we are saying! Your bath is drawn already. Come along now.”

I did as bid and she harrumphed before bustling out.

Epp gave me the final instructions of these madly chaotic moments: “Twaite left some potions for you to take. Here they are. The green one now, and the other two after your bath and breakfast. You must needs hurry, child. Come, lean on my arm.”

Somehow, it felt a little cheering to be mothered by dear Epp and so I staggered along to do all their bidding. The warm water of the secondly-filled tub was just SO welcoming. Why, I nearly went to sleep again, but these mean women wouldn’t let me.

… … ...

Potion, baths, breakfast and potions later, I felt remarkably well as we sat at the dining table awaiting the ‘urgent’ visitation. I was wondering - with my full capacity by then - just what the Prince required of me, and I knew the others were all wondering so too.

We had not long to wait. Just a little while that was almost long enough to start doubting the degree of urgency that had been declared.

The group of notables and guards were easy to hear from a distance and they drew up in a great throng in our little courtyard outside the front door. Commander Feteran dismounted first with four guards, the others all remaining mounted. The Commander came to our door and knocked upon it. Swayga, who had already moved to the door, opened it to him and bade him a good morning.

“Mistress, before I can allow the Prince and the Countess to enter, I regret that I and my guards must first inspect the premises, lest there are any nasty surprises ready to be sprung. May we enter and search?”

“By all means, Commander.” Her calm assurance and easy permission were strong indicators to the Commander that nothing would be amiss.

“Good morrow, ladies all,” said the Commander as he spied us sitting there, “and young Masters. We shall be but a moment.” He turned and directed the safety inspection with skill and tact.

The five men carefully but swiftly conducted their search. The Commander was just about to be satisfied when the guard who had slipped into my chamber called out: “Commander!”

In a trice, the Commander was there with sword drawn and all the others also drew their swords. The action was noted by those outside as the front door remained wide open and soon swords bristled in every direction you could look.

“Stand easy! We simply found another door to the house but the house is clear. You may enter, Sire, Milady!”

And so it was that our house was filled to bursting and guards were posted inside and out.

Then came the first surprise.

“Good morrow, Mistress Swayga, Mistress Julina, and all you other Mistresses and young Masters. I first of all must humbly and fully apologise for demanding so much of your time and privacy this morn. The reasons though are readily understood I deem. I regret I am much pressed for time, for I have a myriad of tasks to be completed in just a day or so. You are all aware no doubt that I wish to discuss something urgently with Mistress Julina here and I am therefore going to have to be extremely rude and impolite to the rest of you, by asking all of you to leave the Countess and I here alone with her. I am cognisant of the fact that this is your house, but would beg you to allow me to evict you from it for a little while, certainly no more than a bell, probably a deal shorter. I promise not to steal the family silver nor to ransack your home.”

He smiled most charmingly and there really was nothing else for anyone to do other than to obey his wishes. There were many frowns and wonderment written large on the faces, but nevertheless they all trooped out the front door, deciding loudly that they would repair to the Claw for some pel and cakes. The Prince called after them: “Tell Sookie, excuse me, Mistress Sukhana, ’tis on my account. I shall be responsible for your reckoning.”

They all stopped then, turned around to face him, dropped curtsies and the like and chorused: “We are grateful, Your Highness!” or words to that effect. He waved his hand in a manner I can only describe as regal, after which the gaggle of people headed once more towards the Claw, all of them talking excitedly, nineteen to the dozen.

We who were remaining then sat down at the dining table, two guards stood alertly just inside the front door, the Commander by the door to my room. The Countess gave a little cough as she took out from her carry bag a pad of paper and some reedlets.

“Shall I make some pe...”

Suddenly, the Commander gave a funny click-click noise with his teeth and tongue. Instantly, the Prince leapt up and drew his sword once more, silently joining the Commander by the door to my chamber. They listened intently, looked at each other, mouthing the numbers as they counted whilst the Countess and I held our breaths.

They reached some predetermined number and then thrust open the door with some force, which resulted in a crashing noise and a high-pitched scream.

“Hold, Fet! ’Tis but a child. You grab him while I check out the rest of the room.”

Soon, they returned to the table with a downcast Korden looking suitably chastened – a young brother upon whom I was focussing my entire attention.

“Kord! What on Anmar do you think you were doing?”

With tears trembling upon his lids, he stammered: “I wanted to … to … know the big sec… sec… secret, so I sneaked into your clothes cupboard and I … I … ju… just let myself out to listen at the d… door.”

“You could have been killed, you stupid boy! His Highness asked for privacy and you were heard creeping about. They might have run you through, thinking you were an assassin or something. Do you EVER think anything through before you take action? I will deal with you later, you can be sure. Now go on. Scamper off to the Claw. Ask those guards to let you out the front door. Swayga will be wondering where you are too. Probably panicking by now, if I know her. You really are the most wretched of wretched little brats. Now go!”

I turned to the Prince: “Your Highness! I must apologise for my stupid little brother ...” I made sure that Kord heard my words before the door shut behind him. He knew the unwritten ‘law’ in our family – don’t embarrass any other, nor make anyone have to apologise.

My flash of anger left me rapidly, leaving me feeling a little deflated somehow. But then a random thought crossed my mind.

I turned my full attention to the Prince, successfully, I deemed, suppressing the giggles at the thought that yes, I did once have the Prince in my bedchamber. Admittedly I wasn’t in there at the same time, but never mind. You can’t have everything as the saying goes.

Now came the next surprise.

“Mistress Julina! What is this that I espied upon your dressing table?”

I looked at what he was holding and gasped aloud. I had never seen it myself before, but I knew immediately what it was and that Senidet had been far more successful than I had ever imagined her to be able to be so swiftly.

“Your H-Highness ...” I stammered slightly, “When you presented me with that parchment roll yesterday, I found it awkward to hold, to keep from rolling up and so on. I thank you for your suggestions then, by the way. I saw Representative Jepp place weights upon the corners which then suddenly triggered one of my ideas that I get every so often. Suppose we just held it down with a sheet of glass. Not only would it not roll up, but it would remain visible. And the glass would help protect it too.

“It all seemed to click in my head somehow, and then I realised that with a suitable backing we could hang it on a wall, still protected by that thin glass. So I spoke swiftly with Guildswoman Senidet about it, she thankfully understood immediately what I hoped to achieve and she took the parchment roll itself off to see if Master Pocular and the others required could collude together and bring my idea to fruition. I never imagined that they would be able to make one so swiftly. They must have been able to, for there it is.” I was aware that I was waffling a little.

“This is so simple an idea and yet so excellent. I see that there is a note attached to it which tells us that an Exclusivity Licence has been applied for in your name. We have many a painting or scroll adorning our walls in the Palace, but never before has anyone had the idea of using this new fangled see-through flat glass to protect the original. We have a great problem keeping the things dust-free without damaging the surfaces. A brilliant idea I deem. I congratulate you.”

Yeah! Yeah! Alright! So I blushed. You already knew that didn’t you?

“And now, most importantly, to the subject at hand. Why I have come here and exerted some pressure to achieve this meeting. You gave me your solemn undertaking yesterday not to reveal another matter and I must once again ask you for such an undertaking regarding this forthcoming meeting before we commence. Are you prepared so to do?”

“Indeed I am, Your Highness. I shall keep the contents of this intriguing meeting to myself until such time as I have permission to reveal any of it.”

“Heard and witnessed!” From the Commander.

“Heard and witnessed!” From the Countess.

“Right. The whole thing is in one way very simple. I shall commence by iterating the reasons that have led me to this stage.”

He held up a finger each time he made a point in the following explanations.

“First, Countess Merizel tells me you are an excellent teacher.

“Secondly, I know you are an excellent cook.

“Thirdly, there is a man in far-off Joth named Maralin, also a gifted cook. ’Twas from him that we learnt all about those peet-zer thingies your staff provide so well.

“Fourthly, Her Highness, my wife, has gone on a mission to retrieve some artifacts that are vital to the development of our country, of our continent even, probably of our entire planet. There is ...” that shadow crossed his face once again, “... a remote chance that she shall not return, but I refuse, nay WE refuse to believe that that shall happen. Now if she does return, then she may well be carrying with her some artifacts, for that is the objective of the mission. Mayhap she might return empty-handed, but my father and I must prepare as if she will have been successful. You should be aware that these artifacts that we hope she shall return with, shall almost all be in her own tongue. My personal hope is that she manages to settle back into our ways if she returns, nay, WHEN she returns. She struggled so much the first time ...”

He shook his head as though to dispel all the negative thoughts, smiled somewhat brittlely and clearly showed in his face his thoughts as he mentally regrouped. My heart went out to him. My hand started to reach for him, but I remembered in time just who he was and I snatched it back into my lap. What a burden it must be not to know if your love will ever come back!

“Fifthly, and we must progress as mentioned on the assumption that Her mission is a complete success, it would be impossible for the information contained in these many artifacts to be disseminated by Her Highness alone, we therefore require others familiar with Her tongue to be in a position to teach yet others that language. Those others being then responsible for using and spreading the knowledge that she brings back with her.

“Sixthly, your Consociation of Cooks, a sort of modern Guild, it could be said, is a splendid idea and would be of benefit to all Palarand. ’Tis an idea not to be missed out on, all for itself, not involved with whatever the results of Her Highness’ mission. It should be available to all, so probably nearer the centre rather than stuck all the way up here. It shall probably be at least five years from now before the railroads work sufficiently efficiently to start moving people about over large distances.

“Seventhly, the man Maralin I mentioned earlier, he is also fluent in Her Highness’ tongue, for he too comes from her homeland.”

I could retain my gasps no longer. I had striven to be silent, but I could not. I clasped a hand over my mouth. My staring eyes must have looked comical over my hand and my poor nose. Weird noises erupted from behind the hastily erected barrier.

“Putting all these reasons together, and adding in several others, I would like to propose that you repair downvalley to, say, Dekarran, and set up your Consociation there or thereabouts. Mayhap even in Brikant as I deem the Great Valley itself shall become important. Maralin would find it far, far easier to get there from Joth and he could help you set the enterprise up whilst at the same time teach you their language, which incidentally is termed ‘English’. You could then teach the cooks AND learn English that you might teach others, so that they in turn can translate the contents of the artifacts Her Highness shall bring back. The Consociation would be established nearer the centre of our land, thus making it more readily accessible from all corners of Palarand. In every aspect, this proposal is a good thing. Good for the country, good for the cooks, good for those who must learn the secrets of the artifacts.

“Except for one thing.

“Yourself.” He paused then, looking me steadily in my eyes. He held that look as he continued. “The work will be long and hard, and ’twould take you many a mark from your home and your loved ones. It would create a HUGE upheaval in your life, and in the business affairs you have so very cleverly established here in Blackstone. And, I am led to believe, in Tranidor too.

“I firmly believe that ’tis essential for our country. The education of cooks is an added bonus to the education of key people into the English language.

“I also firmly believe that YOU are one who could pull all this off. Indeed, I would say that you are THE one who could pull this off. I am certain that without you, ’twill all be much more difficult and complicated.”

He stopped, took a deep breath and then smiled gently but convincingly at me. “Mistress Julina, I need you, your country needs you, all our futures need you.

“Will you do it?”

---