Ursula has a major headache to solve as she joins the military leaders for discussions. Other questions arise as the talks continue and the presence of the housekeeper just adds to the distractions. She is relieved to escape the talks that afternoon to go and examine Count Darkwin...

The Voyage of the Visund

A tale of Anmar by Penny Lane

65 - A Navy is Born

With characters and locations first revealed in Tales of Upper Fanir by Julia Phillips.

Disclaimer: The original characters and plot of this story are the property of the authors. No infringement of pre-existing copyright is intended. This story is copyright (c) 2022 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

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Ursula came awake with a gasp, sitting almost upright as sleep left abruptly. The light coming into the room looked little different than the last time she had wakened, but she knew that by now it would soon be time to rise. Not that she wanted to. She doubted whether she had properly slept at all.

What do I do?

"Mistress?"

Ursula flopped back on the bed. "Oh, Tyra, I have had a bad night, trying to think through..." her eyes caught Kaldar beginning to stir in his own bed, "...what Lars told us last night."

Her eyes slid in his direction and Tyra gave a slight nod of understanding. "It was a long meal and many words were spoken, Mistress," she responded, diverting the subject. "I am not surprised that you have spent time thinking it over."

Kaldar threw back his covers and sat up. "Good morning, Mistress Ursula, good morning Tyra."

Ursula sat up again and began to swing her legs around. "Good morning, Kaldar. Yes, there was a room full of military men and I only understood about half of what they were talking about. Do you want to go to the toilet first? I should have your potions ready by the time you return and then you can go and leave us to do womanly things by ourselves."

He grinned as he stood. "As you desire, Mistress."

He quickly gathered the clothes he would change into and left the chamber. Ursula and Tyra looked at one another. Both rose and Ursula went to her basket to find the required jars and pill pots.

"It cannot be anyone else but Her Highness," Tyra observed softly as she gathered their attire for the day. "Yet she has made no further advances."

"Because I spoke to her," Ursula responded. "That evening, after we were kidnapped, I spoke with her at the top of the stairs, do you remember? She was terrified that I was angry with her because of that kiss. I told her that she did nothing wrong but that it was too soon for me to think about a personal attachment of that kind. I also told her that it was not a rejection but I would have to find out what kind of person I was now, if I preferred men or women, before I did anything more."

Tyra's look was reproachful. "You did not tell me, Mistress."

"I know and I am sorry, Tyra. I was still trying to deal with the confrontation and after that we had bigger problems to think about, like finding the Old Leader."

"As you say, Mistress. If I may ask, will you tell Lars?"

"Yes. I do not think I can avoid it, because otherwise he will keep reminding me. Sometime today, when I can get him alone. Can you hand me that bag, please. I need to check - ah, good. The salve was replaced."

"As you say, Mistress. I did check yesterday, just before we went for the evening meal."

"You did? That just shows how much I am overlooking, Tyra!" She sighed. "I must do better! Everyone depends on what I do."

"Indeed, Mistress. I would venture that you are essential to this expedition now, though I did not realize that when we left Joth."

"I am forced to agree. Tell me, as the nearest authority on such matters, how do people in the Great Valley regard same-gender relationships? Are they even legal? Frowned upon? Forbidden? I have no idea."

"Mistress, in Joth I was not privy to any such relationships, though I do know that two of father's friends, fishermen, seemed to always be together and that father explained this sometimes happened. I thought no more of it. Because of accidents, wars and the like I do know of certain households which have only women, but it never occurred to me there was anything... particular about the arrangement.

"Is it legal?" Tyra frowned as she considered the question. "Mistress, I am ashamed to say that I do not know the laws of my own city. Who would one ask? I do not even know if the same rule would apply wherever we went or if it would be different when we landed in another country. And, of course, if that were so it might be dangerous to even ask the question."

"Ouch! Yes, I see what you mean."

"What of yourself, Mistress? Are you ready for such adventures?"

Ursula sighed again. "I have no idea, Tyra. I think I spent most of the night trying to work the situation out and got nowhere. The fact that it is Eriana makes it even more complicated! I might have been able to manage someone else but she moves in circles I can only gasp at."

"She is no normal woman, that is certain."

Ursula wrinkled her nose. "Agreed! If it had been someone like, say, Nethra or Larys it would be a different proposition, something easier to deal with." She waved a hand. "We had better leave that for now and get ready to go down to the bathing block. That way we can go just as soon as I have given Kaldar his morning man-building tonic."

"Of course, Mistress."

* * *

"Good morning, Ursula, Tyra! Did you sleep well?"

"Good morning, Your Highness," Ursula replied. "I did not sleep so well, I had some problems to worry about. However, I think I may have an answer to your rank problem, but I doubt that anything can be done about it before we leave. Do you think they will excuse you today? After all, you only decided to use that rank yesterday afternoon, you would have had no opportunity to do anything about your uniform."

"Come, let us sit and speak of such matters." She held up a hand and turned. "Tyra, know that the kitchens appear to have discovered a barrel of something they name ale. If you would bring me a small sample in a goblet, I will find out if their optimism is justified."

"As you request, Highness."

Eriana and Ursula found chairs around one of the dining room tables. There was as yet no sign of Bennett or Semma. Some of the men occupied other tables, more men appearing at intervals, including Lars, who joined them at a nod.

"Good morning, Lars. Anything to report?"

"Nothing new, Princess. Good morning." Lars' words in the local language were improving... slowly.

Even though she had done nothing at all, Ursula felt that her relationship with Eriana had altered. Just sitting beside her she could feel the full force of her personality. She was already familiar with the supremely fit female body beneath the ship dress but now it took on a different meaning to her. She had had a few encounters on her Earthly travels, both with males and females, with people presenting as both male and females, but that was fun and recreation. What Eriana represented now was something entirely different. And she still had no idea how to handle it. Or if she wanted to.

"Ursula?"

"Sorry, Highness. Blame it on the bad night. Can I ask you to remove your rank slides, please?"

Eriana tapped a shoulder. "These? Is that what they are called? Of course."

Lars stood to help Eriana and the two tubes of gray fabric were soon on the table.

Ursula explained, "Technically, what you have on your shoulders now are the epaulets. These tubes are called slides because, well, they slide over the epaulets. They are used because it is easier to modify and replace these as required instead of stitching and unstitching things to the epaulet every time.

"Now the military I grew up with does not generally use tubes but things called shoulder boards instead. These are stiff fabric or even wood or metal covered with fabric and they can be much larger than the slides are. But in practice shoulder boards can catch on things and rip the fabric of the jacket or coat they are on or even cause injuries to others. Slides are just easier to use.

"As to your rank of Admiral, we could keep matters simple and follow the style already developed. As I suggested last night, commanders of more than one vessel should have a wide bar. Some Earth forces increase the number of wide bars with rank but you can see that those would take up a lot of room, so what I suggest is one wide bar at the bottom and then more narrower bars the higher you go. As you would be the top level, that would mean a wide bar below three narrow bars."

Erians pointed. "But there is no room for a wide bar on here."

Ursula smiled. "Yes and no, Highness. We unstitch the lowest bar and turn the slide around. That gives us room for a wide bar the other end. It is just a tube after all."

The Princess thought about this for a while and then nodded. "Done. Simple but effective. What of these other ranks that would have fewer than three bars? If you would name them for me."

"I thought that a single wide bar on its own would be for a Commodore. One narrow bar would be a Counter-Admiral, two would be for a Vice-Admiral and three for a full Admiral."

"These names sound strange to me and will likely sound strange to those of the Sirrel. Vice Admiral I might understand but I would prefer, perhaps, to name him an Under-Admiral. What do you think?"

"I don't see why not, Highness. It is your Navy, you can call the ranks whatever you wish."

Eriana smiled. "I do not wish to confuse everybody! We shall keep things simple, I deem. What manner of rank is a Counter-Admiral?"

"I do not know, Highness. Some navies on Earth give that rank other names like Rear Admiral." She shrugged. "I have no idea why either name is used or what the rank is for."

She waved a hand. "We can discover these matters later. Is my rank of Admiral, three bars, as high as the ranks should go?"

Ursula hesitated. "It depends on how big your organization becomes, Highness. There may be ranks higher than full Admiral in time, we might have to allow room for expansion."

"Longer tubes, do you mean?"

"Not exactly, Highness, because it would become harder for others to count the bars. I was thinking more of other symbols to use instead of bars if that happened."

"Ah, I see."

Tyra returned then with a goblet for Eriana and a mug of pel for Ursula. Both took cautious sips of their drinks.

"It is ale, I deem," Eriana pronounced, "but the flavor is very bitter and it is strong. Lars, if you permit the men to drink this I would suggest watering it considerably."

"Can I have a taste, Highness?"

"Surely, Ursula."

The mug was handed over and Ursula took a sip. "It is strong, not what I would want to drink for breakfast. What you can taste is similar to beer brewed with the hops we would use on Earth. Did you have anything like this in Einnland?"

"I do not believe so, Ursula. Our ale is generally brewed with grain, herbs and honey from a kind of insect we keep there. I do not know what hops are."

"I understand. On Earth, hops are the flowers of a vine that grows there. It gives the beer a bitter taste, which is said to be preferred by men. Beer does not use honey but gets its sweetness another way. I understand that is the technical difference between ale and beer. I warn you both now, this could be a suitable drink for your own men, when they are at leisure, but it might have different effects than the ales you are used to. Headaches, possibly. Short tempers. Fighting. Different hangovers. Worse hangovers. Commander Lars, please take note. Remember what happened with that Celebration Ale."

"Yah, Mistress. Can I taste?"

The goblet was passed and Lars sipped. "Strong. Taste fine to me. I understand warning, Mistress."

Eriana said, "Lars, if you like it, finish it. Tyra, if you would fetch me a mug of pel. Although it grieves me, I think I have seen the last of ale until we return below Yod. What were we talking about? Ah, yes. The, ah, slides. The bars are ribbon, I do not know if we have anything wider."

"We might make do with two strips close together, Highness."

"Done. But this morning I will do without, I deem. I will use what I have. Now, let us eat."

* * *

"Do those bars on your shoulders indicate your rank, Admiral?"

Eriana gave him a weak smile. "It is not so, Marshal. These are bars that indicate a Captain of a ship, which was all I was when we began this voyage. It did not occur to me that I would need to make some Admiral's bars so soon in my journey, but perhaps only on my return to Palarand."

Tevos nodded. "Ah, I see. I believe that those of Zebrin use a like arrangement."

"These were thought up by those of Joth, Marshal, so the idea is not restricted to this side of Yod."

"Shall you desire all who join your forces to use similar markings?"

"Eventually I would hope that we will all wear a uniform that may be recognized by all who have dealings with us, Marshal," she replied, "but that will cost us funds, take time and result in waste of the existing uniforms. Perhaps those of us at high rank should be attired similarly, since those ranks will be new, while those who crew our river vessels should show their existing origins."

The Marshal looked Eriana up and down, eyeing her ship dress dubiously. "When you say that we should be attired in like fashion, I trust you do not intend us to wear garments like your own?"

Eriana laughed. "Be at ease, Marshal! These garments that we name ship dresses, for obscure reasons, will be worn by the female members of the service - and that includes any who may serve on the river or at sea. For yourself, if I may ask you to observe Commander Lars, who presently talks to Field Director Ferrion."

Tevos turned to where Eriana pointed. Lars, Bennett and Semma were speaking to Ferrion and another uniformed man.

"Ah! As you say, Admiral. I noticed those uniforms when we first met, they look cooler and more comfortable than anything any of our militaries wear. If I may ask, what do you name those curious garments?"

"The top is named a tee shirt and the lower parts are named cargo shorts, both for obscure reasons. I believe shorts is the word for trousers with short legs. Note the pouches on either hip to carry personal items, the men say they are very useful and do not get in the way."

"Indeed! But do your men not suffer with legs bared like that?"

"With the weather this warm, Marshal? In time the skin adapts. On board we usually go about with bare feet as well for better grip against the hull. Both men and women customarily wear straw hats to keep the sun from their heads, but Lars and the ladies have chosen not to bring theirs today."

"We must learn more, Admiral. I feel certain that there will be a demand here for uniforms of a similar style."

"They are simple to make, we can discuss details another day."

"As you say. Tell me, your female auxiliaries, can they use those swords they bear?"

"Marshal, those two are not auxiliaries! They are full members of His Majesty's Palace Guard and are as capable as any man of your forces you care to name. Certainly they can use swords, just as I can." Eriana looked around. "Our healer does not care to use a sword, it is true, her task is to mend bodies, not break them, but even her own assistant is learning the arts of war. In Palarand and in Joth women are part of their countries defenses, Marshal, just as you and your men are part of yours."

Tevos looked doubtful. "Admiral, I do not name you liar but I find it difficult to believe that a woman can play so great a part in the military. Eyebrows were raised when your name was given as head of the new water forces but we assumed that it was in return for the action at Boldan's Rock."

Eriana stared at Tevos for so long that he began to feel uneasy.

"Marshal," she said softly, "I can understand how you and your people can misunderstand something that happens afar, when you only have news relayed through many tongues, each of whom believes less of what they read or hear than the one before. It is not so. We must try ourselves, my people against yours, in a mock battle and you will see what those of Palarand are made of. Name your place and time."

Tevos stared back at her. "Admiral, I intended no disrespect to you or your people. I would not want to be the cause of unnecessary injuries."

"The battle is required, Marshal, since we use tactics entirely different than those anyone else uses. How else may we judge one against the other? We no longer have a common foe to test ourselves against. Rest your mind easy about injuries, we will use practice blades and other gear and our Healer will attend to any unfortunate accidents."

She heard his convulsive swallow. "As you command, Admiral. Not tomorrow, I suggest, but the following day. I will have the arrangements made."

She gave a hard smile. "Good. And now perhaps we should all sit around that table and do what we came here for."

"Of course, Admiral."

At the table the two women from the household again took seats at the foot but no-one seemed to find their presence unusual. Eyebrows were raised when Ursula sat beside Eriana, though.

"Admiral, we are here today to speak of the Federation and its Navy. Intending no disrespect to Mistress Ursula, I am puzzled by her presence here with us. I do understand that our Navy will have need of healers but surely that is a conversation for another time?"

"Marshal Tevos," Eriana began, "Ursula has..." She trailed off, unsure how to explain.

"Admiral," Ursula suggested, choosing her words very carefully, "I think that certain of these men need to be given information not generally available."

"Ursula, are you sure? You know what..." She stopped before using the word danger as even that could cause complications. "Who do you suggest?"

"Just Marshal Tevos and Marshal Vikzas," came the prompt reply, naming the two top military officers.

"Very well. Gentlemen, if you would remain seated." She stood. "Marshal Tevos, Marshal Vikzas, if you would accompany us. The telling will not take us long, perhaps the others may discuss some other matter while we are away." She turned. "Mistress Orlet, if you could show us a small chamber where the four of us may speak privately."

The girl stood and curtseyed. "Highness... I mean, Admiral, of course. If you would all follow me."

The four followed the housekeeper along a corridor and into a small room. "If this will suffice, Admiral?"

"Surely, Mistress Orlet, and thank you."

Orlet hesitated and then, reluctantly, curtseyed and departed, closing the door behind her. Ursula noted the seeming reluctance to leave. She also noticed another satin gown, the jewelry and a fragrance that seemed to follow the housekeeper around.

Tevos looked at Eriana with interest. "Admiral, this is all very mysterious. You have certainly gotten our attention, eh, Vikzas?"

"As you say, Tevos. What could possibly be so special about Mistress Ursula that it cannot be spoken of in an open room?"

Ursula thought, And yet you all seem to be fine with a housekeeper sitting in on a military meeting! Mistress Orlet seems to be getting more strange every time I see her. And I still do not know why!

Eriana began with, "Gentlemen, what we are about to tell you remains in this chamber. I require oaths that you will not reveal what we say to anyone else, anywhere, at any time unless you are informed otherwise by one of us two."

The two Marshals looked at each other. "Maker," Vikzas muttered, "what have we stumbled into?"

Tevos replied, "I do not know, Vikzas, but I deem it important. Admiral, you shall have my word."

"Aye," Vikzas agreed. "Admiral, you have my word as well."

Realizing that she was the only person in the room who could do it, Ursula said, "Heard and witnessed."

Eriana then asked what seemed an odd question. "How much do you two know about what happened in Palarand to cause the changes recently wrought there?"

"Why, Admiral, we do not know what to think," Tevos replied. "We have heard tales of fantasy concerning a new arrival there, a girl who is said to have arrived riding a ptuvil, one who has now married Prince Keren. What is undeniable is that new inventions and ideas have begun coming out of Palarand, we know that since Margrave Simbran called here on his way back from the wedding and brought some of them with him."

"I can confirm that," Vikzas agreed. "His Grace brought with him something called paper and a number of objects so useful we cannot understand how we have survived without them. But what has this to do with Mistress Ursula? Surely she cannot be the girl spoken of?"

Eriana smiled. "Ursula is not the one spoken of. She has never visited Palarand. The girl, who is named Garia should you have forgot, is a good friend of mine and no, she did not arrive on a ptuvil. In fact her arrival is even stranger. Gentlemen, she comes from another world."

She explained Garia's arrival and progress to the two wide-eyed Marshals and even swore an oath that her facts were correct. The two then turned their attention to Ursula.

"Then it seems to me," Vikzas said slowly, "that by telling us that Princess Garia came from another world, that implies to me that Mistress Ursula did also."

Tevos nodded. "It can be the only explanation, I deem. Mistress, I suppose that, on this other world, you must also have been a healer."

"Of a kind, yes," Ursula replied. "Actually I was a surgeon, skilled in first-hand treatment of... battle wounds, perhaps, accident victims, anyone who needed immediate treatment."

His eyes widened again. "Fascinating! Yet, by implication, you must also know much of other matters, common there perhaps, that might assist us today."

"That is true, Marshal. I cannot promise how much I can contribute but I have served in my birth country's military and so had my father." She added, "There may be ways that I could make useful suggestions in other fields of interest."

Tevos bowed. "Then, Mistress, I have no doubt that your presence here today is not only welcome but necessary."

Vikzas added, "I understand the reasons for secrecy now. If you are a holder of other-worldly knowledge, let us say, then any enemy would strive mightily to obtain you."

"Regrettably that is still true, Marshal. For now, I am merely the expedition's healer who might be able to give advice on some other matters."

Vikzas bowed. "Know, then, that while we are confident that the Admiral and her people can ward you as you travel, I pledge that we of Faralmark will be ready to come to your aid in time of need." He turned to Eriana. "Admiral, you have only to ask, we will be there."

"As will we of Upper Fanir," Tevos agreed. "Now that we understand the matter, shall we return to the others?"

Eriana nodded. "Of course, Marshal. This explanation was necessary but has taken up our time. Let us go."

* * *

"By the Gods!" Eriana groaned as the carriage pulled away from the mansion. "My head feels stuffed full of all we have done today! I wonder how much of it I will ever remember."

The locals had decided that allowing such an important visitor to just walk through the streets was not respectful so they had made the morning journey in two carriages and were now returning to the hostel by the same method.

"I have made notes, Highness," Ursula reminded her, "and I know my memory has been much better since I arrived on Anmar. Between us we should manage."

"And that is another thing," the Princess added. "The Marshals thought you were writing in code! I understand the reasons why, but it does mean that no-one else on Anmar may read your notes."

"Actually, Highness, I doubt that my notes would be understandable whatever language I wrote in. Like most medical people, my writing is terrible. But I write in my birth tongue because that was the first script I was taught to use. Is it not the same for you?"

"Only in part, Ursula. Runes are easy, I will admit, but they have limitations. I have used the Valley script for so long I am comfortable using it now."

"I hope that one day I may say the same, Highness. Are you satisfied with what we achieved this morning?"

"Aye, indeed! We did more than I had ever imagined. Those two certainly know their business, do they not?"

"I agree, Highness. I am guessing that they have spent their whole time since Margrave Simbran returned trying to create a suitable command structure. The only thing they overlooked was just how big the Navy could become in time."

Eriana smiled. "Aye. If there is one single thing I have learned from meeting Garia it is a phrase she used many times and that was 'Think big'. Did you see the looks on their faces when I explained that eventually, River Command must needs include not just the Sirrel but all its tributaries and many other rivers besides? That Ocean Command would require ships able to undertake voyages lasting many weeks, if not many months?"

"I can understand their response, Highness. I doubt if any of them have ever seen the sea or thought how big the Federation might grow."

"Indeed. Yet at least we now have a structure that will be able to grow sensibly as the Federation itself adds members."

"For the naval part, perhaps. I did not properly understand the argument that Marshal Ferrion was having with Lars about the fighting troops."

Eriana giggled. "It was mostly about the name, I deem. It seemed to me that the information had been corrupted as it made its way upriver, turning a Marine into a Mreen. Ferrion had already begun using mreens for his men and saw no reason why he should change yet again."

"Highness, I expected more problems like that but it seems we were fortunate. Most of what we need is now properly determined and agreed."

"As you say. All I have to do now is to write to those of Palarand and persuade them that what we have decided today shall be used downriver in preference to their local arrangements. Fortunately I have the authority and I know that Robanar will stand behind me in this matter." Eriana added with a scowl, "Unfortunately those of Faralmark remain sceptical about the abilities of our men - and of our women, I deem. I regret that I believe there is only one way to persuade them and that will likely mean that one or more will have need of your services, Ursula."

"I could see that coming a long way away, Highness. If the bouts go the same way as those I have witnessed in the past I doubt the injuries will be too bad." Ursula smiled. "Not for our men and women, anyway."

"Aye!" Eriana smiled back. "But I do not need bad feeling between our folk and theirs, Ursula. We are supposed to be making friends as we travel, not more enemies."

"I cannot say what might happen, Highness. We will just have to wait and see."

The carriages pulled into the hostel of the courtyard and halted. Most of the expedition's company were in or around the courtyard so several hurried to open the doors and help the occupants out. Once on the cobbles Ursula stretched and then realized she had an opportunity.

"Highness, if I may, I need a word with Lars."

"Surely, Ursula."

She walked quickly over to the other carriage, followed by Tyra, but Lars had climbed out the other side and was now talking to several of the men. The two women hurried around the carriage.

«Lars, can I have a private word?»

He turned and saw who it was. «Just a moment, Mistress, while I give instructions to prepare for the mock battle.»

He spoke to his men for a short while and then joined Ursula and Tyra. «I am here, Mistress.» He pointed. «We can go over there, it will be more private.»

In the shaded corner the three gathered so that no-one could see what they were saying.

«Lars, you went away last night before I had a chance to explain. Now, do you remember when you rescued us from that shed in Tserikon?»

«Of course, Mistress. After we defeated those men the dranakh knew where you were and tried to batter down the door. Princess made it stop and I broke the lock with my axe. Why do you ask?»

«Did you see what happened when she rushed in to make sure we were safe?»

Lars thought then nodded. «She hugged you? I did not see more because the dranakh was in the way. Mistress, that was one of the most obvious times that I saw she had special feelings for you.»

«Lars, she didn't just hug me, she kissed me.» His eyes widened. «Properly, on the lips. After that she ran out and would not look me in the face. I think she thought that she had overstepped her place and that I would be angry with her.»

«Ahhh,» he breathed. «I wondered why she was in a mood the rest of that day. What happened then?»

«I spoke to her that evening just before we retired. I told her that I had not been on Anmar that long and was not yet ready for a romantic attachment. Besides, I have a new body, the circumstances are all different and I do not know if I will be attracted to men or women. Or both. Or neither.»

He nodded slowly. «Thank you, Mistress, this explains much that has puzzled me. Yet still she pursues you.»

«She probably does not even realize she is doing it, Lars. I did tell her that, by the time we reached Bibek, I would probably have reached some decision. Truthfully, I do not know now if I will have but I had to put a date to it.»

«Yah. Thank you, Mistress, for explaining. As you know I am sworn to her and I will always try to look after her best interests, but it seems to me you are doing that as well. It is my belief that she will become great but she could become greater with you by her side.»

«Lars, try not to push us together, we have to do this by ourselves. From what has happened so far it is likely that I will end up by Eriana's side but that does not mean we would be personal partners. After today's meeting I have to accept that I will somehow become part of the new Navy, but I do not know what my part will be. However, I might only prefer to have a man as my life's partner.»

Lars bowed. «Mistress, I understand. We will not speak of this again.»

She cocked her head. «Tell me, do you mind that she appears to have chosen me? I mean, a woman. I would have thought that someone like her would be looking for a nobleman or his son for a husband.»

Lars snorted. «Mistress, she is used to command. If there is a man anywhere in the world who would be suitable for her, he might exist but he would be very hard to find. I know that she did want to make a match with Prince Keren work, it was a means of getting away from her father, but we were too new, we did not understand the land that the Prince lives in. They respect one another but a marriage would have taken a lot of work by both of them.»

She nodded. «I have yet to meet Prince Keren so I cannot comment. But a woman? Does this happen in your society?»

«Mistress, in Einnland it does, but not very often. Such couplings are... tolerated rather than celebrated. Same with men, though the men have different motives.»

«What about the Great Valley? What rules do they have about such matches?»

He shrugged. «I am no legal man, Mistress Ursula. Perhaps you should ask Lord Kalmenar.»

She slapped her forehead. «I should have thought of that! Very well. Thank you, Lars.»

He bowed slightly. «Mistress.»

* * *

Tyra followed Ursula down the carriage steps and the two watched as it rattled off. Waiting for them at the mansion steps was Mistress Chara.

"Greetings again," Ursula said with a smile.

Chara bobbed. "Greetings, Mistress. If you would follow me."

Why her? Why not Orlet or that Steward? This house is full of mysteries.

Chara led them through the mansion to the same chamber in which they had previously visited Darkwin. She opened the door and bobbed again.

"If you would enter, Mistress." Tyra was a servant, her existence was ignored.

Inside, Ursula noticed that Darkwin was seated more or less where he had been before. He was dressed in tunic and tights and there was no blanket covering him this time. There were no candles burning but a drape over a south-facing window had been partly drawn, letting a certain amount of light into the room.

She curtseyed. "My Lord, I have come to examine you."

"Be welcome here, Mistress. What do you desire me to do?"

She looked around, considering. "My Lord, I regret that the light in here will not be sufficient for my needs. In fact, even if all the drapes were pulled there might still not be enough to do all I need to in order to provide you with the best attention I can."

He nodded. "I feared that you would say as much. However, I do not think that my eyes could stand so much light for so long."

"I have an idea which may solve some of that," she replied. "My Lord, I will need to look closely at your eyes at some point to see if there is any visible damage, but for most of the examination I can supply a blindfold which should protect your eyes. Will you trust me enough to permit me to do that?"

"Mistress, I am told that you are very skilled so it is not for me to say what you should or should not do. I have permitted you to examine me, therefore I must needs submit to your needs. If I may ask you to summon Chara, that she may push me to another, brighter chamber once you have blindfolded me."

"My Lord, I am quite capable of pushing you."

"But you do not know the way."

"Very well. In that case, let me find the blindfold."

Ursula opened her basket and pulled out a rectangle of black cloth. She folded it twice lengthways and then wrapped it around Darkwin's head, tying it loosely but securely behind.

"Is that comfortable, My Lord? How much light can you see?"

"I am surprised, Mistress. It covers my eyes well, there is little light. It does not bind nor press on my eyes."

"Then let us get you somewhere I can see better to examine you."

Tyra opened the door to find Chara standing outside waiting. She came into the room.

"Chara, if you would push me along to my old study. My eyes are protected against the light."

"As you wish, My Lord."

The study was at the other end of the corridor and had windows that faced north and east, allowing plenty of light to enter. There was space beside the desk and chairs to park Darkwin's wheeled chair and leave enough room for Ursula to walk around it. Chara hovered near the door until a stare from Ursula made her curtsey nervously and withdraw, closing the door behind her.

"My Lord, I think it will be best if I examine your eyes first. Once I have done that we can replace the blindfold and I can examine the rest of you while you recover."

There was a sharp intake of breath but Darkwin nodded. "If it must be so."

Ursula pulled the blindfold from Darkwin's head and he blinked in the light. Her own head was close to his so she could see his pupils contract normally. Oddly, she would have expected tears but there were none. After asking him to look up, down, left and right she retied the blindfold.

"They look almost normal, My Lord, externally at least. I do know that there can be internal damage I would not be able to detect this way."

Darkwin breathed a sigh of relief. "It was not as bad as I had feared, Mistress. Still, that was but a short exposure. If I had stayed in here for as much as half a bell, it would have become painful."

"Very well. Let me look at the rest of you now. I'll begin with your head since that was where you were struck, is that correct?"

"Aye, Mistress, and also my left shoulder."

The scar tissue from the wounds were buried under a layer of thick, luxurious hair which made Ursula comment.

"Mistress, my manservant refuses to cut my hair, fearing that he will by chance reopen a wound with his shears. I have told him that I am willing to take the risk but he will not do it."

The wounds had knitted together leaving an awkward, lumpy scar, fortunately concealed by the thick hair.

They would not have shaved him before sewing this together, she thought. Scalp damage roughly treated, during an occupation and in secret, I am surprised it has healed so well.

"I want to probe your head, My Lord, to see if your skull was fractured."

Her fingers found only smooth bone under the scars, showing that he had escaped the worst danger.

"That is fine, My Lord. Now perhaps I ought to look at your shoulders. For that I will need you to take off your upper garment."

Between Darkwin, Ursula and Tyra they managed to remove the Count's tunic without disturbing the blindfold. Ursula ran her fingers over his shoulders, looking for damage to collarbone and shoulderblade.

What the..? Interesting!

"Can you lean forward? Good. I wonder, can you move your arm while my hand is on your back so that I can feel for any damage. Yes, that is just what I need. Good. Now the other arm. Oh, there is some slight damage here. It feels like soft tissue damage which means that, with exercise, you might get most or all of the movement back that you had before. Good. Tyra, help me put Lord Darkwin's tunic back on him."

The smell is there, on him and in the tunic. What does it mean?

"Now I will have to look down below, My Lord. If you do not wish to disrobe completely I would understand."

Ursula was beginning to be more puzzled the longer she looked over Darkwin. Apart from the ragged scar hidden under his hair and some soft tissue damage to one shoulder there appeared to be very little wrong with the Count. She even had him stand and take a few steps in the study before he claimed exhaustion and sat down again.

A suspicion that something was not right was beginning to form but it had no obvious resolution.

"Can I look at your shoulders again, My Lord? I want to check what I found before."

She leaned close as she ran her hands from his shoulders to his neck.

"I have seen all I need to, My Lord. Shall I ask your assistant to return?"

"Please do, Mistress."

Tyra opened the study door and Chara entered. She went to the chair to turn it and push it out but Ursula held up a hand.

"Tyra, close the door, please."

Chara looked at Ursula, surprised, but Ursula directed her next words to the Count as the door was shut.

"My Lord, I have found a battlefield wound in your scalp and some slight damage to your shoulder, as I mentioned before. Neither need further attention from a healer like me. I have also noticed a notch in each of your shoulders, here and here." She laid a finger on each of his shoulders. "Now I am familiar with these notches or depressions, do you know why?"

He shook his head. Chara watched warily.

"Unlike a man, a woman has breasts on her chest and they can be heavy. Most women wear some garment or other to support the weight and these garments do so by means of straps over each shoulder. Continuous wear causes those straps to make notches just like the ones on your own shoulders, My Lord. In addition, I have noticed that you wear perfume, though it could be argued that your perfume is merely a consequence of being close to a partner or potential partner. It seems to me there is too much of it for that explanation."

His voice became testy. "Mistress, I do not care for what you imply."

"I am not about to reveal your secret outside this room, My Lord. Remember my healer's oath? I know your secret because, once upon a time, I did the very same thing as you do now. Once I, too, spent some time as a man disguised as a woman. You have been examined by one of the few healers who could have known the signs."

Both Darkwin and Chara looked astonished.

Chara's shoulders sagged. "She knows, Darkwin. I do not know how, but she knows."

Darkwin reached up and pulled the blindfold away. Ursula immediately saw what had puzzled her previously.

She added, "My Lord, the perfume was a mistake. You should not have worn any today... but then, it would have seemed strange if Mistress Orlet had not. However, I would probably still have found out."

"How, Mistress?"

"I assume that you have some arrangement to provide the appearance of breasts?" He nodded. "The weight has made those notches in your shoulders, just the same as almost all women have. And your hair is somewhat long for the current fashion, for a man, but not for a woman. Now that you have taken the blindfold off I plainly see Mistress Orlet sitting in front of me."

"What will you do?"

Ursula shook her head. "Nothing, My Lord. You know that what happens between a healer and her patient remains between them and no-one else who was not present. But, given your circumstances, you must have a reason for doing it and I may be able to offer advice and assistance."

Darkwin sagged. "It is true. There are those who wish me dead in order to obtain the Duchy for themselves, thus I must needs remain out of sight. However, I must also know what is happening around me. The disguise was used at first to hide me from those of Yod but it is still necessary to protect me. I find that I have come to prefer female attire since I may walk around without notice and without being treated above my - I mean, Mistress Orlet's - station."

"Do you want to remain that way permanently in future?"

"Mistress, I cannot. The Duchy must needs have an heir and only a man may provide that. At some time in the future I will marry Chara and then, after a short period, I will withdraw from life and Mistress Orlet will be my substitute."

"If you do that there is a danger that others will think that Orlet has usurped your position, My Lord."

"Aye, and Olva and I have considered that. There will be... arrangements should that happen."

"Would you choose to go back to being male full time?"

A firm shake of the head. "Never! But I cannot see any way for Orlet and Darkwin to exist at the same time."

"A difficult question and one I cannot advise on. If you continue as you are, would you prefer to have real breasts? That I can do for you."

"That is possible? I did not know. But if I have breasts, then Darkwin must needs disappear since he cannot have such things and be seen with them. How?"

"Herbs, My Lord. But later, perhaps, when you have your family, something could be done."

Chara asked, "Is it only breasts, Mistress? Can you do anything else?"

Ursula shook her head. "Mistress, any herbs can only work on what is already there. Both men and women are born with breasts but of course they only develop when a woman becomes adult. There are herbs which can make them grow and also herbs that can reduce breast tissue when there is too much or they are not wanted.

"Certain herbs can soften a man's features or make a woman's muscles grow and harden but there can be unwanted side effects. Other body parts, such as a man's penis or a woman's womb, are already grown and finalized by the time a baby is born, Mistress. Some herbs can affect them but I do not think that any could change one into the other."

"Oh. Thank you, Mistress."

Darkwin asked, "Tell me, Mistress, you look as if you could never have been anything but a woman. If you had once been a man, how then did you use herbs to make yourself as you are?"

Ursula looked at Tyra who shrugged.

"My Lord," Ursula explained, "my circumstances are much more complicated than that! Before I tell you any more, though, I will have to ask you both to make an oath not to reveal what you are about to learn."

Darkwin frowned but nodded. "It cannot be any stranger than my own tale, I deem! Chara, shall you swear?"

"Of course, Darkwin."

Ursula told them, "Then swear to never reveal any of what I am about to tell you to anyone. I have no doubt that you will not, given your own secrets, but I need a formal oath from both of you."

"I so swear."

"I swear."

"Heard and witnessed!"

"So, I will tell you a story which I will swear to both of you is true. Tyra has seen the proof. One day, as Princess Eriana's ship was traveling the Sirrel on its way to Joth..."