When your life revolves around washing pots and peeling vegetables a summons from the Duchess can only mean one thing - trouble! A young kitchen servant finds herself catapulted into an amazing adventure where she is asked to perform a dangerous task for the King and Queen, with the possibility of a new life if she survives.

What Milsy Did

A Tale of Anmar by Penny Lane

1 - "They Want You Upstairs"

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 (c) 2016 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

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Author's note: The events in this chapter retell those of Somewhere Else Entirely chapter 56 and part of chapter 57 but from a different point of view.

Milsy regarded the pile of dirty pots with resignation.

"All these? Again?

"Aye, Milsy," replied her fellow kitchen drudge. "What with the King and Queen and the two Dukes to stay, with all their people, we're using every pot the castle owns. Best we get started or their lordships' lunch will be late."

"It would help if His Grace didn't have such a large appetite," Milsy grumbled, grabbing the first saucepan, "they say he eats half the food we serve!"

"Now, now, Milsy," the third woman said. "The Duke has provided us with house and home and he has a lot to think about just now, what with all that fuss yesterday and all."

Milsy dunked the pot into the big tub and grabbed a scrubbing brush. "Is there any more news about that?"

"Only wild rumors," the second woman replied, dunking her own pot. "Those guardsmen who searched the kitchens yesterday afternoon didn't know nothing. Said they were looking for a man in Dekarran uniform and another in Palace uniform."

The third woman snorted. "That only narrows it down to maybe five hundred or so, doesn't it? The castle is full of men in uniform! Easier to find a single piece of meat in a tureen of stew."

Milsy frowned. "What are these men supposed to have done? Not molested the women servants again, surely?"

"No idea. I heard," the second woman said confidentially, "that it was something to do with a young girl His Majesty brought with him. But there's so many visitors here that could be anybody, couldn't it?"

"Aye, right enough," the third one agreed. "Master Samind got called away upstairs, he might find out something while he's up there. Maybe one of the corridor guards will tell him something."

"What's he gone up there for?" the second asked. "Was there some problem with the food? If he's being reprimanded he won't be making small talk to no guardsman, will he?"

"He won't be telling us when he comes down, whatever he finds out," Milsy said. "He thinks he's above the likes of us."

"As you say," the second agreed. "That don't make it true, does it?" The three grinned at each other.

The bulk of the washing had been completed by the time Samind next put in an appearance. Milsy was hot, sweaty, wet and filthy from scrubbing pots and disposing of encrusted leftovers. The three women gratefully came to a stop as their nominal boss entered the room, glad of even the slightest excuse for a break.

"Milsy," Samind said without preamble, "there you are. You can stop whatever you're doing. They want you upstairs."

Milsy stood up and roughly wiped her hands down her damp apron, a knot of cold forming in the pit of her stomach.

"Me? Who wants me, Master Samind? What for? Did I do something wrong?"

Samind shrugged. "I don't believe so. I don't know exactly, girl. I think it might be something to do with that fuss yesterday." He smiled at the young girl. "You remember I told you that I thought you might do better than Dekarran's kitchen? It looks like you might be in luck. It seems that one of the Queen's maids was injured during," he waved a hand to indicate he didn't know, "whatever happened, and she is looking for some extra help. The Duchess remembered that I spoke of you."

Milsy was apprehensive. "Me? You mean, I'm to be a maid upstairs? How long would that be for, Master Samind? Until the parties depart from Dekarran?"

Samind smiled again. "No, girl, I think the post is to be more permanent than that. Go with Vanden now, there's a good girl. You mustn't keep the Duchess waiting."

"But -"

"Go. Shoo. You can sort out your things once you know what is happening."

Milsy bobbed at Samind. "As you command, Master Samind."

She followed the footman through the castle corridors, her mind in a whirl. Unlike the two she had been working with, she had listened carefully to all the rumors and formed her own theory about yesterday's events. There had been a girl, a girl who moved in the highest circles. She and her maid had been walking the corridors when they had been attacked. Something to do with an abduction? One of the men had been killed, but Milsy hadn't worked out who had done the killing or why. But the maid had been injured, or so the reports had said. Perhaps she was a temporary replacement, despite what Samind had said?

Milsy began to get more nervous as Vanden led her to even higher levels in the castle, levels no kitchen servant was ever permitted. Here, the walls were of paneled wood, not dressed stone, and the floor underfoot was carpeted, an arrangement she had heard about but never seen. She became acutely aware of just how she was dressed and began to worry in case she should smear the fine veneers on the walls or tread whatever might be on the soles of her servant's shoes into the carpet.

"Here we are, girl," Vanden said when they reached a door of heavily carved woods. "You go in, I'll stay here a moment or two in case there's been a mistake or some errand needs doing."

Milsy gave a light knock at the door and entered feeling very nervous.

"Your Grace." She curtseyed low, and then when she straightened her eyes widened. "I'm sorry, Your Majesty." She felt terrified as she curtseyed again. "You sent for me."

"We did," the Queen said. "We require a girl servant to perform a special service for the crown. You would leave the household of Duke Gilbanar and join my own." Milsy's eyes widened again. "You would travel with us to Palarand and reside with us there. This is not a command. If you feel that you would not wish to leave Dekarran, part from your friends, then we would understand." The Queen smiled to try and put her at ease. "Before you think of accepting, I must tell you that you may be asked to do unusual things, and that you must not on any account tell anyone what you are doing. This task involves significant danger and it is entirely possible that you might die doing it."

Milsy immediately dropped to one knee and bowed her head.

"Your Majesty, I am yours to command." She looked up, then. "But, Ma'am, what can a young girl like me do? I am only a kitchen servant, after all. I know nothing of the business of Queens and Duchesses."

"Your loyalty does you credit, child," the Duchess said. "Stand up, and let us look at you."

She stood and the two women examined her, although she could think of few reasons why they should wish to.

"Would you turn to the side, dear?" the Queen asked. Dutifully, she did as she was asked.

"Not bad," Vivenne said. "With a bit of cleaning up she would definitely do."

Milsy flushed. "Your Grace, I was cleaning pots when Master Samind asked me to come up to you. I have not had the opportunity to make myself clean, nor change from my work clothes."

"That's fine, dear," the Queen said. "That's not quite what the Duchess meant but we understand your position. Come here, hold out your hands."

This was familiar territory since everyone who worked in the kitchen was inspected before each shift began. The Queen gave her a close check-over before nodding.

"You are sure that you understand what we are asking of you? You will leave this castle, come away with us, possibly never to return. You will leave all your friends, anyone you know. Your journey may involve danger and possibly your death. If you complete your service, a place appropriate to your abilities will be found for you in the palace establishment. You are still decided?"

They want me to travel with the royal party and live in the palace! It is true!

"Your Majesty," said Milsy seriously, "I am. If it is possible for me to do, then I shall do as you command."

The Queen sighed. "Then so be it. Vivenne, you'll arrange the transfer? And we must have... Milsy's belongings brought up to our quarters. Now, girl, be seated and we shall tell you what we wish of you."

Milsy was panic-stricken. "Ma'am, no! I dare not sit in this dirty dress, I'll ruin the fabric of the chair!"

"Very well. You know what happened yesterday evening? Here in the castle?"

"Yes, Ma'am! The kitchens talk of nothing else. To have someone abducted -" She stopped short and her eyes widened again. A sudden transfer... a young girl, an abduction attempt..."You want me to be a decoy for the young lady!"

The Duchess said, "Samind told us you were smart, he didn't tell us you were this smart."

The Queen agreed. "Indeed. If you are as smart as you seem, Milsy, you may go far in Palarand. But we must first get you back to the palace, and that is where the danger lies. We wish you to play the part of Baroness Garia during our procession back to the city. And, quite possibly, for some time after that."

Milsy's face was pale. "When you said danger, Ma'am, I didn't realize..." Her expression became resolute. "I said I would do it, Your Majesty, and I will. Any service I can do for you or for the King, you have only to ask."

"You should not be in very much danger, dear. You will be surrounded by a great many men who will defend you to the death should the need arise." The Queen smiled. "And there will be compensations. You will ride in a carriage, possibly with myself and the King, and wear many beautiful gowns."

Milsy's face lit up. If I'm going to be a decoy of course I'll have to wear her gowns. It cleared again. But... there are men who want to abduct the... Baroness? Was that who she was? She lit up once more. I've heard things about her! Rumors, of course, half of which are nonsense, but there's enough to know she is very important. The job they want me to do is important.

She became serious again. "Ma'am, now I know what you meant by getting me cleaned up. I'm afraid I don't know how to behave in your court, I have no knowledge how things are done."

"Neither did Garia, dear, before she came to us," the Queen said, surprising Milsy. "She comes from a place a very long way away, somewhere else entirely, and in her world they do not have a King or Queen to look after them. They have a different method, and each man is said to be the same as the next."

Milsy's brow furrowed. "That sounds... impossible, Ma'am."

"Yes, dear, it does, but she tells us it seems to work. But my point is that she herself is not a born noble and has had to learn the ways of the palace. There you have an advantage over her since you are already familiar with most of our customs."

"As you say, Ma'am. Well, some of them." Her eyes sparkled as she considered the adventure to come. "I'll try my hardest, Ma'am. I can do no more."

"Indeed, dear. And we'll try and make it as easy for you as we may. Now, perhaps you had better begin your new employment in the proper manner. Kenila, would you conduct Milsy to the bathroom and get her completely clean? Dress her in a robe when you've finished and bring her back here. Varna, send for Rosilda. She will have much extra work to do before we depart for Palarand."

Kenila led Milsy into the Royal bedroom and through into a large tiled bathroom. She smiled at the young girl as she pulled the rope for water.

"Do you mind having a bath now?" she asked. "I don't know much about the routine in the castle kitchens."

"Uh, mist - uh, what do I call you?"

"I'm Kenila and the Queen's other maid is Varna," Kenila explained.

"Uh, well, Kenila, I'm Milsy and I've been cleaning pots for about two bells to get them ready for lunch. We'd about finished, then I would probably have been loading food onto platters for the footmen to take to the dining rooms. I wouldn't bathe until tonight normally, though I would wash my hands, of course."

Kenila tilted her head to regard Milsy thoughtfully. "Well, Milsy, I don't think you can stay in those clothes much longer," she said. "I must make you clean before you can be presented to the Baroness. Shall you bathe?"

"But... what am I to wear?" Milsy was confused as Kenila helped her remove her clothes.

"Milsy, I know not, but most likely you will be wearing some of the Baroness's gowns, as Her Majesty has told you. Once you are clean I'll wrap you in a robe until we can join the Baroness and her party."

"Her party? How many of them are there?"

"Only her secretary and two maids are with her presently. She has some men-at-arms as well. There, the water flows nicely. Can you manage by yourself or do you want me to get in as well?"

"Oh, Kenila! I have only ever washed myself, though the kitchen servants share the water. This is all so strange."

Kenila smiled. "Milsy, you have no idea."

After her bath Milsy emerged to find a woman servant in palace livery waiting in the bedroom. Wrapped in a robe she felt extremely self-conscious.

"I am Rosilda," she said. "I'm one of the palace seamstresses. The Queen has asked me to measure you up, discover if there are differences in size between you and Lady Garia." She smiled at Milsy. "Some of the clothes milady wears are... unusual, let us say. I have helped milady turn her ideas into cloth, so I am familiar with her body. If you would take off the robe, I can note down your measurements."

What followed was embarrassing for Milsy, as this procedure had never happened to her before. Servants in the lower castle looked through a pile of clothes until they found something that fitted. She didn't mind standing naked in front of other women, that was life in the servant's quarters, but having to have the tape wrapped closely around her body parts was... different. When Rosilda finished she looped her tape around her shoulders and smiled.

"Good! Thank you for being so patient, Milsy." She consulted her parchment. "It seems that you are mostly the same size as Lady Garia, being but a finger's width taller. Your breasts are slightly larger but you should be able to wear most of her regular gowns. Your feet are bigger, though, I must tell the Duchess that you will require suitable footwear, you will not fit any of Lady Garia's shoes."

Milsy was given a private lunch in the Royal sitting room. With Kenila in attendance she took an afternoon nap in chairs in the bedroom, only disturbed at the end by the Queen coming in to collect something. Kenila had to leave her alone for a time to serve the Queen so Milsy wandered to the windows to look out over the Palar valley. She had never seen the terrain outside the castle from so high up and she found the view fascinating.

Soon, the Queen returned with Kenila and beckoned Milsy.

"It is time for you to join the Baroness," she said. "But though she is in a suite along the corridor we do not wish your connection to her to become known in case somebody guesses the truth. Wait in the sitting room with Kenila and you shall be led another way to her suite."

The Queen departed with her other maid. In the sitting room the two waited. Shortly there was a click and a section of the paneling swung silently open. A young man stepped out holding a lantern. He smiled at Milsy.

"So, you're the one! Follow me, if you would. Be careful, there are stairs going down."

The two women followed the man down a spiral staircase onto a dimly-lit level. There was a corridor running into the darkness both ways, with small rooms to one side, each with a small window opening out onto the north side of the castle.

"This is an old servants' access route," the young man explained. "It didn't work out because the stairs made it awkward but it has other uses." He grinned. "Like today. Follow me."

He led them along the corridor, counting off rooms, and then up another spiral stair. At the top was a panel opening into another sitting room. They emerged to find a group of nobles waiting, including the Duke and the King. The two women curtseyed to the King.

The Queen stepped forward. "Allow me to introduce Milsy, who has volunteered to become a substitute for Garia when we leave Dekarran to return home. Milsy, this is Garia, her maid Jenet, her secretary Merizel and Merizel's maid Bursila."

Milsy felt petrified to be standing in front of such an august assembly. Her eyes flickered in all directions, looking at each of them, her face becoming paler as time went by.

"Garia, perhaps you would stand beside Milsy," the Queen suggested. "That will let us compare you directly."

A young woman the same age as Milsy walked over beside her and stood facing the assembled royalty. King and Duke examined the pair thoughtfully and then turned to each other.

"Gil, I think this will work. I'm sorry to steal a servant off you, but -"

"My pleasure, Rob. From what Vivenne tells me, she is brighter than she looks. Being in the palace is possibly the best thing that can happen to her."

The King nodded. "Very well. I suggest we depart now and leave our new conspirator to our ladies. She looks a little overwhelmed with all of us standing here."

"As you say, Rob. Boys, you'd better leave as well. Terry, first you must show Garia how that door works."

The Queen and the Duchess took them into the bedroom. The others were a taller, slightly older girl and two maids, one of whom was much older. That one had a bandage around her neck so Milsy guessed that she might have been in the fight, and therefore must be the Baroness's maid. The other two she could not work out although one was certainly another maid. When the Baroness joined them she found them seated on comfortable chairs under the windows.

"Garia," the Queen began, "Milsy was a kitchen servant until this afternoon. She knows very little of what we propose, but she knows that she will pretend to be you for the journey back to the palace. That means that she must do so wearing some of your clothing, preferably that which would most identify you to an onlooker."

The Baroness nodded. "I understand, Ma'am. I'd almost worked that out, anyway. The problem is, I don't have that much clothing here." She considered. "Actually, it's not as bad as I think, is it? She won't be doing Tai Chi or combat training, and I can't imagine she'll be riding a frayen, so she won't need a lot of my special clothing."

"No, dear. I think she will probably ride in the carriage with Robanar and myself. But she might wear some of your green-on-green outfits, dear."

The Baroness nodded again. "I'd more or less thought that I couldn't wear my colors because that will identify me too easily." She paused. "I might need a set for when we reach... our destination, though. I'll need to identify myself then, won't I?"

"As you say, dear. As will..." The Queen paused, and then waved her hand. "I'm not being rude, dear, but perhaps we had better speak of that part of the plan another time." She turned to Milsy and smiled. "Dear, we should not discuss other parts of the plan in front of you. If you are by chance caught, then what you have not been told cannot be forced out of you."

Milsy looked pale and licked her lips. "I understand, Ma'am." She turned to the Baroness. "Milady, combat training? Riding frayen? You really do those things? I have heard stories in the kitchens, but I thought them scarcely credible."

The Baroness gave Milsy a warm smile. "Yes, Milsy, I do those things and many more. They're not things that women do much around here. Yet. But you'll be welcome to receive training when I get back." The Queen gave the Baroness a measured look but she carried on. "On the other hand, I do suggest you start to learn Tai Chi as soon as you can, because it will help you keep calm. You've met Feteran? No? He's the commander of my armsmen and he'll be returning to the palace with you. He'll get you started and he'll look after you all the way. You may rely on him completely for help and advice. As for myself, as long as we're here together you can ask me anything, understand? And you must call me Garia. If you are to play my part you'll have to quickly get used to being around the King and Queen, so you're going to have to learn to be a little more familiar with everyone than you might have been before."

Milsy's eyes flicked to the Queen but she nodded. "As you say, Milady. Oh! As you say, Garia."

"There's something else, Milsy," the Queen said, "that you must needs sacrifice. Garia has a very distinctive hair style."

"I noticed that, Ma'am." She reached a hand up and touched her long locks. "I understand that it will be necessary to cut it, Ma'am. I don't think I'll mind that, though it will be strange to begin with." She frowned. "My hair is not as dark as... Garia's, though. Will any notice?"

"That shouldn't be a problem once we put karzal-nut oil on it," Garia said. She looked at Jenet who nodded. "The oil will make it darker and make it shine like mine does."

It was Garia's turn to frown. "That's another point, actually. My hairstyle is distinctive. How will I be able to disguise my own?"

"That won't be difficult, Garia," the Duchess said. "I'm sure we can find you a suitable wig from somewhere. Perhaps something in a different color."

Garia's eyebrows rose. "You have wigs here?"

"Of course. Sometimes one wishes to change one's look for a ball, or for a children's amusement at festival time, perhaps. On occasion there has been an older relative who has lost her hair and would prefer the world not to know. There are some few wigs, stored carefully away. Many are quite old, or of outdated style. You must accompany me one day and we shall find out if any are suitable."

"As you wish, Aunt Vivenne. What should we be doing now, Ma'am? Merizel and I were just about to find something to wear to dinner."

"I would suggest that you both eat here in the suite this evening, dear. That way, you may make your portions serve five people and Milsy can get to know you." The Queen smiled. "I can tell the others that you did not wish to leave your maid, which is true enough."

"What will happen to Milsy tonight, then? Can she stay in the suite with us?"

"Do you think that you can manage with an extra guest, dear? What will happen if somebody comes to your door? One of the servants, perhaps?"

Garia grinned. "We have many rooms where Milsy can hide while visitors do what they need to. Besides, you said that the main corridor was sealed off and only palace guards and palace servants would be allowed here."

"As you say, dear. But I would not attempt to rely on the discretion of the palace servants if I were you. Excepting our personal maids, of course." The Queen looked at the huge bed. "Where shall Milsy sleep, if she stays here?"

"Jenet and Bursila are sharing one of the servants' rooms so Milsy can have the other." Garia turned to Milsy. "No offense, but I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with three in a bed, even one that big. I've never slept in a bed with anyone else before."

"You have servants' rooms right in the bedroom? What an amazing thing." Milsy's eyes grew round again. She asked hesitantly, "May I have a look, please?"

"Of course. That one there." Garia pointed.

Milsy walked over and pulled the door open, went inside and came out moments later. "Mil- I mean, Garia, it's wonderful! It's much better than the dormitory I sleep in now, with five other kitchen women. You wouldn't believe the snoring -" she stopped, guiltily. "You don't snore, do you?"

Garia and the other girl looked at each other. "We're still discussing that," Garia said finally. "I don't think you'll be disturbed, though." Garia turned to the Queen. "Ma'am, I guess if we want our meals brought up here we'd better order. And we still have to change."

The Queen took the hint and stood. "As you say, Garia. We'll leave you all to become acquainted while we go and prepare ourselves. Vivenne?"

"As you command, Ma'am."

After the Queen, Duchess and their maids departed Garia turned to Milsy.

"Right. There's no need for you to stay in that robe for the next week, is there? Let's see how you fit into some of my gowns. And then we can sit down and have a good talk until the food arrives."

"As you command, uh, Garia."

"Relax! I'm sure you're going to have a great time trying out my stuff."

"Uh, Garia, you have an odd way of speaking."

"Ah, that's because I'm not from around here, I'm from somewhere else entirely. I'm not even sure how or why I know the local language. When I first arrived here I was told I had an odd accent but I've also been told that the accent has mostly gone now." Garia sighed. "Look, perhaps we'd better sit down and just talk while we wait for our food to arrive. It will be important for you to know my story, because I don't behave how you might think a Baroness would behave."

"I'm sorry," Milsy replied, "I'm just a kitchen maid. I have no idea how any of the nobility is supposed to behave. You're almost the first one I've ever spoken to, apart from the Queen and Duchess Vivenne."

Garia was visibly affected by Milsy's lack of experience.

"Well, then," she said with a smile, "we'd better do something about that, hadn't we?"

~o~O~o~

The following morning was full of surprises for Milsy. First, there was a procession of women using the toilet facilities. Then, to her amazement, all five of them climbed into the sunken tub together and washed each other. After that, they pulled on fluffy robes and took positions on the floor in front of the huge bed. Garia told Milsy to sit on the foot of the bed and watch.

"What are you all doing, Garia? Is that a kind of dance?"

They stopped and Garia explained the purpose and philosophy of Tai Chi. When she had finished Milsy watched attentively as the others ran through the whole exercise. For all of them now, the movements and sequences of Tai Chi had become automatic and they could relax their minds instead of having to concentrate on the forms.

Garia had reluctantly agreed that she would have to take breakfast from now on in her suite, in order to cover the extra food needed for Milsy. There was still plenty for everyone and in fact a certain amount was returned when the service was collected. Bursila carefully put the trays outside the door to the suite so that no-one who did not know what was planned needed to enter.

"I don't think I can put off going down to the training area," she said when they had tidied up. "Everyone will expect us. We'll have to go check the frayen as well because soon enough they'll be on their own for a while. Keren said he'll take good care of them but it won't be the same."

"I agree," Merizel said. "The extra saddles and tack, is anyone going to ask questions?"

"Not really. The guards' equipment is modeled on our own, so it will just appear to be spare riding gear in the back of the wagon." Garia frowned. "The tricky part will be getting our chests packed and down there without anyone realizing they are ours. And from that point on, we'll all have very few clothes left to wear."

"We'll ask the Duchess if there's normal clothing we can wear," Merizel suggested. "We'll need some disguise for when we leave, in any case."

"Let's wait till we speak to Tanon," Garia decided. "There might be certain clothes the traveling crews wear that the townsfolk don't."

She raised her eyebrows at Merizel, who shook her head. "Don't ask me, I never paid attention to that kind of detail. You're the only one of us with any experience of what merchants do. You're right, we don't want to stand out once we're on the road."

Jenet said, "Milady, you cannot take your own chests with you. They will have to return to the palace with Milsy."

Garia thought. "You're right, they are too obviously chests of a member of the royal party. Okay, let's leave that question till we can meet the Queen and Aunt Vivenne. I'm sure they'll be able to decide what we need to do."

It was time for them to dress and this brought the next new experience for Milsy.

"It is very strange to me that we wear harness as that of the beasts," she remarked as Jenet secured a borrowed bra on her.

Jenet returned a wry expression as she tied the bow under Milsy's breasts. "Do we not toil and labor at the behest of men, as beasts do?" Then she smiled. "That is not the point, child. Tell me now, how do you feel, with a new garment supporting your breasts this way?"

Milsy looked startled, then thoughtful. With the others watching she moved to a free space in the bedroom and began bending and twisting her body to try and determine the effect it would have. When she finished there was a surprised look on her face.

"It is very different to the bodice I have always worn before. Is this what the women on your world wear, Garia?"

"Mostly, it is," Garia replied. "And you will find, once you get to the palace, that every woman there, and I mean every one, will be wearing bras, so you had better get used to them quickly."

Milsy nodded. "I like it. I can move my body more easily and while the season is still warm it will help me to keep cool." She looked at Garia with a plea. "Once I stop pretending to be you, shall I have to wear bodices again? I do not think I will like that."

Garia shook her head. "I don't think so. Bras are so popular in the city that I guess everyone there will be wearing them in future. Our seamstress Rosilda brought patterns with her, so everyone here will soon begin wearing them as well."

Garia dressed in her exercise clothes in the colors of the Palace Guard, one of her older outfits. She had brought them along in case there was a problem washing her new outfit in the Blackstone livery. The only change was that she wore her new sash instead of the all-pink one. Milsy had been dressed in one of Garia's day gowns and could hardly get over the feel of the cloth compared with what she had worn before.

"Do all of your clothes feel like this, Garia? I know that what nobles wear looks wonderful, but I never thought about how the cloth would feel."

Garia smiled. "It varies. What I'm wearing now is the same cloth as the uniforms of the guard. I have some evening gowns back at the palace that feel even better than what you have on."

"As you say, Garia. But," Milsy frowned, "This gown feels somewhat short to me. Someone might see my knees!"

"They are shorter than most gowns because I wanted to be able to kick my legs when I needed. Most people have gotten used to seeing me that way, so there shouldn't be any problem. Now, do you and Jenet mind being left here alone?"

"No, Garia. I know that is how it must be."

"Milady, I will take care of her. We will not be idle while you are gone. There is much about you that she will have to know, even if she is not expected to do all that you do."

"Thank you, Jenet. Come on, Merry, Bursila. We have a long walk ahead of us."

~o~O~o~

"You're bathing again?"

Garia smiled. "That's what us noble ladies do, Milsy. It helps keep us fresh and clean, especially in this weather."

"But... should I join you? All I've done today is to sit and talk with Jenet."

"It might be best, I think. If you're to act my part, you'll have to follow, more or less, the routine that I follow every day. That includes bathing first thing, just before lunch and just before dinner."

Garia thought and turned to Jenet. "Of course, I bathe before lunch because I spend the morning in intense physical activity. Do normal ladies of the court bathe three times a day?"

"Sometimes, Milady, especially when the weather is very hot, as it was before the rains started. Mostly the ladies of the court bathe when they rise and again before changing into an evening gown. Of course, there are exceptions to that custom as one might expect," Jenet added. "When the weather is much colder, perhaps, one might bathe less, or before a special ceremony one might wish to have an extra wash. When Kalikan calls, of course. And when we are traveling we wash when we may."

"Much as I thought." Garia turned to Milsy. "Jenet, of course, bathes when I do. I have no idea what the ordinary servants of the palace or this castle do."

"Um, every morning, of course, we wash down below, and our hands and faces are supposed to be clean before we are permitted into the kitchen. Otherwise," she shrugged, "it depends on the servant. Some bathe every day, some every two days, some only once a week." Milsy wrinkled her nose. "You can tell the ones who only bathe once a week by the smell, but because they work in the kitchen they can't smell it themselves. We do tell them, but most ignore us. The women are usually better than the men are though." Her eyes lit up. "I like the idea of all getting in the tub at once and washing each other. I didn't know that noble women did that."

"It makes sense for us to help each other." Garia regarded the girl thoughtfully. "You had no idea what life was like up here, did you?"

"No, Garia. I thought I might find out if Master Samind allowed me to leave the kitchens as he said he might. We all have ideas of what goes on up here but there's lots I never knew." She smiled at Jenet. "Jenet has been most helpful today, Garia. I have learned much and," she looked earnestly at Garia, "I will honestly try and do the best I can for you. I know now that what you do is very important to us all." Her hands went to her back. "So, how do I get this gown off?"

~o~O~o~

The following morning was spent in necessary assignations. Milsy, dressed in a clean castle servant's uniform and accompanied by Garia and Jenet wearing palace colors, was taken through the secret passage by Vivenne and out to the castle's equivalent of the Wardrobe storage area. With only Vivenne's Mistress of the Wardrobe in attendance Milsy was fitted with appropriate footwear and a selection of new clean underwear suitable for a noble's daughter.

While this was happening Vivenne took Garia to a store where the wigs were kept. Most were in a decrepit state but she found several to try on, choosing one which was mid-brown in color that reached just past her shoulders. Finally Garia and Jenet were given castle servant's dresses to permit them to be seen in the corridors without comment. With the wig hidden inside the servants clothing they rejoined Milsy and made their way back to Garia's suite.

"Oh, no! My dress, it is covered in dirt!"

"Let me see," Garia said. "Oh, yes. It's all the dust and dirt down in that hidden level, isn't it? You'll have to take that dress off, I'm afraid, and we'll slip it into the laundry somehow. We can't have anyone guessing we went through those passages." Garia smiled. "There's no shortage of gowns for you to wear up here, is there? But we'll have to be careful in future, that none of us brushes up against anything when we creep through those passages again."

"As you say, Garia."

Milsy had another question, once she had been attired in a fresh gown.

"When do you wish to cut my hair, Garia?"

"I don't wish to cut it at all, Milsy, but one of us is going to have to do it, I suppose. We can't let someone at the salon do it, it will be all over the castle before we got back to our rooms." Garia thought. "People here in the castle know you, and they know that you have transferred to the Queen's service, so it wouldn't be too much of a problem if someone does catch sight of you as you are - provided you weren't dressed like me, that is. If we cut your hair now, it will be obvious what's going on. We'll do it the day before we are supposed to leave, I think. Do all your new clothes fit properly?"

"Yes, Garia." Milsy frowned. "I'm going to have to practice walking in these new shoes, because I've never had any this fancy before. I don't know how to walk in a shoe with a heel this high."

Garia grinned. "Neither did I before I came here. Yes, you'll need to practice. It shouldn't take you too long to get comfortable."

"I'll need to practice walking the way you do, Garia. You have quite a distinctive sway."

"Me? Really? I hadn't noticed."

"Perhaps not, but someone else might. My face and voice are different than yours but nobody is supposed to get close enough to me to notice the difference. A walk, though, could be noticed a long way away. I don't want to be found out before we even get to the palace."

Garia looked at Milsy with new respect. "You are taking this seriously, aren't you?"

"Of course. It is important that everyone believes that you are returning to the palace or else they will come after you again. I must work hard to make sure that everyone sees what they expect to see."

Garia walked over to Milsy and hugged her. "You're wonderful! I think you were wasted in that kitchen. When we're done with this disguise I promise to find you something to do with your life that makes proper use of your talents."

"Thank you, Milady."

Milsy learns more about the person she is supposed to be, discovering that a whole new world awaits her beyond the castle. There are near misses, changes of plan and much waiting around until the time comes to begin the deception. She is introduced to the guardsmen who will be escorting her and then she secretly leaves the castle to prepare for the substitution.

What Milsy Did

A Tale of Anmar by Penny Lane

2 - Under Cover

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 (c) 2016 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

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Author's note: The events in this chapter retell portions of Somewhere Else Entirely Chapters 57, 58 and 59 but from a different point of view. From Chapter 3 the story will be almost all new material.

Milsy was nervous, alone in the suite. Garia had gone out with Jenet after lunch, something to do with miners. Miners? Some time later Merizel had received a message and departed with Bursila, apologizing for having to leave Milsy on her own. Milsy had hidden herself in the dressing room, examining the strange and unusual attire that Garia seemed to wear. After some while a noise came as though of someone returning and Milsy cautiously went through the connecting passage to the sitting room. She poked her head round the door to check who it was before joining Garia.

"What's happened?" she asked, concerned by the expression on Garia's face. She realized the Baroness was unattended and it looked strange. "Where's Jenet?"

"Jenet's the problem," Garia replied with a sigh. "She was supposed to stay up here nursing a bruised throat, remember? We all forgot."

Milsy's hands flew to her mouth. "Maker! We did forget, didn't we? What happened?"

"The Queen met us at the entrance when we returned, and she isn't happy," Garia said. "If anyone saw Jenet while we were out, or more correctly noticed her, our plan for leaving her here in the castle is out the window." Her face fell. "I think I've been grounded."

"Grounded?" Milsy looked confused. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, it's an expression from Earth. It means, roughly, confined to quarters. Uh, not allowed to fly." This explanation confused Milsy further. Garia realized Milsy was on her own. "Where's Merizel?"

"I've no idea. She had a message after you left and went out with Bursila. She didn't say where or what for."

"Oh, great. So, what have you been doing while we've been out?"

"I've been practicing walking in these shoes," Milsy said. "And," she added diffidently, "I've been looking at your clothes. I hope you don't mind."

"Of course not, Milsy. After all, you'll be wearing some of them in a few days."

"Thank you, Garia." Milsy frowned. "You wear some very strange things, don't you? I don't know if it's because they are clothes that noble women wear or if they are new designs you brought with you from where you come from. Some of them look very odd."

"Oh. Well, let's go into the dressing room while we wait for the others to come back and you can show me what you found."

It turned out that Milsy had found Garia's riding gear and couldn't quite believe that any woman would be seen wearing breeches. Garia was forced to demonstrate, recounting the story of what had happened the first time she wore them in front of the King. The two had a good giggle. Other items of her exercise gear also fascinated Milsy and she pronounced herself a fan of circle skirts. They spent a relaxing time in the dressing room before noises through the passage to the sitting room heralded the return of Merizel and her maid.

"Hello, Garia! Look what I've been given!" Merizel held up a bag as she and Bursila joined Garia and Milsy in the bedroom. She noticed the expression on Garia's face. "What's happened? Where's Jenet? She's not hurt, is she?"

Garia sighed. "She is supposed to be, but she went out with me this afternoon, didn't she?"

Merizel's eyes widened. "Oh, no! We got carried away, didn't we? What happened?"

Garia recounted her arrival back at the castle ending with her presumed confinement.

"Oh. Do you think anyone saw her?"

"I've no idea. The point is, if anyone realized that she shouldn't have been there with me at all. Excuse me, Bursila, but people don't notice maids, do they? If you're a noble lady, then you have one. It would have been more obvious if I hadn't had a maid with me."

"But I should have gone with you instead, Milady," Bursila said.

"Possibly," Garia agreed, "but, I was so focused on the fact that Jenet had the Guild badge that I forgot she shouldn't have been out at all." She grimaced. "I don't think I would have been comfortable with you wearing the badge, Bursila. That would have been lying, wouldn't it? The guildsmen make a big thing of those badges."

Bursila nodded. "As you say, Milady. Where is Jenet now?"

"The Queen sent her to the castle infirmary." Garia scowled. "It's all our fault. If we had thought about this more carefully, Jenet ought to have been sent to the infirmary right away and none of this would have happened."

Garia looked at the bag Merizel was carrying. "What's that? It looks like another instrument."

Merizel beamed. "It is! It's another dajan. Terinar remembered that he saw some old instruments in a store-room they went in while they were searching for those men. It's not as fancy as the one Aunt Vivenne," she blushed saying the name, "gave me, but I've been told it's mine to keep. I'll be able to take it with me when we finally leave for the north." Her face changed. "Oh, no! You don't suppose that we can't go now, do you?"

Garia shrugged. "I've no idea. You heard about Taranna, I suppose?"

"No. What happened to Taranna?"

"I have no details at all, but it looks like she collapsed and died while we were out." Merizel looked shocked. "The Queen started telling us when we arrived back. Unfortunately, she saw Jenet then and got angry with me. I didn't find out any more."

"That's terrible! Oh, the poor woman! Oh, and Captain Bleskin! Just when he was about to set off to enjoy a quiet retirement with his -" Merizel looked upset. She shook her head. "That's terrible," she repeated. She started. "Oh! Feteran! Does this mean..? I don't know." She shook her head again.

"And I'm stuck in here, waiting for the Queen to arrive and shout at me," Garia said.

"But I'm not stuck here," Merizel said. "Let me go out and find out what happened. Um, it might be safer in any case if I'm not here when the Queen arrives."

Garia gave a wry smile. "Thank you for your unwavering support. No, you're right. Go and find out what you can, the Queen isn't annoyed at you, only me. I'll need to wash up and change before dinner, Milsy can help me do that and learn how to be a lady's maid at the same time."

"As you say, Garia. I'll just go and find somewhere to put this," she held up the bag, "and we'll be away. Come, Bursila."

With just the two of them left alone in the suite again Garia and Milsy undressed each other then climbed into the tub to clean up before getting ready for the evening meal. It seemed a huge waste of water for two people so Garia decided to leave it there until Merizel and Bursila returned. The two dried each other and returned to the dressing room to find something to wear.

They were still going through the rails in their underwear when noises indicated others entering the suite. With fluffy robes around them they emerged to find the Queen, Margra and Merizel waiting in her sitting room with their maids.

"Please be seated," the Queen said. She came straight to the point. "Garia, dear, you have made an error of judgment today but I ought not to have scolded you on the steps of the castle entrance." She thought a moment before continuing, "However, despite that, it may serve to our advantage. This is not an appropriate time to talk of such matters, though. I have just visited the infirmary to speak to Jenet, finding Margra already there. Jenet tells me that you all forgot about her throat injury, even she did herself. Therefore, it would not be appropriate to make you entirely responsible for what happened today, although you must accept as any noble does that you bear formal responsibility for the actions of your staff."

The Queen sighed. "I forget that you are yet so young, child. I also forget, sometimes, that you come from somewhere else entirely and that you are not yet completely familiar with our ways and customs. The present circumstance -" she waved a hand to indicate their surroundings, "- must be completely unlike anything you would be familiar with in Kansas, must it not? While there is much on Earth which would be strange to us so there will still be much here that will confuse you from time to time. It is therefore understandable that on occasion our plans may fail despite our most careful efforts."

Garia bowed her head. "Thank you, Your Majesty. What happened was thoughtless of us. One of us should have remembered the plan at least."

"As you say, dear. Now, we are left with a new circumstance and must add that to our schemes. Margra and I have decided that she examined Jenet this morning and gave permission for her to accompany you on your visit to the miners' hall. On your return Margra examined her again and discovered that she ought not to have been permitted to go, prescribing her complete rest in the infirmary for some days to come." She looked steadily at Garia as she explained, "That will ensure that the mistake is not made again."

"As you wish, Ma'am."

"As for yourself, we have decided that my public displeasure at your taking Jenet shall serve a useful purpose, that is, you will have to stay up here in this corridor until the time comes for you to return to the palace. That will provide sufficient reason for your absence from the other parts of the castle."

"But, Ma'am," Garia objected, "does that mean I'll have to take all my meals up here? What about exercising? And the frayen? We can't go all that time without visiting them."

"Yes, you'll have to eat most of your meals in here, dear." The Queen indicated Milsy. "That will help keep your shadow away from public gaze... and provide her with sufficient food. As for exercises and frayen, well," she thought for a moment, "yes, you may perform those duties, but not as often as you otherwise might. And you shall have a strong escort whenever you leave our corridor, is that understood?"

Garia reluctantly agreed, "As you command, Ma'am."

"There will be one or two formal meals which will require your presence in the dining hall," the Queen added, "Including, I regret, a funeral meal. We met Merizel in the infirmary and discovered none of you knew what had happened to poor Taranna. That is the reason Margra has accompanied us here. Margra?"

"Thank you, Ma'am," the palace Healer said. She turned to Garia. "Milady, Taranna rose after her afternoon nap and about a bell later complained of pains in her left chest and arm, about here," she indicated on her own body. "She has suffered such pains before and we have prescribed herbs and ointments to relieve her, but this time it seems that what happened was much stronger than before. She fell to the floor and appeared very ill. We did what we could for her but she died about a bell later." She shook her head. "We do not know what was wrong with her, Milady. Might it be familiar to you?"

Garia sighed and nodded.

"From what you have described," she said slowly, "I would guess that Taranna had what we call a heart attack. No, that doesn't mean attack in the sense you use it here, it just means a very sudden failure of the heart organ."

"The heart? We thought that it was a muscular problem she had suffered from for many years."

"It just seems that way, Mistress Margra. What you describe is familiar enough to me that I can tell you it was definitely a heart attack." She shook her head. "I'm sorry, it would not have been possible to save Taranna. There are ways in which she might have been saved, had this happened on Earth, but even there survival is not guaranteed. It sounds like this has happened before?"

"As you say, Milady. Five or six times, by my memory, over many years."

Garia nodded. "Then her heart was already damaged, I guess. I don't know much of the gory details, but the heart is a muscle like others in the body and needs good blood flow to work properly. If one of the arteries gets blocked for some reason the flow gets cut off and part of the muscle dies. Each time it happens the heart gets weaker until eventually it can't work at all." She shook her head again. "On Earth, saving someone who has had a heart attack involves highly trained... healers... using expensive and delicate equipment. Time is important, too. If you can't get them to the equipment inside about a bell there's usually little hope of them living. I'm sorry."

"If that is how it must be, Milady, then we shall continue to do what we can until such time as we may do better." Margra's eyebrows raised. "Blocked arteries, Milady?"

Garia shrugged. "You understand I know nothing of the details, Mistress Margra? I'm no healer. There are at least two ways an artery - or a vein - might be blocked that I can think of. Firstly, if there's an internal injury a blood clot might get formed as the damage heals itself." Margra nodded. "Part of the clot might break off and get swept through the arteries until it finds itself in one that's too small for it. Just like a blocked drainpipe, nothing else can get past the blockage. Things start to die. The other way is if your diet is bad, you can get deposits lining the arteries and veins. Again, some of these deposits might break free and block something." Garia shrugged. "For all I know there are any number of other reasons why a heart may become damaged. Those are just two I've read about."

"I see, Milady. Can you tell me more at some other time? I do not wish to subject Her Majesty to matters she might find distasteful."

"I might be interested, Margra," the Queen put in dryly. "But perhaps I might not be that interested. You may come and consult Garia whenever your duties permit, Margra. After all," she added with a small smile, "you know where you shall find her, don't you?"

"As you say, Ma'am."

"Mistress Margra," Garia said, "I am always willing to tell you what I know, even though it probably isn't very much."

"Every little fact you can tell us is something more than we already know, Milady. Every little fact we learn helps us to save another life, make someone else's life more comfortable, helps us understand more about how our bodies work."

"Very well," the Queen said. "Now, to the future. The King and I think it only appropriate to delay our return to the palace in order to attend Taranna's funeral. Although Captain Bleskin had a private family life we both knew his wife well and it is only fitting that we show him support in his time of need. Her pyre will be here, on a private mountain terrace where such ceremonies are usually held. It will be two or three days before the arrangements may be completed."

Garia stared at the Queen before realizing what her expression must look like and softening it. Were the King and Queen so cold-blooded? Her mind whirled with the possibilities, the dates and movements of people that this personal tragedy might improve. She gave a small nod.

"As you say, Ma'am."

The Queen gave her a stern look. "Other matters we will discuss once the funeral has taken place. That much we owe Captain Bleskin, don't you agree?"

Garia bowed her head once more, rebuked for doubting her Queen. "Yes, Ma'am."

"Good. Then we must depart. I see you are preparing for your evening meal, we must make ready for our own." The Queen stood, and therefore so did everyone else. "Come, Margra. We shall leave these young folk to their own affairs."

~o~O~o~

"Quick! Go and hide! It looks as if all my friends have come to call."

Milsy needed no second urging. The noises from the sitting room signalled a crowd and very few of them, if any, would know of the King's plan. She scurried into her sleeping closet and closed the door. Of course, since it was the closet of a servant there was no lock, but if she lit no lamp and kept very still no-one should have cause to open the door.

After an indeterminate time someone came and knocked on Milsy's door. After a brief hesitation she opened it to find a flustered Garia, who explained that there was a problem.

"Since I'm stuck in this suite my friends want to take turns to keep me company. We can't do that, someone would be bound to find you, won't they? But, you're a castle servant, there's no reason they shouldn't know about you, is there? Go and put on your servant's uniform, Bursila will help you change, and then we'll go back and introduce you to the others. I'll tell them something which is truthful but won't give anything away. That will allow you to be around when my friends come to visit. Thank goodness we didn't decide to cut your hair right away!"

Milsy thought briefly, then nodded. "As you say, Milady. I'll just be another castle servant, won't I?" She paused, horror-struck. "But I only have the kitchen dress I came up in, and that's been sent to the laundry! What can I do?"

Bursila supplied the answer. "Milady, you and Milady Merizel were each given servant's clothes so that you might walk the castle corridors unnoticed. Your own must fit Milsy, must it not?"

"That's right. Go, quickly!"

Garia pointed and Milsy and Bursila went into the dressing room. Bursila rapidly stripped Milsy out of her borrowed gown and helped her into the servant's dress in castle livery. The three made their way back to Garia's sitting room where the occupants were listening to a description of Garia's visit to the Guildhall.

"Uh, guys, this is Milsy," Garia gestured to the young woman. "She's been lent to me while Jenet is in the infirmary."

Bursila and Milsy joined the other maids against the wall. Milsy recognized some of the faces sitting in front of her. All were about her age or slightly older or younger. One was the Prince, another was the young man who had shown her through the secret passages. She recognized him now as Terinar, the Duke's son. Another was Korizet, the Duke's daughter. This girl eyed Milsy with interest.

"I don't know you, girl," she said.

Milsy had to think quickly before answering.

"My Lady, I was previously employed in the kitchens," Milsy explained with a curtsey. "Master Samind thought I could do better and the Queen required another maid at short notice."

"Ah. I thought I would have known your face a little better if you had been one of the personal staff. Are you finding the work difficult? This must be different than what you have known before."

Milsy chose her words carefully. "My Lady, I have learned much since I have left the kitchens. I have nothing to complain about."

Korizet nodded. "As you say. You travel with the Queen? I trust you shall not disgrace the name of Dekarran by your future actions, Milsy."

"In front of the Queen, My Lady? I do not intend to disgrace anyone."

Milsy breathed a sigh of relief as Korizet lost interest. Now that she was known to be around, Milsy hoped that she would fade into the background just as the other maids did.

She stood with the other maids watching the young men and women, obviously friends with each other, talking and laughing about recent events in the castle. The tall slender girl, Merizel, went off and returned with a bag containing a musical instrument. She watched as Garia tried to play it, the discordant notes screeching around the chamber. There was an intense discussion about music that had Milsy wondering just what Garia was capable of.

Am I supposed to pretend to be able to do things like that? I wonder, if I had known before just what she could do, would I ever have volunteered for this mad plan?

~o~O~o~

The following morning Garia was collected by Prince Keren and the two departed to pay their respects to the Guard Captain who had just lost his wife. Milsy thought that was a nice gesture to make and it showed a side of Garia's character she thoroughly approved of. There was a shock for Milsy when the two returned, though. As she, Merizel and Bursila waited behind the door to the sitting room, she heard the last fragments of their conversation.

"I'm beginning to realize that I'm seeing another side of you, Garia. As well as being smart and knowledgeable you're thinking into the future and you're thinking of people's lives as well. Mother was right, you are a treasure."

He stooped and kissed Garia on the forehead, then bowed, turned and let himself out of the room. Garia stood there thunderstruck, not noticing as Merizel and Milsy joined her from the bedroom.

"Did I just see the Prince kiss you?" Milsy asked, eyes wide.

"Yes," Garia said, absently. "Yes, you did."

Oh, Maker! Garia is sweet on the Prince! This whole business gets madder every moment!

Oooh! I wonder what kissing the Prince would be like?

~o~O~o~

Milsy had watched and waited while Garia, dressed in a sober gown and with a gray sash, went off to the funeral of the Captain's wife, accompanied by Merizel and Bursila. When they returned she was helped into one of Garia's gowns and then followed Garia and Merizel through the hidden level and along richly-furnished corridors to a chamber she had never been to before.

The group that was gathered there was small. Milsy only recognized some of those present, including the King, Queen, Prince, and Duke Gilbanar. The other three were unknown to her. One wore Dekarran colors, another wore palace colors. The last man was apparently a merchant from the way they addressed him..

"It was fortunate that Master Tanon stayed in Dekarran," the Prince began. "When I found out he was still here, I asked him to come up to the castle and talk about our re-arranged schedule. He had one or two ideas," he smiled, "based on earlier activities of a similar nature we shouldn't talk about here." The Duke raised an eyebrow. "Oh, come on, Uncle Gil! You know exactly what Master Tanon does for the Crown that isn't spoken about. This will be no different to any of those."

"Except the person involved is considerably more important," the Duke growled. He was unhappy since, although the scheme was his brother's idea, it relied on those at and around Castle Dekarran for its successful execution.

"No more so than any other I may have carried, Your Grace," Tanon said mildly. "By all accounts Milady Garia is capable of looking after herself better than most we have smuggled in the past." He paused, then added, "Of course, there is her double to consider."

All eyes turned to Milsy, who looked uncomfortable in such august company. She decided that some statement of her willingness was required. "Master, I shall do whatever is required of me," she said simply. "Living for a time with Milady Garia has made me aware that I may have talents and abilities unknown to me, though I am as yet untutored. Once I am trained, I wish that I may give as good an account of myself as Milady might. " Milsy shrugged and smiled. "That time is not yet come, however. I shall of course use my wits if the situation permits it."

The King put a hand to his head, running his fingers through his hair. "Maker! Is this what it is to be in the years to come? What have we done?"

The Queen turned to him with a faint smile on her lips. "What did you expect, husband? That only Garia would ever be as she is now? She inspires women wherever she goes, and Palarand will be the better for it. Keren, you said that you had decided a plan with Tanon."

"Yes, mother. It seemed to me that the key point was that Garia had to be seen, publicly, to depart from the castle with great ceremony. Of course, she'll have to do so in a carriage surrounded by as many tough men as we can find. That being the case, it would be impossible to make the switch this side of the Sirrel. Therefore, Master Tanon suggested the following..."

~o~O~o~

The following morning, after Garia returned from her mysterious 'exercises' Milsy was asked to put on one of Garia's more recognizable day gowns.

"We're going to go down and meet my armsmen and those who are going to pretend to be my armsmen for you when you travel south," Garia explained. She hesitated, then asked with a smile. "Did you understand all that?"

"I think so, Garia. When the Prince explained in yesterday's meeting I realized you would want your own men with you, but obviously they couldn't be wearing your colors, not yet anyway. Those colors have to be seen going over the river with you, don't they? And then they get brought back with Master Tanon."

"That's right! After the procession departs South Slip for the city everyone wears palace colors but with different sashes. It just makes things less complicated on the road and when you're living in the palace. Even our maids wear palace uniforms when we're at home. So, let's go and meet the men who are going to look after you on the journey back."

This time Merizel remained behind as Garia led Milsy and Bursila through the hidden level, finally coming out on a lower corridor where they were met by Terinar.

"Follow me," he said with a smile. "I'll take you down to your men. Where's Merry? Is she not to join you?"

"She's not needed for this meeting, she's still up in our suite," Garia told him. "I think she's fooling about with that dajan."

"Oh." Terinar brightened. "Perhaps, after I've shown you your men, I'll go and join her, if she's up there all alone."

Terinar led them to a little-used chamber, closed the door behind them and departed with another smile. Inside were a number of armsmen wearing different colors. Garia turned to address those men wearing the green-on-green of House Blackstone.

"Men. The King has made some decisions which will result in changes to what will happen when we leave Dekarran. Since much of what will happen will be military in nature, Captain Merek has been placed in charge of this part of the operation. For reasons which will shortly become apparent, I'll ask you all to listen to what the Captain says and to take any instructions from him as you would from me or from Feteran. Does anybody have any questions so far? Good. Captain?"

"Thank you, Milady. Men," Merek's eyes covered the fourteen men in the room, "you all know that Milady Garia has been recently beset by an enemy who seeks to abduct or injure her, even to kill her. The King grows annoyed by this interference in the affairs of the kingdom and seeks a way to divert the attention of our enemy away from Milady. Therefore, when the royal party departs this castle to return to the palace they will not be accompanied by Baroness Blackstone but by a double."

Everyone's gaze turned to an embarrassed Milsy, standing beside Garia.

"Yes, this is the girl," Merek confirmed. "Before we start out, she will have her hair cut to resemble the Baroness and will wear her wardrobe during the journey. She will travel entirely by carriage and the task of those who accompany her will be to ensure she gets to the palace safely and undetected. The Baroness, meanwhile, will be traveling north with the Prince, concealed under another disguise. Now, you all know that the King instructed that the guard traveling with the Prince be increased, those additional men will be those of you here who are armsmen of the Baroness. This makes sense as she will be with the Prince's party. The rest of you present today are detailed to guard Milady's double closely."

Merek looked at the expressions on the faces of those surrounding him and half-smiled.

"I see some of you have understood the plan. Obviously, those men who go south with the double must appear Milady's men, and therefore must wear her colors, until at least the overnight stop in South Slip. The real Baroness will be journeying with us that far, since her departure from the castle must be seen by everyone. For the same reason those who will go with the Prince must wear palace colors, but that is not a problem since you all wore them for most of the journey here. The only change you need make is to switch sashes with those who will go with Milady's double."

"Captain," Feteran asked, "the journey to South Slip will require those men to wear our uniforms, is this correct?"

"As you say, Commander. If your men would let these fine men borrow Milady's colors for that brief journey, it will seem that she is surrounded by her own men for the return to the palace. Once the King's party departs South Slip the use of sashes in Milady's colors should be sufficient and the uniforms can be returned north to catch up with their owners once again."

Feteran considered the matter then nodded. "Aye, Captain."

"There is another slight problem," Garia told them. "Originally, Feteran was to return to the palace since he is too well known to be absent during the journey. Since his mother's death I have made it clear that he should remain with his father and so another should go instead. I think it's a good idea that one of my men goes south because he will know the routine I'm supposed to be following. Therefore, I've chosen Tord to go with those who will be pretending to be my men. With Captain Merek's permission he will be in charge of the squad."

"Milady," one of the palace men asked, "what of your maid, and of your secretary? Will they be returning south?"

"Lady Merizel's maid Bursila has volunteered to accompany my double south. Since my maid Jenet is injured and will have to stay behind in the castle, we should get away with that. Um," she grinned, "don't expect to meet anyone else of my retinue along the way, although of course Lady Merizel and I will be traveling as far as South Slip as Captain Merek told you. As for Jenet, you can expect her to make an unexpected recovery shortly after the King departs."

All the men were grinning now. When all was said and done, guard work was usually routine and mostly boring, although less so since Garia had appeared in their midst. Now, to be part of a scheme, with doubles and substitutions, subterfuges and misdirections, fired them all with enthusiasm.

"I want to give you all a warning," Merek said sternly. "Those traveling south, including Milady's double, face a real risk of attack, even if they are with the King's party. You must all take your duties seriously and you must not breathe a word of what is happening to any other. If you should be questioned by others, including guardsmen, refer them to me. I will add that Milady's double obviously does not have her martial abilities so must be guarded as you would any other lady of the court. While she is acting as a double, she shall be treated with the rank she appears to have. Understood?"

A chorus of "Aye, captain."

One of the men asked, "Captain, has the girl a name? You have not called her anything but 'double'".

"If I gave you a name, you might say it by mistake and reveal the plan," Merek told them. "You'll call her 'Baroness' or 'Milady' just as you normally would."

One of her own men asked, "Milady? What about us? When shall we meet you again?"

"That's another part of the plan it's best you know nothing about," Garia said. "Um, all I might say is that you'll go north with Prince Keren and after a couple of days you'll develop wagon trouble. We'll catch you up there. We'll be bringing your uniforms back with us."

Merek's eyes narrowed. "Milady, I understood the intention was for you to appear as part of the Prince's party during your journey north, so why might you require your colors?"

"Ah, well, we're going to inspect the lands the King gave me. It might be necessary for me to appear as Baroness during that time. We don't know what we'll find up there, so we're keeping our options open. We just hope we'll be far enough away that word of my presence takes time to trickle back south."

"As you say, Milady. Now, if you would excuse us, I think your men should remove their tunics so that we might discover if any alterations are required."

"Oh? Oh, yes!" A room full of half-dressed men. Pity I can't stay to watch... "Come on, er, double. Let's leave these men to strip off in peace."

~o~O~o~

Another morning, more subterfuge. This time it was necessary for everyone to pack up their belongings for their journeys, but those in Garia's suite faced complications. Garia's clothes had to be divided so that she would have enough to wear on her journey while still leaving enough for Milsy to reach the palace comfortably. A certain amount of the sort of clothing worn by the traveling community had come up in the chests and this was distributed between the three girls, who would wear them at different stages of their respective adventures.

The chests were sent down through the hidden level and then it was just a question of waiting. Garia spent some of the time just talking to Milsy, getting her familiar with her speech patterns and telling her as much as possible about how the palace worked and what she might do when she arrived there.

During the afternoon Garia went down to see the Prince depart. Milsy could see the train of wagons roll down the ramp from the north gate and join the road north, a thin ribbon twisting between the many large buildings. When Garia returned she looked visibly disturbed.

"Garia? It is the Prince, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is," she said. "We are... close, and this is the first time we'll have been apart. I've had to say good-bye to all the men I've been training, as well, and it seems to me that everyone is leaving me. Even you."

"Uh, that's... true," Milsy said, "but you'll be joining the Prince again soon enough, won't you?" Her eyes narrowed. "You're in love with the Prince, aren't you?"

"Shh! You mustn't say that!" Garia's lip quivered. "Yes, I am and no, I'm not allowed to be. The Prince can only marry someone who can benefit the Kingdom by bringing some kind of alliance. I'm not the daughter of a ruler so I don't qualify."

Milsy was appalled. "That's awful! Oh, I am so sorry for you. What a stupid rule! Do you think you can find a way round it?"

"I don't know, Milsy." Garia smiled wanly. "Thank you for your support."

~o~O~o~

Another morning, another departure. This time Garia and Merizel went down to the quayside to watch some of the visitors leave by ship. Milsy found the delays tedious and tried to find things to occupy her, but it was difficult. Almost everything had now been packed and dispatched, apart from the few clothes needed for the next day or two. She stayed in the bedroom, alert to anyone attempting to enter the suite. She tried to look out the windows to see what was happening but her knowledge of the port was almost zero so she noticed very little.

When Garia and Merizel came back, the next part of the plan began and that involved cutting Milsy's hair to resemble Garia's short style. Bursila did most of the work, guided by Garia, and soon lengths of dark hair were scattered on the floor of the dressing room around their feet. It was difficult to get the ends to curl under as Garia's did but some rollers were discovered and, together with some hot water, produced a reasonable resemblance. From a distance. In the dark.

Garia sighed. "It will have to do," she said. "There's no point doing much more to it, Milsy, because you're only going to have the wig crammed on top until tomorrow night. Once you get to the women's hostel tomorrow there ought to be somebody there who knows how to do hair properly."

"As you say, Garia. It won't look too bad from a distance, will it? Nobody is supposed to get close enough to see that much detail."

"That's what we hope, all right, but we all know what happens to plans, don't we? We've already had to change this plan twice."

After lunch Milsy and Bursila changed into Dekarran servants' dresses. Milsy had the wig arranged on her head, hiding her own hair, and the two waited until Terinar appeared from the secret panel carrying two covered baskets.

"Ready?" he smiled at them. "If you'll come with me, it's time for you to leave the castle."

He took them down many levels until they reached a chamber where a number of other women in Dekarran colors waited. Milsy recognized none of them, but that was not unusual. The castle had so many servants and functionaries that there were always new faces. The others glanced over her but paid Bursila and her little attention.

"This is Herinna," Terinar said, gesturing. "She knows the warehouse district, she'll take you where you have to deliver these things." He handed over the baskets.

Milsy and Bursila curtseyed. "As you command, My Lord."

Herinna said, "Everybody here? Then let's go. If we dawdle we won't be back before it gets dark."

As the group made their way out of the gate they were joined by four guards.

"What..?"

"You know the warehouse district is no place for unaccompanied women," Herinna said, as if to remind them. "If it weren't for this errand, I wouldn't set foot in the place. Come on, we have a way to go."

Most of the group took a steep path which led back down to the town while four, including Herinna, Milsy and Bursila carried on down the ramp with the four guards. At the bottom they joined the trade route and followed it through the industrial area. Milsy had never been here before, though she had visited the town itself on several occasions.

"Let me see... ah! Here's the turn," Herinna said. "Down here, girls. Ah, and boys. This won't take long."

They entered a covered yard off a side street. Inside was a wagon being loaded by several men. The foreman brushed his hands on his apron and came to them.

"Can I help you?"

"We have a special commission from Lord Terinar to Master Tanon," Herinna said.

"Ah, yes. If you'll come right this way, ladies?" The foreman turned to the men-at-arms. "If you'll wait here, we'll be but a few moments. This won't take long." He smiled. "They'll be safe with me."

"In here, ladies," the foreman said. He showed them into a dingy downstairs room. "Do what you have to, then knock on the door when you're finished, right? I'll stand outside to prevent interruptions."

Once the door was shut Milsy stripped off her Dekarran dress and put on the traveling gown which had been hidden in one of the baskets. The Dekarran dress went back into the vacated basket. Bursila reset the wig and made sure Milsy was presentable.

"Good luck, Milady," she said. "I will next see you tomorrow evening, I hope."

"So do I," Milsy said.

Herinna knocked on the door and the man opened it and came in.

"So. Stay here, mistress," he instructed Milsy, "while we allow your friends to depart. Then we may consider what next to do."

The others left and the door closed. Milsy could just about hear the conversation as the three women rejoined the men in the yard.

"Where's the other one, then?" one of them asked.

"She awaits the reply to a message," Herinna said blandly. "Someone else will come by to escort her back to the castle. Shall we go? We have a long climb ahead of us."

"As you say, Herinna."

After some delay the foreman returned.

"Looks like you'll have to stay here overnight," he said, his voice apologetic. "I was told you would be here earlier, the wagon in the yard is waiting for you." He shook his head. "Too late now, if we try to get you down to the ferry it would be too dark to cross safely. Have you eaten?"

"No... Master," Milsy replied. "It has been a strange day."

"Ain't that the truth!" The man grinned. "Now look, lass, we'd best not use names, right? Saves any trouble in the future, if you understand me. Come with me, there's a room upstairs you can stay in and we can easily find you something to eat."

Upstairs, at the end of a narrow corridor, was a small room with double bunks either side.

"Put the bar down over the door when I leave," the man instructed. "The doors the other side are the toilets and the bathroom, and some of the men might make a mistake in the night." He shuddered. "Don't go near the bathroom, will you? It would be like jumping in a sewer. I've only arrived here myself today and I didn't realize it had gotten so bad." He added, "I'll do a special knock on the door so you'll know it's me, right? Like this." He demonstrated. "Don't open the door to anyone else."

"As you say... Wagonmaster."

The man grinned and raised an eyebrow. "They told me you was smart, lass. I'm sorry, there's no other women here at the moment so you'll just have to trust me. When you get over the other side my... uh... there'll be a woman who will look after you, all right? Now, let me go find some food for you. Remember what I said."

Milsy stared at the door after the man had gone, then remembered to swing the bar across it. The light was almost gone but the windows were so filthy there was nothing to be seen outside anyway. She sat on a bottom bunk to wait. The special knock came on the door eventually and she let the man in. He carried a tray with a bowl of steaming stew, a jug of water, a goblet and a lamp.

"Right. Eat what you want, lass. The water will have to last you all night so don't drink it all now. Try and get some sleep because we'll have to make an early start in the morning. I'll collect the tray when I fetch you for breakfast."

"Thank you." It didn't seem that Milsy could say anything else, given the circumstances.

The man shut the door and Milsy barred it before tackling the stew. It could be a long night.

Milsy is smuggled over the Sirrel and the substitution is made with Garia. She spends a night at South Slip and meets the other noble women before joining the King and Queen for the procession south to the capital. When they arrive at the palace she is taken to Garia's suite but discovery threatens...

What Milsy Did

A Tale of Anmar by Penny Lane

3 - The Royal Procession

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 (c) 2016 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

---

Milsy stirred, her eyes bleary. The night had been disturbed but as a castle servant she was used to such things. The mattress in the bunk had been good... which had compensated for the odd night noises. She looked up, to see the first hints of daylight coming in through the filthy window.

I wonder if I can get to the toilet without being noticed.

But before she could even get out of the bunk a coded knocking came from the barred door. Hastily settling the wig on her head she swung to her feet, padded across and lifted the bar to open the door. The man stood outside holding a wide bowl with a large, steaming jug balanced in it, a towel over his arm.

"Here you are, lass," he said in a low voice. "Something to freshen you up. I'll be along to fetch you for breakfast in a short while."

"Uh, I have to go over there." She pointed.

The man grimaced. "I guess you do, lass. I'll stay here and keep watch."

Distasteful task completed Milsy took the bowl, jug and towel, returned to her room and dropped the bar. She gave her face and hands a good wash before considering what else she might attempt.

Best not. If I'm to be smuggled over the river I'll be dirty again soon enough.

After what seemed like bells the man was back, ushering her along the corridor to a larger room at the other end. There was a table and chairs, plates, mugs, and platters of bread, cheese and meats. It was apparent that the men had eaten breakfast in here and then gone off to work.

"Eat up, lass. Stay in this room till I come for you."

It was not what she had been used to in the castle, but it was just as filling, making her more alert and ready to face the coming day. She considered how much to drink and decided that too much now might have embarrassing consequences later.

The man came back, a smile on his face. "Time to go, lass. Follow me, carefully now. Don't speak to anybody you see downstairs."

He led her back into the courtyard and to the waiting wagons. One was part-loaded, the man helped Milsy up steps at the back where she discovered a hole in the array of sacks of meal. She indicated the hole and he nodded, so she climbed down and curled herself up in the space. It was big enough to move around a little and the sacks were soft to lie on. She noticed a pan with a tightly-fitted lid in one corner, ready for any emergencies, and hoped she wouldn't have to use it.

Other men came and carefully covered the hole over with planks, and then she could hear more sacks being laid on top to hide the planks. There were other, odd sounds and then a period of silence. Milsy began to doze off but was awakened by a jolt.

Of course. That will be the draft-beast being harnessed to the wagon.

Her surmise proved right as the wagon shortly began shaking and rumbling as it moved on its journey down to the ferry. Milsy had little idea how long this would take or any of the details, so just relaxed and thought of what she might have to do once they reached the other side. At one point she smelled spices and cooked food so thought they must be traveling through the market in Dekarran town. There were some alarming tilts to the floor and then a most peculiar sensation as though she was floating.

I am floating! We must be on the ferry now. I've often seen the Sirrel from the castle windows but I've never been across it before. Pity I can't see anything.

Another tilt, more rumbling and then she was sure the ferry trip was over. The wagon went somewhere and was then apparently abandoned. Milsy was sure that at least a bell had passed before people began taking the top layers of sacks away and then the planks covering her.

The man leaned in and offered her a hand to pull her up from her hiding place.

"Sorry about that, lass," he said. "The royal party will cross shortly and there were guardsmen around making sure there were no assassins, anything like that, waiting for them. You all right?"

"Aye, I am, though a little stiff," she replied. "I think I need -"

He nodded. "Of course you do, after all that time. Here, let me help you down."

The facilities here seemed better than those the other side and Milsy quickly cleaned herself up. When she emerged there was a woman waiting for her.

"Come with me, kid," she said. "You'll have to stay out of the way until tonight so I'll put you in a room till then, all right? Did my brother feed you before you crossed?"

"Aye, Mistress, he gave me breakfast," Milsy replied. "I don't mind hiding somewhere until I'm needed. I've done that for a week already."

The woman put up a hand. "Don't want to know, kid. You're part of some crazy plan and the less each of us knows the better, if you take my meaning. Follow me. I'll bring you up some lunch later but you should keep out of the way of everyone else. Oh, and I ain't no mistress."

The room was about the size of the other one but had beds rather than bunks. The windows were just as dirty but the linen was at least clean.

I'm not going to sleep here, Milsy thought. The swap is supposed to happen this evening, so I'll be sleeping in a fancy bed with the royal party tonight.

The wait proved as boring as Milsy had guessed it might be. But she was content, since she knew that it would be ended with the most dangerous part of the operation. The woman brought Milsy a tray with lunch and twice escorted her to the facilities during the afternoon. After an evening meal of stew she was ready for the next step, which came with a knock on the door. Outside was the woman - and Bursila! Milsy just stopped herself blurting out the name but nodded recognition instead.

"It's time, kid."

The three went to a downstairs room where three covered baskets stood on a table. There was a strong smell of fresh-baked bread. The woman gave Milsy a cloak to wrap around herself and they each picked up a basket.

"The story is, some of the women didn't arrive soon enough to get a proper evening meal, so they sent out for some snacks," the woman explained. "Three women arrive with baskets, three women leave again, got it?" Milsy nodded. "Now, we'll have to be real careful, 'cos we'll have an armed escort to go to the women's inn, so keep your head down and don't breathe a word, right? These men don't know we're part of no plot."

Milsy nodded, her mouth suddenly dry, and picked up a basket. The other two wore similar cloaks to her own and the three let themselves out a side door of... wherever Milsy had been. They walked along an alley and went in the back door of another building, walking through what appeared to be a kitchen that made food for travelers, although she saw nobody. At the front entrance three men-at-arms in palace colors waited, turning to give the three women the customary glance as they appeared.

"Ready, girls?" one asked. "It's not far, and then you can come back and relax for the evening."

"I'm glad you think we can relax once we've done this extra chore," the woman retorted. "It's all right for the likes of you, you can just find a tavern and have another beer or three. We have dishes to wash and vegetables to prepare for tomorrow, haven't we, girls?"

Milsy and Bursila made non-committal noises. The men guided them through the small town to a large building which had more men guarding it. They were challenged and apparently the reasons seemed acceptable, so their own escort waited outside while the three women climbed the steps and entered.

Inside the decor was better than the warehouse but not as good as the upper levels of the castle. Milsy could hear voices from several directions as she took in their surroundings.

"Off you go, kid," the woman said. "Good luck."

Milsy looked surprised but Bursila took her arm. "This way, Milady."

Huh? Oh, of course. That's me from now on.

Bursila led her to a small downstairs room where she discovered Garia and Merizel already waiting.

"Oh, good!" Garia said. "Have any trouble?"

Milsy shook her head. "Not really. There's a great deal of waiting about, though. And watch out for the toilets and bath tubs, they're worse than I've ever seen in my life. What do we do now, then?"

"We change clothes, of course," Garia said, adding with a smile, "I'll bet you'll be glad to get that wig off your head."

"It's not so bad," Milsy replied, "though it was rather warm when I was hiding in the wagon."

The four girls helped each other strip down to their underwear and then Garia and Merizel put on the traveler's clothes which Milsy and Bursila had worn to enter the house.

"Gotta go," Garia said as Bursila began lacing Milsy into Garia's evening gown, "or they'll wonder why the women visitors are taking so long. Here," she said, and gave Milsy a big hug. "I hope you have a nice, peaceful trip down to the palace and nothing bad happens. Have yourself a great time when you get there, right? Bye, now. Come on, Merry."

Milsy managed a "Bye," as the two girls slipped out of the room. Bursila finished dressing her and then she helped Bursila into the servant's dress which had been left ready in the room. Bursila motioned Milsy to a chair and then picked up the baskets, putting the excess clothing over an arm.

"I must leave you briefly, Milady, to dispose of these items," Bursila explained. She left, Milsy shutting the door behind her. It was not long before the maid returned.

"Come, Milady," she said, "we had better join the others."

Bursila led Milsy through the building and into a large room where a number of women were seated. Milsy recognized the Queen and promptly curtseyed. Terissa and Dalenna jumped up from their own seats, eyes alight.

"Oh, she's very good, isn't she?"

"If you didn't know, and from a distance..." Dalenna cocked her head. "The hair isn't quite right though, is it?"

"We can fix that, can't we? We asked Garia... the other Garia how it was done, so that we could have ours the same when we get back to Brikant. Mother? Can we help?"

"Now, you two, calm yourselves down. The poor girl has only just entered the room and already you're trimming her hair! Sit down, please." Sindenna smiled at Milsy. "Garia, dear, take no notice of this pair." Terissa pouted. "Sometimes I think they have enough energy for six daughters."

The Queen watched as Milsy hesitantly chose a seat and sat carefully down.

"My dear," she said, "I know you are nervous but you will have to try and relax. Tomorrow morning, when we climb in our carriage, will be much more difficult than tonight has been but you must behave as though it were all normal."

Milsy licked her lips. "As you say, Ma'am. A lot of new things have happened to me the last few days."

"We understand, dear. I think you will find it easier once we are away from here and on our way home." Terys regarded Milsy thoughtfully. "The twins are right, though. Your hair is as short as... the other's was but it does not curl right. Who cut it for you?"

"Bursila did, Ma'am, with... instructions from the other. We didn't think anyone else should know that it had been done."

"Quite right, too. Now, Terissa, are you sure you know what to do?"

"Ma'am, ...Garia explained how the curl was made by cutting away the hair underneath." She suddenly looked doubtful. "I'm not sure I'd care to do it myself, Ma'am, but we could show someone else what to do."

"Then tomorrow morning, between us, we shall make the necessary changes. Bursila?"

"Ma'am?"

"Your work is fine but nobody expected you to copy an unusual hair style without any practice or warning. You have done as well as Mistress Shelda might have done given the circumstances."

"Thank you, Ma'am."

"Garia, dear."

That's me!

"Ma'am?"

"We have decided that you shall ride with us tomorrow. That way we will be able to inform you of matters your double would certainly know about. After that, you may ride in your own carriage if you should so wish."

"Thank you, Ma'am." Ride in my own carriage?" Uh, Ma'am? On my own? In my own carriage, that is?"

The Queen pursed her lips. "Perhaps you have a point, my dear. On our journey here you had company for the ride, Master Parrel and Questor Gerdas. They have both returned to Palarand already but I do not think that they would have presented any risk to our enterprise. Others might, however. Let me think about that tonight. Perhaps I need to have a word with Robanar tomorrow."

The conversation turned to other matters and Milsy sat quietly listening, since she had little to contribute. Both the twins occasionally fixed her with a keen glance but she could detect no animosity from either, it was just interest in the unusual happenings. Finally the Queen stood.

"I think it is time we retired for the night," she pronounced. "We all have long journeys to make and we will need to be fresh and alert in the morning. Bursila, take Garia to her room and see she is settled, please. Garia, we'll see you at breakfast."

"As you say, Ma'am."

~o~O~o~

Morning came and Bursila dressed Milsy in a fresh traveling gown before the two joined the other women for breakfast. This was the first occasion that Milsy had eaten at the same table as the Queen and other noblewomen but the twins made her feel at ease. Garia and Jenet had shown her how to use a fork so, while she wasn't as proficient as Garia might have been, there were no accidents or fumbles.

After breakfast the noblewomen all gathered in the large lounge again while servants packed up their chests. With cautious use of shears and the application of rollers heated in hot water the adjustments to Milsy's hair were completed. Then it was time for them all to leave the lodgings for their carriages. Milsy waited beside the Queen for their own carriage to be brought and once it arrived they walked together through a double row of guardsmen who lined the route with swords drawn.

"I'm afraid you'll have to sit with your back to the frayen, my dear," Terys said. "The King prefers to sit facing forward and I must sit by his side so that we may wave at people as we pass." She smiled. "Besides, this way it will be easier for us to talk with you."

"Thank you, Ma'am," Milsy replied respectfully. "Uh, this is the first time I have ever been inside a carriage, I don't know what to expect."

Terys's eyes widened briefly before she said, "Of course, my dear. I must apologize, I wasn't thinking. Some people find it difficult to sit with their back to the frayen because it makes them feel uneasy or upsets their stomachs. I wondered if you were one of those but since you have no experience I shall just ask that you tell us if you find the motion unpleasant so that we can make some other arrangement. Will you promise to do that, dear? I don't want you to feel unwell and suffer in silence."

Milsy nodded. "I shall, Ma'am."

The carriage jolted into motion and wound through the small town before stopping in front of another building.

"Wait here, my dear," Terys said before the door was opened and she climbed out.

Milsy looked through the side window and saw a crowd of men burst out of the main door of the building. Most of them she vaguely recognized but the King was obvious. The Queen joined the group and many farewells were made before the King escorted her back to their carriage. Robanar smiled at Milsy when he climbed in to join her.

"Good morning, Milady," he greeted her. "I see our deception has gone off smoothly so far. Are you well? You look anxious, the Queen and I will try and put you at your ease as we travel. You must know that Garia has become as familiar to us as our daughters and she has become just as beloved. We must make sure that you are as relaxed as she might appear to any we pass by today."

"Thank you, Sire. I have already said that I will do my best and I will try to do that."

"As you say."

A man came to the window and looked in. Robanar nodded to him and the man raised a hand to the driver. The carriage moved off and a group of mounted guardsmen came and surrounded the carriage closely as they headed for the road south. Soon the procession reached open countryside and settled into the slow ride toward the capital. Milsy looked with interest at the terrain as they rolled past.

"My dear, I assume you have never been across the Sirrel before?"

"No, Ma'am. This is all new to me. It looks so different, so flat. Around the castle all you can see is mountains."

"Did you live all your life in the castle, then?" Robanar asked.

"Sire, I did. Sometimes I would go to the town with the other servants but mostly I was inside the walls somewhere. We were permitted to go on some of the terraces when the weather was good and of course I could see across the river from the windows but seeing it like this is very different. Sire, it occurs to me I don't even know how long it will take us to reach the palace."

"Ah, normally it would take us two days, because such a procession as this takes time to get into motion and to stop again. Merchant caravans usually take a day but may take longer if they are pulling heavy loads." Robanar smiled at Milsy. "That means, my dear, that we shall sleep tonight in a pavilion about halfway along our journey home." He raised a hand when Milsy frowned. "Do not worry, my dear, we shall all be well-guarded during the night, you can be assured about that."

"Thank you, Sire."

Terys asked, "Is there anything you would like to ask us about Garia, dear? We are private, this is the best chance we have to make sure that you find out anything you are unsure about."

"As you say, Ma'am." Milsy was uncertain. "I spent some time speaking with Lady Garia and Lady Merizel and their maids so I have been told quite a lot but of course it doesn't really mean that much to me yet. They talked about any number of people who I don't know and wouldn't recognize and about places in the palace but until I have been there I won't know my way around." She made a wry smile. "And of course I don't know what I don't know, Ma'am."

"I'm sure Bursila will help you find your way around the palace although," Terys pursed her lips, "Bursila herself is a newcomer to the palace." She turned to Robanar. "Dear, can you think of a way we might help our friend here to settle in to the palace? I would not wish to assign another maid, Jenet had enough discretion but I can think of few others who might hold their tongues. The deception would be all over the palace before the carriages are put away."

"I think the answer is to use one of your own," Robanar said after a few moment's thought. "After all, both Kenila and Varna have served Garia on occasion in the past, and you may trust both of your own maids, can you not?"

Terys nodded. "Then that is what we will do, I think. Since, to begin with, you will be spending most of your time in your suite it will be natural for my maids to offer assistance, just as they did in the past." She fell silent, thinking. "I think it will be a good idea, if we can arrange it, for you to be able to leave your suite in some other disguise in order to learn the palace corridors. That way, when attention has died down and you can be given a little freedom you will have some idea where everywhere is. Everywhere, that is, that Garia would normally go during her daily activities."

Robanar frowned. "Do you think that is wise, my dear?"

"This girl is already in disguise, husband," she replied. "And she is very good at it. I doubt not she can disguise herself as a palace maid from time to time? That way she and another may walk the corridors without comment."

"Excepting for the hair, of course," Robanar said. He waved a dismissive hand. "She wore a wig before, it is no great matter to disguise her hair and face. My dear, you are right. This girl is clever enough to find her way around the palace at need and that is a talent which may be of use to her in the future. Very well, I approve this idea, but she must spend a week or perhaps two in her suite before she begins any new adventures."

"Agreed, dear." Terys smiled at Milsy. "We don't want you to think you are being kept in a comfortable prison, my dear, but we are pretending that we are concerned for your safety, which is true enough. Now, if you cannot think of things to ask about Garia, perhaps we shall tell you what we know instead."

It seemed like no time at all before the procession pulled off the road into a wide, organized stopping place. Advance parties from the front of the long train were ready and waiting as their carriage came to a halt and the occupants were soon standing, stretching their legs.

"This way, my dear," Terys said, holding out a hand. "After sitting down so long I expect you'll need to visit the bath house?"

"Ma'am?" Milsy was confused until she spotted the low building the Queen pointed at. "Oh, yes, Ma'am! I think I do."

When they emerged, to be surrounded by their ever-attentive escort, they were led to some tables set in front of a kitchen with one wall exposed to the elements. Milsy had never seen such a thing before but managed to hide both her surprise and her curiosity.

After all, she thought, there must be many wagons and carriages traveling this road and they will all want food served quickly, won't they? This is a good way of doing that.

The King joined their table just as the servants brought pel and pastries.

"Everything is well, my dear?" he smiled at his wife. "And with you, Garia?"

"Thank you, Sire, it is," she replied with a nod. There were lots of questions in her mind which she was dying to ask but couldn't do so in public. Garia had already been this way and would therefore already know all the answers.

The party was served pel and pastries while servants and retainers ensured that the various beasts were fed and watered and the carriages and wagons checked over. After the stop they all climbed back into their carriages and the whole procession slowly resumed its route south. The morning passed in a similar fashion as before, with Robanar and Terys waving at the onlookers as the procession passed through some tiny villages and what seemed to be a small market town. Finally, with Milsy's stomach beginning to rumble, the procession pulled into another rest stop.

The meal itself was interesting. In the castle she was familiar with the usual kitchen routine which meant that most meals took between one and two bells to prepare. Travelers wouldn't want to delay that long upon their journeys so the food was prepared in a different fashion. She learned new expressions: "stir fried" and "flame grilled" which seemed such simple and quick ways of cooking that she wondered they weren't used more widely. Then she shrugged internally, since for all she knew they were used more widely; she just didn't know how normal people lived.

And once I get to the palace I'll find out even less about how normal people live!

The afternoon passed very slowly. Robanar said that was because their procession was so large that it couldn't even travel at the speed of a normal merchant train. Had it attempted to do so, it would long have disintegrated into many fragments putting everybody at risk and creating chaos. Fortunately their draft-beasts understood this and by some strange means managed to keep the procession together without help from their drivers. Milsy had seen dranakhs before but had never been close to one and knew little about them, so didn't understand how this happened.

As the shadows began to lengthen the procession finally reached their overnight stop. The stopping place had been completely reserved for the royal party but was still far too small to fit everybody in the normal accommodation. Milsy and Bursila were shown to a pavilion with double layers of stout canvas and rugs thrown on the ground to keep the damp and dirt at bay. Two of 'her' armsmen carried chests in so that they could change from their travel clothes.

"Should we be changing into evening gowns, Bursila?"

"It is not customary, Milady," the maid replied. "Although I am no expert, it seems the rules for travelers are different than those we would follow in the palace... or even at Lady Merizel's home. You will feel refreshed by selecting another day gown this time, I deem, and also save your evening gown from attracting dirt in such a place as this."

Milsy considered this and then nodded. Evening gowns were another subject she knew little about, since below-stairs staff didn't wear them at any time. She understood the appalling level of ignorance she had and just hoped that nobody would find her out, putting the whole project at risk.

"Milady," Bursila said, seeming to read her mind, "the other... did not know such customs either. If there is any lapse then it is almost certain that it will be forgiven. The other... has, after all, been in Palarand only a few months and I have learned that the customs of her own world are somewhat different than those in Palarand."

"You're right of course, Bursila, but that doesn't mean I mustn't try and do what she might have done. In many ways this is as strange to me as it must have been to her."

"Of course, Milady, I had not considered that." Bursila opened a chest and began lifting gowns up. "Which will you choose, Milady? I would advise a thicker cloth, since we will be eating outside and the air is not so warm as it was earlier today."

Between them they chose another gown, one which Milsy decided could be worn again for the second day of their journey. Although the weather had been fair, and the season still young, Milsy had spent most of her life amid the heat of the castle kitchens and discovered that parts of her were cooler than expected. Doubtless this would improve over time, she thought.

The two emerged from their pavilion to be met by Tord with a sharp salute.

"Is everything satisfactory, Milady?"

"Thank you, Tord, it is. I could ask you the same question."

He grimaced but replied, "So far it is, Milady, though we have been on the road but a single day. Some of the men forget from time to time who they are supposed to be and wander off to speak with friends. Of course, even Milady's men were once Palace Guards so it is natural but a lack of attention to your safety would be unforgivable."

Milsy frowned. "I don't think I can help you with that, Tord, not until we get to the palace anyway. If there is any real problem then you must needs speak to Captain Merek. We all have to at least act as if we are what we are supposed to be."

Tord inclined his head. "Wise words, Milady. I will call our group together before assigning the night roster and impress upon them again the serious nature of our duties."

The evening meal was, of course, fit for a King and Milsy was seated beside him to eat it. This time, the kitchens had been given advance warning, so the dishes were not 'fast food' but properly prepared and cooked fare. It was not as good as that she had helped prepare in Dekarran but then, Dekarran was not a normal residence. Milsy wondered what the palace kitchens would be like but realized that she might never find out. She would be eating what they produced but her natural curiosity to see how they did it meant going places Garia probably would not care to venture.

Back in their pavilion Milsy and Bursila prepared for bed.

"I'm sorry we haven't been together much today," Milsy said. "If I had ridden in my own carriage then you would have been there as well but even the Queen's maids don't ride inside the royal carriage if the King and Queen have guests. Has it been boring for you?"

"Not at all, Milady. I have of course been riding with some of the other servants, as is proper, and they all know that I am recently come to the palace so they do not expect me to know everything they do." Bursila blushed. "I have learned much gossip, some of which I barely believe and most of which I dare not repeat."

"Dekarran's the same," Milsy said. "The stories that were going around about... the other ranged from the ridiculous to the impossible! Because the kitchens served everyone in the castle it became a seething mass of gossip, so much so that I sometimes wished everyone would be struck dumb. How anybody could believe much of what was said I cannot imagine."

"Aye. I think 'tis true of any noble's house, Milady. Even at Lady Merizel's home, South Reach on the edge of Crescent Lake, the servants told tales to each other, most of which were entirely fantasy. It is the way of the world, I deem."

"There!" Milsy plucked doubtfully at her nightgown. "Are we going to be warm enough in these?"

"Aye, Milady. We have traveling quilts filled with pakh wool which will ensure a comfortable night's sleep."

"Then let's get to bed. Tomorrow will be another long day, I think."

~o~O~o~

Milsy was wakened by the sound of low voices and the clink of equipment. There was enough light to tell her that dawn had recently broken and that the camp was beginning to stir. Beside her, Bursila yawned, stretched and opened her eyes.

"Good morning, My Lady. Did you sleep well?"

"Thank you, Bursila, yes I did. I thought maybe the unusual setting and the noise of animals and guards might disturb me but it was not so. The bed was comfortable too." Milsy pulled back the quilt. "What do we do now? Do we have to dress before we can get to the bath house? I'm not sure I can wait that long."

"Not so, Milady. For such a stop, a traveler may walk across with a robe wrapped around her nightwear."

Milsy swung her legs off the padded pallet. "Then let's get going. From the sounds outside, everybody is waking up and we don't want to end up in a long line of women with crossed legs!"

There was, fortunately, no line for the toilet chambers but there was a small wait for a bath tub. Milsy and Bursila quickly soaped each other down and used the supplied pitchers to rinse the soapy water away, before climbing out and toweling themselves off. Back in their pavilion they dressed each other for the road and went out again to seek breakfast. Surrounded by six attentive guardsmen they headed for the eating area.

"Ah, Garia, my dear. Slept you well?"

"Your Majesty, good morning." Milsy curtseyed to Robanar. "We did, thank you."

"Good, good. If you would join us for breakfast, my dear."

"As you wish, Sire."

Robanar, Terys and Milsy sat around a table for four, Captain Merek taking the fourth side. There was a double cordon of guardsmen surrounding the table but not so closely packed that nobody could see the diners. However, they were only letting the serving staff through together with known members of the palace entourage. Milsy could tell that the King was unhappy with this arrangement but given the circumstances it was difficult to think of any alternative.

"Dear," Terys muttered, "do you think that perhaps we are being too cautious today?"

"An awkward question, my dear," Robanar replied, "for an awkward circumstance."

"If I may, Sire," Merek said. "I agree we are probably being too strict with our arrangements but the effect is to draw the thoughts of any wrongdoer in our direction and away from other places, as we desire. If we take so much trouble, they may say, then there must be some good reason for it." He took a sip of his pel. "I trust that we may reduce our vigilance once we reach the palace, though, else our men may do nothing but pace the family corridor."

Robanar nodded. "Indeed, Merek. The palace is a large place and all of it must be protected." He smiled at Milsy. "And Garia will not wish to be stifled in her activities once we arrive. Though she may not attempt all that the other can do she must needs be able to walk the corridors in safety."

"Thank you, Sire," Milsy said. "The palace sounds an interesting place and, like any young person, I desire to explore it, if I am so permitted."

Robanar beamed at her. "And so you shall, my dear, when sufficient time has passed. I regret that once we arrive, though, you must needs remain in your suite for some few days in order to maintain our story."

Milsy inclined her head. "Of course, Sire. I know why I am here and what I must do."

Once the whole procession had been given breakfast it was time to resume the highway. Milsy estimated that it was nearly a bell and a half after she had finished breakfast before everyone was ready to pull back onto the road south. Once more the immense procession ground into motion to continue the journey to the capital.

"Sire," Milsy asked after a while, "I notice that many of the houses we pass are built on poles raised above the ground. Is this a local custom? There is nothing like this at Dekarran."

"It is the rains, my dear. In Dekarran the water runs directly from the hillsides into the river and troubles very few. In such a flat land as you see around us the water has nowhere to go, so it lies on the fields until it may slowly drain away. That is why many build their houses thus, to keep them above the level of the flood."

"I see, Sire." She raised an eyebrow. "That still happens, even though there are all these wide ditches everywhere?"

"Indeed it does, my dear. I am told that in older times even those houses we see would have been partly flooded but the rains have become more moderate during my own lifetime. Even so, many buildings are flooded out during the season. The local Assemblies provide patrols to ensure that no-one is trapped or injured or left without food or shelter during the rains." He smiled. "Do not worry, my dear. The palace is built over the wonderful drainage system left to us by the Chivans and it is many years since any part of it was flooded."

Terys said, "That may be true, dear, but we are still struck by lightning from the skies. Why, even... the other... was nearby when that first strike happened, do you remember?"

Milsy's eyes were round. "Really? What happened, Ma'am?"

Terys described the palace strike which had left Garia temporarily deafened and blinded, while blowing out several windows in the corridor she had been passing through.

"Such power, and yet she has now made her own lightning, strong enough to melt metal, so I am told. Perhaps Master Parrel can explain it to Garia once we are settled back in the palace."

Robanar gave his wife a glance. "Are you sure, my dear? I do not doubt we may trust Parrel but I am concerned that too many shall know the secret too soon."

Terys pointed a finger at Milsy. "Dear, I doubt not that this one shall be wearing a guild badge before the year is ended. I do not see how we can keep her away from them for very long, nor them from her."

"Me? A guild member? You make fun of me, Ma'am!"

"We shall see, dear. You have a sharp mind, with Garia to guide you you will be able to make best use of it, and she is already a Guildmistress. Now, I see we are approaching another town. If you will excuse us, we must needs return the greetings of our people."

As the highway passed through the center of the small town Milsy could once again observe that the people of Palarand held their royal couple in high esteem. Whatever they were doing, it was apparently the right thing so far as the ordinary folk of the land was concerned. Dekarran was a self-contained place and Milsy's contact with outsiders had been infrequent. This journey had shown her things she had never before imagined could be.

A stop for their morning break was followed by another for lunch and then they were on the last section before arriving at the palace. Since lunch the roadside had become more crowded with mansions and villas, the farms still appearing but smaller now and dedicated to providing fruit and vegetables for the locality they were passing through. The buildings became larger and more elaborate and it was apparent that many were the residences of nobility or prosperous merchants. Most were still built on stilts and the sidewalks alongside the highway were also raised, making Milsy aware of the effects of the two-month fall of rain the Great Valley suffered each year.

Suddenly the procession was passing through a stone archway in a thick wall and everything was different. The villas were replaced by blocks of mansions along roads which had become narrower than the highway they had followed before. The speed dropped, too, as the sidewalks became crowded with cityfolk eager to see their returning King and Queen. Milsy was overwhelmed by the attention, even though most of it was not directed at her.

"Look! That's the girl who -"

"Who's that? Is she the one they adopted?"

"What interesting hair! Mom, can I have my hair -"

"Is she going to marry Prince Keren, then?"

Terys leaned forward and put a hand on Milsy's knee. "Dear, while Garia is known to the Guilds and Questors, I doubt many in the crowd know what she looks like. Do not be alarmed. Most of what they say is but rumor, they do not know the truth."

Robanar added, "My dear, your different features may help us as they confuse who you might be. As far as many who see you today are concerned, you will be Garia, as is intended."

Milsy took a quick look at the onlookers. "As you say, Sire." She thought, then asked, "What was that stone arch we went through, Sire?"

Robanar grunted. "That was the North Gate of the Old City, my dear. In ancient times Palarand was a city built by the Chivans and it had walls to keep out undesirables. Of course our modern city is far too big to fit within the old walls but we keep them as a reminder of former times. Now," he leaned and pointed out of one of the windows, "when the carriage turns you shall see the palace, our home. The procession will stop at the front entrance and we will all climb out." He smiled. "Welcome to your new home, Garia."

Despite seeing the palace from the road outside it took perhaps a quarter of a bell before their carriage stopped in front of a line of steps leading up to the imposing entrance. Immediately servants who had remained behind swarmed around the arrivals, opening doors and beginning to unload the belongings they had taken with them to Dekarran. Robanar stepped out followed by Terys and then Milsy. She blinked as she saw the front of the palace properly for the first time.

"It's... not what I imagined."

Terys answered, "Of course, dear. How could you, having lived in that great stone pile all your life? Be assured that you will find the palace to be a comfortable place to live."

"Thank you, Ma'am."

By that time their maids had rejoined their mistresses and Terys gestured to the stairs.

"We shall climb the steps together, dear. When we reach the top we must turn and wave to the crowds before going inside. Bursila, do you know the way to Garia's suite from the front entrance?"

"Ma'am, I regret I do not," Bursila answered. "Neither Lady Garia nor Lady Merizel have visited this entrance very much, except when the Dukes departed just before the rains began."

"Ah. Then I will find a footman to guide you."

"Ma'am?" Tord spoke up. "I know the way and we must needs escort Lady Garia in any event."

"Of course you do. That's settled, then. Shall we climb?"

Milsy was surprised by the size of the crowd who had gathered outside the railings to watch the details of the royal arrival. Mostly they were quiet but gave a cheer when Robanar and Terys waved to them. Then it was time to turn and go inside.

"If you would follow me, Milady."

The palace corridors were richly furnished, much like those in the castle. Here, though, the floors were polished wood rather than being carpeted. Milsy supposed that the traffic here was much greater than in most parts of the castle and carpeted floors just wouldn't stand that level of wear. The walls and ceilings were also just polished wood but the cornices between were intricately carved and some were painted bright colors while others were gilded.

Milsy was lost almost immediately in the strange building, though she had no doubt that some kind of layout would resolve itself in due time. For now, she and Bursila just followed Tord while the other members of her escort gathered closely round. Here, occasionally, they passed servants and others who pressed themselves against the walls to permit their party through. Most bowed or curtseyed with a muttered "My Lady" before continuing their way.

At some undefinable point the nature of the corridors changed and Milsy guessed that they were now in the part of the palace not normally permitted to visitors. After some further twists and turns Tord gestured to a broad staircase and said, "We must ascend to the upper level, Milady."

As they climbed, Milsy asked, "Only two levels, Tord?"

"Mostly, Milady. There are several towers that go higher but none contain chambers of interest to us. There are no lower levels, unlike in Dekarran, since they would become flooded during the rains each year."

"Of course. Thank you, Tord."

The corridors were slightly narrower here but still richly furnished. Around a corner Tord walked past the first door and then stopped with a flourish at the next.

"This is the entrance to your suite, Milady. For now I will post two men outside your door and two at each end of the corridor." He pointed to the door next along from Garia's. "The suite of the King and Queen is that one, and facing them is the suite of Prince Keren. I doubt you would have any reason to enter his chambers but you will probably be asked to attend the King or Queen in their sitting room from time to time."

"You're probably right, Tord. Thank you for your help so far, I can see we're going to need you as a guide for a while until we both get to know how the palace is laid out."

"As you say, Milady." He quirked a brief grin. "It occurs to me that I must needs check your suite for assassins before you take possession." He turned. "Taren, if you would join me. Milady, you may follow us at your leisure."

Tord turned the handle and opened the door, entering followed by the named armsman. Milsy looked at Bursila, shrugged, and the two of them followed. Inside, the chamber was bright and airy with tall windows overlooking a courtyard. The room was furnished with a settee and several comfortable armchairs so Milsy guessed that this would be the "sitting room" which Garia had told her about. A large marble fireplace occupied most of one wall. Near the window was a table and four chairs which were presumably used for meetings or for taking private meals whenever necessary. A door opened out beside the windows onto... a balcony? Something to be investigated.

The two guardsmen went through another doorway and reappeared shortly afterwards. Tord saluted.

"Milady, your chambers appear secure. We will leave you in peace now. If you have need, somebody will always be outside your door."

"Thank you, Tord."

As the two men left Bursila turned to Milsy. "Milady, you will probably have need of the toilet chamber after our journey. If you would follow me into the bedroom."

Through the other door Milsy found a large bed with a door either side. Bursila pointed to the door nearest the windows.

"Milady, that is your dressing room. The other one is the bathing chamber."

"A real bath? Right in the bedroom?"

"Milady, this suite and the one next to it were used by the Princesses before they married and moved away. Of course they would have such facilities."

"As you say. I'm not thinking, am I, Bursila? I'm just not used to the ways of royalty yet. Hmm. You mentioned a toilet? Is that in the bathroom?"

"Not so, Milady. If you would look on the other side of the chamber, you will see the door."

"Let's go investigate that toilet, then. You're right, it has been a while since we last had the opportunity."

When they emerged, Bursila suggested they make an inspection of the dressing room and its contents and then refresh themselves with a bath. Milsy looked at the rails of gowns and other gear and wondered how much would fit her.

I don't even know if I'm going to need to wear much of it! I'm certainly not going to go riding or training with the men, am I? Best leave well alone for now, the day gowns should be sufficient and even then I'm not going to get to try many of them.

The two entered the bath chamber and Bursila pulled the rope for water. It was not long before they had stripped and immersed themselves in the large pool, Milsy feeling instantly refreshed after two days of unaccustomed travel. The two had soaped each other down and were leisurely rinsing the suds off each other's body when Bursila stopped.

"Listen, Milady! Do you hear that?"

"What?" Milsy stopped, listening. "Voices! Is that what you mean? I don't know how sound carries in a place like this."

"Milady, the walls are substantial, though very occasionally we might hear something from another chamber. But these seem to me as if in your bed chamber."

Milsy listened again. "Yes, you're right! Men's voices, I deem. Think you Tord seeks us for some reason?"

"I could not say, Milady. But we are about finished, are we not? If we should climb out and dry ourselves we may find out what is happening."

The two climbed out and hastily toweled themselves - and each other - dry before wrapping themselves in fluffy robes. Milsy cracked the door and looked out to find two strange men bent over something on a small table near one of the bedroom windows. Standing in the doorway to the sitting room stood Tord, looking anxious. Milsy stepped out, remembering who she was supposed to be.

"Who are you and what are you doing in my bedchamber?"

The two spun round and looked at Milsy with confusion. One was a young man, about her own age, while the other was older but of a smaller build. The older man spoke before Tord could give an explanation.

"We are guildsmen, permitted by Lady Garia to examine some of her belongings... I must needs ask who you are! You seem not unlike the Guildmistress but you are not her! What are you doing in her quarters, wearing her attire? Are you an imposter?"

A tense standoff is resolved by the Queen and then Milsy has to consider what these two men can do for her. She struggles to understand the routine of the palace and realizes she has some important gaps in her education.

What Milsy Did

A Tale of Anmar by Penny Lane

4 - Settling In

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 (c) 2016 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

---

Milsy stared at the two men before realizing what the situation appeared to be.

"Me? I'm not an imposter! But..."

She immediately understood several things. First, these two must have permission to come visit Garia's suite for some reason. Second, that Tord had let them in which meant he knew them and that they had sufficient status to get past him. Third, that by herself she could never convince them of the truth and that only three people could resolve the problem.

She sighed internally. Yet more people who must needs know the secret.

She turned to Tord. "Tord, since you have permitted these people into my chambers they must needs learn the truth, which means you must send for the King, the Queen or Captain Merek to make answer."

Tord saluted. "Milady, I could not prevent them entering. You are right, there is no other way."

He turned and spoke to someone in the sitting room out of Milsy's vision. She turned her attention back to the two men, who had listened carefully to this exchange.

The older man must have been in his mid-thirties and had a small build. The younger was taller and might have been about her age or perhaps a year or so older. He was similar in build to the Prince but did not seem to have Keren's athletic fitness. For some reason, this one kindled an instant interest inside her and she hoped that he would not be banished from her chambers on learning the truth. Both men were dressed similarly, but she did not know what this might mean. She was unfamiliar with the sort of attire normally worn in the palace by people who were not obviously just plain servants so did not know who or what they were.

"So," the older one said. "You are here by permission of the King or Queen and you wear the semblance of the Guildmistress." He smiled at Milsy. "We intended no insult, Milady, if that is what you are. We were surprised to find somebody here other than the Guildmistress, that is all."

The younger cocked his head. "If you are here, Milady, then that means that the Baroness is not. Is this, perhaps, some subterfuge?"

Milsy shook her head. "Masters, I cannot say anything at all to you. Since I do not know you, I cannot know what might be safe for me to tell you. We must needs wait for someone with greater authority than myself to make answer."

The elder man nodded, following which the five in the room just stared at each other in uncomfortable silence. It occurred to Milsy to wonder why the men were there.

"Might I ask what it is you do in these chambers, Masters?"

The older one looked animated. "Why, Milady, we examine those objects and items which the Guildmistress had with her when she came to Alaesia. They were made using methods and techniques presently unknown to the Guilds of Palarand. See, here they are on the table." He gestured.

Milsy turned and was struck by the strangeness of what was there. Clothing of colors, materials and textures she had never seen before. Shoes - were they indeed shoes? - of an impossible white and a complex construction. Some kind of bracelet with a large, round flat crystal on the top and a flat pouch of what might be leather. All had been pulled out of a large bag the men had presumably found somewhere, probably the dressing room.

Those clothes don't look right for Garia! Why, those shoes... are far too large, they are more Prince Keren's size.

Is this what she wore on Earth?

"I must admit, Masters, I find myself interested," she admitted. "However, I cannot say anything until we are all satisfied that we may trust each other."

The older man inclined his head. "We understand, Milady."

When Milsy began to get worried that the impasse would go on for ever, sounds came from beyond and then Terys and Kenila both appeared in the bedroom doorway... dressed in fluffy gowns. Tord stood aside and saluted as Terys took in the situation.

"Ah! I did not expect... We have been back in the palace barely a bell and already there are complications!" Terys turned to the two men. "Fulvin, Tarvan, you were not to know what has transpired while we were in Dekarran. You are here to examine Garia's belongings, I deem?"

The elder of the two bowed. "Your Majesty, we are. I must apologize if our presence here is unwelcome. I regret that I did not understand your guardsman's reluctance to permit us to enter and I overrode his authority." He spread his hands. "After all, we have frequently visited these chambers when the Guildmistress was here and she has welcomed us on every occasion."

The younger added, "Ma'am, we did not expect Lady Garia to return with you and the King. We understood that she was to travel north to visit her lands. We thought these chambers to be empty for some weeks."

What they carefully haven't pointed out, Milsy thought, is that Garia isn't here but I am, and I'm obviously pretending to be her.

"I see." Terys thought briefly before gesturing. "Come, all of you, into the sitting room. Like those you see before you we were in the middle of changing so I will keep this brief."

Everybody followed the Queen into Garia's sitting room and gathered round her.

"While we were in Dekarran Garia was attacked by four men who attempted to kidnap her."

The younger man drew in a deep breath at this statement.

"She managed to kill one of the men while Jenet put out the eye of another. The other two ran off since they did not know what either woman was capable of."

"Ma'am, that is shocking news! Are the Guildmistress and her maid hurt? Is that why another takes her place?"

"No, Fulvin, neither is hurt, except maybe Garia's pride. After the attack, the King declared that Garia was too vulnerable to be allowed to continue north and thus she has returned with us to the palace."

The two men cast confused looks at Milsy. "But..."

"So far as everyone is concerned," Terys continued, "Garia has returned to the palace, and will resume her normal duties as she did before but regrettably with a strong escort about the corridors and chambers. Thus, the attention of her enemies is turned in this direction while in reality Garia has indeed traveled north but in disguise herself. She also has a strong escort of her own men, only Tord of her armsman has returned to the palace with her double."

"Ah." The elder nodded. "A clever stratagem, Ma'am. But, surely, the double, as you name her, cannot be capable of all that the Guildmistress can do."

"The double is named Milsy and was recently a servant in the castle kitchens at Dekarran. She does not practise unarmed combat nor does she yet ride, and naturally she does not have the knowledge that Garia bears. Despite that, Fulvin, you may discover that she has unexpected talents of her own. I must caution you both, however. What you do within these chambers is by your own judgement but anywhere else you must name her Lady Garia and treat her as if she were the Baroness herself. Her life may depend upon your ability to deceive others. Do I make myself clear?"

Fulvin bowed. "It shall be as you command, Your Majesty."

"And you must tell no-one else of the substitution. So far as the palace is concerned, Garia has returned and will be kept in seclusion for some days, before resuming a limited selection of her activities. If any inquire you must not tell them the truth but refer them to me or to Captain Merek."

"Ma'am, we would never betray such a confidence! We Guildsmen know how to keep secrets and the Guildmistress is important to all Palarand. It shall be as you command."

"See to it that you do, both of you. It may be that those who sought Garia both here and at Dekarran will make further attempts to obtain her. While Milsy assumes the appearance of Garia she is at much at risk as Garia herself would be." Terys considered briefly before adding, "It may be possible in time for Milsy to go about the palace in the seeming of a servant. She plays one part already, she may be able to play others. That is all I would add for now. If you would excuse us, Kenila and I must make ourselves ready for the evening meal. Of course, Milsy will be taking her meals in her suite for now but she must needs still attire herself appropriately."

The two men bowed low and watched as Terys swept out of the chamber followed by her maid. Once the door had closed, they instantly turned to Milsy.

"M- Ahem! Milady," the older began. "If you would excuse our earlier confusion. The circumstance is unprecedented."

"It was likely to happen," Milsy replied. "I couldn't reside in a place like this palace without meeting anyone at all, could I? Perhaps we had better formally introduce ourselves. As Her Majesty told you, my real name is Milsy and I was but a kitchen servant before she asked me to perform a great service for the King."

The older man bowed. "I am pleased to meet you, Milsy. Knowing the risks you take diverting attention away from the Guildmistress, I have great respect for the task you have undertaken and we will do anything we may to assist in your efforts. For my part, I am Guildsman Fulvin, presently serving the palace as the Royal Jeweler. With me is Tarvan, a senior journeyman who is soon to attain his own mastership, but in a new craft of which I know little. Perhaps he should best explain it himself."

The younger man bowed and gave her a smile. "The Guildmistress has introduced me to secrets previously unknown on Anmar, concerning electricity and magnetism. I presently serve her in the investigation and construction of devices which may soon change the way we do things in Palarand."

"Electricity? I think I remember that word. Garia spoke briefly to me of that subject but," Milsy smiled, "without seeing any devices the words mean little. I understand her to mean that it has something to do with lightning?"

"That is so, Milady, but..." He remembered where he was. "Forgive me. This is not the time or place to speak further of such matters. You are not dressed, we should withdraw and allow you to continue making yourselves ready. We forget you have just endured a journey of two days to reach the palace."

"That is true, Guildsman." Milsy's eyes narrowed in thought. "If you are supposed to be working closely with... the Guildmistress... then, I deem, I should be seen to do the same, would you not agree? Perhaps you should... attend me tomorrow morning after breakfast and we can make some arrangement which will satisfy all parties."

Fulvin bowed. "An excellent idea, Milady. With that thought and by your leave, we will depart now." He stopped, struck by a thought. "If you have no objection, Milady, we will take these garments and other items away with us, that you might not become distracted."

As he began loading the things back into the bag, he noticed the expression on Milsy's face.

"Ah, we will be certain to bring them back when we return tomorrow morning," he added. "I see that you desire to examine these items as much as we do but you must needs prepare yourself for the evening meal."

Milsy's eyes narrowed but she could find nothing to object to so merely nodded.

"Having met the... Baroness recently, it would be interesting to see what she wore when she arrived. Until tomorrow, then."

Milsy and Bursila watched the two guildsmen withdraw before Milsy turned to Tord.

"I don't think it was your fault, Tord," she said, "because you obviously recognized those men and you knew they were not going to be a threat."

"As you say, Milady."

"The problem I see is that there may be others in the palace whom you recognize who might be a threat. The first attack on Garia, wasn't one of those men supposed to be a footman known to Jenet?"

"Indeed, Milady," Tord said, nodding. "I take your point. Though it may be difficult, we must try harder in future. But how are we to know friend from foe?"

"I have no idea, Tord. This is not a circumstance I have faced before. In the castle, you naturally assumed that all you met who were dressed as servants were friendly, or at least not about to kill or kidnap you. Here, though there are many dressed as servants, there are as many who are not. I do not know who to trust."

"I will think on the matter, Milady," the armsman replied. "For now, I suggest that I had better depart so that you may attire yourself before your food arrives."

"Of course."

Tord left and Milsy and Bursila retired to the dressing room to find something to wear. Milsy decided that, despite having to remain in her suite for the rest of the day, it would be interesting to try out one of Garia's evening gowns to see what it felt like.

"It makes you feel different, doesn't it?"

"Milady, I have rarely worn a long gown, except during the festivals at South Reach. If you would not mind an opinion, this one might not be so suitable for your figure and color. I do not believe that I have ever seen Lady Garia wearing it, though she may have done so before Lady Merizel and myself came to the palace."

Milsy studied herself in the metal mirror. "Aye, I see what you mean. I will wear it this evening, though, to see what difference it makes. This is the first time I have ever worn a long gown too, except when we were trying on some of Garia's clothes at the castle."

A knock came at the door of the suite and Milsy remained in the bedroom as Bursila directed the servants to take the food trays to the sitting room table. Once the coast was clear she joined the maid at the table, sighing with pleasure as she saw the forks provided for each to use.

"If Garia brought only one thing to Anmar, and that was forks, that would be enough," she said. "It makes such a difference to mealtimes, do you not agree?"

"As you say, Milady. This evening's meal appears to be river foti followed by sliced ganifil, I deem. You will be able to compare the work of the palace kitchen with that of Dekarran."

Milsy smiled. "I'm not going to run a competition, Bursila. It looks good enough to me." She frowned. "Do we just get something random for each meal, do you know, or can we choose? I remember there was a choice when we ate in Garia's suite in Dekarran."

"It is the same here, Milady, but now that you mention it I perceive a problem. A list of what will be prepared each day is made available to those who desire to eat in their chambers, but of course neither of us will be able to read it. The problem is that both Lady Garia and Lady Merizel can read."

Milsy pursed her lips as she scooped up some diced vegetables.

"I hadn't thought of that. We don't have to make a similar choice for breakfast, I'm guessing?"

"As you say, Milady. Most of us, nobles and servants, eat what I would call a normal breakfast of grain porridge followed by bread, cheese, sliced meats and fruit but most have preferences. As I recall, portions of all are customarily brought, together with pel and occasionally wine or beer if a man is present. Breakfast should not cause us any problems tomorrow."

"That's good," Milsy said with a sigh of relief. "That means we have until lunchtime tomorrow to work out a way to order food without having to read the list."

The meal was good and Milsy was relieved that she didn't have to share with the others as she had done in the castle. The quantities had been enough for all but it meant that sometimes the choice of items had been more limited. Here they were two people eating a meal intended for two.

Once they had finished Milsy retreated again to the bed chamber, in order to be out of the way when the trays were collected. Bursila pulled a rope and servants appeared to dispose of the remains of the meal. After the door was closed behind them Milsy returned to the sitting room, finding an armchair to relax in.

"That's that! We're now both officially back in the palace and everyone is adapting to the new routine. Bursila, you might as well sit down somewhere. Garia would have it so, wouldn't she?"

Bursila gave in to the inevitable and sat on one of the other chairs, although she didn't appear to be comfortable doing it.

"As you say, Milady."

Milsy looked around. "I think this is going to be my biggest problem," she remarked. "Because I'm going to be spending all my time in here it's going to get boring very quickly, I deem. What do noble ladies do in the evenings, Bursila?"

"I cannot answer for all, Milady, but at South Reach Lady Merizel attended her family in the evenings. Much of the time would be spent in conversation about many kinds of matters but Lady Merizel must needs spend some time in needlework and embroidery. Occasionally there would be visitors or her father would hold gatherings or there would be some kind of celebration. I must confess, though, it was never as exciting as life has been since we came to the palace."

"I can believe that! Garia is just so different, isn't she? That doesn't solve my problem, though. Even though I'm in the palace there isn't much for me to do. I don't think I would find embroidery to be satisfying. If we could find someone reliable to teach me to read or write I could at least spend my evenings doing that, I deem."

"The Queen did say you could venture forth disguised as a servant, Milady. Mayhap you could use those occasions to learn the palace corridors. I would gladly accompany you to improve my own knowledge."

"Well, I'd never dare go out on my own! Although I have a reasonably good memory I don't think I would be able to find my way back in such a big building, especially as we are new to it. I would be glad to have company, Bursila."

Milsy continued looking around, her gaze finally coming to rest on the door beside the two windows.

"What's through there, Bursila? Do you know?"

"I do, Milady. There is a balcony which runs above the whole length of the courtyard, connecting all the suites on this side of the corridor. On the balcony are reclining seats where Their Majesties and anyone else who resides along here, together with their servants, take their nap after lunch each day."

"Really? Something else new, and something else Garia would already know, of course. That's worth knowing, Bursila, and thank you. We'll be ready tomorrow, then, once lunch is finished."

"As you say, Milady. I must add that it was customary for Lady Garia, Lady Merizel, Jenet and myself to be invited into the Queen's sitting room following our nap to be offered pel. There would often be conversation about both light and heavy subjects according to circumstance."

"Also worth knowing! Thank you again, Bursila." Milsy's attention shifted to the ropes hanging beside the fireplace. "Three ropes? I can't think of a single chamber in Dekarran that ever had more than one, though of course I didn't get the chance to inspect many. Do you know what they do?"

"I regret I do not know them all, Milady. The yellow rope summons servants, as when we needed the table to be cleared. I do not think I have ever been present when the others have been pulled and if I have I did not notice which one or what happened. If I may suggest that you ask the Queen tomorrow, Milady."

"I'll do that. Or, maybe, one of her maids. Didn't she say that Kenila would be helping us sometimes? She would know what those do." Milsy gave a wry smile. "It would be embarrassing to pull the wrong one and have the Queen arrive when all I wanted was a snack."

"As you say, Milady."

Milsy sat there for a while before her natural restlessness made her stand up and begin pacing. For someone whose life up until then had been almost entirely active, just sitting doing nothing was hard, especially when she knew she would be doing it for several more days. Finally she had had enough.

"Bursila, I don't think I can do any more tonight. Let's go to bed. At least we'll wake up early in case there are any more surprises waiting."

"As you desire, Milady."

In the bedchamber the two performed the necessary functions and then put on their nightgowns. Milsy frowned.

"Where is it that you sleep, Bursila? There are no servants doors like the ones in Garia's suite at Dekarran."

"Not so, Milady. Jenet has a closet, here."

Bursila opened an almost concealed door in the wall between the bed chamber and the sitting room. Milsy looked in to see a small windowless room with a bed either side and a small locker at the far end of each under a hanging rail. A few clothes belonging to Jenet were on one of the rails and on top of the locker underneath.

"I don't think much of that," Milsy sniffed. "I know servants don't have as much space as nobles do but this is little more than a storage closet!"

"It is sufficient, Milady. Do not forget, we are not expected to spend very much time in here, only when we are asleep. Normally, a maid would be attending her mistress."

"As you say, Bursila. It just seems mean to me."

"The palace is large, Milady, but not so large as Dekarran castle. Space is valued differently here in the Valley."

"As I'm learning, Bursila. Let's go to bed, then. Good night."

"Good night, Milady."

~o~O~o~

There was the usual confusion when Milsy awoke the following morning until she remembered where she was. She lay there thinking for a while as the light round the edges of the drapes became brighter, then climbed out of bed to take a look out the window. Pulling the drapes made enough noise that the door to the maids' closet soon opened and Bursila appeared, yawning and stretching.

"Milady. Good morning. What is it you look at?"

"Nothing, really, Bursila. I just wanted to see what it looked like outside our chambers. Do you have any idea what time it is?"

"I have not heard any bells so far, Milady, but I deem it is still early."

"Bells? Oh, of course, they will use a different system here, don't they?"

"As you say, Milady. When I moved to the palace with Lady Merizel it took a week or so before we became familiar with the new sounds. I am told that in some parts of the palace the bells are clear but in others they can barely be heard at all. I doubt not you will become accustomed to the sounds in time as all who work in the palace have done."

Milsy pulled a face. "Of course, the fact that I'm going to be restricted to these chambers for a week or more means that I won't need to know what bell it is, will I? It will give me a chance to become familiar with the sounds, though." She turned away from the window. "Should we be doing anything now? What about bathing? It still seems strange to me that I may take a whole bath every morning."

"If I may, Milady, I will ask those who wait outside our doors. They should have a better idea what time it might be. If we have not risen too early there will be hot water ready for our bath."

Bursila went to the door from the sitting room to the corridor and opened it, having a short conversation with somebody outside. She returned with a satisfied look on her face.

"Milady, we may bathe, if it please you. There is time for a bath and to do the Tai Chi before we must needs choose a day gown for you, and then I doubt not breakfast will be delivered."

"Let's get started, then. I want to make sure I do the Tai Chi forms right this morning, Bursila. It has been several days since we last did them."

"As you say, Milady."

Bathing proved straightforward and so did the Tai Chi but problems occurred in the dressing room. Despite having worn Garia's clothes for several days Milsy discovered she had a natural reluctance to share underwear. She was almost the same shape and size as the girl she was doubling for and this had been enough during the journey but certain body parts were differently proportioned. There were more personal reasons as well, of course.

"I'll have to put up with it for now, I deem, but I think I'll need to have my own bras. I really don't like wearing someone else's underwear."

"I doubt any woman does, Milady. Had there been time mayhap Rosilda might have produced some for you before we departed. I know that the bras at least take little time to make."

"Rosilda, of course! Let's see if we can get something done today."

"Milady, it will be needful in any event. One day you will no longer be required to act as double and therefore you will begin your own existence in the palace. All who live and work here have a tally in the Royal Wardrobe for their attire, you will need a like record."

"I had not realized that, Bursila. Most servants in the castle just find something that fits from out of the clean laundry though I imagine the nobles must needs have some kind of record for their attire."

"Perhaps, Milady. I could not say, since I know little about the way Dekarran functions... indeed, I know very little more about the functioning of the palace. Which gown will you choose today? It is not so cold within your chambers this morning, perhaps a lighter material like this one."

The selection of food which was provided for breakfast was not everything that was available but rather that which Garia customarily ate and drank. Milsy had no problem with this but was interested enough to wonder what else could be served.

"I'm not greedy, Bursila, I just want to see what else there is. Unfortunately Garia would already know so wouldn't ask but you're here and you wouldn't normally be. Perhaps we can make use of that fact tomorrow?"

"An excellent suggestion, Milady. For tomorrow's breakfast, I will ask for small portions of whatever else is available to be provided. It is true, I do not eat the same foods that Jenet would in like circumstance."

Milsy frowned. "Is that going to cause trouble, do you think? Is some spy going to notice that different food is being delivered?"

"I do not know, Milady. Perhaps we must needs ask advice."

Their first visitor once breakfast was cleared away was Captain Merek. He banged his fist on his chest before addressing Milsy.

"Milady, I trust you slept well?"

"Thank you, Captain, I did... we did. Can we do something for you?"

"Indeed, Milady. I have perceived a minor problem regarding those assigned to protect you. It needs a small adjustment but one I thought best to speak to you about before you noticed and became alarmed."

"Oh?"

"Milady, Tord is one of those who trained under... the other in unarmed combat. Those who she trained are intended to become instructors for the next round of training."

Milsy nodded. "I remember... the other explaining this to me. Go on."

"Since only Bessel has returned to train those in the palace, the others having been posted to the various Dukes, it was always planned that one or more of the Baroness's men would assist Bessel when they were in residence here. Tord is the only one presently available. It would mean that he would be absent for most of the morning each day, resuming his duties here after lunch. If this would be agreeable?"

It didn't take Milsy long to think things through.

"Captain, I'm sure you have thought of all the likely problems." Merek nodded. "And you're not proposing to take away all the men, just Tord, and for only part of the day."

"As you say, Milady."

Milsy shrugged. "If I am to spend most of my days in these chambers then it shouldn't really matter, should it? Thank you for informing me, though. I would probably have had some questions for you if he had just disappeared."

"I felt certain you would understand, Milady."

Merek bowed and turned to depart but before he could leave the door opened and the Queen arrived, accompanied as always by her maids. Milsy and Bursila curtseyed.

"Ah, Merek! Am I interrupting anything?"

"No, Ma'am. I have just informed the Baroness of the matter we discussed over breakfast." He bowed. "If I may be excused, I must needs make my way to the training halls."

"Of course, Captain."

As the door closed behind Merek the Queen turned to Milsy.

"Is everything as you desire, dear? Have you found your way about the chambers?"

"I think so, Your Majesty."

"I'm sorry that you have to be shut up in here, dear, but you know the reasons for our caution. I regret that the next few days are probably not going to be very exciting for you. If you think of anything then you must let me know."

"Let you know... Ma'am, Bursila and I were looking at those three ropes last night. Can you tell us what they do? I have never seen more than one in a chamber before."

"Ah, yes." Terys turned to regard the ropes, made of silk with fancy knots at top and bottom. "The yellow rope is the one that would normally be used to call servants from their room at the end of the corridor, should you need assistance or a message taken." She considered this fact for a moment before adding, "Of course, should you pull it now that may bring servants who do not know of your presence here, expecting the real Garia instead. Let me think about the matter before you use it in the future."

"We used it for the breakfast service, Ma'am, this morning. I stayed in the bed chamber while Bursila dealt with the servants. I can do that again if we need anything."

"Very well, but you must remember to be careful. Now the green rope rings a bell in my sitting room where the King, myself, or one of my maids might hear it. As you might understand, these suites were intended for the children of the King and Queen, so there might be occasions when they would desire to summon their parents directly.

"The blue rope was used by those children to summon those who are appointed to assist them as they grow from child to adult. I speak of nannies, governesses, tutors and the like. It rings in a sitting room in another corridor where those people would reside when not attending their charges."

"Thank you, Ma'am. I had not thought about those who would normally reside in these chambers. So... there's no point pulling the blue rope, I deem, and it would be best to avoid the yellow rope unless it is for the usual chamber functions."

"As you say, dear. If you need anything, then a reliable guardsman will always be outside your door to convey a message."

"And the green rope? Could I pull it if there is a need? Suppose somebody got in here who shouldn't."

Terys pursed her lips as she thought. "I would not rely on the green rope, dear, since our chambers are often empty." She smiled at Milsy. "We are usually somewhere else about the palace attending our people although we do occasionally conduct meetings in our sitting room. Something else for me to consider."

"As you say, Ma'am."

"Is there anything else you may have thought of? Any want or desire?"

"Ma'am, I believe that I must ask for underwear of my own. I cannot keep wearing that of the Baroness, though I wear her gowns."

Terys was startled. "Quite right, dear! I will ask Rosilda to call immediately. Our plan was thought of in haste, we could not consider every possible side effect. Leave that to me, dear."

"Thank you, Ma'am."

"And now I must needs depart, dear. On returning to the palace after a journey there are always many small matters which cause conflict or confusion and I must resolve all. You will be joining us on the balcony after lunch for our nap?"

"I will, Ma'am."

"Good. I'll leave you, then."

Milsy curtseyed again as she watched as the Queen swept out of the room.

The two Guildsmen show Milsy the clothing which Garia wore when she arrived on Anmar, which amazes her greatly and results in an astonishing conclusion. Deficiencies in her wardrobe are discovered and Rosilda requested to remedy the omissions. Steps are taken to obtain reading lessons and Milsy's education about the routine of the palace continues.

What Milsy Did

A Tale of Anmar by Penny Lane

5 - The Guildsmen

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 (c) 2016 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

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The next bell was frustrating for both Milsy and Bursila. Once they had been through the contents of the dressing room there was little to do. One brief scare occurred when a servant appeared to present a menu for the day's meals to Bursila, Milsy just managing to move out of sight when this happened. The two stared at the chalk marks on the slate for some time without discovering any clues.

"That's that," Milsy said. "I have to learn to read, if only to discover what we are going to be fed! I'm sure it will be of benefit to you as well, Bursila."

"As you say, Milady. I have managed so far in my life without such knowledge but I have seen the difference it has made to both the Baroness and to Lady Merizel. I doubt not the Baroness is correct when she says that all should be able to read and write in future."

A knock came at the door and Milsy again retreated to the bedroom. Bursila admitted their next visitors and then came to announce, "It is the two guildsmen, Milady."

They came back! Perhaps I can make some use of their visits.

When she entered the sitting room the two men bowed.

"Good Morning, Milady," Fulvin said. "As requested, we are here to discuss how we may assist in the deception ordered by the King."

"Good morning, Masters," she said. "Please be seated." Once everyone was comfortable, she put her hands in her lap and tried not to inspect the younger man too closely. "Actually, it has occurred to me that there might be other things we could do for one another."

The younger man smiled. "Milady, it is the same with us. We talked and realized that your presence here may represent an... opportunity. If you would explain first what your own thoughts might be."

Milsy considered. Although she was naturally reserved there was no denying the fact that the Duchess had noticed her abilities and mentioned them to the Queen. On the journey down to the palace, the Queen had more or less said that Milsy was capable of being educated more than the rudimentary amount she had been given in the castle. The trick was to explain this without seeming too big-headed... and to do it while still being ignorant of almost everything.

"I don't know how to explain this," she confessed. "I'm not used to talking with anyone who has an education like yourselves, Masters. Duchess Vivenne... said that I was too bright to remain in the kitchens and it was the Queen who suggested that I could be used as a double for the Baroness. She - the Queen, that is - says that I could be as good as the Baroness only without all her knowledge from... the world she came from... if I had but the chance to learn. Only, I don't know enough to ask for what I want, since I don't yet know what I want. Does that make sense to you?"

Another smile from the younger man. "Aye, Milady, it is an example of what we call the avian-and-the-egg problem."

Milsy looked at him curiously.

"What we mean by that," he explained, "is that the question is, which comes first, the avian or the egg? An egg must needs be laid by an avian, but the avian must needs hatch from an egg! It is a puzzle which can only be answered by separating it into small parts. Perhaps you should begin by telling us your present needs, Milady."

"Well, that's easy! You see, we - Bursila and myself - have been asked to remain in these chambers for perhaps a week or so to aid the deception. Unfortunately there is very little for us to do. You should understand that when I was in the castle I would be busy for the whole day so I think it is going to be difficult for me to do nothing for a whole week."

He nodded. "As you say, Milady. I can understand that your present circumstances have changed greatly. Some of our own thoughts may provide an answer for you. If you would continue."

"Then there's the problem that we have to have all our meals in here. That isn't a problem by itself, since I don't really desire to eat with the King and Queen all the time, but, you see, that makes a problem of another kind." Milsy stood and fetched the menu slate, giving it to the younger man. "We have to choose what food is to be sent up and neither of us can read. When a servant comes to ask what we will choose, we may name something not written on the slate and they will immediately know we cannot read. Of course, both the Baroness and Lady Merizel can read, so they would be able to give proper answer."

"Ah! I see! Aye, that would be bad, since the substitution would become known." He gave her a knowing look. "I doubt not that rumor in the castle is the same as it is here in the palace, such knowledge would be everywhere before you could draw breath. You desire one of us to come each day and help you choose your meals, I deem?"

Milsy shook her head. "No, master, though I know we must needs ask that you do just that in the next several days. What I desire is that we may both learn to read, so that we may choose by ourselves."

Fulvin regarded Milsy with respect. "A sensible and well-thought request, if I may say so, Milady. You show thought I would not expect from one who previously only worked in a kitchen. However, I regret that learning to read is not a task that can be taught in so short a time, it will require you some weeks, months or even years of study. Do you understand this?"

"Aye, of course, Master. But I am told that the rewards will more than compensate and, I must repeat, there is little else for me to do in here for a week or two. Why not use this time that I have to begin a task that is needed?"

"As you say, Milady." Fulvin turned to the other guildsman. "My days are well-filled, I deem. I doubt I can provide the necessary time for such a task, neither am I a Scribe. What say you? Should we inquire of Pitchell? It would mean another knowing the secret."

The younger man shrugged. "Pitchell has the King's confidence, I do not think that telling him would be a problem. First, of course, we should consult Her Majesty." He glanced at Milsy and then added slowly, "It may be possible... for me to undertake the task, at least for some part of each day. While there are many procedures which I must needs complete each day, I may not make further progress without the presence of the Guildmistress. I can spare some bells to assist these two to learn their letters."

Milsy felt her cheeks heat at the guildsman's suggestion. What better way to find out more about him than to have him teach her to read and write? The older man was not convinced, however. It was a chance, true, but other chances might present themselves. After all, she had not even been in the palace for a whole day yet!

Fulvin looked at the other sceptically. "Are you certain, Tarvan? I deem that Guildmaster Parrel would not consider it a good use of your time or talents. Should you not leave the teaching of letters to those who are most qualified?"

Tarvan smiled. "Did we not discuss this before? If I teach them then no-one else needs know the secret. I have time, she has time. Let us make use of it while the opportunity exists. By the time that Guildmaster Parrel returns from the site of the new blast furnaces the problem may be moot."

Fulvin bowed. "As you wish, Tarvan." He turned to Milsy. "Though neither of us is a Scribe we will strive to begin your education, Milady. I said that we have spoken of other matters before we arrived and that is what we would speak of now. We may not do much while you are kept in these chambers, it is true, but it occurred to Tarvan that, once released, you could join him in the laboratory where he conducts his experiments. It is something that the Guildmistress would have done so in some respects we are keeping up the deception."

Tarvan added, "I do not know what abilities you have, Milady, but it maybe that you will be able to assist with the work I do in those chambers. Fulvin is right, to keep the pretence you must needs visit the laboratory in any event. Once there I can guarantee you will not be idle."

Milsy smiled. "Garia - uh, the Baroness - has told me what you have been doing there though I did not understand much of what she said. I would be delighted to join you, Master Tarvan."

Tarvan flicked a hand. "I am no Master, not yet, Milady."

A knock came at the door and it opened to admit Rosilda. She curtseyed to Milsy.

"I have a request from the Queen to attend you, Milady."

"Oh, yes, of course." She glanced at the two guildsmen. "Is there anything else I can do for you, gentlemen? I doubt you would be interested in discussing my underwear."

Fulvin reddened. "You might be surprised, Milady. It seems I am already seeing far too much of Rosilda and the other ladies of the Wardrobe in a professional capacity as it is." He picked up the bag at the side of his chair. "As promised, Milady, here is the bag containing... the original attire of... the Guildmistress. If I may give it to your maid and show her where it was stored in your dressing room?"

Milsy gave Rosilda a look and she replied, "Milady, has... the Baroness shown you her bras?" Milsy nodded. "Of course, you must needs wear one presently. Master Fulvin designed the little metal buckles which are sewn into each bra to adjust the shoulder straps. Since then he has been investigating the other fixings of... the Baroness's original garments."

Milsy looked at the bag. "Oh. Can I..?"

Fulvin lifted it from the floor. "Of course, Milady! If I may put the items onto the table."

As Fulvin walked towards the table Milsy asked Rosilda, "We're not delaying you, are we?"

"Not at all, Milady. I must needs measure you before lunch but I am always interested to inspect those garments that... the Baroness was wearing when she first came to us."

Milsy wasn't sure what to expect. There was a strange pair of trousers, some socks, something that looked like it might be underwear of some kind, a thin, close-fitting upper garment, the unusual shoes, the bracelet and the small leather folder she had seen the previous evening. All looked unusual enough that the hairs prickled down her neck. These were clothes from another world!

Milsy's eyes narrowed as she considered the implications of the items spread out before her. Despite being nothing like that worn by anyone she had ever seen, these were clearly clothing for a boy or man. Again she noted the shoes and then the size of the trousers. She herself was, obviously, about the same size as Garia and those trousers were far too large for her so what..? The conclusion she reached was stunning, but she decided to keep her thoughts to herself, covering by reaching for the upper garment.

"What's this? It doesn't feel like cloth."

"It is, so we are informed," Tarvan told her. "The material is apparently knitted in great lengths and then cut and sewn as cloth would be."

"Knitted?" Milsy brought the material close to her eyes and stretched it. The stitches, though incredibly tiny, were plain to her vision. "That's amazing! Do you have any idea how this is done?"

Tarvan gave her a regretful grin. "Not yet, Milady. Some kind of machine, so we were told. We believe that the Guildmistress intends to explain such ingenuity when she returns from the north. We are told that cloth such as this is produced in such vast quantities that garments are not made for each wearer, as a normal knitted garment would be, but simply produced in a range of different sizes and sold in shops for any to buy."

"The same is true for all her other clothes," Fulvin added. "If I may draw your attention to the trousers, there is a device here which interests me greatly, such that I wonder how it can possibly be made."

He lifted the trousers and pulled back the flap to show Milsy... what, exactly? A strange set of brass teeth, it seemed, decorating the front of the garment. Why, then, hide such a decoration under a flap? Fulvin pulled a small metal tab and the teeth parted, spreading apart as the little slide went to the bottom. Milsy was startled at first and then bent to examine the device closely. She looked at Fulvin.

"May I close this again? It does close, I believe?"

"Surely, Milady. I cannot think of such a device that would be used once only. Just pull this and observe."

Milsy pulled the tab and watched entranced as the teeth meshed together again. It required a tug near the top but that was to be expected.

"Amazing! This could not have been made anywhere in the Valley, I assume?"

"Milady, this could not have been made anywhere in Alaesia. The Guildmistress comes from much further away than that."

Milsy quickly inspected the other garments, frowning over the little labels sewn into each one. Then her attention switched to the other items, revealing a new marvel.

"There's something moving in here!"

"Aye, Milady," Tarvan agreed. "This is not a simple bracelet, as we first assumed, but a portable clock which permits the wearer to know the time wherever they may be. There are no bells, such as we are familiar with, but the little wires inside point to numbers which tell the owner what bell it might be. We are told that everyone on the Guildmistress's world wears such a device, indeed, this is a spare since her own was broken some time before she departed that world. Again, these are made in numbers we can scarcely believe and the price is so cheap that all may possess one."

Milsy examined the device. The crystal covering had cracked but she could clearly see three black wires inside, one moving slowly but steadily round. It was clear to Milsy that the other wires would also move, but so slowly the movement would not be noticed.

"What makes the wires move, masters? Do we know?"

"I can show you if you desire, Milady," Tarvan said, "though I do not think you will understand what you see. I certainly do not. I am told that it involves electricity but it is beyond my own small knowledge. Perhaps in some tens of years, we are told."

He turned over the device and by some means unscrewed a cover on the inside. Milsy bent close to look.

"Maker! Such tiny parts!" She turned to the guildsmen. "Can anyone in... Alaesia make such as this?"

Fulvin shook his head. "I am the Royal Jeweller, Milady, and I am experienced in making fine and delicate works for Their Majesties. I could not make anything so fine as this and I doubt any other could. This is beyond our knowledge."

Milsy straightened. "Masters, you have my full attention. If this is a sample of what the... Baroness provides then I desire to be part of it! Even if I may only be your humble assistant in your efforts I would learn everything you see fit to teach me."

Fulvin looked uncomfortable. "Aye, but you are a young woman and with little learning as yet. It is true that the Baroness has been rightly made Guildmistress for her knowledge but the way will be more difficult for one such as you. Do you understand this?"

"Of course, Master! But everyone must start somewhere, must they not? Just give me an opportunity and let me discover what I am capable of. That is all I ask."

Tarvan said, "Master, we will have plenty of time to determine what Milady can do. Let us first enlighten her with letters and numbers and that will show us what metal she is made of."

"As you say, Tarvan." Fulvin glanced at Rosilda. "Perhaps we should now depart and let our seamstress do that which brings her here."

"Aye, Master." Tarvan began putting all the items back in the bag. "Milady, we should go. If we tarry too long you will not be ready for lunch when it arrives."

Milsy gestured at the bag. "You're leaving that here? Do you mind if I look at the things again while you are not here?"

Tarvan shrugged. "These are the property of the Guildmistress, Milady. Since you presently occupy her chambers and wear her attire, I deem that you are probably considered to be the custodian of these items for the present. Guard them carefully, if you would."

"You need have no fear for them, Masters. I understand how precious they are."

Tarvan showed Milsy and Bursila where the bag was normally kept and then the two guildsmen bowed and departed. As the door closed Milsy remembered her original concern.

"Oh! Rosilda, if you would be of assistance. We must needs order for lunch and neither of us can read the slate."

"Of course, Milady. I know that not everyone may read who works in the palace... or in Dekarran castle. I heard Master Tarvan mention teaching you to read, the Guildmistress would like everyone to read in due time. Here, show me the slate and I will tell you what will be available."

That chore done and their choices memorized, they turned to the task of measuring Milsy for underwear. Rosilda nodded thoughtfully at the numbers on her own slate.

"Aye. It seems that you do require a different pattern for your bras, Milady, though the difference is small enough it should not affect the gowns you wear. I will attempt to make one for you this afternoon, for your use tomorrow, but I cannot promise further ones immediately. You were provided panties at Dekarran but barely sufficient for the journey south, so you will require more. We may obtain them out of stores, they are garments every woman requires. I will order sufficient for you to cover normal use and when Kalikan calls. Those will probably be delivered this afternoon."

Rosilda had a thought. "I will return this evening with your first bra, Milady, and at that time I will remove the undergarments that the Baroness would normally wear so that there is no confusion. It would not be wise to use the normal delivery and collection arrangements, too many questions would be asked. When the Baroness returns..." She shrugged. "Much may have happened by then, I deem. Do you expect to still be here when that happens?"

Milsy shook her head. "I don't know, Rosilda. Beyond this first week I have no idea what may be planned, or even if there is any plan. We'll just have to wait and see."

"As you say, Milady. In that case, I will leave you to dress yourself before the servant comes for your lunch order."

"Thank you, Rosilda, for all your help. I know all this is unusual."

Rosilda smiled. "I have worked with the Baroness for some time, Milady. I have become used to the unusual. Your own needs are modest by comparison."

"I know! I'm just discovering how amazing the Baroness is. I just hope that I can play my part as the King and Queen desire."

"So far you are managing fine, Milady. It is everyone else who must take care." Rosilda curtseyed. "I will leave you now, Milady."

Milsy watched as Rosilda departed and then turned to Bursila.

"We'd better get me dressed again, I deem. Do you know what time it is?"

"I have heard the three-quarter bell, Milady. Time enough to dress you and then make ready for lunch."

* * *

"Milady," Bursila said as they rose from table, "there is no need to hide while the lunch things are collected. If you would go through the door onto the balcony, you will be out of sight when the servants come."

"That's a good idea, Bursila," Milsy replied. "You'll join me presently? Oh, and you'd better tell our guardsmen where we are in case they have to come in and find the chambers empty."

"As you say, Milady. That had not occurred to me."

Milsy opened the door and slipped out onto the balcony. The courtyard below was square and paved with bricks in an ornamental pattern with a number of bench seats arrayed to one side. Around the edge was a cloister with a raised walkway covered on two sides by balconies and on the other by steeply tiled roofs. Above the balconies were also roofs, designed to keep the weather off the wooden surfaces. A long line of reclining seats lay under the windows of the rooms adjoining the balcony though as yet there was no-one else present.

She looked around, wondering who would lay where. Apparently their maids would also join them out here but she didn't know if there was any set order to who used which recliner. For a short while she just stood with one hand on the rail, looking out over the courtyard, until noises behind her announced that Bursila had joined her.

"Which one do I use, Bursila?"

"The Baroness uses the one nearest to you, Milady. Jenet usually takes the one behind, though when His Highness is present he sometimes takes that one. Lady Merizel takes the one facing you and I would normally be behind her."

"Complicated! Very well, let's try these out, then." Milsy frowned. "They don't look too comfortable."

"You will be surprised, Milady. I have not discovered any difficulty falling asleep on previous occasions."

"As you say. Of course, in Dekarran I would have been busy washing pots after lunch so no nap for me. This will be something of a novelty."

Milsy accepted the inevitable and lay down on the wooden recliner, finding it to be more comfortable than it had looked at first. She was beginning to zone out when the Queen appeared.

"Ah, I see you have already found yourself a place to lay." As Milsy struggled to sit up Terys added, "Do not rise, dear. We but await the King and then we will join you. Afterward we shall take pel in our sitting room and you can tell me of your morning."

"Thank you, Ma'am."

There was a minor disturbance when Robanar arrived but by then Milsy had almost succumbed to the warmth of the afternoon. It did not take her long to drift off completely.

When she awoke it was warmer but not uncomfortably so. The fierce heat of midsummer had long passed but the days were still mild this early into fall. Milsy sat up, feeling refreshed and wondering if she could get away with having a nap each day in the future, once she stopped pretending to be Garia. Movement in her field of vision showed that at least one of the Queen's maids had already risen. Soon sounds behind her suggested that Bursila was also awake.

"Ah, good, you have woken," Bursila came into Milsy's vision. "If you would permit, I will go and assist Varna with the pel."

"Of course, Bursila."

Soon she could see that the King and Queen were stirring so she swung her legs onto the planking and stretched before standing. Once she had stood up she followed them into their sitting room, finding a chair when the Queen gestured. There was a certain amount of disorganization while the maids served out pel and pastries before the Queen leaned forward.

"Have you solved your problems, dear? I remember you desired to speak with Rosilda."

Milsy nodded. "Thank you, Ma'am, they have." She saw that Robanar was interested so supplied a brief explanation. "Sire, as you may know women do not wish to share underwear. I had enough for the journey but now Rosilda provides more."

"You must needs have your own, my dear," he commented. "Even men do not share such garments, it is true. I trust all is arranged?"

"It is, Sire. It has been pointed out to me that eventually I will no longer be playing the part of Lady Garia so I must have my own tally in the palace wardrobe. Rosilda will arrange that in such a way that no comment is caused."

"Indeed," Terys agreed. "And you must know that the Wardrobe will supply you with all your attire while you remain with us, dear. I doubt you will require such interesting garments as Garia wears for her various activities but you will need everyday attire as we all do. Know that the Wardrobe will supply all."

"Thank you, Ma'am."

"And the guildsmen, dear? Did they visit this morning?"

"They did, Ma'am." Milsy suddenly felt diffident revealing a weakness. "Ma'am, I have asked them to teach me to read, since neither Bursila nor I can read the meal slate."

Terys and Robanar looked at each other.

"Husband, we did not consider that Milsy could not read. Shall we assign her a Scribe? She is right, it would be easy to notice if she could not name her meats for the meals."

Robanar turned to Milsy. "Why did you ask those two to help, if I may ask? There are others in the palace who may be much better qualified for such a task."

"Sire, I didn't know of any others. I thought it better to ask someone who already knew the secret instead of telling someone else. If a Scribe were to be provided then he would be seen coming to my suite every day and questions might be asked. Besides, the younger one - Tarvan - said that I should be visiting him in the... laboratory? Is that right? ...every day and that without the real Garia he would have time to spare to teach me. It seemed to make sense to me, Sire."

Robanar nodded. "As you say, my dear. It is an irregular use of a guildsman's time, it is true, but because Tarvan's work depends upon Garia's presence then it would be a suitable use of time otherwise wasted. It will also provide a reason for you to travel to the laboratory each day as Garia would. Aye," he smiled, "a clever idea, my dear."

"Thank you, Sire."

There was some further light talk and then Milsy and Bursila made their way back to their suite via the balcony. Once there Milsy went straight into the dressing room and pulled down the bag which contained Garia's Earth clothing. She went back into the bed chamber and emptied it out all over the bed. Bursila observed this with interest and a certain degree of anxiety.

"What is it you do, Milady?"

"I'm just having a good look at all this, Bursila, without those guildsmen hovering over me. I'm not going to damage anything, if that's what you are thinking."

She took every item from the bed and held it up to the light at the window, examining each piece thoroughly. Much puzzled her but a dawning suspicion was growing. She held the trousers up against herself, to get an idea of size, finding them far too long as she suspected.

"These clothes..." she said slowly.

"Milady?"

"These are men's clothes, Bursila." She looked at the maid. "They are not sized nor shaped for a woman, especially one of Garia's height. If Garia was wearing these when she came from Earth, then I deem she must have been a man! Is that possible? Was she a man before she came to Palarand?"

"Milady, it is true. She tells us that on Earth she was a man - boy, really - of about the Prince's age, size and build. I find it impossible to understand how this could be, yet these clothes prove that it must be so."

"Another puzzle! And to find yourself in such a different body, that I struggle to imagine. Has she found it difficult to adapt, do you know?"

"Neither Lady Merizel nor myself were present when she first came to the palace, Milady, so I could not say. You should know that her first Call of Kalikan was... unexpected and difficult. Subsequent calls have not been much better, though I deem she improves each time."

Milsy stared. "She had never had... Of course, she wouldn't! Oh, Maker! I would not wish that on any man. Yet she manages. She rides, she fights... she does more than any woman of Palarand would think to do."

"But she is a woman now, Milady, and yet she can manage to do much which we once considered unthinkable. She says that most women of Earth may attempt similar things and that we are no different than they, saving only our education. She leads by example and I deem that many will follow."

"I certainly will! I have been given a chance, Bursila, and I do not intend to let it pass me by. I do not yet know what I may be capable of but I certainly intend to try everything that may come my way."

"As you say, Milady, but remember you presently play a part. You can only do that which the Baroness would do, at least for the next several days."

"I haven't forgotten, Bursila."

Milsy inspected the items for a while and then helped Bursila fold them tidily and return them to the bag. After that there was, again, nothing to do.

"Milady, it occurs to me that the rest of my belongings, few though they may be, still remain in the chamber which Lady Merizel used before we went north."

"Oh? Aye, of course."

"I wonder, Milady... if one of the Queen's maids is available as chaperone, mayhap I could fetch my things to my own quarters in your suite, Milady. It is known that I presently attend Lady Garia, it would be natural to reunite myself with my belongings and I should not cause comment if I did so."

"That's a good thought, Bursila. How do we find out where Kenila and Varna might be? Oh, we'll have to ask one of our armsmen to go find one." Milsy giggled. "Our armsmen! They aren't really, of course, but I never imagined I would have men with swords follow me around. How my life has changed!"

"Aye, Milady." Bursila went to the door. "If you would conceal yourself against strangers, Milady, I shall enquire."

Bursila went out into the corridor as Milsy retreated to the bed chamber. After a short while the maid returned.

"Milady, one has gone to discover if a suitable chaperone may be found. I have explained the circumstances to him, for the private information of the Queen."

Milsy heard two of the bell sequences pass, with an explanation by Bursila, before the door opened and Varna appeared. She curtseyed to Milsy.

"Milady, I am told that you require a chaperone while Bursila collects her belongings. The Queen permits me to join you while your maid is absent."

"Thank you, Varna. This is really awkward, isn't it? I don't think I realized that noble women had a maid with them at all times. Bursila, off you go."

"Thank you, Milady."

Since Milsy had little idea how matters worked 'above stairs' it was difficult having a conversation with Varna, but the younger of the Queen's maids was little older than herself and grown up in the palace. This meant that they could at least talk about each other's childhoods and contrast their different upbringings and fortunes.

"If I may ask, Milady, what will happen to you when... the other returns? I know the Queen said you would be given a position according to your talents but what did she mean?"

Milsy shrugged. "I have no idea, Varna. I'll be staying in the palace, from what I know, and it is likely that I could become part of... the other's entourage when she returns. If I don't I'll just become a palace servant like yourself, I suppose. I deem it is a little early for me to be making such plans, I have resided here but a day so far."

"As you say."

Bursila returned carrying several bags and with dresses slung over one arm. Both Milsy and Varna went to help her store them tidily in her little closet before Varna took her leave.

"Any trouble?"

"No, Milady, everything went as I expected. People do not take much notice of a servant walking the corridors, it is assumed that we but do our duty."

"As indeed you were! That reminds me, if I wanted to be a 'servant walking the corridors', how must I do it? I would need a dress like your own, I deem."

"I regret I have nothing that would fit you, Milady, but, if you recall, Rosilda will come later today bearing a bra for you. It should not be difficult for her to obtain such a dress to fit you."

"Aye." Milsy considered. "Then there is the matter of shoes... and my hair. What am I going to do about my hair? It is too distinctive like this."

"Not so, Milady. Already I have seen several servants who have had their hair cut in like style, after the Baroness permitted it. It would have been better if you had obtained a wig but if you do not I deem none will recognize you as she who resides in this chamber."

"Hmm. I think we'll ask Rosilda when she gets here."

"Milady, I had a thought while collecting my things. Lady Merizel has a child's lettering book, a family heirloom, which may be of use to teach you to read. Lady Garia used it during the rains to learn to read herself."

Milsy frowned. "Lady Garia could not read?"

"Aye, Milady, she could, but only the letters of Earth. She told us that the script we use here is very different from that used in Kansas."

"Ah, but if she could already read then it may have been easier for her to puzzle out the meaning of what she reads here, I deem. For us it may not be so easy."

"I could not say, Milady, only that noble children are taught to read at a young age so it may not be that difficult."

"You might be right, Bursila. We will not know until we begin. Where is the book now?"

"I regret it is in the study of the Royal Questor, Milady. Either we must go there or one of the guildsmen must bring it here."

"The study of the Royal Questor? What's that?"

"Milady, the Royal Questor has a suite of rooms in the palace which includes a study and a big workshop which the Baroness names a laboratory. We have spent some time there tidying it up and attempting to make sense of the strange devices and notes he left when he died. It is where Guildsman Tarvan presently conducts his experiments."

"Oh, I see. She learned to read over there? Then we had better do the same, I deem."

"As you say, Milady."

Milsy cocked an ear as distant chimes came in through the windows.

"Ah. I think I have it, now. A low bell, then two higher bells, a moment, then two more higher bells. The eleventh Bell of day, is that right?"

"Aye, Milady," Bursila replied, surprised. "You have it! I did not think you would be able to read them so quickly."

"The sequence seems to be the same as that used by the castle, Bursila, but the bells themselves sound different. That means..." Milsy paused. She could now name the Bells but did not know how to apply them to the palace routine. "I'm not sure what it means," she confessed. "Should the evening meal be served soon?"

"At this time of year, within the half bell, I deem, Milady. Before Spring Dawning the meal would be served after dark, of course, so we would be using the night bells."

Milsy gave a wry smile. "See? Just learning the bells isn't enough, is it? I have to learn the palace routine as well. Um, I'm supposed to be a noble lady now, so we had better go in the dressing room and find me a long gown to wear. You were right about the one I wore yesterday, let's choose one that might be more suitable. Who knows? I might have to get used to wearing such gowns in future."

* * *

Rosilda curtseyed. "As promised, Milady."

"Oh, good! Do you mind if I try it on for size?"

"Milady, I would wait until you did try it on. I must know if I have chosen the correct pattern."

"As you say, Rosilda. Bursila, I'll have to undress but there's no point dressing again afterwards, is there? I might as well wear a robe until it is time for bed."

"Then let us go to the bed chamber, Milady."

The three women went into the bed chamber and Bursila began unlacing Milsy's evening gown.

"While we're doing this, Rosilda, can I ask if you can get me a servant's dress? The Queen has suggested that I can go about the palace in disguise - I mean, in a different disguise - to learn the corridors. There's not much to do while I'm stuck in here and it would be a good use of my time."

Rosilda was doubtful. "Of course I can obtain such a dress, Milady, but are you sure the Queen..?"

Milsy waved a hand. "She did say that, didn't she, Bursila? I would not leave these chambers without her permission, you can be certain of that."

"Then I will obtain such a dress for you, Milady. Ah, I will provide a normal sash, I deem. To see you with Blackstone colors would only cause comment."

"Thank you, Rosilda. Oh, and I'll need some shoes as well. I can't wear these shoes," she shucked off the ones she had been wearing all day, "because they are of a style that only noble women would wear. I doubt any servant goes about with heels this high!"

"Too true, Milady. I will see what I can find, though obtaining shoes may be more difficult than obtaining a dress will be." Rosilda gave Milsy a quick look-over. "What about your hair, Milady? It would draw comment."

"Bursila says that some of the younger servant girls have had their hair cut as that of the Baroness. A wig would be better but that might be too difficult to arrange."

"A scarf may serve, Milady, if questions are asked of your hair," Bursila said. "When... Lady Garia and Lady Merizel went about the palace in cleaning dresses with scarves nobody recognized them. Indeed, there was an incident because Lady Garia was not recognized."

"Ooh! Tell me what happened!"

"Later, Milady. We do not want to delay Rosilda this evening."

"As you say."

Milsy was undressed and the new bra fitted.

"How does that feel, Milady?"

"The difference is small, but noticeable," Milsy reported. "This feels very comfortable."

"Then I will arrange for a further supply to be made."

"Thank you again, Rosilda. I'll take this one off now and wear it tomorrow."

"Then I'll leave you, Milady. I could not say when any of the other items you have asked for may be available, the Wardrobe is busy presently."

"You've done more than I expected, Rosilda. Thank you."

As the door closed behind the seamstress Milsy turned to Bursila, eyes bright.

"So, tell me all about this incident, then!"

Milsy begins her reading lessons, accompanied by Bursila. The next day their lessons continue but now include writing. After several days the Queen relents and Milsy takes her first look at the labyrinth of palace corridors.

What Milsy Did

A Tale of Anmar by Penny Lane

6 - Reading Lessons

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 (c) 2016 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

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Milsy awoke and stared up at the richly decorated ceiling. She could hardly believe her luck. In just a few short days she had gone from kitchen drudge to noble lady, living in a suite in the palace - the palace! - right next door to Palarand's King and Queen, with whom she spoke daily.

Of course, there were some minor points which had to be recognized. She wasn't actually a noble, she was just playing the part of one for an indeterminate time. At some time in the near future, all this would likely come to an abrupt end.

There was the other minor point that there were people out there trying to kidnap or kill the person she was pretending to be.

Still, I'd better enjoy it all while it lasts.

I need to make sure that I'm in a good position when it does all come to an end. That means learning to read for a start. What might I be doing in the future? Finding my way round this huge building will be necessary too.

She sighed and threw back the covers. Time for the daily routine to begin.

By the time she emerged from the toilet closet Bursila had risen and had already pulled the rope for bath water. The two busied themselves washing, dressing and doing their Tai Chi before waiting for breakfast to be delivered. Their first visitor was not the breakfast servants, though.

"Tord! Good morning. Are you on your way to wherever it is you do the unarmed combat?"

The armsman banged a fist against his chest. "Good morning, Milady. Not this morning, as it happens. The guard quadrants rotate shifts today and it was thought wise to allow a day of ease to allow those previously on night duty to adjust. I trust all has been well with you so far?"

"Aye, it has, though I deem I will have died from boredom by the end of a week." Milsy frowned. "At least I can choose whatever I might do in here. How do the men manage, just standing about all day with little happening?"

"Ah, Milady, we are ever aware of the dangers, both physical and mental, which guard duty places upon a man. We are taught strategies to keep both mind and body ready should we ever need to jump into action." The armsman looked apologetic. "In truth, Milady, many who are chosen for the guard, and through the guard to become Blackstone armsmen, are not great thinkers or talented in crafts or leadership. Most are content with their station, it is enough for their abilities."

"As you say. I have known many like that in the lower levels of Dekarran." She wrinkled her nose. "Unfortunately, I am not of that cloth, I deem. I have often thirsted for more than a simple kitchen job may offer. That is one reason I was chosen for this task. Oh, that and the fact I am the same shape and size as your liege, of course."

"Indeed, Milady." He looked speculatively at Milsy. "Does this mean that you will not be content to remain in the Baroness's chambers?"

"Don't worry, Tord, I won't put myself in danger or give you and your men extra work." Her eyes twinkled. "At least not to begin with. I know what I do is important and I have to behave just like the Baroness would behave in like circumstances."

"I am relieved to hear that, Milady," Tord agreed dryly. An eyebrow went up. "'Not to begin with', Milady?"

"After a week or so I am to resume whatever the Baroness was doing," Milsy explained. "Oh, I know I can't be exercising like she did and I can't ride frayen, but I'll be going to... the laboratory? Is that right?... to do things with guildsman Tarvan. Do you know where that is?"

"Aye, of course, Milady. He uses the workshop of the Royal Questor, though presently none is appointed to that post. We wondered if the Baroness might be appointed, perhaps."

"I couldn't say, Tord."

There was a knock at the door and Milsy waved at Tord before rushing into the bed chamber. Tord looked at Bursila.

"We dare not let the kitchen servants see Milady," Bursila explained. "They would immediately know that she was not the Baroness."

Tord nodded. "And it would be all over the palace in moments. I understand."

He went to the door and opened it to admit three servants carrying trays of food. They unloaded them onto the table and withdrew. Bursila went to the bedroom door and knocked, causing Milsy to reappear.

"Good! I'm hungry," she said. "Ooh! Look, they have brought the extras you asked for, Bursila. Let's eat. Tord, would you like some pel? I'm sure we have enough to spare."

"Thank you Milady, I have already breakfasted. If I may, I'll leave you both to eat your own."

"Very well. Thank you for calling. Oh, and we're expecting one or both guildsmen this morning. It is likely that they will be spending some time here while I'm restricted to these chambers."

Tord nodded. "Thank you for the warning, Milady. Good morning."

Breakfast eaten and cleared away, Milsy waited impatiently for the guildsmen to arrive. In particular, there was one guildsman she desired to see again, to examine more closely.

She wondered why she had been attracted by Tarvan. In the castle there had been any number of young males working in the lower regions of the building but few had caused her to think of them as other than fellow workers. Perhaps that was because none were in any better position than her own lowly status. There was little of any value that one of them could provide someone like herself.

Tarvan, on the other hand, was a young guildsman. He had a status which could only grow as he progressed through the ranks and, more importantly, he appeared to be intelligent. She needed somebody who could at least match her own mental abilities and Tarvan was the first such man of a suitable age and status she had come across. Almost as important, he appeared to be interested in her, which had to be a good sign!

After what seemed bells of waiting but was probably less than half a bell an knock came at the door. Bursila opened it to admit Tarvan, who bowed to Milsy. Her heart jumped.

"Good morning, Milady. I trust you are well?"

"Good morning, Tarvan. Aye, we are well, are we not, Bursila? What of yourself? I hope we're not upsetting your routine too much."

"Not at all, Milady. As I mentioned yesterday, I have chores which I must do, as any person does, but I may not make further progress on my projects until the Baroness returns. Thus, I am able to spend some time providing that which you require, namely reading lessons." He smiled. "I also welcome the change in routine. The laboratory can be a lonely place at times."

Milsy's reply was daring. "Then I had better join you there as soon as the Queen permits, had I not? Then you will not be lonely any more."

Tarvan flushed slightly. "As you say, Milady. Now, before we begin, has the slate for today's meals arrived yet?"

"Ah! A good thought. Aye, it was brought by those who removed our breakfast things. Here."

She handed him the slate and he read out the list so that they could make their choices for lunch and the evening meal.

"Shall you take lunch with us, Tarvan? I would understand if you have arranged to be somewhere else."

"Um." Tarvan gave the unexpected invite a thought, but it didn't take long to make up his mind. "Aye, Milady, I would keep you company while you eat, if I may."

"Then let us all choose what we are to eat here today."

With that decided they all took chairs at the table. Tarvan brought out two pieces of paper and placed one in front of each woman. Milsy picked up hers and inspected it closely.

"What is this, Tarvan? I assumed it to be parchment, but it is not."

"It is paper, Milady. Another of... the Baroness's ideas. It is made... no, this is not the time to describe paper-making, I deem. Suffice it to say that it is much cheaper and easier to make paper than it is to produce parchment."

"Interesting. And these marks on the sheet? These are letters, yes? I know that much."

"Aye, they are letters. Well, most of them are. These are sample sheets I have obtained from the Hall of the Printers this morning." He noticed the look on Milsy's face. "Ah, another subject for another time, I deem."

He continued, "Each of these letters, together with the other marks, represents the sounds we make when we talk, such that they can be written down for another to understand. Every letter makes a different sound, although for historical reasons there is no longer an exact match. When we read, we read from left to right of each line and from top to bottom of each page. There are thirty-five letters, which we divide into two groups called 'vowels' and 'consonants'. Now vowels -"

By the time Bursila suggested pel, Milsy's head was spinning. So many different shapes with a different sound to each, and several of them very similar to each other! It was a lot to understand at one session.

"How is it that those who can read remember all these different letters, Tarvan? It seems very complicated."

"For someone who does not read, Milady, I doubt not that it seems complicated. Once you may read, I believe that you will not find it so difficult. In time you will barely notice the letters since your mind will recognize each word as it is read. You would only inspect the letters for a word you have never read before and never heard spoken."

Milsy raised an eyebrow. "And how many words are there?" She answered her own question. "Many hundreds, I deem."

"Thousands, Milady, and the Baroness introducing more each time she speaks. Worry not, to begin with you will not need all of them and the others will be understood gradually as you do need them. I am told, though I am no Scribe, that most people only use several hundred, perhaps six or seven, in their normal speech. It is only for specialist documents and unusual items like decrees or monuments that some of the rarer words are used."

They finished their drinks and resumed the lesson.

"I must needs find things for you to read," Tarvan said. "This sheet, while useful, is not enough. You must begin to read proper sentences as soon as you can, it is the best way to learn."

"What about that slate? Can we read that?"

"Indeed, though the writing is in a slightly different form, and because it is done in chalk it is not so clear."

Tarvan explained the difference between handwritten letters and the new printed kind, which effectively doubled the number of letter shapes Milsy and Bursila had to learn. The three puzzled over the slate for a while but it became clear to Milsy that reading would take a lot of her concentration and even more of her time.

"Tomorrow I will bring reeds and ink and you may begin practising your own letters," he said. "It will be slow and your fingers will ache, but if you are to be more than a kitchen servant it is something that you must needs do. Reading and writing are essential if you would make more of yourself, Milady."

"Master Tarvan," Bursila said, "I am reminded that Lady Merizel possesses a child's lettering book which Lady Garia used when she learned to read."

"Of course! Bursila, you are right. It is in the study of the Royal Questor and I will bring it with me tomorrow. It has a number of short, simple sentences a child would learn as it gains language but I believe you will both find it useful. Aye, thank you for reminding me, Bursila."

All too soon lunchtime approached and Milsy had to make a hasty dive for the bed chamber. Once the food had been laid out the three set about consuming the contents of the dishes.

"It is unfortunate that you must needs keep out of the gaze of the palace servants," Tarvan remarked. "I know how rumor can travel through the palace like a fire. If you were discovered, there would be no deception at all and the Baroness put in danger."

"It is a problem, especially since I don't know how long I'll have to do this," Milsy replied. She grinned. "I'm not really complaining, though, I have a comfortable suite with amazing clothes and people running around after me. My apologies, Bursila, you know what I mean."

"As you say, Milady. You were offered the opportunity, it would have been foolish not to take it."

Milsy sighed. "And one day it must needs come to an end, I deem. That is one reason I desire to read, Tarvan, I must prepare for what may come next."

As the meal progressed Milsy found herself beginning to relax more and more. Tarvan spoke to her naturally, there was no indication that he considered himself to be a higher status than her - which he could justifiably do if he had wished to. They were just two young people who were newly acquainted and who were enjoying themselves. Bursila noted the wordplay and gave herself a secret smile. Whether by accident or design it was apparent that these two would find some way to take their relationship further if at all possible.

The meal at an end, Milsy went to the balcony door.

"Shall you join us for our nap, Tarvan?"

"On the balcony with the King and Queen? Milady, I dare not, I have not been invited."

"I'm sure they would not mind."

"But I would, Milady. Already I am seen in this corridor too frequently. I deem it is time that I returned to the laboratory and do that which is my duty." He made a face. "The steam engine must be made ready to recharge the batteries and it requires cleaning. I have other cleaning tasks to do."

"What are... steam engine... and... batteries? Never mind, Tarvan. I understand."

He stood and bowed. "Until tomorrow morning, Milady."

Milsy raised a hand. "Until tomorrow, then." She watched the door close, then turned to Bursila. "Coming?"

* * *

"And is Tarvan teaching you to read, dear? He was leaving the corridor as we came up for our nap."

Milsy lowered her cup of pel.

"Aye, Ma'am, he intends to, as we discussed yesterday." She thought. "It seems difficult, Ma'am. In order to be able to read, we must have scrolls or parchment with words on them to read. It sounds as if it could be as big a project for him as it is for us."

"Do you object, dear? You were complaining that you would become bored while you must remain in your chambers."

"Oh, no, Ma'am! It's not that. If I can read, then it follows I must needs learn. It's just that there's unintended consequences when one decides to do something like that. In this case, it means that Tarvan will have more work than I realized he would."

Robanar pointed a finger. "You are learning that which all adults eventually recognize, young woman. You cannot just decide that something must be done, or that something must not be done, you must weigh up all that might result from such a decision. Sometimes the most unexpected things result from such a decision. I doubt any of us entirely realized what would happen when we took Garia in."

Milsy suppressed a giggle. "Aye, Sire! Even I can understand that. Why did you decide to do it, if I might ask? She didn't have to come and reside in the palace, surely."

Robanar shrugged. "It seemed the right thing to do, my dear. I remember the day she arrived, her attire, her accent, everything about her was so unusual, so different... It seemed clear to me that her coming signaled a change for Palarand. It occurred to me that, on seeing her, we had become staid, set in our ways, our society content but without progress. She offered evidence that we could become so much more if there was but a spark to ignite our imaginations, and she proved that she was the spark we needed." He grunted. "That decision also had unintended consequences, of course. Sometimes I wonder what I have unleashed upon my people but there can be no turning back from what has been started."

Terys smiled complacently. "I do not think there is cause for concern, husband. It is true the ride may become bumpy but Garia is aware of the dangers to come. With her knowledge and your guiding hand I am certain we will be a much better land in years to come."

"Aye, but it is not just the people that are my present concern." He waved a hand. "Enough. Milsy has enough to consider without us confusing her with matters of state she may not understand. My dear," he addressed Milsy, "you are content? We know that you presently have little to do but there is little we can change about that. All I can promise is that it will come to an end and then we will reward you in what ways we can."

"Sire, I know what I must do and that it is my duty. I have more freedom than the men of your guard do and I must not complain."

"True, my dear, but for a young girl, far from the life she once knew, it is a different matter than for a young man who has trained at the various duties of a guardsman. If you have need, you must tell us, my dear."

"As you command, Sire."

Back in her suite, Milsy lay on her back on the bed, thinking.

There's something going on. The King is up to something and I'm not sure that he has taken the Queen into his confidence.

Huh! It isn't going to be anything that I would even understand, is it? Better to stop worrying about it. The King must think about all kinds of major problems all the time. Perhaps I should be glad I'm not ruling somewhere like Palarand.

I couldn't do that anyway, could I? Women don't do that. I could be Queen, though, if I somehow managed to marry a Prince who eventually becomes King of somewhere. Queen Terys appears to have a lot of power but she always knows who the real ruler is.

I'm not going to get Keren, though, that's for certain. I don't know what his preference is but I know what Garia's is!

About a bell before the evening meal Rosilda appeared with another bra, a servant's dress and sash and two pairs of shoes. By now Milsy was glad of any diversion from attempting to remember how all the letters on her sample sheet sounded.

"I'll need you to try them all on, Milady, before I leave you."

"As you wish, Rosilda. I'll have to undress to try them all on, so I will choose a long gown to wear afterwards."

Rosilda raised an eyebrow. "You are wearing the long gowns? Even though none may see you?"

"I have the chance, so why not? I have never worn such attire before so it has been an interesting experience. Who knows? I may be asked to appear as the Baroness in public so it would be a good idea if I didn't fall over the moment I appeared, wouldn't it? I might as well practise if I have the opportunity. I'm not going to soil the gowns, after all."

"I cannot fault your logic, Milady. If we may go into the dressing room so that you may change."

Once changed, Milsy inspected herself in the mirror.

"The bra fits as well as the first one did and the dress is decent. The shoes... the flat pair should be all right but that other pair is a little tight."

"The other pair is an outdoor pair, Milady. You may wear the flat shoes within the palace, on the upper or lower floors, but it would not be wise to wear them outside since they can easily be damaged."

"I've seen some of the flat ones in the dressing room. Is that what the Baroness wears about the palace?"

"Aye, Milady, most noble ladies wear such footwear within the palace or indeed in their own homes. Did you not see such footwear in the castle?"

"Only in the chests of the Baroness, Rosilda. Where I worked the floors were mostly stone and, while they had been worn smooth through years of servants walking by, they would not be suitable for flat shoes like these. I did not notice what the noble ladies were wearing, on those occasions when I had the opportunity to observe. My attention was on more important concerns. Should I have more pairs, do you think?"

"The Baroness has four pairs, I deem. Since her shoes will not fit you I will obtain three more pairs for you. They may be washed in the laundry as other clothes. What of the outdoor shoes? Do you think you might have need for some?"

"Well, that's an interesting point. Once they let me out of these chambers I'll be spending some time over in the laboratory with Guildsman Tarvan - to keep up the deception, you understand. Perhaps I might need something a little more substantial over there?"

"I could not say, Milady. Mayhap I should ask advice of Tarvan."

"If you want to speak to Tarvan, he's spending his mornings up here with me and Bursila. He's teaching us to read."

"If that is so, then I will find some time to visit tomorrow morning, if I may."

"Of course. The sooner I get everything I might need the better, I deem. Once I am let out of these chambers, my movements may be changed at short notice and I must needs have the correct attire. That of the Baroness will fit me for most occasions but I cannot wear her shoes or boots."

Rosilda nodded. "As you say, Milady. If I may leave you to change now, I must make ready for my own evening meal."

"Of course, Rosilda."

Once Rosilda had gone Milsy had a strong urge to follow her into the corridor, now that she had a disguise, to begin to explore the vastness of the palace. She knew that it would never work, since the men set to guard her were outside and would stop her. Any excursions would have to be with the full approval of Tord, not to mention the King and Queen, and would probably require some careful planning.

She sighed. "Not today, Bursila."

"My Lady?"

"I have this dress now but I cannot use it yet. I must restrain my patience for some few more days, I deem. Come, let us prepare ourselves for the next meal."

~o~O~o~

When Tarvan arrived the next morning he brought with him a large bag. The contents were laid out onto the table and consisted of a stack of paper, a few waxed sheets, bundles of long reeds, two little stoppered glass pots of ink, some more printed sheets and Merizel's lettering book. There was also a gleaming brass contraption of tubes and wheels which Tarvan set down carefully on the tabletop.

"Maker! What's that? Is it something from where the Baroness came from?"

"In some small way, aye. This is called a microscope and is used, I am told, for looking at very small things. This new model arrived yesterday and I thought to bring it to inspect the inside of the Baroness's portable clock."

"Oh! Aye, why not? Shall I fetch out the bag?"

Tarvan shook his head. "Later, I deem. Let us begin your lessons while you are yet fresh this morning. The microscope is but an entertainment for you, reading is more important."

"Slave driver." But Milsy smiled at Tarvan. "So, where do we begin?"

The lettering book was interesting. The covers were of wood, covered with a thin layer of what Tarvan said was cured fish skin. Years of use had worn the corners of the covers, and in some cases of the wood and the underlying pages, almost completely away. The pages were of parchment, naturally, and each had from one to four small pictures with a single line of text underneath. The drawings and text had been done by a Master Scribe, probably commissioned by the family, and were the most beautiful things Milsy had ever seen.

"Maker! Are we allowed to touch such a thing?"

"Milady," Bursila said, "this book has been passed down by Lady Merizel's family for many generations. It has been used by many young children of a tender age. You should not fear to damage it further."

"Nevertheless, Bursila," Tarvan said, "we will treat it with respect, as we would treat any book. Let us begin."

With the clues in the pictures to what the words might say, Milsy and Bursila began the tough task of determining exactly what was said. Milsy already knew that she had a much calmer disposition than Garia but even she had to hold herself in check at times.

Patience! More attention to detail and you will discover the secret. You cannot merely wish to read, you must learn it just as everybody else has done.

After a bell and a half they stopped for a drink.

"Do you want to do some more, or do you desire a change?"

Milsy eyed the inkpots on the table. "You want us to begin writing now, don't you?"

Tarvan nodded. "As with any activity, your brain becomes tired after some time so a change can be refreshing. I notice you struggle to find the letters you need so writing them may help you become familiar with them."

"Then let us do that. Bursila and I can always look at the book after you depart."

"As you say. First, I'll show you how a reed is prepared. I wouldn't expect either of you to be able to make them yourself for a while but you should know how 'tis done. First, we cut a length of reed about so long -"

Using a special knife with a tiny but sharp blade Tarvan showed them how a length of reed was cut, trimmed and had a nib formed at one end.

"That's it!" Tarvan smiled and resumed his instruction. "Now, if the reed is dipped in ink then enough is retained for you to write on parchment - or paper, of course. First, I would suggest that you arrange one of these waxed sheets to put your paper on. There will be some mess until your fingers become familiar with the act of writing and the sheets will protect the table."

"Master Tarvan."

"Aye, Bursila?"

"I have observed children being taught to write, at the home of Lady Merizel's parents. If I may add, the mess will be on our fingers also, and anything else which is nearby."

"I am corrected, Bursila! See, I am no Scribe nor tutor, to be teaching you in the ways of writing, merely a friend, say, passing on what little knowledge and experience I own. Aye, I doubt not it will be messy, but you are not children, are you? You have that advantage over them, that you may better control your fingers."

With paper ready and reeds inked, Tarvan noticed Milsy looking intently at her reed, tilting it and inspecting it from all angles.

"Tarvan, how does the ink get inside the reed? What makes it flow there? And, why then does it come out again when I put reed to paper?"

"Why, it is something I only learned recently, Milady. The new steam engine in the laboratory has two glass tubes which tell us how much water is in the tank and the boiler."

Milsy stared blankly at Tarvan, who continued, "I doubt not that you will discover all in due course, Milady. For now, it is the glass tubes which are important. These are of a like size to the reeds you hold, but it is possible to see what happens inside them. The Baroness told us of something called 'surface tension' which makes the water -"

Tarvan gave a brief explanation, saying that Milsy would likely find out for herself once she could come to the laboratory. Then it was time to begin writing. Tarvan suggested that they attempt to form the letters on the sample sheet.

Her finger ached after half a bell and Milsy marveled that a trained Scribe could apparently continue writing for a whole day. At Tarvan's suggestion she tried deliberately relaxing the rigid control with which she had unconsciously held the reed, finding that her actions became much easier and freer.

"It is like when I first began using a fork to eat," she remarked. "I held it too tightly and it took some time before I realized I could actually control it better by loosening my grip."

"Aye, that is right! I deem it is the same for any tool. At first one does not know how to hold it and one is afraid of making a mistake or causing damage, it is only with use that one becomes familiar with the tool and can safely relax one's grip."

At the end of a bell Tarvan called a halt and Bursila pulled the rope for more pel while Milsy retired to the dressing room as usual. Once the drinks had been delivered she reappeared carrying the bag with Garia's Earth clothing. Once they had finished their break Tarvan decided to set the microscope up on the dressing room table, since that offered the best light from outside for viewing. He removed the back from the watch and set it underneath the viewing tube of the microscope, twisting the knob until the insides appeared sharp in the eyepiece.

"There! Tell me what you see."

Milsy bent to the eyepiece and saw... a world of miniature marvels.

"I see tiny wheels, some moving, and some other strange things. What is that pink thing? It looks like a coil of thread, such as the seamstresses use, but I cannot believe anyone can make thread so fine."

"The Baroness says that it is a coil of wire, likely made from purest copper, so fine that it is thinner than a hair from a baby's head. The big round thing you can see is a small battery... Um, it stores electricity, which makes the portable clock function, so I am told. More than that I do not know."

Milsy stood up. "And you say that these are available to all on Earth? They are not the products of a jeweler's arts?"

"No, indeed, Milady. They are made in enormous workshops called factories by people much like ourselves, and in uncounted numbers. She tells us that most things in her world are now made this way."

Milsy thought. "The obvious conclusion to me is that the Baroness expects the same to happen here, does she not? That is the reason she is here, I deem."

Tarvan said, "She says that it would happen here were she here or not, Milady. The difference is that without her guidance we would make the same mistakes her world did, causing much hardship, misery, poverty and death. She seeks to avoid much of this by warning us in advance. She also seeks to speed the process by jumping some of the stages which Earth went through."

A nod of agreement. "Aye. More than ever now I begin to understand her worth. Bursila? You want to have a look?"

Once Bursila had been suitably impressed it was time to return to the reading lessons.

* * *

That evening, as they were getting ready for bed, Milsy asked, "How are you managing with the reading, Bursila? Are you finding it hard?"

"It is more difficult than I thought, Milady. There are so many letters to remember and some of them are little different than one another. Perhaps it is too much for me, maybe I am too old to learn such things."

"Oh, I don't think so! I know we're all different but I would not be put off by that, Bursila. I am beginning to understand what a difference there may be to our lives if we could but read. I know that many do not and manage to live their lives but that may not be so in the future, I deem. If we are to help Garia in her task then we must needs be able to read ourselves. We must help one another whenever we can."

"Aye, Milady, I cannot disagree. It is just that... reading is hard."

"We have made a start, have we not? Let us continue at least while we are shut up in these chambers. There is little else to do."

"As you say, Milady. Now, if you would climb into bed."

"I hope Lady Merizel knows what she is missing, Bursila. You are a treasure."

"I could not say, Milady, though I have known Lady Merizel since she was but six. I trust that she believes I have served her well."

"I'll make sure to tell her when she returns, Bursila. Good night."

"Good night, Milady."

~o~O~o~

Three days later and Milsy could read most of the words in the lettering book. Tarvan frowned.

"The problem, I deem, is that by now you have memorized the words under each picture. You know what is said without needing to read them."

"That's possible, Tarvan, but I am making the effort. What do you suggest? Is there anything else I may try to read?"

"That could be a problem, Milsy. Most of what I have to hand is of a technical nature which could prove difficult for you. Doubtless there are other lettering books about, mayhap even within the palace, but any enquiry would raise questions I may not answer."

"I'll ask the Queen after our nap today."

"A good idea. I will await the answer to your enquiry with interest."

"So will I! Now, what about our writing? Are we doing the right thing?"

"Aye, I believe so. By learning to write you may then write pages for each other to read, which will help solve the other problem. You are making much less mess than when you first began."

Milsy looked at Tarvan, confused. If she didn't know how to... spell... a word, how could she write it for Bursila to read? Writing would serve to make them familiar with the letters but not much more until they could read properly. She mentally shrugged. Soon, she would be able to leave and at last see some more of the palace!

As if on cue the door opened and Terys walked in. Everybody stood.

"Good morning to you all."

The three returned the greeting.

"I see you are both beginning to read," the Queen observed. "Are you finding it difficult?"

Milsy replied, "Ma'am, it is not easy but I believe we both understand what we must do. I think Bursila is not finding it as easy as I am, though."

"I see. All I can tell you both is that, once you can read, you will find it to be very rewarding. Now that Garia has opened our eyes to the possibilities that become available to anyone who can read, I am of the firm belief that we must ensure all who can learn to read must do so. I see ink-pots upon the table. Do you also write?"

"Aye, Ma'am, we do," Milsy replied, adding, "It is presently messy and makes our fingers hurt but I am told that this will ease in time."

"Good." The Queen's tone was warm. "As with Garia's other activity of riding, it requires a certain adaptation for you to succeed. One day you will wonder why you once found it to be so hard. Now, to the reason for my visit. Rosilda tells me that you now have all the attire you may need both for your present employment and to permit you to walk the corridors without being noticed. Is that correct?"

Milsy considered. "Aye, Ma'am, I believe so. If there is any lack I do not know what it might be."

"Very well. In the afternoons, then, you may begin to leave these chambers in the guise of a servant in order to walk the corridors. To make certain you do not become lost Kenila will accompany you, at least for the first day or two." Terys frowned. "I am concerned that any problem you may encounter while thus attired will reflect back to your appearance as Garia. You must be certain that you do not cause any trouble, dear."

I could get into a scrape and be recognized or detained for one of the supervisors to deal with, which won't be easy to handle. I can't let on who I really am. Um, who I really am supposed to be, I think I mean! Being just Milsy isn't going to help.

She nodded. "I'll be very careful, Ma'am."

"Then I will leave you to your studies. Master Tarvan?"

"Aye, Ma'am?"

"Remember, in the absence of Master Parrel at tonight's council meeting, you will be required to provide a report on recent activities in his craft."

Tarvan bowed his head. "I understand, Ma'am. I will make sure nothing is forgotten."

"Then we will see you next at this evening's meal."

The three bowed and curtseyed as Terys turned and left. The moment the door was closed, Milsy turned to Tarvan.

"So you're going to the Council of the Two Worlds tonight."

"What? I didn't think you knew about that!"

"Oh, Garia told me about it when we were in Dekarran. I'm not going to let the world know, you know. I'm also not going to ask you what you do there. I've seen enough of what Garia can provide and I know that much of it is dangerous."

"Well... I cannot say if you are wrong or right, Milsy. The only thing I might add is that, because I must consult others in my guild, I must leave you before lunch today and remain away all this afternoon."

"That's a pity! Since we are now permitted to go out I had hoped that you could join us."

"I would like nothing better, since my own knowledge of the palace is so poor, but I regret that the work of the guilds must have priority. I cannot appear before the King with my notes incomplete through lack of preparation, especially as this will be the first time the council has met since the King went to Dekarran."

Milsy smiled. "I understand. Mayhap you can accompany us some other time."

"As you say. Now, about your reading. Since we were not able to catch Her Majesty's attention, I suggest that you try copying the words from the lettering book."

* * *

"What do you think?"

Kenila replied, "I do not think anyone would think you anything but what you seem to be, Milsy. I am not even sure that the headscarf would be necessary."

Milsy tugged the left side down over her ear. "I don't know. Until I can get a feel for how the servants do things here I'm not confident that I can get away with people seeing my hair. Don't forget, Dekarran is the only place I have ever known so this is all new for me. I don't know how things work in the palace."

"I understand. Having visited Dekarran a number of times with the Queen I find it to be most confusing and the customs different than those here in the palace. I will help you discover what you must know so that when you no longer play the part of the Baroness you will not be a stranger to these corridors."

"Thank you, Kenila. So, can we go?"

"Aye. Let me lead the way."

Outside the door Tord was apprehensive. "I do not like this, Milady."

Milsy smiled. "Confusing, is it not? Presently, I am not Milady but merely another palace servant going about her duties." The smile disappeared. "Privately, I agree, but I must make the most of this opportunity. I'm sorry you are going to be left guarding empty rooms."

Tord straightened. "That is not so. Milady yet remains within her chambers and we are to prevent anyone from disturbing her, as is proper. Go you about your errand, then, and return before the Baroness becomes annoyed at your tardiness."

Milsy whispered, "That's very good, Tord!" In a more normal tone she added, "Aye, Tord. We will be as quick as we may."

Kenila said, "This way, then," and set off to Milsy's right. At the intersection she turned left into a new corridor.

"Along here," she explained with a gesture, "are nurseries and schoolrooms for any royal children of appropriate age. The Duke's son Terinar was born in the palace and resided here until he was six, though his sister Korizet was born and raised in the castle."

"I see. And those rooms?" Milsy pointed to the other side.

"Rooms where nannies, governesses and tutors resided, though none are presently in residence. Of course, that may change when His Highness finally finds a bride."

They came to the next intersection which, like the last one, went all four ways.

"How does anyone know where they are in a place like this?" Milsy wondered aloud. "There are no windows, just walls and doors."

"Not so, Milsy. Certain corridors have windows, when the rooms they contain are large and to one side. Besides, each corridor is different than every other one, so it becomes easy in time to recognize where you are. Now, look along there." She indicated left.

"Huh? That looks exactly the same as the Royal Corridor, doesn't it? The only difference is there are no guardsmen standing around."

"Aye, the suites along this corridor are arranged exactly the same as those in the Royal Corridor. But see, the wood is of a different shade, the gilding on the corner posts and door frames is different. Though you may be fooled the first time, it soon becomes easy enough to tell which one you are in."

Milsy stared at the decoration on the woodwork. "If you say so. So, why do they have a whole separate set of rooms along here, then? Palarand only has one King, I deem."

"This corridor is where the Dukes reside when they come to visit, Milsy. It is also used for other august visitors to Their Majesties."

"Oh, of course. So, where next?"

"If we continue along this corridor," Kenila pointed straight ahead, "you will see that we come to another which is where some of the lesser but still important visitors to the palace are allocated rooms. For example -"

* * *

Milsy flung herself down on the settee.

"Phew! Learning the corridors in this place is almost as hard as learning our letters, Bursila!"

"I agree, Milady, though I will say that I learned much during our walk. Working for Lady Merizel it was only necessary to learn two or three routes through the palace. To discover the history of such a place is most interesting."

"As you say, though I wish that someone had put signs up telling everyone where they were. In certain parts of the castle we had to do that because visitors were getting lost all the time." She made a face. "Of course, most of the servants could not read the signs, but then we were expected to know where we were going."

Bursila nodded. "I agree, Milady. I would guess from experience that most servants, introduced to a new household, are left to fend for themselves."

Milsy shrugged. "Most probably don't ever see the inside of other houses, Bursila." She grimaced and pulled herself upright. "If you're 'Milady'ing me then I suppose I had better go and look like her, had I not? Let's go and get in the bath and then I can attempt to find another long gown to wear."

Milsy and Bursila continue their efforts to learn to read, but the only materials available are difficult to follow. After lunch, the two set out to continue their exploration of the palace but become lost and attempts to find their way back result in a meeting Milsy would rather have avoided.

What Milsy Did

A Tale of Anmar by Penny Lane

7 - "You, Girl!"

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 (c) 2016 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

---

When Tarvan arrived the following morning he was most apologetic.

"I have attempted to find other documents for you to read but it is proving most difficult. You see, until the Baroness came to us, almost everything that had writing on it was either written by a Scribe or was personal correspondence from one to another. You will need to be able to read professional documents, I deem, since that is what every document presently is. Very few are in the new printed form, though if I understand the Baroness right, that will rapidly change."

Milsy nodded. "I understand. I don't think I mind that, since most of what I'll be reading will be in that form, will it not? But what of this personal correspondence you mention?"

Tarvan made a face. "The writing of most who send correspondence is... not so clear to read, I regret. Most write in a hurry or after drinking much wine, I deem, which makes their letters very hard to read. It is an acquired ability to be able to read much of what one receives. I am fortunate that I do not have to suffer so much correspondence but I know that Master Parrel constantly complains that important letters are hard to read."

"I assume that I'll be writing my own correspondence in future, won't I? That means that I must needs make sure that my own writing is readable by others and remains that way."

"A creditable notion, Milsy, but," he smiled, "do not promise what you may not be able to fulfil. My own writing today is greatly different than that which I was taught not so many years ago."

"As you say. So, what have you managed to find for us to read today?"

"I regret there is only these." Tarvan placed a small paper pamphlet in front of each woman. "This is a small book which Mistress Margra, the senior palace healer, requested from the printers. It describes how the human body works so there will be many unfamiliar words within but it will give you a chance to read something other than Lady Merizel's book of letters."

Milsy opened the booklet. The center of each page was taken up by a diagram with text at top and bottom. The diagrams interested Milsy and she began to read. Tarvan took turns helping Milsy and Bursila with various words while all discussed what the contents of the book described. In this way a bell and a half passed without anyone noticing.

After a stop for a drink of pel Milsy resumed her reading.

"Blood flows from the ...heart... to all parts of the body through tubes called... what's that word? Art-"

Milsy put the book down and looked up. Tarvan leaned over her shoulder to see what she was having problems with, an action that Milsy had no problem with.

"I think that word is Arteries, Milsy. It must be one of the words that Garia brought. Look, the next sentence says that the blood is carried back to the heart through Veins." His brow furrowed. "Now why have two words for tubes that do the same thing? I always thought that they were all called veins. There must be a reason but I cannot think of one."

"Art. Er. Ees," Milsy muttered, distracted since it was the spelling she was grappling with, not the content of the medical pamphlet. "Oh, yes! I see." She placed a finger on the word. "So that's ahn, rone, ert, ern, another rone and that thing which I remember indicates a plural, right?"

"What? Oh, aye, that's right. That thing, as you name it, is a -ris ending when the word describes more than one of the things being named. The Scribes made a joined-up character of an ith and a sish but the separate characters can be used if desired." He shrugged. " I understand it is to the preference of the writer which he chooses."

"Or she chooses."

"My apologies, Milsy. Of course, most Scribes are presently men so it is natural to think that way. I doubt not my ideas will change in time. With Garia to lead us it could not be otherwise."

"As you say. Oh, it's obvious to me why there are two words for tubes."

"What? Oh, you mean the Arteries and Veins."

"Aye." Her expression indicated that she considered the matter self-evident. "The heart is a pump, is it not? Then I deem it must be sucking blood from one side to push out the other. Veins must be made to withstand being sucked flat but arteries must needs be made a different way to stop them splitting with the pressure from within."

Tarvan considered the matter with a frown. Naturally his perception of Milsy had been set by the information that she had spent her life as a kitchen worker but he was belatedly discovering that, though she was woefully short of knowledge and experience, her intellect was at least as great as his, if not greater. He would probably have discovered the difference between arteries and veins in due course but she had seen it immediately.

He wondered what would happen on the morrow, for that was the day that Milsy could walk the corridors for the first time in her guise as Baroness Blackstone, a short journey that would end at the Laboratory. Once she caught sight of the wonders that were laid out on the benches, what would happen? He hoped she would become interested in his projects.

It would be nice to have someone he could talk to who might at least have a chance of understanding what he was talking about. Master Parrel had other concerns and he was still in awe of the Guildmistress, despite her friendly manner. He had been proud to be asked to work on special projects at the palace but, with the Guildmistress absent for some weeks, the laboratory was beginning to be a lonely place.

"Aye, I see," he replied. "I had not considered the matter but of course you are correct. Is this book too hard for you? It was the only one I could obtain at such short notice."

"It is not easy," Milsy admitted. "It does give me the chance to read some of the characters which I haven't seen much of so far. There are things like that -ris ending, for example. Still," she smiled, "a medical book is better than no book at all, I deem. Bursila, are you finding it difficult?"

"Like yourself, Milady," the maid replied, "I struggle with words I have never encountered before. I deem that I prefer printed words to those written by a Scribe, however. They are much clearer to tell apart."

"I agree! Much of what we will be reading will be written by a Scribe so we must needs learn their letters but as yourself I prefer the printed kind."

Tarvan grinned. "Perhaps I should interest you in another machine described to us by the Baroness called a typewriter. It will allow you to write but the result is as if you printed the letters yourself."

"Then why didn't you say so before! Why must we toil with reed and ink if such a device may be used?"

"Firstly, Milsy, a typewriter is complicated to make and there are not very many around yet. Secondly, to use one you must already know your letters before you can learn to use a typewriter to make them."

"Oh." Milsy sat back, deflated. "So we must continue with the messy inks, then?"

"I regret so."

The morning passed and lunch was delivered. Conversation turned to future activities.

"Do you walk the corridors again this afternoon?"

"I do, Tarvan. Are you coming with us again?"

"I regret not. This afternoon I must attend the Hall of the Guilds for an important meeting." He raised an eyebrow. "Does this mean you will be going out on your own?"

"I think so. The Queen has visitors this afternoon so I can't borrow a maid like I did the first time and Tord says he shouldn't send one of his men with us because it would look out of place." Milsy shrugged. "A day must come when I have to go out on my own. The palace isn't so big, I deem. What could possibly go wrong?"

* * *

Milsy was both confused and frustrated. Learning the corridors, even of so vast a place as the palace, should have been easy. Shouldn't it? After all, the corridors seemed to run in straight lines, either from the front to the back of the building or from side to side. Nice easy intersections, no funny little routes that went off at odd angles, around gentle curves or up or down ramps like in the castle. Everything was on the same level! True, she had decided to memorize the upper level before tackling the lower level where most of the major meeting rooms and chambers of state were situated, but even here she had been thwarted in ways she had not expected.

Instead of the simple four-way intersections at every junction which she had anticipated, there were T-junctions, L-corners and even a disturbing number of dead ends. The differing color schemes that Bursila had pointed out hadn't helped, either. Since every corridor was slightly different, there were so many variations to remember and many of the variations seemed trivial. In time it would not seem so confusing but right now... she sighed.

"Milsy?"

Since both were wearing servants' dresses, Bursila was using Milsy's real name. After all, it was known - if not very widely - that the Queen had brought back a temporary helper from Dekarran for the Baroness while Jenet was away injured so no secrets were being compromised.

"I just thought it would be easier than this." Milsy gestured at the T-junction they had come to. "I thought that the corridors would be laid out in a simple grid pattern, with the courtyards being the spaces between the lines, if you understand what I'm saying." Bursila nodded. "I just didn't expect all these funny intersections and blocked-off corridors."

"I agree, it is more complicated than I had imagined," Bursila said. "Perhaps the lower level is more what you would expect."

Milsy snorted. "Do you really believe that?" She shrugged. "Oh, I can understand some of it. There must be big chambers like that Receiving Room you described, where you couldn't have corridors at the upper level, but..." she gestured again, "I wouldn't be surprised if somebody has gotten themselves lost up here from time to time."

"Perhaps they would find the nearest stair and ask someone below," Bursila suggested. "We know that more people walk the corridors below than up here, which is mostly residential."

"True..." Milsy's voice tailed away as she looked along the corridor their route had intersected. In both directions, as far as the eye could see, there were no doorways on the far side. Had they finally reached one side of the palace complex? If so, it would help her mental map immensely to know that she had finally reached one edge of the building.

Her eyes narrowed. What she had originally thought was some kind of tall display shelving, the only item along the facing wall, instead now appeared to be a pair of immense, thick, wooden doors. The urge to investigate was strong and she started out in that direction.

"Milsy, wait," Bursila called after her, before reluctantly following. Although she wanted to learn her way around the palace almost as much as Milsy did, she was becoming uncomfortable at how far they had strayed into unfamiliar territory.

"I'm only going to see what's through those doors," Milsy said. "I think we've come far enough for today, especially as we're on our own."

"As you say. I have never been along this corridor before. Doors? They are unlike any other I have seen in the palace."

Milsy reached the doorway and discovered that it was an archway through a short passage some four strides long. The whole thing, like the walls of every corridor they had been passing through, had been paneled by master craftsmen, although their objective here had been functional rather than decorative. Stepping through, she found herself in another corridor, just like the one she had come through... which stretched off into the distance both directions.

"Two corridors, separated by a wall?" Milsy muttered as Bursila joined her. "What is going on?"

"I have no idea, Milsy. This is an unusual construction, I deem."

"Can I help you?" a male voice asked. "Are you lost?"

Both women jumped. Behind them, from the direction they had come, a guardsman had mysteriously appeared and was looking at them with interest.

"Well, yes and no," Milsy said, temporizing. "We've never been here before, it is true, but we are learning our way around the corridors."

The guardsman, who must have been in his mid-twenties, scrutinized them carefully.

"We don't see many servants coming this way," he commented. "If I may ask your business."

"Of course!" Milsy said hurriedly, while thinking furiously. The truth would serve, as Garia had told her it often would. One just had to be careful how much truth to reveal. She gestured. "This is Bursila, Lady Merizel's maid, and I am Milsy, come from Dekarran to stand in for Lady Garia's maid Jenet until her injuries heal."

The man nodded recognition of the names and they could see him relax.

"Do you not attend your mistresses, then?"

Milsy thought quickly. "Uh, Lady Garia presently attends a private meeting with the Queen at which only one of the Queen's maids is required. I thought to use the opportunity to remedy my ignorance of this amazing building." She looked uncertain. "Are we not permitted in this corridor?"

The guardsman shrugged. "There is no restriction, merely that it is so unusual we tend to question any who pass. It is possible that any who do pass are thieves or spies so we take care." He nodded at Bursila. "I have seen you in the Large Training Room with your mistress, I am satisfied you are no criminal. Do you require directions back to your mistresses' chambers?"

Milsy briefly thought. "No thank you. I deem it will help our memory if we make our own way back." She gestured at the doorway. "What is this for? Why two corridors?"

"I am not sure. If there is some alarm, then the doors will be closed to prevent intruders to pass, or to protect one side or the other if there is a fire. If we are beset, we are commanded to defend the opening. Why it is here at all I do not know." He grinned. "I will ask someone when I may. There is a mystery here and I thank you for bringing it to my attention."

Milsy grinned back. "It cannot harm any, can it? What lies beyond, if I may ask?"

The guardsman pointed forward. "That way lies the front of the palace, which is mostly offices, meeting rooms and storage chambers. The way you came is of course where most reside, as you already know."

"Ah. So, these corridors go from side to side?"

"As you say."

Somewhere in the near distance a sequence of bells sounded, the corridors echoing with the sounds.

"Oh! We'd better go, Bursila! We have explored too long, I deem, we must return ere our mistresses require us." Milsy addressed the guardsman. "If I may ask your name?"

He grinned and executed a bow before saluting. "I am Tilmar, Your Ladyship, and pleased to make your acquaintance. Mayhap we shall meet again."

She grinned back. "Almost certain, I deem, if our wanderings are permitted to continue. Come, Bursila."

A little while later, Milsy stopped at the entrance to yet another dead-end corridor, the feelings of alarm beginning to grow.

"This isn't right! We should have passed a stairway by now and this should meet another corridor at the far end." She turned. "I'm sorry, Bursila. I think we're lost."

"I think we are lost too, Milsy, though I could not say where we have strayed from our route back."

Milsy stared at the decorations of the three corridors that intersected where they stood, trying to recognize something that distinguished them. "What should we do? Go back the way we came and try another direction?"

"Aye, we must..." Bursila considered their situation. "This part we have never explored, I deem. We must return, find somewhere that we recognize." A thought occurred. "Perhaps we could return to that stair, find someone below to help us."

As they reached the previous intersection a young woman servant appeared from a different direction.

"If you could help us," Milsy asked. "We are returning from an errand for the Queen and have become lost. Can you tell us the way back to the Queen's Sitting Room?"

The woman smiled. "Of course. If you go along here..." The smile disappeared. "I am not sure. I do not know this part of the upper floor very well. I do not think that you can return that way without... No." She came to a decision. "If you would come with me, I can take you by a route I know, but it means going downstairs and up again."

"It does not matter. Just so long as we can get back to the Queen. We have tarried and we have heard the bells for the evening meal."

"Come with me, then." The woman turned, Milsy and Bursila keeping up with her. "I have not seen you around these corridors before. I am Sindra and I work in the kitchens."

An introduction was implied, so Milsy said, "I am Milsy, temporarily attached to the Royal party while Lady Garia's maid is injured, and this is Bursila, Lady Merizel's personal maid."

The woman's eyes lit up. "You work for the Baroness? What is she like to work for? I've heard so many stories, the half of which I refuse to believe! Tell me!"

Oops. Perhaps that wasn't the best thing to say, but I had to say something.

"Um, I haven't been with her very long, I used to work in Dekarran. Of course, because of the kidnap attempt, the Baroness has been kept in her chambers for safety, so I don't really know about anything she might do." Milsy thought about her time with Garia in the castle. "She's very nice, though. I haven't had much to do with nobility before but I like her attitude. She doesn't have airs or anything, she just treats us friendly-like, doesn't she, Bursila?"

"Aye," Bursila replied, "she is not like any noblewoman that Lady Merizel has known, that I can confirm."

The three turned along another corridor and soon came to a stairway going down.

At the bottom Sindra said, "I must leave you here, I regret, I must hurry back to the kitchens, since the evening meal is already being served." She gestured. "Look you yonder! If you follow this corridor and look to your left, you will pass a cross-corridor with another stairway in it. Go up the stairs and turn left at the first junction and you will be at the Royal corridor."

"You have our grateful thanks, Sindra."

Hurrying now, Milsy and Bursila took the indicated corridor and made it to the first intersection. No stairway. They carried on to the next one, same again. Just as they were about to continue to the third intersection they were abruptly halted.

"You, girl!"

Milsy's head whipped round. A peremptory call in that tone of voice usually meant trouble in the lower reaches of the castle. In the other direction, the one they had both completely ignored, were six servant women around what had apparently been an accident. Two were standing to one side, holding loaded trays. Two more were on the floor, one propped against the wall and looking distressed, the other appearing to be cleaning hot food from her body. Their trays were also on the floor, one placed tidily while the other had obviously been tipped, perhaps by some kind of collision. A fifth had put her tray down and was attempting to pick up some of the tumbled containers. the sixth pointed a finger at Milsy.

"Yes, you, girl! Come here immediately!" The finger moved to Bursila and the woman added, "and you too!"

"But..."

"I don't care what you were doing, we have a crisis here! There has already been too much delay and the food will be getting cold."

Milsy reached the group, closely followed by Bursila, and both automatically bobbed to the woman who was obviously in charge of this group. The woman pointed to the two trays on the floor.

"Take these trays to the Family Dining Room. Quickly, quickly, now! The Queen will be waiting!"

Milsy automatically said, "Yes, mistress!" and picked up one of the trays. It was silver and held two oval vegetable bowls with lids, also of silver. It was heavy and the heat of the food radiated through the metal of the bowls. Beside her Bursila picked up the other tray.

I have no idea where we are and no idea where I'm supposed to be going with this.

I have a good idea who's going to be waiting at the other end, though. Hope she's not too mad...

"Uh, which way, mistress?"

The woman gave her an odd look then said, "Follow these two. I'll deal with you once the food has been delivered."

Milsy and Bursila followed the other two who had trays a short distance before turning into a wide corridor with double doors at the end. As they walked, one of the other women leaned over to talk to Milsy.

"Never done this before?"

"No. What do I do?"

"Follow me towards the center table. Don't bob or bow to anyone. Stop when I do. The maids and footmen will take the dishes from your trays. Your friend had better follow Kelly. Ah, here we are."

There were guards at the doorway but nobody said anything. Milsy followed the servant into the largest room she had so far seen in the palace, which had three long tables laid out side-by-side. All three tables were filled with people eating, with the King and Queen sitting together in the middle of the center table. She followed the servant while Bursila peeled off to follow Kelly around the other side of the same table.

Terys looked up and noticed Milsy come to a halt opposite her seat. She had expected their paths to cross once the girl had been given freedom to walk the palace but she had not expected to meet in such a fashion as this. She managed not to show any surprise, though. She merely raised an eyebrow the merest fraction. As the footman removed each dish and placed it on the table Milsy returned a tiny shrug which was acknowledged with an equally tiny nod.

The woman servant indicated the door with her eyes and turned. Milsy copied her movements and followed until they were back in the corridor. Here they waited a few moments for Kelly and Bursila, all still holding their silver trays, now empty. The woman examined Milsy and Bursila.

"You two aren't kitchen staff. I know you," she said, nodding at Bursila, "I've seen you waiting on Lady Merizel at table. Are you not her personal maid?"

Bursila nodded. "I am. We were interrupted on our way back to the Royal Corridor. Can you help us?"

"I was coming to that. It is known that Lady Merizel has gone north with the Prince. I would not presume to know the customs of nobility but you are not at her side. I'm wondering why." She turned to Milsy. "Now you, I don't know."

Milsy thought swiftly. Time was passing and the whole situation looked as if if might fall to pieces right here.

"It's complicated. Jenet was injured in Dekarran and the Queen asked for a stand-in." True, though I haven't said who the stand-in was for. "That's me, my name is Milsy. This evening we are supposed to be serving the Baroness her meal, not the Queen! We are already late, having run an errand for her and become lost in this maze."

There was no need to say which Baroness, there could only be one who mattered.

The woman nodded understanding. "Aye. Now, Mistress Sharrel is going to be mad about the dropped food, you should have no part of that business. Give your trays to Kelly and follow me."

The two handed over their trays and Kelly promptly sped off down another corridor. Milsy and Bursila followed the woman as she set off at a brisk pace... in the opposite direction at the junction. She led them in a roundabout route across the palace to another, narrower staircase.

"Go up here, straight ahead past one junction and the next should bring you to the corridor with the schoolrooms. Do you know where that is?"

"Aye, we do," Bursila replied. "We can find our way back from there. Many thanks..."

"Hanna. It is a pleasure to help those who work for the Baroness. I must go, Mistress Sharrel will become worse by the moment."

Milsy bounded up the steps with Bursila trying hard to keep up with the younger girl. As they turned the corner into the corridor with the schoolrooms they saw two of their guards standing watch at the next junction across, so went to join them.

"You're late," one said. "The meals have already been delivered."

"Don't ask," Milsy puffed. "We got lost and then ended up serving the Queen."

The men's eyes widened. "You mean -"

"We'll tell you another time, if we may. We need to get inside and serve the Baroness her evening meal."

The man grinned. "As you say."

At the doorway to their suite Tord said, "I would hear that tale, Milsy. If there is a problem, I should know of it."

"Aye, we will tell all, but first, we must... do what we must within."

"As you wish."

The two entered and skidded to a halt in the bedroom.

"Dare we eat as we are, or should we change?"

"I know not," Bursila replied. "We do not know how long the food has been here. Apart from the food getting cold, we don't know how long it will be before they come to take back the trays."

"...But, if we eat as we are, and someone comes in, they will not see the Baroness but two servants eating her meal," Milsy added.

"Here," Bursila said, "let me help you off with that dress. If you would eat in a robe, that may satisfy any who may enter."

"Aye," Milsy agreed, "and if I sit facing the window... it is the best we can do in so short a time."

In the event they had time to finish their food and retire to the bedroom before any of the kitchen servants appeared. Milsy was expecting visitors and the first was Tord, who entered as the servants left with the empty dishes.

"Tord," Milsy sighed. "We went, I think, towards the front of the Palace and came upon a long corridor with only one door in one side. Do you know it?"

Tord nodded. "I do, Milsy. It is to do with the history of the palace, so I am told, but it has become useful in the event of fire, attack or pursuit of intruders. Were you accosted by those set to guard the doorway?"

"Aye, we were." Milsy smiled. "A nice young guardsman named Tilmar explained it to us. It was on the way back here that we became lost. It was necessary to go downstairs and we were spotted by some of the serving staff, since there had been an accident. Bursila and I were each ordered to take a tray to... the Family Dining Room? Is that right?"

"Aye, it is. You have not been there before? No, of course you would not."

"Well, I ended up right in front of the Queen carrying this silver tray and someone took the bowls off it. Then one of the serving staff called Hanna showed us how to get back without going past the accident again."

Tord blew out a long breath. "The Queen? She saw you? Of course she did. I could not say what she will think of such an adventure." He looked at Milsy from under lowered brows. "Will you now cease your explorations?"

Milsy shrugged. "That's up to the Queen to decide, I deem, but mayhap I will have less opportunity in the future. It was the first time we have gone out without a guide. Perhaps I was too ambitious."

"As the Baroness would tell us, you do not know if you can do anything until you try. You will keep me informed of any changes?"

"Of course, Tord."

The Queen arrived half a bell later.

"I trust that appearing in the Family Dining Room was not your idea, dear?"

"No, Ma'am."

Milsy and Bursila explained what had happened and the Queen relaxed.

"I thought it might have been something like that. Sharrel, you said her name was? I think I'll have a word with someone in the kitchens. If there is an accident, then all must keep calm heads, is it not so?"

"We certainly tried to in the castle, Ma'am."

"Just so. Now, as for yourself, it seems I was in error and for that I must apologize, dear."

Milsy was startled. "Ma'am?"

"I asked Rosilda to give you palace sashes, dear, so that you would pass without notice. Unfortunately, those same sashes mean that any may command you within our walls. Bursila, of course, wears the colors of Blackstone and I deem it will be safer if you do also. That way, none may command you but those of Blackstone. Shall you mind?"

"Why, no, Ma'am, I don't think it will make that much difference to what I'm supposed to be doing. Thank you, Ma'am. I tried to keep out of everybody's way but it is not so easy. I had not realized how many people live and work in this building." Milsy hesitated. "Does this mean I shouldn't go out any more?"

"I would leave it at least a day, dear, to let memories fade. Besides, from tomorrow you will be going to the Laboratory with Master Tarvan, will you not?"

"Why, ah, yes, Ma'am. Was there any special reason you asked?"

"Just to warn you, if Bursila has not already done so. The laboratory is a great chamber the same size as the Family Dining Room you attended today. Unlike that room the laboratory usually only has three or four people in it so it can be cold in the mornings but also very warm once Tarvan has his steam engine running or when he is using his furnace. Be sure to dress in layers that you can remove as the room warms, dear."

"Oh! Ma'am, thank you for the warning. I would never have thought about that."

"And how is your reading?"

"I think I might be doing better than I expected, Ma'am. Already I can recognize most of the letters but I prefer the printed ones because they are always made the same way. Some of the letters are very similar so it makes it very slow to decide which sound is meant, Ma'am. I am told that will soon pass and we will recognize the whole word at once. Bursila is managing but my memory seems to be better than hers." Milsy frowned. "Ma'am, I am told a letter is a single sound on a page but a letter is also something that is sent by the Messengers. This seems very confusing to me."

Terys thought. "Dear, there are many words that are spelled the same way that mean different things."

"Ah. I wondered about that, Ma'am."

"Worse, there are many words that are spelt differently that sound the same, and there are words that sound differently that mean the same thing! Our language is a complicated thing, I deem."

"Master Tarvan explained some of that, Ma'am, and he said that words which Garia brings will only make that worse."

"I'm sure you will both learn to read enough to make your lives easier," Terys told them. "By that time you will barely notice some of the strange customs attached to our words. I am sorry that we have not been able to provide either of you with very much reading material but to do so would draw notice to yourself and Bursila at a time when it is better not to. Perhaps this may change and you may then be treated as the person you are, instead of the person you pretend to be."

"As you say, Ma'am."

"Then I must leave you now. I hope you have a pleasant evening."

"Thank you, Ma'am."

A little later, as Milsy and Bursila were puzzling their way through the medical booklet, there was another unexpected visitor. Both jumped up and curtseyed.

"Captain Merek! Do come in. What can we do for you? It isn't Tord, is it?"

"No, Milady, nothing like that." Merek cast a glance at Milsy. "You suit that gown well, if I may say so, Milady. You are not Lady Garia, it is true, but you have the bearing of a noblewoman, if I may say so."

Milsy curtseyed. "Thank you, Captain. I thought to make sure that I could wear such gowns, against a time when it might became necessary. I know they are not mine, I will take care of them while they are in my keeping."

"I would expect nothing else, Milady. Now, I understand you had an adventure today."

"Aye, Captain! Bursila and I were exploring some of the corridors of the upper floor when -"

Milsy explained what had happened when they became lost and the subsequent encounter with the kitchen serving staff.

Merek nodded. "It seems no damage has been done, I deem. I have spoken to the Queen, she considers it safer that you wear the colors of Blackstone on your future expeditions."

"Aye, so she said to me earlier. There are several sashes here which Garia wore, I can use those, can't I? Bursila wears them, the men wear them, so it makes sense for me to wear one too."

"Indeed. If you would report to me any other... complications which arise as you walk the corridors, I would be grateful. Sometimes a fresh eye may see what a familiar passer-by does not."

"I'll do that, Captain." Milsy thought. "By the way, I wonder if you can explain that business with the two corridors. Nobody seems to know why it was there to begin with."

"The two... Ah, of course. If I may use the blackboard?"

The blackboard was partly covered with some of Tarvan's writings but, despite the use it could have made for their learning to write, Tarvan had decided that other people would see what was written there and draw certain conclusions. It was thus presently unused by Milsy and Bursila.

"Please do, Captain."

Merek cleared the board and then drew a large rectangle on it.

"Originally, this was a fort built by the Chivans long ago," he explained. "Do you know of the Chivans?"

"I have heard the name and Master Tarvan has explained a little of their history, what is known of it."

"Very well. This fort was a defensive structure and originally contained a number of separate buildings inside the grounds. All have long perished. The present palace began inside the walls more than three hundred years ago on the south-west side, roughly like this."

Merek began shading in part of the area inside the walls.

"After a while the palace became too small, but it could not be expanded that way," he gestured to the north-east, "since it would fill in the enclosed field behind the palace, which has many uses throughout the year."

Milsy nodded and Merek began adding shading to the area outside the south-east wall.

"Thus, holes were made in the south-east wall and the palace began to grow outside the walls to the size it is today. What you found was one of the places where the original Chivan wall cuts through the palace, and that door is one of only two which exist on the upper level. At the lower level there are five doorways, since there is more need for convenient passage at that level."

"Ah, I see. The guardsman I spoke to, who was guarding that doorway, spoke of closing it to prevent fire and also to stop intruders or thieves."

Merek nodded. "That's right. Such a thick wall of stone is a protection against fire and the few doorways sufficient to deter any who seek to do mischief within our palace."

Milsy frowned. "There's one thing I don't understand, captain. Why are the corridors so broken up the way they are? It is so very difficult to get anywhere. Even some of the servants we spoke to found it awkward."

Merek shrugged. "History, Milady. The palace has been altered so much over many years that we are left with what we have. There is always talk of opening some of the corridors to make service easier but it would require great changes to the chambers involved and of course all must be paid for somehow. Of course there are always maps which the Palace Guard may consult, as may the various guildsmen who keep the palace running."

"Maps?" Milsy's eyes lit up. "Would it be possible for me to look at your maps, Captain?"

Merek was defensive. "I could not possibly permit it, Milady. Not presently, I deem. Such documents are sensitive and of use to an enemy. I do not doubt that you would guard such valuable information carefully but there is always the chance of an accident." He considered. "There may be another answer, perhaps. If you would let me think more on what you ask of me."

"I'm sorry, Captain. I just wanted to make my life easier by finding out how the palace is laid out, that's all." Milsy shrugged. "As you command, Captain. I expect that in the next week or so I will be too busy to walk the corridors as before."

"Of course, from tomorrow you will be going to the laboratory, is that so?"

"Aye, Captain."

"Then I would ask that you keep your wits about you as you walk, that you might note if any takes particular interest in you. Dressed as you will be, I doubt not that most will believe you to be the Baroness, but many in the palace know her well and may notice a difference."

"As you command, Captain. I'll be alert for any problems."

Merek bowed. "Thank you, Milady. Then I'll leave you to enjoy your evening."

As the door closed behind the Captain Milsy said, "It looks like we won't be exploring for a few days, Bursila."

"As you say, Milady. I am certain that you will find the laboratory to be a sufficient diversion."

"I trust that you are right, Bursila. So, what shall we do until it is time to retire? I'm not sure I can look at that medical book again."

"We have practised much with reed and ink these last few days, perhaps we can look over what we wrote."

"Lead the way, Bursila."

Today is the day when Milsy gets her first look at the laboratory, wherein Garia and Tarvan have been conducting strange experiments. She learns the rudiments of magnetism and electricity and begins helping in the construction of some electrical devices. Later, Tarvan has not one but two proposals to put to her!

What Milsy Did

by Penny Lane

8 - In the Questor's Laboratory

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 (c) 2016 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

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There had been a minor difficulty in the morning. Milsy had to find something suitable to wear and the choice was limited, since Garia had taken almost all her working clothing with her, on the chance of finding it useful in the remote north.

"There is an exercise tunic and skirt," Bursila informed her, "but if it is worn today and becomes dirty you will have no alternative until it is cleaned."

Milsy sighed. "I'm sorry, Bursila. I've been waiting for this day ever since we arrived at the palace and it never occurred to me to check what attire would be suitable. Are you sure this is what Garia wore to go to the laboratory?"

Bursila was doubtful. "It is her exercise attire, Milady, but she also wore it to the laboratory on several occasions... except when we were cleaning the chambers. On those occasions we wore the dresses the palace provides for such activities."

"Hmm. I'll have to wear that today but I deem another talk with Rosilda is in our near future, don't you? Let's find out just how bad the laboratory is and then I can decide what would be the best thing to wear in future."

"As you wish, Milady. The Baroness also possesses a thick leather apron which she would wear when visiting the workshops of the guilds but I believe she has taken it with her. The Prince, Lady Merizel, Jenet and myself also have such aprons, presented to us by Guildmaster Parrel. It is possible that only my own remains in the palace."

"Let's get dressed, Bursila. I don't know if I'm going to be spending much time in the laboratory anyway, do I? I could find it too boring or too complicated."

"I could not possibly say, Milady. If you would raise your arms."

After the usual morning game of hide and seek over breakfast, Bursila went to the door and admitted Tord.

Milsy cocked her head. "Are you not training this morning, Tord?"

"Not this morning, Milady. I wanted to make sure we all understood the route and the routine we must needs follow to get you safely to the laboratory and to return here afterwards. Are you ready to leave, Milady?"

Milsy looked at Bursila. "Do we have everything we need? Can we go?"

"So far as I am aware, Milady, I believe so."

In the corridor Tord treated the whole thing as a military expedition.

"Pardal, Skanik, you take advance point. Mollen and Stonald, rearguard." Tord shook his head. "We are too few for this duty, I deem. Taren, left side, I'll take the right side."

Surrounded by armed men, Milsy and Bursila began their short journey. At first their route looked new but then Milsy recognized where they were, just as they descended a wide stairway.

She asked with alarm, "Are we heading for the Family Dining Room?"

"Aye, Milady, but we do not pass the doors of that chamber. We must needs go round it to reach the quarters of the Royal Questor. The laboratory and the Family Dining Room face each other across the same courtyard."

They turned away from areas which Milsy had visited into further strange corridors. Along the way they passed small groups of servants, mostly women, who curtseyed as 'The Baroness' passed by. Milsy hoped that none would take a good look at her face. Eventually they arrived at a T-junction with a single door in the fourth side. The men formed a semicircle, keeping Milsy and Bursila next to the door while Tord tried it.

"It is open, which should mean that Master Tarvan is within," he reported. "Presently only he holds a key. If you will follow me, I will confirm that he is in fact here and that no-one else is inside."

Tarvan came towards them as they all entered the quarters of the Royal Questor. He had a smile for Milsy.

"Welcome! Did you have any problems?"

"No, not this time," Milsy replied.

Tord added, "Master Tarvan, there were few in the corridors as we passed. It may not be so simple on another occasion."

"As you say, Tord. Do you know how to arrange the guard while we are here?"

"Of course, Master Tarvan. I have stood guard here myself, both outside this door and outside the door at the far end. I will arrange all."

"Good. Then if you ladies will follow me, I will show you where everything is."

He walked down the narrow corridor through what was apparently a domestic setting, gesturing as they passed doorways.

"The quarters of the Royal Questor are arranged to be self sufficient since that august person often worked to his own schedule. There are rooms for a manservant, a small kitchen, his bed chamber, a clothes closet, bathroom, toilet, a sitting room large enough for meetings, his study." He turned to Milsy. "We have used the sitting room to rest during our labors and we'll probably be making use of the study to continue your reading lessons. I think you'll get a shock when you see what is inside that room."

The door at the end opened into a vast space, easily the same size as the brief glimpse Milsy had managed to get while she was in the Family Dining Room. Unlike that heavily decorated and well-kept space, she had difficulty understanding what she was seeing at first. There was nothing in her experience which could prepare her for the heavy benches, the jumble of glassware and other equipment, the odds and ends covering the floor and every shelf, the dust!

"Maker! Is this a real place?"

"Regrettably so, Milady. You must understand that most Questors are of such a character that nobody would dare interfere in their affairs and certainly no-one would be permitted to clean their chambers! I know Master Morlan was such a person."

Milsy gestured at the whole room with her hand. "What is all this?"

Tarvan shrugged. "Most of it we do not know. Some of it may be experiments he has made and not finished, some of these things may be curious samples sent to the palace by traders, perhaps, probably most has been left by previous Royal Questors. The Prince himself found a device which had lain under one of these benches for over three hundred years and nobody knew it was there or what it was."

Milsy walked over to a shelf between two windows, looking closely at a jar which contained three eyeballs. Three eyeballs?

"What's this?"

"Don't touch anything! Some of the liquids in the jars could do you serious harm if they spilled on you, or even if you took a breath. Also, we don't want to disturb the dust anywhere if we can avoid it. It might be useful to learn if anyone else comes in here and starts meddling with anything within."

Milsy was startled. "Other people come in here? Explain."

"It is to do with Master Morlan's death, so I understand. There is a possibility that he was working with agents of another country, although we have no proof. After we began cleaning these chambers we discovered that others had been through and searched for something."

"Really? Do you know what?"

"Regrettably not. Most disturbance was in the study so perhaps they were looking for messages or notes. We don't really know."

Milsy picked up another of Tarvan's statements. "You've been cleaning in here?"

"Aye, but only at the far end. Come along and look."

At the far end of the chamber was a single door. Tord moved past them with Skanik and Mollen to the door, waiting until Tarvan unlocked it for them. The two men were given instructions and posted outside, after which Tord returned and closed the door, giving Tarvan a nod before retreating to the domestic end of the quarters.

To one side of the door stood a small furnace, presently cold. On the other side, piles of wood for the furnace... and sacks of other mysterious substances. There was a clear space in front of the furnace and then a bench on either side which had been cleaned up and contained an amazing variety of... what, exactly? Milsy could make nothing of what she saw. Under one window stood a device of brass, all pipes and wheels. It was supported on wooden shelving which held a copper water tank over the device. On the floor next to it was a trolley with a number of glass jars - square jars? - which had thick ropes going from one to another. Tarvan saw where she was looking.

"Ah, those are our batteries, where we store electricity for our experiments. Be careful, the acid in those jars is extremely dangerous."

"Is all the work of the guilds so dangerous, then?"

Tarvan grinned. "It must seem so, to those who do not understand what they see. In truth, our work is probably no more dangerous than the insides of a kitchen, where one may be burned by an oven or hot pot handles, scalded by hot water or fat or cut by the many sharp knives within."

Milsy nodded. "Aye, the comparison is a good one, Master Tarvan. What you tell me is that it is ignorance that causes injuries, I deem."

"And lack of respect for the tools and materials one works with. Much of my earlier training as a guildsman was to make sure I valued those things and knew their dangers."

"Having worked in such a kitchen, and knowing of its dangers, I will be guided by you. So, what do you want us to do?"

"First, I think, you can make a start on the furnace. These days it is only used to heat my soldering irons but I find it warms this end of the chamber just enough to be comfortable without making it too hot to work. Since preparing the furnace takes time, it is always the first thing I do whenever I come here."

Tarvan inspected Milsy with such care that she felt moved to speak.

"What?"

"I do not think it would be wise for you to work in here dressed like that. If you would take Milsy to the bedroom, Bursila, and both of you change into cleaning dresses. If I understand the circumstances correctly, those worn by the Guildmistress should fit Milsy, should they not?"

"Of course, Master Tarvan, I should have thought of that myself. If you would join me, Milady."

On a line of pegs in the bedroom a number of heavy dresses were hung and Bursila immediately pulled down two of them, laying them on the bare mattress of the bed. Bursila and Milsy each helped the other remove the outer clothing they were wearing and then they took up the dresses, which Milsy saw were of a familiar design.

"I know these! We wore ones just like these in the castle for cleaning jobs."

"Just so, Milady. Can you manage by yourself?"

"Of course. The tie goes through this hole here and then gets tied in front." Milsy looked at the pegs as she hung up her exercise tunic and skirt on an hanger. "Why are there so many of these, then? Who wore all these dresses?"

"There was Lady Garia, of course, and Lady Merizel, and myself and Jenet." Bursila stopped and blushed.

"What?"

"You must not speak of this to any outside these quarters, Milady. Have I your word?"

Milsy was confused. What was so secret about some cleaning dresses? "Why yes, of course, but... why?"

"There was difficulty making the Palace Wardrobe understand that there would be men here helping with the cleaning task. They claimed that there was no suitable attire for such a task, so some of the other dresses were worn by Master Tarvan... and Prince Keren."

Milsy's mouth was an 'O' of shock. "Really? Oh, Bursila! Of course you have my word!" She thought. "But does this mean that Tarvan..."

"Perhaps, Milady, once we have left the bedroom. Sometimes his normal attire is sufficient."

"As you say. I have noticed that sometimes his attire is of a heavier material, is that not so? I would think that all guildsmen must needs have suitable attire for the work they do."

"Of course, Milady, just as a farmer or a guardsman has attire appropriate to their work." Bursila turned to a pile of cloth squares on the nightstand. "We will need to wear these, also. Are you familiar with such scarves?"

Milsy held up the scarf offered her. "Oh, yes. I didn't have to wear these often but we all know how to protect our hair." She began tying the scarf over her hair, gathering up the sides and back so that all was covered.

Bursila gave Milsy another scarf. "I deem you will need to put this over your face, against the dust we must raise," she explained.

"Aye, of course." Milsy doubled the scarf diagonally and hooked it over her nose before tying it off behind. "Nobody can see my face now, can they? I could very well be the Baroness, should anyone call."

"If you can adjust your voice to sound like that of the Baroness," Bursila cautioned. "Let us return to the laboratory, then."

At the furnace Tarvan showed them how to empty out the half-burned coals and ashes from the furnace, separating material that could be re-used and putting the rest into a bucket. This bucket was taken by Bursila and placed outside the main door while Tarvan filled another bucket from one of the sacks.

"Because I don't need my fire very hot I use charcoal," he explained. "I have made a small number of experiments with coal and coke but I am not yet familiar enough with those materials to use them for normal furnace work."

"Tarvan, what are coal and coke?"

"Your pardon, Milsy, you will not have seen either substance yet. Let us finish building the furnace and lighting it and then I will explain."

Tarvan arranged some kindling in the bottom and lit it, fanning the flames until the wood had properly caught. He then carefully filled the furnace up with charcoal, making sure that the fire was not smothered. Soon, a warm glow came from the firebrick-lined metal enclosure making that end of the big chamber a little more comfortable.

"That's it," he said with a gesture. "Someone must needs attend the fire from time to time to ensure that it still has fuel, and I will show you how it is used when the time comes. For now, let me show you the coal and coke."

He went to one of the other sacks and pulled out a lump of what appeared to be black rock, handing it to Milsy. She looked it over, noting with disfavor that the substance came off on her hands.

"This is coal, and it is the key to everything that the Guildmistress is doing for Palarand," Tarvan explained. "Even though it is a rock it will burn and it burns hotter than any wood may burn. The benefit to us is twofold, firstly, it takes much less coal to produce an equivalent amount of heat than wood, and unlike trees it does not take many years to grow but can simply be dug out of the ground as needed."

Milsy's eyes narrowed. "But... it seems to me that trees can always be grown, whereas once dug out of the ground, this coal will eventually be used up."

Tarvan bowed assent. "As you say. However, the Guildmistress assures us that sufficient coal lies in the ground to supply all Anmar for several hundred years, even with the incredible quantities she assures us we will be mining. She tells us that long before the supply ends we will have developed other, cleaner ways to heat and light our lives."

"Like this electricity you spoke of."

"Aye, perhaps. But for now, we will need coal since it holds another secret of great value to all. Do you know how charcoal is made?"

Milsy thought hard. "I know it is a kind of wood, and it seems to me that it is wood that has somehow been heated without burning. If it had been burned already, then it could not be burned again, I deem."

"That's correct. Charcoal is basically wood that has been placed in an oven and baked, so that all the impurities have been driven out. We can do the same with coal and that produces this other substance called coke."

Tarvan put the lump of coal back in the sack and lifted out a piece of coke to hand to Milsy. She examined it, noting the different texture and the lightness in weight.

"Coke will burn much hotter than even coal," Tarvan continued. "For metalsmiths and glassmakers it makes production of certain items very much easier for that reason. However, the main use of charcoal and coke is not as a fuel to heat houses, kitchens and workshops but in the production of steel. For centuries, perhaps even as far back as the Chivans, we have used charcoal to obtain iron out of the ore and then to turn it into steel for use in swords and armor, amongst other things. Using coke instead produces steel of better quality and much faster. That is why you have not yet met Guildmaster Parrel, for he is at a site to the west of the city building some experimental furnaces to make steel using coke."

"I see." Milsy handed the coke back. "But does this just mean we can make more swords, more armor? Surely we make enough as it is?" She shrugged. "I do not know the art of war, of course."

Tarvan smiled. "Aye, that is one way to look at it. But the Guildmistress says that we will soon be using steel for many other items one might not normally consider. We will be making self-propelled carriages of steel, boats and ships of steel and there will be something called a railroad which will make our journeys so much faster, all built out of steel. In fact, she says that her world makes buildings a hundred strides tall out of steel with walls of glass many strides on a side. Steel bridges may one day carry you across the Sirrel without the need for ferries."

Milsy regarded him sceptically. "You believe all that she says?"

Tarvan spread his hands. "You have seen her clothing, her portable clock. Why would she lie about everything else? It makes no sense, Milsy. I must needs believe what I can see with my own eyes, it is a small step to believe what she tells us, especially when she later provides proof. Look at all the experiments we have done on these benches! I am prepared to believe that she knows what she tells us and so is the King. That is good enough for me."

Milsy turned. "Aye, what is all this? It looks... unusual. What is on these bobbins? It does not look like thread. Is this some kind of metal?"

"Aye, it is copper wire. It seems that copper is one of the best substances to use for electricity. Do you wish me to tell you about electricity?"

Milsy looked at the odd collection of wires and bobbins, all collected together on the bench in, she now saw, several different arrangements. It seemed that Garia and Tarvan had spent a lot of time in here setting up experiments and she wanted to know more.

"I think I do," she replied slowly. "What, for example, is that thing?"

She pointed to a curious object which looked like three squat bobbins fixed to a small rod so that the ends of the bobbins stuck out. Other bobbins were fixed to the same board the rod was attached to. There were several versions of this object on the bench but the purpose of none of them was clear.

Tarvan smiled. "Ah, we shall speak of that in time, I deem. First, you must both go and clean the dust and coal from your hands. If you remove those cleaning dresses at the same time this end of the chamber should be warm enough when you return."

Milsy needed no further urging. In the bedroom she and Bursila helped the other take off the thick cleaning dresses and tidy themselves before attempting to scrub their hands clean in the small bathing chamber. When they returned to the laboratory Tarvan was waiting.

"Have you seen lightning when you resided in the castle?" When Milsy nodded he continued, "Lightning is an incredibly violent form of electricity, so the Guildmistress says, but it is possible to make for ourselves a tamer, more manageable form. I am told that there are a number of ways this can be done but here in the laboratory we use only two of the simplest." He held up a hand. "I must warn you that, although much of what happens here is relatively safe, there are still dangers, much like we spoke of before. Here, I will show you."

Tarvan went to the trolley and picked up the ends of two longish ropes which had been placed on the top. He carefully brought them together and there was a brilliant flash and a loud bang. Milsy jumped but she noticed that Bursila did not, so the maid must have seen this demonstration before. Tarvan carefully put the two ropes down.

"That flash was the electricity jumping across the gap between the two cables," he explained. "The heat generated is enough to melt copper and, I am told, we will be able to melt steel in future. What we use on the bench in front of you is safe enough to work with, though you may see tiny sparks from time to time."

"Just like with the big kitchen knives." Milsy nodded. "I understand."

"So. Electricity will flow through anything if it can, even your body. It finds it easiest to flow through metals, which is why we use copper in our circuits."

Tarvan had heard Garia's potted lecture often enough that he could explain it to a rapt Milsy. She began to follow his explanation, understanding that the wires took the electric current from place to place and then back to the battery. He explained that the current created a magnetic field and, if this was set against another such field, movement would be caused. Milsy gasped in wonder as the little motor began spinning when Tarvan completed the circuit.

"What makes it move?"

"The magnets. See, the magnet that is going round doesn't like the magnet fixed to the base so it gets pushed away. Problem is, this just brings another magnet round to take its place. See those sparks?"

"Aye! Is that electricity?"

Tarvan waggled his hand. "It could be considered to be electricity, aye. Now those sparks are where we switch the electricity from the magnet that doesn't want to be near the one on the board to the next one. If we set it up right, the motor will just keep spinning until we run out of electricity."

"That's amazing, Tarvan! To think, such a simple arrangement of wires and bits of wood... The person who thought of the idea must have been very clever."

"So I am told. Of course, he was a clever Earth man, one that the Guildmistress tells us lived around two hundred years ago. On Earth, electric motors no longer look like this except for demonstrating to children in schools. Most are bigger, heavier and use many more than the three coils used here. I am told it makes for a smoother result."

"Bigger?" Milsy paused. "What use are these motors, then? I thought them some kind of... toy, perhaps. Interesting as a curiosity but little more."

"Oh, no! Look, over here."

Tarvan disconnected the little motor and directed Milsy's attention to the area around the big brass machine.

"Here is our steam engine, which I will explain to you tomorrow. When it is running it turns this big pulley here, and the pulley belt goes down to turn this generator here. You can see how much bigger it is than what is on the bench."

Now Milsy was confused. "But you just said that was a generator... and it is turned by that engine thing..." She spun. "But that is a motor! And is made to spin by electricity! Explain."

Tarvan grinned at her. "You're supposed to be the smart one. You explain it."

Milsy's brain whirled. The two devices were obviously linked in some way but how? Linked... by the wires? One made something spin and the other was spun by something... ah!

"A motor is a generator being used the other way round," she said slowly. "Do you understand what I'm saying? I don't mean it faces the other way."

"Aye, of course. This is the second secret that the Guildmistress explained to us, that according to the laws of electricity, the action of a motor could be reversed, thus making a generator."

"So..." Now she thought hard. "What is that generator doing? If it is being turned, then electricity must be coming out the wires! Is that right? Where does it go?"

"That is right, and it is what we use to top up the big batteries on the trolley. We can also use it to charge the batteries we use for the demonstrations, or even drive the motors directly, though that isn't advisable."

"I see. So you're telling me that motors and generators can become big and powerful in time. How powerful?"

"Depending on the care taken in designing and making the battery, a steel carriage carrying four people and all their baggage, powered by a small motor next to each wheel, could travel from here to South Slip in two bells," he said in a flat voice.

"What?" Milsy couldn't believe that statement. She stared at Tarvan.

"Aye. It takes a dranakh and a wagon, or four frayen and a carriage, a whole day to travel that distance. There are, so we have been told, ways in which even more powerful motors can be used to move impossibly heavy loads just as fast but that would require me to explain a railroad and I don't think you're ready for that yet."

"Aye. I think I agree." Milsy rubbed her hands. "So what is it you want me - us - to do today?"

"Bursila has assisted on previous days so knows what has to be done but for you I would suggest you spend the rest of this morning winding coils. We have a need for solenoids for some experiments I am doing."

"What is a solenoid?"

"It is simply a coil of wire made round an iron center. The iron makes the magnet much more effective. Here, I'll show you what to do. Pull up a stool."

There were little, bright cylinders of iron that felt heavy to hold. Fitting snugly over them were spools made from parchment with ends which were discs punched out of stiff leather. Tarvan showed Milsy how to feed the end of the wire through a hole in one end disc, then to wind the wire closely until she reached the other end before cutting a length off and securing it through a similar hole.

"This wire looks different than what I see on the table. It is darker, it looks to me like tarnish though it seems shiny."

"The wire we wind on the coils has to be coated with something to stop the electricity leaking out. We can use anything that the electricity won't go through easily like varnish or paint." Tarvan looked sideways at Milsy. "Why might we want to do that?"

Milsy looked at the sample solenoid on the bench in front of her.

"Because... You told me that the electricity wants to get back to the battery by the shortest route it can find. This means that it will just jump across from one wire to another, and won't go round and round," she said slowly. "The electricity won't mind, but you need it to go round and round to make the magnet work properly."

"That's... correct," Tarvan agreed. Privately he was surprised that Milsy had worked out the reason so quickly. It looked like he might end up with a partner instead of an assistant, but he was content with that. Their personal relationship was becoming agreeable too, and he wondered if it would soon be necessary to take the next step, which could prove interesting. Where matters concerned Milsy, he would have to consult the highest in the land before making any move.

She suggested, "Let me try this next one and you can tell me if I'm doing it right. How long should these end pieces be?"

Tarvan showed Milsy and she began to make solenoids while he and Bursila turned their attention to the steam engine. Bursila had helped operate it previously so was available to help Tarvan clean it out, fill the tank with water and break up the coal into small lumps for the firebox tray. He came over to see what Milsy had made.

"That looks perfect, Milsy. If you would make three more just like that, I'll show you how we mount them on the boards. I only have four boards ready, some more should be delivered in the next day or two."

She had taken notice of what the other two had been doing while she made a start on the remaining solenoids, but it was still a surprise when the engine suddenly went psssh and made her jump.

"Good," Tarvan said. "This will ensure that all the batteries are topped up. When Master Parrel returns I have a few new thoughts on welding to discuss with him and I will need them fully charged."

With that he pulled a handle at one end and the flywheel began to revolve, much to Milsy's interest. As he pulled the handle further out the wheel spun faster and faster until the spokes were a blur. Rods moved in and out and there were little puffs of steam from some of the pipe joints.

"That's the steam engine? How does it work?"

Tarvan merely smiled at her and continued checking that everything was connected properly. Milsy considered what she was looking at, her coil-winding momentarily forgotten. It seemed that the device simply boiled water as a kettle did, and that the steam was captured somehow. If it couldn't get out then it would build up and... oh! How clever!

She asked, "This is just a demonstration model? How big can they be made?"

Over the noise of the rattling cylinders Tarvan answered, "This is about the seventh model we have made, I'm no longer certain how many. It was made just to run this generator so doesn't need to be so big. We are planning a much bigger one to help fill the water tanks which supply the palace, to take the place of some treadmills. For various reasons only small engines can be made from brass, we need good steel to make bigger versions. I understand that steam engines can be made very large, with enough power to light whole cities and propel huge ships across the oceans as well as transport heavy trains along the new railroads."

There were many novel words in Tarvan's statement but the gist was easy to understand.

"Will you teach me how to run that, Tarvan?"

He grinned at her. "Aye, if you will finish the work asked of you today." Milsy blushed and turned back to her bench but Tarvan added, "It is easy enough to tend, little more complicated than the furnace in fact. Operating it is fairly simple as well. I had planned to introduce it to you, aye, but probably not today, there will not be enough time."

Having completed the four coils, Tarvan showed Milsy how to assemble the solenoids. For each one there were two wooden uprights with holes drilled to accept the iron cylinder, thus trapping the spool between. These were then tapped into prepared holes in the base with a mallet. Two brass pins were knocked into the base and Tarvan showed Milsy how to scrape the varnish off the ends of the wires, wrap them round the pins and solder them.

While Milsy assembled the rest of the solenoids she noticed Tarvan pulling the tray from the steam engine and topping up the coals with fresh lumps. He spent some time studying the glass tubes on the front of the engine before returning to the bench.

"You've finished! That was quick."

"It wasn't that hard. The most fiddly bit was scraping the wires to solder them. Why does the solder smell so bad?"

There followed a confused explanation about tarnish and oxidation which proved that Tarvan didn't really understand what happened, but just knew that using flux prevented it. This was something that doubtless the guilds had discovered over the decades as a practical measure without knowing why it worked. Milsy resolved to get a better explanation from Garia when she returned.

Tarvan fixed a set of flexible metal strips to one end of the solenoid and then wired the whole thing up to a battery.

"This is a simple buzzer," he explained. "You can decide for yourself how it works."

He made the last connection and the device made a satisfactory noise. Milsy leaned in and saw that the circuit was broken when the solenoid pulled one metal strip towards the iron cylinder, thus deactivating the magnet and making the strip spring away again.

"That's very clever, Tarvan. I like that, and it is so simple. There's only one question I have about all this," she said, gesturing to the device. "What exactly is a magnet?"

* * *

By the standards of the castle kitchen Milsy's morning activities had been very light but she still found a bath before lunch to be refreshing. On Bursila's advice she changed into a day gown and settled down to await the delivery of lunch... and the arrival of Tarvan, who had used the bathroom in the Royal Questor's suite to clean himself up. Tarvan appeared first and remained in Milsy's sitting room, choosing a chair to sit in while he read some letters which had arrived that morning for him.

Once lunch had been delivered the three sat at the table and began to eat. Milsy noticed that there was a minor tension in Tarvan as they talked, some kind of reserve which made made him consider each statement before he replied.

"You seem distracted," she said. "Is it to do with those letters you have been reading?"

"What? Oh, no, it's something a little more... personal than that."

"Oh. Is it something that I could help you with, perhaps?"

Tarvan blushed and mumbled his reply. "Mayhap, but I would wait until we are finished eating before I speak, if I may."

Puzzled and intrigued, Milsy sat on her impatience until after the lunch trays had been removed.

"You were going to tell me something," she said. "I must needs join the Queen presently for our nap, is this something that could be delayed until afterwards?"

He grinned. "Yes and no." Milsy favored him with an old-fashioned look. "To explain, I desire to ask you a question and then, should the answer be favorable, I must needs consult the Queen."

Her instincts roused, she prompted him. "Then you must ask your question, guildsman."

His face fell. "Is that all I am to you? A guildsman in the service of Palarand? Mistress Milsy, I would be more. Though we have known each other but a brief time, I find our association to be agreeable and I desire to make it more personal. How say you?"

Her heart was pounding and there were strange tinglings running over her body. It seemed that he was of the same mind as herself and his intent to consult the Queen suddenly made sense. She was aware that her own face was heating up, along with much else of her body.

"I would not object at all, Master Tarvan. You should know that my feelings toward you may be similar to your own for me. To be clear, you intend to pursue a personal arrangement between ourselves?"

"With time, aye, I do. I know that it is yet too soon for such a thing, but to proceed further we must involve the Queen. Have I your permission?"

"Tarvan, you do. With all my heart, you do."

He stood and bowed. "Then I will leave you now to join the Queen for your nap. I will return during the afternoon to make my plea before the Queen."

After Tarvan left the room, Milsy stood and turned to Bursila.

"Well! Did you expect that?"

"Milady, the attraction between you was apparent but I did not know if either of you would make any further move. Your association is a curious one and I could not tell if anything would come of it."

Milsy shrugged. "I wasn't sure either. Much will depend on my future status in the palace, I deem. Come, let us join the others outside."

On the balcony Terys had already taken her place but she cast a careful eye over Milsy when she appeared and curtseyed.

"Dear, you have some color about your cheeks. I hope you have not caught a chill working in that big, cold chamber."

"No, Ma'am, it is just that something has happened at lunch. If we could talk about it afterwards?"

"As you wish, dear. Now, find your own chair and settle down."

"As you command, Ma'am."

* * *

As they were sitting enjoying their after-nap pel, Terys asked, "Now, dear, explain what has happened to you. I wonder, is it Tarvan? Is he behaving himself?"

The Queen sees everything, Garia said. She was right! I better behave myself in future!

"Ma'am, it is and, Ma'am, he is. We have discovered a mutual attraction. I believe he would ask your permission to discover if there should be anything more."

"One can tell much by the way people talk, you know," Terys mused. "The tone of voice, the choice of words, all can show a like or dislike. When one is dealing with people from other lands this is a useful thing to learn. In your own case I could see that the two of you were agreeable to each other from your first meeting. You are of the same mind? You would wish to come to an agreement with this man? He will soon become a guildsman in a new trade and I doubt not that he would be better for you than many another you could encounter in our palace."

"Ma'am, this is all new to me. I knew many men and boys among the castle staff but none touched me the way that Tarvan does. I do not expect to rise as Garia did, there is no other like her on Anmar, I deem, but I find myself interested in Tarvan the man as well as the work that he does."

"And he comes to me because of your special status, of course. I have no objection to what he may propose but the two of you must needs realize that your present assignment as a substitute for Garia must prevail over all other considerations. Is that understood?"

"Thoroughly, Ma'am, and thank you."

"Then tell me about your morning, dear. I do not think I desire to hear about the wires and coils, but I would hear of your first adventure as Garia beyond your suite."

"Aye, Ma'am. Well, the first thing was, I discovered that I wasn't sure what I should be wearing in the laboratory. It looks like I'll have to consult Rosilda sometime soon. Then -"

* * *

"The Queen agrees!"

That was the first thing that Tarvan said when he visited Milsy that evening.

She nodded, "Aye. She saw that something had happened and we talked about it after our nap. She permits us to continue, but reminds us that I am supposed to be the Baroness before all else."

He nodded. "Aye, I have not forgotten, but if I may venture, I deem you may be as interesting as the Baroness though in a different fashion." A smile. "That was not what I meant, Milsy. I think that what I am attempting to say is that I believe you could make a good guildswoman. Where the Baroness leads, others must needs follow, and I would have you as my assistant in my experiments, as well as... a more personal association."

"Me? A guildswoman? I never thought of such a thing! " She gestured to the settee. "Come, let us sit and speak of these matters. We have much to talk about this evening."

In the laboratory Milsy varnishes some wire until an unexpected interruption leads to a visit to the chamber of the Great Clock that keeps time for the whole palace. It does not take long for her to discern how it functions and, naturally, she begins to have ideas to improve the mechanism. The guildsmen of the Clockmakers' Guild are not impressed...

What Milsy Did

by Penny Lane

9 - The Great Clock

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 (c) 2016 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

---

Milsy lay in bed, the early morning light seeping round the edges of the drapes. Her mind was in a perfect ferment with thoughts of Tarvan contesting with ideas of things to do with solenoids... in addition, the unexpected thought that she might become a guildswoman one day added to the bubbling stew.

While her thoughts of electrical matters were clear and precise, such that she could not wait to return to the laboratory to begin experimenting, those about Tarvan were of a different kind, vague, shifting and giving rise to the most strange feelings within her body. Was this what it was like when you found someone? She hadn't understood it when several of her fellow kitchen workers had struck up friendships with men who worked in the lower parts of the castle, she had thought they had lost parts of their minds. They had certainly become distracted enough to be told off by Master Samind.

Now, she was aware that the same thing was happening to herself and she did not want it to stop, though another part of her tried to analyze what was happening in her normal, clear-headed way.

It would be easy to let go, to become all silly and giggly like Hesra and Jilly did, but I can't afford to do that. Unlike them I don't have the freedom to be myself, I have to be somebody else first. I don't know what Garia will be like when she finds herself a man but I'm certain she won't behave like a kitchen servant! Her background is too different.

There is far too much going on in my life. This is what Garia's life must be like, only hers is worse. I'm not sure I want all that responsibility.

The door of Bursila's closet opened and the maid emerged, yawning. Milsy propped herself up on one elbow.

"Good morning, Bursila."

"Good morning, Milady. I trust you slept well?"

Milsy tried a smile. "As well as I could with all these thoughts swirling round my head. Tarvan... and the laboratory! I have had much to think about! I never dreamed anyone would be serious about me becoming a guildswoman. I am not of the same cloth as Garia, I deem."

"Mayhap not, Milady, since you do not come from Earth, but you have something else that is rare in Palarand, intelligence. Master Tarvan is right, you are at least as clever as several of the guildsmen I have observed since attending Lady Garia and I believe you should have your chance at making use of your talents. Why, you have learned to read in little more than a week!"

"I'm not sure I can agree with that," Milsy said, throwing back the covers, "I now know most of the letters, it is true, but the whole procedure still seems unfamiliar and handwriting is another matter. Ask me again in six months and I might then agree with you."

"As you say, Milady. Now, do you desire to use the toilet? I will ask for bathwater while you do so, if I may."

"Aye, I had best do so. Do you think I can wear that exercise outfit again today? It was only worn three bells yesterday and I didn't get it dirty at all." Milsy scowled. "I must speak to Rosilda! My clothing needs have become a problem."

"As you say, Milady. I will inspect it after I have pulled the rope for water."

The exercise attire proved to be useable so the two prepared themselves and went through the now-familiar routine for obtaining and eating breakfast. Their first visitor afterwards was Rosilda.

"Oh, Rosilda, I am so relieved to see you! I have discovered that, while there is sufficient clothing here for the Baroness to walk the corridors, her servant Milsy has barely any at all."

"This is true, Milady, though..." Rosilda paused, "I understood that it would be the Baroness who resided here most of the time. Has something changed?"

"In a way, Rosilda. I have now begun to attend the laboratory in the Royal Questor's quarters with Master Tarvan and there is insufficient for me to wear. The Baroness has taken most of it with her to Blackstone. While I must needs be the Baroness passing from here to the laboratory, inside I have become Milsy again." She shook her head. "This is becoming confusing! Put simply, whoever I would be, there is insufficient attire here for the requirements of the work over there."

Rosilda nodded. "I understand, Milady. The day gowns of the Baroness are suitable for most occasions but you will require more specialized wear while in the laboratory. Do you assist Master Tarvan while you are there?"

"Oh, yes, we both do! I have already been cleaning out the furnace and winding coils for him and I expect to do more in future. We do make use of those thick cleaning dresses but I don't think I can wear those all the time."

"As you say." Rosilda thoughtfully looked over Milsy. "The attire you presently wear is a compromise, of course, since that is what the other would wear, but it is not intended for use in a workshop or anywhere else a guildsman might work." She nodded. "This is a different problem than those the Baroness brought to me. Let me consider the matter and I shall design something for you. How soon might you require such garments?"

Milsy gestured to herself. "This is it. This is the only thing I could wear other than a day gown and I doubt those would be suitable. The Queen would not be pleased were I to spoil one of the Baroness's gowns."

Rosilda shuddered. "I can only agree, Milady. Perhaps..." she considered. "I may produce something using a similar pattern as what you presently wear, but in a heavier fabric and different color. Would that suffice as an immediate answer?"

"Probably. If I wear something like that for a week or so I can tell you if they are suitable. If they are not, we should have a better idea what does."

"My thoughts exactly, Milady."

"There is another matter," Milsy added slowly. "It seems that I am taking on a separate existence to the Baroness so I'm going to require my own gowns and other attire. Can I do that? How do I do that?"

"Why, you would just attend the Royal wardrobe as any other servant would, Milady. You already have a tally set up, I do not foresee any difficulty."

"There's a thing you should know, though I would ask you to keep it to yourself for now."

"Milady?"

"Master Tarvan has suggested that I be made candidate for entry to a guild. He considers that I have the ability to do so."

"Ah, I see! What you imply is that you might not always be considered in the rank of servant."

"As you say. We are at the start of such adventures and nothing might come of the notion but I thought it best to advise you."

"I understand, Milady. Of course, for the present you may use the Baroness's gowns but I will remember your words for the future. If you do become a guildswoman, then you would require special attire, would you not?"

Milsy nodded. "That was why I mentioned it, Rosilda. Just so that you won't be surprised if things change in the future."

"Milady, I have served the Baroness many weeks now. I am no stranger to unusual requests."

Milsy chuckled. "I keep forgetting! She is amazing, is she not? Well, I do not expect that I will have such extreme need of your services, Rosilda. You may rest easy."

"I trust you are right, Milady. Is there anything else you require at present?"

"I'm not sure. Perhaps I should come to the Wardrobe one day as you suggest."

"As you say, Milady. In that case, I must return and consider your present requirements."

Rosilda curtseyed, turned and went out the door to be replaced by Tord.

"Are you ready to leave, Milady?"

"Aye, let us go."

Once established in the laboratory they repeated the morning ritual of cleaning and lighting the furnace before Tarvan began showing Milsy how to apply varnish to fresh copper wire. This involved a kind of T-shaped rack at each end of the free bench over which the wire was stretched, a pot of varnish and a small brush. Milsy wrinkled her nose at the smell.

"Does everything you do involve bad smells, Tarvan?"

He grinned at her. "Not all the time, you will be delighted to hear. This smell is nothing compared to many you may encounter in the future. No, don't stop! That stuff dries fast so you have to keep the brush moving."

"As you say. I've been thinking about ways this could be improved."

"Oh?"

"For example, what about a small tank with the varnish in it, perhaps the size of a large mug. At the bottom of the tank you fix a hook... or maybe a small wheel, that might be better! Then you simply run the wire round the hook or wheel and pull it through the varnish. If the varnish dries that quick it would be dry enough to wind on a spool, don't you think?"

Tarvan focused his mind on the suggestion. "You would have to have a long enough length coming out in order for the varnish to dry completely... it is an interesting thought, I deem. Perhaps we can consider such a device later, since I know that we will soon require ridiculous amounts of coated wire and painting it by hand is too slow, besides the chance of leaving gaps."

"How much are you likely to need, do you think?"

"Oh, the Guildmistress speaks of marks of wire, many, many marks. If these electric motors are to become anything more than just curiosities then I believe her. The amounts of wire of all kinds that we might require for the future takes my breath away."

Milsy frowned. "So much? Tarvan, is there enough copper in the world?"

"I believe so, Milsy. We presently take great quantities of many metals from the ground but we have barely scratched the surface of Alaesia. I am assured that there will be enough for what we need to do, though we must make sure that none is wasted in the future."

"I agree with that. There, I think I have finished. What do you think? Oh, and what do I do with the brush? If I stand here much longer it will have set solid."

"Ah, right, let us attend to the brush and pot before I look at the wire. I can check it afterwards and we can easily touch up any gaps you have left. Here, put the stopper back in that pot and then we'll take the brush - quickly - to the kitchen. This kind of varnish is soluble in water while it is yet wet, though not once it dries."

"Oh. In that case, how do I get it off my fingers?"

"You scrub. Come, to the kitchen. Bursila, if you would mind the furnace."

On the way back from the kitchen Tarvan steered Milsy into the study.

"See? This is our biggest problem, though fortunately it is not really my problem!"

She looked around at the packed shelving and the half-buried desk.

"Is this all documents? All belonging to Master Morlan?"

"Possibly, though more likely some belong to his predecessors. Many are so old and faded they are difficult to read now."

"You wanted me to try and read some of these?"

"There are some which you might be able to read, aye. If you wished to remain in these quarters during the day, and there was by chance no other work, you could attempt some of these."

Milsy looked dubiously at the apparent chaos in the room. "If you say so."

"We also use this room when we are describing things to each other. See that blackboard? It still has the last things the Guildmistress wrote upon it before she departed."

"Oh, so we could draw out a wire-coating device, is that what you are saying?"

"As you say." Tarvan turned at a noise to find Tord standing at the study door.

"Master Tarvan, there are two guildsmen here to speak to you... and the Baroness. I thought it best to let you decide what to do before I allowed them entry."

The shock Milsy felt was immediate and made her stomach cold. "What do we do? Can I pretend to be the Guildmistress, do you think? Are these two likely to have met her?"

Tarvan shook his head. "We have no means of knowing, Milsy. She has made many visits to workshops in the city so many will know her by sight. We cannot know if these two are among that number." He reached a decision. "No, I don't think you can be the Guildmistress on this occasion, we must needs find some other answer. Tord, did they tell you which guild they are from?"

"Unfortunately not, Master Tarvan. I did not think to ask them. Next time I will."

"The Guildmistress is elsewhere," Milsy stated. "She has gone out for the day and we don't know where she is or when she will return. I am merely Tarvan's assistant today."

Tarvan hesitated briefly before nodding his head once. "Done. Send them in, Tord. I will explain."

The two men came into the study and shook hands with Tarvan, who recognized them.

"Greetings, Master Hebren, Master Yubold. I regret that the Guildmistress does not attend the laboratory today."

"That is disappointing," the older of the two said. "It was the Guildmistress we came to pay our respects to. Do you know if she will be available later today?"

"Regrettably not, Masters. Today she visits... I know not where, actually. She left early this morning before I arrived at the palace and I do not know when she will return."

The two men looked around with interest.

"These were the quarters of Master Morlan, lately the Royal Questor," Tarvan explained. "Since it is presently vacant, it was deemed a suitable place for the Guildmistress to perform some experiments. This was his study. If I may be of service?"

"Our apologies! We had wondered if the Guildmistress would like to inspect the Great Clock. We know that she has not yet seen it and we will be there this morning performing some cleaning and lubrication tasks." He hesitated. "If you can spare the time from your own present tasks we would be happy for you to join us. I remember you expressed interest when we attended previously. Much of what is within the tower was, of course, made by the efforts of the Metalsmiths' Guild."

"The Great Clock..." Tarvan pondered. The wires which Milsy had painted were drying, nothing else had been started. This might be an interesting excursion for the two of the - no, the three of them, he mentally amended. "Aye, I would be interested, Masters. About how long do you expect to be there?"

Hebren shrugged. "It varies, of course, each time we attend, but probably no more than a bell to a bell and a half. You can spare such a time?"

"Aye, I can, there is nothing that needs my immediate attention. Oh," he added, apparently as an afterthought, "would it be possible for my assistant to join us?"

"Your assistant? Perhaps. It might prove instructive to him, to see what careful design and construction may produce. Where is he?"

"She is here, Masters." Tarvan gestured. "This is Milsy, who may soon be considered for guild membership."

"A girl? You cannot be serious!"

"I am serious, Master. I intend to sponsor her to Master Parrel when I next meet him."

"But..." Yubold spluttered. "A female? The guilds have never admitted any female, ever! This cannot be!"

"If I would remind you, Masters, you came here expecting to find the Guildmistress. Where she would lead, others must needs follow and Milsy is at least as bright as the Guildmistress. She already suggests improvements to my own experiments in yonder workshop."

The two men stared at Tarvan and Milsy, reluctant to accept the inevitable. Finally Hebren sighed.

"Tarvan, I must needs accept your word in this matter. If you would assure us that neither you nor she will touch anything in the chamber of the Great Clock then she may accompany you."

"On my oath as a guildsman," Tarvan replied, placing his open hand over his heart. He belatedly remembered another problem and added, "By your leave, Masters, since my assistant is female she must be accompanied by a chaperone. There is one such, she is presently in our laboratory and she also acts as an assistant of mine."

The two guildsmen stared at Tarvan again.

"What becomes of the world?" Yubold muttered.

Hebren said grudgingly, "Aye, it would be proper. She may join you. We had not anticipated so large a party."

Tarvan pointed out, "Master, if you had been joined by the Guildmistress, you must needs accommodate in addition her own maid, her secretary Lady Merizel and her own maid as well as myself. I did not decide the customs of Palarand."

Accepting defeat, Hebron nodded. "Then, when you are ready, let us take our leave. We do not know how much is to be done so we would begin as soon as we may."

"As you say, Master Hebren. If you would follow me."

Tarvan led the way into the laboratory and walked the length of it to where Bursila was sweeping the floor around the furnace. The two guildsmen followed, staring at the cluttered benches and shelves, attempting to find something they recognized.

"Bursila. These two guildsmen have come to clean and maintain the Great Clock and we are invited to view the device. If you would bank the furnace, please. I doubt we will return here this morning."

"As you say, Master Tarvan."

While Bursila finished up and put things away Yubold asked, "What did you call this chamber? Laborite-?"

"Laboratory, Master Yubold. It is a word from the world of the Guildmistress and is used to describe a place where experiments take place. To call it a workshop would imply a place where things are made rather than discovered."

"An interesting distinction. What are these wires and coils on this bench? Some of your experiments?"

"Aye, Master. I am advancing a new craft of electricity, about which you may have heard."

"I have heard the word mentioned in the Hall of the Guilds," Hebren said, "but I know nothing of it. You will become Master of this craft?" Tarvan nodded. "Would this new craft be of interest to the Clockmakers' Guild?"

Tarvan shrugged. "I do not know, Master Hebren, since I do not really know what your guild entails. I have never seen a clock."

"As you say. There are few who have, besides those who construct and maintain them. Oh, in the outlying towns, sometimes the families of those who tend the mechanisms know somewhat of them but most like yourself are ignorant of what they are and how they function."

Yubold added, "Then you may be enlightened today, Tarvan."

Bursila came and stood ready beside Tarvan indicating that she had completed her work. The two guildsmen were then startled as Tord went past them and collected two guardsmen from beyond the further door, allowing Tarvan to lock it behind them.

"You are guarded in your labors? Do they not trust you in this palace?"

Tarvan gave an apologetic smile. "They trust us, Master Hebren, it is the reverse that must be accounted for. You know that there have been several attempts at abducting or killing the Guildmistress?"

"Why, yes! A most dishonorable business. But she is not here."

"The King considers that any who wear her colors may be at risk, so several armsmen who did not travel with her... remain to escort her servants."

Milsy blinked. Tarvan had nearly given the game away by saying "...travel with her north to Blackstone" but he had recovered quickly. She followed the others out of the quarters where Tord made a less formal disposition of the men about the enlarged party. Since Tarvan was now essentially the ranking member of those from within the palace Tord addressed the guildsman.

"Master Tarvan, where is it you go?"

"These guildsmen are going to the tower of the Great Clock, Tord. They will do whatever is required within while we take the opportunity to discover what manner of mechanism produces the bells we hear."

"As you command, Master Tarvan. I know the way."

Their route lay along lower level corridors unfamiliar to Milsy but when they went up a narrow staircase and turned a corner she recognized the long corridor with the odd door in one side. They walked the length of this corridor, turning away from the wall into a side corridor at the end to find a small door in a stone wall. Hebren unlocked this door with a set of keys and the three guildsmen entered followed by Milsy and Bursila.

The chamber was large, square and made from carefully cut stone blocks, though the stonework looked old. There was no ceiling and the floor lay well below the narrow walkway they stood on. Above, a complicated structure of wooden and iron beams supported a complex arrangement of toothed wheels, pulleys and cables. Narrow slit windows provided enough illumination to make the mechanism visible. In the far recesses of the roof a number of bells hung, providing audible notice of the workings of the mechanism. In front of them a great pendulum swung ponderously across the empty space while several weights dangled from ropes attached far above.

"If you would join us further up," Hebren suggested, "you may better observe the various sprockets and other mechanisms which make up the clock."

A narrow stair rose from one end of the walkway and seemingly disappeared inside the clock mechanism. On following Tarvan up to a second walkway, Milsy discovered that this was partially true, in that the walkway was inside the lower part of the mechanism.

The walls must support all that weight. That means the beams must go all the way from side to side. To look after this great thing, one must needs clamber about inside.

"Master Hebren," she asked.

"Aye?" He turned, with a surprised look on his face.

"Those bells, will it be too loud in here when they are struck?"

"Oh, no, Mistress," he replied. "I would warn you that it will be loud but not so much that you may not bear it. If you were to climb all the way up to the bell mounts," he pointed at a ladder on the far side, "then aye, you may well find the sound to be painful to your ears."

"Thank you, Master Hebren."

"Master Hebren," Tarvan asked. "If we could ascend one more level."

"As you wish, Tarvan. I would caution you all to go no further than that nor to touch any part of the mechanism." Hebren's expression showed that he was not sure that his decision to admit Milsy and Bursila had been the right one.

Once on the third level the two guildsmen left them, one to ascend yet higher while the other clambered through the supporting structure to do something on the far side. Milsy had her first opportunity to study the workings of the clock.

She pointed. "What's that thing called?"

"That is a pendulum, that much I know. Both the length of the rod and the weight on the end control the time it takes to swing."

She looked up at the collection of sprockets and gearwheels above.

"Ah, I see. So all those wheels are counting the times the pendulum swings, is that it?"

Tarvan knew about reduction gearing but had little practical experience of such things. "As you say. The different number of teeth on each wheel mean that the time can be counted very accurately, such that one of them will turn in exactly one day."

Milsy frowned. "But what keeps the pendulum swinging? If I tried that with a weight and a rope it would soon stop, wouldn't it? So what keeps this one going?"

Tarvan frowned. "Those weights, I believe. At least, I am told that the weights have to be wound up every three days or so, so it makes sense that they are providing whatever is required to make things work."

"As you say." Milsy shifted her attention to the dangling weights. It was not long before the obvious idea came to her. "Why could not we lift the weights with a steam engine? It would make the work of lifting them so much easier... no, that is not a sensible idea, is it? We must needs feed the steam engine night and day and it would be used but a moment or two each bell."

"Not to mention the damage all that steam and smoke might do to these metals," Tarvan pointed out.

Milsy thought some more. "Then, what about some more weights? When these descend, they could lift the others up and then there could be a lever at the top or something to make the new ones drop while pulling the old ones up."

When Tarvan worked out what Milsy proposed he laughed. "A simple beginner's mistake, Milsy! You cannot have one weight pull the other up and then do the same the other way round. Consider a simple pulley with a rope over it and a sack of grain on either end. Which side goes up?"

"Why the lighter sack, of course, anyone knows that."

He grinned. "And if the sacks weighed exactly the same?"

"Why, they would balance... Oh!" She blushed. "I understand. It would never work."

"As you say. It is something called 'perpetual motion' and we are told it is impossible."

"Even on Earth?"

"I could not say but I would think so. You cannot get something out of nothing."

She turned her attention to a group of wheels and sprockets to one side, noting that they appeared to be governed by a strange, egg-shaped wheel without any teeth. A lever pressed a roller to each side of this odd shape.

"What's that? Why is it that strange shape?"

"I have no idea... wait a moment. Look, those sprockets and disks on that side are to do with the bells and the bells change every day, do they not? The sunrise advances in the Spring while the sunset retreats, with the opposite happening in the Fall. I deem that strange shaped disk turns once each year, Milsy, and the levers adjust the time of the bells as the length of the day changes."

"Aye, look! One of those disks has... I would guess at twenty notches around the edge and each time that lever goes in a notch the bells will strike. Oh, aye! That other one has different notches for naming the bell. I see how that works now."

Tarvan watched one of the guildsmen carefully cleaning a strut with a dustpan and brush while the other used an oilcan on a bearing high above. Milsy's attention had now switched to the top of the pendulum, where she saw that it was attached to a strange rocker device.

Ah! That funny wheel is connected to that big weight so it wants to turn but the pendulum won't let it. The pendulum only allows it to move a single tooth each time it swings, but the pendulum gets a kick from the wheel when the wheel moves over a tooth, that's what keeps it going. Got it!

"I understand how it all works, Tarvan."

"You do? Really?"

"Aye, 'tis simple, really. Look, see at the top of the pendulum, there?"

An astonished Tarvan followed Milsy's explanation all the way from the pendulum to the rods which activated each bell feeling both proud and disheartened at the same time.

She already surpasses me. I could probably have discovered the secrets of this place - assuming that the Clockmakers permitted me - but it would have taken me many days to do so. Mayhap she is more like the Guildmistress than I knew. I must speak to Master Parrel at the earliest opportunity.

"You realize that they don't actually need both those levers, Tarvan?"

"Hmm?"

"On that, what did you call it, year-wheel. The Spring is just the reverse of the Fall so the same lever could be used for both."

"As you say, Milsy. I would ask you not to say anything of this to the guildsmen, it might make them very annoyed."

"Annoyed? Why?"

"Because several guildsmen spent many bells of their lives designing and making this clock and to find out that some of that time and effort was wasted, well, wouldn't you be upset?"

Tarvan didn't notice that he accepted that Milsy's statement was correct. Somehow he knew it would be.

"Aye. As you say. Aye, you guildsmen can be a prickly lot, do you not agree?"

Tarvan smiled at her and replied, "As before, I deem it no different than the average kitchen. Some may be prickly, some not. Hebren, for example, resents your presence here and I would avoid upsetting him."

She gave him a coy look. "And yourself?"

"After attending the Guildmistress I am aware that matters might not be so simple. Yourself, for example. I would attend you later to discover more."

Milsy felt a glow inside and dimpled. "I would like that, Tarvan."

They both fell silent with their own thoughts. Tarvan stared upwards at the two guildsmen clambering over the mechanism while Milsy became fixated on the great pendulum, swinging to and fro in front of her.

A little later Milsy said, "I have an idea."

Tarvan now realized why Lady Merizel was frequently seen to roll her eyes.

"Aye? What amazing thing have you thought of now?"

"Look! Look at the pendulum. It swings to the same place each time, does it not? Yet the only reason it does so is because that rocker at the top gives it a little kick and that is all driven by that big weight as I explained."

"Aye, I understand that. What about it?"

"Well... suppose we put one of your electric switches down there, so that it just makes a circuit when the pendulum is right at the end of its swing. Then, we place a solenoid at the end of the swing so that it gives just enough pull to keep the pendulum swinging. It might have to be a bigger solenoid than those I made yesterday, I deem."

"Aye... oh, and you would use that switch to turn the solenoid on and off again? An interesting idea, but what gain does it provide us?"

"Why, we could do away with that big weight, of course! No more winding it up, no more losing time and having to correct it with a sand-dropper. The clock just goes on for ever."

The thought was so radical that at first Tarvan had trouble comprehending it fully. The Guildmistress had made similar leaps, of course, but they were of ideas already well-known on Earth. This was something new.

"You would need a battery, of course," he objected. "Where would you put it? Oh, it does not matter, does it? We can make the wires as long as we like."

"Exactly!" Milsy grinned at him. "It could be on the floor or a walkway or wherever it was convenient."

"Of course it would have to be taken away to be charged every so often. Even if you used more than one battery you would still lose a little time while you disconnected one and connected the other."

"Not so!" Her eyes were bright. "You connect the fresh one before you take away the old one."

Tarvan's jaw dropped. "Maker! You have thought this through, haven't you?"

The admiration was plain in his voice and Milsy's ears burned under the praise. Suddenly she was shy, offering an opinion on a subject neither of them knew anything about and for which she was certainly not qualified! Still, her conclusions could not be overlooked.

"I did not plan to, Tarvan. I just thought to answer the question, how to avoid the need to stop the clock when the weight must needs be wound up again. To me, the answer is to take away the weight completely. If the pendulum can be made to move by other means then the weight is not needed, is that not so?"

"I cannot deny it, Milsy, but, remember, we know little about how this clock functions. Guildsmen have probably spent centuries designing and perfecting what we see before us, it is not your place or mine to tell them how it must be done."

"That is not so," she replied stoutly. "It is plain to me how this great collection of wheels and weights functions now. If I see a way to improve what is here, why should I not tell them so? Besides, it is not as if we plan to damage what is here, we can let those who are knowledgeable about such matters consider what we tell them."

"Mayhap you are right, but you do not know the Guild system, Milsy. I tell you, they will object to anything you or I tell them. We are not of their guild therefore we can not know anything of the mysteries of clocks."

The argument swayed backwards and forewards under the bells as the clock struck the half and three-quarter chimes without either noticing. Tarvan's problem was that he knew that Milsy was probably right, but he also knew what the two guildsmen would say about it. Eventually the two descended to join them and the inevitable happened.

"We have finished," Hebren told them. "Have you enjoyed your visit? I trust that the bells were not too loud."

"We barely noticed the bells," Milsy said before Tarvan had a chance to speak. "We were taking about how it all works. Tell me, what is that rocker thing at the top of the pendulum called?"

"That? Oh, that is the escapement, we name it. I am surprised that you find this great clock so interesting."

"Well, I can see how the clock works now and I wanted to know the names of some of the special parts. You see, I had an idea about how to solve the problem of winding the weights up."

Hebren's eyes bulged. "Mistress?"

Milsy blithely carried on. "Aye, it occurred to me instead of that big weight down there it could be replaced by a solenoid, a switch and a battery. That would mean that you would never have to stop the clock to wind the weight."

Hebren's face went red. "This is outrageous! Do you tell me that a mere girl like yourself has learned in but the space of a bell what has taken guildsmen many years to understand? And that you seek, with such a small acquaintance with the subject, to challenge our knowledge? Impossible! Out! Out this instant! I am regretting that I ever permitted a woman to enter this chamber, let alone two!" He pointed a shaking finger at the stairway down. "And you, Master Tarvan, I shall be making a strong protest to your Guildmaster at the earliest opportunity! Out, I say! Leave!"

Tarvan placed a hand in the small of Milsy's back, turning her towards the stairway and indicating with a look that she should not argue. For once, she did not feel inclined to object. She turned and led the way back down to the doorway, closely followed by Bursila, Tarvan and then the two guildsmen.

Tord, standing guard outside the door, was surprised by the looks on everyone's faces as they emerged. Hebren turned and with a flourish locked the door, placing the key in his pouch and then securing it. He addressed Tord.

"We have no further need your services today, I deem. We can find our own way out from here."

As Hebren turned to go, Yubold appeared to want to remain behind and say something, but at a curt command from his senior he shrugged, turned and followed. The others watched the two guildsmen turn the corner and disappear.

"Something has happened." Tord stated the obvious.

"Aye, Tord," Tarvan agreed with a sigh. "Master Hebren does not take kindly to being told his craft. If you would escort us back to Milady's suite."

The journey back to the suite was conducted in near silence, the only words being those of Tord as he arranged their escort. At the door he had a question.

"Will Milady remain in her suite this afternoon?"

Milsy turned to him with a shrug. The full significance of the encounter had finally sunk in.

"I have nothing planned, Tord, but as you know I am at the Queen's pleasure. If any should desire to speak with me, ask before you admit them."

"As you command, Milady."

As the door closed behind them Milsy wrapped her arms around Tarvan and buried her face in his chest.

"Oh, Tarvan, what have I done? How stupid of me! I will be sent back to Dekarran now, I am certain of it."

Startled by the unexpected full-body contact, he gently put his arms around her shoulders, and with that movement came a resolution.

"I do not believe so, Milsy. Since the Guildmistress came to us I have seen other guildsmen of a similar kind and I do not like what I see. I am certain that when passions cool others will take a more measured response to Master Hebren's complaints. After all, the Guildmistress has many friends in the Hall of the Guilds."

"But I am not she!"

"That is true. Milsy, you are better."

At that brazen statement Milsy's head whipped up to stare at Tarvan.

"You make fun of me!"

"I do not." He released his arms and pushed her far enough away so that they could look at each other properly. "Milsy, you were right. I grant you that the Great Clock may have taken many years to design, construct and perfect but it was not so difficult to understand, especially with your explanations. The Guildmistress tells us that her knowledge comes from what her people are taught. You discovered the workings of the Great Clock without such knowledge, from mere observation. I doubt the Guildmistress could have done it in the time we had."

"But... he has locked the door. He will complain to your Guildmaster. I have put your position in jeopardy. I have ruined everything."

Tarvan amazed Milsy by smiling. "Indeed, and I wish him luck with his complaints. The Great Clock is not his, nor does it belong to his guild, it is part of the palace and thus belongs to the King. There will be other keys available should we desire to visit the clock on our own, though I would not presently advise it. My Guildmaster is Parrel and he is a friend and confidant of the Guildmistress. Hebren will obtain no satisfaction there." His expression sobered. "A complaint of a journeyman by a guildsman will be taken seriously, I deem, but my time is almost ended. I did nothing wrong - we did nothing wrong. We touched nothing, merely observed and speculated. I do not think I will suffer for it, though I am not sure of the regulations in that respect."

There was a knock at the door and Tarvan and Milsy hastily separated. It opened to reveal three servant women with trays of food.

Tarvan said, "Ah, just in time! I will inform the Baroness that her lunch has arrived. Milsy, do you prepare the table for the dishes."

Milsy, playing the obedient servant, curtseyed. "As you wish, Master Tarvan."

With the table laid and the servants departed, Milsy turned to Tarvan. "Are you coming to eat?"

"You must needs change first," he replied. "Look at your skirt."

"What?"

She looked down to see two lines of black dirt crossing at an angle from front to back. Bursila provided an explanation.

"Milady, while the guildsmen were diligent in cleaning the mechanism, they took no account of the walkways or stairs. If you would look at your hands."

Milsy turned up her hands and found them both black from gripping the handrails. She guiltily realized that she had probably smeared dirt all over Tarvan's back.

"I'm sorry," she told him, "I didn't realize."

He smiled back. "Do not concern yourself, Milsy, I am a guildsman, I have suffered worse. Bursila, go and clean up your mistress."

"Aye, Master Tarvan."

With Milsy cleaned up and changed back into a day gown, the three sat down to lunch. When they began eating, she offered an apology.

"I'm sorry, Tarvan, I should not have grabbed you like that, it was not seemly. I was... upset that I might have damaged your career."

Tarvan took a fruit and deftly sliced it with his knife. "Do not concern yourself, Milsy. No real damage has been done, except mayhap hand-prints on my back." He grinned and she blushed. "If you feel the need to do it again, I would not object, assuming that the circumstances permitted it, of course."

Milsy understood the double nature of his last statement, that if they were to become closer then indeed, the circumstances would be appropriate.

Trying to keep a straight face she merely agreed, "As you say, Tarvan."

He gestured with his knife. "Of course, your idea may be tested, you know."

"How? I dare not go near the Great Clock again and I doubt that there are any others nearby."

"We do not require an entire clock to test your idea, merely a pendulum. If I were to set one up in the laboratory, then we could use some of the spare coils to test your idea."

She thought this through and then nodded. "Aye. I am not yet used to the thought that I may try any idea that I may have, using what may be available. Can we try that this afternoon?"

"I do not see why not," Tarvan replied. "It should take but little time to arrange and the experiment may tell us much."

"As you say."

* * *

Milsy's nap and subsequent conversation with the Queen had been without incident. If Terys had spoken to Tord, either he had not mentioned the incident or the Queen had not considered it important. When she left the Queen's Sitting Room she had made her now familiar trip to the corridors to the Laboratory. Inside, she found that Tarvan had begun to fabricate a simple pendulum.

"There is not much to it, is there?"

"As you say, Milsy. There is more than enough lying around here from the previous experiments to provide what we need."

The pendulum weight was simply one of the smaller iron cores Garia and Tarvan had used at the beginning of their experiments. This was crudely wrapped in one end of a length of stiff copper wire, the other being formed into a mis-shapen loop. The item was then hung from a hook screwed into a piece of wood clamped to the end of a bench so that the pendulum swung free over the end.

"First," he said, "I think we ought to see what the pendulum will do when left by itself. If you would count how long it takes to stop, Milsy, while I collect a battery and the other bits and pieces we will need."

"Count? How?"

"Use your pulse. That is the way it is usually done, I deem."

"But pulses vary all the time," she objected, then thought. "If you had described this experiment before we left, we could have brought Garia's portable clock with us and used that."

"As you say. A good idea."

The pendulum took a long time to stop. Milsy decided to repeat the experiment, swinging the pendulum a different amount each time and finding that the period times were fairly close. By that time Tarvan was organized and laid out the battery, solenoid and switch contacts ready to be positioned.

Their first electrical attempt ended with a solid clunk as the weight stuck to the solenoid.

"Either our battery or our solenoid is too strong," Tarvan explained. "Since we cannot change either, we will have to move the solenoid further away. In our final test, we do not want any contact at all anyway so we might as well begin that way."

Milsy considered this. "The battery... voltage..? depends on the chemicals so cannot be easily adjusted, though you can multiply the voltage by chaining batteries together. That does not help us because we want less, not more." Tarvan nodded. "But the strength of the coil depends on the size of the magnetic field it makes, and that depends on how many turns are wound on the solenoid."

"So I am told, Milsy, but there is no time today to make a special solenoid. If we cannot get this to work then we could make one tomorrow." He smiled at her. "Sometimes it takes a while to find the right way to make a new idea work. It does not always happen immediately."

"As you say."

Eventually they found the right distances and placements to make the pendulum continue swinging.

"There! You are right, as I always knew you would be. This battery is reasonably fresh and the demands on it minor, so I suggest we leave everything going and come back tomorrow. That will be our real test."

"Do you really think it will still be working tomorrow?"

"I will be very disappointed if it is not, Milsy. What we have done this afternoon is solid engineering and the work is as good as any the Guildmistress has shown us."

"I wish you would not keep comparing me with her, Tarvan. This experiment won't be enough to change the mind of Master Hebren, I deem."

"Indeed, but it may make a suitable impression on certain other Guildmasters. Until tomorrow, then. Bursila, it is time to return your mistress to her gilded cage."

"As you wish, Master Tarvan."

* * *

Milsy was attempting to read a scroll Tarvan had selected out of the Questor's study. The time was late evening and she expected to retire shortly. A knock came on the sitting room door and Tord entered.

"Milady, the Queen requests your presence in her sitting room."

"Oh?" Her heart sank. Hebren had obviously made his complaint and the consequences had found their way back to the palace. She put the scroll on the table and stood. "I'm coming."

In the Queen's Sitting Room she found, to her surprise, Terys, Robanar, Tarvan and another man who she guessed was a guildsman.

"Be seated, dear," Terys instructed her. "An incident earlier today has caused concern among the guilds and Master Parrel here, lately returned from some project outside the city, has come to investigate."

Milsy curtseyed and found a chair.

"I'm sorry, Ma'am, I didn't mean to cause trouble. It was Tarvan's idea to take me to see the Great Clock but he should not be blamed for my actions."

"I am not assigning blame to anyone," Terys said. "This is properly a matter for the guilds, but as you are presently in my employ and the circumstances are unusual I thought it better to oversee the discussion. Master Parrel, if you would."

"Ma'am."

Parrel's voice was deeper than that of Tarvan but he was probably old enough to be Tarvan's father. Milsy didn't feel that he was angry with what had occurred, but then he hadn't said anything yet. He addressed Tarvan. "I have received a complaint from the Clockmakers' Guild, concerning both yourself and this young lady here. Even after hearing only their version of the tale I do not consider that any harm has been done. I would, however, desire to hear your side of the argument."

He turned to Milsy. "Mistress, I do not know how to address you. I became aware that His Majesty intended some subterfuge when we met in Dekarran but I knew not what. You are, I deem, the same size and build as Lady Garia, your hair is in the same style and you wear one of her gowns, so I deduce that she is not in the palace, as it would seem, but somewhere else entirely, and that you are a substitute for her."

Milsy looked at Robanar, who grunted. "Aye, you have the gist of it, Parrel. We will explain all later. For now, address her as 'Mistress'. Continue with your questions."

"Tarvan, if you would."

"Master, it was like this."

In order for his story to make sense Tarvan went back and recounted most of what had happened since Milsy had arrived at the palace. This caused Parrel to raise his eyebrows on several occasions. Tarvan then described the day's events which caused Parrel to become even more interested.

"You describe a way to improve the Great Clock? After studying it for no more than a bell?"

"We do," Tarvan replied, "and we can prove that Milsy's idea works, Master, if you would come to the laboratory tomorrow morning." He coughed. "Master, I could not have determined how the Great Clock worked in so short a time. The idea is all Milsy's. I deem she is good enough to become a guildswoman, Master. I beg you, consider enrolling her before some other would snap her up."

"Is that so?" Parrel glanced at Robanar. "You have found another one, I deem, like Lady Garia. If I may consider this request seriously?"

"You would take the word of your journeyman, Parrel?"

"By tomorrow's sunset he will be journeyman no more, Sire. Since he guides a new craft, I intend petitioning the Guildmasters to make him Craftmaster at the very least. His craft will require it into the future as you are well aware. As for Mistress Milsy, I have no doubt that she will be as interesting a guildswoman as Lady Garia has become, though perhaps in a different fashion. Aye, I am serious and I would ensure that she is properly instructed and cared for."

Both Milsy and Tarvan sat watching this conversation with open mouths. Suddenly, everything had changed and their futures would not be as either had expected.

"My dear?" Robanar turned to Terys.

"I wondered if this was to be the future of our newest retainer, dear, but I did not expect matters to move so fast. Milsy, dear, what say you?"

"Uh, Ma'am. I don't know what to say. If I may have some time to think about it?"

"Of course, dear. We are not going to make you do something you do not want to, or that might be unsuitable."

Tarvan said, "Ma'am, it would be best to wait until tomorrow. I desire to show Master Parrel evidence of what I have described this evening."

Terys decided, "Then we shall leave all in your hands, Parrel, but be aware that Milsy still plays the part of Garia outside these chambers and must be addressed so, even by yourself. Am I understood?"

"Aye, Ma'am. It shall be as you command."

"Then let us permit these two young folk to retire while we describe what happened in Dekarran and our reasons for it."

"Ma'am."

* * *

Milsy had heard about storms that were said to lift people up and deposit them marks away, usually injured, but she had never experienced such a thing. Lying in bed it had become impossible to sleep.

This is just like one of those storms. I've been picked up out of my humble life as a kitchen servant and I am about to be flung... who knows where? Me, a guildswoman? Ridiculous! Tarvan... well, now, he is another matter, but I never thought I could be his equal. Were they all just flattering me? How should I know? All of this is a mystery to me.

Maker, I'm enjoying it though! All that electrical stuff, even the boring parts like varnishing wire. I wonder what else can be done with electricity and solenoids? Hmm. So long as I can have Tarvan to help me...

Eventually, sleep came.

Milsy's life takes another turn when she is offered guild membership by Parrel. With an enhanced escort Milsy, Tarvan and Parrel travel to the Hall of the Guilds to meet some senior Guildmasters who agree, but then must come a difficult confrontation at the Clockmakers Guildhall.

What Milsy Did

by Penny Lane

10 - Journeywoman

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 (c) 2016 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

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An excited Tarvan arrived even before Milsy had finished breakfast. Tord had shown him in while shaking his head in bemusement.

"It still works! Milsy, it is still swinging!"

His eyes were bright and he had a kind of eager look that made Milsy wonder if she was doing the right thing. The courtesies still had to be observed, however.

"Good morning, Master Tarvan. I trust you slept well. Can we offer you some pel?"

He was brought to a sudden halt, embarrassed. He made a bow.

"Your apologies, Mistress Milsy. I am interrupting your meal. Good morning and, aye, I would take some pel."

"Sit down, Tarvan, please. Bursila, if you would attend to the pel. Do you tell me that you have already been to the laboratory?"

"I have not, Milsy. Today I have broken my fast in the Family Dining Room and it occurred to me that I could find out if the pendulum still moved without entering the laboratory. As you may have noticed, the Family Dining Room and the quarters of the Royal Questor share a courtyard. It was merely necessary for me to walk across and look in at a window."

"You ate in the Family Dining Room? Does that mean you reside in the palace?"

"Aye, it does. I have a small chamber - not a servant's room, nor one that a guest would use but something more modest, I deem, like those assigned to other palace guildsmen. Since I have been spending so much of my time here on the business of the Guildmistress the Queen has granted me residence. I have only been here a week, before that I lodged with an uncle who lives in the city. His mansion is convenient for the workshops of Master Parrel but not so convenient for the palace."

"You mention Master Parrel. Is he a good man, Tarvan? Can I rely on him?"

"I have had no cause to complain, Milsy. He is fair and open-minded and accepts the changes that the Guildmistress brings to Palarand. You are concerned how he would treat you? I believe he might use you to encourage change in some of the more conservative guilds, but he would never treat you merely as a tool. He would seek to help you make the most of your abilities as he has helped me make the most of mine.

"Milsy," Tarvan's expression was serious now as he leaned forward, "the Guildmistress comes from another world and we can not judge her as we may judge our own, but you are one of us, and you show us that there are women among us who are at least as good as any man, myself included. Master Parrel will seek to discover what women like you can offer Palarand."

"You ask of me a big responsibility, Tarvan."

"No, Milsy, I ask you to just be yourself." He smiled then. "The guilds will look after you and if they do not, perhaps I can."

She gave him a mock-skeptical look. "That is intended to reassure me?" She smiled back. "Very well, Tarvan. Let us finish our breakfast and then we shall go and view this wondrous pendulum." She scowled. "I regret I will not be able to do much in the laboratory today, I deem. I have no suitable attire to wear. Rosilda will provide something in time but even she may not sew so fast."

"I desire to wait until Master Parrel arrives, Milsy. I do not want that door unlocked except in his sight, to prove that no-one has tampered with the experiment. As for your attire," he shrugged, "depending on Master Parrel's opinion of what we have done you may not be spending much time in the laboratory today."

"Oh?"

Tarvan waved a hand. "I could not say, Milsy. I do not know what he may decide."

It was nearly a bell before a summons came for Milsy to go to the Queen's Sitting Room. Tarvan accompanied her. Both Robanar and Terys were present and with them was Parrel.

Robanar told them, "Parrel has explained to me that, should this experiment of yours work as intended then it would be a new invention of great significance to Palarand, and, indeed, the whole Valley. I am minded to join you this morning to inspect the results."

Milsy licked her lips. "As you command, Sire. There is not much to see, it should not take long."

Parrel asked Tarvan, "Has any entered the laboratory since you departed yesterday afternoon?"

"No, Master, I locked it and I still have the key with me." He patted his pouch. "I can tell you that the pendulum still swings, I observed it this morning through a courtyard window."

Robanar's eyebrows rose. "Indeed? Then, Parrel, I must consider your request carefully. Before that, let us visit the laboratory. In there we may discuss openly what must needs be done."

Parrel bowed. "As you desire, Sire."

"Milsy," Terys added, "do not forget that outside this room you are presently Lady Garia."

"Of course, Ma'am."

For this visit Milsy's escort was augmented by six of the palace guard in view of the enlarged party. Tarvan showed the locked door to King, Queen and Guildmaster and gave the key to Parrel to unlock. On the bench the pendulum still swung just as they had left it the previous day.

Robanar nodded. "Simple, yet impressive. If this were to be built into a clock it would not look like this, I imagine?"

"I doubt it, Sire," Tarvan replied. "Whatever is designed must needs be more robust. As I have yet only ever seen the inside of a single clock I have had no thoughts about further development."

Robanar turned to Milsy. "And you, my dear? What are your thoughts?"

"Sire, I'm amazed that it actually worked. I would like to experiment further but I doubt that the Clockmaker's Guild would give me leave."

The King's tight smile showed his agreement.

"Sire," Parrel said, "there may be a way, but it might be expensive. The Clockmakers, as you know, have been experimenting with a much smaller design which may be of service to us, if that is the way you would wish us to proceed. It is intended for the city mansions of nobles and stands but a stride high. If we could obtain one and bring it here, where these two can do their experiments without interference..."

Robanar nodded. "I understand what you are saying, Parrel. Aye, you may obtain one on my authority."

Parrel bowed. "You are gracious, Sire. And the other matter?"

"You may proceed with Milsy's consent. She has been of service to the Crown and, indeed, continues that service. What you offer is in some respect compensation for that service and we will support it if there is any need."

Milsy was getting confused. What were they talking about now?

"Milsy, dear." She turned to face Terys. "Parrel would like to admit you into his guild as he suggested last night. Have you had any thoughts on the matter?"

"Some, Ma'am. I don't know much about how the guilds work but I know I cannot stay as I am. To be of service to any I must needs learn many things and perhaps a guild is the right place to do it. Only..."

"Yes, dear?"

"I am not sure what I would be doing, Ma'am. I do not think I could be a smith, one of those who hammers knives, forks and swords. I know nothing of other trades. If I can do things like the experiments in this laboratory then I might like that but I am not sure what else I might be able to do."

"Parrel?"

"Mistress Milsy, if you were admitted to my guild then you would not be made to go through the customary training of apprentice and journeyman, since I deem your interests and abilities lie elsewhere. Guildmistress Garia has impressed upon us that the old ways will no longer be sufficient for the rapid changes which will sweep over our lands and people like a sudden storm. There is much you might contribute to any guild without requiring the muscle that many guildsmen need for their trades.

"I had in mind that you would continue to work in here with Tarvan, initially as his assistant, in his new department of Electric Engineering. Your status would be such that this would not prevent you from following any other interest that might occur in the future. You may not know it but from the end of the year all Palarand's guilds are to be merged into a new Institute and with any luck we shall no longer suffer the customary rivalry which prevents guildsmen of different crafts from working together. Within that Institute you should be able to move about as your abilities develop."

"Thank you for the offer, Master Parrel. What training would you give me?"

"First, we must make sure that you can read and write sufficiently well, as every guildsman must do. You will also need some tuition in the Garian Numbers, I deem, since this new craft of Tarvan's seems to involve a number of calculations in its methods. Indeed, if you desire to be interested in clocks then knowing your numbers becomes essential. Tarvan no doubt will teach you to use the tools of your new trade and, of course, as things change in the future doubtless you will learn of new tools and techniques as we all shall." He shrugged. "It is possible that in future it will be you who will be teaching us the new tools."

Terys added, "Yours is a special circumstance, my dear, and Parrel will be inventing or changing rules to accommodate you, just as the Guilds invented or changed rules to accommodate Garia. You may discover resistance to those changes but we will be here to assist should that happen."

"Thank you, Ma'am." Milsy took a deep breath and turned to Parrel. "Master Parrel, I would like to accept your offer. What must I do?"

Parrel's smile was twisted. "Mistress Milsy, your situation is complicated by the fact that you presently play a part. For us to proceed you must present yourself at the Hall of the Guilds, you should not appear in the guise of the Guildmistress."

"Master Parrel, I must correct you. You address me as Mistress but I am not a freewoman. Before I came to the palace I was but a kitchen servant in Dekarran castle."

"But I thought -"

Terys cut in. "A minor matter, Parrel. If Milsy is to become a guildswoman and work in the palace she will no longer be servant but retainer and it would be proper to make her a freewoman." She turned to Milsy with a twinkle in her eye. "Do you object, dear?"

Milsy was shocked. This was all happening too fast! She had dreamed of something like this happening but dream and reality were two different things. She also knew that what happened to her in future would introduce complications which would have to be carefully considered. Still, a freewoman...

She gulped. "Ma'am, I don't object. I just never expected such a thing! I didn't think that I was that good. All this has come as a big surprise, Ma'am."

"I expect so, dear. In your previous surroundings," the Dekarran kitchens, "you would not have known how palace or guild arranged their affairs. It would be only proper to make you freewoman but as with every rank will come responsibility. You have already shown that you have a quick mind, let us see what manner of mind you possess. Parrel, if you would explain."

"Aye, Ma'am. Mistress Milsy, when a young lad becomes an apprentice he is often from our yeoman stock and would not be accounted freeman. Once he has learned his trade he is raised to journeyman, in order to gain experience. A journeyman must needs speak as equals with a client or with other guildsmen, so at that time he is made freeman if he was not already. Your circumstances are different but the Queen is right, Mistress, it will be an appropriate rank for you at this time."

"Then I must thank you, Master Parrel. This is entirely unexpected."

Parrel again gave his twisted smile. "I regret, Mistress, that many more unexpected things may happen to you today. As I mentioned, you must needs present yourself at the Hall of the Guilds. For an ordinary applicant it would not be necessary but you would be only our second woman after Lady Garia, so it will be needful."

Milsy was by now concerned. "But how may I go?" She turned to Robanar. "Sire, I have never even left the palace! Should I take some armsmen, Sire? I do not know how this can be arranged. And what of Garia? It may be possible for her to make an unexpected visit somewhere as she did yesterday but many have seen her come to the laboratory this morning."

"A complicated problem indeed, my dear," Robanar said to her with a frown, which was quickly replaced by a smile. "You are presently two persons in the same body, much like Garia herself, I deem. Let me see. Parrel, you have seen all that you need to in here?"

"Aye, Sire, and most impressive it is."

"Then let us all return to our sitting room." He gave an aside to Milsy. "That will return the Baroness to her suite, will it not?" To Parrel again, he asked, "Have you a carriage, Parrel?"

"I did, Sire, though it only brought me here then went about other business."

"Then since Milsy must return to the palace after her visit we will give you one of ours today. You are taking Tarvan with you?"

"Aye, Sire."

"Then you will be four, since of course Garia's - my apologies - Milsy's maid must needs go with her. You must take an escort with you, I deem."

"Sire? Is this needful?"

"Aye, for three reasons. First, it will obscure exactly who is traveling with you in the carriage today. Some may think that Garia goes with you, thus strengthening the thought that she still resides in the palace. Second, Milsy was chosen for her resemblance to Garia and may thus by chance be mistaken for her. I would be remiss if I did not make provision for her safety. Lastly, it is possible that those who wish to obtain or harm Garia may try to do so through her retainers. Milsy and her maid presently wear the colors of Blackstone and they are the only retainers in the palace who do so, thus they must be considered at risk."

"As you say, Sire. That would not have occurred to me."

Robanar turned and stared at the entrance door before turning to Terys. "My dear, I think we will require Merek. A day or two ago Tord bespoke me saying that his men were too few and I agree. Those who escorted us here should suffice for today's travel but I think we must needs provide more men to his assignment else they fail through overwork."

Terys nodded. "Aye, I agree. I will send a footman to find him."

"Then let us depart this place. Master Tarvan? Is there ought you must needs do here?"

"No, Sire. If I am to be elsewhere today it can all be left as it is. I will be interested to see how long the pendulum lasts, Sire."

"As will I, though I understand that its movement depends on the supply of electricity, does it not?"

"As you say, Sire, which means however much is in the battery. I am minded to leave it until the battery runs out, though there is a chance it will choose to stop in the middle of the night."

"Then let us go. Parrel, are you expecting trouble today? I know that most acclaimed Garia at the lunch you gave us but not all accept what happened."

"Indeed, Sire, it seems that at least this Hebren does not. If you would allow me to consider our strategy as we walk."

Outside the laboratory, while Tarvan locked the door again, Robanar explained the day's outing to a horrified Tord.

"But, Sire! It is too soon!"

"I consider that it may work in our favor, Tord. We will not confirm or deny who travels today and the presence of an escort will add to the confusion. If any wish to think that Garia travels to the Hall of the Guilds today - a journey she is perfectly entitled to make, I deem - then I would not attempt to contradict them."

"As you say, Sire. I would repeat my request for further men, Sire. We are too few for this duty."

"Aye, and Merek will join us in our sitting room before these set out today. Beginning this day both the seeming Baroness and her servant Milsy will require the protection of the Palace Guard, whether they wear the colors of Blackstone or not. You will have your men, Tord."

Tord saluted. "Thank you, Sire."

The party reached the sitting room and Robanar, Terys, Milsy, Tarvan and Parrel took seats. Tord stood at ease near the door, awaiting the arrival of Merek. While they waited, Parrel smiled and spoke to Robanar.

"I have had an idea, Sire. You spoke of possible trouble at the Hall of the Guilds and I may have a way of dealing with it but it will require your permission."

"Explain."

"The Guildhall and workshops of the Clockmakers' Guild lies but two streets from the Hall of the Guilds, Sire. There is a complaint against my journeyman Tarvan, I thought to deal with that once we complete our business at the Hall." Parrel smiled and waved a hand. "I am not one of those Guildmasters who lets a disagreement fester for days or weeks, Sire, I would have it resolved as soon as I may."

"That sounds a reasonable attitude to take, Parrel, but why should you desire my permission?"

"I would like to take Guildmistress Garia's watch with us today, to show it at the Clockmakers' Guild. That may help some convince minds of the truth of our position."

"Ah, I understand. Aye, you may take it, Parrel. Keep it safe, there is no other in the world like it."

"I will let Tarvan keep it, Sire. He will be returning here with Mistress Milsy, he can replace it in her quarters, and he is most familiar with it."

"As you say."

Merek appeared at the door, entered and saluted. Robanar explained about the shortage of men.

"Tord has also mentioned the matter to me, Sire. I will see to it, but I will not be able to make the assignments for a day or two."

"We will manage until then, Merek. Now, Parrel, Tarvan and Milsy are about to go to the Hall of the Guilds -"

* * *

Milsy was now familiar with travel by carriage, following her journey from Dekarran, so she climbed in with no reservations. Parrel followed, then Tarvan and finally Bursila. At Merek's advice Milsy sat with her back to the frayen, which meant that anyone looking at the passengers would only get a brief glimpse of her face. Surrounded now by mounted guardsmen, half wearing palace sashes and the others with Blackstone colors, the carriage set off through the streets of the city.

The carriage turned into the front yard of the Hall of the Guilds and halted. Everyone climbed out in reverse order to be greeted by the current doorkeeper of the Hall.

"Master Parrel, welcome, and Master Tarvan too. You have a female servant? Ah, the Guildmistress! Welcome again to the Hall of the Guilds, Guildmistress." The man halted in confusion and peered closely at Milsy. "You are not the Guildmistress!" He turned to Parrel. "Master, what means this? There are no other women who are permitted to enter, save the Guildmistress and her maid."

Parrel cast a severe eye at the man. "If you think that the Guildmistress and her maid will be the only women to enter these doors in future, Tobro, you are mistaken. This young woman joins me as our guest and she may very well become a guildswoman in time."

The man bowed low. "Guildmaster, forgive me. I have served the guilds for many years and some habits are hard to change."

"I understand, Tobro. We have changed custom and we must also adapt to match our new circumstances. Today we will be in the West Meeting Room. If you would send somebody to find Hurdin, Laikin and Sabran, they are expecting to join us once we have arrived."

"As you command, Master."

Milsy made a shiver as she passed through the ornate doorway into a place in which only two women had ever previously trodden.

I know Master Parrel has invited me here but I still feel like an intruder. I suppose that one day this will all seem familiar but today it does not. I wonder what Master Parrel wants the other three for? Is this going to be some kind of judgement?

The corridors of the building looked similar to those of the palace and Milsy realized that the same people had probably crafted both. The walls were plainer, though, as if the guildsmen did not want to lavish too much attention on something only other guildsmen would ever see. Parrel obviously knew his way about the building and led them to a meeting room about the size of Milsy's bedroom and sitting room combined. There was a table and well-upholstered chairs and she was bade make herself comfortable. Bursila took station behind Milsy's chair as the others found seats.

The first to arrive was an older man with almost white hair, closely cropped in a fashion often chosen by craftsmen. Parrel stood so Milsy decided that she should too.

"Laikin, this is Mistress Milsy, who is the reason for this meeting. Milsy, if I may introduce Guildmaster Laikin of the Guild of Joiners and Cabinet Makers. Laikin, find yourself a seat."

She curtseyed but was not sure what to say so kept silent. Laikin gave her an appraising glance and nodded. Before anyone had a chance to sit down another guildsman arrived, this one younger looking.

"Ah, Sabran! Do come in. If I may present Mistress Milsy. Milsy, this is Guildmaster Sabran of the Leadworkers and Plumbers Guild. Sabran, we just await Hurdin before we may begin."

The stare she received from Sabran was keener but she felt no antagonism from him. All took their seats and waited for their last arrival. While they waited Parrel told the others what he had been doing out at the site of the experimental furnaces, of which Milsy understood not a single word.

The last to arrive appeared short but that was because he was also broad across the chest, with matching arms covered in thick hair. He took one look at Milsy and remarked to Parrel, "Another one! Maker, is the land full of them?"

"I could not say, Hurdin. She is just the first to have been discovered, I do not think your position is yet in any danger."

"Easy for you to say! Still," he gave Milsy a longer, more considered look, "I doubt she would be able to blow any of my bottles, she has not the lungs."

The Guildmaster walked to an empty seat as Milsy stood and curtseyed.

"Hurdin, this is Mistress Milsy of whom we spoke yesterday. Milsy, this is Guildmaster Hurdin of the Glassmakers Guild. He is presently Master of the Hall and thus leader for a time of the Guilds of Palarand." Parrel made a sweep with his hand to indicate the others. "We are gathered to consider how you might be made a guildswoman, Mistress. For any man this would be a simple procedure granted by any Guildmaster for those who wished to enter his craft, but we have yet no women other than Guildmistress Garia and she is special as you know. I thought it best to find others who might back my decision against those who would not agree to your petition."

Milsy's lips were dry again. "Thank you again, Master Parrel. I'm sorry to have made all this trouble."

Parrel smiled at her. "In your case I doubt that you will be much trouble to us, Mistress. What I saw in your laboratory will prove that." He turned to the others. "Guildmasters, today I have seen the impossible. I have seen a swinging pendulum which is not driven by a weight. It has been swinging these twelve bells or more since Mistress Milsy and Tarvan set it up yesterday. Let me be clear, it was her idea though Tarvan provided his experience in the construction of the experiment."

Hurdin raised an eyebrow. "How is this possible? Is this something to do with what young Tarvan is playing with?"

"Electricity? Aye. This means that in future there would be no need to stop any clock while the weight is being wound. Less need for adjustment of the time."

Sabran asked, "Parrel, is this just a chance discovery or something more?"

Tarvan answered, "If you please, Master Sabran, Milsy was permitted to see the Great Clock in the tower at the palace and took but a bell to understand its design. She immediately began thinking of ways to improve it."

"You jest, surely! The clockmakers would never permit such a thing."

"As you say, Master Sabran, and we were thrown out of the tower the moment that Milsy spoke of her ideas."

Laikin asked, "The Great Clock was not harmed? There is no chance that the timekeeping will be affected?"

"Master, we did not touch anything at all, merely observed the mechanism while the guildsmen from the Clockmakers went about their work." He grimaced. "I am reminded that we did touch something, Master. It seems that, though the guildsmen clean the clock they do not clean anything else. The walkway and safety rails were filthy."

Laikin snorted. "No carpenter would dare leave his place of work in such a state. The Clockmakers have become slack, I deem."

Hurdin looked at Milsy from beneath lowered brows. "Mistress, you claim to understand the workings of the Great Clock, and at such a short acquaintance? Clockmakers must spend years studying such a mechanism."

Milsy replied, "Master, I did not claim to be able to make a clock, merely that I can tell you how it works. I know it would take years of study to understand how such a clock may be made and more to learn how to make such a thing."

Hurdin pointed. "There is a blackboard behind you. Prove yourself, Mistress, if you would."

Apart from the meal slates Milsy had never seen a blackboard until she arrived at Garia's suite and had never handled chalk before. Her first attempts at drawing were shaky and before long her fingers ached with the effort of guiding the chalk where she wanted it to go. It was soon plain that she understood more about how the Great Clock functioned than any of those sitting around the table. Tarvan was able to help explain how a reduction gear worked and had a small idea about how the 'year wheel' adjusted the times of the bells from day to day, but the rest of the explanation was all Milsy's.

Hurdin addressed Parrel. "Now I understand! And this one was a kitchen servant in Dekarran? How many more must there be, hidden away from our sight?"

"Most will not even consider that their daughter is capable of thinking like this," Parrel replied. "Until Lady Garia came to us, neither would I. Milsy is but the first we have found, and that by chance. I desire to ensure that her education is the best that we can provide and that she will be able to use her intelligence and imagination as well as she is able."

The others nodded thoughtfully. Sabran asked Milsy, "Are you by chance related to the Guildmistress? I see a certain similarity in size and form. A cousin, perhaps?"

Milsy did not know how to answer, so looked at Parrel.

"If she were related to Lady Garia then she would also have come from Earth, Sabran. No, the resemblance is coincidental - and deliberate. I am not sure that I may say anything more."

A light dawned on their faces. "The Guildmistress is not in the palace, then?" asked Laikin. "This is some scheme of the King, I deem. That is the only reason a kitchen girl from Dekarran - excuse me, Mistress - would travel to the city and reside in the palace."

"Indeed," Parrel confirmed, "and I would ask you all to be careful what you say about any meetings that include Mistress Milsy. The more we may confuse any enemy, the better."

They all nodded agreement, then Hurdin asked, "So, Parrel, what is it you ask of us today?"

"Firstly, I am minded to jump Tarvan to the rank of Craftmaster, by your leave. He is presently the only member of the Electric Department of my guild and it is unseemly that he still be accounted journeyman. He has almost finished his due days as journeyman so would be made Guildsman soon in any event. To make him Guildmaster of his new department immediately would be too much, I deem."

Hurdin thought, then turned to the other two who nodded.

"Agreed. It is a new craft and it is proper that it should be led by its most experienced guildsman."

"Thank you, brothers. Then, to admit Mistress Milsy as a guildswoman into Tarvan's department with the rank of journeywoman. This will be more difficult for you, since I know she has little experience as yet but I believe she is so bright that she will soon overcome any deficiencies. My only desire is to protect her and to provide guidance. No doubt she will also benefit from Lady Garia's presence once she returns from Blackstone."

The three looked at one another then all three turned to Milsy.

Hurdin asked, "Do you read and write, girl?"

"A little, Master," she replied. "Tarvan has been teaching me since I arrived at the palace."

"What, barely two weeks?"

Tarvan interrupted. "Nine days, actually. She can read most of our letters and write them as well, Master."

"Extraordinary! Well, Parrel, no apprentice may be made journeyman unless he can read and write so I suggest she be tested first. Otherwise... If Lady Garia can do it, then so might others."

"My thoughts exactly," Parrel agreed.

"We have to start somewhere," Laikin said. "It is an unconventional beginning, perhaps, but this young woman is of such a kind. I will agree to this."

"Sabran? What say you?"

The plumber nodded. "There will be discontent over this but I deem we have no choice. Once the path has been trodden then we will have some idea what is right and what is not. Until then why not begin with the best? Aye, you have my agreement, Parrel."

"You have my deepest thanks, brothers." He smiled. "Doubtless in time you will be reminding me of this day and demanding repayment! So be it. I will instruct that a contract be drawn up and that badges be made for Milsy... and for her maid."

Hurdin nodded. "That will be proper in this case, I deem. We must consider if, in time, every guildswoman must needs be accompanied by her maid! Perhaps some other way may be found."

"Indeed! Another time, perhaps. While we are gathered, is there anything else of note to discuss?"

"Our consignment of samples has been dispatched to Blackstone in your absence, Parrel. That includes a steam engine, a typewriter, a telescope and a mirror of glass, some paper and a strange boiler thing."

"Oh, aye! That would be the coke oven."

Parrel spent a few moments explaining the use of the oven.

"So this is like a small version of what you are building out at the furnace site, then?"

"Aye, it is." Parrel scratched his head. "There have been some complications building the furnaces as well, but I'll leave that for another meeting, if I may."

"As you wish. What about this business with the Clockmakers?"

Parrel made a fierce grin. "We are going to visit them when we leave here, brothers. I shall take Milsy and Tarvan carries Guildmistress Garia's own portable clock with him."

Hurdin asked, "Do you desire support, Parrel?"

"Thank you for the offer, but the Metalworkers look after their own. If there is a problem then I shall return, have no doubt of that."

Laikin and Sabran departed the room but Hurdin remained as Hall servants brought in trays of food. Milsy had not realized that lunchtime had arrived. She did not stand on ceremony but insisted Bursila took a chair as all five enjoyed the provided meal. Both Hurdin and Parrel spent the time making smalltalk with Milsy and Bursila before it was time for them to leave the Hall.

Once in the carriage it was a short journey to the large mansion, with workshops behind, that was the domain of the Clockmakers' Guild. The situation was tense as they all alighted and the two women were noticed by the hall servants.

"Guildmaster Parrel, welcome. Do you intend bringing these two women into the Hall?"

"As they are my guests and we have just come from the Hall of the Guilds, then aye, I do. Inform Guildmaster Bayorn that we have arrived and that we must speak with him immediately."

The servant eyed the group, then looked at the twelve mounted escort in the courtyard before bowing.

"As you command, Guildmaster. If you would wait here."

It was a brief wait until Bayorn appeared. His appearance startled Milsy, since he was the first blond she had ever seen. His pale yellow hair and his brilliant blue eyes were unlike those of anyone who she had ever seen at the castle. Bayorn clasped arms with Parrel.

"Brother. Is this about that business at the palace?"

"It is. Do you want to discuss the matter in this yard or may we enter?"

"What, all of you?"

"The four of us. Our escort will, of course, remain outside."

Bayorn noticed the palace uniforms immediately and knew that Parrel had a powerful interest on his side. He nodded reluctantly.

"Aye, I will find us a room."

"One with a blackboard and chalk, if you would."

A room was found and the four joined Bayorn and two other clockmakers inside. Although there were seats and a table, as before, all remained standing.

Bayorn was blunt. "Well?"

"I had some kind of strange note," Parrel began, "alleging interference with the Great Clock. I am here to tell you that there was no such interference."

"But Hebren clearly said -" Bayorn stopped and considered. "I suppose I should hear your side of it, Parrel. Is this the girl? She looks too young to me."

Parrel gestured. "This is Tarvan, my assistant, who works in the palace with the Guildmistress," Milsy noticed a tightening of Bayorn's expression, "Mistress Milsy, in turn, assists Tarvan with his experiments. He, Milsy and her maid Bursila were invited by Hebren to inspect the Great Clock while he and another cleaned and oiled it. At no time did they touch any of the moving parts, Bayorn. The only thing they touched was the handrail of the walkway, which was filthy. Do your men always leave your places of work in such a condition?"

Bayorn was taken aback. "Why... no, they should not! I shall visit the Great Clock myself and inspect it. If there are any shortcomings, you can be sure I will have them seen to."

"You had better, Bayorn, since the King has been informed of the circumstance."

Bayorn paled but recovered. "But a complaint has been made, that the girl intended to somehow modify the clock. Indeed, she claimed to have understood how it worked in but a bell, which is plainly impossible."

Parrel gestured to the blackboard. "Mistress Milsy, if you would."

Having had a little practice at the Hall of the Guilds Milsy could now describe the functioning of the Great Clock in detail, with understandable drawings, to the stunned clockmakers. That she could correctly describe how the whole thing worked could not be denied.

"This is impossible! How did you do this, girl?"

Parrel said, "She had a bell to look at it and she is not stupid, Bayorn. I deem she is of a kind like the Guildmistress, though as yet untested. Is her explanation correct?"

"It is, Parrel, though I am reluctant to admit it. Are you certain she has not been in the tower before?"

"She is only recently arrived from Dekarran, she has not had the opportunity. Oh, and Tarvan decided that they did not need a clock to test her idea. They have constructed a pendulum in the laboratory which has swung for... fifteen or so bells now without the aid of a weight. His Majesty requests that you provide him with one of the new, smaller clocks that they may use it for experiments."

"His Majesty? Well... of course, Parrel. If His Majesty requests then I must provide." Bayorn seemed at a loss for words. "I do not like the idea that others not of the Clockmakers' Guild would tamper with any clock we provide. Why, she is not even a guild member!" He suddenly realized what was about to happen. "Parrel! You do not intend to admit her to your guild, surely?"

Parrel grinned. "In seven days or less she will be a guildswoman, Bayorn. You had better become used to the idea of women as guild members."

"Hurdin agrees to this?"

"Aye, we have just come from the Hall of the Guilds. All has been properly arranged."

"I do not like this, Parrel. The Guildmistress is one thing, she comes from somewhere else entirely, but a mere girl -"

"That reminds me," Parrel said. "Tarvan, the watch, if you please."

Tarvan took a soft leather bundle from his pouch and unwrapped it on to tabletop. The clockmakers gathered round, astonished.

"Lady Garia brought this with her when she arrived," Parrel explained to them. "It is normally worn on the wrist. She tells us that almost everybody on her world wears such a thing, and that they are made in great quantities by machines, with the parts assembled by women. The cost of this is, in her terms, less than that of a day's labor."

"It moves!" one of the men said. "What makes it move? Where are the bells? How does it work without any weights?"

Tarvan turned the watch over and opened the back to show the mechanism. One of the men brought out a magnifying glass and they took turns looking inside.

"I understand that it uses electricity to make it work," Tarvan commented. "If it does so, the parts are too small for me to see, even with one of the new microscopes. That big round thing holds the electricity and I am told that it has run the portable clock for several years now."

"Years?" one muttered. "Impossible, but I see it before me."

The men stood up and Tarvan replaced the back, turning the watch over.

"Those symbols around the edge," the other guildsman said. "Are those the Garian numbers?"

"Aye, and they are used by the wearer to discover the time," Tarvan explained. "The Guildmistress tells me that on her world, the bells - no, these are not bells, they use a different word. I forget the name," he apologized.

"They are known as hours, I believe," Parrel said. "The divisions of their day do not begin at dawn and dusk but at midnight and each day is divided into twenty-four parts called hours. Each hour is divided into sixty minutes and each minute into sixty seconds. I do not know why those numbers were chosen. The short thick wire you can see counts the hours so goes completely round twice per day. Each time the short wire moves from one number to the next the longer wire will go completely round once, counting sixty minutes, and the very thin wire goes round once for each minute. Because the wearer can see the position of the wires, there is no need for any sequence of bells."

They guildsmen watched the movement of the hands for a while, fascinated.

Bayorn asked, "Parrel, is this portable clock of any value to us? We may not be able to reproduce whatever is happening inside but could the times it displays be used for some purpose?"

Parrel shook his head. "I regret not, Bayorn. If you were to time this watch you would find that it describes a shorter day than that of Anmar. Presently it is merely a curiosity, but one which shows what we may achieve in future. This is truly an item from another world and we must treat it with care."

"There is a crack on the crystal," Bayorn noted.

"Aye. The watch was stolen by Questor Morlan when he disappeared in the summer and it was found later on his body. We think the damage was caused at that time."

Suddenly, the atmosphere changed. Mention of serious matters made everybody stop and think.

"Aye," Bayorn nodded. "Parrel, you shall have your clock but I want your people to keep me informed when they have something working. If what I have been told today has any truth in it at all then of course the Clockmakers Guild would be interested."

"I think we can do that," Parrel said. "Now, if you will excuse us, I have to return these three to the palace before the Queen becomes concerned."

"Oh! In that case, Parrel, let me show you out."

"And the complaint?"

"Speak of it no more, Parrel. I shall have words with Hebren."

* * *

Milsy, Tarvan and Bursila were in her sitting room having completed the evening meal. Parrel had given Milsy some documents describing the more basic rules and regulations covering guild membership and she was seated on the settee, puzzling her way through them. In a chair sat Bursila, who was reading Merizel's lettering book, while Tarvan sat at the table attempting to write a letter. Since Milsy had discovered that Tarvan now resided in the palace, there seemed little point in him going off to spend his evenings alone.

"I can't concentrate on this," Milsy complained. "My mind keeps trying to think up ways to improve clocks. Is it always like this, Tarvan? How do you keep your focus on whatever you are supposed to be doing?"

Tarvan lowered his reed. "I have found it difficult, Milsy, especially since the Guildmistress introduced me to electricity. As an apprentice, each new tool or method was learned slowly enough that I had time to absorb each one before the next was revealed. I regret, I do not think that such methods will work in our futures, it will all come too fast for that."

"Aye. My mind is awhirl with everything that I have discovered these last two weeks. No doubt all this will become familiar in time but right now I am overwhelmed." She put the documents down on the settee and stood. "I think I have to get these ideas out of my head before I forget them. I'll work out what I want on the blackboard and then attempt to transfer them to some paper."

"That is what it is there for. Do you need help?"

"I do not think so, Tarvan. Better that you finish what you are doing than have two of us distracted. Who are you writing to, anyway?"

"The Guildmistress. Master Hurdin mentioned that some items have been sent to Blackstone for her to inspect, including a new version of our small steam engine model, and I was reminded that I should be sending her a weekly report on my activities here. We have - you have made a discovery today and I feel she should be informed of it. If I write a letter and give it to the palace mail agent it should arrive at about the same time as the packages."

"I have never sent a letter to anyone, Tarvan. How long will it take to get there?"

"I have no idea, Milsy. A week, perhaps two weeks. Blackstone is a long way away and not on any major route."

"Oh. It will not be easy to ask something and receive an answer, will it?"

Tarvan grinned. "Not so long as all that, when our semaphore system is put into operation. It may only take three or four days to ask a question and receive an answer."

"Semaphore? What is that?"

"Another day, Milsy. Let me finish this letter."

The two concentrated on their own tasks. Milsy scribbled on the board and drew many diagrams, rubbing most out. Tarvan finished writing and sat reviewing his letter for mistakes and omissions.

"Tarvan?"

"Aye?"

"If we can make this clock work without a weight, by using electricity, then it seems to me that what we have done is created a circuit which the pendulum will switch on and off."

"Aye," he nodded. "That is what we desire, is it not?"

"As you say, but my point is, we will have an electric circuit which is switched on and off regularly. Why cannot we use that same circuit to drive a pendulum in another clock? Many more clocks, in fact, perhaps in different rooms in the palace?"

Tarvan sat up and thought. The implications of electricity were startling and he had not fully grasped some of them until now.

"An interesting notion, Milsy, but I think you are overlooking something."

"What is that?"

"If we can use that electricity to drive another clock then we wouldn't need another pendulum at all, we can just drive the escapement with a solenoid. That would make the clocks smaller, I deem."

Milsy considered this briefly. "Tarvan, I think you are overlooking something. All we need these clocks for is the bells, is it not? There would be little point to each clock counting down the... ticks, I guess we could call them. The clock with the pendulum can do that. All we need is some way to move the bell wheel when required. If we can somehow arrange that, we could probably take out half the sprockets inside the clock, we just don't need them."

Tarvan was impressed all over again. "I didn't think that far through the process, Milsy, but of course you are right. Aye, it would mean another electric circuit but we could use a solenoid."

"How would you do that? How can you use a solenoid?"

"We would use something called a ratchet," he explained, rising and joining Milsy at the blackboard. "It works like this."

He rapidly sketched a saw-toothed wheel and a solenoid which would pull it one way but stop it turning the other. The two looked at each other with mounting excitement.

"Milsy, I think we're going to need another clock."

Milsy is anxious to begin working on the promised clock but her day is side-tracked into more domestic matters. As she travels around the palace her appearance causes more confusion, especially following a visit to the Salon. Eventually Tarvan appears with good news of a sort, and with an unexpected gift!

What Milsy Did

by Penny Lane

11 - Domestic Concerns

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 (c) 2016 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

---

When Milsy woke she was in even more of a state than she had been the previous morning. Far too much had happened to her yesterday and she wished for a quieter morning, though this warred with the desire to continue with the clock design.

I wonder when the clock will be delivered? I wonder if the clock will be delivered... no, I think the King will be somewhat annoyed if the Clockmakers drag their feet. They might delay it by a few days, though. I've come across their sort in the castle. "No, Master Samind, it isn't quite ready yet. We have to allow more days for the sediment to settle."

It would probably be better if it didn't appear for a day or so. I have to learn all these Guild rules and customs, most of which probably won't apply to me anyway.

I wonder when Rosilda will appear with that new work dress? Oh, perhaps if "Mistress Milsy" now has a proper existence I can go to the Palace Wardrobe to be fitted? I need more clothes if I am to be me some of the time.

Mistress Milsy! I still can't get used to the idea. Me, a lowly kitchen worker? The Queen must think highly of me but I don't think I can be as good as any of them. I know I have been doing a special assignment for the Crown but that just involved riding a carriage - with the King and Queen! - to the palace and then skulking about in Garia's chambers, pretending that I'm her.

Yesterday was probably the first time that I've been outside the palace and "might" have been Garia. Unfortunately, too many people know what she looks like and somebody will soon discover that I am not her. Once that happens... what, exactly?

I get to be me again, only not-me, since I'll be a freewoman and a journeywoman, not simply a kitchen servant.

She sighed and rolled over to face the windows.

Looks like my old life is ended. Fortunately the new one is definitely more interesting and it has compensations... like Tarvan. I hope I don't frighten him off. He already makes it sound as though I will be better than him. No chance!

Bursila appeared. "Good morning, Mistress."

Milsy propped herself up on one elbow. "You're calling me Mistress now? Why?"

"Because you are, Mistress. Outside these doors I must needs call you My Lady, but only when you travel as the Baroness. Since Her Majesty raised your status I should call you Mistress at all other times."

"Do you mind? Yesterday we were the same, I should hate to think that I am somehow better than you this morning."

"Oh, no, Mistress. The same thing happened to Lady Garia, you see, when she was created Baroness, and it made no difference to the way she treated us at all. I would say, though, that because she comes from lands where there are no nobles, she behaves differently. If she had been from a noble Palarand family it might have made a difference. I do not think that you will behave like that." Bursila shifted uncomfortably. "If I may use the toilet, Mistress."

"Of course!" Milsy threw the covers back and sat up. "I'll just stretch for a while and then we can get the bath going."

Milsy still had to hide when the breakfast trays were delivered. She wondered how long they could keep it up without rumor beginning to go round the palace.

If it hasn't already. Mayhap they all think the King is being over-protective. Of course some clever person will have already thought of the real reason why we do this and will be trying to convince everybody else that he or she is right.

The first arrival was Rosilda, carrying a garment over her arm.

"It is not finished, Milady, I have just brought it to check the fit."

The garment looked like a dress of a pale off-white color like unbleached parchment, made in one piece. The women trooped into the bedroom for Milsy to try it on.

"The exercise garments that you have been wearing were made specifically for Lady Garia's use," Rosilda explained. "That is why they have a separate skirt and why there is no back lacing. She was concerned with injuries when she tumbled and, of course, she did not wear the skirt at all while doing so."

"Do the guardsmen mind her exercising like that?"

"Oh, no, Milady! There was concern at first, of course, but these days the guardsmen are said to be more loyal to Lady Garia than they are to the King. As a matter of honor they would not take advantage of her, besides, I doubt that there are many who could succeed. I have seen her fight, Milady, and she can best most men in the palace."

Milsy raised her eyebrows. She knew of Garia's abilities but most of what she had been told seemed somewhat fanciful.

"Well, I may pretend to play such a part but I am no warrior. The King knows it, too, which is why there are so many men outside my door."

"Aye, Milady, and that is why this garment is a fairly normal dress. For you, we do not need a separate skirt and I have used back lacing. It will be so much simpler to put on or remove. If you would raise your arms."

Bursila said, "Rosilda, did you know that the Queen has raised Milsy to freewoman? It seems that she will soon become a guild journeywoman so the Queen decided to grant her freewoman status to satisfy the guilds."

"Oh, congratulations, Mistress! You resemble Lady Garia in many respects other than your size and looks so I am sure that you deserve it. Ah, does this mean I should address you thus whenever we meet?"

"So Bursila informs me, Rosilda. Milsy is taking on a more solid existence in the palace, I deem. If I'm careful, I can be me some of the time, which means that I'll have to come to the Wardrobe to select more clothing." She wrinkled her nose. "In Dekarran I did not go to the wardrobe there, it was more a question of finding something that fit from the pile of fresh laundry each day. Is it going to take some time?"

"It can do, Mistress, but for your first visit I doubt you will be more than half a bell. It is possible, of course, that in the future your needs will change and you will have to return. Did you desire to come today? I will probably have finished this dress by this afternoon and will be able to assist if so."

"I suppose so," Milsy said doubtfully. "There is just so much happening at the moment I don't know what I am likely to be doing in a bell's time! Perhaps, if the afternoon is quieter, I may venture the wardrobe."

"As you wish, Mistress. Bursila, do you yet know the way?"

"I think so, Rosilda. Lady Merizel has attended the Wardrobe on several occasions and it is not hard to find. Besides, I believe Tord knows the way."

"Tord? But... if she comes as Mistress Milsy then she will not require an escort."

Milsy was glum. "The King thinks that Bursila and I will be almost at much as risk as Lady Garia is, Rosilda. Even as myself, I now need an escort to leave these chambers."

"Oh, no! You have my sympathies, Mistress! Still, the men you have are the King's men, you could not be in better hands." Rosilda straightened the skirt. "There! How does that feel?"

Milsy turned and bent, then walked over to inspect herself in the mirror.

"It fits well and permits me to twist and bend, which may be needful in the laboratory. This material..."

"Aye, Mistress?"

Milsy smoothed her hands over the fabric. "It appears to be thicker at the front than at the sides and back. The skirt as well."

"Aye, I decided that that was where you would need most protection, Mistress. If I made it all as thick as the front, you would become too warm, so I found some matching, thinner material. Does it meet with your approval?"

"Aye, it does!" Milsy smiled at the seamstress. "It seems that working with Lady Garia has given you ideas. The sleeves?"

"I did not know, Mistress. You may become warm working near that furnace yet you would not want bare arms, I deem. I have made the sleeves elbow length to permit freedom of movement and to prevent your cuff catching in whatever you might be working on."

Milsy nodded. "Leave it like that, then, and I'll see how it copes with whatever I'll be doing. Thank you, Rosilda."

"If you are satisfied so far, the garment should be removed so that I may finish it."

"Surely!"

Milsy was about to say more but there was a knock at the bedroom door. Bursila hurried over and opened it a crack so that she could see the caller. She turned to Milsy.

"Mistress, the Queen is outside with a man who I do not know but looks familiar."

"Tell the Queen I am dressing and that we will join her as soon as we may."

"As you wish, Mistress."

It did not take long for Milsy to change back into her day gown, especially when the Queen was waiting. The three women joined her and the other visitor in her sitting room. Terys gestured at the man.

"Milsy, dear, this is Korben, who is one of the palace scribes. Parrel has suggested that you may need help in learning to read and write properly before you can be admitted to his guild. Korben has offered to give you such instruction as you may need."

Milsy curtseyed. "Master Korben, welcome."

Terys noticed Rosilda with a dress over her arm. "I did not know you were trying on a new gown, dear."

"Ah, this is a working dress for when I'm in the laboratory, Ma'am. Rosilda was checking that it fit properly before finishing it. I was just taking it off again when you called."

Milsy wasn't sure how much Korben had been told so didn't offer any further explanation.

"As you say, dear. Rosilda, I hope our latest treasure is not overworking you? I know she may have as many unusual ideas about attire as Garia does."

Rosilda curtseyed. "Ma'am, for Mistress Milsy I am presently only working on this dress. So far that is all she has asked for."

Terys noticed the change in form of address and smiled. "Good. I should like to see it on Milsy when it is finished."

"As you command, Ma'am. I intended to bring it back later today."

"So soon? You are a quick worker, I deem." Terys looked at each of the others. "I shall leave you all now to arrange your present affairs. Come, Kenila, Varna."

As Terys and her maids left the room they met with Tarvan, who bowed as the Queen went past. He entered the room, looking with interest at Korben.

"Master Korben, good morning. Am I interrupting anything? Should I leave?"

Milsy answered, "I don't think that will be necessary, Tarvan. Master Korben has been asked by the Queen to help me learn to read and write. He is one of the palace scribes."

Korben and Tarvan exchanged glances.

"We have met," Tarvan said, though he didn't explain. Milsy assumed that it was probably at meal times. "Master Korben," he continued, "I have endeavored to give Milsy what basic tuition I could but I am no scribe. She is a very fast learner, though, and you may be surprised by what she may already read."

Korben raised an eyebrow. "Indeed? Then perhaps we should begin with a document the Queen commissioned me to draw up yesterday afternoon."

He carried a satchel and began looking through the contents for something.

"Please, everybody sit," Milsy suggested. "Rosilda? If I may call at the wardrobe during the afternoon."

Rosilda took that as her cue to exit. She curtseyed. "As you wish, Mistress. Master Korben, Master Tarvan, if you would excuse me."

As the door closed behind the seamstress Korben handed Milsy a new scroll and then selected a chair. Milsy sat down herself and pulled open the ribbon binding the scroll, finding that it was a short document freshly written with a big wax seal at the bottom.

"Be it known that I, Terys, presently Queen of Palarand, having noted the talents and abilities of our servant Milsy, recently of Duke Gilbanar's demesne at Dekarran and now resident in our palace at Palarand, do grant and bestow upon her the title and style of Freewoman, from this day forward, in recognition of services undertaken for the Crown.

"Terys, this 4th day of Avilat in the year 1174 since the Great Flood."

Milsy stared at the Queen's carefully-formed signature at the bottom, next to the Royal Seal.

"Maker! I did not expect this, Tarvan." She turned to Korben. "What should I do with this scroll now, Master? Am I supposed to keep it somewhere?"

"I am impressed with your reading skills, Mistress. I did not think that you would be able to read most of it, especially since it is written in the formal language of a legal document. I gave it to you as a test of your reading ability but normally such documents as this would be kept in the palace as reference. I doubt any will dispute your status but the document is always there should any do so."

"Some of the words were awkward, Master Korben," Milsy replied, handing back the scroll, "but your writing is beautifully clear and well-formed. I have started to write but I find it difficult to control the reed, I could never hope to make my letters so well as you."

"Thank you, Mistress, for your kind words. As a Scribe I have practised for many years to ensure that my writing was clear and readable and of course that is even more important for legal documents such as this one. If you write enough then it is likely that your own letters will improve in time." He smiled. "It is much like the forks which Lady Garia brought to us. As with any tool, it takes time and practice to make the best use of something new."

He looked around and then addressed Milsy again. "I was expecting to find Lady Garia here this morning. Is she not present? I should pay my respects."

Milsy's reply was bland, vague and entirely true, though not in the fashion that Korben assumed.

"I regret that since Lady Garia's stay in Dekarran she has been very busy. She left the palace earlier and I do not know when she will return, Master Korben. As you know the King is very anxious for her safety after recent incidents and he would prefer to keep her movements vague. I hope you understand."

Korben nodded. "There has been much rumor in the palace and I have noted the men who guard the corridor. A pity that we cannot even walk by ourselves within the King's palace any more."

"I don't think that you are in any danger, Master Korben. However, any who wear the colors of Blackstone may be, so some of those men are protecting myself and my maid Bursila. It is a nuisance but we are getting used to it."

"You have my sympathies, Mistress. Now, as to business. Am I interrupting something? Master Tarvan?"

Tarvan smiled. "Milsy has become my assistant in the laboratory, Master Korben." The scribe nodded. "We have been working together on some matters concerning the Great Clock, but your own presence here is more important, I deem. Come, let us all sit at the table and you may discover how much these two have learned. I myself have been teaching both to read and write, though I am no scribe."

Both Korben's eyebrows rose. "Then let us begin. It seems I may not have as much work to do as I first feared."

* * *

Milsy put her knife and fork down on her empty lunch plate and leaned back.

"Master Korben used our morning up completely," she remarked to Tarvan. "Had you planned to continue this afternoon with our clock redesign?"

He shook his head. "I had not, Milsy. If it were to be a new design, as when we made the steam engines, then it would make sense to continue planning. However, we must needs adapt an existing design and we cannot do that until we know what the existing design looks like."

"As you say. It is frustrating, is it not? I have so many ideas in my head and I know not what to do with any of them! Have you had any further thoughts about obtaining a second clock?"

Tarvan's smile was rueful. "Aye, but since we have not yet received the first it will be difficult to ask for another. Remember also that it will be the King who pays for it. Master Parrel presently funds our electrical work but this is of a different kind."

"Perhaps the Queen may help. She knows what we intend and I am told she is clever with the use of coin."

"Aye, but only to save it, Milsy. I cannot answer this riddle."

"Let me think on the matter over my nap. Oh. I may not be available much this afternoon, I have to make a visit to the Wardrobe."

"As you say and I wish you joy of it. If that is so then I will take the opportunity to go to our Guildhall and beg some more supplies of copper, brass and solder. We will need them once the clock is delivered. I will join you after the evening meal if you have no objection."

"As you wish." She rose. "I had better go outside before the servants come for the food trays. Until later."

After her nap, taking her customary pel with the Queen, she was asked, "What are you doing this afternoon, dear? Are you going to visit Rosilda?"

"Aye, Ma'am. I am told that I may choose some clothing from the Wardrobe for myself, by your leave."

"Of course, dear! Now that people are comfortable seeing you about the palace you will need your own attire." Terys considered. "Remember that the Wardrobe must clothe all who live and work in the palace, dear, and be careful what you choose. The attire of a servant is no longer suitable for you but if you choose gowns that are too fine you might be mistaken for Garia..." Terys smiled, "... when you are not supposed to be mistaken for her."

"I understand, Ma'am."

"Oh, and before you go to the Wardrobe, Bursila will take you to the Salon. Your hair is beginning to grow out and it will look better trimmed and shaped, I deem. Bursila, you may attend too. Whenever your mistress attends the Salon then you may enjoy the service at the same time."

Bursila curtseyed. "Thank you, Ma'am."

Back in their own suite Milsy asked, "Tell me about the Salon, Bursila. I knew there was one in the castle but I never had anything to do with it."

"It is a place where the appearance of anyone who lives or works in the palace may be looked after, Mistress," Bursila explained. "I have been there on several occasions with Lady Merizel and we had our hair trimmed and styled. It is also possible to have your fingernails and toenails trimmed and shaped and your face cleaned, eyebrows shaped, that kind of thing. Men also attend to have themselves shaved, if they do not do it for themselves, or to have beards trimmed and the like."

"Ah, I see. That will be interesting, I deem."

"It can be very relaxing, Mistress. Only... Mistress Shelda sometimes does not take note of what you are saying, Mistress. I am told there was a scene when Lady Garia first presented herself there and the Queen had to intervene."

"Oh, really? I'll be extra careful then, Bursila. Is there anything we should do before we go?"

Bursila looked Milsy up and down. "I believe that you are presentable, Mistress."

This time they only had Skanik and Taren for escort as Bursila led the way through the rear portions of the palace towards the Salon. This seemed to be a long, narrow room with chairs for patrons facing a row of mirrors, two of which were occupied by women servants having their hair trimmed, Milsy thought they should stop here but Bursila continued through to another chamber, Milsy and their escorts following.

This second chamber was furnished much better and the seating looked more comfortable. Standing watching them appear was a plump woman in a lavender dress with a white apron over it. Bursila bobbed a curtsey.

"Mistress Shelda, this is Mistress Milsy, recently become a resident in the palace. The Queen has asked that you attend her hair and perhaps any other needs."

"Of course! If the Queen requests, I must oblige. And yourself? Does the Queen desire that you should be treated too?" The woman peered at Bursila. "I know you, do I not? But you came with a noblewoman before, I deem."

"If it please you, I am Bursila, formerly maid to Lady Merizel, daughter of Baron Kamodar of South Reach. The circumstances through which I am now the maid of Mistress Milsy are complicated and involve the attack on Lady Garia in Dekarran castle."

"Ah, I thought I knew you. Very well, I will find someone to attend you as well. Another attack on Lady Garia? Perhaps I should learn more."

"I regret I am not able to divulge more without the permission of the King, Mistress Shelda. The King is so concerned that any who wear the colors of Blackstone must needs travel with an escort, even within the palace."

Shelda turned and stared at the two guardsmen. "This is a most unusual circumstance," she told them. "Even Her Majesty does not come to the Salon attended by guardsmen! Are you going to get in my way?"

Taren replied, "Mistress, our job is to try and stay out of everybody's way, but we must be near enough to assist Mistress Milsy should anything happen. If we could stand at the back, one each end of the chamber?"

Shelda considered this briefly. "Very well." Her attention turned to Bursila. "It seems you must needs be attended in here with your mistress, to avoid having guardsmen all over my chambers. Sit and I will summon someone."

Without waiting for a response Shelda walked out of the far door and returned with an assistant. There then followed much directing and organizing which left Milsy glad for the first time that she had been promoted and was not involved. She climbed into a free chair and made herself comfortable, Bursila reluctantly sitting in the next chair. Shelda came and wrapped a cape around Milsy to catch any cut hair.

"There! Now I may attend you, Mistress." Shelda combed Milsy's hair, looking at it critically. "You wear the style of Lady Garia but it has not been cut very well. Did you not use the services of the Salon when you were in Dekarran?"

This woman already knows where I come from! I had better answer very carefully.

A place like this is going to be seething with gossip. One wrong word and there could be trouble.

"I regret that I was unable to," Milsy replied briefly. "As I said, the circumstances were unusual."

"Humph. You wish me to make it presentable? Your face is not the same shape as that of Lady Garia, mayhap you could choose a different style? That would mean letting it grow out, of course, but I would make it tidy it for you today."

Milsy pretended to think. "No, I think I would like to keep it the same as Lady Garia for now, please. It seems to be the fashionable style among us younger women."

"As you desire, Mistress. And do you use karzal-nut oil? It seems to make a considerable difference to the appearance."

"If you please, Mistress Shelda. We do have a bottle of the oil but there is not much left. Can you supply us with more or do I have to ask someone else? I am not familiar with how things work in the palace."

"Of course, Mistress, I shall arrange it for you. Now, if you would hold your head steady."

Shelda clipped, trimmed and shaped, making Milsy's hair look more like that of Garia than Bursila had ever managed. To her surprise Milsy found that she liked the finished style, particularly once the oil had been applied, and resolved to keep it once her acting days were ended.

As Shelda was brushing the stray hairs from Milsy's cape she asked, "Mistress, are you by chance related to Lady Garia? There is a strong resemblance."

"Since I have been in the palace a number of people have asked me that, Mistress Shelda, but no, we are not related. It is just a coincidence, that is all. Sometimes it is a nuisance when I am mistaken for her."

"I can understand that. Yet you work for her, is that not so?"

"Well..." How do I explain this away? With the truth, I suppose. "It is true that I am a retainer of House Blackstone but I am presently working with Guildsman Tarvan. Since the royal party returned from Dekarran I have not seen much of Lady Garia. She is too busy these days, I deem."

"As you say! I doubt that there are many who have seen her since she returned, especially if the King is anxious over her safety. Does she not resent the restrictions put upon her?"

"The same restrictions are put on me, Mistress Shelda, and yes, they can be unwelcome at times. But, if you consider the alternative, I am content."

"The alternative, Mistress?"

"Being kidnapped, injured or killed."

"Oh! How frightening! Aye, Mistress, you are right. I shall never look at guardsmen the same way again."

Shelda removed the cape, shook it and stalked off into the other chamber, shouting for someone to attend her. After some fuss and a little delay she returned with a small bottle of oil which she handed to Milsy.

"There! Does your maid know how and when it is to be applied? Of course she does, if you already have some. And your maid is also finished. You will need to come back about every two to three weeks to keep your style in shape. I find that the shorter styles which Lady Garia has started among some of the palace staff need more attention than our traditional longer hair, don't you agree?"

"I do, Mistress Shelda, and thank you for seeing me. Come, Bursila, we have much to do this afternoon."

With Taren leading the way the small party headed across the width of the palace to the Wardrobe. There was a small antechamber with an office to one side and two changing rooms. Bursila led Milsy into the office while the two guardsmen waited in the antechamber. Seated inside behind a desk was a noblewoman who looked up as they entered.

"Lady Garia! Welcome again to the Wardrobe department. What can we do for you today?"

"Um," Milsy said, "I regret I am not Lady Garia but one of her retainers. I am Milsy, who was invited to join House Blackstone in Dekarran. Recently the Queen granted me the status of Freewoman."

The woman gave Milsy a piercing glance before nodding briefly. "Ah, I see. I thought... No matter. I am Baroness Dyenna, Mistress of the Wardrobe. Have you visited us since you arrived at the palace?"

"I have not, My Lady, but I believe Rosilda has already made a tally in my name. She has been making a working dress for me suitable for use in the laboratory."

"The... laboratory? I have heard the word, it seems, but I do not know what or where that might be."

"Oh! It is what Lady Garia calls the big workshop which is part of the chambers of the Royal Questor. I am working in there under the guidance of Guildsman Tarvan on his electrical experiments."

Another nod. "In that case... you desire to consult Rosilda? Or could another satisfy your needs?"

Again Milsy pretended to think. It might be interesting one day to be able to just come and see what was on offer but right now the situation was tricky. For today it would be safer to have someone who already knew what was going on.

"My Lady, I believe that I would prefer Rosilda if she is available. She is aware that I intended to come here this afternoon to collect the dress."

"As you say, Lady Garia. Oh!" Dyenna stammered, "Your pardon, I meant to say Mistress... Milsy, was it?"

"Milsy, aye, that is correct."

"If you would wait here, I will go and find her."

Dyenna stood and left the office. Milsy looked around at the careful piles of documents on the desk and the rows and rows of little cubical holes which lined three of the walls. Many held more little piles of parchment and Milsy thought that there might be one per person. Only... there weren't that many people working or living in the palace, surely?

Dyenna appeared with Rosilda who collected a set of documents from one of the filing holes. The seamstress led the way out of the office and through a side door into a courtyard which was filled with wooden huts.

"Rosilda, I noticed a lot of little storage holes in that office. The palace doesn't employ that many people, surely?"

"Indeed not, Mistress. The storage holes to the right of Lady Dyenna's desk hold our measurements and what garments we have been issued while those behind us and to our left presently hold the measurements and location of every garment, item of footwear, hat or accessory which is in the wardrobe and not presently issued." She half-smiled. "Before Lady Dyenna started, just after the rains ended, many of the other holes were used for residents and staff including many who had long since died. We spent several weeks clearing the old information and materials from the wardrobe and we have not yet finished."

"Interesting. Is this something I need to find out about?"

"As you wish, Mistress, though I believe, knowing Lady Garia's activities, you will probably be too busy to concern yourself with the tribulations of the Wardrobe. If you would enter this hut, please."

Just inside the doorway was a cobbler seated at a last and surrounded by his tools, working on some kind of boot. He attempted to struggle to his feet when Milsy entered.

"My Lady! Excuse me, I -"

Milsy held up a hand. "I'm sorry, I am not Lady Garia, despite appearances. I have only recently discovered that we look very similar. I'm Milsy and I work for Lady Garia."

The man looked confused. "If you say so, My L- Ah, I mean, Milsy. Or should that be Mistress Milsy? I do not know you."

"I am a freewoman, aye, but made so only recently. I would not be offended if you just use my name. You are?"

The man bowed. "I am Steben, Jord's son, Mistress. I remember now," he said as he caught sight of Rosilda, "I provided a pair of shoes for you recently, though without testing them for fit. If you would spare a few moments for me to draw your pattern?"

"Of course, Steben."

The cobbler produced a rectangle of parchment and made Milsy stand on it in her bare feet. He then drew round the feet to get the shape before taking some further measurements of each foot which he noted inside the shapes. When he had finished he smiled at her and bowed.

"There, Mistress. If we are asked to make any further footwear for you it will be more likely to fit you properly. Do you need anything from me today?"

Milsy looked at Rosilda, who shrugged. She turned back to Steben.

"Not at present, Steben. I am here to look at... the gowns, I deem."

She gestured at the rails of gowns which filled most of the rest of the hut.

Steben smiled. "Then I will wish you the joy of the hunt, Mistress."

There were three rails with a narrow passage between each. All were stuffed with gowns of all shapes, sizes, styles, fabrics and colors. Part of Milsy was eager to rifle the rails and find out what was there but another part quailed.

"I'm not sure," she told Rosilda. "What do I do? Can I just go and select anything I like? How many should I have? There seems to be so many to choose from!"

"Not so many, Mistress. The gowns and dresses are arranged roughly by size and function. You will discover that most will not fit you, will be of colors or materials you do not desire or are of styles which do not suit you." She looked down at the documents in her hand. "If you would follow me, I will show you the area where the garments which are more likely to fit you will hang."

As Rosilda led the way between the racks Milsy asked, "How many should I need, then?"

"Perhaps five day gowns, Mistress, and three evening gowns." Rosilda lowered her voice. "If I may suggest, Lady Garia has a preference for green attire so it would be better if you avoided that color."

"As it happens I like blue so there shouldn't be a problem, but it might be an opportunity to try some other colors. Where will I try them on? Is there a mirror anywhere in here?"

"We have two changing rooms beside the office, Mistress. Once you have selected some gowns we will go back and find out if any alterations are required."

At the end of an exhausting bell of hunting the three women emerged from the hut, each with five gowns over one arm. Milsy was not expected to take all of them but there was a wide variety of colors and styles to discover what suited her height and proportions. They went back to the changing rooms and began the second equally exhausting part of the operation, that of trying everything on.

"Whatever made me think that yellow was a good color for a gown?"

"It depends on your hair and skin color, Mistress," Rosilda replied. "Princess Elizet often wore yellow, though I admit in paler tones than this. I will return it to the rails... or perhaps I will ask Lady Dyenna if it should be retired. I doubt any will wear such a bright color these days, the fashion is for much subtler tones."

Several more were discarded and Milsy was left with seven day gowns in various colors plus three evening gowns, two suitable for wear outside the palace. The three trooped into the office where Dyenna was absorbed in some calculations.

"If you would just permit me one moment... where was I? Ah. Seventeen... eighteen, nineteen."

She made a mark on a paper list and looked up.

"Lady Garia! You have found all that you require? I have your tally here."

She picked up a thick wad of documents and held out her other hand to Rosilda for the garment tags.

Rosilda said, "Milady, this is not Lady Garia but her retainer Milsy. I have added the new gowns to her tally."

"Oh!" Dyenna looked embarrassed. "Of course, how silly of me. You do look like Lady Garia, I deem. Are you not related in some way?"

Milsy replied, "Not that we have been able to discover, Milady. The resemblance is unfortunate."

"As you say."

"I have been choosing some different styles of gowns to make the difference more apparent," Milsy added as an explanation.

"How thoughtful of you, Mistress."

Dyenna stood, placing Garia's tally back on the table, then took Milsy's tally from Rosilda and searched for the filing hole to store it.

"Ah, My Lady," Rosilda said. "You are about to put Mistress Milsy's tally in Lady Garia's place."

"I am? Oh! Whatever is the matter with me this afternoon! You are correct, Rosilda." She moved to another part of the wall. "There, that is the right place, is it not? I will see that your chosen gowns are delivered sometime today, Mistress."

Back in the antechamber Rosilda curtseyed. "If that is all, Mistress, I will leave you to find your own way back."

"Thank you, Rosilda, for your time. I can come back sometime?"

"Surely, whenever your needs change, Mistress."

"Then we must go. Come on, boys! I want to go to the laboratory before we go back to the suite."

On the way through the corridors, Milsy remarked, "I thought you said that Shelda was going to be the problem, Bursila."

"I did, Mistress, and that was because of problems that Lady Garia had there when she first went. I believe that the Queen was asked to intervene and that may have made her more careful since." Bursila shook her head. "I do not know what was wrong with Lady Dyenna, Mistress. Perhaps it is the fact that your hair is now more like that of Lady Garia than before, and you still wear one of her gowns."

"Oh! Aye, that had never occurred to me, Bursila. I should have worn one of the new ones and returned the old one to our chambers with the others. That may have helped... but it may mean that we cause other confusions today."

"Mistress, I believe that it will not matter what you wear or when, with that hairstyle you are certain to be mistaken for Lady Garia in the future."

"I think you are right but of course that was the original idea, was it not? It is something I will just have to accept, I deem." She smiled. "Mayhap we can have some fun when Garia returns to the palace. I'm sure she will agree."

At the laboratory the door was locked and all was silent.

"Mistress, Master Tarvan said that he was going to the Guildhall this afternoon and would not join you until after the evening meal."

"Of course. I forgot. I was hoping the new clock had been delivered."

"It may have been, Mistress, but it may have arrived with the ordinary goods of the palace and be somewhere awaiting delivery."

"Oh, like a local sorting room or something? We have one of those at the castle, I was amazed anything ever went to the right person. I will just have to wait, then. Taren? I'm sorry we had to come over here, take us back to the suite, please."

"As you wish, Mistress."

Their route passed the end of the corridor that led to the Family Dining Room and it was full of servants preparing for the evening meal. There was much bowing and scraping which Milsy was careful to acknowledge. The rest of their journey to the suite was uninterrupted.

In the sitting room, seated at the table and facing the window, was the court jeweler Fulvin. In front of him was Garia's trousers and he had magnifying glass, reed, ink and parchment to hand. As Milsy entered the room he shot to his feet, startled, before spluttering with confusion.

"Guild- !" He did a double-take. "Uh, but you are not the Guildmistress! Your hair, your bearing, you are so much like her!" Fulvin calmed down and gave Milsy a bow. "I am sorry that I have invaded your chambers while you were absent, Mistress, the men outside explained that you were visiting the Wardrobe. As you may see, I have taken the opportunity to examine again this amazing device on these trousers which the Guildmistress calls a zipper. I believe that it may be possible to make one like it in time, but before I do so I must understand exactly how it works."

"Please continue, Master Fulvin. I have inspected the zipper for myself and would be interested in what you learn."

Fulvin resumed his seat and Milsy joined him. She saw that he had written many notes and diagrams with his theories of how the device operated, holding the trousers at every angle to see if there was any part or feature he had missed. As she sat down Fulvin's face became animated.

"Congratulations, Mistress Milsy, on becoming a freewoman, and congratulations again on your enrolment as Journeywoman. I have heard about your experiments with the pendulum and I feel certain that in time you will become a fine guildswoman."

"Thank you, Master Fulvin."

"Now, as to this zipper. Before the Guildmistress departed for Dekarran and the north she told us of a tool known to her people as a vertical press. I have made such a device and intend to use it to make parts for my zipper. You will note that there are very many of these teeth on each side of the zipper and it can be readily understood that such a quantity could not be made by hand."

"We-ll, it would be possible, I suppose, but you are right, of course."

"For a prototype, maybe, but the Guildmistress tells us that these items are made in countless thousands and sewn into the many clothes her people wear. Some kind of machine must exist and that is what I seek to understand. For she also tells us that most of the goods and devices her people use are made in this way and that we will soon require like machines in Palarand to serve the same purpose."

Milsy considered this. "I see what you imply, Master Fulvin. While the production of these zippers may be a useful exercise by itself, there is some underlying principle you intend to discover, is that it?"

Fulvin beamed at Milsy. "You understand perfectly, Mistress! The Guildmistress tells us her world is full of machines and it is not difficult to imagine that Anmar will have so many in future years. We must seek to learn how this may be accomplished."

Milsy gestured. "What have you discovered, then?"

Fulvin explained his notes, showing how the various parts of the zipper came together to keep the opening securely closed. While he was doing this a knock came at the door and Taren poked his head round.

"Master, Mistress, the servants are outside with the evening meal for the Baroness."

"Oh! Quickly, they must not see me in here! Master Fulvin, bring the trousers and your notes, they will require the table to be clear to put down the dishes."

Milsy grabbed the ink pot and the reed and made for the bedroom, followed closely by Bursila. Fulvin followed carrying his notes and the trousers. Once they had found somewhere to put everything safely Bursila returned to the sitting room to supervise the setting out of the table for their meal.

"Shall you stay to eat, Master Fulvin?"

"I regret I must join His Majesty this evening, Mistress. I had not realized that it was so late. If I may return tomorrow?"

"I will probably be in the laboratory tomorrow, Master Fulvin, but you are welcome to return here if that is what is required."

He waved his wad of notes. "I think I have enough for now, I must go away and consider my next step. For each of these different parts - only three, it is true - I must make a suitable cutter for the press. For the slide it appears that I may require several tools to bend the cut blank into the correct shape. I deem that is how the original is made. Those will take me some time to design and make."

Fulvin departed and the two women settled down to enjoy their meal. Once the dishes had been collected Milsy waited impatiently for the appearance of Tarvan. Her twitchy manner was apparent to Bursila.

"Mistress, you do not need me to remind you but you would be better served by waiting calmly. Master Tarvan will no doubt appear when it is time for him to appear and not before, so you are wasting time and effort which could be better used elsewhere."

Milsy realized what she was doing and relaxed onto the settee.

"You're right, Bursila. When I worked in the castle there were very few occasions when there wasn't something that had to be done so I am unused to waiting for things to happen. Tell me, how does Garia manage? I'm sure she said something about training the mind but I do not remember the details."

"You are right, Mistress, Lady Garia has brought some mental exercises from Earth which she uses to great effect. It enables her to remain calm when faced with great stress, but I doubt not that they are of benefit at other times also."

"That's true! I remember her mentioning them when we were there but I don't think she gave any details, though. I'll ask her when she returns. What do you propose we do instead, then?"

"Mistress, there are always the Guild rules and regulations."

Milsy pulled a face. "They can wait, I deem. What about all those gowns I received from the wardrobe? If they had arrived then we could spend some time organizing the rails in the dressing room."

"They had already arrived, Mistress, before we returned here. They were placed in the dressing room and I hung them up while you were in the toilet."

Milsy pulled another face. "You are not helping!" She stood. "Perhaps I had better go and see what has been delivered. Didn't somebody say that they occasionally made mistakes?"

A knock came at the door, it opened, and Tarvan entered. The tension completely drained out of Milsy the moment he appeared.

"Ooh! Just in time! I was beginning to wonder why you were delayed."

He smiled at her. "Pleased to see me, then?"

"Of course! Come in and make yourself comfortable."

"I cannot remain long, Milsy. I have spent all day at the Guildhall and have not eaten yet."

"What! Bursila, can we ask for food for Tarvan? To be sent up, I mean?"

"Why, Mistress, I do not know. If you would permit me to ask those outside."

Tarvan said, "Do not trouble yourself, Bursila. As I said, I cannot remain here long, only long enough to tell you that the clock will arrive tomorrow morning and will be delivered directly to the laboratory."

"That's good! We'll be able to get to work straight away."

"Not so good, Milsy. First we will have to remove the working parts from an ornate wooden case. We were given a clock that was about to be delivered to Lord Tafren of West Bend." Tarvan showed disgust. "I think the clockmakers desire to cause strife between Lord Tafren and the King's Court, with the Metalsmiths in the middle. Master Parrel is considering what reply he may make once he knows what all parties think of the business. My own thought is that he will immediately inform the King."

"Politics! At least as a servant I did not have to think about any of that nonsense."

"True, but you are no longer a servant. You will soon be a guildswoman and, even if you do not do anything political yourself, you will have to be aware of what is happening around you."

"As you say. But why must you go? You can eat here, I am sure."

"I am wanted for a meeting elsewhere in the palace, Milsy. A... private meeting, if you may understand me. One that the Guildmistress would attend, were she in residence. Have no fear, I will find sufficient to eat this evening before I retire."

"Oh, the Council of the Two Worlds?"

Tarvan winced. "Do not repeat that name outside these chambers, I beg you. And now, I should go. They will be waiting for me." His eyes fixed Milsy with a peculiar look that went right through her to the core. "There is one final matter I must needs attend to before I leave and it is something that I ought to have done long since. Bursila, by your leave?"

The sudden switch threw Milsy. She looked at Bursila, who nodded gravely. Tarvan reached up and gently took Milsy's face between his hands, tilted it and kissed her soundly upon the lips. When the stars subsided and the roaring in her ears faded away he had gone. Milsy looked at Bursila again.

"Did you know that he was going to do that?"

"I did not know exactly what, Mistress, but I suspected something of the sort. Do you object?"

"Oh, no, Bursila, I do not object at all!"

Milsy has an unexpected meeting with the Royal Astronomer and receives an unusual request. A chance meeting in the corridor causes her to consider her future. Later in the laboratory Milsy and Tarvan begin to dismantle the provided clock, discovering that the Clockmakers' Guild have not made their task easy.

What Milsy Did

by Penny Lane

12 - Mechanisms and Arrangements

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 (c) 2016 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

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Bursila emerged from her closet to find Milsy staring moodily out of the big bedroom window.

"Good morning, Mistress."

Milsy turned, her expression uncertain.

"Do you think that he is serious, Bursila? Am I reading something into his actions that is not there? I do not know the way a man's mind functions, it is not like ours at all."

Bursila joined her charge at the window. "Mistress, I am certain that Tarvan's demonstration of his affection for you was honestly given. It is true that you must needs tread your chosen path carefully but I deem that Master Tarvan conceals no ill intent for you, only the natural desire of a man for a woman for whom he has respect." The maid regarded Milsy carefully. "Have you slept well, Mistress? I trust you have not spent your night wondering whether you may trust your guildsman."

"What?" Milsy was still distracted. "Oh, no, Bursila. I slept well, thank you, but since waking I have thought of nothing but... that kiss."

"As well you might, Mistress. Shall I pull the rope for water?"

"As you wish, Bursila." Milsy sighed. "Why do men have to make life so complicated?"

"I doubt not that many men consider that women make their lives complicated, Mistress, not the other way round," Bursila observed. "They are mostly simple creatures, after all, and they see the world as a simple place. We know it is not so, do we not?"

"It seemed simple enough to me when I worked in the castle kitchens! Do this, do that, do what you are told. I know differently now. Let's get ourselves dressed, Bursila. I wonder if we'll be able to have a look at that clock this morning?"

"I could not say, Mistress, but perhaps it will give you an opportunity to wear your new dress this morning."

Milsy brightened. "Indeed! At least I would be prepared for any task that Tarvan may require today."

The first knock at the door after their breakfast things had been cleared was Tord.

"Mistress, there is a footman here. He requests the presence of yourself... not the Baroness, as it were, but you, to attend a meeting with Master Tarvan and Master Parrel in a room in the front of the palace."

"Oh. Is this a normal occurrence? I can go, of course, but I need to know if I am going to cause any problems."

"It is quite normal, Mistress. At the front of the palace are rooms set aside for meetings with those from the city and from beyond. Even the King and Queen use them for such meetings."

Milsy considered. "If I may have a moment or two, then, I will come. No doubt you will provide an escort?"

"No doubt, Mistress."

The footman stared at Milsy when she appeared in the corridor and stared again when two of the guardsmen joined Milsy and Bursila as they walked through the corridors. Their route led them to the very front of the palace complex to a meeting room with a window that overlooked the front yard. Inside, Tarvan and Parrel were accompanied by a man wearing a black robe that billowed as he moved.

Parrel bowed to Milsy. "Mistress, please join us. If I may introduce Master Gerdas, presently acting head of the Society of Questors but here today in his own capacity as Palarand's Royal Astronomer. Our subject this morning is clocks, about which you have an interest."

"Me? Well, aye, that is true, but... should you not be speaking to those of the Clockmakers' Guild? I am but a lowly Journeywoman who has barely begun to understand her craft."

Parrel smiled at Gerdas. "Did I not tell you she was modest? Yet within that pretty head lies a brain that discovered the workings of the Great Clock merely by observing it for a bell." He turned to Milsy. "There are considerations of a political nature which mean that I may not consult the clockmakers at this time, Milsy. With your help, I intend to provide them with such an argument they will not be able to deny us. Master Gerdas has his own reasons for desiring our help and he is here today to explain all to you."

To Milsy Gerdas looked old but there was nothing wrong with his intellect, judging by the spark of interest in his eyes. He was balding and was probably the tallest man she had seen. She knew roughly what a Questor was but his title meant little.

She curtseyed. "Master Gerdas. Master Parrel speaks the truth but I do not consider myself an expert on the subject of clocks. If you would pardon me, I do not know what it is you do."

"Why, Mistress, I study the skies above, especially when it is dark. Apart from the natural curiosity I have in such matters it is necessary to determine the exact timings of the various moons, planets and stars so that our days, weeks, months and years may be correctly named and numbered. If we did not do so, then the names and numberings would drift with the years and none would know when anything had happened."

Milsy frowned. A day was a day, surely?

"I do not understand, Master. Surely the days just follow one another? If you could explain a little more?"

"Surely, Mistress. I am not surprised that you do not understand, since very few do. If I may give a recent example."

Gerdas then explained that the orbits of the various heavenly bodies didn't take exact numbers of days or even bells but were inconvenient fractions which built up errors over time. His job, and that of many other astronomers scattered about Alaesia, was to determine the exact discrepancies and then agree on adjustments to keep the common dating arrangements sensible. This year, for example, at Midwinter's Night there would be an extra day inserted to account for leftover time in the orbit of Kalikan.

"If I may add, Mistress, this will ensure that your Calls will still occur on the day of month that you are used to. If we did not do this, all would gradually change from time to time. You would still be governed by Kalikan but the dates would move from year to year."

"Oh, I see."

It had never occurred to Milsy that the length of time that Kalikan went round was not an exact number of days but after consideration she realized that it would be extremely unlikely for that to happen. Adjustments would always be required from time to time.

"Master," she continued, "what you require is an accurate clock to measure these differences, is that so? Do not the Clockmakers provide such for you?"

"It is so, Mistress, but my problem is greater than that. If I may demonstrate on the blackboard. Do you understand the Garian numbers?"

"I have been shown them, Master Gerdas, but I have not made much use of them as yet. If you could proceed slowly."

Gerdas explained how the current system of plotting planet and star positions was complex and unwieldy while the system which Lady Garia had told him about, which was used on Earth, seemed to be so much more efficient. On corresponding with a number of his associates in other countries they had all decided to switch to the Earth system at the same time as standardizing on the Garian numbers.

Milsy frowned. This sounded familiar. Hadn't somebody mentioned something recently about sixty minutes in an hour and sixty seconds in a minute?

"You need to make a clock that divides up the day in the same way," she said. "That's what all this is about, isn't it?"

Gerdas beamed. "Parrel, she is every part as clever as you said she was. Mistress, you have it exactly. We wondered if you could design such a clock."

"Me?" Milsy was astonished. "I cannot do such a thing! Master Parrel, tell him! Though I am named Journeywoman I have yet no skills at metalwork at all."

Parrel smiled. "We would not expect you to make such a clock, Milsy. The word that Gerdas used was design. Tarvan has told me of your ideas for the clock you requested from the Clockmakers and I deem you have more knowledge of such matters than anyone outside that guild. If you would think about how such a clock may be made that would satisfy Gerdas, we will build it for him."

"Then..." Milsy was still bewildered. "You expect much of me, Master Parrel. I will do as you ask but I must needs take time to understand what I am doing. I will need to inspect the clock we have requested before I may attempt what you ask."

"That is what we anticipated, Milsy. Your clock awaits you in the laboratory and you may begin your investigations as soon as we have finished here."

"As you wish, Master Parrel." She turned to Gerdas. "Master, I must needs know exactly what it is you require from your clock. You must tell me of your craft that I may better understand how you measure the movements in the skies."

"Of course, Mistress. If I may invite you to join me one night when I observe the sky, you would learn as much as there is to tell."

"Observe the sky? How do you do that?"

"It needs but a high place where the surrounding buildings do not obscure parts of the sky, Mistress. In addition it should be a place which is not in the line of smoke from chimneys. Naturally, we may not do anything about clouds but the rest can be managed. I reside in such a place some five marks from the palace, to the west." He thought. "I have used one of the towers in the palace to observe the stars, Mistress, on that occasion Lady Garia accompanied us, as did the King. If you feel unable to come to my residence perhaps we may make some arrangement here."

"It's a thought, Master Gerdas, but I don't think anyone would object to me coming to your residence." She raised an eyebrow at Parrel and received a nod in return. "If I may ask for some details about what you would prefer from your new clock."

"Ah, well, Mistress, the first thing is the bells. Every clock in Palarand presently tells the time of day by chiming bells, as you well know. It requires each of us to understand the bell sequences so that we may know what time it is." He waved a hand. "No great difficulty, any child soon learns the sounds as they grow, I deem. However, that means that we may only know which bell it is and any smaller division must be made using sand-droppers. Such methods are not really precise enough to mark the positions of planets and stars during the night."

Milsy frowned. "I see your problem, Master Gerdas. You line up a star against a marker, I am guessing, and you would like to know the exact time that happens."

"Just so, Mistress! Now all in this room have seen the watch which Lady Garia brought from Earth with her. That device does not chime but shows the time on what she calls a dial. Even tiny divisions of the day or night may thus be identified easily."

"Oh, of course! But cannot we simply put a dial on one of the clocks which the clockmakers produce? I'm sure that would be less difficult than designing a whole new set of wheels and cogs."

"As you say, Mistress, but that brings me to the second problem. As you also know, our bells begin at the moment of dawn and chime throughout the day. When we reach sunset the bells are reset to chime through the night. Unfortunately sunrise and sunset occur at different times every day of the year and I must needs make some complicated adjustments to my measurements to allow for this. The use of the Garian numbers has eased my task but were I to use a clock made in the fashion of Lady Garia's watch I would not need to make any adjustment at all."

"I believe I understand, Master Gerdas. Lady Garia's watch does not concern itself with sunrise or sunset but with noon and midnight only, which never vary. What you ask is for something made in the fashion of the watch but numbering an Anmar day instead of that of Earth."

Gerdas beamed at her. "You understand perfectly, Mistress! Parrel, you are right, your young lady is a treasure who you are right to adopt."

"As you say, Gerdas," Parrel agreed. "But it was the Queen who discovered Milsy, not I. Our guild was merely fortunate enough to be available when help was required, and we will take our responsibility seriously. I doubt not that between us we can devise some clock which will be suitable for your purposes." He considered for a moment. "It would be more than one clock, would it not? You would desire your colleagues in other lands to make use of the same principles of measurement, I deem."

"A small number only, Parrel, and all made to the same design, of course. That way we would know that all our measurements would be made the same way."

Tarvan ventured, "Or all might contain the same error, Master Gerdas."

"True, but then we can apply a standard correction, can we not?" He beamed at Milsy again. "Not that I expect there to be many errors, of course."

"Then we are settled," Parrel said. "We will work as fast as we may but of course there are other demands on the time of all of us, I deem. We will keep you informed of progress or delay."

"That is all I would expect from the guilds of Palarand, Parrel." He rose and bowed. "If I may be excused, I have a meeting with Guildmaster Hurdin concerning a special lens he is grinding for me. I am expected for lunch at the Guildhall of the Glassmakers today."

"Of course. We are building the framework for the new telescope in which that lens will be fitted. If I may show you out?"

* * *

As Milsy and Tarvan walked through the corridors they were mostly silent with their thoughts but eventually she had had enough.

"Tarvan, this is all too much! Three weeks ago I was just a kitchen worker and today I am being asked to design clocks! Clocks, I would mention, which are unlike normal Palarand clocks but of an advanced design, to be used by all the astronomers of Alaesia! This is almost like some kind of dream... or nightmare!"

"Let me ask you just one question," Tarvan responded. "Do you think that you could actually design such as clock as they request? Honestly, now."

"Well, of course!" she said without thinking. "The existing design already has a wheel that turns once a day, we merely have to..." Her eyes narrowed. "That was sneaky, Tarvan! You're trying to appeal to my curiosity. You know how much trouble I have had adapting to everything that has happened to me since I left Dekarran, I just don't need any more to think about."

"But you are adapting, Milsy. Master Parrel obviously thinks you are capable of all that he asks and I must agree. Do not worry, we will not ask you to do more than you can bear and we will be sure to take very good care of you while you are doing it."

She stopped in the corridor and turned to him, annoyed. "Do you mean that? Are you perhaps just treating me like some prize dranakh that you wish to get the most out of? Is that all I mean to you?"

The two guardsmen looked at Bursila who merely shrugged. They then turned their attentions to each end of the corridor, ignoring the conversation happening between them but still within sound of it. Bursila stood back, knowing that young people had to find their own way through their inevitable emotional conflicts.

"Milsy," Tarvan said, getting down on one knee and placing his right hand over his heart. "I would do no such thing as that! On my honor as a Guildsman of Palarand, I swear to you that I, and the guild I represent, have only your best interests in mind. We would not consider you as merely a beast of burden, to be used as we saw fit. Master Parrel sees what the Queen saw, a person whose many talents were barely noticed in the kitchens where she worked and he wants to correct that injustice. Myself... I want to help you be the best that you can. Maybe I also have a personal interest but I would never let that interfere with what I saw as my duty."

Milsy was embarrassed. "Rise, Tarvan, please. This isn't the best place to be having such a discussion as this. Let us go to the Questor's quarters where we can talk about this in private."

Tarvan stood and the five carried on in an awkward silence. This lasted just two more intersections before they almost collided with four guards coming around the corner. Milsy gasped since two of them were women. All four automatically saluted Milsy.

"My Lady! We have not seen you in -" The older of the two women paused as she took a good look at Milsy, suddenly realizing that the latter was not whom she had assumed. "A thousand apologies! You are not who I thought you to be!"

Milsy gave them a reassuring smile. "That has happened to me a lot since I arrived at the palace. I am told that I greatly resemble Lady Garia, which of course is true. I am Milsy and I work for the Baroness. I did not know that there were women in the Palace Guard."

"Aye, we are by way of experiment to see if it is possible for a woman to manage some of the same duties as a guardsman. Where the Baroness shows us the way we must needs try and follow. I am Danisa and this is Heldra, two of the four who have so far given the King our oath." Danisa gave Milsy a quick glance, noticing the sash. "You are of Blackstone, then? It seems her household is growing."

"Aye, I am the first, it seems, and I will soon become a journeywoman in Master Tarvan's guild. What of yourself? Can you use that sword?"

"Aye, of course, else I would not wear it! We are equal to many of the men in our sword work and Heldra can even hit a target with a longbow." One of the men with Danisa shifted and she thumped her chest again. "If you would excuse us, we must resume our duties." She nodded respectfully. "Mistress."

Milsy watched as the four walked away. "Lady Garia inspires women even to become warriors!" she murmured.

"Aye," Tarvan agreed. "Though it was inevitable once they saw her in action on the mat. Danisa is larger than many of His Majesty's men and stronger, having worked in the kitchens all her life."

"I knew some like that in Dekarran, though I doubt any would trust them with a sword."

Their route led them to the other door to the laboratory and the five entered, Milsy finding herself beside the furnace.

"Do you want us to get everything going as usual?"

"Leave that for now," Tarvan replied. "Come and look at the clock."

On one of the benches stood a tall rectangular case of carved wood, with fretwork cutouts on every side at top and bottom. There was nothing to indicate that it was a device of any kind, though when Milsy walked round the other side the upper part had a window of two panes of glass each about two thumbs by four. Through the glass could be seen an intricately decorated sheet of brass with cutouts making a number of toothed wheels partly visible.

"That's it?"

"Indeed. If you look below the glass, on the left side, you will find a small lever which opens the front."

The lever was almost invisible and was presumably designed not to detract from the richly decorated and inlaid panel. She slid the tab down and the front hinged open.

"That's beautiful! Look at the amount of work that has gone into producing this engraving. It seems a pity to pull such a piece of art apart."

"From a smith's point of view, all that is merely extra work, Milsy. None of that decoration will have any effect on the functioning of the clock but will add to the healthy profit the Clockmakers would have extracted from Lord Tafren." He gestured. "It also makes the clock a piece of furniture suitable to be set in Lord Tafren's main hall, to be admired by his friends, family and guests. Most of our existing clocks, of course, are like the Great Clock of the palace, to be heard but never seen. These small clocks are something new."

"As you say. But, still, the time may only be learned when the bells are struck. This is only a box of wood where I am guessing that an Earth clock would have some kind of circular disk on it to show the time, which would be known whenever someone looked at it."

Tarvan nodded. "That is true, and that is what Master Gerdas requires. However, for our part, our first task is to learn how to take this clock apart and put it together again."

"But how?" Milsy examined what she could see of the mechanism. "How do you get the brass parts out of the box?"

"Go round the other side," Tarvan told her. "You should find another door on the other side."

Milsy did so and discovered another latch. "Oh aye!" Inside was a large hand-crank, three tiny ones and a winged winder on the inside face of the mechanism. "What are these for?"

"I'm guessing that the big crank is for winding the largest weight that keeps the clock going," Tarvan said after a moment's examination. "The little ones are probably for the bell weights and that thing," he pointed to the winged winder, "is for adjusting the time somehow. More than that I'll leave to our clock expert to discover."

"Clock expert?"

Tarvan smiled. "You, of course."

"Me? This device is completely different than that huge iron contraption in the tower! I'll have to begin again to try and find out how it works, Tarvan."

"I would wager that it is almost exactly the same, Milsy, apart from the size and what the parts are made of. The numbers are important, do you see. Every clock must needs strike the bells at the same time and that means that they must count the same way. Thus, I would expect the wheels within to have the same number of teeth as any other clock. The only difference is that the pendulum in this one is so small so ticks quicker."

"How do we get it out, then? Oh, are those... screws? That is what you called them before, I remember."

"Aye. I must stop the clock and lay it down... there. Now, watch what I do."

Tarvan first removed the rear door and then undid a number of screws on each side of the brass frame. His attempt to lift the frame out proved unsuccessful, however.

"There must be some other screws. Can you see any?"

"Aye, look there." Milsy pointed. "See? At the top of the front."

"Good. I expected them to have something concealed, to prevent tampering." He grinned at Milsy. "I would, if I were making such a thing as this."

They found four more screws, two only accessible by turning the clock over and removing the front door. Once these were taken out and carefully placed on the bench, Tarvan lifted out the mechanism. Both craned over it to examine it closely.

"What a beautiful piece of work! Metalsmiths are such marvelous artists, I deem."

"Maybe, but I doubt I would have the patience to file each and every one of those teeth, Milsy. I did enjoy building the steam engine, though. That was more suitable for one of my abilities."

"Do you expect me to make anything like this?" She gestured to the mechanism.

"No, we told you before. If it proves in time that you can make such things as this then I doubt any would object. Until then you may provide us with reasons and instructions such that others may make what you envisage."

That reminded Milsy of their argument in the corridor and she stood up, annoyance plain on her face.

"You did it again! We were supposed to be having an important discussion when we arrived here and you have distracted me."

Tarvan raised one eyebrow. "I distracted you? Or mayhap the clock distracted you."

"Humph. You knew I would see that the moment we walked into the laboratory! Is that why we entered that end instead of the other? No," she answered her own question, "I cannot accuse you of that, for we came from the front of the palace. Still, there are matters which must be settled between us before we go much further. Bursila?"

"Mistress?"

"Pel, if you would. Tarvan and I will be in the sitting room."

Bursila hesitated, then nodded. Leaving Milsy alone with Tarvan was technically against custom but she knew that nothing untoward was likely to happen.

"As you wish, Mistress."

Standing facing one another in the old Questor's sitting room, Milsy felt the fire go out of her attitude. The last thing she wanted to do was to argue with Tarvan because that might produce the wrong result.

"I doubt not that you are doing the best that you may as a Guildsman, Tarvan," she began. "I have asked to join your guild and I will take whatever instruction you would give me, you know that. It is a more personal matter that must be decided today. I know what I desire and I think I know what you would desire but the time has come to make matters plain between us."

"And what is it that you would desire, Mistress?"

"An understanding between you and me, I deem. There is little that may be arranged officially until Garia returns but I would know where I stand. What say you?"

"Ah, Milsy, if you but knew. I was tranced the moment I first saw you, when I thought you an imposter come to take the place of the Guildmistress. Of course, I now know that to be both true and false, but I would still have you as my life partner, if I may. Nothing I have seen or heard since then has changed my first impression of you."

A warm feeling washed over Milsy as Tarvan made this declaration. She felt herself grow giddy.

"Last night," she murmured, "you did something that came as a complete surprise, so much so that I did not fully appreciate it. Would you do that again, that I might be aware of what you do?"

They faced one another and he took each of her hands into his. His head bent down to meet hers and this time the kiss was much more powerful. She let go and wrapped her arms around his neck, to reach his lips more easily. In turn his arms went around her waist. When they were done she leaned her head against his chest.

"My knees feel funny," she whispered.

"Aye, parts of me feel strange, too." He gently pushed them apart. "Now that we have answered your question, we should sit so as not to alarm Bursila."

"As you say."

They deliberately chose facing chairs though they could have chosen to sit side by side on the settee.

"This is but a start," Tarvan said.

"Aye."

"There is much we have to learn about each other before our arrangement becomes official. I know little of your past and I deem you know less of mine. Have you parents, who must needs approve what we propose?"

Milsy shook her head. "I never knew who my father was. My mother... is dead. She worked in the castle kitchens." She shook her head. "I do not know who would approve any marriage of mine." There, she had said the word. "Mayhap the Queen, now that we reside under her roof."

"You are sworn to Lady Garia, are you not?"

Milsy shook her head uncertainly. "I do not know, Tarvan. My position and status here is peculiar, as you must realize."

"As you say." Tarvan considered. "A puzzle to be solved another time, I deem. In any event we may do nothing until the Guildmistress returns from the north." He smiled. "For now, we have a clock to investigate. Later, we may talk about each other."

They made small talk until Bursila returned with a tray of steaming drinks. As she set them down she asked, "Mistress, have your questions been answered?"

"Aye, Bursila, and to our complete satisfaction. Tarvan and I have decided on an arrangement, though we must needs wait until Lady Garia returns before we would make it official."

"You have my congratulations, Mistress, and if I may offer the same to Master Tarvan."

"Thank you, Bursila."

"Thank you, Bursila," Tarvan echoed, adding, "We will not abuse your trust in your charge."

* * *

"But if we just unscrew the top all the wheels will fall out. How will we know which one goes where?"

Tarvan carefully turned the clock over and peered through the cutouts in the brass back plate.

"Look! There are marks on each wheel. Some are turned so that it is difficult to see them but each one has some kind of mark. If you would fetch some paper from the study, we can make a note of the marks and that will tell us where each wheel should go."

"But the marks are only visible from the back and the wheels must be placed from the front," Milsy objected. "The clock must somehow be turned over during the refitting of the wheels."

Tarvan shrugged. "Doubtless some kind of trick by the Clockmakers' Guild to preserve their secrets. If we describe the wheels on a piece of paper, we may reverse the paper when we fit the wheels from the front."

"Of course. Paper is such useful stuff, isn't it?" She saw Tarvan's expression. "What's the matter?"

"It is still a problem. If we fit the wheels from the front, something has to hold them in place as we fit the front plate. If they are not held, the shafts will not go in the holes."

Milsy thought about what would happen when the plate was removed and then what would have to be done to replace it.

"I have an answer, why not use paper? Once you have taken the front plate off, prick through the holes into a sheet of paper and then use that to hold all in place as you put the plate back," she explained. "Since paper bends, you may place each wheel in without disturbing any others."

"But... how do we then remove the paper? Will it not get in the way?"

"Just tear it out once the front plate is screwed down. It means a fresh piece of paper each time but we have plenty. We can write the marks on the same paper."

Tarvan looked at Milsy with admiration. "See, that is what I like about you. A fresh viewpoint and the answer comes immediately. I would never have thought of doing it that way!"

"I doubt the Clockmakers do it that way either, Tarvan. Our way is easier, I deem." They grinned at each other. "I'll fetch some paper from the study."

* * *

Milsy opened the entrance door and beckoned to the guardsman standing in front of it.

"Stonald, if you could find us a footman. Since Lady Garia is not presently in the palace," they shared a grin, "we have decided that we would have our lunch here to avoid having to go back to her chambers. We'll need to change our lunch instructions."

"Of course, Mistress. Um, does that mean that you will not be joining Her Majesty for your afternoon nap?"

Milsy had forgotten about that. "Ah, no, that would not be wise, would it? We will eat here," she decided, "and then I will go back for my nap, returning here afterwards. Obviously your duty stations will be changed, perhaps you should also get a message to Tord."

Stonald thumped a salute. "As you command, Mistress."

* * *

"I noticed you did not eat next door, dear."

"No, Ma'am, we are dismantling the clock which arrived yesterday and we did not want to break our concentration, so Tarvan, Bursila and I ate in the Questor's sitting room."

"Is the work to your liking? Are you learning new things?"

"I am, Ma'am. The new miniature clocks are very complicated but are really only the same as the Great Clock of the palace made smaller. We have learned much about the making of clocks and I have learned much about the use of numbers. It has been very satisfying, Ma'am."

"That's good, dear. I was sure that you would feel happier with something interesting to stretch your imagination."

"It's funny, Ma'am. I never thought that I could do any of this when I worked in the kitchens. It would never have occurred to me."

"You cannot try something if you do not know it is there to try, dear. Now, what about your young man? Is he to your liking?"

Milsy blushed. "Ma'am, he is. We would like to make an arrangement if we deem each other suitable."

"I thought that might be the case. I have seen how you look at each other. You both have my best wishes, dear."

"Thank you, Ma'am."

* * *

Milsy looked at the sheet of paper in her hand. It was a plan of the front of the clock with the position of every wheel, support post and axle marked, together with all the symbols they had found on the wheels.

"These markings are peculiar, Tarvan. Do you think there is any logic to the way they are made?"

"Logic? I don't know, Milsy. Maybe it is just a historical thing, perhaps they have been using those markings for years and years."

"They are like a kind of numbering system, I deem. Not like the Garian numbers, nor like the ones we normally use. Look. If this is the first wheel that the escapement turns, then..."

Tarvan leaned over to look.

"Ah! Aye, you could be right, Milsy. The order of lines... ah! If you turn the markings upside down, then it becomes clear. Look!"

It wasn't like anything either had seen before but it was an organized system of numbers, with angular lines that could be scratched on the brass of the wheels.

"I'll write these out on another sheet," Milsy suggested. "This could be a useful thing to know, and this other piece of paper will be destroyed when we put the clock back together again. What must we do before then? Try to find a way to fit a solenoid in there?"

"No, Milsy. The first thing we must do is to put the clock back together again. Only then can we be sure that we will be able to cope with any changes we make."

"So... we put it together again, and then we take it apart again?"

Tarvan grinned. "Aye. Welcome to the world of the guildsman, Milsy. Once we have restored the clock we must make sure it will work properly before we can think of changing anything. It is only by careful work that we reduce the number of errors that may occur as we progress."

Milsy considered this. "As you say. Do you plan on returning the clock to the box?"

"I don't think so. It will just make it more difficult to make any changes we desire. Remember how much adjustment we had to make to get that first pendulum working? Tomorrow I will construct a simple frame of brass rods to hold it, but for tonight it will have to go back in the box."

"Then let us begin. It should not take us all afternoon."

The hardest part turned out to be the mechanism which determined which bells were to be struck, the parts of which were very fiddly. There were two identical sets, one for night and the other for day. For some reason this duplication irritated Milsy, as she knew that it wasn't necessary. There was no chance, of course, of setting the clock to the correct time but that was not essential. Finally the whole thing was temporarily pushed back into the ornate wooden box and the pendulum attached.

"It works!"

"Of course it does. We made certain that we wrote down every detail of the workings and we reassembled it properly. Now we must leave it to run overnight."

"The weights are all wound? How will we know if it is keeping time?"

"You saw me wind the weights, though I do not know if they are wound correctly. As for the time, doubtless we will discover how clocks are normally adjusted."

"If we had a dial we would know immediately."

"As you say. The reasons why we should include a dial become more insistent all the time."

Milsy straightened, discovering that her back had stiffened. She began rubbing to ease the stiffness.

"Do we know what the time is? Bursila?"

"I believe it is a quarter before the ninth bell, Mistress."

"And the evening meal is when? About the first bell of night?"

"As you say, Mistress. You have about a bell and a half before we eat."

"Then I think I wish to be excused, Tarvan. There is a hot bath tub waiting for me, I deem. I have gotten stiff standing here all day."

"It is a hazard that those of us who work at a bench face daily, Milsy. If I may be permitted to join you for your meal?"

"Of course, Tarvan. The food is already ordered and assumes your presence."

"Then I will see you later." He shook his head. "It becomes more difficult by the day to maintain that the Guildmistress resides within the palace, I deem. She is never seen leaving or returning and never visits the training halls where she was always to be found. Doubtless some see you as you pass and wonder if you are she but I do not think this deceit can continue much longer."

"As you say. I will be both relieved and saddened when it comes to an end, Tarvan. Relieved that I may then live my own life but sad that I could do no more for His Majesty." She had a thought. "When we met Master Gerdas this morning, he did not seem surprised to see me. Almost everyone who sees me as I pass, especially since I went to the Salon, thinks me to be Lady Garia whether I pretend or not. Does he already know, and how?"

"You were discussed at the council meeting last night. Several of the members already know about the substitution and it was thought best to inform the others."

"Ah, I see."

"You have become interesting to the council on your own, Milsy. Most are curious to see what you may achieve in time."

"Stop it, Tarvan! I don't need all this expectation. I'm just doing what I can for the King and that's all."

"And that is all the King asks, Milsy."

Tarvan bowed and Milsy turned and walked out of the laboratory.

* * *

Tarvan examined the bone he had been picking clean with his teeth, finding no meat left on it. He placed it back on his plate and leaned back, satisfied.

"Another excellent meal, I deem. I cannot complain about the quality of the King's kitchen at all."

"You were telling me that the Halls of the Guilds produce good meals, too."

"Aye, I did, and they do. But most of those meals are for special occasions, usually with cooks brought in from outside to oversee the cooking."

"Is there no Guild of cooks, then?"

"An interesting idea, Milsy, but there is no such Guild. Since everyone must needs cook, to provide their daily meal, there would be no benefit by making the cooking of food a matter for guildsmen."

"But... is there no training for cooks, then? No means of passing experience, methods and recipes?"

"Not that I know of." He looked at her keenly. "Is this something you wish to pursue?"

"Me? I don't think so, I barely have time to do what is asked of me as it is! I am just seeking information, that is all. I did work in a kitchen, after all. I do not know much about the way that the guild system or the city works at all, Tarvan. I barely understand the palace or the castle."

"Then perhaps we should speak of such matters this evening. I am a city man, I may tell you what I know. But first, you must disappear while the trays are collected."

"Not so this evening. Lady Garia is dining somewhere in the city tonight, I deem. In her chambers there are only her retainer Milsy, her maid Bursila and a guildsman who just happened to be nearby."

Tarvan grinned. "Then let Bursila pull the rope while we make ourselves comfortable on the settee. I shall tell you of my home, my past and the city I call my own."

Milsy gets her badge, visits a glassworks and subsequently has to consult Rosilda. The second clock arrives and is wired up, the clocks are tested and news arrives from the far north which results in Milsy being released from her primary duty.

What Milsy Did

by Penny Lane

13 - News from the North

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 (c) 2016 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

---

"It is now my pleasure to present you with the second ever guild badge to be awarded to a woman," Parrel said.

He pulled open a small soft leather pouch and shook out the gold badge onto his hand, turning it over and pinning it carefully to the upper left bodice of Milsy's dress.

"There," he said, smoothing the cloth with a smile. "Legally you are now a Guildswoman, Milsy. I doubt you will ever be called to account in the future for any misdeeds but please, try and keep the trouble down, would you? As a woman you know that it is inevitable that there will be friction, both within our own guild and with some of the others as well. At this time of great change we must needs educate our colleagues in other crafts, not antagonize them."

"I fear it is too late for the clockmakers," Milsy replied apologetically. "I'm sorry, I'll have to learn to be more careful in future."

"As you say, though the clockmakers were always one of the more difficult guilds, their arrogance only exceeded by the miners," Parrel agreed. "But you are right, part of your education as journeywoman will be to learn how to deal with clients and that includes other guilds as well as nobles and merchants."

Milsy inclined her head. "Your warning is noted, Guildmaster, and appreciated. I will be more careful in future."

"Good." Parrel smiled and then turned. "Bursila? I have a badge for you as well. If your Mistress requires your attendance at any workshop or any other place connected with her work, you will need a token to prove your right to accompany her. I have it here."

This badge was of silver and showed, like that of Milsy, the word Palarand across the top and the Garian number 2. Across the bottom were the words Personal Maid whereas Milsy's had the word Journeywoman. Parrel pinned the badge to Bursila's uniform and stood back.

"Done," he said with satisfaction. "Considering the few days since you began to learn to read and write, Milsy, Korben reports that your progress is impressive. If you make as much progress in your activities as journeywoman you will be raised to Guildswoman in a very small number of weeks. As you and Bursila both now have badges, I have asked Tarvan to consider taking you to visit some of our workshops in order to broaden your education." Parrel turned and considered the cluttered laboratory they were standing in. "You will have to arrange to fit such visits in with your other projects, I deem."

"But we're too busy -" Milsy began to object.

"That is not so, Milsy," Tarvan put in. "Once we have this clock running properly we must needs leave it for a day or even two before we may tell if it keeps time sufficiently well. There will be ample occasion to visit some of the works Master Parrel has mentioned. I am already considering where our time may best be used."

"What about the solenoids we'll need for the other clock? Shouldn't we be working on those while we wait?"

Parrel said, "Milsy, I believe that it is important for you to gain a broader understanding of the new devices and ideas which the Guildmistress has already given us. In the future your attention should be wider than just a clock with a battery. While you may not immediately gain a deep understanding of what you will be shown it is possible that you may bring us some insight the Guildmistress has overlooked or that my men have not considered. We already know that you have a keen mind."

Milsy inclined her head again. "As you say, Guildmaster. I withdraw my objection."

Parrel smiled. "Please keep making objections if you find sufficient reason to do so! Many of our best guildsmen are those who sought to question what they were taught rather than just accept the word of another."

Tarvan chuckled. "I doubt any could keep Milsy from asking questions, Guildmaster! I know that I have tried and failed."

Parrel laughed and then gestured to the bench. "What of your clock? Does it do what you expect?"

"As you can see there is no weight attached to the pendulum now, Guildmaster. Nor are there any weights used to operate the bell mechanisms. Removing the latter proved to be a harder problem but in the end no more difficult to solve once Milsy suggested a way to use solenoids as ratchets. I believe that if we could fit all back into the case Master Bayorn would not know what we had done to his clock."

"Interesting! So... this clock would continue for ever, then, if the battery was changed when required."

"Not for ever, Guildmaster. It will still require cleaning and lubricating, just as the Great Clock does. But generally, aye, it will need no other attention. Of course, we still have to design a clock which will fit the requirements of Master Gerdas. Now we have this one ticking away, as it were, we can concentrate on that."

"What may be the obstacles you will face, do you think?"

"We must needs calculate what fraction of a day an hour is, and thence a minute and a second," Tarvan replied. "Once we have done that then we can consider how to make the required wheels have the necessary number of teeth. Once we have the basic mechanism designed, providing a dial should not be difficult." Tarvan flipped a hand. "I doubt the first design will look much like the watch of the Guildmistress, though."

Parrel frowned. "But surely, you know how long an hour, a minute or a second is, Tarvan. You merely have to look at the watch."

Milsy said, "Guildmaster, it is not so simple. The divisions on Lady Garia's watch are those of time as used on Earth and I am told the day there is shorter than ours is. Our seconds, minutes and hours must be fractions of our own day, not that of Earth."

"I am corrected, Milsy." Parrel smiled. "I see you have already considered the problem in some depth."

"Aye, Guildmaster," Tarvan agreed, "the principles are not difficult but some of the detail may be. If we may call to consult your craftsmasters when our design is more finished."

"I will expect you both at the Guildhall when you are ready." Parrel paused. "I am invited to lunch with the King today. Shall you join us?"

"Regrettably not, Guildmaster. As yet Milsy still performs her other task for the King, which means she must needs dine in private. Normally I would join her, now that we have made our arrangement, but if you desire my presence..."

"I will manage, young Tarvan. You two enjoy yourselves, but I would that the day will come soon when Milsy can put aside this pretense."

"Aye, Guildmaster. It made sense at the beginning but it must end soon, I deem."

"As you say, Tarvan."

~o~O~o~

Another day, another problem. Tord shook his head. "Mistress, we are stretched more than I would care to be. We are too few for this duty."

"I agree, Tord. I thought you had spoken to Captain Merek?"

"Aye, I have, but he is as busy as you and I doubt he has yet given it much thought." The armsman shrugged helplessly. "If we are all in attendance to you, there is no opportunity for us to remind him of our needs."

Milsy muttered something too low for Tord to catch, but he had no doubt that it was the sort of language often found in a kitchen when, say, somebody dropped something on their foot.

"Very well," she said. "There is nothing we can do right now, since we must make our way into the city. Be certain to remind me when we return here and I will see if I can attract the attention of Captain Merek."

"As you command, Mistress. I believe the carriage is waiting, so you may go to the entrance whenever you are ready."

The weather had begun to cool and so Milsy and Bursila both wore pea-coats over their dresses. They were enough to keep the chill from their arms but not so heavy as to overheat them at this stage of fall. On her lap Bursila carried, as well as the customary bag, two rolled-up leather aprons the women had been presented with the day before, in anticipation of their visit to the glassworks today.

"You have been to some of these places that Tarvan suggested," Milsy said to Bursila. "What will they be like?"

"I have not visited a glassworks before, Mistress," Bursila replied, "but I imagine it will be hot inside the workshop and probably dark, except for the fires. I do not know how much noise there will be. It will probably be dirty and there may be things left on the floor for you to trip over."

"That's a good thought, Bursila. I don't want to make a fool of myself by falling flat on my face in front of a lot of guildsmen."

"I'm sure that will not happen, Mistress. I imagine that in many respects it will be something like a large kitchen, with which you will be familiar."

"As you say! Well, Cook always shouted at us if we left anything untidy because a trip could cause serious injury, although I think she was more worried that the meal would be served late. Perhaps the glassworks will be the same."

With all her small band of guardsmen surrounding the carriage Milsy could see that Tord had a point. While there were probably enough men to protect her should anything happen this gave no margin for illness, at ease days or any other unusual happenings. She made a mental note to speak with Captain Merek as soon as they returned to the palace.

She was by now becoming comfortable with journeys through the city but her days out were infrequent enough that nothing was recognizable. After some time she noticed that they had arrived at a district of warehouses and workshops with just a few large buildings in between she assumed were mansions or... offices, she remembered the new word. Their procession turned into the yard in front of a large workshop complex, busy with men shoveling sand, crushed stone and charcoal into small trolley-like wagons with wheels that ran on pairs of wooden... what, exactly?

As the carriage stopped, Tord opened the door and saluted.

"Mistress, we have arrived. Here comes Master Tarvan to greet you."

"Thank you, Tord." Milsy looked around. "Are you expecting to go around with us? It might not be that convenient inside, from what I can see from here."

"Mistress, I am assuming that you will be safe enough among the guildsmen, especially those I see approaching. With your permission, we will remain with the carriage unless required within."

The workshops had roofing but most of the sides were open to the air to allow the heat to disperse. Milsy had been told a little about glass making by Tarvan so knew that great fires would be involved. She could see the glow of several furnaces without even stepping out of the carriage. From inside the building four men strode, three of them looking very familiar. As she stepped out they reached her and she recognized Hurdin and Fulvin alongside Tarvan. The fourth man she didn't know.

"Mistress Milsy, welcome," Hurdin greeted her. "I'm sure you will find much of interest within. Master Fulvin joins us today because of a new method of molding glass he has devised." He gestured to the fourth man. "If I may introduce Craftmaster Hassen who supervises this glassworks. He will answer your questions as we walk through the workshop."

Milsy thought it was appropriate to curtsey but Hassen stuck out his hand. Hesitantly she shook it, finding it large, warm and calloused.

"Mistress, it is strange to me to be inviting a woman into my workshop but Guildmaster Hurdin assures me that you have the right. I see your Guild badge there on your chest, have no fear that any within will object to your presence, at least not out loud." A brief quirk of a smile. "We are so busy I doubt many will even notice you."

Hassen turned as Bursila joined Milsy. "Good, I see you have brought aprons with you. If you would put them on before you enter, Mistress, there may be dust and sparks from the furnaces." He addressed Bursila. "You are the maid of Mistress Milsy?"

"Aye, Craftmaster. I am Bursila."

"Then I must caution you, both of you, that you are entering somewhere that may be unfamiliar to you. My men are used to working in this place, they know of the dangers within but you do not. Take extreme care of your footing and follow any instructions you may be given by anyone, else you are burned or otherwise come to harm."

Bursila was pale, now. "Aye, Craftmaster, I shall heed your words and I shall also make sure that my Mistress is safe."

Bursila and Milsy put on their aprons, both feeling very self-conscious. Almost all of the men in sight were stripped to the waist, many wearing nothing other than a short leather kilt in an attempt to keep themselves cool. Only one or two appeared to be wearing some kind of protective apron like themselves.

"Before we enter, Craftmaster," Milsy ventured.

"Aye, Mistress?"

"Those little wagons there. Why are they running on those strips of wood? What advantage does that provide?"

Hassen's eyebrows rose but Hurdin grinned at him. The Guildmaster said, "I told you she would ask questions, Hassen! She knows little of our world so I suggest you answer her plainly."

Hassen cleared his throat before replying. "Mistress, we have used such hoppers for so long I barely remember why we do things like this. Let me see... Firstly, the rails which they run on mean that they may simply be pushed or pulled wherever they need to go. There is no need to steer them. The wheels and the rails themselves are made of a hard wood which when smoothed mean that the effort needed to move the hoppers is much smaller than if they were to be pushed along the ground."

Milsy considered this before nodding. "If you are pushing heavy... hoppers... around I can see why you might want to make the task easier."

"Aye, Mistress. The other reason for the rails is that they determine where the hoppers go. We route the rails from here inside to the furnaces where the ingredients are melted into glass."

"The rails determine where the hoppers go? Interesting."

Hurdin added, "Mistress, these are but simple versions of what Guildmistress Garia calls a railroad. Imagine a hopper the size of a merchant's wagon, filled with ore or sand and pulled along by an immense steam engine. She tells us that the journey from the city to South Slip may be made in as little as two bells."

Two bells! The King's procession from South Slip to the city had taken two whole days, although Milsy knew that messengers, carriages and merchants' wagons would make the trip much faster. She began to see the immense changes which Garia had triggered and realized that she was likely to be an important part of the upheaval to come.

"Uh, thank you, Guildmaster. That sounds amazing. I think I might want to investigate this... what did you name it?"

"The railroad, Mistress?"

"Aye, the railroad. Lady Garia spoke of it but of course without seeing it I did not know what she meant. Another day, I deem. For now I am here to see how sand and rocks can be turned into glass."

Inside it was dark but enough light came from the sides and the furnaces that it was possible to see reasonably well.

Hassen gestured. "These are the furnaces where the raw rock and sand is melted into glass, Mistress. By varying the proportions of our ingredients we can make different kinds of glass, of varying thickness, color and quality."

Further in, Milsy was shown traditional glass-blowing, being presented with a hand-blown glass goblet at the end of the session. They moved on to the making of flat glass, where the bubble was cut open and spun to make thick, wrinkled sheets which could then be diced into panes for window glass.

"But this is the traditional way," Hassen stated, moving to another, larger furnace. "Here we are experimenting with a new and simpler way of making flat glass explained to us by the Guildmistress."

This area was very hot, since there was a big square bath of some silvery substance next to the furnace and this bath was also heated. Milsy felt the sweat trickling down inside her clothes and wished she could strip as the men had done.

I doubt that will ever happen. I do not object to seeing a man stripped to the waist but it would be unbecoming for any woman to do so!

Not to mention extremely dangerous. The skin of a woman is not as tough as that of a man, especially one who has hardened his hide by spending many years in front of these fires.

No, this is but one of those many things which any woman has to bear, I deem. We are not made as men are and we must solve our problems in a different way.

"Is that melted metal in that tray?"

"Aye, it is tin, Mistress. It provides a smooth surface for the glass to spread out on without cooling it too fast. As you will see, it will then be easy to lift the sheet off the tin when it has cooled enough to handle."

Tarvan added, "Milsy, the tin is just like the solder we use in the laboratory, though our solder is made from tin mixed with lead. Almost all metals can be made to melt if you heat them hot enough but lead, tin and zinc are some of the lowest melting points we know of. We are making use of that fact here with this tin bath."

Hassen looked at Tarvan with approval. It looked like his two young guests were smart people and that bode well for the future of crafts in Palarand. Though I must name it Engineering in future, I deem.

They watched as two men manhandled a heavy crucible from the furnace and gently tipped the contents over the tin. The glass, which glowed pink and flowed like thick cream, immediately began to spread out over the surface until it was a sheet so thin that Milsy could not see where it began or ended. One of the men gently poked at the edge with an iron tool and eventually pronounced it ready to lift. They each used tongs and grabbed an end of the glass, carefully lifting the sheet out to display to the visitors.

"As you can see," Hassen explained, "we have produced a sheet of glass of much better quality than ever before, smoother and larger than any could make using the spinning method. This will truly change glass-making for ever."

Hurdin grunted. "That is not the only change, Hassen. Remember our experiments with molds. If you would come this way, Mistress, Masters."

Hurdin led the party through the workshop, avoiding men working, blowing bottles, glasses and other utensils, past men shoveling charcoal, sand and crushed rock into furnaces, others etching and polishing glass towards a partitioned-off area.

"Look out!"

The cry came too late. Two men, carrying a crucible with long tongs, had somehow let it drop onto the floor which was covered with dirt, slag and cinders. The molten glass within splashed out, fortunately missing everyone, but Milsy caught a secondary spray of hot cinders and muck sent up by the liquid.

Hassen took charge, muttering an apology to both Hurdin and Milsy. He turned to the men.

"You stupid -"

The others moved off to one side to be out of the way. Milsy looked down to see that the apron had caught most of it but some had managed to make small holes in the skirt of her dress, at the bottom where it was not quite covered by the leather. It also looked like one of her boots was significantly damaged.

"Mistress, you have -"

"I know, Bursila," Milsy replied. "The damage doesn't look too bad though Rosilda won't be pleased. This boot should last until we can get home again. I don't think it will affect anything we intend to do today."

"As you wish, Mistress. If I may brush off the dirt."

Hurdin had automatically jumped back when the spill happened but Tarvan had his legs sprayed with the cinders and muck. He bent down, brushing the gritty material from his hose.

"Are you burned, Tarvan?"

"No, Milsy, but I ought to have seen what was about to happen. It is only a pair of hose, I have others." He looked concerned. "What of yourself? You caught more than I did. Are you hurt?"

"No, but I deem this design of dress is not suitable for such visits as this." She frowned. "Are many of the places we are likely to visit like this?"

Tarvan thought. "I could not say, Milsy. Some certainly are, like the great furnaces which Master Parrel has been building for making steel. Why?"

"I think I'm going to have to speak to Rosilda. There must be something more suitable for me to wear." She gestured with a smile. "After all, I can hardly go around dressed as these men do, can I? Neither can any other woman who may desire to join a guild in the future."

Tarvan was red faced and Milsy wasn't certain that it was entirely due to the heat.

"There is much in what you say. If we may discuss this when we return to the palace?"

"Surely."

"Mistress Milsy?" That was Hurdin. "I offer my apologies for what just happened, but the crucibles can be heavy and are awkward to handle when hot, as you have seen. I trust you are not hurt?"

"I am not, Master Hurdin. I have some small holes in the hem of my dress and my left boot may be too badly damaged to repair, though it is just about wearable now. They won't be a problem for the Palace Wardrobe, I can assure you."

"If you are certain -"

"I am fine, Guildmaster. If we may continue? I am originally from Dekarran's kitchens and I know that it is not always possible to avoid accidents. At least this time no one was hurt."

"As you wish, Mistress. Hassen?"

"Coming, Guildmaster."

In the partitioned off section were some large mechanical devices, some crudely constructed. Beyond the roofing a large steam engine stood puffing, two young men feeding it with shovels of charcoal. Beside it was something that looked like a huge metal tank although the ends were rounded rather than flat. In front of Milsy stood a tall machine with a part that could go up and down though presently it was not moving. Below it, on the dirt floor, was a cast iron molding which had a square hole in the center.

Hurdin gestured. It seemed that whatever went on in here was under his direct supervision.

"This is a machine which was suggested by Fulvin here," he explained. "These molds you may recognize as those for the battery jars you use for storing electricity."

Milsy had not recognized them, since it was not obvious how they were used.

"Originally, when we were asked to make square jars we thought it impossible. Then we devised a way of doing it by heating a bubble of glass, opening it and pressing it into a mold like, perhaps, a cook would mold pastry." Milsy could visualize that easily enough. "With this new method we pour glass directly into the mold and then press another mold into the center to make the shape. The glass is forced up around the sides and we can then trim off any excess at the top before it cools completely."

She nodded. "You use this machine for pushing the inside mold down, then? Of course, the glass, even though it flows, must be much thicker than water."

Hurdin smiled. "I can see that Fulvin's machine requires little explanation to you, Mistress. Aye, we use the weight of the hammer above to push the mold down." An aside, "We name it hammer because we have not yet found a better word for it. To me it is most like a hammer and anvil, though it does not come down as fast as a hammer does. The steam engine you see is used merely to lift the weight again. I am told that the engine could be used directly but we would not have as good a control over the force used. This way is easier to control since we can adjust the weight to produce the result we require. Now, if you would all stand to one side, over there, we will demonstrate the machine."

Two men came, sweating, with yet another crucible held in long tongs and tipped the contents into the lower mold. Fulvin, standing beside the machine, pulled a chain and the hammer dropped about two feet, the shaped end plunging straight into the blob of molten glass below. From one side excess glass squirted out of a relief hole and was swiftly scraped away by one of the men. Fulvin pulled another chain and the hammer began slowly to rise, the effort to lift it being made clear by the change in the note from the steam engine. Still glowing, a new jar was clearly visible in the lower mold.

Two more men came and began dragging the mold bodily away from below the machine. Milsy frowned. Why were they doing this?

"Master Hurdin, why are they taking the mold away?"

"Why, because the glass is yet too hot to remove and if we waited until it was cool enough we would make very few jars each day. The men will put another mold underneath for the next jar, we have many which we rotate."

"But then you have to carefully line each new mold up with the upper one, don't you?"

"Aye, Mistress." Hurdin was puzzled.

"Why, then, could you not lay some of that railroad track across the front of your machine and mount the molds on little hoppers? Then when one is finished you just push it out of the way until it cools."

The guildsmen stared at Milsy and then each other.

"We wouldn't need hoppers, Guildmaster," Hassen said. "Just little flat trolleys."

"But the weight coming down would crush the wheels and axles," Fulvin objected.

Hurdin waved a hand. "There may be ways around that," he said. "What is important is that Milsy has shown us that even when we are experimenting there may be ideas that we overlook in our enthusiasm to try something new. A system of rails could be of great use, now I think on the matter, through the whole workshop." Another hand wave. "I do not mean this place, it is too old to modify, but the new works which we must needs build to increase production must take account of ideas such as this." He turned to Milsy. "Journeywoman Milsy, I am indebted to you for this idea."

"Guildmaster," she replied formally, "I do what I can to help."

* * *

"I can patch this, Mistress," Rosilda told Milsy. "Knowing what you were likely to be doing I knew that there would be damage to mend. If you would leave this one with me there is another ready for your next expedition." She looked closely at the rest of the skirt. "What's this?"

"Ah." Milsy reddened. "I forgot that one. Battery acid, I'm afraid. We were moving some batteries and - You don't really need the details, Rosilda. Let me just say that is one mistake I won't be making again. The smell was terrible."

Rosilda examined the hole, poking a finger through it. "This can also be patched, though it will be more obvious." She picked up the boot. "This, though, cannot be repaired so easily. I will ask Steben to make you a new pair, though it will probably be a week before you can try them."

"Thank you, Rosilda. I do have another pair of boots but perhaps I ought to be thinking about a more... um, sturdy pair for my visits to such places. What do the guardsmen wear, for example?"

"It is true they have boots made of thicker leather, Mistress, but the design is different, since they must be able to ride at need. Perhaps a talk with Steben would be useful, when you can spare the time."

"Spare the time. Hah. Actually, the mens' boots are riding boots, then, which means calf boots. That might be a good idea, to protect my legs. And I'm beginning to wonder if a leather dress might be the answer to my other problem, Rosilda. It would be stiff and heavy but it would certainly protect me."

Rosilda leaned back and examined Milsy. "It is a thought, Mistress," she replied cautiously. "The dress may not be so stiff since we have leather of different qualities available here in the wardrobe. To ask for a 'dress', though, is but a beginning. If I may ask you to consider shape, length and style in the next few days. You should consider how to be comfortable both standing and sitting and how it may best protect you as you work. You must also consider how to keep cool."

"You're right, Rosilda, I was being vague, wasn't I?" Milsy nodded. "Now that I have the thought in my head, I'll certainly think about how to make something that protects me better."

Rosilda smiled. "Mistress, I don't think you need worry about how to make such a thing, we will do that. Just tell me your needs and between us we shall design something you may wear with confidence."

"Bursila too? She will require a similar protection, I deem."

"As you say, but she will not be working as you will, will she? When we next talk, we can discuss attire for both of you."

"That will be a relief. Now that I am accounted a guildswoman, though only a journeywoman as yet, Tarvan seeks to send me to visit a number of the other Guild establishments here in the city. I suspect that what happened at the glassworks was only a foretaste of things to come."

"Does he really intend that, Mistress? Surely, I am no expert, of course, but surely that will occupy much of your time."

Milsy grinned. "Time that could be spent inventing things, you mean? Aye, there is some of that but Master Parrel desires to make sure that my education in Guild matters is as broad as may be. I understand that this is a new idea thought up by Master Hurdin and Master Parrel, that their apprentices and journeymen may learn to consider matters beyond what their own Guild may teach them. It will become needful as the Guilds become a single Institute and start working together on projects."

Rosilda considered this for a while then nodded. "As you say, Mistress. The times ahead will be exciting, I deem, but with Lady Garia around that was already likely to be so. You are of a similar cloth, from what I have heard, and your work can only benefit Palarand in the future."

"I'm not so sure of that, Rosilda." Milsy smiled. "I'll try my best, but that is all I can promise."

~o~O~o~

"What have you learned, Tarvan?"

"The men from the Clockmakers are expected on the 11th, which is tomorrow, to rewind the Great Clock and correct the difference in time which will result. A man from the Guardroom in the Cross Corridor will alert us when they arrive. Since we set our two clocks running two days ago there has been no difference that we can detect so this will be the first test against the master clock in the Clockmakers' Guildhall. I am looking forward to it."

"As am I! If we can prove that our electric clock is as accurate then we can take a reasoned argument to the Clockmakers. I will make sure a fresh battery is in place before we leave this afternoon. Is there anything else we must do?"

"Keep away from the Great Clock is all! The Clockmakers have made it plain that if there is any interference they will not attend the palace. As you may imagine, the King is furious."

"They venture so much? Maker!" Milsy was astonished. "Do they not serve at the pleasure of the King? Will he not chastise them somehow?"

Tarvan spread his hands. "It is awkward, Milsy. In theory he has the right but the Clockmakers rely on the fact that any such action by the King would not be received well by the other Guilds. They have become used to their independence, I deem. Much as the Miners do, they attempt to create their own laws and customs and resent interference." He shook his head. "This is not the attitude of every Guild but enough to cause the King to stay his hand."

"What, then, can he do?"

A smile came then. "He intends to halter the Clockmakers another way, I believe. A way which makes use of our new clocks and with the assistance of Master Parrel. After all, since we constructed these two the Clockmakers are no longer the only ones who know the secrets of their art."

"Ooh. Clever." She thought. "So, what must we do tomorrow, then?"

"Stay in here. Take note of the bells as they strike. Use the watch of the Guildmistress to note any time lags. As I understand it, they will arrive with a sand-dropper from their Guildhall, wait until the next bell strikes and then begin winding. Then they wait until the next bell strikes to find out how much delay was caused and at that point the clock is stopped. They manually set the time to the following bell and wait some more. When their sand-dropper runs out, they restart the pendulum and the Great Clock is then correct again."

Milsy frowned. "Complicated. Why don't they just stop the clock when they wind it? That would save them a whole bell, wouldn't it?"

Tarvan shrugged. "Don't ask me, I'm not a clockmaker." He grinned. "Officially. It is probably some means of making the whole process mysterious to outsiders."

"That was one thing that Garia spoke of when we talked in her chambers at Dekarran. In order for future progress to be made, ideas must be spread widely and as fast as possible. That is one reason why she brought printing to Palarand as early as she did, to help that along. Any craft secrecy such as that of the Clockmakers will only create difficulties."

"Aye. I am glad I am not the King, to have to manage such matters. I believe that Master Hurdin and Master Parrel understand what is needful but there are many in the Guilds who resist, because that is the way things have always been."

"As you say. Now, about the clock for Master Gerdas. I've been thinking..."

~o~O~o~

"It should happen any moment now, I deem."

The three clustered around the bench on which stood two partially disassembled clocks, waiting to see what would happen when the Great Clock struck the next bell. The two clocks of brass were mounted on temporary stands, although this was really only necessary for the clock nearest Milsy, the one which still had a functioning pendulum. The other frame was missing the pendulum as well as many of the wheels and was connected to the first by several wires.

B-Bang, T-ting! T-ting!

"I wish we could find a way to stop the stutter," Tarvan commented as he made a note of the time on Garia's watch.

"That's because our solenoids take a tiny amount of time to work," Milsy explained. "The second clock will always be a little behind the first clock, but I have already thought of at least two ways to solve the problem. I'll tell you later."

The laboratory became silent as they waited for the Great Clock to strike, one bell after the two Clockmakers had begun to wind up the weights. The time dragged out so long that Milsy began considering asking Bursila to go and make some pel while they were waiting. Eventually it came and Tarvan noted down the watch time again. He then laboriously converted the two times into hours, minutes and seconds, using his fingers and muttering furiously as he did so. Milsy was not sufficiently practised in math to be able to do this even as easily as Tarvan, though he would doubtless show her how to do it once they had finished.

"Four minutes and seventeen seconds, I think," he said finally. "Not as long as I was expecting." He put down the slate. "Now we must wait another bell to see if they have reset it correctly, which means we have time for pel. Bursila, if you would."

Seated in the sitting room with their mugs in front of them he explained, "A day for us is longer than an Earth day, as we all know. Using the watch of the Guildmistress I have found that it is twenty-five Earth hours, eleven minutes and seven seconds. The Guildmistress did not mention seconds, since I believe she was not interested in such precise measurements, but they will be needed for our purposes.

"In addition to our measurements today I will measure again the next time those clockmakers come to wind the clock. Knowing as we do the exact length of a day we can discover if either our clock or theirs is more accurate as the days progress."

"You are telling me that you trust the Earth watch more than you do the art of the Clockmakers."

"I certainly do! The Guildmistress herself told me that her watch lost no more than three seconds in a whole year, an Earth year, that is. I doubt we will get such accuracy here, with our own crude measurements, the fact we are distant from the Great Clock and any possible error introduced by the Guildsmen using a sand-dropper."

"I see what you mean. Even if what we have now is good enough for everyday use it may not be enough to satisfy Master Gerdas." Milsy frowned. "What do you mean, the distance from the Great Clock?"

"Sound travels slowly, Milsy, compared to light. Haven't you ever been out in a - No, you probably have not. If you watch a distant flash of lightning, the sound will reach you long after the flash does. By comparison with light, sound travels very slowly through the air. We are not so distant from the Great Clock but it may make the difference between measuring one second and the next."

"Oh. I'm learning something new all the time. What else do we need to do today?"

Tarvan looked at the watch. "We have... forty minutes before we must needs go and check the bells again, I deem. Call it just less than three quarters of a bell. There is time to check the steam engine, I believe. I noticed a leak in one of the joints from pipe to piston which should be easy to find and tighten."

Again they waited for the bells to chime.

B-Bang, T-ting! T-ting! T-ting!

Some moments later they heard the Great Clock begin to repeat the time.

Tarvan looked at the watch, noted down the time and then added on the day's difference. "Nine seconds slow, I think. No-one in the palace would notice such a difference but we have." He looked up at the two women and grinned. "Master Bayorn is not going to be happy when he finds this out."

* * *

"Come in, Milsy, Tarvan, find yourselves somewhere to sit."

The two chose to sit together on the settee, earning a nod of approval from the Queen. In the King's Sitting Room with Robanar, Terys and themselves were Kendar and Captain Merek and Milsy was reminded again about the matter she needed to consult with the latter. The next words of the King drove that concern completely from her mind.

Robanar grunted. "You deserve to learn this, Milsy, since it bears on your presence here, and since you are so closely connected to Tarvan it is right that he should be informed as well. We have today received a letter from Garia. Her party reached Blackstone some ten days since and found it held hostage by a band of criminals."

Milsy gasped. She had not known what to expect but the thought that Garia had faced an armed enemy made her remember just what might happen in remote parts of the Kingdom.

Robanar continued, "With the aid of her armsmen, those guardsmen who were Keren's escort and men of Tanon's company, the town was relieved and order restored. The bandits numbered ten, she believes, and those who did not die immediately have already been tried and executed. One who seems to have been a wandering vagabond was permitted to serve at the town's pleasure, it appears he had no idea that the men were criminals and thought them appointed by my brother Gilbanar, as did most in the town."

The King's voice was grim. "It appears that these men had usurped legal authorities in the town for some six to eight months and had greatly despoiled it, committing acts of robbery and violence against all who resisted. Blackstone is one of the remotest towns in our Kingdom and somewhat isolated, which is why they could prevail."

He waved a hand. "That is not your immediate concern, however. This news cannot be kept secret, nor would I desire it, which means that those here in palace and city will soon realize that Garia is somewhere else entirely. Thus, I deem that the need for you to act as a double will shortly be removed and you may take your place as a rightful resident of the palace."

"Thank you, Sire. Was anybody hurt, does she say?"

"There is no mention of injury so I do not believe anything serious happened to anyone. Garia seems to have been accepted by the town and she says that she and Prince Keren are settling in well."

"Thank you, Sire."

"Dear," Terys said, "you will no longer have to take meals in your chambers but may join us at our table."

"You are very gracious, Ma'am."

"I will not move you yet, Garia will be away some weeks so you may continue residing in her chambers. You are still working in the laboratory, I believe?"

"Aye, Ma'am, but I am also visiting Guild workshops around the city as part of my education. It has been a busy time, Ma'am, interesting though sometimes tiring."

"As you say. Rosilda tells me you have given her some repair work."

"Ah, if we could discuss that another time, Ma'am? Uh, if I may ask some questions."

"As you wish, dear."

"Perhaps I should be asking Captain Merek my first one. Captain, what about my escort? Will I still need one?"

"Mistress, the King would be the best judge of that."

Robanar replied, "Milsy, I still think you should be protected as you presently are. You resemble Garia greatly and you wear her colors. I would not wish you kidnapped, injured or killed by mistake."

"Sire, neither would I. If that is your command then I would ask for more men, Sire, Tord says that they are too few for the duty."

"Agreed. Merek, find out how many he will need and select them from the men. They will still be based in the palace so would be available if necessary."

"Aye, Sire. I will select them tomorrow morning."

"Another thing, Sire," she asked. "Since we have carried out this deception, how will you reveal all? It seems that some explaining will be required."

"Dear," Terys answered, "we do not plan to say anything. We never confirmed or denied that Garia had returned with us, it is others who have made the wrong assumption as we originally intended. Let them consider themselves embarrassed that a mistake was made. We - and that includes you and Tarvan - need admit nothing."

Milsy would never have had the brazen nerve to carry it off but the King and Queen obviously thought that they could. They were right, though. Thinking back, she had never actually told anyone that she was Garia, she had just let others assume that.

The Queen's next words brought her back to reality with a bump.

"Bursila, we dine tonight in the Family Dining Room. Find a suitable evening gown for your mistress and make sure she is prepared to dine in public."

Bursila curtseyed. "As you command, Ma'am."

* * *

Milsy was both relieved and apprehensive. Relieved because she no longer had to play a part which restricted her to certain areas of the palace and required her to let people assume something that was not true. Apprehensive because she was wearing an evening gown outside her chambers for the first time and was on Tarvan's arm, about to become one of those who supped regularly with their King and Queen. She knew that she would never have the ear of the King or Queen in the way that Garia had but others might still consider her to be a favorite at court.

Kendar banged his staff. "Guildsman Tarvan and Guildswoman Milsy!"

All heads turned as they entered the Family Dining Room and most of them did a double-take when they saw who was on Tarvan's arm. Milsy could see the confusion rippling through the groups of people standing around waiting for Robanar and Terys to arrive. She knew what was about to happen and she and Tarvan had made sure that their stories were straight before they came down from her chambers.

The first person to approach them was Captain Merek, who apparently had been waiting for them to arrive.

"Master Tarvan, Mistress Milsy, welcome." Merek lowered his voice. "I know you are unfamiliar with the ways of the dining hall, Mistress, but you should find no difficulty here. We are generally friendly, the King desires little ceremony except when we are entertaining visitors from outside the palace. Your maid Bursila is already familiar with our routine, as is Master Tarvan, if you should have any question then they will make answer."

"Thank you for your kind words, Captain. I wasn't sure what to expect. Does everybody stand around like this every day?"

"Usually, Mistress, since we all arrive at different times from our duties. Often the King and Queen will arrive last but it is not always so. Once Kendar judges that everyone has come then he will make a sign and all then move to find their seats." He smiled. "In recent months the Prince has often been the last to arrive."

Milsy was left to consider the implications of that remark as Merek added, "Mistress, I have spoken briefly to Tord and we will select some more men for your detail tomorrow morning. If this does not conflict with your own arrangements it may prove useful for you to attend."

Milsy looked at Tarvan and received a nod.

"That shouldn't be a problem, Captain," she replied. "After breakfast, I assume?"

A nod. "After breakfast in the Large Training Room, Mistress. I believe that Bursila knows the way. I will await your arrival before mustering the men."

At that moment Kendar announced the King and Queen and shortly afterwards everybody dispersed to find seats at the three long tables. Milsy had been in this room once before but there had been little time to notice details of where everyone sat or why. Now Tarvan gently took her arm and steered her to the side table which faced the King and Queen, finding seats near the end.

"I am not taking somebody's place, Tarvan?"

"There are no appointed seats, save that of the King and Queen," he replied as he pushed her chair in before seating himself. "Often diners will choose seats next to those with which they have been conversing or next to their friends. For the King's table it is slightly different. Any honored guest will usually be seated at the King's right hand and often important members of the court sit facing King and Queen as you see Captain Merek doing now."

Milsy looked across and saw how the diners at the other tables were finding places, often continuing conversations they had already begun as they did so. Her view of Merek was interrupted by Dyenna sitting down in front of Tarvan. The Mistress of the Wardrobe leaned forward, her eyes alight.

"Have you heard the news from the north? Lady Garia has reached her lands and it was infested with bandits! I hear that she and the Prince had to fight several battles before they could clear the ruffians away. Have you heard any more, Mistress Milsy?"

Tarvan's light pressure on her foot made Milsy think before replying.

"I have not, Lady Dyenna. As you may know I have spent most of my recent days engaged on Guild work, I have not had time to take note of what has happened beyond the palace walls."

It was tempting to either join in the fun or to try and find out what other rumors were going around the palace but as this was her first time prudence was indicated. Lady Dyenna was a noblewoman, after all! Better to keep her ears open and her mouth shut, just as she had done in the kitchens.

"She went all that way on a wagon!" Dyenna was saying. "I can't understand why she didn't take a carriage as befits her status. What do you think?"

Tarvan decided to join in. "Lady Dyenna, I'm certain that Lady Garia would have ridden her beast for most of the way if she could."

"And that's another thing! It is most unseemly for any woman, let alone a noblewoman, to be seen on the back of a beast." Her expression changed. "I cannot deny that the riding attire she has designed looks very sweet on her though. I have had several enquiries from other women in the palace asking for similar outfits."

During the meal Milsy discovered that, while Dyenna might be very proficient at her job, she appeared to be a shallow person who dispensed rumor in an unceasing flow. She was glad when they had finished and it was time to rise. As they stood waiting for the tables to be dismantled and cleared several people approached. One of these was Pitchell. He bowed.

"Guildswoman Milsy," he said. "Tarvan has asked me to arrange a visit for you and himself to our printing works. If it would be possible for you to attend tomorrow?"

"Um," she said. "After breakfast I have to go to the Large Training Room with Captain Merek. I don't know how long that is going to take. Tarvan, what are we doing in the afternoon?"

"We could go after your nap," he said after a few moments thought. "That would not leave us many bells of light, though, before we must needs return to the palace. Would that be enough, Pitchell?"

Pitchell thought in his turn. "We are sufficiently well lit, I deem, that the setting of the sun would not worry us, but of course you then have to travel back to the palace. Aye, I believe it would be possible."

"Then we'll do that," Milsy decided. "We'll come as soon as we may after our nap, though of course that depends on the desires of the Queen."

"As you say. Tomorrow afternoon, then." Pitchell bowed and moved away.

Several women she didn't know approached.

"You are not Lady Garia, it seems," one said, "though you greatly resemble her. Are you related, by chance?"

Milsy shook her head. "We are not related at all, Mistress. Lady Garia is not of this world but another one. I am merely from Dekarran, where I was born, brought up and worked until recently. Your pardon, I don't know you."

"Forgive me, I am Besset of the household staff. I am responsible for cleaning the royal corridor and those nearby. This is Teretta and this Haranna who work with me. We have seen you occasionally in the corridors and thought you to be the Baroness."

"I must apologize in turn, I deem. I was not aware until recently that I looked so much like her. It is purely accidental."

"Ah. We wondered... Yet you walk the corridors with an escort, as Lady Garia did."

"Aye. I wear her colors, the King considers that because of my likeness I am at risk. It is a nuisance but better than the alternative."

"As you say." She curtseyed. "By your leave, Mistress."

After fending off several others who couldn't believe that she was not, in fact, Lady Garia, Tarvan escorted her back to her chambers.

"Tarvan," she said as they walked. "When Master Pitchell joined us after the meal, he didn't use any titles. Was that rudeness or some custom I do not know?"

"It is a custom, Milsy, one used between Guildsmen to save time. We are all considered equal, though most give Guildmasters and Craftmasters respect by using their titles. When we have gatherings, courts and other assemblies for guild purposes ranks are usually dropped."

Her eyes narrowed. "More complications! Differing customs in the palace and the guild, I must needs remember where we are when I speak to any."

"We were introduced as Guildsman and Guildswoman by Kendar this evening, deliberately I would guess, which is why Pitchell addressed us so. If we had just been Master and Mistress, he may have spoken differently."

"Which just makes it all worse, Tarvan." They reached the door to her suite. "Are you coming in?"

"Aye, I can attend for a short while, though I have letters to write and you have studies to finish."

Milsy pouted. "You have to spoil the moment, do you not?"

Inside, she wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his chest with a sigh of contentment and relief.

Milsy begins to adjust to public life in the palace and her first occasion is in front of the Palace Guard. Fresh men are chosen and added to her small detail. The new clock for Master Gerdas is assembled and Milsy has to explain to Robanar why it is needed, with the result that the King makes a far-reaching decision. Later, disturbing news is received...

What Milsy Did

by Penny Lane

14 - The Volunteers

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 (c) 2016 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

---

"Do you think I look all right?" Milsy asked Bursila.

"I see little difference to any other day, Mistress. Is there any particular reason for your concern?"

The younger woman suddenly looked apprehensive. "Um, it is just that I'll be dining with everyone else from the palace from today and I don't want to give them the wrong impression." She thought. "Oh, and we're going to meet all the guardsmen afterwards."

"But Mistress, you dined with the King and Queen yesterday and it did not seem to concern you."

"Aye, but that was before I realized just what would be involved. I'm going to be really visible from today, especially as everyone will still think I'm Garia until they take a second look at me."

"You must needs become used to your change in status, Mistress. Aye, you were once a kitchen servant but that is no longer your station in life. Now you have become a guildswoman with the ear of Guildmasters and Kings and I think that you will not be able to return to the obscurity you once enjoyed."

Milsy sighed. "As you say, Bursila. My whole life has changed and I must accept that, but it is very difficult. I would rather be discovering how to make things in the laboratory than parade myself in front of my betters... and then there are the guardsmen. I will be but one woman in front of so many and they will all see me as a challenge. I know what men are like."

"Indeed, Mistress, but then your association with the King, the Guildmasters and even the Baroness will serve to dampen their enthusiasm. You now have a certain status, you must learn how to use it."

"You give good counsel, Bursila." Milsy smiled. "I hope that Lady Merizel is managing without you! I imagine that you provided her with much comfort in the past."

"Aye, I have served Lady Merizel almost all her life and gently guided her as required but she is old enough to guide herself now, I deem. Besides, they have Jenet and she is capable enough to serve both at the same time."

"As you say. I wonder what they are doing now? Garia has a whole town to govern, I wonder if they like her or not. From what I know of nobles that is not always so. Now, you didn't answer my question. Do I look all right?"

Bursila gravely looked her charge up and down. "I see nothing amiss, Mistress."

"Then perhaps we had better go."

"If I may collect my bag, Mistress."

But Bursila didn't get a chance because there came a knock at the door. She opened it to find Skanik outside.

"If you would tell your Mistress that her breakfast has arrived."

The maid turned to meet Milsy's eyes but she had already heard.

"We forgot to stop the breakfast service," Milsy said now. "We had better eat in here rather than let the food go to waste. Let them in, Skanik."

The two women entered, trays in hand, and went straight to the table, depositing the trays before turning and curtseying to Milsy. They had served meals here before and the looks on their faces told that they both had a good idea what had been going on.

"Mistress."

"Thank you, ladies. Um, I think that I am unlikely to be needing breakfast brought up in the future. If you could let your supervisor know?"

"As you desire, Mistress. And your other meals?"

Milsy grimaced. Why was everybody making this so difficult for her today?

"For now, I think it unlikely that any meals will be wanted in here in future. If anybody needs to eat in these chambers then we'll send a message as normal."

"Thank you, Mistress."

The two curtseyed again and departed. Milsy looked at Bursila.

"That seems to have solved that problem," she remarked. "Let us eat before it becomes cold."

The two laid the table and began to eat, Milsy slightly disturbed by the sudden change to her plans. It was likely that this would be to her advantage, though, as she could make her way to the Large Training Room - which she had never visited - without being stopped by people in the dining room enquiring after her health or activities. She brightened at the prospect.

"At least this way we won't have to speak with anyone in the dining room," she said. "I don't wish to keep Captain Merek waiting any longer than necessary."

"As you say, Mistress, although he could be waiting for you in the dining room."

"You're making this whole business worse than it already is," Milsy grumbled.

"I am making it worse, Mistress?"

Milsy glared at Bursila, who sat unmoved. Finally she relented.

"I'm sorry, Bursila, I'm just not comfortable among so many. Aye, I know I once worked in a kitchen with a great many other workers but this is not the same. Here I must speak as an equal with Kings, Captains and others of high status and I am not used to it. What will they think of me?"

"Mistress, remember that when Lady Garia came to the palace she was of like situation to yourself. She was completely unused to this life as well, coming from a distant land where there are no nobles or any of like status. If she can adapt then I believe that you can as well. You are a woman, you have different strengths than Lady Garia but I believe that you can use what you have to make your way in this palace. And it does not harm to have the ear of the King and Queen to help smooth your way."

"But everybody knew that Garia was a stranger to our lands and customs where I am Dekarran born and bred. They will expect me to behave as they do. That is my concern, Bursila."

"Mistress, we could argue all morning but the Captain and his men will be waiting. Why look for trouble when none may appear?"

Milsy sighed. "As you say, Bursila."

Outside the door all her assigned men stood waiting.

Tord saluted. "Mistress, we are all asked to attend this morning to ensure that we know who our fellows may be and what our future duties will be. It seems that we have been asked to do more than escort the Baroness within the confines of the palace as originally intended."

Milsy's smile was apologetic. "As you say, Tord. When I arrived here I could never have imagined what would become of me," and she added with a wider smile, "any more than the Baroness did, I deem."

"Aye, Mistress, that is true. When she first appeared in the Large Training Room we had no idea what was to follow." He stiffened to attention. "Mistress, when you are ready."

The route started off the same as that to the Wardrobe region but soon turned off down an unfamiliar corridor. From a distance Milsy could hear the odd shout and a whiff of cooking smells so she guessed that the kitchens were not far away. Tord led the party to a pair of double doors that ended the corridor and opened them, bowing.

"The Large Training Room, Mistress."

Beyond was a huge hall, easily the largest space that Milsy had been in since arriving at the palace. The space was not carefully finished like other chambers in the palace but had a stone-flagged floor and the walls were lined with man-height vertical planks. Tall windows above let in plenty of light for those within. To the left, at the far end, were a pair of double doors which were open to the outside although Milsy couldn't see what was beyond. On the right-hand wall there was a double door at each end, presently closed.

The room was filled with men in ranks doing exercises in place. All looked up as their party entered the hall and there was some muttering among the guardsmen. To her left was a space and from that direction Captain Merek strode to greet them.

"Mistress, good morning. I did not see you at breakfast today. Was there some problem?"

Milsy curtseyed. "Good morning, Captain. Aye, we were about to go down when our breakfast arrived on trays. We had forgotten to cancel it."

"Ah." Merek nodded. "An easy thing to forget. Now, Mistress, if you and," he made a very small grin, "your men would join me over there."

Once there they lined up against the left-hand wall. Merek clapped his hands.

"Parade, attend!"

The guardsmen all stopped their movements and came to attention, their eyes fixed on Milsy.

"This person," Merek explained with a gesture, "despite her looks, is not Lady Garia but a retainer, originally a replacement maid, who joined the King's party in Dekarran. Her name is Milsy and she presently resides in Lady Garia's quarters, those chambers being empty while the Baroness is visiting her lands in the north."

There was a definite buzz in the ranks, now.

"Some of you may have noticed the resemblance between Mistress Milsy and Lady Garia," Merek continued blandly, "this was unexpected but it permitted His Majesty to confuse any enemy about the whereabouts of Lady Garia. His Majesty has no intention of confirming or denying any sightings of the Baroness in the city since we returned from Dekarran."

Most of the men had by now worked out what had happened and were openly grinning, despite still being at attention.

"Mistress Milsy is no longer a maid, however," Merek said. "She has proven abilities of her own and has joined the Metalsmiths' Guild as a Journeywoman. She works closely with Craftmaster Tarvan upon special projects for the King and I should warn you now that the two have made an arrangement.

"Because she wears the colors of Blackstone and because of her close resemblance to Lady Garia, it was thought that those who sought to kill, capture or injure Lady Garia might attempt the same with Mistress Milsy, perhaps mistaking one for the other. The King, therefore, feels it necessary to provide her with a permanent escort even inside the palace. These men who stand beside her are those who presently provide that escort. As you can see, with the additional activities which Mistress Milsy now undertakes, both inside and outside the palace, there are too few men for the duty. I am therefore asking for perhaps six to eight volunteers to join this company from among you men."

The faces were serious, now, paying close attention to Merek's words.

"You would no longer be part of your Quadrant but join instead these men led by File Leader Tord. The duty is not a regular rotation but assigned according to the activities of Mistress Milsy. It would mainly be a day and evening duty but a night watch may sometimes be required. Because you will be escorting Mistress Milsy you would wear the colors of Blackstone, both inside and beyond the palace, and it is possible that when Lady Garia returns from the north you would have the choice to remain one of His Majesty's men or become an armsman of House Blackstone instead. Stand forward if you desire to be considered."

To the complete surprise of Merek but not of Milsy, every man took a step forward. She noticed that the Captain's face had become red.

"Um, thank you, men! Your enthusiasm is appreciated! If you would all step back, it looks like I am going to have to select from among you." He looked each way along the ranks. "Vesilan, Burran, join me, I would have your advice."

Two men who wore diagonal sashes stepped from the front of the ranks and joined Merek and Tord. There was an intense discussion in which the two pointed out various men and were answered with nods, shrugs, or shakes of Merek's head. Finally, some kind of agreement seemed to have been reached. The two men turned and faced the assembled men.

One said, "Berin! Torin! Berdon! Hixen! Join us."

One of the named men saluted. "Aye, Quadrant."

As the men walked across to join Tord the other Quadrant called out, "Jaffen! Simmen! Kendo! Join us."

They were soon surrounded by the selected men. Merek took the opportunity to address those who remained on parade.

"Parade, attend! The Crown thanks you for offering your services. You may return to whatever you were doing before. Parade, dismissed! Vesilan, Burran, thank you for your assistance."

As the two Quadrants saluted and walked away Merek frowned and turned to Tord.

"Tord, how many have gone north with Lady Garia?"

"Sir, why, there is Commander Feteran and with him D'Kenik, Brazan, Frando, Soomit and Toranar. Of course His Highness also has his own escort with him."

"As you say. She should be well enough provided for, I deem. Mistress Milsy is another matter. You could do with an extra one."

"Sir?"

"You mentioned sickness, training and at ease time when we spoke before. Here there are seven, you have five, I deem you may need another. With those who have gone north that would make twenty, two files."

"Aye, sir. As you say, sir. Thank you, sir."

Both Merek and Tord looked around. The two Quadrants had gone back to the men and were giving them instructions. The Captain seemed uncertain what to do.

Milsy spotted a familiar face.

"Captain, if you wish another," she said diffidently, "if I may suggest Tilmar. He has crossed our paths on several occasions and knows what we are doing."

"Tilmar? Which is he?" Realizing that there was a simple way to find out, he called out, "Tilmar! Join us, if you would!"

The young man came over and saluted. Merek turned to include all those he had called over.

"Men, you have been selected for this duty but you previously volunteered. If you only stepped forward to remain with your fellows I can understand that but I must give you all one last opportunity to reconsider what I have asked of you. You may return to your quadrants now with no mark on your character."

Nobody moved and Merek relaxed. Choosing men for awkward duties could be a difficult business.

"Right. Follow me into the Small Training Room. We can speak there without having to shout."

Inside the side chamber Milsy looked with interest at the array of weapons and wondered what Garia had made of the place.

I've seen those swords on her back so she must have liked training with the men. Unfortunately, while I like men, I'm not as keen on all this weaponry. I'll let others take care of that for me.

"Right, men," Merek said, and all the men gathered round and gave him their attention. "While you remain in the palace you will not need to change your billets. You may keep your bunk wherever you are. When you are off-duty or at ease you may mix with the others and take your meals with them as you did before."

He paused to emphasize his next words. "From now on, though, you will take no further part in the activities of the quadrant you came from. Your assignment is peculiar, you remain men of the Palace Guard but you form a detached company which appears to all as though you are men of Blackstone. Your purpose will be to escort and protect Mistress Milsy, her maid Bursila and anyone else of House Blackstone who may reside in the palace.

"Tord is a man of Blackstone and he becomes the File Leader of you all. Obey his commands as you would those of any File Leader, Quadrant or myself." Merek gave a short smile. "I doubt you will find your duty onerous but it may take you places that a guardsman of His Majesty would rarely go. Behave as you would do wearing His Majesty's colors and you should not stain the reputation of Lady Garia and her house. Am I understood?"

There were a chorus of Aye's from the men.

"Tord will make disposition of you when I am done. Are there any questions?"

"Sir," someone asked, "What about Master Tarvan? He resides in the palace and has become close to the Mistress."

"Hm. If he is with Mistress Milsy, then of course you should offer him protection, as you should to any other if something should occur around her. I doubt he will be in any danger by himself, however, so there will be no need to guard his chambers, for example, or escort him about the corridors. If there is a general problem in the palace, then of course all those who have sworn to the King will become involved one way or another. Your priorities will now be slightly different, I deem. The safety of Mistress Milsy must come first, the palace and anyone else in it will follow."

"Even the King, Sir?"

Merek cast a stern glance at the questioner. "Jaffen, you try me! There will always be occasions when the King's men must needs use their own judgement."

"As you say, Sir."

Merek turned to Tord. "These men are thus yours, File Leader." Tord straightened. "I will leave them now in your hands."

"Aye, Sir. Thank you again, Sir."

Merek nodded and left the room.

Tord looked at his enlarged company. "Now, let's see about getting you lads some Blackstone sashes. Follow me!"

* * *

When Milsy finally entered the laboratory that morning Tarvan was, as she expected, already there. In front of him on the bench stood the parts of another clock which he was attempting to assemble.

"Good morning, Milsy," he greeted her. "I did not see you at breakfast. Was there some problem?"

"Good morning, Tarvan." She decided not to make any personal contact with him despite the fact that only they and Bursila were present. As Lady Garia had once said to her, "Business, not pleasure." She explained, "I forgot to stop the delivery of breakfast to my chambers so we ate it there. After that we went with Tord to see Captain Merek and have some more men assigned."

Tarvan nodded. "As you say. Captain Merek did mention the matter at breakfast."

"What do you have there? Is that the clock for Master Gerdas?"

"Aye, it is. The parts arrived this morning after breakfast." Tarvan scratched his chin. "It is not so easy as when we took the other clocks apart."

There were the two brass frames, front and back, six rods with threaded holes in the ends and a number of sprockets which were carefully lined up on a sheet of paper on the bench. There were also three paper disks which Tarvan had divided into twelve and roughly marked in ink with the Garian numbers.

"As you say. We saw where all the wheels fitted and wrote them down on the drawing. This time we have only our design drawing." She frowned. "Is that all? I thought there were more wheels."

"Aye, that is all. We talked about this, remember? We do not need any of the bell mechanism, we do not even need the year wheel. Our pendulum swings once per second, sixty of those make a minute, sixty of those make an hour and twelve of those make a whole circle of the hour hand. Since we cannot have a reduction gear with but a single tooth on one side we need more wheels than three but very few more. This is all of them." Tarvan frowned in turn as he continued, "My problem is to place them in the right order and support them as I do."

"Why can you not use a sheet of paper as we did before? I can prick it for you. Which is the back plate?"

"Ah, because some of the axles stick through the front plate to hold the hands." He shook his head. "I am slow this morning, Milsy. We must simply turn the clock over and work from the other side, something the clockmakers cannot do."

"I'll get a piece of paper. Oh," she added with a grin, "I know how the clockmakers do it."

"Hmm? Do what?"

"Hold the wheels in place. They use threads which they tie off around the separator rods. Did you notice that groove running down each of the rods? Once everything is screwed in place they simply run a sharp blade along that groove and release all the threads. I know that because I found a small piece of thread trapped under a screw when we took that second clock apart. I wondered why it was there."

"Ah! As you say." He grinned. "I deem our way is better."

The two worked together to assemble the new clock. As they did so, Bursila prepared the steam engine with charcoal and water before lighting it and waiting for the water to heat. The hiss of the safety valve made them all jump.

"Well done, Bursila."

"Thank you, Master Tarvan."

"Are the wires all connected up to the batteries? Good. Once the steam engine is up to speed, perhaps you could go and start some more water boiling. It will take us but a few more moments to finish here and then we could all do with some pel."

"As you wish, Master Tarvan."

The frame of this new clock had been designed to allow it to stand freely on the bench. Tarvan turned it round, checking that everything appeared to be in order. Nodding with satisfaction, he gestured to Milsy and she hooked the pendulum onto the bottom of the escapement mechanism. He connected the battery and immediately it started swinging, soon settling down to a regular rhythm. On the front of the clock, a crude second hand moved on at each tick.

"We have no idea if it will run fast or slow to begin with," Milsy said. "How can we adjust it? If we wait until noon each day it may take us a whole week to even get close."

Tarvan shook his head. "Not so, Milsy. We talked about this before, though not in any detail. A day has sixty seconds times sixty minutes times twenty four hours which is," he hunted around the bench until he found a specific piece of paper, "Ah, here it is. 86,400 seconds. A bell is a twentieth of that, 4,320 seconds, which is exactly seventy-two Anmar minutes. We can check our clock every bell and adjust it then if need be."

Milsy grinned. "I forgot that. Our clock or theirs?"

Tarvan's matching grin faded. "I know not, Milsy. We do not know which is the more accurate. I deem we must needs consult Master Gerdas, who will probably tell us that neither is correct."

"I would not be surprised. Come, let us take pel and think about what we should do next. I have been thinking about that other clock, the repeater clock. The solenoids -"

As they were sitting drinking their pel Tord appeared and saluted.

"Mistress, I have completed all the steps required for the new men. Did you wish to say a few words to them?"

Milsy raised an eyebrow. "Did you want me to, Tord? Where are they? Not all standing outside, I hope."

"Mistress, the men have been taken from two quadrants, those who were training this shift and those who have just finished night duty, whom Captain Merek asked to remain until this morning's selection had been completed. Of course, that being so, I have released those that had been on night duty to their rest."

"I see," Milsy said, although she didn't entirely understand what Tord had just told her. "They are not all here, then? That's a relief. Where are you going to put them all? I do not think I will need so many as an escort, Tord. In fact, I'm not sure why we have been given so many."

"Mistress, we do not have a need for a night shift, but from the men we now have, some will be at ease -"

"At ease? They have whole days of rest?"

"Aye, Mistress, two days in every week for this duty. It is what Lady Garia arranged with Commander Feteran when her armsmen were first appointed. As I was saying, some will be at ease, some of those who remain will join those on training shift. It is there that we are tested against our fellows to discover any faults in our abilities and also to learn of any changes around the palace it would be useful to know. The rest, I regret, wait outside as you have guessed. I do not know of any place they may go when they are not required for escort duty."

"I'm not sure that I can help, Tord. I know less about the palace than you do, although I intend to learn more whenever I can. Have you asked Captain Merek?"

"We spoke briefly of it, aye, but he is a busy man." The armsman grimaced. "Mistress, we needed more men but you must forgive me, I did not consider the consequences."

Empty rooms. Empty rooms, preferably near to my suite.

Now, why does that remind me of ropes? Ah!

"I may know a place," she said slowly. "You're looking for somewhere near the suite, I deem?"

"Aye, Mistress," Tord replied, looking interested.

"There's a chamber, so I have been told, around the corner from the Royal corridor, which was used by... nurses, tutors and governesses when the royal children were younger."

Tord nodded. "Aye, Mistress, I know of it."

"Well, there are no children around presently, are there? If we could make use of a room which is otherwise empty, I cannot think any will complain." She grinned. "Even better, there is a rope in my sitting room which will ring a bell in that chamber at need. What do you think?"

"I have not seen inside that chamber, Mistress, but it sounds a useful place to me. Shall I make enquiry for you?"

"Aye, Tord, but I will probably be seeing Captain Merek at lunchtime. I will speak to him then and if he approves, whoever looks after the chambers will need to be informed."

"That would be Master Terevor, Mistress. Doubtless Captain Merek will handle the affair, as it touches on palace security." Tord nodded acceptance. "I will await your word, Mistress."

* * *

Milsy entered the family dining room on Tarvan's arm to see Terys walking rapidly towards her. The Queen had a welcoming smile on her face.

"You have finally joined us, dear! I wondered, when you did not appear this morning."

"Ah, an unfortunate misunderstanding, Ma'am," Milsy replied. "Nothing wrong, I just forgot to tell the kitchen I wouldn't be eating in the suite any longer."

"An easy thing to forget, dear. Will you join us at table today? I'm sure the King will not object."

"Ma'am? Are you sure? There must be more important people here already who you and the King must speak to."

"Sometimes, dear, there are, but today I want everyone to know that you rightfully belong in this hall with us. On occasion we select from among those who serve in the palace to join us, we do not desire to appear remote from our people. I regret that you will probably not join us at table every day, dear, but today is your first time and it is a way of showing everyone that we value your abilities."

"If it please Your Majesty."

"It does, dear. Now, we must needs await the King before we may sit, so tell me, what have you done this morning?"

Milsy recounted what had happened so far today, discovering that the Queen had an excellent memory for detail and knew most of the men who had been transferred.

"And we have today assembled and started a special clock commissioned by Master Gerdas, Ma'am."

Any reply was stopped by the arrival of Robanar, who was speaking to Merek. The two joined Terys, Tarvan and Milsy.

"My dear!" Robanar beamed at Milsy. "Merek has been telling me that you have purloined some of my men."

Milsy flushed. "Sire, I did not ask for them. In fact, I did not ask for any of them, though I know why I must needs have them."

The beam faded. "As you say, my dear. Will you join us for lunch today? I do not think you have eaten with us before."

"Sire, the Queen has already invited Tarvan and myself."

"Then let us be seated. Mistress, if you would sit facing me and, Craftmaster, you may sit facing the Queen."

The food was, naturally, the same as that which had been brought to the suite but it seemed to taste better, somehow, eating it in front of the King and Queen. Not to mention much more daunting. Milsy was by nature a tidy person, since service in Duke Gilbanar's kitchen demanded a certain level of precision in the preparation of food. She cringed at the thought of dropping food down her front or on the table, though. For a simple meal it required a lot of concentration.

"Milsy, dear, you mentioned Gerdas as the King arrived."

"Uh, aye, Ma'am. This morning Tarvan received the parts for a new clock for Master Gerdas and we assembled them before we came for lunch."

Robanar asked, "Do you yet have it working?"

Tarvan replied, "Aye, Sire, we have set it going and it seemed to be still going when we left it. Of course, we have no idea yet if it will run fast or slow, it will take time to discover that."

"How will you do that, young man? If Gerdas's clock divides the day by twenty-four, you cannot use the bells to adjust it by."

Tarvan gave the King the explanation he had given Milsy.

"Ah, I understand." Robanar nodded. "A clever idea, young man."

It was as the party were walking back to the royal corridor that Milsy remembered the other matter.

"Sire? Ma'am? I have a request to make."

"What is it, dear?"

"Ma'am, I have this morning acquired eight new guardsmen to help Tord with his duties."

"Aye, dear, Merek told us this morning."

"Well, Tord says he doesn't know what to do with the men who aren't actually looking after me. I had an idea, I remembered when you told me about what those ropes in the sitting room were for. That room, around the corner, where the nannies and governesses used to be?"

"Indeed, dear, how clever of you to think of it. Robanar, shall we look at it before we take our nap?"

"Aye, why not? The room is idle and likely to remain so until after Keren marries." Robanar smiled at Milsy. "By then I doubt not your own place in the palace, and your safety in it, will have been resolved, my dear. Let us investigate before our nap."

The room was large and had three windows. There was a closet to one side with a small pantry beside it but other than that the room was bare. Servants had cleaned the room regularly but the paint and carpet had not been touched since Keren's own tutors had left. Everybody crowded in to look, Milsy's escort included.

Robanar turned to Tord. "Your opinion, File Leader?"

"Sire, it is exactly what I had thought I needed, but I could not think of any chamber nearby that could be used. With your permission -"

"You have it, File Leader. Apply to Terevor for the furniture you will need. Some easy chairs, I have no doubt."

"Aye, Sire. They need not be of the best quality. A table or two, perhaps, a kettle and some crockery for the pantry."

Robanar nodded. "Good. I wish that all my other problems could be solved as easily! Now, let us go and find our chairs for our nap."

* * *

When Milsy woke she was disturbed. She wasn't cold, exactly, but she wasn't completely comfortable either. In the clear blue sky above the palace the sun still shone but it was apparent that the seasons were progressing in the usual fashion. She sat up, yawning.

I am guessing a point will come where we have to take our nap inside, on our own beds.

Ooh! If I do that, the Queen won't know if I am sleeping or not. Suppose I just creep out...

"Milsy, dear? Are you awake?"

Sigh. "Aye, Ma'am, just about. It isn't so warm this afternoon, is it?"

Behind Milsy she could hear sounds as Bursila roused herself.

"It looks like our season for napping is coming to an end, dear." From beyond the empty recliner facing Milsy, Terys rose from her own place of rest, gently stretching. "When it becomes less comfortable to sleep outside we know that the weather becomes cooler and the need for a nap after lunch becomes less." The Queen looked at the sky. "Mayhap we might have several more fine days but I judge the time has come to cease for this year." She turned. "What say you, dear?"

Robanar grunted from further along the balcony. "Aye, I agree, my dear. It is pleasant to doze when the weather is warm but Fall is already in the air. Let us make today our final lunchtime nap, I deem."

Bursila entered Milsy's vision and curtseyed. "If I may help Kenila and Varna make the pel, Mistress."

"Of course, Bursila."

Over their cups Robanar asked Milsy," Tell me about this new clock, my dear." He held up a hand. "I do not mean the details of cutting and filing brass, I can see that whenever I visit Haflin in the Armory. I seek to understand what benefit this will bring to Gerdas and I deem you will explain it to me in a way that a simpler mind like mine may accept."

"Me, Sire? I don't know... let me see. What the people of Earth did many centuries ago was to divide their heavens up into three hundred sixty parts. Apparently that makes it easier to map the sky because three hundred sixty may be divided up a large number of different ways. You remember that Garia said that there was three hundred sixty five days in an Earth year?" Robanar nodded, nursing his cup. "That's another reason they chose that number, because the sky moved about a degree every day."

"Surely that is not accurate enough?"

"No, Sire, any more than our own system is. Earth does not go around their sun in an exact number of days any more than Anmar goes round our sun in an exact number of days." She shrugged. "It is just convenient to use a nearby number you can do a lot with. So, for some reason they chose to split their days up into twenty-four hours, again I think because twenty-four can be divided up a number of different ways. Ten can only be divided by five and two, twenty by five, four and two. Each hour means that fifteen degrees of the sky passes overhead, or looked at another way the sun moves fifteen degrees in an hour. Each hour is split into sixty minutes and each minute into sixty seconds. That can be useful as a second seems to be about a heartbeat for someone at rest."

Robanar nodded. "As you say. How does this clock then differ from those the Clockmakers produce, apart from being smaller?"

Milsy smiled. "It is much simpler, Sire! Because we use numbers which divide easily, it is easier to design and make the wheels which divide the ticking of the pendulum. Our new clock uses less than half the wheels that the normal clocks do and of course we have no need for any of the bell mechanism at all. Our clock presently has three separate dials with hands that show hours, minutes and seconds. Tarvan is thinking of ways to put them on top of one another as Garia's watch does but that will be for a later model."

"And how will this assist Gerdas?"

"Sire, he will have no need to use sand-droppers or make any of the complicated calculations he must needs do because sunrise is at a different time every morning. All he needs do is to look at the clock when he makes his observation and it will tell him the exact time since either midnight or noon."

Terys said, "Dear, we are accustomed to listen for the bells. Must we needs look at a clock every time we desire to find out what time it is? If so, we will need many clocks indeed."

"Tarvan says that Garia told him that was what happens on Earth, Ma'am. I suppose you get used to doing it that way. She also told him that Earth clocks do sometimes have bells to strike the hours, and public ones sometimes struck the quarters as well. The problem we had was that if we tried that with our new clock, no-one would know if it were an hour or a bell being struck, so we left those parts out."

"I understand. So," Robanar mused, "if we desire to use this new system instead of our present twenty bells, we must needs accustom ourselves to silence."

"Oh, no, Sire! Tarvan and I talked about this. Once we changed over from bells to hours we could put the bell mechanisms back, only they would be much simpler to make than what we have now. Again, we would use less than half the parts since everything relates to noon or midnight, which do not move, instead of dawn and dusk, which do."

Robanar's eyebrows rose. "Indeed? From what you say it seems to me that, by chance and the accident of history, we have chosen an awkward way of counting the parts of our days."

Milsy shrugged. "Sire, it seems to work and that's all most people care about. If we chose to follow the Earth system sometime in the future I can see benefits not only in clockmaking but in the way we do many things. Master Gerdas has the sky to consider and that will improve his craft, but he also told us that every ship captain will sing our praises if we can make a twenty-four hour clock that can run at sea."

The King was silent for a long while, taking sips from his cup as he thought. Finally he came to a decision.

"My dear, you have no doubt heard of the Council of the Two Worlds, to which young Tarvan belongs."

"Aye Sire." Milsy was solemn. "Tarvan knows that I would never speak of it to any. If you wish my oath -"

Robanar held up a hand. "Your word is enough, Milsy. The idea of a twenty-four hour system for keeping time is an important one and I must take it to the council before I may make any decision. I will tell you that I am minded to have Palarand adapt to that system and soon, since it may well become impossible for us to do so once the changes Garia foretells begin to alter our society greatly. The alternative, of retaining the bells we presently use, is likely to be the cause of confusion in the future."

Milsy was surprised. "Sire, are you sure?"

Robanar looked at Milsy. One does not ask a King if he is sure, but the question was innocent enough.

"There are other matters... Garia spoke of a railroad. Have you heard that word? Aye? For a railroad to function properly, she tells us that all the places where it operates must needs use the exact same time, else no-one will know if a train is early or late and an accident may be caused. She pointed out that the sun is seen to rise at different times in different parts of our Kingdom and indeed along the Great Valley and beyond. To a traveler by carriage, on frayen back, on foot or by the river, this matters little but at the speeds these new trains will travel it will matter." He waved a hand. "Ships, aye, she did not speak of that but I can see the need. The new semaphore system will be a like concern."

"As you say, Sire." She thought. "Aye. It would be possible, I deem, for a message to appear to arrive before it was sent unless all use the same time."

He looked at her fully. "Mistress Milsy, Journeywoman Milsy, I will issue you not a command but a request. Design for me a clock which will show both the bells of Palarand and the hours of Earth. Give me something I can look at and determine what it might mean for our people."

"Show the time, Sire?" she asked cautiously.

"Aye. If you can make a dial for Earth hours, surely a dial for the bells must be possible?"

"I'm not sure, Sire. The bell mechanism is very complicated. All I can do is to investigate what you ask of me and tell you if we can make such a thing with our present abilities."

"Done." He put his cup down and smiled at Milsy. "I do not ask you to attempt the impossible, my dear, but to discover what is possible."

"Sometimes, Sire, as Lady Garia has shown us, there are things we believe to be impossible which prove not to be. Tarvan and I will do our best."

"Quite so, my dear. What will you and Tarvan be doing this afternoon?"

"Sire, we have been invited to the Printing Works." She wrinkled her nose. "I have seen printed sheets, those brought by Master Korben, but I do not understand why everybody thinks printing to be so significant."

Terys said, "Mayhap that is because your mind is presently filled with clocks, dear. Will Parrel be there?"

"Aye, Ma'am, he is to take us round and explain everything."

"It was Parrel and Tarvan to whom Garia first explained the process of printing, dear, and what happened on Earth after printing became known there. I'm sure they will explain it all to you. It will mean more for everybody to read and that in turn means that everybody must needs learn to read. She tells us that on Earth most children have learned to read by the age of five. There is much to be done before Palarand may educate its children so."

"You mean that everybody would be schooled, Ma'am? At so young an age? I thought the changes to come would be devices and machines, it did not occur to me what else might need to be changed."

Robanar grunted. "You begin to grasp what we discovered these months hence, Milsy. This will be a change in the way of life of all our people, a change we must steer carefully past those dangers which will come with such changes. With Garia to tell us what happened on Earth, we hope to avoid the worst of those dangers. Of course there will be other, different challenges but we will meet them as we may."

Milsy was beginning to see that the changes to come would result in a great upheaval in Palarand and that the King meant to try and control what happened.

Is that what the Council of the Two Worlds is? An attempt to control the future?

"Sire? If the changes are to be so great, would it be better not to have the changes at all? Or, perhaps, to make them slowly?"

Robanar shook his head. "Garia tells us, and I have no choice but to believe her, that the changes she speaks of will come to Palarand - Anmar - whether she tells us of them or no. After all, Earth did not have a traveler from another world to guide them in their Industrial Revolution, they discovered all the methods and devices for themselves, often the hard way."

He sighed. "In doing so, she tells us that there was great hardship, injustice, danger and death during that period, with many of the folk who had been drawn to the towns and cities to work suffering poor living conditions and long days of work with little rest."

Milsy's face fell. "I didn't know, Sire. Garia talked a little about that to me in Dekarran but I didn't know enough then to understand what she meant." Her expression changed to one of resolution. "I understand now, Sire. You may rely on me."

"I never doubted it for a moment, my dear."

* * *

Tarvan held open the sitting room door and followed Milsy and Bursila through. Milsy turned to Tarvan.

"Ugh! My back aches and my feet hurt. If you would excuse me, Tarvan, I wish to take this gown off and find something more comfortable to wear."

"Of course, Milsy. I noticed you struggling when we were in the dining room. Are those a new pair of shoes?"

"Aye, they are. They have a higher heel than I am accustomed to but they are similar to those the other ladies of the court wear. Doubtless I will become used to them in time."

Bursila asked, "What of the gown, Mistress? Is that not comfortable either?"

"I don't know, Bursila. It might just be the shoes. Let us go and find out."

"As you wish, Mistress."

Tarvan said, "While you do that, Milsy, I want to go out onto the balcony and get some fresh air."

"As you wish, Tarvan. Beware, at this time of year I am told there are insects which may be attracted to you in the evening."

"Warning noted, Milsy. Go and change."

Outside it was still mild enough for the season. The sky was almost dark except for a red glow against some clouds to the west. Tarvan leaned on the railing and breathed deeply.

"Young Tarvan. I did not expect to find you here."

Tarvan stood up. "Nor I you, Sire. I will go in if -"

"Nay, remain if you so desire. I have but come for some fresh air myself."

"Thank you, Sire."

"I trust your visit to the Printing Works was successful?"

"Aye, Sire. Of course I was there at the beginning but since I have concentrated my studies on electrical matters much has changed. We both found the visit to be very instructive. I believe that Milsy now understands the importance of printing to our future."

"I had no doubt that she would, Tarvan. She has an exceptionally clever mind, I deem. Only now has it been permitted to function as it should. Did she make any suggestions while you were there?"

Tarvan grinned. "One or two, Sire. Fortunately, because she so resembles Lady Garia the guildsmen are prepared to listen to her."

"Aye, well, she might not be so fortunate tomorrow. By chance Gerdas intends to call after lunch on another matter but I am certain he will wish to inspect the new clock... as will I."

"I foresee no problems, Sire. I need to examine it tomorrow morning to see if it is still functioning properly but the clock is intended for Master Gerdas, after all."

Robanar grunted. "That is not all. I have received a petition from Guildmaster Bayorn of the Clockmakers' Guild concerning the activities of the Metalsmiths' Guild. He is also coming here tomorrow afternoon."

"Maker! Your pardon, Sire." Tarvan was momentarily nonplussed. How could he ask what the King was going to do? Fortunately Robanar answered anyway.

"Bayorn resents what he sees as interference by the Metalsmiths' Guild and he also objects to what he sees as Crown interference in Guild matters. If he believes that, he will have a shock when he comes tomorrow." Robanar's voice hardened in the gloom. "Hurdin and Parrel agree that Bayorn must not be allowed to prevail. I will also point out to Bayorn that there is but one law in Palarand and that is the law of Palarand. I will not interfere with the internal affairs of the guilds but it seems to me now that it was wise of Garia to suggest that they all be merged into one organization. The holding of secrets does us all an ill service, I deem."

"Indeed, Sire."

Tarvan was forced to step back as a large night insect began fluttering around him. He flapped his arms around with little effect.

"Go away! Sire, with your permission, I should withdraw."

"As will I, young Tarvan. Good-night to you."

"And to you, Sire."

Tarvan had not been seated long on the settee before Milsy reappeared, wearing the day dress she had worn earlier.

"More comfortable now?"

"Oh, aye. It looks like it was the shoes. I'll have to take them to Steben and get him to take a closer look at the fit."

"Indeed. I met the King outside on the balcony."

"Oh? Does he object to your presence?"

"Not at all. He did warn me that Master Gerdas will be coming tomorrow afternoon and so will Guildmaster Bayorn."

"Ouch! Is he worried?"

"He is the King, I doubt such a small matter causes him concern. However, he is prepared to use the law to squash Bayorn if he must."

Milsy smiled. "I suppose Gerdas will want to see the new clock?" Tarvan nodded. "Then it seems to me that the laboratory may be the best place to confront Bayorn. Perhaps we should use this evening thinking up arguments to convince the Clockmakers' Guildmaster."

Tarvan matched her smile. "An excellent idea! What are your thoughts?"

"First of all, I realized..."

Milsy is deep in the clock project and has to find a way to deflect the attentions of Bayorn and the Clockmakers' Guild. A demonstration almost goes right and then Robanar makes an important decision.

What Milsy Did

by Penny Lane

15 - Into the Whirlwind

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 (c) 2016 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

---

For her first "official" public breakfast Milsy appeared on the arm of Tarvan. As they walked into the family dining room she noted that Kendar was not present and deduced that this was how things were, because there would be little need to announce anyone at that bell of the morning. In fact, neither King nor Queen had yet arrived so the pair found a quiet corner to continue the conversation they had begun as they left her quarters.

"But how would you make such a repeater clock run so far away from the master clock, Tarvan? I understand that we would just use longer wires, but... I doubt the King will permit us to string wires all over the palace. I cannot think of another way to do it, however. Why can we not just place master clocks where they may be needed?"

"You know why, Milsy. Because every clock would need to be adjusted separately, where the whole point of having master and repeaters is that one clock does all." Tarvan grimaced. "I have been thinking about the business of wires, Milsy. The Guildmistress told us that, because electricity is present almost everywhere in every building in Kansas, pipes and tubes are built into the structure as the buildings are made, just as we now build in water pipes. Wires can then be run through the pipes and tubes as required. As we do not have those pipes or tubes, adapting our present buildings to take the wires will be our hardest task, I deem."

"If we cannot run wires inside the walls then we must needs run them outside," Milsy clarified. "I do not know the craft of carpentry but is there not some method that we may use to secure wires to wood?"

"We might use small staples, I believe," Tarvan replied, "but I hesitate to suggest such a method as it will scar the decoration of the panels."

"There is another way," Milsy said slowly. "When I said outside, I could have meant outside the buildings completely. That way few would see the wires and object to them."

"Run the wires round the courtyards, do you mean? Possible, I would grant you, but even if we ran them under the cloisters they would be at the mercy of weather and wildlife. Like most large buildings there will be many avians who reside nearby and some could get tangled in the wires or break them. Besides, you have to consider that whether we run the wires inside or out, to get them from one side of a wall to the other holes must needs be drilled. To answer the King's desires may require more changes to the palace than he would be comfortable with."

"As you say. And whatever we propose is going to cost coin, isn't it? But, consider, the laboratory is just yonder, is it not? If we keep the master clock there, we could try our repeater clocks here in the dining room. It is not so far to run two wires and we can experiment with ways of making them unobtrusive or even invisible. Once we have found a way that all agree to then we can think of where we might place other repeaters."

Tarvan looked at Milsy. "Other repeaters? We barely have the first one running, and that without a proper enclosure!"

She shrugged. "It is logical, Tarvan. Once we prove to all that we are not crazy then everyone will desire a clock to provide them the time. I do not know how many rooms are in the palace but one day, I deem, most will have such a clock within."

He nodded reluctantly. "I am almost afraid to say it but I think I must agree with your conclusion. That day will be some years away, though. Let us first ensure that what we propose, and what the King desires, will function as intended."

Terys arrived and went off to speak to one of the female functionaries of the palace. Shortly afterwards Robanar arrived and everybody moved towards the tables. This time, Tarvan chose one of the outer tables to sit away from the royal couple. Terys spotted them and nodded approval.

* * *

There was a slight chill in the laboratory that morning as they entered. Bursila went to start the furnace to provide some heat while Milsy and Tarvan approached the bench with the three clocks on. All seemed to be working just as they had been left the previous evening. Tarvan used Garia's watch to test the accuracy of all three clocks, stopping them and making small adjustments to the pendulums before starting them again.

"I've been thinking," Tarvan said.

"Oh?"

"Look inside these frames. We have taken most of the insides out of these clocks and we are left with a big space within. I don't think we need to make our clocks as thick as the clockmakers made these."

Milsy peered. "Aye, of course. A lot of the space was for the weights and the winding drums, was it not? And we have taken out most of the bell parts as well." She cast a critical eye over what was left. "This new design of ours could be very thin, I deem. Maybe only a thumb's width, if that. More saving of materials but we still have to have space for the pendulum - and possibly a battery."

Tarvan was dismissive. "The battery is a dangerous item, Milsy. I would rather have that on the floor or in a sturdy box or cupboard where it could not be knocked over. There is no reason why the clock has to be anywhere near it, we just run the wires as desired."

"Do we need a battery at all? Why not just feed it from the battery in here?"

He shook his head. "I keep forgetting, Milsy. You are right but it will mean more wires."

"If the clock is that thin," she mused, "it will get knocked over when the servants do their cleaning. We don't want that. Suppose we just screw it to the wall... of course! If we choose the right place to fix the clock to the wall, that will hide the holes made by the wires coming in."

"Aye, a sensible idea." He nodded. "If we mount it over the doorway, for example, in a wooden case, everyone will know where to find it to learn what the time is. There need be no wires visible inside the room at all." He thought. "We have not solved the other problem, though. The King desires a clock face that will show the bells as well as the hours. Do we make separate clocks and set them side by side?"

She frowned. "Why do we need a bell clock at all? Can we not just provide the bells and make them work from the master clock?"

Tarvan shook his head. "The King asked for something that could show the time, Milsy. That means having a way to show the numbers of the bells."

"I think it could be worse than that, Tarvan. It would be sensible to show if it be day or night else the reader of the clock become confused. And what about dawn and dusk? The hands would have to move either forwards or backwards, I deem."

"A hard problem indeed. No wonder Master Gerdas desires something simpler." Tarvan reached for a piece of paper and a reedlet. "Come, let us try and make sense of what we are asked."

* * *

At lunch Milsy approached Robanar as he stood talking with Merek.

"Sire." She curtseyed. "If I am interrupting something, my question can wait until later."

"No, no, my dear! You do not interrupt us. What is it you desired to ask?"

"Um, Tarvan and I have been thinking about what you asked us yesterday, Sire. About making a clock that will show both hours and bells."

Both Robanar and Merek looked interested.

"Aye, my dear?"

"Well, we both thought that if such a clock is useful to the palace then you might want a number of them placed around the different chambers, Sire."

"A bold suggestion, my dear, but... in time I could believe that your conclusion was correct."

Merek asked, "Sire? If I may ask what you desired of Mistress Milsy."

"Aye, Merek, of course. It was like this -"

Robanar told Merek about the double clock, with some additional information from Milsy and Tarvan.

"That brings us to today, my dear," Robanar concluded. "What was your question?"

"To provide what you have asked would require wires to be strung throughout the palace, Sire," Milsy explained. "I do not yet know how we will arrange for them to travel but I am concerned about possible damage to the woodwork."

"Ah, I understand, my dear. Aye, a problem that must needs be considered." Unexpectedly, the King gave Milsy an enigmatic smile. "My dear, did you bathe this morning?"

She was thrown by the apparent switch in subject. "Aye, Sire?"

"Then know that the palace is sufficiently old that it was not built with pipes to convey water to the bathing chambers nor pipes to take away the waste of bath or toilet. I have no doubt that our guildsmen will find a way to carry your wires from place to place that does not disturb our structure any more than is necessary. Look! Yonder is Parrel, arrived to join us for lunch. He will find you the right guildsmen to answer your questions."

Milsy curtseyed again. "Thank you, Sire. I should have thought about the pipes, we were speaking of pipes earlier."

"As you say. Now, have you time to tell me your plans or should I wait until this afternoon?"

She shrugged. "Some of each, Sire. Our immediate idea is this, the laboratory is just yonder, it would not be difficult to bring our wires to this room, I deem. We wondered if we could put a double clock in here first for you to see it working. We could probably do that with very little disturbance."

"In here? How would you do that? Where would it be placed?"

Tarvan answered. "Sire, running the wires along a single corridor would give us a chance to test various ways of doing so while not making a mess. The clock would be mounted above the door and would look something like - we think - a deep picture frame with two disks side by side on it."

Robanar nodded. "An interesting notion, Tarvan. And we would know the time just by looking at this clock?"

"Aye, Sire. As we pointed out yesterday, there would be no bells installed."

Merek asked, "If this idea of yours works, Master Tarvan, I would be interested in having such a clock in the Large Training Room. Sometimes, when the men are working hard, we do not hear the bells so well."

Robanar looked at the Guard Captain with interest. "I had not thought of that, Merek. There may be many chambers about the palace where such clocks could be useful to us. Milsy -"

At that point Terys entered the room speaking to Margra. Robanar saw her and straightened.

"Ah. The Queen has arrived at last, we must not delay lunch any further, I deem. Let us speak more of this when we meet in the laboratory."

Tarvan bowed and Milsy curtseyed. "As you wish, Sire."

Robanar pointed. "Seek you Parrel, perhaps he can satisfy your questions while you eat. Until later, then."

* * *

The footman opened the large iron-bound door and ushered Bayorn through it followed by Hebren. The Guildmaster was mystified, since he had expected the King to meet them in one of the many public chambers at the front of the palace. This was a region of the great building he had never been before. Inside was a vast room, the same size as the great Receiving Room, and it appeared to be full of benches, apparatus and odds and ends. By his right side a furnace, damped now, provided heat for the huge room while to his left one of those new steam engines quietly puttered away.

Standing in front of one of the nearest benches were the King and several other people Bayorn recognized. Parrel of the metalsmiths was there, as was Gerdas, who Bayorn assumed was there because he was acting head of the Society of Questors. Perhaps these were his chambers? Certainly the untidy room suggested a Questor. Also present were Captain Merek and, to Bayorn's annoyance, the two persons he had come to complain to the King about. He strode forward and bowed.

"Sire. I had hoped to have a few moments in private with you. I do not wish to interrupt your meeting with Master Gerdas."

"You do not interrupt anything, Bayorn. You know everyone here, do you not? Good. If I may show you the clocks which my two young guildsmen - ahem! - our young guildsman and guildswoman have been working on."

Robanar stood aside and three clocks were revealed on the bench. Two were recognizably those Bayorn had grudgingly sent to the palace previously while the third looked like no clock he had ever seen before. All the clocks were naked mechanisms and had wires and coils fixed to them, while other wires went to two strange rectangular jars of liquid standing on the bench.

Furious, Bayorn turned to Parrel. "Is this your doing? Do you usurp the prerogative of the Clockmakers to produce clocks, Parrel? This is even more serious than the complaints I came here to make before the King."

Parrel mildly replied, "These two clocks are those you gave to the King, Bayorn. He is our King, he may do with them as he desires. The third one is a commission by Master Gerdas for a new kind of clock to assist him in his study of the heavens. A study, I might add, which has been greatly increased since Lady Garia came to Palarand."

Bayorn suppressed a scowl at the mention of the other female who had somehow overturned the smooth running of the Guild system. A word caught his attention.

"A commission? I do not understand. I have received no commission recently for a clock by any Questor."

Gerdas remarked, "I gave the commission to the Clockmakers' Guild more than a week hence, Guildmaster Bayorn. It was rejected out of hand but I have yet to hear a sensible reason for it."

Bayorn was momentarily stopped. "With whom did you speak, Master Gerdas?"

"Why, it was Guildsman Hebren here, Guildmaster. I gave him the details of what I desired and he took them away. The following day I received a brief note that, since the design did not follow that of the standard bells of Palarand the calculations to design the clock would take so long that I would be unlikely to see a model before next Spring, if ever."

Bayorn spun. "Hebren, is this true?"

"Aye, Guildmaster. What Master Gerdas asked seemed so unusual that I knew we must needs take many days understanding how it could be done. I knew that we would be very busy for the next few months and so I wrote him telling him so."

"And you did not think to inform me of the commission?"

Hebren shrugged. "I had forgotten the matter, Guildmaster. It did not seem to be that important. To make but a single clock, and so unusual, would take time and effort better devoted to our newer models. Perhaps in the new year..."

Hebren became aware that everybody was staring at him and he stopped speaking.

Robanar grunted. "Is this how you run your Guild, Bayorn?"

Bayorn bristled. "Sire, with respect, the Guilds of Palarand run their own affairs. If any wrong has been done by Hebren it will be a matter for me to give judgment."

"I was speaking of your duty as a guildsman to your clients, Bayorn," Robanar said bluntly, causing Bayorn to flush. "The Royal Astronomer requested a specific instrument in order for him to accurately determine the times of the moons, planets and stars. Times, I might add, which you then use to set your own clocks. Do you not consider that his desires might be more important than a trophy clock which gathers dust on a noble's hall table?"

"Sire, I..." Bayorn swallowed. He had forgotten what could happen when the King became annoyed. "I did not know, Sire. It is Hebren's error, I will see that he is properly chastised."

"And what of the clock which Master Gerdas requires? When shall it be ready?"

Bayorn looked at Hebren, who licked his lips. The latter replied, "Sire, I will have to examine the notes I made. It will likely take us some time to satisfy his commission."

"I am told that his desires are very simple. What, pray, might the problem be?"

"Sire, uh, that is, I don't really remember, Sire," Hebren stammered. "I only remember that he did not want the normal number of bells but twenty-four instead, for some reason. To work out the sprockets and gears needed, why, those are matters for our guild specialists and they will be completely different than anything we have made before."

"I see." Robanar paused, turning with a gesture. "And yet, here is such a clock. Journeywoman Milsy designed the clock and Craftmaster Tarvan calculated the sprockets required the same afternoon. Parrel's men made the parts in but five days from the day that Master Gerdas first spoke to them of his desire."

"If I may, Sire," Tarvan added with a straight face. "Guildmaster, the parts arrived yesterday morning after breakfast and were assembled by lunchtime. Already the clock keeps better time than the Great Clock of the palace."

"What?" Bayorn's eyes bulged out. "How can you possibly know that?"

"When we started these other clocks after making our alterations, Guildmaster," Tarvan explained to an incensed Bayorn, "we synchronized them with the Great Clock the day your men came to rewind the weights, but before they began their work. We know that the watch of the Guildmistress may be considered reliable so we used that as our reference. Since then the Great Clock has become five minutes and seventeen seconds slower and loses eleven seconds a day."

"What might a second be?"

"It is the ticking of that third clock, Guildmaster. I am told it is roughly the same as a heartbeat of a person at rest. Sixty seconds make up a minute so the Great Clock is presently three hundred seventeen seconds slow."

"Do you allege that my men have not kept the Great Clock to the correct time? This is a serious accusation."

Tarvan shrugged. "I could not say, Guildmaster. I only record what my ears hear."

Sidetracked, Bayorn turned to Hebren. "Is this true? You used the normal procedure when you last wound the clock?"

Hebren looked shame-faced. "Aye, Guildmaster, we did, but the sand-dropper was knocked over at one point. It was picked up immediately so I do not think that there was as much delay as the guildsman alleges."

Tarvan said stiffly to Bayorn, "Guildmaster, I am presently ranked Craftmaster of the metalworkers. Mayhap the sand-dropper was picked up upside-down."

Bayorn did not know where to look first. The situation had become out of control and his original complaint had been forgotten as the accusations flew. He remembered who stood in front of him, however.

"Sire, forgive me, we have been drawn into guild matters better left until another time. My original complaint still stands, that Guildmaster Parrel and, ah, Craftmaster Tarvan together with others," he ignored Milsy, "have undertaken work for a client which should properly have been done by the Clockmakers' Guild." His words became more careful. "I must respectfully add that Your Majesty has been complicit in these dealings which represent a transgression of guild regulations."

Robanar stared at Bayorn. "At Midwinter's Night your guild will disappear, Bayorn, to be merged with that of Parrel and of every other guild into a combined institute. Did you not understand this? Did you not understand the reasons why?"

"Sire, I only know that it is not yet Midwinter's Night and that my guild still exists. Are we then to discard all our rules and regulations for something that has not yet happened?"

"Yet you admit that you could not provide Master Gerdas with a clock for another six months. Parrel has provided such a clock within a week. Explain yourself."

Bayorn felt his collar growing hot and he wanted to get away from this gathering, to go and sit somewhere cool and quiet. This was not what was supposed to happen!

"Sire, I cannot," he said eventually. "Ah, if I may examine the clocks? I may better understand the problem which Hebren has mentioned."

Robanar looked at Tarvan and Milsy who both nodded. The look on Milsy's face warned of more surprises to come and the first one didn't take long. Bayorn and Hebren leaned over the third clock and then straightened abruptly.

"I do not understand," Bayorn complained. "There is almost nothing inside here! Where are the weights, the bells?"

Milsy answered, "Guildmaster, bells are not needed for this clock. If you would look at the front, you will see that the passing of time is indicated by three pointers which count the divisions of the day as Master Gerdas requires. Because the pointers are always in sight he will no longer need to use sand-droppers to aid his measurements."

Bayorn twitched at Milsy's voice but looked at the front of the clock. He watched with fascination as the second hand moved round with each tick of the pendulum. Hebren, however, had thought of something else.

"What makes it work, then, if there are no weights? I do not understand this."

Tarvan replied, "Electricity, Hebren. That square jar contains electricity which ensures that the pendulum keeps moving without the need for a weight. The jar needs to be changed perhaps once a week, perhaps longer."

"But... do you not face the same problem as we do with a normal clock? That the clock must needs stop when the jar is replaced for a new one?"

Tarvan grinned. "Indeed not, Hebren. We simply connect the new battery before we remove the old one."

"Battery?"

Tarvan gestured absently. "A technical term for what the jar represents, Hebren. Just as clockmakers use particular terms within their craft, so do electrical engineers."

Bayorn muttered, "You have no business making clock parts, Parrel. These gears are those of clocks and we should have made them!"

Parrel smiled. "You are not the only people who use gears, Bayorn. Do you yet make gears for mills? For cranes? For the miners' winding wheels? Aye, these are smaller than most but they are made the same way, I deem. You cannot accuse me of stealing trade secrets for in truth you do not have any."

"What do you mean?" Bayorn was red-faced. "There are many methods and techniques known only to the Clockmakers' Guild, just as there are methods and techniques known to your own guild, Parrel."

Parrel shrugged. "Yet Journeywoman Milsy was able to determine how the Great Clock worked after inspecting it for less than a bell. Not a very important secret, I deem. That single visit led her to devise these other clocks which, so His Majesty tells me, may be as important to Palarand as that of Master Gerdas. Perhaps you should inspect those as well."

"I will! But first, explain why there are so few gears in this clock."

Milsy strode to the blackboard and picked up chalk. "Do you understand the Garian Numbers, Guildmaster?"

Bayorn replied, "Aye, I do," but the expression on his face showed that he resented having to make that admission and especially to a woman.

"Then," Milsy explained, "I will show you what I did. Master Gerdas desired to use the clock system of Earth, that is a day divided first into twenty-four hours and then into sixty minutes and further into sixty seconds. That is the way that the watch of Lady Garia shows the time."

She swiftly scribbled on the board, showing the calculations she had made after advice from Tarvan.

"So because you can't have a reduction gear with a single tooth on one side, we had to have two wheels to give us the minute and two more for the hour. The shaft of each wheel sticks out of the front so that we can put hands on them. That's what the indicators are called, hands."

Bayorn's eyebrows shot up. "That's all? Five wheels? I find that incredible. Hebren, you obviously paid no attention to what Master Gerdas asked of you. This design is so simple even an apprentice could have discovered the answer."

Hebren bowed. "Guildmaster, I did not understand what Master Gerdas wanted. If I had known it would be as simple as that, I would have told him so. I assumed that I would have to start with a standard clock design and modify it."

"As would any sensible -" Bayorn stopped and looked at those watching. "Ah, perhaps that would not have been appropriate for me to say, would it? Parrel, do you intend to make further clocks for Master Gerdas or will you permit the Clockmakers to do so?"

Parrel shrugged. "Perhaps, Bayorn, once the design has been completed. I understand there are other considerations which must needs be made, requests by the King."

Bayorn looked at Robanar, who returned an impassive gaze.

"Sire, we will await your pleasure."

"Bayorn, Gerdas will require but a small number of clocks for himself and his fellow astronomers. Once the design has been proven then I have no objection to your guildsmen making those which are needed. Tarvan and Milsy have many other demands on their time as does Parrel."

Bayorn bowed. "Thank you, Sire. If we may now inspect these other clocks?"

"You may. I would be interested to hear your comments, Bayorn."

Bayorn glanced at Robanar after that last remark but could detect nothing untoward. He gestured at Hebren and the two walked around the bench to look at the two linked clocks.

Hebren was the first to speak. "But... these have been gutted! Guildmaster, look, there are no weights, no winding gear... this one does not even have a pendulum! How can they possibly work?"

"I don't know, Hebren... perhaps something to do with that jar, there... like the other clock, the first one."

"The two clocks use but one jar between them? And most of the bell mechanism has been ripped out of this second one!"

The whole meeting had been timed so that the Great Clock would chime sometime during the confrontation. Since it was running slow, it was the two linked clocks that now chimed simultaneously, indicating the correct time. Both men stared at the devices in amazement.

"How does it do that, Tarvan? Does this electricity of yours connect the clocks?"

Tarvan looked up from the slate he was annotating. "Aye, Guildmaster, it does. Because of that we don't need most of the inside workings of the repeater clocks at all, just the bell parts and not even all of those."

A bewildered Hebren asked, "But what use is that to anyone? Having two clocks close together like this is pointless. Only one is needed, surely?"

Tarvan grinned. "That depends on how long we make those wires, Hebren. The idea is to keep the master clock, the one with the pendulum, in this chamber and run wires around the palace to repeater clocks in many of the other chambers. Because they will all take their time from the master clock we can be certain that they are all accurate."

"Wires?" repeated Bayorn. "You can run more than one clock from the same... master clock, did you call it? How many could you run? And how far away?"

"We have no idea, Guildmaster. According to the Guildmistress -" Bayorn scowled at the reference to Garia, "- the world she comes from is covered with such wires, so that all may make use of electricity." He shrugged. "The timing of clocks is but a trivial matter, so I am told. Electricity has many other much more important uses, Guildmaster. If you desire to learn more I would be willing to arrange a meeting."

Bayorn looked as though he had been asked to take an unpleasant potion. He turned to the King.

"Sire, I have discovered that my knowledge of clockmaking is incomplete. I will for now withdraw the complaint that I came to the palace to make. I am not content for others to be engaged in work that should properly be the domain of the Clockmakers' Guild but the present circumstances are exceptional. I am puzzled how a clock without bells may be of service to Master Gerdas but -"

While Bayorn had been speaking to Robanar, Hebren had gingerly picked up the repeater clock to take a closer look inside. There was a crack! and a flash and everyone jumped back, the repeater falling to the bench with a clatter. Two of the wires had touched and the short-circuit had melted short sections of them, sending little balls of molten copper flying about the bench. One of the balls hit the back of Milsy's hand and she began rubbing the spot. Tarvan quickly disconnected the battery and the master clock came to a halt.

"Sire! An unexpected accident. Is anyone hurt?"

There were shakes of the head from all.

Hebren looked uncomfortable. "Craftmaster, what happened? What did I do?"

"Electricity can be potent stuff, Hebren, though even I did not expect what just happened. If the wires touch while the electricity flows, it will choose the shorter way back to the battery and that can be... spectacular, as you have just seen. Master Parrel has been using a larger battery to conduct experiments in welding with electricity."

Bayorn asked, "Welding?"

"Aye, Bayorn," Parrel replied. "It seems we will no longer be required to stand beside a forge to weld but we can make welds, and even construct things, away from our workshops if needed. The ability to do so has changed our thinking considerably." He added, "Of course, such a welding method will be even more dangerous than what you have just seen. Like many of our crafts, electricity has dangers of its own to consider."

A shaken Bayorn replied, "As you say, Parrel."

Tarvan turned to Milsy. "If you could find me two pieces of wire, each about a foot long."

"Of course, Tarvan."

Milsy found one piece of wire and had to cut a second piece from a spool. She deftly twisted the ends onto those of the melted stubs to bridge the gaps, making certain which way round they should go. Since only wire which had been wound onto solenoids was usually varnished there was no need to scrape the ends clean, and for this repair she wouldn't bother to solder the joints. She was watched with interest by the others. It was obvious that she knew exactly what she was doing.

"Done, Tarvan."

Having checked that the repeater clock was upright and unharmed, Tarvan reconnected the battery and gently pushed the pendulum. As it swung the master clock ticked back into life. Bayorn watched this process with astonishment.

"Just like that? I am amazed, Craftmaster."

"Guildmaster, it is not the first short circuit that we have experienced during our experiments. We must learn of a way to cover these wires, I deem, to prevent others from causing such accidents."

"I had not realized... this electricity of yours is unlike anything I have ever seen before. I wonder... do you expect me to construct all clocks using electricity in the future?"

Tarvan swung. "Guildmaster?"

"Bayorn, it will likely be many years before electricity is available in quantity to all in Palarand. I would deem, therefore, that most of the new clocks will be powered in the traditional way by weights... or by new methods to be discussed at another time."

Bayorn's expression sharpened. "New methods?"

"Aye." Parrel flipped a hand dismissively. "The Guildmistress has briefly mentioned to me that, before electricity became common on Earth, many clocks used a method whereby they were powered by coiled, tempered springs and that instead of using a pendulum another like spring was used. As I say, we should speak of such matters another time."

"Ah? Parrel, it now seems that I have much to learn about the art of making clocks. I will arrange to meet with you and others at our earliest convenience."

Robanar said, "Bayorn, understand this. At present the use of electricity is barely understood by anyone in Palarand and likely by nobody else within Alaesia. Almost all knowledge is contained within this chamber, though, as Parrel said, he does have some men making limited experiments elsewhere. The clocks you see before you are the first results of work by Master Tarvan and Mistress Milsy, building on knowledge brought to Anmar by Guildmistress Garia.

"Where Garia comes from, a world called Earth, electricity is used by everyone and for many purposes. It would take too long to describe them to you today. As Parrel has explained, since those who reside in Palarand do not have access to electricity... yet... we will still require clocks made in the traditional way. However, in the palace we will experiment with clocks which use electricity instead of weights and with repeater clocks so that all may show the same time.

"In addition, I have asked Tarvan and Milsy to design for me a clock which shows the time in the bells we all know and also in the hours which Gerdas will use. It seems to me from what I have seen here today," he gestured at the clock on the bench, "that the hour method is a better way of counting time than our traditional bells. The clocks are also much simpler to construct, I deem. If this experiment is successful, the Clockmakers' Department of the Royal Palarand Institute of Engineers will be commanded to produce such clocks in great quantity for all to use."

Both Bayorn and Hebren thumped to their knees.

"Sire! I am answered," Bayorn responded. "My guild is yours to command."

"Rise, Bayorn and Hebren. Know that many concerns you may have objected to have been considered in council. Palarand's future will require all those in its Guilds to co-operate with each other and with others who may not be guild members." Robanar fixed Bayorn with a glare. "Any who refuse will be found other ways to be useful to Palarand."

Bayorn paled under the threat. "As you command, Sire." He licked his lips. "If I may venture another question?"

"As you wish, Bayorn."

"If the knowledge of making clocks is no longer to be the preserve of the Clockmakers'... Department, then what purpose does my department serve? Shall it disappear into the new Institute?"

"Of course not, Bayorn! You will still remain the experts at your own craft but know that your knowledge will become available to other crafts, just as their knowledge will become available to you." A flip of the hand, "Of course most of what they have to tell you will be of no benefit to your craft but there are always exceptions. Electricity is but the first of those. Your own specialty, that of making small mechanical parts, will be of great use to us in the future. You may find your guildsmen making not just clocks but other machines, perhaps electric motors like those on the other bench there."

"These?" Bayorn pointed to the mass of motors and wires on the other bench. "Sire, I did not know what they were. Most of what is in this room is mysterious to me."

Parrel gave a sudden laugh. "To all of us, Bayorn! Questor Morlan kept many secrets, I deem, but what is on that bench is the gift of the Guildmistress to all of us. She does not hide her knowledge."

Bayorn then looked more closely at the rest of the room before addressing Robanar. "Sire, I must offer my apologies to all in this room. There is much that I and my guildsmen have to learn and, it seems, much that we may teach. I appreciate now your reasons for forming the new Institute."

He then bowed low to the King.

"You begin to understand then, Bayorn," Robanar replied. "Knowledge can only be improved by those who know it. The more who share, the greater chance that somebody will be able to advance what all presently know."

"Aye, Sire."

"Then I believe we are finished here. Tarvan? Parrel? Gerdas? If there is anything else, speak."

"Sire, we are finished," Tarvan replied for them. "I must needs speak with Master Bayorn privately but that will not require your presence."

At that point the Great Clock struck, Tarvan making further notes on his slate.

"As you say. Now, the Queen and I have business elsewhere in the palace. I will bid you all good-day."

Everybody bowed and the King swept out of the laboratory.

* * *

Milsy led Tarvan and Parrel into her sitting room, walking over to the settee and collapsing onto it with a great sigh of relief.

"Ooh! That's better. Master Parrel, Tarvan, if you would find yourself seats."

Bursila curtseyed. "Do you desire pel, Mistress?"

Milsy looked at the others. "What do you think? Are we too near the evening meal for another drink?"

Parrel shrugged. "I would not object, Milsy." He grinned. "Some of our guildsmen seem to work better when they have a steady flow of pel to hand. I cannot imagine why."

A nod from Tarvan and she turned to Bursila. "Aye, Bursila, pel if you would."

With the formalities over, Parrel stood and walked over to inspect the blackboard.

"Is this your design for Master Gerdas? No, it cannot be, what I saw on the bench was much simpler than this and excellently made."

"So it should be, Master Parrel," Tarvan responded, standing, "since it was your men who made all the parts! No, this is our idea for the King's clock which will show both bells and hours. As you can see -"

Milsy joined them as Tarvan explained their thinking.

"What is this big disk?" Parrel asked, "I don't remember seeing anything like that on a normal clock."

"We have a problem, Master, and that is that the number of bells varies so much from season to season. To show the day and night bells we must allow for the maximum number of possible bells. Unfortunately we cannot use a similar mechanism to that which presently strikes the bells, we must find another way. Milsy thought of this idea."

"Aye, Master Parrel," Milsy added. "Since there may be as many as thirteen bells at noon on Midsummer's Day and thirteen bells at midnight on Midwinter's Night we must be able to display at least twenty-six different numbers. Since only twenty are ever used on any day the exact number does not matter, thus I chose thirty-two since that is an easier disk to make. Every time the bell solenoid operates the disk is advanced by a bell and every time the dawn or dusk solenoid is operated the whole disk moves round to start the next day or night part of the cycle."

Parrel nodded. "Interesting! But why did you not do the same as the clock for Gerdas and repeat the day and night cycle? You would only require... thirteen bells, I deem."

"That was one thought but it made other difficulties," Milsy replied. "Doing it this way means we can keep day and night separate and also indicate if it were day or night."

"And this whole disk of yours rotates, unlike the other clock where the disk remains fixed and the hands rotate."

"We puzzled over that for a while and eventually decided to put the disk behind the clock front, so that only the desired bell number is visible through a hole in the front. That keeps the front from confusing the reader. The alternative would be to use a fixed disk and hands like the other clock but the two disks would always show different times and so be confusing."

"As you say. It is not just we who will be using these clocks but also the palace staff." He smiled. "I have noticed an interesting point. Anyone may know the time on the hour clock even if they cannot understand the Garian Numbers, I deem, since the positions of the hour and minute hands are easy to determine, but to use the bell part of the clock requires the ability to read the numbers."

Tarvan responded, "Aye, Master, but since the Guildmistress desires, and the King agrees, that all should in time learn to read and write, this may be a subtle way of encouraging them. It may also encourage them to use the other clock in preference, which is what the King desires should happen in time."

"As you say, Tarvan. It seems that you have both given much thought to this design." Parrel looked at the two youngsters. "How close are you to having it made?"

Tarvan grimaced. "There are many drawings involved, Master. It will take us a few more days yet before we may begin to cut brass."

"I desire that you make this your first priority, both of you," the Guildmaster told them. "This is important to the King, to the palace and to Palarand. However, there are several other projects that I need you to concern yourselves with so I want this begun as soon as you may. I would like both of you to apply some of your thought to the new blast-furnaces, for example, to the making of coke and the use of the gases which are expelled and there is also the small matter of wire to be considered. We are going to need prodigious amounts of wire and thus new workshops... new factories, I deem, must be designed and erected somewhere around Teldor to more easily access the raw materials."

"As you command, Master Parrel, but... once the double clocks are made they must be installed in the palace and that may occupy some of our time."

"I understand, Tarvan, but, as I mentioned before, you must not let yourselves become too focused on clock-making." He grinned. "Why, we have a whole guild ready and waiting to make our clocks for us!"

Milsy and Tarvan accompany Parrel to see a recent development suggested by Garia. What they find is a development new to Anmar but still in its infancy, a modern blast furnace. They see how the huge brick tower can easily produce pure iron but there is a loading problem. Milsy remembers something that happened to her long ago in the castle...

What Milsy Did

by Penny Lane

16 - The Tower of Fire

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 (c) 2016 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

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Outside the windows of the carriage the dwellings became fewer and fewer until they were riding through open countryside. Milsy turned to Parrel.

"If I may ask, Master Parrel, why did you build them so far away from the city?"

"Several reasons, Milsy, the first of which is that they generate a large amount of smoke and it was thought best to avoid having that flow over the areas of the city where people reside. Since the prevailing wind comes from the north-east, we have situated them to the south-west of the city. The other main reason is that we require large amounts of raw materials so there is a canal connecting the site to Crescent Lake and thus from there to the Sirrel."

"A canal? What is that?"

Tarvan answered from his seat beside Parrel. "It is a kind of ditch, Milsy, but its main function is to provide a route for heavy barges to approach the site. It is about the same width as those you see either side of the road but shaped differently."

Tarvan demonstrated by drawing the shape with his fingers.

"Ah, I see. But should not a railroad have been constructed instead? I understood that to be the best way to move heavy materials."

Parrel stirred uncomfortably. "It is one of those avian and egg situations, Milsy. In order to build a railroad we must have steel, and to make steel we need raw materials. We cannot bring the raw materials to make steel for the railroad if the railroad has not yet been made... using the steel we have not yet produced."

Milsy's eyes crossed as she tried to make sense of Parrel's statement.

"In addition," Tarvan added, "Our raw materials must needs cross the Sirrel, since they are brought from Tranidor and the mines beyond. Since that part of the journey requires a barge we might just as well let the barge come all the way to the furnace site."

Milsy considered. "So... if you had built a railroad, say from South Slip... it would still have been necessary to load and unload the rocks on each side of the Sirrel, at the very least." She nodded. "I understand."

"Actually, it is more complicated than that," Parrel said. "For both iron ore and coal, the rivers are too narrow where the mines must be so the first part of the journey must be done by wagon. When Lady Garia first told us how a modern blast furnace worked we were horrified by the incredible numbers of wagons, dranakhs and men that would be required to bring the materials together. That is when she first described the railroad to us and it seemed to offer the perfect solution - in time.

"For now, we have to work with what we have available and that means wagons for the first part of the journey and then small river barges. A complication is that no river barge may pass Haligo, halfway between Teldor and Tranidor, since the river runs through a narrow gorge over rocks."

"You haven't been to Haligo yet, have you, Milsy?" Tarvan asked her. "I went once when I was a young boy and it is very spectacular, but it is impossible for any water craft to pass through the town. Thus, as Master Parrel has mentioned, the barges have to be unloaded into wagons, taken through the town and then loaded into different barges to bring the materials all the way to Dekarran."

Parrel resumed the explanation. "Some few of those barges can cross the Sirrel and thus sail all the way to the furnace site but others are too small for so open a river. That means the materials must needs be transferred yet again before they reach us."

Milsy winced. "That is a lot of effort to bring a few bags of rocks all the way here, isn't it? I would wager that the guilds seek ways to simplify the process."

"Aye," Parrel nodded. "The first way is the simplest - we must site most of our production furnaces near Tranidor, so that the materials need only travel the shortest distance. However, Central Palarand must still produce some of the steel required by the capital. We dare not, for example, leave all weapons production in the north for fear an enemy should cut off our supply."

"As you say, Guildmaster."

"In addition it makes sense for a small facility to be built somewhere near the capital so that we can make experiments at some convenience to ourselves."

"Oh, instead of everybody having to go off to Tranidor. I understand." She nodded. "Is Tranidor that bad? I thought it a prosperous town, from what little I know of it."

"It is a very prosperous town, Milsy, being at the junction of three rivers," Parrel explained. "To the west is the valley of the Sufen, where most of our iron ore is obtained, and to the north-west is the Upper Palar, which is the main trade route north across the Stone Sea to Tel Botro. The Upper Palar also provides much of the food consumed by those who reside in the town. To the north is the valley of the Bray and at the far end of the Bray lies Blackstone, the town where Lady Garia anticipates finding adequate supplies of coal for our future needs."

Milsy nodded. "Thank you, Guildmaster. As you may imagine, my understanding of the various parts of the kingdom are somewhat vague. Having lived in Dekarran all my life I did not need to know such things."

Parrel smiled. "But now you are let loose upon the world your education must needs be improved, Milsy. You need to know how our lands are laid out and how far each place is from another, that you can estimate how long materials will take to go from one to another."

"As you wish, Guildmaster. I assume there are... maps... in the palace that will inform me?"

Tarvan replied, at a glance from Parrel. "Aye, Milsy, maps we used to educate Lady Garia about her new home. When we return to the palace I will ask for them to be provided to you."

"Thank you, Tarvan." Milsy pointed out the window. "Whatever is that?"

"That is where we are going, Milsy," Tarvan replied. "Welcome to the site of Palarand's first advanced blast furnace."

"First and second blast furnaces," Parrel amended. "Soon there will be three, though the first failed almost as soon as it was lit. I will explain what happened once we arrive."

"How long does the process take, Guildmaster? Surely we will not see everything during our visit today."

"Regrettably not, Milsy. To fill the furnace, fire it and produce the iron takes two or two and a half days. The furnace has already been lit and I expect the men are adding the final few loads to the top of the desired charge. Because we may not yet run the furnace continuously, as Lady Garia describes, we must then allow the whole thing to cool before cleaning it out and replacing the clay lining. This will take maybe another six or seven days before we may begin loading again."

Tarvan added, "That is how ironmaking normally happens, Milsy, but of course this furnace is so much larger that everything takes longer to do. At least this morning we should see the exciting part of the process, where the iron flows out of the furnace like water."

Parrel continued, "Then we must leave to travel back into the city for a short lunch at our Guildhall before I take you to the site of the new coke works. Tarvan, as you know, has a meeting arranged at the Clockmakers' Guildhall this afternoon."

Milsy looked cross. "I still do not see why I could not accompany Tarvan," she muttered, "but I accept that it would be better not to go. Seeing Tarvan there with our designs may inflame them enough."

The carriage turned down an access road and crossed a bridge over a canal to reach the work site. Milsy was faced by the usual collection of hastily thrown together workshops, stores and huts but the main objects of interest were the three towering brick constructions, one surrounded by scaffolding, set in a line backing onto the canal. In the broad space between the canal and the brick towers were conical piles of materials, some of which were obviously coke and others she presumed were ores.

The carriage halted and men came forward to open the doors, bowing respectfully as Parrel climbed down. Milsy and Tarvan followed to stand on a surface of pounded ash and other dark materials which prevented the whole area becoming a sea of mud. Parrel led them away from the carriage to a clear viewpoint and she looked around with interest.

"The square furnace to your left was the first one built," Parrel explained. "I have to admit that there was a lively discussion between the metalworkers and the masons about the correct way to construct something of this size and complexity and as it transpired we were both wrong. As you can see all the furnaces require amazing numbers of bricks, so many that we must needs set up two factories just to make bricks for the project. Those bricks are bound together with mortar, the white lines you can see, and another factory had to be set up to make all the mortar we needed.

"Mortar is mixed with water to make it stick the bricks together and as it dries the water is gradually released back into the air. Now, normally with any building made with bricks this is no problem but because there are so many bricks, and because the walls of the structure are so thick in order to retain the heat and to carry the weight, those bricks inside the structure cannot dry out quickly. Do you understand?"

Milsy nodded. "Aye, Guildmaster. It is like a cake which is made too large, even though the outside may be properly cooked the inside must needs take longer."

Parrel beamed. "Exactly so, Milsy. Now, our problem happened because we lit the fires within too soon and the structure dried out too quickly and unevenly." He pointed. "Look to the left, you can see the crack running the whole height of the furnace. There are many more cracks around the back. It is a monument to our folly and a warning to consider more carefully what happens when we erect structures of such size and thickness. As I understand it, furnaces will not be the only things we will make in such a way, though they may be the only ones to contain so hot a fire."

Milsy considered. "Like many, I know little of the arts of masonry, Guildmaster, but I understand your point. What of these others, then? How did you solve the problem?"

"They were made from the inside out, Milsy. First, the inside layer was made, of special bricks and mortar that we thought could stand the high temperatures involved. Then, while that was drying, another ring was made outside with a gap in between. Once the two layers were deemed dry enough the space between was packed with sand. Of course this is but a simplified explanation, there are in fact seven layers altogether, all of which were in various stages of construction at the same time. In that way we were able to build so high and so thick and yet be confident that it would not crack as the first one did."

Milsy gazed up at the center structure. It was a circular tower which tapered slightly from base to top. It might have been ten strides high and perhaps six or seven wide. She shook her head, estimating distances like that was not one of her talents. The top looked odd, there was a wide overhang with a railing round which meant that men climbed up there to do... what, exactly?

"Guildmaster, how does it work?"

"Perhaps we should walk around the other side to show you what is done," Parrel said. "This way, if you would."

They walked past the failed furnace and stood at the end of the space behind. Between the piles of materials and the structures was a curious mechanism of poles and ropes. A single tall pole was supported vertically by two others which slanted from the top down behind to the ground. At the base another angled pole went up, higher than the others, and Milsy guessed that it was some kind of crane or hoist. Ropes went from the top of the angled pole to the tripod support and others went over the end of the angled pole to a hook which presently dangled above a large basket of ore ready to be lifted.

One of the workmen around the hoist called out to another and Milsy saw a large steam engine behind with winding drums connected to each of the ropes from the hoist. There was some hammering and a drive belt was moved from one drum to another. The steam engine began to work and the basket of ore gradually rose into the sky.

Two men stood on the walkway at the top of the furnace and shouted instructions to those below. By selectively choosing which drum to wind or unwind the load was lifted and positioned until it could be grabbed by the two men at the top. Once they had a firm grip on the basket they carefully tipped the contents into the furnace and then called for the basket to be lowered again.

Milsy watched the exercise being repeated with ore, coke and a pale rock she didn't understand the use of. Once the two men at the top were satisfied they climbed into the basket after the final load had been dumped and were lowered down to join those on the ground.

"Wait a moment," she said. "Those men were up there loading ores into the furnace while it was alight? I did not realize how dangerous this business was."

Tarvan snorted. "Aye, Milsy. Wait until you see the new iron pouring out later on. The men are all volunteers, they are experienced men and they are all trained to treat this new furnace with caution."

"Even so..." she gazed thoughtfully at the heat haze rising out of the top of the furnace before shaking her head and turning to Parrel.

"Guildmaster, what happens now?"

"The furnace loading has been completed," Parrel explained. "Now we can begin the process of producing good iron. Lady Garia tells us that in principle it is possible to keep loading at the top and taking iron out the bottom but as you can see, loading is not so easy here. When we build bigger furnaces for production we will probably have to build them on a hillside to make loading easier. Attend! Watch what happens next, I think you'll enjoy the spectacle."

There was more hammering and the belt was shifted to a different shaft. Milsy frowned, there must be easier ways of doing that? Her attention was diverted as the steam engine ran up to speed to be almost drowned out by a curious roaring sound.

"What's that noise?" she shouted.

"There is a big fan in the back of the furnace," Tarvan shouted back. "See that iron tube coming out? It is inside that. It drives more fresh air into the furnace which helps heat up the contents and drives out impurities."

The process took a while as the materials were heated by the fierce draft from the fan. Soon, black smoke issued from the top and Milsy understood Parrel's comments about why the furnaces were sited here. The smoke gradually cleared until what came out was almost invisible, only detectable by the shimmer it created in the air. She could feel the heat being generated, even though they were standing many strides from the furnace.

Then a signal was given and the beat of the steam engine rose even higher. She looked up and saw that a solid plug of flame stood on the top of the furnace, the glow lighting up the low cloud of an overcast Fall day.

"It is time for us to go around the front again," Parrel shouted at them.

The group retraced their footsteps until they stood once more on the other side of the furnace. Here, a pile of sand had been spread out on the ground and compacted into a thick layer, with channels being set in the surface. A plug near the base of the furnace was pulled away by a man with a long iron rod, allowing the fierce glow from within to blaze out. All of those watching instinctively put their arms over their faces.

"I'm sorry," Parrel shouted, "I have forgotten to provide you with protective goggles. Stand back as far as you can and try and watch as much as you are able to."

Having backed up as much as she could, Milsy decided that she could see enough if she squinted carefully through her fingers. She noticed that most of the men on this side of the furnace had... things strapped over their eyes, with large, dark circular... what, exactly? They must be the goggles which Master Parrel mentioned, but what were they?

A larger plug, situated lower down, was hauled out by two men and this allowed a flow of glowing liquid to run down the sand channels. As it reached the end of each channel a man with a shovel chopped a segment off and then nudged the sand across to prevent any more flowing. In this way a number of rough ingots of iron were produced which were allowed to cool while the flow was diverted elsewhere. Milsy noticed that at the end a dark material was produced which was sent to an open area of ground to the side.

The note of the steam engine dropped abruptly and she guessed that the process was at an end. A movement to her left showed that another figure had arrived and was walking over to join them. She recognized the distinctive shape of Guildmaster Hurdin and she curtseyed automatically.

"Now, lass, I'll have none of that," he told her with a grin. "My lads do not curtsey to me so I don't see that you have to, either. This is Guild business, a simple nod will do." He turned to the array of slowly reddening ingots in front of them. "What do you think of Parrel's incredible monster furnace?"

Milsy blinked. The act of watching the operation had left spots in front of her eyes which moved when she looked elsewhere. It was rather like the day she had incautiously glanced at the sun without thinking. Her eyes began to run and she wiped them with the edge of her fingers.

"Your pardon, Guildmaster, the light is too bright. I have yellow shapes in front of my eyes."

"Ah, I am sorry, lass. Parrel should have provided you goggles, though," he considered, "I doubt we have any of a size to fit you here." He chuckled. "The men who work here have big enough heads, it is true, but I would not care to measure the size of their brains against yours, indeed!"

Tarvan took her arm and turned her away. "Come with us, Milsy. Your eyes will recover soon enough and we must be ready for the next stage in the process. Master," he addressed Parrel, "do we go to the measuring room next?"

"Aye, Tarvan. Take Milsy there and we will join you presently. You are right, I should have found goggles for you all, I will go to the stores hut and find some now. Bursila, are you uncomfortable at being in such a place as this? I know that neither your mistress nor yourself would be accustomed to come to such a raw place of work."

Bursila blinked as well. She had also been affected by the bright glare of the molten metal.

"Master Parrel, if my mistress is comfortable here then so am I. It is very different than my previous duties but so far I have not noticed anything that would concern either of us... excepting perhaps the bright light in our eyes."

Parrel smiled. "You have my apologies, Bursila. I will make certain the mistake is corrected. If you would catch the hand of your mistress, Tarvan shall take you both to the measuring room. Mayhap you will find pel brewing within, the heat of the furnaces produces a powerful thirst, I am told."

Entering the hut she could see, vaguely, a table around which men were seated, mugs of pel in front of them. All leapt to their feet when she appeared in the doorway.

"Guildmistress! We did not expect..." The man trailed off, confused.

Milsy smiled and, as she had been told to do, nodded at the man. "I regret that I am not the Guildmistress. I work for her and I am told that we do look very similar. I am a guildswoman, though, I am Journeywoman Milsy and this is my... chaperone, Bursila. We await the arrival of Guildmaster Parrel and Guildmaster Hurdin."

She had been about to say "maid" but decided that doing so might give the men the wrong impression. There would always be differences between men and women as more joined the guilds but she decided that it was important that she did not introduce any unnecessary attitudes.

The man relaxed slightly. "As you say, Journeywoman. If you and your companion would like to have some pel while you wait. I regret that it is not as fresh as you may be used to." He looked at Tarvan.

"I am Tarvan, Craftmaster of a new division of our guild concerned with electricity. Milsy works with me on some advanced projects for the King."

The man nodded to him, though the strange word obviously meant nothing. "You are welcome, Craftmaster."

The hut was subdivided so Milsy didn't see all that was inside at first. The part they were shown to was the largest with an area for the men to take breaks as required and benches and lockers along the other walls. The pel they were offered had obviously been brewed a while and tasted very strong. Milsy managed to drink what she had been given but Bursila asked for hers to be diluted with hot water. After a while Parrel and Hurdin joined them, Parrel carrying several pairs of goggles which he placed on the table beside their drinks.

"Milsy, I doubt any of these will fit you," he told her. "As Hurdin said, they are made for larger heads. You may all try to see if any are suitable. I should have some made for smaller folk, you will not be the last of such a young age to work out here, I deem."

Milsy inspected the nearest pair. There was a circle of glass for each eye so dark she could not see anything through it, but which she suspected would be adequate to reduce the glare from the furnace. These were held in the leather harness by circular brass fittings. The whole assembly simply strapped around the head and was supported by the nose and ears.

"Master Hurdin, if you can supply the glass, I can have these made in the palace for myself and Bursila," she said. "It occurs to me that a pair with plain glass might be useful for us to wear in the laboratory. Sometimes we are beset by fumes from the batteries, smoke and grit from the steam engine and smoke and spitting when we solder wires."

"Aye, Milsy," Tarvan agreed. "I am surprised I did not think of the idea myself. Our eyes are precious, we should protect them whenever we can."

The two guildmasters looked at Milsy and Tarvan, then each other.

"Hurdin, these two speak a lot of sense. There are many areas within our own guilds where such protection would be useful. I will bespeak our leatherworker friends to produce more for our needs and, aye, for the needs of other guilds as well."

Hurdin rolled his eyes. "It seems I must set up yet another production line. That will mean another workshop, we have no room any more, and yet more men to employ..." He waved an arm. "No matter. I came into this business with my eyes open." He turned to Milsy. "You'll have these made in the palace, lass? Who there has the skill?"

"Why, I will get Master Fulvin to make the brass parts," she said. "Tarvan and I could probably make them in time but," she raised her arms in an open-handed gesture, "we are as busy as you, Master Hurdin. For the leather, there is a cobbler in the Palace Wardrobe I could ask... You should know that I have asked Rosilda -"

"Rosilda?"

"Aye. She is the seamstress who makes Garia's special clothes. You have seen her riding gear?"

"Aye, of course. This Rosilda is then a talented worker, I deem."

"Indeed, Guildmaster. Well, Rosilda will make me a suit of leather which I can wear to places like this one and to workshops like those of yours, Master Hurdin. My last visit didn't go so well and I decided I needed something more protective. Of course, Bursila will have a similar suit."

"A good idea, lass. I doubt any here would wish you - either of you - to come to any harm."

Parrel nodded thoughtfully. "Aye," he agreed, "I have been wondering how we would protect our new female workers. Milsy, whatever your seamstress produces will be of interest to all our guilds."

Milsy made a small bow. "As you say, Guildmaster. I was only considering our own wants but I can see that others will have the same need."

The door opened and three men came in, the first carrying a small bucket and two obvious apprentices followed with a similar bucket in each hand. The five buckets were carefully lined up in a row on a table at the far end of the room. The older man came back and nodded to Parrel.

"Guildmaster, it looks like a good pour this time. I can tell that from the way my chisel bit as I nipped off the samples."

"Is that so? Then let us begin testing immediately. Shall you prepare the samples?"

"As you desire, Guildmaster."

From each bucket a small nugget of iron was lifted with the aid of tongs. These were then held between two white rods which were supported by a U-shaped metal framework. The elder man carried the first of these through a door beside the table into the further end of the building. At a gesture the others followed Parrel through the door to find a small room with a bench against the far wall. The guildsman was setting the U-frame up over a pipe which came from somewhere below.

"This is where we test our iron pourings," Parrel explained. "The Guildmistress told us that everything in the world about us is made from a number of basic substances called elements and that it is possible for us to determine which elements are in some materials by heating them until they glow. Of course," he smiled, "this will not work with wood or other like materials but for making iron and steel it is useful enough. The pipe you see contains gas from the making of coke and we can use that to heat our sample hot enough that it glows almost white. The white rods which hold the sample are a special kind of pottery which can withstand the heat which is produced."

He gestured. "Look yonder, at the wall, you will see a small sheet of brass with a narrow slit in it, so that only a thin sliver of the light which is produced goes through the hole behind into the next room. On the other side of the wall is mounted what the Guildmistress names a prism, which is a specially shaped piece of glass. The light from our sample goes through this glass. The shape means that different colors in the light are sent in different directions and the presence or absence of certain lines in the colors indicates the presence or absence of different elements. Iron itself is one of those elements and we expect our pourings to be mostly iron. The rest may be impurities which we do not desire and must be burned off for the metal to be useable."

Milsy frowned. "But, Master, this then is iron. What is the difference between iron and steel?"

"Steel is actually an alloy of iron and certain other elements, Milsy, in the correct proportion. The chief of these is carbon, which is what coke mostly is. You will also know it as soot. We can add other materials as well, usually metals, to change the kind of steel we need. Steel looks like iron but has properties which are more useful to us. It is much stronger, for example."

She nodded. "Thank you, Master."

Parrel turned to the guildsman. "Begin the heating, if you would."

The man turned a valve in the gas line and lit the end of the pipe, which flickered with a smoky yellow flame. Milsy had never seen a gas flame before and stared at it with interest. To see a flame burning, with apparently no fuel beneath it!

Parrel instructed, "If you would hold your goggles up to your eyes."

They did so and the man twisted a ring on the pipe to open a hole through which air was drawn. The flame quickly turned from flickering smoky yellow to a fierce blue arrowhead and the man then positioned the sample in the flame. As they watched it rapidly heated, going from dark to glowing yellow-white.

"It is time for us to go to the next room," Parrel announced. "You will not need your goggles beyond the door, indeed, the room is quite dark."

The further room was indeed completely dark except for a broad strip of multicolored light on a board, lit by the light coming through the slit in the wall. Milsy gasped at the sight.

"A rainbow! You have made a rainbow!"

"Not exactly, Milsy," Parrel replied through the gloom. "If we admitted sunlight in this way we would have a rainbow, aye. We have in fact tried that, using a mirror to direct the light onto the prism. The light you see, which is called a spectrum, comes entirely from our sample, with a little contribution from the ceramic supports and the flame. Look! There you can see lines which indicate our elements. The brightest of those is the iron, the other lines are impurities."

The guildsman joined them carrying strips of wood which had been painted white and marked with a reed. He held each of these up above the spectrum and compared the lines drawn on the strips with the lines in the light from the sample.

Parrel asked, "Which one is that, Tador?"

"Guildmaster, this is the one produced by our purest iron. As you can see, we have other lines indicating that the sample is not pure iron, but then we do not want it to be."

Other strips were held up and compared before the guildsman made a note on a slate. This procedure was repeated with the other samples before he turned to Parrel with a satisfied look.

"Guildmaster, it seems we have very little to do this time. The impurities I can see are those we need in the final metal, which means that calculating the coke required will be easy enough. With your permission?"

"Aye, Tador. You will convert this batch this afternoon?"

Tador inclined his head. "Aye, Guildmaster. We must needs let the iron cool before we may weigh it safely."

"Carry on."

Parrel turned to Milsy and Tarvan. "How much of what you saw did you understand?"

"Enough, I think, Master Parrel," Milsy replied. "That... spectrum, how much do we know about it?"

The Guildmaster shrugged. "Very little, Milsy. We do know what is good and what is not, though sometimes the lines can be very faint to see, especially if one has just come indoors from a bright sunny day. The Guildmistress tells us that the position and number of the lines is to do with the way the elements are made, but she does not know the details of this herself."

Milsy's eyebrows went up. "The elements are made? I thought... Never mind. As you say, much may be learned by inspecting these spectrums. I am assuming that you may use this procedure with anything that doesn't just burn or melt, Guildmaster."

"Indeed, Milsy. I understand that several Questors have seized on the idea to advance their areas of study. For ourselves, it saves a lot of time assessing our production for purity. Shall we leave this room and go outside again?"

They returned through the rooms to stand outside again. There were men picking up the ingots with tongs and loading them into little four-wheeled carts to take away somewhere.

"Once we have determined our most efficient procedure," Parrel explained, "doubtless we will lay down a system of tracks with hoppers the way the miners do, the same way Milsy suggested to Hurdin. That will enable us to move ores, coke and ingots much more easily. These ingots will be weighed and the appropriate amount of coke discovered to add to the metal to convert it into good steel. For this we will use the converters you see the other side of the hut."

Milsy turned to see another squat brick construction with an attendant steam engine.

"How does that work, Guildmaster?"

Parrel shrugged. "Much the same as the furnace, actually. The iron and coke are carefully weighed to determine the exact proportions that we desire. Then they are loaded in and fired. Once the iron has melted, air is blown in at the bottom to increase the burn and raise the temperature. After a time any excess carbon is burned off and the steel is poured out into ingots. The proportion of coke to iron varies, as you have seen, so each batch may be different to the next."

Tarvan commented, "Master, I know that to turn iron into steel can only be done in batches but I understood the new iron-making process was to be continuous."

"Aye, Tarvan, if we could but feed the ores, coke and limestone in at the top we could run the blast furnace continuously." He pointed at the furnace behind them. "The problem is that we cannot stand at the top and guide the material down while the furnace is fully working."

"Ah. You have to lift the loads up with the hoist and that means the steam engine cannot be used for the blast. That is why you desired to build the production version on a hillside, I deem. But why do we not install another steam engine here?"

Parrel grimaced. "That is not the whole reason. Who would dare to stand up there when the furnace is hot?"

Tarvan shook his head. "I do not think it will be possible, Master."

"Which means that we must needs let the entire furnace cool between firings, which will take, as I explained earlier, several days. Once that is done men must climb inside and renew the lining with fresh clay. If we could but run the furnace continuously we would need do none of that, but I cannot see a way of attending the top in safety."

Milsy looked at the hoist, now lifting materials for the third tower, which was still under construction.

"You are still building the third furnace, Guildmaster?"

"Aye, Milsy, we were." Parrel ran a hand through his hair as they turned their attention on the third brick structure, which was completely surrounded by wood scaffolding poles and noticeably incomplete. "We have again been forced to stop construction because our ideas have changed. Until we can discover a way to feed the furnace while it is alight there is no point in going further."

"Master," she said diffidently, "there might be a way..."

"Aye, Milsy?"

Her companions gathered round and gave her their full attention.

"Well, there's something I remember doing a long time ago, Master Parrel. When I was about eight or nine years old, we had to go down to one of the lower levels of the castle to help with the cleaning up, because something had broken and water had flooded the level and ruined much of what was stored there. I remember passing through a great chamber which contained two immense wheels, inside of which men were walking. I had never seen such a thing before."

Hurdin nodded. "Treadmills, lass, that is what they are called."

"Aye, of course. They would be like the wheel of a watermill, then? What made me remember, though, was of the two strange devices that the wheels moved." She shook her head in frustration. "It was a long time ago, Masters, and my memory of something I had never seen before is poor. They were like two strange ladders, I deem, with what looked like wooden boxes attached to them which moved up and then down again."

Parrel looked at the Glassmaster. "Hurdin, she describes a chain pump! Milsy, what you saw is the means by which water is lifted from the wells and carried to the tanks which supply it to the castle. There is a similar system in the palace. There is no reason why we could not devise something of the like kind to lift ore and coke to the top of our furnaces."

"Master," Tarvan cautioned. "It must needs be made of iron or steel, I deem, if it is to be close to the top of the furnace."

Parrel waved a hand. "A detail, Tarvan. Now the idea has been revealed I will instruct my designers to immediately change the way that the third furnace will operate to include this new method of feeding it. As we are making many other changes, this should be but a small problem."

He turned to Milsy with a big smile. "My dear, your guild thanks you for this significant contribution. While the making of iron and steel is an arcane and ancient art you have touched upon one of the few ways in which one such as yourself could improve it. Your contribution will, in time, be recognized by the increase in coin you will receive from us."

Milsy blushed and stammered, "Th-thank you, Master Parrel! I have done nothing, really."

Hurdin smiled. "As gracious as Lady Garia, I deem! You'll go far, lass, I know you will."

Milsy had nothing to say to that, but any possible reply was stopped by a man who rode a frayen right into the middle of the men loading the ingots. Both man and beast looked exhausted. He slid out of the saddle and cast around for someone to speak to, eventually noticing the unmistakeable figure of Hurdin and then beside him, Parrel. He staggered over to the small group.

"Guildmaster, forgive me," he gasped to Parrel. "I bring terrible news. There is a large fire at the new brass workshops in the Street of the Grennis. Many are dead, missing or injured. If you would come immediately."

Parrel started. "Of course! If there is help I may offer, then I will. Thank you for your message, now go into yonder hut and rest for a bell. You have earned it." He cast about, suddenly aware of how he had arrived at the furnace site. "I have need of a frayen."

Hurdin said, "Take mine, Parrel. He should be rested enough to take you back to the city though," he added, "I ask that you not ride as hard as your messenger has done. He is a favorite of mine and I would not have him worked as that poor beast has been." He pointed to the rider's frayen, which was now being led slowly away by one of the furnace men.

"My thanks to you, Hurdin." Parrel spun to Milsy. "I regret that our afternoon visit must be postponed to another day, Milsy. Take the carriage back to the palace, if you would."

Milsy was shocked by the sudden speed of events. "As you wish, Guildmaster. But, could I not go with Tarvan to the Clockmakers?"

Parrel shook his head. "That would not be wise, Milsy, for reasons we have already discussed. Go you to the palace."

Milsy inclined her head. "As you command, Guildmaster."

* * *

After their lunch back at the palace Milsy asked Bursila, "Master Parrel said there was a... treadmill... here in the palace. Do you know where it might be?"

"I do not, Mistress. The guardsmen ought to know, since it would be one of the places they must needs guard."

"Guard? How so?"

"Even one such as myself can see, Mistress, that the water supply of the palace has to be protected, else an enemy can poison the water or mayhap make it undrinkable. They might also damage the machine to prevent any more fresh water coming into the palace, Mistress."

Milsy stared at Bursila. "You seem unusually well acquainted with the defenses of the palace, Bursila."

The maid shrugged. "I have spent many weeks following Lady Garia around, Mistress, which has opened my eyes to some aspects of the way the palace operates. This is even more so since you began exploring the palace by yourself. You will remember that there are those who sought to detain, injure or even kill Lady Garia, why is why you are here in her place, after all."

Milsy nodded agreement. "Aye, forgive me, I did not intend any suspicion, Bursila. You are right, of course. I know that many servants think only of their own duty and ignore much of what is around them but there are others who must needs consider all that might happen in such a place. Come, let us ask our guardsmen."

In the corridor outside their suite Tilmar scratched his chin. "Aye, Mistress, I know the place. I am puzzled what you expect to find there."

"There is a treadmill there? And a pump?"

"Aye, Mistress. Oh! Is it to do with what you were doing this morning?"

"Aye, exactly. I just want to see it for myself. I have not seen such things for about ten years and then I had no idea what I was looking at."

"Then I will take you there, Mistress. It will not take us long. Will you seek Master Tarvan first?"

"Oh, no, Tarvan has gone to the Clockmakers' Guild this afternoon. It will just be me and Bursila."

"As you say, Mistress. Let me call some more men."

Their route led to a stub corridor which ended with a small door set in a wall of stone. Tilmar knocked and waited for the door to be opened by a guardsman within.

"Mistress Milsy desires to view the treadmill and pump," Tilmar explained.

"She does?" The man turned and caught sight of Milsy. "Oh, Mistress! I did not recognize you. This is most irregular, I should really ask the Captain -"

"I only want to look at it for a moment or two," she cut in. "I'm not going to interfere or anything like that."

"As you wish, Mistress. I would ask you to stay near the door when you enter and, Tilmar, protect your charge. We have convicts within raising the water."

Tilmar and another of her escort entered first. After a short while he reappeared and beckoned with a nod.

"Mistress, if you would come."

Inside was a large, square, vaulted chamber made entirely of stone. To Milsy's eye it looked old and not particularly well finished, at least by castle standards. There were two immense wooden wheels with two men walking inside of each. There was a groaning, clanking noise and she saw two of the chain pumps, so Master Parrel had named them, one coming from a hole in the floor and the other rising from a large tank at the side of the room through a hole in the vaulted ceiling. As the rectangular wooden boxes full of water reached the top of the first device and turned over, the water tipped into a trough which fed it into the tank. The other chain pump lifted the water upwards somewhere higher but out of sight.

This seems a strange way to collect water. Why does it have to go so high?

Answer, because water flows downwards and it must needs be piped to all the bathing and toilet chambers which are mostly on the upper level.

Ah, I see why they call it a 'chain pump' now. Clever!

The four walking men turned to look at the newcomers but a sharp word from a guardsman on the other side of the chamber made them concentrate on their duty. Milsy looked at them more closely. They were stripped to the waist but did not appear to be restrained in any way. The guardsmen did not appear to be watching them closely but just enough to ensure that the wheels kept turning. Wheels, she saw now, that were not connected to each other.

So, at a stretch, two men could raise water from the well and fill the tank first, then go over to the other wheel and raise what was in the tank to a higher level.

Why are there two wheels anyway?

Answer, because that line of... buckets? boxes? would be too heavy for the men to lift all the way when filled with water.

She whispered to Tilmar, "What is above?"

The guardsman shook his head. He whispered back, "Have you seen all you desire, Mistress?"

She nodded and he gestured to the door. Everyone filed out into the corridor.

"Your pardon, Mistress," Tilmar explained. "I did not want to give those men any excuse to shirk their task. They are convicted men who have chosen the wheel as their year of labor. We rely on the water in the tank above for all our needs so we try to keep distractions down if we can."

"Of course, Tilmar. What is this place, anyway?"

"The High Tower, Mistress. I know little of its past but it is said to be one of the oldest parts of the palace. It is the highest of the several towers about the palace and there is a watch platform on the top. From there you can see most of the city and a long way out into the country when the weather is clear."

"What about the water? Where does that go?"

"Mistress, the water goes into a huge tank that almost fills the tower from just above the ceiling of the chamber you were in to just below the watch platform. I am told it supplies most of the needs of the palace, though other tanks have been added as the palace has grown in size. I know that as they are a part of the normal guard duty, Mistress. Is there anything else I can tell you?"

She smiled at him. "That has satisfied my curiosity for now, Tilmar. Let's go back to the suite."

"As you wish, Mistress."

* * *

It was evening. Milsy was at the sitting room table, her concentration on the drawings scattered over it. Having now seen the chain pump at close quarters she had been attempting to design a device to elevate material from the stock piles to the top of the furnace. There were other ideas, too, concerned with the perceived waste of the heat which simply went out the top and warmed nothing but the clouds above. Surely there was some way..? Another concern was the clumsy gear arrangement of the steam engine. She recognized immediately that this was something that electricity could improve but the technology was too primitive yet. Perhaps there was another way?

The door opened and Tarvan came in with a smile. Bursila lowered her reading book and briefly stood to curtsey before he waved her back down again. Crossing to the table, he took a chair facing Milsy.

"Good evening, Milsy. Before retiring, I thought I'd let you know what I managed to do this afternoon."

She put her reedlet down and smiled back. "Good evening, Tarvan. I've been busy too, perhaps we can swap stories."

"So I see. What is all this? Ah, the chain pump!"

Tarvan scrutinized several of the nearer sheets of paper before looking up at Milsy.

"My apologies. I should let you tell me instead of trying to work it all out for myself."

"Actually, I have been looking at other things, the chain pump is but the first thing I did this afternoon. Did you know there is one in the palace?"

"I did, but I have never seen it." He thought. "Actually, I believe there might be several. I know that there is more than one water tank, so mayhap they will all need some means of supplying with water."

"As you say. The one I went to see is inside the High Tower." Tarvan nodded and she continued, "There were two huge treadmills with convicts walking on them, each wheel attached to a separate chain pump. One comes out of a well and sends the water into a holding tank, the other lifts the water from the holding tank all the way up the High Tower into the big tank."

Tarvan nodded again. "About what I would expect. Did you find it interesting?"

"Oh, yes! Now I understand how the pumps work and," she waved a hand over the array of papers on the table, "I have been trying to discover a way to use something similar to feed that big furnace."

"So I see from all these drawings. Do you yet have an idea which Master Parrel may consider?"

"Several, in fact. My first thought was that each substance to be loaded should have its own feeder, so that they can be positioned directly by the heaps of materials. If a hopper is provided to load the feeder then it will reduce the amount of shoveling that the men must do."

"Separate feeders? Aye, a good idea. Why walk trucks of materials across the ground when the feeder can do it anyway? What else?"

Milsy grimaced. "I do not like the way that the steam engine is used. All that banging sounds expensive and complicated. There must be an easier way. Electricity would be easier, of course, with the steam engine running a generator and separate motors for each function which we can switch as required, but we cannot do that yet. I have another idea, which is to use a long steel rod to provide the power where it is needed."

Tarvan looked at the sheet of paper she gave him. "Ah, I remember the Guildmistress speaking about something like this. She called it a drive shaft, but her explanation was of using such a thing in a long hall filled with weaving looms and other cloth-making machinery. I don't think anyone thought then of using such an idea outside, for other purposes."

"Really? Oh, that's good, because Master Parrel will understand when I explain it to him, then. Let's see. Then I began thinking about feeding the materials into the top of the furnace and what happened to all the heat that came out." Suddenly she shook her head. "No, I do not know enough to speak of such matters, I should find out more before I can contribute any more ideas about that." She smiled at Tarvan. "Then we went to the Wardrobe."

"The Wardrobe? What might interest me about your visit to the Wardrobe?"

"I took the goggles that Master Parrel provided us. I showed them to Steben the cobbler and he said it would be easy to cut suitable leather parts to make such items for all of us. I also had a word with Rosilda about the special suits she will make for Bursila and myself, to wear when we are visiting such places in the future. Steben will also be involved in that project as we will need matching boots. Then I went off to find Master Fulvin and showed the goggles to him. He said that his journeymen, or others available to him in the palace, could make the brass parts of the goggles for us in but a few days."

"That is good news, Milsy! To have our own goggles, of a size that fit our heads, will be a good thing in the days to come. Ah, I assume that I will be required to attend to have my head measured?"

"Of course." She smiled. "Our goggles will also have a modification, agreed by Master Fulvin. Since we need dark glasses for visiting furnaces, glassworks and the like but clear glass for our own purposes, Fulvin will have the brass parts constructed with two pairs of lenses, the dark ones to be hinged up out of the way when we don't need them."

Tarvan stared at her with admiration. "That means we can use the same goggles for both purposes, does it not, and that we would not have to carry around two pairs all the time."

"My thoughts exactly. And instead of putting them on and taking them off all the time, as we did today, we can merely flip the dark glass up and out of the way." She grinned. "I do not plan to be carrying mine, though, they will be held by the leather cap Rosilda is making for me."

"A cap... interesting." He rolled his eyes. "I am in danger, it seems, of becoming interested in the products of the Palace Wardrobe." He sighed theatrically. "This is what happens when women are permitted to join the guilds. Our decline is certain."

"What, with Lady Garia driving everything? I think not! So, tell me what you have been doing this afternoon, then."

"Me? Oh, why, I went to the Clockmakers' Guild as was arranged. I expected open hostility, it is true, but other than a muttering about me being a stranger in their Hall I was generally received with respect. I took with me the designs for our hour clock, both the electric version and a weight-driven version for Master Gerdas to send to his friends. Since they should be easy to produce it should not take them long to provide to us. We will have to make and install the electric parts in those clocks ourselves since I do not trust them to handle such a new method yet."

Milsy nodded. "I more or less expected we would do that part. What of our double clocks?"

"I do not trust the Clockmakers at all to make those, Milsy. I have given the work of making the parts for our prototype to our Brassworkers' Department. The work is more complicated, after all, and our own men will be easier to supervise. But while I was at the Clockmakers' Hall I did give them more details about the spiral springs Master Parrel spoke of recently."

Milsy's brow furrowed. "I do not understand how one may use a spiral spring in a clock," she complained. I can see that if you hang a weight on it, it would bob up and down in a regular fashion, so that it might replace a pendulum, perhaps. But after a short time it would stop, would it not? Just as a pendulum does without an escapement - or a solenoid - to keep it working. And I cannot see any way to keep such a spring working at all."

Tarvan laughed out loud enough for Bursila to look up from her reading. He then astonished both maid and mistress by standing up and taking off his sash!

"Wait, what are you doing? Stop!"

"Do not concern yourselves, please. This is Guild business, not pleasure. I have a simple way to show you what I mean."

After draping his sash over the back of his chair he then began undoing his belt, causing more surprise to Milsy. Once free, he removed his knife and pouch and laid them aside on the table before sitting down again.

"Now, watch what I do, Milsy."

He grasped the end of the belt with two fingers and began to coil the rest around it in a tight spiral. Once he had reached the buckle he laid the coil on the table, keeping one hand upon it to stop it unwinding.

"Oh! I see, not that sort of spiral, a flat one," Milsy said. "But I still don't see how -"

Tarvan held up a hand. "Put your finger on the buckle to hold it in place," he instructed, "and watch what happens to the rest of it."

Milsy did so and Tarvan released his own hold. The leather immediately uncoiled part way to release the tension.

"Ah, of course," she said, watching the motion. "But how do you make it coil up again?"

Tarvan grinned at her. "I was shown this demonstration by Master Parrel this afternoon, Milsy. Imagine this is not leather but a thin steel strip, formed into this shape and then tempered. What you do is to fix the outside end to the frame and the inside to an axle. You wind it up with a key on the axle. To stop it unwinding, there is a ratchet on the axle."

She nodded understanding, ratchets were familiar enough to her now.

"The trick is," he continued, "the other side of the ratchet is connected to the clock mechanism, so that as the spring slowly unwinds and relaxes it drives the clock, just as a weight would do."

"Ah," she breathed. "Brilliant!"

"It gets better," he added with a broad grin, "since we can also use these springs instead of pendulums, meaning the size of the clock may be much smaller. Such a spring will resist getting larger as well as smaller, wanting to return to the original shape all the time, so it should be able to serve the same purpose as a pendulum."

Her eyes narrowed as she considered all this new information before looking up at Tarvan.

"Are we expected to involve ourselves in any of this?"

"I do not think so, Milsy. Master Parrel has already given the idea to the Clockmakers Guild, as they are the most experienced in such matters." He snorted. "I expect it will take them many months to make any use of the new springs, judging by the speed they currently work at. No, we must busy ourselves with our own projects, I deem, like getting the King's double clocks installed and working."

"As you say! Visits to factories and furnaces is all very interesting, but it takes time away from doing other interesting things in the laboratory. Although," she added, "what I'm designing with Rosilda is proving just as much fun."

"I'll have to take your word for that."

Tarvan stood and reassembled his belt before buckling it around his waist. He followed that with his sash as Milsy rose to join him.

"Do you leave us now?"

"Aye, regrettably. After today's outings I have some things to put in order in my chamber. Unlike yourself I do not have the assistance of a maid." He smiled down at her. "I shall not leave without a good-night kiss, I deem."

"As you command, Craftmaster."

Her face tilted up to meet his. Behind them Bursila regarded them fondly.

The King asks Milsy to discover what Fulvin is doing - he is neglecting his work as palace jeweler and Their Majesties have become concerned. An unexpected outing into an industrial part of the city follows and Milsy accidentally triggers a social revolution!

What Milsy Did

by Penny Lane

17 - Fulvin's Obsession

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 (c) 2016 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

---

A week had passed since the visit of Milsy and Tarvan to the furnace site, a week which had been spent in deep discussions with the various ironmasters about ways in which the design of the various processes could be improved. A week which would otherwise have been idle while waiting for the parts of their new double clocks to be made and delivered.

This activity came to an end one morning when the Queen intercepted Milsy as she entered the family dining room for breakfast.

"Good morning, dear! I trust you slept well?"

"Good morning, Your Majesty. Aye, I did sleep well. Our recent activities have meant that I am getting more exercise than I have been used to and that must be part of it. Uh, that wouldn't be the kind of exercise Lady Garia does, Ma'am, I meant just walking around sites and climbing up and down stairs and ladders."

"Climbing stairs and ladders! My goodness, I hope that you are conducting yourself as befits a lady of the court, dear."

"Aye, Ma'am, well, it has been difficult. Bursila and I do not yet have the special suits which Rosilda is making for us but we are managing. As with Lady Garia and your own guardsmen, the metalsmiths treat us with due respect, Ma'am, but sometimes, in the wind... as I said, it can be difficult."

Terys eyed the young woman with interest. "I am anxiously awaiting the appearance of these new items, dear. I always expect something novel when Garia consults Rosilda, this is the first time she has produced something for you, I believe."

"We are also waiting, Ma'am. Part of the delay is for buckles to be made but it seems that Master Fulvin has other demands on his time these days."

"That was what I wanted to ask you about this morning, dear. A keep chain on one of my favorite bracelets has broken and it must needs be repaired. Where is Fulvin? Do you know? We have not seen him these past ten days and there is work for him to do."

"I do not, Ma'am, though I can guess."

"Oh? Ah, here is the King. Let us all be seated and then we may continue our discussion as we eat."

"As you command, Ma'am."

Robanar entered the dining room talking with Tarvan, who he had met on the way through the corridors. After the customary greetings they all took seats at table, with Terys directing that Milsy and Tarvan should take seats opposite the royal couple so that they could continue their conversations. Food took precedence and all devoted themselves to breaking their fasts. Finally Robanar felt that he had eaten enough and looked up at Tarvan.

"So you consider that the furnace site will not have sufficient materials because they cannot be brought from Tranidor in sufficient quantity."

"Aye, Sire," Tarvan responded. "To keep the furnace running continuously will require several tons of ore and coke every day. Let me see... I'm guessing that would be about nine or ten wagons each of ore and coal and about three or four of limestone." He shrugged. "I think that in time we may achieve that, Sire, but presently that represents about the whole output that is available to Palarand from the mines."

The King nodded. "What you are saying is that such quantities may be brought across the Sirrel to our furnace site but that would leave none for anywhere else."

"Aye, Sire, you have it exactly."

Robanar grunted. "Garia warned us of this. We must needs be small before we may grow large, I deem, but we are already thinking of new ways to use this increase in steel production. We must consider new furnace sites near Teldor and Tranidor before long."

"Sire," Milsy put in, "we may slightly reduce the need for coal with some of the alterations to the furnace which have been proposed."

"Which you proposed, you mean," Tarvan said.

Milsy blushed. "Aye, that is true enough, but the point remains. We may save some of the coal wagons for use by ore or limestone."

Robanar looked at her fondly. "My dear, you have a sharp eye and pay close attention to detail. Palarand is fortunate to have discovered you and we are grateful for your ideas and suggestions. You have conveyed your ideas to Parrel?"

"Aye, Sire, I have. They will likely be added to the third furnace as it is completed."

"Dear," Terys said to her husband, "Milsy may have some idea where Fulvin has gotten to."

"Ah? Milsy, my dear, enlighten us. Our jeweler has not been seen these several days and there is work for him to attend to."

Milsy blushed again, but this time it was embarrassment rather than pleasure. "Sire, do you remember the trousers which Lady Garia was wearing when she was found? The zipper which closes the front?"

"Aye, my dear, an amazing device."

"I believe that Master Fulvin seeks to understand how such a device is made and perhaps even to make some himself using similar methods. I believe that he spends most of his days in the brass workshop at the end of Pakh Lane inventing machinery which would help him."

"Brass workshop? Not the one that burned down, surely?"

Tarvan answered, "No, Sire, this is one of the older ones, the same one I served apprentice in before I became attached to Guildmaster Parrel. As the original zipper seems to be made of brass, it is brass that Fulvin seeks to use to make his copies from." He paused, considering whether to continue. "Sire, I believe that Fulvin has become obsessed with this idea. I remember, there was a certain evening meeting we had with Lady Garia before she went to Blackstone."

Robanar nodded. He understood the reference to the Council of the Two Worlds.

Tarvan continued, "She spoke then of those on her own world who had become obsessed with some particular device or notion. She named them geeks and said, I recall, that they would forget even to eat, sleep or change their clothes in pursuit of their obsession. I deem that Fulvin may have become of like kind."

Both Terys and Milsy shuddered at the thought that somebody would take so little care of themselves in pursuit of some target, but they both knew of people who had behaved that way.

"Tarvan."

"Aye, Ma'am?"

"Does Fulvin return to the palace at all? Does he abandon his duty completely?"

"Well, Ma'am, if you put it like that, probably he does. I do not know if he returns here at night, Ma'am. If he does, perhaps the Guard may waylay him and bid him seek your presence."

Robanar rumbled, "And if he does not?"

"Why, Sire, it seems that someone must needs go and remind him of his duty. Um, it is not as if he spends his days gambling or drinking, Sire, or consorting with those we do not speak of at table. For his faults, he desires to serve Palarand in his own way. Perhaps Milsy and I could go and find him, Sire. That may be better than having a squad of Captain Merek's men appear at the workshop and ruin him completely."

Robanar fixed Tarvan with an eye, calculating, before reluctantly nodding.

"Aye, you are right. He has forgotten his duty in an effort to provide us something new. However, that is not what he gave oath to when he came to the palace as our jeweler. Go, then, take your companion and find our errant guildsman. Leave him in no doubt what the alternative may be if he does not return with you."

"As you command, Sire."

* * *

Milsy stared at Tarvan as their carriage rumbled through the city streets.

"That was unexpected."

"Aye," he agreed. "It does give me a chance to show you another workshop, though."

"Is this the workshop where they are making the clock parts?"

Tarvan nodded. "Most of them, aye. We might even get a chance to check on progress but," he waved a finger, "we are commissioned by His Majesty to return Fulvin to the palace. We must not become distracted."

"As you say." Milsy peered through the window at the buildings that lined the roads. "I don't think I have been this way before."

"Probably not. This isn't one of the better parts of the city, most likely because of all the workshops that are around here. You two," he warned both Milsy and Bursila, "must needs keep your eyes open. Many of the dwellings nearby house disreputable people who might take your presence as a challenge."

"I'm not too concerned, Tarvan," Milsy replied. "I think those four guardsmen surrounding the carriage might dissuade them, do you not agree?"

"That is true, but we are far from any support should trouble begin. The guildsmen at the workshop should help if it does become necessary, though I deem we will be safe enough today."

At the end of a narrow side street the carriage pulled into the usual front yard and halted. As Milsy climbed down one of the idlers in the yard saw her and ran inside.

"Again," she muttered. "Doubtless they think that I am Garia come to call."

"As you say," Tarvan replied. "After all, that is why you were brought to the city in the first place, is it not? Most of these will not have heard that she is somewhere else entirely, I deem. If you would be patient with them, Milsy."

Soon enough several men emerged from the double doors which led into the main workshop, some wiping their hands on cloth rags. They bowed towards Milsy.

An older man wearing a stained leather apron came forward. "Guildmistress, welcome."

Milsy held up a hand. "Though we look similar, I am not the Guildmistress. I am Journeywoman Milsy and I am accompanying Craftmaster Tarvan on an errand for the King."

The man did a double take and then his gaze shifted to Tarvan, his expression turning into a smile of recognition.

"Tarvan! Welcome to our workshop once more. It is some time since we last spoke together. I must congratulate you on your promotion though I have no idea what it is you do now."

The two men clasped arms in friendship.

"Well met, Dubanar. Aye, I move in different circles now but I remember well my years here learning my trade. In fact, I still work in brass though of course I now use other materials as well. Milsy assists me in my endeavors for the King though it would be truthful to say that ofttimes it is the other way around. You should know that she has a mind equal to that of the Guildmistress, if not yet the rank."

"Ah, I see." Dubanar turned his attention to Milsy. "Read me, then, this riddle."

"There is much that I could tell you," Tarvan said, "but I regret that I am not permitted to. Suffice it to say that the resemblance is not accidental, though Milsy's intelligence certainly was."

"Do you tell me she is a -" Dubanar's mouth snapped shut. "Ah. Guild confidence, I take it?"

"As you say."

"Your visit here is unexpected, Tarvan, though you will always be welcome. Do you come seeking your clock parts? I understand the urgency but we would have delivered all to the palace by the second bell tomorrow morning as expected."

"As I am here, I could take anything you already have finished, Dubanar, but I have come on a different errand. If there is time I would like to show Milsy around your workshop, as it would be part of her education in Guild matters, but our main purpose here is of a another kind."

"Oh?"

"Aye. We seek Fulvin, who has been absent from the palace for more than a week. Their Majesties have become anxious as to his whereabouts. We understood him to be working on a project here."

"Fulvin? Aye, he is here, or should I say nearby. We have had to acquire two other workshops as the demand for brass items has increased so much. One of those does nothing but make thin strips of brass which are then used to stamp out tiny buckles using a device Fulvin invented." Dubanar's brow wrinkled. "So many brass buckles? And so small? Do you have any idea what they are used for?"

Tarvan grinned. "I do, Dubanar, and I can explain, but the subject might embarrass you or some of your men. If we may go to your office."

"Of course! If you would follow me."

Tarvan detailed the four guardsmen who had accompanied their carriage to look after it while he and Milsy went inside. Dubanar then showed them to his small office which was at one side of the entrance. Most of the rest went back to whatever they had been doing while Dubanar was accompanied by a single younger man.

"If I may introduce Journeyman Parsan," Dubanar said. "These days I have need of an assistant because the workload has become so great." The young man bowed as Dubanar continued with a smile, "I doubt not the work is caused by all that the Guildmistress brings us so I do not complain. So. Tell me about these brass buckles, then."

"It is the doing of the Guildmistress," Tarvan admitted. "I doubt you have much knowledge of women's underwear? It is not something that would interest many men, I deem."

Dubanar waved a noncommittal hand while Parsan blushed deeply.

"I think I begin to see," the older man said. "This is something to do with a new garment introduced by the Guildmistress, then. My wife may have tried to speak to me of it but I regret I did not pay sufficient attention."

"Aye, well," Tarvan said, beginning to feel uncomfortable himself. "The Guildmistress has introduced a number of ideas new to the female mind, this particular one concerns underwear. Um, Milsy, if you would continue? Naturally, I lack the personal experience to describe how those buckles are used."

"As you wish, Craftmaster," Milsy agreed carefully. "Master Dubanar, has your wife spoken to you of something called a bra? It is a new garment intended to replace the bodices all women presently use."

"She did! That was the name, I remember now. I believe that she said that they would be hard to obtain as yet until more seamstresses knew how to make them. You are telling me that these new garments use these buckles, then."

"Aye, Craftmaster. Each garment has a strap that goes over each shoulder and every strap has two buckles on it to permit easy adjustment. Mine are presently here and here." Milsy indicated with a finger where the buckles were on one of her straps. "Both myself and Bursila, my chaperone, are wearing bras and have done so for some time. Almost everyone... uh, every woman in the palace wears a bra now, even the Queen. So far they have proven to be much more comfortable than the bodices were."

"Indeed! Then I must pay my wife more attention, I deem. Thank you for describing so clearly that which a man might stumble over. But... so many buckles?"

Milsy smiled. "Aye, Craftmaster. My bra has four buckles and because each one must be washed frequently I possess a number of bras. Three for daily use and two for... a particular time each month."

Parsan was now struggling to retain his composure.

She continued, "That makes twenty for a single person. Now imagine how many women may live in the city, Craftmaster."

Dubanar pursed his lips. "Aye. That had not occurred to me. It was bad enough when Guildmaster Parrel told us about the forks! One for every man, woman and child in Palarand, nay, the entire country! I was relieved when the Craftmasters agreed that brass would not be a suitable material to make most forks from." He nodded. "Now I understand! Aye, perhaps I will rethink our priorities. The numbers we produce are so great I began to think that there must have been some mistake."

"Craftmaster, once every woman is fitted then the demand should slacken." Milsy shrugged. "Having said that, by the time that happens something else will have become popular."

"It already has, guildswoman. Something strange seems to be happening in the market for saddles. We have been asked to make molds for a new kind of foot-rest, if you would believe it. The numbers desired are again significant."

Tarvan nodded. "Aye, that is correct. The Guildmistress has shown us a new type of saddle which requires a different style of stirrup to be comfortable. If you desire to see some in use, you may inspect those of our escort when we depart."

"Do you tell me? I will do so, since that should inform me how they are to be used and thus I can estimate demand." His eyes narrowed. "If I may ask why you have need of an escort."

Milsy replied, "Do you not remember what happened when we arrived, Craftmaster? If you may mistake me for the Guildmistress, then so may others, perhaps those with ill intent. If you can remember what happened at the Harvest Festival, I am told that an attempt was made to kidnap Lady Garia from the middle of the crowded field. His Majesty's men are here to make sure that no unfortunate accidents may happen to me."

"Forgive me, guildswoman, I was not thinking. Aye, I can see that the resemblance makes you vulnerable." Dubanar looked concerned. "Does that mean that you must needs be followed around by your escort wherever you are? That could become awkward, especially in some of our workshops."

She smiled. "The insides of guild buildings are considered reasonably safe, Craftmaster. After all, you should know all who pass within, is that not so? Regrettably the same cannot be said for either the palace or Dekarran castle, where other attempts to abduct Lady Garia have also occurred. I must needs have guards placed outside the door of my suite, that I may sleep in peace."

Dubanar's face showed distaste. "I wonder that our country has come to such a state when even a maiden may not rest peacefully in her own bed at night! You have my sympathies, my dear." His expression changed and so did the subject. "You must return Fulvin to the palace, then, to be judged by the King? Is he required immediately?"

Tarvan shook his head. "I think he will come peacefully, Dubanar. We need not drag him out right away."

Dubanar snorted. "It will take a bolt of lightning at his feet to gain his attention! He has become as bad as some Questors I know. What I meant was, if you can spare half a bell, then I will show you and your Journeywoman around our workshop first. If you do not object?"

Tarvan gestured. "Not at all, Dubanar. I would be interested to see what changes you have made here myself." He grinned. "Besides, we can make our own lightning now. You must come to the palace one day for a demonstration."

"That I must see! Then, if you would follow me," he gestured to the door, "we may show your Journeywoman what it is we do here."

* * *

"How far is it?" Milsy asked as they walked to the front gate of the works.

"Barely a hundred strides, guildswoman," Dubanar replied, pointing. "On the left, just beyond the alley you see there. The buckle works is two doors further along."

Tord inspected the lane ahead of them with disfavor. "Craftmaster, how safe may this roadway be? As we arrived I noted that many of the poorer folk of the city live in dwellings along here."

Dubanar flicked a dismissive hand. "You need not worry for the safety of your charges, Guardsman. Of those who live in Pakh Lane, and along the alleys leading from it, many are employed in the several workshops along the lane. Ah, that would be many men, of course. If we walk to Fulvin's workshop, some will show interest, that is natural with four of His Majesty's men beside us, but I do not think there will be any trouble."

Tord nodded, though it was obvious he was not happy with the situation.

"As you say, Craftmaster."

"By the time we have found Fulvin and extracted him from whatever he is doing," Dubanar added, "my men will have parceled up the clock parts for Tarvan and stored them in the trunk of the carriage. There should be no further delay should you desire to return to the palace in haste."

Tarvan replied, "Thank you, Dubanar. Shall we go?"

It seemed a simple process to walk a hundred strides from one workshop to another, but Milsy knew it was never going to be that simple. The alley that Dubanar had pointed out had a tavern on each corner and an onlooker standing outside one of them hurried inside when he saw the procession approach. In moments men and women had come boiling out to stand on the cobbles, the commotion drawing others out from the other tavern.

"It's her! The one from the palace!"

"What's she doing down here?"

The crowd had spilled across the narrow lane, preventing passage. A word from Tord stopped his men from drawing swords. The drinkers seemed curious rather than upset and he did not want to inflame the situation.

"If you would let us pass," Dubanar said to them. "We are about the King's business."

The crowd shuffled but nobody moved aside.

An older man, mug in hand, called, "Is that her? Are you the Guildmistress we been hearing so much about?"

"I am not the Guildmistress," Milsy replied. "She is in the north, visiting her lands. I am a guildswoman, it is true, but I am not who you think I am."

"You look like her!" another voice shouted. "I seen you at the Harvest Festival. You've just come from the palace, I seen the carriage. You must be her!"

"Well, I'm not, and that's that. Will you let us pass?"

The second speaker shouldered his way to the front. "What will happen to us, Guildmistress? There are rumors of great changes coming to Palarand. Will the likes of us be discarded, cast aside?"

Tord pushed forward but Milsy put her hand on his arm.

"No, Tord. These people are fed only rumor and they are frightened for their futures. I must try and satisfy them."

"As you wish, Mistress. But... be careful."

She looked at the speaker and saw a man of around thirty, dressed as many of those in the crowd were, in little better than rags. She saw with a shock that his right arm ended at the wrist.

"I am not the Guildmistress," she repeated. "I work for her and I do look a lot like her. That is accidental. What is it you wanted to know?"

He pointed with his left hand. "You must be her, you have a Guild badge. Why deny it?"

"Were you once a guildsman yourself? Can you read?"

"Aye, Guildmistress, to both questions."

"Then come forward and read my badge. That shall tell you the truth and you can tell your fellows."

The man came forward and carefully peered at the badge. The aroma of beer flowed over her as he bent down to read, but this was not the first time she had experienced that. Suddenly he straightened up, took a step back and bowed.

"If you would accept my apologies, Journeywoman. I did not think there was any other woman yet entered into a guild." He turned to face the onlookers. "Her badge says Journeywoman and she bears the number two. It seems that at least one rumor is true." He half turned and asked Milsy, "It is true, then? Women may now join guilds? We thought the Guildswoman had become such because of some favor granted to the Guildmasters."

"Lady Garia's award was made solely on merit," Milsy said forcefully. "There were no favors asked for nor any given."

The man bowed again. "Your pardon, I did not mean to imply -"

More calmly she replied, "No, but I can see how it would look to those who don't know the circumstances. Garia is special because of where she comes from and what she knows. The rumors of great changes are likely true, though I would doubt anyone that told you exactly what will happen since nobody can possibly know. As for being discarded, well," she shrugged, "no job lasts forever, does it? A month ago I was a kitchen servant in Dekarran castle until somebody discovered me. I do not say that every woman would find their path as easy as mine but the changes to come will bring work for many who stand here today."

A woman wearing a filthy apron stood forward. "What? Work for young 'uns, I'll guess. What about the rest of us?"

"Work for many, of many ages," Milsy told her. "The guild system will not be able to cope with the great increase in production that is sure to come. Both men and women will be needed to work the new machines which will make all our lives that much easier. Men and women will be needed to support those who do that work."

"Dunno about that. What do you think I'm good for, then?"

Milsy eyed the apron. "You cook?"

"Aye, in that tavern."

"That is an honorable profession with which I am familiar. Many new people will come to Palarand seeking work and they will all need to be fed. Cooks will always be wanted."

"Suppose I don't want to be doing that no more. What else could I be doing?"

Milsy shrugged again. Cloistered in the palace, she had little idea what was happening in the rest of the city. "I don't know. You'll have to ask others."

Dubanar stepped forward. "Mistress? If you so desire, there is work we could find for you in our workshops. We have such a demand for workers that we have begun taking those who are not guildsmen."

"You jest, Master!"

Tarvan told her, "The Guildmistress foresaw this long ago, Mistress. The guild structure is changing as the old ways are too slow to keep up with the changes. Women will certainly be employed in future, and not only as guildswomen." He smiled, "There will be other kinds of work, of course. If you do not desire to spend your days in the clamor of a workshop then I might suggest you consider becoming a guardswoman of the King. You are surely large enough for the task. If you can swing a sword you would be considered."

The woman was astonished. "What? More fable, surely."

Tord shook his head, "Not so, Mistress. We presently have four who are halfway through their training and we are about to select another four. They have qualities, so I am told, that men do not possess and may go where a man may not. If any of you may be interested, man or woman, give your name to Craftmaster Dubanar and he will send it to the palace for consideration."

Dubanar looked surprised to be volunteered but said, "Upon my oath, guardsman, I will see to it."

Tarvan looked more closely at the one-handed man. "Sheron? Is that you? I barely recognized you! What happened to you?"

"An accident, as you might expect, Master Tarvan. We were setting up some new equipment and a bench tipped over onto my hand and crushed it. This would have been about four years ago. The wound went bad and I had to have it removed. Well, I couldn't stay a guildsman, could I? Not with only one hand. Nobody wants a one-handed man, there's very little I can do."

Dubanar said to him, "That was never true, Sheron. The guild will always look after its own."

Sheron replied bitterly, "They didn't look after me. This was before your time, Craftmaster. Oh, I get a small pension but it is barely enough for life. All I can do now is watch others do what I cannot."

Dubanar turned to Tarvan. "I did not know this had happened to him, Tarvan. Though I pass this way every day I did not know he still lived so close." To Sheron he said, "Come to my office after I have discharged my duty to the King, Guildsman. You have been a faithful member of our guild in years past and I will find you something to do." He held up a finger. "A real task, not some make-work busybodying just to make ourselves feel better. What say you?"

Sheron stared at Dubanar. "You would do that, Craftmaster?" There were tears in his eyes. "I thought... If I may, I will attend the workshop after lunch."

A thin woman with two toddlers at her feet asked, "What about the rest of us? We ain't no guildsmen or women nor no guardswomen neither."

Dubanar replied, "Mistress, your first duty is to attend your children. At such a tender age they need the comfort and instruction of their mother." He considered. "Later, perhaps, we might find you part-time work, but not with children of that age, no."

Milsy couldn't let that one go. "Craftmaster, both palace and castle have creches for the children of those who work there. I know, I was born in Dekarran castle and spent my first six years in their creche. Have you space for a creche somewhere? Your workers will labor easier knowing that their children are in a safe place nearby."

A sudden thought came to Tarvan. "An excellent suggestion, Milsy. If I may add, Dubanar, you might also consider starting a school for the children that live around here. When Milsy came to reside at the palace barely three weeks ago she could not read nor write and so we had to teach her. Lady Garia has told us that all should be taught to read and write and if this is started at an early age the lessons are absorbed more rapidly. Reading, writing and the use of numbers will be important to all of us as Palarand makes changes into our futures."

Dubanar's eyes were wide. "You taught your journeywoman to read and write in three weeks? Incredible!"

Milsy replied, "Craftmaster, I am told that I have certain advantages and talents that these others may not possess. That, after all, is one reason why I am a guildswoman now and not still a kitchen servant. However, none may know what any of us is capable of until they are tested. Mayhap some of these standing before you have talents even they do not recognize."

Dubanar was at a loss for words. "But, but... I am a simple guildsman! My experience is the working of brass, not the tutoring of children. Who would pay for this new school? Those who attend certainly could not."

Tarvan grimaced. "You touch a sore point, Dubanar. This is another avian-and-the-egg problem, I deem. The new goods should provide the coin for such a school but until we have sold them we cannot make any changes. All I may suggest is that you find time to speak with these good people and discover what may be done for them immediately. Make no assumptions about what may be done and what may not. For my part, I will speak to Guildmaster Parrel as soon as I may. We must find a way, for if we do not the result will be chaos and squalor."

Dubanar nodded agreement, while the tavern customers stared at them with amazement on their faces. Expecting to find the fabled 'Guildmistress', they had instead become involved in a serious discussion about their own futures and the future of Palarand.

Sheron spoke. "Tarvan? You are no Guildmaster, are you? How have you the authority to decide such matters?"

"I am now a Craftmaster, Sheron, in a new department named electricity. I was chosen by the Guildmistress herself to found this craft. Guildmaster Parrel, myself and Journeywoman Milsy know her desires in these matters and we also know that the King and Queen will approve. I may not have the authority, if it is a document you desire, but I know what must needs be done and I may speak to those who do have the authority. Is that answer for you?"

"Aye, Craftmaster." His voice changed. "Thank you, Tarvan. Your words give hope to many of those standing here today."

There were murmurs from many in the crowd.

"Thank you, Sheron. I hope to hear good words of your future employment from Craftmaster Dubanar. And now, we must continue our errand for the King. If you good people would let us pass?"

The crowd parted to let them through and then closed into a circle in the middle of the lane to continue talking about what had just happened. Milsy heard raised voices but the tone did not appear to be that of anger but instead of surprise and hope. When she turned to look many of the crowd were staring at their party but they soon turned back to resume the discussion.

"This is the place, Tarvan," Dubanar said, gesturing at the front door of a small building that had once been a dwelling. "Will you require my assistance?"

"I should not think so," Tarvan replied with a smile. "If there is any trouble, a shout will bring our armsmen in at the run."

"Armsmen? I thought them to be of the Palace Guard." Dubanar looked more closely at the four, who stared back with interest. "Ah! Their sash, it is different, no? What does this mean, if I may ask? I regret that I do not know the customs around such attire."

Tord answered, "Craftmaster, all who have given oaths to the King and work in the palace wear similar garb, as you have already noticed. It is to permit us to tell retainer from stranger within the palace walls. Aye, our uniforms are those of the Palace Guard, indeed, we were all once His Majesty's men, but our sashes are those of Baroness Blackstone, whom you know as the Guildmistress. If you would notice Mistress Milsy's chaperone Bursila, she wears the attire of a palace servant but with Lady Garia's colors instead of His Majesty's."

"Ah, I see. A clever notion." Dubanar nodded. "If you are content, Parsan and I will wait outside in case anything is required."

Tarvan nodded. "As you wish, Dubanar."

Tarvan, Milsy and Bursila walked into the building to be met by one of the doorkeepers. Dubanar saw this and stepped forward.

"Hanno, these are Guildsmen and women from the palace. They are about the King's business, detain them at your peril."

Hanno bowed and stood aside, but he stared at Milsy and Bursila with open hostility.

Milsy turned to him. "Friend, I bear a Journeywoman's badge, given to me by Guildmaster Parrel himself. Can you read it?"

The man reluctantly stepped forward, unhappy to be so close to a female in a place where women had never been permitted before. It did not take him long to read the badge and when he did, he stepped back respectfully and bowed.

"Your pardon, Mistress. I have never seen such a badge before."

"That is because there is yet no other who has been awarded one, save only Guildmistress Garia herself. I approve your diligence at your job, doorkeeper. If we may pass? We are commanded by the King to seek Guildsman Fulvin."

"Of course, Journeywoman... Ah, Craftmaster, welcome. Fulvin labors within." A brief smile came. "He will not be difficult to find."

The doorkeeper stared at Bursila but did not accost her. She wore a servant's dress with a Guild badge and was obviously attending the Journeywoman, as was proper. With a nod, Tarvan, Milsy and Bursila passed through and into the room at the front of the building. At a bench on the other side of the room, Fulvin looked up at the interruption.

"Tarvan! Milsy! Welcome. What an unexpected surprise! You are just in time to see the results of my most recent experiment."

Fulvin was unshaven and apparently had not changed his clothing for several days. His hair was an uncombed mess and his eyes were alight with a fever Milsy recognized only too well. There had been a cook in the castle kitchens who had spent his time trying new recipes at the expense of preparing the meals everyone was waiting for, and so His Grace had reluctantly been forced to release him from his service. Here, Fulvin was completely consumed by the project in front of him to the exclusion of all else.

"Look!" He turned to the bench and scrabbled in a dish at the side of what Milsy recognized as a hand-pulled vertical press. He picked out a small item of brass and handed it to her. "So far as I can tell, this is made exactly the same as the one in the trousers the Guildmistress was wearing when she arrived."

The item was an exquisitely made zipper slide, though it was about double the size of the original. Fulvin had somehow managed to cut the correct shape and then bend it in the several ways necessary to fold it into what was required. All it lacked was the small tag which was needed to pull it up or down, but even Milsy knew that was a simple flat shape that would be easy to cut and fit.

"Master Fulvin, I am astonished," she said. "This is amazing. I thought it would be many years before we could make something as clever as this."

Fulvin was suddenly modest. "Milsy, I thought so too, but when I looked more closely I could discern the simple steps needful to cut such a shape from flat sheet and fold it into the object in your hand. I must needs shape from steel a number of stamps and dies to make what you see there but it required only knowledge of my craft, not ideas from another world."

"I think I understand. Have you yet made the little tag which is used to pull the slide up and down?"

"Aye, of course! Here, if you would permit me..."

He took the part from Milsy and found another from one of several small copper trays littering the workbench.

"See, I stamp the tags out with the end already bent out, so that I do not have to do that first. All I need do is place the two together and squeeze with a pliers, there!"

With a big smile he handed the finished product back to Milsy.

For a first effort it was remarkable and Milsy told Fulvin so.

She added, "But this is merely the slide, Master Fulvin. I assume you attempt the whole zipper?"

"Indeed, Milsy! If you would all follow me through to the rear rooms."

Fulvin walked past all three and disappeared into the hallway. Tarvan looked at Milsy, who shrugged.

"I admit to being interested," she said. "Let us find out how far he has gone before we tell him the bad news."

Tarvan nodded. "He should not even be here, but I agree." He gestured at the mess on the workbench. "This is more than I expected. Whatever he is doing, it must needs be continued, I deem."

Milsy took a closer look at the bench. There were two vertical presses, each operated by huge levers made from metal pipes which stretched partway across the room. At the back of the bench the dies were lined up in pairs, each of steel and laboriously shaped by hand. In front of them were trays used for the parts he was making. She realized that he had deliberately chosen copper trays so that he could see the small brass items clearly.

Tarvan headed for the door and Milsy followed, thoughtfully putting the zipper slide into her waist pouch as she did so. Along the hallway was a door to the back room of the dwelling and Tarvan led the way into it. Inside they found Fulvin waiting with a younger guildsman.

"This is Journeyman Halef," he introduced the man, "as you can see by his skin his parents are from northern regions, but he is himself a Palarandi born and bred. He has been working on another of the zipper problems, that of sorting the teeth into the correct direction and placement. Halef, this is Craftmaster Tarvan of the Electricity Department and his assistant Journeywoman Milsy. They have arrived from the palace to visit me."

Halef's eyes widened as Milsy nodded to him and stayed there as Bursila joined them in the room. He said nothing but merely nodded to them all. Fulvin pointed to a complicated device of brass on the bench.

"This is the machine! Halef, does it work now?"

"Aye, Master Fulvin. Do you wish it demonstrated for your friends?"

"Is that possible? I see no teeth in the hopper."

"Master, Kendo has all the teeth we have so far cut, the good ones, that is. I can ask him -"

Fulvin held up a hand. "That won't be necessary, I think. Tarvan, Milsy, the teeth are stamped out using a press in the shed at the back. Because of their shape they must needs be sorted and aligned all the same way in order to function properly when the slide is pulled. This machine does that sorting."

Milsy bent to see how the device worked. A exquisite arrangement of little trays and chutes which tumbled and selected the teeth by means of shaped holes, and then allowed them to run down little rails ready for use. The whole machine was shaken and tilted by a hand-wheel, but Milsy knew that it would probably be connected to a steam engine in the final version.

"Clever, Master Fulvin. Then I presume you must apply the teeth to a ribbon."

"Aye, Milsy. We have left and right-handed teeth and left and right-handed ribbon. That machine is almost ready to test, it required this one to present the teeth in the right alignment and order before we may proceed further."

"How long?" Tarvan asked, interested despite the circumstances. "I mean, how long before you may produce a zipper?"

Fulvin raised his hands wide. "Tarvan, I do not know. We now have all the parts of the process, but something still eludes me about the entire operation." He looked at Tarvan with interest. "My apologies! I have not asked you both why you have come. Do you require pel?"

Tarvan grimaced. "Our duty is an unpleasant one, Fulvin. We are instructed by the King to seek you out and return you to the palace. Both of Their Majesties are concerned that you have neglected your duties as Palace Jeweler."

Fulvin looked surprised. "But I was only there yesterday, nothing has been said to me."

Halef shook his head. "Master, you have remained in this building for five whole days."

"I have? I have?" His face paled. "Maker, I am in deep trouble!" He asked Tarvan, "Are they angry with me?"

"I could not say, Fulvin, but I imagine so. Any delay in returning would not help your case. I am told to say to you, that if you do not return with us, a file of His Majesty's men will be sent to fetch you."

The full import of his position dawned on Fulvin and the life went out of him. His shoulders slumped.

Turning to Halef he said, "Carry on as much as you can, Halef, and tell the others to do so as well. I will send word to you about the future." He paused. "Assuming that I have a future, that is."

Fulvin collected a coat and followed the others back into the lane, where he stood blinking in the sunlight. Their carriage had been brought to stand outside the door with their escort, mounted, waiting for them. A small crowd had gathered to watch the proceedings but this time they did not interfere.

He muttered, "I did not realize... Milsy, I have come so close! But I have abandoned my duty to my King. What will become of me?"

"Master Fulvin, I cannot predict what Their Majesties will say but I believe that your work here is important. If you would calm yourself until we return to the palace."

Dubanar now came forward. "Fulvin? I will attend the workshops and ensure that all is as it should be. If there is any question then I will send to the palace... Ah, I will send to Tarvan and he can pass a message on to you if that becomes necessary."

Fulvin bowed. "Thank you, Dubanar. In fact, Tarvan may be able to give answer, both he and Milsy have some knowledge of what is intended."

"As you will, Fulvin. When the Guild system works properly it benefits us all."

As they turned to board the carriage Milsy had a thought and turned to Fulvin. "The suit which Rosilda is making for me required buckles. Have you yet made those?"

The reply was shame-faced. "Milsy, it was to arrange for those buckles to be made that I came to Pakh Lane originally! If we may walk to the other workshop, just there, you may collect them and bring them with us."

Milsy turned to Tarvan who nodded. With a roll of the eyes she gestured to Tord to move the carriage again as they walked to the next workshop, which was a shed-like building wedged between two houses. There was no doorkeeper here. Inside the building they found benches running along each side with six guildsmen working presses.

"Here we make the little buckles required for your undergarments, Milsy, and also larger items of a like kind. Those there are square rings made for joining harness straps, these next ones are belt buckles, behind us are buckles for harness and Joran there is stamping out nibs for reeds, if you can believe it! Once we understood how such a press could be used, we kept discovering new things that may be made with one. The zipper is but one of the many items we may soon produce."

"Astonishing. We did not realize just how much you have managed to do."

"Aye, Milsy. I am surprised myself. But then, you were tranced by those clocks, were you not?"

"I grant you the point, Master Fulvin. If I may ask, where are the buckles you spoke of?"

Fulvin walked along the workshop and stooped to pick items out of a wicker basket beside one of the men. He handed them to Milsy.

"Are these what you requested?"

"Aye, they are! And so well finished, Master Fulvin."

"As you say. Our articles are of course finished to the highest standards before they leave this workshop. Let me find the larger buckle you asked for and then we may go."

* * *

"I do not see Fulvin here, dear. Did you not find him? Or did he refuse to return with you?"

Milsy was seated near the Queen at the lunch table and looked up to answer.

"Ma'am, we did find him, and he did return with us, but he was not in a fit condition to present himself before Your Majesties. He will take his meal privately in his quarters and present himself whenever you may find it convenient afterwards."

"Not in a fit condition? Maker, what has he been doing to himself?"

Tarvan leaned forward from beyond Milsy. "Ma'am, he has not been doing much at all, and that is the problem. He has been so... focused... on his work that he has neither washed nor changed his clothes for several days. Before he may present himself before yourself and the King he must needs bathe thoroughly and find new attire."

"Ma'am," Milsy added, "this project of his is like a bog and he has become deeply mired in it. As I have discovered myself, when something interesting strikes such a spark, it can be difficult to struggle free again. Fortunately I have Tarvan to remind me of my duty but Master Fulvin does not."

The Queen's face showed what she thought of Fulvin's lack of personal care. "I see that we must take him in hand, husband. As our Court Jeweler the work he has produced in the past has been excellent. I do not know if Parrel could find us a suitable replacement."

"Hmm? Aye, my dear. Fulvin is better than our previous jeweler, I agree, but in Palarand today there is only one person who may not be replaced and she is presently in Blackstone." Robanar smiled at Milsy. "Of course, my dear, I do not overlook your own efforts but I must be blunt. Fulvin is after all, just a Court Jeweler, even as I am just the present King. The court of Palarand has employed a Court Jeweler for more than three hundred years and Fulvin will not be the last, I deem. If his work suffers because he has become distracted then I must do what is necessary for the proper functioning of the court."

Milsy thought. "Sire, I find I cannot disagree. But, if I may ask, what exactly is it that Fulvin does? I mean, for the court?"

"Why, Milsy, as you might expect, he attends to all the jewelry that any who reside in the palace may wear. That includes, of course, state items like our crowns, coronets, badges, brooches and awards. In addition he must needs engrave any seal or signet that is required. Indeed, he has recently made such for Garia." Robanar waved a hand. "Oh, there are other small tasks of the like he may attend to at need. Badges and staves of office, for example, for those like Kendar who require them."

"Ah, I see, Sire. Does he have journeymen? I do not know if he has any staff, Sire. He has not mentioned any."

"He does have staff," Terys said thoughtfully. "Aye, perhaps we should consider them, husband."

Robanar grunted. "We will, my dear, but first, we must deal with the guildsman himself, who should have been here supervising his staff."

When the meal had finished Robanar and Terys rose to go to their parlor with Kendar, intending to summon Fulvin. Milsy asked if she and Tarvan could be present.

"Hmm? You have an interest in this matter, my dear?"

"Aye, Sire. I may not interfere in what you intend to do but it is possible that the circumstances have not been completely explained. After visiting the workshop today I would offer some words in Master Fulvin's defense."

Robanar's eyebrows shot up and stayed there. "Indeed? Then you and Tarvan may accompany us. I would not have it said that I have not considered all aspects of a matter before I give judgment."

Everyone settled themselves in the parlor to await Fulvin's answer to his summons. When he appeared he went down on one knee before the King and bowed his head.

"Sire, I beg forgiveness. I have forgotten the duty I swore oath to do, I have abandoned the palace in pursuit of a dream."

Robanar replied, "I have been told that what you seek may be no dream, guildsman. You have been party to many of the ideas that Garia has revealed to Palarand, I do not wonder that your attention has been turned. However, that is not why you are in the employ of our household. What say you?"

"Sire, I am returned from the city but two bells ago. I do not know what tasks await me here that I should have done for you. If you desire to remove me from my post and employ another I would not complain, I would deserve such a fate."

Robanar considered. "Unfortunately for us, you are among the best at the work you should have been doing. I am minded not to dismiss you but retain you for your abilities and impose a lesser punishment."

Fulvin looked up with surprise. "Sire?"

"To begin with, a stiffly worded note to Parrel, I deem. Your dereliction is a Guild matter and he must provide some suitable remedy. For ourselves, I will expect you to appear at every meal in the palace from today forward, this will ensure your presence within the palace. We have tasks for you, they must be completed before you may direct your attention elsewhere."

Fulvin bowed his head again. "As you command, Sire."

Terys said, "Dear, Milsy has some words to say."

"Of course, my dear." To Fulvin Robanar explained, "Milsy wishes to say something in your defense."

Fulvin looked at Milsy in surprise. He had thought that she and Tarvan had been present as witnesses to his dereliction. Robanar gestured to Milsy.

"Sire, in order to find Master Fulvin it was necessary for us to enter the workshop where he was," she explained. "Because we were there, he showed us what he was doing and I think that his project is worth continuing."

"What was he doing, my dear?"

"He is attempting to make a zipper, Sire. And he has almost managed to do it, too. If I may show you."

Milsy dug into her pouch for the slide but there were too many things in it. Even though Bursila carried the customary bag with her Mistress's normal requirements Milsy had taken to carrying a certain number of tools herself. As she dug through the bag her face became redder and redder.

"Sire, if you would excuse me, I have too much in this bag. If I may use the table."

Robanar gestured again and she stood, walking over to the side table where Terys's maids usually placed the drinks and snacks. Out came a small screwdriver, two pairs of pliers, a tiny auger, a small magnifying glass, a rod with a hook on the end for pulling wires, four screws she had forgotten were in there, two needle files, a dining fork and the three buckles she had collected earlier that day. Finally, from the bottom of the pouch she pulled out the slide.

"Milsy, dear," Terys asked, eyeing the collection on the table, "do you really need to carry all that around with you?"

Milsy looked at the items. "Some, Ma'am, but not all. Um, actually there are others I would carry if I could. I have asked Rosilda to provide me with special pouches to carry tools whenever I need them." She held out the slide for Terys's hand. "This is what I was looking for, Ma'am."

The Queen's eyes widened when she took the item and then she turned to Fulvin.

"You have made a slide for the zipper? Already?"

"Aye, Ma'am. I should not -"

Terys held up a hand. "And do you attempt the whole zipper?"

"Aye, Ma'am."

"How much work is left to do? I do not need details, only time."

"Ma'am, as I was explaining to these two earlier, I do not know, except that it will not be much longer. If you would ask them to tell you, Ma'am, they have inspected my workshop in Pakh Lane."

Robanar grunted. "Pakh Lane? Oh, where the brass workshops are. I understand."

Terys turned to Milsy.

"Ma'am, from what I saw Master Fulvin has almost completed the impossible. I saw many new machines of an intricate nature and it may not be long before a zipper is produced. I believe it to be in the interests of Palarand that his project be completed."

Terys held out the slide on the palm of her hand. "If this is any guide you may be right, dear. Husband, this changes things. While Fulvin must needs complete some of the urgent work that his duty requires of him I would ask that he be permitted to finish the zipper project."

"If I may look at it, my dear."

Robanar inspected the small brass item before turning to Fulvin, who was still on his knees.

"This work is as good as any you have done for the palace, Fulvin. How much of this is made by your hand?"

"None of it, Sire. It is all done with presses and other machinery. When we have proved the process then even a journeyman may be able to make zippers, Sire."

"Indeed? Then both the Queen and Milsy are right, I deem. Very well. You must complete those urgent tasks which await you in your workshop... ahem! your workshop here in the palace. If and when you have free time you may continue this project but," Robanar waved a finger, "your palace work must come first. Do you understand?"

"Aye, Sire. As you command, Sire."

"Then rise, Fulvin. I will still write a note for Parrel, and I still require your attendance at meal times, but you have shown us that your time has not been wasted but spent diligently in the interests of Palarand."

As Fulvin staggered to his feet he said, "Thank you, Sire. I shall not fail you again."

"Indeed not, Fulvin. The next time that something of the like takes your fancy then you must needs apply to me first before you make more trouble for yourself. You may go."

Fulvin bowed. "As you command, Sire."

As the door closed behind the Court Jeweler, Terys turned to Milsy. "I understand you had an interesting ride today, dear. Shall you tell us about it?"

"Ma'am, it was interesting and some things happened that you ought to know about. Well, when we first arrived in Pakh Lane..."

A day in the life of Milsy as she juggles with tiny screws, joiners, astronomers, clocks and algebra!

What Milsy Did

by Penny Lane

18 - The Dual Clock

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 (c) 2017 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

---

"Mistress Milsy?"

"Just... one... moment, if you would."

Milsy did not look up but kept her concentration on the task in front of her. Her left hand held a small tweezers which in turn held an even smaller brass screw. Two fingers of her right hand wielded a screwdriver small enough to fit the screw. Facing her across the bench was Bursila, who held the new pair of goggles in one hand while two fingers of the other hand held the rim firmly closed around the clear flat disk of the glass lens.

Milsy carefully guided the screw into the hole and then aligned the screwdriver with the slot of the screw. She gently pushed and turned, heaving a sigh of relief as the screw began to disappear inside the hole, securing the lens to the goggles. For some strange reason, the other three lenses had all been simple jobs to fit, but the last one... She had known similar situations in the kitchens, where for example twenty-three pastries had come out perfectly but the twenty-fourth had been a real pain to get right.

Feeling resistance she tightened carefully and then relaxed.

"That's done it. Thank you, Bursila." Her face twisted into a wry smile. "Only another four to go."

She turned and assessed the speaker, who appeared to be a man of middle age, a bald head surrounded by graying hair, dressed in the typical tradesman's garb of nondescript tunic and tights with a brown linen apron over the top. His face looked faintly familiar, but since she had been in the palace for more than a month now that didn't mean too much. She had probably encountered most of the palace staff at one time or another while passing through the corridors but had been introduced to relatively few of them.

"Master, welcome. If you seek Tarvan, he is presently at the metalsmiths' Guild Hall and is not expected back until just before lunch. If I may help?"

The man smiled. "Mistress Milsy, I am Bassen, one of the palace joiners. It seems that you and Master Tarvan desired some kind of box to be made?"

"Aye, that is so, but it is to be no ordinary box."

"Mistress, this is the palace. We are accustomed to making special items for His Majesty."

Milsy smiled. "Indeed, but this will be unlike anything you will have made before. If you would step over to the other bench."

Sitting on the other bench were a confusing collection of brass machinery, apparent tangles of wires, strange coils mounted on wood plaques and square glass jars full of liquid. Milsy pointed to the two largest devices with a grin.

"These are new clocks that measure time both in the traditional way and in a new way proposed to us by Guildmistress Garia," she explained. "As you may notice this clock has more parts than that clock. What we do is to let this one count the time in the normal way," the joiner could not possibly have understood the reference, but he nodded anyway, "and by means of electricity, have you heard of it?" another nod, "we use these wires to make the second clock show the same time."

"Show the same time, Mistress? I do not understand. I see no bells."

"Actually there is a bell, this one down inside here." Milsy pointed to a small brass tube buried deep within the mechanism of the master clock. "It makes just enough noise for those within the room to hear. However, you'll also notice these big dials on the front by which you can discover the time just by looking at the clock."

"Dials? I am not familiar with the word, Mistress."

Milsy gave the man a quick talk over how the clock could be used to tell the time and why there were two dials on it.

"It sounds... interesting, Mistress." Bassen stared at the clocks and then at Milsy. "If I may offer a guess, Mistress, you desire me to make enclosures to put your clocks in, that they may not collect dust, but so that the dials may still be seen."

Milsy smiled. "That is exactly right, Master Bassen. There is one other important point, though."

"Oh?"

"This clock," she pointed to the master clock, the pendulum ticking backwards and forwards, "we'll keep in here and we want it to be mounted on that wall over there, as you would a painting." She pointed to the wall behind the furnace and beside the 'public' doorway into the Questor's quarters. "Under it we will need another box... a cupboard, if you will, to keep at least two of these in." She gestured to one of the jars on the bench. "These are our batteries and they are what keeps our clock going."

"Batteries?"

Milsy shrugged. "A means of storing the electricity which is what we use to keep the clocks going. You have worked for the palace a while, I imagine?"

Bassen was puzzled. "Aye, Mistress, some eleven years or so now. Why?"

"You probably have not been inside the Great Clock but when they wind up the weights they have to stop the clock else it loses time. Of course, by stopping the clock they guarantee that it will lose time, but in theory they can correct this by means of a sand-dropper." The joiner nodded his understanding. Milsy continued, "Our clocks have no need for weights and if we connect a new battery before we remove the old one the clock need never stop."

"Aye... I wondered, some days, when a bell was missed, but I always assumed that the Clockmakers knew what they were doing." It suddenly occurred to the joiner what he was looking at. "Mistress, I assume all the work I see here is made by contract with the Clockmakers' Guild?"

Milsy smirked. "Yes and no, Master Joiner. Those two clocks at that end of the table were, indeed, originally made for the King by the Clockmakers, but as you can see we have taken most of the insides out as part of our experiments. Since we are not using weights but electricity they are not needed. The two big ones in front were made by the Metalsmiths when the Clockmakers informed us that they could not make them themselves and the last one is a special commission for Master Gerdas the Royal Astronomer. That one was also made by the metalsmiths."

"I see." But Bassen did not seem convinced.

"It is a long story and involves guild politics, Master Joiner. I leave that to those who are of higher rank than a mere journeywoman. If you would bespeak Guildmaster Parrel when next he visits the palace he may offer more of an explanation."

"You are a journeywoman? I had heard in the Guildsmen's Dining Chamber that someone other than Lady Garia had been admitted to a guild, but I was not sure who." He smiled and explained, "I have spent the past several weeks on work in the stables which means I do not always hear the latest gossip... or believe it when I do hear it." He looked around and then back to Milsy. "You are of a like to Lady Garia, then? I see the resemblance. If this is a sample of your work you should be more than journeywoman, I deem."

"As I said, Master, it is a long story. Aye, I may resemble Lady Garia but unlike her I do not come from afar but only Dekarran castle, where I was born and raised in the servants' quarters." She flushed slightly. "Some do consider that I have some of Garia's qualities but I must earn my experience the hard way. Thus, Tarvan is Craftmaster of the new Electricity Department and I am but his assistant."

"As you say. So, to return to your request. One of these clocks is to be mounted... over there. Where, then, will the other be mounted? On the other side of the door?"

"Actually, that is a thought. When we make more they must needs be tested before we install them elsewhere... To answer you, Master Bassen, the other clock is to be mounted in the family dining room yonder. We thought that somewhere above the doorway would be the most suitable place."

Bassen spun to peer through the nearest window. "You desire it placed over there? But your wires..."

Milsy smiled. "May be as long as we need them to be, Master. On this bench we do not need long wires to determine if our experiment works, but the plan is to test our new clock in view of Their Majesties and should that prove satisfactory, we will be asking you to make more boxes for other clocks to be placed in other parts of the palace."

"More boxes? I see." His brow furrowed. "When I was asked to attend this place it was not made clear to me what was required. You require two to begin with, then, and... how many to follow?"

Milsy smiled at the joiner. "I have no idea, Master. Probably somewhere between ten and twenty, I would guess. The Receiving Room has been mentioned as have the kitchens. No doubt some of the meeting rooms at the front of the palace may be chosen. Even Captain Merek has expressed an interest in having a repeater clock in the Large Training Room, since the bells can be hard to hear back there."

Bassen pursed his lips. "A significant new project, then. And your wires, they will be run through the corridors?"

"Aye, when we can decide a suitable method."

"You will need pulleys, then, at each junction."

"Pulleys? Ah, no, Master! These will not be wires like those for the call ropes. They just need to be fixed somehow in such a way that they do not touch and are out of the way of passers-by."

Bassen shook his head. "Forgive me, I do not understand this electricity. If the wires do not move, then how..?" He waved a hand. "Never mind, that is not for me to concern myself with. If I may take some measurements?"

"Aye, of course. We would prefer not to stop any of these clocks unless we have to. Can you manage?"

Bassen looked at the two brass frames. "Aye, that should not be a problem. Let me get my slate and measure out."

"I have paper if you would prefer to use that."

"Indeed! A most useful invention, I deem. Thank you. I have a reedlet in my bag, I can write with that."

Bassen took his measurements and discussed with Milsy how the brass frames were to be secured inside the boxes but still permit removal for inspection and maintenance. There was also the question of how they were to be mounted on the wall paneling. The battery box was designed, positioned and measured. Then Milsy opened the door and the two went outside into the corridor, followed of course by Bursila.

Bassen scratched his chin. "You will need holes drilled, I deem, to allow your wires to pass through the walls. If they are not to touch then each wire will need a separate hole."

"Aye, Master. If we may drill them above the height of the doorways then the wires will be away from accidental touch."

"As you say. On the other side they may be brought down the wall, I suppose, to gain the clock cabinet. The wires should be safe enough inside that chamber."

"Perhaps. While Tarvan and I work on such projects, that will be true, but those chambers properly belong to the Royal Questor and at some time we may be asked to move out when a new one has been chosen."

"Of course. We may box them in, then, as we must needs do for some of the call wires and water pipes."

"You do? That would be perfect, Master Bassen! I was worried about the wires defacing the workmanship of the corridors and chambers."

"Well, sometimes even boxing in pipes and wires may not be done if it would cause problems and then we must needs find another way to manage what we intend." He gave her a reassuring smile. "We have been looking after this palace for centuries, Mistress. There is always a way!"

Most of the palace corridors were the same height as the chambers they gave access to, so there was as much wall above doorway level as below it. It was clear to Milsy as the three walked the short distance to the dining room that, boxed or unboxed, the wires would be noticeable. They went through the double doors into the dining room to be met with curious stares from the few servants cleaning the floor. The three turned to regard the wall over the doorway.

"I see! Aye, I do not see a great problem fixing one of the cabinets above the door, Mistress. The wires may cause more of a problem..."

"Aye, Master Bassen. It would be a shame to spoil the wall because we had not thought through how to join everything together."

Bassen scratched his chin. "Suppose I make the cabinet wider than the frame. As with a painting, I can fit a bezel at the front to cover the gap."

Milsy raised an eyebrow at the strange word.

"Do not concern yourself, you will understand when I show you the result. The point is, this will give you space inside the cabinet to arrange your wires."

"Oh! I see! And we may drill through the wall behind the cabinet! No-one in here will see anything but the clock set in a nice new case."

"As you say, Mistress. Of course, I would not expect the first cabinet I make to be the final one, I deem. With such a novel idea I would suggest that it will take two or three attempts to provide a cabinet worthy of placing before the King."

Milsy was already distracted and she absently waved a hand. "Indeed. We have had to remake the clock frames twice already. The King understands that the double clock idea is a work in progress and that changes may be necessary over time. Why, he may even ask for us to change the color of the dials."

"As you say. If I may proceed?"

"Your pardon, Master?"

"I can begin making the cabinets immediately, Mistress, at your agreement."

"Oh! Aye, if you would. How long will the job take?"

"Two days, maybe three, to make the first one, which will be for your master clock. It is not so hard a task since there is no decoration or carving involved. Then I would make the battery cabinet so that you can begin installing the master clock while I make the repeater cabinet for this wall." He pointed.

"Done. For my part I must needs consider how the wires may be arranged. Until you came I had not thought the problem through in any detail, but I see now that I must." Milsy gave the joiner a nod. "Thank you, Master Bassen."

"I may have thoughts on your wires, Mistress. Though it is not my craft, I will speak to those in the palace workshops who look after the pipes and cables which already run through the palace. They may also have thoughts to offer."

Milsy smiled. "That would be useful, Master Bassen. Thank you again."

The two nodded and Bassen departed. Milsy turned to Bursila.

"Bassen doesn't seem to object to me, does he? I hope most of the other guildsmen in the palace are as helpful." She rolled her eyes. "Right, we had better go back and continue putting those goggles together. I wonder if we can finish before lunch?"

* * *

"Master Gerdas!"

"Good afternoon, Master Tarvan, Mistress Milsy," the Royal Astronomer responded with a bow. "I trust you are both well?"

Tarvan replied, "Aye, Master Gerdas, well and busy, both of us."

Milsy added, "Your new clock seems to be working well too. Have you come to the palace today to see it?"

Gerdas brightened. "I have not, Mistress, but if I may come and see it after I have attended the King..."

"But of course, Master Gerdas. As you must realize it is presently but a bare frame. Since you are here today you can decide how you want to enclose it." Milsy made a gesture towards the window. "Not knowing how you intend to use it, we were not sure if an ordinary box of wood would be sufficient or whether you would require something more substantial."

The old Questor's eyes narrowed. "Aye, you raise a good point, Mistress. The clock will be of no use to me if I cannot see it as I make my observations." He nodded to himself. "When I join you later in the laboratory, we may consider the alternatives."

Tarvan said, "We have talked of the matter but, as we have not yet accepted your invitation to join you at your observatory, we did not know how you intended to arrange matters."

"As you say. Of course, as I have not yet seen the clock I cannot make any suggestion to you either. Until later, then."

Robanar appeared talking animatedly to Kendar. When he noticed Gerdas he waved the Chamberlain off and joined the group.

"Gerdas! Good of you to join us for lunch."

"Thank you, Sire, for the invitation. If I may speak with you afterwards?"

"This is about the extra day, isn't it? Of course. After lunch we may discuss any potential problems and then, should all be well, I will make it official."

Gerdas bowed. "Thank you, Sire."

Robanar noticed Milsy's look. "My dear, every so often the calendar of Alaesia must needs be adjusted, for as you may know the days, months and years are not exact numbers but drift over time."

"Sire, this has been explained to me but I know little more."

Robanar grunted. "Aye. Most folk know little more, I deem, including me. It is a complicated subject, so I am told. Gerdas has consulted with his many colleagues all over Alaesia and they have determined that if our calendar is to better reflect the days, weeks and months an extra day must needs be added to the end of this present year. We have known for some time that this would likely happen but Gerdas has today brought the final decision of all his craft to me."

"As you say, Sire. Perhaps Master Gerdas could tell us more when he visits us after his meeting with you?"

Robanar looked at Gerdas with raised eyebrows.

"Sire," the Astronomer said, "these two clever young people have offered to show me the clock they are making for me and to discuss a box for it."

"Your clock! Of course, Gerdas." He turned to Tarvan. "And what of the new palace clocks? What progress?"

"Sire, both clocks work as well as those others we made. I do not think anything has changed since you last saw them."

"Sire," Milsy added, "today I have spoken to Master Bassen about making... cabinets... for the clocks, and how to fix them to the walls."

Robanar opened his mouth but changed what he was to say. "Here is the Queen. Gerdas, go you to the laboratory after our meeting and you may discover something new. I am sure you will spend a bell or two speaking with our young guild members."

Gerdas bowed. "As you command, Sire."

"Now, let us sit to lunch. Gerdas, I want to ask you..."

Robanar took the arm of Gerdas and led him towards the center table.

"Come on," Tarvan said, "Let us find seats and you can tell me what Bassen said this morning."

* * *

"I like this idea," Tarvan said, "but the dark lenses keep falling down."

Milsy frowned. "The ones on my goggles do but those on Bursila's do not. I used a length of brass wire for the hinge pins and it is possible that part I put in Bursila's was slightly bent." She considered. "I think I may add a small spring clip to the hinge to keep the dark lenses out of the way when they are not required."

"That would be best, I deem, rather than relying on a bent wire. Do you think that you could add the dark lenses to my goggles?"

"If you so desire it, Tarvan, but though Fulvin's apprentices made the parts for us they are very fiddly to put together. I would rather we presented this to the makers of your goggles as a new design and let the experts make them for all who might need them."

"You could not alter what is there already?"

Milsy shook her head. "They are too different, Tarvan. I had to design a bridge between the two original lens frames for the hinge to be mounted on and that meant that the screws for the frames had to be moved - ah, here is Master Gerdas."

The tall figure of the Royal Astronomer walked the length of the laboratory, his robe billowing as usual. He smiled as he reached them.

"Greetings, both. What have you there? Some strange new device for protecting the eyes, I deem."

"Aye, Master Gerdas, welcome."

Tarvan briefly told him about their visit to the furnace site and the need for goggles that had both plain and dark lenses.

"I can see how that might be, young Tarvan. All who saw Lady Garia's demonstration at the Hall of the Questors will understand the need to protect one's eyes and I know several Questors who would welcome extra protection whenever they experiment." He raised an eyebrow. "These will become generally available, I trust?"

"Indeed, Master Gerdas, we were discussing that very point. But it is your clock you have come here to see, is it not? Come over to the other bench."

As Gerdas turned he saw what was on the bench. "Five clocks? You have been busy! Which one is mine? So many wires! What are these coils? I recognize the jars, they are what your electricity is kept in, is it not?"

"As you say, Master Gerdas. You will need some of these and, since you reside so far outside the city, you will probably require a steam engine like that one to charge the batteries every so often."

"Ah? How often?"

"Perhaps once a week or so, Master Gerdas. The task is not difficult and we may teach the art to your staff if you prefer not to do it yourself. As to your clock, it is this one. It has been working for more than a week already and I cannot tell the difference in time between yours and these others."

"This one? But it is so small!"

Milsy shrugged. "Master Gerdas, the size is limited only by our ability to make the parts small enough and the length of the pendulum. There is no reason why we cannot make the dial and hands larger, though, if that makes your task easier."

"So... how would this be used, then? At my mansion I have a platform on top of a wooden tower to which I ascend at night to do my observations. This clock, then, must needs be situated up there with me, that I might see the position of the hands. Do the batteries have to be near the clock? If I must needs have a steam engine up there as well, matters become more complicated."

"That is the whole beauty of electricity, Master Gerdas," Tarvan replied. "Your battery box and steam engine can be anywhere down below that is convenient to you and your staff. All we have to do is to run two wires between the battery cabinet and the clock cabinet."

Milsy had a thought. "Actually," she added, "it has occurred to me that the clock could also be kept below in your mansion, where it may remind you when your observations are required. We can then run wires up to a repeater clock on your platform. Since the repeater will not have a pendulum, it may be even smaller and will not be affected by weather in the same way as the master clock might."

"Master clock? Repeater?" Gerdas looked at the other frames on the bench and suddenly understood. "Ah! What a brilliant idea! I see you have but one pendulum in each pair and that may provide the timing for the other clock. Those two over there are connected together by wires and so are these two." He frowned. "But these two have two dials. If you would explain that to me."

Tarvan said, "This is your doing, Master Gerdas. The King has taken note of your intention to use the twenty-four hour system and desires to see if it may be of use to the rest of Palarand. Thus, we have made a clock which shows both systems such that those in the palace will not become confused. The right side is the twenty-four-hour dial, just as your own clock will have, and the left side is our attempt to make a clock which shows the bells."

Milsy added, "These clocks have no bells, Master Gerdas, to avoid confusion. Since anyone may glance at the dial to know the time there should be no problem."

Gerdas nodded. "Aye. The King told me that he was considering using the twenty-four hour system the last time I called at the palace. To have a consistent system of timing, such that we are not dependant on dawn or dusk, that will be a big change to Palarand." He had a thought. "Then, I deem, all clocks will become like mine! That should make their design easier, so I am told."

"Aye, Master Gerdas. We do not need half of what was originally in those clocks over there, which were made to a new design by the Clockmakers' Guild. Taking out the weights removes even more, though it ties us to electricity. For some purposes, we will still need clocks driven by weights, or perhaps by other mechanical means, until electricity becomes available to all. I am especially glad to be rid of the bell parts since the mechanism is very complicated." She pulled a face. "There are two complete duplicate sets of bell mechanisms in each clock, Master Gerdas, which is stupid! Any fool can see that the lever on the left side of the Year Wheel moves the exact same way as that on the other side. Why have one set for day bells and another set for night bells when one set will do for both?"

Gerdas shook his head. "It is not so, Mistress Milsy."

She stared at the astronomer.

He continued, "Though it seems that the two sides of the wheel move in unison it is not so. As Anmar moves round the sun -"

Milsy was shocked. "Anmar moves round the sun? I thought the sun went around Anmar!"

Gerdas looked at the two. Tarvan seemed almost as surprised as Milsy.

He sighed. "Master, Mistress, you are both clever young people but it is no surprise that your understanding of such matters is small. I have to admit that some of what I know was told to me by Lady Garia, but even before then I knew that Anmar went around the sun."

Milsy asked, "If you would explain to us, Master Gerdas. I have made a fool of myself judging a matter I thought I understood but plainly do not."

Gerdas smiled gently. "Indeed, but you are no fool, my dear, you merely have not had the education or experience to learn such matters which are, after all, of interest to only a small number of people. I think that I may have need of a blackboard, I deem."

"The study, Master Gerdas," Tarvan suggested. "I would learn of this as well, if you would."

"Aye, the study," Gerdas agreed.

"Bursila! It will soon be time for some pel, I believe."

The two youngsters followed Gerdas along the laboratory and into the study in silence. To have something that everybody knew denied by a simple statement had shaken both. Waving them to chairs the old astronomer turned to the board, using a cloth to wipe it clear before picking up a piece of chalk.

"To begin with," he smiled at them, "Anmar spins as a ball does. Do you understand that Anmar is a ball, upon which we all live?"

"Aye, Master Gerdas. That much we do know."

"Then know that the spin of Anmar gives the seeming of the sun going round Anmar instead."

Tarvan objected, "If the world spins, Master Gerdas, then why do we not all fly off?"

Gerdas shrugged. "It is something called gravity, Tarvan. It is the reason that everything falls to the ground and it is very strong, strong enough to keep Teide, Annis and Kalikan in the sky. We knew little of gravity until Lady Garia came, only that it existed and that its effects could be calculated. She tells us that it is a property of all matter and is the reason for everything that we can see in the night sky to be as we view it."

"Wait a moment," Milsy said slowly. "You just said that gravity makes all fall to the ground. But, then, the moons stay in the sky and do not fall."

He gave them another smile. "This is something we call an orbit. If I may draw a picture."

Gerdas then drew them a diagram which showed that the moons were indeed falling but why they would never actually reach the ground. He was gratified to see their expressions change as the concept became apparent to both of them.

"So the sun appears to move in the sky because the world turns," Milsy mused, "and the moons are in... orbit... around Anmar. That must mean, I deem, that Anmar is in orbit about the sun, must it not? Else the two would come together by means of gravity."

Gerdas beamed. "As you say, Milsy! Just so. Anmar is in orbit around the sun and takes a year to make one circuit. That is, indeed, how we define a year, although," his expression sobered, "the definition of a year is a complex thing, I deem. Let me draw another diagram."

He cleared the board and drew a large circle for the planetary orbit, placing a small circle in the center for the sun. At four points around the orbit he drew more small circles, filling in the halves which faced the sun.

"Tell me, then, what you may about this diagram."

"Why... you have drawn Anmar at four points around the orbit, is that right?"

Gerdas watched her closely. "As you say, Milsy."

"But the sides facing the sun point in different directions..." She frowned. "A day is defined as the time from, say, noon to the next noon?"

Gerdas nodded.

"Then, I deem, each day must needs be longer than one would think... There must be an extra revolution in a whole year, to make the sun side face the sun again... um, you know what I am trying to say?"

"Aye, Milsy. As I said, this is a complex subject but I wondered whether you - either of you - could perhaps understand some of it. If by chance you can, then it may assist in your battles with the Clockmakers' Guild."

"That is why I wanted you to explain it, Master Gerdas."

He resumed. "But the situation now becomes worse. Since Anmar takes a year to progress around its orbit, it must needs move along the orbital path by a certain amount every day." They both nodded. "Because it has moved, the sun is now in a different place in the sky. If I measure a day as the time from noon to noon the next day, I will have a different time than if I measure a day at night, by referring to the same star, for example, at midnight."

While Milsy puzzled this out, Tarvan said, "I see what you mean, Master. That is why the constellations move through the seasons, is it not? What is in the night sky in Spring cannot be seen in the Fall," he gestured at the diagram, "since those stars would then be in the daytime sky."

"I think I understand," Milsy agreed. "But while this may explain your problem, Master Gerdas, how does it affect our clocks? Surely we are only concerned with the time from noon to noon. And, as far as I can tell, this does not explain why dawn and dusk vary throughout the year."

"Ah," Gerdas grinned, "that brings me to our next complication, that of axial tilt. Time for another diagram."

With the next picture Gerdas explained how seasons came about and how, although the dawn and dusk changed throughout the year according to strict rules, it also depended upon the latitude, which he defined as the distance away from the equator.

"That explains a great deal," Milsy said. "I wondered why the days should be the way they are. I mean, I knew they were, but there had to be a reason for it. I can also see why a shorter day would make it colder and a longer day makes it warmer, too, which gives us the seasons." Her eyes narrowed. "Very interesting."

"Milsy," Tarvan warned, "try not to become distracted, will you? We discuss clocks presently."

"As you say, Tarvan. Master Gerdas, would you be able to explain further at some other time? What I want is to understand some of what you have explained, to see how you discovered these things."

Gerdas nodded. "Aye, I can do that, Milsy, and for you, too, Tarvan. It would probably be best if you visited me, as I have previously suggested, and then we will have leisure to consider these matters properly."

"As you wish, Master Gerdas." Milsy grinned. "Except, I do not know this word you used, leisure."

Gerdas grinned back. "As you say, my dear. Since Lady Garia arrived amongst us we have all been busy, no? There will be time, I deem, for such matters in the future. Perhaps once her University is established."

"University?"

"Milsy," Tarvan said with exasperation. "Not today! Master Gerdas, if you would continue."

"Very well. You both now understand why the days become shorter and longer? Aye. But, you will say, the dawn of the day should be the same time before noon as dusk is after it. This, I believe, is essentially what Milsy objected to, is it not?"

She thought and then nodded. "That's right, Master Gerdas."

"Then we must needs consider the next complication. It would seem, from discussions with Lady Garia, that the orbit of Anmar about the sun is not a circle but something called an ellipse. Do you know what an ellipse is?"

"Aye," Milsy replied, "I have been told of them but I do not know how they may be used or calculated."

Gerdas shrugged. "As usual, the subject is a complex one. All you need to know for our present discussion is this."

He erased the diagrams from the board and drew an ellipse, upon which he placed four small Anmars as before, but with the sun now offset to one side instead of being central.

"Ah, Bursila, thank you."

Milsy gestured to the table for the maid to put down her tray and the explanation stopped while they all sat and took drinks. Once they had finished Gerdas resumed.

"This diagram is very exaggerated but it will serve to demonstrate the point. A day may be measured from noon to noon, is that not so, with noon being the point at which your location on Anmar directly points to the sun."

"Oh!" Milsy exclaimed. "I see! Because the sun is no longer central, the position of noon will vary according to the time of year." She frowned. "That will make the days vary in length but it should not affect the distance between dawn and noon, and noon and dusk, even though all are changing slowly."

Gerdas nodded. "As you say. The next complication is that the speed at which Anmar goes around its orbit varies according to the time of year as well. On this diagram, the speed is proportional to the distance from the sun. The closer we are to the sun, the faster we go, which means that the change in the position of noon varies over the year. And axial tilt plays a part here as well. Imagine that Midwinter's Night is here."

Gerdas pointed to the furthest point away from the sun.

"You would think that would be so, wouldn't you? The coldest time on Anmar ought to be that when we are furthest from the sun. In fact, it is not so. The tilt of Anmar is such that Midwinter's Night occurs about here and Midsummer's Day occurs about here."

He pointed to a position about a third away from the closest approach and then another two-thirds away on the other side.

"Now, considering the tilt, and the ellipse, how far away we are from the equator and all the other complications, you can see that the Year Wheel, as you call it, cannot be designed by calculation - yet. Mayhap in some future when we have all the marvelous machines Lady Garia tells us will arrive to help us, perhaps then we will have the knowledge to calculate dawn and dusk for every day of the year. For now, we must make do with painstaking observations and convert them into the shape you see in the Year Wheels of our present clocks. That is the main reason why every astronomer in Alaesia wishes to do away with the whole complicated business and convert our craft to using the twenty-four hour clock system."

"But..." Tarvan was not convinced. "The Year Wheel is used the other way up when the seasons have changed, Master Gerdas. If the shape is that complex surely this cannot work?"

Gerdas grinned. "I'll let you into a secret, Tarvan. It does not work. However, the discrepancy is small enough that only an astronomer may notice. I'm sure that in the future, with better instruments and clocks, more will notice the difference and demand that something be done about it. That is another reason why the astronomers and our King desire to make the change. We are doing something about it, before it become important."

With a frown Milsy said, "I'm not sure about the timing of noon, Master Gerdas. If, as you say, it moves slowly about during the year our clocks will always be wrong, will they not? Unless we have our own Year Wheel to make the adjustment for us."

The astronomer nodded. "That is so, Milsy. Lady Garia tells us that it is the same on Earth and what they do is to have something called Mean Time, such that every day is of the same length throughout their year. This makes it easier for people to arrange whatever matters they have, since they know that their day will be twenty-four hours which will all be the exact same length. I have proposed to my fellows and to the King that we do the same here in Alaesia." He added, "For astronomical purposes, there are other problems if we adopt Mean Time, but that is a separate discussion for myself and my colleagues in other lands. It will not concern the clocks of Palarand."

"Thank you, Master Gerdas," Tarvan said. "Much is now made clear and we appreciate the time that you have taken to explain it to us. It also tells us that your own clock is more important than we realized."

"As you say, Tarvan. Um, Master Tarvan, I wonder..."

"Master Gerdas?"

"I have now seen your double clocks and wondered if mayhap I could request one of those instead. I have a small household, it is true, but my servants will be confused should they only be able to see the time by the hour system."

Tarvan looked at Milsy, who replied, "Master Gerdas, there is no reason at all why you should not have a double dial clock in your residence. In fact, we spoke of an idea earlier where you would have a master clock downstairs and a repeater on your platform, there is no reason the master clock cannot be a double one. After all, it will produce the same signals on the wires for the repeater."

Gerdas's eyebrows rose. "And I would have a simple twenty-four hour repeater on the platform? Done. Once I am up there I will no longer be concerned with bells at all."

Tarvan sighed. "Master Gerdas, I must needs ask for another clock to be made. This will cause a delay and, I regret, someone has to find the coin for it."

Gerdas nodded. "Aye, I understand." He smiled. "We will find a way, we always do. Place your order, Master Tarvan."

* * *

"Gerdas! I hope your dealings with these two have been satisfactory?"

"Aye, Sire, very much so." The Royal Astronomer bowed to his King. "I have spent part of the afternoon educating these intelligent young people about the motion of Anmar and the reasons why our present clocks are so complicated."

"I see." Robanar eyed Milsy and Tarvan thoughtfully before returning to Gerdas. "And your clock? Are you satisfied with progress?"

"Ah, Sire, aye, I am satisfied with the work done so far but I regret that I must ask for change to what has been requested."

"There is some problem?"

"Well, no, Sire, but upon the same bench as my clock were the master and repeater clocks intended to provide hours and bells to your palace, Sire. Indeed, I believe it was Milsy that suggested I should have a double clock of my own within my mansion, with a twenty-four hour repeater on my observing platform. When I observe the skies in future I will have no need to listen for bells, Sire."

Tarvan added, "Sire, it seems to me that I proposed a more robust solution. The master clock will be safer inside his mansion and away from the weather. We will only need two wires to run from there to the repeater at the top of his tower."

Robanar gave them both considered looks and then sighed. "Aye, I will authorize what you must needs have, Gerdas. The needs of the Royal Astronomer are in addition to the stipend you presently receive, of course, but the Treasury is not bottomless. Humph! Unlike the Treasury of Blackstone, it seems!"

"Sire," Milsy said tentatively, "Lady Garia receives much from her design rights but spends most of it on many of the projects about the city and the country. The guilds would all be in sore trouble were it not for her commissions."

"I cannot disagree, my dear. It is another avian-and-the-egg situation, is it not? We must needs get the projects running to gain the funds which are needed to set the projects up in the first place." The King shook his head. "We must take care else we trip ourselves up, run out of coin before the income arrives."

"As you say, Sire."

"And what of yourself, my dear? Did you understand much that Gerdas told you?"

"Aye, Sire, and it was only to know that the subject is much more complicated than I ever imagined. Still, I have learned much that puzzled me before." Her face lit up. "Master Gerdas has introduced me to Algebra, Sire! I have learned what a formula is and how to use it. He spoke of x and y and things called a and b, and something strange named pi, which has to do with circles. I am pleased that I understand what he has taught me and that I will be better able to serve His Majesty, Sire."

Over Milsy's head Robanar caught sight of the long-suffering look on Tarvan's face.

"Well, my dear, I do not doubt that you have obtained more knowledge, that is one reason you are here in the palace, is it not? But your first priority is to install the clock in here, I deem. What progress is there?"

"Sire, you asked at lunch and I answered you. Nothing much has changed since then."

"You did? You did! My apologies, my dear, my attention has been on other matters this afternoon. Aye. Gerdas, I have a question to ask you, concerning the Questors."

"Sire?"

"Aye. Tarvan, Milsy, if you would excuse us. Although I know that Milsy is interested in anything and everything, the proceedings of the Society of Questors may not be so exciting to you."

Tarvan bowed and Milsy curtseyed.

"As you wish, Sire."

The two walked off to find themselves seats ready for the evening meal. They sat down and Tarvan studied the wood paneling over the double doors.

"That is where you are going to place the clock, I deem?"

"Aye. Master Bassen, as I have said, is making a... cabinet, he called it, to contain the clock yet permit the dial and hands to be seen. The box is to be larger than the frame, to permit the wires to be hidden inside, and to allow us to drill directly through the wall behind."

Tarvan nodded. "A clever notion. One of yours?"

"Not this time. Master Bassen suggested it to me. I understand that the existing pipes and cables are often hidden in this way." Milsy pulled a face. "In the corridor outside, we will not be able to hide the wires. I hope that some design can be made that will not disfigure the paneling."

Tarvan waved a hand. "Don't worry about that yet. We have to get the clock working in here first, and then we can think about tidying everything up."

"I've been thinking," Milsy said. "We might need some means of adjusting the time on the clocks after they have been installed. It will be messy pulling them out just to turn a wheel or two, and we have to keep the two clocks in step when they are started again."

Tarvan grimaced. "Aye, I can see that. Some kind of switch, I think, will be the answer. For myself, I have been wondering how we are going to connect all the wires together. If we are going to run several repeaters from one master, then the wires will join at various places around the palace, will they not? I doubt that twisting wires together and soldering them is going to be a practical solution, especially whenever something has to be changed - and you know as well as I do that will happen all the time in a place like this."

"You're right. I was also wondering how I would connect the wires inside the cabinet. The spring clips we use in the laboratory are good enough for our experiments but for something that is to be fixed to the wall, I deem we need something more robust."

"And we will need to do the same for Master Gerdas, of course. Perhaps we should spend some time considering such fixings."

Milsy gave Tarvan a sidelong look. "I suspect the answer might be that we have to talk to someone we paid a visit to last week," she said. "I'm not sure if Master Fulvin will welcome the interruption."

"Hmm. Perhaps we should consult Master Parrel first. Fulvin is the person I would choose but he has other projects now. Perhaps the Guildmaster can point us at the right person to speak to."

"As you say, Tarvan. Here is the Queen. Oh, Lady Dyenna!"

The Mistress of the Wardrobe pulled out a chair facing the two and sat down.

"Good evening to you both. Mistress, Rosilda requests that you meet with her tomorrow, concerning the leather outfit you have requested. Whatever was it that made you ask for such garments? They are most unusual."

"Well, My Lady, it is like this. Master Parrel took us to visit a glass works where -"

After a fitting of her new outfit Milsy considers some radical changes to the clock design. It becomes clear that the clockmaking work must be handed over to the Clockmakers' Guild and Milsy accidentally finds a way to manage that, in the process getting a recommendation for a promotion!

What Milsy Did

by Penny Lane

19 - Shock and Awe

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 (c) 2017 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

---

Rosilda pursed her lips, considering the garment in front of her from several different angles before shaking her head with a grimace.

"It will not do, Mistress."

Milsy arched her back and twisted her neck in an attempt to see what the problem was. Even by looking in the mirror on the wall of the dressing cubicle she could not discover what concerned the seamstress.

"What? I can't see anything wrong from here, it looks fine to me, Rosilda."

"Aye, it may well do, but anyone who stands behind may see the problem, I deem." Rosilda sighed and shook her head again. "It is to do with the width of your belt, Mistress. I should have thought of the problem when I laid out the leather but it did not occur to me. If you would remove the jacket, Mistress."

Milsy first removed the belt, handing it to Bursila, before undoing the buckles under her left arm and releasing the front flap of the jacket before taking it off completely. Instead of taking the jacket Rosilda cupped her hands on her own waist.

"As you will no doubt have observed, Mistress, a woman's body tapers down to her waist before increasing to cover the swell of her hips."

"As you say." Milsy grinned then. "Unless she is overweight, of course."

"Aye, but I cannot accuse you of that, Mistress. Your chest tapers in the natural way for one of your age. Now, when we cut cloth for a dress or gown, the seam tapers in the same way, in order to fit snugly and comfortably."

Milsy's eyes narrowed. "Aye, I can see that. But what has that to do with..?"

"Your belt sits on your waist but is not tapered. Therefore, at the top, a tiny portion of the jacket seam is trapped, causing a fold. Given that the material is leather, the fold will soon turn into a permanent crease which will spoil the smoothness of the back of the jacket." Rosilda added, "This would not happen with our customary sashes, of course, since that material will mold itself to your body shape, but a belt such as yours will not do so for some long while, by which time the damage will be done."

"Ah, I see!" Milsy considered. "You're very clever to have noticed such a thing, Rosilda. I am not sure I would have considered something that appears so trivial."

The seamstress blushed. "Mistress, I am not so clever as you, indeed, but I have many years of experience in fitting gowns to the women of the palace."

"So, what must you do, then? Will you have to take a whole panel out, do you think? This is beginning to appear an expensive garment. I wanted something to protect myself, but not at the expense of the King's treasury, which we all know is sorely tried at the moment."

"No, Mistress, that will not be necessary." Rosilda took a reedlet from her pouch. "If you would hand me the jacket, I will show you what must be done, it will be but the work of half a bell to remedy."

She turned the jacket inside out and then offered up the belt to the waist seam, marking where it crossed the back seams with the reedlet. She then sketched a line from the waist seam out and then back, taking a small sliver of material from each of the rear panels.

"See? I will unpick these two back seams and remake them with this extra allowance. That will permit the belt to sit flat and then to begin the taper." She turned the jacket over, considering. "I do not think I will need to adjust the front in a like manner, but I will change the side seams slightly as well."

Milsy studied the inside of the jacket as Rosilda held it. "I still think you're very clever to be able to see all that. I doubt I could manage the same, even after training. My mind runs a different way than yours, I deem."

Rosilda smiled. "Which is why I design gowns, Mistress, and you design clocks. Palarand would be a poor place, would it not, if we all thought the same way?"

"Aye, indeed! It is still a marvel to me how each mind may be different, one to another. And yet, I deem, the mind of any man is yet more mysterious."

"I cannot but agree," Rosilda said, "but fortunately for us they would be unlikely to notice so fine a detail as I have just shown you." She held up a hand. "That does not mean, of course, that we seamstresses take any less care preparing their garments. This is the palace, after all."

"Aye, we have like standards in Dekarran." Milsy was left standing in the matching skirt, wearing only a bra on her upper body. "Is there anything else you must needs consider today?"

Rosilda shook her head. "Not today, Mistress. I checked the skirt when you first put it on and it seems to me to fit and hang as it should. I do not think you have yet worn it with the boots, I believe." She looked down at the belt, still clutched in her hand along with the reedlet. "Are you satisfied with the belt?"

The younger woman shrugged. "Mayhap. There is no flaw, if that is what you mean. The belt itself is exactly what we decided upon, it will be the number, type and placement of the pouches which will change and I won't know what I'll want until I begin wearing the outfit." Her eyes narrowed. "The guardsmen wear belts, don't they? To hang their swords and gear? Do they not suffer a similar problem to -"

Milsy gestured at the jacket with a finger.

"Mistress, the sword belts of the guardsmen and others are but a third the width of your own. There is no problem fitting them to the waist of a man, which in addition is shaped differently than that of a woman."

"Oh, of course. Well, we'd best leave you to your work, Rosilda." Milsy smiled. "You are not the only one who presently deals with an awkward problem and I must make progress before Tarvan returns for lunch."

Rosilda came forward and began undoing the buckle at the waistband of the leather skirt. "A problem? Oh, the clocks? I wish you well with that endeavor, Mistress."

Milsy's smile was forced. "I think I have an answer, but Tarvan isn't going to like it. It will mean redesigning one of the clocks, which means another week before it is made and can be tested. I do not wish to try the King's patience."

"I do not think His Majesty will mind, Mistress. After all, this is the first of a very new thing and it could not be expected to be correct the first time. Why, it took us a number of experiments before we understood the construction of the bra which Lady Garia described to us, yet now we all wear them. Since you came to reside in the palace you have already achieved much. The King will understand."

"If you say so," Milsy said doubtfully.

* * *

Milsy and Bursila entered the laboratory and went immediately to the furnace to get some heat into the big chamber. Although it was not yet winter there was an undeniable chill in the mornings which made it less comfortable to work. Once the pair had together started the fire and built it up, Bursila went off to make some pel while Milsy turned her attention to the benches with a scowl.

Between the 'master' clock of the pair intended for the Family Dining Room and the battery now stood what she mentally termed the 'setting panel'. This was intended to sit between the battery cupboard and the master clock, once it was mounted on the wall of the laboratory. It was a simple square of wood and held a number of rotary switches, indicator holes and press-switches.

Frowning with concentration, she carefully noted the position of all the pointers on the clock dials and then pushed one of the press-switches.

Thunk! Ticka ticka ticka ticka ticka ticka ticka click!

On each clock face, the 'bell' dials had moved jerkily round until both now showed the first bell of night. Milsy frowned at the smaller dial beneath the bell dial, which showed parts of a bell with a single hand. This had not moved at all, which was unfortunately not what was supposed to happen. She sighed and stared into the mechanism, attempting to see if there was a way to do what was required.

I need that dial to return to the top just like the bell dial does, otherwise the parts of a bell will be wrong.

...That must mean a cam like the one on the bell disk, triggered the same way and at the same time.

...But I can't do that because...

Bursila returned with two mugs on a tray to find Milsy still staring into the clock mechanism.

"Mistress? Your pel."

"Hmm? Oh, thank you, Bursila." Milsy gestured at the things on the bench. "As you have seen, the two clocks work fine together, but problems begin whenever they need to be adjusted."

"But, surely, Mistress, I thought the whole idea was that once the new clocks are installed, there would never be any need to adjust them, unlike the Great Clock."

"Well, you'd be right, since in theory all we have to do is replace the batteries every so often, and we can do that without stopping the clocks. The big problem is, what happens when the King asks us to add another repeater clock in a chamber somewhere else in the palace? How do we arrange for it to show the same time as all those that are already in place?"

Bursila considered. "Aye, Mistress. From the way the King spoke recently, and with the interest shown by such as Captain Merek, you could be installing clocks for many weeks to come. I see what you mean about setting the pointers, Mistress. If you are in a chamber with the new repeater, how are you to know what to set it to? The only way anyone can possibly know is to walk from a clock already fitted, and that will take time."

"As you say. Depending where they will want clocks fitted, that could be several minutes walk from another one, at least to begin with." Milsy grinned. "You forget one thing, Bursila. We can always hear the bells of the Great Clock wherever we are. Mayhap we can use those to set our repeaters."

"But we know the Great Clock is not accurate enough, Mistress. Repeater clocks may show different times if we do that."

"I know, Bursila. I was just pointing out that there may be alternatives we haven't considered." She jabbed a finger at her settings panel. "That is the whole purpose behind these switches, to enable us to set the correct time on every repeater clock all at the same time. If we are already running wires to each clock, then we can run some more to permit remote setting from in here."

"But there is obviously some problem."

"Aye, Bursila..."

Lost in thought, Milsy reached out a hand and picked up a mug of pel, sipping the hot brew without really noticing that she did so. Bursila recognized the signs and took her own mug, retreating to a stool at the other end of the bench.

"Mistress, will you need anything made for your changes?"

"Hmm? Uh, no, Bursila, since I don't really know what changes I'll have to make yet... On second thoughts, if you could assemble a solenoid for me like the one that moves the bell disk. I think we have all the parts needed, though you'll have to wind the coil, I deem. The small bell dial," she pointed, "must needs be reset when the dawn-and-dusk wire is switched, since the bells are reset at that time, whatever the dial would be reading."

"As you say, Mistress. If I may observe, the bells of Palarand have served us all well but I doubt many realized they were so complicated. I look forward to the new system of hours, minutes and seconds which will make our timekeeping so much simpler."

"Aye, I cannot but agree! First, though, we have to discover a system which works and can be simply looked after."

After looking at the clocks some more Milsy went to the blackboard, making many drawings and rubbing them out before tilting her head in thought.

This is entirely the wrong way to look at this puzzle! To make this work properly, I need to take things out, not put more in!

She sighed. The answer would probably be a radical change and she was sure Tarvan wouldn't be happy, especially considering who he would be bringing back to the palace for lunch. She lifted the mug and grimaced at the remaining cold contents before putting it back on the tray, returning her attention to the clock mechanisms with a new perspective.

"Mistress?"

It was an apologetic Skanik, entering the laboratory some time later and uncertain what kind of reception he would get.

"Aye? Is there someone without?"

"No, Mistress... it is just that the three-quarter bell before noon has gone and I know you will desire to freshen your appearance before lunch."

"What? Oh, Maker, is that the time?" She gave the guardsman a reassuring smile. "Here I have a bench full of clocks and not one of them will provide me the right time! Aye, Skanik, we will come immediately. Thank you for the warning, we must not keep Their Majesties waiting."

"Indeed not, Mistress."

After returning to her suite, Milsy and Bursila followed their escort down to the Family Dining Room. Tarvan was already there with faces both familiar and new. As well as Guildmaster Parrel, with him were Laikin of the Cabinetmakers and Clockmaker Bayorn, together with a number of guildsmen of lesser rank. Tarvan saw them enter and beckoned them over.

"Well met, Milsy. You know Masters Parrel, Bayorn and Laikin already, of course. I will ask them to introduce those they have brought with them."

She remembered to give the Guildmasters a nod instead of a curtsey. Laikin nodded back while Bayorn just stared at her before remembering his manners. He gave a curt nod before gesturing to a face she had seen before.

"Journeywoman, if I may introduce Guildsman Yubold and Journeyman Sterret. I have agreed to permit them to observe what it is you do, that... my Department... shall learn the secret of making clocks that use electricity."

Milsy nodded to the two. "I think I met Guildsman Yubold here on a previous occasion," she said. "I will try and tell them what I know, there are no secrets here to be kept from anybody. Lady Garia, ah, the Guildmistress, was most insistent on that point." She looked apologetic. "I should tell you all now that our knowledge changes all the time and it can be difficult - even for me - to keep up with the developments."

That statement caught Tarvan's attention. "Some problem, Milsy?"

"Aye, but it will be better explained when we are all in the laboratory, Tarvan. If we have company, it will be necessary to provide greater detail than if it were just ourselves."

Tarvan gave her a knowing smile. "And the presence of a blackboard?"

"Aye, as you say."

She then turned her attention toward Laikin, who gestured in turn at the two men with him.

"Journeywoman, if I may introduce Guildsman Faranar and Journeyman Winto. Faranar is accounted expert in providing the kind of boxes desired by the Clockmakers for holding their new, smaller clocks. You spoke recently to Bassen about cabinets for the clocks you and Craftmaster Tarvan are making, I believe."

"Aye, Master, that is so. Do you tell me he is not to make our cabinets, then?"

"Indeed I do not, Mistress. Bassen works for the King, he will rightfully provide whatever is needful for any clocks that are to be situated in the palace. Guildmaster Parrel informs us that the making of clocks will soon become a significant industry within Palarand, a circumstance I still find difficult to believe. That being so, it seems that the Clockmakers Department will soon have need for more cabinetmakers to enclose their wares."

Milsy was somewhat taken aback by that statement.

Things are moving too fast! We haven't even finished the first dual clock pair yet and already Master Parrel is making arrangements for them to be made in quantity!

Whatever are they discussing in the Council of the Two Worlds? I never expected that. Master Parrel is not merely running a Guild, he thinks of what might happen in a year's time, two years, even ten years! I must speak to Tarvan whenever we can get a private moment together.

"Um. I don't know what to say, Master Laikin. If what you say is true, then of course we will have need of cabinets for the new clocks, but -"

Robanar and Terys entered the dining room at that moment, stopping all conversation as everyone bowed and curtseyed. Robanar put up a hand to stop everyone immediately heading for the tables before walking across to join the guildsmen.

"A deputation of guildsmen, I see! I bid you welcome, but..." He frowned. "Are we to meet after lunch? I do not recall anything being arranged."

"Sire," Parrel replied, "we have come to the palace, bringing our assistants, to inspect Milsy's work in yonder chamber." He pointed out the window in the direction of the laboratory. "We do not anticipate taking up any of your valuable attention today, Sire."

"Oh, I see. Of course, Parrel, as you will. Gentlemen, be welcome at our lunch table this day." Robanar pointed a finger. "Laikin, I was recently at the City Assembly Hall and inspected the new display cabinet you made for them last month. If I may have a word with you over lunch about it. Bayorn, join our table as well. Parrel, you practically reside in the palace, I will ask you to oversee these others on another table today, if I may."

Parrel bowed. "As you command, Sire."

Robanar turned to find his own seat and an alert Tarvan immediately made for the nearest table, effectively reserving seats for the junior guildsmen. Fortunately, the four women who were also heading that way noted the superior force and dipped a curtsey before moving to other chairs. Tarvan gestured at the seats and the guildsmen all made themselves comfortable.

"It is a great honor," Winto said, nervously, "to sup with the King, even if we do not attend his table today. I did not think the likes of ourselves were permitted such."

"Actually," Tarvan responded, "Guildsmen such as ourselves have our own dining hall in another part of the palace where most customarily take their meals." He leaned forward. "You may readily understand that on occasion we may bring the dust of our labors with us, being busy about our usual assignments."

"I see, Craftmaster. But today..?"

Tarvan quirked a smile. "For Milsy and myself the situation is somewhat different. Milsy's circumstances are unusual and she enjoys the favor of the King and Queen. For myself, I was chosen by Lady Garia - before she became Guildmistress, even - to found a new craft of electricity. Since most of our work is carried out in yonder workshop it was felt appropriate to give me a small chamber in the palace rather than it being necessary to travel in each day. I have also lately come to an arrangement with Milsy, which means that I, also, see much more of the King and Queen than many would consider wise. Does that answer you?"

"Craftmaster, it does. It seems that our ideas of life in the palace do not resemble the truth."

"Indeed. The King tries not to separate himself from his people, so life at court is more relaxed than you may have believed. Of course, he is still the King."

Parrel decided to enter the conversation. "You are Winto, then, and you..?"

"Faranar, Guildmaster."

"Do you know what Laikin expects of you?"

"Guildmaster, only that the business of electricity..? Have I named that right?"

"Aye, the word is awkward but you will soon get used to it. Continue."

"My Guildmaster says that while electricity uses prodigious amounts of brass and copper it may also need structures of wood and suchlike materials. We are not just to make boxes, then, but to consider whatever else may be needed."

Milsy pointed a finger at Faranar. "You are quite correct, Master. We will explain fully after lunch but know that much of what we make requires parts of wood to hold them in place."

"If I may tell you about the palace while we eat," Parrel said. "We can discuss our craft this afternoon."

"As you wish, Guildmaster."

* * *

"This laboratory used to be the chamber of the late Royal Questor Morlan," Parrel explained as the group of guildsmen entered the chamber. "The present appointee does not have need for it and it was thought suitable for the kinds of experiments which Tarvan and Milsy are making. It is possible that in time they may move to other premises in the city but we have not found such a place yet."

None of the guildsmen except Bayorn had been in there before and all looked around with curiosity.

"Master Parrel," Yubold asked, "You named this chamber a... labo-something?"

"Aye," Bayorn added, "I would have called it a workshop myself."

"Laboratory," Parrel repeated. "Another word from the world where the Guildmistress came from. A workshop is a place where things are made." Several heads nodded. "In here, we conduct experiments to discover new processes, new ways of doing things and new ideas. Laboratory is a more appropriate word, I deem."

Faranar gestured with a hand. "Guildmaster, what is all this?"

"We only use the two benches nearest the far door," Tarvan explained. "We have little idea what the rest of all this is and I would caution you all not to touch anything. There may be dangerous items here or noxious liquids, I would not wish any of you to become injured."

Yubold muttered, "So much dust," which brought a sharp look from Bayorn but no comment.

"Aye," Tarvan agreed. "We suspect that much of what you see has not been touched for years, if not indeed decades. It was Lady Garia's intention to catalog and clear this chamber at some stage but," he shrugged, "like everyone else, she has too many demands on her time. If you would all follow me."

The group walked the length of the chamber and spread out around the two end benches. Sterret's voice was shocked.

"There are clocks here, Guildmaster!"

Bayorn's response was dry. "Aye, Sterret, that is the purpose of our visit here today, is it not? To understand how these clocks may work, that we may make the like in our own workshops."

The journeyman reddened. "Guildmaster, I didn't mean -"

Parrel held up a hand. "Gentlemen, if you would. Craftmaster Tarvan leads a new division of the Metalsmith's Guild of electricity, and one of the applications of electricity has been found to enable the construction of clocks which are easier to make and which keep better time than those you may be accustomed to.

"While these few clocks you see before you have been made or altered by Tarvan and Milsy it was never our intention to begin mass construction of the new designs. That is properly the work of the Guild of Clockmakers. All we intend to do here is to prove new ideas and designs, ensure they work and then pass the construction to those who know their craft. In future those designs may not be of clocks but of other devices which may be of benefit to ourselves and our clients."

Laikin said, "Mass construction? What kind of demand do you expect for these new clocks, Parrel?"

Parrel turned to the joiner. "Many more than you may think, Laikin. When the Guildmistress arrived on Anmar she bore on her wrist, in the manner of a bracelet, a portable clock she calls a watch. We will show it to you presently. She tells us that almost everyone on her world wears such a watch, that all might know the time wherever they may be. This watch is driven by electricity, in a manner we do not yet understand, and apparently has been working for several years already without the need to... replace the battery within."

"But, if we do not know how such a device works, then what is intended here?"

"They do not use the sound of bells as we do, Laikin, but instead are able to discover the time just by looking at the nearest clock, of which their world also contains many." He gestured at the one clock on the bench that was not wired to another. "This clock is our first attempt at such a design. As you can see, it has pointers on the front from which the time may be known - and, I might add, at any time of day or night. One does not have to wait for the bells to strike or carry a sand-dropper for the parts of a bell."

"If that is so," Laikin said slowly, "then, I deem, you would need such a clock in every room, would you not? Surely, this seems excessive."

Parrel smiled. "Perhaps not every room, but in many of the regularly used rooms, aye. That is why Milsy and Tarvan developed these other clocks, to prove a design which may be installed throughout the palace." He paused for effect. "Initially, we intend to fit just two, a master clock in here and a repeater clock in the dining chamber we have just come from. I suspect that once everyone has become used to the idea we will be asked for many more... perhaps twenty or so to begin with."

"Twenty?" That was Yubold. "With respect, Guildmaster, how can you possibly ensure that twenty clocks all agree on the time? It is hard enough with two, to make one strike when the other does."

Parrel smiled. "You will understand all in time, youngster. I think that it is time that Tarvan explains how electricity works and then Milsy will tell you how several clocks may all show the same time."

Tarvan's explanation was a straightforward lecture based on that which Garia had given him many months previously. Many of the props they had made were still in place on the bench and could be used to show the interested guildsmen just what could be done with forces nobody could actually see. The trolley of batteries which had been used to provide a big spark had been removed for use by those guildsmen attempting to come to grips with welding but, by chaining several of the smaller batteries together, a suitable demonstration could be made.

Then it was Milsy's turn. She was aware that the guildsmen who did not yet know her had a certain skepticism about her presence here and her abilities but she knew that once she began that wouldn't last. Nevertheless, lecturing still did not come naturally to her and she began slowly.

"You have all seen Tarvan's explanation about solenoids earlier, how an electric current can make a magnet out of a coil of wire? Good. A few weeks ago I was invited to view the Great Clock in the palace, which fills an entire tower."

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Bayorn scowl, but she also saw the nod that Yubold made.

"One of the problems of all clocks like that is that they depend on weights slowly falling to the floor and thus have to be wound up again every so often. Well, I thought..."

She led them through her thought processes, how Tarvan had suggested a simple pendulum experiment and how it was still running the following day. How they had acquired a clock and modified it to use a solenoid and a battery, in the process throwing about half the insides away. How she had then realized that other clocks could be driven from the first one, with even greater savings in parts and construction time...

Finally she told them about the Royal Astronomer's request for a twenty-four hour clock and how the King had wanted to see if such clocks would be more useful in Palarand's future, showing them the master and repeater clocks wired together on the bench.

Bayorn was interested despite himself. "Both clocks have two of these... dials, did you call them? If you would explain."

She replied, "Of course, Guildmaster. The right dial shows the time in hours, minutes and seconds. An hour is one twenty-fourth of a day, though the clocks count to twelve and repeat the numbers from noon and midnight, just as our bells repeat by day and night. That is the short pointer there. The longer pointer is for minutes, and we divide an hour into sixty minutes. The minute pointer goes completely round in one hour, so that by looking at the clock you can determine immediately what part of an hour is left."

"I see. Why sixty?"

"I do not know, Guildmaster. The number comes from Earth and I know that it can be divided many ways, perhaps to permit the easier construction of clocks."

"As you say. And this thin pointer which moves?"

"That shows seconds, Guildmaster. Each minute is divided into sixty seconds, each of which is about the length of your pulse. That pointer makes a circuit once every minute. Among other things, the fact that it moves so quickly shows us that the clock is functioning properly."

Bayorn considered this for a while and then turned to Tarvan. "That is how you were able to tell me exactly how slow the Great Clock had become, the other day? I can see now that counting seconds must make timekeeping more accurate."

Tarvan bowed. "It is as you say, Guildmaster."

Bayorn turned back to Milsy. "If I may venture a guess, the left dial shows bells, does it not?"

"It does, Guildmaster. I must say that making that dial and getting it to function correctly took most of our efforts. It was necessary for us to consult Master Gerdas, who informed us of many matters it would have been better that we did not know. Guildmaster, I understand now just why the Year Wheel and the bell mechanisms are so complicated, which is also why Master Gerdas desires earnestly to get rid of them all."

"I cannot but agree, Journeywoman. Yet it is the traditional way we have counted time for many hundreds of years." His eyes narrowed with thought. "Aye, I see now why Gerdas desires such an instrument, if he can immediately see the exact time whenever he makes an observation. But, surely this is only of interest to our astronomers?"

Parrel replied, "Bayorn, you had best ask the King for his thoughts on the matter. There is more at stake here than satisfying a stargazer."

Since the King had already made his desires plain, Bayorn shut up. It was left to Yubold to note that both clocks moved in synchronism.

"Journeywoman... Milsy, I see you use electricity to connect the two clocks together."

"Aye, of course. All we need do is make the wires longer and the repeater can be placed anywhere we desire."

"Is there a limit to the length of wires, do you know?"

"We do not think so, but until we begin installing clocks we will not know."

She turned to Laikin. "Guildmaster, we must run wires through the corridors from one clock to another. No wire may touch any other wire since the electricity would take the shorter path and defeat the object. I have spoken to Master Bassen about the matter, and he will doubtless consult other guildsmen who work in the palace, but we would welcome any advice you may have."

"Of course, Milsy. I see you run several wires between clocks."

"Aye, in theory we should only need two or perhaps three, but I have found it necessary for further wires." She switched to Parrel. "Guildmaster, there is a problem. To install these two clocks will not be difficult, I deem, since they will be so close and obviously we will be setting them up at the same time. But what happens when the King desires other clocks to be placed in different chambers? Setting all clocks to show the same time will be difficult."

Parrel opened and closed his mouth. Like most of those involved he had only considered what happened once the clocks were running, not what would be required to get them going in the first place. Bayorn had a possible solution.

"Could you not use the Great Clock to set yours? The bells may be heard throughout the palace, I deem."

"Actually, Guildmaster, that is no longer so. There are chambers where the bells either cannot be heard at all or are indistinct, and it is likely those places the King will desire some of the repeaters to be installed. As for using the Great Clock, that would be possible but would require careful calculation and adjustment. For safety, we would only be able to do it at noon or midnight, when all the pointers are at known positions."

Parrel said, "You have a solution, I deem."

"Guildmaster, I do, but it will be necessary to use the blackboard. If I may?"

Parrel gestured, but also spoke to Laikin. "Our Journeywoman desires to explain herself, the detail may not be of great interest to you and your Joiners."

Laikin spread his hands. "I may not understand much of what I see, Parrel, but I am interested in the Journeywoman herself. If we are to take women into our guilds, we must needs discover what kind of minds they possess."

Parrel snorted. "Milsy is not as other women, as you are already know. Do not use her as a measuring tool, you may obtain the wrong idea."

"I know this too, Parrel. Journeywoman, you may proceed."

Laikin examined me at the Hall of the Guilds. He saw me describe the Great Clock then. Is this another test? Or, perhaps, is he preparing his juniors for women to be admitted to his own craft?

It doesn't matter. I have to explain the problem to Master Parrel because it will make a big difference to the construction of the master clock, and how the clocks are used.

Milsy took a piece of chalk and began.

"These two clocks," she said with a gesture, "are made to exactly the same design, as you can all see. The master clock has some more parts in it to enable the pendulum to function, and a few more to run the Year Wheel in order that we can tell dawn and dusk. The pendulum is mechanically connected to the rest of the master clock but electrically to the repeater.

"Of course, we can have more than one repeater, and it occurred to me to wonder how the next clock could be installed and set with the correct time if it is somewhere else in the palace. I looked at several ways that could be done and came to some difficult conclusions."

With that statement she drew a diagram on the blackboard that none of them could understand.

"My apologies," she said. "This is not a picture of any clock but a kind of description of what happens inside each one. These boxes are the master and repeater clocks and the circles inside each box represent the different things we want to display. That is, hours, minutes, seconds and bells. The smaller dial on the left side shows parts of a bell and so we can derive that from the seconds count..."

As she went on with her explanation most of those watching felt their heads begin to spin. The exceptions were Parrel, Tarvan and Bursila. Parrel because he knew who was talking and had a good idea what she was capable of. Tarvan because he had worked with Milsy on the two clocks and understood the problem. Bursila because she, too, had worked on the clocks and had been given the explanation earlier that morning, understanding the problem if not the fine detail. The rest were soon floundering.

Bayorn raised a hand. "Journeywoman, could you not just use another wire, to advance the minute pointer?"

"Aye, that was an early thought, and one that I will do. I will draw that in presently. But, Master Bayorn, if you would consider, all the time you send extra pulses along the minute wire, to advance the minutes and then the hours, the pendulum is still sending pulses along the seconds wire."

"Ah? Oh, I see! You have the opposite problem, then, that we have with the Great Clock. But, in that case..."

There was a brief discussion and then she resumed, showing how she proposed to solve the problem.

She concluded, "As always, adjusting the twenty-four hour clock is simple enough, as I have shown, but for the bell side we also have to consider the position of the Year Wheel, since that determines when the dawn and dusk bells must sound - your pardon, of course we do not sound the bells, what I mean is, those are the times we must reset the left-hand dials to show the correct bells. I could not think of a way to set this with a wire but, since it would be done only once on installation, and maybe again when Master Gerdas asks for an extra day, it could be done manually."

When she turned from the board most of her watchers had their mouths open in amazement. Parrel had a smirk on his face after seeing the shocked expression on that of Bayorn.

Tarvan nodded to Milsy. "A clever solution to the problem, Milsy. Since all clocks now become repeaters, the design can benefit from the reduction in parts needed, which in turn means another saving of size and materials. All you must needs do is to design a new master clock which incorporates your switching panel and I believe that we can use most of the existing master clock design for that, since it must provide the pulses which drive the repeaters. It will not take us very long to make such a clock and test it with these two others."

"Aye," Bayorn agreed somewhat grudgingly. "You know your subject well, Journeywoman, and your solution is indeed a clever one. Tarvan, you will give the full details to Yubold when the design has been tested and approved by His Majesty?"

"Guildmaster, by that time I hope Yubold will be making the parts for the clocks himself. Milsy and myself have other demands on our time."

"Tell me, then, you designed and made these frames and wheels yourself? How long does it take you, say, to produce a single clock like those there?" He flicked a hand. "I do not concern myself here with the case, that is a separate matter."

"Guildmaster, we order the parts and they are usually ready within a week, if the workshop is not too busy."

"Order the parts?" His eyebrows rose. "You do not make them yourself?"

Tarvan shrugged. "It seemed easier to let those who are experienced make the parts, Guildmaster. Because of the precise placing of the holes in the frames, a guildsman would normally make those for us in but a day or two. The wheels, they take about half a bell to make, an easy job for a journeyman."

"What?" All three clockmakers stared at Tarvan. Bayorn spluttered, "But... to file such a wheel takes a trained clockmaker a whole day! How is this possible?"

Parrel chuckled. "We use a special jig, Bayorn, along with a new tool introduced by the Guildswoman called a vertical press. The press pushes out a perfect circle of the required size from a sheet of brass and a second press makes a hole for the axle to be fitted. I must describe the jig. There is a wheel of steel, with the edge shaped like the profile of the gap between teeth. The surface of this wheel is prepared as that of a needle file and then tempered. It is spun by means of a foot treadle. The blank disk is fitted to the jig, which is moved towards the profile wheel, cutting a tooth gap. Then the disc is turned, the new tooth gap fitting over a peg to ensure the correct positioning, then another tooth is cut and so on. By turning the disk the required number of times the wheel can be finished in a very short space of time."

The faces of the clockmakers were white. Yubold said, "You can cut a wheel out of a sheet of brass and finish it in half a bell? Guildmaster, this is impossible!"

"Not only is it possible, Yubold, but it will be necessary for us to use such methods into the future. If every house in Palarand desires such a clock, we cannot allow a man to spend a whole day making a single wheel, can we?"

"It might even be possible," Tarvan murmured, "to make a set of dies that can press out a finished clock wheel complete with teeth." He waved a hand. "We cannot do that yet but we know how it must needs be done." He smiled. "At that point we will be able to produce a wheel every fifteen seconds or so."

Bayorn blurted, "Seconds? What?"

"Watch the clock, Guildmaster. Fifteen seconds is a quarter of a minute, the time that fine pointer takes to travel a quarter way around the right-hand dial."

Bayorn got the point. He took a cloth out of his pouch and wiped his face before turning to Parrel.

"I want to see these presses of yours, and this jig thing. Why were we not told about them before?"

"Bayorn, we have both been very busy. The demands on your own time are as great as the demands on mine. Meanwhile, our guildmembers have been busy inventing new tools and making old tools do new things." He smiled at a memory. "Sometimes, they even invent things when they are not supposed to. Let me introduce you to Fulvin some day soon."

"Fulvin? The court jeweler? What has he been doing? Found a way to make rings quicker, mayhap?"

"I... he has not finished yet, Bayorn. Not rings, no, but something that will in time be produced by the millions, I am sure. I'm not sure I can describe it to you, you'll have to wait and see the finished item for yourself. It is based on something the Guildswoman brought from Earth."

"The Guildswoman, eh?" Bayorn looked embarrassed and then cleared his throat. "Look here, Parrel, I know we have had our differences but it looks as if we will be working much closer together in the future. That being the case, I'm going to propose Journeywoman Milsy for admission as Guildswoman. She has the knowledge and ability, certainly. If what you say is right, she may not have the need to cut and file as our apprentices do but she will obviously be important in the future, the way things seem to be going. What say you?"

Parrel was briefly surprised. "Aye, if that is what you wish. We'll do this the formal way, I deem. Send a written proposal to the Hall of the Guilds, if you would. She will be but the second Guildswoman in all Palarand so we must do this properly. There may be special matters to consider."

"Done. About these presses and jigs?"

"Aye, I'll arrange a visit to our workshops in Pakh Lane. Tarvan, Milsy, do you desire to attend?"

The two looked at one another and Tarvan shook his head before replying.

"Master Parrel, it seems we have much work to do here. If we may decline."

"Certainly! I want to see those clocks finished as much as you do. Laikin, what say you?"

"I have found this afternoon more interesting than I could ever have imagined," the Master Joiner replied. "You will need boxes - cabinets - for your clocks, we can arrange that easily enough."

Milsy spoke. "Master Laikin, we will also require boxes to put our batteries in. In here we are... mostly... careful enough not to spill the strong acid within but I fear that when these clocks become more widely used some precautions must needs be taken to protect the owners."

"You have a design in mind?"

"Possibly. I'll need to speak with Master Hurdin first, I think. We'll need a lid of glass inside the boxes you will make, to stop the wood from being damaged."

Bayorn was curious. "Journeywoman, how will you make a glass lid? I did not know such a thing was possible."

"Guildmaster, all these square jars you see around you were made with yet another press, a big one in the glass foundry. If I can design a suitable mold, then lids may be produced just as easily."

"Square glass lids? Even more amazing."

"Aye," added Laikin. "Parrel, I'll second that proposal, if I may. Your pardon, Tarvan, but we need people like young Milsy here. Even if the others are only half as bright as this one we are neglecting half our population. The way things are going we are going to need all the warm bodies we can get and we can't afford to send them all through an apprenticeship that lasts six years."

"Agreed, but this is something best discussed in council, I deem. Let us not frighten our younger members here with speculation before we have decided anything."

"As you say."

Parrel turned to Milsy. "Have you finished, Milsy?"

"I think so, Guildmaster. Tarvan? Anything to add?"

As Tarvan shook his head Parrel said, "Then let us go outside into the corridor. I want to see how the wires are to be run from this room to the Family Dining Room. Laikin can give us the benefit of his experience. A problem discovered now is better than one discovered while we are attempting to put everything in place."

"Agreed," Bayorn said. "It seems that the Clockmakers will have many new things to consider in the future that we did not before." He turned to Milsy. "How many clocks did you say His Majesty wanted, again?"

"His Majesty has given us no number, Guildmaster," she replied, "but we have made some guesses and we think around twenty. I suspect the final number could be much greater than that by the time we are finished."

"Maker! Lead the way, Parrel."

* * *

Milsy entered her sitting room and immediately collapsed untidily on the settee. Bursila, following behind and closing the door, pursed her lips in silent disapproval.

"What? Today was hard, having to perform in front of all those guildsmen!"

"As you say, Mistress, but I would ask you to consider your position. If the Queen were to knock on the door right now -"

A knock came at the door and it opened to admit Tarvan. Milsy relaxed with a smile of greeting to him but then turned to her maid as she arranged herself more tidily.

"You are right as usual, Bursila. Sometimes it is easy to forget I'm living in the palace and anyone at all could come knocking at the door! I'll try and be a little more careful in future. Tarvan! Do come and sit down."

"I just called to say that I'm pleased that we have managed to make Bayorn see sense, Milsy. I also regret that before today I had given no thought at all to what must needs happen whenever we added a new clock to the... collection? Linkage? Mesh? Web?"

"As you say. It looks like we'll be thinking up a whole lot of new words, doesn't it? Electricity is bad enough but most of those words come from Earth. What we are doing with clocks is new, Tarvan, and as Garia said, we'll have to make up our own names and terms for the new arrangements."

"Aye." Tarvan scratched his head. "Master Parrel has a like problem with the new furnaces, they are doing things we have never tried before and we need new names there as well. In twenty years the language of Palarand will sound very different, I deem."

"About Bayorn. What will happen to the Clockmakers, do you think? Will they just become part of the Metalsmiths as they once were?"

"I don't think so, Milsy, especially if the number of clocks in Palarand is set to grow like weeds. What I do expect to happen is that many new folk will be employed making them and that not all will become guild members. You saw what was happening in Pakh Lane, didn't you? That is the future of Palarand, at least for the next few years."

"Aye, and it worries me. Oh, I know that such concerns are for other people to solve, like the King and maybe some of the Guildmasters, but you have told me of the problems that may happen as everyone leaves the land and comes to the towns and cities to work in the new factories."

"That is why we have the Council of the Two Worlds, Milsy. We are fully aware of the potential problems, I can assure you. Your immediate concern should be what we are doing next, I deem. While we await the parts for the redesigned master clock, Master Parrel has asked us to consider a design for a new Coke Works for the city. He is not sure where or when it will be constructed but he has asked us to think about how it will function, from the arrival of wagons or barges laden with coal to the removal of the coke and the storage and distribution of the gas."

"Gas? What do we know about gas?"

Tarvan shook his head. "Nothing. Until a few months ago the word itself meant nothing to anybody. However, Lady Garia suggests that the gas produced by making coke can be stored somehow and then piped to... houses, factories, shops and offices to provide heating and lighting. Are you interested?"

"Aye, of course!" Milsy frowned. "That will means pipes, I deem. How do you make pipes? The only ones I have seen have been made from copper and that would become expensive... Oh. Iron or steel is used, is it not, for the larger steam engines?"

Tarvan nodded.

"Then we must discover how to make long pipes of iron or steel to carry the gas from place to place."

She frowned and her eyes unfocused. Tarvan smiled at Bursila, who rolled her eyes. They both knew what Milsy could be like when an idea began sparking off inside her head.

"Milsy."

"Hmm?"

"Don't forget you'll need to change before the evening meal, will you? I would not want you to be late again."

"Hmm? Oh, aye, Tarvan. Aye!" She roused to look properly at Tarvan and then jumped to her feet. Wrapping herself around him to take a kiss she turned to her maid.

"Pull the rope for water, Bursila, then help me out of this dress. I must not keep the King and Queen waiting. Their Majesties will want to know what happened this afternoon."

Tarvan smiled and released Milsy. "I know when I should be elsewhere," he said with a smile. "I'll see you downstairs."

Milsy and Tarvan climb the High Tower to view the installation of lightning rods. It is the first outing for her new inventor's suit. Later on, the experimental coke oven is run and Milsy investigates the gas which is expelled. In the evening, she receives some good news from Guildmaster Parrel.

What Milsy Did

by Penny Lane

20 - Sparks and Flames

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 (c) 2017 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

---

Milsy looked up as the door to the lab opened and Parrel entered. She put down the paper and reedlet she was holding and smiled a welcome to him. The palace joiner who was with her, Bassen, gave Parrel a nod, as did Yubold and Faranar. The two journeymen with them just watched.

"Master Parrel, good morning," she greeted him. "If you're looking for Tarvan -"

Parrel waved a hand. "No, Milsy, it was you I wished to speak to. Bassen, Yubold, Faranar, good morning."

"Good morning, Guildmaster." The joiner, who was in nominal charge of the others, gave Parrel an enquiring look. "Should we perhaps depart? Our task here can wait until later."

"No, please continue. I came by to discover if Milsy had any free time this afternoon. I am at the palace on another matter and it has occurred to me that I will be going to a place which may interest her."

Milsy's curiosity was alerted. "If I may ask, Master, where that might be."

"I must needs speak with the masons and smiths who are adding lightning rods to the High Tower," he explained. "Lady Garia has ascended the tower twice but I do not believe that you have yet done so. It may prove instructive to you."

"The High Tower? Is that like the tower of the Great Clock?"

Parrel shook his head. "Not at all the same, save that both are towers and both are of stone." He smiled mysteriously. "There are changes being made both at the bottom and the top which may be of interest to you."

"If you think that I would be interested, Master Parrel, then who am I to disagree? Aye, if you would give us leave to change after lunch. Bursila and I will wear the new attire which Rosilda has made for us, with your permission."

Parrel's eyebrows rose. "I have heard much of these fabled garments. I trust we will not bankrupt our guilds in providing clothing for the female members we expect to join in due time."

Milsy shrugged. "I could not say, Master. The first set, naturally, are but prototypes and will thus be more expensive than those that follow. They will, however, be provided by the Palace Wardrobe and should cost our guild nothing."

"I am relieved to hear that, Milsy. What with the blast furnaces and the new coke plant, our coin is sorely strained. The only reason we keep afloat is through sales of forks and paper and by passing on the making of clocks to Bayorn." He grinned briefly with a sidelong glance at the two clockmakers. "I have managed to obtain a design licence for clocks that use electricity, and another on clocks that will use the new balance and winding springs. You will receive your rightful share."

He waved a hand. "That is by-the-by. I have disturbed what appears to be a complicated design session."

"This? Aye, Master Bassen and I were designing the control panel for the new master clock. As you can see, the final result will include two battery cupboards at the bottom, the necessary switches to adjust the time and dials, and the master dials above it, all in one cabinet."

"Ah? To the untrained eye, that drawing looks complicated."

Bassen gave a small laugh. "Aye, Master Parrel, I were fair puzzled when Mistress Milsy first told me what she desired! Once she had explained each part, though, I began to see that it was not complicated at all, merely feature upon feature the way that our carvers sometimes embellish doorways and windows - not that any of these particular features are mere embellishment, of course. Once the woodwork has been fashioned and Mistress Milsy has screwed in her switches and solenoids the resulting cabinet will be simple enough to understand."

"Ah, indeed. Well, I look forward to seeing the finished object."

"It will not take long, Master Parrel, to finish the woodwork, but Mistress Milsy considers that an extra example may be required, which will doubtless consume further time."

Parrel rolled his eyes. "Another master clock, Milsy?"

"It isn't like that, Master Parrel! As we originally intended, and in accordance with the King's wishes, the first cabinet will be installed in here behind the door you just came in through. We will need to put it there to keep the wires to the repeater short enough for testing purposes. However, if the King considers that these double clocks will be a suitable addition to the palace furniture then I wonder if this is the right place to keep such a master clock. There is, of course, a second master clock which was commissioned for Master Gerdas, but I thought to have an extra example made in order to be installed somewhere else in the palace at some future time, perhaps in the tower of the Great Clock."

Parrel thought briefly. "An excellent notion, Milsy, and it shows you are thinking ahead." He grinned. "Suppose, for example, that such a second master clock is not required. What would you do with it?"

"Why, Master Parrel, it could be installed somewhere else entirely, could it not? If the double clocks are seen to be popular, many others in the city will desire such in their own properties."

"I can tell you now that the next set of clocks to be installed will be in the Hall of the Guilds, Milsy, followed almost immediately by a set in the City Assembly Hall. Beyond that," he shrugged, "I suspect we will need yet another factory to satisfy demand."

Bassen was apprehensive. "Master Parrel, yet more clocks? Do you expect me to provide cabinets for them all?"

"Indeed not, Bassen. That is, after all, why Faranar and his journeyman are with us, is it not? In the same way, Yubold and his journeyman will be making the mechanisms for any future clocks, I deem." A sudden thought made him smile. "I know that the demands of the palace occupy you, Bassen, but, if I may observe, with this many clocks screwed to the walls it is possible that in future the palace may soon require additional resident guildsmen to look after them."

Both Bassen and Yubold looked thoughtful at that.

"Well," Parrel said. "I will depart and let you all continue in peace. Until after lunch, then, Milsy."

"After lunch, Master."

* * *

As Milsy was officially a palace resident a long-sleeved silk undershirt had been made to wear under her new outfit. There were also silk panties and a pair of breeches made of light cotton, designed purely to preserve modesty should she have the need to climb anywhere. These breeches were not made like those for riders, or even like the modified ones presently being made for the new guardswomen's uniforms, but shorter in the leg so that they would never normally show. Milsy wondered how hot they would become in use.

Bursila, of course, wore similar garments beneath her own ensemble. Her jacket and skirt were of a more conventional design than Milsy's, both being made of thin flexible leather carefully prepared and treated to give a smooth, water-resistant surface. The color was that of the natural material, a pale brown, though doubtless other finishes could be applied where appropriate. Like that of Milsy, her mandarin collar came up high enough to prevent any liquids, solids or dust entering at the top. Both women wore soft, light calf boots.

"It is the first time that I have seen you both fully dressed," Rosilda commented. "It is an interesting look, if I may say so."

"Well," replied Milsy, "I wasn't going for high fashion, even if I knew what that was! My intention, as you well know, was simply to find some way to protect myself yet still remain modestly dressed while attending a workshop somewhere. Since we do not know what any site will be like before we arrive, I thought to ensure we would not put ourselves in danger." She shrugged. "Of course we will not know if either of these works the way we intend them to until they have been tried. I will come and report, if there is time, after we have returned from the High Tower."

"Of course, Mistress, but there should be no hurry unless you discover some fatal flaw we have overlooked. I have no doubt that you will be visiting the wardrobe in the near future, I can wait until then."

Milsy smiled at the seamstress. "Oh, yes, I'm sure that I'll be back! The Palace Wardrobe has a kind of addictive quality, I find, to most women." She turned to Bursila. "Are we ready? Then we should go and find Master Parrel."

"I have my bag, Mistress," Bursila replied, "though as you suggested I have only brought what I think essential to today's exercise. It is a pity I could not enquire of Jenet about the climb we are to undertake but of course she has other concerns presently."

"Indeed!" Milsy's eyes took on a faraway look. "I wonder what they are doing, all that way north? Enjoying themselves, I deem."

"But they had to fight off bandits when they arrived," Bursila pointed out. "I expect that life in such a remote town will be very different from that in the palace."

"As you say. Let's go," Milsy instructed, leading the others out of her bedroom. "You're right, of course. I have only ever lived in a big castle and this palace so I could not say. Of course you came to the palace from the south of Palarand, didn't you, with Lady Merizel."

"Aye, Mistress, by way of a number of other lodgings. Let me just say that, while my experience of life is wider than yours, it is still that of residences of nobles. For a view of life among the people I deem we must needs go to somewhere like Pakh Lane."

"As you say."

They had reached the corridor and the two guardsmen on duty straightened when they appeared.

"Kendo, we have to find Master Parrel and then we're off to the High Tower. Do you know the way?"

"To the High Tower, Mistress, I do. Where Master Parrel might be I do not know."

Milsy thought. "Let's try the laboratory first. That's where Tarvan will be and Master Parrel will likely be there talking with him."

Bassen, Yubold, Faranar and the two journeymen were in the laboratory discussing some point concerned with the making of the new clocks. They pointed Milsy in the direction of the study, where she found Parrel and Tarvan using the blackboard to elaborate some design.

"Master Parrel, Tarvan, we are ready."

"Ah, Milsy, Bursila, come in and let me look at you. Maker! That is a clever design, if a mere man may make such an observation."

Milsy blushed. "Of course, Master Parrel, our attire is as yet untested, we have yet to prove if the idea is as clever as it appears to be."

"As you say. As with any new design, it must needs be tested." His eyes went to her belt. "That looks interesting."

"Aye, Master Parrel. I became irritated with the fuss caused by having everything in one of our usual pouches, even the larger one Rosilda found for me. Whatever I wanted seemed to be at the bottom, always, so I determined that this suit would have a row of box pouches, such that each would hold different items in safety. If I may turn around."

Milsy suited action to words and Parrel saw that, as well as the four pouches at the front, two either side of the buckle, there were three pouches behind, the middle one lengthways along the belt.

Parrel nodded in appreciation. "Another clever idea. I take it you would not object if a similar design were available for men?"

She shrugged. "I don't see why not. It is a simple belt, after all."

"We have already copied the goggles, to great acclaim from all who possess any of the first batch." Parrel shrugged in turn. "Which does not include me, it seems. Most have gone either to Hurdin's men or out to the blast furnace site."

"As you say, Guildmaster." Milsy looked at the blackboard.

"Ah. We were talking about the coke plant, Milsy, but doubtless you desire to ascend the High Tower. Let us go, then, and consider our design later."

Kendo led the party through the corridors to a remembered door in a stone wall. Outside was an apprentice keeping watch. He bowed when they approached.

"Guildmaster, I must remind you and those with you of the works within. If you would all take care of your footing and heed instruction from the guildsmen doing the alterations."

He opened the door and the party entered. Milsy had been here before, so was expecting to see the large treadmill wheels and the two chain pumps. What she did not expect were the several men who were attending to a thick metal rod that came through a hole, roughly carved in one wall, and then crossed the room above the two treadmills. They were installing brackets to support the rod, which Milsy now saw carried drive wheels like those she had seen at the blast furnace site.

"Ah! I understand! Outside there will doubtless be a steam engine driving that rod," she said. "But what is proposed in here? I would have expected the treadmills to be removed but that is not what seems to be happening."

"Indeed not," Parrel agreed, "for above is the main water tank for the palace and it is essential that some means for filling it be retained, should there be a fault with the steam engine. After they have installed the drive shaft they will fit wheels on the treadmill shafts to take the belts. The belts may then be removed at need. Doing it this way also allows us to provide a valuable reduction gear, since the weight of water lifted by each wheel is considerable."

"Of course," Milsy agreed, nodding. "It is not just a matter of convenience but security." She looked up. "So we are to ascend above this chamber? But how?"

"The small doorway over there leads to a stair," Parrel pointed, "as well as an access to this chamber from the other side of the tower. Shall we go?"

The men inside stopped whatever they were doing while the party picked their way across the untidy floor to the far side. Beyond was a small spiral staircase cut into the stonework of the tower and the party followed Parrel to the top. The chamber they emerged into was as big as the one below, but almost completely occupied by an immense vat or tank, the top of which stretched away into the gloom. Unlike the tower of the Great Clock, there were no windows set into the stonework to provide light, since none was needed. She could just see that the tank, if that is what it was, was made from immense lengths of wood and that there were iron bands, as wide as the palm of her hand, around it every stride or so. The outside of the wood was slick with condensation.

Facing them was an open wooden staircase which rose alongside one wall of the tower, between the stonework and the tank. Looking up she could see that it turned when it met the far wall and continued climbing. At the bottom of the staircase stood two guardsmen who nodded a greeting to her own escort and then stood back. Apparently the party was expected.

"If the Guildmaster permits," Kendo said, "Berdon and I will remain down here until you descend. There may not be room for all at the top, especially with the craftsmen who are working there, but the Mistress will be safe there in any event, since a permanent watch is kept up there by His Majesty's men."

"As you wish," Parrel replied. "Milsy, do you desire to go first?"

"It looks a long way up," she said, peering into the gloom above. "I doubt I have climbed any ladder so far before in my life. I assume it is safe, but is there anywhere to pause for breath?"

"Indeed, Milsy. At each turn of the stair there is a small landing where most who climb will stop for a moment or two. The climb is steep but the stair goes around only four of the walls."

This last statement briefly puzzled Milsy, as there only appeared to be four walls, until she understood that the stair didn't just go round and round above.

"I will do it," she said. "Bursila, do you foresee any difficulty? If you think it will be too much then you could remain below."

"Mistress, Jenet ascended with Lady Garia so I do not foresee any great difficulty. We may both be winded when we reach the top but that is all."

"Oh. As you say."

Milsy grabbed the open rungs of the steep staircase and began to climb, discovering that it was similar to some of the stepladders the castle servants used for cleaning. This one was steep but strips of iron in the lip of each step assured her feet of grip. The treads were farther apart than she would have preferred but they did not cause her much difficulty. She was pleased to note that her skirt had enough fullness that it did not tighten against her legs as she ascended, and that it was short enough not to catch in her boots.

Behind her she heard Bursila climbing. The small landing where the stair turned eventually appeared and she gained it with relief, the maid joining her a few moments later. Below, she saw Tarvan making his way up the steps, hanging on to the treads as she had done, with Parrel following just behind. Once the Guildmaster joined them she began climbing the second set of steps.

By the time she had reached the third landing she was feeling hot and sticky and wondering whether this was such a good idea after all. Looking up she saw that the next set of steps didn't climb to yet another landing but disappeared through the roof that covered the chamber, ending in an small covered doorway to keep the weather out. Once Parrel had joined them she climbed the final stair to emerge into daylight atop the tower. A guardsman helped her out and she stood aside to permit the others to come out as well.

"Guildmaster Parrel! Welcome again." That was a guildsman wearing a dusty linen apron, presumably a mason, who approached with a nod and an outstretched hand. He continued, "Your men are below, on the scaffolding. Shall I call them up?"

Parrel put out his own hand for the mason to shake. "No, Kornik, let them finish whatever they are doing. There will be time enough to talk later. If I may introduce Craftmaster Tarvan, Electricity Department, and his staff Journeywoman Milsy and her assistant Bursila. I have come up to see the work and it seemed a useful opportunity to bring them up with me, none having ventured here before."

Kornik nodded to all three. "Welcome... colleagues. I was about to say 'brothers' but that is clearly no longer appropriate." He gestured. "As you can see, we are presently installing the lightning rods which the Guildmistress tells us will save the High Tower from damage in future. Those on the North-east and South-east sides are complete, apart from some work on the grounding rods below. We are presently setting in the ironwork on the South-west side, should you desire to view our activities more closely."

"Thank you, Kornik," Parrel replied for the party. "I may do that shortly. Milsy, have you yet any questions?"

She had gotten her breath back so asked, "These seem like a big expenditure to make, Master Parrel, for something that happens but a few times a year. Is it really worth the effort?"

"Indeed it is! During the last rains, Milsy, the tower was struck seven times by lightning and the masons are only now completing repairs to the damage to the stonework. I would also add that stones which are dislodged by strikes can also cause considerable damage to the roofs of the palace buildings, should they fall in the wrong place. I must admit that the initial installation of the rods will cost His Majesty some significant coin, but the amount saved in continual repairs will surpass that in but a year or so."

"Journeywoman," Kornik began.

"Just Milsy, by your leave. I know the custom."

"As you wish, Milsy. We have only installed rods on two sides so far, as I said, but they have already saved the tower during that recent storm. Two of the five rods that you can see were hit, one being completely destroyed while the other was partially melted. The stonework, however, and the scaffolding presently around the tower survived completely untouched. If the rods had not taken the strike then likely the stonework would have been destroyed yet again and in addition all our scaffolding would have been burned away."

Even Parrel was impressed. "Is that so? Then we have already saved your men some work and His Majesty some coin. Was it easy to replace the rods?"

Kornik shrugged. "Guildmaster, I only cut stone. Since I see five rods surrounding us then the answer is presumably yes, but for details you must needs ask your men who are somewhere below on the scaffolding."

"Very well. Tarvan, Milsy, I assume you will just wish to have a look around to begin with. The space is crowded but there is little chance that you will fall over the edge, as you can see." Parrel waved a hand. "While I climb down the scaffolding to inspect the work, you should enjoy the sights you may see from the tower."

Tarvan bowed his head. "As you wish, Guildmaster."

As Parrel climbed over the south-west wall the three picked their way over the spare wooden scaffolding, several long iron rods and coils of rope to the nearest parapet. Below, in the sunshine, the roofs and courtyards of the palace surrounded them. Milsy could now clearly see the grid-like structure of the old building, the green-tiled roofs protecting the corridors and chambers below from the annual rains while the courtyards provided much-needed light and fresh air to the inhabitants.

The direction they had chosen was the north-east side, facing the rear of the palace, and she could look down and view the training field with men practising archery and the other arts of war. Around the edge of the field was a high stone wall which had an inner walkway just wide enough for two guardsmen to pass. Her eye followed this around until it disappeared behind the armory on the left side and the stables and barracks on the right. Beyond, the streets of the Old City spread out in what appeared to be a confused jumble, although she knew by now that at street level it was actually more organized.

"What do you think?"

"It's about what I expected," Milsy replied to Tarvan. "From up here you can get a good idea of the real size of the palace, though. When we're walking along the corridors you have no idea of scale."

"As you say. I believe it all started completely within the walls of the old fort but soon outgrew those confines. Shall we try another side?"

Milsy went right, past a guardsman who was examining something in the distance through a long telescope. He paid the visitors no attention at all. On the south-east side, the new lightning rods stood about two and a half strides above the edge of the parapet, apparently ready for action. Milsy went to the corner and leaned over, but her view was partially obstructed by the scaffolding and walkways that the masons had erected.

"That's a pity. I wanted to look straight down, to see how these rods worked."

"That is straightforward enough, Milsy. Each rod is held by, let me see..."

Tarvan cast round and saw a rough sack near the rods they had stepped over before. He went to it and pulled out a wrought iron fitting, returning to hand it to Milsy to inspect. It was an iron ring on a stem, with a widened flange at the other end of the stem.

"The masons make a hole in the stone big enough to sink this in," he explained, "then they fill it in all around with mortar so that it is held fast. The rods simply drop through these rings and into a socket at the bottom."

"A socket?" She frowned. "Wouldn't that fill up with water the moment it rains? And rain is when you get most lightning, I recall."

Tarvan had a matching frown. "That is so. I do not know if there is provision for the water to drain or mayhap there is some other means of preventing water to enter the socket. If water does get in, then it will of course rust in time."

"The idea of the socket, then, is that the rods can be replaced easily when they become damaged. What is below the socket? More iron?"

Tarvan shook his head. "No, all of the sockets are welded to an iron band which runs right round the tower, like those bands we saw around the water tank. From that band a rope of copper wires descends which the masons have stapled to the walls. At the bottom, well, there is argument. Some say that it is folly to put copper into the ground since it will corrode quickly. Others say that all metals will corrode in time so whatever is chosen will make little difference. Like the rods up here, they expect the grounding rods to be replaced as often as these will be."

"An interesting problem, I deem."

"Aye. And the works below are complicated by the foundations for the tower, which spread wide to take the great weight of stone. Lady Garia tells us that the safest way for a lightning conductor to function is to make as straight a route as possible from rod to soil but for many reasons we may not do that here. Only on the north-east side are the tower walls not joined to corridors or chambers in the palace below."

Milsy was frustrated. "I would see better if all this scaffolding was not here. If we may return again, once the rods have been placed and the guildsmen departed?"

"Aye, of course. You will want to come by day again, I deem, though I am told there is a fine view of the sky by night as well."

"I hear enough about the night sky from Gerdas. If I come up here at night I'll only become even more distracted. No thank you, if we can come again I would ask that it be on a day like this."

She gestured at the fine sky which had a few fluffy clouds to break up the monotony.

Tarvan noted, "You did know that there is customarily an awning up here, to protect the watchers from the summer sun and most normal weather? Of course, it is usually taken down for storms or when the masons are working like this. When the lightning struck during the last rains the awnings were destroyed immediately, but normally it provides shelter at all other seasons."

"That's good to know."

Milsy looked down to the side of the palace, noting the cluster of chimneys smoking below them. From the arrangement of the buildings she thought that might be where the kitchens were. Below and just in front the boundary wall came to meet the foot of the High Tower, but to her right the palace buildings resumed, later constructions which took over land in front of the old fortification. The roofs which abutted the stone wall showed up differently since those portions were in effect lean-tos.

Moving further round, to the south-west, Milsy could identify the Receiving Room by its great size and height. Surrounding it were offices she knew were occupied by tax and legal staff who worked there by day and returned to their homes in the city at night. Large as the palace was, it could not provide accommodation for all who worked there.

There was a ladder here, roped to the scaffolding beyond the parapet, and she looked over cautiously to see what was going on. Below, on a platform about four strides lower down, Parrel was speaking to two other men, all using expansive arm gestures to help whatever they were describing. Some of the support rings could be seen sticking out of the wall, as could the iron band which went all the way round. The discussion apparently centered on some feature of the iron band.

On the fourth side, the north-west, Milsy was faced with another tower, that of the Great Clock. This was lower than the High Tower but still much taller than most of the other palace buildings. She noticed that scaffolding was being erected around that tower as well.

"What's happening there, Tarvan?"

"After the masons have finished here they will move over there to add lightning rods to the Great Clock Tower," he explained. "Although this one takes most of the lightning strikes, any high point may also receive them and that is the next highest. In fact, Lady Garia told me that during the last rains the roofs of the palace took several strikes as well as those that happened on the towers. There is a plan to eventually provide lightning rods at every high point in the palace and wherever two corridors cross."

"So many? I thought lightning always chose the shortest path to the ground, thus, we would be safe once this tower was finished."

Tarvan shrugged. "That may be so, but Lady Garia was not certain exactly how it all worked so we are being extra cautious. There is apparently another effect, which is that we can use the lightning rods to drain the charge from the clouds as they pass above us. I have no idea how that works. The more rods, the faster the charge can be drained, so I was told, thus preventing the lightning from forming."

Milsy considered this. "Oh. So if we do that, there would be less strikes, then?"

"Aye, that is what should happen. Only time will tell if we have done this right."

"What about the rest of the city?" Milsy gestured beyond the palace complex. "Do they have to do this as well?"

"Oh, aye, of course. If the only result of these works was that the palace was no longer struck but buildings in the city were instead, I doubt not that the local folk might be unhappy with His Majesty! For this to work, all must install lightning rods and the Crown will provide for part of the cost, so I am told. We should be ready by the next season of rains, I believe."

"I look forward to the experience with interest. Of course, in the castle we had different concerns, though the King's Tower is known to attract lightning." She cocked her head. "Does the palace flood?"

"Not any longer. The Chivan drains run under all the palace courtyards and keep the water out of the buildings completely."

"I'm relieved to hear that! I didn't fancy paddling around the corridors for two months."

"Heh. We get the labris coming up out of the flooded drains instead. There are special parties arranged to go round the lower corridors and kill any that they see."

"Ooh! Do you think any can get into the Laboratory?"

"I have no idea. Perhaps the palace guildsmen can tell us."

Milsy noticed a strange construction further out in the city and pointed. "What's that? More scaffolding?"

Tarvan chuckled. "Indeed not, Milsy! Those are the four towers of the Central Semaphore Station for the city. I believe that they are substantially finished, but until some of the other towers are also completed it can serve little purpose except as a place to train the operators." He spotted something in the distance to the west and pointed. "Look yonder! There lies the next station west, along the road to Brikant. Once the chain is complete we shall have word from Brikant in as little time as a bell."

She shaded her eyes to follow his finger. "Oh, I see. You did talk about the semaphore system a while ago but because it has no electrical parts we have not become involved, is that right?" She turned to him. "Will we be involved in the future?"

"Well, the system does not require us to make anything, I deem, but what you really ask is what may come next? Lady Garia says that eventually all the stations will be connected by wire and the towers will no longer be needed." He shrugged. "We have been told not to investigate that project yet, to let the semaphore... network... be commissioned and everyone become comfortable with its use. To change everything so soon would waste coin and annoy many people the length and width of Palarand."

"As you say." She turned back to the central station and frowned. "That looks funny. Why are the towers, if that is what they are, positioned like that? Why do they need four of them?"

"It was decided to have one tower for each direction we desire to send messages, Milsy, and that essentially means along the main routes out of the city. Thus, we have one facing each main highway north, south, east and west. If you will consider, each tower must needs send messages as well as receive them, therefore the towers are offset so that the arms may be seen from the next tower in each direction without confusion."

"Ah! Now I understand. From a distance the man, who presumably has a telescope? Aye? He would see a jumble of masts and not be able to pick out which tower is his."

Below them, men from around the corner appeared on the scaffolding planks and began doing something to the iron band at the corners of the building. After a few moments Milsy decided that they were dismantling it, since it seemed to be made from four strips of iron joined by flanges at the tower corners. She turned to see Parrel climbing back over the parapet.

He smiled. "Enjoy the view?"

"Aye, Master Parrel," she replied. "It has been most interesting. If I may ask, what are those men below doing?"

Parrel joined Milsy and Tarvan, leaning over to see what she was talking about.

"Oh! They are removing the band so that the other sockets may be welded on. As you may well imagine, we cannot yet bring all those batteries up on the scaffolding, it would be dangerous to all. It is therefore necessary, once the positions have been marked, to take the section down to the ground to do the welding."

Milsy frowned. "But... surely... you can simply run a cable up to the welding place? You need only one, since you already have a thick cable of copper running up, and that is already fixed to the piece you desire to weld!"

Parrel looked at Tarvan. "I don't know how she does it," he said. "We have puzzled over this problem for many days and did not see the obvious. Milsy, you are of course right, and I shall direct that the fourth side should be welded in that manner. For now, since the iron is already half removed, we will weld in the original way."

He walked back to the south-west side and held a conversation with those still below before returning to join them.

"There! That is done. Have you any more questions, now that you have seen what the palace looks like from above?"

"Um, if I may come up here again when the scaffolding is removed, Master Parrel. Although I can see much, much also remains hidden."

"Aye, I have no problem with you coming here again. You had best enquire of Captain Merek when would be a suitable time."

Milsy inclined her head. "Thank you, Master Parrel."

"Tarvan? Any comments?"

The young Craftmaster smiled. "You know me, Master Parrel. If there are questions I will doubtless think of them later."

"Then let us return below again. We have a coke plant to design."

* * *

"What are you going to do with all that stuff which comes out of the pipe?" Milsy asked. "Garia called it... gas?"

Parrel nodded. "That's right, although I am told that it is better described as a mixture of gases and vapors. It seems that everything in the air around us," he waved his hand around, "is also gas but that word can mean many things, just as metal or liquid may mean many things."

"Of course." Milsy nodded. "I remember now, the experiments Tarvan showed me when I first came to the palace, where he split water using electricity. This gas is something like that, then?" Her brow furrowed. "Vapor... you mean, like steam is? Sort of in the air but not dissolved in it?"

"Aye, somewhat like," Tarvan replied. "I did one or two experiments before you arrived and it seems to leave a sticky residue behind. We need to know more, but that must needs wait until Lady Garia returns from the north."

"To answer your original question," Parrel added, "the gas will burn and it seems that use may be made of it in any way that other fuels can be used. For example, we may heat with it or make light. There is an added bonus which is that, like electricity, it can be produced somewhere away from where it is to be used and brought there by a pipe. That alone has caused interest in several guilds. Glass-making, for one, may benefit from such a flame."

"What you are saying, then, is that instead of burning one fuel, we can heat it and obtain two others. Is that right, Master Parrel?"

"Aye, Milsy." He grinned. "It seems that it may even be possible to use the gas for heating the coal in the first place. Once we get the process started, it can provide its own fuel, it seems."

"Would you like to see it working?" Tarvan asked. "We have a few lumps of coal left over from our experiments and we can set up our... retort, as Lady Garia named it, in the courtyard behind us. We are told that the gas can be dangerous to breathe in an enclosed space. There should be enough coal to demonstrate the principle."

"Aye, if Master Parrel agrees. Will we have time to do it before the evening meal?"

"Of course," Parrel agreed. "We may leave the retort to cool down while we eat, I deem. Let us go and find the required materials."

It did not take long for the four to carry the various items required outside to the paved courtyard on the opposite side from the Family Dining Room. Parrel thought it best to use that side to avoid both being distracted and being a distraction to those who would later that afternoon set out the room for the next meal.

A simple iron frame had been made to support the retort and the round-ended tank placed securely on it. The inside had been filled with several large lumps of coal while others went into a deep metal tray which slid underneath. Milsy could see the resemblance to a steam engine but knew the results would be completely different. Tarvan fitted the end cap and knocked home the metal wedges which held it in place.

"Hmm. Master Parrel, we will need something which is... better sealed, I deem, for our full size retort, else the gas escapes and will be wasted."

"A good thought, Tarvan. It may inform our design."

"We are ready, then. If you would light the kindling beneath, Bursila, to start the fire."

They stood back and watched as the coal caught light and began to burn, making comments about how such matters would be arranged in the final device. The fire was encouraged with some bellows. Soon there came a whistling from the stub pipe at the other end of the enclosed tank.

"Milsy," Tarvan pointed, "that is the gas escaping from the coal and presently just being lost to the air. If I take a piece of kindling and light it below, I can apply the flame to the end of the pipe like so."

Tarvan lit the gas stream and a smoky yellow flame appeared at the end of the pipe.

She walked round the apparatus and examined the flickering flame. Although there was enough pressure to force the gas out, the flame looked like that of a badly trimmed lamp.

"Is it supposed to look like that? I would get told off if I left a lamp in that state."

Parrel shrugged. "This is just an experiment, Milsy, and the gas is essentially raw. In the final product, if we desire to collect the gas and use it for heating and lighting, doubtless we will need to clean it up somehow. For now, it is merely a byproduct of coke production, which is the more important concern to us for making steel."

"As you say, Master Parrel."

Tarvan suggested, "It may benefit from more air, Milsy. Some lamps have an adjustable slot to allow more air to enter at the base."

"Hmm."

Milsy stood deep in thought for a moment and then went into the laboratory, emerging almost immediately with a writing reed in her hand.

"Let's see if this will make a difference."

She bent and, with one end between her lips and the other end just inside the flame, she gently blew. A small jet of bluish flame came out the other side. The reed immediately caught fire so she withdrew it and stood, blowing out the charred reed end.

"Is that what you meant?"

"Well, aye, it was, but I didn't think something like that would work." Tarvan frowned. "I don't see that we could use reeds to improve the flame, Milsy."

"I've done things like that in Dekarran, trying to get debris out of the bottom of lamps. So, if that worked, let's try something else."

She grinned at him and returned inside the laboratory. This time the delay was longer before she returned, a length of thin copper pipe in her hand.

She smiled. "I remembered that you had some pipe left over when you made that strange cold box," she explained. "I think copper will work for an experiment but it will really need steel like the rest of the apparatus."

Repeating her earlier experiment, she blew a small blue flame out of the side of the yellow exhaust flame, although it was less well defined than the earlier attempt since the pipe was wider. She stood.

"Master Parrel, how long is this likely to give us gas? Is there time for me to try something? I need to make the hole smaller."

Parrel shrugged. "I have no idea, Milsy. Just go and do what you need to and mayhap the flame will still be here when you return."

Milsy went inside and almost completely flattened one end of the pipe with a hammer, leaving just a narrow slit. Then, taking pincers that were used for cutting lengths of wire, she nipped the sides of the slit to leave just a small hole in the middle. Skipping outside she showed her work to Tarvan.

"That looks interesting. Go on, show us what it will do."

With a tiny hole for the air to go through, it took a lot more effort to blow but produced an impressive flame.

"I like that," Parrel remarked. "It looks a lot hotter too. What made you think of doing that?"

"I reasoned that what was needed was a good mixture of gas and air, Master Parrel. Like any flame, it must have air. I think the yellowness of the flame shows that the gas isn't being burned properly. When that happens with an ordinary lamp you get deposits on the glass chimneys and then the glass has to be cleaned. It occurred to me that we could use a similar method to the injectors on the steam engines, that allow water to be added to the boiler. The mixing isn't the same, of course, but I think the result will be more useful to us."

"As you say!" Parrel was impressed. "I would never have made the connection with a water injector and a device to mix air into gas. You are suggesting that we use the flow of gas to draw air into the... lamp, or burner, or whatever... in the manner of an oil lamp?"

"I think that is what I had in mind, Master Parrel. Only, here we deal with gas, not... liquid, so the device must needs be differently shaped. Hmm." Her eyes unfocused briefly. "Perhaps I may use the injector design as a basis?"

"Master," Tarvan offered. "If we had some means of making flexible pipe for the gas to travel within, we could take our blue flame to the workpiece instead of having forges, just as we may now use wires to weld wherever we have need."

Parrel raised an eyebrow. "Do you seek to make all our forges redundant, Tarvan?"

"Oh, no, Master Parrel. I doubt that will ever happen. Even Lady Garia says that such methods of working iron and other metals still exist in Kansas, despite all the other ways they have of doing things. However, I can see a certain convenience to having such a flame at a workbench, especially for such as Fulvin who works with small parts and precious metals."

Parrel nodded. "Very well. Another task for you two, then, or perhaps two tasks. Using gas as a fuel, seek practical ways of using it for heating, which means domestic heating, cooking and use by metalsmiths and others, and of using gas for lighting. Your injector method may be more useful for lighting, I deem, but assuming we can provide a supply of gas to our mansions and other buildings, we will have lamps that should never run out, should we?"

Tarvan looked doubtful. "With that blue flame, Master? I'm not sure that would light a chamber very well but," he shrugged, "that is what our experiments will reveal, will they not? If I may ask, have we finished here? I will withdraw the firebox if so and we may go inside to ready ourselves for the evening meal."

Parrel looked at Milsy. "Milsy? Any other thoughts?"

She smiled. "I think we have each suggested enough for one day, Master Parrel. Aye, let us go inside."

* * *

Parrel stayed for the evening meal so he nodded appreciatively when Milsy appeared in the dining room on Tarvan's arm in a demure evening gown.

"Mistress Milsy!" He bowed. "It is interesting to see that you may appear as seasoned guildswoman one moment and delightful lady of the court the next."

Milsy dimpled and gave him a curtsey. "We women have many talents, Guildmaster. Of course, it helps when we have the run of the Palace Wardrobe, as you may imagine."

Parrel smiled. "As you say. I dare say that if you had not found Tarvan on your arrival here there would be a line of young men willing to provide you favors."

"Aye, Guildmaster," Tarvan acknowledged, "I am an extremely lucky man." He looked at Parrel with interest. "Ah, is there some meeting arranged for this evening? I have not been informed of any."

Parrel gave a smile which told of secrets. "There is no meeting that I am aware of, Tarvan. However, just before I was due to depart a package arrived at the palace which concerns me - and it also concerns you and Milsy. I have asked the King if I may remain to explain all and he has agreed."

"I am intrigued, Master Parrel, and I have no doubt that Milsy is too."

Robanar arrived and after the usual show of respect from those in the dining room he strode over to them.

"Parrel? You, Milsy and Tarvan shall conduct your business in my parlor this night." He beamed at Milsy. "Doubtless what is to happen will become commonplace but for now, it is right that we take note of such events." He saw the expression of alarm on Milsy's face. "Do not concern yourself, my dear. Nothing unpleasant will happen tonight."

Try as she might, Milsy could not get another word out of anybody the whole length of the meal. Afterwards, slightly annoyed that the men obviously knew what was going on but were not prepared to let her into the secret, she followed Robanar, Terys, Parrel and Tarvan along the corridor to the parlor.

At least the Queen doesn't know either and she is also annoyed that the men are behaving in this way.

Once they had all taken seats, Robanar picked up a bulky packet and handed it to Parrel, who began unwrapping it. Inside was a scroll and a soft leather pouch.

"Milsy," he began, "Journeywoman Milsy. I am doing this because you are a Journeywoman of the Metalsmiths' Guild, and by custom it is the Guildmaster of each guild who presents awards of the greater ranks to members of that guild. The proposal made recently by Guildmaster Bayorn of the Clockmakers' Guild, and seconded by Laikin of the Cabinetmakers' Guild, has been approved by the Council of Guildmasters and thus you are hereby granted Guildswoman status as a Metalsmith, in the Department of Electricity. You have my congratulations!"

They both stood and he handed her the scroll. She untied the blue silk ribbon and opened it to read her very own charter as member of a Guild of Palarand. The words blurred as she read the ancient formula which gave her certain rights and abilities.

"Thank you, Guildmaster," she stammered. "I did not expect this, not as soon as this."

Terys said, "It was inevitable, dear. You have astonished us all with your insights and ideas and you have proved that you know at least as much as any guildsman. We consider that you will be but the first of many women to travel the path you are making."

Her eyes filled up and she felt foolish, standing there in front of the King. A nudge on her arm and there was Bursila with a cloth to dry her face.

"Sire, I am quite overcome. So much has happened to me in such a short space of time. I am still not convinced that I deserve any of it."

Robanar beamed at her. "Nonsense, my dear! Though you do not possess knowledge from Earth in the way that Garia does, and you have not her martial bent, you have shown that someone born in humble circumstances may yet hold abilities useful to themselves and their fellows. We would be remiss if we did not reward those things you have already done for Palarand and it is fitting that you will in time become an example for others to follow. If I may add our own congratulations, my dear."

"Thank you, Sire."

Parrel then held out the pouch, shaking the contents onto one palm.

"For your new rank, it is of course necessary to provide a new badge. If you would permit me to pin it onto your gown."

He did so, with the comment, "It is customary for guildsmen to retain their old badges of rank. No other may use them as they display their own register number. Your number is of course two, Guildmistress Garia being number one."

"Thank you again, Guildmaster."

Milsy curtseyed and then returned to her seat.

This must be how Garia feels. She told me that she considers herself to be ordinary but the King and Queen obviously think otherwise.

How do I keep up the standard of what I have begun? Maybe Garia has that problem too.

It makes no difference to what I am able to do now, does it? The work Tarvan and I have started must be continued as before. Apart from Bursila there is no other who can do any of it.

I'm looking forward to the future, though. There must be so many more interesting things we can do!

Milsy and Tarvan complete the wiring of the first two clocks helped by some of the other palace guildsmen. Startling and alarming news is heard from afar which upsets the King and Queen, causing consequences which include Milsy having to find somewhere else to live. Finally, the new clocks are started, fascinating both servants and royals!

What Milsy Did

by Penny Lane

21 - A Disturbing Report

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 (c) 2017 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

---

Milsy lowered her arm and winced. The act of holding it up for a period of time while balancing at the top of a step-ladder made the muscles ache. In addition, the earlier sunsets as winter neared meant that, despite the best lanterns the palace could provide, it was becoming difficult to see what she was doing and her eyes hurt.

"That's it, Tarvan," she decided. "It is too dark to do any more this evening, I deem. I'm coming down."

"But you have finished, have you not?" he responded. "What else is there to do up there?"

"You're right," she agreed, looking at the apparent tangle of wires. "I have just fixed the last wire which means that we should be ready to try and start it again. The cover needs to be replaced on the box, that's all."

"I can do that, Milsy," Bassen said. "I agree that it may yet be too dark for you, indeed for anyone, to see enough to screw down your wires but fitting the cover to the connection box is a simpler matter. If you would descend, I will attend to that while you tidy your tools away." He grinned. "While I may yet hear the palace bells I deem that you must needs return to your chambers presently and prepare for the evening meal." He added, "We rude craftsmen are permitted to take our meals clothed as we are, I know that the King and Queen will desire you to don gentler attire."

"But -"

"He's right, you know," Tarvan said. "I know you wanted to get the clocks going today but we have no time now - at least, you have no time left today. We've spent all afternoon up stepladders and I, for one, will be happy for a short soak before eating. I know that you and Bursila will take longer getting dressed..."

"Very well, Tarvan."

Milsy was not happy that they would have to wait until tomorrow morning to start the clock but she could see his point. In truth, several parts of her ached from the unaccustomed activity of the day. If she and Bursila could get in the tub and soak for a while, it would make a big difference. It would also mean that they could come to their problem tomorrow morning fresh and ready to tackle whatever new and unexpected wrinkle presented itself.

"We'll go. Thank you, Bassen. This probably isn't what you are used to doing with your time but you've been a great help. Even with all of us working together it has been a complicated job running these wires."

"As you say, Milsy. If it is true that more of these clocks are to be fitted around the palace I deem you will require more assistants in future but for now I am happy to help. After all, this is a new experience for all of us, is it not? Until the first one is installed, no-one has known what to expect."

"Aye," Tarvan agreed. "I hope that we have learned enough today that future clocks will be easier to install. Bassen, my thanks also. Let us clear our tools from the corridor while you screw the lid on the box. Then I suggest we can all go and clean ourselves up."

* * *

"Feeling better?" Tarvan smiled at Milsy as she joined him in the Family Dining Room.

"Yes, thank you. A good soak was definitely what we needed, wasn't it, Bursila? I never realized just how much my arms would hurt holding up nothing but a wire and a screwdriver. The backs of my legs were little better, having to balance on those step-ladders."

"It is partly because you have done little work of that kind before," Tarvan explained. "As with most things, after a while your body becomes used to it. Were there not tasks you had to do in the kitchens which made you ache at first?"

"Aye, that is true, now I think of it. I remember how my fingers ached when I first started to write! However, working on a bench is one thing, working in the corridors and chambers of the palace altogether different, I deem. I never before realized what the guildsmen had to put up with."

"Aye. Of course, most of the palace is very old and that can make matters worse. Since I began residing here I have learned much from the palace guildsmen. For example -"

After a while Robanar and Terys arrived and the whole room made for their seats. Since the newly mounted repeater clock was clearly visible to all above the doorway, Robanar invited them to sit opposite him during the meal.

"Your clock looks fine, my dear," Robanar said to Milsy. "Yet, it seems to me that it does not show us what bell it presently is, nor does any of it move. Have you not yet connected it up, then?"

Milsy reddened. "Sire, it is connected, aye, but we have finished too late this evening to set the right time and start it. There was... an accident... earlier today which meant that we had to replace much of the wire. It seems that our original design did not take into account certain matters and some of the wires touched. When we turned it on... um, let me just say that we won't be doing it that way again."

"Sire," Tarvan added, "we have completed the rewiring and will be ready to test it in the morning. If all happens as it should the clock should be showing the correct time when you come to take your lunch tomorrow."

Robanar nodded. "Then I look forward to the experience. As for the appearance of the clock, I think I approve. I was concerned that the... case? cabinet? What would you call that?"

"Either will do, Sire. We are re-using words for new purposes and it will take us all time to become familiar with what they may now mean. You were saying, Sire."

"Aye. I was concerned that we would find it difficult to discover the time through the ornamentation, young Tarvan. I have seen that little clock which the Clockmakers originally sent to you and I must say that I think I am in favor of less fuss than they provided. This design, although plain, shows us what we need to see. We must remember that it is not a work of art which is only there to be admired but a machine, even so, it blends in well with the paneling of the walls, do you not agree?"

"I do, Sire. We consulted with many in the palace to determine the best way of presenting such a device. Save for the indicator boards in the servants' quarters, there is little else in the palace which is similar so we had to consider how to show the time clearly yet not be offensive to the eye."

"Good. Such a device as this has never before been seen in Palarand, in Alaesia even. Most who see our clocks will seek to imitate them, I deem, thus we must make sure that they provide a good impression to the stranger. I look forward to lunch tomorrow, then."

"Thank you, Sire."

At the end of the meal a small incident occurred which meant little to any of those at the tables yet would have significant consequences. A palace Messenger entered holding a package and spoke to Kendar, who took it and put it to one side. When everyone rose at the end of the meal, Kendar brought the packet to Robanar, who was standing admiring the clock together with Terys and Merek. Upon hearing his words, the four then rapidly departed from the room.

"Hmm! I don't know if that was good news or bad," Tarvan remarked. "Doubtless we will find out, should it be important. What do you wish to do this evening, then?"

"Actually, we've had a busy day today. Why don't we just sit somewhere and talk? I could think of many excuses to go to the laboratory or even to the study but I think I want to be doing something different this evening. And I would rather not be standing while doing it. What say you?"

"Agreed. Where shall we go? Your sitting room? Morlan's sitting room? One of the courtyards, if it is not too cool?"

"I don't mind, Tarvan, just as long as we can talk... you know, the way everyone else talks."

Tarvan smiled. "What's this? Your brain finally tired of thinking up new devices and ideas?"

"Not at all! It's just that it seems that is all I do these days, Tarvan, and sometimes I just want to do something... normal, you know?"

"Very well. If I may suggest..."

~o~O~o~

The next morning Milsy and Bursila made their usual way down to the Family Dining Room. Milsy had discovered a drawback to her new work suit, which was that it was not really suitable for wear to the meal table. Thus, if she wanted to put it on after rising she would have to eat in her suite, the alternative being to wear a day gown to breakfast and change afterwards. She had been annoyed when she had first realized this.

Today there seemed to be fewer people about, though that was not unusual given the wide range of activities which went on inside the palace. She glanced up at the clock, wondering if she was earlier than usual, but then remembered that it hadn't been switched on yet.

Perhaps I can go to the laboratory and work dressed like this? It's only just there, after all.

It isn't as if I'm going to get dirty today, is it? Turn a switch to connect the battery, push some press switches to set the time right and...

Don't be silly. Remember what happened yesterday? You expected none of that, either, and look what happened! Best be prepared for anything and then you won't risk damaging your day gown.

She sighed and linked her fingers, tapping her foot while she waited for Tarvan to arrive.

"Something is the matter, Mistress?"

"Oh, nothing, Bursila. Just wondering where everyone is."

"I could not say what keeps Their Majesties but Master Tarvan approaches, Mistress."

He walked across to her with an eyebrow raised. "What, no fancy suit today?"

"I'm not sure that I should wear such attire to the King's table, Tarvan. And good-morning to you, too."

He smiled and made a small bow. "Good morning to you, Milsy. Aye, perhaps you have a point, though I remember that both His Highness and Lady Garia attended breakfast attired for exercise with the guard. I even remember Lady Garia attending in her riding outfit once or twice, once she was permitted to ride. Perhaps we must needs ask Kendar what the protocol is for such matters. Your work suit is novel, perhaps that may be deemed acceptable."

Milsy snorted. "It may look acceptable now, Tarvan, but once it has been worn a while and gotten scratched and splashed with who-knows-what, it would be as bad as a mason attending the King in his apron. No, I think that it had best be kept away from such places as this."

"Except, of course, while you are installing clocks."

"You know what I mean! At meal times. Oh, look, here is the Queen. Maker! What has happened?"

Terys stopped in the doorway, noticed the absence of Kendar and raised a hand. All conversation in the room stopped and everybody made obeisance to her.

"The King does not attend breakfast today, he has a serious matter to resolve. Please be seated."

She noticed Tarvan and Milsy and walked across to join them. Although she was as immaculately attired as usual, her expression was that of worry and there were definite rings under her eyes.

"Ma'am? What has happened?"

Terys gave a small, brief smile. "I will tell you later, if I may. For now, if you would join me. I am in need of the company of Garia's friends."

Oh, no! This has to be bad. I have never seen the Queen like this before.

The meal was subdued as everyone picked up the mood of the Queen. Something obviously had happened and doubtless the rumors were already flying. For now, Milsy didn't attempt to pry but chose other topics of conversation. With a little gentle prompting she made sure that Terys didn't ignore the food that was put in front of her, prompting that caused the Queen to smile briefly when she understood what the younger woman was doing.

"Forgive me, dear, I know that you mean well. I have much on my mind but you are right to make sure that I properly break my fast. In the next few days we may require all the sustenance we can eat."

"Ma'am, I'm sure that you and the King have an answer to whatever has happened. We think only of your welfare, as you think of ours."

Terys gave Milsy a sad smile. "As you say, dear, but..." She shook her head. "Later, dear. I will not say anything at table, though doubtless the whole palace will know by lunch time."

When the Queen rose, naturally everybody else did as well, but of course Terys made sure that all had eaten their meals before she stood. She turned to Milsy.

"If you and Tarvan would join me in my sitting room, please. I will not keep you long. You have a clock to... get working? What word should I use, dear?"

"Um, Ma'am, in this case we will be switching it on, I think, but you could also say that we were starting it, I suppose. This is all new to us as well."

"As you say. Tarvan? Are you ready?"

"Aye, Ma'am."

Milsy, Tarvan and Bursila, with the inevitable guardsmen in tow, followed Terys and her two maids through the corridors and upstairs to the sitting room. Making themselves comfortable, they bent forward to listen to the Queen, who was still uncharacteristically disturbed.

"My dears," she began, "yesterday we received a letter from Blackstone, sent by both Prince Keren and by Lady Garia."

Milsy nodded. "That was the letter that arrived yesterday, was it not, at the end of the evening meal? I thought that it might be important." She paused, considering. "Something has happened, hasn't it? But... if both Keren and Garia signed it, they must be safe, surely?"

Terys sighed and suddenly looked much older. "Aye, they are both safe, as are most of their party. But... they have faced an ordeal I can barely imagine, an ordeal I do not want to imagine. As Garia desired, she took a small party from the town to explore Blackstone Vale, that she might discover the limits of the lands granted her and learn what she would be responsible for. Keren went with her, as did Jenet, Feteran, six armsmen and two local men as guides. They made camp at the far end of the vale and spent a peaceful night."

She closed her eyes, trying to picture what might have happened all those marks away. "In the morning the camp was attacked by an armed band of perhaps twelve to fourteen men. Their words in the letter were very carefully chosen, against interception by others, but it seems that the attackers were not simple bandits, like those they faced when they first arrived at the town, but a more organized group who... carried arms of a kind not seen before in Palarand. At least, that is how the King interprets their words. Guardsman Thoran was killed outright by such a weapon and others injured, though it seems that none who survived were so seriously injured that they could not ride.

"Now, by chance, Keren, Garia, Jenet and Feteran were not in the camp when the attack happened, but down at the stream which feeds the vale. They hid, but were seen and chased by some six of the attackers. Finding shelter among some large stones, Keren and Feteran faced their enemy with their swords, knowing that the odds were not in their favor."

Tarvan asked intently, "Did not Lady Garia have her swords with her? That would have made the odds three against six, I deem."

Terys shook her head. "She did not. It was early in the morning, they had barely finished breaking their fast when the attack happened. In any event, Keren and Feteran did not need to use their swords, since... a ptuvil... landed among their attackers and killed them all."

Both Milsy and Tarvan gasped with shock. To see such a monster flying high above was bad enough, to have one close at hand was unthinkable!

"How, then, did anyone survive?" Milsy breathed.

"I do not know, dear. From the letter it seems that Keren and Garia decided the creature had obtained sufficient food for itself that it need not cast about for more. It took two of those it had killed and departed, whereupon Keren, Garia, Feteran and Jenet took their chance and returned to the others. By that time the fight had ended and the only task left was attending to the wounded and catching all the frayen, who had been scattered by the battle and the appearance of the beast."

Tarvan whistled. "Maker! It would seem that adventure finds Lady Garia wherever she may be! What happened then, Ma'am? Did they depart immediately, to return to the town and safety?"

Terys shook her head. "It seems not. It took some time to tend to the wounded and they were afraid that the beast might return as they made their way back, finding them easy prey. They may have been right, since some time later, perhaps several bells, the ptuvil returned with its mate and collected the bodies of the remaining four attackers. Only after that had happened did they begin the journey back to the town."

Milsy asked, "The Prince and Lady Garia are safe, Ma'am?"

"Physically, dear, they are, if the letter is to be believed. Of course, such a close encounter with such a beast... I spent a poor night thinking about it. I doubt not the fright will stay with them all for the rest of their lives."

"As you say, Ma'am! We are hundreds of marks away but I feel a little fear myself, just from hearing you recount the matter. I cannot imagine what they may be feeling."

"Just so, dear. They are such terrifying beasts that -" Terys stopped and closed her eyes.

"Ma'am? I understand a mother's fears for her son. If you need someone to talk to, we are always at your service."

"Thank you, dear. You are most kind. Sometimes us older folk have fears that the young do not. Just like Garia, you are thinking of others."

"And the King, Ma'am?"

"Is naturally anxious for the safety of his son and heir, dear." Terys gave the two a sidelong glance. "There are other implications, you should know, because of the attack. It would seem that there was a traitor in their ranks, someone who traveled with them as part of their original company who yet informed others that they would be most vulnerable on such a journey. One of the Dekarran wagonmen, who was killed during the battle on the main camp."

Milsy gasped again. "Do you have a name, Ma'am? I might know of him."

"I do not, dear. As I said, the letter was very carefully worded against others reading it so much has been left untold. Doubtless we will learn more when they return to the palace." The Queen shifted in her seat. "The King is also very angry, you must know. The attack is proof that the attempts against Garia - since we assume that this is but another - are more organized than we had realized. We must now assume that another country is behind all this, even if we cannot yet name Yod with certainty.

"The King has written a decree commanding that Keren and Garia return to the palace immediately, and with as strong an escort as can be provided along the way. For additional protection, they will reside each night in the residences of Gilbanar's nobles whenever possible. We expect the journey to take no longer than seven or eight days, though we all know that journeys of such length cannot be so easily organized, especially where crossing the Sirrel is concerned."

"As you say, Ma'am," Milsy agreed.

Terys made the first smile they had seen on her that day. "Which raises another point, dear. If Garia is to return, and return soon, then she will desire to return to her own chambers, will she not? That means that I must needs find you some other chambers to call your own. I would warn you, it may not be so well appointed as that of Garia, since those suites were designed for the children of Palarand's Kings and Queens." The smile became humorous. "It would seem, dear, that it might be wise to move you in any event. I have learned that, since you have resided there, the cleaning staff have discovered holes in the sitting room carpet."

"Oh!" Milsy put her hand to her mouth, reddening. "Ma'am, I must apologize! I was doing some experiments one evening with a battery and some coils and splashed a tiny amount of acid. I didn't think it would be enough for anyone to notice."

"Perhaps in Dekarran, dear, they might not have noticed." Terys's tone was dry. "Here, and especially along this corridor, the cleaning staff take their responsibilities seriously. Do not alarm yourself, dear. I am told that the carpet can be repaired easily enough. But, mayhap it would be better if you were found somewhere more... suitable for your activities, let us say, and the obvious place presents itself."

Milsy had visions of being sent off to a dwelling in Pakh Lane. "Ma'am?"

"Why, you should move to the quarters of the place you already spend much of your days within, dear. I speak, of course, of the chambers of the Royal Questor. Brovan, who is the present appointee, prefers his own domain, at least for now, and in the new year the Questors should begin thinking of moving to the new College when it becomes ready. Thus, the chambers will likely remain empty, at least until next spring, I deem. There is no reason you should not reside there until then, if not longer."

"Me, move over there? I never considered... Tarvan, what do you think?"

He nodded. "Aye, I had not thought so far but it makes sense, Milsy. You will be near your workplace and you can experiment whenever you have a new idea." He grinned. "If it stops you from carrying jars of acid about the palace, I believe it will be a good move."

"Looked at that way... Ma'am, it seems that it is not only myself who has good ideas. Aye, I will move, but by your leave, not today. We are ready to start the clock going this morning and I would like to get that working before getting involved with moving my things." She had a sudden thought. "Oh! Of course, my dressing room has a mixture of my own attire and that of Lady Garia. I feel that I must needs be present to ensure that the wrong things are not moved."

"As you say, dear. I would not move you immediately, I think. It will take a day or two for the assignments to be adjusted and to make arrangements for your things to be taken to the Royal Questor's chambers. You have other duties, I would not want to interrupt those."

"Thank you, Ma'am." Milsy cocked her head with a thought. "Ma'am, does Garia's return mean that I will no longer need an escort about the palace?"

"Why, dear, do you find their presence irksome? I believe that some might do."

"Not at all, Ma'am. If anything, I am used to their presence now and it would feel strange to walk the corridors without a man-at-arms beside me. I was just thinking of what might happen when Garia gets here."

"Dear, I deem that the King will say that you will still require an escort, for this reason, that you resemble her so much that others might mistake you for her and cause you harm. Do you not agree?"

"Aye, Ma'am. I had forgotten that." Milsy's brow furrowed, her thoughts elsewhere. "So... Garia will be back here in what, two weeks?"

Tarvan asked, "When was the King's letter sent, Ma'am? This morning?"

"Aye," Terys replied. "A letter has already been dispatched to Blackstone and another to Tranidor, because they are so far away. There are other letters to follow, to Haligo, Teldor and Dekarran, but it will be easier to write those and easier to send. Two weeks? Surely not as long as that."

Tarvan grinned. "Ma'am, I know Garia better than that! Their journey north was with one of Master Tanon's caravans to avoid notice, was it not? Yet, as they return, she will be with the Prince in the middle of a large armed escort. No-one who sees them pass could fail to notice who they are. I deem that Garia will be waylaid at every place they stop, Ma'am. Every guildsman will desire to hear her counsel."

Terys's expression sharpened as she realized what Tarvan was saying.

"Dear, I believe that you are right. We may wish them to fly back overnight but that will not happen, will it? A letter may take five days to reach Tranidor, even one so urgent, and Blackstone is two days travel beyond there. It is unlikely that they would depart the same day that the letter arrives, I deem. Therefore, it could be eight days before they even begin their journey back."

"Aye, Ma'am, and they may not travel so fast as the Messengers do, they have wagons and gear which must needs be returned with them. It may be three weeks before they reach the palace again."

Terys turned to Milsy. "Does that answer you, dear?"

"Aye, Ma'am, it does. I was just thinking, once Garia gets back my plans for the future could be disrupted." She grinned. "It won't be anyone's fault, Ma'am, just the effect of all those people appearing again."

Tarvan asked, "What are you thinking?"

"Oh, mainly the coke works. That would be about the time that is ready to fire for the first time, isn't it?"

"Oh, aye. But we can discuss that afterwards, I deem, we do not need to give the Queen other matters to distract her."

Terys asked cautiously, "Do I need to know what a coke works is, Tarvan?"

He grinned at the Queen. "Not today, Ma'am, and probably not in any detail either. It will be a... works... which will make fuel for the new foundries around the capital."

"Ah, I see."

The door opened and Robanar came in. Tarvan and Milsy stood, bowed and curtseyed as appropriate.

"There you are! Am I interrupting anything important?"

"Not at all, dear. These two young people are comforting me after last night's unpleasant news."

Robanar looked at the two and nodded. "Aye, I see. You have my thanks for your attendance this morning."

"As you say, Sire. If we are needed again, you have only to call."

"We are grateful for your attention, young Tarvan. Are we keeping you from your clocks?"

Tarvan started. "Aye, Sire! I doubt not that the laboratory will be full of guildsmen awaiting our appearance. If you would excuse us?"

Robanar waved a hand. "Aye, of course. We have had a shock, it is true, but the work of the palace must needs continue whatever happens beyond the walls."

"Thank you, Sire."

Tarvan and Milsy left to go next door so that she could change into her inventor suit. Once ready for work, the two hurried through corridors and down stairs to the laboratory. When they reached the great chamber it was, indeed, partially filled with guildsmen. These were all gathered around the master clock, which Yubold was endeavoring to explain to the others.

"Ah! here they are!" he said. They nodded to the others as Yubold continued, "There is something happening within the palace, I deem. We wondered if it had anything to do with you, and if the starting of the clock would thus be delayed."

"It was not us," Milsy replied. "Greetings, all. Our apologies for the delay. Their Majesties have had some... disturbing news overnight and Tarvan and I were called to attend the Queen. We are here now, so we can begin what we intended to do yesterday."

Both Parrel and Bayorn were present and the latter asked, "Disturbing news, you said? May we know or do Their Majesties desire to keep it a secret?"

She answered, "Guildmaster, it is simple enough to tell, though we have only been given the bare details. A band of armed men attacked the Prince and the Baroness as they made camp in the remote parts of her lands. The attack was fought off and the King desires that both should immediately return to the palace. I know little more than that, but I expect that the news will be available throughout the palace by lunchtime, with varying degrees of resemblance to what actually happened."

There were in-drawings of breath from several of those present. Bayorn said, "That is serious news, Mistress! Do you know if any were hurt?"

"The Prince and the Guildmistress are safe, Guildmaster. I understand a Palace Guardsman was killed and several others of their small party injured."

There was a short discussion among those present before the topic turned to the reason for everyone being there, the electric clocks.

"I'll begin at the bottom, if I may," Milsy began. "These two doors are where the batteries are kept. I designed the cabinet so that only one door can be opened at a time, to prevent someone accidentally removing both at once and stopping the clock - which would stop all the clocks, of course. To open either door, one must turn the switch above from vertical to horizontal, like so."

Milsy clasped the handle and turned.

"The two handles are connected, so that once one is turned the other cannot be moved."

She waggled the other handle but it refused to turn.

"I can now open the door and push a battery box inside. These are an idea of Bassen, that both keeps the glass jars safe and prevents the battery from being put in the wrong way round."

The boxes were rectangular, held three jars in a line and completely enclosed the batteries except for two copper contacts on the top, next to a carrying handle. The box ends were shaped so that they could only be inserted one way round. Milsy pushed the box all the way in and closed the door.

"Now, I can turn the switch back to vertical and the battery is connected. You can see that nothing happens yet, that's because of this other handle higher up. With at least one battery installed, I could now start the pendulum if I wanted, but as the clock isn't going yet we can leave that until we're ready. What I can do now the battery is in, is to set the time ready for the clock to start."

She pointed to a large door above the battery switches, the lower half of which had a window made from a sheet of the new float glass. Inside they could all see the pendulum, motionless now.

She turned to her audience with a smile on her face. "Now comes the difficult part, or the interesting part if you are so inclined. We must needs set the correct time on all the clocks. As you can see, this clock is presently set to midnight, as being a known position, but it would be possible to start from anywhere else if you have the bell tables to hand."

Bayorn gestured. "How will having the bell tables help, Mistress? As I recall, they do not concern themselves with the new hours and minutes."

The smile turned into a grin. "They do now, Guildmaster, but even if they did not we can use what is printed. With the aide of the Garian numbers, Questor Gerdas has calculated the hours and minutes for certain bells of the day, just so that the Timekeepers may be sure that everything is correct. The new information is printed in an extra column on their tables."

Bayorn frowned. "How does he do that? I thought that such things could only be determined by observation."

Tarvan said, "Guildmaster, it is relatively easy. All sheets already contain the times of noon and midnight as bell times, do they not? We know that a bell is seventy-two minutes long, therefore it is easy to work backwards or forwards to find out the relationship for any day."

Milsy watched Bayorn's expression change at the light dawned.

"Ah! That is a very clever thing to discover, if I may say so." He turned to Milsy. "If you would continue."

"As you wish, Guildmaster. As I said, this clock is set to midnight, but we must now make sure that any other clocks are set to the same time as this one. Of course, if you are adjusting a running system they all should be. For now, the only other clock is in the Family Dining Room. If you would all follow me."

She led the out through the adjacent door and along the corridor to the dining room. Bayorn looked up at the wall above the door line.

"Is that how you take your electricity from room to room, Mistress?"

"Aye, Guildmaster. With your permission, I thought to explain all once we have gotten the clock started."

"As you wish."

They walked into the dining room and immediately turned to look at the repeater clock above it.

"Since this is a new installation, we decided to set the clock to midnight the same as the master clock. If we... when we add more clocks to the system we will not be able to do that. We needed to work out the best way to make sure that all clocks show the same time once any new ones are connected."

Bayorn nodded thoughtfully. "A good point. I trust you have considered this problem?"

"Aye, Guildmaster, and I think I have found a way that works." She gestured. "Having made sure that all clocks show the same time, we can return to the laboratory."

Back facing the master clock, she opened the door containing the pendulum window. Above, and previously hidden by the door, was a panel showing a hole and several small round objects.

"These are the push switches which set the clocks to different times," she said. "They are seconds, minutes, hours and dawn or dusk. The minute switch moves both left and right dials the correct amount. The hour switch moves only the hour hand on the right dial. The dawn-dusk switch of course only resets the left dial but, since both sides work together, its use is important when setting the whole system. We could set the system from midnight but we can save a little time and effort by using dawn instead. So, Tarvan, what time was dawn today?"

Tarvan lifted a set of sheets from a nearby bench and leafed through them, pulling one out.

"Um, today, dawn occurred at the tenth bell and five-sixths," he read. "Since half of the night bells occur before midnight, I deem that will give us five and eleven-twelfths bells since midnight. That in turn gives us..." He consulted the sheet again. "Seven hours and six minutes, Milsy."

"Very well. So, I need to push the hour switch seven times and then the minute switch six times."

She pushed the hour switch and there was a click every time she pressed the switch. The hour hand moved round as she did so.

"I have to do the hour hand first," she explained, "since moving the minute hand will also move the hour hand - slightly. If I did not do it this way it would make the clock hands look strange. Now I have to move the minute hand."

She pushed the minute button six times before turning to her audience.

"The next thing we must do is to set the left dial to dawn, which will make it correspond to the right dial. Doing this won't change the right dial but will set everything else to the proper place."

She pushed the dawn-dusk switch.

Thunk! Ticka ticka ticka ticka ticka click!

She smiled. "Of course, on the right dial, midnight shows the same as noon, so that makes setting that side easier. If the left side had showed noon, and we wanted a morning time, then I would have had to push that switch twice, to set first dusk and then dawn."

Bayorn nodded. "I understand. So, now you have both the right and left sides set to dawn. I presume that you must now make the clock show the present time."

"As you say, Guildmaster. For the purposes of this experiment, we will use the bells of the Great Clock as a guide, but I know that in time we may decide to use other means. Bursila, what time will the Great Clock strike next?"

"Mistress, I believe that we will shortly hear the third bell. I heard the three-quarter bells as we walked back from the dining room."

"Oh! I'd better hurry up, then. Tarvan, when the third bell sounds, what hours and minutes will that be?"

"Um..." He looked at the sheet again. "Ten hours and forty-two minutes, Milsy."

Milsy turned to the others. "Now, our clock already shows seven hours and six minutes, which is dawn. We have to wind both dials on to the third bell. Because that will take a long time and give the possibility of mistakes, I have designed a way of speeding up the setting of minutes."

She reached inside the cabinet below the motionless pendulum and retrieved a crank handle, fitting this into the hole beside the push buttons.

"This is a cheat," she explained. "Behind here is simply a disc with ten notches cut into it that touches another minute switch. That means that turning the handle round once moves the minute hand by ten minutes."

She wound the handle and they watched the hands on both dials move round, the bell disc clicking on as the part-bell hand below it reached the top each time. When the right dial reached the tenth hour she stopped and turned to her audience again.

"The way this works we can use either the left side to set the clock or the right side. You can see that the right side now shows the tenth hour, so we can continue to adjust our clock to show the precise time by setting the minute hand. Forty-two minutes, Tarvan?"

"Aye, Milsy."

She continued turning the handle, but more slowly. "One... two... three... four. That's forty. Now, it would be possible to turn the handle to do the last two minutes but I think it will be safer to add them using the single switch."

She pulled out the handle and made the final adjustments.

"If somebody would open that door, please. We can hear the Great Clock easier that way."

Parrel opened the door and they waited until the sound of the third bell could be heard. When the bell sounded Milsy reached up, grabbed the top handle and turned it vertical. Nothing happened until she remembered that the pendulum had to be started. She gave it a push and they all watched as it settled down to a smooth movement, each swing being echoed by the seconds hand on the dial above. Milsy closed the door, concealing the switches and protecting the pendulum, then dusted her hands and turned to her audience with a smile.

"That, gentlemen, is all we need do. The clock is started and running."

"This seems a lot of fuss, if I may say so," Bayorn said. "Though I will admit, resetting the Great Clock would probably be as complicated. If these electric clocks work the way you intend them to, this procedure would needs only be carried out once."

Tarvan answered, "As you say, Master Bayorn, though a similar procedure must needs be done whenever an extra clock is added to the system. To avoid confusing people then, we would probably adjust the clocks at night."

"As you say. To adjust twenty clocks using only a single switch - that is amazing to me. And of course the time may be seen plainly on each clock dial so they are much easier to set."

Milsy objected. "More than a single switch, Guildmaster, but your point is generally true. It will be possible to correct all the clocks in the palace using just this switch panel."

"I am corrected, Milsy. You have invented something important here, even though I understand very little of it at present."

"Thank you, Guildmaster. It isn't really difficult to understand and I'm sure it will be no trouble to you once you become familiar with the way it works. If we may all go and confirm this in the dining room."

The group trooped out through the open door, along the corridor and into the dining room, where they surprised two men and five women staring at the clock above the door. Behind them, cleaning materials were in disarray, so it was apparent that they had interrupted some normal housekeeping work.

Or, rather, the clock had. The servants bowed and bobbed to the newcomers. One of them asked, "Masters, the... thing over the door, it made a noise and parts have moved! Did we do something that we should not? Is it dangerous?"

Milsy came forward with a smile. Most of those in this part of the palace had become used to her by now, so she was a familiar face and, mostly, approachable.

"Have no fear, friends. What happened to the clock is what was supposed to happen as we set it to the correct time. There is nothing down here anyone may do that will affect the clock."

The oldest man asked, "Mistress, it is a clock? How may this be? I thought the palace clock to be big and mysterious and in a tower somewhere."

Milsy turned to the others. "Guildsmen, I must needs explain to these servants, else strange rumors would run through the palace. They must know what these new clocks will mean to them, for they may make the work of looking after so great a building to be easier."

Parrel nodded. "Of course, Milsy. After all, it is not only our King who needs to know the time as he works. If you would proceed. We will examine the clock as you do so."

She turned back to the servants, who appeared more relaxed now, though still curious.

"It is a clock, one which is installed here by the King's command by way of an experiment. This is, in some respects, the way that clocks are used where Lady Garia came from."

The servants nodded. The lands where the Baroness came from sounded mysterious and wonderful, it would not be surprising if such devices were used there.

Milsy continued, "In Kansas they measure their days in a different way to the way we do in the Valley. There, they do not account the dawn and dusk but measure from noon and midnight instead. Further, their days are divided into twenty-four, not twenty as we do, and this apparently makes it easier to do many things. Master Gerdas finds the new system much simpler for sighting the stars, for example."

They nodded again. They probably had little idea what Gerdas actually did, but they knew he was connected in some way both to the stars of the night sky and the timing of the bells across the land.

"It also makes it much easier for the clockmakers to make clocks," she added. "Since dawn and dusk change every day as the seasons progress, that makes the design of clocks very complicated. Using this new system is much simpler, and thus the King desires to see if it would benefit all Palarand to use it instead of our customary bells."

The man who had spoken before nodded. "I understand, Mistress. Is it permitted for such as we to know how these new clocks work? How may we tell the bells one from another?"

Milsy smiled. "These clocks do not use bells at all since they do not need to. You may discover the time merely by looking at the clock. Now, the King understands that all may find it confusing to reckon by the new system, so this clock, and any others we may install around the palace, will show both the old times and the new times as you can see. On the left, the little window at the top shows the present bell with both our traditional numbers and the new Garian numbers..."

She tailed off as a thought struck her. "How many of you actually know your numbers?"

The man coughed. "I do, Mistress, but not the Garian numbers, whatever they may be." He turned to his companions. "How many of you know your numbers?"

It appeared that the other man and two of the women could use numbers, though with difficulty. The others could just about recognize numbers, though, even if they did not know how to do math.

Milsy thought. "Umm, okay. I'm not sure whether that will make things more difficult for you or not. Learning the Garian numbers should be easier, actually, since there are only ten new shapes to know and they are on the right-hand clock dial. So, the window at the top on the left shows the most recent bell and under it, should it be necessary, another window shows whether it is the bells of day or night.

"Below that is what we call a dial, with a pointer called a hand which goes round once for every bell."

"Oh! I see!" the man said. "So, as we have just heard the third bell, that hand shows that we have had perhaps one twelfth of a bell since, and as we work it will tell us how close we are to the fourth bell. See, Hathra, as that little pointer goes round it shows us how much of a bell is left!" He turned back to Milsy. "You are right, Mistress. Such a device will be a great boon to us, once we have learned the new numbers. May I assume that the other... dial..? counts the time as they do in the lands of the Baroness?"

Milsy wasn't about to confuse matters by mentioning different day lengths, so merely agreed.

"As you say. Now, since they reckon twelve hours between noon and midnight, the right dial is divided up that way. At noon and at midnight, both hands will point upwards together. The short hand thus numbers twelfths which we name hours, and it will go around twice in one day. We account sixty minutes in every hour, so the longer hand numbers minutes and will go round once as the hour hand moves from one number to the next. An hour is shorter than a bell, so the minute hand will go round faster than the hand on the left dial.

"Then we have the very thin hand which you can see moving. That is called the second hand and goes round once for every minute. Each second is one sixtieth of a minute and is about the same rate as your pulse might be. The fact that the second hand moves shows us that the clock is working properly."

Milsy could see the man get confused, and the others weren't much better. "Uh, second hand, Mistress? Surely... that would be the third hand, not the second."

"I'm sorry, it is confusing, isn't it? I think it is called the second hand because it counts seconds. The other hands count hours and minutes."

"Oh. I see." Milsy wasn't sure if they did or not, but she knew from her own experience that enlightenment would come with familiarity. He bowed. "Thank you for explaining, Mistress."

"Any time. Look, if the King decides that he prefers the new way of counting time, then clocks like that one will be placed all over the palace eventually. We'll all have to get used to looking at them to find out the time and we'll all have to learn how to read them."

"As you say, Mistress. What of the Great Clock, then? Will we no longer hear the bells any more?"

Bayorn decided to join the conversation. "Goodman, even if the King does decide that the new way of counting time is better I doubt that the Great Clock will fall silent. So many are used to hearing the bells, even beyond the palace walls, that I cannot foresee a time when it falls silent." He glanced at Milsy before adding, "It is possible that, some time in the future, the Great Clock may be modernized, to make it more accurate, but it will never be stopped."

Milsy thought, Never is a very long time, Guildmaster. If these new clocks become popular, I can think of a time when the old bells might just be confusing to everybody.

The man bowed. "Thank you, Guildmaster."

Milsy told him, "Perhaps you had better carry on with what you were doing. It is possible to waste a lot of time just watching the hands move round." She smiled to defuse the implied rebuke. "I speak from experience."

The man started, gave her a nod and gestured to his companions. They turned and went back to their work while Milsy gave her attention to the others.

Bassen said, "An excellent job, Milsy! I'm sure the King will be pleased."

"Thank you, Bassen, but I could not have done it without everybody's help. I just had the original idea, it required experienced guildsmen to guide the design and make it work."

"Agreed," Parrel said, "but you did have the original idea, and without that no-one among us could ever have dreamed of making a clock like this one. All Palarand will benefit from what we have done here, I deem. If we may return to the corridor? I desire an explanation for the problems you had yesterday."

"As you wish, Guildmaster."

Back in the corridor, they all stared at the wiring arrangement.

"Originally," Milsy said, "we had the wires fixed to those wooden rods -"

"Dowels," corrected Bassen.

"Aye, dowels, Bassen. These were simply tapped into holes drilled in the paneling, which meant that if the wires stretched in summer, any droop would not affect another wire. The problem comes at the ends, where the wires have to go from a horizontal line to a vertical line to enter the Connection Boxes. You see -"

Milsy explained what had happened when two wires touched and the battery was connected. The small fire was easily put out but another way had to be found.

"- Then Bassen suggested a simple wood block to hold each end of the dowel, to fix the wires vertically against the paneling. Personally I think it makes a neater arrangement."

Parrel asked, "What about expansion?"

Tarvan explained, "That is why we have that full turn at the end of each wire, to allow for the heat of summer."

"And when we need to add another clock?"

"That is the purpose of the Connection Boxes, Guildmaster. Wires may come out of all four sides of the box as required and even through the back, as we did at the dining room end."

Parrel nodded. "You have both thought this through, have you not? What will you have to do next?"

Tarvan spread his hands. "Nothing, Guildmaster. As far as we are concerned, the clocks are running and all we must needs do is change the batteries every so often and check that the clocks are not fast or slow."

Milsy added, "Changing the batteries while the clocks yet run will be our next test, Guildmaster. I have done it while developing the master and repeater system but this is different. The King will be relying on this clock system now it is working."

"As you say. Well," he turned to the others, "are we all satisfied with what we have seen? Aye? Then let us return to the laboratory and consider what we must do next."

"Aye," Tarvan said as they went through the door into the laboratory, "Guildmaster, we have another such pair of clocks to prepare for Master Gerdas."

"Oh, aye! Tell me -"

* * *

Terys entered the dining room and joined Milsy, Tarvan and Parrel, who were standing by one of the tall windows that opened into the courtyard between that room and the laboratory.

"Milsy and Tarvan, thank you for attending this morning." She made an aside to Parrel. "We heard bad news yesterday eve and spent a troubled night because of it. These two were very reassuring this morning."

Parrel nodded. "Indeed, Ma'am. I have lately heard the news myself. I can understand how you might be concerned for the safety of the Prince and Lady Garia."

"Thank you, Parrel. Know that the King and I have had further thoughts and realize that, while distressing, the incident appears to have had less effect than we had originally supposed. Aye, they were attacked by a band of armed men, but they fought off the attack. Aye, a... ptuvil... entered the fray but it appears to have left Keren's party alone for some reason. We deem that if they return to the palace with a sufficient escort, there should be little further cause for concern."

"I should hope so, Ma'am! The highways of Palarand are relatively peaceful now, not like the days of old. Remember, too, that your son and Lady Garia are no mean warriors either, from all accounts. I do not consider there will be further trouble, Ma'am."

Terys sighed. "I trust you are right, Parrel. Oh, is the new clock working now? Aye, I see that it is."

"Ma'am," Milsy said, "setting the clock to the right time was... interesting, but now it is working it is there for all to see. Now all you have to do is to stop everybody staring at it all the time."

"What? Oh! Yes, it is kind of addictive, is it not? Is this going to be a problem, do you think?"

"Until the novelty ceases, Ma'am. Lady Garia said that everybody on Earth wore such clocks on their wrists, and there were clocks everywhere. I do not think the folk of Earth stared at them all the time. I doubt not we will become used to them as they have done."

Robanar arrived and everyone greeted him in the usual fashion. He turned and looked at the clock.

"Working? Good. A fine job, all of you." He stared at the clock.

"Dear?"

"Hmm? Yes, my dear?"

"Milsy has just warned us of this, dear. It seems that the clock holds a certain fascination when it is first seen."

"What? Oh, aye." He turned back to the Queen and smiled. "It is something new, my dear, of course we would be interested in it. I do not think you have cause to become alarmed though, since I have too much to do to spend time staring at clocks."

"Then, husband, once you have discovered the time, let us all sit to lunch. Milsy, Tarvan, please sit by us today. You may join us as well, Parrel. Did I hear somebody mention a small fire yesterday?"

Milsy gulped. "Aye, Ma'am, you did. You see -"

Milsy and Tarvan spend some time out at the home of the Royal Astronomer, installing the clocks he requested. On their return to the palace they learn of a recent disaster, which causes plans to be changed.

What Milsy Did

by Penny Lane

22 - Field Work

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 (c) 2017 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

---

Milsy leaned cautiously over the rail and looked down. Twelve strides below, Tarvan's face looked up at her from beside the mansion of Royal Astronomer Gerdas.

She called, "What did you say?"

"I only asked, is the repeater working properly?"

Milsy teased her hair out of her face. "I thought that was what you asked," she called down, "but that flock of avians twittered at just the wrong moment and I lost most of it. The clock is fine, Tarvan. Are you going to come up and join us?"

Tarvan turned, looked back inside the building, then called up, "As you wish."

Milsy also turned, to tell Gerdas, "He's coming up. It looks like everything is working as it should, but of course we don't know if the clock is accurate enough yet. Yubold, do you think you are familiar enough with the master clock to be able to adjust the pendulum and reset the time?"

Yubold smiled nervously. "I believe so, Milsy, but of course I am not yet familiar with this new clock design. If I must needs change anything I fear I may do more damage than I intended to fix."

Gerdas said to him, "But we expect that, young Yubold. This is indeed a new way of doing things and I would not use it for my calculations until we are all satisfied that it functions as intended. Why, the pendulum was only started but twenty minutes ago and we have yet no idea if it will run fast or slow." He brightened at a thought. "Of course, this is the one place where such a clock may be calibrated very quickly, I deem. I need only do my usual sightings of dawn, noon and dusk and I will be able to tell you after just a few minutes of calculation exactly how many seconds fast or slow the clock is running."

Yubold bowed. "Of course, Master Gerdas. I forgot that I am standing, after all, in the one place in Palarand where our time is measured against the stars. It is a pity that I will not have your assistance nearby when other clocks are to be installed."

Milsy looked around the astronomer's sky platform. It was raised above the level of the roofs of the nearby mansion to obtain as clear a view of the sky as possible. Of course, the walls of the Great Valley to the north-west and south-east slightly obscured the horizon in those directions, but Gerdas had told her that the problem was small enough not to cause too much inconvenience.

The platform was six-sided and constructed of good-quality wood which had weathered well despite its apparent age. She estimated that it was about eight or nine strides across, to permit his measuring instruments to be finely graded enough to make his observations as accurate as possible. In the center was a brass plate with a screw socket to locate his devices, while around the perimeter ran two thin brass rings marked out with graduations to determine direction. The outer one was older and divided into 100 parts, each subdivided into a further 10. The newer ring was divided into 360 degrees and then into minutes. A separate plate was set due north to make noon sightings easier.

"Master Gerdas, how did you find out which way north was? Um, I know roughly which direction, of course, but you must needs find the direction more precisely, I deem."

"An interesting problem, young Milsy." He smiled at her. "You would think that, as I need the direction to measure noon each day, that I would use the sun, but in fact I must needs discover the direction at night. You see, the sun moves but slowly from moment to moment and it can be difficult to determine when it is at its highest, which is when noon occurs. At night, however, I may watch the stars as the sky turns and find that place in the heavens which they all seem to turn around. Since we are south of the equator, that point is the direction of true south, so I must merely sight across the platform to determine the direction of true north."

Faranar frowned. "True north, true south, Master Gerdas? Are there, then, other kinds?"

"Indeed there are, Master Carpenter. Do you know of the use of a lodestone?"

The cabinet maker nodded. "I have heard of such an object, Master, but I do not know what it is, how it works or what it is used for."

Gerdas shrugged. "In the Great Valley we have little use for it, but it becomes an important tool if you must needs travel in wilder places, like the deserts of the far west, or if you should sail any craft at sea. It is a small piece of ore that is a natural magnet. This, when suspended, or allowed to move freely by other means, will always point to north and south."

"As you say, Master Gerdas. Since working with Tarvan and Milsy I now know what a magnet is. But..?"

"But the direction it points to is not the same as that the stars would show you at night. Further, the false north, as we name it, seems to move very slowly as the years pass. Yet, it is near enough to the true north that it is of such use to travelers, as I have mentioned. In the seas beyond Vardenale the difference, so I am told, is very small."

Milsy knew a little about magnets, so asked, "Master Gerdas, if a lodestone points in one direction then something must be attracting it that way. Since I cannot believe that an enormous magnet exists somewhere to the north, that can somehow move, that must mean that Anmar is itself a magnet, is that not so?"

Gerdas nodded. "So some of our philosophers would have us believe. Personally, I do not know if that is the case, and if it was, why it should be so." He smiled at Milsy. "I suspect that Lady Garia will be able to provide an immediate answer when she returns from the north."

Milsy smiled back. "As you say! Like many, I am astonished by the amount that someone who is not even as old as myself has already learned."

Tarvan appeared, puffing slightly from the climb. "What did Lady Garia do now?"

"We were speaking of the knowledge she already has, Tarvan. To think, we have so much left to learn."

"Aye. It has already changed many crafts beyond recognition." Yubold and Faranar nodded. Tarvan gave a nod of recognition to their host. "Not forgetting the Questors, Master Gerdas!"

"Aye," the old Questor agreed. "Some find the extent of her knowledge - and, by implication, the lack of our own - to be embarrassing. For myself, I cannot wait to discover more, especially now that I have the tools for the task."

He gestured to the gleaming brass telescope presently moved to one side for the installation of the clock. Tarvan noticed it and had a disturbing thought.

"Uh, Master Gerdas... a question, if you would. When there are storms, does this platform attract the lightning?"

"I have never found it so, young Tarvan. However, when a previous Royal Astronomer resided here, many decades ago, I believe that this platform was struck by lightning and mostly burned away, destroying part of the mansion in the process. That is why it was rebuilt away from the mansion, so that any fire to platform or mansion may not affect the other. Why do you ask? I would not consider we are high enough to attract such a danger. Besides, it is made of wood, not stone."

Tarvan reddened slightly. "Master Gerdas, you may not like what I am about to tell you. It is not the materials which attract lightning, it is the closeness of the tower or platform to the clouds above. Lightning seeks the shortest path from cloud to ground and seemingly cares little what material that path may be made of. However, Lady Garia tells us that as with all electricity, it will flow easier through certain materials than others. Our bodies are one such material, most metals are others. Your telescope may attract lightning, being of metal, and we have now installed a clock which has copper wires running right down to ground level and into your mansion."

Gerdas looked alarmed. "Naturally, if such a storm should threaten then I would not care to be up here and I would make sure that all my instruments, such as this wonderful new telescope, were sheltered safely below. After all, if I cannot see the sky for the clouds then I may not make any measurements, is it not so? But I am surprised at what you say about the clock. Have I made a mistake by asking for one to be placed up here?"

"I do not think so, Master Gerdas. We have many more days, aye, and nights, without storms than those which bring thunder and lightning. The good should outweigh the inconvenience, I deem." He shrugged. "Since this is the first time such a clock has been placed so high, we do not yet know what would happen when a storm occurs. I merely note that it is a possibility."

Milsy added, "Master Gerdas, we have lately become involved in the installation of lightning rods on the towers of the palace. Perhaps you should have such rods installed on this platform, to protect it and whatever devices you may have up here. We are certainly high enough for such to be considered."

Gerdas nodded in recognition, since the matter had been discussed in the Council of the Two Worlds. "Lightning rods? I have not climbed the High Tower since those nights in the summer with Lady Garia. Do you think they would work here? What would they be?"

Tarvan answered. "Master, those we have installed at the palace are strong rods of steel, similar to a spear of iron, which stick up about two strides above the parapet of the tower. Here I would suggest six, one at each point of the platform, to make sure that the structure is safe. They are joined together at their bases by a metal band and from there a thick cable of copper is run down, which is then buried in the earth about the foundations. We understand that the electricity of the lightning would then prefer the metal to the wood and thus damage to the platform would be avoided."

Gerdas considered. "As you say. But these spears of iron, they would stick up and perhaps interfere with my observations."

Milsy said, "That should be no problem, Master Gerdas. Those at the palace are set into sockets, that they may be easily replaced at need. I would suggest the same here, so that you could remove them when you were working up here."

"Spears of iron? As you say, but -" The old Questor paused. "A subject for another time, I deem. Tell me, is this what you expected? The clock up here looks nothing like that below."

The clock on the platform had been set into the railing opposite the landing where the stairway came up. It was below the level of the top rail to avoid interfering with observations and had caused Faranar and his journeyman some thought to provide a secure enough mount for it, so far above the ground. It consisted of a fairly large wooden cabinet with a float glass front, with a pitched roof of beaten and soldered copper to protect it from the elements. Either side of the glass window was a door which permitted a lantern to be placed, making the dial visible at night. There was only one dial, about half a stride across, and this had been painted white to provide a better contrast against the black numbers and hands in poor lighting conditions.

"Actually, Master Gerdas," Milsy replied, "the machinery of the clock is exactly the same as that of the ones being installed in the palace, except that we did not need to include a bell dial. We did not, therefore, need any of the wheels or cams used by the bell part of the clock. That made it very much simpler to make. In fact the frame which holds the wheels is half the size of that in the clock below. We have merely installed it into a larger cabinet so that you may more easily distinguish the numbers."

"But you have run the same number of wires up here from the other clock."

Milsy nodded. "The clock needs a seconds wire to run, Master Gerdas, and wires to set the minutes and hours, together with a wire to return the electricity to the other side of the battery. We decided to provide six, as we have done elsewhere, to avoid having to make special woodwork and brass-work which was different than we have made for all the other clocks. That means that when Master Yubold or any of his colleagues must needs come to adjust the clock, or to clean and oil the parts, they do not find anything that is unfamiliar to them."

"Ah! I see. The design is all the same, then, despite the external appearance."

Tarvan agreed. "As you say, Master Gerdas. We have spent many hours," he grinned, "or bells, it does not matter which, discussing these new clocks with both Clockmakers and Timekeepers. We felt that a standardized design would help prevent confusion though we understand that in time other designs may be made available."

Gerdas beamed at the two. "You have thought of everything! I am delighted to be living in such a time, when the young of Palarand brim with such ideas and energy. Lady Garia may indeed have been the spark but you are joyfully fanning the flames, I deem."

The pair were embarrassed by the praise and were saved by the appearance of Tord at the top of the stairway.

"Master, Mistress," he addressed them, "we are packed away and ready to return to the palace whenever you are ready."

Tarvan said, "Thank you, Tord. I do not know what Master Gerdas intends but his clocks are working and we have but to collect our belongings. Have you enjoyed your outing to the countryside?"

"Aye, Master. It is completely different than life in the palace but, of course, any guardsman must needs be prepared to go wherever his duty takes him." He turned to Gerdas. "Master Gerdas, our thanks to you for permitting us this experience. I believe that we have all learned something new from our stay here."

Gerdas waved a hand. "Of course, File Leader. I knew that these two would require an escort and I reasoned that it was an opportunity for all your men to enjoy a change from the corridors of the palace. With the King's permission, if our two young inventors would come here again I would make the same offer."

Tord bowed. "Thank you, Master." He looked around at the landscape around the mansion. "There is a fine view from this platform, I deem. From here, one may see for many marks in almost every direction. Away from the city I would not expect any trouble, but it would be a poor armsman who did not make use of any platform such as yours to aid his duty."

"As you say, File Leader." Gerdas smiled at Tord. "I understand the potential danger your Mistress faces and I take her safety as seriously as you do. I am relieved that their visit, and yours, has passed peacefully."

There was a dull thump which caused all on the platform to turn. In the fields around the mansion avians took to the air in flocks, their wing beats and cries momentarily smothering the sound until an eerie silence descended.

"What was that?" Tarvan asked. "I have never heard a sound like that before."

Milsy replied, "I think it came from that direction. Look, a little cloud climbs into the sky! That comes from the furnace site, does it not? What are they doing, do you think?"

To the south of the mansion and about five marks distant, the dark shapes of the three blast furnaces could be clearly seen across the flat landscape. The small cloud was now dispersing but there was no other sign giving a clue to what had just happened.

Tarvan shook his head. "I have no idea, Milsy. Doubtless we will be told in time." His tone was doubtful as he added, "Mayhap there has been an accident, perhaps the rope of the crane has snapped, dropping a heavy load of ore to the ground. That would make such a noise as we have heard."

"Mayhap, but dropping a heavy load would not explain that cloud," Milsy objected. "Should we go and have a look when we leave here? Perhaps offer some help? What do you think?"

Tarvan shook his head. "We are not far, it is true, and we are about to leave, but I think we would merely add to the confusion if we were to go to the furnace site now. Let those who are experienced in such matters deal with whatever has happened and we may learn the truth later. What was it that Lady Garia said to do after something unexpected happened? She would gather all who were present and asked them to recount their experiences. I do not remember the word."

Tord said, "A debrief, Master Tarvan. An excellent idea we are employing in the palace as an aid to learning, especially where our lives may have been in danger. Do the guilds have anything similar?"

"There is nothing formal, Tord, that I know of. Oh, there are Guild inquiries, but..." he shook his head. "This is fruitless speculation. Let us return to the palace and any news will come to us in time." He turned to Milsy. "There are other tasks that await us there, we cannot afford time for side journeys."

"Aye," Milsy agreed reluctantly. "As you wish, Tarvan."

* * *

Still wearing her inventor's suit, Milsy walked back through the corridors of the palace towards her new quarters. As usual, she took a diversion through the Family Dining Room to check the clock was still functioning and displaying a reasonable time. This time, however, she found several guildsmen there busily taking out some of the leaded glass panes from the tall doors which opened into one of the palace courtyards. Several were not attending their duty but staring at the clock, a sight now familiar to Milsy as different palace servants encountered it for the first time.

Milsy smiled at the group. "If I may be of help?"

"Your pardon, Mistress, we do not know you," one said. "Do you know what that device is?"

"I must ask your pardon, Guildsmen," she replied. "I am Milsy, Journeywoman of the Metalsmiths. Together with my Master in the art, Craftmaster Tarvan, we practise a craft new to Palarand called electricity. As to your question, we do indeed know what that is, since we designed it, built it and placed it there at the King's command."

Eyebrows rose. "A journeywoman? Well! We had heard rumors... If you had some hand in creating that device, then I deem you worthy of the title. But what is it?"

"It is a new kind of clock, gentlemen. Instead of listening for the bells and working out what you may have heard, you may simply look at this clock and see what time it is."

Milsy gave the men her potted talk describing how the new clock worked and how to use it to find out the time. The two dials caused some confusion at first but she explained the King's thinking and added that clocks like these would probably be appearing elsewhere in the city.

"So you should not be surprised if you see them elsewhere in future," she concluded. "If I may ask what you are doing? Is there some defect with the windows in those doors? Do they leak, or is this something that you do regularly?"

The man grinned broadly. "Indeed not, Mistress Milsy! We are replacing the windows in the doors completely with float glass... Do you know what float glass is?"

She nodded. "I do, I have been to the glass works to see the sheets being poured." She gestured at her apparel. "In fact, my visit there was the reason I had to have this suit made to work in," she explained. "There was a spillage and some splashed on the gown I was wearing."

"I am impressed, Mistress! Not only do you design clocks, I deem, but you visit our workshops and design attire as well!" His gaze narrowed. "Tell me, if there are any other guildswomen, would they be wearing such attire in the future?"

Milsy shook her head. "I cannot answer that, Master. For me, here and now, this attire is appropriate but it will not be so for all occasions. In summer, I deem, I would boil inside this leather. I have other, less sturdy attire for when such protection is not required."

He nodded. "Aye, we also wear less in summer and more in winter... I was explaining the float glass, was I not? We are to replace all the leaded panels in the doors this side with large panes of float glass, to allow more light into the room. As with your clock, this is another experiment commanded by the King. If it is approved, we will probably be asked to put such panes in many of the other windows of the palace."

He rolled his eyes. "This building is huge! To complete such a task, I deem, will take us several years even if we do nothing else. Float glass seems easy enough to make but there is an enormous demand for the sheets since production began. Even if the King's task is given such priority it will still take years to complete."

Milsy agreed. "We are in a similar situation, Master. The King approves of the clock you see there, so he has given instruction for a number of others to be placed about the palace. While we may leave the work of making the clocks to the Clockmakers and Carpenters, we are to survey the corridors that the connecting wires may be placed about the walls."

"Wires?"

She pointed. "If you go through that door, you will see on the upper wall the wires which connect all the clocks together, ensuring that all show the exact same time wherever they may be. Routing the wires through the palace may prove to be an interesting exercise."

"We did see them as we arrived," the man said, "but we thought they were something to do with the ropes that summon servants. Clocks all over the palace, eh? I wish you joy of that project."

Milsy's smile was wry. "Thank you, gentlemen. If you would excuse us, we are recently arrived back at the palace after some days away and we desire to change our attire."

Eyebrows raised again. "You live in the palace?"

"I do, aye. I fact, I now reside over the other side of that courtyard in the quarters of the late Royal Questor, Morlan." All eyes turned in that direction before returning to Milsy. She smiled at them. "A temporary arrangement while we conduct some other projects for the King."

"Ah, I see. Then we shall not keep you, Mistress."

The men bowed and turned back to their work while Milsy, Bursila and four armsmen exited through the door under the clock.

* * *

"You have that look on your face," Tarvan remarked later that afternoon.

"Hmm, what?" Milsy rejoined the real world and turned to Tarvan. "What look?"

"The look that tells me you have just had some wild idea," he replied with a smile. "What is it this time?"

"Oh, I was just thinking about what that glass guildsman said earlier. He thought our wires were to do with the servants' call ropes, if you remember."

"I do. What of it?"

"Well, suppose we actually used some electric wires for that purpose? You'd still have the wires, but they wouldn't need to move so there would be no wear and no need for pulleys or weights or levers. The rope would just close a switch in the chamber and operate a solenoid in the servant's room which would show the indicator. The servant would release the indicator with another switch before attending his or her master or mistress. What do you think?"

Tarvan thought briefly. "It has possibilities," he agreed. "You'd have to build a battery cabinet of some kind in each servants' room or hall but it would be simpler than the one we have for the clocks. Then you'd have to run two wires where there is presently one, but as you said they would not have to move. Hmm. I'll make a note. It won't be a big priority, I'm afraid, because we have so much else to think about. What is already there works, so the King might consider it an unnecessary expense."

"As you say," Milsy said absently. "I was thinking about the solenoids, actually. When whoever does the summoning lets go of the rope, the solenoid will release and the indicator will go away. What I thought was, is there a way to make the solenoid latch itself once the rope was released."

"Why bother? The existing system uses a little catch not unlike our ratchet system, so that once the wheel turns it is held until the servant acknowledges the call and releases it with a pull cord."

"Why bother?" she echoed. "Because I was thinking of a way to do the whole thing with electricity, that's why. So I thought about the way that buzzer worked and if I put a second switch on the solenoid, that could supply a current once the initial switch opened again."

"Oh, I see. That's an interesting idea. What happens when you want the solenoid to release, then? You'd have to disconnect the battery."

"Well, sort of. You'd just have another switch in the second circuit that opened when you pressed it. That would drop out the solenoid." Her focus drifted. "Then I realized that if you could have more than one switch to a solenoid you could have many, and that made me think about what else such a setup could do."

Tarvan smiled. "Is Palarand yet ready for such devices, Milsy?"

"I don't know, but I think it would be useful to do some experiments to see what is possible. In six months time we may have forgotten this conversation."

"Aye, true enough, we have many things to remember." Tarvan considered. "It is worth doing the experiments, Milsy. It will take little time or materials and those we need we have already. If such a self-switching solenoid is required then we will have one ready for use."

"Thank you, Tarvan."

* * *

Both Tarvan and Milsy had changed into normal courtly attire to attend the evening meal. As they entered the dining room they turned, as everyone did these days, to check the clock.

"This is getting to be a habit," Tarvan muttered. "Will we spend our lives staring at clocks, do you think?"

"It is merely a novelty now, Tarvan. For others, it is something new that they are attempting to understand properly. For ourselves, we seek any fault in the working of the clock, since the design is so new. I doubt not that in time everyone will merely glance at our clocks when they need to find out the time."

"You are right, of course. Look, there is Captain Merek, let us join him."

The Captain of the Palace Guard bowed as they approached. "Master Tarvan, Mistress Milsy."

"Good evening to you, Captain," she replied for them both. "What do you think of the new glass in the doors there?"

"Impressive," Merek replied. "I heard Lady Garia describe float glass in council -" all knew that Milsy knew about the Council of the Two Worlds, even if she didn't attend, "- but the reality is somewhat better than I expected. This will bring so much more light into our chambers." He looked at the pair. "Is there something I may do for you?"

"I was wondering if you had thought about the King's decision to have more clocks placed about the palace," she said. "I'm assuming that you would like one in the Large Training Room."

"Indeed I would, Mistress. Since the bells can be difficult to hear back there, especially when the men are making a noise as they exercise, a reliable means of knowing the time would be welcome. Do you tell me that you have one, ready to be fitted?"

Milsy smiled to defuse the bad news. "Ah, no, Captain, I regret that your training rooms are presently beyond our reach. The King desires such clocks elsewhere in the palace at first, especially in chambers near the front, though we have also been asked to provide one for the kitchens. Such clocks take a week to ten days to make, consuming the efforts of five or six guildsmen, and then we have to determine a route for the wires to run. It may be midwinter before we may run wires as far as your training rooms. I did have another thought, though."

"Aye?"

"If we are running wires through the palace, it occurred to me that we could run some more and they could make an improved alarm system. With switches at suitable places and bells everywhere the whole palace may be alerted at an instant."

Merek's mouth opened and closed. Once again, the ways in which electricity could be used had surprised him. Now it had been pointed out, he could see the difference this particular idea could make.

"Why, Mistress, that is such an interesting idea! I know of your work with electricity, of course, but I never considered... Have you thought more about what you would do? How would such a system work?"

"Captain, I have not yet considered any detail." She pointed at the clock over the door. "As usual, when we enter this room, we check the clock to see if it is still working. I do not doubt everyone else does the same."

"As you say, Mistress! Whenever I come here I find my eyes are automatically drawn to it."

"So, we also listen for the bells of the Great Clock, if it is about the time for them to chime, to see if the clock is running fast or slow. Today, I heard the shift-change bell for the Guard instead and it started me thinking about the way things are done in Dekarran. I believe you presently have bells near each of the guard stations to sound alarms, and so on? So that the men do not have to run to some central point to do it."

Merek nodded. "As you say, Mistress. If there is an attack, an alert, mayhap even a fire, it would not do to have somebody run halfway through the palace just to raise the alarm. Each guard station has a small bell in case of need, and when this is rung it is heard and then repeated throughout the building - and along the walls around the Training Field. I assume you have some scheme whereby a switch in each guard station would ring a bell centrally?"

Milsy grinned. "Why bother with one bell, Captain? We can wire all the switches together and then we can ring all the bells at once, all over the building."

"Why, of course! An obvious idea, Mistress, but first one has to think of it."

Milsy grimaced. "It isn't quite that simple, Captain. To begin with, if all the bells ring, how does anyone know where the problem is? We must needs provide a board, in the manner of the servants' call boards, which will tell us immediately which switch was pushed... ah, and possibly what kind of alarm it was."

"As you say. It would probably require some changes to guard practice but I can only see an improvement in our efficiency. If I may think about this idea for a day or two?"

"Of course, Captain. Oh, and these switches need not just be installed at your guard stations, but could in theory be placed almost anywhere inside the palace. Suppose a servant discovers a fire. You wouldn't want them to waste time running to the nearest guard station to raise the alarm."

Merek thought. "As you say." He turned to Tarvan. "Did not Lady Garia mention something in council about fire precautions on Earth? About water pipes and alarms? Is this what she meant, do you think?"

Tarvan replied, "Captain, part of that conversation was during a storm and in the Receiving Room, as I recall. Aye, she did speak of such matters and I will review the notes that were made at the time."

"Or we could just wait until Garia gets back here again," Milsy added.

Merek nodded again. "Indeed. I doubt the King will object to what you have just proposed, so I will give you now a formal request that you investigate such an alarm system for the palace."

"As you command, Captain. I regret that it may take some time, since we are so busy these days, but I already have some ideas how the new system might work. Ah, here are the King and Queen, and with them Master Parrel." She studied their expressions. "They appear upset. Do you think anything else has happened to His Highness and Lady Garia?"

Robanar and Terys made for their seats, causing everyone else to head for the tables as well. Parrel changed direction and approached Tarvan, Milsy and Merek.

Tarvan stated, "Something has happened, Master Parrel."

"Aye," their Guildmaster replied with a heavy sigh. "Come, I will sit with you at table tonight but it would be best if all talk of the accident is left until afterwards."

"Accident?"

"Aye... afterwards, as I said. It is not an appropriate subject for table."

Merek raised an eyebrow. "Does this concern the safety of Their Majesties, Parrel?"

"Thankfully it does not, Captain. If the King does not tell you over the meal I'm sure you will find out all you need to know afterwards."

Merek went off to join the King and Queen while Parrel sat facing Tarvan and Milsy at one of the other tables. Once the first course had begun to appear on the table, Parrel deflected the obvious concerns by asking about their visit to the country.

"Tell me about the clocks you installed for Master Gerdas."

The two recounted their three day trip to the old astronomer's mansion and the installation of the two clocks, assisted by both clockmakers and carpenters familiar with the new equipment. They talked through some of the problems they had faced and how they had solved them, ending with the realization that the viewing platform needed protection from lightning.

"I'll send one of the masons over... no, that won't be necessary, will it? His mansion is all wood, I deem. One of the smiths, then, who made the rods for the High Tower. He can make a survey and measure up what will be needed. Aye, you are right to suggest lightning rods, especially in so isolated a structure. I wonder where else we may need to place them?"

"We saw the furnace site from atop the platform," Milsy remembered. "Should such tall structures also need protection?"

Parrel nodded. "Aye, they do, but there will be sufficient steel structure about the brickwork that most will serve to deflect the lightning away. Some rods to go atop everything, aye, that we will provide, once we know what the final design looks like."

"I forget that things change all the time," she said, "since you are still experimenting with the best way to run the furnaces." Another memory came. "Ah! That was what that noise was, earlier today! The accident you have yet to speak of happened at the furnace site, did it not? There was a noise, we turned and saw a strange small cloud ascend into the sky."

"You saw that? I suppose you did, Master Gerdas lives but five marks or so from the site." His face darkened. "Leave it, I beg you, until we have withdrawn."

The rest of the meal passed in a difficult silence, which spread to the others eating beside them. Milsy wasn't sure whether she wanted to hear what had happened or not, but her natural curiosity kept intruding wanting to know if she could have done anything to prevent... whatever it was. Finally Their Majesties arose and so did the rest of the diners. Robanar walked over to their table to talk to Parrel.

"You have not told them yet?"

"No, Sire, I was about to do so."

The King nodded. "As I mentioned before, call me if there is ought I may do."

"Thank you, Sire."

Most of those dining dispersed and Parrel, Tarvan and Milsy joined those leaving by the doorway beneath the clock. They went along the corridor and into the laboratory.

"Master Parrel," Milsy said, "I think the sitting room would be the best place to talk."

"As you wish, Milsy."

Once seated and comfortable, Parrel began.

"The third furnace has been in operation now for four weeks, with some remarkable results," he said by way of introduction. "If we can feed such a beast with sufficient coke and ore, then we may indeed produce steel continuously, a thing I did not consider was ever possible. Indeed, we now produce so much steel that we are having difficulty finding places to store it!" He waved his hands. "So, we decided to fit the changes we made to that design to the second furnace, in order to provide an alternative supply should the third furnace fail, or when any maintenance is required. Part of that alteration involved adding another steam engine for the sole purpose of supplying the draft to the furnace and also operating the flue recycling system that you suggested, Milsy."

She raised her eyebrows. "That works, then?"

"Aye, once the men found a way to prevent the hot gases from escaping from every joint... The new steam engine was of a different design, since it was intended for a fixed purpose." Parrel sighed. "Unfortunately, while testing it, one of the connecting rods jammed. Perhaps there was some defect in the manufacture of it, who knows. The men operating it tried to clear the jam, but forgot to vent the steam... and also forgot to douse the fire in the firebox. The pressure built up and the safety valve did not operate as it should, the boiler exploded violently, killing two of the men and seriously injuring the third."

"Oh, no! That was what we heard, then."

"Aye. I am surprised that you could hear the sound five marks distant, but perhaps I should not be."

Tarvan was intent. "Master, was anyone else hurt?"

"No, fortunately. Most of those working on Furnace Three were taking a break so were around the other side of the structures. The men operating the crane on that furnace had a narrow escape when a large piece of boiler struck the crane, but fortunately it missed all of them."

"What of the man injured?"

"It is too early to know in detail, Tarvan. He was scalded, certainly, and he will probably lose part of his left arm. The King has asked that he be brought to the palace so that the healers here may attend him, but I do not know if he is able to be moved any distance yet."

Milsy asked, "Master, have you been to the furnace site today?"

"Aye, briefly. The engine is almost completely destroyed, showing the strength of the forces contained within the boiler. The furnace itself is barely touched, except for a few scratch marks on the bricks. Some pipes were damaged, several cables on the crane were either snapped or part separated. My immediate concern, naturally, was for the men, and the families of the men, who I have already been to visit."

"As you say. Most crafts bring dangers with them, even electricity. Does this mean that we must treat steam engines more cautiously, now? Who decides such matters, when several guilds are involved?"

Parrel gave a brief smile. "That should not be of concern to you directly, Milsy. At Midwinter's Night all guilds will join to become the Royal Palarand Institute of Engineers, remember? I doubt not that some kind of Safety Department is even now being proposed. As for the design of the steam engine that exploded, you may be sure that we will examine both the remains and the procedures used in minute detail to discover what went wrong and what must needs be changed. This brings me to the main reason for telling you two about what happened."

Milsy sat up straight. "Master?"

"Since the engine was essentially a metal device, Hurdin has asked me to oversee the inquiry into what happened. That means that my activities for the near future must needs be changed. Tarvan, as a Craftmaster of the guild you will be required to attend a meeting of all Guildmasters and Craftmasters at the Hall of the Guilds the day after tomorrow, to consider any procedures we must needs follow."

"As you command, Guildmaster."

"Following that, I would like you to go to Teldor. As you may recall, I had planned to travel there to oversee the building and fitting out of three new workshops... factories, I suppose I must now name them, being built for the production of various kinds of wire. Since it is mainly the Electricity Department which consumes the bulk of such wire presently, I deem you to be the best person to act in my place."

"As you desire, Master... but what of Milsy? Shall she accompany me?"

Parrel turned to Milsy. "What do you think? You may have ideas which could improve the production of wire, and it would give you a chance to see some new factories being constructed. As your route would pass by Dekarran, I would have no objection to you calling in and seeing your friends in the castle."

The unexpected invitation threw Milsy. "Um, Master, I don't know. There is sufficient still to do here that it may be best if I remain behind... though the idea of such a journey has its own attractions. If I may have time to consider?"

"Of course, Milsy."

"Master," Tarvan said, "Remember that Milsy still resembles Lady Garia greatly. If she were to accompany me we would probably require a strong escort."

Milsy's thoughts changed. "Then that settles it, Tarvan. With the Prince and Lady Garia still on the road Palarand does not need this complication. I will be content to remain here and continue those ideas we discussed today while you travel to Teldor."

"You're sure?"

"Aye, I am. We're still installing clocks in the palace, remember? It would be best if one of us were around should there be need. There will be plenty of time for me to travel north in the new year."

Tarvan looked disappointed but he understood the reasoning. "As you wish, Milsy." He turned to Parrel. "Master, when should I leave for the north?"

"Oh, you have some days yet, I think. I had not planned to go for at least a week, you might as well travel in my stead and use the accommodation I have already arranged. There is plenty of time for you to plan your own affairs and those of Milsy."

"Thank you, Master."

Parrel leaned forward. "Did I hear you speak of new ideas, discussed today? Should I be interested?"

Milsy replied. "It was about some further wires, Master Parrel. As we were standing in front of the dining room clock this lunchtime I realized -"

Milsy began describing her thoughts on an electrical alarm system for the palace. Part way through this discussion an armsman knocked on the open sitting room door.

"Something we can do for you, Taren?"

"Mistress, Rosilda is without, bearing a new garment she says is for Master Tarvan."

"For Tarvan?" Milsy realized what it had to be and turned to Parrel. "Guildmaster, you may wish to see this. I believe this was a garment that Lady Garia commissioned for Tarvan and for other guildsmen, who are likely to be working in filthy conditions in the future."

"Ah, I remember some talk of such a garment. Aye, by all means let her join us."

Rosilda appeared and curtseyed. "Guildmaster, Master Tarvan, Mistress Milsy. I have here a special garment Lady Garia suggested long ago to protect those who worked on steam engines and in other unpleasant places. She gave it several names, I recall, we have named it overall, since that is surely what it covers."

She held up a garment of unbleached cotton which combined arms, body and legs. There were odd metal closures down the front.

Tarvan stood. "Do you want me to try it on?"

"If you would, Master Tarvan. As I recall, the original commission was for an item which could be worn loosely by men of slightly different sizes, such that we would not need to make them especially for each person but they could be made in a small range of sizes to fit all. Thus, you may find that the arms or legs are long or short, this should not mean that the garment is wrongly made."

Tarvan nodded. "I understand, Rosilda." He turned to the others. "If you would excuse me. I will use the bedroom to change in." He took the garment and left.

Parrel turned to Rosilda. "My thanks to you for the suit you made for Milsy, Rosilda. It protects her well yet still looks suitably feminine. Would this design be available for other guildswomen in due course?"

"Indeed, Guildmaster, that was the original idea. Once Mistress Milsy has tested the suit and discovered any faults then the design will be made available to all." She frowned. "Of course, in that case the Palace Wardrobe would not be making them, would they? To whom should the pattern be given, Guildmaster?"

"An interesting question, Rosilda. At present each guild member provides their own clothing, with the exception of special items such as aprons, goggles and boots. Perhaps the Leatherworkers may take on the task."

Milsy grinned. "I know one person who will ask the Palace Wardrobe to make her a set, Rosilda. Lady Garia! I'll wager that will be the first thing she will want when she sees me wearing mine."

Rosilda was doubtful. "As you say, Mistress. I contemplated making her a suit to await her return to the palace but then I thought, she has been away some time, her sizing may have changed. Surely she will have other matters on her mind when she returns? I do not think your suit will be of such consequence."

"I think I know the way her mind works so I'll wager two soos, Rosilda. I know we don't use coin in the palace so it will be a wager of thought only. What say you?"

Rosilda smiled. "As you wish, Mistress. Two soos it is. I will await that meeting with interest."

There was casual talk about work clothing until Tarvan appeared wearing the overall.

"What do you think?"

Parrel eyed him up and down. "It seems to fit you fairly well, Tarvan. I see you rolled up the bottom of the legs."

"Aye, Master. With the court shoes I wear in the palace it is better to roll them up, with the boots I would normally wear in a workshop I would not need to do so. This suit would be useful working inside the furnaces or indeed when making steam engines. I wish I had had something like this to wear when we began cleaning the laboratory."

Rosilda explained, "Guildmaster, we already have Master Tarvan's measurements on file, as he is a palace resident. Thus, this garment was made with him in mind."

"Oh, I see. Of course. What are those metal squares down the front?"

"An idea of Master Fulvin's, Guildmaster. It occurred to us that the usual ties would not work, nor buckles, since they could catch in whatever was being worked upon. Master Fulvin designed these clasps which lie flat yet are easy to undo."

"Aye," Tarvan agreed. "It took me a little while to work out what to do but once hooked together the method is obvious. Mayhap once Fulvin has perfected his zipper we could use those instead."

Parrel was puzzled. "Why would you desire a zipper when these work perfectly?"

"Master, these will be fine for many jobs, but dust and fine grit can work their way between the clasps. As I understand it, the teeth of a zipper seals the whole length of the opening, preventing dust and grit from entering."

"Ah. As you say. If you would turn around."

There was some discussion about the amount of slack in various places and the design of the collar before all agreed themselves satisfied.

"Rosilda, I can state here and now that the Metalsmiths' Guild will likely request a large order of such garments, to be provided as soon as possible. What say you?"

The seamstress shrugged. "Guildmaster, the design is easy enough to produce, provided the cloth may be found. As with Mistress Milsy's suit, I am not sure who would make them."

Parrel thought. "Leave that decision to me, if you would. I foresee another department, one charged with providing uniform working apparel for the Engineers of Palarand. It makes little sense for the production of work wear that all must need, to be scattered about the land when we are building factories for many other purposes. Let us see if we can find a way to produce these garments in quantity." He smiled. "As Lady Garia is fond of saying, let us think big."

Milsy's roll-out of clocks in the palace comes to an abrupt halt when one refuses to function. Tarvan gets ready to depart for Teldor while Fulvin disappears again. Matters are complicated further when a small group of strangely dressed visitors arrive, one of them of high status!

What Milsy Did

by Penny Lane

23 - Unexpected Arrivals

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 (c) 2017 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

---

Milsy frowned. She was standing at the top of a step ladder at one end of one of the palace kitchens, an environment she was very familiar with. It was hot and sticky, despite all the windows and doors being thrown wide. In front of her, on the wall, was a glass-fronted cabinet showing a double clock face; the door itself had been opened so that she could work on it and the dial plate had been unscrewed so that she could see what was happening inside the mechanism.

"I don't understand," she said to Yubold, who stood below, mopping his face. "I can hear the solenoid clicking, I can actually see it moving, yet it does not move far enough to pull the ratchet. The fact that it moves tells me there is no gap in the wires along the circuit but something is clearly wrong."

Yubold's expression was sympathetic. "I can offer you no remedy, Milsy. I now know enough to understand how such a solenoid circuit works but not why. I would like to learn more, to be able to better design and make these new clocks, but I think I am correct in saying that you know little more than myself?"

Milsy sighed and climbed down the ladder. "Aye, Yubold, you are right. From what Tarvan says, he knows little more than me, and Lady Garia - the Guildmistress - knows little more than he does. We - Tarvan and I, that is - have of course more familiarity with electricity than yourself or any of the other clockmakers... anyone else, really, but our knowledge of the subject must be considered small. Our immediate problem is that this clock does not work though all the others do. Why? What is different?"

Yubold shook his head. "Shall we go and tell young Sterret that he need no longer stand by the master clock? We can talk along the way."

"Aye, why not? I have worked in kitchens before and I know that if one has no business there it is an unpleasant place to be."

The clockmaker grinned. "Except in the depths of winter, I deem. Let me put this ladder out of everyone's way, else we will be accused of causing somebody to trip."

As they walked out of the great chamber Milsy remarked, "That wouldn't have worked in Dekarran, Yubold. The kitchen there is deep inside the castle and stays the same temperature all the year round, as indeed do most of the chambers. Master Samind, who oversaw the running of the kitchens, would not permit any inside who did not have a task there."

"I would think not. A kitchen such as this is in every respect a workshop, saving that it is not run by guildsmen, and I would expect a similar rule to that we follow ourselves with our own workshops." He looked up. "Would it serve our purposes to retrace the route that the wires take? I am now familiar enough with this part of the palace that I know a quicker way, though we could not route the wires that way."

"That's a good idea, Yubold. Mayhap there is something about the way we have strung these wires which makes the difference."

They continued walked the corridors of the lower floor, trailed by Bursila and two armsmen. As they walked they looked up to check the wires, strung along the paneling of the walls above the doorways. Every so often a flat wooden box indicated a joint or a change of direction.

"Where does that go?"

"Nowhere yet. When we receive enough repeater clocks and other materials, we may tap off that box to go to the Large Training Room and the Armory." Milsy shrugged. "There are no more yet planned that direction but I could see at least two more being placed in the barrack blocks, three if they include the stables."

"I can understand why. Even with the few we have already placed it becomes natural to look for a clock first when one must needs know the time. I am astonished how my own habits have changed and I cannot wait for clocks to become more commonplace."

"You'll have a long wait, I deem. Guildmaster Bayorn has yet to find a suitable site for his new workshop, so I hear. Until he can set that up, we are restricted to, what? Three clocks every two weeks if we are lucky. That was the last that I heard."

"You heard right, Milsy. I am amazed that we can produce them as fast as that myself, but it is only with the aid of your brass workers in Pakh Lane and elsewhere. That trick for making the wheels has made a huge difference to the speed of clock making."

"Aye! Oh, we turn left here." A little further on she pointed. "Look! That joint box now feeds the clock in the Family Dining Room and will also feed a clock somewhere in the Palace Wardrobe."

"So the master clock in the laboratory isn't connected any more?"

"As you say. We decided to leave it there to use for experiments but it has no repeaters attached at the moment. We removed the connections while you were setting up the clock in the Receiving Room, if you recall."

"Oh, aye! I do remember now. There is so much going on at once in the palace that it is easy to become confused."

"I can only agree! Now somewhere around here we must needs make a fresh joint, since His Majesty has decided to have a repeater in his sitting room, though when it will be fitted I have no idea. At this rate, probably some time in the new year."

Yubold looked at the wiring loom thoughtfully. "To do so, you'll have to take out all the wires and replace them with fresh, since they will not be long enough to be cut and accommodate a joint box."

Milsy wrinkled her nose. "Aye, you're right. In some places we have left extra wire but it is difficult to ensure that none of the spare loops touch each other. There must be a better way to do this, but right now we have not the time to consider such ideas, we are far too busy."

Yubold rolled his eyes. "As you say! I cannot remember a time I had so much to do." He studied the wall above the wires carefully. "How are you going to get the wires upstairs?"

Milsy grinned. "One of the drains people has told me that, somewhere on the other side of this wall, there is a space where the outlets from some of the upstairs bathing chambers descend. He said that one of the old Chivan sewer tunnels runs below the courtyard on that side." She pointed. "It is a fairly big closet, so I was told, though I have not yet seen it myself. Harion claimed that there would be plenty of room inside to run our wires up the walls without getting in anybody's way, and the best part is, the closet space goes right through the floor and all the way upstairs, so we can bring easily the wires out to the corridor above. What do you think?"

"An ideal solution to an awkward problem, I deem. Are there many such spaces in the palace, do you know?"

She shook her head. "Apparently not. Most of the plumbing is above the upper floor ceilings and all the call wires are up there too. Of course, most of the bathing chambers are on the upper level since that is where most people reside."

"As you say. Ah, could we use that upper space, where the pipes are, to carry the clock wires?"

"It was something we considered, but because of the way that the attic space is constructed, so I was told, and with the pipes and call wires going everywhere, it isn't really practical to do it that way. Besides, if the wires are in the corridors it will be easier for us to install and alter them. Imagine crawling along above a bedroom ceiling somewhere and not knowing where to drill holes to drop the wires through! Whoever is below could be upset, especially if we happen to choose the wrong ceiling to make holes in."

"Could you not drill up from below? Then you could choose the right place to make your holes."

"We dare not, Yubold. If we did that, we might drill through a water pipe and that would cause real problems."

"As you say! Our task is hard enough as it is, Milsy."

She stopped and frowned. "Aye... I think that since we have connected in the new clock, we had better make sure that the others are still working. Something strange is happening and it might affect the other clocks."

She turned and headed back to the Family Dining Room. Inside were three servants she had never seen before, staring intently at the clock over the doorway. She smiled at them.

"If I may help?"

There followed the customary question and answer sequence that Milsy could now recite without giving it much attention. She saw, with some relief, that the clock still seemed to function normally. Once the servants had been satisfied the group resumed their way through the corridors to the new closet where the master clock was now located, along the corridor next to the Great Clock. Standing in front of the closet was Sterret, Yubold's journeyman, and with him were Faranar and Winto, the palace joiners who were charged with making the cabinets, along with Bassen, the palace's senior carpenter. All were apparently waiting for Milsy and Yubold to appear.

Sterret was the first to speak. "Mistress Milsy! Nothing unusual has happened here since you departed. Does the kitchen clock work?"

She shook her head. "No, Sterret, it does not, and we do not understand why. We have checked all the wires between the last joint box and the clock, the solenoid appears to operate but it is not sufficient to pull the ratchet over."

This news was received in silence by all those waiting. Until now the four clocks they had installed, or re-installed in the case of the one in the Family Dining Room, had all worked perfectly as expected. To have a setback, and for an unknown reason, was disturbing.

"Do you think you can find out why, Milsy?" asked Faranar.

She gave him a faint smile. "If I cannot work out the reason, then I doubt anyone can. You should all understand that my knowledge of electricity is not very great, even compared to that which Lady Garia knows, and she has told us herself that she has only a basic understanding of the subject."

Sterret began to object. "But -" He subsided into silence.

"It should not be a problem," she reassured them, "since electricity on Earth was developed the hard way, by trial and experiment. We are entirely capable of doing such trials and experiments ourselves, are we not? For now, it is enough that the four clocks we have already installed work as designed, to the benefit of all. When I am able to find some free time -" she grinned at them and rolled her eyes, "- I will attempt to discover what we have done wrong."

For the first time she noticed who had gathered by the master clock cabinet. "Is there some other problem?"

Faranar shuffled his feet. "Aye, Milsy. We have run out of the connecting blocks for the joint boxes, which is not surprising when one considers how many each box uses. Since they are of brass our supply comes, as you know, from some source arranged by Master Fulvin. I sought to find him to request more but he cannot be found."

Bassen added, "He is not within the palace, I deem. We have made a discreet search of the places he is usually to be found. I even asked his journeymen, they tell me they have not seen him since the day before yesterday."

She groaned. "Oh, no! I'll wager he has been distracted by his zipper project, and that he is in the workshop in Pakh Lane." Most of the others nodded, they knew about Fulvin's 'other projects'. She reached a decision. "Ah, if you would let me handle the problem, gentlemen. Master Fulvin has already suffered the wrath of Their Majesties, let me see if I may rescue him before he does something that has no remedy."

"As you desire, Milsy."

"Tell me, Faranar, is the lack of blocks causing you any immediate problem?"

The Master Carpenter shook his head. "Fortunately, nothing that we cannot work around." He shrugged. "From time to time we suffer shortages of nails or screws, this will be no different. We will simply continue doing as much of the other work as we can until the parts are delivered."

Milsy nodded. "Very well." She glanced at the dials of the master clock. "Now, if you will excuse us, we must needs get changed for lunch. After lunch I will have a messenger sent to Pakh Lane..." She paused and considered. "No, I think I'll go there myself. I have to speak with Master Dubanar about several matters and the carriage ride will give me a chance to think about the kitchen clock."

* * *

Entering the Family Dining Room, Milsy found Robanar and Terys talking with Kendar and Captain Merek. Terys noticed her come in and beckoned her over. She joined them and curtseyed.

"Ma'am?"

Terys smiled. "Dear, it has occurred to me that you may be of some particular assistance in the days to come. We have received word that an unexpected visitor will arrive at the palace this afternoon, a Princess from a far distant land, so we are told. In fact, the land is so distant that we know nothing of it at all. Indeed, we can say that since Garia came to us we know more about Earth than we do of Einnland!"

"Einnland, Ma'am?" Milsy screwed her face up over the unusual name.

"Indeed, dear, and you now know as much as I do. The King has of course exchanged the customary greetings with the King of Einnland from time to time but that is about the extent of our knowledge."

"You want me to find out more about... Einnland, Ma'am?" Milsy was doubtful. "I do not know how easy it will be to do that."

Terys tutted. "No, no, dear, we may safely leave such onerous tasks to our Questors and, perhaps, to some of our more widely traveled traders."

"Oh! You mean Master Tanon, Ma'am?"

Terys smiled again. "Did I not know you had a sharp mind, dear? Indeed we shall ask him when he next calls at the palace. No, we do not ask that of you, we will probably discover all that we must needs know from the girl herself, once she has settled in."

"As you say, Ma'am. But... do you know why she comes? It seems strange to me that such a person would travel so far on her own... What of her parents? Has there been some disaster?"

Terys replied, "The message we have had from the Duke of Plif was brief and gives few details, dear. Only that she arrived by sea and that her ship nearly sank after several storms. She leads a small party only, the rest of her crew remaining behind to repair their ship. Why does she come? Well, you should know that it is the custom of the Valley states to send the daughters of their rulers away to marry the heirs of other states. I myself came from Stirmond, a country many, many marks along the Sirrel, far beyond even Yod, to marry Prince Robanar, as he then was. It is possible that she is coming here for that reason."

"To marry Keren? Oh, I see!"

Milsy considered. It had been a few weeks since she had seen Keren kiss Garia and she had no idea if that had developed into something more or if Keren had treated Garia simply as he would have treated a sister. On the other hand, she did know about the kind of alliances nobles, Dukes and Kings made in marriage and a Princess might be thought a more suitable match.

"But... Sire, Ma'am, what of her parents?"

"Dear, we will only discover the truth when she arrives some time this afternoon. Until then, it is pointless to speculate."

"Of course, Ma'am. My apologies. If you would excuse me, I do not know how such visitors are received in the palace."

Robanar answered. "My dear, as you may be aware anyone who requests hospitality throughout the Valley will receive it from anyone, be they the poorest farmworker, merchant, guildsman or noble of any rank. That is the honorable thing to do, after all. Our guest will arrive but, until she does so, we will not know her true purpose or how long she intends to reside with us. If I read the Queen aright, she will present herself differently to us, her hosts, than she might do to... others who reside in the palace, say, like yourself."

Milsy saw the point and nodded. "Ah! I understand, Sire. Aye, the like used to happen in Dekarran, when visitors came to the castle. Not that I ever saw much of them, of course." She continued, "You wish me to observe the visitor and give you my own impression of what she says and does."

Terys turned to Robanar. "There, dear! Did I not tell you that Milsy would understand immediately? She may observe without being noticed herself, and being clever, may see things that others miss."

"As you say, my dear." Robanar turned to Milsy. "You will do this for us?"

Milsy curtseyed. "As you command, Sire." She added, "I will do what I can, but of course I am as busy as both of you must be. If you feel that you require more or less of my attention on this matter, you have only to command."

Robanar said, "You are very thoughtful, my dear. We will greet her with an evening meal in the Receiving Room tonight, I think. Does the clock in there still function?"

"Aye, Sire, it does. Oh, I must needs report that the clock we are attempting to install in the kitchens does not work and we do not yet know why."

"Ah? I'm sure that you will keep me informed."

"As you say, Sire."

* * *

The carriage turned into Pakh Lane and traveled all the way to the end where the main workshops were. Milsy was interested to see that, unlike her first visit, there were very few people idling on the street. However, she was still spotted climbing out and soon Craftmaster Dubanar appeared from within, wiping his hands on a rag.

"Mistress Milsy! Welcome again to our workshop. Come into our office and you can tell me what we may help you with today."

"Several reasons, actually," she replied. "If I may instruct our escort first."

"Of course. I regret that you need them but I understand the dangers you still face."

As they walked inside she remarked, "Not so many about in the lane today, I see."

"Indeed not! We have employed almost all of them in this workshop or the five others along the lane." He grinned. "We have had complaints from the tavern keepers that trade is down, but I deem that most slake their thirst every evening after work so I doubt that they are losing much. Now, what may the Brassworkers do for you today?"

Milsy had a general discussion with Dubanar about various matters of common interest before she raised the first of the two which had caused her to make a personal visit.

"Are you making the little connecting blocks here that we use for jointing our wires? Faranar at the palace says that they have run out and that Master Fulvin arranged the supply."

Dubanar frowned. "Connecting blocks? We have so many new items to make, these days. If you would describe them."

"I ask your apologies, Craftmaster, I should have brought a sample with me. They are about this big," she said, holding her finger and thumb a short distance apart. "There's a threaded screw hole in the middle to fix them to the back of the box, and on either side there's a larger plain hole with a shorter threaded hole going halfway through it. You supply the screws for the threads as well. Does that make any sense?"

Dubanar nodded. "Aye, it does. Parsan," he spoke to his young assistant, "did you recognize the part from the description?"

"Aye, Master."

"Go and find out who makes them and see what the supply is. If Milsy has none we may be able to give her some to take back to the palace when she returns."

Parsan bobbed, said, "Aye, Master," and ran out of the office.

"What do you use them for?" the Craftmaster enquired. "So many! We must have supplied hundreds of them already."

"Oh, well that's easy to explain," Milsy told him. "When we need to joint our wires -" She briefly described the joint boxes and added, "Since we have six wires, and they can come out on any side or through the back, we could use up to thirty in one box, though that would be very unlikely. Normally we need twelve for a straight joint or eighteen when we have to branch the wires."

"That sounds complicated, if I may say so. Though," he added, "I never realized what complicated meant until I saw the inside of one of your new clocks! The steam engines were a puzzle also, until I perceived just how each part functioned."

"Just so, Master Dubanar. I think most things are like that. I was brought up, as you know, in the great kitchens in Dekarran and so I understood how everything in there functioned all the time. A visitor to the kitchen would only have seen a confusion of people running about and doing strange things." She smiled. "Perhaps if I bring a spare joint box when I next visit, you will understand how everything fits together."

Dubanar bowed his head. "If you would, Milsy. Many of the new items we make are strange to us, it is often useful when we can see how a part is to be used."

"As you say. Now tell me, if you can, have you seen Master Fulvin lately? I would have asked him about our joint blocks but he is nowhere to be found."

"I have not seen him lately. Is he not at the palace? I know the building is large, surely he must be somewhere you have not yet searched?"

Milsy shook her head. "His own subordinates have not seen him for two days. The Palace Guard would normally know where somebody is to be found, I enquired discreetly. Nobody has seen him at all, it seems."

Dubanar turned. "Then when Parsan has returned from his errand, we must needs search the other workshops along the lane. I know he is not within this one."

"Thank you, Master Dubanar. If Their Majesties were ever to discover his absence, there would be trouble."

"Aye, indeed! We must not let that happen if we can discover a different way."

Parsan returned bearing a small cloth bag, which he handed to Dubanar.

"Master, Tanik gave me these and to tell you that there would be more only Master Fulvin took a box of the blanks away with him yesterday morning and he has to cast some more when he can get time at the furnaces."

"He did? Oh, thank you, Parsan." He opened the bag to check the contents. "Ah, it looks like there may be fifty or so here. Milsy, you may take these back with you."

The two exchanged a look.

Milsy remarked, "He's obviously thought of something, I deem. Some new kind of tool or machine which is intended to make the production of these -" she gestured at the bag, "- that much easier."

"Aye. So, let us go along the lane and find out what new device he has wrought."

Milsy secured the bag and gave it to Bursila. They then left the office, walking out of the yard into the end of the lane. She glanced at the motley of buildings along it.

"Where do we begin, Craftmaster? How many workshops are there along here anyway?"

"Five, now, apart from the main building behind us. When you first came there were but three. I suggest that we try the ones he used before, since we know he has machinery there."

"Mistress?" That was Tord, getting interested in Milsy's activities.

"Oh, we're going to walk along here to try and find a certain jeweler of our acquaintance," she told him. "The carriage might as well stay here until we have finished."

"As you wish, Mistress. I'll send two men with you, if I may."

"Of course."

Milsy remembered the little dwelling where Fulvin had set up his zipper workshop but he was not there. Neither was he in the rough shed where prodigious quantities of brass buckles were now being produced. However, the charge-hand in the latter place told them, "Master Fulvin is at number thirty-eight, Master and Mistress."

Dubanar nodded. "Oh, aye! Thank you, Korbin." To Milsy he explained, "A new workshop has been set up there to experiment with the new bearings which Lady Garia told us about. Doubtless Fulvin has some device which he considers will benefit from using them."

Milsy frowned. "Bearings?"

"Aye... They have an ingenious design where the two surfaces do not rub one against the other but are kept apart by little balls or cylinders, thus reducing friction. The newer models of steam engine have begun to employ such bearings on their axles, but I think the one you have at the palace is too old. The best way to explain is to go there and show you, I deem. Then you will understand."

They walked out of the workshop and diagonally across the street to another converted building. From its size and the placement of windows and doors, Milsy thought it might previously have been a tavern. They went in and were greeted by the charge-hand, who looked suspiciously at Milsy.

Dubanar put up a hand. "Calm yourself! Guildswoman Milsy has as much right to enter here as I do. In addition, being a woman, she must needs have a chaperone while in our workshops."

The man bowed and gestured for them to enter, raising an eyebrow at the two armsmen who had stationed themselves either side of the doorway.

"I reside at the palace," Milsy explained. "Because of my resemblance to Lady Garia... the Guildmistress, it was felt wise to provide me with an escort. The men will remain without and not interfere with your activities."

"As you say, uh, Mistress," the man said, obviously uncertain how to address her. He switched to a safer visitor and asked Dubanar, "If I may help, Craftmaster?"

"We seek Fulvin. Is he here?"

"Oh, aye! He is just there on the right."

The court jeweler turned as the group approached.

"Master Dubanar! And Milsy!" His face fell. "Am I in trouble again?"

Milsy said, "You will be if you do not return to the palace with us this afternoon. Bassen says you have been missing these two days... or was it three?"

Fulvin looked embarrassed. "I must admit I have not counted the passage of the days," he told them. "I came here... when was it? I do not know. I was given leave by His Majesty to visit and discover progress on the zipper project," his face became animated, "which is progressing very well indeed! Before we leave I must show you what has been done."

His expression changed. "Faranar asked me to bring back a batch of the little brass blocks you use for jointing wires, so I went into the main workshop. There I saw journeymen drilling the holes and it occurred to me that, since the drill need only go up and down, then perhaps a modified version of my press would serve to make more accurate holes. For that I would need bearings that would allow the axle to turn as well as slide up and down, so I came here where such things are made."

Huh? Oh, he means to put the drill... bit? on the end of the press and then it can just slide up and down.

Oh, but the drill must needs turn, so that's why... but how will he make the axle turn? Will he use some kind of electric motor, or... How does he intend to transfer the movement from a fixed axle to a moving one?

Milsy forced herself with difficulty to remain focused. "That, um, sounds interesting, but I doubt Their Majesties would agree, Master Fulvin. I think you must needs return with us and we will make it look as if you had only paid a brief visit here as you originally intended."

Fulvin gave her a grateful smile. "You are young but yet you have a good understanding of the ways of the court, Milsy. If I may give instruction to those who are making things here for me, I will join you as quickly as I can."

He was as good as his word and the enlarged party returned outside. Fulvin led them to what Milsy now thought of as the "zipper workshop" and waited outside until the jeweler reappeared with a small bag.

"I have here a sample zipper which actually works," he said, indicating the bag. "Perhaps it would be best if I showed it to you once we have returned to the palace."

Back at the carriage, Milsy gave Tord instructions to let Fulvin out the moment that the carriage was admitted through the service gates.

"He can sneak through the kitchen entrance and deliver these joint blocks to Faranar in the palace workshops," she explained. "People will see him wandering about the corridors but then that's where he is supposed to be, isn't it?"

Tord smiled. "Aye, Mistress. It seems you have as good an eye for intrigue as the Baroness does."

"Humph! You have to remember where I grew up, Tord. Now, perhaps we'd better be going. Remember, we are supposed to be having visitors this afternoon and we'll all need to look our best."

"As you say, Mistress!"

Of course Fulvin could not wait and once they were in motion he dug into the bag, to bring out a recognizable zipper. He handed this to Milsy to examine. It consisted of two strips of heavy cotton ribbon, each with brass teeth and a slide which went overall. At one end the two ribbons had been sewn together to prevent the slide falling off and at the other...

"What are these? They look like teeth that are too big."

"I merely reproduced what was on the original, Milsy. The function of those two larger teeth is to prevent the slide from coming off the top of the zipper. The fact that they are bigger, and of a different shape, complicates the device we designed for fixing the teeth to the ribbon, but it is not such a big problem. At the other end, we have sewn the strips together for the time being but on the original is a kind of brass staple which holds everything in place. I am having some dies made to fix the staple into the cloth and then we will be ready to begin producing small numbers to prove our ideas. What do you think of it?"

"I am astonished, Master Fulvin, and so will the King and Queen be when they see this. I did not think you had come so far in such a short time."

Their carriage approached the palace compound and turned down a street which ran along the south-east side. Part way along the walls of the original fort a gateway had been knocked through and turned into a proper defendable entrance. Beyond was a yard where produce for the kitchens was delivered and a narrow lane also ran right, inside the wall, to the stables and the buildings where the carriages and wagons were usually housed. Today the heavy wooden gates were wide open as usual. Naturally, Milsy's carriage turned into the gateway and was nodded through immediately her escort was recognized.

Behind them, another carriage had seen them turn and followed them in. There was a shout and the dranakh halted, while guards tumbled out of the gatehouse to surround the vehicle. Milsy's carriage also stopped immediately and she climbed out followed by Fulvin and then Bursila.

"There's a distraction," she said to Fulvin in a low voice. "Look, go inside while everyone is looking the other way."

Fulvin nodded thanks with a smile. "Once again I am grateful to you, Milsy. I'll see you at table this evening?"

"Aye... remember, it will be in the Receiving Room."

Milsy could only recognize three liveries, those of Dekarran, the Palace and Master Tanon. As she turned her attention to the carriage that had been behind hers, the fact that the livery was different had no significance.

"Mistress, is this safe?" That was Tord, who had by then dismounted and joined her.

"I have no idea," she replied, "but that carriage has only one man on top beside the driver and no escort. Who could be within who could threaten me, with all the gate guard around them?"

"Aye, but look at that man! I have heard of barbarians but thought them fables. Yonder warrior would give Master Haflin a good workout, I deem. And that sword he bears is no toy, either. I would not care to face it, though doubtless the tricks the Baroness knows would tame him."

The man sitting beside the fairly normal-looking driver was huge. Milsy had heard of Haflin but had never seen him so could not make a comparison. This man looked large, ugly - and competent. He had a shock of unkempt red hair which seemed to flow down over his lower face and throat as well. Palarandis sometimes wore beards but they were usually kept well-tended. His clothing looked fairly nondescript except that he wore trousers, as certain trades occasionally did, and over his tunic was a sleeveless vest of thick rough fur. He climbed off the seat easily enough and opened the door to permit those inside to climb out.

The first person to appear was a tall blonde girl about the same age as Milsy, though age was perhaps the only thing they shared. She was well muscled and had broad shoulders, which the ill-fitting gown did little to disguise. She had travel-stained boots on her feet and thick tights on her legs. Her hair was plaited into a single thick tail which hung over her left shoulder. She glanced around with surprise before turning and speaking to the second person to emerge.

This was an older man, of middling height and probably somewhere in his late thirties. Like the other man, who Milsy refused to think of as 'armsman', he wore traveling clothes which included trousers, boots and a fur vest, though of a better quality than the first man. Two female faces poked out through the door and a window, though they did not climb out.

"Is this place the hall of the King of Palarand?"

The girl's voice was hard and used to instant obedience. The words were distinguishable but the accent was strange, with a curious lilt to them Milsy had never heard before. She realized suddenly what must have happened, and pushed forward despite Tord's warning hand on her arm.

Milsy curtseyed. "Your Highness, welcome to Palarand. Aye, this is indeed the palace but there has been a misunderstanding. This is the service entrance, I deem that your party is expected at the front, which is further along there." She pointed.

The girl turned to the 'bodyguard' and let out a stream of harsh words in what Milsy assumed was her native tongue. He merely turned and shrugged. The older man said something to her and she subsided, turning back to Milsy.

"We thank you for your assistance. This place is strange to our eyes, we did not know what to expect. Your name?"

"If it please you, Your Highness, I am called Milsy."

"Do all noblewomen of Palarand wear such attire as yours?"

"What? Highness, I am no noblewoman but a guildswoman resident in the palace. This is my working attire." Milsy was of course wearing her leather suit.

"What is a guildswoman?"

The older man spoke to her, presumably explaining what function Milsy had. The look she turned on Milsy was one of disdain.

"You are a craftswoman, then. Surely one such as you could not hew wood or hammer iron."

Milsy bowed her head briefly. "I am indeed a metalsmith, Highness, despite appearances. However, this is not the time or place for such introductions. If I may suggest that your carriage turn round in the yard and go around to the front, you will receive a welcome more befitting your status. Oh," she added, "I'm guessing your driver has never been to Palarand before?"

"This is true. We have journeyed here three days from Plif."

"I see. Then your driver would not know what the palace looked like or where to deliver you. If I may ask you not to blame your driver for something he could not possibly know about."

The girl stared at Milsy for a few breaths before saying, "As you say."

Without another word she turned round and climbed back into the carriage. The older man said a few words to the 'bodyguard' before giving Milsy a nod of thanks and following his principal. Beside Milsy, Tord let out a long breath.

"Whew! That could have turned into a difficult incident, Mistress. If I may, I think you handled it well."

"Aye, well, if she is to stay at the palace, we don't want her to get the wrong idea about any of us, do we? She looks a prickly sort."

"Aye, indeed! Come, let us move our own carriage so that theirs may turn around."

The gate guard were alert but permitted the carriage into the yard to maneuver. Milsy and Bursila climbed back into their own for the final few strides of their own journey.

"Come on!" she said as they climbed out again. "Let's get changed and down to the Receiving Room! I can't wait to find out what is going on."

* * *

Back in her quarters Milsy discovered Tarvan in the laboratory, playing with a remote solenoid-switch setup she had devised the previous week. He pushed one button and there was a distant click, starting a fan whirring, then he pushed a different button to hear another click while the fan spun to a halt. He turned and smiled as she approached.

"You've been to Pakh Lane, I take it? That was what Yubold told me when I returned to the palace."

"Aye." She grinned. "Master Fulvin disappeared again and I had to rescue him before Their Majesties noticed. I hope."

Tarvan grinned back. "We guild members have to stick together, do we not?"

They shared a brief kiss before she replied, "It was self-preservation, really. If Fulvin gets into trouble the King might start looking at my own activities."

"You should be safe enough. You reside in the palace, it is true, but you do not have an assigned post as Fulvin does. I think His Majesty expects you to be out and about, since that is where the workshops and factories are."

"If you say so. Speaking of factories, how was your morning?"

Tarvan sighed. "I never knew something could be so complicated. You'd think I was designing the Great Clock instead of a simple wire-drawing factory. Expensive, as well. The planning department think they have remembered everything, but you know how well that seems to work in practice."

"Aye, indeed! So, when do you leave?"

"Day after tomorrow, or mayhap the day after that if there are any further delays. From what I have heard I'll pass His Highness and Lady Garia somewhere along the highway to South Slip. Perhaps we'll have time for a few words if we meet."

"Indeed. I wonder where they are now?"

"Why don't you ask Captain Merek? I believe that he is getting daily reports via semaphore and messenger concerning their every move."

"I don't see the point. It isn't as if I'm the King or Queen, is it? I'll let them worry about Keren and Garia's safety while I worry about the new arrival."

"New arrival? What's this?"

"Oh, right, you probably went out before the message arrived. There's a foreign Princess coming to stay at the palace. It's possible she may be intended for Keren, if you know what I mean."

"A Princess! I wonder what she'll be like?"

"Tall, well-muscled, blonde, the bluest eyes I have seen on anyone apart from Bayorn, sounds peculiar and acts like I thought a Princess should act. Haughty."

Tarvan was surprised. "You've met her already?"

"By accident. We were turning into the service gate and her carriage followed ours. I think the driver had no idea and just saw our livery so followed it. The gate guard weren't pleased."

He laughed. "I bet they weren't! I assume they were directed around the front?"

"As it happened I did the explaining. She couldn't work out what I was, though." Milsy grinned back. "The next few days could be interesting."

"And I'm leaving for Teldor."

"Personally, I think that you'll be better off somewhere else. If It were possible, I would come with you but we know that can't happen now."

"As you say."

"So, stop playing with my toys and go and get changed, Tarvan. Find some decent attire, too. I'm told it will be a proper welcoming banquet in the Receiving Room tonight for our guest."

Tarvan straightened and thumped a fist to his chest. "As you command, Mistress. I'll see you in a bell or so, then."

Milsy stuck her tongue out at him.

A foreign Princess has arrived at the palace and Milsy is called in to assist, as she is the one most familiar with the visitor. What she discovers causes confusion and embarrassment to all.

What Milsy Did

by Penny Lane

24 - Culture Shock

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 (c) 2017 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

---

"I do like it when you dress up properly," Milsy said as she opened her door to Tarvan later that day.

"Hmm. I admit I prefer my work attire," he replied, "or something that permits me to relax a little. What of yourself? You suit that gown most beautifully, if I may say so."

"Well, us girls like to dress up, you know? Since I had to wear Garia's gowns at the start I have learned much that I didn't know in Dekarran." She grinned. "Having access to the Palace Wardrobe makes a big difference, too! I have much enjoyed experimenting with colors, materials and textures, not to mention designs. So, you like what you see, then?"

"Of course I do. I did, the first time I saw you, you know that."

"Ah, but I wasn't sure of your intentions, then. I knew how nothing worked and I had to be careful in case anybody exposed the secret." She smiled up at him. "I am sure of my man now, so perhaps he would escort me to the Receiving Room?"

Tarvan made a florid bow. "My Lady, it would be my pleasure."

Milsy turned to Bursila with a mock whisper. "He's after something!"

The maid smiled back. "Aye, Mistress, and he will likely succeed in his quest."

"When you two have finished," Tarvan broke in, "shall we go?"

He held out his arm for Milsy and they walked off along the corridor with their backs straight and heads held high. At the door of the Receiving Room their escort peeled off and took station outside while Milsy and Tarvan entered. To their surprise Kendar was there and he banged his staff as they appeared.

"Craftmaster Tarvan and Guildswoman Milsy!"

Many of the diners had already arrived and were standing around talking in low voices. This included their visitor and her assistant, who were with the King, Queen and Captain Merek. Terys watched Tarvan and Milsy enter and beckoned them over. As they joined the small group Tarvan bowed while Milsy curtseyed.

"Ma'am?"

Terys turned to the girl. "If I may introduce Craftmaster Tarvan. He is in charge of some exciting new investigations which have recently begun in Palarand. With him is Guildswoman Milsy, who has a keen mind and works with him in the palace. Tarvan, Milsy, this is Her Royal Highness Princess Eriana of Einnland, a distant land somewhere to the east beyond the Palumaks, I believe... or perhaps to the south, I am not certain. With her is Master Gullbrand, her... aide? assistant? If you will forgive me, I do not know how to name the function he performs."

Milsy curtseyed again. "We met briefly, Ma'am. Her Highness's carriage followed ours into the service yard by mistake."

"Ah, yes, I believe that I heard what happened. An unfortunate mistake, indeed, but perhaps natural to strangers to the city. You should know that Eriana will be staying in the palace for a while as our guest, dear. I'm sure that she will be able to rely on you for assistance, should your paths ever cross."

"As you command, Ma'am. Aye, I am to be found along the corridors these days, installing wires, so it is very likely we will meet."

Eriana stared at Milsy. "I do not understand what it is you do," she said finally.

"Um, well, that can be difficult to describe, Your Highness. See that clock above the door?"

Everybody in the group turned to look at the clock. Milsy was relieved to note that it was still working properly. After the strange happenings in the kitchen, she had not been certain whether it would eventually affect the other clocks.

Gullbrand spoke. "That is a clock? I noticed it when we entered but could not decide what it was."

Eriana added, "A strange thing to see. How does it work? Our clock uses water, which has to be replenished every day by the house thralls."

Huh? How do you make a clock work with water? Floats, maybe? And what are thralls?

"I designed that clock and partly constructed it. It uses electricity," she explained. Blank faces. "Um, like the force of lightning, you know? We can make a very small, tame version of that and send it around the palace with copper wires. That isn't actually the clock, that is somewhere else entirely. The part that you can see is just to show the time to everyone in the room."

Gullbrand asked, "How do you use what I see to read the time, Mistress? Is it to do with those pointers?"

"That's mostly right. The square hole on the left shows the bells that are traditionally used in Palarand. Oh. Do you read our script? I don't know what you use in your own country."

"Mistress, we use different letters and numbers in Einnland, but since the Great Valley is known to us and we speak and correspond with folk from here, some of the royal family and their retainers, such as myself, are tutored in your words and script. Both Her Highness and myself can speak and write as you do, though as I am... a secretary, say, I am presently more fluent than she is." Gullbrand studied the clock. "Ah, so the clock shows me the second bell of night, is that right? And that circle below it has measured two-thirds of another bell, I deem."

"That's correct... Master Gullbrand?"

Gullbrand nodded to Milsy. "As I have explained to Their Majesties, my title and function are difficult to translate. For tonight, Master will suffice." He gestured at the clock again. "What of the other side? That is divided into twelve, much like the way we measure time in Einnland. If those are numbers around it, I do not know them."

Robanar decided that he had been left out of the conversation for too long. "Gullbrand, this is a new scheme which Lady Garia promotes. We are in favor of it but presently it is restricted to the palace. It divides the day into not twelve but twenty-four hours, each of which is further divided into sixty minutes. The hands, the black pointers, go round twice each day, pointing straight up at noon and midnight."

Eriana looked at Gullbrand. "That's similar to the way we count the stunder!"

He replied in their own language, adding to the King, "I have just told her that is so, but our clocks do not appear to measure time in the same way yours do. It involves a lot of water."

Milsy tried hard not to stare at Eriana's gown, which was not of a kind which would normally be worn to an evening meal at the palace, especially one that was effectively a state occasion. It was of some closely-woven undyed material, quite thick, with a full skirt that fell to mid-calf and a scoop neckline that was laced down the front to just below the waist. To preserve some kind of modesty there was what looked like a thin shirt underneath but it was not clear whether it was actually a petticoat or similar or just to cover the gaps in the gown. The sleeves were narrow and ended at the elbow. There were lines of small shells stitched down the front of the bodice on both sides.

I'll wager that the Queen will have our guest taken to the Wardrobe within two days, if that is the best she can bring with her. She's supposed to be the daughter of a King, even I know that she ought to have better attire than that!

...Actually, I do believe that is the same gown she had on when she followed us in through the service gate! Surely she would have changed for such a meal? Or... maybe they don't do that where she comes from?

From the doorway Kendar banged his staff again and announced a few latecomers, one of which was Fulvin and another Lady Dyenna. Milsy suspected that the Mistress of the Wardrobe would have used a sword to make sure she was present at this meal, just to have fresh material for tomorrow's gossip.

Robanar turned. "We are all here now, it seems. Let us be seated so that we may offer you a proper welcome to the Kingdom."

Milsy had never eaten in the Receiving Room before and she looked at the arrangements with interest. There was a single table placed along the center of the chamber and she suspected that it would normally hold many more diners than had been set tonight. She realized that this was probably due to the small size of the visiting party.

There's the Princess, Gullbrand, that bodyguard and, what, two female servants I saw looking out of the carriage? Where are the rest? Aren't they permitted in the chamber to serve?

Why so small a party? Not even a proper escort for someone of such rank, if you excuse that bodyguard. Why, even Garia has a bigger escort, and she's only a Baroness! There is a mystery here.

As the honored visitor, Eriana was seated to Robanar's right with Gullbrand facing her to offer advice, explanation and perhaps translation duties when required. Milsy was seated facing Terys with Tarvan to her right and Merek to her left. The visitors seemed overwhelmed by the silverware and other ornamentation on the table. The Princess appeared somehow shocked by what she saw in front of her and around her.

"Your pardon, Sire. I am not used to such a gathering as this. My father's house is more humble, I deem."

"Ah? Do not concern yourself, my dear. We expect there to be differences in customs and decoration from those who may reside far away. Do not think we offer your father any slight."

"You are gracious, Sire."

"Sire," Gullbrand asked, holding up a fork, "what are these? I assume they are used to eat with, but this is a tool we do not know in Einnland."

"Indeed, Gullbrand. They are named forks and are a recent addition to table. We have discovered that they make our meals so much cleaner and easier to enjoy. For now, you should watch how everybody else uses them, I'm sure you and Her Highness will soon become used to them."

The first course was various appetizers and everybody soon became engrossed in their meal.

"Eriana, dear."

"Your Majesty?"

"Ah." Terys's voice lowered. "You should know that in the court of Palarand it is customary to address us as 'Your Majesty' on first meeting, but afterwards you and any in your party may address His Majesty as 'Sire' and myself as 'Ma'am'. Now, I am concerned that your party is so small."

"Oh... Ma'am? You shall be told the full story but it is grim and not suitable for a table such as this. If I may briefly say here that four ships set out from Einnland to come north but we were beset by storms. Three were lost and we almost sank ourselves. We lost several members of our own crew including our captain and his whole family. Most of those who survived remain in Plif to repair the ship, that it might later sail closer to Palarand. That is why I have only brought Gullbrand, who speaks your tongue well, and a manservant and two maids."

"Maker! We did not know that. We are saddened to hear of the loss of so many of your people, dear. We thought your visit was part of a normal embassy and wondered what happened to them."

"It was an embassy, Ma'am. The other ships..." Eriana shrugged. "Such is fate when your lives are ruled by the sea." She frowned. "But, Ma'am? Surely you were expecting us? Letters were sent by my father once he learned of Palarand's need but we received no reply. It was decided to send out the embassy regardless. If your son had already been wed then no harm would have been done. If I may ask, I do not see him here."

Robanar grunted. "We have received no such letter, Eriana, but considering where your lands are then perhaps that is not so surprising. When I have exchanged greetings with your father our letters have traveled by a longer land route."

"I did not know that, Sire. I am only a daughter of my father, I am not privy to how he conducts his correspondence."

Terys added, "Keren is not presently in the palace, dear. Having come of age some weeks ago he departed for our lands in the north to learn of our country and its people. He is now on his way back, as it happens, and we expect him to arrive in about seven or eight days time." Terys leaned forward to smile at Eriana. "That means you will have plenty of time to settle in and adjust yourself to the ways of the palace, dear. It will give you a chance to relax after your long and difficult journey."

"You are gracious, Ma'am... But I must ask, is your son yet wed? Has my journey been in vain?"

Robanar and Terys exchanged a look. He replied, "He is not yet wed, Eriana, nor has he been formally betrothed to anyone. If you are indeed the daughter of a King then it is possible you would make a fine consort for him."

As the serving staff put out the next course Terys added, "Of course we can guarantee nothing, dear, not until you have met and considered each other. If it were not so he would have been betrothed long ago. You do offer a strong claim, I deem."

"Thank you, Ma'am."

Faced with an avian leg in gravy Eriana picked it up and then saw how everyone else was using their knife and fork to remove portions. She put it back and licked her fingers clean before attempting to use her own fork. Her efforts were initially awkward and Milsy could see that she was beginning to lose her temper.

"This tool is not easy to use, Ma'am."

"As you say, dear. It took us some days to adjust after Garia introduced them but now we would not be without them. I do not think it will take you very long to find them so useful you will not want to be without one at table."

"If you say so, Ma'am. Who or what is... Garia, Ma'am?"

"Oh, she is another visitor to Palarand, dear. She travels with the Prince, you will meet her when their party returns to the palace."

Milsy could see that Eriana wanted to ask the obvious question but had sufficient tact to leave the matter until later. It wouldn't be difficult to find out what she wanted to know, anyway, since the whole palace would probably be able to tell her.

She decided to shift the conversation. "Highness, do you have different foods than those we eat today? I know that sometimes people in other places grow different fruit and vegetables."

"Oh! Why, we do... Milsy. Our climate is much colder, you see, so many of the fruits I see in the bowls on the table do not grow in our lands. We trade for some, it is true, but I see some that are unknown to me." She sniffed. "As a rule, Einnlanders do not eat vegetables. There is cultivation of a root called gokken and also various leaves, but only the poor eat them. In my father's hall, most eat fish, meat from sea beasts or large animals or occasionally avians according to season."

She turned to Robanar. "Sire, I am your guest and so I would not expect you to serve me anything different than that you are served yourselves. If I am to succeed in my quest, it will be necessary for me to become used to the food you eat and the way you eat it."

"Well said, my dear. If you are presented with anything you do not recognize, then you have only to ask. As you are not used to our foods or customs we would not seek to embarrass you but you must still learn what you need to know. We will understand."

"Thank you, Sire."

Eriana wrinkled her face when presented with a goblet of wine.

"Sire, I have drunk something like this in Plif and I do not like the taste. Would it be possible for me to have some beer, such as that your Warrior Chief drinks?"

"Who? Oh, Captain Merek!" Robanar regarded Eriana thoughtfully. "Aye, I suppose that can be arranged. Kenila, a mug for the Princess."

The rest of the meal passed off reasonably quietly and everybody rose.

"Sire, I must needs retire. I have had a long journey and I need to rest. Your hospitality has been more than I could have expected and I thank you for it, but I fear I would not be pleasant company this evening. With your permission?"

"Of course, my dear." Robanar looked around. "Milsy. If you would conduct Her Highness back to her suite, she will not know the way yet. We have given her Malann's old suite, you know the route well."

"As you command, Sire."

He's specifically asked me to do it so there must be good reason, she thought. Of course, Malann's suite is arranged the same as Elizet's was, isn't it? If she needs any help...

She looked around for Tarvan and Robanar realized his error.

"He will await you here, Milsy, until you return. I have some questions to ask him while we wait."

"As you wish, Sire."

Milsy led Eriana out of the Receiving Room, trailed by Gullbrand, Bursila and her two escort guardsmen.

"Do you not become lost in this huge place? I never believed that a building could be so large!"

"Highness, it was difficult at first and I guess that most people only learn the basic routes they need to, to do what they have to, like coming to meals or going to the Wardrobe. I don't think that anyone apart from the Palace Guard knows how to get everywhere."

"These men that follow us, they are the guard? Do they follow everyone everywhere? I would find that strange, not to go where I wished."

"Oh, I can go where I need to, Highness. These men are for my protection, I have to have them even inside the palace. Nobody else needs an escort, not even the King. It's... a long story. If I may ask, where are your maids? Should not at least one of them have been in the Receiving Room to serve you tonight?"

"I did not know that, Milsy. They are in my chamber. I will remember that in future."

"But they will not have eaten, Highness. Our maids feed us at table but they eat before or after their mistresses."

Eriana did not look concerned. "Then they will have to wait until the morning. There is no food in my chamber."

"That is not so! When we get there I can call for a servant and have something sent up for them. If you desire to eat on your own, at any time, you can order meals from the kitchen. I'll show you how."

Eriana stopped and stared. "I did not know such a thing was possible. In my father's hall, unless you were sick or infirm, you went to the main hall to eat or you went without."

Milsy shrugged. "This is a different place, Highness. That's just what they do here. Where I came from, a big castle the other side of the Sirrel, we had different customs again."

They carried on walking. "You are not of this place, then?"

"I have been here some two months now... as I said, it is complicated and the story would mean nothing to you right now. Here, we go up these stairs."

"I remember the stairs. Do you usually eat in that big hall?"

"The Receiving Room? Only when important guests arrive, such as yourself, or when a lot of nobles or such are visiting. There's a more friendly dining room the family uses otherwise. Round this corner." Milsy considered and then stopped. "Master Gullbrand, have you been given a bed chamber?"

"I and Lars, Her Highness's bodyguard, have been assigned beds in a servant's dormitory at the end of this corridor. Why do you ask?"

"I just wanted to make sure you knew where each other's rooms were, that's all. Here we are, I know this corridor well, I used to live in that suite there." Milsy pointed.

Eriana was astonished. "You lived there? Next to the King and Queen? I was told... a noblewoman lived there now."

"Highness, as I said, it is a long and complicated story."

Milsy opened the door to the sitting room and entered. Inside were the two servant girls, who Milsy now saw were about the same age as herself, and the bodyguard. The three had obviously been sitting on the chairs and jumped up when the door opened.

Not quickly enough. Eriana let out a tirade that caused them to pale and back away, one of them actually cringing. Once she had finished the Princess turned to Milsy, annoyed.

"They should not have been sitting on the furniture! That is for their betters. Now, how do you ask food for them?"

Milsy went over and pulled the yellow rope, saying, "This one summons servants from a room at the end of the corridor. Whoever comes will arrange whatever you need." She paused, thinking. "Master Gullbrand, I do not know if that is the same room you are in or whether it is at the other end." She pointed to the next rope. "The green rope rings a bell in the King's Sitting Room so I would be careful not to use that unless you have to."

Eriana's eyes were wide. "In the King's Sitting Room? Is this a normal thing, to be able to summon your King?"

Milsy smiled. "Oh, no, Highness! This suite and the one next to it were used by the daughters of the King and Queen, their children, before they married and moved away. We are in the corridor of the Royal Household. There are more suites just like them the other side of the corridor."

"Ah, I understand now. It would not be wise to pull the green rope, then. And the blue rope?"

"Was used by those children to call their nursemaids, or nannies, governesses or tutors. At the moment the room where those used to be stationed is used as a guardroom."

There was a knock on the door and Milsy opened it to find a footman.

"Her Highness is not yet accustomed to palace routine so she desires three meals for her servants. Is that still possible?"

"Why of course, Mistress. Since the food is recently cooked and served, it should not be difficult to fill three plates. I will ask someone to bring them up immediately."

The man left and Milsy closed the door. Eriana was looking around the room.

"How do you sleep in these places? I expected you would have different customs but here there is nowhere to lie down. Do you lie on the floor? Where is the bedding kept? At home we would have a shut-bed at the side of our chamber."

Milsy didn't know what a 'shut-bed' was but tried to keep a straight face at Eriana's questions. Hadn't they even gone into the bedroom?

She smiled. "No, of course not. You have a bed chamber right this way."

She walked to the bedroom door, and turned the handle. Nothing happened.

"That's funny. It's stuck. It shouldn't be as hard as all that to open."

They were repairing and redecorating, weren't they? That is why the door has gotten stuck.

Gullbrand said, "Should I get Lars to push it open? He should be strong enough."

"That might not be a good idea, Master Gullbrand. He could damage the woodwork. These chambers have been recently redecorated which is why I think it has stuck. If you would excuse me, I'll send for somebody who can open this door without damaging it."

She pulled the yellow rope again and went and opened the door to wait. Shortly the same footman reappeared.

"It looks like the bedroom door is stuck. Could you fetch the carpenter Bassen to come and have a look at it?"

"Of course, Mistress."

"Oh, and tell him we might need a locksmith if it is the door latch."

The meals arrived before the workmen and the contents shocked all the Einnlanders. There were three loaded plates on the trays, each of fine china, and each was accompanied by a pewter mug of beer and a knife, fork and spoon of silver!

"Mother of Thor! This is how you feed your underlings?"

"Highness, I cannot answer for the servants' dining hall but if you order food in your chambers then this is what you get, usually." Milsy directed the two servant women with trays. "If you would put the food on the table, please."

She continued her explanation to an astonished Eriana and Gullbrand, "If you desire to take your meals in your chambers regularly, as I did when I first came here, a list is brought in the morning of what will be available and one may choose what to order. If it is short notice, like this evening, you'll get whatever is left from those who dine below."

"Servants as well?"

Milsy's expression was innocent. "Aye, Highness. In general all of us are provided the same quality and quantity of food."

Eriana rattled out a series of commands and the three 'underlings' went to the table and began, gingerly, to eat. They did so standing up, Eriana seeming to frown on servants sitting down anywhere. As they were finishing their food Bassen arrived along with another man. They bowed to Eriana before the carpenter turned to Milsy.

"Mistress, we are told the bedroom door is stuck."

"Aye. I was afraid to force it for fear of damaging something."

"You did right to send for us, Mistress. Let us have a look."

After some tests and discussion he turned. "Aye, it looks like the latch needs adjusting. Tobin will lever it open - he can do that without causing too much damage - but it would be wise not to shut the door fully again until we can repair it properly sometime tomorrow."

The tool used was a blunt chisel and the door was soon opened. Eriana led the way into a room she had not known existed.

"Woden's blood! Look at that bed! I will sleep easily in such a great space. And look, Gullbrand! There is plenty of space here for both my amblatt to sleep."

Milsy wasn't sure what Eriana had just said but it didn't sound right.

"Highness, if I may show you the facilities in this chamber. At the front, here, is your dressing room, ah, look, they have brought your chests up and left them for your maids to unpack. I bet they closed the bedroom door when they had finished which is why it became stuck."

Eriana was disbelieving. "This is a room just for my clothes?"

"Aye, Highness, and a table where you may prepare your face and hair before showing them in public."

Bassen coughed. "Mistress, those chests look as though they have had heavy wear."

Eriana turned to him. "They would do, they have survived a journey of weeks at sea and many storms. You are?"

He bowed. "Bassen, Your Highness, and one of the palace carpenters. When you have emptied your chests onto the rails and shelves, if you would send for me and I will have your chests repaired for you."

"You will do that? Aye, then I will ask, in a few days, perhaps."

Milsy moved out of the dressing room. "The other side of your bed, Highness, is your bathing chamber."

She opened the door and the visitors crowded in.

"This is ridiculous!" Eriana sounded as if she had had enough. "I may bathe in here? How? In that great dip in the floor?"

"Highness," Milsy explained, "in Palarand, indeed, in the Great Valley, it is customary for all to bathe at the same time." She reddened. "Ah, that would be yourself and your maids, of course. The men have other arrangements. Each may assist in washing the other which makes life a little easier when Kalikan calls."

"That seems strange to me, though I can see the sense of it. I am accustomed to being washed in a barrel in one of the outbuildings of my father's hall. Who brings the water to this great bath, then? A procession of men? Must I pull a rope each time I wish to bathe?"

Milsy pointed. "Highness, there are two ropes to call for water. You pull the red one for hot and the white one for cold. The water comes out of those two pipes and has to be heated each morning before we rise. There are signals which are used, it might be better if you learned about those tomorrow... when there are no men present."

The men had cautiously backed away into the living room during this conversation. Eriana stared at Milsy for a long space.

Finally she spoke. "I did not believe those who have visited these shores before. I thought that much of what was told was wild tales, such as any seaman may tell of the sea. I am a stranger here and I do not understand much of what I see. I see now why your King sent you with me as a guide. Will you help me learn my way about this strange place, Milsy?"

"I am at your service, Your Highness," Milsy replied, with a curtsey, before adding, "but you must know that I have other duties to the Crown which means I may not always be available."

"As you say. So, what other wonders should I know about before I retire?"

Milsy smiled. "Just two more doors, Highness. If we may return to the bedroom."

"Here on the other side," she continued once Eriana had joined her, "is the toilet. There's room enough for you and a maid to be inside when either of you need to use it."

Milsy opened the door to show a small tiled room with a hole in the floor. At one side was a set of shelving containing baskets of wool clippings, some cloths and towels and, on the top, a bowl and jug of water for washing hands afterwards.

"There's a plan," she added, "for this to be changed for a special seat at some time in the future. I don't know the details, I just heard some of the plumbers speaking about it recently. If anything like that happens you should be warned about it well before anything happens."

Eriana looked at the space with interest. "As you say. I expect that I will discover how to use this place."

Milsy closed the door and moved to the other side of the fireplace, opening a narrow door that could easily be overlooked. "And in here, Highness, is where your maids should sleep."

"By the gods, I never expected anything like this." Eriana turned to Milsy. "Are all the sleeping chambers like this one?"

"Not all, Highness. You must remember that this was where one of the King's daughters lived and so her quarters were ordered accordingly. Other chambers may not be as grand as this one is."

Eriana nodded. "So. I have seen all that you have shown me and I now know where to sleep, where to bathe, where to find my clothes and how to summon help. Thank you for your assistance, Milsy. You may return to - what was his name? That boy, was he your... swain? Your mate to be?"

Milsy blushed. "Tarvan? Aye, we have an arrangement."

"An arrangement?"

"Um, it is what comes before a formal betrothal. More than just friends."

"Oh, I see. Yes. He will be waiting for you. I will see you tomorrow, no doubt, when we break our fast?"

"I expect so." Milsy suddenly realized that the Einnlanders didn't know about the bells. "Ah, about tomorrow morning. If you would permit, I'll send somebody up to bring you to breakfast at the right time, so that you don't have to wait around. Oh, and it is possible the Queen might call. She does things like that."

"The warning is useful. And now, I must tell you all good-night."

It looked like Eriana was becoming twitchy so Milsy joined the men and servants in the living room.

"Her Highness would like to be left to go to bed," she announced.

Bassen and Tobin left immediately with a nod; Gullbrand and Lars followed more slowly and Bursila closed the door behind Milsy. From the other side of the door they could already hear shouting.

Gullbrand shrugged apologetically. "I regret that Her Highness has a short temper, but may also be tired and affected by her long journey," he explained. "I'm sure that as she learns her way around this amazing building she will relax and show all her better nature."

"As you say, Master Gullbrand," Milsy replied diplomatically. "Are you and your man... Lars, was it?"

"Lars, that's right. He is sworn to the Princess, as am I."

"Are you going to your dormitory? There are other recreations to be had in the evenings but you are probably as tired tonight as Her Highness is."

"I will retire. Lars must remain outside her door tonight, as a good handsman must. He will sleep across her doorway."

"Um, I don't think Captain Merek is going to like that. It really isn't necessary, not in a place like this."

"But you yourself have men to escort you, though you are not of royal blood." He paused. "Are you?"

"Me? No, not at all," she grinned. "Like I keep saying, my story is complicated. The reason I have an escort is because I look like somebody else, that's all. That person suffered some kidnap attempts. In fact, I would think that the chances of anything happening to me are very low now. I doubt there is any danger at all to Her Highness, especially up here near the King and Queen."

Gullbrand shrugged. "As you say. Lars will remain here tonight, though."

"As you wish. I'll bid you good night."

Milsy turned to her escort. "Right, boys, back to the Receiving Room."

They stared at Lars as he took position impassively in front of Eriana's door but followed Milsy and Bursila back to the front of the palace. When they reached the Receiving Room there were several small groups still standing and talking, among them one with the King and Queen, Merek, Kendar and Tarvan which she joined.

"Sire. I have much to report."

"Any trouble?"

"Some, Sire."

She glanced briefly at the other groups and Robanar took the hint.

"Ah, it would be more comfortable for us all to go to my parlor, I believe. Lead the way, Kendar."

Once everybody had found seats, and with the door closed, Milsy began.

"Sire, Ma'am, you should know that the door to Eriana's bed chamber had become stuck. None of them even realized that there was a bed chamber, and so they were all preparing to sleep on the floor of the sitting room."

Terys was shocked. "Maker! I assume that you have remedied the problem?"

"Partly, Ma'am. I called for a carpenter and a locksmith and they soon had the door open. It seems that something was not adjusted correctly after the recent redecoration, Ma'am."

"Oh dear. Is the door now working properly?"

"No, Ma'am, but they know not to close it completely until Bassen and Tobin can come tomorrow and fix it properly. There is something else, Ma'am, and that is it seems the door was closed by those who brought Her Highness's chests up and left them in her dressing room. That may explain why she came to the evening meal attired in the gown she traveled in, she did not know where her clothes had gone."

"Ah. I did wonder. So the palace staff were at fault, then, for not noticing and reporting the sticking door. Kendar, you should question them tomorrow but there is no need to lay blame, if what Milsy says is correct."

"As you desire, Ma'am."

Milsy said diffidently, "If I may suggest, Ma'am, I suspect that Her Highness's clothes... will not be found suitable for His Majesty's court."

Terys looked at Milsy. "You are suggesting that she visit the Palace wardrobe, I deem."

Milsy was silent for a while and Terys was about to ask a question when she said, "Ma'am, it is not my place to say but you asked me to observe and to me that means suggesting solutions to any problems that I may see. If I may speak freely? You may have ideas about my abilities but I do not have experience in many of these matters."

"Why, of course, dear! In this case I believe that you value yourself less than we would. You have told us yourself of the intrigue that exists among Dekarran's servants and retainers. Say what you would, we would not refuse your counsel for a task we asked you to do. In such matters as these you probably have a better idea of what is going on than we do."

I doubt that! The Queen knows everything.

Only, perhaps sometimes she doesn't have the background to appreciate some of it.

Terys continued, "So, dear, tell me why Princess Eriana should be given attire from the Wardrobe."

"As you wish, Ma'am. Well, to begin with, Bursila pointed out on the way back to the Receiving Room that her maids and that bodyguard must needs be attired in palace uniforms, just as she herself was when she came to the palace with Lady Merizel. If the Princess is to remain in the palace for some time..."

"That is so, dear. We would have asked Kendar to arrange it after a day or two."

"Then there's her own clothes, Ma'am. Firstly, I saw the chests that had been left in her dressing room. There are four of them and it doesn't look like they could hold very many gowns or other clothes. If those are the only chests that arrived, they presumably contain the clothes that all five of her party would have available to wear while they are here." She shook her head. "I'm assuming that Master Gullbrand does not have his own chests, Ma'am."

Terys looked at Kendar who shrugged. "I was not present when the carriage was unloaded, Ma'am. I do not know what instructions were given."

"Hmm. This whole situation could cause much embarrassment to both ourselves and to Princess Eriana," Terys mused. "It may be possible for you to find out what we need to know without causing offense or upset. Do you think that you have Eriana's confidence?"

"That's a strange one to answer, Ma'am. Since we met at the service gate she knows me and she knows that I know what goes on around the palace so I think the answer would be yes, Ma'am. But, I have heard her speak sharply to her own servants - she names them underlings - and she also knows that I am just one of the palace staff. I don't know what ideas about status she has."

"I would not consider you 'just' one of the palace staff, dear," Terys said dryly. "You are very much more than that! Now, you said 'to begin with'. There is more?"

"Aye, Ma'am. The chests were all battered and obviously damaged by the storms she spoke of and I wouldn't wonder if whatever is inside had been damaged by the water. Indeed, when Bassen saw the chests he offered to repair them once her clothing had been hung up."

"As you say. She may not have much to wear that is not damaged. Perhaps the Wardrobe may make repairs to the rest."

"It may be worse than that, Ma'am. If what she wore this evening is any sample she may be too embarrassed to wear any of it out in public once she discovers what we wear."

Robanar gestured. "But, surely, it is no dishonor to wear the garments of your own lands when you are a visitor to the ruler of another?"

"Sire, I think it is a little more basic than that. I didn't learn much this evening but what little I did learn makes me wonder what kind of people they are. She didn't know that at least one of her maids should have been at table to serve her this evening. Because they were not, they had no food and she was content for them to wait until breakfast. I had to show her the call ropes and order meals for her servants. She also expected her maids to sleep on the floor at the foot of her bed until I showed her the maids' closet. She was amazed at the bathroom, she told me she was usually washed in a barrel in an outhouse behind her father's hall, as she calls it."

Teeys protested. "But we expect there to be differences in customs and attire, dear. Palarand is a rich land and I myself found it difficult to adjust at first. There is nothing like this palace in Stirmond, indeed! No doubt Eriana will also adjust, should she remain."

"Ma'am, I keep forgetting that you came a long way but I am concerned that the difference may be too great. What else was there? Oh, the bodyguard, Lars, plans to sleep across her doorway in the corridor tonight."

Merek straightened up. "He does, does he?"

Robanar put out a hand. "Wait, Merek. You may deal with this later. Let us hear the rest."

"That's about all for now, Sire. Much happened in but a few moments, I am still remembering things."

"Very well. I agree with you about her attire. If she is truly a Princess, and we do not know that yet, she would not want to appear belittled by our generosity but neither she would wish to be made fun of. However, were she to become Palarand's next Queen then of course she should become accustomed to the styles and materials we use here. Perhaps we may use the storm damage as a device to gain her admittance to the Wardrobe. What think you?"

"Aye, Sire, I should have thought of that."

Robanar smiled at her. "I may be a man, my dear, but sometimes even a King has need of intrigue. Her servants, aye, they must needs wear palace colors as is customary. Merek? What can we do about this man of hers?"

"Sire," Merek said stiffly, "in your palace there is only one person who needs a close escort and she is in this room. We all know the reasons why. I have been wondering what we will do when Lady Garia returns... but that is for another conversation, I deem. We must tell Her Highness that the Palace Guard provides for all and that her man may not do those duties. If he has other duties he may perform those with your blessing."

"Hmm." Robanar turned to Milsy. "Does he carry a sword?"

"Aye, Sire, a fairly big one though I am no judge of weaponry."

"He'll have to hang that up, I think. I do not want large armed men roaming my corridors without an oath to bind them."

Merek asked her, "Does she carry a sword, do you know? I would not normally ask, only we have the example of Lady Garia before us. The Princess is certainly of a size and build to wield one."

"She wasn't wearing any blade that I could see, Captain, but there might have been something in those chests of hers."

The captain looked unhappy. "It will be difficult, Sire. We do not want to cause offense or worse, a diplomatic incident, by confiscating any arms they may carry."

Robanar grunted. "I'll deal with that tomorrow, Merek. They are unlikely to cause trouble but someone else might if they discovered that there were loose weapons about the palace."

"I would hate to try and take a sword off that man but I know what you mean, Sire. Tomorrow, then."

Robanar asked Milsy, "Anything else, my dear?"

"Aye, Sire. It looks like Her Highness has a poor temper. The only words I ever heard her say to her maids were by shouting, Sire. As I showed her around her bedroom I could see that she was having trouble containing herself. She even stopped being polite to me."

Robanar looked at Terys. "That may be a point against her, my dear."

She replied, "Still, a long journey after nearly losing your life, that may fray anyone's nerves. Let her remain here and relax, dear, then we will find out what she is really like."

"As you wish, my dear. Is there more, Milsy?"

"Aye, Sire. While I was speaking with Master Gullbrand I had the impression we might have misunderstood what he is. He speaks our tongue much better than Her Highness does, indeed, he probably speaks it better than I do. I do not believe they would teach the Valley tongue to someone who was just a manservant, even a personal one. Nobody has actually said anything, it is possible that they didn't think it was necessary, but I believe that he may be some kind of noble. He probably performs a similar function for Her Highness as Kendar does for yourself."

"What? And we have sent him to sleep in a servant's dormitory! I trust your instincts, my dear. If anyone would know a noble from a servant you would, I deem. Kendar, we must find him a chamber tomorrow."

"Aye, Sire. It should not be difficult, especially as we presently have no other guests. Ah, apart from Lady Garia and Lady Merizel, of course, but they can no longer be considered guests. I'll have to ask Terevor, but I believe that there are some smaller chambers free just around the corner."

Milsy said, "Sire? Depending on the room, that may just be the place to put the manservant as well. That way he'll be away from Her Highness's door and with someone else who speaks his tongue."

Robanar smiled. "See? Did I not tell you she is clever?"

"Sire, I cannot pretend that I am not, yet I do not wish you to have unrealistic expectations of me. Ah, there is one more thing, Sire. Of course they do not yet know the bells so I have told Her Highness that someone will be sent to escort them down to breakfast tomorrow morning. Since we do not know when they may waken, that should stop them wandering about the corridors. They do know about using the yellow rope to summon servants but I thought it best to make sure she stayed in her suite."

"You have served Palarand well this day, Milsy. You show a rare talent for observation and for planning ahead. Thank you again for your time this evening. You will be available tomorrow morning?"

"Aye, Sire, as you command."

"Then it is getting late and you should be spending time with young Tarvan here. Off you go, and we shall see you tomorrow at table."

"Thank you, Sire. Good-night, Sire, Ma'am, Captain, Kendar."

As Tarvan was holding open the door for Milsy, the Queen called.

"Oh, and Milsy, dear."

She turned. "Yes, Ma'am?"

"Thank you for finding Fulvin and bringing him back. Your loyalty does you credit, dear."

The Queen knows everything!