by Robin Roseau
“Yes, Your Highness.”
I climbed back atop my mount and clicked. We moved forward, and Ahlianna said, “Nicely done, little sister.”
* * * *
Mother and Father were waiting on the palace steps. Mother had tears in her eyes by the time I climbed the steps to her, and she held me wordlessly for a long time.
“Do you have any idea how dusty I am?” I finally asked her.
“Did you notice I’m not dressed in my best finery?” she retorted. “I miss you so much when you’re gone.”
“Well, now you can miss Ahlianna for a while.”
And yet, she continued to hold me until Father finally cleared his throat and asked, “Do I get my turn to squish the stuffing from her?”
“No.”
Father laughed. Mother slowly released me, and then my father, the king, pulled me into his arms, kissed my cheek, and hugged me tightly.
Father had never been shy with his displays of affection, not for his daughters and not for his wife. But this turned into a longer hug than I’d ever received from him, and finally I asked, “What’s going on?”
“We’re happy to see you,” he said. “Gretchena didn’t come?”
“She has a big commission with a deadline,” I replied.
“Ah,” he said. “It’s important to follow through on promises.”
“Exactly so.”
Finally, he released me. He said a few words, and then they ushered us into the palace.
Where Mother hugged me again then said, “You two. Dress for dinner. Family, but put in an effort.”
Ahlianna and I nodded and headed for our quarters. Then we walked to the baths together, and I asked her, “What’s going on?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Why are you being evasive? Something’s going on.”
“You’re right. Something’s going on. In a few days, I’m heading north. I’ll be in Charth for a while. You’ll be taking over my duties. They’re just realizing you’re an adult now and are coming to grips with it.”
“Uh, huh,” I said.
“If more is going on than that, I’m sure our father, the king, will tell you, or perhaps your sister, the crown princess, will have assignments for you. But your sister, who needs a bath as much as you do, would rather not talk further about it.”
“So, something’s going on.”
“Yes. We have assignments for you. You had to expect that. Did you think it was going to be a big party while I’m gone?”
I didn’t say anything until we reached the doors to the baths. Then I set my hand on her arm, and we turned to each other. “I don’t think I deserved that.”
Ahlianna looked into my eyes. “You’re right. You didn’t. No one is sure how you’re going to respond at what Father wants. It’s a significant responsibility. He was going to have me do it, but then Gionna’s letter came, and I pointed out you might be better and asked him to assign it to you. It needs to be one of us. Now, could I please just be your sister and not your source of inside information?”
“Was that an apology for implying I’m nothing but an indulgent lay-about?”
“No. This is. I’m sorry. You’re not at all indulgent. You are at times young and somewhat inconsistent. That’s not the same thing. And you’re getting better. I’m not sure you’re any worse than I was at your age.” Then she grinned. “You know how Gionna says her mother rewards success with future opportunity to experience failure?”
“Yes. She’s mentioned that a few times.”
“Yes, well. Father considers your time in Charth a success.”
I snorted. “Should I be worried?”
“No.”
“Okay. I’ll wash your back if you wash mine.”
“Forget it. I’m letting the attendants do it.”
“Fine.”
“You may wash my feet if you want.”
“Right. Hold your breath for that.” And then I slipped past her into the bathing chamber.
* * * *
Over dinner, Mother and Father asked about Charth. It was largely small talk. But Father said, “I read the dispatches. I didn’t have time to read your report on the flooding, but I skimmed it. It appears very thorough, Darfelsa.”
“Thank you,” I said. “In the future, if I have a better understanding of why you need certain information, I can do better.”
“Here’s the thing about requests like that,” he said. “I don’t necessarily know what I need to know or why.”
“You don’t?”
“Consider it your job to tell me.”
“Oh,” I said. “Seriously?”
“I know you believe I know everything, but I have to admit I don’t.”
Ahlianna smiled. I cocked my head. “You’re serious.”
“He’s serious,” Ahlianna said. “He doesn’t know everything.”
“That’s not what I meant, and you’re not helping,” I told her. “Father?”
“Yes, I’m serious. In the future, I want you to change the structure a little. Everything you’re doing is fine, but I want an introduction that tells me what’s important. Imagine you have thirty seconds to convince me to read the entire report, or perhaps to direct me to that portion of the report I have to read. Do you understand?”
“A half page,” Ahlianna said. “If you need more than that, you use a half page to give him enough information that he knows he needs to give your report more time. And you direct him to the most important parts.”
“And then the final page should be a summary of the conclusions,” Father added. “I may only read the introduction and the final page before passing it to someone else, but if there are things I really need to know, I should have enough information between those to come to decisions.”
I dropped my eyes. “I haven’t been doing that.”
“No, you haven’t, but no one told you to,” he replied.
“So, you haven’t been reading them?”
“He’s been giving them to me, and I’ve been verbally doing what he just told you to do,” Ahlianna said.
I turned to her. “You’ve read all my reports?”
“Yes. Tomorrow, we’ll take the one on flooding, and I’ll help you with the parts Father needs.”
“I’m going to read that one in detail,” Father said. “But it will be good practice for you.”
“I’m sorry I’ve been doing it wrong.” I turned back to my sister. “I’m sorry I’ve made extra work for you.”
“We’ve had ample opportunity to guide you,” she replied. “We could see the quality of your reporting was improving, but now you’re ready to step it up a little further. No one is faulting you, Darfelsa. We’re teaching you.”
“I understand. Thank you.”
“There’s something else you need to begin doing,” she added. “You need to write a private letter to Father and me that gets included in the dispatch.”
“I send letters now.”
“You send personal letters,” she said. “To your family. You do not send private letters to your king. Allium does, and it hasn’t been necessary for you, but you’re going to start. We’ll write a sample tomorrow.”
“That’s when you tell me the things that can’t be shared widely,” Father added. “Things you don’t want to say in front of Lady Olivia, for instance. I know she gets copies of most of the reports you write. Or perhaps add a personal touch.”
“What was the response from the farmers when you talked to them?” Ahlianna asked. “Were they open with you?”
“They’re worried, but that’s in the report.”
“I haven’t seen it yet, but that’s not what I mean.” She pursed her lips. “How did they respond to you. To the Princess of Flarvor. It’s not something you would share widely, but neither Father nor I were there. Were they guarded?”
“I think they were all surprised I was asking, but everyone I talked to showed me anything I asked to see, and no one seemed to be put out I asked. If anyt
hing, they were ready to show me more than I thought I needed.”
“Good,” Father said. “That’s the sort of thing you could say in the private copies. You decide whether Ambassador Cuprite should read what you write, but you can simply seal them and include them in the diplomatic pouch yourself, if that’s what you decide is best. She won’t question you.”
We talked about it a little further, and then Mother pointedly changed the topic.
Dinner was nearing a close when Ahlianna said, “Father, Darfelsa figured out something is going on. Did you want to let her worry about it all night?”
“That’s up to her. Darfelsa, do you want to talk to your king this evening or wait until tomorrow?”
“Ahlianna wouldn’t tell me much,” I said. “Do you want to give me a hint?”
“No.” But he smiled at me. “There’s a little situation that needs some attention.”
“And you want me to see to it?”
“Yes.”
“I think I’d rather talk about it now,” I said.
“All right.” We stood, and then Father put his arm around my shoulder. Ahlianna collected Mother, and we traveled through the palace to Father’s office. Once inside, Ahlianna poured drinks for everyone, and we sat down in the conversation area. I found myself facing Father and Ahlianna, with Mother forming the third point of a triangle. Yes, four people can arrange in a triangle.
“Ahlianna,” Father prompted.
“Right.” She turned to me. “We’re having an issue in Gandeet.”
“Okay,” I said slowly.
“The trade council in Gandeet has implemented new operating licenses,” she said.
“Operating licenses?”
“It’s a money grab, pure and simple,” she said. “Anyone operating a business must pay an annual fee for a license.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously,” she said. “The fees are modest, but nearly everyone has to pay it, and if you don’t, there can be significant repercussions.”
“Okay. And somehow this is a problem for us?”
“They are refusing licenses to foreign agents, including traders. For trade into Gandeet, they are requiring our merchants to contract with Gandeet companies.”
I cocked my head. “Okay,” I said slowly. “That seems inefficient.”
“It’s damned stupid,” Father said. “It’s a money grab. If this goes through, then our traders will find it more efficient to hire Gandeet transportation companies for everything. We wouldn’t simply ship to the border using local companies and then unload and reload.”
“Putting a bunch of people out of business.”
“Exactly,” Ahlianna said.
“Isn’t Lord Marlish handling it?” I asked.
“Lord Marlish has three new grandchildren,” Mother said. “And Sessie threatened to leave him if she doesn’t get to come home and help raise them.”
“So, who is the new ambassador?”
And none of them said a word. It took me several heartbeats before I said, “No. There’s no way I’m ready to be an ambassador.”
“You’re right,” Father said. “Hendol Gremish, Lord Marlish’s former chief of staff, has assumed temporary authority.”
“Then I guess I’m confused,” I said. “Why are you talking to me about this? I thought we were talking about new duties for me.”
“We are,” Ahlianna said. “Princess Darfelsa, on order of the king, you are to lead a team to Gandeet as his personal envoy. You are to assume authority of the embassy staff and resolve the trade issue with our trading partner. You will have the full power and authority of King Leander Cinnabar.”
I stared at her then spat, “What?”
“You heard me.”
“You’re sending me?”
“You will remain in Gandeet until the new ambassador arrives, and then sufficiently long after that for him to become settled in,” Ahlianna continued. “That may only be a few weeks, but we expect it to be somewhat longer.”
“You’re sending me?”
“Yes, Darfelsa,” Father said. “I am sending my very capable daughter to handle a delicate situation.”
“I’m 18,” I said.
“Well, I couldn’t send you if you weren’t an adult,” he replied.
“Please don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m saying.”
“Our father the king,” Ahlianna said, “Is quite aware of your youth. He needs to send one of us, and I’ll be in Charth.”
“You’ll be in Charth attending parties while I’m handling a delicate trade issue? I’m 18. You’re the crown princess. Why isn’t he sending you?”
“Because I’ll be in Charth attending parties, and you’re the one with three years of foreign service experience. Why do you think you were getting that experience if not to lead future foreign delegations?”
“In the scheme of things, this isn’t that serious,” Father added. “It’s economic and a power play. But lives aren’t directly at stake. It’s a good opportunity. Your sister and I are convinced you’re ready.”
“We thought about sending Allium,” Ahlianna said. “But we decided this was as good an immediate solution and a far better long-term solution.”
“Why?”
“Because you need experience and exposure,” she said. “Darfelsa, you aren’t simply going to Gandeet. You are leading the team going to Gandeet. You will have support from the foreign ministry, but they report to you. When you arrive, you also have authority for the entire embassy and its staff.”
I looked at her, then back and forth between the two of them. “I don’t know which of you I should ask this. How much authority do I have?”
“How much do you need?” Ahlianna asked.
“I need a team,” I said. “An honor guard. To pick a route. All that. Right?”
“Right. You will choose your team,” Ahlianna said. “You will lead your team. You will choose your route. You will either see to arrangements yourself or delegate to someone you trust. On arriving in Gandeet, you will assume authority over the embassy and staff. You will open discussions with the Gandeet council. You will then negotiate an agreement pleasing to Flarvor.” She turned to Father. “It seems to me she has complete authority.”
“It seems that way to me, too,” Father said.
I looked back and forth between them, then leaned back, considering. “Do you think they’ll back down?”
“Of course not,” he said.
“So, what do you want?”
“I want them to either back down or to accept a reciprocal agreement.”
“We’ll honor their licenses and they’ll honor ours? Do we even have licenses?”
“Not for transportation and trade,” Father said. “But it would be trivial to change that.”
“That seems ridiculous.”
“Which is why I want them to back down. But it’s just paperwork,” he said.
“What has Hendol Gremish been doing about this?”
“As best I can tell,” Father replied, “Not one damned thing.”
“Who knows you’re sending me?”
“The four of us and Minister Roddish. I believe he has told Aliodor Halite.”
“Any relation to Viella?” I asked.
“He’s her great uncle, I believe,” Father said. “If he weren’t 95 years old, I’d have sent him.”
“He’s not remotely 95,” Mother said.
“He’s no spring chicken,” Father said.
“Well, that’s true, but he’s not 95.”
“Fine. He’s not 95. But he’s not up for that sort of travel. You’ll work with him to build your team.”
“How many am I taking?”
“How many do you need?”
“From the foreign office?” I clarified. “Two, if they’re familiar with the issue.”
“They will be,” he said.
“Maybe three.”
“So, two or three,” he said.
“And an honor guard.�
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“Yes.”
“I’d like to bring a courier I trust.”
“You can trust all the couriers,” Ahlianna said.
“And you told me two minutes ago I have authority to pick my team.”
“You do. I’m only pointing out you can trust all of them.”
“Fine, but it’s my choice.”
“It’s your choice.
We grew quiet while I considered the implications. Then I considered a big one. “Months.”
“Probably,” Ahlianna confirmed.
“And Father is letting us both out of the country at the same time?”
“Yes.”
“But he won’t let us both be in Ressaline at the same time. He doesn’t trust them?”
“I may be softening my position on that,” Father said. “Now that we have had experience with the Ressalines.”
“And now that you’re not 15,” Ahlianna added.
“So, I could have met you in Charth?”
“Yes,” Father said. “If I didn’t need one of you in Gandeet.”
“Months,” I said.
“Yes,” Ahlianna said again. “It shouldn’t be longer than a year.”
I didn’t care for the implications. My lips tightened a moment, but I didn’t otherwise give away the turmoil I was feeling. Instead I turned back to Father. “Have you decided my education from Allium and Olivia is complete?”
His tone was gentle. “No, but that isn’t forever, Darfelsa. You’ll return here, give your mother some time, and then return to Charth, if that is still your plan.”
“For now, assume that is still my plan,” I said. He and Ahlianna both nodded. “When do I leave?”
“Your mother wants to introduce you to a few people,” Father said. “I’d like you to depart no later than a month from today.”
“Are their new policies in effect?”
“Yes, but it is understood these things take time.”
Mother waved a finger at me. “Don’t think you can rush away, Daughter.”
“I wouldn’t consider it.”
They all scoffed. “Yes, you would,” Ahlianna said. “Do you want me to talk to Madam Bessari on your behalf?”
I managed not to laugh. “I think that would be wise.”
“All right.”
“You need to build a team and make a plan,” she said. “I won’t be here to review it with you.”