by Robin Roseau
“No, no. Mr. Gremish is the acting ambassador.”
“Very good. Ms. Tourmaline or Ms. Spinel, I presume you carry evidence of your positions. Perhaps Mr. Surlelt could accept your word and such evidence.”
“Of course, Your Highness,” said Bridgie. She and Marga both stepped forward and presented their identification.
I waited a moment and then said, “Very good. If you please, Mr. Surlelt. Find someone to see to a tour, a complete tour, if you please, and then you can find the other appropriate gentlemen for me.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” he said. He lifted his voice. “Ms. Sessen. Ms. Sessen!” He disappeared down the hallway from whence he had come, calling out for the woman I knew was his secretary.
I turned to my group. “Was that a bit much?” I asked.
“It was a little…” Sergeant Felist trailed off.
“Vapid?”
“No…”
“Trite?”
“That’s not quite it,” said Ms. Pelonden.
“Insipid?”
“Definitely not insipid,” Ms. Blendost said with a smile. “I’m not sure if I have just the right word, but I imagine someone who had spent her life cossetted would sound like you just did.”
“Well, perfect, then!” I said gleefully. “But I was aiming for a little vapid as well. Do you think I should bat my eyelashes or something?”
“Why not just be yourself?” she asked.
“She’s trying to be disarming and underestimated,” Sergeant Felist said.
“Now that they see me coming, I’m not ready for anyone to see me coming, not until we know how things sit.”
“While at the same time, getting them to do what you need them to do.”
“Exactly.”
“Keep doing what you’re doing,” she said. “It’s amusing the rest of us if nothing else.”
“I live to amuse,” I stated.
Just then I heard the clicking of heels on the floor. “Shh,” I whispered. “Pretend I’m a princess.”
My group chuckled, then we broke apart in time to see a woman only a few years older than me. She approached, came to a stop, then lowered herself into a curtsey that was as elegantly done as any I’d seen in court. “Your Highness,” she said, her head down. “Welcome to Dennaholst.”
“Thank you, Ms. Sessen. Please rise.”
She did, and then she took two small steps forward before looking up. “It’s you. It’s really you.”
“Mr. Surlelt didn’t seem entirely sure,” I replied.
“I’d recognize you anywhere!”
From behind me, I heard someone mutter, “I doubt it,” but I don’t think Ms. Sessen heard.
“That’s quite lovely,” I said. “Ms. Sessen, I require a tour of the embassy, if you could be so kind.”
“Of course, of course, Your Highness.” She offered another curtsey. “This is the foyer.” She launched into the history of the Flarvorian embassy in Dennaholst, explaining the original site, and then discussing the move to the current location. As she spoke, she showed me about the more public areas, with my closest staff, Sergeant Felist, and several more guards following along. We saw the ballroom, the dining room, several meeting rooms, and the like, finally landing back at the foyer.
And then she gave a third curtsey, deep and lovely and entirely unnecessary.
I stared at the top of her head for a moment then finally said, “Quite lovely. Please, Ms. Sessen. Once a day is quite sufficient. I prefer to talk to you, not the top of your head.”
“I’m sorry, Your Highness,” she said, rising. “Will there be anything else?”
“Ah, but the tour has barely begun. Let us continue, if you please.”
Blink, blink.
“Ms. Sessen, do you live on the embassy grounds?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Does everyone posted here do so?”
“Oh, no. There isn’t sufficient room for all of us. Some of the staff share a home two blocks west.”
“Very good. I wish to view the entire embassy.”
“I’m sorry, Your Highness, but I do not understand what you are saying. I showed you everything.”
“I didn’t see a kitchen. I saw no storage rooms, no document rooms. I saw not a single office. At no point did we pass a door, and you declared, ‘This is where Lord Marlish was quartered’. I presume the ambassador has quarters within the embassy.”
“Your Highness,” she said. She fluttered a little. “Yes, of course. As acting ambassador, Mr. Gremish has taken the ambassadorial quarters. I couldn’t possibly show them to you.”
“That would be inappropriate, but you could show me the corridor outside his quarters, and the corridor outside yours.”
She fluttered again and dropped her gaze. “I’m sorry, Your Highness,” she replied. “I didn’t understand.”
“I do not wish to see anyone’s private quarters, unless he or she should care to invite me for a brief visit, but I would like to see the entire facility. That includes the places you wouldn’t normally show to the public: kitchen, stable, gardener’s workshop, and any offices I could see.”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
“Beforehand, however, I must ask. Do I need to prove I am who I say I am?”
“No, no, Your Highness,” she fluttered. She dropped her gaze again. “That isn’t necessary,” she added.
“Do you understand now, Ms. Sessen?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Excellent.”
After that, she was hesitant, and a little embarrassed, especially to show me the most mundane spaces. But I really did want a complete tour, especially as I wanted to give Mr. Surlelt a chance to find Mr. Gremish.
Acting ambassador? Oh, I wasn’t impressed. I wasn’t at all impressed.
After the sixth or seventh apology, I took pity on her, of a sort. “Ms. Sessen, you said you would have recognized me anywhere. Is that actually true?”
“Perhaps not anywhere,” she admitted. “But yes.”
“Does this imply you also know where I have been posted for much of the last three years?”
“In Ressaline, Your Highness.”
“Do you imagine you know my duties there, Ms. Sessen?”
“I couldn’t say.”
“I dare say you probably could, as I imagine they were, at least at times, very much like your own.”
“Your Highness?”
“Do you find exploring the nooks and crannies of the embassy distasteful?”
“Not at all, Your Highness.” She offered a smile. “When I first arrived, I poked my nose everywhere.”
“Exciting, wasn’t it?” I said. “It seemed like such an adventure, even though in hindsight, you were only going where so many others had gone ahead of you.”
“Each little room was somewhere new for me,” she admitted.
“Well, each room here is somewhere new for me,” I pointed out. “Do you understand, Ms. Sessen?”
“But you are the princess, Your Highness.”
“That does not make me immune to the allure of exploration, Ms. Sessen,” I replied. “Please,” I added gently. “If I weren’t serious about seeing the embassy, I wouldn’t have said I was. I’m not offering to muck out the stable while wearing a gown, but you can stop apologizing.”
“I’m sorry, Your Highness.”
I lifted an eyebrow. She paused and then said, “Oh, no. I’m sorry. Oh, no! I did it again.”
I smiled and took her hands. “Relax. Take a deep breath with me. In.” I breathed in deeply. “Out. There you go. Are you ready to continue?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Very good.”
We were on the staircase, just climbing from the basement to the second floor, when we heard another voice. “Your Highness.”
I turned to see a crisp gentleman of indeterminate years addressing me. I stepped forward. “Mr. Epseen?”
“At your service, Your Highness.” He offered a bow
. “That will be all, Ms. Sessen.”
“Don’t take a step, Ms. Sessen,” I intercepted. “Mr. Epseen, I have only just arrived in Dennaholst. I do not believe the Gandeet government is aware of my presence, unless rumor has reached them.”
“I don’t believe we were expecting you, Your Highness.”
“I imagine not. I would like you to inform the Gandeet government I am here, and I would like you to request an opportunity to present my credentials. Sooner would be better, perhaps tomorrow afternoon, but I can be flexible as long as they can be timely.”
“Your Highness, I do not fully understand.”
“I have credentials,” I said. “I wish to present them. I wish to meet the Gandeet ruling council. I imagine they will wish to meet me. It has been some time since a member of my family has visited Dennaholst, after all. Mr. Epseen, you have a reputation for being good at your job.”
“I do?”
“You do. Minister Roddish mentioned it to me himself.”
“He did?”
“He did,” I confirmed. “Mr. Epseen, I will not tell you how to do your job, but I will be vexed if I am delayed in undue fashion, and even more vexed if the only person who meets with me carries a name no one knows. Do you understand what I am saying?”
“You wish a meeting with the council,” he said. “And you wish it in the next few days.”
“I would ask this afternoon, but I imagine that is a little more prompt a request than anyone is prepared to accept.”
“I imagine you are correct, Your Highness.”
“In addition to this, Mr. Epseen, I have two members of the Royal Couriers with me. I would appreciate it if they could accompany your messenger when you present this request.”
“I believe, Your Highness, I will see to this myself.”
“Most excellent, Mr. Epseen. And my couriers?”
“I will invite them to join me.”
“Most excellent. When last I saw them, they were in the foyer, but they may have taken to roaming the embassy. I’m sure someone will be able to help you locate them. We can talk further when you have my appointment established.”
“Very good, Your Highness. Your Highness, could I ask…”
“I’d rather you didn’t, not just yet, Mr. Epseen.”
“Very good, Your Highness.”
“Thank you. Do you anticipate difficulties?”
He paused. “No, Your Highness, but perhaps questions.”
“I do apologize if you are unable to satisfy idle curiosity.”
“Your Highness, if I could have just… one moment.”
“You have had several moments, but if you require one more, of course. What is it?”
“Perhaps we could…”
“I haven’t finished my tour,” I interrupted. “And it is so dreary. Sergeant, what would you say if I tried to disappear for a private discussion?”
“One word,” she replied. “No.”
I leaned forward and spoke conspiratorially. “My father is far too overprotective, Mr. Epseen.” I hooked a thumb. “She has permission to paddle my backside if I make her job difficult. I think he was kidding, but I’m not taking chances.”
“Your Highness, you must understand that you have arrived unexpectedly.”
“You would like to know what I am doing here.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“It is my intention to address the staff at the soonest convenience, but I believe I need to meet with Mr. Gremish. As I understand it, he has been declared acting ambassador. Do I have that right?”
His lips tightened. “Yes, Your Highness.”
“Is there dispute, Mr. Epseen?”
“No, no dispute.”
“Very good, Mr. Epseen. Will there be anything else?”
“No, Your Highness.”
“Excellent. I’m sure you’ll be able to find me. I’ll be here somewhere.” He turned around and strode away, all of us watching after him. “Well,” I said. “If we could continue, Ms. Sessen.”
“Of course,” she said. Two minutes later, she said, “This door leads to Mr. Gremish’s offices.”
“Are these the offices that were formerly occupied by Lord Marlish?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Show me, please.”
“I can’t do that, Your Highness.”
I paused, about to insist. “No, I imagine you cannot. Sergeant Felist, is that door locked?”
The sergeant stepped over and tried the handle. The door opened, and she said, “Apparently not.”
“Excellent,” I said. With two soldiers ahead of me, and the rest following after, I strode through the doors. There was an outer office, and I turned to Ms. Sessen, waiting in the corridor. “This is not your fault,” I told her. “Is this space typically occupied?”
“By Mr. Yorial.”
“Mr. Yorial is a member of the consular staff.”
“Formerly,” she said. “He is now Mr. Gremish’s chief of staff.”
“I see,” I said. “And where is Mr. Yorial?”
“I couldn't say, but I imagine with Mr. Gremish.”
“Very good. And those doors lead to Mr. Gremish’s inner office?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Sergeant.”
She stepped over. The door was locked. “Should I open this door, Your Highness?”
“I imagine you cannot do so without causing damage.”
“It wouldn’t be very much damage, Your Highness.”
“That isn’t necessary, Sergeant. Thank you.” I stepped back into the corridor.
It was several minutes later that we confirmed Mr. Gremish had taken the ambassador’s quarters. I wasn’t surprised by then. But then Ms. Sessen led us to a door on the back corridor of the fourth floor. She paused. “Your Highness.”
“These are your quarters,” I said.
“Yes, Your Highness. I can’t show you any others.”
“You are under no obligation, Ms. Sessen.”
“It’s small is all.”
“If you are inviting me to poke my nose into your quarters, I will so poke.”
She opened the door. It wasn’t locked. I stepped past her. She was right; it was small, but neat and clean. I nodded. “Thank you, Ms. Sessen.”
“I have a rather nice view,” she said. She stepped to the window. “You can see the capitol from here.” She pointed. “You see?”
“The clock tower?”
“Yes, Your Highness.” She paused. “Sometimes.”
“Yes?”
“This window opens.”
“As windows are meant to do.”
“And I can climb out onto the roof.”
“Your Highness,” Sergeant Felist said. “Please.”
I chuckled. “Of course, Sergeant. I imagine you can see the entire city, Ms. Sessen.”
“Not all of it, but much,” she agreed.
“Does anyone join you?”
“No.”
“Thank you for showing this to me.”
“I think that’s everywhere, Your Highness.”
“All of the living quarters are consumed.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Lord Marlish lived here with his wife. I imagine there have been changes, a shuffling of space.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Can you explain briefly?”
“Lord Marlish liked to keep some of the rooms available for traveling dignitaries.”
“Such as myself.”
“We haven’t had anyone from your family, not since I’ve been here, but yes.”
“And Mr. Gremish decided that was a waste of space that is seldom occupied.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“And so people moved who would otherwise have remained elsewhere?”
“No, no. People who shared a large quarters divided.”
“Ah. And this space? Has it always been yours?”
“Since I arrived, Your Highness. It was form
erly a closet, but there were no places with the other women.”
“Of course. How many quarters did Lord Marlish keep open for guests?”
“Four, Your Highness, the four rooms opposite his, two to either side.”
“And Mr. Gremish’s former quarters?”
“Mr. Yorial now occupies them.”
“I believe I understand. Thank you, Ms. Sessen. If you could lead us back downstairs, please.”
“Of course.”
* * * *
We collected everyone from the foyer and moved to one of the parlors. Then Ms. Sessen went off to collect tea. As soon as she was gone, and the door closed, I asked, “Has someone seen to our mounts?”
“Yes, Your Highness,” said one of the soldiers. “They’re properly stabled.”
“There was room?”
“We’ll probably need to make adjustments,” she said. “They’ll be fine for a few days. Your Highness, we didn’t know where to unload our things. Everything is still in the wagon.”
“Which is where?”
“Under cover beside the stable.”
“It might be another hour or two,” I said. “We’re going to have to share, but I don’t know how tightly yet. We’ll make do.”
“Your Highness,” began Ms. Blendost.
I turned to her then spoke very quietly. “We have two missions here. We are to resolve the minor difficulty over the licensing of transportation companies. And we’re to see to the embassy. You saw the embassy in Charth. That’s the only one I’ve visited. It has a staff a sixth of the staff here.”
“The embassy in Charth is underserved,” she replied. “This is our largest embassy. The others are perhaps half the size of this one, but Gandeet is our largest immediate neighbor.”
“I believe Ressaline is now larger.”
“Physically larger, but they’re a minor trading partner.”
“This seems overstaffed, but perhaps it’s just that busy. That is something we’ll review. You were going to say something.”
“I don’t…” she paused.
“I think I understand, Ms. Blendost. We’re going to settle in. We’re going to keep our ears open. Sergeant, I imagine you’re going to be busy baby-sitting the spoiled princess, but perhaps some of these fine ladies of the Royal Guard will be able to do a little sleuthing for us.”