by Robin Roseau
“Mr. Gremish is not with you.”
“Mr. Gremish is en route back to Barrish,” I replied. “He will brief Father directly. I do not know if he will be reposted here or assigned elsewhere. In the meantime, I have assumed direct oversight of the embassy. My title is not ‘ambassador’. I am simply an envoy from my father. I expect the king will send an appropriate ambassador as soon as he has chosen one.”
“You are young for such a role, and a woman besides.”
I thought both halves of that were calculated to be insults, but I also wasn’t surprised. “Yes, I am young,” I said. “But that gives me agility in my thinking that may not be present in someone older, and it also means I am able to consider a longer future. Does it bother you to sit across from a woman, Minister Silmarion?”
“I would prefer to negotiate with someone who is unlikely to let her emotions cloud her judgment.”
“Interesting. The most hot-headed people I know are all men. The people most likely to bully their way through a situation are men. The people most likely to assume they are right in every word that comes from their mouth are men. The people I know who are most likely to ignore the effects their emotions are having are all men. But if you find my presence so unpleasant, I can simply return to Barrish with my recommendations for Father.”
“That isn’t what I meant, Darfelsa.”
“I didn’t realize we had a first name relationship, Tandel. This may be a difference between Gandeet and Flarvor. I haven’t been here long enough to have identified all the cultural differences.”
He actually bristled when I used his first name, and he didn’t try to hide it, either. I hadn’t appreciated his attitude, but at the same time, I didn’t want this to be more confrontational than it needed to be. I offered a smile. “I think this is definitely a cultural difference. I imagine you have had few conversations with a princess.”
“We are uncomfortable with the notion of royalty,” he admitted.
“Some of your fellow countrymen seem somewhat fascinated by it,” I observed. “Like I would call you Minister Silmarion, you should call me either Your Highness or Princess Darfelsa. It is only a title, not all that different from Minister.”
“My title is earned,” he replied. “Yours was assigned by accident of birth.”
“If my father were seated here, would you struggle to call him King Leander?”
“You are not your father, and he is a proven leader of your country.”
“And if my father were to die, or to grow sick and abdicate, would you struggle to call my sister Queen Ahlianna?” His lips tightened. “She is three years my senior. Perhaps I should come back in three years.” I paused only a moment then adjusted my tone. “Minister Silmarion, there are simple facts. One fact is my father needed to send someone here, someone he trusted with the amount of authority he has given me. If you were to argue I have far more authority than any 18-year-old should have, I’d actually agree with you.”
“You would?”
“Absolutely. My father’s choices were limited, however. He can’t give such authority to just anyone, and while I am not the Crown Princess, and I am fairly young, I actually have more foreign service experience than anyone else he could have sent.”
“Acquired in Ressaline.” He paused. “What does it mean to be the Crown Princess?”
“First in line for the crown,” I said. “Until Ahlianna has children, I am second. If she were to become queen, then I become the crown princess until she has children. Once she has children, until they are of an age to lead, I would probably be the designated regent, but that would change if she decided to designate someone else. That is entirely her choice.”
“Regent?”
“You wouldn’t want a five-year-old acting with the powers of the monarch,” I said. “The regent holds the power of the throne until the future monarch becomes old enough for such power.”
“18?”
“Not necessarily, but sure. We’re growing sidetracked now, but I understand this is all quite foreign to you.”
“It’s a terrible system.”
It was my turn to bristle, and then I wondered if he’d been waiting for an opportunity to say exactly that. I smiled, but I hoped it appeared cold. “I’ll make sure my father is aware of your feelings on the subject.” I paused. “Do we need to continue a discussion of titles, earned or bestowed?”
“No,” he said. “I do not understand why you are here.”
“Are you asking why Father sent me instead of someone else, or why he sent anyone at all?”
“The latter, I guess.”
“I am here, first and foremost, to resolve the dispute regarding licensing of transportation companies traveling between our two countries.”
“I wasn’t aware there was a dispute.”
“That should make this easy, then. I have a simple agreement prepared.” I held my hand out. Renishta had the proper agreement readily available, and she gave it to me. I glanced at it, then slid it across the desk.
He barely looked at it. “I don’t understand.”
“You are aware that Gandeet has refused to license Flarvorian transportation companies to operate within your borders. I should be careful. You are refusing all Flarvorian companies from operating inside your borders. Trade is only the most obvious of those.” I gestured. “This is an agreement to treat our trading companies with the same consideration as we treat yours. That is, tariffs are paid on goods transported, but otherwise there is full freedom of trade. I haven’t had an opportunity to discuss the issue with other industries that have traditionally operated inside your borders, so I am not yet prepared for separate agreements that affect them.”
At that, he scanned the document, reading quickly. “This won’t do.” He looked up. “I am sorry, but there is nothing I can do. It is entirely a safety concern, you see.”
“A safety concern.”
“Yes. Gandeetian companies must be registered to ensure they are obeying our laws.”
“I see. And so you would prefer that goods be transported to the border and piled up, to be collected by Gandeetian transportation companies.”
“We are only seeing to the safety of our citizens. I’m sure you understand.”
“I do,” I said. “I am sorry, Minister, but this answer will not do.”
“There is nothing else I can do.”
I stood up. “Well then. I will return to Flarvor and inform King Leander that Minister Silmarion is terminating all trade with us.”
“That is not at all what I said, and I do not appreciate having my words twisted.”
“I will also ensure the people of Dennaholst, and anyone I meet on the way, understand that the Minister of Commerce has terminated trade.”
He climbed to his feet. “You are completely misrepresenting our position!”
“You wish a one-way agreement. You do not wish to allow our companies to operate inside your borders. In that case, I’m afraid yours will not be allowed inside our borders. Perhaps you would prefer we lob crates of goods via trebuchet. I’m not sure how else to move them from one side of the border to the other. But if you determine another method, I’m sure you’ll let me know.” I turned for the door.
“Princess Darfelsa!”
I spun around. “Do not take that tone with me, Minister Silmarion,” I said, my tone very careful. “Gandeet has enjoyed an unequal relationship with my country long enough. That period has ended.” I leaned over his desk and slammed my hand on the paper. “This is a fair deal. It treats our companies the way we treat yours. You aren’t interested. I’m not interested in being bullied. Good day.”
I turned for the door. “You have no idea how any of this works.”
“You told me there was nothing you could do,” I said, halfway to the door. “Wasn’t I supposed to believe you? You wouldn’t have lied during what I thought would be friendly negotiations.”
I didn’t stop as he sputtered behind me, but I spun at the door.
“I do not care for being lied to. I also don’t care for your condescending attitude. I don’t care for your bullying, either. Gandeet isn’t interested in continued trade with Flarvor. That’s your choice. I’m not going to argue with you about it, as your mind is clearly made up.”
“That’s not what I said!” he yelled as I turned and walked away.
“It will take a few days to close the embassy,” I said. “Perhaps you can figure out something equitable before we get very far. I’ll give you until that time before we notify your people of your decision to terminate trade with us. Let’s go.”
I didn’t stop again.
* * * *
No one spoke a single word to me until we were back in the embassy. Once there, Mr. Epseen said simply, “May I speak with you?”
“Of course.”
We went to my office. I paced for a minute then turned to him. “Yes?”
“You’re bluffing, right?”
“No.”
“You’re going to cut off all trade?”
“No. They’re doing that.”
“No, they aren’t.”
“They’ve been abusing our relationship for a decade. Lord Marlish let them get away with it. And you know it. Why should we continue this relationship under their rules? You heard him. There’s nothing he can do. None of our companies may operate inside their borders. That affects simple trade the most, but that’s not the only business affected. Why should we let their businesses operate inside our borders if they refuse to allow ours inside their borders?”
He stared into my eyes. “Do you have any idea what you’re doing?”
“What would you have me do instead, Mr. Epseen?”
“Enter into good faith negotiations.”
“Diplomacy.”
“Yes, diplomacy,” he said. “It’s not a dirty word.”
“I never said it was.” I stepped closer. “Diplomacy. How has that worked for the last ten years?” The question was rhetorical. “Do you think I haven’t reviewed the agreements made over those ten years? Every single one gave up more and more. Every. Single. Agreement. Every single agreement for the last ten years has eaten away at what was once fair, prosperous trade for both countries. Those ten years have ended. Ended!”
I spun away, now angry, and I was taking it out on the wrong man. I stepped the window and stood looking outside for a minute before asking, “How do you feel about some of the other things that were said?”
“Which things?”
“I imagine you know exactly what I’m talking about.”
There was a pause. “Calculated insults with the goal of getting a rise out of you. It appears to have worked.”
“Did it?” I asked. That was also rhetorical. “Mr. Epseen, nothing said surprised me, not one word.” I turned. “That meeting went nearly exactly as I predicted it would.”
He stared at me for a minute. “I’m not sure I understand. Why-”
“Why did I attend that meeting? Why didn’t I respond differently? I attended because I could have been wrong. I didn’t know whether his comments would be more cutting over my age or my gender, but I was expecting his basic attitude. I wasn’t necessarily expecting his comments regarding our rules of succession, but I wasn’t all that shocked by them. I wish I’d done a better job anticipating that.” I smiled. “Tell me, Mr. Epseen: when was the last time there was a major scandal involving malfeasance of the royal family?”
“I don’t even understand the question.”
“I think you do. Do you know the answer?”
“All right. I don’t know why this is relevant. And no, I don’t.”
“I’ll get to relevance,” I said. “It was during my grandfather’s grandfather’s reign,” I explained. “The crown prince was accepting bribes in exchange for access to the king, and larger bribes to apply his own influence.” Mr. Epseen’s featured twitched, but he contained his expression. “Did you know about this?”
“I’m not that old, Your Highness.”
“Neither am I, but I know about it,” I said. “So, you don’t know what happened. When the king learned about this, he publicly disinherited the crown prince. He was stripped of all titles and banished from the capital. He was given a modest lifetime allowance. His younger sister became crown princess, and that is the line I am from.”
“I didn’t know that,” Mr. Epseen said.
“When is the last time a minister of Gandeet was involved in open bribery?” I asked. From his expression, I could tell Mr. Epseen now understood my point. “I imagine it is their ‘way of life’, but three years ago, it was sufficiently egregious, or perhaps simply annoyed the wrong people, that something had to be done. Mr. Epseen, the laws do not allow my family to profit from our positions. Oh, we are very, very well off. Taxes pay for the costs of keeping the palace, maintenance, staff, and the rest. But the money we spend comes from land. Not one copper coin comes from taxes. Not all, but most people who become spouse to the king or queen come with some portion of land, and that land stays with the royal family. I will profit from that largess the rest of my life, but it does not follow to my children, and so they will need to find another way.”
“One could say that is the ultimate form of bribery.”
“It is no different than any other house that profits from marriage,” I said. “Or if it is, I don’t recognize the difference. Do you believe Mother’s family holds undue influence with my father?”
“I have never heard of such,” he said. “But I can’t say ‘no’, either.”
“Fair enough,” I admitted. “In your opinion, is bribery common here?”
“I wouldn’t say common.”
“What would you say?”
“It happens.”
“And in Flarvor?”
“It happens,” he repeated. “But you have a point. It happens in Flarvor, but it is very rare, and the people who seek bribes are eventually discovered.”
“And so, my point earlier: I wish I had anticipated that topic, because I have ample weapons at my disposal to suggest perhaps the Flarvorian way isn’t so bad after all. But in hindsight, I don’t believe those observations would have enhanced the meeting.”
“I think I agree with you. But Princess-”
“Do you think my father sent me with that rather interesting parchment just to continue the status quo here?”
He paused. “I don’t know,” he admitted eventually.
“Neither do I. What do you think? Because I don’t think he gave me that much power and then expects me to smile sweetly and let Minister Silmarion walk all over us. Do you?”
He paused again. “No, Your Highness. I don’t think he did.”
“Do you think we’re going to gain back ten years of lost ground if I approach them meekly?”
“No, Your Highness. But you’re playing a very dangerous game.”
“I disagree,” I said. “But perhaps I am overlooking something. I’m not playing any games. I’m standing up to them. Why do you feel that is dangerous? Do you expect them to act against my person?”
“What if they call your bluff, Your Highness?”
“First, it’s not a bluff, but what if they do?”
“Trade is critical between our countries?”
“Is it?” I asked. “Why?”
“Excuse me?”
“Why is it critical?” I asked. “What life or death goods do we import from Gandeet?” He blinked at me several times. I smiled sweetly. “Which goods have I overlooked? Oh, I’m quite aware of the luxury goods, of the added variety. And I am aware they have a somewhat more northerly position than we have, and that they produce some goods we don’t.” My smile widened. “Goods our friends in Ressaline would be quite happy to trade with us.”
“Is that why you’re doing this, to help your friends in Charth?”
“No,” I said. “But it’s why I ask my questions, Mr. Epseen. What goods do we rely on so heavily that you consider trade critical?”
“
That’s not it,” he said. “They buy-” He broke off.
“Citrus,” I said, “a major export. However, Gandeet trade policies were squeezing profits so heavily that a delegation of citrus orchards has petitioned the king for assistance. Perhaps we’ll divert more to Ressaline. They have some unusual requirements for our companies to operate inside their country, but they won’t flat out say, ‘There’s nothing I can do’. In fact, I can probably negotiate tariff-free sales of our citrus in exchange for the heavier wool of northern sheep. Lady Olivia would be deeply pleased at such an arrangement. Please, Mr. Epseen, can you name one product we receive from Gandeet that is anything beyond a luxury good?”
“Salt.”
“We have ample sources,” I replied. “And we barely import five percent of our needs from them. I wasn’t able to determine why we import any at all, but perhaps that is an even older agreement than the ten years I reviewed.”
“It is less expensive,” he said.
“You mean it would be if not for Gandeet policies driving up prices on everything,” I replied. “It would possibly be less expensive if our traders could receive it directly from the source, as they might have done when I was born. Care to try again?”
“Northern wheat.”
“The wheat we used to receive from Charth?”
“Yes,” he said. “Exactly.”
“Perhaps you aren’t aware that the Ressalines have been expanding their winter wheat production and are hoping to sell us some beginning next year.”
“So we’re back to the Ressalines?”
“We don’t need that wheat, Mr. Epseen. Yes, we like having the source, but we don’t need it. Do we?”
“The economic advantages-”
“Have been largely traded away, with most of the advantages to the bloated bureaucracy here in Dennaholst.” I paused. “Mr. Epseen, you’re not a sycophant. If I’m wrong, tell me.”
Distress crossed his face, but I didn’t think it was from facing me. I thought it was from facing the truth, his world shaken to the core. “Princess,” he whispered.
“If I’m wrong, tell me,” I repeated. “Argue with me. Or go do your own analysis and come back.”
“Your father-”