by Robin Roseau
Then I turned back to the Prime Minister.
He smiled. “Princess Darfelsa, thank you for coming.”
“Thank you for your invitation.”
“Unless you wished to say something, I thought we could get right to business.”
“Of course.” I made my own gesture and settled into my seat. My household settled, and I offered another smile.
“Princess,” he said. “We have a single issue to address today. We will have more in the future, but today, we are concerned with the simplest portion of trade: transportation.”
“Agreed,” I said.
“We have held many discussions,” he said, gesturing to the rest of the council. “When last you visited with us, you stated your needs. We have listened, and we have a proposal.”
“Excellent.”
“We propose to revert the licensing requirements for transportation companies operating inside our borders,” he explained. “We welcome your companies inside our borders, and we hope you will welcome ours, as you always have.”
“I am pleased, Mr. Prime Minister.”
“However, we have one concern. When last we met, I mentioned accidents.”
“Yes,” I said. “I remember.”
“That issue has not disappeared. There have been accidents.”
“Any deaths?”
“Yes, but it was not deemed the fault of anyone from Flarvor.”
“We regret the deaths,” I said. “But I am heartened it is not a source of strife between our peoples.”
“We have a proposal. It may not be perfect. We would like to accept the standards your office provided us from Flarvor. We could quibble over details, but we feel Flarvorian standards for wagons and the other tools of trade are sufficient.”
“My father will be pleased,” I said.
“However, we have two concerns, and we require them to be addressed. First, we believe Flarvorian enforcement of the standards has been lax. At least three of the accidents involved large wagons that would not have stood up to a test of your standards.”
“This I didn’t know.”
“The second involves insurance.”
“Insurance, Mr. Prime Minister?”
“You are familiar with insurance? In this case, I refer to one company providing financial guarantees in the case of accident.”
“Ah, yes. I needed the context. Yes, I understand this concept. We have such companies.”
He gestured. Talith had papers, and she hurried to deliver them to me. “These are our standards for insurance. We do not believe you require your shipping companies to carry insurance in the case of accidents. To operate inside our borders, we require such insurance. We are not singling out your firms. Our shipping companies also will be held to this standard. We require proof of such insurance, with coverage that includes operations inside our borders. It may be that some of your firms do provide such insurance, but with geographic limitations. Princess, we do not feel this is an excessive requirement.”
I looked down at the papers. He gave me a chance to review them. I looked up. “I did not anticipate this, and I don’t know if these should be considered standard terms. However, I agree with the concept. I would like to understand further. Let us assume there is an accident involving one of our carriers. What happens?”
“It depends on fault,” he said. “If your carrier is deemed partially or entirely at fault, then their insurance company must compensate anyone who suffers loss.”
“If fault is shared?”
“Then the cost is shared.”
“How are disputes resolved?”
“In our courts.”
“There must be an appeals process,” I said.
“There is.”
“Inside Flarvor, final appeal is to my father.”
“Final appeal here is to our top court, but cases like this never go that far.”
I dug through the papers a little longer. I leaned to Mr. Epseen. “Do you have any comments?”
“I am no better prepared for this than you are,” he replied.
“Am I over-promising to offer provisional acceptance?”
“No.”
I nodded. “Thank you.” I stood and walked around the table, stepping into the gap into the center. “Mr. Prime Minister, Gandeetian council. Thank you for your consideration today. I am not an expert in these areas. I would like to offer provisional acceptance of everything you have said, but I have my own concerns, and I probably need to communicate with my father before we could sign final agreements. I am too far out of my expertise.”
“What concerns?”
“I do not know if the numbers you have provided are reasonable. That would require industry expertise.”
“We feel these numbers are quite fair, but we understand. What else?”
“I am uncomfortable with a Gandeetian court ordering a Flarvorian insurance company to pay a settlement unless we have an appeal process that includes my father’s representative.”
“There is one easy solution,” said the prime minister. “Your companies can secure insurance with a Gandeetian provider. Then it would be a Gandeetian court ordering payment from a Gandeetian company.”
“This is one solution,” I said. I wasn’t satisfied.
“Your Highness,” said Prime Minister Githien. “Are you willing to declare we have made a good faith attempt at a fair agreement?”
“Yes.”
He smiled broadly. “Good. It is in our mutual interests for trade to resume. I believe the details of this arrangement could take time. Could I make a proposal?”
“Please do.”
“I recommend we proceed based on this offer. The Gandeetian government will pay half of the insurance fee for one year, with your companies covering the other half. We believe this is a fair offer.” I nodded. “Of course, none of your companies are forced to accept, but we do feel this is a fair offer. For your part, we require you to implement an inspection program. Or we can, but if we do, there will be a fee sufficient to cover the cost. We are not interested in discovering shortcomings after an accident has occurred.”
“It would take time for Father to implement an inspection program near your border.”
“Inspection could be in Barrish, but we require evidence of inspection, and we will be harsh if we detect fraud.”
“Good,” I said. “Father detests fraud.”
“All good people detest fraud. Perhaps we could send an inspection team to one or two of the border crossings, but as your program becomes more complete, we could pull them back.”
“That seems like a good arrangement,” I replied. “It may be Father will happily let you perform all such inspections. Would they be required for each crossing?”
“We typically require annual inspections, but if we encounter a firm that is particularly sloppy with their maintenance, we can adjust those requirements. But it is more expensive to provide these inspections away from Dennaholst, largely due to reduced demand. Staff must still be paid.”
“I understand,” I said. I thought about it. “I can make a temporary agreement as you have outlined. Let us agree to one year. That offers ample opportunity for Father to consult with experts back home, if he wishes adjustments.”
“Agreed,” said Prime Minister Githien.
And the room broke out in loud applause.
I stood there, somewhat dumbly. We’d worked it out. I was just a silly little girl, but I had stood up to these powerful men and reached an agreement I truly did think was fair, the first such agreement in at least a decade.
Belolad stepped to me. He gave me a small embrace and said, “Go work the crowd, but we’re not quite done.”
And so, he went one way, and I went the other. I accepted greetings, and that was when I found Flame. She gave me a greeting, Nautila beside her. But eventually I found myself back on the dais. We got people to quiet, and then Belolad said, “Princess Darfelsa, we have one more issue to discuss today.”
“I was not aware.”
“I believe your work here would be enhanced if you had closer access to someone from my government, someone you have grown to know, whose integrity is without question.” I had no idea what he was talking about. “We would like to offer Talith Leyviel into your service.”
I glanced over at the woman. She was smiling broadly, and I thought he had warned her.
“Ms. Leyviel has become a personal friend,” I said. “I value her outlook. I would be deeply pleased if she were to join my staff.”
“Then let it be so,” said Belolad. “Congratulations, Ms. Leyviel.”
When we departed, ten minutes later, Talith left with us, and she didn’t stop smiling.
News
The dispatch to Father was thick. I told him nearly everything. Nearly.
I didn’t mention Flame.
And then I included a cover note for all of it. In it, I shared my shortcomings to ratify some of the details and asked him to apply the experts. I closed with this.
I have made a temporary home here, but I beg for it to remain temporary. When my duties here are done, I hope to remain in Barrish for a time, subject to your needs.
Put more plainly, Father, please find a real ambassador and let me come home. It is not desperate, but don’t turn this into a permanent post. Please.
Your loving daughter,
Darfelsa
The reply took nearly a month to arrive. In the meantime, I continued to be the darling about Dennaholst society. I settled into that, actually, although in many ways, it was tiring.
I also worked my way through other past agreements between the two countries. I wasn’t really sure where to begin. Father had given me guidance on this issue, but I was operating on my own for the others. And so I didn’t approach the Gandeetian government, but I formulated thoughts, to share them with Father with my next dispatch, but hoping he’d be able to simply recall me.
Flame and I continued to share a bed, two or three nights a week. I shared no other beds, not for lack of offers. I did share kisses, and somewhat widely.
I didn’t engage in any additional fencing matches.
But then, finally, Marga returned to me with a thick pouch. She looked done in, but she said, “I’m fine. I traveled hard, but we always travel hard.”
“Is there need for a personal report?” I asked.
“No, but I need you to inspect the seals, both for the entire pouch as well as the contents.” So we worked our way through it until I had it arrayed on my desk. And then she accepted my offer to take a long, luxurious bath.
I read first a note from Mother. The contents were private, but in short, she assured me she was so proud of me.
The rest was either from or through Father. His cover letter was simple.
My darling daughter,
I couldn’t be more pleased with the agreement you negotiated. We are prepared to accept this agreement as originally offered, including the insurance requirements, subject to one addition.
Please ask the Gandeetian government to help us implement an inspection program. We can send a team to Dennaholst if necessary, but we would prefer they send advisors here. If they can do that, then we will transition to inspections here, in Barrish, and will ratify the agreement you have reached.
Very well done, my darling. Very well done.
Your other conclusions are correct. I sent you with authority for a reason. I am pleased you recognize your own limits, which I already trusted. Your authority continues.
You are also correct on the nature of recent agreements. However, you have not traversed back sufficiently far. The first truly uneven agreement was fourteen years ago, but it isn’t obvious unless one is deeply familiar with the particulars. However, if you look back twelve years, you will begin to find more agreements you will readily identify as uneven.
The remaining documents outline the most egregious disputes. I wish you to pick the ones that you feel you best understand and begin to address them.
Regarding personnel issues: Mr. Gremish was, indeed, outplayed. He was a fine chief of staff for Lord Marlish. I have returned him to Minister Roddish. While he was outplayed, I have little compassion for him, and you rightly anticipated my reaction. It is your choice whether you continue to extract expertise from Mr. Epseen, but feel free to return him to Barrish on your authority. Make any other personnel changes you feel are appropriate.
I am sending you two more Couriers. They should arrive in approximately a week. Please feel free to send word somewhat more frequently.
I am not remotely surprised you are in receipt of loyalty. I would prefer you not build a personal staff greater than ten persons, but otherwise, this is also on your authority. You are your mother’s daughter.
As for your duration, I fear you will likely celebrate your 19th birthday in Dennaholst, but I promise you won’t be there for your 20th. I need you to begin making progress on some of the included issues, and it needs to be you, Darfelsa. You have the attention of the city, and they’ll take you seriously.
Well done, my lovely, brilliant daughter. Very, very well done.
Your father.
At the end, I cried, and there were still tears on my cheeks when Renishta stepped in. “Princess?”
“It’s fine,” I said, scrubbing at my cheeks. “Come here.” I gestured. Then I set my hand over the top portion of the note. “Read the last line.”
She did. “Your father sounds pleased.”
“He is. May I have a hug?”
“Of course.”
I stood, and she held me tightly for a long, long time. Finally, I said, “Thank you.”
“Of course, Darfelsa,” she whispered. “What can I do for you?”
We separated. “Sit here. Read the entire letter.” I stood behind her while she read it. She looked up to me, grinning broadly. “You get to keep us.”
“Yes, I do.”
“Could I have another hug?”
“You certainly may.”
She stood and wrapped around me tightly. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Thank you.”
“I think we’re both pleased about this, Renishta.”
“I think I’m happier,” she said. “My future is secure, working for someone who appreciates me.”
“Yes, but at the same time, I couldn’t have done this without you.”
And so we exchanged a third, long hug. But then, together, we relaxed. “Now what?” she asked.
“Now, we assemble, and we go through everything else Father has sent us.”
* * * *
Terla, Selzen, Mariya, and Talith read the letter from my father. There was more hugging, more thanks, and a few tears, especially from Talith, who verified it included her.
“What about Tess?” Terla asked.
“I was going to collect her, but I’m not inviting her to read this letter,” I replied.
“What are you doing about Mr. Epseen?”
“What do you think I should do?”
“Send him home. I don’t trust him.”
“We’re usurpers,” I said. “We came in and shook things up. I haven’t received many oaths of loyalty or even congratulations on what we’ve accomplished. My trust doesn’t extend far beyond this group. I trust Prime Minister Githien more than I do half our staff. Am I being petty?”
They talked for a minute, but then Mariya said, “Princess, trust your instincts. What do your instincts tell you?”
“Mr. Epseen should go home with the remaining political staff. They’ve been here while this mess was brewing, and they don’t have my faith. They were barely any help since I arrived.”
“What else?”
“I think we should suggest it’s time for people to rotate home, and to make that offer. We’re bloated.” I paused. “I think we need Tess here.”
“I’ll fetch her,” Renishta offered.
“To be clear,” Mariya said. “Your honor guard remains intact. If anyone needs to rotate home, she may go when someo
ne I trust replaces her.”
“Your staff,” I said.
“And where you go, Princess, I go. That is permanent, unless you get rid of me.”
“Thank you, Mariya.”
I didn’t want to address father’s bundles, so we spoke of easier topics until Renishta returned with Tess. I invited her to sit down, and we offered her tea. “What can I do for you, Princess Darfelsa?”
“We’re on first names in this room when the door is closed,” I said. “Tess, I have received word from my father. He ratifies everything I have done so far and congratulates me on our successes.”
“That’s great, Darfelsa!”
“It is. He has reiterated my authority.”
“Did you expect otherwise?”
“No. I want to ask something, and I want an honest opinion. I have reviewed past staffing size, and it seems to me we’re bloated. Comments?”
She looked away. “Are you getting rid of me?”
“No. I would forbid you from leaving, but I don’t have that much authority. Is that clear enough?”
She offered a smile. “Yes, Darfelsa.” She paused. “I haven’t been here that long. It’s always been a big staff, since I arrived.”
“Do you believe it needs to be this large?”
“There’s always more work.”
“True. Tess, I’m not going to release anyone from service to the Ministry, but I am contemplating offering to let people who wish to rotate home, thinning the staff.”
“Oh. It would be their choice?”
“With a few exceptions, yes. Tess, I appreciate your loyalty to your coworkers, but if you want to be invited to these meetings in the future, you need to consider where your first loyalty should sit.”
She blinked at me a few times then dropped her gaze. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t think of that.”
“Everyone else in this room answers to me and has my unquestioned trust,” I said. “Do you intend to be worthy of that same level of trust?”
“I’m not a department head.”
“No, you’re not, and I’m not offering you a promotion at this time. I am, however, asking your opinion.”
She looked up. “Why aren’t any of the department heads here?”
“Why do you think?”