by D. J. Holmes
***
In the Security Division at the Beach House, Joshua wonders, “What does that mean ‘Dauphin’? Daniel and Treysen aren’t here. I guess I’ll ask the globe.”
Walking over to the globe, he presses several keys on the screen, and it liquefies, finally opening up into a rectangular screen.
“What would you like to know, Joshua?” the screen asks.
“In the 15th Century, in France, Jehanne is to make sure that the Dauphin is crowned King of France. What was a Dauphin in that period of time?”
“A Dauphin is the heir apparent to the throne of France. Dauphin is French for the mammal you call ‘dolphin’. Until 1791, the Coat of Arms of the Dauphin of France, displayed the French fleurs-de-lys and dolphins.”
“And remind me once again,” Joshua says, “what are fleurs-de-lys?”
“Fleur, in French, means flower. In this case, it is plural, meaning more than one. Lys, or sometimes it is spelled lis, stands for lily. Usually this is a stylized lily, used as a decorative design, or symbol.”
“Thank you very much,” Joshua states.
The screen stops talking, liquefies, and turns back into a globe.