PLANET 5 / CH. 3: TOUR GUIDE.

Extract from pre-contact report for inhabited planet orbiting star 3648 (AKA Planet 5)

Searches have detected no-one on this planet able to hear thoughts generally, although there are some who seem able to communicate telepathically with their husband or wife. We have determined that these people seem to have some kind of link to the scholar's island.

Regarding seasons: there is an axial tilt of about thirty-five degrees (more than Earth's), with the Northern hemisphere winter also corresponding to maximum distance from the local star. Thus, while liveable landmass is approximately within the northern tropics, even the scholar's island (barely North of the equator) experiences distinct seasons. The significant temperature drop during the northern hemisphere's winter seems to drive intense storm activity which batter the eastern coasts of the land with considerable force. So far we have observed no storms reaching the scholar's island, which is presumably linked to them basing themselves there. As on Earth, the prevailing winds in the tropics is from the East.

Circumpolar westerly winds, unhindered by any land mass, dominate higher latitude weather.

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ISTHANA'S ROOM

“Esme, what is it?” Isthana asked, “You're so quiet.”

“I now know what mother's part was in what happened. She thought I hated her and that let Henk play her for a total fool. Poor Daddy.”

“Are you saying it's mummy's fault that Daddy's sick? I thought it was the old doctor?”

“Mummy didn't want me as regent, Isthana. She was petrified of me becoming the ruler. Now she realises Henk would be worse. Her plan was that I'd be kidnapped, the ring would be found, and eventually I'd turn up dead or escape and talk about Marshlanders imprisoning me, either way adding to Henk's status. Dad was supposed to get sick for a bit then recover.”

“It was Marshlanders?”

“No. Probably more of Henk's mercenaries. Have you noticed how Marshlanders speak?”

“Lots of 'do's.”

“'Do be' instead of is and are. And for some reason Hal calls me 'fair maid' when he's speaking Marshlander, and not otherwise, that's it. Hal can probably explain the reasons for all of it, certainly the 'do be'. It's not that they're stupid or don't know how to speak properly. It's a work-around to avoid problems.”

“Calling you 'fair maid' is a work-around?”

“No, 'do be' is a work-around. I think 'fair maid' is probably him being more relaxed. I like it.”

“It's archaic.”

“You mean unfashionable. I really hope you'll like Hal, Isthana.”

“You're the one he's going to be wooing, or are you saying you like him but not like that and you're planning to point him at me?”

“No. But according to his grandma's message, you ought not hide away whenever he's around. Assuming Father gets better Hal's offered to take me on a tour of the Isles — I get the impression they're beautiful — and to meet his parents. Would you come too? I don't think Winessa will be willing, unless we bring her captain with us which would give you an extra chaperoning challenge,”

“Winessa's captain?”

“Captain Dalken has been preparing to put a stop to Henk's treasonous plans, but it seems they've been sneakily going for walks too. Daddy told her she could give him a kiss.”

“Don't say treason, Esme!”

“No? He took Daddy's medicine away for eight days, Isthana. It almost killed him and it still might. You remember how difficult it was to sort out the dose, surely? I expect Henk's plan was to let someone take the medicine to Daddy in the next day or two if Daddy hadn't died by then. After eight days his old dose would certainly be fatal. Getting the dose right now, soon enough that Daddy won't die because he needs his medicine is almost impossible. The doctor's going to have to give Daddy something else to help him get better, which is dangerous in other ways. But it ought to get his heart working properly without killing him. Then there'll be time to get him slowly back on the other medicine.”

“Why not keep him on the new one?” Isthana asked, confused. Isthana knew some medicine, so Esme was blunt. “You want father taking asgar the rest of his life? A missed dose of that would be fatal.”

“Asgar? That's a drug!”

“It's got medicinal properties, the dose to regulate a weak heart is well known.”

“But... but it's addictive!”

“Like I say, it's buying Daddy some time, with a cost that he'll have to reduce the dose slowly over the next months.”

“Does Daddy know?”

“He was awake when the doctor and I were discussing it, but the doctor didn't name the drug. Sorry, I think I need to go and restore some more order in the kingdom.”

“Isn't that what the soldiers are for?”

“Do you want deaths because they think that Henk is supposed to be in charge? Mummy told the soldiers it was only right that Henk be consulted since he was due to inherit.”

“Ouch. Isn't that almost treason?”

“I'm not sure there's an 'almost there', not unless she'd been told I was dead. But even then, it ought to be Canethela, as first-born.”

“What are you going to do to mummy?”

“I'm letting her nurse Daddy, and then I'm going to ask Tumbril. I don't think I'm going to make him decide about Grizetha, that'd be much too mean.”

“Your maid? What's she done?”

“I “m pretty sure she was involved. To be more precise, it looks like she ransacked my rooms looking for the ring, and looked in her own too. But maybe she checked her room, carefully folding her clothes onto the floor, and it was Henk and his men who threw everything in a heap on the floor like a tornado.”

“Will your gift work on her?”

“Yes, but first I need to deprive Henk of our soldiers.”

“You can't make some kind of proclamation?”

“I asked Hal to work on writing one of those while we had this chat.”

“I'm more important than soldiers not killing each other?”

“So far, I'm only aware of two mercenary bullies who have been killed. I think there's confusion rather than fighting so far. That'll probably change if I meet Henk in a corridor with a squad of his faithful soldiers though. Not moving aimlessly is also a move.”

“And if you do?”

“After a suitable few words, asking Henk to submit to trial, which he will almost certainly scoff at and reject, I'll drop to the ground and my soldiers will shoot at Henk without any need for further orders.”

“And if he has hostages?”

“I'll probably stay on my feet, but he won't get the ring from me.”

“How can you be sure?”

“Because from a distance, your ring looks very like the regent's ring, and once you and mother have gone to stay with father, we're going to swap rings, just in case. And I'm going to name you as heir to the regency in the event of my death at the hands of the vile traitor Henk.”

“Me? Why me?”

“Because you are a princess of Caneth and carry the blood of Tesk, and worship God in truth. Plus there is more steel in you than you suppose, far more than any of our other sisters. You would not hesitate to lance a pus-filled wound, Isthana. The others would, even Canethela.”

“I don't think I've seen you like this before, Esme. You're not planning to do something stupid are you?”

“No. But I spent eight days in a locked cell in a locked barn asking God why I was alive. He said it was so I could make changes, but it would cost me, change me and bring me joy. I've met Hal, and he brings me joy. I've changed, I have this gift. What will the cost be? I don't know. Dying, or having to execute my brother, who this morning I thought was a heroic fighter of pirates, soon after lunch I discovered he was a cowardly smuggler who ran his ship aground and left his men to die, rather than pay for his crimes, and more recently I've learnt that he poisoned father and intends to usurp the throne. Maybe the change I have to make is putting you on the throne, maybe I'll live a happy life married to Hal and between us we'll unite the kingdoms and save the planet from disaster, I don't know.”

“Save the planet from disaster? What disaster? How?”

“I have no idea, and it wasn't what I was planning to say anyway. Feel free to write it down in your book of odd things Esme has said.”

“I didn't think you knew about that. You don't mind?”

“I don't mind. Someone's got to write my biography just in case I end up famous, after all.” It was an old family joke, and Isthana laughed.

“Esme, what did you mean about it being good for me to spend time near Hal?”

“Mother was wrong about cause and effect. The kings didn't stop visiting because the last of the thought-hearers died. Something about the males of the royal line make them catalysts, and when word gets around that spending time playing chess or singing in the choir or whatever with them can trigger thought-hearing, the poor guy is so surrounded by hopeful girls he gets driven away, and the girls in the queue moan about him taking away the catalyst. I guess the royal balls were supposed to be a way of managing that.”

“You mean if I spend a few hours with Hal, I'll turn into a thought-hearer?”

“You always were one to listen to conversations and not gossip them on, Isthana. Take it to the next level, and then we can think to each other across a crowded room. I don't know how long it takes, or if the results are guaranteed, but it helps with nerves, it really does. No more second guessing.”

“Yet another thing to scare men away from me.”

“Kev? I don't think any of us thought you more than tolerated him. I don't think you scared him away, Isthana, I think he gave up.”

“I told him that I really enjoyed those music lessons, but I hated making mistakes and the solo practice. It was meant to explain why I got grumpy and be a hint he ought to come more. Instead he never came back.”

“You hate solo practice?”

“That was an exaggeration. I just wanted more practice with Kev.”

“He's still around, I think.”

“And single?”

“I'll add asking him that to my list of things to do, shall I? 'Kev, Isthana wants to know if you're still single and wants to apologise for lying that she doesn't like practising, it was meant to result in her seeing more of you, not less.'”

“You wouldn't!” Isthana exclaimed, bright red.

“Well, maybe not the last bit. But boys aren't that good at subtle. If he had romantic thoughts, they probably got flattened each time you got angry and thought you were saying 'let's stop pretending this has any hope of working'.”

“Maybe I do need to hear thoughts. I thought I was being really blatant.”

“Take up a new instrument.”

“Pardon?”

“Send him a message that you're thinking of taking up another instrument, would he be prepared to brave your frustration some more and teach you? And maybe give you some tips with the viola too. See how quickly he comes.”

“That might just be that he's time-rich and cash-poor.”

“So? Assuming it's tonight then I'll want to quiz him a bit on city rumours, and we could play a few rounds of Theng as a foursome while I do.”

“Theng against an attuned couple? Oh, open-handed? Yes, that's about the only game that makes sense, isn't it?”

“In terms of card games, yes. And it does need two couples, and allow discussion, etcetera.”

“As long as we don't have to use our feet,” Isthana said.

Esme laughed, it was an old family version, and often ended up with bruised shins or heels, as the players misjudged strikes. “So, you'll ask him to come?”

“I will.”

“Not on your scented paper, he might be married for all you know. It's been what, two years?”

“And thirty two days. Don't look at me like that, I just remember the date.”

“Don't fib, Isthana, I hear your thoughts. You'd better get some practice in once you've written to him.”

“I practice an instrument and think of love, while you tackle treason? It's not fair.”

“You've been missing him while I've had two would-be suitors begging me to at least give them another chance and now God's sent me one I like who declared me his perfect woman within about five minutes of meeting me. So, it's time to set the world to rights if that's possible.”

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DRAWING ROOM, BETWEEN ISTHANA'S ROOM AND HER MOTHER'S

“Happy with these drafts?” Hal asked.

“Yes, very much so. You've done ten already?” Esme asked, surprised.

“A ship's captain has to write quickly.”

“And neatly too. You've got a clear hand.”

“No excuses for the sailors that way.”

“These are excellent, Hal. Just the right mix of compassion and steel.”

“I heard what you wanted, Esme.”

“And understood me. Mother, what do you think?”

Esme's mother put down her sewing and looked at the paper. “Let it be known to all citizens and soldiers of the crown that Princess Esmetherelda rules as regent with the blessing of His Majesty during this time of his illness, and in accordance with the laws of Caneth is the only source of authority. Any other informal arrangements are voided and any decision under them will be confirmed or repealed according to its merits. Long live the King and may God grant him a speedy recovery.

“Let it also be known that the presence of any mercenary fighter within the palace walls is a violation of the laws of Caneth, punishable by immediate execution on discovery, unless they have been individually introduced to the entire court by the monarch, with full justification to their presence. Two mercenaries, apparently ignorant of this law, have already died. Let further bloodshed be avoided by any mercenary present wrapping their weapons in their bedding and immediately leaving the palace. Honest mercenaries who have been lured to come by false promises and who have committed no other crime may submit a claim against their employer for their back-pay either at the city court of adjudication or at an embassy in their home country, on the production of relevant contracts. The court will judge each case on its merits, with a presumption against the employer. In submitting the claim, they must nominate the embassy or consulate where they wish to accept payment, such payments will not be made within the borders of Caneth, except by individual royal decree. Processing of claims received directly at the court of adjudication is expected to be complete within three weeks. Requests via an embassy should be expected to take longer. Mercenaries should be aware that any person in Caneth other than the monarch who employs a mercenary fighter commits treason (those finding employment as guards — who may only use force to defend their employer, place of work or goods in transit — must ensure that they only act within the relevant laws, and report any request that would break those stringent laws). They should also understand that their present contracts are technically illegal, null and void, and the above-described arrangement for back-pay is to enable them to leave peaceably without feeling they must extract their back-pay in person and so incur further risk. Mercenaries wishing to plead guilty to crimes, misdemeanours, or breakages should submit details of such as part of their submission, along with any extenuating circumstances. Unconfessed crimes will invalidate the claim.

“Let any person who has suffered hardship or mistreatment at the hands of soldiers or mercenaries make suitable representation to the courts within the next 2 weeks. Such representation may be made by a friend or relative familiar with the case or a witness.” Her mother sighed. “And the result of that sort of complaint will fall upon me?”

“Did you personally approve them, mother? The point is to establish who's an honest law-abiding mercenary, and who isn't.”

“There's no such animal, Esme.”

“You're wrong, mother, yet again. Grandfather told me of some he'd met. There's always the possibility that Henk got some by mistake.”

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OUTSIDE THE PALACE GUARD-ROOM

“Hey!” a guard shouted, flinging the door wide. “What are you hammering the door for?”

“Putting up an official notice,” the soldier with the hammer replied.

“I know you, you're on gate duty.” It was clear that in the guard's economy, that was somewhere near cleaning a cesspit.

“I've been redeployed.”

“By whose authority?” he asked, his accent marking him as coming from Tesk. He hadn't seen Esme and the rest of the soldiers.

“By the authority of the princess regent, which is to say, mine, and through me the King's.” Esme said. “As you don't sound like a local, I strongly suggest you read that document as though your life depended on it. Feel free to discuss it quietly with anyone else in there it might apply to, but please don't rip it off the door, that'd be another capital offence with immediate effect, and I've seen enough people die today for my taste.”

There was something about her voice, her utter confidence, that made the mercenary read the document slowly and carefully. Not that he was a slow reader, but because it was a legal document that affected his future. Esme heard his initial anger turn to satisfaction. He turned towards Esme, and gave a brisk salute. “Thank you, princess, you have been clear and more generous than might be expected. The court of adjudication is expecting visitors?”

“A copy has left for the court. In the circumstances, I can't guarantee it's arrived, of course, but the court functionaries will allow any complaint to be registered. Another copy is with the royal printers for engraving and distribution in the city. Enjoy what's left of your time here as a tourist.”

He laughed, “Aye, that's what I am, isn't it?” He turned to go back into the room. “Hear that, lads? If anyone asks, we're tourists. Pack up, weapons in bedding. it's time to leave the hotel, the rent's just gone up.”

“That went well,” Hal muttered to Esme.

“Yes. He liked the bit about claims and breakages. Next stop is the kitchens.”

“The kitchens, highness?” the solder with the hammer asked.

“Get word to all the servants, and soon almost every official will know. After that we'll go to the soldiers' mess-hall, but we go past the kitchens on the way.”

“And then officer's mess?” the lieutenant asked.

“Eventually, but first I want to clear up any confusion among the ranks.”

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SOLDIER'S MESS-HALL

It wasn't quite meal-time, but a hundred or so off duty soldiers were killing time with coarse jokes, arm-wrestling contests and the inevitable games of chance and cards. The sight of a squad in full battle gear, complete with notched arrows and half-drawn bows, forming a defensive square at the door caused a wave of silence across the hall. The last sound was someone swearing about inconstant dice as his roll had meant he'd lost his bet and thus a day and a half's pay. Then he realised he was the only person making a noise and looked round to see what was going on.

“Long live the king!” Esme said.

That was hard to dispute, whatever side you were on, and it was pretty obvious that she wanted a reply. So they all echoed back “Long live the king.”

“I have just spoken to my father and his doctor, and expect him to recover enough to walk in the next few days. Long live the king!”

Another round of cheers, though Esme heard a few nervous thoughts.

“I've been held captive by kidnappers since the night of the lunar eclipse, and it seems my mother and some others got a bit confused about what the law says. I've corrected mother's misunderstanding and have come to tell you that by our cherished law, until father is back to health, the regent has authority. As you might remember, three years ago father held a ceremony giving me the ring of the regent. You'll see its impression on various documents around the palace, pay attention to them please. That's all, I just thought you'd like to know, enjoy your meal. Oh, I talked to the men of my squad and they said the beer ration had been a bit miserly recently and that their pay had been delayed, so I've told off the kitchen and they'll be supplying a double ration of beer tonight, and I'm going to go and sort out whatever's wrong in the pay office and make sure they pay interest too.”

“Long live the princess regent!” called the lieutenant.

Extra beer and the promise of delayed pay with interest was well worth cheering about.

It was at about that moment that prince Henk came out of the officers' mess, which he'd taken over as his base of operations, to see what the noise was about. It had been a busy afternoon, discussing with his supporting generals such issues about what atrocities to ascribe to the marshlanders, both to escalate the war and also to distract the people from what was happening in the palace. Next, there was the issue of the treasury, which had obstinately refused to issue any pay to the soldiers just as soon as they'd heard that the king had become ill, and neither the grand-vizier nor the princess-regent would be approving the payment. In fact, the treasury guard had bolted and barred the doors, lowered the portcullis, and adopted a siege status, only communicating via a speaking tube system designed under a previous monarch. What to do about the treasury had taken a while to decide, with one general suggesting a physical attack with gunpowder, another a hostage-based solution involving the loved-ones of the guards, and the third an attempt at forging the regent's ring. Henk personally preferred the idea of torturing Esmetherelda until she disclosed the location of the ring, but since two of the generals didn't know that Henk was behind her abduction, he couldn't suggest that option. Eventually the idea of forgery had won, until they realised that the royal archive was also behind the treasury gates.

Prince Henk had a headache, and the shouting wasn't helping, so he'd come to try to put a stop to it. He pushed past the soldiers blocking the doors, only to realise they held half-cocked bows, and that he was facing his least favourite sister. Instinctively he reached for his dagger.

“I don't think so.” a man said, grabbing his wrist in a sailor's powerful grasp. The knife fell to the ground.

“Henk.” Esme said, calmly, as if seeing him arrive was no surprise at all. “Mercenaries? That wasn't very clever at all. You're going to stand trial for treason on several counts, not least trying to pull a dagger on the regent. Lieutenant, please have this traitor stripped of everything but his underwear, and have four men take him to the prison. No, actually wait with that last bit. Let's arrest his criminal associates too. This is too good an opportunity to miss. I'll accompany you so that you don't need to split your men.”

“Is that wise, highness?”

“I think so, yes. There might be some mercenaries down there too.”

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THE DUNGEON.

The palace prison was normally used to hold guards who'd had a bit too much to drink, while they sobered up and awaited punishment, but nevertheless it was securely built. It was in the basement of one of the inner towers and had five cells in the upper levels, and below them the dungeon, with seven cells cut into the rock and only accessible via a trap door and a rope. One of the upper cells contained a wretched heap that Esme recognised as Grizetha, two held soldiers, one of whom was trying in vain to persuade Grizetha to give him a smile if she wouldn't give him a kiss, the other was snoring deeply. The notices on the doors read 'suspicion of involvement in kidnapping', and 'drunk and disorderly', 'striking a superior officer while drunk'.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“How many prisoners do you have downstairs?” Esme asked the gaoler.

“Four, highness.”

“On what charges?”

“General Hagard, on the charge of sedition against your prisoner there, his wife, on charge of being his wife, as far as I could see, and his ten year old son, for objecting to the arrest of his mother. I'll get them all out pronto.”

“And the fourth prisoner?”

“A foreigner, highness. I don't know what his crime is, but I was told to put him down there.”

“I see. And is there any particular reason you shouldn't be in the cells by the time I leave?”

“I've been jailer forty years, highness. Forty years faithful service. The general has the keys for his door and his wife and boy's, so they can pretend they're not seeing each other or using the desk in the other cell, I smuggle them good food, and I don't report them getting visitors, or letters.”

“Any visitors for the foreigner?”

“No highness.”

“How long has he been here?”

“Seven nights, highness.”

“And you don't know who he is or what he's done or where he's from?”

“He's from Tesk, and he said something about his sister.”

“Well, just to be formal, Henk is being placed in your care on charges of attempting to kill the princess regent, inviting mercenaries into the palace contrary to the law, unjustly imprisoning his majesty, withholding life-saving medicine from his majesty, arranging my kidnapping, smuggling, failing to submit to a legitimate customs search, and plotting to cause a war. I think there'll be some more charges later, too. Oh, and subverting my maid to commit acts of sedition and then raping her.”

“I'll get out the manacles then. Will you want him fed?”

“Five day old bread, we don't want him dead before he's tried, do we?”

“No, highness.”

“Highness, we didn't know, I, I.... ” One of the three arrested generals said.

“I have the gift of Tesk, ex-general. I know what you didn't know, and what you planned. You planned to support my brother in his attempt to usurp the throne. The grand-vizier will try your case on charges of treason and sedition.”

At her unspoken request, Hal lifted the trap door. “General Hagard? It's Esmetherelda, I hope you don't mind the inconvenience of moving, but we need your cells for my treasonous brother and your former colleagues in the high command. Tomorrow I'd be very happy if you could provide Tumbril with an account of what's happened from your point of view.”

The jailer had lowered the ladder and the general climbed out, warily until he saw prince Henk being fitted with manacles. “And in the mean-time, Highness?”

“See if your home is habitable or too distressing, and if you need to stay at an inn then make sure it's a good one. This is Henk's money-purse, as you see he's got no pockets now. It's currently holding thirty gold two-hundred crowns, and fifty silver fifties, plus some change. I trust you can keep an account of reasonable expenses: carpenters, replacement clothes, meals, accommodation, and so on. What you don't spend, Henk might want to use on pointless lawyers, so don't economise unduly, but on the other hand, I'm sure there will be other claims against his account, so don't feel you need to waste it.”

“You're generous with other people's money, sister.” Henk said.

“You'll need several miracles to not be executed as a traitor, Henk. I'm merely allowing you to make up a few of your worst mistakes.”

“I should have had you killed, shouldn't I?”

“We all have regrets, mother especially. Put him in his last home, jailer, but first open Grizetha's cell for me.”

“Certainly, highness.”

Esme crouched down beside the heap that was Grizetha, she said quietly, “I hear your thoughts. He's done an evil to you, but you still feel for him? You may marry him if you wish, which would make you his cell-mate until he's executed and his widow thereafter, and if you end up with a child then you would have more doubt about his or her conception. Alternatively, you may apply to the law for your rights as a rape victim, I have no doubts that they will be granted.”

“And my place as your maid?”

“Tell me what happened and what you think.”

“He told me he'd take me as his wife the next day if I helped him trick you, and maybe I'd even be his queen. I didn't want to be queen, but I so wanted to believe that he'd marry me, and he said you wouldn't be hurt. Then, after, he ignored me, and I asked him, what about our wedding? Then he said 'where's her ring?' and he threw all your things on the floor of your room, I tried to look after them, but he laughed and said there was no point, and then he accused me of hiding it and made me put my clothes on the floor of my room. All of them, starting with what I was wearing.”

“And he raped you.”

“Yes.”

“And insulted you and threw you in here with nothing but some sheets?”

“Yes, and Tova saw me being thrown in here, and got drunk and shouted that he wanted to be arrested too, just so he could be near me. He's still drunk. He never drinks.”

“Ah.” Esme glanced at Tova, and understood the reason Tova had been feeling so outraged at hearing Grizetha's story. He cared for her deeply, he had for years, and was just now remembering the happy innocent face she'd had when he first met her, and how he'd love to see that smile on her face once more, as she dangled their child on her knee. Their child, no matter who the father actually was.

“I think Tova would prefer you picked him as marriage prospect rather than that soon-to-be-dead traitor, but the choice is yours.”

“I still want you to marry me, Grizetha. Now, if you like, and if you have a child it will be mine, whatever.” Grizetha burst into tears once more, knowing she'd been an utter fool. She could have had Tova as husband long ago, she knew, he'd asked her often enough. “Grizetha, you've still not told me if you think you should have your job back.”

“I betrayed you.”

“Oh, I expect you betrayed everyone, Grizetha. I expect that if you'd told Henk that you wouldn't leave your door open for him that night, father wouldn't have been poisoned, your father wouldn't have been called back from retirement for a national emergency, and so on. Tova wouldn't have this black mark on his record. All triggered the night after our little conversation about God giving us what we need, not what we deserve. I hope you understand what I meant now. What do you deserve?”

“Stop this, princess!” Tova said, unsteadily standing up. “Why are you doing this to her? Hasn't she suffered enough?”

“I don't know, Grizetha, have you suffered enough? Have you realised the depths of your guilt? Or have you just swapped one sort of self pity for another? Do you deserve Tova's care after throwing yourself at my egotistical brother? Your false god has got you to betray everyone and then betrayed you in turn.”

“Stop it, princess!”

“You think it's kindness, Tova, to let her wallow in self-pity, thinking about how unfair life has been to her, when it's all her own stupidity? To say 'there, there, you were hard done by'? No, it was that sort of insipid kindness from her mother that got us all into this mess. I'm going to drive her past that if I possibly can.”

“You're going to drive her to suicide.”

“Well suicide might not appeal to those who love her, but in a certain scheme of things, at least that would save some strain for the executioner's muscles, won't it?”

“No! Please don't have me executed, Highness! Please! I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!”

“Tell me what you think, Grizetha, you still haven't answered my question. Is there any reason I shouldn't have you executed? A treacherous maid who could have reported high treason before it happened, but decided that doing that would ruin her happy little fantasy of marrying an egotistical traitor who never had any love for anyone but himself?”

Finally Grizetha burst into tears that weren't self-pity. “There's no reason! None at all. None at all. I betrayed your trust and I've almost brought about a civil war and there was nothing I could do to stop it once I'd started it. I deserve to be executed, and I deserve God to punish me for my sins too, but you told me about forgiveness when I was proud and stupid and didn't listen, please have enough mercy on me that you'll tell me about it again before you have me executed.”

“I'll teach you about grace too, Grizie.” Esmetherelda said, warmly embracing her friend. “That's a gift beyond mercy, something good we don't deserve. That's what God offers us if we admit what we've broken everything. Would being my friend, my lady in waiting be like that for you?”

“You mean it?” Grizetha asked, shocked, “why?”

“Because I want you as a friend. Same reason God wants you to stop being a rebel against him.”

“But... but...”

“God's extravagant mercy,” Tova said, approvingly.

“Indeed. God's extravagant mercy is just like that, daughter.” Tumbril said, from the entrance to the cell. “Thank-you for giving me back my daughter, highness.”

“Thank you for coming back to us Grand-Vizier. Did you arrive early enough to hear Tova here making a bid to become your son-in-law and earning himself a severe talking to?”

“I have?” Tova asked.

“Indeed.” Esmetherelda said “You ought to have heard the quote 'Make vows only with one to whom you are united in faith.'”

“I am a disobedient servant of God,” Tova said.

“Yes.”

“Reliant on God's grace,” he added, in a winsome tone.

“Presuming on God's grace while you flagrantly disobey? No, soldier, that will not happen.”

“I thought you were recommending his suit, highness.” Grizetha said.

“Humanly, in ignorance, I did, Grizetha. But it is wrong for a believer to marry a non-believer.”

“So while you thought he was a non-believer you encouraged me to consider him, but you also wish me to become a believer, and if you approved of a marriage now you would disapprove of it when I commit my life to God? You are inconsistent.”

“But will you do that?”

“I've asked you to to tell me how, and you haven't. I can't do life on my own. Don't keep me from God and from Tova, please.”

“Jailer, please release this soldier. He has some stern duties: to escort my lady in waiting to her room and allow her to get properly dressed, to explain to her how she turns from her sins and comes to new faith, to seek her father's approval of a marriage, and to convince a pastor that it is good to allow a rapid marriage.”

“In that order, highness?” Grizetha asked, “I'm just thinking sometimes it's hard to find father...”

“If I may listen to my daughter's account of what I've missed, Highness? And sit in on the discussion of matters of faith? I don't quite have your faith in Tova that he won't become distracted in his explanations.”

“You are wise as ever, Grand-Vizier. But at some point we must talk, urgently, about father's health, and about my mother's sorry participation in this chaos. I will be in Isthana's rooms until I leave the palace.”

“Leave the palace, highness?”

“I do not believe that all my kidnappers will have left the city, or even the palace. Other plans have been made.”

“As you wish, princess regent. Will you require the company of your lady in waiting?”

“On the assumption that she is not going to be getting married this evening, yes, that would be wise.”

“Do you trust us so little, highness?” Grizetha asked.

“I was thinking for my reputation, Grizetha. Prince Hal has offered me accommodation which has some added security, but it would not be very appropriate for me to go off with him without company.”

“Prince Hal?” Grizetha asked.

“My rescuer and my suitor. Not to mention my memory-jogger. Sorry you had to wait so long for my attention so long, uncle.” She said to the prisoner from Tesk. “Don't be so surprised, your thoughts were quite clear. I am Esmetherelda, your sister's fifth daughter, and while father is ill, princess-regent. And I do remember you from when you last visited ten-twelve years ago. You've not changed that much. You can go, Grizetha, don't wait on ceremony.”

“Forgive me... I find I'm not very certain about the meaning...” the man stuttered. A fifth daughter being regent made no sense to him.

“Uncle Teng,” Esme chided him for his prevarication, “I have the gift of Tesk. If you wish to be diplomatic you could say something like 'isn't it unusual for a fifth daughter to be regent, or have I misunderstood?', without lying.”

“You... you truly have the gift?”

“You're the scientist; you tell me. Earlier today, Hal rescued me, and he told mother that in that we shared six of the seven attunements. We certainly got on well and having grown up with a grandmother with the gift it didn't come as much surprise to him that having done that we started sharing our thoughts. I then started hearing other people's thoughts too. Fortunately I can ignore them.”

“The gift has been missing from Tesk for generations!”

“That doesn't surprise me, actually. I'll be happy to change that for a week or so, who knows, maybe it's contagious. As long as Prince Hal of the Isles is allowed to join me there. I like him too much to plan on a long separation just to visit Tesk.”

“Royalty of the Three Isles are not permitted to visit.”

“As I understand it, if I visit, as one with the gift, I have certain powers to alter legislation, do I not?”

He looked rather like a scared rabbit at that point. “I'm not sure.”

“That's OK uncle, I won't tell anyone there what you just thought about me.”

“Can I Esme?” Hal asked.

“Hal, be nice. I'm sure my uncle doesn't want anyone thinking that he told me I'd be the absolute ruler of Tesk until someone else turned up with the gift, just to secure some research funds. Some people might think that was treason. And anyway, he didn't tell me, I read it in the constitution and he just confirmed it. Tell me about your research, uncle, and what you need. It's possible the crown will be interested.”

“I'm not allowed to directly approach the crown.”

“Pardon?”

“It's a law of the Tesk Academy. I'm allowed to ask my relatives or people in a serving capacity if they'd intercede for me, but I'm not allowed to directly approach monarchs. It's supposed to make sure we don't get locked up, and that people with royal connections don't get preferential treatment. If I break it then the academy will throw me out.”

“I hope you're not saying you're not allowed to ever talk to the crown.”

“No, there's just this form... I king or queen whatever, having first heard about this project from whoever who first heard about it from whoever, lend my support to the sum of so many thousand crowns to the research of Academician Teng.”

“Fine, how about I write 'I, princess regent Esmetherelda, having first heard about this stupid rigid procedure form from my uncle, and thrown him back in jail for wasting my time and refusing to answer a simple direct question in a time of national crisis, might think about supporting his research project once he's managed to explain it to his jailer in sufficient detail to satisfy his conscience. This of course all being despite the fact I've heard some things from his thoughts.”

“I did try to explain it to him once.”

“Yes, he said you wanted to see mother, and saying a lot of nonsense. Unfortunately she's not entirely in my good books at the moment for her involvement in getting me kidnapped, father poisoned, and my brother committing several other diverse acts of treason. Gaoler, try to listen more closely this time, give him good food, and let him out at first light. He's just in gaol for being the representative of an organisation with aggravating rules, really. Uncle, it might actually be safer for you in gaol too. See you tomorrow, probably. Unless someone assassinates me overnight. After me, Isthana is going to be regent. I'll tell her you want to study what's up with the sun and need some money to help you, so your conscience will be clear.”

Hal tried not to laugh, but wasn't very successful.

“That's right!” the jailer said, “He said it looked like the sun was going to fall over.”

“Going unstable.” winced the scientist.

“Does that mean you can talk to me now, Uncle?” Esme asked. He nodded. “Oh good. We'll leave you to your work, jailer. If anyone asks for me, I'm going to talk to the treasury about paying ordinary soldiers, your good self, and a few other individuals.”

“Eslind is really under investigation for treason?” Teng asked as he followed in Esme's wake.

“She will be, formally. I don't believe she's actually a threat any more, so she's still at liberty. The question is one of policy as much as guilt, She has opened to me, so I know roughly what she did and why. She wasn't the main instigator. The Grand-Vizier will be carrying out his investigations about consequences and I will be listening to his advice and hoping I can be merciful, as father wishes.”

“You mentioned poison, highness?”

“He has been on medication for his heart. The chosen method to get me out of the way was some kind of mushroom or drug in the soup. There was an interaction between the two, then my charming brother denied father his medication. What were you in prison for?”

“Being in the wrong place at the wrong time and asking the wrong questions, I think. I asked if I could speak to your mother about the sun's instability. I have a feeling they thought I said her son's instability.”

“When was this?”

“A week ago.”

“Hmm. Yes, that was before too much had gone bad.”

“Why do we need to visit the treasury?” Hal asked.

“Because if the soldiers aren't being paid, that means that the treasury guards have done their job and have locked the doors.”

----------------------------------------

OUTSIDE THE TREASURY, 6 HOURS AFTER RESCUE.

Esme rang the bell and said “Good afternoon to all in the treasury! This is princess-regent Esmetherelda, and I don't expect you to open the gates just yet.”

“That's a change to the normal threats.”

“Oh, there's been lots of changes this afternoon. I've just delivered my traitor of a brother to prison, along with some generals who were plotting to put him on the throne, released General Hagard, and Grand-Vizier Tumbril is back from retirement. Oh, and I've distributed some proclamations telling mercenaries they'd better go home or they'll grow arrows. It felt a bit premature to walk around too much with the regent's seal, so I've not got that with me at the moment, but I was wondering... Is there any procedure for getting rank and file soldiers their pay without any money getting near most of the senior officers? I don't want to pay people only to find out they were in league with traitors.”

“Err, I'll have to ask.”

“It's normally a treasury officer that disburses pay, isn't it?”

“Err, yes.”

“Just a suggestion, but could you drop it down from a window, or something like that?”

“That's a long way.”

“Good point. OK, well, you ask and I'll write up what I wish to happen. How do I get the order to you?”

“We lower a fishing line,”

“Let's hope this wind dies down then. Just so you know, things are mostly pretty calm out here as far as I can see. I only escaped from being held hostage at lunchtime, so I might be wrong, but as far as I'm found out so far, the only deaths have been two mercenaries, and I was speaking to the ambassador of the Three Isles earlier and he thought father was in his throne-room. One of his guards said things were a bit tense, heading towards unrest, but not even he mentioned any ugly scenes. Oh! I've got an idea, if no one can think of a better one. What if you let someone harmless — say a maid, or a kitchen helper — past the portcullis, and then dropped them the pay-packets through the murder-holes?”

“I'll pass it on. I must say you're more convincing than the previous voices we've had claiming to be princess Esmetherelda.”

“Well I'm very glad I'm more convincing than them, since I'm the real me. But I suppose they all said that didn't they? I wonder who they were... they need reminding that's treason. Your voice is a bit distorted by the pipe, is that Vazeth?”

“It is.”

“Remind me to give you back that irritating treatise on economic theory. It's so repetitive. What ever happened to economy of letters? Was he paid by the word or something? Waste of good ink, not to mention my time, he could have got where he got in about a quarter of the time if he'd wanted to. And what does he mean by saying an index is a sop to the unlettered? It's nothing of the sort! If he'd been polite enough to not repeat himself umpteen times per chapter and stick to the point, then maybe, but really! No index, chapters that ramble all over the place, the same graph, the exact same graph in four different places but with different axes, and that insult to the reader who wants to find out if the conflicting definitions he's given of basic monetary policy are really showing a development of thought or if he's just totally senile. And if that's Tamrin laughing in the background, tell him his favourite author isn't much better either.”

“Tamrin the Unwary says he's convinced.”

“As I said right at the start, it's not time to open the gates yet. There may be some kind of reaction from mercenaries to me declaring their contracts null and void, for instance. Oh, I hope the purse my guards confiscated from Henk isn't the sum total of his wealth, I told the mercenaries they'd be getting any back-pay on production of contracts, etcetera, but I was thinking it'd come from Henk and anyone else who's found guilty of treason. Feel free to comment when you're convinced I'm me.”

“I wouldn't comment otherwise.”

“Of course you shouldn't. Another thing to help you not get bored, is that my scientist uncle is here. He wants to study what the sun's up to and probably needs an expensive telescope or a few hundred experts in complicated maths. I hope I'm exaggerating, but uncle is just desperately trying not to think about what he needs before he's given his pitch. I seem to remember Daddy set up a fund for such academic endeavours, and I'd like to see the details sometime tomorrow or the next day.”

“If you prove to our satisfaction that you are who you say you are' certainly.”

“On production of the ring, certainly,” another voice said.

“One day you're going to explain to me how your procedures would cope if the regent's ring was stolen from me.”

“Please don't let that happen.”

“I'm not planning to.”

----------------------------------------

ISTHANA'S ROOMS

“Hello Kev, meet Hal, Crown prince of the Three Isles. Hal, this is Kev, who is an accomplished musician and has been known to earn some income as a tutor when it's not concert season, and so on. He admitted defeat with me, of course, since I refused to practice. Kev, has Isthana told you I wanted to ask you about what rumours you've heard floating around the city recently?”

“I only arrived just before you, highness.”

“Oh, OK, well, how much time do you have, have you eaten, and would we be stealing you away from someone or something if between us all we took most of the evening?”

“I have no appointments, and my landlady has expectations about musicians keeping unsocial hours which I usually frustrate.”

“Does that mean work's slow these days?” Hal asked.

“Teaching work pays the bills, orchestral work is scarce, mainly because I don't like the thought of letting my pupils find another tutor while I'm on tour for a month or two. In other words I'm much more of a teacher than a performer now.”

“Independent or at the academy?” Esme asked.

“The academy requires that you're either permanently attached to an orchestra or have a noble client.”

“If they don't accept me as noble, I'm going to write a nasty letter threatening them with Esme.” Isthana said. “I'm also happy to tell them I'll take a dim view if they think they'd get a cut of any income you get from your existing clients or force you to charge them more. I also want you to know, Kev, that no matter how frustrated I was, I wasn't expecting that to be the last of my lessons, two years ago.”

“I thought you said you were giving up.”

“I probably did. But I was thinking about that piece there and then, not on music.”

“Oh. I misunderstood.”

“Yes. I did too, I thought I'd asked you to come and help me practice more often.”

“I thought you'd asked me to come and visit without there being any music involved.”

“And that didn't appeal?” Esme asked in the silence that ensued.

“At the time, I had just started keeping company with Mari.”

“Your pastor's daughter?” Isthana asked.

“Yes.”

“I didn't know, sorry. She's well?”

“She eventually told me that she didn't trust in God, she couldn't bring herself to, and we ought to end it before it hurt more.”

“And now Kev,” Esme asked, “if Isthana finds she still enjoys your company, would that be unwelcome or inappropriate?”

“I don't know how appropriate it is for a tutor to be emotionally involved with one of his students.”

“So, if we find ourselves in love then you stop teaching me?”

“For money.” Kev specified.

“And if you are teaching me because of friendship, does that prevent you naming me as your pupil to the academy?”

“No, highness.”

“Because I'm still interested in the idea of spending time with you Kev, and I want music to be part of that. But unless you've changed or I've changed then I don't want music to be all we talk about. So now that Mari has broken your heart, is there anyone else who might object to that?”

“No one, highness.”

“And would you prefer a purely fiscal relationship?”

“I'd rather teach you as friend, highness.”

“So, tonight, I have asked for your expert advice, and I offered you a sum of money for an hour or two of your time. Thank you for coming, here is your fee, don't refuse it please, The grilling you're going to get from Esme will make you think it's small reward, I expect.”

“It's too much, highness!”

“No, Kev, it's not, and I won't object if you start getting used to calling me by name. Can you grill him over dinner, Esme? I do want to ask him about instruments and such.”

“Can I have a few minutes now? Some of it might not be good for meal-time conversation.”

“Oh all right,” Isthana agreed grudgingly.

“So, Kev. What have your musician's instincts and gossip-networks told you about the last week and a bit?”

“Urm, that you'd been kidnapped, highness.”

“True.”

“And that the palace was under siege by marshlanders.”

“Guess,” Hal said.

“I didn't notice any, except your highness. And that his majesty is dying.”

“We hope not,” Esme replied.

“And that prince Henk had been named heir.”

“Not by me or father. For the record, if I get killed, then Isthana's regent, and heir-apparent. Which reminds me, can we swap rings back please, Isthana?”

“Oops. Of course, here.”

“I also heard a rumour of mercenaries, but read your proclamation so I don't think that's a rumour.”

“Did you hear how many?”

“Two dozen, I think it was, some near the palace, some in the town, near the port. The guy who plays at the Fisherman said a lot of strangers had rented the barn at the back and were keeping something valuable guarded there while they were waiting for a ship to come to take it away.”

“Interesting. Expect them to be missing their treasure, I got out with Hal's help. Any murders, riots, or other scary things for the general populous?”

“No. I'm sorry to say that rumours about goings on in the palace don't matter to people much, highness. The biggest worry is there's a rumour that the war with the Isles is going to escalate, and they've formed an alliance with Tew, who are massing an army on the borders.”

“Not as far as I know,” Esme said. “If I were to publicly say that unlike a number before him, I've actually accepted prince Hal of the Isles as my suitor, and that the war was pretty much all a misunderstanding, would that set people's minds at rest?”

“Until they realise that if Hal's dreams come true that means Caneth and the Isles probably end up as one nation, sooner or later.” Isthana said.

“I'd recommend later,” Hal said. “Since neither side ruling the other is likely to be popular. And I hate to think what union does to the Isle's income from the wine trade.”

“Not to mention the loss of the cloth-tariffs does to Caneth's. I suppose we could just tax any goods to and from the Isles.

“That would be good for the smuggling trade.” Hal pointed out. “And of course there's harmonization of laws.”

“And if Tesk is anything to go by, the flowering of independence movements,” Isthana pointed out.

“Yes. Maybe Tesk — old Tesk — is actually a good model. Independent legal systems, but a shared royal family,” Hal suggested.

“Where? Here? The Isles?”

“Tesk itself would be the natural place, geographically. Pleasant weather too, I hear,” Hal said.

“Sea breeze in summer, and none of your mosquitoes?”

“I wasn't thinking of the mosquitoes, so much as the winter storms that Tesk is sheltered from. That's what gives us the beautiful scenery, you realise? Anything that's not rugged on that side of the Isles gets knocked off and blown away, and that includes buildings and unwary people.”

“What gives you the marshes?” Isthana asked.

“Rain, low land, and yes, the winter storms too. But you wouldn't get eel or the rest of the fish without the marshes.”

“Do we want the eel?” Isthana asked.

“I assume so, in terms of total income, tariffs on eel brings the treasury as much as the wine, even though it's at a much lower rate.”

“Eel is the cheapest sort of meat in the shops, highness,” Kev said, “or it was before the war, and it's good meat, too. There's a lot of families who can only eat meat once a week now.”

“I need to read that letter from your father, Hal.”

“Certainly. Now, or when you've got fewer interested bystanders? I'm just thinking that the one from Hagberry was a bit revealing. Father tends towards blunt.”

“So do I.”

Hal smiled at that and added to her in thought, [I don't know what Hagberry's said to him, but if he's told him about this little scheme to match-make, then I imagine father will have given his honest thoughts, like, 'so if they do fall lovingly into each others arms, thus ending this pointless war and him finally finding a wife, does that mean you're looking for a permanent reduction in the price of wine? Not sure the people would be able to supply much more of it, so your merchant's won't be dropping the end prices. They already double the export price, so I hear. Don't quote supply and demand either. The producers know how to make more wine; they'll go adding eel juice to it like they do in the marshes. The end result is still better than what you manage to grow, of course, so maybe you won't notice.']

Esme laughed aloud. “Really? They do that?”

“It's an old piece of, urm, disinformation, I guess you could say. Keep the foreigner guessing. Consider yourself sworn to secrecy if you happen to hear what I'm trying not to think of.”

“Urm. What did I just miss?” Kev asked.

“Oh! I forgot to tell you, didn't I?” Esme said. “You know mother is from Tesk, and the royal line of the Isles are mostly from there too. Since Hal helped me escape, we're tuned into each other's thoughts. I've actually developed the gift of Tesk too. Yes, exactly. That one. Hey, don't ask me to do music theory!”

“What did attuning to Hal's thoughts feel like?” Isthana asked.

“It started with me understanding exactly what he meant by saying something.”

“Then I realised the same thing about what she was saying,” Hal said, “and, well, I recognised what was happening of course, but it's a bit deeper than with my sisters, I'm not as attuned with them as I am with Esme.”

Esme's eyes opened wide, “And they have the gift too?”

“Yes.”

“Poor Tesk.”

“Exactly. Poor Tesk still have the academy, but they've made sure they don't have any more gifted locals.”

“The catalyst. You know about it.”

“Grandma thought it might go to my head. My sisters thought it might too, in another way, and warned me not to fall for the first girl who ended up developing the gift near me, because it wasn't likely to be a one-off. Fortunately I fell for you before that happened, or I might have been more nervous that I was being silly.”

“You mean, the way you've only known me for what, ten hours, and you're already thinking about how many kids you'd like us to have and where they ought to be educated?”

“A man can dream, can't he?”

“You certainly can. Just for the record... you being my accepted suitor...”

“Doesn't mean that you've accepted my suit, just that you're not refusing to consider it, I understand. I don't think anyone at home except maybe Hagberry, who wasn't talking, knew you'd been named next in line, or whatever you're status was before you became princess-regent.”

“I was named regent-in-need. Henk obviously decided he could rely on being the first male heir, but that claim is invalid once any regent-in-need has been named. Regent-in-need can be changed at any time by the king, until the person actually becomes regent, then they're stuck with the post until someone dies — them or the monarch.”

“So you're now princess-regent even if your father makes a total recovery?”

“He can name a successor other than me if he wants to, but unless I get convicted of treason, then I'm regent if father gets sick again.”

“And... would it be a problem for the regent to travel?”

“Not if Father's well. And I have it on good authority that you learn a lot about a man when you see them in command or in a time of stress. I like what I've seen so far, but I think a voyage ought to give me some insights I need. And I think I know how I'm going to get you onto Tesk.”

“Dare I ask how?”

“I don't know, do you?”

“I'll think I'll ask later. Right now you're hungry and tired.”

“Why-ever might that be?”

“All that rest and relaxation, you know, putting the country to rights, doing your bit towards happily-ever-afters for your sisters and Grizetha, not to mention towards saving Grizetha's soul.”

“You know,” Esme said, “I expect I'm going to be terrified of falling asleep, and Grizetha might not actually have been the most comforting person to have nearby if I'm worried about a repeat attempt.”

“The thought that rather worries me is the rumour that you were going to be put on a ship. To me that sounds like a ship full of mercenaries on its way to the harbour, which wouldn't make that neighbourhood the safest to protect you. Maybe you ought to ask the treasury if there's space for you in there?”

Hal heard her thought in response, that she wouldn't be safe unless he was near.

[That do be not entirely your most rational thought, beloved fair maid, but if you're feeling that way about me being near you then of course I will stay close to you.]

[You do be my brave suitor, and I might regret thinking this, but right now I want to cling to you like a barnacle afraid of being lost in the currents.]

Aware of the silence from the other two, Hal said “My mother used to tell us she had an almost endless supply of hugs available for times of need, but although they weren't rationed they might not always be appropriate.”

“Sit down, Hal, We have Isthana as chaperone, we're not in public, and today must count as an emergency. I therefore decree it's appropriate for me to test and see if your supply of hugs are up to the standards I would hope for.”

“Esme, you're practically slurring your words,” Isthana challenged her sister.

Settling herself into Hal's lap and putting her head on his shoulder, Esme replied “Well, if I get so comfortable that I fall asleep, wake me up when dinner's served.”

“You're making a bit of a spectacle of yourself, Esmetherelda,” said Hal.

“Stop talking and think protective hugging thoughts, and enjoy it, it might be the last chance you get to hold me like this until we get married. Oops, I am tired, I didn't mean to even think that. Much nicer than the cell floor. Please God, can I have Hal as my husband?” And with that, feeling safe and protected she let herself relax into his arms and those of sleep. Hal held her and marvelled at how the active bundle of resourcefulness and energy he'd fallen for earlier in the day could become so trusting and peaceful so quickly, so totally. But as his heart felt like it would burst with the joy that brought him, he was determined he'd try his utmost to deserve the trust she put in him.