Having left the office of The Khan, the three military aides headed to the Annex, the area where the Khans executive offices were actually located. These were buried below the State Garden to both reduce the visual effect as well as to preserve the garden. Comprising several stories in depth, apart from a small military presence, all the occupants were civilian workers and security police.

Entrance to the complex from the city, besides being strictly controlled, was only through two tunnels. One for access and one for egress. As well, there were two access tunnels from the palace, which, for security purposes were much narrower than the main, outside tunnels. Both sets of tunnels were heavily guarded and everyone passing through was scanned, and if necessary, searched. At the close of the day, the annex was emptied, alarms scattered throughout enabled and both sets of tunnels secured with heavy doors and force fields.

No one, apart from the Khan and his family, a few trusted palace servants as well as a squad of royal guards lived in the palace. Slaves, apart from personal companions, also lived separately. No office staff lived on the grounds.

The three aides passed through security and entered the tunnel that lead through to the offices. It was a considerable walk, no motorised vehicles being allowed in the tunnels but eventually they reached the complex of offices and passed through a second security check into the administration area.

Taking a turn, they entered the area for the military secretariat. Again they had to pass through another check point, this one, manned by the fleet rather than the secret police or palace guards. As Colonel Kobb, Major Ethle and Major Rupil entered, junior officers rose to attention and civilian staff all bowed. The Colonel stopped as he entered and surveyed all the personal present; seeing everyone properly submissive, he went directly to his windowless office followed by the two majors.

Taking his seat, Colonel Kobb glanced at the two officers. “So, what do you think of The Khans decision?” He asked.

Before they could start a discussion, the Senior Clerk, Ramus Nikul appeared at the door, “I have a message,” he told the colonel.

“What message?” Kobb snapped with a glance at his two aides.

That man, tall, lanky and old, replied, “The Mother of the Heir wants to discuss with the Fleet,” Nikul paused and took a breath, “Arrangements for the Princesses knotting.” Nikul braced himself for the colonel’s reaction.

Kobb let out his breath in a hiss. Decca, the Mother of the Heir was known to be difficult to work with and please. Always complaining and rarely satisfied. Stepping backwards and forwards, he considered his alternatives.

“How urgent was the Mothers request.” Went to Ramus Nikul.

“The Mother did not specify, but she was here in person, Colonel.” The senior Clerk supplied.

This time, all three officers drew in their breath. That the Mother came down in person was something that could not be over looked. The two Majors glanced at the Colonel.

“Major Ethle, take a clerk and see to the Mother.” Colonel Kobb ordered. “Senior, designate someone reliable to go with the Major.”

“Yes Colonel.” Nikul looked out over all the heads bowed to their work stations. “Lanus Derkel, come here!” Nikul spoke with authority. The nominated clerk scurried over. “Take a recorder and go with Major Ethle. Record all requests by the Mother of the Heir. Leave nothing out, even the most minor.”

The three officers surprised at the authority the Senior Clerk showed. After giving Nikul a long look, Major Ethle waved at Derkel and the two walked off.

“This Derkel better be good.” Kobb growled.

“I hope so sir, he is the only clerk other than me who has a pass to go into the palace.” Nikul responded.

Kobb grunted and left, followed by Rupil.

The Senior Clerk watched them leave, his face expressionless, then returned to his workstation.

*********

Followed by Hono, Princess Jirril Di Rappar left her father’s office in search of her mother. Having acquiesced to her father’s bombshell news, the proposed union was not completely to her distaste, she now had to consider all the items of her wedding. The date was, of course, most important, but others would deal with that. It was the dress that Jirril was consumed with. Who to invite, apart from a few individuals, that also was going to be handled by someone else.

Walking down the twisting corridors to her mother’s office, Jirril passed several royal guards. These she ignored, they were just furniture to her. Arriving she entered, as could be expected, without announcing herself, greeting her mother.

“Mother!”

“Darling, my sweet and beautiful Princess!” As was her custom, there was no one else in Decca’s office. Her secretaries, servants and slaves were only called in as necessary.

The kissed and separated. While mother and daughter, they were not close. Decca tended to be overbearing and obsessive about the manner in which Jirril presented herself, both in public and in private. Just as tall as her daughter, Decca shared the same brown hair and pale colouring, but was dressed sedately in a dark dress suit. Jirril in her turn was resentful about the manner in which her mother, in Jirril’s opinion, harped on everything she did or wear. A normal mother, daughter relationship for the nobility of the Kingdom.

With a wave, Hono was dispatched to a corner seat, while the mother and daughter took seats in a lounge area of the office.

“Excited sweetie? Decca smiled. “Khan Harb ra Dicatoor, is a great catch. The family is powerful, and Harb is a looker.” With a roguish look, she continued. “I bet that he will please you in bed!”

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“Oh mother, don’t be silly.” Jirril even blushed. While in the Kingdom men might be allowed a certain freedom, daughters were closely watched; especially daughters who were princesses. Although sex held few mysterious for Jirril, it was from her education, not personal experience.

“You know him already, though. That is good.” Decca thought out loud.

“Yes, I have meet him once or twice.” Jirril frowned. “He was always pleasant to me, but so were others. I just thought it was because I was The Khan’s daughter. So many made up to me because of that, you know.”

“I know, sweetie, it is part of being so powerful.” Her mother answered, twisting rings on her fingers and smiling at the frown that appeared on her daughters face at the endearment. “But let’s put your mind to something more pleasant. The date will be settled by tradition. We have no control over that, because when the announcement is made, the wedding will be held sixty five days later.” Jirril protested at that. It would mean that the wedding would be held in the hot summer months.

“It can’t be helped, sweetie, your father has an important public appearance coming up in five days, so he will probably make the agreement public then. That being so, we have to look at a traditional outfit for you to wear then.” Decca reached for a portable holograph projector. Placed on a low table it was activated with a tap on Decca’s comm. At once, the program showed several dresses from previous announcements of princesses and other young women of significance. All wore scanty, barely there dresses.

“I’m not sure, none are really me.” Jirril complained. By tradition, all Kingdom brides were naked, or near so. Jirril wasn’t concerned with the implied nudity, being attended to by Hono and other slaves took care of any such qualms, but with the dresses themselves. “I would like to see some dresses and try them on for size.”

“Off course, sweetie that will be taken care of.” Decca replied. The door chimed, announcing a visitor.

“Hono, see who that is, we don’t want to be disturbed.” Jirril commanded.

The slave rose uncertainly, but a nod from Jirril’s mother reassured her.

Activating the door switch revealed a darkly glowering Major Ethle, accompanied by a nervous looking Lanus Derkel.

“Yes sir, may I ask your business?” Hono asked using her humble voice.

Major Ethle glowered even more at being questioned by a slave, but recognised that pushing past the Princesses slave into the Mother of the Heirs office, would not be a good idea.

“The Mother of the Heir came to the Office of the Aides to The Khan. I am Major Ethle and have come to see what the Mother wishes and to attend to any of her needs.” The officer replied in as pleasant a voice as possible.

“Let them in, Hono.” Decca ordered. She went to her desk and called for her secretary to come in.

Hono stepped aside and bowed as the two men entered, watching as they went to stand in front of Jirril and her mother before returning to her seat.

Lissa Kannal was a worn looking woman who had been enduring her mistress for four years since the departure of the previous secretary. She still did not know why that woman had left and didn’t dare ask.

“I am at your service Mistress.” Kannal spoke as she entered.

“Good, now, Major …? The question hung in the air.

“Major Ethle, Mother.” Giving Decca the honorific.

“Major Ethle, Kannal.” The Mother of the Heir smiled. “Now I have several items that I need clarification on.” She then proceeded to lay out all the requirements for the wedding to be held in the summer. These ranged from the possible site to the numbers of guests – perhaps several hundred – to food and drink, accommodations, transport and protocols. First on the list of course, was the requirement for Princess Jirril to select a dress, and everything else she would need.

“Of course, this is just a start. There will be many more items including selecting who is the going to design and make the dress.” Decca commanded in a dominating tone.

Major Ethle stirred. “Are you aware of who to contact Mother?” He asked. “Do you have any names for us?” He shifted his feet. None of the three aides had been asked to sit. “We will need to check them out before the Princess can be allowed to visit their premises.”

The two women stiffened. The two clerks cringed. Hono kept still and silent in her corner. Only the Major remained unaffected.

“I hardly think that’s necessary.” The Mother spoke in a soft, dangerous tone.

“It is essential Mother, we have the orders from The Khan in person. It will take an order from him to change these instructions.” The Majors voice was firm.

“Is that so, and you plan to do that with all those who will be involved in the wedding?” The Mothers voice was still dangerously soft. Jirril also looked angry.

“Only those not already cleared.” The Major replied. “There will only be a few.”

Both women looked surprised and a little confused. Exchanging a look, Decca spoke again.

“What do you mean by that?” She asked.

“The wedding will be at the palace which will also be doing all the food preparation, as well as protocol. The State Garden, the flowers. If fact, the only outside people that need vetting at this time are the people, whoever they may be, that will be doing the dress for the Princess.”

Decca stiffened at this bald announcement but before she could react, Jirril stood, looked at her mother, then turned back to the Major, “I will draw up a list for you. In the mean time I must go to my apartment. There are a number of dress’s I need to look at for Fathers announcement and I need to be ready for tomorrow. Mother, will you accompany me?”

Still obviously unhappy, Decca nodded slowly and the two women, followed by a submissive Hono, left. Major Ethle, Lissa Kannal and Lanus Derkel were left standing in the office of the Mother of the Heir. The Major with a look of distaste on his face. After a fraction the three stirred.

“I will transcribe everything and see that both of you get a copy.” Lanus Derkel addressed the other two.

“Be careful what you put down.” Ethle spoke sharply.

“Of course, sir.” Derkel turned to Kannal. “Perhaps you can advise the Major Domo of the Palace, he will need to be warned. We in the Office Annex have no dealings with him.”

“Thank you for that!” Lissa Kannal gave Derkel a rueful look. The Major Domo handled all internal matters in the palace. The battles between him and the Mother of the Heir were legendary. Her battles with the Cook, responsible for all meals and state dinners were almost as bad.

With a look of sympathy exchanged between the two clerks the three left. The Major to report to the Colonel, and Derkel to return to his work station, report to Ramus Nikul then transcribe the meeting note, discreetly, but leaving nothing of importance out. Lissa Kannal to drop the bombshell on the Major Domo and the Cook.