Miranda finished with, "That's where things stand right now."
Akane facepalmed. "I don't believe it. You were really planning to block off the stairways and bar all the windows. No I take it back. I do believe it. I sincerely hope that you're not so sloppy in your regular work."
Seeing their affronted expressions, she motored right along, "Look, you're trying to make things look as close to normal as you can. How does arranging things so the residence staff have no access to the upper floors fit that picture? They're not going to be able to carry out their regular duties. So, what will they do?
"The answer is: Stand around and gossip. Specifically about how somebody blocked off the upper floor and told them not to try to go up there. If I were an assassin skulking in the shadows, I'd be extremely curious as to why. I'd probably make tracks the other direction as fast as I could and come after my target another time.
"The same goes for the guards on the roof. You need to make sure that it's only the regular complement for when there's a meeting of important people. No more and no less. If Jason can do what you've told me, his 'range' is well beyond the furthest point on the grounds. Having extra guards is going to be a liability not a benefit.
"Not to mention that if this Avi person does decide to leave for now and come back later, there's a chance, however small it might be, that he'll learn about the children and what they can do. By trying to protect them to that degree, you may be increasing their danger."
She nodded at their dismay. "Indeed. One thing I've learned from reading military history is that the commanders who lost otherwise equal battles almost invariably tried to protect one unit or group of units at the expense of others. You cannot properly execute your tactics if you tie one hand behind your back.
"So, yes, there might be a somewhat increased immediate risk to the children, but their chances of survival in the long run are higher if we do it my way."
She took a very deep breath, then smiled crookedly. "I can barely believe I'm talking about using my son like this, but I also know that if assassins like this Avi person aren't stopped, permanently, entire nations can collapse. I don't think I'd like it very much if my children's lives ended because one of the northern kings successfully invaded and burned down The City."
She glared at both of them. "Don't you ever judge someone based on superficial appearances ever again. Yes, I know, sometimes you have to make snap judgements, that's the way the world is. BUT, in the long run, whomever makes their decisions based on a thorough assessment of all available information will be the one who walks away with the prize."
She flopped down in her chair and flashed a small but genuine smile. "In case you don't realize it, I've just told you not to behave as I have for the past 20 years or so. As the person in the room with the most experience at being a judgmental idiot, I think you should listen to me."
Miranda and Blair stood as one, walked to Akane, and each took one of her hands. They pulled her to her feet and gave her a big hug.
Blair murmured, "Welcome to the world of information gathering, or if you prefer 'espionage'. You're going to fit right in. As always, darn it, Lady Blue was right. We do need you.
"As your ostensible superior, my next order is one that you're not likely to object to. We'll be heading to the bath to see how our children are doing."
On the way Blair intercepted one of the maids and instructed her to have a light meal prepared for seven, to be served at the great table in the kitchen.
When they reached the bathing room, Blair put her ear to the door. "Just in case."
She grinned at the others. "I don't hear a thing. Let's sneak in and see what they're up to."
Miranda drawled, "Blair, peeping at people in the bath isn't really very nice."
"You're right Manda, but we're going to do it anyway."
Miranda pondered for about four seconds then said, "Sounds good to me. How about you Akane?"
Akane nodded. Her mischievous grin was a match for Blair's.
She intoned sententiously, "It's a parent's responsibility to make sure that their children bathe properly and don't miss any dirty areas.
"Well...what are you waiting for? Let's get going!"
What they saw was both reassuring and just a little bit of a letdown. None of the children noticed them. That was because they were all asleep. Yoko had given in to temptation, or perhaps necessity, and had wrapped herself around Jason's arm. Eugenia had her head back with her mouth open and was snoring softly. Hibiki had fallen to the side and was precariously close to slipping under the water. Jason was still sitting upright, but his chin had dropped and was resting on his chest.
Akane whispered, "Blair, those robes the maid brought in look heavy enough that I don't think we'll need to dry them off, except for their hair. Let's get them up, wrap them up, feed them, and then put them to bed, but in separate rooms. Bathing is one thing, but sleeping together would be pushing it."
She turned to the others. "What do you think?"
Miranda nodded. "Sounds about right to me. How 'bout you Blair?"
"Agreed. Let's do it that way."
There were no problems, exactly. First they got the twins up and robed, and then Jason. Miranda then walked around the bath to Genie and touched her on the shoulder. Eugenia sprang up and took a defensive posture.
Blair applauded softly, Hibiki looked at her intently, analyzing her form, while Jason and Yoko just stared at her wondering what was going on.
Stolen novel; please report.
Genie blinked a few times then looked around the room and finally down at herself. Consciousness returned, but her reaction was much different from what the mothers had expected. Instead of covering up, she struck a ridiculously exaggerated, seductive pose and said, in the most sensuous voice she could manage, "Jason dear, am I pretty enough to catch myself a good man?"
Jason blinked a few times, then comprehension flooded in; at least he hoped so. He was fairly sure what the right response was. For once he wanted to try without asking the twins. If he didn't start thinking for himself, he'd eventually end up so dependent on them that he might as well be a robot waiting for proper programming in every social situation.
What he did was make a "turn around" gesture with his hand. Eugenia complied, twirling on her toes. Then he brought his hand to his chin, which he then rested in a "thinking" position. "Well, yes, you probably are. Before you go hunting though, there's something else you need."
He paused for about three seconds then delivered the punch line, "We're going to need the twins to help you do something about your rotten personality."
All four children doubled over laughing, while the mothers exchanged puzzled glances. They didn't know exactly what had happened, but they all realized that, whatever it was, it was likely a "good thing." Rather than asking questions, they bundled Genie in a robe, then dried everyone's hair, after which Blair led them out into the hall.
Then, as planned, the kids were fed and put to bed.
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The rest of the afternoon was quietly busy, with Blair, Hiroshi, Miranda, and Akane polishing up the details of their plan. Hiroshi was taken aback when he saw Akane with the others when he entered the room, but, after Blair explained what had happened, his only response was, "Welcome to The Insomniac's Club," after which he sprawled on his favorite chair.
After they wrapped things up, Hiroshi ambled out again, on his way to meet "a few customers" before the bank closed. One of them would be Captain Murray. In addition to heading up Duchess Henrietta's personal guard, he was well known as an extremely talented card player, which officially explained him having enough money to have an account at Hiroshi's bank...that, and the fact that he was the Duchess' husband.
Miranda and Blair made their usual Friday afternoon rounds, in the process handing out instructions to a number of their agents.
When they awoke, the children were fed again then instructed to get their school uniforms. Once they had changed, they all met at Eugenia's home after which Sven escorted them to The Residence and in through the servant's entrance on the east side of the building. Once inside he gave them a "tour," explaining to the few who happened to ask that they had earned the tour by writing essays on The Wonders of The City.
The twins were left behind in a room on the second floor, where they changed into page's outfits and bundled their waist-length hair under caps to disguise their gender. Jason dropped out when they reached his station on the third floor, while Eugenia accompanied Sven back downstairs to a small room off of the main hall, where she was to wait till just after the banquet began that evening at 7:30.
Her station would be about halfway down the hall, next to a tall potted plant. She was to crouch down on the side of the plant that was away from the entrance. Hiroshi would be seated directly in front of her. She would of course be employing her "no see, no hear" talent.
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"All right. All right. I see at least a double hand of you fidgeting. My guess is that you probably all have the same question, or at least similar ones."
Professor Ptica pointed at a student at random. "Very well, go ahead and ask."
"Thank you Professor. The thing is. Well, this Avi, the assassin. Why would they, meaning the spymasters, be making all these plans to catch him at that particular time? Even if his target had been in the Ducal Residence most of the day, couldn't he have just slipped in, done the deed, and then escaped?"
The Professor raised her head. "Is that pretty much what you all had in mind?"
Seeing various gestures of assent she proceeded, "One thing you need to consider is this: Assassins tend to have extremely high opinions of themselves. Some, though not all, not only want to do the job, but they want to rub the noses of those trying to stop them in the futility of trying to catch them. It's odd that one involved in such a secretive 'profession' can be an exhibitionist, but there you are.
"Avi was as well known for his flamboyance as he was for his excruciatingly unpleasant effectiveness. Those trying to catch him were not only aware of this tendency, they were counting on it."
She scanned the class. "Now, if there are no more questions?"
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Once everyone was in position, only the waiting remained. It was easiest for the children as they had the other three to talk to. It also gave Genie some needed practice. While they did so, they were able to push aside at least some of their anxiety.
It was harder for the adults. Of the four of them, Akane was at home, Sebastian not being in an occupation involving trade outside The City and thus not invited. She not only had to worry, but she had to worry some distance away from the scene and also had to conceal from the rest of the family why she was so much on edge.
Blair hadn't worked in the field for years, and Miranda had never served outside of The City. Both were so tightly wound as to be almost ready to explode. Fortunately their anxiety could easily be explained by their being commoners suddenly thrust into the company of a large number of prominent individuals and nobles.
Hiroshi invoked the "professional face" he used when exposed to a thoroughly disagreeable but wealthy client and was thus able to affect an air of calm that completely masked his underlying tension.
Robert was blissfully unaware of the proceedings. Oh, yes, he knew the general outline of what Miranda did, but he thought she worked only in uncovering economic problems. He had no idea about the rest of her work. Consequently his thoughts were primarily pleasant and full of the potential opportunities for expanding the bank's business that might appear over the following three days.
The room hushed immediately when Duchess Henrietta made her appearance. As always she kept her remarks brief and to the point. Even for her she set a record. All she said was: "Thank you for coming. I hope and expect that getting together will be useful, educational, and profitable for all of us."
She gave the signal to begin serving and sat down. From there on she spoke alternately and equally to the King's envoy to her left and to Baron Svensson, the envoy from the Kalmar Union, on her right. Admiral Fernando Sánchez de Tovar sat to the right of the baron, as he would be in charge of the baron's return home should negotiations be successful.
Since the primary reason for the existence of the Kalmar Union was to limit German expansion northward, and a new trade agreement with Italy would strengthen the Union, it had been deemed unlikely to be safe for the Baron to return home overland. The possibility that he might have an "unfortunate accident" if he crossed the German kingdoms by land, was too high to chance.
Because of this, those who knew of Avi's presence in The City assumed that Baron Svensson was the most likely target. The usual guards behind the duchess, as well as the one a third of the way down the hall on her right side, had been replaced by three of Hiroshi's elite students.
As always, conversation at the banquet was a bit uncomfortable in the beginning, what with most of the guests sitting next to or across from strangers. Within twenty minutes most everyone had gauged the status and usefulness of their neighbors, and things had changed. Conversation became either more relaxed, should said neighbor be deemed not particularly useful, or more intense if the opposite held true.