The Queen's Birthday IC

[Hittanryan]

The Blessing Ceremony
Pentecost Square
Padan, New Edom

Her lips curled a bit, the smile growing. “I get that question all the time, and yet I always struggle to determine the best way of describing it.” There was a small click as she undid the cap of her water bottle. “My homeland is mostly Germanic, though we do have other ethnic groups as well. Legally speaking, we call ourselves an Empire, but all of the old colonies and conquests seized the independence generations ago. As far as governments go? We’re ruled by a monarchy - House Holland, to be exact. They are supported by nine dukes and duchesses, many of who specialize in certain industries.” She motioned to an older man sitting next to the prime minister of Shalum. “Duke Harper over there, for example, is the chairman of the biggest car manufacturer in the nation.”

“Is there anything more specific that you’d like to know, Leslie?” The countess asked, taking the liberty of using the woman’s first name.

Leslie listened politely to Shalum’s government structure and demographics, but as soon as the Countess mentioned something else, she quickly added “I meant more like what is there to do? What do people like to do there? What are they like? What are the outdoors like? What’s the food like? You know…” she gestured vaguely.

The Countess would have had just enough time to answer before the crowd and VIPs were moving out of the grandstands to attend the Blessing Ceremony. “Well, it was very nice to meet you…Excellency? I feel like I’m calling everyone that these days.”

Alvarado smiled as he walked with Bailey, “Yes I am joining myself thank you. I am very glad to meet you in person. We are practically neighbors after all. We should try and get together at some point after this ceremony. Would you like to join me for a drink before the dinner tonight?”

“Oh? Of course, Excellency, I think that’s a good idea. I feel I’ve been a little lax, I should at least know all my counterparts in the same hemisphere by now. Where would you like to meet?” Bailey asked. After he answered she added “And I think Gavinium showed what we can accomplish when we work together as neighbors. Personally, I’m glad it was over so quickly.”

She would finish speaking to Alvarado as the crowd started to quiet down and the ceremony began.

Bailey was genuinely interested in the petitioners. Although she was aware that each petitioner was likely vetted, it was a chance to see New Edom’s people more as they really were, not how the Edomite media portrayed them. The whole country was a study in contradictions. It seemed to have bottomless pockets for military expenditures and its state-run or state-sponsored heavy industry, but the average Edomite remained relatively poor, generally unrepresented in the national legislature, and seemed content to stay that way as long as they weren’t starving. During the state visit she had found most of the other Edomites, including her counterpart Foreign Minister Geta, to be almost completely lacking in respect for fundamental human rights and freedoms. It simply did not make sense to them. For this reason she both admired Father Joshua’s courage and feared for his fate.

To Bailey it seemed like the Queen was one of the common Edomite’s best advocates in government, or at least she could be. Despite a heartening private conversation with Queen Mara, Bailey accepted that she did not know—and probably should not bother to guess—what happened behind the scenes in Fineberg. The Secretary wanted to hope that Mara could move things on her end, but she realized she couldn’t be sure how much influence Mara really had. On human rights it would certainly be difficult if not impossible for the Queen of New Edom to go against the grain of fundamentalist Christianity, and that was evident in her reply to Joshua.

The Ceremony of Blessings was finishing when Bailey realized something: in New Edom, the only way human rights might progress would be under the framework of Christianity.

The Majestic Hotel

Leslie had stayed generally with the heads of state and had ordered a cup of tea before she went out into the garden. She was sipping on it while Elijah spoke, recalling some of the things Bailey had told her about New Edom. It suddenly felt like another lifetime when she was a student activist, having drinks and spirited discussions with socialists who the King denounced. ‘They weren’t bad people.’ Not wanting to cause a scene by interrupting though, she nodded and smiled politely when Elijah mentioned her husband.

"The King is in a good mood," remarked Foreign Hosidius Geta, which might be heard by others of similar rank. He strolled nearby, admiring the flowers and the trailing leaves of the trees, the patterns of the walkway and the sculpted fountains nearby. "I am glad to see this. But well he should be."

“You must be right, Excellency. I think that’s the longest speech I’ve heard His Majesty give,” Leslie joked to Geta with a smile. Briefly she remembered Elijah’s episode on the farm. The normal friendly thing to do would be to also ask about his health, but George had recommended she not mention the King’s condition at all.

Overhearing Lalery’s remark about the petition, Leslie would have approached and bowed a little sloppily if Geta had moved away. She rather innocently asked “So…Excellencies, I’m sorry but I’m just curious, what’s going to happen to Father Joshua? It sounded like people were upset.”

Bailey, meanwhile, would have mostly been listening, and when the time came went to meet Alvarado. He would have found her inside waiting patiently for him with a glass of water, reading something off her phone.

[New Edom]

Major Salinas, the Majestic Hotel

Jaime laughed at the statement, “Well that’s true isn’t it. I suppose I should feel silly then. I think what I mean is this, I am not used to such parties, and I don’t think the diplomats and the minister would be overly pleased that I have spoken directly with men of stature like your father. I also bumbled into a brief conversation with an emperor without recognizing him and I’m sure that they would disapprove of that as well.”

The young ladies smiled. "Not at all," assured Olympia. "You are good company. My husband would have liked you, I'm sure."

Olympia noticed their glasses were getting very low and beckoned one of the wait staff for a refill. "That's enough margarita," she said to the others. "We need to keep alert, nay, for the feast? That will be a flood to the spirit anyway."

"Yes, Mama" teased Camilla. "Just fizzy and lime for me then."

"Fizzy and lemon for me," said Lavinia.

"Fizzy and tangerine, and for you Major?" asked Olympia. "Do you see that lovely girl with the nearly raven hair beside that Ghantish staff officer? That's another of our friends over there--yoo hoo, Claudia! Oh poop, she didn't hear me..."

Waiter skillfully and quietly filled orders.

They talked of the nickname of the Major's unit. “Yes that is true, that speech is common among us. Though if you were to see me after a long patrol on a CB90 you might think that I looked like a waterlogged rat, especially if we had to do a shore landing. We tend to come back filthy, wet, and sweaty. That river water can stink too in the jungle.” Jaime mused.

"CB90?" said Lavinia. "Is that some kind of boat?"

"Oh yes, jungles and marshes can really stink," grimaced Camilla. "I've had to go on tour with Papa a few times. We were inspecting this big marsh not far from the Fleuvia Argenta a few years ago, there was this big drainage project because of the malaria and all the vermin getting into the drinking water in the rural area. Even in the town you could smell this stink. I don't know how people there lived with it. Well, you must have to work very hard, " she sympathized.

"It's one of those places where even the Edenists wear a loincloth," said Lavinia with a shake of her head and a wrinkle of her long elegant nose.

"What for?" asked Olympia.

"Because those nasty vermin get up your you know whats," said Lavinia.

"Ewww!" cried the other two .

When they had their drinks, Camilla explained about her background. lavinia gave Olympia a knowing look.

“Well the running is a good thing, I ran cross country in high school and college, and your home sounds beautiful. Family is an important thing. So you’re an athlete? That’s wonderful and tennis is a great sport. I have played with some friends though I’m not very good. I ran in school and I wrestled competitively in high school and college as well. Though now I think if I had my way id stick to something that can be played in a friendlier environment like volleyball. I think if I had to pick a hobby it might be hiking now. It is something that I can do in any deployment and it keeps my endurance up.”

"Hiking!" exclaimed Camilla. "Don't you get enough of that marching around?"

"They're mostly on boats honey, didn't you hear him?" said Olympia.

"I have no idea how it works," said Camilla, sniffing at her a bit. "And I know enough to know that most everyone is in vehicles or something these days. Look at Max, every picture of him when he's deployed there's some big whacking giant armoured vehicle nearby him that he rides in all the time. If he wasn't polo mad he'd be fat as a house."

"No one ever gets fat in your family, it's in your blood," said Lavinia with an envious smirk. "Not like in mine, we have to start working out like mad once we turn twenty or we can be rolled down the hills. Her Mother still looks like she's twenty five," she told Jaime.

"Oh now they're flattering me. Olympia is the one with the beautiful family. We were all in love with her brother when we were in school, but her brother is her brother, and cousinhood is a dangerous neighborhood, no?" said Camilla.

[New Edom]

The Majestic Hotel

Foreign Minister turned to Leslie Rowan, eyes agleam and bowing with deep courtesy. "Madame First Lady, you honour us with your presence, which is as though a sweet breeze blew through the draperies during a hot summer evening. And in that breeze, there is the symphony of the night, the warmth of coals not too close. How lovely to see you again."

"Yes, His Majesty is a man of few words, and how wittily and yet kindly you remark upon it, if I may say so," he said cheerfully.

"When the King does make a long speech every word is still weighed, and thought out, and therefore we are blessed when his words are many." Unwerth observed. "Our Lord, after all, rarely had long sermons, something the King is fond of pointing out...particularly to preachers." The Edmites laughed at this.

Then she asked, “So…Excellencies, I’m sorry but I’m just curious, what’s going to happen to Father Joshua? It sounded like people were upset.”

"Hopefully he'll get sent to a penal battalion and worked to rags," grumbled Unwerth, shaking his head and blowing smoke out of the side of his mouth away from her. "The rotten liar. How dare he embarrass the Queen on such a day, put her on the spot like that?"

"He did not technically break the law though," observed Lalery thoughtfully. "It is not against the law to discuss homosexuality as a theoretical lifestyle of foreigners, to discuss its morality under the law. So we'll see how it goes. I wonder who put him up to it though."

"Oh there's a lot of foreign money put in it," said Geta sagely. "Foreigners supporting the homosexual agenda. Not your government of course, Madame First Lady," he said, glancing at Leslie. "Not that they care about the homosexuals, of course. It's just a cunning way to use sentiment to guise trying to undermine our culture, our government. Father Joshua may have been bribed, or may have some axe to grind. And we must be compassionate, my dear General," he said to Unwerth. "After all Homofront has, in the past, blackmailed people or used hostages to force them to do things."

Unwerth shook his head. "That is true. Mr. Geta. They are bastards. Er, saving your presence, Madame First Lady. Forgive my barracks talk."

[Republica De Gran Chaco]

New Edom

Alvarado walked into the garden bar and scanned the tables. He noticed Bailey sitting at one reading her phone. He strolled over to her and greeted her warmly, “Madam Secretary, you are early.”

Alvarado took a seat and ordered a beer, “This surely is some kind of birthday party! My goodness, look at the effort they are going through! It has been enjoyable so far that parade was something else, brings me back to my younger days in the army! How are you enjoying yourself?”

---

The young ladies smiled. "Not at all," assured Olympia. "You are good company. My husband would have liked you, I'm sure."

Olympia noticed their glasses were getting very low and beckoned one of the wait staff for a refill. "That's enough margarita," she said to the others. "We need to keep alert, nay, for the feast? That will be a flood to the spirit anyway."

"Yes, Mama" teased Camilla. "Just fizzy and lime for me then."

"Fizzy and lemon for me," said Lavinia.

"Fizzy and tangerine, and for you Major?" asked Olympia. "Do you see that lovely girl with the nearly raven hair beside that Ghantish staff officer? That's another of our friends over there--yoo hoo, Claudia! Oh poop, she didn't hear me..."

“I’ll have an iced tea please.” Jaime asked the waiter.

"CB90?" said Lavinia. "Is that some kind of boat?"

"Oh yes, jungles and marshes can really stink," grimaced Camilla. "I've had to go on tour with Papa a few times. We were inspecting this big marsh not far from the Fleuvia Argenta a few years ago, there was this big drainage project because of the malaria and all the vermin getting into the drinking water in the rural area. Even in the town you could smell this stink. I don't know how people there lived with it. Well, you must have to work very hard, " she sympathized.

“Ay! Que estoy pensando?” Jaime shook his head “Uh… forgive me of course, a CB90 is a fast attack craft that we use for the rivers. We have some larger ones that are mainly used in Hostillia. I was on those for several months before going to the war in Ashab but I the little CB90s are the most fun.”

Jaime listened to the talk of the drainage project, “Yes there are many diseases in those areas and malaria is a real killer. Thankfully we have established a good enough infrastructure that it is not so much of a problem, but there are many that have caught it. They give us medicine whenever we go to the jungle. Your father is doing important work.”

"Hiking!" exclaimed Camilla. "Don't you get enough of that marching around?"

"They're mostly on boats honey, didn't you hear him?" said Olympia.

"I have no idea how it works," said Camilla, sniffing at her a bit. "And I know enough to know that most everyone is in vehicles or something these days. Look at Max, every picture of him when he's deployed there's some big whacking giant armoured vehicle nearby him that he rides in all the time. If he wasn't polo mad he'd be fat as a house."

“Please its quite alright. See we have to be able to also fight conventionally so we do keep up marching from time to time. Even more for the landing brigade.” Jaime explained, “We don’t want the paras or the CLI to out march us if we need to go on quick reaction duty so I want to keep in proper shape for it. The Chacano military has several light infantry regiments that are deployed often. We may or may not have the luxury of taking all of our vehicles so we cannot forget how to walk. Plus, I enjoy hiking. When it is for your own pleasure there is something relaxing to it.”

"Oh now they're flattering me. Olympia is the one with the beautiful family. We were all in love with her brother when we were in school, but her brother is her brother, and cousinhood is a dangerous neighborhood, no?" said Camilla.

Jaime laughed, “Yes, I think that it is. I’m intrigued by your love of tennis. How often do you play? Do you play competitively?”

[New Edom]

Interlude
The Majestic Hotel

A jazz combo was playing in the background now. Queen Mara entered the patio with a small group of attendants, including, in the background her tall, slim fair Elwe servant Tegan who was painted with leaf designs and carried the happily panting black Pommeranian Precious, whose little pink tongue darted back and forth like a ribbon. Queen Mara smiled pleasantly to various people as she walked through, giving especially warm greetings to Empress Sophia and her children, over whom she exclaimed much.

"Oh my gosh, you brought them all! We should see how they react to one another, after all they're hopefully going to be good friends. I had so much to do that Mother is supervising him, but you'll see him later of course. He's running around already, and he can say some words. Some of them are made up which is just hilarious, and he tries to dance with me..." Mara sighed and touched her heart. "Oh gosh, also too he has the most adorable laugh, and he knows he's Prince Josias alright, you should hear him yell! he's learning already, poor boy, that the world is arrayed against him at times, and does not understand time or space as well as he might. Such a little man!"

Mara would gladly talk to anyone who was nearby her about such things very gladly. Prince Josais was, perhaps, one of the best things that had come out of her marriage other than the general peace it had established over the nation.

---

The waiter brought Jaime iced tea, which was flavoured with lemon slices and honey instead of cane sugar.

“Ay! Que estoy pensando?” Jaime shook his head “Uh… forgive me of course, a CB90 is a fast attack craft that we use for the rivers. We have some larger ones that are mainly used in Hostillia. I was on those for several months before going to the war in Ashab but I the little CB90s are the most fun.”

"Are they like jet skis?" exclaimed Olympia with interest. "I have never tried that, though I've done water skiing of course, what is it like to be in one?"

"Oh we tried jet skiing in the South of Ghant when I was there, but brr, that water is cold" exclaimed Camilla. "I don't know why anyone even bothers up there. Well, half the ladies who went with us just sat around reciting poetry or getting drunk or...well..." she shrugged then laughed. "Ghantish ladies are not as active as we here are."

"But yes, what's it like?" asked Lavinia.

Jaime listened to the talk of the drainage project, “Yes there are many diseases in those areas and malaria is a real killer. Thankfully we have established a good enough infrastructure that it is not so much of a problem, but there are many that have caught it. They give us medicine whenever we go to the jungle. Your father is doing important work.”

"Yes, Papa is very busy," said Camilla. She seemed pleased though, a smile quirking around her straw as her lips embraced it a moment and bubbles stirred in her drink. "When he took over the Interior oh my gosh, malaria was such a huge problem. but we are doing a lot better, praise God. He got in many people who have worked hard too, scientists, engineers, mechanics, lumber companies. So many businesses and landlords and peasants working together!"

Olympia nodded at this but added nothing for a moment, hesitating and then saying nothing.

When responding to the marching talk, Jaime was friendly and polite. “Please its quite alright. See we have to be able to also fight conventionally so we do keep up marching from time to time. Even more for the landing brigade.” Jaime explained, “We don’t want the paras or the CLI to out march us if we need to go on quick reaction duty so I want to keep in proper shape for it. The Chacano military has several light infantry regiments that are deployed often. We may or may not have the luxury of taking all of our vehicles so we cannot forget how to walk. Plus, I enjoy hiking. When it is for your own pleasure there is something relaxing to it.”

"It's like with our Lancers and Light Troops," Olympia told the other two. "Zadok took me to some demonstrations of them, my gosh their packs can be big. He showed me this...what did he call it...a heavy company or something...they have to carry these shells and things...one of the packs weighed as much as me!" she laughed. "Such fine big lads too. Oh you saw some of them today, Major, the 18th Mounted Light Infantry, they fly in helicopters and then jump out and march around and fight the enemy that way."

"I like going walking when there are nice things to see," said Camilla, to which Lavinia also nodded. "But I don't like it when it's just a lot of the same. There's so much of this wet grassland around western Bara, I don't know how anyone stands it. But when there are lovely trees and things, that's different."

At her comment about cousinhood being a dangerous neighborhood, Jaime laughed, “Yes, I think that it is. I’m intrigued by your love of tennis. How often do you play? Do you play competitively?”

"i play competitively yes," said Camilla brightly. "In fact I'm in training to play in the nationals this year! Very exciting, the Queen, my mother and father have all encouraged me! So that's the Women's 3rd for Bara Province. I am meeting some very interesting women from other parts of the province that I would never have met otherwise." Camilla appeared to soften, her smile seemed to burst out of her. "It draws you in not with the usual fanfare of a team sport. I know for most it's football or volleyball or things like that. Tennis...It’s more personal. It’s easy to get invested in the players because they are so vulnerable to us. No helmets to hide their emotions, no teammates to commiserate with and no substitutes if one is having a bad day. Give me a good racquet smash or a debatable line call any day over a missed field goal or free throw..."

"We're going to lose her after this," said Lavinia with a wink at Olympia.

"You'll always be my dearest friends...they tease me a lot, Major, I'm such an easy mark.." said Camilla

"We're just a little jealous that's all," soothed Lavinia. "You have such a passion. We just have flower arranging and holidays and our husbands."

"Once I'm married it will probably just be happy memories," said Camilla."So I need to cherish them...anyway yes, and I originally did it just because it was a fun way to play with my family, something that I could do and just really get into. My brother Max always told me that I was too stubborn to give up. And then Mama plays, not professionally but I think it's part of why she's still so beautiful, she loves being out on a court or on a horse or something. She's...oh there's the Queen, Mama is attending her." Her mother had somewhat darker hair, touched here and there with grey, but wore her crimson gown with evident confidence, her body hinted at being similar to Camilla's but had the marks of a mature woman who had born children--a heavier bosom and wider hips but still elegant and well toned.

[Late Roman Empire]

The Romans

Earlier....

Marcellinus smiled and asked them, "Oh, a summit, you say. That does sound intriguing. I have been fascinated and intrigued by the whole phenomenon of the Mother Empress traveling so much. Perhaps she would like to visit Constantinople or the imperial estate at Macellum some time. She has met the late Emperor Valerian, but I do not recall if she has met the present one. Presumably things are easier now that Gloria Regis has been worked out. As you know, the Roman legion has withdrawn from Gloria Regis as well, leaving only your armed forces and the local Glorian troops there to secure the islands.

"As for Gavinium, I would like to clarify and inform you of the Empire's intentions that once things have settled down and the trials of Lucian's regime have ended, the Empire plans to negotiate a final treaty that will help establish a truly independent Gavinium to take effect only when the occupation ends, of course. No more client-status. I hope that we are also agreed in principle to a much more limited monarchy, as in considerably reduced in power in Gavinium, though presumably there will be some powers as a check and balance on popular sovereignty in a country given to mass hysteria. A constitutional monarchy with the rule of law, a responsible government, and an independent judiciary. Any thoughts?

"Also, the Emperor would like you to consider a summit with him and President Rowan, if he is interested at some point. Just an idea," Marcellinus broached such matters now.

Later


Titus and Livia were especially impressed with how Mara handled Father Joshua, holding firm to the law of the land (even if the Romans thought said law to be a bit inhumane and impractical) while nevertheless showing compassion and empathy for the man. It seemed to the imperial couple as though, for all of her zeal, Mara was far more down-to-earth and understanding of her people than most officers of her government, at least on issues of this sort.

Titus, of course, shared the usual Roman disapproval of homosexuality, something that predated Christianity in the Empire (pagan Romans were very homophobic in their own nuanced way), as did Livia, but they also knew Edom would have to gently move toward the use of moral influence rather than legislation to curtail it. It would take some time for that, though, and Homofront had set things back, as had the Third Civil War and the involvement of known lesbians among the Glorian Feminists during the revolution on that island. In the meantime, Titus reflected, New Edom could use allies that would allow it to relax and no longer feel threatened and cornered. The best policy for the Edomites would probably be a subtler form of rehabilitation, showing mercy without subverting the state or its morals. The needle could be threaded and moved away from coercive methods from that foundation more easily than from liberal pressure…..domestically and with influence from its more conservative allies which had earned the Edomite trust, such as Rome.

Meanwhile, Titus spoke directly to the royal couple, to Diego, to the Mother Empress, and anyone else who wished to listen, “Of course, I think that we have also clipped the wings of the kind of arbitrary despotism and lawlessness represented by Gavinium Magnus, a country where inbred madmen like Lucian have been replaced by sensible rulers such as Princess Regent Desiree. This is a part of the way forward, I do believe, and the post-war reconstruction of Gavinium Magnus will be a part of the restructuring that the region badly needs. It is significant that it took someone who wasn’t affected by the genetic maladies and the lawless arrogance of Lucian’s caliber, someone like the lovely and intelligent Princess Regent here, to help guide Gavinium Magnus forward, with the moral guidance and help of the Coalition heads of state and of her own husband, among others, as well as with the Committee for National Liberation, of course.

“Presumably, with the rule of law and a more humane code of ethics and values established firmly in Gavinium Magnus at last, we will have no more persecutions of religious minorities, no more harassment of dissidents, no more lawless gangs and thuggery, no more insane economic policies that upset the balance of the regulated market economy there. Naturally, we view our fellow Coalition nations, from New Edom to Shrailleen to Adiron to Free Garza to Novitera to Gran Chaco to the Imperium and Vorindeum, as all being key to this change. Moving Gavinium away from client-statehood to Rome and toward a more independent course under Coalition guidance will take a lengthy and arduous process and transition, but it is worthwhile, of course.”

Titus then coughed and added, “Apologies. Didn’t mean to preach. Anyway, a great address by the King in honor of the Queen’s birthday. They are both an example to us all.”

“Yes, I don’t believe that my husband has left me anything much to say at all,” Livia spoke softly, with a hint of humor and understanding of Titus’s typical Roman verboseness, “but I will add that I am pleased to see a greater sense of optimism here in New Edom about the future, a sense that the next generation of Edomites will be at peace and enjoy the benefits of more prosperity.”

“Well, at this point, I think that the Emperor has said much of what I meant to say, anyway,” Marcellinus remarked to the Adirons and Shrailleeni in particular, “I believe that it’s safe to say that we can hopefully all work together in reshaping the post-war Cornellian regional order. Both from this late war, the Delvian war, Gloria Regis, Ashab, and the whole business with the Arvo Nation, among others. I presume that the whole conflict with the Imperium has eased, along with the cold war between Arbites and Shrailleen. There is still the potential for conflict in Hostillia and Deadora, particularly with the fragmenting of the latter of late. This does concern us in no small way, especially with its spill-over potential with neighboring lands.”

“What my husband essentially means is that he’s worried, we’re all worried, that Deadora could turn into the kind of mess that Gavinium became, if not worse. The kind of mess that Arcologia appears to already be. A failed state that becomes the focal point for many interventions, civil wars, uprisings, atrocities, and worse. A hundred countries, including extra-regional powers, intervening with thousands of troops, tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands, if you will. There is a great danger of human tragedy there. We would naturally prefer to see that nipped in the bud, if at all possible. Otherwise, well, you get the idea,” Basilina showed that she was very much involved in her husband’s work, if there was any doubt before.

Privately, Marcellinus thought that the Shrailleeni would seek to exploit things, as would others in Deadora, but at least for now, he would try to work toward an amicable dissolution of the Thrallist Empire, one where Nadiri, Kehrahnii, and Aedoran successor states peacefully co-existed. He didn’t hold out much hope of that, being a Roman realist, but he had to at least make the effort in that direction.

[New Edom]

The Romans
The Majestic Hotel

Titus spoke directly to the royal couple, to Diego, to the Mother Empress, and anyone else who wished to listen, “Of course, I think that we have also clipped the wings of the kind of arbitrary despotism and lawlessness represented by Gavinium Magnus, a country where inbred madmen like Lucian have been replaced by sensible rulers such as Princess Regent Desiree. This is a part of the way forward, I do believe, and the post-war reconstruction of Gavinium Magnus will be a part of the restructuring that the region badly needs. It is significant that it took someone who wasn’t affected by the genetic maladies and the lawless arrogance of Lucian’s caliber, someone like the lovely and intelligent Princess Regent here, to help guide Gavinium Magnus forward, with the moral guidance and help of the Coalition heads of state and of her own husband, among others, as well as with the Committee for National Liberation, of course.

“Presumably, with the rule of law and a more humane code of ethics and values established firmly in Gavinium Magnus at last, we will have no more persecutions of religious minorities, no more harassment of dissidents, no more lawless gangs and thuggery, no more insane economic policies that upset the balance of the regulated market economy there. Naturally, we view our fellow Coalition nations, from New Edom to Shrailleen to Adiron to Free Garza to Novitera to Gran Chaco to the Imperium and Vorindeum, as all being key to this change. Moving Gavinium away from client-statehood to Rome and toward a more independent course under Coalition guidance will take a lengthy and arduous process and transition, but it is worthwhile, of course.”

Titus then coughed and added, “Apologies. Didn’t mean to preach. Anyway, a great address by the King in honor of the Queen’s birthday. They are both an example to us all.”

"I think we are on the same page, my dear Titus," said King Elijah. Others might notice that same affection and brotherly comradeliness he appeared to consistently show the Roman Emperor. "Many followers of the usurper saw him as righteous, only hesitating to follow him when they were losing. No one, apparently, tried to advise him that his murderous path was wrong. The idea of murdering your predecessor, mutilating him, scattering his body parts and then also shelling his former advisers was presented as being reasonable by nearly all of them. And rape squads?" the King gestured in exasperation. "That i s why I urged that his government leadership should be removed entirely and that under the regency the rule of law should be gradually made to inhabit all in the nation. That Lucian believed this approach was decadent emphasizes, as you say, that Gavinian's former approach to government had to be swept away."

“Yes, I don’t believe that my husband has left me anything much to say at all,” Livia spoke softly, with a hint of humor and understanding of Titus’s typical Roman verboseness, “but I will add that I am pleased to see a greater sense of optimism here in New Edom about the future, a sense that the next generation of Edomites will be at peace and enjoy the benefits of more prosperity.”

Princess Desiree had blushed but nodded graciously in response to the Emperor's words, and now said, "I think that it is a spirit of optimism that comes of knowing that we are on the right path for prosperity and peace, with humility before God of course. I am guided by excellent advisers to help prepare to govern Gavinium, my dear home, into a constitutional government that will be passed on to Jason when he comes of age."

“Well, at this point, I think that the Emperor has said much of what I meant to say, anyway,” Marcellinus remarked to the Adirons and Shrailleeni in particular, “I believe that it’s safe to say that we can hopefully all work together in reshaping the post-war Cornellian regional order. Both from this late war, the Delvian war, Gloria Regis, Ashab, and the whole business with the Arvo Nation, among others. I presume that the whole conflict with the Imperium has eased, along with the cold war between Arbites and Shrailleen. There is still the potential for conflict in Hostillia and Deadora, particularly with the fragmenting of the latter of late. This does concern us in no small way, especially with its spill-over potential with neighboring lands.”

There was a slightly awkward pause. Fortunately the Romans went on. Basilina more diplomatic than her husband filled in the gap.

“What my husband essentially means is that he’s worried, we’re all worried, that Deadora could turn into the kind of mess that Gavinium became, if not worse. The kind of mess that Arcologia appears to already be. A failed state that becomes the focal point for many interventions, civil wars, uprisings, atrocities, and worse. A hundred countries, including extra-regional powers, intervening with thousands of troops, tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands, if you will. There is a great danger of human tragedy there. We would naturally prefer to see that nipped in the bud, if at all possible. Otherwise, well, you get the idea,” Basilina showed that she was very much involved in her husband’s work, if there was any doubt before.

"Ah yes, Deadora." Prince Enoch said with a nod and a smile. "It is terrible. We can expect that if we do not act effectively there will be another disaster, yes, but this time we shall prevent it. The system of governance of Deadora was already busting at the seams. How could it not be, a nation run only by threats, violence, and rape, and as you say, Excellency, quite like Gavinian despotism. But the emergent states like Kehrahn and Aedora are focused on rule of law and friendly trade with foreign nations. What could be better? We hope we have but to support this and encourage the Deadoran home province to do the same, and hopefully there will be peaceful resolution. If not..."

"They will be at one another's throats and we will do what we did with Gavinium Magnus and New Othman: bring it to a swift end," said King Elijah with a gleam in his eye.

[Novitera]

Earlier

At that remark Folais grinned. "Well...there's breaking the process then there's Lucian. Most matters are easily resolved in the courts. Gavinium is a whole other matter altogether."

All the while Gladwin was soaring on the inside with satisfaction but keeping a straight face. "The Directorate is always at the table for a serious conversation about Adiron joining the CTO. We'd be delighted to talk about it. But we understand that the support for such a move in your voter base just does not exist at this time."

"I haven't even looked into it. Are Adiran conservatives supportive of joining?" Folais paused asking rhetorically. "Perhaps we'll just have to see when Adiron elects one to the Presidency. We're not known for being a patient people but for this I think we can wait. Democracy huh?" He said with a smile.

[Republica De Gran Chaco]

New Edom

The waiter brought Jaime iced tea, which was flavoured with lemon slices and honey instead of cane sugar.

"Are they like jet skis?" exclaimed Olympia with interest. "I have never tried that, though I've done water skiing of course, what is it like to be in one?"

"Oh we tried jet skiing in the South of Ghant when I was there, but brr, that water is cold" exclaimed Camilla. "I don't know why anyone even bothers up there. Well, half the ladies who went with us just sat around reciting poetry or getting drunk or...well..." she shrugged then laughed. "Ghantish ladies are not as active as we here are."

"But yes, what's it like?" asked Lavinia.

“Well no, a CB90 is fast but its not like a jet ski. It is a good deal larger than that. We can fit a squad of men inside one and it has several mounts for machine guns. Jet skies are a whole lot of fun but I don’t think we could use them on the river.” Jaime explained.


"Yes, Papa is very busy," said Camilla. She seemed pleased though, a smile quirking around her straw as her lips embraced it a moment and bubbles stirred in her drink. "When he took over the Interior oh my gosh, malaria was such a huge problem. but we are doing a lot better, praise God. He got in many people who have worked hard too, scientists, engineers, mechanics, lumber companies. So many businesses and landlords and peasants working together!"

Jaime nodded, this was something that he had worked with in a minor way, but he had seen the struggle with his own eyes at least, “Yes, disease can be such a major problem in rural areas. Some of our indigenous tribes in the jungle have major health issues. Part of our domestic patrols involves visiting villages and letting our hospital corpsmen do medical checks. We find all kinds of nasty things, a lot of parasites in the children for example. The infrastructure in the deep forest just is not there for some of those people so the riverine force tries to check in with them from time to time to do what they can. If it is serious we take them to the military hospital in Arica.”

"It's like with our Lancers and Light Troops," Olympia told the other two. "Zadok took me to some demonstrations of them, my gosh their packs can be big. He showed me this...what did he call it...a heavy company or something...they have to carry these shells and things...one of the packs weighed as much as me!" she laughed. "Such fine big lads too. Oh you saw some of them today, Major, the 18th Mounted Light Infantry, they fly in helicopters and then jump out and march around and fight the enemy that way."

"I like going walking when there are nice things to see," said Camilla, to which Lavinia also nodded. "But I don't like it when it's just a lot of the same. There's so much of this wet grassland around western Bara, I don't know how anyone stands it. But when there are lovely trees and things, that's different."

Jaime agreed with Camilla, “That is the best when you can go to a place with great scenery. The plains are strange to me, I never saw anything that open except the ocean growing up. It just feels to exposed! Kind of makes me dizzy!”

"i play competitively yes," said Camilla brightly. "In fact I'm in training to play in the nationals this year! Very exciting, the Queen, my mother and father have all encouraged me! So that's the Women's 3rd for Bara Province. I am meeting some very interesting women from other parts of the province that I would never have met otherwise." Camilla appeared to soften, her smile seemed to burst out of her. "It draws you in not with the usual fanfare of a team sport. I know for most it's football or volleyball or things like that. Tennis...It’s more personal. It’s easy to get invested in the players because they are so vulnerable to us. No helmets to hide their emotions, no teammates to commiserate with and no substitutes if one is having a bad day. Give me a good racquet smash or a debatable line call any day over a missed field goal or free throw..."

"We're going to lose her after this," said Lavinia with a wink at Olympia.

"You'll always be my dearest friends...they tease me a lot, Major, I'm such an easy mark.." said Camilla

"We're just a little jealous that's all," soothed Lavinia. "You have such a passion. We just have flower arranging and holidays and our husbands."

"Once I'm married it will probably just be happy memories," said Camilla. "So I need to cherish them...anyway yes, and I originally did it just because it was a fun way to play with my family, something that I could do and just really get into. My brother Max always told me that I was too stubborn to give up. And then Mama plays, not professionally but I think it's part of why she's still so beautiful, she loves being out on a court or on a horse or something. She's...oh there's the Queen, Mama is attending her." Her mother had somewhat darker hair, touched here and there with grey, but wore her crimson gown with evident confidence, her body hinted at being similar to Camilla's but had the marks of a mature woman who had born children--a heavier bosom and wider hips but still elegant and well toned.

Jaime was surprised at the level that she played. This was not some adult rec league that she was in for fun or to keep in shape, chuckling he cried, “Oh, you play professionally? My goodness a celebrity! I really must get a photo with you and an autograph! But in all seriousness that is fantastic, I will have to remember to look up some of your matches. I am actually very interested in this. When are the nationals? I will have to follow it now! I can brag to my friends that I met New Edom’s tennis champion.”

When she pointed out her mother, Jaime craned his neck to look at her, “Your mother is lovely. That must be a great honor to tend to the queen. It is something that had an impact on me just seeing her face to face you know. She is someone that is on the news from time to time, but we are so far away that we don’t think about her much. It was like seeing someone from a legend when I saw her for the first time today.”

[Hittanryan]

Earlier

“It’s good to know that Rome supports Adiron’s overall vision for Gavinium as well. The coalition seems united in its purpose for reform. I suspect if there are disagreements they will be over finer details,” Bailey mused. “It was shocking to see despotism laid bare in Gavinium. Custom had kept it in check for long enough that maybe most of us believed or wanted to believe it would prevail again. I suppose there was always the potential for it though, and maybe this was simply inevitable.”

“And a summit? My, we are going to have a busy schedule,” Bailey joked with an aside glance to Zattem. “What do you have in mind, Count? I’ll let our embassy know and our governments can start planning something.”

Meanwhile, Cruise scoffed at Folais’ suggestion. “If you wait for a Saito government to join under party lines, he’s got a nice big group of protectionists in the Growth Party he’ll have to explain that to. The conservatives as you call them won’t have the votes all on their own. Your best chance for Adiran membership is bipartisan consensus with Rowan in power. The Libs want in, and they’ll vote with us to get it.”

He put a hand on Gladwin’s arm reassuringly as they walked to the grandstands. “Mr. Gladwin, here’s how it is: the CTO’s what? Two, three years old? And how many blocs and organizations fall apart or just sit around with their foot on their dicks in response to crisis? Gavinium was the CTO’s first real test. Now the President knows you guys take membership seriously.”

“That’s what we needed to deal with the domestic politics. You let us worry about that, though,” he said with a nod. “All you need to know is that since DeGroot threw the dinosaurs out ten years ago, our party says trade is good. We might quibble over specific practices, but trade is good overall.”

[McNernia]

The Majestic Hotel
Fineberg New Edom

---

The Prince nodded, “You are familiar to me as one of the best of the Monarchist cause, and a voice of reason Your Highness.” Emily was happy to meet the King of New Edom who was a man she could admire for being like her father and willing to risk life and limb. And it was like the past, “I think, Your Highness my uncle Emmett was in overall command then.” Emily was sweet in her appearance, all of her teen years, her mother’s genes blessing her with good lookings though one could see that she had her father severity. Amanda her twin sister was more her father’s daughter perhaps.

“Aye, we did our duty in that war. Our finest warriors risking life and limb, to save people from the perils of Anarchism.” Said Frederick grimly. His greatest combat experience had come from the Rhodana conflict a long time ago. Flying his F-4 Phantom. And qualifying on other combat airplanes. Princess Emily nodded, she’d undertaken public engagements at all the places where there had been a lot of veterans that had served in that war. “Ive met some of the soldiers that have been in that war and it’s a very good thing it was a multinational effort.” She paused, “Father said it was a good war, if wars can be called that truly.

“Heaven preserve the Order that has been built.” Said Frederick moving to shake hands with the Roman. He could be charming and looked every inch the prince. “May I introduce my Niece the Princess Emily and Ambassador Clyde Hullar.” The princess and Ambassador would add their own greetings for the Ceasar.

“Don’t forget about me beloved.” The sound of Tressas voice got him as always, a bit aroused, she loved him, and he her, but things kept them from being married. But that could pass soon. “And my, lover of a sort, Lady Vanestressa DeVir”. He said. Looking at the woman. “Mcnernia will stand by the regional powers in their bid to ensure order, if you need us, don’t hesitate to call on us for aid.”

The Mcnernian Broadcasting Corporation crew had been sent for this exact purpose and so they set to work under the direction of the Embassy Charge D’Affaires and the Palace staff. A showing for luncheon. Whenever the guests were ready for it.

[New Edom]

Jaime Salinas

Jaime nodded, this was something that he had worked with in a minor way, but he had seen the struggle with his own eyes at least, “Yes, disease can be such a major problem in rural areas. Some of our indigenous tribes in the jungle have major health issues. Part of our domestic patrols involves visiting villages and letting our hospital corpsmen do medical checks. We find all kinds of nasty things, a lot of parasites in the children for example. The infrastructure in the deep forest just is not there for some of those people so the riverine force tries to check in with them from time to time to do what they can. If it is serious we take them to the military hospital in Arica.”

The women nodded brightly to this.

"It sounds very serious work, similar to what is done here. The Queen is very concerned that it be done well. One more admirable thing we hear from Chaco," said Lavinia.

"Parasites, ugh, the nastiest part of doing bio at school," shuddered Olympia.

"I know. But think of the poor kids and their feet and eyes and stuff," exclaimed Camilla. "Good for your people, Major, we are in the same struggles and winning, I hope, praise God!"

Jaime agreed with Camilla, “That is the best when you can go to a place with great scenery. The plains are strange to me, I never saw anything that open except the ocean growing up. It just feels to exposed! Kind of makes me dizzy!”


"It can be scary!" agreed Camilla. "It is so deep, so big and there's so much in there."

"Remember that song we sang in school and all got in trouble for?" said Olympia with her eyes twinkling. "Each nasty barracuda, each awful grasping squid..."

"Who made the spiky urchin, who made the sharks? He did!" sang the other two and laughed.

"Mistress Tiana thought it was hilarious, she told me last year when we met, but she couldn't allow it," said Lavinia, giggling. "Sorry Major, a blasphemous song we sang in parody of a popular hymn. But the ocean is also lovely, beautiful, the reefs, the waves, the sandy beaches..."

Jaime was surprised at the level that she played. This was not some adult rec league that she was in for fun or to keep in shape, chuckling he cried, “Oh, you play professionally? My goodness a celebrity! I really must get a photo with you and an autograph! But in all seriousness that is fantastic, I will have to remember to look up some of your matches. I am actually very interested in this. When are the nationals? I will have to follow it now! I can brag to my friends that I met New Edom’s tennis champion.”

"Oh I'm not a celebrity," protested Camilla, blushing but looking pleased. "I can send you a schedule if you like. It starts up in only three weeks actually and so after this its back to some training for me. I'm playing my first match on the 9th next month."

"Who are you facing, do you know?" asked Olympia.

"Against Anna Nemgadi," said Camilla gravely. "She's very good, she's in the Air Force and will be representing them."

"She looks like a goblin, I hope you kick her around the court," said Lavinia.

"Lavvy, she does not, she's very pretty!" protested Camilla. "And how unsportsmanlike!"

"Oh well, it seems to me it is loyal to say so..."

When she pointed out her mother, Jaime craned his neck to look at her, “Your mother is lovely. That must be a great honor to tend to the queen. It is something that had an impact on me just seeing her face to face you know. She is someone that is on the news from time to time, but we are so far away that we don’t think about her much. It was like seeing someone from a legend when I saw her for the first time today.”

"I know, she's so wonderful," sighed Camilla.

"She's very down to earth, you know, not like most leaders," said Olympia. "Was it...well, culture shock for you to see that she really was not wearing anything?"

[New Edom]

The Majestic Hotel
Fineberg New Edom

---

“Aye, we did our duty in that war. Our finest warriors risking life and limb, to save people from the perils of Anarchism.” Said Frederick grimly.

"Anarchism threatened the world," reminded King Elijah. "This was merely where the greatest battles against it were fought. The Anarchists believed our divided state made us weak. They were wrong. Ironically, their actions and propaganda served to unite us further and gave a clear example of the evils of communism."

Princess Emily nodded, she’d undertaken public engagements at all the places where there had been a lot of veterans that had served in that war. “Ive met some of the soldiers that have been in that war and it’s a very good thing it was a multinational effort.” She paused, “Father said it was a good war, if wars can be called that truly.

King Elijah smiled at her kindly, a rare thing, and said, "Wars are unfortunately necessary even for Christian states, my dear princess. It was a good war, against a great evil."

“Heaven preserve the Order that has been built.” Said Frederick moving to shake hands with the Roman. He could be charming and looked every inch the prince. “May I introduce my Niece the Princess Emily and Ambassador Clyde Hullar.” The princess and Ambassador would add their own greetings for the Ceasar.

There were murmurs of agreement and a few there crossed themselves at Prince Frederick's blessing. Of course the Edomites had already met the princess and ambassador.

"Do you know, Mr. Hullar, along with Mr. Redstone and Mr. Lee you are among our longest serving ambassadors," said King Elijah with a faint smile.

"We'll have to bake him a cake," said Prince Enoch. The King frowned.

“Don’t forget about me beloved.” The sound of Tressas voice got him as always, a bit aroused, she loved him, and he her, but things kept them from being married. But that could pass soon. “And my, lover of a sort, Lady Vanestressa DeVir”. He said. Looking at the woman. “Mcnernia will stand by the regional powers in their bid to ensure order, if you need us, don’t hesitate to call on us for aid.”

There was another uncomfortable pause. Prince Enoch cleared his throat, but the King said, "What do you mean, of a sort?"

The Mcnernian Broadcasting Corporation crew had been sent for this exact purpose and so they set to work under the direction of the Embassy Charge D’Affaires and the Palace staff. A showing for luncheon. Whenever the guests were ready for it.

The New Edomite master of ceremonies, Canpous Fade, informed the representative leader of the MBC crew that the afternoon would not be a suitable time. It was recommended that the film be shown the following afternoon. "Today the Court will relax briefly before the evening's dinner. You've missed the buffet lunch and that would have been most inappropriate anyway."

[McNernia]

The Majestic Hotel, Fineberg New Edom

"Anarchism threatened the world," reminded King Elijah. "This was merely where the greatest battles against it were fought. The Anarchists believed our divided state made us weak. They were wrong. Ironically, their actions and propaganda served to unite us further and gave a clear example of the evils of communism."

“I doubt that guerillas no matter well supplied by the odd large state could take on the whole world. Maybe cornellia aye but they could never pose a threat to a place like Gholgoth which is vast.” Said Frederick. “We have fought against the heart of the Communist beast…” He paused, “We had campaigns into odd places of the world. And with the aid of SACTO we were, a part of SACTO fighting a petty alliance that called itself the Axis of Resistance. But they were formidable, I doubt your Anarchists could put aside their differences to become a viable threat like that.” Frederick was not angry with the New Edomites but “It could be worse than what you faced, just how dangerous was the Anarchist threat, light guerilla troops…how well supplied?”

King Elijah smiled at her kindly, a rare thing, and said, "Wars are unfortunately necessary even for Christian states, my dear princess. It was a good war, against a great evil."
“My Father fought communists.” Emily said with some pride in her voice, “He served in a hot and hard place where the next step could spell death from a land mine. Uncle Frederick fought foreign advisors to the states that supported them.”

“Easy darling Niece, that was not exactly verified.” Said Frederick. Earning something of put out expression from his niece.


There were murmurs of agreement and a few there crossed themselves at Prince Frederick's blessing. Of course the Edomites had already met the princess and ambassador.

"Do you know, Mr. Hullar, along with Mr. Redstone and Mr. Lee you are among our longest serving ambassadors," said King Elijah with a faint smile.

"We'll have to bake him a cake," said Prince Enoch. The King frowned.
Hullar smiled, “ I find that Flattering indeed that you take note of a diplomatic representative from a nation that has on two occasions failed you in some way. Damoclea and, perhaps in Hutanjia. I am merely an ambassador, nothing more or less than any other state.”
There was another uncomfortable pause. Prince Enoch cleared his throat, but the King said, "What do you mean, of a sort?"
“Well, we are close.” Said Frederick, “But my family laws are against Pre-martial sex, and with my family on the silent side of things getting permission to marry is hard.” One could leave out the intrigues that took place among the people that were of Tressas type.
The New Edomite master of ceremonies, Canpous Fade, informed the representative leader of the MBC crew that the afternoon would not be a suitable time. It was recommended that the film be shown the following afternoon. "Today the Court will relax briefly before the evening's dinner. You've missed the buffet lunch and that would have been most inappropriate anyway."
“Fine, we shall make arrangements to dine at the Embassy.” Said the lead, one Malachi Courtman The Mcnernians would take the projection equipment. Having seen a playbill, the aides term for the list of events that made up the celebration. “The film is more appropriate for tomorrow.” Said Courtman looking at the master of ceremonies. Then he would take his leave with a small bow. Leading his crew back to their cars.

[Republica De Gran Chaco]

New Edom

The women nodded brightly to this.

"It sounds very serious work, similar to what is done here. The Queen is very concerned that it be done well. One more admirable thing we hear from Chaco," said Lavinia.

"Parasites, ugh, the nastiest part of doing bio at school," shuddered Olympia.

"I know. But think of the poor kids and their feet and eyes and stuff," exclaimed Camilla. "Good for your people, Major, we are in the same struggles and winning, I hope, praise God!"

“That’s very true, the poor kids that run around barefoot are very susceptible to jiggers out there in the forest. They need to be dug out or else they can lose their feet if it goes untreated.” Jaime added, “It’s too bad that there are such a lack of clinics. Some NGOs try to help, but they cant be everywhere.”

"It can be scary!" agreed Camilla. "It is so deep, so big and there's so much in there."

"Remember that song we sang in school and all got in trouble for?" said Olympia with her eyes twinkling. "Each nasty barracuda, each awful grasping squid..."

"Who made the spiky urchin, who made the sharks? He did!" sang the other two and laughed.

"Mistress Tiana thought it was hilarious, she told me last year when we met, but she couldn't allow it," said Lavinia, giggling. "Sorry Major, a blasphemous song we sang in parody of a popular hymn. But the ocean is also lovely, beautiful, the reefs, the waves, the sandy beaches..."

Jaime laughed at their little song, “Yeah, that is fun. We would make up songs when I was in primary school, but they were a little less… uh…fit for respectable company. Some of those songs still make me laugh though, we had some writers in my class.”

"Oh I'm not a celebrity," protested Camilla, blushing but looking pleased. "I can send you a schedule if you like. It starts up in only three weeks actually and so after this its back to some training for me. I'm playing my first match on the 9th next month."

Jaime’s face brightened, “I would like that very much, it would be nice to have a schedule. Do they televise it? Maybe I could find a stream when you’re playing and I can watch it when I’m back in Chaco. I think I have to see how you do.”


"Who are you facing, do you know?" asked Olympia.

"Against Anna Nemgadi," said Camilla gravely. "She's very good, she's in the Air Force and will be representing them."

"She looks like a goblin, I hope you kick her around the court," said Lavinia.

"Lavvy, she does not, she's very pretty!" protested Camilla. "And how unsportsmanlike!"

"Oh well, it seems to me it is loyal to say so..."

Jaime smirked at this. He let go a few chuckles, their insults were funny. He was sure the woman must look like a dog, but he didn’t feel comfortable joining in on the joke especially since Camilla was being nice to her. Girls seemed to have a tendency some times to insist cows were beautiful. He had always suspected they liked to keep them around to make themselves seem prettier.”

"I know, she's so wonderful," sighed Camilla.

"She's very down to earth, you know, not like most leaders," said Olympia. "Was it...well, culture shock for you to see that she really was not wearing anything?"

Jaime hesitated at this, “I don’t want to be insulting at all, that is my greatest fear about my presence here. But honestly, yes it was a culture shock. I still am feeling a bit awkward about everything honestly. All of the costumes that everyone is wearing would not be something that would be deemed appropriate in Chaco. It’s not that I disapprove, but I am unused to it and I don’t want to come across as a pig so I have been just trying to look elsewhere.”

[Ironenia]

The Majestic Hotel
Fineberg New Edom
The Emperor stood with his children in the corner of the room, Occasionally grabbing a glass of wine from one of the waiters finishing it in one or two gulps putting the Emperor's glass. His personal guard Heindrich stood extremely close to him scanning the area for potential threats. They wore their normal battledresses all except for Princess Alessia who wore a long white and yellow dress with Black eyeshadow.

"Father when are you gonna give the queen your gift?" said Prince Hans

"As soon as i have located he...Oh there she is" The Emperor said as he pointed towards her storming off towards her. "Well are you coming?" he questioned his children as he gestured to Heindrich to stay put.

"Greetings Queen Mara of New Edom, pleased to make your acquaintance, I am Emperor Sturm IV of the Empire of Ironenia. May I say you look very nice on this occasion" Sturm said while kissing the Queens' hand. "This is my son Prince Hans," Prince Hans bowed his head "My Daughter Princess Alessia" Alessia slightly bent her knee and smiled.

"I Understand it is your birthday so I have bought a gift that only a fellow monarch will lay hands on." The Emperor brought out a long Black felt box with golden swirls on it. He lifted the lid to reveal a gleaming dagger made of what seemed to be the shiniest steel ever to exist. It had a Gold skull in the middle of the hilt and a Gold snake slithering up the handle to the hilt where it enclosed its jaws around the back of the skull.

"This, is the Emperors dagger. Traditionally in Ironenia the Emperor will give these to a potential ally to symbolise their Union. It can be used to kill, to open letters or to just be put on display. This particular one is significant as it is the one that was used to carve out my eye and the one I stabbed into my Uncle the Usurper's throat after he took my eye." The Emperor explained softly as he admired the blade reaching the box out toward the queen.

[Hittanryan]

The Majestic Hotel

Alvarado walked into the garden bar and scanned the tables. He noticed Bailey sitting at one reading her phone. He strolled over to her and greeted her warmly, “Madam Secretary, you are early.”

Bailey rose from her seat to shake Alvarado’s hand as he approached. “I’m doing well, Excellency. So many sights to take in, so many people to talk to. How are you?” she said warmly, waiting for him to reply.

Alvarado took a seat and ordered a beer, “This surely is some kind of birthday party! My goodness, look at the effort they are going through! It has been enjoyable so far that parade was something else, brings me back to my younger days in the army! How are you enjoying yourself?”

“Quite the celebration,” Bailey agreed, nodding. She ordered a glass of wine herself. “And we’re just on the first day. I can only imagine how much drilling the troops must do before an event like this. New Edom clearly loves its monarchs and the peace and unity they represent. Although I hear Carnival is quite the to-do in Yanque as well. Different though, admittedly, less solemn, not as much formal ceremony.”

"Yes, His Majesty is a man of few words, and how wittily and yet kindly you remark upon it, if I may say so," he said cheerfully.

"When the King does make a long speech every word is still weighed, and thought out, and therefore we are blessed when his words are many." Unwerth observed. "Our Lord, after all, rarely had long sermons, something the King is fond of pointing out...particularly to preachers." The Edomites laughed at this.

Leslie laughed as well. “That’s so funny, my mother in law is a devout person, grace at every meal, prayer before bed, works bake sales and charity, scripture study for George and all his siblings growing up. Just the same, after donating all that time and effort to the church and the community, she and the other older church ladies aren’t shy about letting the pastor know when he’s gotten lost in the reeds. First they’ll look at their watches, then they’ll fold their arms and stop smiling.” She mimicked them with a grumpy expression.

“Then you know it’s gone way too long. ‘To the point and from the heart,’ is what she says is best.”

"Hopefully he'll get sent to a penal battalion and worked to rags," grumbled Unwerth, shaking his head and blowing smoke out of the side of his mouth away from her. "The rotten liar. How dare he embarrass the Queen on such a day, put her on the spot like that?"

"He did not technically break the law though," observed Lalery thoughtfully. "It is not against the law to discuss homosexuality as a theoretical lifestyle of foreigners, to discuss its morality under the law. So we'll see how it goes. I wonder who put him up to it though."

"Oh there's a lot of foreign money put in it," said Geta sagely. "Foreigners supporting the homosexual agenda. Not your government of course, Madame First Lady," he said, glancing at Leslie. "Not that they care about the homosexuals, of course. It's just a cunning way to use sentiment to guise trying to undermine our culture, our government. Father Joshua may have been bribed, or may have some axe to grind. And we must be compassionate, my dear General," he said to Unwerth. "After all Homofront has, in the past, blackmailed people or used hostages to force them to do things."

Unwerth shook his head. "That is true. Mr. Geta. They are bastards. Er, saving your presence, Madame First Lady. Forgive my barracks talk."

Leslie’s smile faded and her eyes widened at Unwerth’s initial comment. She looked relieved by Lalery’s words but skeptical as Geta spoke and as Unwerth blurted out another gruff remark. When she had a chance, she weighed in, generally unaware of the can of worms she was opening. “Well it seems like no one would’ve let him speak if they’d known he was going to say that, right? Is it really crazy to think he just did it out of compassion and hoped the Queen would listen? Besides, in my experience, when it comes to some topics, people will never say it’s time to discuss them. They’ll just keep saying ‘maybe someday, but not today’ forever.”

“It’s all kind of moot now anyway, Her Majesty already said ‘no,’ and that’s that, right?”

Not long after that, a uniformed foreigner rushed through the room and made a beeline for Mara. Before she could react, he’d kissed her hand and presented her with a gift in full view of everyone.

The First Lady’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Well that’s odd…I thought we aren’t giving Her Majesty presents?” Leslie commented to the group innocently. “I even had something picked out. The Ambassador told me to leave it, that it’s not your custom.”

[Shalum]

Interlude
The Majestic Hotel
Padan, New Edom

“I thought we weren't supposed to bring gifts.” Duke Harper observed, one eyebrow raising as he studied the nobles who presented themselves to native queen. Taking a small sip of his highball, not worried in the least about how stiffly it had been mixed, he focused on the dagger that was currently being shown to her. It was a nice piece, if strange. It wasn’t exactly something that she had any use for. Then again, the same couldn’t be said for her husband, or the prince when he grew old enough to wield it responsibly.

“We weren’t.” Prime Minister Solaris replied as he set down his empty tea glass. Glancing at a waiter, he summoned them over for a refill. “But that doesn’t appear to be stopping anyone from doing just that.” He had been waiting for the right moment to approach for some time now, but it always seemed as if someone beat him to her. The queen was a popular woman, especially in the middle of her own birthday celebration.

“I should have brought something as a ‘just in case.’” Jack couldn’t help but frown as he idly ran a thumb along the condensation that had gathered on his glass. “Even just jewelry or something. Lord knows that my parents left me far more than I, or any future wife of mine, could ever have a use for.”

“Perhaps I can arrange for something to be delivered at a later date, if you’d like.” Ethan said, making a small ‘follow me’ motion. Introducing himself to the queen was high on the to-do list, and he wasn’t certain when he would get another chance. “This party may not be the time for it, but state visits and business deals are a different matter, no doubt.”

General Flemming had taken to wandering around for the most part. Officially speaking, he escorting the countess around, but Vyander didn’t seem to have any trouble making friends - or at least inserting herself into the various groups milling about the place. Glancing to the side, he watched for a moment as she smiled, one hand ghosting the arm of some local noble while the other delicately balanced a mostly empty wine glass.

In his moment of distraction, Adam wasn’t looking where he was going. He came to a stop rather suddenly as he bumped into someone from the side. A small sound of surprise escaped the back of his throat as he reached up to steady them - it was only then that he realized it was a woman that he had run into. Countess Emilia Jabbok, to be exact. He knew nothing of her, aside from that she was some sort of lady in waiting.

“My apologies, ma’am.” He stammered out, expression a trifle sheepish as his hand lingered for a moment. Grip slackening, he dropped his hand as he looked down at her. “I wasn’t looking where I was going. Are you alright?” As he looked down at her, waiting for a response, his offending hand moved across his flat stomach and chest to smooth where his uniform had been ruffled.

[The Shrailleeni Empire]

Earlier, Rome and Adiron

Zattem caught Bailey's eye for a moment, a sort of glance usually taboo in his culture but which he felt comfortable indulging in here.

"Her Enlightened Majesty could not hope for anything greater than the removal of Lucian from power, Count Marcellinus. That is the stated objected of Shrailleen's declaration of war, and from our perspective the safety of our people and Gavinian co-religionaries is paramount. We believe that Princess Regent Desiree will be perfectly acceptable in this regard, being both the rightful ruler and a dear ally. But it is good to know that the Emperor support full Gavinian independence, I am certain that Rome's long history in the country will be instrumental in establishing rule of law."

He smiled and inclined his head toward each of his companions.

"Though we have some small differences, I think we all agree that this is the ultimate goal. A stable government which can correct the many excesses which allowed Lucian to operate with such impunity."

As more of an aside to the Count at an opportune time, Zattem added that "Glorian troops are almost non-existant now, the Protectorate is more concerned with internal reform at the moment. Her Enlightened Majesty has not spoken of a visit to your own empire, but I for one think that it would be a tremendous and historic occasion. I will make it a point to humbly present the merits of such a visit to the Mother Empress, and if she decides it best then perhaps we can begin organizing such a meeting."

The Majestic Hotel

Back at the Majestic Hotel, the Mother Empress and Crown Princess were relaxing with King Elijah and the other heads of state who had accompanied him and the queen back from the procession. Both of them were enjoying the simple pleasure of chilled drinks and the relative tranquility and beauty of the hotel's garden. Neither of them was completely comfortable with the setting, but they hid this discomfort behind tranquil expressions, Chella's seemed vaguely pleased and Aryni's absolutely neutral.

They listened to the king's speech impassively, each woman's thoughts her own. Chella nodded her head respectively in acknowledgement when Elijah made his clarification regarding feminism and matriarchy. After all, the Enlightened Matriarchy itself had a complicated relationship with feminism that it made quite public. For Aryni, the more troubling aspect was actually that of the king's condemnation of socialism. She was all too aware of the socialist tendencies of the Aedoran who her mother had until recently hoped to annex into the empire, and who even now were their strongest allies in that area. She personally might tend to agree with the king's sentiment, but as a matter of practicality the Enlightened Matriarchy might soon be defending a socialist nation. Perhaps, she thought passingly, the problem might take care of itself as it had in Gloria Regis.

The king concluded, saying "what remains now is that the rule of law be established from pole to pole, from hemisphere to hemisphere, and that nations of good will should uphold this, each in their sphere, and be as gentlemen to one another: each respecting the other's property, each staging competition in a friendly way. I believe that this is what is intended by the mandate of heaven."

At this, the Mother Empress expressed a word of agreement with King Elijah, saying softly "very well said."

Aryni did not quite overhear the comments passed between Geta and Lalery, though she was aware that they had remarked something. The details were, however, overshadowed by the words of Emperor Titus who was in her immediate presence. He spoke at length of Gavinium Magnus which only made sense, it was one of the more significant regional events of late. Personally the Crown Princess saw Gavinium as an annoyance and one that she was glad had finally been concluded. With that in mind, she found it difficult to pay great attention to the Emperor's long speech about things that the coalition had agreed upon from the beginning.

However it seemed the King Elijah did not share her opinions, and he reacted positively and with a measure of affection. Expounding on the sins of the former King Lucian which had led to the invasion, begun with a declaration of war by Shrailleen, the New Edomite king emphasized that all traces of the former government were swept away. This, so far as the Shrailleeni were concerned, was a good thing. She did pay particular attention to the reaction of the newly crowned Princess Regent Desiree, who said all of the right things though as typical of women from New Edom downplayed her own role and made it clear that she would rule at the behest of her advisors. Aryni harbored no illusions that Gavinium would be ruled as a New Edomite protectorate, but this was acceptable for her because she had seen no viable alternative.

Count Marcellinus, who by this time had left Zattem's company to sit with the heads of state, then brought up the proverbial shark in the pool: Deadora. Her mother had stirred briefly, no doubt to remark on the progress that had been made in thawing relations between Shrailleen and the Imperium, when the fragmentation of Deadora, and Rome's concern with it, came up.

There was a moment of silence which might have been quite awkward, during which Aryni pointedly lay her eyes upon the Roman count and not upon the New Edomite party. Then Basilina continued.

“What my husband essentially means is that he’s worried, we’re all worried, that Deadora could turn into the kind of mess that Gavinium became, if not worse. The kind of mess that Arcologia appears to already be. A failed state that becomes the focal point for many interventions, civil wars, uprisings, atrocities, and worse. A hundred countries, including extra-regional powers, intervening with thousands of troops, tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands, if you will. There is a great danger of human tragedy there. We would naturally prefer to see that nipped in the bud, if at all possible. Otherwise, well, you get the idea,” she said, displaying a level of political comprehension that Aryni would not have expected of an ordinary Roman woman. She was fleeting reminded of Zattem.

"Ah yes, Deadora." Prince Enoch spoke first, nodding and smiling. "It is terrible. We can expect that if we do not act effectively there will be another disaster, yes, but this time we shall prevent it. The system of governance of Deadora was already busting at the seams. How could it not be, a nation run only by threats, violence, and rape, and as you say, Excellency, quite like Gavinian despotism. But the emergent states like Kehrahn and Aedora are focused on rule of law and friendly trade with foreign nations. What could be better? We hope we have but to support this and encourage the Deadoran home province to do the same, and hopefully there will be peaceful resolution. If not..."

"They will be at one another's throats and we will do what we did with Gavinium Magnus and New Othman: bring it to a swift end," King Elijah concluded. Aryni did not like the gleam in his eye.

Now the metaphorical spotlight was on her and her mother. Everyone in the room, with perhaps the exception of the extra-regional nobility, knew that Shrailleen was heavily involved in the Deadoran conflict. They would be expecting a statement, but Aryni found herself genuinely unsure of what to say. She was so accustomed to discussing the events in the relative safety of the Imperial Palace that it did not occur to her exactly what to say to those people that they were keeping secrets from. Could she say that Shrailleen was even now preparing for war with Jacqueline Thrall? Moving troops to Aedora and Kurungarra?

Her mother, apparently, suffered from no such shortcomings.

"I could not agree more, Your Majesty," Chella said, addressing King Elijah with a tone that spoke only of serenity and a certain surety of action. "Swift action will be necessary if Jacqueline Thrall declares war. I admit that I still hold hope that Jennifer will re-emerge from these events unharmed. We had come so close to bringing stability and reform to the country, I had come to almost think of her as my own family. And her poor baby..." her voice dropped off for a moment, as if overcome with emotion, but Aryni knew what her mother actually looked like when she was sad or compassionate. This was the affectation of those emotions.

Chella's voice strengthened after a moment, "I hope that Jacqueline can be made to see reason. But I will not allow our dear Sister nation to become a failed state and endanger us all. A swift end, as you so well say. I pray that we shall not come to that point."

[New Edom]

King Elijah, listening to the Mother Empress, appeared laconic, as she said,

"I could not agree more, Your Majesty," Chella said, addressing King Elijah with a tone that spoke only of serenity and a certain surety of action. "Swift action will be necessary if Jacqueline Thrall declares war. I admit that I still hold hope that Jennifer will re-emerge from these events unharmed. We had come so close to bringing stability and reform to the country, I had come to almost think of her as my own family. And her poor baby..." her voice dropped off for a moment, as if overcome with emotion, but Aryni knew what her mother actually looked like when she was sad or compassionate. This was the affectation of those emotions.

Chella's voice strengthened after a moment, "I hope that Jacqueline can be made to see reason. But I will not allow our dear Sister nation to become a failed state and endanger us all. A swift end, as you so well say. I pray that we shall not come to that point."

The King sipped his iced mint tea. "Indeed, your government had worked very hard to achieve the goals you mention. But do the Thrallites actually value stability and peace? They have devoted so much to the notion of domination and savagery that I wonder. In any case, you do not stand alone in concerns about Deadora. You may be assured of that, Mother Empress."

"It is sad as well when one thinks about it. Neither Jennifer Thrall nor Jacqueline Thrall is, after all, an experienced commander. Some of the most experienced commanders they have are in Kehrahn. It is foolish, therefore, for them to threaten civil war when they may not be ready for it. It is not the same as a knife duel, which is what those two young women know. I have often questioned the means by which Matriarch Empresses are advised--leading threatening, brutal cults of personality. This coup demonstrates the foolishness and pettiness of the matriarchs."

"Hello, what's this?" exclaimed Prince Enoch as Queen Mara was being intercepted--almost accosted--by a group of foreigners. He made his wa in that direction.

---

Jaime Salinas

“That’s very true, the poor kids that run around barefoot are very susceptible to jiggers out there in the forest. They need to be dug out or else they can lose their feet if it goes untreated.” Jaime added, “It’s too bad that there are such a lack of clinics. Some NGOs try to help, but they cant be everywhere.”


"Poor kiddies," sighed Olympia. "I always imagine what if my own little ones were in such a state...and that is why we must always remember what Christ said: what you do unto the least of these, you do to me."

"Amen," said Lavinia and Camilla.

Jaime laughed at their little song, “Yeah, that is fun. We would make up songs when I was in primary school, but they were a little less… uh…fit for respectable company. Some of those songs still make me laugh though, we had some writers in my class.”


"Oh now I'm curious..." said Lavinia.

"Lavvy, he can hardly sing dirty boy songs here," chided Camilla, who looked interested nevertheless.

Jaime’s face brightened, “I would like that very much, it would be nice to have a schedule. Do they televise it? Maybe I could find a stream when you’re playing and I can watch it when I’m back in Chaco. I think I have to see how you do.”


"Yes it is televised. We even got someone to help televise it and edit it and everything," said Camilla excitedly. "There's this team of foreigners who work for the Ministry of Culture who do it."

"Who does that? And it's on the internet right?" asked Olympia.

"Oh it's a bunch of filthy heathen Noviterans and Adirans," said Camilla casually without any suggestion of malice, as though these were just descriptors.

"Anyway it will be scheduled on an international sports channel, I think," added Lavinia.

Jaime hesitated at this, “I don’t want to be insulting at all, that is my greatest fear about my presence here. But honestly, yes it was a culture shock. I still am feeling a bit awkward about everything honestly. All of the costumes that everyone is wearing would not be something that would be deemed appropriate in Chaco. It’s not that I disapprove, but I am unused to it and I don’t want to come across as a pig so I have been just trying to look elsewhere."

The young women looked sympathetic towards him.

"Yes, I felt the same way when I had to first wear a bathing suit when my family visited the Imperium. I felt like everyone must be looking at me," said Olympia.

"I...oh wait, what's going on?" said Camilla with a frown. "What are those people doing?"

"Those are Ironians. Oh my gosh, they're in battle dress," exclaimed Lavinia. "Have they no sense of comme il lfaut?"

---

Leslie Rowan

Leslie laughed as well. “That’s so funny, my mother in law is a devout person, grace at every meal, prayer before bed, works bake sales and charity, scripture study for George and all his siblings growing up. Just the same, after donating all that time and effort to the church and the community, she and the other older church ladies aren’t shy about letting the pastor know when he’s gotten lost in the reeds. First they’ll look at their watches, then they’ll fold their arms and stop smiling.” She mimicked them with a grumpy expression.

The men she was talking to did laugh in response.

"How hilarious!" cried Geta. "Oh dear me, so old ladies run your churches? Ha ha, really? You're not joking?"

"And how effeminate your pastors must be," Unwerth chuckled. "it is hard to imagine a preacher in New Edom being cowed by a bunch of silly old women. But you, Mrs. Rowan, are a good example perhaps as to why Adiran women are so loved."

Leslie’s smile faded and her eyes widened at Unwerth’s initial comment. She looked relieved by Lalery’s words but skeptical as Geta spoke and as Unwerth blurted out another gruff remark. When she had a chance, she weighed in, generally unaware of the can of worms she was opening. “Well it seems like no one would’ve let him speak if they’d known he was going to say that, right? Is it really crazy to think he just did it out of compassion and hoped the Queen would listen? Besides, in my experience, when it comes to some topics, people will never say it’s time to discuss them. They’ll just keep saying ‘maybe someday, but not today’ forever.”

“It’s all kind of moot now anyway, Her Majesty already said ‘no,’ and that’s that, right?”

"It is not that Her Majesty has said no," said Lalery, studying her. "It is against the law. What is possible is to discuss how breaches of the law are dealt with. Homosexuality is unnatural and a corruption of the natural relations between men and women. Why would we have a public conversation about accepting degeneracy?"

The First Lady’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Well that’s odd…I thought we aren’t giving Her Majesty presents?” Leslie commented to the group innocently. “I even had something picked out. The Ambassador told me to leave it, that it’s not your custom.”

The ministers swung their heads around and frowned and stared.

"God give me patience," sighed Lalery.

---

Shalum

“My apologies, ma’am.” He stammered out, expression a trifle sheepish as his hand lingered for a moment. Grip slackening, he dropped his hand as he looked down at her. “I wasn’t looking where I was going. Are you alright?” As he looked down at her, waiting for a response, his offending hand moved across his flat stomach and chest to smooth where his uniform had been ruffled.

Adam had bumped into a brunette woman in her late thirties, attractive, with her hair piled up in a loose crown, her golden mask raised up above a long oval face, light olive features tightening in surprise, and gasping as her martini went against her crimson gown, plastering it to her breasts and leaving nothing to the imagination, as though she had suddenly been painted. "Oh you...! Why don't you watch where you're going?"

Before she could really lay into him though, she was shocked at the arrival of a group of VIPs who presented themselves to Mara...

---

Ironenians

At first it seemed like a group of foreign soldiers, in a foreign looking battle dress pattern, had marched in, and unbeknownst to them the Royal Protection Service and Council Police were alert, but the Foreign Ministry and other ministries were aware and alert. The Queen had been alerted as to this arrival, but no one had cleared what was about to happen.

The Queen was striking. Nearby, crimson gowned women with golden masks attended her along with servants wearing only paint that made them resemble floral patterned vases. The Queen herself wore only her sandals and a necklace of beaten gold coins and her ring. Her lush raven hair was piled on her head and flowed to her upper bare back. Her olive skin, oiled and glistening, was dusted with gold. Large imaginative eyes and a soft mouth gave her a gentle, sympathetic appearance.

"Greetings Queen Mara of New Edom, pleased to make your acquaintance, I am Emperor Sturm IV of the Empire of Ironenia. May I say you look very nice on this occasion" Sturm said while kissing the Queens' hand. "This is my son Prince Hans," Prince Hans bowed his head "My Daughter Princess Alessia" Alessia slightly bent her knee and smiled.

Hand kissing and holding caused a few people to gasp. Queen Mara said, "Emperor Sturm, I have heard of you by reputation. I am honoured to meet you as well as Prince Hans and Princess Alessia. You are all welcome here."

"I Understand it is your birthday so I have bought a gift that only a fellow monarch will lay hands on." The Emperor brought out a long Black felt box with golden swirls on it. He lifted the lid to reveal a gleaming dagger made of what seemed to be the shiniest steel ever to exist. It had a Gold skull in the middle of the hilt and a Gold snake slithering up the handle to the hilt where it enclosed its jaws around the back of the skull.
Queen Mara's smile twitched as the dagger was revealed. "I...see." There was a palpable hush that descended around them. Prince Enoch Tubal-Cain stared at them.

"This, is the Emperors dagger. Traditionally in Ironenia the Emperor will give these to a potential ally to symbolise their Union. It can be used to kill, to open letters or to just be put on display. This particular one is significant as it is the one that was used to carve out my eye and the one I stabbed into my Uncle the Usurper's throat after he took my eye." The Emperor explained softly as he admired the blade reaching the box out toward the queen.

Queen Mara blinked. King Elijah stood up and began to walk in that direction.

"My...my husband...King Elijah IV...my co-Monarch..." said Queen Mara, who was barely able to conceal her horror.

King Elijah murmured quietly, so that none but those immediately nearby could hear, "Emperor Sturm: your advisers have failed you. There were to be no gifts presented. It is not our custom. And you have demonstrated that you know nothing of my wife...."

"I realize this was done out of generosity," said Queen Mara, trying to recover from her pallor and shock. "Er...thank you. Let us have peace at this gathering. Please eat and drink."

King Elijah said rather coldly, "On behalf of my wife." he nodded curtly and a young handsome man in a white dress uniform bowed and took the dagger and case. "Please speak to Prince Enoch Tubal-Cain, our Royal Master of Offices if you have any concerns about etiquette." Prince Enoch, indicated, was a tall raven haired man wearing a feathered mantle and a sword belt nearby, a headress of black and white feathers. As he came forward and bowed, the mantle briefly revealed a well sculpted body and that he was definitely, aggressively male.

[Republica De Gran Chaco]

New Edom

“I am well Ms. Bailey, thank you.” Alvarado, “The Carnival is a free affair, not as form…”

Alvarado paused when he saw a group of men in fatigues walk up to Queen Mara. Their militant look contrasted greatly with the uncovered tanned skin of the Queen. It seemed aggressive and out of place. They shared some words and the foreigner pulled out a dagger.

“Dios mío, ¿qué están haciendo?” He muttered, “¿van a matarla?”

---

"Oh now I'm curious..." said Lavinia.

"Lavvy, he can hardly sing dirty boy songs here," chided Camilla, who looked interested nevertheless.

Jaime chuckled, “Maybe I can translate some at another time, I have to try and be respectful for the time being.”

"Yes it is televised. We even got someone to help televise it and edit it and everything," said Camilla excitedly. "There's this team of foreigners who work for the Ministry of Culture who do it."

"Who does that? And it's on the internet right?" asked Olympia.

"Oh it's a bunch of filthy heathen Noviterans and Adirans," said Camilla casually without any suggestion of malice, as though these were just descriptors.

"Anyway it will be scheduled on an international sports channel, I think," added Lavinia.

“Oh good, I will definitely follow the tournament then. I’ll root for my favorite tennis star as well.” He told the women.

The young women looked sympathetic towards him.

"Yes, I felt the same way when I had to first wear a bathing suit when my family visited the Imperium. I felt like everyone must be looking at me," said Olympia.

"I...oh wait, what's going on?" said Camilla with a frown. "What are those people doing?"

"Those are Ironians. Oh my gosh, they're in battle dress," exclaimed Lavinia. "Have they no sense of comme il lfaut?"

Jaime was hanging on to their stories and happy that they were being understanding about his awkward feelings in regards to their dress. It was nice to know that he had not caused any offence with what he said. He was waiting for Camilla to share her story when she stopped and asked what was going on. Jaime turned around to see what was happening and his jaw dropped, “¿Que es esto?”

[Hittanryan]

The Majestic Hotel

The men she was talking to did laugh in response.

"How hilarious!" cried Geta. "Oh dear me, so old ladies run your churches? Ha ha, really? You're not joking?"

"And how effeminate your pastors must be," Unwerth chuckled. "it is hard to imagine a preacher in New Edom being cowed by a bunch of silly old women. But you, Mrs. Rowan, are a good example perhaps as to why Adiran women are so loved."

“Of course the old ladies don’t run the church, silly," she said to Geta, still smiling. "They think they do. That’s what’s funny. I mean could you imagine?”

"It is not that Her Majesty has said no," said Lalery, studying her. "It is against the law. What is possible is to discuss how breaches of the law are dealt with. Homosexuality is unnatural and a corruption of the natural relations between men and women. Why would we have a public conversation about accepting degeneracy?"

“I didn’t mean to start an argument, Excellency,” she said, looking a bit nervous all of a sudden. “Maybe I didn’t know what you or Father Joshua meant by discussion.”

The somewhat awkward discussion halted after the Ironian faux pas. When Leslie noticed the dagger she gasped and put a hand to her mouth. “Oh my god he’s got a knife!”

Cruise had just come in from a smoke break when he saw the scene unfolding. Doing a double take upon seeing battle dress in the room, his head turned to follow the Ironians on approach. When he saw the dagger he blurted out “What the f…” and quickly scanned the crowd for the First Lady and Bailey. The Secretary was far enough away, but Leslie was close enough to the camouflaged foreigners to potentially get caught up in things. Cruise accordingly started filtering his way through the crowd towards her. For a man of his girth, this wasn’t always smooth, especially when he started to fumble with a cell phone at the same time.

By the time he had taken a few steps, though, the situation seemed to be defused. Although the Edomites seemed none too pleased with their guests, the King and Prince Enoch were taking the Ironians aside.

Meanwhile over at the bar, Bailey was listening to Alvarado when he stopped mid-sentence. She saw why: there was a group of people in battle dress walking through the room. “What in the world…?”

Her eyes widened as the Emperor drew the dagger. She seemed to tense up, putting one hand on her seat as though she was getting ready to stand up and another cupping her ear. After a moment, she relaxed and settled back into her chair. She replied to Alvarado “I think…I think I can make out…he’s presenting it as a gift. Why, I don’t know. Probably gave the poor girl a heart attack. Why is he wearing that?” She shook her head in disapproval.

The King and his staff seemed to get the situation in hand and Bailey breathed a sigh of relief. “Well, I wouldn’t want a birthday to be dull, but perhaps that was a little too much excitement. I’m not used to state functions where someone draws a weapon after approaching a head of state.”

After the hubbub had died down, Bailey said to Alvarado “By the way, Excellency, earlier you mentioned our nations being neighbors. People I trust in the Foreign Service have been saying the same thing, especially on trade. Forgive me if this is out of the blue, but would you be interested in some embassy level talks?"

[Republica De Gran Chaco]

New Edom

Alvarado watched the event unfold with disbelief. When King Elijah had come over Alvarado observed intently wondering what would happen. The whole incident calmed after a moment and he turned back to his own table shaking his head.

“By the way, Excellency, earlier you mentioned our nations being neighbors. People I trust in the Foreign Service have been saying the same thing, especially on trade. Forgive me if this is out of the blue, but would you be interested in some embassy level talks?"

Alvarado was shaken from his thoughts on what just happened, “Hmm? Oh, trade talks. Yes, miss we would be interested in such talks. I think it would be a wonderful opening, and perhaps who knows, maybe they could be the lead to a bilateral summit to hammer out some kind of agreement.”

---

Jaime looked back at the women puzzled he had no idea why men would be in battle dress to begin with and then why they would walk up and bear a weapon to the queen. He was unable to hear what was being said, but the stern looking king seemed to have some terse words with the gentlemen who approached his wife. He asked the three that were with him, “Who are those people? What just happened? Good grief, I can’t imagine why anyone would walk up to a queen and take out a knife! That…that’s not normal for these functions, right? That man just screwed up big didn’t he?”

[New Edom]

The Palace of the Lawgiver
Padan, New Edom

Awkwardness followed the strange gift of the knife. However it was covered by more music, and the announcement that people would begin to make their way to what was called the Palace of the Lawgiver, and which the Edomites, among themselves, called The Old Palace. Jaime was warned, before the ladies in waiting took their leave, "There will be a feast tonight, but it will be a bit violent. But it is all a ceremony, and no one will be harmed. No person anyway,' said Olympia with a smile.

"It was nice meeting you, perhaps we shall see one another at the feast," offered Camilla.

At the highest points of the city—on hillsides, in sports stadiums and parks that had hills upon them, pens and chutes for moving livestock had been set up, and trucks were unloading sheep and goats by the hundreds. They could be heard bleating and baaing when people passed by these areas. Crowds were gathering in anticipation. The two bells made the air shiver as they tolled. Princess Ava and Princess Jocasta stood at opposite sides of the Palace, their ladies tolling the great bronze bells held up by the naked painted men. As the sun began to set they each lead their processions back into the palace.

In the evening, convoys of cars brought the VIPs to the ancient palace, and Guardsmen presented arms and dignitaries guided them to the feasting hall. There was a warmth in the hall unlike before, and no smell of cooking food except for a scent of bread and smells of herbs like rosemary, basil and parsley. As they arrived, announced by golden masked heralds, they were shown to plainer tables.

The women of the Royal Court were seated this time, their golden masks gleaming in the light of the hall, bodies revealingly draped in white cloth this time, an air of excitement among them. And this time the men of the court were all standing around; they bowed and greeted the arriving guests courteously. They were all armed with blades and an armourer was sharpening them.

The men wore simple tunics of ochre tonight but wore Griffon feathered regalia around circles of gold.

As the last guest came in, Queen Mara, who wore a mask now but had refused tow ear any robes so that her athletic, strong supple young body was bare, sat upon a high seat, her arms draped over its arms. A glittering necklace of golden beaten coins was about her neck, and her fingers were gleaming with rings.

"The Queen has taken the High Seat, and the joy of the land is gifted to us by the Lord!" cried Prince Enoch Tubal-Cain. "We have wine, the fruit of the land, but we have no meat! Who will provide for the Queen?"

"I have accepted Elijah, Prince of Shalmaneser, as my husband and as our King! He will fight for us and provide for us,and in every respect be the first man of the House of Obed!" Queen Mara exclaimed in a loud and ringing voice. "He will bring the meat to the table!"

At this point naked sweating men, powerfully muscled and lean with athletic sinews, bore in a great stone nearly as long as a man’s body and thicker. It radiated a powerful heat around it, and the air seemed to sizzle like a desert mirage around it. It had thick stone loops in it that had thick staves through them, and these smoldered as they moved it with care to the middle of the room. Now and then a pair of youths on either side would ladle water onto the staves so that the air around it then filled wit steam and it hissed like a serpent. It was hot enough that those near it broke into a sweat immediately.

The women of the court shifted in agitation, breathing hard, their bosoms rising and falling against thin cloth. The clergy in the room rose and Most Holy Elder Brother Malachi held a huge silver dish with Bishop Zecharias, and they walked forward to the end of the banquet room and waited quietly. Other clergy began to chant a prayer of thanksgiving.

And there was a great heavy bellow of a huge animal from outside the hall, and a clattering of hooves like the beating of a kettle drum, and several more men of the Court with naked bodies and painted faces brought, straining on ropes, a huge water buffalo bull into the room. It lunged this way and that, black sides rising and falling like a forge’s bellows. Huge nostrils flared wet and large enough to put a hand into. Eyes rolled and huge horns tossed.

The King stood up and held up an ancient long sword, which was like a long thin triangle, ivory handled, and the men of the court gave a deep voiced shout, “Glory to the King!” while the women began to sing the King’s triumphal march in ancient Baran.

See! The Conquering hero comes!
Sound the trumpets, beat the drums!

The bull gave a bellow that shook the hall and lunged against the ropes towards the table, and the ropes pulled taut. The king walked slowly towards the beast and put out a hand, leaning his sword against his shoulder, his face calm as a still sea. Then h bent his head within reach of a horn and spoke quietly into a giant hairy ear, murmuring, his free hand touching the thick neck. Slowly the bull began to stop struggling, and stood quiet, eyes still rolling, nostrils blowing and puffing, panting slowing .The smell of cattle had filled the room.

The king patted the neck, stroking it, murmuring, and straightened up, then suddenly thrust his sword down into the neck. The bull gave a huge groan as blood gouted like a fountain, spraying men, and it sank to its knees with a crash.

What followed was a wild butchery, yet it had order. There were certain organs taken from the bull and given to the priests, who bowed and took them away and vanished from the hall and did not return that night.

Prince Enoch Tubal-Cain, Count Thomas Lalery, Prince Silas, and other courtiers, Guardsmen and officials of state had moved forward, and some of them took part in the butchery with sharp blades. Some of the innards were quickly rolled out onto a soon bloody canvas and marched out smartly. Some of the men brought up a dish of salt and spices, the spices obviously fresh chopped, the salt coarse and fresh ground.

Pieces of meat were sliced off the beast,and dropped onto the great stone, and long tongs turned the pieces. They were touched briefly to the spices. Smoke filled the air, scented with fresh meat and bitter and savory herbs, and the smoke wreathed the men cutting from the still warm carcass, their bodies slicked with blood. The court women hurried to pass warm flatbread around the table and wine was poured into cups, and the rare meat, succulent, beautifully juicy and yet a bit wild tasting, crisply seared and filling the mouth with the fierce taste was handed right onto the bread for each guest, with Prince Enoch and Count Merodach serving the tables quickly. First, however, a choicest cut was brought by the King to the Queen, and he stood quietly by until she had tasted, and with a nod, pronounced it good.

“Eat, eat!” the guests were urged. “This is the Feast of for the Queen!”

But the King and his men would not eat until every guest had their meat. He, Lalery and the others sliced and cut. It could be seen that the King, Prince Silas and count Sharra all knew what they were doing.

When the women received their meat Queen Rebecca and Princess Jocasta tore off their asks and their faces were wild, eyes gleaming, and they each tore a fragment of bread to eat with their meat, rolling them together so that the juices soaked the meat and flavoured it.

Each head of state was given meat first, followed by heads of state and then others.

And the blood flowed over the floor, and the eyes of the cutters stung and ran with the sting of the smoke. Their blades slashed and flashed. And outside there had been a sound of the last cries of the lesser animals slaughtered by the leaders of the families and neighborhoods of the Royal City, and smoke and incense was wreathed over the city of Padan.

Behold the beauty of the Queen! sang the women of the court, and people around the city.

The Queen i s fair in the eyes of the King
Worthy to be brought great gifts
As she is good and fruitful
So the land is good and fruitful
The glory of the Queen is in her virtue!
Let all give praise to the glory of the Queen!

And the whole time the huge lifeless eyed head sat on the floor staring at nothing, and the bones came more and more into view, and blood steamed on the floor.

[Republica De Gran Chaco]

New Edom
Jaime was warned, before the ladies in waiting took their leave, "There will be a feast tonight, but it will be a bit violent. But it is all a ceremony, and no one will be harmed. No person anyway,' said Olympia with a smile.

Jaime nodded at the warning with a slight smile, “Thank you Countess I will keep that in mind, whatever may happen.

"It was nice meeting you, perhaps we shall see one another at the feast," offered Camilla.

Jaime asked her quickly before she left, “Countess, when you are off duty would you be willing to show me around a bit perhaps? I could not think of a better guide.”

Camilla accepted causing Jaime to grin from ear to ear. She informed him that as she was unmarried they would need a chaperone to which Jaime quickly agreed, “I look forward to that Countess.”

After she left Jaime turned to find Brigadier Julian Tomas. He was whistling merrily and felt full of pride. He found the Brigadier coming out of the hotel and snapped to attention saluting crisply. Tomas returned the salute and commented, “You seem chipper this evening. Have a good time major?”

“Yes sir, as a matter of fact I did. I met a pretty young lady who is willing to show me around a bit when she is off duty.” Jaime answered as they walked together to meet up with the rest of the delegation.

The older man smiled, “How lovely Major, I was wondering when you would ever leave the office. What sort of duty does she have?”

“She is a lady in waiting.” Jaime answered.

Brigadier Tomas slowed his pace and stopped he turned and faced Jaime, “A lady in waiting to whom, Major?”

Jaime could feel the conversation get a bit tense, “To Princess Jocasta sir.”

Tomas frowned a bit, “Who is this young lady?”

“Countess Camilla Sharra sir.” Jaime replied.

“The daughter of the Minister of the Interior?” Tomas asked.

“Yes sir, I even met the minister, a real gentleman he is. We talked a bit about hobbies.” Jaime answered not sure if he did something wrong.

At that reply the brigadier burst out laughing, “Good God son! You talked about hobbies? My goodness what a day! How did you manage to have such a conversation with a man above the station of half of the delegation sent by the government?”

“Well, sir I met the girls in the bar and …”

“Girls?” Tomas cut him off, “Who else have you been rubbing shoulders with?”

Jaime began to smile, “Well there was a Countess Olympia Hesperinus and a Mrs. Lavina Nabal sir. But I suppose if I mention everyone then I also met a Prince Lucas and Emperor Nation of Ghant both friendly, though I think they were taking some… uh … medicinal treatments to deal with the party. Emperor Nathan seemed to be unhappy about it, a gentleman who apparently was married to his mother was being rather snotty with him. Frankly sir he was acting like a real ass to the Emperor.”

The Brigadier was dumbfounded, he did not know what to say and stood there staring with his mouth agape. Finally, he managed to get out some words, “Count Thomas Lalery.”

“What’s that sir?” Jaime asked not quite hearing him.

“The gentleman married to the emperor’s mother Major.” Tomas spoke up, “That’s Count Thomas Lalery, the president of the council.”

The Brigadier thought for a moment then spoke softly, “Jaime, I am not going to stop you, just remember to mind yourself. You are an officer in the Chacano Marines. You represent the nation. You have been put in some strange situations today. I know I should stop you, but my gut says that you will bear yourself in an appropriate manner. Just remember that you are the face of Chaco. Do not act the fool.”

Tomas turned and began walking to find the foreign minister and the others in the delegation to head to the feast. Jaime followed pondering the words but feeling good about them overall, he had just received permission to see that girl again.

---

The Chacanos were seated and watched the ceremony with the buffalo intently. Jaime was enthralled with the pageantry of it. He had seen similar things on a smaller scale with some of the tribes in the jungle, but nothing could match this. When the sword was thrust, he heard a soft murmur from Brigadier Tomas next to him, “Magnificent!”

Jaime looked down the line curious as to how the other delegates were responding to the butchery that then took place. Ambassador Muñoca sat and watched the whole ordeal stone-faced not betraying a hint of emotion. She was a solid professional. Victor Alvarez Assistant Minister for Foreign Trade, had a hand over his mouth. He must have spent his life in the city, Jaime mused to himself. The Foreign minister to Jaime’s surprise was nodding slightly and seemed to be enjoying the ceremony. Jaime was impressed, “I guess I figured him for a limp wristed diplomat, but who knows?”

When Jaime was brought his food, he thanked the servant and began eating. He enjoyed it, it reminded him in a way of having a barbeque with his family in the evening. He relaxed and looked around at everything, watched the pageantry. It was strange, but in a way, he was familiar with the idea of such things, there were remnants of it in Chaco from the indigenous culture that bled into society. Jaime liked it. The only strange thing was that it was a king and a queen leading it, the king and queen that ruled over millions of people rather than a small village.