Princess Rescue Inc (114 page)

“I
hadn't expected it to work actually,” Rojer admitted.

“You
hadn't?” Serena asked as he seated himself. “Then what was all that I did?”

“Call
it laying the groundwork,” he said amused. He had tried to throw every
roadblock into the works he could, to slow the treaty down. His attempt at
calling a recess so the lords could visit their lands had backfired. They had
gone but none had delayed their return. Indeed all had rushed back after only a
few days at home, too eager to see what the gaijin had come up with next and
too much aware that if they were not there to see to the politics they could be
put in a tenacious position. Each wanted his voice heard and wanted the biggest
piece of pie for themselves.

“So
what now?” Serena asked in exasperation, sitting back and propping her feet up
on the dogzard in front of the fire. He snorted softly as she toed her shoes
off.

“Well,
I had hoped her majesty would come to me to get my support. I in turn would
garner concessions out of her. Unfortunately that is not to be. The blasted
gaijin have thrown
that
particular plan into the sewer,” he said in
disgust. “All this talk of investments and such. Apparently a few who invested
early are already reaping rewards and they've started bragging about it to the
others. Now all are eager to get the treaty over with to get their share.”

“Ah,”
Serena said thoughtfully. “How are we to benefit from that?” she asked.

He
smiled. “I've got plans from some and I've decided to buy into a carpet
investment. Also factories in the duchy next year of course.”

“Oh
of course,” she said, envisioning rich rugs and wall hangings in their home.
“That means we can redecorate,” she said with a rich smile.

He
chuckled. “Indeed.”

“Where
is Yorick?” Serena asked, looking over her shoulder.

“Oh,
out and about on business,” the Duke said, smiling. She looked at him, one
eyebrow raised. He shrugged. She cocked her head in inquiry but he refused to
rise to the bait.

“Indeed,”
she finally murmured, resting her hand on her face. “So what now my dear
Dominus?”

“Now,
we plan on what else to do. If this vote goes as I expect, I think we must
shelve most of the plans and work on something else.”

“Long
term?” she asked. He nodded.

“It
just means we wait, build our support and reap the benefits of all their hard
work,” he said. She grinned.

“And
of course you're no longer stalling so you should get some credit for moving
things along,” she said pointedly. He chuckled.

“Something
like that my dear,” he said. She snorted softly.

  <==={}------------>

Zara
smiled a little the next morning over breakfast. Deidra smiled, feeling a
little mussed still, but sated. Zara seemed to be bubbling in delight however,
she tapped at her shoulder. Deidra frowned and touched her own, then looked.
She could just make out a bruise. She turned a glower on her lover.

“What?”
he asked amused. She glared. Zara giggled, pointing to his neck. He sighed,
reaching up to touch his neck. “Let me guess, you marked your property again?”
he asked.

Deidra
couldn't hold the glare. She sighed as he wrapped his arms around her and
kissed her. “You’re impossible you know that?” she demanded.

“So
are you dear. But I wouldn't have you any other way,” he murmured in her ear.
They turned to see Septimus talking excitedly with Nate as they came into the
hall.

“Good
morning gentlemen,” Ryans said smiling. Nate didn't look up; he waved them
away, too engrossed in their discussion.

“I
do hope we, I mean you, can help improve the ships. I'd so like some xocoatl
again,” Zara said wistfully. “It's bitter but when warmed it's quite good on a
cold winter morning.”

“Huh?”
Ryans asked, blinking.

“It's
a brownish drink the Maya, Nasca, and Inca drink,” the Queen answered. “Quite
invigorating too.” She nodded to her daughters as she sat down.

“The
Olmec do as well. Don't forget them,” Deidra said, buttering a slice of bread.

“Um...
yeah they do, or did. Wait, how do you know...?” Ryans said, turning from his
lover to the Queen in his confusion.

Zara
smiled. “Because we trade with them silly. If and when we can get a ship to
their lands,” she grimaced. “That's why I was so hoping the new tech could be
applied to the ships. This year’s shipment didn't make it. We're not sure why.”
She frowned. “Most likely a bad storm,” she shivered. “It's a pity, we like the
Xocoatl during the long cold winter.”

“Ah.
Okay...” He shook his head, bemused. “I'll have to look into that some other
time. Chocolate trade is... interesting,” he smiled. “Do they have latex?” he
asked, suddenly suspicious. Wanda had artificial latex going but it was hard to
make.

“Um?”
the Queen asked, spoon raised.

“Ah,
it's a whitish liquid. It dries into a rubbery substance,” Ryans explained.

“Ah
yes, I think he means the gum,” the captain said, nodding and leaning forward
to see them. “Yes we trade for it with them. It's used in a few things.”

“Okay.
So they must have carried cacao and rubber tree seeds when they came over. I
wonder about coffee. Interesting.”

“Indeed,”
the Queen nodded.

“We're
definitely going to have to broaden trade then,” Ryans said firmly. He nodded
to the captain. “Latex is used in a great many things. Tires for instance. Wire
insulation is another important application.”

“Ah,”
Zara blinked. “Wait...” Her face cleared and she brightened. “So that's what
Max was talking about! I see now! You're right; it'll make it so much easier
than the stuff we're using now! It gets all gummy and sticky when it's warm out
or the wires get too hot!” She rose from her bench.

“Sit
down daughter. Eat your breakfast,” her mother said, touching the bowl. “It can
wait.”

Zara
sighed and sat down with a huff. “It has waited this long I suppose,” she
sighed again, then picked up the spoon. Ryans smiled as she began to eat the
porridge.

The
final treaty signing was attended by all the Dominas and Dominuses of Duluth
and the Imperium. It was a warm Indian summer week, blessed by natives and
Terrans alike. They knew that the warm spell wouldn't last for long though.
Each Dominus was dressed in his finest robes and took his or her turn signing
the treaties and getting their photos taken by the gaijin. The Terrans made
certain they each got a copy of their own as well as a photo of their signing
it to take back home to show their people. More than one lord loved the photos,
admiring them and loving the idea of being able to show their children and
their descendants. Many posed with their wives and families for additional
photos. For a fee of course.

Ryans
of course had another thing in mind when he'd had the photo ops set up. No lord
could deny that they had signed the treaty now.

When
the treaty was finished the main copy was placed under a sheet of glass and
hung on the wall by the tablets. Sydney took additional photos, startling some
with the bright flashes. A few of the newcomers were intrigued by the digital
camera. Other cameras were set up to video record the event from different
angles.

“We're
documenting this for future generations. This way they can see their
forefathers in this historic time,” Ginger explained diplomatically. She shook
her head and waved off an offer to buy the camera by a lord.

“Sorry,
it's not for sale. We're going to eventually make some though, so you'll
eventually be able to have one of your own. And now that we've got paper and
ink in production, you can have a copy of the photos,” she smiled. “Or more than
one if it suits you.”

“Well,
this is also something you should be interested in,” Ryans smiled waving to the
courtyards and balconies. “Folks we've got a small show outside for you.”

The
crowd made way outside or to the balconies and courtyard. Deidra found him in
the crowd, smiling she wrapped her arm around his. When the crowd was sorted
out and comfortable Ryans touched his throat mike. “Show time,” he murmured.
Deidra looked up to him, and then held his hand. He smiled just as speakers
began to play the 1812 overture.

In
the clear night sky fireworks began to blossom. A few of the people were
frightened at first, but awe overcame their fear as they realize it wasn't a
threat. They oohed and ahed as the music crescendoed, then blinked furiously as
the finale turned the night sky as bright as day.

“Quite
a performance,” Deidra murmured. She hugged herself to his side. He chuckled.

He
touched and caressed her hair. “Oh, I think we can top it,” he smiled, looking
down at her as she hid a giggle. “In fact I know
we
can.”

“Well,
it'll be fun to try,” she cooed, then stood on her tip toes to kiss him.

  <==={}------------>

There
was quite a celebration the next day. He looked around smiling. “Harvest
festival or for the constitution?” he asked. They had timed the treaty signing
to the autumn harvest festival carefully.

Deidra
smiled, hooking her arm through his. “A bit of both. Despite the war we've had
the largest harvest the Imperium has ever recorded. I think that's worth
celebrating,” she said and smiled, nodding politely to the crowd.

Jugglers
of all sorts were making their way down the street. “Are we in a parade?” he
asked, noting the giant war beasts dressed gaily in cloth coverings.

“Yes,”
she smiled as she reached a royal carriage. She pushed him into the carriage as
the footman opened the door. He sighed and climbed in.

“This
is mother's newest carriage. I believe one of the engineering students rigged
leaf springs for it. Also the fabric roof. Or so Zara said,” Deidra smiled as
Zara climbed in with them. She smiled and kissed her sister's cheek. “Nice to
see you sister.” Deidra chuckled. Zara was wearing one of her new outfits and
looked good in it. It was a formal dress but with a gaijin cut and style to the
red and purple silk cloth.

“Nice
day,” Ryans smiled. He tried to take the parade in stride. He watched as a
minstrel passed, strumming a guitar shaped like a ukulele. Another was juggling
sticks with one in each hand. He could balance them on the tips before flipping
them up into the air.

“Interesting,”
he murmured politely, nodding to people who were looking and waving. He nodded
as gymnasts performed leaps along the carriage. The driver clucked and flicked
the reins and they were off.

“And
you weren't going to tell me about this because?” he asked, turning to the
girls.

They
shared a knowing conspiratorial look. “Because you would have found all manner
of excuses to stay out of it,” Deidra answered. His eyes flashed. Her smile
turned to a biting smile, inviting him to argue. He grimaced but held his
tongue.

Zara
looked from one to the other for the moment. “Perhaps I chose the wrong
carriage,” she said. He snorted and looked away. “The classes are doing well,
I'm not looking forward to missing out on everything here since I've got to go
to Duluth next year,” she said. She grimaced a little at that. That had been
one of the stipulations of the new government, that a royal member had to tour
Duluth every year. Rojer's hand, Deidra thought with a pang. It was his way of
getting a member of the royal house out, away from the court and into danger.

“You'll
be back before you know it dear,” Deidra patted her sister's knee.

“Yes,
well, it’s still a heathen country,” Zara sniffed. “I don't like missing my
classes either.” Ryans eyed her. She'd really gotten into the classes. From
what Charlie had told her Zara was picking up on what she'd missed as much as
possible. Some of the other students were ahead of her, but not by much.

“Well,
you get to change that dear,” Deidra smiled, reaching up to adjust her tiara.
She had borrowed a gaijin idea from Ginger and added combs to the tiara to help
it stay in place. The combs took some getting used to though. “Just think about
all the things you'll get to do to help them sort themselves out.” She flicked
a glance to Ryans who was waving politely to the crowd. “Your classes will
still be there when you return.”

“Actually,
she's going to be taking some books with her so she can keep up with them.
Well, some of them anyway. Those we've printed books for,” Ryans answered.

“You
mean you've printed books for me?” Zara asked surprised.

“Not
just you actually, Sydney worked with the local archivists association and
they've set up a printing press. Two actually, one for day to day things and
another for books. Now that they have the typeset sorted out and the presses,
their only bottleneck is the paper... which we'll get sorted out eventually,”
he explained. He smiled and waved to the crowd again.

Zara
wrinkled her nose but kept smiling and waving politely to the crowd. “I thought
your printing machines...”