"Prince Turandot…"
Summary: Can the courageous Princess Amy unfreeze the icy heart of the cruel Prince Sheldon Turandot? Well, she's giving it her all…In song as well as deed.
Disclaimer: What's Chuck's is Chuck's…No infringement intended…
Part XXXVII…
Carefully intense stare by Newsreader Tycho…
I'm talking to…You…
"Have you been injured or disrespected in chariot incident or street brawl? Is your business suffering from that lack of gravitas that only a firm presence can bring…?"
Actor on platform beside the newsreader and his scroll-bearing servant boy, decked out as turbaned merchant taking seat at table facing another surrounded by menacing thugs…
"Then perhaps you need the power of an experienced defender…"
The same huge Roman in battle gear from the manumissions office steps on stage…His frowning lovely young wife in crowd…Pullo, this had better be the last job and that bonus had better be worth missing today's boat for Egypt…
Irani…His careful stare back…
Just a last little something extra before we head home…Promise…He took fighting stance, eyeing the opposing merchant at table and stepping beside the menaced one.
The menacing thugs of the other merchant eyeing each other and backing away…The other merchant offering nervous smile, placating wave of hands. The threatened merchant now relaxing…
Trouble clearly averted...Pullo giving shrewd nod to his merchant's glance.
Here's to plain speaking and clear understanding…
"Yes…" the newsreader continued… "You need a strong man in your corner. You need the experienced team of Erastes Fulman, Jr. Yes, whether it's to lend presence to your business meetings…" Pullo takes grimly watchful air. "Defend your interests in the hazards of daily intercourse…" Pullo waves pulled sword to clear path through the imaginary street of troublesome, threatening types… "Or protect your property on that long caravan home…" Pullo waving and thrusting sword viciously at imaginary foes to gasps and applause of crowd… "The duly deputized defenders of Erastes Fulman will fight for you…California may rightly be called the safest land on Earth but when you're out of the reach of the Imperial Guard, you want the best defense possible…You want Erastes Fulman, Jr. and Associates. .Yes, Erastes Fulman, Jr. and Associates, offices in Rome and Constantinople…When only the strongest defender will do…"
The newsreader signaled to Pullo and the actors to clear the platform…
"And now, ladies and gentlemen, our suitors have entered the Third Hall of the Suitors' Approach, the famed 'Heartbreaker' labyrinth…Where, if tradition holds…If candidates are going to start dropping out before the Gong is reached, it will be here. Hold on to your seats and significant others…The real action is about to begin. So stay with us, friends for the latest updates…Here at the 157th Procession to the Gong of Destiny…" Triumphal music blaring…
"That one…?" Minister Hofstadter inquired of her agent, the recovered Alexandria as she watched Pullo descend from the platform…Eager crowdspeople swarming the famed Roman visitor for an autograph, his wife beaming by his side…From her sealed and curtained carriage…
"Ay, ma'am…We asked the Fulman people for their very best. Fortunately ex-legionnary Pullo has been working here for a few months on special assignment."
"Yes…Protecting Roman traders, so the cover story goes. I suspect Gablehauser may have had a role in bringing him in though."
"Well, in any case, he's available and will stand ready to back up our people in the Procession."
"Considerable back-up…And a conveniently well-known professional and foreigner should we need a 'fall guy', as they say on the stage…You did make Fulman and Associates aware of that need as well?"
"Indeed, ma'am."
"Good…Well, you still look a bit pale, dear." Beverly eyed the wan girl. "I'd get home and rest a bit. The others can handle the details of seeing Princess 'Anonymous' reaches the Gong."
"Thankee, ma'am." Alexandria rose and left the carriage, bowing to Beverly.
"Best to see the girl doesn't recover from her tragic incident…" Beverly eyed the remaining servant in the carriage, an attending girl who nodded. "My son's luck may somehow hold and he might recognize her as one of my servants if she were picked up for interrogation later."
Nod…Bow…
….
"Ah-He-Ha…Ahh…" Penny gasped, wide-eyed stare at the ceiling, then taking in the faces hovering about her.
"There we are…" Scholar More, a bit smugly… "One miracle, to go…"
"Welcome back, miss…" Scholar Caspar eyed her. "We were becoming concerned you might not be rejoining us."
"Are you all right, dear?" Rosalind, anxiously…Scholar Elvira giving a surprisingly warm, concerned look as well.
"I was…" Penny blinked…"I'm…"
"One for the medical journals…" Dr. Hardy beamed, high-fiving Dr. Laurel…
"Lilly tortured me…She was going to…"
"Only doing her duty, miss…" Caspar shook his head. "But we can't be certain whom to trust with the knowledge you carry in that lovely head and so we found it necessary to stage a tragic miscarriage of justice."
"I can't tell you…" Penny, nervously…Twisting on what seemed to be…
Yep, a slab…
"You already did…In your comatose state…" Caspar noted. "Scholar More's drug acts as a truth serum as well as mimicking death in the initial states. But we were a bit nervous you might not come out of the coma."
"I told you…Something…?" Penny, anxious look.
"Everything…And you are to be commended for your sense of duty and your compassionate nature, girl." Caspar beamed. "The old Empress was lucky to have such a protector."
The group of scholars, Drs. Hardy and Laurel beaming as well…
"Great…" Penny sighed. "And I blow it all in five minutes' unconscious babble?"
"Unavoidable necessity, my dear…And no one could have resisted that drug. But rest assured, the Empress' and your friends' secrets are safe with us. This is a day of jubilation, to know the grand Empress Meemaw lives as we've hoped. And to know that a redeemer Princess is among the Suitors…" shrewd eyeing…
"I told you about that, too?" sigh…
"The Princess Amy, here to seek the hand of the son of the man who destroyed her family and seized her kingdom. Afraid it's a bit too romantic for my tastes but some of us are quite taken with the tale…"
More, Elvira avoiding Caspar's slightly peeved, scornful look. Rosalind, however, quite forthrightly returning stare…
Caspar, you know darned well you're as big a sucker for romance as any of us…
He shrugged at Rosalind's hard stare…
Well…
"Amy's sincerely in love with Sheldon…" Penny, hurriedly. "She's not plotting to harm him."
"We believe you believe that." Caspar nodded. "And we hope it is true…"
"But…" Penny eyed him… "You do know the Empress believes in Amy…If I told you everything…"
"Which is why we aren't moving to have the Princess removed from the trials…Anyway we could." Scholar Elvira cut in…
"But…Sorry to use the word you dread…We must be sure the Prince is safe and the Empress not deceived in the Princess. She didn't send you to learn the secret of the riddles, though…So you said, under circumstances that would preclude your lying to us." Caspar, thoughtfully…Leaning on slab.
Oh, pardon…At Penny's nervous glance…Forgot where we are…
"However, she could have been deceived…If the Guardians were working with the Princess and encouraged her to come here at her order." Elvira noted firmly. "A conspiracy against the Prince…"
"My guys wouldn't do that…" Penny insisted. "And the Empress is too good a judge of character not to have killed Amy…Or had me kill her…If Amy was trying to fool her."
"Fowlers are noted for their skill in political craft…" Caspar sighed. "We don't say we don't want to believe this charming fairy story of love and romance but we must be realistic. If the Ministers' cabal is to be overthrown, the Dowager and Prince freed from their grasp, Meemaw restored to her rightful place, and Prince Sheldon to ever assume the throne, we must be aware of all threats. And take all necessary action."
All necessary action…The other Scholars…Hardy, Laurel…Even the sympathetic Rosalind…Giving Penny a hard stare…
"Hello…I get that, obviously…" Penny frowned…Indicating the slab she lay on.