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Chapter Seventeen: Tribal double Wedding
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Derbyshire, Pemberley Manor
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August 1820
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- Are we sure about that, mom? They already tried to kill us at least six times…
- Three of those attempts had been organized by the Chinese, said Maureen who was keeping an eye at the surroundings.
They were doing the last fittings in a tent in the parc that was near the lake. Here the temperature was a lot more sufferable than indoor.
At least for normal people and especially for the three seamstresses Mazynkhan had sent to help the Pemberley seamstresses to create his future wives' dresses.
Living normally in small valleys where even in August the temperature never went over twenty had made their sojourn in Pemberley a lot more difficult than they had thought.
Even if the numerous possibilities to bathe in the lake did compensate for most of the hardship.
- And your father says the new Son of Heaven is no longer out to get us killed. He prepares something but it should be in order to force your father to help…
- Forcing father to do something? Those Chinese are crazy.
- Well, said Jane with a smile in her voice, it could be that, deep down, your father wants to help. If the Chinese don't use foolish personal methods, he could let himself be forced. He's still very persuaded that the Chinese culture is one of the Cultural highlights of Mankind. Those monks did, after all, awake the man he is and kill the terrorized boy he once was. I think he feels in debt.
- Mazyn doesn't share that impression at all. He, and in that field the Uzbeks and the Kyrgyz and every other Mountaineer I have met, shared his opinion and believe the Chinese to be arrgant dogs you need to avoid like the plague. They look at their Northern neighbors as if the peasants were cattle and their rulers arrogant idiots.
- Your father, even if at that time he wasn't aware of it, has always been a part of the Upper Class be it in France or in China. He's, when all is said and told, the perfect example of an arrogant self-righteous aristocrat who would never have given a damn about the people without Jane forcing him to look in the right direction. In China he was part of a Gong's staff -that's a Duke- and a Bo's – that's an Earl- personal assassin. He had rights and privileges no non-aristocratic Chinese would have even dreamt of. In his own very selfish way, he never really fathomed that, even if he was treated as a long-nosed stranger, he still was treated as a precious asset. A Chinese peasant is no one's asset. So, he's still very impressed by what he has seen and lived there. And his heart wouldn't like it at all to see China reduced to become a minor player.
Jane smiled at Maureen who was always a lot more severe with their husband when it came to his incomprehensible quirks.
- I'm quite sure that, if the new Son of Heaven is prudent and takes the time to study Geoff he will soon discover that with Geoffrey China has a loyal and trustworthy ally within the western aristocracy. And once he's understood that everything's possible.
- They will use him, hissed Maureen who had deep down in her guts a real hatred for everything aristocratic.
The fact that her sisteer was married to the most capped noble of Europe had always been, for Jane, an occasion to smile at both their destiny. And the fact that Maureen's daughter, the granddaughter of an illiterate Irish peasant, would, one day in the future, become an Empress whose territory would cover half the world, did nothing to smother Jane's good humor.
- Of course, they will, love. And they would be fools not to do it. He's an asset and rulers have the duty to use all their assets. I'm just curious to see if they will be subtle or boorish when they launch their offensive.
She winked at Maureen.
- Subtle would be better, of course, since it would spare his susceptibilities. But boorish would probably have the same results. Deep down Geoff wants to help them to overcome their current bad phase and I'm quite sure that he will be as blind as necessary to be able to help them, nevertheless.
She looked at Ayalla who was standing on the other pedestal being fitted with an ensemble that would be very different of that of Betty.
Ayalla, to her everlasting surprise, would be Mazyn's second wife and since they would marry their husband at the very same moment the official numeration would be as moot as possible. And the fact that Betty had proposed it had clearly transformed what was already a real friendship in a real sisterhood.
Maureen and Jane shared a long look.
I will always have problems to see the red-hair as the one who's in need of protection, said she with a loving smile on her face.
She's no fighter, that one. She will be the mother of the pack. You'll have to teach her how to raise the new type of kids we've brought in the world. She has everything that's needed but still we need to warn her.
The kids will be a great help. I spoke with them and they are ready to teach her how to treat them…
That looks like a disaster in the making…
No, it looks like an excellent way to show her what could happen if she's not prepared. After a few minutes of conversation, I'm quite sure she will be convinced that a thorough preparation is a must.
And the kids approve?
They are smart, remember. I think that they have fathomed what it means to be a family. They will always be cocksure and at the brink of arrogance, but they do love us. I know that they will do their absolute best not to hurt the people they love. We have a batch of future Lionels with us that's for sure. It's, from time to time, scaring, but if we are able to teach them tolerance and acceptation, we will have done our very best. We seem t have done it with Lionel, didn't we?
And the fact that there are twelve of them is a huge advantage, said Maureen. Charlotte's skill with others is astounding. And she's been able to convey her feelings to her siblings. It's her accomplishment that they have, finally, caught the differences between them, us, the Upgraded and the normal.
The fact that Charlotte is so protective of the "normals" surrounding her is rather refreshing…
One could consider that she's patronizing.
She could be but what's important is that she has understood that being better does not give you any right to herd over those who have been less well provided for. I like how gentle she is with every living being she encounters. She reminds me a lot of her Godmother.
Charlotte was collecting spiders?
Of course not, silly. But you'll have to admit that young Charlotte's spiders are the most civilized ones I've ever seen.
The servants hate them, smiled Maureen. It hurts their sense of cleanliness to let them do their things in the Nursery.
It did resolve the mosquito infestation problem rather efficiently.
A good extermination spell from the circle has the same results with the little side effect that the spiders, the lice, the flees, the bed bugs are gone too!
There are no lice, flees and bedbugs in Pemberley! And the last extermination spell has dismayed young Charlotte.
And the spiders dismay the servants. Somebody will be dismayed in the Household.
You prefer dismayed servants or dismayed kids?
Maureen didn't hesitate for a second.
Poor servants…
Indeed.
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- I love those outfits, said Lexi while making a very fast twirl. A lot better to fight than a dress.
- You are France's new fashion icon. You organize a few apparitions in those outfits, and they will be this fall's hot fashion.
Lexi sighed heavily and shook her head while looking at her image in the mirror.
- No, that's not possible. It could be the young ones' preferred fashion, but it won't do for the mature and elderly.
She smiled at her grandmother who was busy giving orders to the group of nurses who would be on the journey.
She would be there too but the bossy streak her metamorphosis had brought to light was very difficult to smother, especially when she was dealing with her own staff.
- I don't see why you couldn't do both, said Alexandre who was lounging in an armchair while sipping at his favorite Scottish whiskey. He loved the brand and now that he could, literally, drink casks of them without ever being intoxicated he felt no restriction to do as he liked.
It did get him some motherly frowns from Maureen and Josephine but he took the whole thing with philosophy. Being Upgraded had a few advantages and this special one was his own little sinful pleasure.
- When you are not on duty for the Consulate, you could wear the clothes you want. And the young ones would follow you with alacrity in your more progressive fashion. If, while on duty, you wear more formal dresses it could be easily accepted by the more traditionalistic people of the Consulate.
- Let's not get too ambitious, monsieur mon mari. I'll begin by introducing the pantaloons with an over-skirt first. The skirt will be cut once or twice, at the wearer's wish, and more or less straight. It should give everybody the chance to get the feeling of freedom the pantaloons offer while offering to those who want to be covered like usual the chance to do it.
- So, you won't wear the same outfits as Betty and Ayalla?
- Only for you and while in our private apartment. Outside and during the wedding I'll go with the silk pantaloon with overskirt variant Mazyn's seamstresses are about to create for me. It will give me the freedom of movements to dance for you while hiding what the future Empress should never show to strangers…
- I agree with the strangers' part but what about dancing for me?
- It's an old Kazak tradition, the soon-to-be-wife dances for her husband. Betty has sent me the choreography and I'm quite sure that you will love it while the whole French protocol will howl in dismay for the next month.
She jumped up and walked towards the tent's exit.
- And Ayalla just called me to our third training run… You'll love it, I promise.
Alexandre, knowing Betty and Ayalla wasn't so sure that he would love it, but he had seen Lexi's sparkling eyes. And in no known way would he stop his wife when her eyes were sparkling in such a tantalizing way.
May the Devil swallow protocol.
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Balkach Lake, Balkash City, Khan's domain
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20th August 1820
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The wedding would last for ten days and it would be a gigantic event for the new Kazakhstan Nation. All the foreign guests wouldn't stay for the whole duration, but all would be there the first day and most would stay until the third day when the groom would, literally, carry his wives away to never be seen by the guests for at least a week more.
The Pemberley delegation had arrived in the Shamballah, Charles newest Airship, which was not only the largest ever built but also the one who no longer needed to have balloons filled with a lighter than air gas to float.
A pair of GGs placed at the machine's two gravity centers did a better job than thousand cubic yards of concentrated gas.
It still looked like a normal airship but where usually were filled balloons he had placed guns and gyrocopters and a platoon of security guards which were hidden behind what was the best armor available. Not even the best Russian Rockets had a chance to scratch that paint.
They could have been at the Balkash Lake in less than a day, but all wanted to have the time to see the Himalaya for as long as possible. And since the weather was fantastic, they decided to take their time and hours over hours of footage.
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- Another new airship, Charles? Do you ever stop creating new ones?
Charles turned around and smiled at Napoleon.
Since Alexandre's marriage, the First Consul had taken it upon himself to be more familiar and to use the first names of his new family members.
- Why would I stop doing what I love? Would you?
Charles was very aware that being familiar with napoleon was a two-edged sword. And he had learned to use the facility of the English language to never become too familiar.
"You" was so much easier to use than the French "tu"… And never ever would he call the First Consul Napoleon. Even his brother avoided calling him that. The only one he had ever heard it using it was Josephine and never when she was speaking with her husband.
- No, you are right, I wouldn't! What are this model's features?
- Well it looks like an airship, flies like an airship, and reacts -most of the time- like an airship but it isn't an airship. This is when all is said and told my first orbiter…
- Orbiter?
- As in being able to reach orbit and staying there…
He took his pen and knocked on the windshield.
- This is no normal windscreen, this is armored transparent Glass. It could stop a modern bullet but what is even better if is stable enough to resist to a pressure difference between inside and outside. A huge difference in pressure. And the rest of the hull is built to resist to the same thing. With this airship we have a cheap and safe means of leaving Earth and enter space.
- Why made it to look like an airship?
- To get all those ugly foreign spies to see what they wanted. Bingley's new Airship? How boring… Let's spy on something more interesting.
Napoleon shot a dark glance at d'Arcy who was embracing his first wife from behind while she was, as usual, looking at the beauties of the Earth. This time the Middle Sea's Northern coast with its numerous beautiful islands.
- Of course, d'Arcy, you knew?
- Not the specifics. In this very instance I was as lazy as all the others. It was Charles' latest flying-toy under construction. Why spy on it? I knew he wouldn't resist to the temptation to show it off as soon as it would be finished.
He snickered.
- And since that's exactly what he is doing, it confirms my first desire to stay put.
- But it still took a whole day to climb to the bridge to ask questions, said Jane. Which confirms that this special airship looks exactly like all the others he has built these last ten years. Comfortable, safe and extraordinarily well made.
- And it doesn't really amaze me. Charles had been speaking about escape velocity for so long, I'm really surprised that it hadn't happened before.
- We needed the right materials to create really airtight airlocks. Since last year we have them. Babbage and Davy did some brainstorming together and they found the perfect stuff. It will also give us the solution to a lot of major engine engineering problems we've encountered for years now.
What Charles didn't mention was that Babbage and Davy had spent all those brainstorming hours in a cave with the most scaring entity living currently on Earth.
Since the thing and Babbage had met, the staff has had problems to pull Babbage out of the cave. He had tried to have a cot installed but everybody had been adamant to refuse it!
Charles forced his thoughts to come back to his current, easy, endeavor.
- And since I won't be aboard for the first orbital flight, I wanted to use it for what looks like its only normal flight. Just to show off in my very personal way before Mazymkhan's tribesmen.
- Hence the fancy decoration of the hull?
- It's no decoration, it looks like it is but in fact it's how the multilayered armor reacts to light rays. We chose to use different colors to have a clear comprehension of the layers' order. When the sun plays with them those layers resemble waves moving from prow to stern. It's only an unwanted by-product but I love it. She's even more beautiful with it…
Napoleon moved to stand just at Charles side.
- And, of course, you don't sell it yet…
- The second model is about to be launched. It could be yours should you have enough cash to pay for it…
- Was it so expensive?
Charles couldn't help but sigh.
- You have no idea how expensive! I could have built five of my last prototypes with the money I had to invest in that marvel. But she was worth every penny. She's a marvel and on the journey back I'll show you the speed she's able to reach…
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In the end it took them five days to arrive…
And it was just the day before the beginning of the festival.
The valley was already full to bursting and the tribesmen were more than enthusiastic to see the huge flying cigar arrive.
As was the local tradition they began to shoot into the sky.
Charles' frown was immediately back when he heard the first impacts.
After around half an hour he began to relax. His baby was, indeed, as safe as he hoped.
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Mazymkhan's tribesmen gathered around the Shamballah in a huge unruly and joyous mob and began to singsong a name…
- What do they shout?
- Geffraan, answered d'Arcy while sighing. It's me they want.
- You are the man who conducted the Persian Campaign, said Napoleon. They know what they owe you.
- It's Mazymkhan they owe. He could have decided to push them into the meat grinder.
- They know it perfectly well, father, said Betty. But he they can see whenever they want. You, it will be the first time for most of them.
She was wearing the traditional Kazak dress a fiancée coming to her betrothed had to wear and d'Arcy was in his exotic Geffraan attire -but the beard- and they both looked at the slowly approaching crowd.
- Let's go to the ramp, papa, said Betty while placing herself between her mother and her father. They are awaiting us.
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Balkach Lake, Balkash City, Khan's domain
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22nd August 1820
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- It was fun, admitted Alexandre. A lot more fun than the Paris wedding. But I was shocked by the dance…
- Lascivious wasn't it? I had proof the following night that it did titillate you in just the right places. It was unseemly…
- There were no news cameras allowed in the tent, so nobody but family will ever see your performance.
There had be two discreet cameras in the tent. Both under the supervision of Yasmina who had blossomed into the family's main archivist. She would probably, as was her habit, ask David to immortalize one or more scenes of the whole film, before archiving the thing.
The made pictures would end in the London Museum and in thousands of art books.
If they were really amazing the printers would propose to publish them as Posters. A lot of those already existed and 'Bathing Nymphs in Spalatro Sunset' was probably the best sold poster in the short history of color printing.
- I do really hope our children will never see them, said Alexandre. It would crush their belief in their parents' common sense.
- Since there is no such thing as parent's common sense, there is no chance to witness anything of the sort. But when all is said and told. I agree! That film must be put somewhere safe. I'll tell Yasmina to be twice as prudent.
- Do that, said Alexandre while smiling at her. But let her know that I'd like a copy of David's painting. Or the original if it's possible. After all there will be family all over that painting. I'm quite sure that just seeing it will have some parts of me begin to titillate.
- You just have to ask me to dance it for you, love… While not in public I could even perform it in an original Kazak outfit. Now that would be sure to titillate you in all the right places.
- Mother was right, red-hairs are minxes…
- And, judging by last night, you are becoming quite the experienced lover, husband dear. What would I have to do to get you in the right mood to go on training?
He opened his arms.
- I have no idea but once I have you in my arms, I'm quite sure that I will be able to remind you of some of the things we've tried out these last days. Some of them were quite titillating, if I remember well…
She was immediately in her husband's arms.
- Give me some more details, please…
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- You have impressed them…
- It was my purpose, Raush my friend, answered d'Arcy while smiling at the Leader of the Kurds. A few of them have seen me as the leader of Armies standing in the background while the true warriors were fighting. I needed them to understand that below my veneer of civilization a true dangerous warrior lurks.
A voice came from behind.
- But you've entered and won every event! Was it necessary?
D'Arcy turned around and bowed at Rudhaki, son of Parwiz the Tadjik chief who, smartly had survived with most of his men the Ottoman Persian campaign.
- I would have won every event twenty years ago when I was but normal. Today it was even easier. They all know now that I'm one of the Upgraded. I couldn't do less. I want them to understand what it means to be a member of the elite.
- You are goading us?
- I am… We have for months now increased the numbers of those who were invited into the small club Allah has permitted. We've selected Mazymkhan and not only because he has been smart enough to seduce my daughter but because he is one of the best and as such, he has his place at our side. And we believe it is now time to offer it to outsiders who've shown that they are good leaders…
- Good leaders or good obedient leaders, asked Rudhaki.
- Good leaders… We don't want obedience; we want excellence and stability. I prefer having a man like you at the Tadjiks head for a long time than a constant change of leaders that will cause many conflicts and deaths.
He looked Rudhaki in the eyes.
- We will never like each other because we are either too different or too similar, but I have seen your success during the Persian Campaign.
- I still have lost…
- You could indeed have been smarter and chose Mazymkhan's way, but to help him making the best decision he had had the chance to recognize me, and he has speculated on my success. You had no reason to suspect that I would trounce the son of the Shah like the foolish anxious little boy he still was. And once you had been beaten there was no longer a possibility to change sides.
- I still could have but I felt that it would have been a mistake.
- And you have been right. I prefer a brave defeated enemy than a traitorous scum who jumps towards victory.
- So, you would envision my Upgrade?
- Of course, I would. You are not my friend, but you are a good leader who's looking after his people. What else can a man ask from another who's not family?
- We could still become friends…
- We could but we both know that your people wouldn't like it. And I prefer a respected enemy who has the support of his people than a friend who's hated by his own. We old tigers we need to go separate ways if we want to avoid fighting for foolish reasons.
- So, you are still looking for old wise bulls…
- As my son in law has shown, I'm also looking for young ambitious bulls who have a good taste in female partners. When you don't find those, old bulls are always the better choice…
- What is an old bull which is no longer old and will probably never be frail?
- His people's future?
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- I don't give a damn, said Jane. In fact it is none of our business. If you are happy with the way your culture treats you, don't count on me to try to change anything. But should you feel exploited or oppressed, and express it, then we'll be there to help. Discreetly if you prefer or in bright day light if you think it will be more efficient.
Jane, Maureen and Yasmina had been invited to join the Great tent where the Kazak women tended to migrate to find a place to rest outside of the main wedding events.
Now was the time of the men's showdowns and women were no longer nor needed nor welcome.
And of course, the conversations has soon turned around the place of women within each other's society.
To Jane and her sisters' surprise most of Mazymkhan's women did understand English and his mother even spoke it rather fluently.
- Myz has insisted that we learn the language of Great Britain. He said that the world would need some common language and if enough people began to speak it the best known would win. And if he must choose between French, English, Russian or Chinese he'll sponsor his wife's mother language every day…
- Not the worst of ideas, said Jane. And it could even have the needed side effect. I'll see with my sister who's in charge of the schools if learning English should become mandatory even where we, until now, tried to show respect for the local customs and languages. But Myzamkhan's vision is worth being considered, indeed.
Gulzezim, Mazymkhan's mother was a short woman with long dark hair and a natural charisma which had immediately designated her as the tent's natural leader.
- We don't want to change everything, said Gulzezim answering Jane's proposal. We don't feel exploited or oppressed and even if our men seem to own the whole show, in the background we get what we want. But when we consider what you have achieved, we must consider that it is perhaps time to introduce some discreet changes. We do know that we, the Clan's women, we will never be chosen to be a Clan Leader but there are other ways to serve the tribe and we would like to reach those positions.
Jane looked at Yasmina who was in charge of the Ottoman part of their plans. And even if her father was always happy to have her at his side he had repeatedly refused to listen to her requests.
She sighed.
- Muslim men and Asian Muslim men are, in my opinion, worse, don't take our endeavor with any lightness or understanding. They like their women weak and meek and they will, most of the time, do what is necessary to maintain them in that exact condition. But men and women have, and even the men have no problems to admit that, different domains of excellence.
Yasmina looked at the gathered little troop and used all the tricks she had acquired at Oxford to get her students' interest to get their attention.
- Men are better warriors and workers, and their physical strength gives them lots of advantages when it comes to carry things and dig out ores… Women have greater facilities to make friends and to enter relationships. Making friends and enter relationships are the foundation of two of the most important professions we are currently sponsoring all over the world. We need teachers and doctors aplenty and most men do not have a desire to become either of them.
She pointed at the outside where the men were shouting and singing…
- In Asia it is even a quasi-cultural taboo to have men choosing occupations that take them out of the fighter pool. A man who's not old and wise or perhaps crippled won't even try to teach anything else but weapon techniques or tactics. They know how to teach but they would lose face teaching matters that don't have a direct link with war and or sports.
Once more she looked at the gathered women and pointed at the little group of female shamans who had shown that they had medical and herbal lore at their disposal.
- The same is true, outside of the society of Shamans, for medical knowledge. Men don't feel any attraction to jobs that imply to care for feeble or injured people. It's not the way they see themselves, it's not how they win prestige with their friends and competitors. So, they let it become the women's domain.
Here she did smile at the gathered crowd.
- And since they have, all by themselves, evacuated those two fields we will have no problems to enter the void and take over. They don't want to do a task? No problem! We'll do it and thanks to our inherent female empathy, we'll do it better than they would ever have done it.
She took a breath.
- As you see, we are not at all in a struggle to take anything from the men. We look at what they don't want to do, and we take over discreetly and without making a fuss. Where we can intervene is by providing the first teachers. Female teachers of course since we wouldn't want to disrupt the already existing balance in your societies.
- What if they won't let us become teachers or healers…
Yasmina shrugged while looking at Jane.
- There is no such thing as "they", my friend. Each man is different and there is no doubt that there will be some who will be difficult.
Once more she shrugged.
- But you must realize that there will be women who will be difficult. Believe me, I know, I've spent my youth in the company of the most difficult women you can imagine.
She shook her head.
- What's important is that most men will follow the Khan of Khans' decisions. And, under Betty's tutelage he will accept to see women acquire those skills. He wants Kazakhstan to be a modern country with factories and airships? If yes, he will need people who read and write and who are able to be hired by the Company. And where will he find those people if he refuses to see his own clans being taught the needed skills?
Here Jane signaled her will to conclude.
I'm taking over there, dear, thank you…
- We are no revolutionaries; we don't want to topple men's domination within our societies. But we want them to realize that we are not sub-humans, nor are we cattle. We have everything in us to climb the social scale until we are at our men's side. Let's use the ways they do not use and reach the heights we can without ever looking threatening to them. One day we will be at their side and they won't even remember that a few decades earlier we weren't there.
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Kipandu Lake
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23rd August 1820
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As per her mother's instructions, and thanks to Fluffy and Speedy's help, the three of them soon had arrived at Kipandu Lake where the Waterfall and the Pond had been prepared by the Sprites to be the perfect Honeymoon spot while an airship had deposed a tent, a CGG to heat it and enough food to last at least a week.
Mazymkhan, being a Mountaineer of the most traditional ilk, would have drowned had Betty not insisted that he learned to swim while in Pemberley. And thanks to Rob Roy and a few water breathing spells he had overcome his apprehension -not fear, never fear- of water and had learned the basic movements very quickly.
Now that he was at the Lake's shore, he was a lot less secure than in Pemberley.
They were, after all at high altitude in the mountains and snow was still visible on the northern side of the slope.
We won't let you drown, said Betty. Just trust us and let the Lake carry you. The rest I'm quite sure you still know how to accomplish.
He took a long breath and jumped.
His wives were at his side in less than a second.
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Let's do it again…
They were floating at the surface of the Lake and the bubbles of the waterfall were massaging them from head to toes.
They weren't unmoving but at no moment during the night had they approached the dangerous edge of the Lake.
As promised the Lake had carried, heated and sustained them for the whole duration of their little physical stunt. None of them had the least idea how long they had swum -among other things- but the night was gone, and the sun rays were building a hundred rainbows over them.
It was a scene out of Paradise and hadn't they still be horny they would have basked in its unreal beauty.
Girls, I'm only one man and even if I am the finest specimen of manly prowess you must acknowledge that there are limits even for such as me! You've already drained me half a hundred times…
Half a hundred times? In my count, it was a lot nearer to ten or eleven, said betty. And for the both of us.
She winked at Ayalla.
He owes us…
Ayalla nodded.
He owes us plenty.
He did protest but not for long.
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- On whose side, are you?
The answering smile d'Arcy shot at was full of mirth and pleasure.
Karim Shukrul, the leader of the Uzbeks had glided in his direction to finally stop at his side.
He had been, like so many other Mountaineer Chiefs, captured during the first battle of the war and had spent the rest of said war helping to rebuilt Kurdistan.
He hadn't liked his camp years, but he had, like all the others, been treated with respect and consideration. The only deaths the Uzbeks had had to deplore had happened during the first battle where the Persians had sent their allies into a kill zone without even a second of hesitation.
Karim Shukrul didn't like d'Arcy but he had learned to respect the man and the war chief.
And his demonstrations in the sporting rings had shown that the warrior was in no way the feeblest of d'Arcy's numerous facets.
- That's a question a lot of people have asked me hundreds of time and I always give them the same answer: on my family's side. And since I'm busily increasing said family one could say that I'm more or less on everybody's side.
- But the Chinese…
- Not true, my dear Uzbek enemy. I do respect and admire the Chinese culture. It's just the Son of Heaven's attempts to kill me or my kin that I find bothersome. Would he be reasonable and let us be, I would do the same!
- There's perhaps a change in the making, said Karim Shukrul. You probably knew but the Chinese did offer us quite a hefty sum to get you killed… And with you I mean everybody who's closely or remotely linked with you.
- I did know, indeed…
- What you perhaps do not know is the change of orders we've got just before coming here…
- Change of orders?
- I should say cancellation of orders, said Karim Shukrul. The message said 'stop everything and await further orders'.
D'Arcy took the time to think about the terms of the message.
- Concise and on the point… It could be a result of the current succession crisis in China.
Karim Shukrul didn't hide his surprise. Nobody never ever heard about what was happening in China. The did send orders ands that was it.
- There is a succession crisis in China?
- A few weeks ago, the old Son of Heaven died of an accident, it seems. Some say it was suicide, but all my sources exclude a coup.
- Why is there a succession crisis? He had hundreds of concubines. He must have had thousand sons.
- My sources tell me that their search for the next Emperor hasn't been going smoothly.
- How can it not go smoothly? The next in line takes the job, that's it. What could go wrong?
- That's a very well-guarded secret but since there has been an announcement that the new Emperor has been chosen just before the succession staff announced that the succession was still not resolved.
- That's weird…
- Indeed but it has happened that a heir wasn't ready and chose to resign…
Karim Shukrul shot a suspicious glance at the man standing at his side.
He answered his frown with a smile.
- No, I'm not responsible for what is happening in China. I'm a killer and an assassin and my trade-mark is a severed head on the victim's pillow. The world would have learned about an assassinated Emperor. I'm a very conservative guy when all is said and told.
- And you have no idea what is happening there?
- I didn't say that, answered d'Arcy with a knowing smile. I do have my suspicions and there are rumors.
- Rumors?
- Incredible rumors, you know. About sorcery and Demons and a secret sect who by following the Son of Heaven's orders tried and failed to enslave the Demon they summoned. It seems that there could be a Demon roaming the Middle Kingdom and visiting the heirs of the man who tried to enslave him.
D'Arcy's smile became very unfriendly.
- Demonology is an extremely dangerous hobby you should never envision to follow. And Demons are most of the time extraordinarily untrustworthy critters even when controlled. They do hate being summoned to be enslaved and tend to be vindictive even if the enslavement did succeed.
- When will it end?
- I suppose that it will end when the last of the blood of the current dynasty has been erased by the Demon, said d'Arcy. The only alternative is a son who's either able to deal with the Demon or who's been able to cut a deal with it.
- It?
- Demons have no gender, answered d'Arcy without even thinking.
A few seconds later d'Arcy couldn't help but smirk.
- And either of those outcomes would be bad news for everybody.
I
-°-oOo-°-
Is there a Demon roaming the Middle Kingdom?
Not currently…
Fluffy's answer was enough to give d'Arcy an idea about what was or had been happening in the Middle Kingdom.
And if I had asked if a Nightcrawler has been roaming the Middle Kingdom these last weeks, what would have been answered?
That there had, perhaps, been an upsurge of Nightcrawler Touristic activities around the Middle Kingdom.
Touristic activities?
Lots of astounding vistas, marvelous old buildings, and serene landscapes in the Middle Kingdom. Add to that four thousand years of archeological marvels and you've got lots of occasions to visit famous places, to speak with interesting people you know? Lots of chances to open your mind to foreign cultures, that sort of things…
Nightly visits?
Nightcrawler have extraordinary night-vision. And during the night the tourists are so much less invading. Nightcrawlers hate crowds, you know… Nothing better than a nightly chat with the locals…
Something peculiar to signal?
Nothing on the touristic level… But it seems that the succession crisis you've heard about has just ended. There has been a successful candidacy a few days earlier. A son of a Manchu concubine seems to be of sterner stuff than those numerous others who've tried out the Emperor's mattress. It had been difficult to find one able to sleep there.
Something special to report about him?
Smart young man, former cavalry colonel. Has begun his military career as a normal lieutenant without any visible family connections. Very unusual in that family. Good health and fine military skills. Solid brain and a lot braver than most of his brethren. Could be a good Emperor if he survives the Eunuchs' discovery of him not being easily cowed.
We could perhaps ask the tourist to look into the matter of helping him survive?
Being a tourist takes a lot of time. Not sure the time necessary to such side activities could be found…
Let's hope it will be possible since we aren't really sure that there is another worthy candidate. Or are we?
There are a lot of youngsters who show interesting promises, but it has been seen, in the past, that a new Emperor's nomination has been followed by a huge increase in child mortality. Brotherly child mortality. Some Chinese bugs are very specialized.
Does it seem to be a risk with the current candidate?
It does not but one never knows, power does strange things to some unstable people.
Let's widen the tourist's activities to nurseries, shall we?
Being a tourist doesn't go easily with orders and rules.
Let's call it a package tour and be done with it?
I'm an independent Nightcrawler. I don't do package tours…
Package tours help to not waste time. Just what the mind-opening touristic activities need right now.
I'm no slave…
Nobody asked you to meddle there. But since you did, let's do it smartly.
It had been done smartly. Never was a smarter Emperor chosen so efficiently.
Thank you for that. Now let's do what must be done to be sure that said smart Emperor isn't sanitized by ambitious eunuchs, shall we?
Do I have your authorization to sanitize the eunuchs?
If necessary! Keep me informed.
I
-°-oOo-°-
I love that smile of yours, love…
He looked up and could see his wives walking out of the tent where they had spent quite a lot of hours these last days.
You finished? The Kazak Branch of women's lib already up and working?
Of course, nothing's able to resist the wives' squad. And with Betty staying here to supervise the whole thing, there's no doubt that it will be a great if discreet success.
What about the smile, insisted Maureen. That's your 'I'm the best, smartest, craftiest critter around' smile. What have you done?
I did nothing but I think Fluffy has just resolved our China problem. Seems we've got ourselves a smart and non-vindictive Son of Heaven sitting on the throne. It should lessen the tension with China.
That's indeed good news, said Jane. And we shall thank Fluffy as soon as we see her…
I'm currently busy sanitizing, said Fluffy who was evesdroping, but you are welcome to thank me. He didn't…
Yes, I did! You just chose to be miffed because I gave you orders.
Free Nightcrawlers shouldn't have to take orders. We show initiative and free thought and because we showed it, everything's for the best.
For now…
For as long as I am with you.
Jane who knew and Geoff and Fluffy quite well decided to pull the conversation on a more consensual topic.
How's Betty?
Currently sleeping in her husband's protective embrace, came the immediate answer. She quite likes her new marital status.
Is there a chance that I'll soon be grandmother?
Not the least, she's taken the herbs. She doesn't want kids anytime soon.
They could all feel Jane's mental frown. How could a daughter of her not want to bear a child?
Maureen's mental embrace was immediately upon her.
She's not ready, love. She spoke with me but was afraid you would be disappointed with her. That's why she didn't spoke with you about her decision. There are also political reasons, but the main reason was herself feeling too young to bear kids.
Ayalla will bear a child though, added Fluffy. The Sprites believe it will be a single child. And it is too early to know the sex. You'll know more next time you see her.
There was a small pause.
I'm back sanitizing. Have a good day. Mine will surely be.
I
-°-oOo-°-
Beijing, Imperial Palace
I
-°-oOo-°-
20th August 1820
I
-°-oOo-°-
The first mummified corpse was found hanging from the ceiling in the Great Audience Room.
They wouldn't' have seen it had not a kowtowing public servant seen the Ring lying at his side.
Of course, he said nothing and crawled towards the seat of the Minister in charge who was currently replacing the First Eunuch nobody has been able to find for the last two hours.
When he had, finally, reached the stool and answered to the questions the Minister wanted to see answered he coughed lightly.
Once.
For a time, there was no reaction and the public servant was about to crawl back to the exit when the Minister spoke up.
- You have something to ask?
- No, Minister, I just wanted to signal that there is the First Eunuch's Ring of Office lying in the middle of the Great Audience Room. I saw it while coming towards you.
Ten seconds later a slave was taking the Ring up and showing it to the Minister.
The Minister frowned, looked around and finally looked up.
A second later the Hell was loose all over the Sacred Compound.
The Public Servant who hasn't been invited to move chose to stay where he was and to stay silent. He would soon know if his choice had been the smart one.
I
-°-oOo-°-
The second and third mummified corpses were soon found hanging from other ceilings in the compound.
In the absence of orders nobody made any effort to get them down and, after around an hour of aimless running around by the surviving eunuchs, Yonglin the soon-to-be Emperor was informed of the awful events that had happened these last hours.
He chose to gather all the surviving Eunuchs in the Winter Garden just after having supervised the un-hanging of the three corpses.
They were at his feet and all the surviving Eunuchs were looking at them with fascination and dread.
More dread than fascination to be frank!
Since they were in the Winter-garden they were kneeling and could look in front of them.
And in front of them there were either the three mummified corpses or the soon-to-be Emperor. Looking at the Emperor was punished by death or blinding so not one of them took the risk and all stared at the corpses.
- Pei-Lo, you are the supervisor of the guards. Do you have any explanation about what has happened to our dear and well-liked Ministers?
Of course, they all recognize the irony in the Emperor's words.
Those last days the tension between the Emperor and his beloved Eunuchs had been pushed towards annoying heights. Heights that, nobody had had a doubt about that, would end with an early demise of the Emperor.
And today the three most powerful Eunuchs were all dead.
And to judge by their distorted faces their death had been excruciatingly painful.
Pei-Lo knew better than to not answer.
He also knew better than to admit knowing nothing, so he tried to stall.
- My best men are currently looking into the deceased last known and witnessed moments.
- Which, in other words, means that you know nothing and that you are about to put the blame on the public servants you've charged with an unsolvable mission.
Since it clearly wasn't a question Pei-Lo chose to remain silent.
The Emperor waited for ten whole seconds before nodding.
- Chu-Wei, were you facing such blatant incompetence what would you propose as a solution?
Chu-Wei was the Eunuch in charge of the Judiciary and the Law. It was, at the end, his job to find the culprits and to punish them.
Pei-Lo and Chu-Wei had been old enemies for so long that outsiders could have thought them being friends.
But nothing was as wrong as that.
In the horrendous world of power there were no friends. Only competitors and in those circles the main rule has always been and would always be: if you have a chance to get rid of one of your competitors, use it!
- Get rid of the incompetent lout, your Majesty.
The Emperor took a few seconds to think about the proposal.
The normal way to get rid of an incompetent in the Chinese court had always been very simple and that was also what chu-Wei had, in fact, proposed.
But Yonglin had thought for an awfully long time about his current problem. He had known that his struggle with the Eunuchs would probably end with his death by 'heart-attack'.
He looked at the three mummified corpses and smiled in a very satisfactory manner.
As if he had been at the origins of the deaths.
It was time to let them know that he was done playing and that he was the Boss around here.
- Pu-Su, have you any idea what happened to my dear and well-liked Ministers?
Once more it was a question Yonglin knew that his Minister couldn't have an answer for. But not answering was risking being labelled an incompetent and, as had just been done, to risk being eliminated.
- Sorcery, was Pu-Su's immediate answer.
First because for him everything was caused by sorcery and because, when in doubt, accuse a witch!
- Who's the witch, Pu-Su?
Once more Yonglin had huge difficulties not to smile openly. He had the old shit-bag exactly where he wanted him.
He could utter a name and as soon as he did it he would be guilty of not having done what was necessary to get rid of the witch or he could confess his ignorance putting himself in the exact same position as Pei-Lo. Doomed whatever he would do…
Of course, Yonglin had no doubt that the little scrawny eunuch would choose to walk into oblivion with a last backstab.
- Dame Oki, your Majesty. She's the head-witch.
And your personal enemy.
- And why haven't you denounced her to Chu-Wei so as to have him take measures to stop her awful activities?
And as Yonglin knew he would; Pu-Su's backstabbing frenzy wasn't finished. When in doubt backstab also your colleague.
- I did but he chose not to take measures. Probably because she was providing him with the poisons he needed.
Humm, thought Yonglin. Double backstab with insinuations! Great! Enough to warrant Chu-Wei a one-way ticket to the executioner and the opening of an investigation.
Clearly Pu-Su was decided to take as many of his colleagues with him as possible.
It was becoming better and better. With a little bit of luck, he would get rid of the whole squad of scorpions before the end of the day.
He made a small appreciative mental bow in direction of the Demon who had visited him those many nights ago and who clearly was behind the current massacre.
You are welcome, said the well-known screeching voice in his head.
He was so surprised that he frowned at the gathered crowd. They all took it for themselves and immediately looked down.
Within two seconds Yonglin was back to his impassive normal self.
It's full day…
As long as Demons are not outside in the bright day light, they risk nothing. And even that isn't a definite rule. To be very frank with you the more powerful we are and the less with risk. So, the elite of the ilk cannot really be hurt by day light. It is not pleasant, more or less like bathing in too hot water, but it isn't dangerous at all.
There was a mirth filled silence.
If you want, I could appear at your side. I could take the body of a snake. It's easy we have the same eyes. A black mamba and you could stroke me with one finger while I would coil myself around your hand. Most people are totally impressed with that…
No, thank you I believe they are impressed enough…
For now… Most of them are, as we speak, thinking about ways to use you to get rid of the others… Just before getting rid of you.
Anyone trustworthy within the pack?
Not one…
He looked at the corpses.
To be clear, you did this?
Indeed, who else?
Good, let's do some sanitizing…
Funny choice of words…
You know a better one?
No, not really.
Yonglin took a long breath.
- I know you want me dead and I know that you are hypocritical snakes who have only their own interest in mind. I want you out of here and I will get what I want.
He pointed at the corpses.
- You have a choice and this choice will only last for the next ten minutes. Either you volunteer to become the Middle Kingdom's Trusted Ambassadors all over the world or you join them… There is no other choice! Do you need a demonstration?
You can do that?
No, but you can...
Am I your servant?
Of course not, but we could look at it as the finishing of a well-done job?
You're trying the tummy rubbing tactic... Fine I'll do it if necessary.
Thanks...
The silence that had answered him went on for a long time.
- Good! I'll take that as an approval to enter the diplomatic corps. I want you out of the Palace immediately. All of you. Don't waste your time with unnecessary detours to your respective offices. Your seconds in command will, for the time being, do your job until I've found better suited and more trustworthy people!
He snapped his fingers at the Captain of the Guards.
He's in Chu-Wei's pocket this one.
- Accompany these trusted Ambassadors to the nearest port, Captain. And since you are already on Chu-Wei's payroll, I appoint you to be his Head Bodyguard. We wouldn't want to snap such a sympathetic relationship.
He clapped his hands two times.
- It shall be done.
For a second it seemed as if the Captain of the Guards would do something foolish.
But then he reached for his heart… His skin got a greenish unhealthy color, his eyes began to bulge and with a last squeak he fell to the ground like a log.
Yonglin looked at Chu-Wei.
- Sorry about that, but it seems that you'll need another bodyguard. You have a preference or will the next of my officers who's on your payroll be acceptable?
I
-°-oOo-°-
An hour and twenty-seven eunuchs more dismissed, the soon-to-be Emperor was looking at his new staff.
These one are cowed and shouldn't try to kill you any time soon.
Thank you, your words are a real reassurance…
Don't sweat it, the next interesting candidate is five and I have a lot of more important things to do than spending the next two decades grooming and protecting another Emperor for the Middle Kingdom.
Will I see you again?
You've never seen me, but I'll be back, I promise.
I
-°-oOo-°-