Chapter Two
First Words
When the Enterprise crew, led by Captain Archer, stepped out of the pod the troops reformed their lines, the rear moving smartly outward in an arc to form a line behind their chief. As Archer stepped forward, Monec did the same, the two guardsmen closest to him moving smartly forward to flank him. When the two leaders stopped three feet from one another, the soldiers continued forward a step, inward faced and stood so the quartet formed a diamond pattern. They remained erect and silent, but watchful, their swords still at carry. The implication was not lost on Archer. They were a Guard of Honor; but if Archer were to do anything untoward to their chief, he was shish kabob.
x
"Captain Archer, it is with great pleasure that I greet you, and welcome you to Castle Akir on behalf of our most gracious Sovereign. He bids you and your officers to accompany me to the Chamber of Reflection that has been prepared for you, where I am to instruct you on protocol, and then he will greet you in the Hall of Audience."
Archer was pleased that Hoshi had ensured that the UT was up to date on the language based upon the transmissions and negotiations that comprised the official records of the radio contacts. They sounded as though they had a good match. Monec's lips did not match the words they heard, but at least they could be sure of a proper translation. He introduced his officers, trying to match the other's formal manner.
In diplomatic situations, it was difficult to know how to proceed. Too much like the other's lead, too little like yourself; too much like yourself, too little like the other; it was a quagmire that had buried a lot of well intentioned diplomats, and Archer did not care to join them. He noticed, however, the man's carefully restrained surprise when he introduced Tia. Unlike the others from Enterprise, Tia's skin was golden, her long flowing hair much more gold than blonde, even the irises of her eyes were gold, all due to the high quantity of that element in her planet's biology, rather than humanity's red iron.
"I am pleased to meet you all. I am informed that your crew is made up of representatives from several planets."
"Yes. Our Science Officer is from Vulcan, our Chief Medical Officer is from Denobula, and our Exobiologist," he indicated Tia with a wave of his hand, "is from Aura."
"Fascinating. Of all the species that have landed here in the past, yours is the first bearing representatives of more than one world. I look forward to learning more. But until then, would you join me?"
x
As they started out, Hoshi noticed that Tia then staring at everything in wide-eyed fascination, trying to perform the impossible feat of looking in all 360 degrees at once. "What's wrong?" she whispered as quietly as she could.
"First time this a new world on is," The young woman replied breathlessly, eyes gleaming. "So … so …"
Hoshi smiled. "I remember my first time. It was on Mars."
"Elizabeth said this I enjoy would," Tia whispered to her. But then her expression turned puzzled. "Said she I my losing my cherry would forget never."
Hoshi bit her tongue very, very hard.
But Tia still looked puzzled. " I did it understand not, but said she also, when told you I did, I you to ask was if liked you the … oh, what were the words … something about 'trap your boobie'?"
"Booby trap?"
Tia smiled. "It that is."
Hoshi's own smile turned slightly dangerous. "I assure you; Liz and I will talk."
xxx
Monec led Archer toward the castle, the others falling in with them. While there was no particular formality to the group from Enterprise, Reed's practiced eye did not miss the formation of the troops that escorted them. Three in the front, two on the outer sides flanking behind Monec and Archer, two more to either side of and behind Malcolm, Trip and Tia, and three more ranged behind Travis and Hoshi. There was nothing casual about the arrangement, and though their manner was strictly that of an Honor Guard, Malcolm deliberately kept aware of the exact position and angle of the phase pistol secured at his hip and kept his hand away from it. He had no desire to lose either one.
But if it came down to it, he was a most accomplished fast draw, and was certain he could hit eleven moving targets in half that number of seconds. He devoutly hoped he would not be called upon to test that certainty.
As they entered and moved through the castle, they found it was far from what they expected. Far from being laden with antiques, it was about as modern a setting as any could anticipate. The clothing of those that they passed, though alien to them, could not be said to be antique, everything was functional and very much in keeping with a '21st century Earth' culture they had been lead to expect. They even reached the second level not by stairs, but by a large and perfectly serviceable elevator.
Everything was consistent and modern right up until they reached the Chambers of Reflection. Then, the change was startling.
x
As soon as they entered the large room, it was as if they had jumped 500 years into the planet's past. The furniture, what there was of it, was heavy and oaken, looking to be hand carved. Arrases covered the stone walls, depicting ancient events. The lighting was by candles, and three torches were set into the walls.
The Honor Guard remained outside the room, while their Commander entered with the surprised Enterprise contingent and he smiled at their obvious consternation. "Our 'Chambers of Reflection' are almost literally lifted out of the past. They are intended to remind those who enter that our traditions are carried forward almost unbroken from that time. We determine to carry the best of the past into an uncertain future. And the standards set for life then are no less diminished over the centuries."
"Is that why you have modern weapons concealed within your uniforms and carry swords openly?" Malcolm asked. Monec regarded him thoughtfully.
"Your question gives you away, even if I did not know you are the Security Chief. Yes, swords would be of little use against modern weapons, but we use them as a reminder of our traditions and standards. It takes a particular discipline to use them. Of course, we are very good with them," he added with a cautionary note.
"But there has not been a war on this planet in almost 200 years. Even the city that this castle once protected has grown to the point where it looks now more like it protects us. The other kingdoms are little different. The days of feuding serfdoms are long gone, but certain traditions remain, and it is those traditions in which I must now instruct you."
x
"You will soon be expected to present yourselves in the Hall of Audience, which is a vast hall." With his hands he mapped out the dimensions and the positions of things within it. "It is twice as long as wide, and at the far end, upon a raised platform, are the thrones. When you cause an alarm by rapping seven times upon the door, once for each of the cardinal virtues; fortitude, prudence, temperance, justice, liberty, equality and truth, you will be questioned. If your answers are satisfactory, you will be admitted. There shall be arranged before you two parallel lines of my guardsmen, with swords drawn.
"You will stop two paces from the end of the line and the Sovereign himself will come down from the throne and through an Arch of Steel to greet you. He will bring you with him through the arch, and your second ranking officer should wait two seconds to follow, to allow each pair of guardsmen in turn to break the arch and come to 'present swords'."
"I can't say I'm thrilled with the idea of walking down a length of drawn swords."
"Malcolm," Archer reprimanded sharply, but Monec raised his hand.
"Not at all, Captain. I would not think much of your Security Chief if he did allow his Captain or crewmates to do so without objecting." He looked at Reed. "What would you suggest to resolve this?"
"Well, we will have our phase pistols…" He looked questioningly at Monec, who nodded. "There is an old time position for use with small weapons called 'salute arms'." He pulled his pistol from his hip and demonstrated, holding the weapon at his chest, his arm, hand and pistol at a 45 degree angle. "It would be an acknowledgment of the salute by your guardsmen, since you say they will be at 'present swords'."
Monec looked pleased. "I have been to this point with six races. None of them have come up with so simple and elegant a solution, and frankly, it is a relief not to have an hour long debate on the subject. You may indeed keep your sidearms. Just do us the favor of not shooting our Sovereign."
"I'll try to avoid it," Malcolm agreed wryly. He'd decided he liked this Chief of Security; they understood one another.
x
Monec turned his attention back to Archer. "As I noted, the Sovereign will escort you under an Arch of Steel and your officers, after a two second pause, will follow in order of rank." He looked at Trip, and the Commander knew it was as much from Archers introductions and the information T'Pol had downloaded as from interpreting the rank pips on his chest. "You must not step beyond the head of the line without invitation; a few inches back would be preferable."
Again to Archer. "As I mentioned, there are three thrones on the platform. The center one, by far the most ornate is, of course, Sovereign Akir's. The other two are identical to each other. The throne on his Majesty's left is that of an Advisor or Counselor. It is an honorable one, but distinctly subordinate to the Sovereign. To the Sovereign's right is the throne of a visiting Monarch, or an Ambassador representing the same. It marks the occupant as being as close to equal to the Sovereign as is possible to be. Installing a visitor there is saying to the assembled Lords and Rulers that this is a man of rank.
"You will be offered the Sovereign's sword. Take it, but do not draw it. You may make what appropriate remarks you will, I am sure that you find much about it to admire. It is not especially ornate, but it was the sword of the first Sovereign of this realm, over 600 years ago, and has been preserved as a symbol of the Monarch.
"Sovereign Akir himself will place you in one of the two thrones, and I have no idea which he shall choose. Therefore, I cannot advise you any further."
"You have told us quite a bit already. I do have one question, however."
"Yes?"
"You said there were six other races that you dealt with in the past. Did they come for the same thing we seek?"
"Dilithium from our mines? Yes."
"Did they get it?"
"No."