Chapter Two: Assignment

The room Seth led him to was an informal office, generally used for family meetings. Surprisingly, his father was already there, dressed in loose casual clothes. His mother, Astha, had gone to look over her estates, so she was absent. William had thought, after their tense discussion at breakfast, that his father had gone with her.

Abel turned as they entered. How he'd heard them, when Seth walked quieter than a tiger and the doors never creaked, William had no idea. Abel's eyes flickered to him, lighting up with warmth. "William. I thought you'd gone with Astha for today."

"No. I just wanted some time alone. I was in the garden. I thought you went with her."

Abel laughed. "No. She's overseeing her cats today. And Athena keeps trying to bite me."

William grinned. Athena, his mother's oldest cat, had always had a bit of an irrational aggression towards his father. He'd heard stories about his father sneaking onto the property and getting caught by the tiger, but he'd never been sure if they were true or not.

Abel relaxed a little. "Besides, I am leaving next week, and your aunt said she wanted to discuss something with me..."

"I did." Seth stepped around William and Abel, then hopped up on the front edge of the desk and motioned for William and Abel to take the chairs in front of her. "I've been putting quite a lot of thought into what we discussed last week, about you having an assistant along on your visit."

"I thought we'd already established that it won't be possible. Not with Astha visiting the Franc and Hispania kingdoms, and Ion in Albion. Besides...I'm sure I can handle the situation."

"I don't doubt you can. But your friend sounded worried. And he was right you know. We never did get all the members of Fleur du Mal, or the Order. Not even with the help of the Vatican. And these groups have long memories."

"Even so...you can't really intend to send Mirka or Baibars with me, can you?"

"Nope." Seth grinned. "I've thought of a much better candidate." The grin twitched into a smirk. "I've decided to assign William as your junior envoy for this trip."

"What?" William heard himself echo his father's dumbfounded response.

Seth gave him a bright grin. "You mentioned before that you were getting bored. So I thought I'd send you with Abel. It's a good chance for you to travel, and it's an excellent chance for you two to talk, don't you think?"

"I...uh, well, I suppose...but...there will be a lot of rather boring meetings, and..."

William cut his father off, excitement replacing shock. "I want to go. I've never left the Empire except for visiting Carthage. I want to travel before I Awaken and the UV restrictions come into play. And this might be my only chance."

"Well, I rather doubt that...but you know, there will be a lot of politics. And rather a lot of talking. And arguing."

"Can't be any worse than Court. And I like that, sometimes." He actually did. He loved debating, and had inherited his aunt and father's sense of political situations. He just hadn't had much experience.

"I suppose...though..." Abel glanced back at his sister. "He is a little young, isn't he?"

"He's older than I was when I started working. For that matter, he's older than you were too." Abel flushed, looking embarrassed. Seth hopped off the desk and stepped up to her brother, placing a calming hand on his arm. "I know you're worried about the situation in Amsterdam, Abel, but it shouldn't be too much trouble." Her voice lowered. "You know you can't protect him forever. And you really shouldn't keep trying. It only makes things harder in the end, does it not?"

Somehow, William didn't think she was talking about whatever political situation had emerged in Amsterdam.

Abel sighed and slumped against his chair. "I suppose. It's just..."

"I know. That's why I think William should go with you. It'll probably be easier for you, this way. Let others do the talking, and then answer his questions honestly. It's not that hard, Abel."

William would have given a years allowance to know what they were talking about, but Abel shook off whatever mood had captured him and turned to him. "So, I guess we'll be working together then." He stood, smiling. "I look forward to working with you." He bowed.

William managed to extract himself from his chair and return the bow without feeling too awkward. "You as well." He'd seen his father do this often enough to know it wasn't necessary, but an odd form of ceremonial quirk that his father had developed. It was apparently an old enough habit that everyone expected it. And it was heartening to see the gesture, to know that his father was taking the whole thing seriously.

"Right." Abel reached over to pick up some files from the desk. "How much do you know about this trip?" He smiled as he dragged over a table and retook his seat. "I take it from your expression just a moment ago that you didn't know about this assignment?"

"No. I wasn't told." William gave his aunt a mock glare, which she returned with a cheeky grin. "I know it's in the Outer, and you've mentioned visiting the Vatican and Amsterdam."

"True. We'll actually be making three one-week stops on this trip. The first will be at the Vatican. We'll be talking over some minor trade issues, as well as making our annual good faith visit. The second week we'll be in Amsterdam. We'll be solidifying relations with the new Count Four in the area, and their human counterparts. There's also been some political unrest that may be related to a terrorist group that we've been working to apprehend. They're part of an organization that caused a great deal of trouble 20 years ago, and every now and then they try to reorganize."

William frowned. "But shouldn't that be work for an Enforcer? Or one of the Imperial Guards? Why would an Ambassador handle it?"

"It was a request of the human governor of the city. He's an old friend of mine. Hugue de Watteau. But also because I was part of the group responsible for dismantling the organization 20 years ago. I'm rather more familiar with it than most."

"Really?" It was hard to picture his father in a combat situation. Abel was the most adamant pacifist he'd ever met. He could be stern, almost frighteningly so at times, but one of the things that made him an effective ambassador was that his threats never involved violence, or war.

Abel grimaced. "Yes. But...perhaps we might discuss that during our trip?"

William noticed that Seth made a face behind his father's shoulder. Still, it seemed reasonable enough. "That's fine."

Abel relaxed a little. "All right. Our last stop will be in Albion. We'll be picking up the Earl of Memphis, and also visiting the Albion Underground City."

William perked up. "The Albion Underground? Where Lady Vanessa of Manchester is from?" He'd met the lady of Manchester several times. She ran trade and supplies between Albion and the Empire, and when she wasn't, she stayed in the Albion Immigration Center, close to the Star Palace. She was sharp-tempered and sharp tongued, but she'd taught him fighting when Ion was away, and he'd come to like her. She was a good friend, and she told fantastic stories. She also had a good singing voice, though she used it mainly to amuse children who were housed in the Center.

Abel smiled. "Yes. Her brother, Lord Walsh, asked me to visit and give my opinions on some renovations they're doing. I'm sure he'd be willing to give us a tour, if you'd like."

"I'd love it." William grinned. "Is it true that they have pre-Armageddon stuff down there?"

"It is, actually. A lot of it has rusted, and some of it was taken apart for safety reasons, but there should still be some. I can ask Lord Walsh if he has access to the older areas."

"That would be amazing. We don't have anything like that in the Empire."

Abel laughed. "No. I suppose we don't. Although...there are a lot of old structures in the Vatican. I think some of the oldest buildings are pre-Armageddon. Lady Caterina or the Professor would know for certain."

"Really? Will we be meeting them on this trip?" He'd met his namesake a few times, as well as the Cardinal Caterina Sforza, who'd been a bishop when he was born, despite being the sister to the Pope. The Professor was often scatterbrained but he was quite talkative, and his inventions were always entertaining.

"We should be. After all Lady Caterina and the Professor are the Imperial liaisons for the Vatican." Abel considered, then flipped through his notes, then looked at Seth. "We'll need to get some of his clothing formally embossed to represent his position." He turned back to William. "You should pick, oh...five outfits I think. Three of Court formal, two of Court casual, and we'll get them to the seamstress have have them altered to appropriately indicate your status as a Junior Ambassador."

"Three of each would be better." Seth spoke up. "You're forgetting how well these people know you, Abel. And it isn't like William is just another envoy. After all, he is a member of the Royal Family, and your Heir Designate."

Abel blinked. "I suppose. Three of each then, and enough other clothes and essentials for a three week trip. You'll also want some reading and writing materials. And a few other essentials. I've a list around here…ah." Abel stopped as Seth dangled a piece of paper in front of him. "Yes. That." He took the paper and handed it to William.

"Will I need to bring money?" He had an allowance, mostly used for his infrequent trips across the river, and for birthday gifts.

"No. We'll have a fairly generous stipend, and it should cover our expenses, including spending money." Abel smiled. "I usually do spend some on little gifts for your mother, or Seth." He paused. "That reminds me...do we have a scheduled stop in Carthage this time? Astha's been asking about some spices she wanted."

"You'll have a day there on the way back." Seth nodded. "I've arranged it with the captain. And I'd like it if you could bring me back some of that green silk you found last time. It's quite nice."

"I'll see if they have it." Abel smiled. "Anything else?"

"I shouldn't think so. Give my regards to the Lieutenant, if you have time."

A look of sadness flickered across Abel's expression. "I'll make time. I hear the way has been cleared since our last visit, so it might be easier. I'd been meaning to make a visit and see."

William frowned. "The Lieutenant?"

"A friend. Well, actually, a friend and an enemy, all at the same time. She was a guard of Lilith Sahl's, during the Dark Age. She saved her life during the battle of Carthage and ended the city siege of the city, but doing so killed her." Abel's voice was soft. "Her tomb was buried and inaccessible for years, but a way in was found, just under twenty-five years ago. After that, excavations were planned to make it more accessible, since it's an old monument for the city. She is, after all, it's patron saint. It took a long time to make all the proper arrangements, but I've heard that they're done, or nearly so."

"Oh." William considered that.

A friend of Lilith Sahl's. Probably a friend of Abel's as well. Another of the dead his father mourned. He filed the thought away. "I'd like to visit with you, if I could."

"Of course." Abel nodded. Then he shook away his melancholy. "We'll also be visiting the market. They have the most interesting hand-made things. Though..." He laughed. "I would warn you to watch out for the camels. They aren't particularly friendly."

William remembered his first visit to Carthage, when he'd been a child. Abel had pointed out the camels to him. Large, noisy, hairy beasts with a peculiar hump. He recalled they'd smelled odd, and Abel had stayed well away from them. "I'll be careful."

Abel nodded. "You'll also want to pack a weapon. Pick the two you're most comfortable with. We shouldn't need them, but with the situation in Amsterdam, it's best to be cautious. Besides...envoys are sometimes targets, even in the best of times."

"I will." He'd pack the short sword that Ion had taught him to use, and the gun his father and Vanessa had showed him how to fire. He was a decent enough marksman, though he was far from expert. He preferred close range weapons, but his father had always insisted he learn one distance weapon.

His father carried an old revolver, he knew, and was quite a good shot, though he'd never seen Abel fire at anything other than a practice target. His father had also taught him some hand-to-hand combat. He'd wondered how such a noted pacifist had learned to fight so well, but Abel had never answered his questions about that, aside from saying he'd learned the skill when he was younger.

"Here. You'll need these." Seth appeared at William's elbow, startling him out of his thoughts. She had a set of files in hand. "They'll help you recognize people so you don't get too confused. And this one..." She tapped the top folder. "...has some points of protocol you'll need to know. Abel's terribly informal, and most of them are used to his little eccentricities, but it's best if you're prepared."

"Yes. Speaking of that..." William turned to his father. "There are some people in the Outer who know my family name. However most, if not all of them, will refer to me by my Imperial name, and it's best you do the same. Particularly in the Vatican."

"Constantine, or August Constantine?" Seth was always referred to as Augusta Veradica, but his aunt and father didn't always do things the same way.

"Oh, Constantine will be fine. I try to avoid too much formality, so sometimes Lord Constantine, but as my son you don't have to call me that. You're perfectly welcome to call me Constantine, or Father, or whatever makes you most comfortable."

He usually called his father 'Father' or 'My Lord' or 'Sir' when he attended Court. He made a note to himself. "Yes sir."

Abel shot him a look. "Do you have any other questions?"

William looked down at the files Seth had given him. "I don't think so, but I might later. You said we would be able to talk on the journey?"

"Of course." Abel stared at him for a moment, then stood up and set his papers to one side. He came forward and crouched by William's chair. "I...I know I'm not very good about answering questions at times, but...well, if you need anything, someone can find me. So if you have questions before we leave, you don't have to wait."

"All right." William nodded, startled by his father's sudden change in mood. He looked back at the stacks of files, and the list on the bottom of it. "I think though, I probably need to start getting ready. It looks like there's a lot to prepare for."

"And you're leaving in a week. So you'd better get moving." Seth grinned at him.

William dragged himself out of his chair. "Yes Aunt Seth." He paused. "I mean...Yes, Your Majesty." He bowed, a little awkward with the pile of papers in his hands.

"Well, go on with you then." Seth grinned and shooed him to the door. William took that as the dismissal it was and left before either one of them could stop him. Once the door was closed, he found himself breaking into a jog as he headed for his rooms. His heart was pounding with excitement, and with nerves.

He was going on assignment. With his father. To the Outer countries.

He was finally going to see the world. And maybe, just maybe, he'd finally get some answers to his questions.

Author's Note: And off they go...father and son.

Next up...William learns a little about his father's past.