Disclaimer: The only parts of this I thought up were the characters you've never heard of before. I'm not sure if I'll take responsibility for the plot, but pass it off to my evil twin. Otherwise Mercedes Lackey is the one making money off everything else. I'm not.
A/N: Hello again everyone! I'm sorry this chapter was long in coming but it's here now. Writers' block sucks. Anyway, all errors should be fixed but let me know if you catch any. Enjoy!
Ch. 7: Face-off #2
Two weeks later the deal was done. America and Valdemar had come to a preliminary trade agreement that seemed to make everyone happy. It wasn't perfect by any means, but what deal ever is?
On Valdemar's end the treaty sounded like something out of the European exploration age. Valdemar would immediately begin receiving trade items, such as farm equipment (re-fabricated things from the turn of the 20th century like corn planters, blueprints for horse-drawn plows and such); spices; cloth; and some food items, such as oranges and other tropical fruits, and chocolate. Valdemar would also be loaned a few military engineers to work with the palace artificers to engineer a telegraph system to augment the message towers and possibly rig parts of the palace with electric lighting to be powered by a hydraulic system.
America, in return, would get what they wanted in borrowing a few artificers and Heralds to study their work and Gifts. The President had eventually given up his request that the Heralds go to the States all at once and agreed to host two or three at a time. And since the Mage Collegium had more Journeymen-class Mages than any others, three volunteers were the first to go. The artificers (again volunteers) that had been sent over were to teach the American military how to manufacture a few of the things the Americans described as "ingenious", including the cannons used in the war with the Eastern Empire which hadn't required gun powder.
But as usual, I had a rather dower outlook on the whole thing. For me, pessimism had always worked best because then things couldn't get worse, only better. I was stoked America was so far playing nice and everything, but I couldn't get the nagging thoughts of doom to go away. And I wasn't the only one thinking along that line too, as it turned out.
Lord Alastor seemed to share my misgivings. As I'd told General Ekholm, Alastor had never taken a liking to me and remained one of the few people in the country who maintained the notion I was up to no good. So of course he was prejudiced against Americans. And since he had a seat on the council, he had more influence. Thankfully, not enough to prevent the treaty from being signed as he'd apparently hoped. From what Kris had told me, Alastor had been trying to convince Selenay not to sign the treaty in fear of being invaded by American forces. But Selenay ignored him and signed anyway. She had faith all would be well and acted on it.
And so far it was. A week after the treaty was signed by Selenay, the first shipment of items for Valdemar came through the Gate and the first few Heralds, Mages, and Artificers were sent over. And the next morning, I reaffirmed many thoughts I was crazy by freaking out over breakfast. I had just sat down with Kris and Lyra (she was back from Circuit duty for a couple days) when I noticed a familiar smell issuing from a clay jug to my right. My squeal of "Orange Juice!!!!" caused everyone in the common room to pause and look at me. Not one of my most embarrassing moments, but pretty close.
After breakfast Lyra and I decided to go for a walk and get some of the necessary girl gossip out of the way and catch up. The couple of letters we'd exchanged since my return would have weighed five pounds or more if we'd said everything we wanted. So there we were in the gardens, just minding our own business and getting into each others, when we were interrupted by a most unwelcome source.
"And he just picked you up and took you to bed?!" Lyra exclaimed. I'd been telling her all about the week predating my return and had just finished telling her about my reunion with Tashir. "Well, he certainly didn't waste any time, now did he!"
"Nope, and I sure as hell wasn't complaining," I said with a grin.
Lyra stuck out her tongue. "I'm so jealous of you. I wish I had someone here to sweep me off my feet when I come home. I don't suppose you'd share?" she asked slyly with a touch of hope.
"Hell no!" I laughed. "You can find your own Bard to sing you love songs and recite sonnets. You're the Princess, like you really need help finding options. Wait, I retract that. Decent options and someone you can put up with since your standards are higher than mine."
"Well I'm royalty and you're a commoner, so of course mine are higher. It's part of being well breed," she said loftily and smirked.
:Tell Lyra I think she deserves a good push in the mud.: Shayna told me, her voice colored with humor.
"Shayna thinks you're full of shit."
:I didn't say that.:
:You as good as did.:
"Jaxson agrees with her," Lyra laughed, referring to her Companion.
"Ah, ladies, a pleasant morning to you both," a male voice said as the Princess and I rounded one of the hedges. Right in front of us was Lord Alastor. He bowed slightly and smiled to Lyra, but his gaze hardened and the smile faded when he saw me. I glared right back. "Lady Lyra," he started conversationally, "I trust your latest circuit was unhampered by unfortunate events?"
She nodded and went directly into formal mode. "A pleasant morning to you as well, my Lord. Yes, thankfully there was no unforeseen activity up north and crop conditions are good."
"Wonderful to hear. And Herald Jennifer, I trust you are coming along well in your...retraining?" Alastor all but sneered.
Give me half a reason asshole and I'll have no reservations about kicking your ass. "I've been told I'm coming along much quicker than expected. The Queen's Own and Herald Dirk both believe my control is nearly back and Lady Elspeth and Master Darkwind both wager I'll need until Midwinter before they'll turn me loose," I stated simply.
Alastor smirked. "And when you are complete with their tutelage, what then of your duties?"
"That remains to be seen," I shrugged. :Any idea what he's getting at?: I asked Shay.
:I'd say he's looking for an argument will you, but I can't fathom why.: The fact Shay sounded slightly concerned made me feel uneasy.
"Forgive me ladies, but Herald Jennifer, I have a few questions which unfortunately only you can answer. May I monopolize a few minutes of your time?" Alastor asked smoothly, yet I could hear the underlying tone of dislike. I had a bad feeling about this.
"Certainly," I answered. I said goodbye to Lyra with the promise of continuing the conversation later.
:Don't let Alastor bully you, alright?: the Princess Mindspoke to me.
:Since when do I let people here push me around? Do I now have "doormat" tattooed on my forehead or somethin'?: I tried not to smile at the coughing fit I heard behind me.
Alastor and I walked in silence for a few moments before he started the questioning. I figured I'd get another interrogation, so I readied myself for him. "I trust you're finding it pleasant to have a few of your home world's creature comforts arriving. It must make you feel more relaxed and less of an interloper," he said coolly, eyes front.
Interloper? The hell's that supposed to mean? I had to gather my thoughts before I responded. "I admit finding orange juice at breakfast was a pleasant surprise, but I wouldn't say I feel any different about it. To be honest it doesn't make any difference to me. I've done without things from home before so there's no reason why I can't do it again."
"And what of the rest of Valdemar? Do you think this country's true citizens will be as excited to have so many foreign items suddenly appear?" Alastor said.
I shrugged. "It's up to them. People were scared of me at first, not that I could blame them, but they all firmly believe the Companions never Choose wrong and take Shayna's presence as a sign that I'm not a threat. I figure the same with the trade items. The public will be understandably hesitant at first, but will make their own judgments. It's not my place to make a call one way or the other."
"You sound rather certain," Alastor replied condescendingly.
"Hesitation is a natural response. It's instinct," I said with a hint of irritation. "Everything new is subject to it because no one knows if it's going to help or harm. But the first few daring enough to try something will pass their judgment and word will eventually spread. We'll just have to wait and see what the common consensus is."
He stopped suddenly and turned to face me, locking me in his sight. "And what of your home country? Is it friend or foe? General Ekholm claims to only want our Heralds for research to advance your home's medical treatments, but what then? How can we be certain they will not use the very information we give then to come here and invade? How can Valdemar be sure you have not been sent here in attempt to win the country over to your side in preparation of a take-over?"
I stared right back trying to look unfazed by him. I remembered when I was being interrogated by Alastor for the first time he'd tried that same tactic without success. I didn't let him get to me then, and while we were much closer in proximity than before, I still wouldn't let him know I was mildly intimidated.
"Unfortunately, you don't know America won't invade and neither do I, but I can tell you I was not originally sent here by America. I won't go into details since it's personal, but there was no American involvement. And yes, the Queen knows the details, but if she didn't tell the Council then I won't either," I said harshly. "But if the United States of America wanted to invade Valdemar right now, they would have no problem. All it would take would be a few hundred ground troops with some tanks or humvees and Valdemar could be taken with in two weeks. I not even sure if there would be anything I could do to stop it either because I've never put myself in front of a machine gun before.
"Now if the President and American military has other plans than what has already been divulged, I haven't a clue what they could be. Over there I'm a civilian, a nobody, and depending on who you ask they may say I have no right to know any of the government's plans. I have no idea what the future holds for Valdemar and America and I'm just as scared of the possibilities as the next person because I have loyalties on both sides."
"So you do admit to supporting the actions of your home government!" Alastor spat.
"I didn't say that so don't start putting words in my mouth," I told him. "I just said I have loyalties. That means friends and the few family members who I still talk to, plus the little fact that America is where I was born and raised, so of course I'm going to feel loyal. What it doesn't mean is I support what they're doing! I don't like America being here either but there's nothing I can do about it except wait for things to take their course."
The lord sneered again, no longer even attempting to hide the contempt in his words. "And what course might that be? You spent six years here positioning yourself rather well, playing an innocent victim to gain the trust of the Queen and Consort, then becoming a Mage to receiving training from the former heir, all the while slowly seducing Prince Kris and making sure he became so infatuated with you that you could use him for whatever purpose you wished. You may be a common civilian, but from where I stand if America were to call for an alliance marriage you would be the perfect puppet for the American government to marry off and control, to slowly eat away at everything Valdemar has worked so hard to establish."
Shayna vocalized exactly what I was beginning to think. :Great Havens! Jennifer, he's serious! Alastor honestly believes this is what America intends to do!:
:Okay, I knew the smarmy bastard hated me for some reason but I had no idea he'd taken it this far! This is so beyond insanity I don't even know what to call it!: I responded to her.
It was one of the most absurd things I'd ever heard, and that was saying quite a bit considering. I'd been warned by Trine when he came to bring me back, and again by nearly everyone else I'd talked to since, that there were still rumors flying around regarding my true intentions for being in Valdemar. The fact I'd been originally brought over by Melles had never been made public, so it still allowed for people to come up with their own conclusions. It looked like I was looking at the origin of one of the rumors plaguing me from day one.
"If that's what you want to think, then go ahead and think it," I hissed back. "I've tried in vain to get certain facts about me straightened out and I can see now why that is. If my actions over the years haven't convinced you that I'm no more a threat than any other Herald, then I won't waste my breath. I don't have to explain myself to you. But I have a duty to this country as a Herald and if you can't take that at face value, then Valdemar's got bigger problems than me and my home country. Kinda sounds like you've been taking notes from Orthallen's book."
Alastor smiled viciously. "Shifting the blame is normally the sign of a guilty conscious. You may think you have not incriminated yourself, but you have said more than enough. In time all things come to the surface and when the truth of your plan comes forward, I will be waiting to see your rather long fall from grace." With that, he turned on his heel with a swirl of his gray and black robes and stalked back to the Palace.
I remained rooted to the spot on the garden pathway we'd been following, not sure what to think or do. Alastor was so convinced he was right. If I was from another country in Velgarth then his claim possibly could have had merit. But then again, because I was from another world entirely, some might say it made Alastor's accusation just a plausible. But it was bat-shit insane!! As I watched Alastor's retreating form, I stifled the urge to throw levinbolts at the asshole's feet and watch him dance back to the building.
:If you wanted to do it, I'd vouch for you and say Alastor was lying.: Shayna said acidly. :I can't believe what he said to you.:
I silently played with my necklace for a few moments. "Problem is, I can. It's actually a decent plan, if I was as devious as he claims. Lucky for everyone, I'm not that evil and don't really plan ahead, much less ten-plus years." I bit my lip. Alastor was going to be trouble, but it'd be hard to know how much. And as usual, all I could do was hope my past and future actions would speak louder than whatever bullshit he decided to spew. "Shayna, this sucks."
:I have to agree.: I heard her hooves chime softly on the stone walkway behind me and nudged my shoulder. :Come, why don't we try a run on the obstacle course. That way you won't have time to brood over anything he said.:
I turned and cast a critical eye on her. Shayna had been putting on weight nicely and while still looked a little thin, the more strenuous exercise might actually be good for her. "We're not running the whole thing. You're still thinner than I'd prefer, but then again the last thing I want is a fat and lazy voice in my head."
She tilted her head a little to the side. :Fat and lazy, hmm? We'll see who's fat and lazy if you eat any of the chocolate you've been so excited about. And at least I keep my thoughts to myself and not talk to the air around me. That's the first sign of madness, you know.:
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Later that afternoon I told Lyra and Kris what Alastor had said. Lyra was shocked he'd come out and say what he did, but Kris wasn't. We were in the Queen's Garden, just hanging out until dinner. Kris way laying down, as was normal. I was sitting on the rim of a fountain playing in the water, and Lyra was sitting next to her brother.
"When the Americans first showed up he started spouting off about how it was the prelude to an invasion. And when the Council started talking about trying to find you and bring you back, Alastor said basically the same thing he told you. And because there's nothing to back his claim up with he's just been a thorn in the Council's side," Kris sighed.
"Yes, but this is Alastor we're talking about," Lyra insisted. "Growing up he never presented himself as anything less than a gentleman. Stubborn as a mule, yes, but he never would have leveled those kind of accusations against anyone without due cause! Besides, he has had many family members in the past who've been Chosen or worked for Valdemar's service. This is completely out of character for him."
Kris gave his sister a pitiful look. "Sis, sometimes I truly envy you for not being Chosen first. You haven't had to put up with all the political maneuvering that goes on sometimes. I've noticed more and more for the last ten years Alastor is getting paranoid, seeing threats in benign gestures. He's loosing it."
"Then why won't Mother or Father suggest he step down from the Council?" she shot back.
"Because he's still useful," Kris replied and sat up on his elbows. "Look, I don't know for certain if Alastor is going senile. I'm not a Healer and never wanted to be. But what he said to Jennifer today is baseless and if he continues on like this, mark my words, something bad will happen."
"My sentiments exactly," I said lazily.
Lyra then rounded on me. "And I'm rather surprised by you, Jenn. Were it anyone else you would have yelled and used every foul word you know to tell them off, and yet you did nothing of the sort! Alastor deserved it!"
Kris raised an eyebrow. "She has a point. That's unlike you."
I continued to slowly run my fingers through the water. "I figure right now it isn't a good time for me to go around shooting my mouth and pissing off the people the Americans have to work with," I replied. "It would only make for more bad vibes and then everyone really will look at me with suspicion."
Kris sat up fully. "Bloody hell, are you actually showing restraint?"
I wrinkled my nose at him. "Yes, I am perfectly capable of exercising self restraint, though my preferred method of diplomacy is a verbal bitch slapping. As much as I would have liked to, I knew it wasn't a good idea to rip Alastor a new asshole." I paused. "Though on second thought, a second one may do him some good. The reason he's so full of shit is because his head is shoved so far up his first one that he can't crap!"
"That's more like it!" he cried. Kris looked as if he was going to say something else when his face went blank; Jaysdin was talking to him. He looked a little confused when their silent conversation ended. "Jenn, you're wanted at the Gate terminus. The operators say they have some things for you."
"Were more things supposed to come through today? I thought we got everything yesterday?" I asked.
Kris shook his head. "The Council was told a couple things were coming today, but they said nothing about items for you."
I didn't think there was anything I should be getting. I'd talked to one of the lower rank army guys a couple days after I came back about having Punky sent, but he said the likelihood was pretty slim so I'd pretty much given up. I wasn't worried that Shannon would ignore him or anything, just afraid when I saw my cat again he'd be answering to Seymour.
Lyra and Kris followed me to the Gate because they were as curious as I was about what had been sent. When we reached the garden which housed the Gate, I did see there were three boxes standing far off to the side. The twins hung back while I went up to the men sorting the items.
"Okay, you guys said "Marco" so I say "Polo," I smiled.
The man I said that to laughed heartedly. "You must be Miss Keller. Yup, we've got a couple of boxes for ya over there," and pointed to the ones standing aside. "Need you to sign for them as proof of delivery. Apparently the lady who sent these was pretty adamant about making sure they got here." I motioned for Kris and Lyra to check the boxes while I signed the paper I was handed.
I thanked the man and walked over to my boxes. Lyra was eying the top most container, clearly revolted. "Jennifer! Someone sent you a dead animal!" Kris yelled.
"Excuse me?" I quickened my pace. As I got closer I saw the top box wasn't a box per se, but an animal carrying case. My heart swelled. Shannon, I owe you big! Sure enough, inside was the stretched out form of my kitten. "Punky!!!" I squealed with delight.
I opened the door and gently extracted the cat. He was out cold. "He's not dead, just knocked out for the trip! See, he's breathing," I said as I placed Kris's hand on Punky's small chest to feel it rise and fall.
"Are you sure?" Lyra questioned. "It looks dead."
"Yeah, I'm sure. Can you guys help carry this stuff up to my room?" They agreed and we made our way to my suite. On the way up Punky had started to twitch a little, so as soon as we reached my rooms I plopped him down on the thick window cushion. Figuring it would take Punky a good while to wake fully, I found a small knife and cut the thick tape on the boxes to find what was inside.
The first one I opened, the heavier of the two, held all of Punky's things: dishes, toys, food, a small litter box and jug of litter, treats, harness and leash to go outside, and a blanket from my bed that he always liked to lay on. From the looks of things, Shannon had made sure I had enough supplies for Punky for about two months.
The second box, lighter in weight but larger in size, was a typical care package. It held cookies and candy, my favorite peanut butter, three of my favorite books I hadn't grabbed, some magazines, some random decorative items from my room, and about ten disposable cameras. And laying on top of it all, was a pretty thick envelope that had "READ ME FIRST DUMMY" written across the front.
While Kris and Lyra started exclaiming over the contents of the boxes, I took the letter and sat next to Punky. The letter pretty much caught me up on all the things going on at home, what she'd been doing, and how much she both missed me and fervently hoped I was getting better. That was when I realized how much I'd been missing her too. Everyday I'd been thinking there were certain things I'd love for her to see and experience, and it made me sad that she wasn't there. But Shannon was thinking along the same lines, as she explained the cameras:
Okay, since I've been told only your cat is allowed to visit you right now and
he lacks hands, your going to have to do something for me. See the cameras?
Use them. I want pictures of people, things, places, everything. And I want you
to keep track of what you're taking pictures of too, so I know what I'm looking
at when I get them developed. The cameras are numbered so all you have to
do is give me a description of who or what you've snapped. Hopefully I'll be able
to come visit you soon, or better yet you'll come home, so until then this is the
best way for me to see where you are. And no one word descriptions, either! If
you have to, make someone else write them.
I had to laugh. I've never been that into pictures but Shannon loved them. Nearly anywhere she went she'd carry a camera and she had the photo albums to prove it. But then she'd always been the artsy type, whereas I didn't really give a shit. In this case, however, I had to agree with her that the cameras were an excellent idea. Yet before I could do more than that, I heard Punky give a weak mew. He was trying to open his eyes and raise his head, but he was still pretty heavily under the effects of the tranquilizer and wasn't getting very far.
I picked him up and held him, slowly petting him and scratching his head. Again Punky opened his eyes, and started to purr when he saw me, giving my hand a light lick. Kris came over to see the sleepy guy while Lyra was engrossed in one of the People magazines from the box.
"He's adorable," Kris said softly and started to stroke the cat too. That only caused Punky to purr a little louder. "And likes attention!"
"He loves people, but is a right little hellion," I said with a smile as Punky blinked lazily. "And you're gonna have a butt-load more ways to get into trouble here too, aren't ya, ya little punk-ass cat?" He just purred.
Shayna then asked if she could see him, and I allowed her to peer through my eyes and get a good look. :He is cute! But I don't think Punky is a good name for him. It doesn't seem to fit.:
:What do you think he should be named?: I asked, rather worried.
:I don't know, but Punky doesn't seem right to me.:
:Just don't call him Seymour, that's all I ask.:
:Seymour? No, that strikes me as a name for a rat. Though I don't know why you would name one. I'm not sure what I would name your cat, but it wouldn't be Punky.:
I laughed and handed Punky to Kris so I could at least get the litter box set up for him. The events of that morning seemed insignificant now I had my cat. It may have been a semi-crappy morning, but it was water under the bridge.