Chapter Three: Life in Odyssey
Marrissa met her father and the Stargazer's Command Crew at the Golden Rinnebeast Inn. It was a quant Inn in Marrissa's opinion.
It was of what Marrissa would term a Tudor style, thick dark beams with panels of white mud plaster composing the wall. Someone had gotten creative along the beam above the door, carving a dragon in relief. She stepped though the door, just as the afternoon rain began in earnest.
The Innkeeper's wife noticed Marrissa's outfit and the badge she wore on her shoulder "You would be the Third Mate I was told to expect?" she asked.
"Lieutenant Marrissa Picard at your service," Marrissa said.
"Your First Mate purchased your own room for you, it's the second one on the left on the third floor," the Innkeeper's wife said. "He wanted to see you as soon as you arrived. He's on the second floor, first door on the left."
"Thank you," Marrissa said. "May I inquire as to when dinner is served?"
"When the church bell chimes six," the Innkeeper's wife said. "It's an extra two pence."
"I shall be there," Marrissa said, before heading up the stairs.
Marrissa opened the door to Commander Riker's quarters. "Reporting as ordered, sir," she said.
"Lieutenant, you have some explaining to do," Riker said. "You do not under push anyone overboard at any time, and most especially the Captain."
"But if the..." Marrissa began.
"I'm not asking for your excuses, Lieutenant," Riker continued. "We did not have to include you on this mission, and if you hadn't already made yourself too well known, you would be on your way back to the Enterprise. If you ever do something like that again, you will be confined aboard the Stargazer for the rest of the mission, and we will be having another talk about this when we return. Do I make myself perfectly clear, Lieutenant?"
"Yes sir!" Marrissa said. "Will that be all sir?"
"For now, Lieutenant," Riker said. "The Captain will met us at dinner. Dismissed."
Marrissa turned smartly and moved quickly out of the room. It was not until she got to the room that she was assigned that she broke down in tears. * * * *
The dinner was rather somber. The main course was a thin bread pocket with a meat and vegetable filling. It was served hot, with plenty of ale to drink. Marrissa asked for milk instead of the ale, and got some for a little more money. She ate her meal slowly, avoiding looking at anyone. Riker and Calgary were seated across from her, and every time she looked at Calgary, his sneering expression made her feel like she was a failure. Oh she knew her reasoning was good. Captain York knew her father. If they came into contact too early, the mission could fail. That's why she had pushed her father overboard. He couldn't go meet the King all wet. But Riker wouldn't listen, and Calgary, well Calgary was basking in the joy of a man who thinks he's just been proved right.
Captain Picard arrived in the Inn's dinning area. The Captain sat down next to Marrissa, sliding his chair closer with a scraping sound. "Ah, Missus Bath, I could I trouble you for a helping of your famous meat pie?" he said.
"Here you go," the Innkeeper's wife replied, placing a plateful in front of him, along with a cup of ale. "Enjoy your meal, Captain."
The Innkeeper's wife left the room to tend to other duties as the Captain dug into his meal. It took only a few moments for the Captain to figure out the mood of the room. "Mister Calgary, I've been meaning to talk to since before we left the ship," the Captain said. "I understand you have some problems working with my daughter."
Marrissa looked up at Calgary and then at her father. This was not what she expected to hear when her father arrived. However, Calgary still had that smug expression on his face that had depressed Marrissa.
"I find her qualifications lacking," Calgary stated.
"I see, and have you always had this problem respecting superior officers?" Picard said in an even tone.
Calgary's expression blanked. The color drained from his face. There was only one reply that he could make to that question. "I respect all of my superior officers," he stammered.
"See that you do," Picard said. "You'll probably have to work with Marrissa a lot during this mission, and I don't want any problem from either of you."
"Yes sir," Marrissa and Calgary responded in unison.
"Now, Marrissa, tell me about your visit to the Palace," Picard asked.
"Not much to say, sir," Marrissa replied. "I brought the Duchess and her daughter to the royal dock and let her off. The King and his son met us there, and asked a few questions."
"What did he ask about?" Riker asked.
"How long our trip was, and if we encountered any problems," Marrissa said. "Fairly standard stuff. He seemed rather keen on if we had encountered any Rogian ships, which we haven't."
"Marrissa, describe the King and the rest of the welcoming party," Picard said, as he scraped his plate clean.
"The king appears to be an aged man, with a well kept white beard. His clothing was a long purple robe, with gold stitching to make it look more formal. He wears a rather simple crown. His son is sixteen according to Lady Hayley. He was wearing a dark blue tunic with black pants, and dark blue cloak. He was accompanied by several soldiers dressed in the royal crest and a stout man with a red beard dressed entirely in black. The stout man was never introduced, but he was constantly looking around and examining things intently."
"That does sound like a good description of Chief Harlan, the Odyssey's Security Chief," Picard said. "Was the Queen there?"
"No, the King apologized for her absence, she's apparently ill," Marrissa said.
"Okay, the Doctor and her party should be coming into town some time tomorrow," Picard said. "I'll be meeting her in the market. Meanwhile, Commander Riker, I want you to see what you can learn from other seamen in the local bars. Marrissa, Lieutenant Calgary, pair up and investigate the town. I want to know any technological improvements you may find. Remember this is supposed to be a fourteenth century level planet. Set up some other teams, Security and Engineering pairings, to help you. La Forge will remain on the Stargazer and observe the seaside comings and goings from the Castle. Any questions?" After a moments pause, he pushed back his chair. "Then I suggest we all get a good night's sleep." * * * *
Prince Avery entered the bedroom of his ailing mother. It pained him to see the once active Queen laying in her bed, coughing. Last year she would have accompanied Avery on his ride, on her own deep gold rinnebeast, with her long gray curly hair streaming behind her. It had been a month since she had even seen outside, except through the large window in her room, but that was practically a sky light, for all the view it offered.
"Good evening, honored mother, may I hope that you are getting better?" Avery inquired, coming to kneel next to his mother's bedside, and taking her hand in his.
"Avery, I'm not going to get better," the Queen said. "I'm dying."
"Surely the Odyssey has something to make you better," Avery said. "You said that this was a ship from the heavens. Such a ship would have to have miracle cures."
"Avery, we took apart everything that we could that didn't fit," the Queen said. "Even if there was something that could cure me, it hasn't been in this castle for over fifteen years."
"Why did you do that?" Avery said. "You could have done lots of good with all of that."
"Because it wouldn't have been right," the Queen rasped.
"Why?"
"Ask you father about the Prime Directive," the Queen said. "Now let me rest. I want to be able to last to at least your betrothal."
"You mean they've decided who I get to marry?" Avery said.
"Your father has," the Queen replied, settling down to rest.
Avery left the room with much on his mind. What was this Prime Directive? Why did was it preventing his mother from getting well? And more importantly, who would he get to marry? Oh he hoped it would be Lady Hayley. She was so cute. In fact she was beautiful. * * * *
An hour latter, Prince Avery wandered into the place garden. It was one of the few areas open to the sky in the palace. He wandered among the roses and rare flowers, occasionally stopping to smell a few, as his tutor had suggested when he was small. The prince hadn't been in the garden long when he heard the voice of his father speaking to Lord Harlan.
"So you can't confirm what her Grace told us," the King said.
"No, sir. I have found no evidence of a plot yet," Harlan said. "That does not mean there isn't one, though."
"Such a plot does make sense," the King said. "Lady Hayley is heir to both Castrome and Avtra. Whoever marries her will be the most powerful man in the Kingdom, especially if he comes from either of the other dukedoms."
"That's why I advised against your matching Desiree, Duchess of Castrome with Lord Elden of Avtra," Harlan said.
"I know, but it solved the problem," the King replied. "It gave Desiree a chance to rule. The Duke of Avtra withdrew his objections, and the regency council solved the rest."
"You could have solved it without uniting the linage of two of the ducal lines," Harlan said.
"Perhaps," the King replied. "But look at what I've gained. Lord Elden has turned into an able and loyal administrator for the crown. Duchess Desiree is the much beloved ruler of Castrome, who also feels indebted to the crown. The kingdom has remained a peace, and everyone praises my leadership abilities."
"They think you are some sort of saint come down from heaven," Harlan said. "And what about that problem when Drake, Earl of Avtra was murdered seven years ago?"
"That had no relation to the Castrome problem," the King said. "It was because Drake couldn't keep his hands of the Earl of Dunsen's four lovely daughters. I had hoped that that saint idea would die down over time."
"Forget about that idea," Harlan said. "The common people have spoken. Even if you die a normal death, or even are killed in battle, someone, sometime, is going to claim you never died, and were assumed into heaven. Your grave location will be lost, and before long they'll be telling tales of Good King Richard."
"That, my old friend, is my nightmare," the King said. "Come, Avery, you don't need to hide in the bushes, my son."
Avery approached his father and his father's advisor. "I'm sorry if my presence interrupted something, father."
"No, it didn't, at least nothing I didn't want your opinion on," the King said.
"My opinion?"
"Yes, Avery. Someday you will be King, and it's problems like the ones I've been discussing with Lord Harlan that you'll have to solve. Now how much did you hear?"
"Just some discussion about some sort of plot involving Lady Hayley and then how you're perceived among the people."
"Lord Harlan, perhaps you'd like to brief my son on what the Duchess of Castrome informed us."
"Of course, sir. My prince, this afternoon Duchess Desiree of Castrome arrived by sea and asked to see the King. When she was able to get alone with the King and his chief advisors, she informed us that her husband, Lord Elden, had been approached by Lord Henry of Fasstime. Lord Henry proposed that he marry Lady Hayley and insinuated that such a move could result in 'a shift in the leadership of the Kingdom.' He was no doubt unaware of Lord Elden's involvement in the ruling of Castrome, and position as Chief Naval Architect for the Royal Navy. Lord Elden wisely said that he would think about it. He then talked to his wife, the Duchess, who set off immediately for Odyssey along with her oldest daughter."
"What is Lord Elden doing now?" Avery asked.
"He's taking care of the daily business of Castrome in his wife's absence, and has contacted the Earl of Avtra to see if he's been approached as well."
"That takes care of Avtra and Castrome, but what about Armedge?" Avery asked. "Has anyone found out if someone has approached either Duke Nolan or any of his three sons?"
"Good point, your highness, I'll check that as soon as we're done," Harlan said.
"And shouldn't Duke Lionel be informed about his son's ambitions?" Avery asked.
"Not at this stage, the Duke will want proof, and we don't have it yet," Harlan replied. "It does bring up another worrying point, though. We haven't heard from Duke Lionel in over a month. He usually sends weekly letters to the King, and the last one was rather short."
"Still worried about the handwriting on that last sentence?" the King asked.
"I am," Harlan replied.
"I'm beginning to see your paranoia may be justified in this case," the King said. "So, Avery, what would you do in my case?"
"I'd marry Lady Hayley, taking her off the marriage market," Avery said. "Then I'd see if I can get Lord Henry to make a mistake that reveals his plot, and send him into exile."
"Well, I can't marry Lady Hayley, but you can and I will have her marry you," the King said. "I'll arrange for the betrothal early tomorrow. Lord Harlan, I want all my dukes in town by the end of the month, Lord Henry and Earl Cedric too."
"Very well, sire," Harlan said. "Is there anything else tonight?"
"No, Harlan," the King said. "I'll see you early tomorrow." Lord Harlan rushed off to see to his tasks and the King turned to his son.
Avery had a big smile on his face.
"I can't believe it," Avery whispered, sitting down on a bench.
"You can't believe what?" the King said, sitting next to him.
"I got my choice for a bride," Avery said. "All the times my tutors said that I wasn't going to get a chance to chose my bride, and I got the one I wanted."
"Only because it was a good move politically, Avery," the King said. "You are lucky in that respect. Your children probably won't be."
"And you listened to me about something important," Avery said. "I've never really been asked my opinion before. It was always do this."
"Get use to it," the King said. "It's time you get some real experience. Until now, I've been just having you taught the things you need to know. I should have brought you into my council before now, but I guess I didn't realize how grown up you are. Starting tomorrow morning I want you at every morning meeting of my advisors."
"I guess that means I can't sleep in anymore," Avery said.
"You guessed right," the King said.
"Father, what is the Prime Directive?" Avery asked.
"Who mentioned it?"
"Mother did."
"Come with me, Avery," the King said, standing up. "Today is apparently a big day for you." * * * *
The King and his son climbed the long spiral staircase to the top of Odyssey Palace. It was seven levels from the garden to the top of the staircase. Avery expected them stop at each level, but his father pressed onto the top, pausing only to make sure the doors were closed properly. Finally, they reached the top. The King pulled a key out from under his outer tunic and opened the door. Avery had never been to the top room.
They entered the large domed room. The room had inclined desks running around most of it's walls, save two doors and a large floor to ceiling map of the world. The center of the room was a step down, and had railings around it, broken by four openings. Towards the front of the room was a table with a scale terrain model of Ellosia. While there were several chairs at the desks along the walls, only two were in the center. One was on a raised platform, his father's, Avery assumed, and the other beside it, with a small slanted desk on it's right side.
"This, Avery, is known as the Map Room," the King said. "It's were most of the details about running the kingdom are made. Very few actually are invited to it. When this was a ship flying in the heavens, it was my Bridge. It was in that very seat that I was sitting in when the Odyssey crashed into Sappor."
"Wow," Avery said. He was looking around the room, his attention caught by this little detail or that. He had seen a lot of the Palace, and explored it's lower levels when he was younger, but the top levels, that he'd never gone into. He'd never seen a map like what hung on the wall or a model so well detailed. It had ever town, road, and port. Small carved models, out of scale with the model, but still there, of the fleet were in the harbors, along with some vessels flagged merchant, like the Stargazer in Odyssey's harbor.
His father sat down in his chair, and motioned for Avery to sit in the other one. "This room is the most secure room in the Palace," the King said. "Anything said in it, goes no further that this room. In it, I ask my advisors to be candid. They can tell me I'm wrong, that I'm a fool, or even that I'm dooming the Kingdom, but it goes no further."
"You let them talk back to you, you're the king!" Avery interrupted.
"Yes I am, but it doesn't mean I'm perfect," the King said. "Sometimes I need people to remind me. This is where they can do so without endangering the crown. It's also where the secrets of the Kingdom are kept. I'm going to let you in on some of them now, but I want you to understand that what I tell you goes no further. Some day, when you have a son that has grown in wisdom and trustworthiness, you may bring him in on the secrets, but please take the same precautions I have."
"I will, Father."
"Very well," the King said. "Perhaps I should start with how the Odyssey and I came to this planet. A long time ago, I was part of an organization called Star Fleet. We guarded a federation of planets, much like this one, save that the technology was much more advanced. That Federation, know as the United Federation of Planets, had gotten involved in a war with another nation, the Cardassians. At the time war was declared, I had been a Captain for three years. With my experience, and because of a couple early skirmishes I won before we declared war, I was assigned to command a squadron consisting of the Stargazer, the Custer, the Connecticut, the Magna Carta and my own Odyssey. One day the squadron engaged three Cardassian warships. Two of them we destroyed easily, but one escaped. I ordered the Odyssey to pursue, and the other four ships to respond to another distress call. That turned out to be a mistake. I have no idea what happened to the other ships, but the Odyssey ran into a ambush. We managed to survive it, somehow, but we lost the stardrive section..."
"The what?"
"The part that made this ship go," the King explained. " and severely damaging the saucer section.
"What?"
"This palace. We made it to this planet, but could not keep ourselves in orbit, nor call for help. So we made a barely controlled crash_landing, which resulted in the near total destruction of the town of Sappor, and the total loss of the Ellosia royal family.
"To make a long story short, I chose to replace the royal family myself, rather than let the country disintegrate. That's when I broke the Prime Directive."
"What's the Prime Directive?"
"The Prime Directive is a Star Fleet regulation about dealing with less advanced cultures. To quote:
It is forbidden to interact with a less advanced culture in such a way that inhibits or changes in any fashion it's natural path of development. * * * *
"Why was that a rule? I'd think helping a less advanced culture would be good."
"Not always, and more often than not it results in the less advanced culture being exploited."
"How?"
"Well, they could be used as slave labor, or treated as second class citizens. It's generally better to let the culture advance on it's own. Of course, I didn't have much choice with Ellosia. By our crash landing we severed the whole Ellosian government. All my actions since then have been trying to lessen the impact of that. In essence, I'm trying to keep the spirt, not the letter of the Prime Directive."
"Father, will I have to follow this directive?"
"I don't think so. You aren't a Star Fleet Officer, and I've done everything I can think of to prevent high technology from causing problems once I'm gone."
"Is that why Mother is dying?"
"Your mother was this ship's Doctor. She says that there is nothing that could have been done even if we hadn't dismantled Sickbay. Your mother and I have had a long life, son. How old do you think we are?"
"Forty something."
"I am sixty_three and your mother is fifty_seven. Of the leaders of Ellosia only Patriarch Isaiah is older than me, and he's not in the best of health. I've probably got five more good years in me, if I'm lucky. Hopefully you'll be ready to take over by then."
"I don't want that to ever happen."
"I'm afraid that's one want that isn't going to be filled. Someday this whole land and it's worries will be yours. So we better get to bed early, because early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise."
Together, father and son, they descended from the Map Room and off to the Royal Quarters.
Marrissa met her father and the Stargazer's Command Crew at the Golden Rinnebeast Inn. It was a quant Inn in Marrissa's opinion.
It was of what Marrissa would term a Tudor style, thick dark beams with panels of white mud plaster composing the wall. Someone had gotten creative along the beam above the door, carving a dragon in relief. She stepped though the door, just as the afternoon rain began in earnest.
The Innkeeper's wife noticed Marrissa's outfit and the badge she wore on her shoulder "You would be the Third Mate I was told to expect?" she asked.
"Lieutenant Marrissa Picard at your service," Marrissa said.
"Your First Mate purchased your own room for you, it's the second one on the left on the third floor," the Innkeeper's wife said. "He wanted to see you as soon as you arrived. He's on the second floor, first door on the left."
"Thank you," Marrissa said. "May I inquire as to when dinner is served?"
"When the church bell chimes six," the Innkeeper's wife said. "It's an extra two pence."
"I shall be there," Marrissa said, before heading up the stairs.
Marrissa opened the door to Commander Riker's quarters. "Reporting as ordered, sir," she said.
"Lieutenant, you have some explaining to do," Riker said. "You do not under push anyone overboard at any time, and most especially the Captain."
"But if the..." Marrissa began.
"I'm not asking for your excuses, Lieutenant," Riker continued. "We did not have to include you on this mission, and if you hadn't already made yourself too well known, you would be on your way back to the Enterprise. If you ever do something like that again, you will be confined aboard the Stargazer for the rest of the mission, and we will be having another talk about this when we return. Do I make myself perfectly clear, Lieutenant?"
"Yes sir!" Marrissa said. "Will that be all sir?"
"For now, Lieutenant," Riker said. "The Captain will met us at dinner. Dismissed."
Marrissa turned smartly and moved quickly out of the room. It was not until she got to the room that she was assigned that she broke down in tears. * * * *
The dinner was rather somber. The main course was a thin bread pocket with a meat and vegetable filling. It was served hot, with plenty of ale to drink. Marrissa asked for milk instead of the ale, and got some for a little more money. She ate her meal slowly, avoiding looking at anyone. Riker and Calgary were seated across from her, and every time she looked at Calgary, his sneering expression made her feel like she was a failure. Oh she knew her reasoning was good. Captain York knew her father. If they came into contact too early, the mission could fail. That's why she had pushed her father overboard. He couldn't go meet the King all wet. But Riker wouldn't listen, and Calgary, well Calgary was basking in the joy of a man who thinks he's just been proved right.
Captain Picard arrived in the Inn's dinning area. The Captain sat down next to Marrissa, sliding his chair closer with a scraping sound. "Ah, Missus Bath, I could I trouble you for a helping of your famous meat pie?" he said.
"Here you go," the Innkeeper's wife replied, placing a plateful in front of him, along with a cup of ale. "Enjoy your meal, Captain."
The Innkeeper's wife left the room to tend to other duties as the Captain dug into his meal. It took only a few moments for the Captain to figure out the mood of the room. "Mister Calgary, I've been meaning to talk to since before we left the ship," the Captain said. "I understand you have some problems working with my daughter."
Marrissa looked up at Calgary and then at her father. This was not what she expected to hear when her father arrived. However, Calgary still had that smug expression on his face that had depressed Marrissa.
"I find her qualifications lacking," Calgary stated.
"I see, and have you always had this problem respecting superior officers?" Picard said in an even tone.
Calgary's expression blanked. The color drained from his face. There was only one reply that he could make to that question. "I respect all of my superior officers," he stammered.
"See that you do," Picard said. "You'll probably have to work with Marrissa a lot during this mission, and I don't want any problem from either of you."
"Yes sir," Marrissa and Calgary responded in unison.
"Now, Marrissa, tell me about your visit to the Palace," Picard asked.
"Not much to say, sir," Marrissa replied. "I brought the Duchess and her daughter to the royal dock and let her off. The King and his son met us there, and asked a few questions."
"What did he ask about?" Riker asked.
"How long our trip was, and if we encountered any problems," Marrissa said. "Fairly standard stuff. He seemed rather keen on if we had encountered any Rogian ships, which we haven't."
"Marrissa, describe the King and the rest of the welcoming party," Picard said, as he scraped his plate clean.
"The king appears to be an aged man, with a well kept white beard. His clothing was a long purple robe, with gold stitching to make it look more formal. He wears a rather simple crown. His son is sixteen according to Lady Hayley. He was wearing a dark blue tunic with black pants, and dark blue cloak. He was accompanied by several soldiers dressed in the royal crest and a stout man with a red beard dressed entirely in black. The stout man was never introduced, but he was constantly looking around and examining things intently."
"That does sound like a good description of Chief Harlan, the Odyssey's Security Chief," Picard said. "Was the Queen there?"
"No, the King apologized for her absence, she's apparently ill," Marrissa said.
"Okay, the Doctor and her party should be coming into town some time tomorrow," Picard said. "I'll be meeting her in the market. Meanwhile, Commander Riker, I want you to see what you can learn from other seamen in the local bars. Marrissa, Lieutenant Calgary, pair up and investigate the town. I want to know any technological improvements you may find. Remember this is supposed to be a fourteenth century level planet. Set up some other teams, Security and Engineering pairings, to help you. La Forge will remain on the Stargazer and observe the seaside comings and goings from the Castle. Any questions?" After a moments pause, he pushed back his chair. "Then I suggest we all get a good night's sleep." * * * *
Prince Avery entered the bedroom of his ailing mother. It pained him to see the once active Queen laying in her bed, coughing. Last year she would have accompanied Avery on his ride, on her own deep gold rinnebeast, with her long gray curly hair streaming behind her. It had been a month since she had even seen outside, except through the large window in her room, but that was practically a sky light, for all the view it offered.
"Good evening, honored mother, may I hope that you are getting better?" Avery inquired, coming to kneel next to his mother's bedside, and taking her hand in his.
"Avery, I'm not going to get better," the Queen said. "I'm dying."
"Surely the Odyssey has something to make you better," Avery said. "You said that this was a ship from the heavens. Such a ship would have to have miracle cures."
"Avery, we took apart everything that we could that didn't fit," the Queen said. "Even if there was something that could cure me, it hasn't been in this castle for over fifteen years."
"Why did you do that?" Avery said. "You could have done lots of good with all of that."
"Because it wouldn't have been right," the Queen rasped.
"Why?"
"Ask you father about the Prime Directive," the Queen said. "Now let me rest. I want to be able to last to at least your betrothal."
"You mean they've decided who I get to marry?" Avery said.
"Your father has," the Queen replied, settling down to rest.
Avery left the room with much on his mind. What was this Prime Directive? Why did was it preventing his mother from getting well? And more importantly, who would he get to marry? Oh he hoped it would be Lady Hayley. She was so cute. In fact she was beautiful. * * * *
An hour latter, Prince Avery wandered into the place garden. It was one of the few areas open to the sky in the palace. He wandered among the roses and rare flowers, occasionally stopping to smell a few, as his tutor had suggested when he was small. The prince hadn't been in the garden long when he heard the voice of his father speaking to Lord Harlan.
"So you can't confirm what her Grace told us," the King said.
"No, sir. I have found no evidence of a plot yet," Harlan said. "That does not mean there isn't one, though."
"Such a plot does make sense," the King said. "Lady Hayley is heir to both Castrome and Avtra. Whoever marries her will be the most powerful man in the Kingdom, especially if he comes from either of the other dukedoms."
"That's why I advised against your matching Desiree, Duchess of Castrome with Lord Elden of Avtra," Harlan said.
"I know, but it solved the problem," the King replied. "It gave Desiree a chance to rule. The Duke of Avtra withdrew his objections, and the regency council solved the rest."
"You could have solved it without uniting the linage of two of the ducal lines," Harlan said.
"Perhaps," the King replied. "But look at what I've gained. Lord Elden has turned into an able and loyal administrator for the crown. Duchess Desiree is the much beloved ruler of Castrome, who also feels indebted to the crown. The kingdom has remained a peace, and everyone praises my leadership abilities."
"They think you are some sort of saint come down from heaven," Harlan said. "And what about that problem when Drake, Earl of Avtra was murdered seven years ago?"
"That had no relation to the Castrome problem," the King said. "It was because Drake couldn't keep his hands of the Earl of Dunsen's four lovely daughters. I had hoped that that saint idea would die down over time."
"Forget about that idea," Harlan said. "The common people have spoken. Even if you die a normal death, or even are killed in battle, someone, sometime, is going to claim you never died, and were assumed into heaven. Your grave location will be lost, and before long they'll be telling tales of Good King Richard."
"That, my old friend, is my nightmare," the King said. "Come, Avery, you don't need to hide in the bushes, my son."
Avery approached his father and his father's advisor. "I'm sorry if my presence interrupted something, father."
"No, it didn't, at least nothing I didn't want your opinion on," the King said.
"My opinion?"
"Yes, Avery. Someday you will be King, and it's problems like the ones I've been discussing with Lord Harlan that you'll have to solve. Now how much did you hear?"
"Just some discussion about some sort of plot involving Lady Hayley and then how you're perceived among the people."
"Lord Harlan, perhaps you'd like to brief my son on what the Duchess of Castrome informed us."
"Of course, sir. My prince, this afternoon Duchess Desiree of Castrome arrived by sea and asked to see the King. When she was able to get alone with the King and his chief advisors, she informed us that her husband, Lord Elden, had been approached by Lord Henry of Fasstime. Lord Henry proposed that he marry Lady Hayley and insinuated that such a move could result in 'a shift in the leadership of the Kingdom.' He was no doubt unaware of Lord Elden's involvement in the ruling of Castrome, and position as Chief Naval Architect for the Royal Navy. Lord Elden wisely said that he would think about it. He then talked to his wife, the Duchess, who set off immediately for Odyssey along with her oldest daughter."
"What is Lord Elden doing now?" Avery asked.
"He's taking care of the daily business of Castrome in his wife's absence, and has contacted the Earl of Avtra to see if he's been approached as well."
"That takes care of Avtra and Castrome, but what about Armedge?" Avery asked. "Has anyone found out if someone has approached either Duke Nolan or any of his three sons?"
"Good point, your highness, I'll check that as soon as we're done," Harlan said.
"And shouldn't Duke Lionel be informed about his son's ambitions?" Avery asked.
"Not at this stage, the Duke will want proof, and we don't have it yet," Harlan replied. "It does bring up another worrying point, though. We haven't heard from Duke Lionel in over a month. He usually sends weekly letters to the King, and the last one was rather short."
"Still worried about the handwriting on that last sentence?" the King asked.
"I am," Harlan replied.
"I'm beginning to see your paranoia may be justified in this case," the King said. "So, Avery, what would you do in my case?"
"I'd marry Lady Hayley, taking her off the marriage market," Avery said. "Then I'd see if I can get Lord Henry to make a mistake that reveals his plot, and send him into exile."
"Well, I can't marry Lady Hayley, but you can and I will have her marry you," the King said. "I'll arrange for the betrothal early tomorrow. Lord Harlan, I want all my dukes in town by the end of the month, Lord Henry and Earl Cedric too."
"Very well, sire," Harlan said. "Is there anything else tonight?"
"No, Harlan," the King said. "I'll see you early tomorrow." Lord Harlan rushed off to see to his tasks and the King turned to his son.
Avery had a big smile on his face.
"I can't believe it," Avery whispered, sitting down on a bench.
"You can't believe what?" the King said, sitting next to him.
"I got my choice for a bride," Avery said. "All the times my tutors said that I wasn't going to get a chance to chose my bride, and I got the one I wanted."
"Only because it was a good move politically, Avery," the King said. "You are lucky in that respect. Your children probably won't be."
"And you listened to me about something important," Avery said. "I've never really been asked my opinion before. It was always do this."
"Get use to it," the King said. "It's time you get some real experience. Until now, I've been just having you taught the things you need to know. I should have brought you into my council before now, but I guess I didn't realize how grown up you are. Starting tomorrow morning I want you at every morning meeting of my advisors."
"I guess that means I can't sleep in anymore," Avery said.
"You guessed right," the King said.
"Father, what is the Prime Directive?" Avery asked.
"Who mentioned it?"
"Mother did."
"Come with me, Avery," the King said, standing up. "Today is apparently a big day for you." * * * *
The King and his son climbed the long spiral staircase to the top of Odyssey Palace. It was seven levels from the garden to the top of the staircase. Avery expected them stop at each level, but his father pressed onto the top, pausing only to make sure the doors were closed properly. Finally, they reached the top. The King pulled a key out from under his outer tunic and opened the door. Avery had never been to the top room.
They entered the large domed room. The room had inclined desks running around most of it's walls, save two doors and a large floor to ceiling map of the world. The center of the room was a step down, and had railings around it, broken by four openings. Towards the front of the room was a table with a scale terrain model of Ellosia. While there were several chairs at the desks along the walls, only two were in the center. One was on a raised platform, his father's, Avery assumed, and the other beside it, with a small slanted desk on it's right side.
"This, Avery, is known as the Map Room," the King said. "It's were most of the details about running the kingdom are made. Very few actually are invited to it. When this was a ship flying in the heavens, it was my Bridge. It was in that very seat that I was sitting in when the Odyssey crashed into Sappor."
"Wow," Avery said. He was looking around the room, his attention caught by this little detail or that. He had seen a lot of the Palace, and explored it's lower levels when he was younger, but the top levels, that he'd never gone into. He'd never seen a map like what hung on the wall or a model so well detailed. It had ever town, road, and port. Small carved models, out of scale with the model, but still there, of the fleet were in the harbors, along with some vessels flagged merchant, like the Stargazer in Odyssey's harbor.
His father sat down in his chair, and motioned for Avery to sit in the other one. "This room is the most secure room in the Palace," the King said. "Anything said in it, goes no further that this room. In it, I ask my advisors to be candid. They can tell me I'm wrong, that I'm a fool, or even that I'm dooming the Kingdom, but it goes no further."
"You let them talk back to you, you're the king!" Avery interrupted.
"Yes I am, but it doesn't mean I'm perfect," the King said. "Sometimes I need people to remind me. This is where they can do so without endangering the crown. It's also where the secrets of the Kingdom are kept. I'm going to let you in on some of them now, but I want you to understand that what I tell you goes no further. Some day, when you have a son that has grown in wisdom and trustworthiness, you may bring him in on the secrets, but please take the same precautions I have."
"I will, Father."
"Very well," the King said. "Perhaps I should start with how the Odyssey and I came to this planet. A long time ago, I was part of an organization called Star Fleet. We guarded a federation of planets, much like this one, save that the technology was much more advanced. That Federation, know as the United Federation of Planets, had gotten involved in a war with another nation, the Cardassians. At the time war was declared, I had been a Captain for three years. With my experience, and because of a couple early skirmishes I won before we declared war, I was assigned to command a squadron consisting of the Stargazer, the Custer, the Connecticut, the Magna Carta and my own Odyssey. One day the squadron engaged three Cardassian warships. Two of them we destroyed easily, but one escaped. I ordered the Odyssey to pursue, and the other four ships to respond to another distress call. That turned out to be a mistake. I have no idea what happened to the other ships, but the Odyssey ran into a ambush. We managed to survive it, somehow, but we lost the stardrive section..."
"The what?"
"The part that made this ship go," the King explained. " and severely damaging the saucer section.
"What?"
"This palace. We made it to this planet, but could not keep ourselves in orbit, nor call for help. So we made a barely controlled crash_landing, which resulted in the near total destruction of the town of Sappor, and the total loss of the Ellosia royal family.
"To make a long story short, I chose to replace the royal family myself, rather than let the country disintegrate. That's when I broke the Prime Directive."
"What's the Prime Directive?"
"The Prime Directive is a Star Fleet regulation about dealing with less advanced cultures. To quote:
It is forbidden to interact with a less advanced culture in such a way that inhibits or changes in any fashion it's natural path of development. * * * *
"Why was that a rule? I'd think helping a less advanced culture would be good."
"Not always, and more often than not it results in the less advanced culture being exploited."
"How?"
"Well, they could be used as slave labor, or treated as second class citizens. It's generally better to let the culture advance on it's own. Of course, I didn't have much choice with Ellosia. By our crash landing we severed the whole Ellosian government. All my actions since then have been trying to lessen the impact of that. In essence, I'm trying to keep the spirt, not the letter of the Prime Directive."
"Father, will I have to follow this directive?"
"I don't think so. You aren't a Star Fleet Officer, and I've done everything I can think of to prevent high technology from causing problems once I'm gone."
"Is that why Mother is dying?"
"Your mother was this ship's Doctor. She says that there is nothing that could have been done even if we hadn't dismantled Sickbay. Your mother and I have had a long life, son. How old do you think we are?"
"Forty something."
"I am sixty_three and your mother is fifty_seven. Of the leaders of Ellosia only Patriarch Isaiah is older than me, and he's not in the best of health. I've probably got five more good years in me, if I'm lucky. Hopefully you'll be ready to take over by then."
"I don't want that to ever happen."
"I'm afraid that's one want that isn't going to be filled. Someday this whole land and it's worries will be yours. So we better get to bed early, because early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise."
Together, father and son, they descended from the Map Room and off to the Royal Quarters.