Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories. - Sun Tzu

Sjoase

Sjoase was the worst thing she'd ever seen in her life, while Canton was just the right size for a city, Sjoase was too big, there were too many people. While the ceebration were bigger and grander, they had no soul. All the people were doing was buying things and selling food. There were no performances, or tradition. While Josie felt like she belong in the other cities and towns she felt surrounded and overwhelmed. How could a girl from a farm far away from anything win over these people?

She stepped off the train to the smell of animals, but not the country aroma that she was used, no it was the smell of dead animals, of poo. It was the smell of people. Houses ten stories high leaned over her, blocking out the sun and sky. The people ignored each other, or yelled at each other. The restaurant owners aimed at the rich and kicked out the poor. Soldiers roamed the thin roads, stopping any suspicious people, little children in raggy clothes, beggars on the street, buskers without licences. They were all chased away or taken into trucks with bars for windows. Josie shook in the warm car. What was this place?

She came to the government building first. She was dressed in a simple trouser blouse combination, she's found the shirt in a town on her way to Sjoase and wanted to save it for the big day. She had run out of time for a morning tour of Sjoase, and for that she was happy. She was scared that her play on tradition and the love of Bonita would fail here. She didn't want to change her position as a daughter of Illéa and Bonita, but these people were different, maybe this was the heart of Illéan culture in Bonita. It hurt her to think about it, but she shook the thought away, no not all of Illéa was like that.

Susan Clean waited at the building, she was wearing a grand show stopping dress. It reached from her shoulders, with a v-cut and a floral pattern on her left. It came down in yellow, red and orange; she looked like a candle flame. Calm and burning. Josie hated Clean instantly, that dress was outrageously expensive, and was sure to win a bunch of votes. She realised suddenly that she was jealous, she realised when Susan offered her hand that she cared enough about this competition to be jealous. She took the girl's hand with a smile, Susan returned it.

Susan talked about the weather, which was to say she talked about nothing and everything. Josie tried to like her, she really did, but the nicer she was the worse she felt. How could she be so envious of such a nice girl? But she was and with good reason, Susan was extremely pretty, smart and nice. She was the package. She talked about what she had done to win the people. Josie had missed the broadcast of Susan's tour. Which now she saw was silly, how could she counter her if she didn't know what Susan was doing? Thankfully the girl supplied the details.

Susan was from Sjoase, but remarked that she thought Josie's town was quaint. Josie was tempted to correct the girl in telling her about her village, but that seemed a little silly so she didn't. They were greeted by an old couple; the mayor and her husband. The mayor was an old woman, with hard lines and a cold expression. She took both of the girls by the arm and looked into their eyes. She shook her head, "No ambition, I knew it, don't even bother going to this palace; neither of you will win."

"I think I can win," Susan said quietly. The mayor spun around.

"Pardon?" Susan looked up and nodded to herself. "I believe I can win. No, I'm going to win. I'll knock over all the competition and win." The old woman laughed.

"Excellent, we'll have tea when this is all over, and I will tell you why you have failed." The woman glanced at Josie, "You're competition here doesn't seem to think you will do it either. Honestly, girl what did you say to her?" Josie realised she was looking at Susan with a disbelieving twist of her lips, she forced her face to go blank before Susan turned to her. The old woman laughed. "Silly girls, you need more than just confidence to get the boy, you need to be aloof, willing, you need to want his hand with a burning might, you need to win the people's respect and love, you need to own the stars and shine like you belong in their heavens.

Neither of you could stand next to a King and be the pride of the country like the Queen. Remember this, behind every great man there is a great woman; Queen America knows it, but you do not. Embrace my advance girls, one of you will be going to the palace at least." The woman swept them into a grand ball and dinner. Josie was sat next to the mayor, with Susan on the other side.

"Now, tell me, girls; what do you like most about Prince Xavian?" Josie blinked at the direct question, all night the mayor had given odd, mind twisting questions that had a dozen bad answers and no obvious good one. Josie had answered most of them closing to avoid others trying to look 'aloof'. Susan smiled, her eyes instantly brighter, this was territory she understood, and Josie took a drink of her mocktail; what was she going to say.

"I love his strong demeanour, and he's so handsome, I just get swallowed up by those eyes." Susan leaned her chin on her interlaced fingers; she was mooning over her imagination. The mayor turned to Josie. Josie smiled without teeth and said, "I think he'd eyes are interesting, I can never tell what he'd thinking, and I wish I could." The mayor was silent for a moment then she nodded once and the evening continued.

Then there was dancing, but it wasn't the dances that Josie knew. People stepped onto the marble floor in couples and slowly stepped back and forth, swinging in slow arcs. Josie watched trying to memorise the steps. Susan stood over her, "Would you…like to dance with me?" Josie looked up, then to the crowd, all the couples were male female combinations.

"I don't think this is that sort of dance, how about a work instead? I'd like to see the city from far." Susan smiled, pearly white flashing. They strolled to a set of balcony doors and circled around the building. "Pretty, isn't it?" Josie nodded, for all its faults the city was like a flat pond at night; a reflection of the stars.

"To tell you the truth, I don't really know if I want to go to the palace." Josie felt her mouth fall open. The girl didn't look at her, instead she stared at the city; "the mayor's words reminded me. I'm not cut out for ruling, I have a home, I have a family, and I have boys I like and girls who are my friends. They all think I could be Queen; but honestly, I think I want to be. I don't know him; the only reason why I signed up for this is because my mother needs the money." She turned to Josie and wrapped her in a big hug.

Josie was about to push the girl away but she understood the girl better than she knew Susan most have thought. She didn't want to be king; yes she wanted to meet the prince, the queen, the entire royal family. But to be Queen? No, she wasn't the best opinion; she wasn't one to fix the problems of the country. That was for the 'great woman behind the great man'. And she wasn't a great woman; she was hardly even a woman.

"I know what you mean, I don't know him either; actually I really want to meet the Queen, I just want to talk to her." Susan pulled away, a smile on her tearful face.

"That's what I wanted to do, I wanted her to know that not everything is so great about the loss of castes. My mother and father…they were fives but now, I don't think they'd pass being sixes. She's sick you see, and the money from this competition is going to pay for her medical bill. We were so desperate. No one would help us, no one, I just, I just could." Susan began to cry properly. "I shouldn't be telling you think, you just want to beat me; become a princess for a day. All I want is my mother. Is that so wrong?"

Josie shook her head. "No," She told the girl, her voice hard. She knelt down next to Susan and wrapped an arm around her. "You have all the right to be here. And you have all the right to cry. I know I would if my Mama was sick. So don't worry about, everything will turn out just right. Okay?" Susan nodded.

"I was with her when they announced the results; I cried them too. I love her. I promised her we'd be a family again. She told me that I should try my best." Susan touched her hand on Josie's shoulder. "Thankyou, I don't even know you and you being so nice." Susan hugged her tight and they stood. Josie felt tears in her eyes and said, "Hey, let's get your makeup fixed okay?"

"You and me," Susan said walking out from the balcony her head high and her arms straight. When they came out of the bathroom Vukan and a woman met them and took them over to the stage. The mayor walked up the steps and smiled at the cameras. "I'd like to announce the winner of this round of the Selection. I have had the honour of meeting this two fine young woman and would like to say that both of these ladies will make great Queens; affectionate and kind, they are the pride of Bonita." The mayor smiled and held out a hand to them; Josie and Susan stepped up onto the stage to stand next to the camera.

The crowd clapped and Josie bowed slightly, Susan copied quickly. When they both straightened the mayor held up a card. "Alas only one of these girls can go on to meet our Prince. The votes have been cast and counted and so I will now present you with the winner; Lady…" She flicked the card open. The name Josephine Matilda Agrarian was written in plain script. "Josephine." Josie stood stunned, butterflies in her stomach. The crowd clapped again.

"Lady Josephine, would you like to talk to the people of Illéa?" Josie looked at the mayor for a moment stunned and then slowly she nodded, knowing it was expected. The mayor smiled thinly and stepped away. Josie stood behind the podium, working to suppress her nerves and wishing for a glass of water. She tried not to look at Susan, who needed the money more than her. "Good evening, Illéa, I…wasn't told to make a speech for this. In fact, I assumed you'd all pick Susan." Josie glanced away from the camera, thinking about what to say next.

"I want to thank you all, for voting for me, and for those who didn't; well, you're entitled to an opinion. Because you have done this for me; I will try and help you, if I can, while in this selection. I have no dreams of being a princess or a queen. Life is not a fairy tale; but the powers of the royal family are undeniable and I believe I might be about to help the people who suffer, but bringing it to light. And not just those of Bonita, but everywhere.

I always want to thank my family, my mother and father; my sisters and brothers; for their support and being great people. I'll always remember the good memories I had on my family farm, Joseph Agrarian's Vineyard, Wheat and Horse Farm." She smiled, just imagining her mother cheering her on. "We toil on that land, and so I know hard work pays off in the end. So I will try hard to be Queen and help you, the people." Josie finished with a bow and then she turned away, dizzy. Susan hugged her and Josie felt a little better.

"That was so bad."

"No, you're really good." Josie sighed and thanked her. The room was a rush; people took to the dance floor again, while others clambered over to Josie. They held out there hands to be shaken. Josie smiled and shook each of them, talking soothing; the upper class people congratulated her on her selection, and then happily moved onto the topic of her family's farm sales. "Oh people from far and wide drink out wine. Have you ever tasted Orange Tree Estate red cabernet?" On the topic of wine the people were very knowledgeable. They all agreed that they would try it. Confident that the taste would sell its self, Josephine moved on.

She danced with a dozen boys and tried some champagne. The night passed quickly and it was only when she fell into bed she realised she hadn't talked to Susan and missed the chance to offer some money for her mother. After all, helping a sick mother was better than spending it on marketing the farm or a new dress for Laia. She fell asleep ashamed of herself, feeling selfish and useless.

In the morning she scowled herself for such thoughts and rolled out of bed placing a broad smile on her face, it was four am, she suddenly felt tired but pushed the thought away knowing she'd be woken up soon anyway. Vukan came in half an hour later and was happy to see her awake. A new set of makeup artist, hairdresser and seamstress came in five minutes later. Soon enough Josie had picked out from a selection of dresses and skirts, she selected a dark purple skirt and another white blouse; this one had a set of flowers sewed onto the material. Her hair and makeup were done and she thanked the women before they left. Ready to go Vukan led her down the stairs of the hotel.

They walked to the airport, Josie waved at a passing couple, they didn't seem to notice. A little unsettled she didn't wave or greet anyone else; they did like to her. They walked inside the airport and were taken to a private area. Here Vukan left her, saying that he had things to organise. Josie bid him good bye. Josie made herself comfortable on one of the couches wondering if she would have breakfast there or when she arrived.

Breakfast came back with Vukan, he sighed; "Sadly the flights from Ottaro and Panama are delayed due to rain. You'll have to wait here for a while." Josie nodded, fine with waiting; she ate a delicious breakfast of various sushi. She played a game of cards with Vukan and when he left she found a book shelf with a set of books on it. The delay turned out not to be that long and two girls arrived soon after. They climbed into the small jet and the plane lifted off soon after. Ignoring the other girls Josie watched the lift off through the window. The building of Sjoase turned into tiny toys then were gone, and all she could see was the landscape for a long time.