Bishop by Robin Roseau

Author:Robin Roseau [Roseau, Robin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Robin Roseau
Published: 2016-07-05T22:00:00+00:00

Return Journey

Harsprite was a fast courier ship of the Framaran navy, quite similar to the Altearan vessel that had first taken me from Framara. The irony wasn't lost on me. It was quite the crowd traveling aboard Harsprite. I was there along with the people Juleena had begun calling "Yalla's household" -- Larien and Terél, Naddí and Féla. Juleena refused to let me go alone, which wasn't terribly surprising, so of course she was along. And that meant an honor guard was required. Ralalta was also sending Lady Margaletta of the diplomatic corps, and so she also had her own entourage, as it were.

King Tradódid and Queen Mesenorié had, indeed, formally requested a return to full relations between Alteara and Framara. Neither country had yet reestablished an embassy, and trade had not resumed. Beyond that, I knew that Ralalta, Juleena, and Margaletta had been ensconced behind closed doors, but I had not been invited to the proceedings.

I didn't mind. I thought I had a full plate.

But Ralalta did talk to me about it the night before we were to sail. It was a simple conversation. "If your opinion is solicited, you may state a desire for friendship between the two countries. But please do not undermine Juleena's position."

"Of course not, Your Majesty." I paused. "I'm in the middle now, but you know I am loyal to Framara."

At that, she nodded. "I know. But I suspect you would ask both sides to compromise more than we should." She paused, and I thought she was about to say more, but then she shook her head. "I'm going to miss you both while you're gone."

"I'm sorry," I said.

"It's not your fault," she said. "And this trip is important."

That was certainly true.

So, as I was saying, Harsprite was crowded. Oh, she had plenty of room, but she wasn't a luxury passenger liner. There were limited private cabins, and from the moment I arrived on deck, I knew we were on the edge of a diplomatic mess. Oh, not with Alteara, but between the four factions aboard the ship: the ship's crew, Juleena, my household, and Margaletta's household.

I arrived to find Margaletta arguing with the ship's captain. Juleena had arrived ahead of my household, and she was leaning against the railing, her arms folded as she watched the argument. I stepped over to her, my household picking their own section of railing to give me privacy with the princess.

"What's going on?"

She shook her head. "Margaletta." There was something in her tone that suggested just the woman's name should have explained the issue.

"Do tell," I said.

Juleena looked around, perhaps judging whether we were being overheard, then lowered her voice. "She's trying to commandeer the captain's cabin."

"What?" I asked. "Why?"

"It's a matter of space. There are only two cabins well-suited for passengers of my social standing, but there are three of us."

"You're the only princess I see."

She laughed. "And you're the only high priestess I see. And she's the only diplomatic envoy."

"We've shared quarters before."

She laughed again. "Larien and Terél would kill me, Yalla, and you know it.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.