Silver Moon
Adventurer
Chapter 60 "The Royal Wedding” (Episode Two, Chapter Twenty) - Friday, September 9, 1882, 8:00 P.M.
As the afternoon rolls into evening in Zakazik, the entire dining area has been reserved for the Royal Wedding. General Ahmed Orabi is attired in a traditional Egyptian robe and carrying a staff as the Priest and Priestesses move toward the alter. The other guests begin to gather around.
Ruby stands in the entrance way, waiting for the princess to arrive to help her adjust her gown. She had spent some quiet quality time with George before getting herself ready in her outfit. Brightly colored veils covered her body making a robe and she was wearing a traditional gold headband in her hair that ended in jewels on her forehead. She gives George a kiss then sends him inside to find a seat while she waits for the Princess.
The Princess descends the stairway, attired in a shear ivory gown bespeckled with strategically placed jewels that leaves little to the imagination. Ruby gasps at the exotic beauty of the woman before her. "Princess, you are amazingly beautiful and look just perfect. Are you nervous?"
She smiles and says, "No more than any bride." Ruby notes that an attendant follows with a long white silk cape-style shawl also interlaced with jewels. The Princess says, "Thank you for the compliment about the attire." She gestures back towards the shawl and says, "Unfortunately that will be draped over me before the photographers take any formal pictures, as it is unlikely that any British or American newspapers would print a picture of my current attire. But this is how I will stand before my husband and my Gods as I make my vows."
"You and I have much in common. I have been chided for my wardrobe choices before. People can be such prudes." Ruby sighs, "But the shawl is beautiful also and hey, the rest of us will know what's on underneath! Now, is there anything you'd like me to do before the ceremony? Otherwise I will join the others and say my prayers to Aphrodite to bless your marriage."
She replies, "Your blessing will be welcomed. Please, go join your fiancé, marriages should be spent with those joined in union or planning to do so." The musicians begin playing their trumpets, flutes drums and an odd-square-shaped stringed instrument, playing the Egyptian version of a bridal march. The various attendants each take their places as incense bowls are lit.
Ruby kisses the Princess on the cheek. "Be blessed," she says, then goes into the main room. Finding George, she slides next to him, under his arm. He leans down and kisses her forehead, "Everything alright?" Ruby smiles and nods, then they wait for the wedding to start, taking in all the amazing and new sights and sounds.
The tempo of the music increases. A group of twelve dancers, four male and eight female, come out attired in form fitting gold and silver veils. They perform an elaborate routine that at various points in the performance includes wild acrobatics, twirling swords, flaming batons, and live snakes.
The musicians then change to soft background music as the priest and priestesses begin the ceremony. Neither George or Ruby can understand the language that the words are being spoken it. Mina appears to understand and gives a signal that she will fill them in later (as talking or whispering during the service would be very inappropriate).
Ruby grips George's hand in hers tightly. He is really paying close attention, as he always does. Ruby stares up at his handsome face until he looks down at her. She smiles, "I love you," she barely whispers as she squeezes his hand. Ruby had been leaving a lot of her own wedding planning to George. He wanted to have a large formal affair at his new home that was currently being built to satisfy his mother and his business associates.
Ruby didn't care as much about the wedding, and she didn't care to admit, she still had some reservations about "getting married." Not that she didn't want to marry George, it was just a mindset she still had to get over. However; this wedding was filling Ruby's heart and head with notions and the smile on her face grew as she watched the festivities.
George squeezed her hand in return and whispered "I love you" in return. His eyes though stayed fixed on the ceremony. The anthropologist in him was very curious as to the rituals and his ear was straining to catch the phonemes in the language.
The priestesses bring forward a pair of brass braziers which the fill with oil and light. A powder is then dropped into them which cause a thin smoke to fill the room with a violet tint to it in color. The bride and groom both turn to face the audience and then hold hands while the priest steps forward and places a hand on each shoulder of the General and the Princess.
As they speak George and Ruby both hear the words in perfect English, even though the lip movements do not match the words. Similar comprehension is registered on the faces of those present. What follows is a recitation of vows, but they are not vows to each other, but rather to all of Egypt. The Priest begins each section and both the bride and groom then reply in their own words. They vow to rule with fairness to all, to treat the clergy with dignity, to treat slaves with kindness, to respect the Nile River and the gods of nature, to not provoke war against their neighbors, and lastly to be good listeners to all.
As the wedding nears its conclusion those in the audience view a part of the ceremony that is far more sensual than the traditional kiss used in western society. The two stand facing one another as the groom places his hands atop his bride's head. He then slowly lowers his hands along the front and sides of her head, gently passing them over her ears, eyes nose and mouth. He continues to lower his hands over her slender neck, breasts and torso as he kneels down before her. His hands continue to descend, crossing briefly over her genital region before continuing down her legs and her feet, ending him with bowing before her and stating loudly, "I take you as mine, Princess Neferka."
She reaches out and places her hands atop his head. He begins to rise, with her hands slowly flowing down his face and neck in a similar manner as occurred moments ago. As he rises to his full height her hands lower across his chest and she kneels down before him. Her hands linger briefly over his genital region before descending down his legs to his feet. Bowing before her she stands "I take you as mine, Prince Ahmed." He holds out his hands and she clasps them, him pulling her up to her feet.
Ruby watches the ceremony with just as much, if not more, intensity as George. The sensuality of it all courses through the room and her skin tingles as her senses heighten. She squeezes George tighter as she watches with wide eyes and a large grin on her face, her excitement for the later festivities growing. The Priest declares the ceremony concluded and the hall is filled with the sound of trumpets blaring. Fireworks are then shot off from the roof outside and a loud cheer rises from the people of the city below.
She claps and cheers loudly as the ceremony ends. "After a ceremony like that I wonder what is in store for tonight!" she laughs mischievously. Mina says, "They modified the ceremony for the benefit of us Americans and the French. With the traditional Egyptian Royal wedding that final portion of the service would not have been a symbolic consummation but rather the actual consummation with all assembled as witnesses."
Ruby's eyes go wide, this time not in curiosity. "Really Nana?" Mina replies, "Absolutely, it is seen as a way to honor Isis, the Goddess of Magic and Fertility." Then Ruby chuckles. "Should we get married here, George?" she teases. "When in Rome....." replies George with a wink. Ruby crinkles her nose, confused. "But we're not IN Rome...,"
George smiles "No my pet. There is a saying 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do'. It means to adopt the local customs of where you are." "Oh." It takes a moment before the recognition crosses her face. "Ah, I get it. Silly George." She playfully smacks him. "So which part of that were you referring to? The wedding part or the, uh...," her eyes sparkle, "...Other part?" "Well, we have to abide by all local customs my love." replies George with a wink. Ruby stands on her toes and kisses George. "I suppose we must...," she kisses him again.
Nana decides not to interject into the conversation and heads across the room to converse with one of the younger Frenchmen, the same one who she had interacted with the day before.
Laughing, Ruby says, "Look we chased Nana away. I wonder if we should just have some fun tonight or actually try to gather some information to help our mission here? Either way I should check on the Princess soon and see if she needs me for anything." "Why Miss Ruby West, you have the most fun when you are working" says George as he smiles. "I am sure we can do both" "Well darn, I was hoping it'd be all play and no work but I suppose... you are right... I do always have fun!"
Meanwhile, Abby has now been flying west for several hours as the sun set. She can see Zakazik in the far distance as explosions then fill the air above the city. At first Abby suspects that it is under a bombardment of British artillery until she notes the flashes of fireworks. Abby looked for a good place to cross over the wall and land, close to where the fireworks are coming from. That's where Mrs. Parker and the others would be.
Back inside the Grand Hotel, Ruby takes George by the hand. "Let's go." as they walk towards the Princess they both take a good look around to see who they recognize at the party. "Your Highnesses!" Ruby calls out as they approach them, "Congratulations!" She gives Ruby a hug and kisses George on the cheek. She tells George, "Daguerre and Lippmann are getting their cameras to take the formal portraits. Would you like to take some as well?" "Thank you for the privilege your Highness, I would love to." says George as he signals a young boy by the door to bring in his camera. George Eastman came prepared.
The next half hour is spent with the trio of photographers taking formal portraits of the wedding party and assorted guests.
It has taken another half-hour for her to reach the city. The city-wide celebration is going on, although the guards atop the tower appear to be on full alert, not surprising given the fear of an impending British attack. A caravan of empty carts and wagons is approaching the city from the southwest and Abby has no difficulty landing unseen inside one of the larger wagons with canvas walls. The driver speaks to the guards in Greek and explains that he has come with empty wagons to help one of the wealthier families evacuate. The family is apparently known to the guards and he is hastened into the city without the wagons being searched.
Abby stayed in the wagon, deciding that a wealthier family probably lived in the same area as the palace where the wedding was taking place. She stayed until the wagon took a turn away from the area she wanted to get to, then slipped out and walked the rest of the way, asking for Mrs. Parker when she arrived at the gates.
The palace guards surrounding the grand hotel check their list, and seeing Mrs. Willamina Parker as one of the invited guests, lead Abby inside. They tell her to wait in the hallway outside of the main dining room as they head inside and inform Mina that her servant would like to see her. Mina follows the guard out into the hallway to Abby.
"Mrs. Parker," Abby said with relief. "I learned a lot more today than I bargained for. Is there somewhere private we can talk?" Mina brings Abby upstairs to her Grand Hotel room where Lawrence is waiting. She then returns to the wedding reception to inform Ruby and George that Abigail has return. She tells they to stay at the reception for a while longer and then find an excuse to leave and to meet upstairs in her room.
Mina heads up to her room to see an exhausted but frantic Abigail waiting for her. Abby took a deep breath and began explaining. "The French are planning to assassinate the King and his sons, then rule through the Queen as a puppet. A lot of other people will probably die too. Sarah Bernard and some man named Gerome Sardou are to sneak in to the Palace with an elixir. They are trying to convince a man named Abdullah, some kind of fanatic, to attack the palace to cover up what really happened.
Sarah is to impersonate a Druidess, and they're supposed to capture shepherds on the way to Cairo for some reason, I'm not sure why, without attracting attention. The shepherds protect the royal flock and aren't to be harmed. Apparently they tried once before to break into the Palace using magical disguises, but were caught. Now they're trying mundane disguises. They want to take over Egypt because they're losing France. There's chaos within their organization and France may soon become like England and America, off limits to wizards."
Mina exclaims "What! Tell us exactly what happened and was stated." Abigail spends the next half-hour relaying the story in detail." Mina's comment afterwards is "Almost unbelievable, but not entirely. My guess is that the majority of the French wizards don't know of the murder conspiracy, they are probably only aware of their own roles in this Egyptian campaign. It's probably just a handful of their leaders that are manipulating all the various pieces of this puzzle. So what do you think we should do?"
Abby shook her head. "Sorry, I'm exhausted and my mind is about spent. Obviously we can't let this happen. I don't care what your cause is, mass murder is not the answer. Perhaps we need to find the real Sarah Bernhardt. It seems this thing can't happen without her." Mina replies, "You say that she is at Heliopolis, which is a short distance North of Cairo. That is also the same location where Alsoomse and John Hardin have gone off investigating."
"I assume we have some way of contacting them, but dumping this on them doesn't seem right. They could get started looking into it for us on that end. Planning isn't my strength," Abby said and started to pace. "If we told the Princess we'd end up with a lot more people to call on."
Mina says, "The problem is, who can we actually trust? Our main advantage right now is that they don't know that we know. My gut feeling is that the Princess isn't part of this conspiracy. She might enjoy being Queen but I don't get the impression that she would knowingly murder her parents and siblings. But if we tell her I get the impression that the very first thing she would do is share that information with her new husband. I'm honestly not so sure about General Orabi. He appears very tight with these Frenchmen and we already know he openly opposed the King. This plan would leave him as the new King of Egypt, which was basically the goal of his revolution. He could easily be a part of this."
Abby says, "I agree about the Princess, I don't think she has anything to do with this. I haven't spent much time with her, but her goal seems to honestly be to stop this conflict. I wish I understood what the thing with the shepherds was."
Mina says, "The Royal Flock is a special breed of sheep raised and kept exclusively for the Egyptian Kings and Pharaohs. It was cross bred almost millennia ago from the Tunis breed that is prominent in this region and the Skopelos breed raised exclusively on the Greek island of Skopelos and adjacent mainland province of Magnissia. It has a deep auburn color wool and its meat is considered exquisite. It is used as the main course of special ceremonies."
Abby states, "So Bernhardt disguises herself as this Druidess who also guards these sheep, then gains access to the palace delivering them with her accomplice. Merimee never said what the elixir actually was, but it must a poison.” Mina says, "That makes sense. You said that the Frenchmen Moissan and Richet were referenced, both of them have expertise in poisons."
Abby says, “If we go simple, we stop Bernhardt from defeating this Druidess, but then we never find out how far this conspiracy goes. And does that matter?" Mina says, "It may matter, they seem to have multiple things going on at once. Perhaps you should take the next Cairo bound train and meet up with Alsoomse and John to carry through your idea while the rest of us continue to operate here."
As the afternoon rolls into evening in Zakazik, the entire dining area has been reserved for the Royal Wedding. General Ahmed Orabi is attired in a traditional Egyptian robe and carrying a staff as the Priest and Priestesses move toward the alter. The other guests begin to gather around.
Ruby stands in the entrance way, waiting for the princess to arrive to help her adjust her gown. She had spent some quiet quality time with George before getting herself ready in her outfit. Brightly colored veils covered her body making a robe and she was wearing a traditional gold headband in her hair that ended in jewels on her forehead. She gives George a kiss then sends him inside to find a seat while she waits for the Princess.
The Princess descends the stairway, attired in a shear ivory gown bespeckled with strategically placed jewels that leaves little to the imagination. Ruby gasps at the exotic beauty of the woman before her. "Princess, you are amazingly beautiful and look just perfect. Are you nervous?"
She smiles and says, "No more than any bride." Ruby notes that an attendant follows with a long white silk cape-style shawl also interlaced with jewels. The Princess says, "Thank you for the compliment about the attire." She gestures back towards the shawl and says, "Unfortunately that will be draped over me before the photographers take any formal pictures, as it is unlikely that any British or American newspapers would print a picture of my current attire. But this is how I will stand before my husband and my Gods as I make my vows."
"You and I have much in common. I have been chided for my wardrobe choices before. People can be such prudes." Ruby sighs, "But the shawl is beautiful also and hey, the rest of us will know what's on underneath! Now, is there anything you'd like me to do before the ceremony? Otherwise I will join the others and say my prayers to Aphrodite to bless your marriage."
She replies, "Your blessing will be welcomed. Please, go join your fiancé, marriages should be spent with those joined in union or planning to do so." The musicians begin playing their trumpets, flutes drums and an odd-square-shaped stringed instrument, playing the Egyptian version of a bridal march. The various attendants each take their places as incense bowls are lit.
Ruby kisses the Princess on the cheek. "Be blessed," she says, then goes into the main room. Finding George, she slides next to him, under his arm. He leans down and kisses her forehead, "Everything alright?" Ruby smiles and nods, then they wait for the wedding to start, taking in all the amazing and new sights and sounds.
The tempo of the music increases. A group of twelve dancers, four male and eight female, come out attired in form fitting gold and silver veils. They perform an elaborate routine that at various points in the performance includes wild acrobatics, twirling swords, flaming batons, and live snakes.
The musicians then change to soft background music as the priest and priestesses begin the ceremony. Neither George or Ruby can understand the language that the words are being spoken it. Mina appears to understand and gives a signal that she will fill them in later (as talking or whispering during the service would be very inappropriate).
Ruby grips George's hand in hers tightly. He is really paying close attention, as he always does. Ruby stares up at his handsome face until he looks down at her. She smiles, "I love you," she barely whispers as she squeezes his hand. Ruby had been leaving a lot of her own wedding planning to George. He wanted to have a large formal affair at his new home that was currently being built to satisfy his mother and his business associates.
Ruby didn't care as much about the wedding, and she didn't care to admit, she still had some reservations about "getting married." Not that she didn't want to marry George, it was just a mindset she still had to get over. However; this wedding was filling Ruby's heart and head with notions and the smile on her face grew as she watched the festivities.
George squeezed her hand in return and whispered "I love you" in return. His eyes though stayed fixed on the ceremony. The anthropologist in him was very curious as to the rituals and his ear was straining to catch the phonemes in the language.
The priestesses bring forward a pair of brass braziers which the fill with oil and light. A powder is then dropped into them which cause a thin smoke to fill the room with a violet tint to it in color. The bride and groom both turn to face the audience and then hold hands while the priest steps forward and places a hand on each shoulder of the General and the Princess.
As they speak George and Ruby both hear the words in perfect English, even though the lip movements do not match the words. Similar comprehension is registered on the faces of those present. What follows is a recitation of vows, but they are not vows to each other, but rather to all of Egypt. The Priest begins each section and both the bride and groom then reply in their own words. They vow to rule with fairness to all, to treat the clergy with dignity, to treat slaves with kindness, to respect the Nile River and the gods of nature, to not provoke war against their neighbors, and lastly to be good listeners to all.
As the wedding nears its conclusion those in the audience view a part of the ceremony that is far more sensual than the traditional kiss used in western society. The two stand facing one another as the groom places his hands atop his bride's head. He then slowly lowers his hands along the front and sides of her head, gently passing them over her ears, eyes nose and mouth. He continues to lower his hands over her slender neck, breasts and torso as he kneels down before her. His hands continue to descend, crossing briefly over her genital region before continuing down her legs and her feet, ending him with bowing before her and stating loudly, "I take you as mine, Princess Neferka."
She reaches out and places her hands atop his head. He begins to rise, with her hands slowly flowing down his face and neck in a similar manner as occurred moments ago. As he rises to his full height her hands lower across his chest and she kneels down before him. Her hands linger briefly over his genital region before descending down his legs to his feet. Bowing before her she stands "I take you as mine, Prince Ahmed." He holds out his hands and she clasps them, him pulling her up to her feet.
Ruby watches the ceremony with just as much, if not more, intensity as George. The sensuality of it all courses through the room and her skin tingles as her senses heighten. She squeezes George tighter as she watches with wide eyes and a large grin on her face, her excitement for the later festivities growing. The Priest declares the ceremony concluded and the hall is filled with the sound of trumpets blaring. Fireworks are then shot off from the roof outside and a loud cheer rises from the people of the city below.
She claps and cheers loudly as the ceremony ends. "After a ceremony like that I wonder what is in store for tonight!" she laughs mischievously. Mina says, "They modified the ceremony for the benefit of us Americans and the French. With the traditional Egyptian Royal wedding that final portion of the service would not have been a symbolic consummation but rather the actual consummation with all assembled as witnesses."
Ruby's eyes go wide, this time not in curiosity. "Really Nana?" Mina replies, "Absolutely, it is seen as a way to honor Isis, the Goddess of Magic and Fertility." Then Ruby chuckles. "Should we get married here, George?" she teases. "When in Rome....." replies George with a wink. Ruby crinkles her nose, confused. "But we're not IN Rome...,"
George smiles "No my pet. There is a saying 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do'. It means to adopt the local customs of where you are." "Oh." It takes a moment before the recognition crosses her face. "Ah, I get it. Silly George." She playfully smacks him. "So which part of that were you referring to? The wedding part or the, uh...," her eyes sparkle, "...Other part?" "Well, we have to abide by all local customs my love." replies George with a wink. Ruby stands on her toes and kisses George. "I suppose we must...," she kisses him again.
Nana decides not to interject into the conversation and heads across the room to converse with one of the younger Frenchmen, the same one who she had interacted with the day before.
Laughing, Ruby says, "Look we chased Nana away. I wonder if we should just have some fun tonight or actually try to gather some information to help our mission here? Either way I should check on the Princess soon and see if she needs me for anything." "Why Miss Ruby West, you have the most fun when you are working" says George as he smiles. "I am sure we can do both" "Well darn, I was hoping it'd be all play and no work but I suppose... you are right... I do always have fun!"
Meanwhile, Abby has now been flying west for several hours as the sun set. She can see Zakazik in the far distance as explosions then fill the air above the city. At first Abby suspects that it is under a bombardment of British artillery until she notes the flashes of fireworks. Abby looked for a good place to cross over the wall and land, close to where the fireworks are coming from. That's where Mrs. Parker and the others would be.
Back inside the Grand Hotel, Ruby takes George by the hand. "Let's go." as they walk towards the Princess they both take a good look around to see who they recognize at the party. "Your Highnesses!" Ruby calls out as they approach them, "Congratulations!" She gives Ruby a hug and kisses George on the cheek. She tells George, "Daguerre and Lippmann are getting their cameras to take the formal portraits. Would you like to take some as well?" "Thank you for the privilege your Highness, I would love to." says George as he signals a young boy by the door to bring in his camera. George Eastman came prepared.
The next half hour is spent with the trio of photographers taking formal portraits of the wedding party and assorted guests.
It has taken another half-hour for her to reach the city. The city-wide celebration is going on, although the guards atop the tower appear to be on full alert, not surprising given the fear of an impending British attack. A caravan of empty carts and wagons is approaching the city from the southwest and Abby has no difficulty landing unseen inside one of the larger wagons with canvas walls. The driver speaks to the guards in Greek and explains that he has come with empty wagons to help one of the wealthier families evacuate. The family is apparently known to the guards and he is hastened into the city without the wagons being searched.
Abby stayed in the wagon, deciding that a wealthier family probably lived in the same area as the palace where the wedding was taking place. She stayed until the wagon took a turn away from the area she wanted to get to, then slipped out and walked the rest of the way, asking for Mrs. Parker when she arrived at the gates.
The palace guards surrounding the grand hotel check their list, and seeing Mrs. Willamina Parker as one of the invited guests, lead Abby inside. They tell her to wait in the hallway outside of the main dining room as they head inside and inform Mina that her servant would like to see her. Mina follows the guard out into the hallway to Abby.
"Mrs. Parker," Abby said with relief. "I learned a lot more today than I bargained for. Is there somewhere private we can talk?" Mina brings Abby upstairs to her Grand Hotel room where Lawrence is waiting. She then returns to the wedding reception to inform Ruby and George that Abigail has return. She tells they to stay at the reception for a while longer and then find an excuse to leave and to meet upstairs in her room.
Mina heads up to her room to see an exhausted but frantic Abigail waiting for her. Abby took a deep breath and began explaining. "The French are planning to assassinate the King and his sons, then rule through the Queen as a puppet. A lot of other people will probably die too. Sarah Bernard and some man named Gerome Sardou are to sneak in to the Palace with an elixir. They are trying to convince a man named Abdullah, some kind of fanatic, to attack the palace to cover up what really happened.
Sarah is to impersonate a Druidess, and they're supposed to capture shepherds on the way to Cairo for some reason, I'm not sure why, without attracting attention. The shepherds protect the royal flock and aren't to be harmed. Apparently they tried once before to break into the Palace using magical disguises, but were caught. Now they're trying mundane disguises. They want to take over Egypt because they're losing France. There's chaos within their organization and France may soon become like England and America, off limits to wizards."
Mina exclaims "What! Tell us exactly what happened and was stated." Abigail spends the next half-hour relaying the story in detail." Mina's comment afterwards is "Almost unbelievable, but not entirely. My guess is that the majority of the French wizards don't know of the murder conspiracy, they are probably only aware of their own roles in this Egyptian campaign. It's probably just a handful of their leaders that are manipulating all the various pieces of this puzzle. So what do you think we should do?"
Abby shook her head. "Sorry, I'm exhausted and my mind is about spent. Obviously we can't let this happen. I don't care what your cause is, mass murder is not the answer. Perhaps we need to find the real Sarah Bernhardt. It seems this thing can't happen without her." Mina replies, "You say that she is at Heliopolis, which is a short distance North of Cairo. That is also the same location where Alsoomse and John Hardin have gone off investigating."
"I assume we have some way of contacting them, but dumping this on them doesn't seem right. They could get started looking into it for us on that end. Planning isn't my strength," Abby said and started to pace. "If we told the Princess we'd end up with a lot more people to call on."
Mina says, "The problem is, who can we actually trust? Our main advantage right now is that they don't know that we know. My gut feeling is that the Princess isn't part of this conspiracy. She might enjoy being Queen but I don't get the impression that she would knowingly murder her parents and siblings. But if we tell her I get the impression that the very first thing she would do is share that information with her new husband. I'm honestly not so sure about General Orabi. He appears very tight with these Frenchmen and we already know he openly opposed the King. This plan would leave him as the new King of Egypt, which was basically the goal of his revolution. He could easily be a part of this."
Abby says, "I agree about the Princess, I don't think she has anything to do with this. I haven't spent much time with her, but her goal seems to honestly be to stop this conflict. I wish I understood what the thing with the shepherds was."
Mina says, "The Royal Flock is a special breed of sheep raised and kept exclusively for the Egyptian Kings and Pharaohs. It was cross bred almost millennia ago from the Tunis breed that is prominent in this region and the Skopelos breed raised exclusively on the Greek island of Skopelos and adjacent mainland province of Magnissia. It has a deep auburn color wool and its meat is considered exquisite. It is used as the main course of special ceremonies."
Abby states, "So Bernhardt disguises herself as this Druidess who also guards these sheep, then gains access to the palace delivering them with her accomplice. Merimee never said what the elixir actually was, but it must a poison.” Mina says, "That makes sense. You said that the Frenchmen Moissan and Richet were referenced, both of them have expertise in poisons."
Abby says, “If we go simple, we stop Bernhardt from defeating this Druidess, but then we never find out how far this conspiracy goes. And does that matter?" Mina says, "It may matter, they seem to have multiple things going on at once. Perhaps you should take the next Cairo bound train and meet up with Alsoomse and John to carry through your idea while the rest of us continue to operate here."