AGELESS CAMPAIGN, Episode II, Part VI.

[Fenris]

He replies, "An interesting question, and the answer is somewhat dependent upon what role you wish for Princess Amisi to play in the negotiations. She is fluent in the languages of Arabic, Italian and Ancient Egyptian, with her grasp of the English language far less so. If the discussions are in English she will probably be able to follow some of the conversation, and if we move the Arabic scribe's chair closer to her she could follow along, but she would not really be able to contribute. For the discussions with the British that would probably be wise.

However, she has known General Orabi for years as a family friend, as he has her as well. If called upon she might be able to assist in the discussions if they are in Arabic.

Queen Neferka has also thrown a major wild card into this mix for the Orabi discussion, by formally naming Amisi as her heir. A formal declaration was actually not needed, as Amisi was next in the line of succession up until Queen Neferka has a child. General Orabi would assume that his child through Neferka would automatically become the next monarch, but that is no longer the case, as Amisi will remain the heir until Neferka declares otherwise. He also does not know of this declaration yet, although the Queen has made it official through a proclamation that will become public knowledge later today."

"Well, then let's make it fair and conduct everything in Esperanto which Doctor Zamenhof has developed." says George to Hassan. George holds for a moment then laughs at the look of confusion on Hassan's face. "I am sorry my friend, a little linguistic jest. I will conduct each separate meeting in the native tongue of the faction. I will alternate for the main conference, even if it means speaking twice. I think it will be important to again show no partiality to either side." replies George. "Amisi will, as you suggest, do well to stay near the scribe when we speak with the British side alone, but she will have no problem in the main room."

 

[Silver Moon]

"I told Cal I expected to be treated like a Queen, and I felt like one. Being asked to dance by more than one gentleman didn't hurt either."

Charles says, "Well then, I am glad that you are enjoying your stay here. If you will excuse me, I need to check in with my Agriculture Manager prior to the afternoon meeting."

Following the meal Callum says, "Would you care for the tour of is there anything else you would prefer to do first?"

 

[Silver Moon]

"I will alternate for the main conference, even if it means speaking twice. I think it will be important to again show no partiality to either side." replies George. "Amisi will, as you suggest, do well to stay near the scribe when we speak with the British side alone, but she will have no problem in the main room."

He says "Very good. I will go and retrieve the Princess and send word to the British to join us in ten minutes. ". Hearing that the meeting will begin soon, the two scribes each retrieve large leather bound books with blank pages and arrange several ink pens on the table before them. Before exiting the room Colonel Hassan asks, "Is there anything else that will be needed here for the discussions?"

 

[orchid blossom]

Charles says, "Well then, I am glad that you are enjoying your stay here. If you will excuse me, I need to check in with my Agriculture Manager prior to the afternoon meeting."

Following the meal Callum says, "Would you care for the tour of is there anything else you would prefer to do first?"

"The tour sounds perfect," she said with a smile. "A bit of a walk with you is just what I need after breakfast."

 

[Silver Moon]

"The tour sounds perfect," she said with a smile. "A bit of a walk with you is just what I need after breakfast."

"Well, this is obviously the main dining room. As this building was known to the public as Mary's 'countryside retreat' it was not necessary to have a room larger than this one." Pointing towards the rear swinging doors he says, "And those are the entrances to the kitchen, the pantry, and the first floor water closet."

They head out into the main lobby with Callum narrating, "This room you already known. In Mary's day the large castle painting and the two large tapestries were all the adornment. It was Charles Stuart who added most of the remainder, including the statue of Mary."

Pointing towards the other side wall he says, "The door to the left of the Royals tapestry is the music room, basically Mary Stuart's room for entertaining. The door to the right is the library, which was her husband Francis II's room for entertaining. We'll save those rooms for last, come on upstairs."

 

[orchid blossom]

Pointing towards the other side wall he says, "The door to the left of the Royals tapestry is the music room, basically Mary Stuart's room for entertaining. The door to the right is the library, which was her husband Francis II's room for entertaining. We'll save those rooms for last, come on upstairs."

Abigail felt the pull of the library, but she knew she would have her chance to spend plenty of time in there later while the others were busy. She slipped her arm in Cal's and went up the stairs with him.

"Was there a lot of entertaining her during Mary Stuart's time here?"

 

[Silver Moon]

"Was there a lot of entertaining her during Mary Stuart's time here?"

He smiles and says "Yes and no. She held the occasional event for visiting Royalty, but in reality it was her magical research colleagues who she had here under the guise of entertainment."

They reach the second floor and he first gestures to the room she stayed in saying. "That guest room which you stayed in, and the one across from it are identical in size and each cover 375 square feet, excluding the bath facilities."

Gesturing further down the all to the east he says, the next pair are very similar in style and decor, but slightly smaller at 300 square feet, as the bathrooms for the end rooms take some of their square footage. The three doors at the east end are to a storage closet for the maids and for the two larger rooms at 500 square feet and 600 square feet, the larger now being Charles's and the other being Meagan's.

Turning left to the west he points to the next pair of doors saying, these are smaller rooms, each only around 200 square feet in size and with water closets rather than a full bath. Each also has a door into the Royal rooms at the end of the hall. Mary Stuart's Lady-in-waiting used one of these while King Francis II's Page of Honor used the other.

He then opens the door at the end of the hall, which is vast at 25 by 35 feet in size. The quantity of riches is brightening, with all furnished having gold guild-work and the richest of materials. "This was Mary Stuart's room, the largest in the building at 875 feet. Both Meagan's grandfather and mother each used this room when they were the Landholder. My Aunt Baronese chose not to, leaving it available for visiting guests. I have done the same."

He then opens the final door to an equally opulent but slightly smaller room that is 25 feet square. "This was King Francis II's room for the few times when he visited his wife here. I am the current occupant, although in truth, I am never really comfortable living here given the museum nature of the room. That is why I welcomed the extended visit from my Torchwood colleagues, as that gave me an excuse to stay at the farmhouse instead."

 

[orchid blossom]

He then opens the final door to an equally opulent but slightly smaller room that is 25 feet square. "This was King Francis II's room for the few times when he visited his wife here. I am the current occupant, although in truth, I am never really comfortable living here given the museum nature of the room. That is why I welcomed the extended visit from my Torchwood colleagues, as that gave me an excuse to stay at the farmhouse instead."

"And I suppose you can't just choose to stay in one of the simpler rooms. There is an image to maintain. All of us, whether grand or humble have restrictions on our choices.

Much as I've studied, I can't really imagine this kind of life. I'm glad you had the opportunity to stay at the farmhouse for a while, at least."

 

[Silver Moon]

"And I suppose you can't just choose to stay in one of the simpler rooms. There is an image to maintain. All of us, whether grand or humble have restrictions on our choices.

"Not taking Mary's room is as far down as I can go."

Much as I've studied, I can't really imagine this kind of life. I'm glad you had the opportunity to stay at the farmhouse for a while, at least."

"That and I had friends there with my team. I will miss that life."

They head back downstairs and towards the remaining two rooms. He says, "These mirror the size of the rooms above them and with similar purpose. The largest is the music room and was basically Queen Mary's entertainment room." He opens the door, with the most prominent feature of the room being a harpsichord with elaborate designs on it in gold. Other musical instruments are mounted on specially designed holders on the wall. All of the furnishings in the room are elaborate 16th century pieces, with two sofas and fifteen chairs with matching end tables.

He says, "Mary Stuart had the harpsichord made in Italy. She was ahead of her time, as the instruments were just starting to become popular then. Bonnie Prince Charlie had it replaced with a grand piano, but when Aunt Baronese became landholder she brought Mary's original harpsichord out of storage and back here where it belonged. We still have Charles's grand piano, it is in a magic room beneath one of the mock farmhouses where we use it for Bardic magic."

 

[Fenris]

He says "Very good. I will go and retrieve the Princess and send word to the British to join us in ten minutes. ". Hearing that the meeting will begin soon, the two scribes each retrieve large leather bound books with blank pages and arrange several ink pens on the table before them. Before exiting the room Colonel Hassan asks, "Is there anything else that will be needed here for the discussions?"

"Yes, patience, understanding, compromise and altruism. Unfortunately, these aren't things you and I can bring, our guests need to, whether they do or not will color these discussion." says George grimly. "Let us begin."