Angels

would grant them an opportunity to speak.

  Courtenay held up his hand. 'Gentlemen!' he said, raising his voice, 'Please! You are all familiar with council protocol. If anyone has anything to say, they must step forward before the Emperor.'

  Lord Allington was the first. He strolled from behind his lectern with a level of confidence that only a long standing Governor would possess.

  'My Lord,' Frederick acknowledged, nodding in his direction.

  'It is a matter of common history, Sire,' Allington said, 'that New Brunswick has exchanged hands between our two states many times over the centuries. Despite these bloody histories there has been peace between ourselves and the Commonwealth for close to one hundred years.' He waited for a moment, looking around the faces of the gathered council. 'How do we know that this is not a build up of troops in readiness for an attempt to wrest my Province from the Empire, and place it under Commonwealth control?'

  'My Lord,' Frederick replied, 'the Queen has stated, on written record, and to me in person, that she is not of a mind to, in her very own words, repatriate New Brunswick at this time. It is also on record that she has in the past said that the continuation of the long term peace, and the stability it brings to the region, is more important to the Commonwealth than revisiting any era underlined by pointless loss of life.'

  Frederick looked along the line and saw that at least three or four of the Governors were nodding their heads in agreement.

  'Trade is stable, as are cultural exchanges between us. But, in any event, this is not the key matter of relevance,' he continued. 'The real question we should be looking to answer is the one of who is attacking her people?'

  Giles Morley, the Governor of West Romana, stepped forward into the ring. 'Sire,' he said, 'how do we know that these attacks are not a construction of the Queen herself? A complex ploy, used as an excuse to recommence hostilities, perhaps?'

  This statement seemed to attract the assent of more of the Governors. They murmured amongst themselves, and Frederick knew that he would have to step in. He held up his hands. 'My Lords,' he said, 'I have looked into the eyes of the Queen myself. There was no lie in them.'

  'With the greatest respect, Sire,' Allington said, 'that is hardly the most conclusive proof.'

  Lord Bartholomew Cole, the Governor of New Dacia, joined the two men before the Emperor. 'Sire,' he said, 'what I think my Lord Allington is trying to say is, how do we know that she is sincere? Troops on her side of the border are being reinforced every day. Surely, that can mean only one thing.'

  Again, the Governors seemed to give this statement general agreement.

  Frederick shook his head. 'The Queen has assured me that she does not have the desire, or indeed the wherewithal, to wage an extended conflict against the Empire,' he said. 'And, My Lords, I am of a mind to believe her.'

  Frederick looked down at his Governors. For the first time that he could remember since he had taken the crown, the men were showing more animation and concern than at any other. They were clearly worried, and he needed to say something to calm them, he knew that.

  'I do not know who is perpetrating the attacks on the Commonwealth,' he said, 'but, we have both entreated to try to find out. The Queen has sent men to the area to investigate and I have allowed them safe passage across the border, if required, to see for themselves that it is not the Empire that is taking action.'

  This news sent waves of discontent around their Lordships. It was not a popular point to concede and as he made it he felt control of the meeting slipping from his grasp.

  Lord Allington, reading the reaction of the other men, stepped forward again. 'Would you have them walk up to the very gates of Highport itself, Sire? Please, Your Highness, for the sake of your people, place the troops in New Brunswick on high alert. Reinforce those already near the border. It is the only chance we have. Any longer and we would have insufficient time to react to an invasion force.'

  Governors roared approval at Allington's words and Frederick was dismayed at their reaction, he knew that he was losing the debate.

  'My Lord Allington,' he said, 'at this point in time it is my view that we will not take any action that may provoke the Queen into sending her troops across the border in numbers!'

  'So,' Allington replied, 'I ask, again with the greatest respect. What is it that his Imperial Highness does intend to do?'

  The other Governors watched on in silence as Allington offered the direct challenge to Frederick.

  'My Lord Allington,' Frederick said, 'His Imperial Highness intends to keep all channels of communication open with Her Majesty. It is His Imperial Highness's belief that whilst dialogue is ongoing with the Commonwealth then there is every chance that war might be averted.' He could see that about half the Governors were nodding their heads in silent assent at his remarks. That gave him some comfort, at least.

  Allington looked down at his feet, pausing for a moment before raising his eyes to look up at Frederick. 'Then, Sire,' he said, 'I hope for all our sakes you are right.' Having had his say, he turned and made his way back to his position in the line with the others.

  Frederick was annoyed, but he could also understand the concerns that had been raised. 'I realise that all the answers are not yet clear, but there you are, my Lords. These are the facts laid out plainly for you to see,' he said. 'We must, therefore, wait to see how this unfolds. It is of vital importance that the people are calmed, so it is my decree that you are all dismissed to return to your provinces to take whatever soothing action you deem necessary for your people. Reassure them that all is being done. Make it clear that they will be safe in their homes. Tell them that their families will be protected if the need arises.'

  Frederick looked along the faces of his Governors again. 'I would ask, though, that you all pray that in the meantime I will be able to find a way to reason with the Queen.'

  Frederick marched down the steps, bringing himself to the same level as the rest of the Council Members.

  'But, my friends,' he said, 'let's talk about lighter matters for a moment. There is first, however, the not-so small matter of the Emperor's Feast Ball.' He threw out his arms. 'To which you are all, of course, warmly invited. So, please, join me in celebration before you leave. You would all do Her Highness and I a great honour if you would grace us with your presence. In the meantime, please avail yourself of any of the hospitality offered. Be my guests, and allow the Palace staff to make you feel at home.'

  The Governors understood this announcement to mean that the meeting was at an end and they all bowed in the direction of Frederick. He returned the courtesy before walking over to the Chamberlain.

  'My Lord Courtenay,' he said, his voice lowered so that only the two of them could hear, 'please would you be so kind as to see our guests back to their quarters. Make sure they have all they want to eat and drink and that they are looked after. It is important that they are kept on our side and that the opportunity to chatter amongst themselves is minimised. Is that clear?'

  'I understand, Your Highness.'

  'Now,' Frederick said, 'I am off to my bed, and to my wife. It has been a very long and trying day.' Frederick gave one last bow to the Lords and then headed towards the exit that would take him back to the stairs, and to Kateryn.

  As he passed the scribe, he stopped. 'Thank you for your assistance this evening, Master de Malyns,' he said, 'as always I am in your debt.' The scribe smiled and Frederick walked on, through the door that the page boy had opened for him to pass.

  oOo

  Lord Allington watched the Emperor cross the room towards the exit. As soon as Frederick's back was turned a sneer formed on his face. He reached out to Lord Cole, who had already begun to walk away, and clutched at his arm.

  Cole looked down at Allington's hand and then up to his face. 'You have a problem, My Lord?' he said.

  'A problem indeed,' Allington replied. 'Let us hope, My Lord Cole,' he said, in a whispered tone, 'that the Empire is not at any great military disadvantage whilst
the Emperor is enjoying his partying.'

  'My Lord Allington,' Cole said, 'this is hardly the best place to discuss such matters. Perhaps it is a subject that we could explore at some other, more appropriate, time.'

  'Well, it needs to be,' Allington said, 'and soon. New Brunswick has grown tired of being the Shield of the Empire. It is about time that it also became its blade. I will not leave Highport without assurances that we will not be left to fend for ourselves, should push come to shove.'

  'Surely, My Lord, you are not suggesting that His Highness would desert his own people in the event of hostilities.' Cole pulled his arm free.

  'How do we know that he would not?'

  Cole frowned. 'It is true that he has never been tested on the great questions, but, to suggest he would abandon his own people is—'

  'Is what?' Allington asked.

  'My Lord,' Cole said, 'you tread on dangerous ground. I fear the words at which you are hinting are borderline treasonous. What is it, may I ask, that you are actually suggesting is done?'

  'I don't know what I'm suggesting,' Allington replied, 'but too much Brunswick blood has been spilled throughout history for me to sit back and allow Ysabel to claim my province back as her own quite so easily.' He frowned as he looked back across the Audience Chamber towards the door that the Emperor had passed through moments before. 'We owe it to the glorious dead to honour their sacrifice with more effort than just standing aside and allowing her to take anything she wants.'

  Cole raised his hand and patted Allington on his back. 'Don't you think you are being a little premature, my friend? Things may yet turn out not to look so black. There is always hope, and as the Emperor says, he may yet be able to convince the Queen that war is not in anyone's interest. Come, My Lord,' he said, 'I'll walk with you to your room. It has been a long day, and we are all tired. I'm sure all of this will look a shade of a different colour in the morning. It always does.'

  'I have no intention of going to my bed yet,' Allington replied. 'I need to get some fresh air. I find myself feeling somewhat stifled in this place, and by this evening's proceedings. I mean to ponder further on matters.'

  9

  Kateryn stretched out on in her chair, warming herself in the rosy glow from the fire in the hearth. She had enjoyed her pleasant evening in front of the fire telling tales with Rose and Eleanor, and the three women were still laughing as the door opened and Frederick stomped through. Her husband's face looked drawn and tired, and his frowning brow told her all that she needed to know about how he felt the Council meeting had gone.

  She flashed a look across to her two ladies-in-waiting and they rose from their seats. Over the years the three of them had become well attuned and the girls would know that this was their cue to leave. They curtseyed to Frederick and Kateryn in turn, and then made their way over to the door.

  'Good night, ladies,' Kateryn said. 'See you in the morning.'

  Frederick paced over to his favourite chair and slumped into it, deep in thought. He rested his head on his hand and exhaled a long breath of air. 'Well that went well,' he said.

  Kateryn lifted herself from her seat and walked over to join him. Frederick only tended to use sarcasm in extreme circumstances so she instantly recognised the tone in his words. Instead of taking a seat next to him, she continued to walk around to the back of his chair.

  He looked over his shoulder at her, a puzzled look on his face.

  'Lean forward at little,' she said.

  'What?'

  'I said, lean forward.'

  Frederick did as he was told. Kateryn reached over the back of the chair and rubbed his shoulders, pressing her thumbs hard into the muscles around his neck.

  Frederick groaned. 'That’s good,' he said, as