"I was not suggesting it was impossible, I never rule anything as impossible."
"Whoever, and whatever we send need to be able to keep a secret well enough to not show it at all..."
Ahmetia Travels to Ruritania
(257 posts) (2 voices)-
Thu Sep 2 2010 3:28 am #
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Sapt, who has gone from standing to pacing, suddenly sits and throws up his hands.
"I'm not young anymore," he says. "We need a hero."
--M. J. Young
Sat Sep 4 2010 1:52 am # -
"You said yourself Sapt, we're at a stalemate with Michelle right now. We'll find someone, or some people. We just need to not rule anything out, but not act hastily either."
Sat Sep 4 2010 2:12 am # -
Sapt nods thoughtfully, then says, "Right. Well, tomorrow we will have another day of training, and then it's back to Strelsau for more diplomatic meetings on Monday and Tuesday, and back here for a day of work on Wednesday. We'll have you shooting like a recruit, at least, before you know it."
Suddenly he looks at you and says, "Does your majesty swim?"
--M. J. Young
Sun Sep 5 2010 7:46 pm # -
"I try...I'm a very weak swimmer...I love to swim, but I never had proper lessons so I've never been very good at it..."
Mon Sep 6 2010 4:14 am # -
Sapt smiles.
"Then of course we'll have to have you train in the lake. The water should be warm enough by now--it's June, after all. We'll also get a row boat and work on rowing, too. Michelle won't be able to complain about you having people with you at the lake if you're obviously there for a reason. Frieda, find a woman who can teach her majesty swimming and boating. We'll add that to her list.
"I assume you agree?"
--M. J. Young
Wed Sep 8 2010 2:51 am # -
I'm a bit confused as to why he wants me swimming and boating in that lake.
Wed Sep 8 2010 4:38 am # -
I'm assuming that you are somehow expressing your confusion.
For one thing, the lake at Zenda is the obvious place for you to swim and boat. It is on the edge of the Royal Game Preserve, and technically part of the royal properties; it is also secluded and relatively private, and the queen can take her recreation there without the peasantry or even the uninvited nobility impinging on her solitude. Secondly, while she is there, it gives opportunity to observe the castle at Zenda--not perhaps as closely as Sapt might like, as it would look somewhat suspicious to be staring at the gates with opera glasses, but sufficiently to mark comings and goings and get some sense of how many people might be there and what travels they make. Finally, while he has no illusions that he can turn you into a champion swimmer and boater (not to mention fencer and marksman) in the few months before some plan is launched, your skill in these areas might be useful when a rescue is mounted--and it is a place where you can practice where no one will compare your ability to memories of the queen, in any aspect.
Were you questioning the reasoning behind training you in those skills, or behind doing so at that particular location?
--M. J. Young
Thu Sep 9 2010 2:24 am # -
The particular location, cause I figured it might still be too much of a risk to even be in the lake where she might draw suspicion.
Thu Sep 9 2010 3:12 am # -
"Let her suspect. She knows that she has the real queen and that you're an imposter; she knows she can't call your bluff without revealing her own treason. She can't stop us from watching. Knowing Michelle, she'll probably stand on the battlements watching back, gloating that we can't get her prisoner, and thinking her position unassailable. And when we figure out how to assail that position, we will have her."
--M. J. Young
Fri Sep 10 2010 12:49 am # -
"In the meantime, I think it'll be good to be more familiar with everyone around. It'll give us a clearer view of who might be right for the job."
Fri Sep 10 2010 2:11 am # -
Your routine continues--two days of meetings with dignitaries and officials, one day of hard work at the game preserve, two more days of meetings, two days at the game preserve.
Michelle does watch you when you are swimming and boating, and even when she's not she has someone else watching. Sapt smiles, as if your presence in sight of her windows is part of a tease.
You are definitely feeling the effects of the workouts, if nothing else. You've also tried quite a variety of international foods by this point, and nearly run through the entire diplomatic corps, so the meetings should taper off soon.
Let's get skill ability levels for your swimming and boating skills. Are you as good as an average amateur swimming? Do you have any experience in a rowboat or a canoe or similar small watercraft (sailfish, sunfish)?
--M. J. Young
Sat Sep 11 2010 1:28 am # -
((I'm a weak average swimmer, I mostly float when I do. As for rowboat, never been in one in my life, so I have no clue about any of it.))
Sat Sep 11 2010 1:41 am # -
As the visiting dignitaries are all greeted and treated and sent home, the regular business shifts to a less frantic pace. Sapt studies the sketches of Zenda's castle and the intel reports from his observers, sometimes commenting on one aspect or another of the details. Frieda frets about maintaining your appearance as Queen of Ruritania while limiting public access to you.
A few weeks into this, she broaches a different subject.
"Prince Flavius has been sending emissaries." Your heart skips a beat at the mention of that gorgeous cousin your duplicate is expected to marry, and you wonder why someone in the same building would be sending emissaries, but that apparently is how it is done. "He would like to know if he could accompany her majesty on one of her hunting trips. I have avoided answering, but he is getting persistent. He also says that Duchess Michelle has invited him to stay at the castle at Zenda and hunt with her."
Sapt frowns.
--M. J. Young
Sun Sep 12 2010 8:07 pm # -
"Tell me Sapt, how would you think the three of us going at once would go?"
Mon Sep 13 2010 1:53 am # -
"The three? Going where? Are you thinking of you and Flavius going hunting with Michelle?"
--M. J. Young
Tue Sep 14 2010 1:55 am # -
"I think we're over-looking him, but I'm afraid to be alone with him. Michelle would likely love to interrupt me and flirt with him, but she'd probably be far more interested in making me victim to a hunting accident."
Tue Sep 14 2010 2:10 am # -
Sapt puzzles over this.
"I don't think Michelle's invitation to Flavius extends to you. We could of course force ourselves upon her hospitality, but it would be difficult--after all, Michelle knows that you are not the queen. I dare say that the Duchess has some scheme afoot that would detain the Prince, giving her two hostages, although she would find a means of persuading the Prince that he is not prisoner.
"No, if Flavius is to enter Zenda, he must already understand that Michelle is holding the Queen and that you are acting the part to protect the throne. There is too great a chance that Michelle would turn the story about, claiming that she rescued her half-sister from our plot to usurp the throne, but that without his aid she cannot prove that you are not the true Queen.
"We must at least discourage Flavius from entering the castle, for one way or another I fear he will not return save as the Duchess' consort. We probably also will have to include him in our plans, but with care, as I cannot predict how he will react to our deception."
--M. J. Young
Tue Sep 14 2010 6:27 pm # -
"I meant more to extend an invitation to both of them."
"It'll take much care, so perhaps is better just to take him up on his offer, if my marksmanship is near par. But it might be better to handle this over a long time and be sure he wont react in a detrimental way."
Tue Sep 14 2010 8:11 pm # -
Sapt considers it for a moment.
"Let's not risk a hunting accident. Michelle would see such an invitation as an opportunity to court the favor of the prince and to eliminate you without creating suspicion. She would undoubtedly arrive with some of her retinue, who can be depended upon to carry out an assassination on her orders.
"But I do think we should invite the prince, and probably consider how to bring him into our plans gradually."
Frieda says, "He could be told that Michelle is holding a very dear friend of the Queen, and threatening to kill her if the Queen does not abdicate. He does not need to know that it is the queen being held to become part of the rescue."
"True," Sapt says. "On the other hand, if he knew it was Rudolpha, he would undoubtedly be more willing to take the risks that might be necessary for her sake."
"Then we must consider when to tell him. But let's get him involved now."
--M. J. Young
Thu Sep 16 2010 6:19 am # -
"Then it's settled. We'll still probably have to tell him my friend is being held, and later we'll tell him the truth. Though we might not want to be to heavy on the friend story, especially if he refuses."
Thu Sep 16 2010 2:35 pm # -
On the next one-day trip Prince Flavius is along for the ride.
You can reach the train station either by horseback or by carriage, and then breakfast on the private rail car while riding from Strelsau to Zenda. You would almost certainly have to go by horseback from the station at Zenda to the lodge.
If you go by horseback, there is a chance Flavius will notice that you're not riding so well as he would expect, but you will not be alone with him in the carriage (as you would if you took the carriage, Sapt and Frieda riding outside to watch). Of course, you might prefer to ride privately with that gorgeous guy who leaves you tongue-tied and dry-mouthed. You will have to talk with him on the train, but you will have Sapt and Frieda with you then to help with the conversation.
Your choice on how to travel to the station.
--M. J. Young
Sun Sep 19 2010 11:15 pm # -
I'll likely choose to go by horseback and blame my recent duties to why I am not riding as well as I would be.
Mon Sep 20 2010 1:15 am # -
You manage the ride to the train well enough not to elicit comments.
Once on the train, you and your companions are served breakfast (whatever breakfast you chose, of course).
"Your highness," Sapt begins once breakfast is served, "we must admit that we have been keeping you in the dark. We have been keeping all Ruritania in the dark, and have decided that you, first of all, will be admitted to our confidence. Our trips to Zenda are not entirely recreational."
Sapt sets aside his food and lights his pipe before he continues.
"There is a woman who is very dear to Her Majesty, whom the Duchess Michelle knows to have some importance to her. Michelle has taken her captive, and his holding her hostage in an effort to force Her Majesty to abdicate. We are attempting to devise a rescue of this woman, and hopefully to force Michelle to reveal her guilt sufficiently that she may be prosecuted for treason. However, there is every chance that Michelle will have her prisoner killed if she perceives that such an attempt is being made. Thus we proceed with great caution.
"We have agreed to bring you with us in the hope that you will be able to assist in the rescue. We must insist, however, that you reveal nothing of this to anyone, not even your manservant, not Marshall Stracencz, not the Archbishop."
Flavius looks concerned. "Who," he asks, "could be so important to Your Majesty, that Michelle believes she can barter one life for the kingdom?"
"We are not at present at liberty to explain that," Sapt says. "Majesty, would you wish to add anything?"
--M. J. Young
Tue Sep 21 2010 2:01 am # -
"Only my hope that you agree to help us Flavius."
Tue Sep 21 2010 2:08 am # -
"Oh--oh, absolutely. You know that I would do whatever Your Majesty requires. If you cannot confide in me the identity of this person, I accept that."
"We will certainly tell you," Sapt says, "when the time is right. For now, we need to devise a plan to rescue her."
"I understand."
Frieda says, "won't it upset Michelle to see His Highness spending time with Her Majesty?"
"Indeed, I hope it does," Sapt says. "Whatever puts Michelle off balance is to our benefit. You do know, I'm sure, Your Highness, that Michelle would be eager to take you for her groom so as to improve her claim to the throne. She also probably would not hesitate to have you killed if she believed you were becoming an impediment."
"It seems a necessary risk," he says. "My life is my Queen's, to spend as she desires."
"Well, hopefully it won't come to that," Sapt says. "But it does involve risk, and we would be wrong not to mention it."
"I understand."
If there's nothing else, we'll clean up breakfast and arrive at the station in Zenda, where you will again travel by horseback into the game preserve.
--M. J. Young
Tue Sep 21 2010 10:37 pm # -
Likely there is nothing else.
Wed Sep 22 2010 12:33 am # -
You mount the horse easily and ride comfortably to the lodge. By now you know the way, and easily take the lead. On arrival, Sapt attends to the horses while Frieda starts preparing the guns, leaving you alone with the prince for a few minutes. Your heart is pounding and you find yourself still tongue-tied, but he asks casually, "So, you've been coming out here three days a week. Is it just to spy on Michelle, or are you also escaping the pressures of being ruler?"
--M. J. Young
Mon Sep 27 2010 3:21 am # -
"To be honest, it's mostly to spy on her...And besides, I have no idea how to be a ruler anyway, I'm about as clumsy as a ballerina with no grace or poise."
Mon Sep 27 2010 6:17 pm # -
Sapt comes in from the horses and says, "All right, let's get in some shooting practice this morning, and when it warms a bit we'll do the waterfront visit, and turn our attention to fencing to warm up the body a bit before dinner."
He fetches several rifles, pistols, and a couple of long bows with arrows.
"Target practice?" the Prince says. "I thought your majesty preferred hunting live animals, for the challenge."
--M. J. Young
Tue Sep 28 2010 2:59 am # -
"I've been feeling not up to hunting lately. Since the coronation, I haven't been able to hold a gun, bow, or sword straight."
Tue Sep 28 2010 3:43 am # -
"Wow, I guess the weight of leadership is pretty heavy. I never figured you for someone who would become serious like this after the coronation."
The conversation can continue as you move out to the targets and begin practicing with the various weapons until lunch.
--M. J. Young
Wed Sep 29 2010 1:14 am # -
Right now I'm believing he'll piece it together before we tell him.
Wed Sep 29 2010 8:18 pm # -
Flavius helps you with your shooting, at times reaching his arms around you to help steady the various weapons. Your heart races when he does this, and yet it's clear that he enjoys being able to help you. Sapt does nothing to discourage the contact.
After several hours of target practice in the morning, you break for lunch and then you and Frieda dress in swimsuits that are extremely discrete, such that a man would not be tempted by the sight of bare ankles or forearms; yet it's clear that Flavius finds you attractive in the form-fitting suit. He, too, dresses for swimming in something that could be a full set of long underwear, and you all head to the water. The canoe and rowboat are waiting, and Sapt suggests beginning with those and doing the swimming after that, so that once you're wet you can return to the lodge to dry and warm.
--M. J. Young
Thu Sep 30 2010 4:44 am # -
I'm probably spending more my time watching for anything unusual with the castle rather then what we're up to.
Thu Sep 30 2010 4:49 am # -
As you and Flavius are afloat, he abruptly says, "See if you can swing us out around that outer tower once. I think I've got an idea."
--M. J. Young
Sat Oct 2 2010 9:56 pm # -
"What kind of an idea?"
Sun Oct 3 2010 3:15 am # -
"Well=="
He seems a bit reticent, but with your encouraging look he continues.
"Not to seem too forward, but if your majesty were willing to--well, to give the impression that we were courting, there would be every reason for us to be out on the water for an evening private boat ride. We might attract attention from the walls, but since we want Michelle to think that you are going to marry me (and understand, I'm not trying to suggest anything by this) it probably helps serve that purpose. We could take several such evening cruises, to various parts of the lake including sometimes near the castle. Then when everything is in readiness, we could nonchalantly boat over to the tower, settle in a position we've identified as private (and who would think twice about the appearance of lovers looking for a sheltered and private spot on the lake?), from which I could climb to the bridge when the food is delivered, take out the guards, and rescue the lady.
"It would be better if we could both do this, but I would hesitate to risk your majesty in this endeavor and of course it has to be you in the boat--if it were two peasants, or even two of the gentry, Michelle would shoo them from near the castle, but she can hardly do so to you. Anyway, it's not a finished plan, by any means, but it has merit, do you think?"
--M. J. Young
Sun Oct 3 2010 9:28 pm # -
"If we could do it without being seen, I think it could work. If any of the guards saw us too close, they might take it as a threat. But if we can find their blind spot to go into it..."
Sun Oct 3 2010 9:51 pm # -
"I don't think Michelle could persuade her regular guards that your majesty is a threat. Now, I don't know about those henchmen of hers--Hentzau might take a shot at you if he thought he could get away with assassinating the queen so that Michelle would have to succeed you, but he probably also knows that he can't get away with it and Michelle would not be able to shield him. But we would have to find the blind spot, because if they see you alone in the boat after seeing us in it together, they will know something's up."
--M. J. Young
Wed Oct 6 2010 4:25 am # -
"They certainly couldn't get away with anything with you to witness..."
Wed Oct 6 2010 4:30 am # -
"Hopefully not," he says. "It would look entirely too suspicious for both of us to meet with a hunting accident on the same trip when we were not hunting." He smiles ironically, bringing a rush of excitement to you. You feel yourself blush, but he is looking away at that moment, looking out at the tower.
"So we need to circle it, and make it seem as if that's just something we're doing while we're on the lake--you know, like kids will swim to the dock and back, we're going to take the boat out around the tower and back to shore. While we're doing that, we can consider where we might park the boat and be relatively unseen."
You are in control of the boat at present. You've been involved in the conversation, but haven't indicated any action.
--M. J. Young
Thu Oct 7 2010 2:53 am # -
I'll likely be starting to move around the lake at this point, still carefully watching signs at the castle.
Thu Oct 7 2010 3:08 am # -
You meander around the lake a bit, getting some rowing practice. Then, when you are near the outer tower on the side away from the inner tower, Flavius says, "backwater and stow the oars."
You try to figure out how to do that, and in a moment have the boat spinning and drifting as you become flustered and embarrassed at your failure to steady it.
--M. J. Young
Thu Oct 7 2010 11:10 pm # -
"Maybe you should take the oars..."
Fri Oct 8 2010 2:44 am #
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