Chapter 18

We were very weary when we finally returned to our rooms, though very satisfied. We had gathered more evidence than we suspected and currently the AIs on the Gloriana were still going over it, as well as cross referencing it to the AI at Vernissilia’s Palace.

We were, however, met by Jessin, Rassalio and Myrialis, who were clearly interested in our personal impressions.

“So, Vernissilia is the one behind all the recent attempts to smuggle various tech upgrades into his Ducal fleet,” Jessin mused thoughtfully as we all supped tremone, a mild, if flavourful, stimulant.

“Yes, Aunty,” Amanda nodded. “The AIs are still compiling the evidence, but it does rather look like he’s been using his position to undermine your reign.”

“Nothing new there,” Rassalio grimly chuckled. “He’s always been the most arch of the arch-conservatives.”

“Indeed, though until now has always kept his business well hidden from us,” Myrialis sighed. “I’m not allowed to investigate internally within the Realm ... officially that is.”

“I wish I could change that, but you know how the Nobles get about their prerogatives,” Jessin replied with a thin smile. “Fortunately it appears Amanda and her party do not feel constrained by Gershonian law.”

“We were looking for connections to a potential shadowy group in the Empire. The rest of it is incidental and you’re welcome to it,” Amanda replied.

“Thank you, though unfortunately I wouldn’t trust that snake Yrannissia, the supposed head of Internal Security, not to simply tell Vernissilia of what we’ve discovered and expose his weakness.”

“You have a traitor in charge of your internal security?” I asked, astonished.

“Yrannissia is not exactly a traitor; he just reports on the commoners for the Nobles,” Myrialis explained.

“Ah, he’s not your man,” I nodded, understanding the situation.

“Yes, and as a Noble, would feel obliged to ensure that no opprobrium ever fell onto the Nobles,” Jessin replied calmly, though her eyes were glittering with repressed fury.

“What can you do?” Amanda asked.

“I can’t go after Vernissilia. However, I can go after those others involved, including his younger son. I can most certainly confiscate the manufactories of the traitors and hand them over to the Royal Fleet,” Jessin replied.

“Why the Royal Fleet?”

“Commoners aren’t allowed to own the means of production. However, my Rassalio, as the head of the 1^st Fleet, is a Noble and can permit the manufactories to be run in absentia until I decide which Noble gets to buy them.”

“I see, so you’ll be looking for Nobles like Viscount Perdevalion?” Verlig asked.

“Very much so. It will tilt the balance of power all the more towards reform, though I’ll probably opt for his son Baron Clantirion and elevate him one rank as is permitted.”

“I sketched him, a most polite young man,” I nodded.

“He is. A younger son to be sure, but he understands tolerance and respect, as well as business,” Jessin nodded. “Myrialis, could you begin a full investigation of Vernissilia as he appears to be trying to avoid tech restrictions?”

“I can, though it’s not in my remit,” Myrialis nodded.

“It is, as it involves investigating for the Empire,” Jessin chuckled. “Would that not be so, Amanda?”

“Indeed it would, Aunty. The Empire certainly requests your aid,” Amanda replied with a smile.

“Ah, I take it that I’m to investigate the interstellar links to certain Gershonian assembly works?” Myrialis smiled in anticipation.

“Yes. I need to know which Nobles are involved in this flagrant breach of customs regulations,” Jessin replied.

“They won’t like it when they find out ... and they will.”

“Shouldn’t breach tech restrictions by trying to use third parties,” Rassalio replied with a grin. “They involved the Empire; hence you’re allowed to investigate.”

“True, though they’ll still complain it should have been handled by Yrannissia at planetary level.”

“Oh dear, what a pity ... I’ll take note of that next time,” Jessin replied flatly. “It’s still a little early to really start pressuring for reform, but Vernissilia has tried my patience long enough. I probably won’t get him, but I can seriously discommode his friends as well as his son.”

“As well as send a warning to others who are of a similar mind-set,” Rassalia chuckled.

“Oh yes, I intend to make my point very clear indeed.”

“We need to get some rest now, though we’ll be attending your debutantes’ ball tonight,” Amanda informed them.

“Yes, of course. Jerra is looking forward to it since he met the daughter of Lord Barranovis, who will also be attending.”

“She appears to be a very intelligent young lady, without the calculating guile that many others I met showed,” Amanda nodded.

“Yes, I’ve had her checked out,” Jessin chuckled. “Her father is a typical Noble, but she and her sister follow her mother and aren’t.”

“Interesting to see how it goes,” Amanda replied with a smile.

“I suspect it may cause a lot of angst amongst certain young ladies ... at least I certainly hope so,” Rassalio laughed out loud.

“Still, we’ll let you retire now and see you this evening,” Jessin concluded the meeting.

Whilst I got some sleep, habit took over and I was soon, with the aid of some of my earlier sketches, putting down on paper the images I’d remembered. I was joined by Jerra and Raisa who had been informed by the palace AI that I was awake and didn’t mind guests.

“So you all went on a secret mission last night?” Jerra asked.

“Yes, though that makes it sound so much more interesting than it was,” I chuckled at his enthusiasm.

“What was it then?” Raisa asked.

“Burglary ... in a sense, though we stole nothing.”

“Well, apparently it caused a number of arrests already.”

“Really? That was quick!”

“I think mother was more than a tad upset about Vernissilia,” Jerra chuckled. “There’s also a whispering campaign going on about how all the arrests are linked to his house.”

“I can see that bothering him a lot more than the arrests.”

“It will, though it’s going to get worse for him,” Raisa giggled.

“His son?” I enquired.

“Yes, though that snake Yrannissia is making moves to try and take over the investigation and is slowing things down.”

“Will he make a run for it, the younger son, that is?”

“Don’t know. Possibly, if he can get up into orbit,” Jerra shrugged.

The debutante ball was fun. It was the way that young Noble girls of a certain class could be presented to the court, usually along with their fiancé, though occasionally just a male family member. The real fun started when Lady Yrrania and her sister, Lady Dimantira, arrived, escorted by their older brother. As Barranovis, her father, was only a Baron, they would not normally be attending a debutante ball, which meant that somewhere or other, someone had pulled some strings.

I could sense an air of hostility building towards Yrrania and Dimantira, though the claws were immediately sheathed when Jerra strode forward to greet the two and formally requested to be permitted to take Yrrania off the hands of her brother for the evening. The girls were then presented to Jessin by their respective partners and thereby received recognition of their rank in society ... or rather Noble society.

In all this I simply sketched away, though did make a special effort on the part of Jerra and Yrrania, seeking to capture the obvious attraction the two young people had for each other.

“Put the pad away,” Amanda requested with a smile. “Time to dance.”

“Yes, my Lady,” I replied and stood, then kissed her hand.

The dance itself was a structured type with two couples making a series of complicated steps and gestures whilst moving in a set pattern around each other. The other partners, being Jerra and Yrrania, were also clearly enjoying the dance, even if their eyes rarely strayed from each other.

“You appear entranced,” Amanda commented to Jerra as we enjoyed a cool drink after the dance.

“Is it that obvious?” he chuckled.

“Very much so, Jerra,” Amanda giggled.

“She and the whole situation just feels so right,” he added, blushing slightly.

“I feel the same,” Yrrania answered quietly. “I’ve finally met someone who would talk to me, not down at me.”

“The fact that he’s the Prince of the Realm being a slight issue?” I chuckled, making the pair of them smile.

“Yes, I suspect some of the ladies here are not going to be any too pleased with me and will no doubt have their families start digging for dirt on my family.”

“No doubt at all,” Jerra nodded. “That said, my mother will not be best pleased if they do. She does want me to be happy, after all.”

“We barely know each other, Jerra,” Yrrania replied with a warm smile.

“At least we do and you haven’t followed custom and been engaged without meeting your fiancé,” he chuckled.

“Well, that’s true,” she smiled.

At this point Jessin and Rassalio approached, getting nods of acknowledgement from us all as the formal part was over.

“So this is the young lady who caught your eye, Jerra?” Jessin asked, though it was clear she already knew who Yrrania was.

“Yes, mother. May I present to you Lady Yrrania co Barranovis,” Jerra replied, giving Yrrania’s full title.

“A pleasure,” Jessin greeted Yrrania. “It takes someone very special to catch my son’s eye.”

“Thank you, your Highness,” Yrrania almost squeaked.

“Relax, young lady, you’re amongst friends here,” Rassalio added.

“Yes sir. Sorry, my nerves got the better of me. I’d never even dreamed I’d ever attend one of these balls.”

“Understandable, such privileges are jealously guarded by the higher Nobles, despite other Noble daughters often enough being just as worthy of attending,” Rassalio nodded. “Still, I can see even now what attracted Jerra to you.”

“Thank you, sir,” she replied with a blush.

“Mother, it is my intention to ask Yrrania to be my bride. Could you please begin the various protocols to enable a formal announcement to be made?” Jerra formally requested Jessin, having obviously discussed it with Yrrania beforehand.

“I can and will. Do you have any objections to this Yrrania?” Jessin replied.

“I have no objection, your Highness. I feel similarly about Jerra,” Yrrania gave her formal consent.