Chapter 44

The signing ceremony took place in the same chamber where the official greeting had been made. The main difference being there was no dais with a throne, just an extended dais with, for the occasion, two podia each holding the two identical forms of the trade treaty, one for each Realm to sign and to keep. All of us except Amanda and Trusha had been admitted in advance and were in the front of the crowd, near the dais, sketching the various scenes like mad as several of the Court scowled at us for appropriating their positions, whilst others took advantage of it to gain a better view in their absence.

“I think it’s only the fact that they don’t want to have us laughing at them that this hasn’t descended into a mass brawl,” Haelee observed with a veiled smile.

“Certainly is tense,” Torric agreed.

“I rather think that knowing what Nild will do to them if they disrupt the ceremony is the real reason that’s holding them back,” I agreed. “Something to be said about the power he actually has, but doesn’t openly use.”

At this point, the massive doors to the entrance opened and both Nild and Amanda walked side by side into the chamber, each flanked by a bodyguard. Neither looked right nor left at the assembled dignitaries, though a wave of sullen calm did proceed them.

“We are here to sign the official documents of the new trade provisions between the Hegemony and the Empire,” Nild announced from his dais.

“It is with great pleasure that the Empire accepts these provisions and looks forward to an ever closer friendship with our valued Ally, the Hegemony,” Amanda made her announcement. “It is in the spirit of this friendship that we wish to bestow a gift upon the Hegemony.”

The picture was brought in by the AIs, unveiled and displayed to the assembled Court, being placed on an easel positioned between the two podia.

It was at heart a simple portrait, yet it showed all four rulers of the Realms in the Alliance in their ceremonial robes looking both noble, powerful and wise, yet equal in all ways. It was also clear that, as I’d intended, several of the Court were angered over the scene of equality ... if not the fact that it actually showed the leaders of other Realms.

“We gratefully accept,” Nild replied as he gazed in awe at the picture. “Astonishing and brilliant! We thank you for this gift,” he announced. “It will be a most suitable adornment to this Court, reminding us all that we are no longer isolated from the surrounding Realms.”

“Similar portraits were unveiled in the Autarchian Senate, the High Court of Gershon and the High Court of the Empire,” Amanda informed the Hegemonial Court.

“As is only right,” Nild acknowledged, clearly trying to hide a smile. “And now, with great pleasure, I, Hegemon of the Starlit Hegemony do sign the trade agreement with our friend and Ally, the Vreekoosian Empire.”

“I, Amanda, Princess Royal, Heiress to the Vreekosian Empire and the Far-Flung Stars of the Imperium do sign the trade agreement with our friend and Ally, the Starlit Hegemony,” Amanda also stated as both she and Nild stepped forward and each signed their copy of the official document removing most trade tariffs and opening up trade to the interior of both Realms to each other. They then exchanged documents and signed each other’s copy.

“That went rather well,” Nild commented to Amanda as refreshments were brought into the Court and the watching members moved to their various groups and cabals to glare at each other and plot mischief.

“Yes, we felt the surprise was worth keeping,” Amanda nodded cheerfully.

“It most definitely was,” Nild smiled. “I’ll have it mounted above the speaker’s podium where all who enter the court will see it.”

“Heh, they are going to utterly loathe that idea,” Amanda giggled.

“I know, but I’m the one who decides what decorates the Court, from portraits to traitors’ heads, if necessary.”

“Bit smelly after a few days, that last one.”

“I know and I’d never do it, but it’s still a sentence I can hand out for treason, if necessary,” Nild chuckled. “And they know it.”

“Dayyev has finished your official portrait to mount above your throne in here.”

“He has? Marvellous, I can’t wait to see it.”

“I think you’ll like it as it has both you and Lisumi in regal majesty staring out as if at a contemptible enemy,” Amanda smiled.

“I love it already,” Nild chuckled. “Having Lisumi at my side will upset many too, as she’s a reminder of the abuse of the previous Hegemon as well as the real power I can, if necessary, use against my enemies, both foreign and domestic.”

Nild then headed off with Amanda to circulate in the Court and greet the members’ partners, who were now permitted to enter, as I carried on sketching the scenes. I was soon doing requests as many of those I’d sketched the previous day now approached me with their partner in tow to be sketched as a couple. These I did with pleasure as I sought in my own way to aid Amanda in her mission here which, after the signing ceremony, would now get somewhat tedious as she’d be involved in various meetings where the fine details were gone over by various Offices of State within the Hegemony to ensure the Empire wasn’t pulling a fast one ... from their point of view. As the Empire had used its AIs to go over the document (as had Nild with his) she knew there were no issues on the Imperial side, though on the Hegemonial side the Offices of State had the power and right of scrutiny. She’d be joined in this by High Bureaucrat Mendil, who also understood the document and would deflect away some of the idiotic, if subtle, barbs that would no doubt head Amanda and the Empire’s way. Also supporting her would be Verlig and Haelee who understood the various clauses of the agreement and could verify what they actually meant with regards to trade and access to the two Realms. My job was to assist in building a friendly (of sorts) base to ensure those hostile to this form of change could not present a united front in demanding their ideas of change ... not that Nild would accept them, but it could make life somewhat awkward for him.

“I cannot see, other than keeping these Imperials happy, why the Hegemon would allow a primitive drawing to be displayed in the Court,” a voice from behind me stated as I sketched an elderly, if spry, man and his wife.

“Ignore them,” Passionate Nebulae Dorimoon chuckled. “The portrait is quite magnificent. I know it, the Hegemon knows it and so, in their hearts, do they.”

“Thank you, Ser,” I nodded, making him smile as did his wife.

“Such an elegant, if compact, honorific,” she complimented me.

“In the Empire we don’t throw titles around with abandon,” I chuckled. “Ser is used when informally speaking from a lower to a higher rank ... if allowed.”

“You consider yourself of lower rank?” she queried. “Yet you are the intended of an Imperial Princess, a person with more access to power than those fools could comprehend.”

“In Imperial terms, I have no rank, neither in the Nobility nor the Bureaucracy. I am but an artist ... admittedly with a famous father and intended,” I smiled.

“Your father is famous?”

“He’s a Cure.”

“A Cure?” she quizzed. “I’m sorry, but what is a Cure?”

“A man who can cure anything, more than just a Healer or Doctor.”

“Anything?”

“Anything unnatural to the human body, yes.”

“Astonishing! An incredible gift,” she nodded. “No wonder the Empire cherishes them.”

“Both cherishes and protects. There are only twenty-five in the entire Empire and you could be charged with treason if you harmed one. Were a foreign Realm to attempt to kidnap one, it’s regarded as an act of war,” I explained before handing over the sketch.

“Are they available to cure non-Imperials?” the lady asked.

“Yes, though it’s a costly business.”

“Money is not an issue for us. But we do have a sickly grandson with an incurable wasting disease,” Dorimoon explained.

“Contact Medical Resource on Vreekoos via our Ambassador. He can arrange such things, just remember your grandson will have to travel to Vreekoos,” I explained.

“We shall. Thank you, Dayyev. You have done us a great service,” Dorimoon bade me fare well as I was approached by another couple.

“You appear to be popular amongst a certain group here,” the man, Emerald Star of Virtue Signis, stated as he and his partner were sketched by me.

“Simply offering for free something they’d be unable to obtain easily elsewhere,” I shrugged, trying to get a read on the man.

“Yet you are low born?” his partner, a ridiculously effeminate if unnamed male retorted.

“The vast majority in the Empire and the Hegemony are, and what of it? They still contribute to the glory of both Realms and the Nobility would be as nothing without them,” I hit back with a barb of my own.

“Point,” Signis, nodded. “It was incredibly rude of you to make an issue of it, Sarlon,” he admonished his partner.

“My apologies, Ser Dayyev, it was indeed rude of me and I meant no offence,” Sarlon apologised directly to me.

“None taken. I simply am what I am,” I nodded.

“With an incredible talent to boot,” Signis acknowledged. “I wonder how many of my own people I have overlooked simply because I looked at their rank, not their ability?”

“You would also have faced the opprobrium of the Court,” Sarlon pointed out. “Bad enough you bring me along to flaunt in front of those prudes.”

“You enjoy it,” Signis chuckled. “It’s why you wear those outfits, simply to upset them.”

“True, I get few opportunities to really cause them anger.”

I handed over the sketch with a wry smile. The sexual mores of others didn’t bother me. The Empire simply didn’t give a damn as to what you did sexually in the privacy of your own dwelling. They enforced a public morality in the way of prohibiting predatory behaviour, but that was about it. Other Realms though, did things differently and the Hegemony was definitely one of them.

“How much longer do we have to abide this reception, watching these Imperials parade about as if they were our equals?” came a penetrating female voice from behind me, pitched deliberately so I could hear it.

I glanced over, gave a slight smile and then began sketching her, only to deliberately accentuate her features into a caricature, making her look like some sort of vacuous simpering idiot. This caused a guffaw of mirth from one of the people observing my work and several smiles from the others.

“A masterpiece,” the one who’d laughed congratulated me. “Could I perhaps have it to display upon my desk?”

“Of course, Winding Starstream Lemoq,” I replied. “I rather doubt the ... Lady will want such a work.”

“True, but I for one will treasure it as a reminder to never insult an artist,” he laughed out loud, his mirth spreading to the others, causing seeming angst amongst the hostile watchers who could not see what I’d done.

I then sketched Lemoq and his wife, adding to the sketch an impression of both dignity and joyful humour, causing further thanks when they saw it.

“I can see why the Hegemon would favour friendship with the Empire,” his wife, Martu, acknowledged.

“There are many reasons, but all stem from one simple premise,” I answered. “That together we are so much more than we ever could be individually.”

“Well said, young man. Well said,” Lemoq nodded.

“How did it go?” Amanda asked as our group gathered later.

“I was ignored by some, questioned by others and propositioned by a couple,” Haelee chuckled.