The Kinstrife
Part
9
In
which Aerin, Brand and Ragnor enjoy an audience with
Queen Mūrabeth who reveals her alternative view of
Princess Telerien's political assets; we discuss
Neithan and Khoradūr and her Majesty marvels at the 'third choice'.
At
breakfast, father and I discuss my forthcoming trip to Minas Ithil, under the eaves of Mordor. He wants to give me an
armed escort, or to put it more accurately, he will give me moneys from which I
shall finance an escort. He suggests I attach myself to a senior army officer
by the name of Noruinivien who is travelling north in
a few days. Aside from benefiting from Noruinivien's
accompanying guard, Dad offers me 45 crowns a week, from which I am to pay for
Brand and Aerin as well has at least one bodyguard. I will have to be frugal if
I'm to save anything from this cash flow.
After
briefing Aerin and Brand on what not to say, we attend an audience with Queen Mūrabeth. Overall I am pleasantly surprised,
as I'm sure she could have been a lot more
formal. I got the impression I am
flavour of the week, though I'm sure many before have thought that just before
a fall.
We
are not made to wait long, which is the first sign of her favour. We are
ushered in to an ante-room; her family arms of Ziraphor
adorn the walls, marking the chamber as hers. It is laid out as an audience
chamber, more intimate than Castamir's (may his reign
never end) but similarly formal.
After
initial chit-chat, she offers to answer questions but asks her own first: What
was my impression of Neithan? I reply that I was impressed by his ability and
the speed with which he acted. I think he is both capable and honourable. She
makes some favourable comments indicating that he might yet be rehabilitated.
Do
I know where the leak in my father's organisation is? To this I can offer
nothing. I am aware that my father and Bauglir are
tenaciously pursuing every lead available but I have been solely involved in
investigating the Dinner Incident and my father evidently does not regard me as
someone who needs to be kept abreast of developments. (With any luck this last
comment might help to fuel speculation regarding a family tiff between Dad and I.) The Queen initially asserts that the leak is most likely
on the Hyarmenost side of things and asks me to advise father that she really
wants this leak, and not just a scapegoat, located and closed. (Well of
course
) But then she allows that it's not impossible that it came from her
people rather than ours so again, an interesting measure of grace.
Finally
she switches to Khoradūr ('speaking of scapegoats') and allows our questions; I
pass her to Aerin, the official head of the investigative team, who asks how
Khoradūr came in to her employ. It seems he was recommended by the Queen's
father, Telemnar
of House Ziraphōr in the Havens, but she is sure
he was merely passing on his name from someone else. His service was excellent
and his skills many and various [a dab hand with the poisons, for a start]. His
career as a soldier has led to a dead end where he was and his ambition made
him look to Gondor for further advancement.
Queen
Mūrabeth is an enlightened bigot; she had hoped that
offering Khoradūr such a high position would send a clear signal that the
lesser races of men are not to victimised, helping to
assuage the racism now inherent in Dunedain society.
But she was bitterly disappointed to find Khoradūr conformed to stereotype - 'I
will not be employing a Southron again'.
It
is interesting how her viewpoint changes during the interview. Initially she
expresses some reservations whether we have the right man, but without too much
development, she clearly reveals that she regards him as the prime suspect
herself.
Aerin
asks if the Queen knows why Khoradūr poisoned the suitors. Her Majesty replies
that while Telerien's unattached status is a great
political asset in the broad political field, it is also a liability in terms
of local politics as she attracts the ambitions of all the local nobility any
young tyro may feel he need but sweep her off her feet and be set for life as 'rómentįra'. If she were married, this would not be an
issue. Though I cannot help but feel that the King and Queen must surely have
enough authority to ensure no one unsuitable attains her hand, evidently the
Queen does regard this as an issue.
I
mention Khoradūr's phrase, 'there are other choices than Eldacar or Castamir'
and Queen Mūrabeth wonders at the possibility of a
third claimant; 'this is valuable news'. At this point, the Queen evidently
decides I am one of her favourite people as she vaguely hints that Princess Telerien had found me very likeable. I am not surprised; I
have a personable manner, she had just lost five ardent suitors and is
doubtless shopping for replacements, but I am a little surprised. Having just discussed
her sister's hand in political terms, she must be thinking that I might make a
good replacement. It would tie our family closer to the throne, and we would
unquestionably be on her side, as opposed to that of Morlaen,
the King's uncle, and it would neutralise the volatility in the local nobility.
I
am sure this is what she meant but I was surprised to hear it, so surprised
that even now I wonder if perhaps I was mistaken. But I don't think so.
Nonetheless I demurred, explaining that the Princess was in shock and I had
been kind; Telerien isn't my type unless, of
course, father decides she is.
After
taking leave of the Queen and feeling I'd got away with a lot more than I came
for, I spent the rest of the day preparing for my Minas Ithil
trip, though father reckons it will be a few days before I can go. Brand and
Aerin pursued their own interests for the rest of the day.
At
dusk, Quite a large fire broke out in the Southron
quarter; many town folk took to the river to avoid the flames.