Chapter 2
I was just getting ready to leave our apartments, my wife's and mine, when my wife of two months stopped me.
"Paul? I am Duchess De Landkur, right?" she asked?
Uh oh.
"Why, yes, Mariel, I believe you are," I replied smiling.
She glared at me. Not good. She had been getting just a bit restless, lately.
"Look, I have been doing magical training, but I want to do other things. Back at home, I was a... well... I was something my father trotted out to be put on display. It was not a very good feeling, really.
"Mirwanna is practically the queen of this land, will be queen as soon as her coronation takes place. You are Duke De Landkur, ruler of the city of Landkur and it environs.
"So what does that mean to me. Am I just a showpiece for you? Or do I have a real purpose here?" she finished, almost in tears.
Damn. I had forgotten that she had been treated like a trophy, here. A lot of women were, unless they were like my sister, or had inherited a title. I went over to her, and hugged her to me.
"Listen. You are the Duchess De Landkur, with the all the power and authority that goes with it. While I am the Duke, and I take priority over you, you are powerful in your own right.
"Which leads me to something I have to say. We can't let people divide us. I mean, if someone comes to me and requests something which I deny; then they might go to you and you grant it. This is not a situation that you or I want arising. I might have a very good reason for denying that request, but you might not be aware of it. This is also true in the reverse. This means we must have constant communication between us, so we are never at cross-purposes," I told her.
We went into what I would call the living room, and sat together on a couch. She poured out her insecurities to me. Poor kid. No! She was not a poor kid. She was a woman who had been manipulated and used for state purposes, all her life by her father, Salvadi.
We talked for some time. Twice we were interrupted by one of my male secretaries, reminding me of appointments. Finally, Vivian showed up. She knocked once, and just barged right in.
"Paul? If you have decided to cancel today's itinerary, you should let us know so we can tell the others," Vivian said in her best 'no nonsense' tone of voice.
I winced. I knew that tone of voice, and the accompanying look that went with it. I rolled my eyes, and stood. Then I thought of something. I looked at Mariel sitting there, her hands clutched tightly and in her lap.
"Vivian? Have Mariel briefed on todays docket. She is going to 'sit in judgment', today," I told her.
Mariel got a panicked look on her face. Vivian just cocked her head at me.
"You're sure? I mean, you are sort of throwing her into a 'sink or swim' situation, here," Vivian said gently.
I went to Mariel, reached down, and helped her to her feet. She looked frightened.
"You're right," Vivian said. "This is the best way to make Mariel understand that she is a powerful person in her own right. Don't worry, Mariel, you will do fine. You already know the basic laws of this land."
"The main problem you will have," I said, "is that rare time when both sides in a case honestly believe they are right. While I have a truth spell emplaced in the court, it is not able to discern the law.
"For example: I had a case a few months ago. Both parties were promised a piece of land from a third party. The third party died without specifying who actually got the land. This caused a hardship between the two parties, and both were telling the truth when they said they were each promised the land.
"This is where you, sitting in judgment, count the most. Let yourself be guided by the court chamberlain, and by your heart. Be fair, and be just. Most of all, when you make your decision, make it firmly. Don't be hesitant about it, and DON'T change it, no matter what. Remember, if new information comes up, then you have a new situation. That means you have a new decision to make.
"I am sure you will do fine. Just listen carefully to the evidence. Most times it will be obvious how you should judge," I told her enthusiastically.
"Wait! What was your decision on that land problem with the two claimants?" Mariel asked in a partly desperate voice.
"Why, I took control of the land for the city, and then waited a couple of weeks. I then determined that since both parties had been promised the land, I split its ownership in half, giving half to each of the parties involved.
"They were so pleased to be getting something, rather than nothing, that they were happy with the final determination of their case," I told her.
There was another knock on the door. It was my, now Mariel's, escort to the court. I quickly explained the switch to the escort. He just nodded. In this land, you really didn't question high-ranking people. This was not like America, where it was expected that your public servants answer to you.
In this land, nobles had real power and authority. Since my arrival, I had met with all of the nobles under me. I had informed them of what I expected, and how I wanted our people to be treated.
While most had no problems with my wishes, I still had problems with a very few. They had done things 'their way', for generations, and were resistant to being steered onto a new path. I was being as patient as I could be; but there was going to be a showdown with one or two of them, and soon.
The problem is, the crown gives great authority to the nobles in this land, and there are not a lot of safeguards in place to prevent the abuse of power and authority. Hell, the people even sort of expect it... which is also a sad comment.
Vivian and I watched as Mariel left the room for her first day in court. She then looked at me.
"She is very young to be doing this, Paul," Vivian told me, scowling.
"Vivian, it's the way of this land. Young people who are not married, would not have her power. But, since she married, she is legally accorded all the rights and privileges of an adult. Plus she IS the Duchess De Landkur.
"It makes me very nervous too. I want to protect her. Hell, she should be in high school, learning and dating. Instead, she is married to me for the political gain of both of our lands," I said with a sigh.
"Now that you have palmed off your duties for the day, what are you planning to do?" Vivian asked me curiously.
"Well, I have been putting off going to the temple and see the goddess, Ishla. I want to show her my 'Arch Angel', and see if she can give it a few protections. If she can, I am going to order it to collect information on the demons that have managed to get control of the access point to our world, here," I said heavily.
I was not really looking forward to this. Also, I wanted to do another review of the tax situation. While there had been a lot of grumbling over them at first, the coffers were full to bursting, and more and more merchants were trying to get businesses established in my city. That pleased me.
I was showing the world, and anyone who cared to look, that you did not need to tax your citizens to death to make money. It was a long slow process, but what I had started so many months ago was paying off hugely!
Business was booming, more and more people were being employed, and I had managed to get rid of one slum area, already. I had plans for other improvements, but those would have to wait.
"Vivian? Why don't you do an inventory of the remaining supplies that we brought with us from our 'other home'? I think it is almost time to make another trip. I want to hire a few more people to start on some ideas I have. I also want to replenish my supplies," I told her while we were moving.
She nodded and when I dismissed her, she headed off to do the inventory, and I headed out the front door of the palace. I know, I know. I could have teleported to the temple, but maybe a walk would settle me. I hoped.
It seemed like such a short walk. The temple was located over a mile from the palace, yet it seemed I had just started walking to it, when I was there. I stopped and looked at the outside, admiring it.
It was a starkly white building. It was glowing, which denoted the presence of the Gods. It sort of reminded me of old Greek architecture. With a marble exterior and support columns, anyone from Greece would feel at home here.
A huge double door was in the exact center of the temple and it was open. No one was denied access to the temple, or to their Gods or Goddesses. I shook my head. It still amazed me, being able to go and commune with a being that was present, and was a God.
I girded my loins, mentally, and went in. I was immediately hit with the feeling of PRESENCE! Well, really... with all five of the Gods and Goddesses here, what did I expect?
I made my way to the Goddess Ishla's portion of the temple.
I walked to the large five sided star engraved on the floor. From here you took a direction for your God/Godess. The star's radiant arm pointed the way. I followed the arm of the star for Ishla. There was her door as I remembered it. Well... sort of.
It had changed a little since I last saw it. Or I was mis-remembering. I shrugged. The doors were surrounded by climbing vines of some sort, and the double doors had a beautiful depiction of a tree. A tree of a type I have never seen before.
As I approached the doors, they opened for me, automatically. I stepped into my great great grandmother's portion of the temple. How do you miss seeing a Goddess in all her glory? Well, it's easy.
Firstly, she was not sitting on that huge thrown that all the other Gods have. Secondly, she was not as tall as all the other Gods were, the last time I was here. She was more of a normal size, and she was surrounded by priestesses and petitioners.
At first glance, she looked like one more petitioner to me. I still felt the PRESENCE, but since she was in a crowd, it was as if she were everywhere, yet nowhere. It was confusing to me.
I hesitated. I didn't want to interrupt her if she was busy, after all.
(Don't be silly, Paul. You could never intrude. Come here, ) her mental voice told me.
I sighed, and made my way to and through the cluster of people around Her. Since I was right next to Her, my confusion was gone, and I could feel Her normally. Still, it had been a very confusing experience.
The people around the Goddess murmured and withdrew as I approached Her side. A priestess of Ishla remained close, but everyone else withdrew to some distance away.
I bowed to her. "Grandmother, I have come with an idea to propose to you," I told her as firmly as I could.
She smiled and gestured to the waiting crowd. I didn't hear anything, but they were gone, just like that.
"Now then. What is this idea you wanted to propose to me?" She asked me in the most beautiful voice I had ever heard.
It seemed silly, now that I was here in her presence. She looked at me a smiled slightly, nodding.
I summoned 'Arch Angel'. She looked at it, and raised an eyebrow at me.
"A most unique construct. I must admit, that I am impressed. Did you make this?" She asked me.
"Yes, Grandmother. I needed something to interface with the mechanical portion of something called a computer, and so..."
That was as far as I got. I felt an immense pressure in my head, and I knew that the Goddess was searching and looking into my mind.
Just when I thought I would surely go mad, it was gone. I sighed in relief. Grandmother chuckled.
"I would not hurt you. You are family. I needed to know of what you were speaking. Computers are not something of this realm. I needed your information and background to understand you, and now I do understand.
"You wish me to enhance and give protections to your construct. A most ambitious notion, and worthy of one of my family. Well done," she said, smiling at me. I felt like a puppy that was being petted.
The Goddess looked at my 'Arch Angel' and I felt her doing <something>. I looked at Arch Angel, and what I saw was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. Slowly, Arch Angel was firming, solidifying before my eyes, and was becoming... well... real!
I sent my senses out, and quickly withdrew them. The POWER I felt was huge. I could feel it without extending my awareness, but when I sent it towards Arch Angel, he was surrounded with the power of the Goddess.
Finally, I felt a lessening of the flow of power. Cautiously, I sent a tendril of thought towards Arch Angel. It was intercepted, not by the Goddess, but by Arch Angel himself!
Arch Angel turned to me and said, "Father, I don't mean to insult you, but please do not do that. It makes me... itch."
I know my jaw dropped.
The Goddess started laughing.
"Well, you wanted something done, so I did that something. Probably not exactly the way you wanted, though. I made your Arch Angel real," the Goddess said in a gentle voice.
Edited by TeNderLoin