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 ï>¿The Courier by EC

   Chapter 15 - The Priestess

   Spokeswoman Lee-Dolkivna decided that, before anything, she needed to
talk to Victor and let him know what was about to happen to Criminal #
101025.  She called to make sure he would wait at his office, before
turning her attention to the detainee who was supposed to appear before the
arraignment committee that afternoon.  Fortunately it turned out the three
committee members were still in the building, so Kim's newest client could
be arraigned after all.  Kim noted that the committee members were furious
about the delay and an explanation that she had been summoned to talk to
the Grand Duchess calmed them only slightly.  Kim sighed, because the delay
had not been her fault and it seemed things were only going to get worse
for her.

   Once the arraignment was finished and her client was fitted with a
temporary collar and released for the weekend, Kim went to Victor's office.
She explained what his niece was planning to do with Criminal # 101025. 
Before Victor had the chance to react, Kim added that she was going to
formally petition to have formal custody of Maria Elena transferred back to
the Ministry of Justice.  Fortunately she did have a good justification:
the Colombian only spoke Spanish and would need a translator until she
could learn Danubian.  In truth Kim was not particularly worried about her
client's lack of language.  She was much more worried about what Anyia
might do to her.  She also was worried that Maria Elena's mental health was
fragile and that it was important that her life be as normal as possible.
Victor offered the hope of a normal life in a fairly normal household, and
the university offered the hope of a normal life through a routine job. 
The Royal Household offered nothing that could be considered normal.

   Victor was distressed upon hearing what had happened that afternoon at
the Royal Residence.  He was more pessimistic that Kim's efforts would
accomplish anything other than get her in trouble, because of the ancient
tradition she was trying to confront.  Kim did not fully understand the
extent to which the Royal Family had the benefit of protocol and the
difficulty the Prime Minister would have trying to deny the Grand Duchess a
privilege that was a divine right under Danubian law.  To that Kim replied:

   "Cecilia pointed something out to me today.  I told her that I am
worried about what's going to happen when Anyia's behavior becomes a public
scandal, which at some point it will.  She said 'what good is it gonna do
to tell that to me?  You need to tell it to the Prime Minister.' I realized
she's right.  Anyia's behavior is only going to get worse until someone
brings her under control.  And besides, I took an oath to defend my
clients' interests to the best of my ability.  I do not believe that
Criminal # 101025 should be moved to the Royal House.  It is my duty to try
to get her transferred back.  I realized that if I get fired, I get fired,
but I cannot allow myself to be dishonored.  And if I get fired, then I
will know that the Creator wants me to pursue a different Path in Life.  I
suppose I could always go back to singing full-time."

   *****

   As they walked back towards Victor Dukov's house, Cecilia told Maria
Elena what was going to happen on Monday; that she would have to report to
the Central Courthouse to have her Ministry of Justice collar removed and
instead be collared with a Royal House collar.  Then Maria Elena's trial
judge would sign the documents officially transferring custody from
Ministry of Justice Spokeswoman Kimberly Lee-Dolkivna to the Grand Duchess.
Criminal #101025 would officially become property of the Royal Family.  The
Royal Representative would shackle her and she would be taken to the Royal
Residence.  Upon entering the Residence, she would receive training to
become a Royal Servant.

   Cecilia explained that Royal Servants had lives that were different from
criminals that belonged to the Ministry of Justice.  They ate extremely
well and each had a private room with a bathroom.  At night they were
allowed to cover themselves with a sheet or a blanket.  They were expected
to be extremely clean; to bathe in the morning and in the evening, and also
any time before they performed an official duty for a member of the Royal
Family.  Royal Servants also had excellent medical and dental care and were
forced to exercise on a daily basis to keep their bodies fit and
attractive. They were highly trained and took pride in their positions in
the Royal Household.

   Traditionally to be a Royal Servant was considered an honor among
criminals.  Unlike ordinary criminals, who often performed menial or dirty
tasks, Royal Servants served the Royal Family during meals and tea time,
and participated in ceremonial functions such as carrying banners and
unrolling carpets.  When not performing official duties they practiced and
trained, so that every movement was perfectly choreographed.  Part of their
training consisted of staying perfectly still for long periods of time,
even if forced to stand or kneel in an uncomfortable position.  Cecilia
warned Maria Elena that much of her training during the first week would
consist of learning to stay immobile.

   There were other differences between ordinary criminals and Royal
Servants that were not so pleasant.  Ordinary criminals were considered
property of the Ministry of Justice, and thus belonged to an institution,
not an individual.  Apart from adhering to protocol, staying within their
collar zone, and performing adequately at their assigned job, criminals
assigned to the Ministry did not face many restrictions on their daily
behavior.  They were free to talk, move about within their designated area,
buy and eat what they wanted, have relationships, make love, and even marry
and have children.  Royal Servants did not enjoy any of those freedoms,
because their status was totally different.  Their lives were restricted
and they did not have any free time.  When they were not working, they were
exercising or training.  Talking was not allowed unless responding to a
superior and correspondence with the outside world was prohibited.  There
was no such thing as having a personal relationship, because the Royal
Servant's Path in Life was to provide undivided loyalty to the member of
the Royal Family holding custody.

   Although in theory he or she belonged to the Royal Household, in
practice a Royal Servant always was assigned to an individual member of the
Royal Family, usually the person who demanded the transfer.  In Maria
Elena's case that meant she would be the personal servant of Grand Duchess
Anyia.  Cecilia explained that, from what she understood, Anyia would be
more than Maria Elena's custodian; she would become her owner.  She
commented:

   "For some criminals it's not that bad of a life; there are some people
do well under total control.  But to keep servants under those conditions,
the members of the Royal Family have to respect them and not be abusive. 
Traditionally that's not been much of a problem because of Royal protocol,
but things have changed under Anyia.  For one thing, she's got a lot more
servants than the previous Grand Duchess had.  The old Grand Duchess only
kept five servants, and she had the same ones for decades.  Anyia's already
got at least 20, after being on the throne for just a couple of years. 
Another problem is that she's not nice at all.  She keeps that switch in
her hand all the time, because she's constantly using it on her servants.
And I hate to say this, but you can expect her to be using it on you."

   "But...  why?  Why does she punish them?  What do they do?"

   "In most cases, nothing...  the servants don't do anything wrong, or at
least nothing major.  However, the Grand Duchess feels that, because she's
wearing this country's crown, the world owes her treating her like a
goddess.  If she thinks a servant is disrespecting her, she'll punish that
person immediately.  She's got a real violent temper, and the least little
thing can set her off.  The least little thing, and there's no one to
control her."

   Maria Elena said nothing for a long time, as she walked in horrified
silence with her translator.  What else could she say?  She had just become
accustomed to her routine as a criminal and was looking forward to living a
fairly normal life, but it turned out that the productive life she had
expected wasn't going to happen after-all.  Instead she was destined to
become the personal slave of that maniacal young queen.  Cecilia didn't
know what to say either, because she felt horrible for her companion. 
Whatever her faults, she certainly did not deserve the grim life that she
faced under Anyia.

   *****

   When Cecilia and Maria Elena returned to the university, they ran into
Cecilia's fiance.  Jason had just finished his classes for the day and was
about to go in the opposite direction of the two women, downtown to the
Temple of the Ancients.  As a condition of his Public Penance, most Friday
nights he had to report to the Priestess who held custody over him to
receive the Church taskings that he had to perform over the following week.
The taskings normally entailed manual labor for the upkeep of buildings, or
assisting in moving food and other supplies for Church charity work. 
Increasingly, however, he was being called upon to provide counseling for
recent converts and for people who had just started performing Public
Penance.

   Jason could tell that both his fiance and the Colombian were miserable
from dealing with some bad news.  Cecilia told him what had happened that
afternoon at the Royal Residence.  She didn't expect him to have much to
say about the matter.  However, without any hesitation he responded:

   "Did you go to the Temple and discuss this with anyone?"

   "No, we didn't.  What does the Church have to do with it?"

   "To me it's pretty obvious.  The Creator has determined that Maria
Elena's Path in Life will be to serve the Grand Duchess.  The problem is
that the Duchess has a broken soul, and to deal with a person with a broken
soul, Maria Elena is gonna have to seek guidance."

   Cecilia looked at Jason with a stunned expression.  It had not occurred
to either her or Kim that Maria Elena might benefit from talking to a
member of the Clergy.  Maybe that wasn't such a bad idea.  She turned to
the Colombian and translated what Jason had just told her.  Maria Elena
thought for a moment.

   "You mean...  Jason thinks I should talk to someone from their Church?"

   "Yes.  I hadn't thought about it, but I think he's right."

   "But...  I'm not a member of their Church.  I don't know anyone there...
why would they want to talk to me?"

   "That's what they do at the Temple.  People go there with questions and
the Clergy talk to them."

   "And do they get answers?"

   "Yes, they get answers.  Sometimes not the answers they want to hear,
but they always get answers."

   Maria Elena turned to Jason and asked him in Spanish: "If you're going
to the Temple, can you take me there?  And get someone to speak with me? 
Can you do that?

   Cecilia translated Maria Elena's Spanish to English, and Jason's
response:

   "Yes, I'll have you talk to my Priestess, the one I work for.  She's the
most perceptive person I know, and I'm sure she'd be curious to hear about
your Path in Life."

   *****

   A few minutes later Jason led his companions to a plaza in a section of
the city center that Maria Elena had not yet seen.  Most of the buildings
were older than the late 18th Century architecture surrounding the Central
Police Station and were made out of stone.  Dominating the plaza was a old
temple that obviously had been built long before anything else in Danubikt
Moskt.  It had pillars and a large staircase leading off the street to the
main floor.  The stairs were full of people going in or coming out, most of
whom were dressed in black robes.  There were many naked people as well;
some of them wearing Church collars like the one Jason had on, and the
others wearing collars from the Ministry of Justice.  Unlike the Cathedral
and other churches Maria Elena had seen so far, there was nothing Christian
about the building's architecture at all.  Jason explained:

   "This is the Temple of the Ancients.  It's the main building for the
Danubian Church and the holiest place in Danubia.  The building itself is
3,000 years old, and it's been used non-stop ever since it was built."

   Maria Elena's prejudices urged her to get away from that Pagan building
as quickly as possible.  However, Jason's confidence that he knew what she
needed to do gave her the courage to follow him in.

   Cecilia had to borrow a prayer robe.  She paid a copper coin to an
attendant and received a garment similar to the one Victor used.  She
slipped it over her clothes before joining her fiance and her housemate. 
Jason quickly located the Priestess who was his Church custodian and fell
to his knees and placed his head at her feet.  Maria Elena followed his
lead.  Cecilia also knelt, but unlike Jason and Maria Elena, did not have
to put her head on the floor.

   The Priestess told the three foreigners to stand up in Danubian.  They
saluted her and she saluted back.  The woman was unlike any religious
authority Maria Elena had ever seen.  She must have been about 40 and was
tall, elegant, and carried herself with an air of dignity and severity. 
Like every other female member of the Danubian Clergy, she wore a black
dress with dark red trim that was her only worldly possession.  It was
obvious that she was intelligent and perceptive of other people's emotions.
She was extremely intimidating as her gaze seemed to penetrate the depths
of the soul of anyone she was conversing with.  Even Cecilia, who normally
dominated other people with her abrasive self-confidence, was quiet and
timid in the presence of that Priestess.

   The Clergy woman spoke acceptable English, but Jason and Cecilia had
long since mastered Danubian and conversed with her in her native language.
While Maria Elena stood by nervously watching, Cecilia explained her
situation with the Grand Duchess.  The Colombian could make out just enough
of the conversation to realize that both the Priestess and Cecilia were
talking at length about Anyia.

   The Priestess suddenly turned to Maria Elena and spoke to her in
Danubian.  Cecilia translated:

   "She wants you to tell her why you came to Danubia."

   Maria Elena started giving a short summary of her trip and her arrest.
As soon as the Priestess realized that the Colombian was not giving her the
detail that she wanted, she impatiently drew her fist across her chest,
which in Danubian was an impolite way of saying "Shut up!"

   After several unsuccessful attempts the Priestess explained that she did
not want Maria Elena to simply tell her what happened.  She wanted to know
why the Colombian had chosen to violate herself by using her body to store
cocaine.  She did not want to know what happened to Maria Elena; she wanted
to know why it happened.

   Maria Elena haltingly started explaining about her past, and how she got
mixed up with the man who introduced her to Alex.  A few probing questions
got out of her the story of her ex-boyfriend Jose Pablo and how she
indirectly caused his death.  Now the Priestess felt that she was getting
out of Maria Elena details that she needed.  However, it was not until
Maria Elena repeated what Kim had told her, that she actually had been
duped into a white slavery operation and only by sheer luck had avoided
that by landing in Danubia, that the Priestess was satisfied that she had
heard what she needed to know.  She spoke and Cecilia translated:

   "Your soul is broken, Maria Elena.  Your soul, and all of the souls of
the women who went before you to Frankfurt.  Your companions remained in
the grasp of the Destroyer.  You did not.  The Creator rescued you and
brought you here.  Now, can you tell me why that is?  Can you tell me why
you were spared?"

   "I don't know...  but my Spokeswoman told me the same thing, Priestess.
She told me that El Flaco was responsible for the disappearance of a bunch
of women, and I was spared.  She told me to ask myself why I was the one
who didn't end up like the others.  I guess it was so he could get
arrested...  El Flaco, I mean...  that's the only thing I can think of."

   The Priestess told Maria Elena to put out her hands.  Cecilia
translated, adding: "She's gonna squeeze hard and it might hurt.  Don't get
scared, 'cause it's the way they pray when they're with another person."

   The Priestess grabbed Maria Elena's hands and clamped down in a
vice-like grip.  She closed her eyes and began shaking her arms violently.
Maria Elena, in spite of the warning, was totally terrified as the woman
painfully gripped and spasmodically shook her hands.  After the longest
minute of the prisoner's life, the Priestess suddenly stopped.  She
continued holding the Colombian's hands, but turned to Cecilia and asked
yet more questions about Grand Duchess Anyia.

   Finally she had enough information to give Maria Elena the answer. 
Still gripping the Colombian's hands, she pulled her within a few
centimeters of her own face, staring hard into her eyes.  She spoke in
Danubian:

   "The Creator brought you here to Danubia.  The Creator brought you here
not to save you, but to save others.  You are here because you will have to
perform an important task for the Danubian people.  Your Path in Life has
not been completed yet.  The arrest of El Flaco wasn't the purpose of your
Path in Life; that wasn't your contribution...  or I should say; that
wasn't your most important contribution.  The most important part of your
Path in Life has not yet transpired."

   The Priestess waited for Cecilia to translate, and continued.

   "You understand that the Grand Duchess has a broken soul?"

   "I...  I guess so, Priestess...  "

   "That is not a guess, Maria Elena; that is a fact.  The Destroyer has
taken control of Anyia's soul and she is broken.  What you must understand
is that through corrupting the Grand Duchess, the Destroyer can inflict a
great deal of harm on our country.  You have to understand that before you
can understand anything else.  You also must always remember that the
Creator brought you to our country for a purpose.  You will be placed
before the Grand Duchess for a purpose, and you will suffer under her for a
purpose.  The Creator has not enlightened me of what that purpose might be.
I do know that your Path in Life, your destiny before you ever came to
Danubia, was to serve the Creator, and in doing so repair your own broken
soul."

   Maria Elena whispered to Cecilia: "Who's this 'Destroyer' she's talking
about?"

   "That's their version of the Devil.  What she's saying is that she
thinks Anyia is possessed with evil.  It's kinda different than the
Christian version and more complicated, but that's the simplest way I can
put it so you'll understand."

   The Priestess continued:

   "I am convinced that you are more important than you realize, even
though you are just a humble criminal.  I am convinced that, through Jason,
the Creator brought you to me.  There is a reason that happened.  And I
believe it is my Path in Life to listen to your troubles, so I can try to
better understand what has happened to the Grand Duchess."

   "But...  I won't be able to come here, Priestess.  I'm gonna be locked
up."

   "I can provide you a letter saying that I am your spiritual guide, a
letter that you can take with you to the Royal House.  That letter would
give you the right to see me once a week.  The Royal Family does not have
the authority to cut you off from the Church, not if you have officially
declared someone in the Clergy as your spiritual guide.  Also, if I am your
spiritual guide, I can provide you with correspondence that others may wish
to give you.  When you are with me, I can let you see letters from other
people in your life, and allow you to respond."

   There was no question that Maria Elena would jump at the opportunity,
which she did.  To have a few hours a week away from the Royal Household,
to be allowed correspondence, to have someone sane to talk to...  of course
she wanted all that.  Who wouldn't?

   However Cecilia, who was always suspicious of other people's motives,
realized that there was a huge benefit for the Priestess as well.  It was
certain that Maria Elena would tell her new mentor, in graphic detail,
everything that was going on in the Royal Residence.  The Priestess would
have access to a lot of inside gossip about Anyia, something that would
give her and her superiors valuable information that they possibly could
use against the Royal Family in the future.  At that point it was hard to
tell whether or not the Priestess's intentions were altruistic, but the
fact remained that she had just acquired a window into the opaque world of
the Royal Household.

   *****

   Maria Elena left the Temple of the Ancients in a much different mood
than when she entered.  She had been fearful and resentful upon going in,
but after talking to the Priestess, she was calm and resigned.  She was not
looking forward to entering the Royal Residence, but according to the
Priestess she was going there for some higher purpose.  Another detail that
calmed Maria Elena considerably was the fact that she would continue to
have some contact with the outside world and that she had placed herself
under the authority of a person who had at least some power over the Grand
Duchess.  It also occurred to Maria Elena that, if there was a possibility
that her actions would be reported to a Clergy member of the Danubian
Church, Anyia might moderate her behavior.

   The inward calm that Maria Elena took with her from the Temple lasted
throughout her final two days as a Ministry of Justice criminal.  She
described her visit with Jason's Priestess to Victor, along with the
clergywoman's conviction that her internment in the Royal Household was
destined to serve a higher purpose.  Maria Elena could not believe it was
her own words when she heard the following coming out of her mouth:

   "You prayed for your wife, for her to rest in peace.  Now you must pray
for me, Victor.  That is all that remains until the Creator chooses to
further enlighten us, where our Paths in Life will lead us."

   "Paths in Life"...  well, if it was indeed inevitable that he and his
lover were destined to be separated, then at least they could enjoy each
other's company for the last three nights they had together.  It was as he
suspected, the Creator had given them only a fleeting moment to be
together. The moment would come and go, and there was nothing that could be
done other than to enjoy what little joy the Creator was willing to grant.

   As she had since her arrival in Danubia, Maria Elena spent Saturday
braiding her hair with her Spokeswoman and her friends.  Cecilia felt that
it was fortunate that Kim could hear first-hand about Maria Elena's
conversation with the Priestess, because that was additional information
the Spokeswoman could take with her when she spoke to Vladim Dukov about
what should be done concerning the custody of Criminal # 101025.  It would
be better if the Prime Minister knew right away that the Danubian Church
now had direct access to what was going on inside the Royal Residence, and
thus be forewarned of the impending scandal.  Kim seemed not as concerned
as Cecilia about the Priestess's motives.  Instead she was glad about the
correspondence, because she had every intention of staying in contact with
her client while she appealed the transfer of custody.

   *****

   The following day Maria Elena and Victor went together to the see the
Priestess in the Old Temple as a couple.  They went alone, without Cecilia,
without Jason, and without Spokeswoman Lee-Dolkivna.  Victor, as usual,
wore his black prayer robe, which was the only garment he normally wore
when attending worship services.  He and Maria Elena knelt in front of the
Priestess as she prayed in archaic Danubian.

   Maria Elena did not understand much of the conversation between Victor
and the Priestess, but she understood enough to realize that the Clergy
woman was asking about his relationship with her.  Victor responded to a
series of questions.  Maria Elena felt uneasy, because it was obvious that
Victor had to confess that he and the criminal were having a sexual
relationship without being married.  What she did not know at the time was
that, to a member of the Danubian Clergy, a sexual relationship outside of
marriage was not as big of a taboo as it was to most other religious sects.
The Priestess was more interested in Victor's intentions than in the fact
that he and Maria Elena were not yet married.  When the questioning ended,
the Priestess took Victor's hands and prayed.  That didn't surprise Maria
Elena, but what came next was a total shock.

   The Priestess let go of Victor's hands and led both her guests to the
back part of the Temple.  They ended up on a large stone balcony
overlooking a forested park that led to the East Danube River.  In the
middle of the balcony was a round stone pit with a smoldering fire.  Both
Maria Elena and Victor knelt.  The Priestess placed her hands on Victor's
shoulders and again prayed in archaic Danubian.  Maria Elena could tell
that Victor looked nervous.  When the Clergy woman was finished, she
ordered him to stand up.  He stood perfectly still as she pulled the robe
over his head and handed it to a Temple attendant.  With the robe taken
away from him, Victor was as naked as Maria Elena.

   The Priestess then placed her hands around Victor's neck and wrote down
a number, which she handed to an attendant.  A moment later the attendant
returned with a metal collar.  Victor knelt, and the Priestess put the
collar on and locked it.  It turned out the Priestess had ordered him to
perform Public Penance.

   Although she was totally shocked and bewildered at the moment, later
Maria Elena would learn what exactly had happened at the Temple.  The
Priestess did not have any problem with Victor's affair with her, but had
decided that the relationship needed to be tested while she was interned at
the Royal Residence.  It was indeed Victor's Path in Life to be with Maria
Elena, but only the Creator knew when he would be reunited with her. 
Therefore, until they were reunited, he would wear a Temple collar and
perform Public Penance.  Along with praying over what had happened to his
first wife, he would pray every night to be reunited with his lover, and
until that happened he would live in humility.  The collar, and his own
nakedness, would be a public display of Merchant Victor Dukov's commitment
to Criminal # 101025.

   Maria Elena knew that performing Public Penance would be extremely
difficult for a man used to running his own business and giving orders. 
However, it was obvious that he loved her enough that he was willing to
make the sacrifice for her.  He would wait for her, collared and naked,
until her custody could be returned to the Ministry of Justice and she
could return to his house.  That might take years, but it didn't matter. 
During that time, it would be his Path in Life to remain collared for her.

   *****

   Sunday night was the final night that Criminal # 101025 and Merchant
Victor Dukov would be together before she was taken away to the Royal
Residence.  Victor reflected that if he had not taken Maria Elena with him
to his brother's dinner; Anyia never would have seen her and the transfer
of custody never would have happened.  However, the Priestess would have
told him that to think like that was to pursue a false vision of the
Destroyer, because the Colombian's Path in Life was to serve the Grand
Duchess.  The change of custody had nothing to do with any actions that
Victor took or did not take; it was the Creator who had decided that Anyia
would see her and want to add her to her collection of servants.

   Maria Elena and Victor made love one last time in his bed, and spent a
long time quietly caressing each other's bodies.  She touched his collar
with both regret and fascination, feeling bad that he had to perform Public
Penance on her behalf, and yet extremely grateful that he would do
something like that for her.

   Finally he fell asleep, which gave her time to stand up and spend some
moments looking out the bedroom window.  She contemplated the moon, which
was almost full and already starting to go lower in the western horizon. 
Just a few more hours...  and the sun would come up in the east and
Criminal # 101025 would return to the Central Courthouse and have her
Ministry of Justice collar removed, not even a month after it had been put
on.  She touched the device, regretting that it no longer would be part of
her life.  She realized that, while the collar marked her as a convicted
criminal, it also gave her official status and some legal rights and
protections.  The collar destined to replace it would offer no protection
at all.  The she would endure that awful moment when she would see Kim, and
Cecilia, and Victor for the last time, one last glance over her shoulder
before she was taken away and loaded into a minivan.  That moment would be
painful.

   Maria Elena went downstairs and stepped out of Victor's front door.  For
a long time she stood in the street listening to the rustling of the leaves
and the strange twittering of creatures that were either birds or bats...
she couldn't tell which.  Finally she went back inside and snuggled up to
Victor...  to be with him one final time...  for a fleeting moment in her
life.



   Chapter 16 - The Prime Minister's Dilemma

   The Sunday evening before Criminal # 101025 was to be transferred;
Spokeswoman Kimberly Lee-Dolkivna sat alone in her office.  She watched the
news, catching a glimpse of her former host-sister and future nemesis as
she attended a dedication ceremony with her husband, the Grand Duke.  Also
present was the country's Prime Minister, along with the country's first
lady, as they celebrated the opening of an important bridge in the
northeastern part of Danubia.  The ceremony marked an important event for
the country, because the new bridge would cross a canyon and cut travel
time between the eastern city of Rika Chorna and the country's northern
border by more than an hour.

   In spite of the importance of her husband and her father, it was Grand
Duchess Anyia who commanded the adoration among the local residents.  The
crowds surged towards her as she passed out flowers to all of the children
within her reach.  She did not hesitate to kiss any child who came up to
her.  The flowers were significant for those receiving them, because each
had a ribbon tied to it that contained a Church blessing.  Yes...  the
lovely Grand Duchess...  so young...  smiling so kindly with her arms full
of flowers...  surrounded by crowds of happy and well-behaved children...
while her husband and her father stood in the background chatting with the
bridge's engineers.  It was a pleasant event and a flawless photo-op, a
happy moment for a nation that was moving forward in the world.  And...  as
the news commentator noted, the bridge already was paid for.  No money
needed to be borrowed to build it, so all tolls would go directly to local
schools and road repairs.  A totally satisfying moment for the country,
epitomized by the country's lovely young Duchess.

   Kim wondered how long the illusion could last, how long before Anyia's
split existence caught up with her, and more importantly, with her father's
government.  There was no question that Anyia was good at what she did; the
act she presented to common citizens was perfect.  There were times it
seemed she really did embody the soul of a nation obsessed with tradition
and yet confidently finding its proper place in the world and among its
neighbors in Europe.  There were times even Kim felt convinced...  but she
knew Anyia well enough to know that ultimately it couldn't last.  Not with
the direction she was moving.

   Kim turned off the television and buried her face in her hands.  The
Grand Duchess Anyia that the public knew was not the one the Spokeswoman
knew.  Anyia smiled much less in private.  The way she carried herself was
different.  Her voice was different.  The way she talked to people was
different.  The kind expressions and tender kisses for cheering school
children were absent in the Royal Residence.  The Anyia that Kim had to
deal with was not the pleasant girl passing out flowers on that bridge. 
She was very different in private.

   Kim picked up her desk phone, but then remembered she had forgotten
something important.  Because she faced taking action against another
person, her faith required her to pray.  She would seek the guidance of the
Ancients, of the ancestral spirits that watched over the ancient land of
Danubia.  She understood that she was being forced to do something that
easily could expose her to false visions of The Destroyer and the thought
of that terrified her.

   She got on her knees and closed her eyes:

   "Oh Creator and the spirits of those who came before me...  I wish to
speak the truth...  let me speak with honesty...  I ask of you to keep the
Destroyer's visions from entering my thoughts and speech...  to protect
those to whom I wish to speak...  I ask of you...  to let me speak with
humility...  but to use my words to bear honest witness to the time in
which you have placed my life...  If any evil from my actions should befall
anyone...  please let it fall on me alone.  That is what I ask of you... 
Oh, Creator, and the spirits of those who came before me."

   Once she finished praying, Kim took a deep breath and dialed the private
line of the residence of Prime Minister Vladim Dukov.  He picked up, on a
phone that was exclusively for family members and a few of his most trusted
advisors.  With a shaky voice, the Spokeswoman told the nation's Prime
Minister that she needed to talk to him and the first lady about his
daughter, and talk to them in private.

   *****

   Kim left the Central Police Station and crossed the Central Plaza.  She
entered the National Parliament Building and a minute later was standing in
the reception area of the Prime Minister's Office.  Vladim and Maritza
arrived a few moments later, brought over in a police van.  A pair of cops
escorted them, which was the only security they needed or wanted.  As
demanded by protocol, Kim snapped to attention and saluted.  The First
Couple saluted back before inviting the Spokeswoman into the back office.

   Kim's hands shook, because she didn't know how to begin.  Indeed, even
if you are close to him, just how do you tell a Prime Minister that you
think the country's Grand Duchess, who just happens to be his daughter, is
demented and should not be allowed a Royal courtesy that is an 800-year old
tradition?  Finally the Spokeswoman began with:

   "Prime Minister, I...  I need to ask if you remember my client, Criminal
# 101025?"

   "The Colombian girl?"

   "Yes, Prime Minister.  The Colombian girl."

   "Indeed, Kimberly, I do remember her.  If I am not mistaken, she is the
criminal that you have chosen to keep at the house of my brother."

   "Yes, Prime Minister."

   "...  and the one who, if I might add, you represented admirably during
trial.  I was impressed when I reviewed that case, by how well you defended
her interests."

   "I suppose, Prime Minister...  yes...  thank you."

   "...  and the one my brother has fallen in love with."

   Kim's face went pale and her heart pounded.

   "Yes, Prime Minister ...  the criminal that Merchant Victor Dukov has
fallen in love with."

   "Is that what you wish to discuss with me, Kimberly?"

   "No, Prime Minister, I've got a different problem.  I...  the problem is
that...  Anyia...  the Grand Duchess...  Grand Duchess Anyia...  wants my
client to go to the Royal House...  take her out of Victor's house... 
transfer custody...  and take her tomorrow...  and I...  I don't think she
ought to go."

   The Prime Minister and his wife exchanged glances.  Maritza tightened
her lips.

   "She should not go...  because of my brother, or because of Anyia?"

   "Because of Anyia...  and the whole Royal House.  I don't think that's
where she ought to go."

   "...  and the issue of my brother is of no concern to you?"

   "Not at this time, Prime Minister...  I'm not worried about that right
now."

   "You will understand, Kimberly, that I am indeed concerned about my
brother's behavior.  What he is doing is not appropriate at all."

   "I...  I understand that, Prime Minister.  If...  I...  if Merchant
Dukov were my only problem I'd be trying to address it right now...  but...
the Grand Duchess is what I'm worried about.  I don't want her to have
custody of Criminal # 101025.  I really don't think she should have custody
of any criminals and I think the ones she already has...  ought to be taken
out of her house and turned back over to the Ministry.  She may be your
daughter, but I believe her soul is damaged and she's not suited to hold
custody over anyone, and I don't want my client to live under her control."

   Kim shook and went pale, because it had not been her intention to
express her opinion so forcefully.

   Dukov exchanged glances with Maritza...  but stayed silent for a moment
trying to think how to respond.  Finally he sat back and tapped his
fingertips together as he answered:

   "You will understand that I am indeed aware of the situation in my
daughter's house.  One of the guards assigned to protect the Royal
Residence recently enlisted in the Secret Service of the National Police.
His new duties include reporting anything unbecoming in that household.  I
have since heard many unpleasant things about my daughter and my
son-in-law. You will understand that I am distressed about my daughter's
behavior, and I feel that is an unfortunate reflection upon myself."

   Kim interrupted: "No Prime Minister, it's not a reflection on you,
really it isn't."

   Dukov gave his guest a harsh look: "Kimberly, you must accept that if
Maritza and I brought Anyia into the world and nurtured her, ultimately we
are responsible for what she does."

   The Prime Minister continued: "You will understand that my position, and
my ability to moderate Anyia's behavior, is compromised by a clause in the
Constitution of 1780.  You will understand that the Grand Duke reserves the
right to adjourn Parliament.  By tradition that is a mere formality, never
to be exercised.  However, my daughter has threatened to ask her husband to
do just that, dismiss the government and rule by decree.  Such an action
would precipitate a constitutional crisis.  In theory I would not be
allowed to serve as Prime Minister until the crisis is resolved, and if I
do attempt to serve, my administration would be illegal.  You will
understand to what extent this nation's enemies would be pleased with such
a development."

   "But would the Grand Duke actually do such a thing?  Dismiss your
government?"

   "If Anyia tells him to, he would."

   "Just like that?"

   "Just like that, Kimberly.  Just like that.  I know her...  I know both
of them, and I know she's capable of doing such a thing...  on nothing more
than a whim...  "

   The Prime Minister paused for a moment, and continued:

   "You are aware that my daughter's thinking is detached from reality. 
Her Path in Life is to serve the nation, but her belief is that the
nation's Path in Life is to serve her.  That includes all of us: Criminal #
101025, you, and even myself and my ministers.  According to her thinking
the purpose of our existence is to serve her.  She exercises emotional
control over the Grand Duke that I do not understand, but that control is
such that he will do her bidding."

   "Even if it destroys the government...  "

   "Yes.  Even if it destroys the Danubian nation."

   "What about changing the Constitution and getting rid of that part about
the Grand Duke dismissing Parliament?"

   Dukov smiled sadly.

   "To change the Constitution requires a unanimous vote in the Parliament,
approval by all of the nation's provincial governors, and a signature by
the Grand Duke.  There is no possibility that such a thing could happen. 
You will understand, at my daughter's urging, our monarch has expressed a
desire to reassert the role of the Royal House as the supreme secular
authority in Danubia, not see it diminished.  Among other things, Anyia has
expressed that she wishes to have the country's name changed back to "the
Grand Duchy of Upper Danubia".  I am convinced such an action would defy
reality and damage this country's reputation among its neighbors.  That is
an example of what she wants that concerns me."

   "But...  so...  you're just trapped?  You can't do anything?"

   "I did not say that, Kimberly.  I did not say that I have no intention
of countering my daughter and her husband, and I do believe the Creator has
enlightened me concerning what I must do.  My hope is that I can resolve
the conflict with my daughter with minimal harm to her, to my son-in-law,
and to the nation.  But I also am aware that I must exercise restraint, and
I cannot counter her as quickly as I would like."

   Noting that Kim was increasingly confused by what he was saying, Dukov
decided he needed to get to the point.

   "Earlier today I was visited by a Priestess from the Temple of the
Ancients.  I believe you know her; she is the custodian of your sister and
of your friend Jason Schmidt.  She also recently became the spiritual
mentor of your client.  She described to me the conversation she had with
Criminal # 101025.  She also related to me a vision of enlightenment that
the Creator provided her last night.  The Priestess explained that when the
moment comes for me to confront Anyia and my son-in-law, I will have the
backing of the Church.  However, for the Clergy to take sides in such a
dispute, there must be clear evidence that one side is following the will
of the Creator and the other side is following the will of the Destroyer.
The Priestess must have such proof before she or her superiors can take any
action to assist me.  But once I have their support, no one, not even the
Grand Duke, will be able to act against orders issued by the Clergy."

   "You will understand that the Danubian Church normally refrains from
interference in the affairs of the government.  The Clergy are fully aware
of the corrupting influence that politics invariably has on people of
authority, and they have no desire to sully their relationship with the
Realm of the Ancients by mixing with those of us who lust for power and
material wealth.  And yet, in times of extreme moral crisis, the Clergy can
arbitrate.  The Priestess expressed to me that she believes my conflict
with my daughter and my son in law presents such a crisis.  When the time
is right, she and her superiors will confront the Grand Duke and tell him
that his household will no longer enjoy the blessing of the Church unless
he and my daughter desist from their ambitions.  Should the Grand Duke not
comply, the Church has the authority to abrogate his title.  It is an
authority the Church has used sparingly.  The deposing of a monarch has
happened only three times in this nation's history, but those three
incidences serve as an important reminder to the Royal Family that they
must be humble in their service to the nation.  Anyia has failed to uphold
the burden the Creator has placed upon her, so the Clergy will need to
remind her."

   "Thus, the issue will be resolved...  quietly and with minimal risk to
the nation.  But to exercise such extreme authority, the Clergy must first
feel justified, and I understand their concern.  They cannot act unless
they have firm proof concerning Anyia's troubles.  So in my confrontation
with my daughter I must exercise restraint until the proper moment arrives.
I must leave that decision in the hands of the Creator."

   "You are concerned about your client's well-being.  I am concerned about
your client's well-being as well.  I wish I could allay the unpleasantness
that awaits her, but her Priestess believes it is her Path in Life to serve
the nation by living in the presence of my daughter.  The Priestess
believes that even before she boarded the plane in Panama, the Creator
chose her for the task she is about to undertake.  Once the Creator is
satisfied her task is completed, Criminal # 101025 will leave the Royal
Residence.  She will return to your custody and re-enter the house of my
brother."

   Kim took a deep breath.  "So...  did she pray with you...  the
Priestess, I mean?"

   "Yes.  She prayed with me, actually with both me and Maritza.  She also
obligated us to be present at the Temple of the Ancients every Sunday for
the ringing of the Sunset bell.  We are to assist with the ringing of the
bell, and then we will consult with her about the situation with my
daughter.  We are obligated to do that every Sunday until our troubles have
been resolved."

   Dukov paused, and his wife spoke next.

   "Kimberly, we would be honored if you could come with us, every Sunday
when we go to the Temple.  It is appropriate that you pray on behalf of
your client, just as we must pray on behalf of our daughter."

   "I would be happy to accompany you, Historian Orskt-Dukovna."

   *****

   Kim left the Parliament Building with a heavy heart, because the gravity
of what was going on with Anyia was far more serious than she could have
imagined.  However, at least one of her fears was resolved; the worry that
the Prime Minister would not take her seriously.  It was obvious he took
the threat from his daughter seriously indeed.

   Kim struggled not to feel hatred towards Grand Duchess Anyia.  Her
behavior was completely odious, but given the circumstances under which she
became Grand Duchess, it was not surprising that she would see herself the
way she did.  If only she could have had the chance to train for her job as
the Crown Princess for several years under the old Grand Duchess, probably
she would have been alright.  Sadly, she never had any opportunity to
prepare for the position into which she had married.  Her lack of maturity
left her vulnerable to the false visions of the Destroyer.  Really...  how
much could she be blamed?

   Compounding Anyia's delusional behavior was the obvious personal
weakness of the Grand Duke, who seemed to be an even more helpless
figurehead than his father.  The Grand Duke was a handsome and dashing man,
but in reality he was nothing more than an amateur sportsman.  If he was
not riding his horses or playing golf or mountain climbing or playing
soccer, he was restless and bored with life.  He escaped to his various
activities, leaving Anyia in charge.  He adored his wife, in part because
she was so supportive of his life of leisure.  A deadly combination...  a
malleable week-willed monarch and a megalomaniac wife...  how many times in
history did such a combination wreck a country?

   Marie Antoinette...  yes, thought Kim, that comparison is appropriate...
or worse yet, a better comparison would have been Czar Nicolas II and
Alexandra...  and Rasputin...

   The Spokeswoman shuddered at the thought of what could happen.  Things
in Danubia could go terribly wrong, thanks to Anyia.

   *****

   The next morning Kim and Carmen passed by Merchant Victor Dukov's house
to take Criminal # 101025 to the Central Courthouse.  Victor could not
bring himself to witness the official transfer ceremony, nor did he have
any desire to risk a confrontation with the Grand Duchess and her staff. 
Therefore he and Maria Elena agreed that they should say goodbye at the
house and she would depart with her Spokeswoman alone.  Cecilia Sanchez
also would go, to perform her duties as Maria Elena's translator one last
time.

   Maria Elena and Victor Dukov gave each other one long last kiss while
the other three women nervously stood by.  The couple no longer was
concerned about what the others thought, given that they were going to be
separated anyway.  Victor squeezed Maria Elena's hand a final time and she
walked off his property without looking back.  The others caught up with
her on the street and with that four women, two of them naked with collars
and two of them dressed in fine linen, walked to the trolley stop.

   When they arrived at the Central Courthouse, they noticed a minivan from
the Royal House parked in front.  Seeing that van dashed Maria Elena's last
hope, a vague thought that maybe the Royal Family would simply not bother
to send anyone to pick her up.

   There was to be a brief ceremony to celebrate the transition of custody.
In the past such a transition was an important event in a criminal's life;
the abandonment of a harsh sentence of heavy physical labor and periodic
switchings in exchange for one that was clean, relatively easy, and for a
criminal, honorable.  Maria Elena and her companions saw her transfer as
precisely the opposite, a productive life forsaken for a much harsher one
under an abusive Mistress.  It certainly was nothing to celebrate.

   Lord Horskti and Lord Vidmarkt were present, still wearing their
ridiculous hats with those huge feathers.  Accompanying them was a doctor
from the Royal House.  One of the Lords was holding a Royal House collar
while the other was holding a chain and shackles.  The thought of being
shackled terrified Maria Elena, but tradition mandated that a criminal
being transferred to the Royal House had to be restrained while en route to
her new life.

   With Cecilia standing and Carmen kneeling off to the side of the room,
Kim led her client before the judge.  She motioned with her fingertips for
Maria Elena to kneel and place her head on the floor.  She ordered her
client to arch her back and spread her legs to fully display her genitalia,
which unfortunately was part of protocol for a criminal being transferred.

   The judge entered the courtroom.  Immediately everyone saluted and
shouted "Doc-doc Danube!" Maria Elena trembled slightly, but otherwise
remained silent.  The judge addressed Kim:

   "Spokeswoman Lee-Dolkivna.  This court understands that you wish to
honor Criminal # 101025 by nominating her to serve in the house of the
Grand Duke of Danubia?"

   Bristling with resentment that the judge was implying that she was the
one who had suggested the transfer, Kim struggled to respond: "Yes, Your
Honor.  I wish to nominate my client for service in the house of the Grand
Duke."

   "Lord Horskti and Lord Vidmarkt!  Please step forward!"

   The two Lords stepped forward.

   "Do you accept the nomination of Criminal # 101025 to serve in the house
of the Grand Duke?

   "Yes, Your Honor!  The Royal House gladly accepts this criminal into the
midst of those privileged to serve the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess!"

   "Very well.  Lords, you will examine the criminal, and if she suits the
needs of the Royal Household, you may take custody of her."

   The Lords and the doctor approached Maria Elena and ordered her to stand
up.  The doctor gave her a quick examination, making sure that no teeth
were missing, no bones were broken, that her sight and hearing were normal,
and that her heart rate was healthy.  The doctor ordered her to bend over
and gave her a quick rectal exam, in full view of the trial judge and
everyone else in the courtroom.  Finally the medical examiner spread her
vagina and looked inside to ensure that she was free from venereal disease
and infection.  Later Maria Elena would learn that the medical inspection
simply was part of the transfer ceremony protocol, because much more
thorough exam would be conducted at the clinic in the Royal Residence.  The
courtroom examination used to be much more important for choosing a healthy
servant, but now was nothing more than yet another public humiliation to
endure.  The doctor turned to his companions:

   "Criminal # 101025 appears to be in suitable physical condition to serve
the Grand Duchess, Lords."

   "Excellent.  Your Honor, please inform Spokeswoman Lee-Dolkivna that the
Royal House will accept transfer of the criminal."

   The judge then asked the Spokeswoman for the documents that Lord Horskti
and Lord Vidmarkt had forced her to sign a few days before, along with
Maria Elena's criminal record.  He removed the papers from their Ministry
of Justice folder and put them into a leather case marked with the Royal
Family logo.  He handed the paperwork to the Lord who was holding the
shackles.

   The next step in the transfer was changing Maria Elena's collar.  She
was wearing a Ministry of Justice collar, which no longer was valid because
no longer did she belong to the Ministry of Justice.  The collar had to be
taken off and replaced with a collar marking her as property of the Royal
Family.

   Cecilia was called forward to instruct the criminal what she needed to
do to have the Ministry of Justice collar taken off without risking injury.
The collar was a sturdy device that had a permanent latch.  The collar was
designed to last indefinitely and be impossible to take off without a
special collar extractor.  The extractor was a scary-looking piece of
equipment that looked like an enormous pair of pliers with a multitude of
clamps and levers.  Once the extractor was attached to the collar, it first
shot a firing pin into the latch to break it, and then gripped around the
collar's edges to force it open.  The criminal had to kneel facing a
meter-high metal post and hold onto hand grips while the collar technician
mounted the extractor.  The key moment was when the firing pin was
launched; because the criminal had to stay perfectly still to ensure a
direct hit and a clean break of the latch.  Most criminals had no problem
carefully following instructions and staying still during the firing,
because to remove the collar meant the end of their sentence.

   As Criminal # 101025 knelt to have her Ministry of Justice collar
removed, there was no joy felt by either her or her Spokeswoman.  As much
as she hated the drab metal device, she knew that she would grow to hate
its successor much more.  She closed her eyes and held her breath as she
waited for the firing pin to snap the latch.  A second later she felt the
cool air of the courtroom on her neck as her collar was taken off, but she
knew that feeling would only be momentary.  She remained kneeling with her
hands gripping the post while the collar technician placed a decorated
brass and silver collar around her neck and latched it in place.  It was
much more attractive than the Ministry collar, but Maria Elena would have
given anything not to be wearing it.

   With tears running down her cheeks, the Colombian stood up and knelt in
front of the Lords.  Now it was official.  Criminal # 101025 was property
of the Royal House.  The Lords ordered her to stand up and assume the
prisoner's stance while they put metal cuffs on her wrists and ankles. 
They latched her hands behind her back and attached a short chain to her
leg cuffs that forced her to walk with short steps.  Finally, a Lord
attached a metal chain to the loop in her new collar.  He gave it a sharp
tug to let the criminal know that she needed to follow him out of the
building and into the waiting minivan.

   Thus, naked, collared, shackled, and leashed, Maria Elena
Rodriguez-Torres was ready to be delivered to her new custodian.