Actually, I do have a few jobs on the roster....

"I suppose we ought to contact Queen Astra, and ask her if there is any mission she could like us to carry out," says Helena 1. "After all, as Aqualarians we are her subjects."

"Actually, I do happen to need a few...ambassadors," Queen Astra said, after getting her great aunts to rise again after bowing to her image on the magic mirror (that had somehow been most uncomfortable to her). "I find that my last ambassador to the Manimal nation has.....become interested in another line of work. Indeed, I think that the role of mother, wife, and duchess agrees most well with my sister, Astra 1. Still, she'll continue to do the job until Fred the manfox gets around to naming somebody else...."

Several of the Helenas nod in understanding as others adopt a mask of neutrality. Some didn't totally agree with it all, but it would be most rude (not to mention foolish) to raise those objections to their liege lady!

Even at being 85 years out of the loop, the Helenas could see that tight bonds had formed between the Astras. Some wondered if the same thing would happen with them. At the moment, each Helena had developed the beginnings of friendship between her mirror image....but nothing special as of yet.

All shared the same general experience of the capture of themselves by the evil mage, Zerm. However, through various conversations....and unguarded slips....major differences had shown. Things that...could have landed them in SERIOUS trouble, way back when.....

Perhaps....it was actually a Fortunate thing that some of the Helenas had been put into stasis...and awoken decades later....

"My Queen?" Helena 4 asks, confused. "I do not...understand. We are still very new to...this time and world. Who...could we be diplomats for? We still know so little...."

Her sisters echo her sentiments, aghast and worried about what kind of disaster would happen with a small misstep that a more knowledgeable person could have easily avoided.

"Ah, but most of the nations I have in mind have.....people within them that....you have intimate knowledge of," the queen smiles. "I know that most of you, from what you've told me, belonged to Diane's Rangers, the group of rangers that was renowned for extended patrols into the wilds of Aqualaria, into places that we claimed, but never really sent people to....claim.

"By all accounts.....you were more comfortable around some of them than some of your fellow Amazons," Astra La Post smiled. "Considering some of the rangers I've had to work with in my apprenticeship...years ago....I can't really blame you."

Several of the Helenas breath a silent breath of relief at that, for it was very true. It had been a real worry how Queen Astra (who they still only had met just a few short days ago....and only by magic mirror). By all accounts, this relative was fair and just. People had said the same thing about the queen back in THEIR day, and it had been the farthest thing from the truth!

See, scuttlebutt had it, 85 years ago, that Helena had fallen out of favor with Queen Janicesti. How exactly, was unclear, but each and every Helena knew that the chance of actually being able to kill the vile mage known as Horkus the Wicked were slim! Each and every one of them was willing to bet their Daggers of Ascension that Janicesti knew this as well.

Political intrigue wasn't a new thing, as both Dragon Fred and Frederigo D'Honaire the manfos were in the wont of saying. Each and every Helena secretly agreed with their nonhuman relatives. However, there was no politically right way of avoiding the task (to refuse was tantamount to suicide, political...perhaps even in the biological sense.

So, with a chorus of fanfare and trumpets, the Helenas had pasted a plastic smile on their faces, and ridden off on their quest. They smiled, for it was the highest of honors, the pinnacle of civic virtue.....to do service to the ruling queen. And to DIE in the service of the government was said to be the best thing possible!

Privately, the Helenas had grumped that they had wished that THAT cultural philosophy from the Greeks had just stayed within Greece!

Privately.

Publically, they had a "wait and see" attitude before they revealed to the rest of the family the truth about their fateful mission...and about old dear family members. It wasn't paranoia on the part of the Helenas. Rather, it was bitter experience. So far, facts looked VERY favorable. Hopefully, they remained so!

But this is to the side....

"Helena 1," Astra says. "You said that you have been able to make inroads...even gain the respect of several of the larger clans of Elves. Given the....long life and stability of that noble race, and insights you've provided me in some of the more vexing issues brought before me by some of their outriders....I feel that you are the person for this pricklely position. Feel up to the task?"

"I...would be honored!" Helena 1 says excitedly. Indeed, through a desperate offer to help defeat Horace the, she'd won the trust of an elven patrol that helped her defeat the vile mage with precision bow work and spell. It saddened her to remember how Zerm had wrested away that fine victory.....

At least the elves died quickly...and relatively painlessly.....

"And this has the added benefit of bringing back a bit of the past to the elves....with the final revelation of the fate of one of their lost patrols," Queen Astra nods, wheels turning on how this could be VERY good diplomacy indeed!

Indeed, questions had been asked (and answered by some very surprised elves....who were impressed that....humans....would know anything about such events). An elven patrol, eighty five years ago had disappeared, fate unknown. The elves had nearly lost their mind in excitement with the thought that, though their comrades were dead, they had been able to bring down the vile Horace! Having a piece of the legend in their midst, in the form of Helena 1, was almost too much......

It did not matter that this elven clan, Clan McLanden, was familiar with the odd duplicating associated with the collapse of the slipgates. Indeed, the king of the clan had been duplicated not once, but FIVE times (leading to all sorts of fun and confusion). Astra had warned that it wasn't sure that this Helena had killed their Horus with their elven patrol.....

The elves had laughed, and said that even if it was true, that it was enough that their otherworldly "brothers" had been aided by this brave human. They had all but demanded that Helena 1 become the ambassador/diplomat for them from Aqualaria!

Having been "infected" by Regent Malachi Dronocis' vision of a unified Terra, Astra la Post was more than happy to be able to "comply."

"What of I, my liege lady?" Helena 4 said quietly, worried. She, unlike her "sisters," had NOT been able to garner anything special in the way of...nonhumans. Her dealings with people had been, only of the human race, alas.

1. "In truth...I was hoping to use you as the ambassador to Ethiopia," the queen of Aqualaria smiled.

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