Dining with the Queen

Rather to Checkers' surprise, she found that she was the only guest of the Queen and her consort, Prince Gregor. Probably Astra would also have been present had she not been away hunting.

During the first course, she had the opportunity to ask the Queen what her duties as a countess consisted of. The Queen smiled. "Don't worry," she said. "In your case, there are none. Since you are not an Aqualarian citizen, the title is a purely honorary one. I wanted to recognise your saving my daughter and killing the dragon. Also I know from my daughter that you are a very modest and unassuming person, and so I wanted to give you a status that would ensure that everyone at court would treat you with proper respect."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"It was the least that I could do. I believe you had a sitting for Geluporta's painting this afternoon. How is it coming along? Are you pleased with the way that she is depicting you?"

"Very pleased, thank you Your Majesty."

There was more talk about the painting, before Prince Gregor eventually changed the subject. "So how are your personal projects coming along? I mean your account of your adventures and your work on translating that great book?"

"I have almost finished the former, Your Highness. As far as the book is concerned, there is still a lot more work to be done, but I am making good progress, largely thanks to the invaluable assistance of your archivist. As I'm sure you know, we believe that at least some of the pieces that are written in Old High Dolomite function as spells when read aloud. In many cases, it is far from obvious just what magic would be performed. But earlier today we found one whose purpose seemed more obvious. It was described as follows: 'The East Wind - For the lonely traveler abroad, who wishes to revisit the homeland, for a short time. Effects depend on the presence of the audience, and size, if it exists.'" (Checkers had an excellent memory, and the description was of such great interest to her that she had found no difficulty in memorising it word for word.)

"I can see why that would interest you," the Queen said. "In your case it would need to be the west wind, though." (For the Aqualarians used the convention that a wind was described by the direction from which it originated.) She went on: "If it works as you anticipate, then it could save you a long and dangerous journey. If it could be used to transport your land's share of the dragon's treasure as well, then that would be even better. However Astra would be unhappy at being denied the chance to see your land, and at missing the adventures that she might have been expecting to have en route."

"The bit about effects depending on the audience is interesting and rather mysterious," the prince observed. "Maybe Astra might get to see Checkers' land after all, if she was a member of that audience. But remember that it said 'for a short time'. Maybe Checkers, anyone else who was carried along, and perhaps the gold as well, would all be transported back here after a few hours or days or weeks. I wonder if that would only happen to those people and things who were close to Checkers when the recall was activated, or whether it would happen regardless."

1. The Queen gives Checkers permission to go ahead with reciting the piece.
2. The Queen gives Checkers permission to go ahead with reciting the piece, but only without an audience. She doesn't want to risk anyone from her court being stranded thousands of miles from home.
3. The Queen does not want Checkers to recite the piece until/unless the likely effects can be better understood.

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