Log:Princesses' Guard Revived, Scene 12

Princesses' Guard Revived 2014/04/10 	 Ghost Lorelei

12

Princess Stephanie's Chambers, Undermoon Palace
Ghost has requested an urgent audience with Princess Stephanie and is pacing nervously as she waits to hear if the audience will be granted.

Lorelei keeps Ghost waiting longer than she normally does, but that's not surprising given how busy she currently is. Still, it's not a long wait.

Ghost hurries to the Princesses' location and asks the guards, of which there are gratifyingly quite a few, to announce her.

The guards announce Ghost, and the Mistress of Glamour gives Ghost a good looking over to make sure she is as appears, as part of the increased security.

Ghost submits to the examination by the Mistress of Glamour with patient approval. Then she enters the chamber where Princess Stephanie is and drops to one knee. "Highness, I may have made a bad mistake. I offered another Earth hero a place in the team. And I did not think clearly enough of the effect it might have on the acceptance of the team and your standing as the sponsor of the team."

Lorelei, surprised, frowns. "What on Earth did you do? Recruit a supervillain?"

Ghost says, "No, your highness. But the fae might have prefered that I did. I have her image on my PDA. May I show it to you. I think the image will explain everything."

Lorelei says, "your PDA is functioning here? I must find out how you do that.... Please, show me."

Ghost brings the image of Pelana, the half dragon heroine, to the screen of her PDA and shows the image to the Princess.

Lorelei says, "Oh... ah. Hmmm.... I see what you mean. What is she, exactly?"

Ghost says, "She believes herself to be half dragon, Highness. I saw nothing that conflicted with that belief. She is not, however, a manavore, as were the dragons of the Dragon Wars. Even so, I fear the effect of accepting her into the team could be damaging, especially at this time. At another time, Highness, the long term effects would, I believe, be beneficial to fae culture in framing the Dragon Wars in their correct context, traumatic events but not a reason for the xenophobia that exists. But the timing is poor and my judgement is equally poor I fear."

Lorelei nods. "It's awkward. The fae - or most of them anyway - of course know that there are different sorts of dragons. And the victory over the manavores was pretty well complete - though there are still some dragon hunters who seek them in worlds far removed. But there's likely to be some pretty severe racial prejudice, and, as you know, dragons are symbolically a horrific thing." She sighs. "Then again, the Dukes of Wyrmsend have always proudly borne them on their arms. It may be a matter of presentation..."

Ghost says, "I spoke to the heroine, her name is Pelana, and warned her that she may have to face hostility. She accepted the possibility. My concern, Highness, and what I failed to consider at the time, is the effect it could have on your reputation. I'm sorry, Highness, so sorry. I have failed you."

Lorelei shakes her head. "Nonsense. I'd probably have done the same - mistake or not. But it *is* inconvenient. It may be best if her association with the Guard isn't revealed until after the wedding..... Hm. Unless - I wonder. What's she like?"

Ghost says, "One meeting is insufficent to determine a person's character, Highness. But I liked her. She has a checkered background but is trying to put that into the past and redeem herself. She will be heading to Iceland to join the team there. Titan may be able to give a more accurate assessment of her character after she's been with the team for a few days."

Lorelei says, "Iceland? Oh, yes.... Hm. I was just thinking about symbolism again, you see. Of course, Pelana might not like it. The fae have, as I'm sure you know, a rather high opinion of themselves. If Pelana were presented as a 'tame' dragon, if you see what I mean, that could be seen as being to the honour rather than shame of the fae. But that depends a lot on her behaviour."

Ghost nods, "Would she accept such a role? I believe she may well be willing to. If we were to return to Earth for a few minutes, Highness, we could speak to Johnathan in a conference call and ask him to raise the question with her after explaining to him why it may be required."

Lorelei says, "Then let's do that. And if she isn't - make it clear that she's still welcome in the Guard, but keep it under wraps until after the wedding. It's *not* a major problem - that Guard is of course intended to include all sorts of people - it's purely a matter of the timing."

Ghost lowers her head, "Yes, Highness. I can find tasks on Earth for Pelana if needed until after the wedding, although such tasks will not be the optimum use of her abilities."

Lorelei nods. "I'd sooner not have her on limited duty either, of course."

Ghost says, "Indeed Highness."

Lorelei looks at her watch. "Do you wish me to come to Earth too? I can, but I'm always conscious of how much faster time passes when there...."

Ghost says, "It is not essential, Highness. I can speak with Johnathan. I need to go to Earth anyway to see if my searchworms have returned any relevant data. I sent them off to check on sales of flintlock and matchlock firearms and gunpowder."

Lorelei says, "Why flintlock and - oh! You're thinking that more primitive gunpowder weapons may be less inclined to fail here? You could be right."

Ghost nods, "I tested them, Highness. A flintlock weapon will fire up to a half dozen times before the spring of the lock snaps and renders it useless. Matchlock weapons continue to fire as long as there is powder for them. And my research into the effectiveness of such firearms astonished me. There are such weapons, known as Kentucky long rifles, that were deadly and accurate up to four hundred yards!"

Lorelei frowns. "I didn't know that. I thought early guns were pretty inaccurate..."

Ghost says, "So did I, Highness. As I said, I was astonished by the results of my research."

Lorelei says, "Well done on the research - I wouldn't have thought of that."

Ghost says, "I saw in a report that the traitor Palanir had a flintlock pistol in his rooms. And, Highness, of all the potential threats, Palanir worries me the most. I have found no trace of him since his escape at Newport."

Lorelei says, "He worries me most too. I fear we have underestimated him. He may not be the greatest in personal combat but he seems to have a vast network of spies and contacts. Much as I despise him, I can't help but be impressed that he subverted the goblin spy network - and increasingly it seems that was the tip of the iceberg. Palanir seems to have been investigating what he could use to his advantage from other worlds and races while most of the fae are, I'm afraid, rather complacent in their superiority. And that makes his abilities frighteningly unpredictable."

Ghost approaches the point of her next comment rather carefully. "Palanir was defeated and arrested after being exposed as both the poisoner of the King, your grandfather, and imprisoning your mother's heart. Yet here we are, after many deaths from the goblin raids he facilitated, still threatened by him. There are some in the team, Highness, who... could solve this problem permanently should he fall into our hands..?"

Lorelei says, "He has been exiled. Technically if he is caught in Undermoon his life is forfeit. What it would be like politically is another matter. There are those in Westmarch who recognise that he kept the duchy safe from the goblins with skill. And the other dukes are unlikely to want the precedent of the execution of a duke, however justified. That said - they'd sooner do it formally than informally. If it comes to it, capture him, and the king himself will take his head in proper order."

Ghost nods still kneeling, "It shall be as you command, Highness."

Lorelei says, "And now - I hope you will forgive me, but I have much to do. The official announcement is imminent, and everything has to be ready in case it's not taken well."

Ghost bows from her kneeling position and then stands. She backs a couple of steps and turn to leave. Turns back, "Thank you, Highness. I shall try not to fail you again." Ghost bows deeply and then departs.