The crew of the H.M.S. Hedgehog looked at each other, then trotted up after Sir Theobald, who was getting on his horse.

"Sir Theobald, wait!" cried Jamie.

Sir Theobald waited on his horse for them to catch up to him.

"What are you talking about?" asked Jamie, plaintively.

Sir Theobald sighed. "Just like I said. I’ve been framed for murder. I’ve got a friend working on it for me. Don’t worry. I don’t have any plans to see a hangman any time soon."

Jamie put his hand on Sir Theobald’s arm. "If you need our help, just give a yell. We’ll come running."

Sir Theobald smiled. "Thanks, guys. I appreciate that." With that, he kicked his horse into motion and trotted away.

The crew looked around, unsure of what they should do. "There’s one thing I don’t understand." Stated Rabbit, "As the Minister of Rolls, I’m supposed to have records on the populace of Esperance. How did those foreigners know of Sir Theobald before I did?"


* * *

As Queen of Esperance, Dame Roselyn should have felt better. A bitter dispute had erupted, leaving her with two bad choices: she could either disobey the Emperor, or abandon her kingdom in its hour of need. The Emperor’s interview with the Nikeans required her presence, but she could not very well leave the kingdom with all the trouble in it.

A rash of well-poisonings had erupted, taking out nearly half of Tara and a third of Aquitaine. All the same way, if the physiker was correct, with someone throwing spoiled food into the wells. No one had been killed, but it would be a long and slow recovery for those afflicted.

On top of that, just yesterday she had had to authorize an arrest warrant for a valiant friend, Sir Theobald. It had been an ugly crime, and there was just too much evidence of his involvement.

She had felt it her obligation to stay in Esperance, but she also had an obligation to the Emperor. After arguing hotly with Sir Jehan and Dame Katherine, she had convinced them to have Esperance "host" the meeting.

She and most of the Senate, along with Sir Jehan’s advisors, sat in a large pavilion on one side of an open field, where the tournaments in Esperance were held. Some retainers and ministers were milling about, and a feast area was being set up.

Sir Jehan and Dame Katherine arrived, with minimal fanfare. They addressed the Senate, "Ah, so good you could all come. Is everyone here?"

Princess Dame Dorothea spoke up. "Pardon, your majesties, but Princess Dame Lyonene is not here. I have a message from her." She produced a square of folded parchment, which she gave to the Emperor.

Sir Jehan quickly scanned the letter. Dame Lyonene had been unavoidably delayed, and asked their forgiveness. She would come just as soon as she was able, and bid the Senate to conduct any business it needed to without her.

Sir Jehan put away the message and addressed the Senate. "Good populace, I find a most unusual situation has arisen, and before I authorize it, I’d like your opinion as well. A group, calling themselves the Nikeans, have petitioned to join the Empire, and be authorized as a Duchy right away. Before I do this, we shall get to know them better."

Just them, the Imperial Herald, Lord Nigel the Byzantine, came forward. "Your Imperial majesties, good gentles, they come." he swept out his arm, pointing to the far side of the field.

A drum beat started, followed by the ringing of many small bells. A parade of men, both dancers and warriors, all dressed in elaborate and exotic costumes, came forward. A little farther back, an honor guard was seen surrounding a palanquin. When the honor guard and palanquin got to the to middle of the field, they stopped.

A woman emerged from he palanquin. She was tall, sturdy, with dark hair and skin. Sir Jehan thought they looked Arabic. When she set foot on the ground, the drums and bells stopped.

Sir Jehan started forward, and was immediately flanked by the Landsknechts, the quasi-military order founded in Esperance.

The woman did likewise, surrounded by her honor guard. When they came to speaking distance. The guards in front of her immediately dropped to their knees, while the woman made a deep bow. "Sir Jehan," she said in thickly accented English, "I am Irene, Matriarch of the Nikeans."

Sir Jehan copied her bow. "Irene. I am Sir Jehan, Emperor of Adria."

Irene said a word in a foreign language, and her honor guard formed up behind her. "Come, let us get out of this sun and discuss this." Sir Jehan escorted her back to the pavilion where the rest of the Senate waited, eager and curious.

Part 5