A Battle Unseen

[Doc]

Cliff House, Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto, 3:15 pm

The door chime rang, and Her Imperial Majesty looked up from her desk. She touched a buzzer on the desk that unbolted the door and permitted entry. In strode the Chancellor of the Empire, flanked by her legislative Assistant.

"Lady Alvarez, this was intended to be a private conversation," said the Empress.

"Your Imperial Majesty, I brought Carlos with me to ensure that neither of us say anything we can deny later. He will transcribe the conversation but otherwise will remain silent and not contribute."

"Madame, this is highly inappropriate," the Empress responded.

"Your Imperial Majesty, you may be the Empress but I still have rights, and I stand on them. Carlos will remain for my own sake, if not for yours. I affirm that I will be honest and forthright, and am bound by both my office and my faith to do so, though you may not share the same limitations. If we can begin then..."

The Empress paused, looked Carlos over and suggested he sit at a near by table to do his transcription. She then politely asked "Tea?" Carlos responded "Yes please..." But the Chancellor shot him a look and then back to the Empress, "We're fine. Thank you for the offer, Madame."

The Empress sat again, and began sizing her Chancellor up, but said nothing. She was clearly waiting for the Chancellor to begin speaking. At length, Lady Alvarez took the hint and said, "Well, then. Can I ask Your Imperial Majesty why you have not met with me in weeks?"

"We believe you know the reason," answered the Empress.

"No, Your Imperial Majesty, I do not."

"Jennifer, the Democratic Club was an ambush. We... I was utterly floored and unprepared for that treatment. You gave me no warning, you were the one who pushed for it. You set me up to fail and to look petty in front of those people, and I walked right into it. I just... I don't know if..." The Empress cut herself off, almost afraid to say the words.

"If you, can trust me anymore... That is what you want to say, isn't it?" Jennifer asked.

"Yes," said Mary.

"Madame, I had no idea what the people would ask. The President of the Club informed me that the questions would be candid, and that's all. I don't believe he knew what the people would ask. But I assure you, it was not an ambush or a set up. It was an opportunity for the People to see you. They don't see you. They don't know you. But they want to. We want to. We want you to be our Empress as much as you think we are your people. It's hard for people to feel that way."

"So now, you presume to speak for the People too, Jennifer?"

"Madame, I am a Brethrenist. I am among the Majority, even if we don't have the seats in the Assembly."

"Are you a democrat?" asked Mary, with more than a measure of spite in her question.

"I am a democrat in as much as my role is to represent the People and to express their needs and wants to you honestly, and to help you better govern them."

"How dare you!" answered the Empress. "You represent me."

"Madame, I am a member of the National Assembly. As such, I am not your representative. I am your advisor. I help you do what you need to do."

"Lady Alvarez, you are out of line."

"If Her Imperial Majesty is displeased with me, she may always dismiss me, but I will remain nonetheless inside the National Assembly as a Deputy. And I will always work in the interests of my constituents, which are the people of Suldanor, where, to my understanding, Her Imperial Majesty does not live or vote."

Mary seethed. She clenched her fist. She shot a look at the stenographer who paused his writing and looked up at her to wait for her response--She thought for a moment about lashing out at him, but then the moment passed, and her eyes returned to her Chancellor. "Lady Alvarez: Who is the Empress in this Nation?"

"You are, Madame," said the Chancellor.

"Correct, and do I not govern by fiat, Lady Alvarez?"

"Your mere breath is the source of all law, My Lady." said the Chancellor.

"Then how can you say that you serve your people rather than me?"

"Your Imperial Majesty, I am your Citizen, not your subject. I will remind you, at the risk of my own life and liberty that you yourself maintain the title of Empress, 'By the Consent of the People'. It is how your title starts, as I am sure Your Imperial Majesty well knows."

Mary, for once was at a loss for words.

"Madame, you picked me, knowing what I was. I am a Brethrenist, and I believe in equality of humanity, and your answers to those people, while they may be true, were not given in the most politically intelligent way."

Sarcastically, Mary responded, "I suppose my Chancellor will tell me how I should have responded then?"

Lady Jennifer took a breath, realizing she was about to fall into a trap, and simply answered "I wouldn't presume so much, Madame."

Mary looked at her and said, "Then we order you to so. How should we have spoken to those people?"

Jennifer realized she had two choices here: She could hear it in the Empress's switch from the singular pronoun to the Plural. She could either answer or resign. And probably retire for good. "Madame, Truth is important, Honesty is important. But these people wanted to be reassured that you are not a tyrant. When I met with them, they said they were very concerned about some things and that they believe you are out of touch with your citizens. They wanted to know that their voices were being heard. And you... you went in there, Madame, and you answered them like a petty dictator, when I know you are above that. I know you to be a kind, caring and peaceful woman. I have seen you around your friends and family. But to the people of Sulari, and... to me... you appear to be resentful, disdainful, and arrogant. When you could have at least taken the opportunity to appear receptive."

Mary sat silently but eventually breathed. "I have never been spoken to that way in my life, Lady Jennifer. How they spoke to me..."

Jennifer responded. "I know, Your Imperial Majesty."

"Is it that obvious?"

"It is, Your Majesty."

Mary took a moment to collect her thoughts. "So will you resign then?"

Jennifer answered definitively, as if prepared for the question, "If it is Her Imperial Majesty's wish, I will. I serve as Chancellor of the Empire at her pleasure."

Mary pushed the question, "If I commanded it, would you jump off the Wilson Point Bridge?"

The Chancellor sat up. This was a question she was not prepared for, but was just as clear on the answer, "No Madame. I would disobey that command."

Mary smiled. "Your service will continue to be required. I am in need of someone who will tell me the Truth. You and Margaret are the only ones who have the stones to do that."

Jennifer smiled. "As you please Madame."

Mary nodded, and said "We shall speak no more of Sulari. But please tell us, Madame Chancellor, what drives your courage in the face of such a wrathful and arrogant Empress?"

The Chancellor thought for a moment. "Madame, perhaps it is my faith. As a Brethrenist, I know there is no reason for me to fear your wrath: You are a person like I am, and though you may have been angry with me, we all get angry. This is natural and is part of what makes you and I people. The same. When I talk of Equality, this is what I mean. While we all get angry, and disappointed, and I can relate to how Your Imperial Majesty felt in that forum, what matters is what we do with it. Do we blame, or do we try to understand? I can only hope that Your Imperial Majesty will have taken something from that forum to help you grow, and realize that if your people did not care, they would not have shown up."

"Do you think all Brethrenists would have reacted the same as you would have had me react?" Mary asked sincerely.

"No, I don't. But that's another thing I think makes us the same: We are all different."

"One last question, Madame Chancellor. Did you say there was another forum coming up in Vrassa?"

Jennifer paused a moment. "Yes, Madame. There is, but its in Eshar actually."

The Empress thought, and then said "Could you get us an invitation to the Forum?"

"Does Your Majesty mean as a member of the audience?"

"A panellist, if possible..."

Jennifer smiled, and said "I'll make some calls Your Imperial Majesty. I don't think I can promise anything, but they did ask before the Sulari folks did."

Mary gritted her teeth in mock fright and said "And perhaps you will speak with me a while before we go in?"

The Chancellor nodded and said "It will be my pleasure."