Lisa's guns had been mine but now I relied on the Dragoons. The Navy Colts were effective weapons but too light for serious use on a battlefield. It had been unfortunate that we had left our personal firearms at home at the time of the last Rajah's revolt.
Except for target practice I had used a Dragoon only twice. The first time I had used a Dragoon was to kill a bull that had been mauled by a tiger. The shot had smashed the bull's skull, satisfyingly stopping its rampage, but I didn't admit to the awed natives that my aim had been the bull's heart.
The second time had been on the North West Frontier visiting my old regiment and had gone along on a showing the flag expedition. We had been ambushed but the ambushers came off worst. I had fired the Dragoon at a charging mob of hashish crazed tribesmen twenty metres away. The man I hit had been knocked backwards, dead of course, with a large hole blown through his chest. I had nearly lost hold of the gun from the shock of the recoil. By the time I had re-cocked the Dragoon a volley from the troops' Brown Bess muskets had blown away the tribesmen.
Finally, Lisa was ready. Our carriage was waiting outside with George's lancers forming up as the escort. Lisa's maid draped a shawl over Lisa's bare shoulders. As we left the house the escort saluted and our personal standard was unfurled. In the distance I could hear the tramp of infantry and the rumble of the gun carriages. If our assessment of Queen Serena's need was wrong, we would have annoyed a large number of our troops unnecessarily. I could take a phlegmatic view. Any military complaints would be addressed to George.
Chapter 3: The Royal Dinner
We entered the town with a blare of trumpets that sent the locals scattering. The lancers clattered ahead and formed up beside the main palace entrance. Already there, either side of the gateway were two of George's nine-pounders. The linstocks were alight and the firers ready for action. Each gun was attended by a small group of infantry with their Minié rifles resting on improvised barricades. They looked ready for war and made a stark contrast to the dress uniforms of the lancers. The streets around were empty. The locals had decided that the area by the palace was likely to be unhealthy.
Lisa and I descended as if we were attending a normal social occasion. Apart from exchanging greetings with the Gunners' Captain, we ignored the presence of so many soldiers. As we entered the gate Queen Serena's Major Domo came to meet us.
"Thank goodness you are here, Prince and Princess. We were concerned about the cannon outside."
"What cannon?" Lisa asked innocently "Is that what they are? I understand that our soldiers are playing some of their games this evening. Is that the correct term, Harold?"
"No Lisa. What the Princess means is that the troops are taking part in an exercise. It is part of their training. I am sure Queen Serena will understand the need to train soldiers."
"If you say so, Prince," the Major Domo replied.
He understood very well that training did not usually happen in the evening, or with loaded and aimed cannon. He looked pointedly at my Dragoon and the 'for use' sword. They are not pretty. The sword has a plain oiled wooden sheath. The oiled wood keeps it sharp. The dress sword's fancy silver decorated sheath blunts the edge. The Dragoon looks like the killing machine it is. He sighed and led the way to the Audience Chamber.
The crowd of courtiers parted before us. Queen Serena and King Vishaladeva came down from their thrones to greet us. Serena whispered in my ear.
"Don't be surprised by Visha. He's drunk too much."
King Vishaladeva was enthusiastically kissing Lisa's hand. She looked closely at him, then kissed him on the cheek, before giving her cheek to Serena. Serena spoke aloud.
"Princess Lisa, will you accept the King as your partner for dinner?"
Lisa bowed her acceptance and moved to the King's side. I held out my arm. Serena tucked her hand in it and we followed the King and Lisa to the dining chamber. It was arranged unusually. Normally the King and Queen sat in the middle of one side of a long row of tables. This time they and we were directed to a raised dais at the end. There was a wooden screen at the front of the dais. The diners below the dais would see only our heads. There was another oddity. Normal protocol would have sat the King and Queen together, then Lisa beside the King, and me beside the Queen. This time Queen Serena was sitting in the centre beside Lisa, with the men on the outside. I was beside the Queen.
We watched as the diners processed in and took their seats. As the meal started to be served the conversation level in the chamber rose. Queen Serena whispered in my ear, loud enough for Lisa to hear.
"Harold, the King is not himself tonight."
Lisa cut in. "I know he isn't. I've had to stop his hand wandering twice already. He isn't Vishaladeva. Who is he?"
"I thought I couldn't deceive you two," said Serena. "He is the King's second cousin, Ranjit. He is an amiable and loyal friend but he likes women too much."
"I know about that already. He might get a surprise if his hand wanders much further," retorted Lisa.
"Please be discreet," hissed Serena. "It is important that he is recognised as the King tonight. It won't be for long. This dinner is a simple one by our standards. Afterwards the four of us will retire and then Lisa can kick Ranjit in the balls or take whatever unladylike action she likes. Until then he must appear to be the King. Ranjit doesn't understand English."
"I see," said Lisa. She whispered in Ranjit's ear in his own dialect. That shook him. He looked terrified and nodded his agreement to Lisa.
"What did you say to him, Lisa?" asked Serena. "He looked just like Visha does when you tell him off."
"I told him that if he didn't behave I'd slice his balls off with my husband's sword and serve them to the guests as shish kebab."
"I think he believes you." Serena said.
"He should. I'd do it."
"I know you would," said Serena, "but not until afterwards, please, for my sake."
"If that's what you want, Serena. His hands have stopped wandering."
"I should not be surprised, Lisa, but that is probably the first time in Ranjit's life that he has ever accepted no from a woman, except his Queen. Despite that I like him. He is a loyal friend and would die for me."
"I hope it doesn't come to that, Serena. You may have been told about the training exercise outside."
"Yes. They terrified most of my court. I knew that was Harold at work."
"George, actually. Harold asked and George arranged for a demonstration of our support."
"Is that what it is? Some of my guests thought they had been invited to a massacre instead of a dinner." Serena lowered her voice. "Ranjit and I will leave soon. He will have a slight indisposition. You two will continue as the hosts until you signal the end of the dinner and the guests leave. Then you can come to our private chamber for the real business of the evening."
Soon afterwards, Serena summoned her Major Domo. He announced the King's slight indisposition. The King and Queen withdrew. The meal continued with a few curious looks at us. It was the first time that we had taken any formal role in Serena's realm.
Lisa noticed Pushpa signalling to us from the far end of the chamber. I summoned the Major Domo who asked Pushpa to attend us. She mounted the dais, bowed low, and spoke very quietly.
"Prince and Princess, there is likely to be trouble when you tell them it is the end of the evening."
"What trouble?" Lisa asked.
"I don't know. It can't be too serious with all your troops outside. Without them, it might have been."
"Thank you, Pushpa," I said. "We are as prepared as we can be."
Pushpa bowed again and backed off the dais. I don't know whether she has to walk backwards when leaving a Prince and Princess. I shouldn't think Pushpa knows either. We are the first she has met.
The rest of the evening passed quietly. Just before I rose to make my announcement I drew my Dragoon, cocked it, and held it in my right hand. It was concealed from the guests by the low screen at the front of the dais.
The Major Domo asked for the guests' attention. I rose to my feet and announced the end of the evening. I thanked the guests for coming. A man stood up and shouted that he wasn't going to take orders from an Englishman. There were murmurs of support. I replied that I was not present as an Englishman but as a Prince of the realm. He shouted back that he did not recognise me as a Prince nor the right of a Queen to rule the state. That did it, as far as I was concerned. He could insult me, but not the Queen. I lifted the Dragoon and pointed it straight at him.
