DISCLAIMER: All characters engaging in sexual conduct are 18 years or older, and legally permitted to engage in such activities, irrespective of pet names used for each other.
Okay so women rule the world, the spy network is taking WAY too long to get going.. Leave a rating / comment / idea.
Kingdoms:
Queen Amice-- Capital Morroco -- Home - Cegramond
Queen Hollis -- Capital Djamena - Velho southern island-
Queen Isabella -- Capital Tripoli
Queen Gilfa -- Capital Cairo
Elves - Tunisia
We portal into the Queens bedroom? I look around and comment that there is probably a better location we could use with Cassandra laughing.
Queen Gilfa and King Florian Lancaster along with a few of their guard are standing near the doorway. They were informally dressed which is always good when you are not sure what is going on.
After quite a few hugs and comments about how everyone looked, we finally get out of the bedroom and follow them into their private meeting area. I got a firm handshake from Florian.
'Serena, are you ready yet?' Abi sends to the group.
'Few more minutes!' Serena sends back sounding frantic.
"Cassandra? You said not to worry about making anything?" Gilfa motions to the long table, "I hope you have something planned as this is making me anxious."
"Oh, yes," Cassandra turns to me," I am probably not the best at doing this part of it, James dear, can you make us something special?"
"Anything specific or?" I answer as nobody let me know in advance this would be happening.
"Tahareesa's from the first night was wonderful," Abi adds and I nod and agree that it was one of the best ever with all the varieties. It takes almost no effort to pull the feast we had that night forward with a gasp from Gilfa and her husband.
"Wait!" Florian says looking at the packed table as it is a bit smaller than what Tahareesa had. "Does your magic just, know, what to do?
"My stomach just knows what to do, the best food you'll ever have," I reply with a smile.
"Thank you James." Tahareesa says from the other side of the table, "We should make room for our plates," she starts combining certain platters and bowls.
"I'll be honest, I thought you would be a stern person based on what I've heard," Florian says to me as everyone is talking to everyone else.
"Well then, I'm glad we were able to meet again after all of that unpleasantness the last time."
Serena walks through a portal, Gilfa knows her through Denae and gives her a hug. "Queen Mother."
"Stop that." Serena laughs, "Catalina asked me to come in reference to what she's talked to you about."
"You are working with them on all of the messes being fixed?" Gilfa asks as Serena sits next to Denae.
"Nana's is our second home." Catalina answers.
"Oh!, Ugh, you're like them?" Gilfa asks and I choke on an orange slice causing laughter around the table.
"What? No, just helping my granddaughter, four kingdoms is a bit much even for her." Serena replies looking a bit flustered. Neither Gilfa nor Florian would know the process so it's an honest question, just embarrassing to Serena who did know the process, this is hilarious, I notice most of the women were smiling at Serena at her trying to deny without too much explanation.
'Gilfa is very observant, she's caught on to how we look at each other.' Abi sends to the group. 'She might not know how it works, but she knows something is going on.'
"Cat has filled me in, are we talking about people in the palace also?" Gilfa asks Serena who then looks over at me.
"The point of all of this is giving those women a support group, access to essential needs, and a purpose, continue to use your current spy network and they might surprise you on occasion."
"Pay them for nothing?" Gilfa frowns and stops when I feel disappointment flow through me. I keep my eyes on hers as I try and figure out a way to explain this to her, how can she not understand the benefits?
"Yes, if need be, you will pay them for being your eyes and ears, they will be treated with respect and.." I sigh, why does this need to be explained?
"Can I?" Cat asks, I figured Mazarine would be the one to step in being so empathetic. Breaking off eye contact with Gilfa, I nod to her.
"Amice and I made a mistake in trying to steal James from Neivia," she looks down at Neivia taking her hand. "He punished us by demanding we be nicer to the staff in the palace." Gilfa gives her a questioning look with Cat smiling at her.
"I thought it was weird at the time, but the more I learned from them the more I realized how badly I was acting, their lives matter, they serve our every need, and we ignored them. Now that I know better, this idea not only makes perfect sense, it feels like I am giving back a little for what I've been given. The spying is going to work, but it is secondary to taking care of those that were left behind."
"The clinics, they are the same." Florian says quietly, "You; you all are as powerful as Lady Abigail, there is nothing that could stop you if you took all of this," He waves around the room, "for yourselves." And you put the women in as Queens, created the clinics for the sick and the spy network for abandoned women with children."
"That sounds much more coordinated than it was," I answer and get a few agreements from the ladies.
"What do I do?" Florian turns and asks me.
"Serve her," I look at Gilfa and then at my women, "a house needs a strong foundation, this is where we shine best. Every day brings incidents and problems, let them solve the problems of the world, while you solve hers. I find it is also fairly rewarding." I smile at the end and get a laugh from Neivia.
"Wait! That is why you've been like this?" Neivia shakes her head. "Why didn't you tell us that?" She asks Abi.
"He hadn't put any thought into it until now." Abi answers, "He's been doing all of the research for me since we were children and then I'd be the one that put it forward, it just, seemed natural at the time."
"Hmm, so it's on me to run all of this," Florian turns to Serena, "with your help of course."
"Our help," Serena motions to Cat, "my granddaughter and Hollis' daughter Bella and whomever we find with Isabella will all share what works and any issues we run into. If one Kingdom finds out something is going on in another, they will be notified immediately."
"Oh!" Gilfa perks up to that and I groan inwardly. This is going to be a rough lady to get along with.
'She's really a nice person James, just being a bit slow on something those that have been born into power have difficulty understanding.' Cassandra sends the group.
Florian gives her a look that she apparently recognizes and then she looks at me for a moment.
"I feel like I'm about to be removed." She says and then gets quiet.
"Nonsense Gilfa," Cassandra says with a smile, "this is why we're here, and if you need help, the more we do this, the better."
"That's good, I didn't ask, well, I guess none of us asked for this, but I'll do my best, now that it's been explained, it makes more sense."
'Do you feel okay?' Neivia sends me.