“Help me get into this quickly,” whispered Cherri as she picked up the long slender dress.
StarWind looked at the blue garment covered with tiny blue gems and shook her head at the narrowness of it and the plunging neckline. “There is no way that you are getting your body into this,” she remarked.
“I only need to get most of me into it,” Cherri replied as she rolled her eyes. “I had forgot that he was coming tonight.”
“At least the Monitors did not stay with him,” added StarWind. “Use the visit to your advantage. See what you can find out about the coup.”
“I will,” sighed Cherri as she struggled into the blue dress with StarWind’s help, “but I must be careful with this one. The Katana did not approve of his appointment and thought that someone was using him. If he is one of the conspirators and I sing the praises of the Katana, it could place me in danger.”
“You know more about this type of spying than I care to know,” StarWind said. “I trust your judgement. If something goes wrong, signal and we will do what we have to.”
“Just make sure that Malafar remains hidden and silent,” ordered Cherri. “We will all die if they find him here.”
Cherri saw StarWind nod in the mirror as she adjusted the dress and then headed downstairs. She slowed as she reached the lower portion of the stairs and acted as if she was not in a hurry as she entered the dining room.
“Minister Kapla,” Cherri smiled, “I wasn’t sure if you were still going to come or not.”
Kapla rose and gazed at the beautiful woman and flushed with embarrassment as he realized that he was staring at her. “I wouldn’t miss the opportunity to dine with you even if it was I who was to be the next Katana,” he blurted out.
“Perhaps you will be,” cooed Cherri as she allowed the Minister of Defense to seat her at the table.
Fisher appeared from nowhere and held the Minister’s chair out for him and Kapla sat down without a glance towards the servant. “Not this time,” Kapla smiled. “First Minister Alazar has been selected as the new Katana. He will do well for the nation.”
“Alazar?” Cherri mused. “I don’t believe that I ever actually met him and that is quite strange. I have met most of the Ministers at one time or another.”
Minister Kapla cocked his head as if contemplating some inarticulate thought and finally met Cherri’s gaze. “I do not believe that I have ever seen him in the company of a woman, now that you mention it,” he frowned. “He certainly has a flair for running the government though. I have heard that he has actually been running it for sometime now. The Katana merely okayed his decisions, so one step in the process has been eliminated.”
“Well I hope you are on good terms with the new Katana,” Cherri smiled. “You should be groomed as his replacement should anything happen to him.”
“I am on excellent terms with Alazar,” Kapla stated proudly. “In fact, it was I who nominated him, so I think he will look out for me.”
“Great,” grinned Cherri as Fisher poured wine for his Master and her guest. “Did they catch the assassin yet?”
Minister Kapla’s eyes shifted to watch Fisher before answering and Cherri understood his reluctance to speak. She waved Fisher away and explained, “There is no need to worry about him, poor lad. He is deaf. That is why I originally took him on as a servant. Sort of pity I guess, but he has turned into a most efficient servant. I wouldn’t think of letting him go now.”
“Ah,” nodded Kapla. “You are a very generous woman. Most employers would not accept less than perfection in their domestic servants.”
“Actually,” chuckled Cherri, “I find his inability to hear very beneficial at times.”
“I can imagine,” Kapla smiled with raised eyebrows. He sipped the wine and nodded. “Excellent wine, Cherri,” he declared as he placed his glass on the table. “I am afraid that the assassin is still at large, but he will be found soon. The whole city is sealed tight and the Monitors are helping the Imperial Guard with house-to-house searches.”
“Oh my,” inflected Cherri with surprise. “I imagine he will be found soon then. Who was it? How did it happen?”
“He is a Sakovan,” Kapla spat. “His name is Master Malafar and he is a renowned wizard. I was in the ballroom when it happened. I still shake when I think about it. Not with fear, you realize, but with astonishment. It was so quick that nobody had a chance to do anything except Alazar himself. He just walked into the ballroom and cast all sorts of nasty spells at the Katana before anyone knew what was going on. One minute the Katana was there, the next minute his body parts were flying all over the room. Alazar was quick and sent a flaming ball of fire into Malafar’s back, but then everything flared into brightness and we all went blind. The Sakovan must have been immune because he was gone when the Monitors arrived.”
“Wow,” sighed Cherri. “With magic like that, I’ll bet he is not even in the city anymore. He probably made himself invisible or walked right through the city wall or something. I can’t imagine how people can do magic like that.”
“Even if he did make it out of the city,” Kapla boasted, “he will not get far. The three largest armies are sealing off every entrance to the Sakova right now. Malafar will be caught, I promise you that.”
“Surrounding the Sakova? You mean we are going to be going to war?” asked Cherri.
The Minster of Defense twisted his neck and searched for servants before answering, “Not just yet, but soon. Alazar does not want to start the war until people are properly aroused, but it doesn't hurt to have the troops already in place, he grinned.
“You are a sly one,” chuckled Cherri as she signaled for Fisher to serve the dinner. “I told you that you would make a good Katana. I can tell, you know.”
Cherri’s mind reeled as Fisher served bowls of turtle soup, but she waited until he left before continuing her probe. “I guess we will be safe enough here in the city when the war comes,” she mused, “but I have property in the country as well. Do you think I should sell it before everyone finds out that we are going to war?”
Kapla stopped slurping his soup and looked up. “That depends,” he murmured, “on where it is. If it is along the coast it will be fine.”
“Actually I have more than one estate,” she grinned, “but one of them is in the mountains up north and not along the coast.”
“Where in the mountains?” Kapla asked as he wiped the soup off his chin with a napkin.
“Close to the Khadoran border,” Cherri stated. “It is not an area near the Sakova so I guess it will be all right.”
“I would sell it,” Kapla said while shaking his head. “You will be better off with the gold.”
“I hardly have a lack of gold,” laughed Cherri. “You don’t think the Sakovans will attack way up there do you?”
Minister Kapla laid his spoon down and pushed the empty bowl to one side. He sat there for a moment fondling his lower lip while Cherri nonchalantly finished her soup. Kapla’s eyes widened as Cherri finished her soup and looked up to meet his gaze. He started fidgeting with the dinner utensils and smiled boyishly.
“The Sakovans are not likely to cause trouble that far north,” admitted the Minister of Defense, “but the Khadorans might. I fear that there may be a war up there soon as well.”
“Oh my,” Cherri frowned. “I guess gold is looking better all the time, or maybe a new mansion on the beach instead. How much time do I have to get rid of it?”
“It’s not certain,” confided Kapla. “I would guess no more than two months. You must not repeat any of this Cherri,” he added with an apprehensive voice.
“Silly boy,” laughed Cherri. “Do you think I would want anyone to have the advantages that I have? I didn’t get all of my gold by spreading news around you know. I wouldn’t share this with anyone.”
Kapla sighed, obviously relieved, and Cherri signaled for the next dish. Fisher rolled out a cart loaded with vegetables and fruits and a large succulent meat roast in the center. He rolled the cart to Cherri first and she pointed to the section she desired and watched silently as Fisher carved the meat and set pieces on a plate for her. Fisher repeated his chore with the Minister and then set the plates of fruits and vegetables on the table and departed. Kapla poked at the meat and then cut a small portion and shoved it into his mouth.
“This is excellent!” he exclaimed. “Never tasted meat like this before. What is it?”
“It is not the meat that you savor,” grinned Cherri, “but the way it has been prepared. Another reason why I would never part with my servants. Anytime I find foreigners in town, I arrange for my servants to spend time with their cooks. They learn many delicious ways of preparing food and all about herbs and spices. I figure the day away from here is a sound investment.”
“You have strange ideas for a woman,” smiled Kapla. “You think of everything as an investment. Do you look at me as an investment too?”
“Of course,” laughed Cherri. “I intend to invest a lot of time in you too,” she grinned. “I intend to marry the next Katana, and I do not mean Alazar.”
Kapla laughed and then turned deadly serious. “You do not want to cross that man, Cherri,” he warned. “Do not even think about it. He knows everything that goes on and what everybody is thinking. I wouldn’t mind being the next Katana, but I do not want to get involved in trying to depose this one.”
“I would do nothing of the sort,” assured Cherri. “I am a patient person. We may have to spend many years together waiting for Alazar to die, but when he does, we will be ready. That is, if you think you would care to spend those years with me.”
The Minister of Defense froze with a forkful of meat before his open mouth and stared at the buxom blond in the tight blue gown. Slowly he closed his mouth and put his fork down. “Do you mean it?” he asked. “Are you serious? We barely know each other.”
“I know ways that we can become better acquainted,” smirked Cherri. “I miss the days at court,” she pouted, “and you are a wonderful man. I have been watching you from afar for some time now. I knew that one meeting was all it would take to make sure about you. That is why I went to court last night, to see you. Do you not feel the same about me?”
Just then, there was a loud banging on the front door and Cherri jumped in her seat. She caught a flash of StarWind running from the kitchen to the front door and listened tensely. StarWind cracked the door and stuck her head out. She did not even get to finish her question before the door was flung open and six Monitors poured in. The lead Monitor shouted instructions and the invaders split up to search the house. It all happened so quickly that Cherri was frozen for a minute and then she leaped to her feet. Swiftly she tried to follow the departing Monitors as they started searching the house. She saw StarWind being held by a Monitor at the front door. StarWind did not resist, but appeared to be awaiting a signal to fight as the Monitor was looking around the room as he held her. Turning, Cherri saw another Monitor heading for Fisher in the kitchen. Nervously, she wondered if the Khadoran possessed any survival skills if it came to a fight for their lives.
Minister Kapla rose and wiped his chin with the napkin again as he stared at the commotion. Cherri heard someone trying to forcibly open the locked door to her private garden. She turned to Kapla and asked, “Why are you letting them do this?”
“They are just doing their job,” the fat Minister answered. “They must check every house in the city. They will be done quickly and we can resume our dinner.”
The lead Monitor and another entered the dining room and it was obvious that the leader recognized the new Minister of Defense. It was also obvious what he thought of Cherri as his eyes widened and one eyebrow rose dramatically. Cherri fought to keep track of the movements of the Monitors as they searched the mansion, bitter that Kapla had not intervened on her behalf. She had thought for a brief moment that Kapla’s presence would save her from the search, but neither Kapla nor the leader of the Monitors seemed to be so inclined. She tensed involuntarily as she tried to anticipate which of the Sakovans would be the first to attack. She even thought that Malafar might start blasting magic around or Fisher might try to break free and run.
Cherri knew the location of five of the Monitors and listened intently for sounds of the sixth. All she could hear was the Monitor still trying to gain access to her private garden. Then she saw the last Monitor heading for the staircase to the rooms upstairs. She watched in slow-motion horror as the Monitor climbed step after step, knowing that when he reached the top, Master Malafar would be found.
Cherri looked quickly at StarWind and saw the Sakovan spymaster ready to spring into action. A quick glance at Fisher showed that he was calmly leaning against the wall as if casually waiting for a signal for the next course of the meal to be served. She envied his calmness as she tightened her hands into fists and felt stark terror rip through her body.
Just as the Monitor placed his foot on the top step of the stairs, Cherri could hold it no longer. “Stop!” she screamed.
Everyone turned towards her and she strode out of the dining room, pushing the lead Monitor out of her way. She halted in the entryway and pointed an accusing finger at the Monitor at the top of the stairs.
“You,” she shouted, “get down here. And you,” she swiveled to the Monitor trying to break open the door to her private garden, “Get away from those doors before you break them.”
Nobody moved and she turned furiously to face Kapla who had followed her out of the dining room with the two Monitors in tow. “I will not be treated like some common tramp in my own home,” she shouted caustically at the Minister of Defense. “If this is an example of how much I mean to you,” she berated, “then take your men and get out. I will not have my integrity questioned by being forced to submit to a house search against my will.”
Kapla started fidgeting and the Monitors looked to their leader for guidance while he was looking at the Minister of Defense for instructions. Cherri did not give them time to think.
She spun around to the Monitor holding StarWind and pointed at him. “Get your hands off my servant,” she screamed. “If you need to molest women, go down to the docks where the rest of the dirt resides.”
The Monitor reflexively released his grip on StarWind, still holding his hands next to her arms. Kapla’s hands were shaking as he approached Cherri to try and soothe her. She spun away from his grasp and folded her arms around herself and pouted. Kapla turned to the lead Monitor with a shrug, but the leader was already walking towards the man holding StarWind. The two men conversed quietly and then the leader returned to the Minister of Defense and whispered something to him.
Cherri fought down the fear that they might have already been discovered and continued her charade. “Get the Minister’s coat,” she ordered StarWind. “I wouldn’t want him to unintentionally leave it behind.”
Minister Kapla stepped alongside Cherri and held up his hand to halt StarWind. “That will not be necessary,” he instructed. “The Monitors will be leaving without me. I am sorry, Cherri. I had no idea that you would be this upset. You should have said something to me.”
The leader of the Monitors signaled his men and they gathered at the front door. He walked over to Cherri and stood before her. “I am sorry Cherri,” he apologized. “We take our job very seriously and we are searching for a very dangerous man. Perhaps our manners should take into account people that are above suspicion, but it has been a long day for my men and all I can do is apologize. I hope you will accept it.”
He stood in front of Cherri waiting for an answer and Cherri forced tears to her eyes before looking up at him. “I guess I understand,” she sobbed, “but I felt so violated. It was like I had lost control of my very self, that I did not matter anymore and anyone could come in anytime they wanted.”
“I understand,” consoled the lead Monitor. “I am sorry for interrupting your dinner.”
He spun on his heels and led his men out the door. StarWind quietly closed it and locked it. Kapla put his hands on Cherri’s shoulders and she cringed at his touch.
“I didn’t even think it would disturb you,” the Minister explained. “It is a very normal procedure. I just thought everyone would know to expect it. I will make it up to you somehow. Please do not be upset with me.
“I have to clean my face,” sobbed Cherri as she pulled away from his hands and ran upstairs.
StarWind glanced at the Minister and hastily followed Cherri up the stairs and into her bedroom. “That was close sweetie,” StarWind said. “You would not believe what saved you.”
“I thought my performance saved me,” grinned Cherri.
“Not really,” StarWind stated. “The Monitor holding me told the leader that we should leave you alone.”
“Why?” questioned Cherri. “Monitors do not tell their leaders anything.”
“He was one of the Monitors who escorted you and the Katana last night,” StarWind explained. “He told the leader that it was you who alerted the Katana to the threat from Master Malafar. To the leader, it made no sense that you would then be hiding the assassin. That is why he agreed to end the search.”
“That fat slob could have ordered them out,” complained Cherri. “Instead we were saved by a weird quirk of fate. I will make him pay for that.”
“If it is any consolation,” grinned StarWind, “I loved your performance. Still that was too close to disaster. We have to get out of here.”
Cherri splashed water from the basin on her face and dried with a towel. “From what I am hearing so far,” she replied, “that is not going to be easy. Did you hear about Khadora and the armies surrounding the Sakova?”
“Yes,” answered StarWind. “I will need to get another bird off tonight. You are not intending to let him spend the night I hope.”
“Are you serious?” chuckled Cherri. “Never, never give them what they want. As soon as they are satisfied you are worthless to them. No, I will keep him on the hook until I have no further use for him and then I will pick a fight with him so that he is glad to leave.”
StarWind shook her head and smiled. “I can see that you are not only good at what you do, but you love your work,” giggled StarWind.
“Yes and I better get back to it,” she sighed. “That clova is excellent by the way. Where did you get the recipe?”
“I didn’t,” laughed StarWind. “Fisher cooked it.”
“Incredible,” she chuckled as she opened the bedroom door.
She composed herself on the way down the stairs and quietly took her seat at the dinner table. “I am sorry Kapla,” she apologized. “I have not had a man order me around in my own home since Calix died. “I guess I just couldn’t handle it. The thought of some man going through my personal belongings really disturbed me. And that fool trying to break into my private garden didn’t help. No person other than myself has stepped foot in my garden since It was built. I did not even allow Calix or the servants in there. It is my personal sanctuary.”
“I must confess that my actions tonight were callous,” admitted the Minister of Defense. “These searches are routine for someone in my position and I never thought how someone might react to them. I figured that people would be glad to know that we are performing our jobs. I will make sure that it does not happen again. I hope you can forgive my shortcoming in this matter, but it happened so quickly. What can I do to make it up to you?”
“I will think of something,” Cherri smiled weakly. “Let’s finish dinner before it gets cold.”
She signaled for Fisher and he brought the meat cart back out and sliced new hot portions for the Minister and Cherri and disappeared again. They ate in silence for some time before Kapla finally wiped his lips with the napkin and threw it on the table.
“That was the finest meal that I have had in years,” he declared. “You have such a fine staff here that I look forward to more of these comforts in the future.” Cherri smiled slightly but didn’t respond and the shadow of a frown fell over the Minister’s face. “Were you really going to throw me out?” he asked.
Cherri quietly put down her fork and pushed her plate to one side. “Yes,” she replied solemnly. “I expect my man to do whatever he can to make life easy and wonderful for me and I will do the same for him. Surely you must have known that I was getting tense at their intrusion? You should have used the power of your office to make them go away. Then I wouldn’t have had to get upset and spoil my dinner.”
“But they are looking for the assassin of the Katana,” argued the Minister. “Surely you can understand that everyone must comply with the searches?”
“I understand no such thing,” retorted Cherri. “I am not everyone. I am special and the rules do not apply to me. Don’t you think that I am special?”
“Of course you are special,” agreed Kapla.
“All of this is very distressing to me,” confided Cherri. “You asked before if there was something you could do for me to make up for tonight. I have thought of something.”
“Just name it,” smiled the Minister of Defense.
“I want to leave the city,” Cherri declared. “I think I will go sell my estate up north before the market drops up there.”
“Impossible,” pleaded Kapla. “The city is sealed. Nobody can leave.”
“I am not nobody,” smiled Cherri sweetly. “I will be taking four servants with me. The two you have already seen, my old tutor who is infirm and will have to be carried and my stable boy. Of course he doesn’t look much like a boy because he is huge, but that is what I call him.”
“Cherri,” Kapla pleaded, “Alazar would have my head if I let anyone out of the city. It is my responsibility to make sure nobody gets out.”
“Then make sure that he never learns of it,” demanded Cherri. “We will leave at night if that will make it easier on you. Am I special or not?”
Kapla fidgeted with his hands and Cherri rose and walked over to him and stood close to him. He turned his head and stared at her body, his eyes rising until they met her smiling face.
“Be ready to leave in four hours,” he conceded. “I hope you will not be away long.”
“I will be back before you know it,” grinned Cherri as she hugged the overweight Minister of Defense.