Rise Of The Ragdoll: Part 2, Book 2 of Isekai Tales

Queen of my own domain. Empress over four realms. Married to princes in two realms, and I can’t jump away from my palace to the Adventurers Guild without tripping the realmwide alarm system. Obviously an update to the system because I took a little excursion with my husband. Okay fine, I didn’t tell anyone I was going, or where, or for how long. Ok, fine! So, I ran away. Still, they didn’t need to react like this.

“Would someone shut off this stupid alarm! All I did was jump to the Adventurers Guild to put an end to our little Crispenwell prank!” I said as I walked into the War room, where my Imperial Council had collected to track me down. I stopped as soon as I was one pace inside. They were all gathered around the map table zoomed in to the city level, and floating above the table was cute little white dragon figure. Oh no, you didn’t.

“That’s an invasion of privacy! How dare you! You cancel that tracking spell right now!” I said.

“Not on a bet, your majesty. We have permission from the Emperor and all your Consorts. In writing. It was a unanimous vote of the Imperial Council,” Kanae said.

“Traitors! Every last one of you!”

“Loyal and devoted subjects, your Imperial Majesty,” Aoi said, as she canceled the alarm and the map returned to its default state.

“Well since we’re all here. We need to come up with some plans on how to deal with this prank, and try to prevent any more in the future. So, your first task is, find out who the ringleaders are in Crispenwell. Then we need to determine the best way to bring them in on our side,” I said.

“Darby, you’re up,” Kanae said.

“We tracked the Slimes Gift Fiasco to Marquise Morgaíne. Her domain borders on one side along the treacherous Cliffs of Ceallí and on another the Dread Forest. She lost a great deal when Sinestelos became a vassal state. The pirates used caves in her cliffs, because their ships had rare artifacts that allowed them to safely navigate the treacherous waters, and she was thus able to have a profitable port in an area no respectable traders would use,” Darby said.

“Crispenwell doesn’t have a lot of seafaring opportunities, does it? I think we need to investigate building a port city in Morgaine’s territory. She’s one of the nobles who has requested an audience. Let’s get her out here. Aoi, any ideas on ways to make those waters safe for travel?” I said.

“I’ll get Lilli on it. She’s a specialist in wind and water spells,” Aoi said.

“I know a dwarf who might be able to help. She’s done a lot of stonework in ports and with sea walls,” Rosie said.

We settled on several other Nobles from Crispenwell to have them come and meet, since they had all requested personal audiences, ‘at the nearest opportunity’, there was no way for them to now refuse.

A week later, the nobles began arriving. I had also requested several, more friendly, Houses from Sinestelos. My goal was to get them to join together, and to give incentives for them to form a social faction. We needed to create several such factions. But the idea had to come from them. The more I tried to keep them apart the more they would seek to know why. Factions that worked against each other to get a better footing would be less likely to attack us.

“Alright, remember we want to keep the Crispenwell party separate from the Sinestelos Party. But not so aggressively it prevents them from interacting completely. We want them suspicious, but capable of discretely connecting. We also don’t want to have ‘slip ups’ that are obvious,” I said.

“You got it Boss,” Darby said. Kanae smacked him in the back of the head.

I met the Crispenwell party in the morning. Speaking to each one individually. I left Marquise Morgaíne until last.

“Salutations, Marquise Morgaíne, I have been so looking forward to meeting you. Your skills in organizing that hilarious gift stunt with the cleaner slimes was pure genius!” I said.

“Greetings and Salutations, your Imperial Majesty. I hope you aren’t terribly angry about that. I wasn’t aware so many had been sent, nor that they could combine into mega-slimes. I do hope no one was hurt, or that there was a lot of damage. I would never have done it, if I’d known there was any danger from slimes,” Morgaíne said rather nervously.

“Oh, nonsense. There was never any danger. It was truly a brilliant joke. It got me thinking. I could use someone of your talents. I have a project, and I think you’d be the ideal person to head this project for me. Possibly to lead many more such projects. As you may be aware, I have recently, um, well, married into the Prittoni Royal family,” I said.

“I do recall something about a double wedding to the Prittoni Realm. Congratulations, Ma’am,” Morgaíne said.

“Well since I will be having children with my prince, so very soon, I want to make sure that Prittoni is as prosperous as can be for my children, who will belong in that realm,” I said.

“Yes, naturally, Ma’am,” Morgaíne said uncomfortably.

“So, I was thinking, there are lots of realms with a lot of trade centers, but Crispenwell has been on the short end of all trade revenue. Most all of the trade has to go through numerous realms in order to get to Crispenwell,” I said.

“Yes, your majesty we are well aware, and the goods are taxed at every border, and thus we pay exorbitant prices for even the simplest of imports,” Morgaíne said somewhat annoyed.

“Exactly! Now, Crispenwell is now one of my vassal states. That means I am responsible for making sure Crispenwell is as prosperous as possible, and my subjects happy, content, and healthy. So, I’ve come up with an idea to cut out all those taxes and tariffs. But, I’ll need your permission and support to do it. You are my only hope, will you aid me in making Crispenwell a profitable trading nation?” I asked.

“My permission? How do you think I can possibly aid you,” Morgaíne said, truly confused.

I’ve got her! She’s let her guard down.

“Your estate borders the Cliffs of Ceallí, do they not? I want to build a major Port city right on the cliffs. It’s a massive opportunity for something truly unique!” I said.

“Impossible! Those cliffs and the waters are unnavigable. Innumerable wrecks line the entire coast,” Morgaíne said, looking at me as if I was mad.

“Ah, perhaps you have not heard, my Chief Alchemist has made ships that can fly. I plan to find merchants and captains to form a company to buy some flying ships. These ships can all sail on the seas as well. I want to build a seaport where ships can fly into dock above the seas, and thus avoid the dangerous waters below. I also plan to investigate making artifacts to make those waters navigable. To build sea walls, and other means to make those cliffs safe for at least the port city I want to build,” I said.

I could see the wheels turning. She could see it. She could see a chance to recover her recent losses, and become wealthy beyond any dreams of avarice.

“Well, I would have to see the details and some indication it could really be done, before I could give permission. How do you foresee me helping you though?” Morgaíne asked.

“See, that’s exactly what I meant. You already can see the possibility, but need to be cautious, and plan, and calculate the probability of success. I want you to take over and run this project. I have some people who have the talent to make parts of this work, but I need someone who can organize and oversee it all, to make sure it is truly possible, and guide it to a successful conclusion. I’m sure you have your own connections and know what needs doing. I plan on making a Department of Trade Improvement, and this as its first project. I want you to run this department, You will have an office here in Shin Shirochi. An entire building if you need it. Of course, you’ll want an office in your realm also. Eventually, possibly, branches in every realm. You will have full control of everything, we will provide the people we know are needed, and you can hire whoever you need. You will have to determine a budget, and we can provide some help there in personnel, if you desire. Does this sound like something you could do? Perhaps you should meet with my development team first, before deciding for sure?” I said.

“Yes, I think that is prudent to meet with your team, first. It does sound very interesting. I have heard of your flying ships, but have never seen them personally. Perhaps I could view them as well?” Morgaíne said trying to remain calm.

“Of course. We had already planned on showing you our ships, and even better show you how they work. You will get an insider’s look at our shop,” I said.

“Oh my! That sounds wonderful,” Morgaíne said.

Several days later, after Morgaíne had gotten a tour of Aoi’s atelier, and seen the floating islands and the progress on the floating Academy, and ridden one of the floating ships, she accepted the post. Aoi and Rosie had assembled a crew to visit the Cliffs. We already knew how to make the artifacts used by the pirates, so we knew we could build this port city.

Meanwhile, I was working on bringing in the seafaring Sinestelos nobles into this also.

“Salutations, Duchess Nanami. I am so happy you have honored my little request,” I said.

“Greetings and Salutations, Empress Deirdre. It was an honor to receive such a marvelous invitation. I have long wanted to see the wonders you have worked in restoring this ancient city.”

“Well, no sense beating around the bush. I had an ulterior motive for wanting to meet you. As you may be aware, I have recently been married to the Prittoni Realm, and oh so soon we will be having children together. Well, naturally, I will want Prittoni to be as prosperous as possible for my children who will be a part of the realm,” I said.

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“Yes, of course, we all want our children to prosper. I don’t see how this involves me, though, your Majesty.”

“Well you see, Prittoni has shipping harbors and Sinestelos is famous for its shipping industry. Then as you may have heard we have been building flying ships. What you may not be aware of is our ships are perfectly seaworthy, but probably not as capable as ships from your nation. I want to encourage some merchant shipping using our flying ships. So we would like you to assist us in building better flying ships, that do most of their work on the seas. Also, your own territory has some rather rocky and tricky areas, where you could build a harbor, where our flying ships could dock, but regular sea going vessels couldn’t. We have some skilled people who may also be able to make those areas navigable to regular ships. I know you’ve been struggling some since the senseless war. We’re creating a Department of Imperial Commerce, and want you to run it. You have all the knowledge and experience to make this a truly successful and profitable project. We hope to have more such projects as well, Duchess.”

“I would be very interested in seeing some detailed evidence you could make those areas into a functional harbor. I would also love to see what these flying ships are capable of doing. They might be very useful indeed.”

“Of course. We have planned an intimate tour of our production facilities and a proper demonstration of what we can do. If you find the ships useful, it might even benefit to expand current harbors for these new ships. So, once you have seen our facilities, and you have decided whether you are interested, we can meet again. You would have full control, and your own budget, of course. We will provide any aid you need, and you are free to bring in as many of your own people as is necessary.”

“Thank you, Empress, I am looking forward to this tour.”

Days passed as Morgaíne and Nanami explored the projects I dropped on their laps. We had put up both parties in opposite wings of the Palace. The palace was a labyrinth, the stewards regularly got lost in it.

Marquise Morgaíne did not intend to get lost. She was a woman who kept ledgers and maps in her head. She believed that a person who needed a map to find the dining hall had not read the plans. She had read the plans. The plans, she now suspected, had been drawn by someone who had never walked the palace, because the east wing’s grand stair, which the drawings showed running straight to the Hall of Audiences, ended instead at a portrait wall.

“Another detour, my lady,” said her maid, with the weary calm of a woman who had said it four times already.

“Another detour,” Morgaíne agreed. “Back to the landing. We’ll take the garden gallery.”

The garden gallery had been marked closed that morning, by a very young steward who had delivered the news with obvious terror. But the steward had also been unable to say ‘why’ it was closed, which suggested to Morgaíne that it was closed because someone had wanted it closed. In her experience, that was the kind of door worth trying. It was unlocked.

The gallery ran along the palace’s southern face, a long arcade of white stone hung with unlit lanterns, open on one side to the sky. Beyond the rail, one of the Empress’s little floating islands drifted at its tether, its turf looked springy, a small group of eight-horned trees standing in the middle. The light came through the arches in long pale bars, and the air smelled of licorice. She was halfway along it when she saw the other woman.

The stranger stood at the rail with her back to Morgaíne, looking out at the island. She was tall and weathered, dressed in a long coat of dark purple that was a little too practical for court and a little too well cut to be anything else. Her hair, black going to silver, was bound in a sailor’s knot. Three heavy rings caught the light on her left hand as she drummed her fingers on the stone.

Morgaíne knew the coat before she knew the face. It was a Sinestelos cut, the kind that came out of the harbor towns on the far coast, where the best tailors made garments to be worn on a deck as readily as in a hall. She knew the face a moment later, when the woman turned.

“Marquise Morgaíne,” said Duchess Nanami, without any surprise at all. “I wondered when someone would find this gallery. I have been here a quarter of an hour, and not one of the palace staff has told me to leave.”

“I was told it was closed.”

“So was I.” Nanami smiled. It was a good smile, quick and wry. “I find that a closed door tends to mean only that no one has yet decided to open it.”

Morgaíne had met the Duchess twice, both times across a crowded room, both times for no longer than courtesy demanded. She had heard a great deal more than she had seen. She had heard that the Duchess’s family had owned ships for four hundred years and had never once been caught doing anything with them that was not entirely legal. She had heard that this was considered the most suspicious thing about them.

“Your wing is on the west side,” Morgaíne said carefully. “I had understood that the two delegations were housed apart.”

“Had you?” said Nanami. “I had understood the same of yours.”

There was a short silence.

“I think,” said Morgaíne slowly, “that we have both been very carefully kept from meeting each other.”

“I think so too,” said Nanami. “And I think that is the most interesting thing I have learned all week.”

They did not speak of it at once. Court manners were bred in and enforced with rigorous training. They instead talked of the weather, the eight-horned trees, and the ridiculous number of dead ends. But under the talk, Morgaíne was putting things together, and she could see that Nanami was doing the same.

The audience schedules were the first thing. Morgaíne’s party had been received at nine in the morning and Nanami’s at ten, every day. The dinners were staggered by an hour. The tour of the new harbor designs had been offered to Morgaíne on Tuesday and, she now learned, different ones to Nanami on Wednesday.

“Three days,” said Nanami thoughtfully, “and not once did either of us cross the other’s path. In a palace where footmen cannot find the kitchens. Someone has been working very hard at it.”

“Someone with a great deal of practice at keeping secrets.”

“Or someone who wishes us to think so.” Nanami leaned on the rail. “Marquise, I will be plain with you, because I think we have little time. I was told, quietly and by a person whose word I trust, that the Empress was considering a merchant fleet of her own. A great one. Chartered under the Crown, with no noble house in the chain of command.”

Morgaíne felt the floor of the gallery very briefly tilt.

“I was told the same,” she said. “In almost those words.”

“By whom?”

“A clerk in the Department of Trade Improvement. He said it as if he were not meant to. He seemed frightened to have said it at all.” She paused. “I thought nothing of it, at first. Then I found a shipwright’s draft among the Imperial funding papers for my harbor, a type of hull I did not order. A deep-water merchantman of a pattern I have seen nowhere in my own records.”

Nanami’s eyebrows rose. “A broad-beamed three-master, with sky-island moorings along the keel?”

“Yes.”

“I have seen the same drawing,” said Nanami quietly. “On a desk in the Department of Commerce, under a stack of unrelated charters, where I think someone wished me to find it.”

The two women looked at each other.

“She is giving me a harbor,” said Morgaíne slowly. “Imperial gold, Imperial engineers, an Imperial charter, and a department with my name on the door. And she gave you a department of your own, and a place at the Crown’s table.”

“A carrot for each of us,” Nanami said. “Very handsome carrots.”

“And the stick is that when she has finished with us,” said Morgaíne, “the Empire has a harbor and a fleet and no further need for the people who built them.”

Neither of them said anything for some time. Out beyond the rail, the little island turned slowly on its tether, and the eight-horned trees cast a long shadow across the grass.

“It is clever,” Nanami said at last. “I will grant her that. A woman of twenty-two, orphaned as a toddler, raised in secret, and she has already worked out that the safest way to build a trading empire is to let the great houses pay for it, and then take it from them.”

“She conquered three realms in a matter of months,” Morgaíne said. “I had thought her merely strong. I see she is also cunning.”

“Cunning and subtle.” Nanami’s mouth twisted. “I find I am rather insulted. And rather impressed. Both.”

Morgaíne said, “We could refuse her.”

“We could. And she would find someone else, and your harbor would stand empty, and my house would be exactly where it was before. With a worse income than before.”

“We could accept her terms, and be used.”

“We could.” Nanami turned from the rail. “Or we could do a third thing.”

Morgaíne looked at her for a long moment, then said, “Tell me what you have in mind.”

“You will have a harbor that cannot succeed without ships,” said Nanami. “I have ships, and crews, and sea lanes, and no harbor in the Empire that will have them without asking questions. The Empress means to make a fleet and leave us out of it. Very well. We build it first.”

“Without her knowledge.”

“Without her ‘permission’, which is a different thing. Everything we use is hers to give. The harbor, the charter, the funding, the department seats. She offered them freely. We merely use them a little faster than she expects, and in a direction she did not choose.” Nanami smiled thinly. “A private fleet, Marquise. Owned by the people who built it. Chartered under the Crown, so it cannot be seized, and answerable to us, so it cannot be taken. By the time the Empress learns of it, it will be too valuable to dismantle, and too useful to refuse.”

Morgaíne turned that over. It was dangerous. It was also, she realized with a small shock, very much the sort of thing she had been wishing she dared to do for years.

“There is a difficulty,” she said carefully.

“There is always a difficulty.”

“Your house, Duchess. Sinestelos. The pirates.”

Nanami’s smile did not waver. “I have been waiting for you to raise it.”

“I do not ask you to confess to anything. I know better than that. Every inquiry that has tried to prove the connection has failed, and I do not intend to be the next.” Morgaíne chose her words with care. “But if I am to put my name and my harbor behind this fleet, I must know that it will be able to stand an audit. Open books, true manifests, no cargo that cannot be written down.”

“You shall have them,” said Nanami at once. “Every ship in the fleet will be chartered, inspected, and logged. If my family’s name has been whispered with unpleasant things for four hundred years, Marquise, it is ‘because’ nothing was ever written down. I should like very much to see what happens when everything is.”

Morgaíne thought about that. Nanami had not said that she had no connection to the pirates. She had said only that she would stand an audit. It was the answer of a woman who knew exactly what she was promising, and Morgaíne decided, a little to her own surprise, that she preferred it.

“Then we are agreed,” she said.

“We are agreed.” Nanami held out a ringed hand. “A pact, Marquise. Quiet, and quick, and for each other’s benefit.”

Morgaíne took it. The grip was dry and firm and a little scarred.

“There is one more thing,” said Nanami. “We cannot do this alone. A fleet needs captains and financiers and a dozen men who can keep their mouths shut. You have friends. I have friends. If we mean to move quickly, we need to bring them in. Carefully.”

“Carefully,” Morgaíne agreed. “And with a good deal more profit for them than risk.”

“Naturally. A fleet that feeds only two houses is a fleet that someone will envy into ruin. Feed twenty, and every one of them will defend it.”

Morgaíne smiled for the first time that afternoon. “I think the Empress will find that her private fleet has acquired a great many partners.”

“And a great many friends,” said Nanami. “Who will be very reluctant to see it taken from them.”

They parted at the end of the gallery, one west and one east, with the grave courtesy of two women who had not met. Morgaíne’s maid, waiting at the landing, remarked that her lady looked pleased.

“I have had a very useful walk,” said Morgaíne.

Behind them, in the empty gallery, a young steward stepped out from behind a pillar. He had been stationed there since morning, with orders to look as though he were inspecting the lanterns. He waited until both women had gone, then walked briskly to a small door, knocked twice, and slipped inside.

“They met,” he whispered to me. “They talked for nearly an hour, and they ‘shook hands’.”

In the little room, I set down my teacup and stared at him for a long, long moment.

“They were supposed to find each other on ‘Thursday’,” I said.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“And they were supposed to quarrel.”

“They did not quarrel, Your Majesty.” The steward swallowed. “They seem to have made a plan.”

“A plan to do ‘what’?”

“I do not know, Your Majesty. But they appear to be quite pleased with it.”

I looked at the ceiling.

“Well, that worked better than we planned. Don’t you think?”

“I knew it would. After all they are both intelligent, capable, and greedy Nobles,” Kanae said.