“Speak, Fïac ,” Dusum permitted.
“I did not abuse my social status, nor did I incite a rebellion. I merely asked for the aid of the imperial citizens as a soldier of the Star Forces to end the Baron ’s meddling in my mission.”
Dusum crossed his arms. “I see. That does make some sense. However, Fïac , if you did not bear the Abliar family name , would it have played out as smoothly?”
“That is not something that has to do with me.”
“What exactly do you mean by that?” said Dugass, brows knitted.
“It was battle, and in battle, luck is a factor. In that I happen to be an Abliar, fortune favored me. If ever I forget to acknowledge luck, and boast of my achievements to no effect, then you may call me haughty, but I did not forget.”
“If you had been gentry by birth, what would you have done?”
“I would have acted no differently whatsoever,” Lafier replied without delay. “Even now, I cannot think of a superior plan I could have adopted to ensure the mission succeeded.”
Dusum smiled. “You may yet be a baby bird, but I must admit, you did well to come through it all.” Lafier couldn’t tell whether by “come through it all” he meant the events at the Febdash Barony , or this hearing.
“Very well. Should you earn the sympathies of the abdicants , that will be the end of that matter. Have any of you any objections?” Dugass paused.
No objection was made.
“Then there’s but a single issue left to discuss, Fïac ,” Dugass continued. “And it is this question that is the most significant by far. In fact, it involves the very foundation of the Empire . We hear you have promised to furnish interstellar ships to terrestrial citizens of the Sfagnoff Marquessate .”
“That isn’t true!” Lafier rebutted. “All I promised them was that I would beseech Her Majesty the Empress to lend them one or more interstellar ships .”
“It’s understandable, given how wet behind the ears you are, but you do not fully grasp the weight behind the words of the imperial family . Whenever an Abliar suggests something may be possible, people will assume it will definitely occur. And if it never materializes, they will consider it breaking a promise.”
“Not only that,” said Ramynh, “but they will then misconstrue it as having been a lie to save your own skin. It will manifest as a mark of shame.”
Lafier found herself raising her voice: “Your Eminences , that statement is incredibly one-sided!”
“There is no way you will get your wish to begin with,” said Dugass calmly. “According to the darfass (customs) of the Empire , a person below gentry in status cannot borrow an interstellar ship . Did you not know that?”
“I was not aware of that...” Lafier bit her lip. The customs of the Empire were wide-ranging, complicated, and arcane. And though she knew the basics, she’d never paid the trivial little details any attention.
“Now, how ought we to settle this?” Dugass shook his head. “That you didn’t know the custom was an unavoidable development, but a moment’s thought would have clued you in. The Empire and terrestrial citizens owe each other nothing, as the Empire hold terrestrial governments under their aegis, and those governments hold their citizens under their protection. Terrestrial citizens are, in a way, immaterial in the eyes of the Empire. Why, then, did you think interstellar ships could be lent to such people?”
“How heedless of you, Fïac ,” said Ramlonh.
Lafier didn’t know what to say. She had not made any surefire guarantee. Anger against the Abliar elders flared within her. They were being unreasonable, irrational. Yet now that they had explained the weight behind the words of the imperial family , she realized there was truth in that idea. After all, she remembered when the servants had misconstrued her promise at the Febdash Barony .
Suddenly, a ringing laugh. It was Nisoth Dusemr (Their Eminence Dusemh) of the Royal Family of Barce .
“Your Eminences ,” said Dusemh, who spoke for the first time, “it is just as His Eminence Dugass stated earlier. It would be cruel to pillory a fledgling whose wings have not yet grown feathers. Besides, it is not as though the royal princess endeavored to tell some hideous lie. All she did was speak the truth.”
Lafier was taken aback. She had not been expecting a helping hand.
“That is not good enough, Nisoth . Those terrestrial citizens will believe they were deliberately deceived by an Abliar. That is the problem,” Dugass insisted.
“Then would it not be for the best to lend them the interstellar ship ?” said Dusemh breezily.
“Not you, too!? Must I repeat the words of Nisoth Duradr ...”
“In the end, those terrestrial citizens saved a daughter of the Empire ,” Dusemh cut in. “That is a deed worthy of appointment to gentry status. If they are appointed to gentry, and lent an interstellar ship , then the problem disappears.”
“You would have terrestrial citizens be made gentry so abruptly? That would be unprecedented,” protested Duradh.
“The Count of Hyde wasn’t even a terrestrial citizen to start with. Compared to that, then...”
“It was your son that so readily set that precedent, Larth Raica Barcœr (Former King of Barce),” said Duradh bitterly.
Dusemh’s face turned cool.
“Please hold on, Nisoth ,” said Nisoth Lamaudor (Their Eminence Lamaudh) of the Lartïéc-Ilicr (Royal House of Ilich). “According to the report, they desire secession from the Empire . Would they take any joy in the prospect of being gentry of that empire?”
“It matters not whether or not they take joy in it. It is their right to turn down the offer. If they refuse to be gentry , then they cannot be lent interstellar ships , even by us. That is all.”
“They may have gone underground,” said Dugass.
“That is fine.” The abdicant of the Royal House of Barce grinned mysteriously. “As luck would have it, the airship fleet is operating in the Sfagnoff Marquessate . If we were to send the rank and file to search for them, we can accompany them anywhere, by gunpoint if necessary. Let us inform the populace that they are to be appointed as gentry . They can then accept or refuse the offer, with the understanding that if they refuse, they will not be lent interstellar ships , but will be given some other reward as consolation.”
“But the Star Forces aren’t geared toward that sort of work,” said Lamaudh.