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Chapter Eight
The information Ms. Dover, Eleanor, brought was everything I could have asked for. Arne had searched for an independent contractor capable of achieving everything on a checklist we’d made together. Since we would be severing our sneaky connection to the outside grid that currently powered the castle, when we were done, we would be capable of producing the wattage, amperage, voltage…whatever amount was needed for the number of people in the kingdom. And without polluting our pristine lands.
“I have recently returned from a small country in the Middle East that found itself in what I believe is a position with many similarities to yours.” Interesting that she didn’t ask where we were or even seem to wonder. “And some differences. This country”—which she did not name and I also did not ask her to—“also wanted to move into the twenty-first century after many, many years of being the poor backward neighbor to several oil-rich lands around it.”
She must have seen my reaction to being compared to a “poor backward neighbor” because she hastened to go on. “Not that you’re poor, but I believe you want your subject to enjoy the conveniences of modern living?”
“Yes.” With all we’d gone through to get her here, I did not want to waste time defending myself or my country. “I feel that we can sort through the benefits vs. the detriments of living in modern times. We have lived separate from others for so long, but it’s ridiculous for my people not to enjoy electricity, for example. And telephones. And if they like, television…the Internet.”
Eleanor marked her place on the documents she’d laid in front of us. “Absolutely. I believe you have all of that here, right? It will make our process much easier.”
“We do. Most of it anyway. But not for entertainment. We use our limited borrowed bandwidth for business.”
“Oh.” The corners of her lips tipped up in a grin. “You’re going to loveDownton Abbey.” Then she giggled. “Or maybe you’d preferStar Wars.” The words meant nothing to me, but they were so intriguing.
“When my people have what they need, I’ll want a list from you of things my mates and I might enjoy in the spare time we might be able steal by then.”
“You know it.” She pointed to a line on the paper. “So, in the other countries where I’ve taken on tasks like this, they wanted to begin here, with a basic install for their”—she cleared her throat—“their wealthy and powerful.”
I frowned. Then I realized why. “Of course. They need to have Internet and phones and things in order to help the others. Like we’re doing here.”
Sadness darkened her eyes. “Some continued from there to upgrade as many people as they could. Others, only their wealthiest citizens and maybe some of those they found useful to them.”
“I guess cruelty and selfishness isn’t limited by where you are. The reason the castle has all these amenities is because the former regent did not care whether anyone else had lights or phones or plumbing.” I didn’t try to suppress the bitterness I felt. “But that stops now.”
Her smile was so big and warm, I wanted to hug her. “I left the company I used to work for and became an independent consultant so I could pick and choose my jobs. So I could take projects like yours instead of improving life for those who already had everything they could ever want or need. The last one where I rode in my limo to the airport past the hovels most of the ordinary people suffered in convinced me. I made more working for a company with no morals, but I didn’t like it.”
I did hug her. “Arne really picked well when he found you. You will be working with him, mostly, but I wanted a chance to talk with you and get a feel for you personally. I hope you don’t mind that.” I stepped back. “Or the fact I hugged you. It really isn’t usually what I do with vendors who stop by.”
She shook her head. “Mind? Not in the least. I was grateful for the opportunity to speak with you as well. And glad I’m doing a good enough job of moving my lips for you to understand.”
“My hearing isn’t gone, and actually today is one of my better days, but you did do a good job. So welcome. Candace, my maid, will show you to your room, so please let her know what you need or want, and the staff will take care of it.”
She gave a little head bow. “Thank you, Your Majesty. I will do my best to help you help your people. It’s the thing I enjoy best.” She hesitated. “Did you say your mates? As in plural?”
“The three handsome scamps I shut out to talk to you. All mine, apparently.”
“Wow. Just finding one guy who looks half as good and seems half as nice is almost impossible. How did you…oh, the queen thing.”
I burst into laughter. “Thank my parents, my sister who abdicated, and Fate in general. It’s a long, complicated story I will tell you over a glass of wine when we have more time.”
“I will look forward to that.”
“You do know our other special situation?”
“The wolf thing? You think you’re my first shifters?”
I let out a breath of relief. “Then I think that’s all. If you and Arne would like to get to work, I will move on to my other appointments. I’ll check in to see how it’s going, but I am at your disposal for this project. It is dear to my heart and vital to my people’s welfare.”
At least two of my mates had gone off to do other things. Arne, however, lingered close by, and I sent him in to work with Eleanor. They had a lot to do, and I hadn’t really needed to see the details, at least not at this point. I had learned what I needed to. Arne shared my vision, and Eleanor was the perfect person to put it into effect. I was very excited to see it come to life.
From Arne’s office, I headed for mine, where I faced a stack of paperwork taller than me…on each side of my desk. My new secretary, Hildegarde, had it all organized but it didn’t make it any less to do. The dungeons were slowly emptying and requests for pardons were coming in. Grant proposals by the dozen. Requests for audiences for various things. So much. I sat down and got started, and after several hours, Gunnar found me there.
“Janis, you didn’t come to dinner.” He crossed his arms over his chest.
“I had a sandwich at my desk.” The dry remains of the crust were still there on the plate as evidence. “I’m fine.”
“Your eyes are so red, they look like they’re bleeding. It’s time to rest.”
