I am enjoying my return to RhyDin, and had spent much of the day finalizing our expansion project. We had reached full employment projections ahead of schedule, and our production ramp up was all ahead of schedule. Things were promising indeed.

Production plans were ahead of schedule, but I still needed a shipping manager that could handle special deliveries, expedited deliveries, and maintain the security of those clients. I needed someone who understood the intricacies of customs, minimizing paperwork, and trouble. Someone with ?special? talents regarding maintaining a low profile and keeping things confidential. An interesting resume had been returned from a woman I?d heard about, and her past spoke volumes for having a unique understanding of clients seeking anonymity. Investigation suggested I may have the right person, now if she would come for the interview, we might strike a mutually attractive deal.


In a side trip to the Outback, I had just entered and found Klinton already there, but before I could join him, a young, thin woman with striking red hair and hazel eyes approached me. She wore loose fitting cloth pants tied with a flaxen cord and a cap sleeved blue shirt, and walked in bare foot. She said hello, and introduced herself as Anne.

Motioning to the empty chair at the table I?d chosen, ?Hello Anne, I?m Azjah Danaan, care to join me?? About that time a page arrived at our table with a bottle of scotch and a glass, compliments of the red haired gentlemen at the bar. I flashed Klinton a smile before focusing on Anne once more.

I recognized her as the woman whom I?d been following as a potential shipping manager, and I thought she recognized me, but when I asked her if she?d like something to eat, knowing her circumstances for living and working, she declined saying ?Thanks, but no thanks. It's against my...policy to accept gifts from strangers.? She didn?t know who I was.

Deciding to tip my hand to her, ?see. You are the Anne with the appointment? . I believe you are on my schedule for around 10:30?? She paused, an unnamed emotion flitted across her face, ?At the Palazzo Drachen Walde? You're Miss Azjah von Drachen Walde? Please to make your acquaintance...yes, 10:30 is when I'm scheduled.?

I leaned back in my chair, not correcting her regarding my title, ?Care to tell me a little more about some of your "other" skills as listed on the resume tonight??

She glanced around the room quickly, checking for ears that she did not wish to hear her before continuing, ?Sure, my other skills are a little less honourable then others. It all depends on what you need. I used to be a pirate, a thief as some may say. This has left me with a certain talent for gathering information and certain items upon request.?

I smiled to myself. Honest about her skills, and this is perfect. She?s been on the other side of business, and will know precisely how to counter attempts on my shipments. Yes, she looks promising. It was time to get some decent food into her and I sent an aide to the kitchen while we spoke quietly.

Regrettably, about this time Max decided to make an appearance, dropping onto an empty chair at our table. Why that creature thinks I have any desire to speak with him is utterly beyond my comprehension. I would have thought our mutual perforations of the previous evening would have gotten through to him that he is not anyone I care to be socializing with at any time. ?Max, what is it you want tonight? My thigh still hurts, and I can't drive a stick, stuck with the Maybach tonight.?

He gave Anne and I an oh so innocent look, ?What??

I glared at him, ?If you pee on it, you?re dead meat.?

He smirked, ?Aww...sorry. Can I rub it? Make it feel better??

I just shook my head, ?Not a chance in Hell.?

?I?m going to go look at the car then.? He started to rise.

?Like HELL you will!? I nearly rose with him at that point. ?Max, haven't you caused enough headaches, and other pains lately??

Anne looked at Max, ?:: Leave us be, I'll make it worth your while.?

So, here was a connection I did not know about my prospective manager. Interesting. ?I take it you know him??

Anne replied, ?Faintly. I know who he is and what he's like, that's enough for me.?

Nodding, time to continue, ?Well, as I was saying, I'm in business, and I have professional needs that you may be more suited for than the domestic ones, if you're interested that is.? I knew about her previous employer and the problems she?d had with him, the one thing I could promise her was that no one would be making unwelcome advances toward her person. That kind of harassment got people fired in a heart beat in my companies.

She smiled, stating that she was interested. At this point I told her that Drachen Walde Industries deals in weapons, and that sales and customers required discretion. ?That I can do. I've got connections, and those I don't well...I know where to get them.? Yes, I liked her background for this position.

I continued to study her, ?Irregular hours, but the work is steady and needs someone with appropriate experience. Employees can have quarters at the Palazzo if they desire, pay depends on housing needs.? I expected her to need housing at least in the short term, her agreements with Rickie had ended, she was virtually living in the streets at the moment. Continuing, ?I'm very precise, and a few would say demanding, but for the right person, the pay is 4,000 plus housing.?

Klinton finished his match about this time and chose to join us. ?Well done m?dear? as her joined us. ?Do please join us, I am speaking with Anne here about one of my open positions.? He gave me a quick hug and sat down.

Anne responded, ?Demands I can handle, precision makes my job easier, and the pay is quite acceptable.?

Continuing with my questions, ?And your experience getting things done discreetly? You have how many years of experience at that?? She told me she?d had a lifetime of that kind of experience, and that she knew all the major ports of call, and I suspect all the ways around customs. She is experienced with fire arms, and this is beneficial. Next I asked her about her working team, ?Do you have a preference for your own team, or can you manage my assembled shippers?? She can be politically correct and she claimed she would be able to work with my people, but she reserved the right to use her own 2 or 3 for special projects. This is acceptable to me, I am not a micromanager, but I do expect results and not excuses.

We discussed the details of employment, there is a 60 day mutual trial phase where she can see what is expected for the salary offered, and I get to evaluate her performance before either of us signs a year long contract. She agreed to the terms, and accepted the job offer. She will come to the offices on Saturday to sign paperwork and obtain her company identification, meet her staff, and pick up the keys to her suite of rooms at the Palazzo.

The aide brought out a fresh pizza from the kitchen as Klinton joined us again. He dove into the pizza as I encouraged her to have something to eat now that she knows me as more than a stranger. It was with true pleasure that I introduced Klinton to my new shipping manager. He took the opportunity to display his sense of humor to Anne while wolfing down the fresh pizza, ?If she gives ya any trouble...come to me. I run the real business...see...I'm in the business of running her.? I gave him an indignant look because I never, ever give anyone any trouble. He chuckled and admitted he has nothing to do with my business endeavors, and talk moved to housing needs for Anne. Again, he actively tried to encourage Anne to take the suite of rooms at the Palazzo, but I didn?t want her to feel pressured. If she took the rooms, her salary remained as quoted, but if she wanted to provide her own accommodations, I would have to increase her monthly salary. The choice needed to be her own. For now, she?s taking the rooms, and I told her to get in touch with the Major Domo and request the keys for suite 4.

Trying to make her feel like part of my team, I asked her if she rode, and her answer pleased me, she did do her homework on me as well. This told me I?d made the right decision, and I look forward to working with her on Monday. The first shipment will go out Tuesday that requires, shall I say, ?special handling?.

With the details completed, she excused herself to go speak with Max. The lout is trouble without question, and his next behaviors only provide credence to my assessment of the vile creature. He began throwing mayonnaise on Anne, Klinton, myself. I should have run a pick through his heart and ended his miserable existence. Alas that I did not when I had the opportunity.

The evening finished with a match between Klinton and myself. Although my thigh still hurt like the devil from Max?s perforating me. I think he kicked my butt just to keep me from being too pleased with myself tonight. But, I believe I have every reason to be pleased with Anne?s acceptance of my offer.

Calling my driver, it was time to retire and return to my home. Lucien arrived promptly with the Maybach and I sat in the back thoughtfully pondering recent turns of events.

The day had been abysmal, the work at the company hadn?t helped, despite years of that being my company and solace. The drive to the bluff hadn?t helped, in fact, it had made matters worse. I needed a good fight, and thus I headed for Twilight Isle. If a good fight was needed, that gin soaked Keeper would be ideal. Our worlds are so far apart the ONLY intersection is the dueling rings. He?d give me a no holds barred fight and right then it sounded absolutely PERFECT.

He was already in a ring when I got there, so I sat down with a glass of scotch. My aide must have sensed my mood because it was a more generous serving than was customary.

Farek did not disappoint with his usual lack of class, he demanded my presence in a ring with him. Tonight I am only too happy to oblige him. ?What, you want a piece of me tonight Keeper??

The fight was true to our usual battles, long and see saw, but the Keeper?s incredible luck awarded him the final win in another marathon match. Magic is not something I have in abundance, and using it is rough, but not as draining as it apparently is for the Vampiress I saw tonight.

In the end, I lost again to Farek, but my thoughts were clearer as I had the next chance to duel an old and very dear friend. Brigath and I have not danced in a very long time, and the fact that I was worn out and he?s a Keeper of skill and craftiness meant the outcome was never in doubt. But, being ever a gentleman, we have a date to share a fine bottle of Oban scotch to make amends for kicking my derriere so publicly. I miss Brigath. I?m not usually one for regrets, but I make an exception in this case.

Just as my thoughts had begun to resume a more normal pattern, and I was once more confident in myself, he arrived. Wordlessly he went to sit by the water, ignoring my presence completely. He appeared as distracted as I had been as he began to build a sand castle. I sat and watched until he pushed it over and let the water carry away the remnants of his creation. Walking toward him, I approached from the water?s edge, ?Sand castles and dreams?? I nodded at the sand beside his recumbent form, ?May I??

Here again was a new facet to the man.

He glanced at a new woman before looking at me, ?All get washed away at some point I suppose. So what?s your conclusion over the past day?s events??

I dropped the shoes onto the sand before sitting down beside him. ?Well, if you want my take on things, I?d say you?ve turned my life up-side-down.?

He was very stand offish, aloof, that untouchable side was back with a vengeance. ?That cant? be good.?

Trying for a bit of levity to break the dour mood, ?No, probably not a good thing, but I build better sand castles.? WRONG thing to say!

?Can you destroy them as well as me too??

The difference between last evening and this one made me wonder if I had imagined the former. ?I have no wish to destroy you or them at this point.? I was not certain where this was going as he said, ?I must be making you crazy Azjah. You shouldn?t even be giving me the time of day.?

I studied him a moment, ?Why? Because of PJ, or because it?s mutual craziness right now??

?Both? his one word reply.

Staring up at the stars, ?We missed planet set tonight.?

He shrugged, ?yeah, last night too?.

?Are you sorry you missed it?? I held my breath. Was last night a mistake? Could such a perfect point in time have been all wrong?

He shook his head at last, ?I was enjoying myself, I must say.?

?That would make two of us then,? I agreed. Leaning toward him in a conspiratorial whisper, ?Charlotte must think I?ve gone completely off my rocker, I don?t think she?s used to my slamming doors much.?

His mood was not improving, ?I see, are you off your rocker??

I smiled, but inside his question bothered me, ?I don?t believe I?ve gone beyond repair just yet, but I was awfully hard on the McLaren, the mechanic is going to have a fit. You know, much to Farek?s chagrin, I don?t break easily.?

He looked at me with an expression I cannot describe, ?I do break easily, given the right circumstances.?

I know the one circumstance, PJ. There is a part of me that would like to ask the woman what game she?s playing with Klinton. Why she enjoys tormenting him, but refusing to take him wholly and completely, but my interference would be unwelcome by both, and in truth it is not my business. I don?t want a long term relationship. What difference does it make if he walks out tomorrow?

His voice cut off my wayward thoughts, ?Alright, you gotta tell me what?s happening here??

Looking at him as I grabbed my shoes and rose, ?Something exceptional was happening here.? My mouth giving voice to thoughts contrary to my mind?s directions.

?Was?? he asked.

?You?ve shaken my confidence tonight, truth to tell.? I told him.

Nodding, ?Your confidence in what? I told you from the start you shouldn?t have confidence in me.?

With that, I realized it was time for me to go ? ?You did, are you willing to give up something exceptional Klinton??

He sighed, ?I really like what we have Azjah, but if she came right now, I?d run to her. Are you asking me for commitment??

?No, I like what we have; the question is, do you? I?m going to the bluff.? And with that, I headed toward the portal.

I could hear his voice as I walked away. ?I do like what we have, but I can?t give much more.? Turning slightly toward him, ?I?m not asking for more.?

He wanted to know if we were wrong. That is a question I can only answer for myself. He will have to find his own answers. He rose and joined me as I stepped through the portal and we made our way back to the bluffs. We talked long into the night, but he remains torn between an attachment to PJ that has so far not come to pass, and our complicated relationship.

Complicated ? now there?s a major league understatement!

Extraordinary.
Remarkable.
Exceptional.

With a wry laugh I sat beneath the stars as the constellations moved overhead.

Unexpected.
Astounding.
Amazing.

Life is so much simpler without a man to muck things up.

I'd seen and heard enough. Klinton had refused to join Anne and I at our table, and had chosen instead to speak with an old flame, in fact, accepting her invitation for dinner. I rose, taking the glass of scotch and headed up the stairs two at a time.

I paused in the nearly deserted streets before opening the Murcielago's door and placing the scotch into the cup holder. The engine revved to life. Ahead of me lay the bluff roads, behind me ran the desert road. I pulled a sharp U turn and headed toward the desert. The bluffs were no longer as alluring as they had once been. Star gazing in the desert was lovely too.

I saw the movement of the darkly clad figure and registered the aiming of a high power rifle at my car, the windshield shattered right before the sound of the exploding round arrived. Pain exploded in my right shoulder as I floored the engine, racing away from the attacker as fast as possible. Blood ran in alarming quantities down my arm, and I could not shift, red lining the engine and negotiating the streets as best I could with one hand on the wheel.

Shutting down the lights, and moving off the main road, I started cross country to get hidden behind a small hill. I shut down the engine, listened for sounds of being followed... none.... and then darkness descended over consiousness.

Dyson has been a mother hen these last 2 days. Lucien refuses to take me to the office, and so I sit in the garden reading documents and doing what I can from home.

Anne has come with news of the shipment to Saar'tzee. We didn't get hurt as badly as we have in the past, but there were injuries. She reported with efficiency and only the pertinent details. Delivery of the goods should not be this hard. Anne has exceeded expectations, and I called Bradyn after she departed to make sure she gets a 5% bonus off the profit for that sale. She can divide up the proceeds as she deems fit among the team that came away this time without a death. She is an asset to my organization, but I can't help but wonder if Dyson is forcing people to keep their visits short. She did not treat me as fragile, but her stay was so short.

I was reading over the official reports from the authorities on my recent attack. They didn't have much, but they believe someone has hired the hit, and that the gunman is not the initiator. This has preyed on my mind for the last 2 days as I pondered the possibility that the authorities are correct, and that Klinton may have hired the attempt, a shadow fell across my legs. I looked up to see Dyson approaching with Klinton.

Part of me wanted to jump up and hug him, and part of me was uncertain about him. I never know what to expect from him, and we had not parted well the night he'd accepted a dinner invitation from an old flame of his. Additionally, he might be trying to kill me. Oh, not here, not now, I was safe for the moment, but which man now stood before me?

He looked terrible. Exhausted and unshaven, but truth be told, I was so very happy to see him.

"May I sit?"

All I could manage was, "Klinton, you've come."

He gave me a wry smile, "Of course I've come, I wanted to come sooner, but jail tends to hold people up."

The news that he'd been detained suprised me. No one had told me that the authorities had kept him. When I asked him if he was a suspect, he nodded, "Well, yes, I am a suspect. It seems the only suspect. But, I assure you I had nothing to do with this. It is the last thing I would ever have wanted."

I wanted to accept his words at face value, but nagging doubts made me give voice to my thoughts, "I knew things were not going well between us, but assassination seems a bit unlikely, but....."

"But what Azjah?"

I continued carefully, "but things were not adding up, even if you were unhappy with me, I could not imaging why you had not called or come, unless you were hoping that bullet finished me." Or, that he didn't care, but that remained unsaid.

He was incredulous. "Azjah, I was in Jail! Being questioned for murder for the second time in my life." Those words froze in my heart. A second time? He continued, "I haven't even been home Azjah, I came straight here after trying to find you in the hospital."

His sigh spoke volumes.

"They didn't tell me you were detained, you came before going home?" Those words of his spoke volumes to me.

He told me the reason behind his first experience as a suspect, and how PJ had been his only friend at that time. He'd been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Was it that simple this time?

Dyson stepped from the patio, and I knew he intended to run Klinton off. He'd been a veritable hawk about visitors, and I frowned at him.

Klinton saw him and started to say goodbye, but I was not ready. "I don't think Dyson rules the roost here. They play mother hen these last 2 days. They're going to drive me to distraction. You're the first person who hasn't treated me like I'm made of Ming Dynasty porcelain!"

He laughed, "I'll tell ya what, I'll see if I can get ya out of here for a while on Wednesday, til then, allow them to baby you."

He left me with a promise to gain me a moment of freedom from the twin tyrants Dyson and Lucien. It would have to suffice.

After Klinton left, I tried to get back to my work, but such efforts failed. Returning to the sun drenched chaise, I picked up the paper and found an interesting notice of sale and purchase of properties near the new Temple. The strategy of buying these properties intrigued me. What was the woman up to? Why these properties? I would need to investigate. If there is a new competitor in town, it would be good to know more about her. Cara deWinters needed to be evaluated.

Dyson's expression said it all as he walked into the gardens. I'd been asking where my car was, and how bad the damages were, but no one could tell me.

Finally the authorities have released my vehicle and the repair service has provided Dyson with the damages.

The easy part was replacement of the windshield and trim strips. The hard part was replacement of all the interior components. Seems blood and leather don't mix very well, especially when it's been allowed to sit for days. The bullet that tore through the windshield and my shoulder also tore through the driver's seat and embedded itself in the back seat.

Seems I did a very thorough job of bleeding all over everything.

I reviewed the documents and looked up at Dyson. "Well, it's still more cost effective than buying a new one, please get it repaired. Replace the interior as needed. If color matching to the door panels and carpet is a problem, replace the entire interior. No sense in having a repair that's obvious. Then sell it."

Dyson nodded and retreated.

Blast! I liked that car too.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I sat alone in the gardens after Anne's visit with the telescope, making notes on galaxy NGC 7742. This galaxy is a Seyfert galaxy approximately 3000 light years across in the constellation Pegasus. Seyfert galaxies are very active spiral galaxies that are believed to harbor black holes at their center, which could account for their unusually high activity and brightness. There have been interesting stories about this system of stars, and since I have absolutely nothing better to do, it seemed like a good idea to study it tonight.

I heard footsteps approaching and glanced away from the eye piece at Dyson, but following closely behind him was Klinton. He'd promised to come this week to spirit me out of the too watchful, too protective Dyson's care.

"Evening my dear."

I smiled up at him, "here I thought you may have forgotten all about me." I was teasing of course, which belied my true feelings at seeing him. I had missed his indication that he already had the car waiting to spirit me away for awhile per his promise the last time we'd spoken, and instead asked Dyson for some hot tea so that we'd have a moment to speak in private. But, Dyson announced that Klinton had arranged an outing for an hour. I was shell shocked because all day my team had refused to take me anywhere. "This is not a trap or a joke is it? Teasing me like that would not be funny."

Dyson's face showed no hint of a smile, "It is not in my nature to tease or joke."

Well, that much was true. Dyson has a singularly dry sense of humor. There was a catch however to my freedom - "You will take guards, you will have a driver, and you will be back in 1 hour."

Now wait just one minute! I am not some minor young lady gaining approval for her first date! I looked hard at him. "No guard, Lucien, and 1.5 hours."

He haggled back with me, "I must remind you that you are recovering from an attempt to take your life. Guards, in a separate car, minumum 75 feet away, Lucien may drive, and I will allow 1.5 hours." I could almost hear a laugh in his voice, knowing full well he really couldn't force me, but I had promised Klinton that I would allow them to baby me, and so I played along.

Looking at Klinton, "Can you stand it?"

He smiled, "for you? Hell, I'd take him," as he motioned toward Dyson's dour countenance.

Laughing as I told Dyson that he drives a hard bargain, and "I want the Maybach, with Lucien driving, the blood hound guards can take the Quattroporto and stay well back."

Grabbing a silk wrap, I headed for the portico where the Maybach idled. Klinton opened the rear passenger door and I settled gingerly into the ivory leather seats, sheltering my shoulder from accidental collision with the car using the silk wrap as a cushion. Klinton slid into the seat behind Lucien asking if my arm hurt. It does, but I'm not about to admit it and risk having our outting spoiled. I leaned toward him, "How did you convince him? I tried all day to get them to take me to the office, and they wouldn't budge!"

He laughed at me, "Oh, it took great skill," but then he winked, "I have NO clue!"

We talked the entire trip to the park. I'd told him of Maddux's visit, and his warning, as well as Koy's impending visit, and I tried to warn him that being in my company might not be the safest place in the world right now.

We'd walked around the small lake at the park, and that short distance exhausted me. We laughed about the blood hound guards, and he seems to take their presence well enough, even teasing me when I suggested we run away from them, "You know damn well they will take me out if we run."

My brows winged upward, "They wouldn't!"

"If they thought I was taking you, they'd fire in an instant. If they wouldn't, then you need new guards."

Personally, I liked the protected feeling of having him beside me as opposed to hired guards trailing behind or ahead of me.

The short walk had me tired, shaking, and ready to return, but I will never admit that aloud to anyone. Life is full of surprises, and amid the horror of our shipment problems, and the gunman's attempt on my life, Klinton is a welcome surprise.

Tomorrow, I must try to enlist help ferreting out the source of the latest attackers on my people and my shipments.

The oldest son was called Constantine. He was 22 years of age, married and had 3 girls when he ascended to the throne. Constantine was aggressive, and spent little time in Festungsmauer. He left the running of the castle to his Seneschal and his wife as he expanded the holdings of his new empire. Constantine ruled for 41 years, and the first 30 of those were spent in conquest and battle.

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/Azjahh/Rigel/Fontainebleauchateau20.jpg
(In real life, this is another view of Fontainebleau in France, also public domain photograph.)

The first phase of the Imperial Palace was completed while Constantine was conquering the Dacians. He never spent longer than a month or so inside the walls. He spent the last decade of his rule traveling from city to city in an effort to consolidate his holdings. He never sired a son, but instead chose to marry his oldest daughter to the oldest son of Emperor Maurice in Constantinople. The negotiation documents took years, and in the end, the agreement between Emperors allowed that the first issue of the marriage would be the rightful Emperor of Rigel, and the second issue would inherit the Empire of Maurice.

When Constantine died, his grandson was 4 years old. The next emperor had the Baron?s Council as Regent for the next 13 years. No expansion of the Imperial Palace was done during these 13 years.

At the age of 17, Wulfric II was crowned in the St Saturnin chapel on May 1. His empire was now 104 years old, and well established. The Baron?s Council was growing complacent. Wulfric drew around him a core of advisors tasked with the challenge of determining the next wave of expansion. Where, how, what was needed had to be carefully planned and evaluated because all of Rigel?s neighbors were powerful entities with longer histories and stronger alliances.

The advisors determined that the first course of action must be for Wulfric to marry and get his heir, and perhaps some daughters to use as bartering chips. He was dutifully married to the oldest daughter of the little known King Methodhios of Moravia. She was beautiful, but fragile, and she died within the first year of her marriage to Wulfric.

The search for Rigel?s next Empress began, and she was found in the daughter of Emperor Rhomanos Dhioyenes of Greece. She was the Empress for 52 years. She gave the Empire 7 sons and 4 girls. Wulfric betrothed his second, third and fourth sons before they were 7 years old. His daughters were betrothed and fostered by age 5. His alliances made Rigel one of the strongest powers known at that time.

Wulfric ruled for 49 years. During that time, he gained provinces and land through shrewd marriages and politics rather than by force of arms. His longevity was highly unusual for that time period.

His first born son was 35 years old when he came to the throne. Ludwig had already lived more than half of his life within the walls of the Imperial Palace. His interests were more along the lines of art and music than along managing the vast holdings of his sire. He engaged in a huge construction project, expanding the Imperial Palace by nearly 50%.

Geoffrey?s influence is everywhere in the original Palace. Looking to the right once inside the palace, the view is another arched length that terminates in a set of doors that leads to the working areas of the castle. Only servants to the Kaiser?s household go beyond these doors now. However, when Kaiser Geoffrey lived in the Imperial Palace, these doors led to the rooms reserved for his monastic brethren. Now, a series of windows looks out onto the main road in front of the palace, and chairs allow guests to wait outside the precincts of the main palace.


http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/Azjahh/Rigel/hermitage-picturegallery.jpg
(In real life, this is from The Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia, and is simply called The Picture Gallery. Photo is from the official website of The Hermitage.)

Geoffrey reigned for 33 years. He died in his sleep in a simple monk?s pallet rather than the Imperial suites. His cause of death was ruled natural causes. He left no heir, and the Baron?s Council did something completely unheard of in the 186 year history of the Empire. They raised Ludwig?s oldest daughter, the Czaritsa Katherine to the throne.

Katherine had been negotiated to the Eastern Empire when she was 5 years of age, and she had not been in Rigel since that time. Festungsmauer was as foreign to her as it could possibly be. She returned with a 7 year old son and a 5 year old daughter and a sullen, black haired man who was the Heir Apparent to the Russian throne. The Tsarevitch did not speak any of the Germanic language spoken in Rigelian lands, and he spend many months in Festungsmauer in sullen silence. At length, he returned to his native lands, leaving Empress Katherine behind.

She set herself to work familiarizing herself with the people and the political status of her homeland. Two years later, a courier arrived with word that the Tsarevitch had died in a skirmish with a nomadic group that had ravaged the Steppes. The Tsar?s second son would inherit the throne, and Katherine reigned as regent for 8 years until her son was crowned.

Katherine?s influence on the Imperial Palace was profound. She followed in the footsteps of Geoffrey?s Eastern baroque preferences. She was responsible for the construction of Saint Vladimir?s Hall and Saint Alexander?s Hall. The opulence of these halls set new standards for future Emperors to follow.

Kaiser Nicholas ascended to the throne amidst an historic expansion in technology. Rigel was undergoing a huge shift in manufacturing and technological advances. Nicholas was fascinated with new things, and proved to be a strong patron in experimentation and developing technologies.

At age 24, with the assistance of his mother, the marriage to the French King?s daughter was negotiated. This turned out to be a love match unlike any the Empire had ever seen. Nicholas and Eleanor traveled the length and breadth of Rigel?s holdings and where ever they went, they inspired people. Their support of the working class to grow and create new creations that improved life and efficiencies brought not only the adoration of the people, but increased revenues to the Empire.

They had 11 children together, and are responsible for the grand ballroom of the Imperial Palace.

The times were so terrible, there was no chance that the Barons and Council would have approved an infant girl as the next Empress, and so it was that Louis I?s third son came to the throne. Wilhelm was crowned in a small ceremony in the Imperial castle to avoid exposure to disease. He was as unlike his older brother as could be, and quickly set about establishing order in the chaos.

Wilhelm spent the first five years of his reign re-establishing order and basic systems and services to the capital. He married Maria of Espa?a when he was 34. To celebrate the return of life and prosperity, he had the musician?s chamber constructed to honor his wife, who was a great lover of music. Marie was a great patron of music and traveling musicians. She brought life and joy back to the city and its inhabitants.

The musician?s chamber, to support such grand events is to the right of the Ball room. This room does serve dual purposes, and allows the musicians to set up according to orchestral needs for events, and also serves as additional space for Imperial events where the size of the Grand Ball Room is insufficient for the masses who must come for State events, such as Fealty swearing.


http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/Azjahh/Rigel/saengersaalsingershall.jpg
(In real life, this is the Singer?s Hall at the Neuschwanstein castle in Fusen, Germany.)

Wilhelm and his wife Maria had 8 children. All four daughters were betrothed to Spanish nobles and fostered at the age of 8. The four sons were all schooled with the future of the Empire in mind. Wilhelm did not want his sons to be unprepared should the empire need any one of them. The travails of the ravages of disease had taught him to count on none of his sons seeing their maturity.

Wilhelm reigned for 37 years. He died in his chambers with his family surrounding him of old age. His oldest son Mikhail ascended the throne in the 294th year of the Empire?s existence. Mikhail reigned for 11 years and left no heirs. He was too interested in expansion of the realm, and was killed during the winter of the year when his ship was sunk in the volatile Nord See.

Mikhail?s brother Stephen was crowned at the age of 41. He was married to Cassandra of Pelopenesia, and had 5 children. His oldest son was already 18 years of age, and showing promise as a capable commander in the military.

The transept of this chapel, this is where the former Kaiser lay in State for 21 days after his assassination. It remains the primary Royal Chapel more than 600 years after its completion. Nearly every Kaiser has laid in State in this portion of the Royal Chapel.

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(In real life, this is St. Georges Hall, in the Kremlin, Moscow Russia.)

Philip's second son Carsten was crowned on All Saint's Day. He was 31 years old, and destined to be one of the greatest Emperor's Rigel has ever seen. Carsten began a program of expansion that was founded in excellent planning and preparation, and followed through with genius.

Rigel's holdings doubled in the next decade. It was under Carsten that the stage was set for the first steps toward space exploration. He fostered mandated education for the masses, and a selection program to segregate the brilliant from the merely intelligent. Those chosen were sent for further testing, evaluation, and cultivation at state universities. Those who successfully complete the sponsorship are placed in government research facilities to go on with careers designed to further Rigelian technology.

Carsten had four sons, and three daughters. All of his children were used as pawns in the master game of alliance and partnerships. His own heir was betrothed at the age of 10 to the only daughter of King Nestor of Thrace. The children were housed in the Imperial Palace for 5 years, at which time Carsten forcibly had the marriage ceremony performed between his 15 year old heir and the 14 year old princess.

Ariadnea inherited Thracian lands when King Nestor died, but the girl herself died at age 17 in child birth. Kaiser Carsten did not wait a year for the official mourning before he had once again negotiated for a new spouse for his heir. Gerulf objected, and was of age, but that made little difference to Carsten.

That year, Carsten negotiated the marriage of King Hemfring's oldest daughter to Gerulf. It was not a happy union for Gerulf.

There is a small chamber off the Royal Chapel for intimate members of the Royal Household. The portraits are former Kaisers and their spouses. Anyone memorialized here was a strong patron of The Religion. Carsten had his father memorialized in this chapel.


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(In real life, this is also part of Kungaset Chapel in the Swedish Royal Palace.)

The Chapel of Saint Saturnin was completed during the first phases of palace construction. It has remained a little used holy room due to the highly 'distracting' nature of its decoration. However, some of the Peers still attend services here that are led by one of the Cardinals who remain in the Palace as support staff for the Arch Bishop.

Kaiser Carsten was fond of the pomp and pageantry of this chapel. At the end of his reign, he was eulogized here daily for the 21 days that he lay in State. Carsten ruled for 40 years. Many claimed due to technological advances, but the records did not record any such artificial tools if they had been used.


http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/Azjahh/Rigel/fontainbleauChapelStSatrunin.jpg
(In real life, this is the Chapel of St. Saturnin in Fontainebleau.)

Ivvanus was summoned home when his father, Kaiser Gerulf was 83 years of age. Ivvanus was crowned at his father?s death bed by the Arch Bishop. War was brewing for Rigel, and the Baron?s Council did not want the throne empty for any reason.

Ivvanus married the second daughter of the Duke of Brandenburg, but the impending hostilities with the western alliance prevented him from ever getting to know the girl. He got her with child and immediately departed the capital city to march on the Alliance forces. Ivvanus never knew that he was a father.

The Baron?s Council was in absolute turmoil, and it was deemed crucial to have Carsten?s son Peoter as Kaiser rather than the infant sired by Ivvanus. Peoter accepted, but with the agreement that when the child came of age, he would abdicate the throne in favor of the rightful Kaiser.

The newly born heir was named Peoter II by the Empress, Ivvanus? widow.

Peoter I pulled off a stunning victory over the Western Alliance. He imported all of their best scientific minds, and in the 12th year of his reign, space flight had become a reality. The first flights to the Rigelian moons had taken place, and several manned flights as well. Peoter focused the empire on possibilities and established exploration of space as a priority for the Rigelian people.

The Royal Suites are to the left when ascending the Grand Staircase. This hall was constructed by Peoter I right before he stepped down. It was designed to remind Peoter II that destiny and grandeur await he who takes initiative. These apartments include 51 private quarters and spaces, all initially contracted by Peoter I.

The gallery leading to the private quarters of the Imperial Family.


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(In real life, this is the Francois I Gallery at Fontainebleau, France)

Through the doors at the end of the gallery, there is another staircase that leads to the Imperial Residence portion of the Palace. This begins the Imperial Suites.

Peoter II came of age in a golden era in Rigelian history. Peoter I had turned Rigel into THE power to be reckoned with on the planet, and then he?d gone a step further and turned Rigel?s ambitions to the stars. Nothing seemed impossible when Peoter II was crowned, and he intended to follow in his uncle?s footsteps.

Peoter II married a woman out of legend. She had been married to the Emperor of Galati, and been set aside for another woman after having been married to the elderly Emperor when she was 15 years of age. Jasmina had failed to provide the Emperor with an heir, and in frustration, he set the beauty aside in hopes of getting an heir on a younger girl. Jasmina had been a ruler in her own right. Her courts at Galati were renowned for culture and art. She had been on Crusade, and traveled the planet. The people of Galati were shocked and saddened when she was cast from the Emperor?s side as their rightful Empress.

Peoter was 12 years her junior, but he had found the audacity to walk right up to her and claim her for his Empress. The chemistry had been instant between Peoter and Jasmina. The tall, dark skinned, dark haired former Empress exchanged her title to the lands of Galati for the Realm of Rigel.

For 35 years, Jasmina and Peoter rewrote the Rigelian histories. Galati was the first empire Peoter laid claim to before sweeping across the eastern lands virtually unhindered. Jasmina was usually at his side as they conquered territories previous Emperors could only have dreamed of conquering.

Jasmina gave Peoter 8 sons, and no daughters. Speculation circulated that the deaths of the female children was no accident, but never could it be proven that Jasmina was involved in their deaths.

Raganald was 20 years old at the time of his father?s death. He left the University to take up his father?s work, and had the good sense to retain his father?s advisors.

The space program had captured Raganald?s imagination, and it was under his watch that the first long distance probes were sent into space.

Raganald did not marry until he was 26, and only did so when his next brother was killed in a racing accident on the Tethys Sea. The Baron?s Council convinced him that he needed an heir. The search was on for the next Empress.

Anne of Scottland was brought to the Imperial Court. She fascinated Raganald with her strawberry blonde hair and pale complexion, but it was her green eyes that truly captivated him. They were wed, and she was crowned 12 months to the day from Peoter?s death.

Anne shared Raganald?s love of science and space. The pair worked ceaselessly to expand the empire?s knowledge, and to find a way to add the moons above them as part of Rigelian territory. It was Raganald and Anne who initiated the space race for Rigel. It is to them that the Empire owes it?s expansionistic policies regarding space.

Their tireless efforts resulted in the first station on the smaller moon above Rigel, and proved that Rigelians could live in space. Their focus remained on growth in the heavens above them, and neither one made any significant contributions to the Imperial Palace itself.

Anne gave Raganald two sons, and 4 daughters. They ruled Rigel for 57 years.

Kaiser Joachim I was crowned on December 5, just 45 days after his father had died of a heart attack. He was 34 years of age and of frail health himself. His wife of 16 years had given him one son, and one daughter, but the daughter had perished in a diving accident in Antilles.

Joachim was content to remain within the Palace walls, and the only lasting contributions he made were the gallery that lead to the King?s apartments was built and the King?s dressing room. No other laws, expansions, or construction projects can be attributed to Joachim I or his Empress. His presence was felt however by the military of Rigel. The presence of such a weak figure at the helm of Rigel invited the dogs of war to test Rigel?s strength. It was as though every conquered land now sought to test the resolve of this emperor.

Gallery leading to the King?s apartment, separate from the Queen?s apartments transitions from the French influence into the Russian influence. The Palace was built over a period of 900 years and has undergone extensive additions and renovations. Each one a unique expression of the resident Kaiser of that period. This preponderance of white was favored by several Kaisers over time, Joachim I among them.

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/Azjahh/Rigel/GotchinaPalaceChesmaGallery.jpg
(In real life, this is the Chesma Gallery in the Gatchina Palace, Russia. This image is from a water color painting done in 1884. The present day corridor was destroyed by fire during the revolution, and was never rebuilt.)

The King?s Dressing Room

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(In real life, this was the dressing room of the Royal Apartment at the Gatchina Palace, St. Petersburg, Russia before the Revolution, when this too was destroyed.)

Joachim died at age 38 of a fever. His 8 year old son was also feeble, and the Baron?s Council was faced with a dilemma. Crown the boy King and place a strong regent in place, or find a strong and able commander to take the Rigelian reins?

Five days elapsed in the Imperial Palace before a maid servant went running from the Royal Chambers screaming hysterically. When the palace guards arrived at the doors of the Royal chambers, they were met with a gruesome scene. The six men stood in the doorway in shock.
The young heir lay in 8 pieces. Each segment of the heir?s body had been labeled with one of the continents currently held by the Empire. His blood soaked the carpeting beneath him.

At the opposite side of the room lay the former Empress. Her throat had been slit, and her blood captured in a fine porcelain container. Written in her blood upon the walls???New Blood for the Empire lest we perish!? The bodies were found in the Golden Tzarina room of the royal apartments. Since the murders here, none of the royal family has used this room.

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/Azjahh/Rigel/KremlinGoldenTzarina.png
(In real life, this is the Golden Tzarina room inside the Kremlin, Moscow.)

The realm took great strides forward from here into space. The next century saw a boom in exploration and focus in the University on the technology required for extended space travel. Wolfgang?s oldest son spent 10 years in the program, traveling to all of the closest moons and planets before he was recalled to Rigel.

His father was dying, and Emmerich needed to shift his focus from traveling toward governing. He also needed to marry.

Emmerich was married to the second daughter of the King of Flanders. The following week, Emperor Wolfgang passed away. He left his son a legacy of greatness that Emmerich expanded by adding other worlds to the Rigelian colonization program. Emmerich sent his brothers to the far reaches of Rigelian holdings to begin bringing other worlds into the system. Initially the expenditures were tremendous, but within 10 years, the holdings began paying substantial sums into the treasury.

The added income was fed into the exploration and technology programs at prodigious rates. The payback has been felt ever since.

Emmerich sired 2 sons, and 5 daughters in his life time, and true to Rigelian politics, used each of them as negotiation tools. Two of his daughters were wed to off world humanoids that had become property of Rigel.

To commemorate his sire?s achievements and the beginning of extraterrestrial colonization, Emmerich had this grand salon built at the Imperial Palace.



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(In real life, this is from Versailles, France)

Emmerich died at age 88, leaving his oldest son in charge of the largest empire in any of the surrounding systems. Sifridus inherited more power than he knew how to handle. At age 57 he ascended a throne he was incapable of managing.

His wife of nearly three decades took full advantage of her new position, and within a year, the merchants and the nobles had begun to grumble. She pestered and nagged Sifridus relentlessly, irrespective of who was around to hear her. The situation grew from bad to intolerable in a matter of 30 months. The Empress? demands touched nearly everyone on Rigel in one way or another, and were always very negative in their impact on the victims.

On a shuttle trip to the nearby colony on Rigel gamma, an unexplained ?accident? killed the entire Imperial family and their immediate retainers and the shuttle flight crew. Rumors swept the planet that the accident was no accident, but the subsequent inquiry found no evidence of foul play.

Raimer was succeeded by his son, Johannes. Johannes was 34 years of age at his coronation. He had been married to the daughter of the Duke of Hessia. Telyria and Raimer formed a powerful duo. She brought with her to the throne a quick mind, and refined political savvy. Johannes brought a lifetime of political experience, and a strong military background. Together, they ushered in the most powerful dynasty in any direction for 100 light years. Rigel became a powerhouse to be feared.

Johannes and Telyria ruled for 40 years together, but she died of a fever contracted on a trip to Lacerta. That left Johannes without his partner, and his last four years of rule were actually delegated to his son.

Hariberct was already an elderly man when he was crowned. At age 54, his interests were not so much in conquest and expansion, but more along the lines of consolidation. He had grown up the Heir Apparent, but desire to ascend the throne was not high on his life?s goals list. His 25 year old son had far more interest in the Empire than Hariberct did.

Hariberct?s disinterest resulted in the first successful secession from the Rigelian Empire. Hariberct lost the Pyxian holdings. His failure to act strongly and decisively resulted in a mutiny and rejection of Rigelian rule. Unfortunately, Hariberct did not see that as a sign of trouble to come, and he simply let it go.

Dissention once again raised its ugly head, and the ubiquitous spies the peppered Festungsmauer and its Royal Court saw an opportunity to strike a blow for ?freedom?. Hariberct was shot during a speech he was giving on the Imperial Palace lawns. His rule was short lived. He was Emperor for only 4 years.

Gairbert was 29 years old, but already had better instincts on ruling the empire than his father had ever had. Immediately after his coronation, he set about regaining Pyxis. There was nothing of huge importance on Pyxis, but it was the fact that they had beaten his father and escaped Rigelian rule.

His invasion turned into a siege, one that lasted for 26 long and brutal months. Nearly half of the residents on Pyxis died of starvation or battle wounds. Another 100,000 were executed at the end of the siege to drive home the point that Pyxis now and in the future a colony of Rigel.

Gairbert put down three other uprisings in the same brutal and bloody manner. He would brook no insurrection, and he believed that writing it in the blood of those guilty of seeking to secede was the surest way of keeping control. Gairbert never wavered during his 42 years as Kaiser.

Gairbert?s contribution to the Imperial Palace was the Terem Wing. It was a tribute to his wife of 16 years at the time of her death. She had produced 6 sons and 2 daughters during her marriage to Gairbert.


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(In real life, this is the Terem Palace Cross in the Kremlin, Moscow.)


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(This is the Terem Palace Cross, a detail of the exit wall paintings. It can be seen inside the Kremlin, Moscow, Russia.)

Dailus ascended to the throne at the age of 64 Rigelian years. He ruled for another 28 years, making him the oldest Kaiser in Rigelian history. But his longevity was due to the use of biotechnical alterations and modifications. The research at the State University had been into many areas, not just space travel. The biotechnical field was the second strongest discipline at the University, and to this day, Rigel is known for its biotechnical advances.

Dailus sired 9 children, but only one son. Joachim II was a middle child, and to assure that no female issue would challenge his son?s right to the throne, Dailus had the laws of Rigel modified to prohibit any female children from ascending to the throne of Rigel. As decreed by Dailus, women are responsible for producing the heirs, not for running the government. Dailus was not beloved by the women of Rigelian society.

Dailus? son Joachim II ascended to the throne at the advanced age of 68 years, and he made even further use of the biotechnical developments. Joachim II reigned another 56 years.

Joachim II promoted the incorporation of scientific advancements on the society as a whole, and virtually forced the aristocracy to add or embellish themselves with these enhancements. It was due to his pressure that nearly all of the aristocracy adopted implants and enhancements as part of life, and through these incorporations, discovered longer, healthier lives as well. Since the time of Joachim II, all of the Peers have at least some implanted devices.

Joachim was succeeded by his second son, Joachim III. Joachim III was a prodigious expansionist. He conquered systems and moved forward without spending a great deal of time solidifying his gains. He put the Empire into a precarious situation, and created a plethora of enemies in the Peerage, including his heir.

He was murdered during a public ceremony on Rigel in the 33rd year of his reign. His divisiveness had split the empire into 2 halves rather than uniting people for strength. His son, Wolfgang was opposed to the reckless expansionism.

At Joachim?s death, Wolfgang took the throne at age 42. He has spent the last 3 years consolidating Rigelian holdings, but expanding when an opportunity presents itself. He is a shrewd politician, but there are streaks of ruthlessness beneath his urbane exterior. Only time will determine what kind of Kaiser he will become.