Grand Designs

I have written this in response to Anonymous's first prompt.

“I’ve done a number of designs, Your Majesty.”  The formal greetings were over so now the engineer-architect could speak more directly to his client.  “Based on my site survey, there are several possible routes and I’ve done proposals for all of them.”  He laid the plans on the table.

“But I haven’t told you what I want the passage for,” objected His Imperial and Royal Majesty Johann III.

“Frankly, Your Majesty, I don’t want to know.”  Laszlo Tosoky indicated the plans, “So I covered multiple possibilities for each route and I haven’t kept copies.  I will certainly discuss the options but I prefer not to know which you choose.”

“Indeed?”  The Terrencian Emperor raised an indolent eyebrow.  “Why?”

“Your Majesty doesn’t need me after the design phase.”  Laszlo paused delicately then went on, “There is a history of architects who’ve done ‘minor’ work on Imperial fortresses and palaces dropping out of sight afterwards, never to be seen again.”  He sighed.  “I prefer not to be seen as a security threat, Your Majesty, because I prefer to live.”

“An admirable ambition.”  The Imperial gaze was suddenly much sharper and then a beringed hand gestured at the plans, “Let us survey the possibilities you envision for the site, Master Tosoky.”  The two men spent an hour going over the diagrams, the Emperor asking surprisingly astute questions and making notations in the margins.

Satisfied, Johann III used a bellpull to summon a secretary.  To that helpful gentleman the Emperor said genially, “Ah, Spangler, Master Tosoky and I have finished our business.  Please make arrangements to receive his account and then show him out – I believe he will appreciate the Cathedral exit.”

The secretary and the engineer-architect bowed themselves out of the Imperial presence, dealt with business, then the meticulously neat Spangler led a nervous Laszlo Tosoky through the architectural glories of the Ecclesiastical Hall to the grand entrance facing the Cathedral across the square.

While the engineer-architect was still being shown out the Emperor summoned another secretary who in turn fetched a delightful specimen of mature womanhood, fashionably dressed, femininely athletic and buxom.  “Fraulein Metsch,” the Emperor’s acknowledgement was businesslike as she curtseyed, “I’ve called you here about Tosoky the architect.”

“Sire,” she stood, equally businesslike.  “You want me to dispose of him?”

“By no means,” the Emperor waved the suggestion away dismissively.  “I think you should marry him.”

“Sire?”  Theresia Metsch looked surprised.

“You deserve to be putting down roots,” he smiled at her.  “Master Tosoky is respected in his field and seems a decent man.  Surprisingly astute too, you would produce interesting children.”

“Sire?”

“I believe I should stand godfather to at least your first.”

Prompt Request Closing

Dear all, my Prompt Request will close this afternoon my time, tonight in North America.

If you want to prompt and haven't, now's the time!

About That Bet

I wrote this in response to kelkyag's first prompt.

“What are we doing?”  Rensa thought that Yannic was being deliberately mysterious for the fun of it.  Having been married to him for almost a week, and after living with him for that time, she could believe that he was capable of that.  She hadn’t had much choice in marrying him of course but Kiriel had and, all in all, Rensa was of the opinion that on that point Kiriel’s head had been firmly screwed onto her shoulders.  Yannic, well being married to Yannic seemed to be rather nice.  But he was still being mysterious.  “Where are you taking me?”

“You could say we’re helping Bannoc win a bet,” he smiled at her conspiratorially.  “We just have to collect my mother and aunt, and then we can be on our way.”

“Are they expecting us?”  Rensa was hoping Tyrren and her sister knew more about this than she did.

“No.  If they’re expecting us, they might not co-operate.  The less the three of you know…,” he trailed off deliberately.

“You’re teasing me!”

“It’s the expression you get just as you realise that,” he smiled then added, “and I’ve told you what that makes me think.”  She dimpled and there was a private moment of warm looks and smiles.  “Parents.  Must collect parents!”  He led her in the direction of the guest rooms again.

“Parents, plural?  Is this something about Mirren?”  Rensa was trotting to keep up, Yannic had longer legs and was much fitter.

“I’ve said enough, come on.”  He hurried along and she couldn’t get anything more out of him until they reached the guest quarters.  There he frankly smoodged his mother and aunt into coming with them and led on towards the public rooms of the palace.

“I know you’re up to something,” his mother shook her head, “and I’m only coming to find out what it is, you understand?”

“Just as long as you come,” was all he said.

When Yannic opened the door Tyrren’s comment was, “Oh?”

Her sister followed her into the room and asked, “Where’s Mirren?  She must be the only one not here.”  Rensa and Yannic followed them into one of the reception rooms.  All of Yannic’s family was there plus a number of Yannic’s friends including brave Kolloc of the fussy plans who was wearing a close coms headset.  In the centre of the room was a pantu rug, the registration book on its stand and a Registrar.

Kolloc said something into his mouth piece and a few moments later the door on the opposite side of the room opened and Bannoc and Mirren entered with Mirren saying, “And why are you wearing that earpiece?  Are you-.”  She stopped as she realised they weren’t alone.  “What?”

“You said that if I got your family together and organised everything we could get betrothed now.”

Mirren’s face worked for a moment and a tear leaked down her face.  “I didn’t believe,” the tears were streaming down her face now, “I didn’t believe,” then she threw her arms around the puzzled Bannoc and buried her face in his chest, “that you really meant it.”

He put his arms around her and looked confused.

Prompt Request Closed

The Prompt Request is now closed.  Thank you everyone who prompted.

I will now work on writing all those lovely prompts.