"It Is As You Say..."

"It is as you say young man, the decision is Beatrice's more than ours," Miss Baudrillard begins after a quick whispered conference with her husband, "you have our blessing to court her, but the decision is ultimately hers, not ours. For the moment we will say nothing for or against you, you merely have our permission to call on her. Should however we find you are proving a detriment to her in any way, we can and will bring the full **** of our parental influence against your suit, so be ever aware that you are in a sense on trial, you must not only win her affections but help her succeed in her new career, and that will be a tricky balancing act if you are as tied up with The Queen's order as you have said," Ada finishes.

It is her husband that weighs in next, "Also remember Count Fitzroy, that I don't want my daughter to be a widow within a year of being wed. I know the legends of the Labyrinth of Ambuscade and it chews up and swallows men like you by their hundreds. You need to prove you are ready for it by clearing your castle of the goblins that infest it ere I will give my daughter away on the steps of Hestia's altar: and this should be no trouble for you because she has at least a year of schooling to put behind her ere she can become a Journeyman, and you know what they say about Apprentices and marriage..." He says gruffly.

"All too well," you reply, and he nods.

"Very well then, I will take you into the living-room and bring Beatrice down, you've passed the first hurdle, each one from here get's higher and harder," he states, and you breathe a sigh of relief.

Soon you meet Beatrice again for the fourth or fifth time ever. She is modestly dressed in yellow skirts and blouse which compliment her features well, you think she will look positively ravishing in the saffron robes of an apprentice, at least as far as her unfortunate facial structure allows.

"Have they told you why I am here?" You ask, only remaining seated as propriety demands with an effort of will.

"Yes, and-"...