Prince Taisei looked at Vastra, then the Doctor. She could read their body language, and it
was easy to tell that neither of them quite believed her. There was little she could do in her
condition to argue with them, however.
‘The Doctor tells me that you and he are not from this
time. As I look at your clothes, I can
certainly see how that would be the case.
He also tells me that you are in some hurry to return to your home…something
about difficulty with your…people.’
Vastra nodded. At
least the Doctor was being honest with them.
‘I do hope, however, that I can convince you to remain with
us at least until the coronation. Our
religion mandates that there can be no celebration for 49 days after the death
of a family member. I know that is some
time to wait, but…’
Vastra waved her hand dismissively.
‘Prince…I am in no condition to travel anyplace right now,
let alone in that contraption the Doctor calls a ship.’
The Doctor looked at her in shock. ‘You did it again! You’re lucky she wasn’t nearby when you said
it, or I doubt very much she’d let you on board!’
Vastra turned and glared at the Doctor, who suddenly found
his hands and fingers a far more interesting object to observe. The Prince, meanwhile, smiled wider.
‘Then you will both stay?’
Vastra nodded. ‘I do
not have much choice in the matter…but yes.
I feel I still have quite a bit to learn about you and your people as it
is, so perhaps this is a mixed blessing for me.’
Taisei clapped his hands quietly. ‘Then it is settled. You both
shall remain here as my guests. Should you want anything, you need but
ask,
and it shall be provided for you.
Rest…recover your strength…there is much I must attend to and make
arrangements for. I fear that places me
at the disadvantage, as I shall be an absent host for most of your stay,
but…’
He trailed off, not quite sure how to finish.
The Doctor spoke.
‘I’m sure we both know how that can be.
Places to go, people to see, things to do…the busy life of a man
destined to lead. And I am sure you will
do a splendid job of it. Vastra and I
will be quite comfortable, I am sure.’
He looked closer at the Prince.
‘You do know, of course, that I will have to leave for a
short bit, things to do and all that.’
Taisei nodded. ‘Of
course, Doctor. But you remember we have
discussed this at length.’
Vastra looked at the two of them.
‘Somehow I feel as if I am being left out of things,
Doctor.’
The Doctor looked at her and smiled.
‘I’ll explain later.’
‘You always say that,’ Vastra said, scowling. ‘I very much doubt…’
A familiar hand placed itself over her mouth, muffling her
argument.
‘I promise you…the very moment I return from what I have to
do, you and I will sit down and I will answer everything I can answer that
you’ve asked me. Does that sound
reasonable?’
‘Mrlphl,’
‘What was that?’
‘Mrlphl'’ only this time her reply was louder and more
agitated.
‘Just nod or shake your head…it’ll be easier that way.’
Vastra nodded her head slowly.
‘Excellent!’
The Doctor removed his hand from her mouth and she took in a
deep breath.
‘It would have been easier had you just done that in the
first place, Doctor.’
He smiled. ‘True…but
where’s the fun in that?’
He looked at Vastra and Taisei.
‘Well…you two…speaking of places to go and things to do, I
should really get to the things that I need to do. If you’ll both excuse me…I should be back
by…’
He looked down at his wrist watch.
‘Oh, dinner time, I should guess.’
He stopped, paused, and thought.
‘Actually…better not assume that. Make it breakfast tomorrow morning, and if I’m
back before then, it’ll be a surprise to us all.’
He smiled, laughed quietly, and turned on his heels. He walked quickly toward the doors leading
from the main hall to the courtyard.
Vastra and Taisei turned to watch him leave.
‘Your Doctor is a most unique individual, Vastra. Much like you,’
Vastra turned to him.
‘You have no idea how unique.’
She paused.
‘Then again, I do not think I quite know how unique he is
either. But I intend to find out.’
Taisei laughed.
‘If you do, then you will have done far better than old
Tsugu. He has been trying to figure out
his Kyoujyu’s mysteries since he was a young man, and has come no closer than
scratching the surface.’
Vastra held up her hand, causing the Prince to pause.
‘Could you please hold on a moment, Taisei? There is something I forgot to ask the
Doctor.’
Taisei nodded.
‘Of course,'
He watched as Vastra tried to jog after the Doctor. She took one step then froze as pain shot
through her whole body. The prince
stepped to steady her, but she held one arm out to the side, waving him
off.
‘No. I can do
this…even if I have to walk.’
She slowly made her way to the doors and pushed them
open. She didn’t remember them being
that hard to open previously…then again; previously she wasn’t nursing wounds
and recovering from a fight she only two thirds remembered. Still, she pushed her way through the carved
dark wooden doors and saw the Doctor halfway across the courtyard talking to...
Who?
Who was he talking to?
She couldn’t make out a face from here, but she could tell
that he was a big man, actually taller and broader than the Doctor by quite a
bit. She could tell they were having an
animated conversation, the Doctor vigorously arguing before finally acquiescing
and handing over something black and apparently quite heavy to the other
man. She took a step and saw the Doctor
look back up toward the hall. He saw
her, waved nervously, and quickly turned and made his way toward the gates and,
she assumed, the TARDIS.
There was no use trying to chase him; she knew she didn’t
have the energy to go much further than she already had gone. She turned to walk back toward the Prince and
saw him already standing before her, a pair of attendants at his side.
‘I hope you will allow me forgiveness for my presumption,
Vastra…but I thought you might find their assistance welcome.’
Vastra smiled weakly.
‘Do not get accustomed to me giving in so easily, Prince,’
she said, a small weak laugh escaping her lips.
‘Right now, however, I am tired enough…and in enough pain…that I will accept
your offer.’
She looked at him sternly.
‘Just this once however.’
The prince laughed.
‘But of course, Vastra.’
She allowed the attendants to support her as they walked her
back toward her room. She lay back
against the cool sheets and worked to catch her breath. She was shocked by how laboured her breathing
was, though again, she supposed she should not be surprised. A few minutes controlled breathing, and she
felt settled again. Tomorrow she’d work
herself harder, walk further, and get back into the kind of condition she
expected of herself. For now though,
rest and recovery seemed the key words of the day.
She was surprised by a knock outside her curtained
door. She turned slowly toward it,
recoiling at the expected pain.
‘Yes?’
Prince Taisei’s voice came from beyond the curtain. ‘Might I enter and speak, Vastra?’
She slowly pulled the sheets over her. While she was dressed, she felt more
comfortable with the sheet offering one more layer of cover between her and the
Prince.
‘Yes, certainly.’
She sat up as he entered and took a seat next to her
bed. She watched his face, so young and
yet already carrying lines of worry. She
knew over time those lines would likely only deepen as the weight of rule wore
upon him. She could also tell he as deep
in thought, and allowed him time to compose himself to speak.
‘Before you decided to chase after the Doctor, we spoke of
how unique he is.’
Vastra nodded.
‘I also happen to know that you were directed by both the
Doctor and Tsugu to the royal pools a day before my father’s funeral.’
She gasped. She knew
what the punishments were among her people when one was found in a place
sanctioned for the ruling class. ‘I did
not know. Prince Taisei, if I have in
any way…’
He held up his hand.