"Don't you have elections?" Ruth asked.
"No. To tell the truth, we were rather puzzled by your 'politicians,'" Zoe said. "I never quite understood how they were qualified to run the country."
"It puzzles us, sometimes," Patrick replied. "But they were elected. The majority of the people thought they would be good at it."
"Majority? But so few people actually vote."
"It doesn't quite work, I'll admit," Ruth said. "But there are worse ways of doing things."
"How are your nobles qualified to rule?" Adam asked.
"They have been prepared for the role by their upbringing, as we have," Zoe said.
"But what if there are talented commoners?" Ruth asked. "Can't you make use of their talents?"
"Or what if some of the nobles are not clever enough, or put themselves before the good of the country? At least we can get rid of politicians who mess things up."
"Perhaps a mix would be better," Zoe said thoughtfully. "Too often the only way our people have of solving the problem of bad ministers is to rebel violently. It would be interesting to try your democracy, especially as it has made Britain so great. You even go to other countries to make them democratic!"
The others looked at each other sheepishly. "When you put it like that it doesn't really make much sense," Adam said. "I mean, the point of democracy is that you can't impose it, isn't it? If people don't want to be democratic you can't make them, but if they're not involved the other country isn't democratic."
"Once we've won we will have to discuss these matters," Zoe said. "That was why we brought you. But we're not there yet."
The pirates and ninjas had cleared one of the doorways and were pushing forward into the building. Queen Argent beckoned them forward and they set off down a corridor. After a few minutes they arrived at a large door. Various guards had been pushed back against the walls and the chief ninja, seeing them coming, began to order his troops to break down the door. It looked very solid- it was made of a dark reddish-brown wood- but it wasn't long before it gave way and the ninjas broke into the room beyond.
Long dark cushioned benches ran down the sides of the room to where a large chair stood with a table in front of it and a canopy overhead. Around this chair was clustered the Bognorian Senate, men (mostly) and a few women looking apprehensive and trying to stay as far away as possible from the ninjas and pirates as they strode into the room.
Will pushed his way through the door and thanked Queen Argent and the chief ninja. "But now please ask your people to leave the House," he said. "I wish to speak to the Senate without the pressure of armed men- and women- in the background." They did as he asked. Zoe went through into the chamber to join Will, and he beckoned the Earth-dwellers to come too.
"My friends," he began, looking around, "You know me, the son of King Ragsd, a member of this House. My sister and I have returned from our expedition to the planet known as Earth and have come to you to find out what has been happening in our absence."
"We were told that you had abandoned Bognor and did not intend to return," one of the Bognorian nobles said.
"Who told you that? My uncle Friderts? It was a lie, an attempt to mislead you. You know why my sister and I left Bognor- you yourselves sanctioned the mission! Our father was well then, no suggestion of ill health. We stuck to the terms of our mission, and left there some time ago to return to Bognor along with our friends here. It is for their sake I am speaking English- after what they have suffered on our behalf it is far less than they deserve." He stopped, and Zoe took up the story, describing their calamitous voyage.
"Our journey, which should have taken no more than a few Earth days has been prolonged by one disaster after another," she said. "Eventually, when we thought we would soon be home we were attacked again and taken captive by mercenaries in the pay of our uncle Friderts, under orders to keep us out of the way while he took over here. We were held prisoner, two of our friends were almost killed, we escaped only to be captured again. Thanks to both luck and skill we have returned at last and now wish to ask Friderts what he means by this. Our friends from Earth agreed to come with us, risking their lives when they didn't need to. They are with us. Are you?"
Will spoke again. "I am my father's heir. I know I have a responsibility to you and the people of Bognor, and I do not renounce that responsibility. Are you with me, or against me?"
He looked sternly at the Senate members as they stood clustered round the speaker's chair. Zoe stood beside him, looking fierce and dignified. The Earth-dwellers stood awkwardly behind Will, unsure what good they were doing by being there.
There was whispered consultation among the Senate. There seemed to be some argument going on and a few of the nobles, Ruth saw, quietly slipped out of a door at the back. Were they going to warn Friderts, she wondered? Eventually one who seemed to be a leader turned to Will and Zoe and knelt.
"The Senate is with you," he said.
The story continues...
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