Scene 1: The Gates of Hell, which swing open soundlessly
If our, increasingly foolish, observer was still hanging around and had avoided the wolves and leopards he or she (and it really does not matter which) would have seen the shape emerge ... and briefly pause.
If our observer could also read minds (a really not very good idea in this part of the world), they would have heard:
a) the shape congratulate herself on getting the hinges oiled;
b) acknowledge that while this had been a good idea
it had got rather out of hand
c) praise herself that Yildiz was already having the impact to be expected of a female from Anatolia now married to a Rurikovich
and a new hope for the future
Scene 2: The Court
Andrei is being interrogated by Raphael.
But, we can't let you into heaven if you waged needless wars
It wasn't needless, look I am asked him twice, very nicely,
then I took most of his realm from him
Ummh, put like that, it doesn't look so bad
though admittedly this particular solution didn't last long
and also some of the wars I had to join – I mean one must be loyal to the vassals?
Raphael nods his head, clearly Andrei is real heaven material
Scene 3: Harry's refugee camp
Harry is explaining to Gabi just what his current plan is
The problem is he's so able that he has all these wars and loses no generals ... even when I really got the Pope annoyed
Harry stomps off
Gabi looks at the file, again there is evidence that Harry may not actually know what he's meant to be doing ... not least the Pope hadn't actually thought this out very carefully
This particular stunt has almost never worked, but obviously Harry rather likes it
and it looks as if Andrei is doing quite a good job of dumping the less able from his court on other Rus Princes:
Which most of the rest of the population heartily approve of
Has Astarte rather overdone the plague and pestilence? Just what did Harry do to annoy such a saintly Pope? When is Andrei going to have his first dead general?