Mastareir

Mastareir

"A Mastareir is the hereditary nobility of the original colonial dependencies of the Fenici."

"I am the Mastareir of Bramant-Reigundy, hereditary ruler of the central Bleg."

"Welcome, I'm afraid I don't have the authority to receive you."

"Who does?"

"She does." The silly little man was pointing to the huge grey-blue cat in his arms, looking totally serious. "Nameita Robyn, cat queen of Kagomei, grand-daughter of Rembrandt, can receive you."

She grit her teeth. "Then it will have to do." She expected something unsatisfactory, but was hoping that Mikhala Veneer, second most powerful person in Kagomei, but also a Mastareir in her own right, would be here to receive her.

"My aunt is indisposed, I'm afraid."

So this was the wallflower nephew? She'd heard of him, a facilitator, they called him in diplomatic circles, not one to stick his neck out too far, but one to keep discussions going, and with an ear to prevent tempers from rising, he was in line for the Mastareir too, perhaps a gambit was appropriate... "Thank you, am I speaking to the current Mastareir of Benevento's heir?"

"Errr, perhaps..." He blushed.

They hadn't briefed him? Or perhaps he was as naive as he sounded? No, Benevent was so large a province it was practically its own kingdom, and half again as rich in agriculture as Bramant-Reigundy, it was inconceivable that the heir would be someone so unprepared. Perhaps he wasn't the top heir, he did have a sister... "I greet the Cat Queen of Kagomei, Nameita Robyn, and her caretaker, Feline Advisor to Meihomei Linnaeus Van Pelt."

"Mew!" The cat was seemingly totally used to this... Wait, it's the same cat? She furiously thought, as indeed, the same cat that had, when barely more than a kitten, sought to put a paw on her forehead, was doing that now, and the man was helping her reach!

"Err, thank you." But as she straightened herself up, she moved away a bit.