The Road to Emrta (2)
"Your Royal Highness, Mr. Solstad will arrive in a moment", Jo said. "If you please, I'll show you the meeting room".
"Thank you", Heimarr replied. Mildgyd just nodded and followed her.
...
These wooden walls are something else. They don't really go with the building, which it seemed quite new, I guess. But they are...functional, I assume that's the word. Business walls, I assume. But what do we have here? These colours look so familiar...I'm sure that I have seen this painting before, isn't it? Could it be so? Ah yes, I remember! That's the same painting! That one they had in the old hall in the Count's summer home. It's been ages since I was there for last time. I always found it so irritating this colour, those vague lines. They certainly lacked energy. Surely they are not a Haavelmo's. I always hated this paintings. The Tachnasem's surely lacked taste for these things. Redsamlina, certainly practical but she sadly lacks imagination. How did this painting end here anyway, I wonder? And where must she be now? Did she remains in Achkaerin? Oh, I forgot to ask the last time. So many things have changed, so many things which were impossible to imagine not a long time ago. And now I am here, again, in front of this painting. But what am I doing here? Not just here, but here? I don't even know myself but...Eh?
"I see you are already here", Gerulf said, entering and closing the door behind him. "Excuse me for the delay, Your Royal Highness, and thanks for coming".
"Ah", Mildgyd replied, "no problem".
"I'm glad to meet you again, Your Royal Highness", Gerulf continued. "It's been a long time since we met. Maybe you don't remember, you have probably met so many people, of course".
"Oh, I do", Mildgyd replied. "In this case, I don't really remember where and when".
"It's understandable, of course", Gerulf replied. "Were you contemplating the painting? Do you like it? I found it very expressive".
"I assume so", Mildgyd replied. "But not really, just entertaining myself for a second, that's all".
"Of course", Gerulf replied. "I'm sorry you couldn't attend the Economic Forum at the end. We were very sorry when it was confirmed...".
"Oh, sure", Mildgyd answered. "It was certainly a pity...But I read that it went quite well. I'm glad that was the case".
"Thanks, Your Royal Highness", Gerulf replied. "We're glad as well. We were quite satisfied in general. It was a great chance for the city, the country".
"Nice to hear", Mildgyd said.
"I must say it's a honour for us", Gerulf continued, "all of us, in the island, to have with us".
"It's a honour for me as well", Mildgyd replied.
Would this be that important thing they wanted to discuss?
"I myself grow up in Emrta", Gerulf added, "a long time ago. Many things have changed here since then, obviously. Sadly, many things have changed in the country in the last years. While I established soon in Albrektberg, where a new life started for me. When things started to go wrong...I had the chance to come back".
"I understand the feeling", Mildgyd said.
"Yes, of course..." Gerulf replied. "It was not only that. But of course, I realize it was a strange feelings. Things were getting worse and worse, but still, here the situation was different. Or rather, it felt different. Right now, one feels it's rather the opposite...in some sense. Things are getting better, at least a light of hope for many people -even if things are not ideal, of course. But on the contrary, things started to feel more convulse here lately".
"Many people seems to share that feeling", Mildgyd said.
"indeed", Gerulf replied. "That was my impression. If I may, Your Royal Highness, have you talked recently with your brother...?".
"Oh", Mildgyd replied, "not really. Why?".
"I just wondered...", Gerulf answered. "I had only the chance and honour of meeting His Majesty a few times as well. I had the chance to meet your late father more often when I was involved in the local government in Albrektberg...many years ago. Still, despite all these complicated last years, it was really shameful how your brother had to leave".
"If you wanted to ask about my family", Mildgyd interrupted him, "you should have talked with Herr Moser, he's still in charge of these issues...".
"Oh", Gerulf answered, "I'm aware, Your Royal Highness...I know Ulrich very well, indeed, we used to go to the same golf club, years ago...".
"It's not that, Your Royal Highness", Gerulf continued. "We're afraid that things have started to go out of control. People have started to get nervous here, about the situation in Albrektberg, or Mannstadt, whatever".
"I understand so", Mildgyd replied. "There is not much we can do right now".
"In a sense...", Gerulf continue, "that's right. With such initiatives such as the Economic Forum or the Amvkhar Fund, we have tried to build a more constructive atmosphere. Even if the country is not going to the right direction, we must give the best of ourselves...at least that's my philosophy. But I could only realize recently that the it's growing the feeling that their voice is not being heard lately. I'm concerned about that , obviously. I understand that you remain in a complicated situation, I can imagine, Your Royal Highness...But it's my intention to try to build as many bridges as possible. It's my concern that the wrong reaction could be about happen. A group of friends, colleges, and collaborators have resolved to avoid such outcome. That's why we thought about this meeting, Your Royal Highness...".
"I listen to you", Midgyd simply added.