CHAPTER 40

   This was not a job that Carol was ever sure she would get used too. She had spent her entire adult life telling other people what to say in front of cameras. She even told them what to wear, what hairstylist to use, and had to coach them on even mundane things like simple mannerisms. She never dreamed that she would have to use any of that herself. The simple fact was that Carol was used to being behind the camera and was far more comfortable there. Now, she no longer had that barrier between her and the reporters who loved barking out rapid fire questions, of which, most of the time, were only traps to draw you in to the real questions. In essence, Carol was learning that what she had always really been was a backseat driver. Being behind the wheel was very different. It even made her feel guilty about some of the times when she would dress down people for doing stupid things and, only now, did she understand how that happened.
She had stood beside the president of the United States, and the ambassador from China, and the only person the reporters wanted to talk to was her. Devon had actually tried to deflect some of the questions away from her but, even powerful world leaders had no control over the ravenous hunger of the media. Then again, Carol thought that maybe Devon just needed some new spin doctors because the ones that he had were obviously falling down on the job. Most of the questions that Carol was asked were so far off the mark that she really did not know how to answer them. A few, unfortunately, were right on the spot and, because of that, she did not know how to answer them.
There were also a few outright lies, "no Excalibur is not real. As I have stated before, the legends that we all know are a part of our heritage but, we no more believe them than you do things like, say, George Washington chopping down a cherry tree." Carol found it quite odd and that some of the reporters in the room had never even heard of Washington and the cherry tree. How did these Americans become so powerful and most of them did not even know their own mythology?
What the reporters did know was fired back at Carol like one very common statement, "they said elves were a myth too."
Devon had tried to deflect that statement with a joke, "this administration never officially denied the existence of elves."
It helped a little as some of the reporters did laugh but, too many did not and went on with questions like, "there seems to have been more truth to the King Arthur legend than anyone would ever have dreamed. What parts are true and what parts are not?"
How did you answer a question like that? If Carol had been consulting she would have thought it an open ended question designed to lure her in but, the girl who asked seemed to genuine and, Carol suspected, the woman really wanted to know for her own personal reasons. If a professional was that curious then Carol suspected that the public was even more so. She filed that away for later use and basically turned the press conference back over to President Devon who did his best to bore the reporters with talk of a trade agreement with China. When Devon and Carol were finally beyond the reach of the reporters, Carol curiously asked the president of the United States, "what trade agreement?"
Before walking off, Devon only laughed and shook the girls hand as he replied, "what? You're the media specialist and you never notice that? Every time the news says the word China, nine times out of ten, it's followed by the words 'trade' and 'agreement.' I got to figure that those people's bosses do that on purpose, so, you say a word that they're ordered to key on and you can always lead them down your own path.”
Carol was actually impressed and nodded to the man, "why Mr. Devon, that is very insightful and I shall remember it." Carol realized that her new job involved the use of niceties whenever possible but, this time she really meant it. She also felt the same way with the next significant person that she saw before leaving the White House. She actually went out of her way to shake the man's hand and had a genuine smile when she said, "agent Cutter, I never got a chance to say thank you. I also need to say that I hope you accept my apologies for the way I acted when we first met in New York."
The truth of the matter was that Cutter was not even sure how she had acted when they first met. She was a principal and he was just doing his job. She was no different than anyone else he had dealt with in that capacity. He remained humble and just told her, "there's no need Lady Somerset. I was just doing my job. Some people around here say I wasn't even doing that much." Carol Acted genuinely surprised and deeply confused even though she was not. She knew why someone would say that and Cutter proved her suspicions correct when he added, "there are a few who believe that had if I been doing my job there would have been no attack at all."
Carol went fishing, "I hope that doesn't include the president. After all, his daughter was in the car. I can see how someone like Devon might take that personally." Cutter answered by not answering and that was why Carol told him in parting, "well if you need a job. I most certainly believe that I could use a man with your abilities, right now. As you may have noticed, many on my personal security detail did not walk away from that, as did I. I find myself owing those men a debt of gratitude that I cannot repay. In this case, I can, and you would be doing me a favor as well."
Carol had one of her people give the man a card even if it was clear that he had deep reservations. She thanked him again and then returned to her car, dodging even more reporters as she went. There were even more reporters loitering around the outside of the Feyland embassy but, that was quite normal. They obviously had no idea she was in the car when it passed by them and entered the secured parking garage. Carol had a peaceful enough trip up to the floors that were now being used, temporarily, as the Camelonian embassy. Of course, that was until she walked in her office and found that others thought they were free to come and go as they pleased. Carol had a less than pleasant demeanor with them even though she knew it would do no good.
Arthur seemed jovial enough as he told the girl, "I saw you on television and you looked splendid. I must say that some of the feedback we are getting is quite surprising. We may have a coup on our hands here."
As Carol began putting away her things she also nodded to the elf, who was sitting next Arthur, and said, "why don't you ask Noceauni about that? It's the same thing that happened with the elves, uncle. The people in America like shiny new things and currently, that's what we are. Trust me when I tell you that will change." She then looked directly at the elf and rhetorically asked, "isn't that true ambassador?"  
Noceauni simply shrugged in return and then quietly said, "unfortunately, more than you may realize. What can one do?"
This did not seem to disturb Arthur in the slightest. He simply took a drink of his scotch and then told his niece, "it does not matter how long it lasts. By the time this newness wears off we will have what we need. The Americans cannot touch us now and I take it that the meeting with the Chinese went well?"
Carol became quite disgruntled as she sat down behind her desk and told the two men, "to be honest I have no clue. I told you this before, uncle, I'm no diplomat. I know that man speaks perfect English and yet he demands to go through his interpreters. The only thing he seemed to want to talk about was Thayer and his threats to seize Coven Hill." Carol noticed that both her uncle and the elf seemed amused and alarm bells were ringing inside her head, "if it doesn't concern you Arthur then maybe it should. What have we been doing for the last thousand years but, trying to keep the English from taking everything we have?"
Arthur simply chuckled and exchanged glances with Noceauni before he replied, "let them. What good would it do them now? I would welcome such a move by the English. If the Chinese ambassador did not make it clear to you, then let me just say that they would declare war on Britain if such an event were to occur. I think that would put the world's most populous nation on our side, wouldn't you? I couldn't imagine anything that would bring down Thayer's government any faster."
Carol became quite frustrated as she pointed out, "and the Chinese are on the other side of the planet. If the British seize Coven Hill there is nothing they can do about it. We still lose our single biggest bargaining chip in the process." Carol saw the reaction and realized that it did not phase either man in the least. Then she thought about it and only one answer came to her mind, "we're the ones who closed the Dell? Don't lie to me now, uncle. You know how to open it back up, don't you?"
It took a moment. Both men exchange glances and it was obvious that they were considering what to say. Finally, it was Arthur who replied, "just before the explosion, RAF Merlin received orders to bomb the temple.”
Carol was in complete shock. She looked to the elf and was nearly accusing in tone when she pointed at him and said, "and the Emperor went along with this? I can't believe that."
Noceauni easily replied, "Solenceaus is far more flexible than he is often given credit."
What was that supposed to mean? Carol was still not convinced and still remained accusing, "don't hand me that, Noceauni, you people went to a lot of trouble to expose us to earth, just because you thought you needed contact. Now you're telling me that your government is perfectly fine with closing off the Dell?"
It was Arthur who replied as he raised a drink as if making a toast, "as you pointed out my dear niece, we can open the Dell whenever we so choose."
Noceauni went further by adding in a more nervous tone, "besides, if what the Americans say is true, the orc very well may have done it for us."
Arthur continued, "which is another good reason to keep it closed for the moment."
A knock at the door got an angered response from Carol. A nervous elf only went so far as to expose his face when he summoned his ambassador. Once they were alone, Carol unleashed all of her venom on her uncle, "none of this makes sense unless there is too much that I do not know."
Again, Arthur only chuckled as he told his niece, "my dear, why would you think it any other way?"
Before the war of words could escalate to the point that Carol wanted to take it,  Noceauni frantically returned. For an elf, he looked very nervous and even afraid. After stumbling over his words he looked to Arthur and said, "we may have a problem." The elf then emphasized his words with, "a very serious problem."