13: THE AUTHENTIC THREE

Many years ago, we did have children in our communities. As those communities were often far from trade routes, roads and other cities, the children would grow and mature and age. Our practice was to keep the newborn away from outside influences and emotional feed sources for the first twenty-five to forty years.”

“What, you imprisoned children for half their lives!”

“No, of course not ‘imprisoned,’ we just kept our young isolated from the outside world. And as for half their lives, that is nonsense. You are looking at things as a Standard would look at life. Jonathan here is at least four centuries old. The first thirty years of his life are only a fraction of what he has lived and will live.

I am twelve hundred years old, and 30 years is a sliver of my life.”

Without asking if they wanted more wine, the Authentic filled their mugs.

“We did this to prepare the young ones for their long life. They were taught multiple languages, various arts, songs and music, skills and trades and all the life crafts they would need to walk about the world. The Standards, in essence, lock away their young for more extended periods. With schools and learning, if privileged, more schooling at places like Cambridge, Oxford, or the University of Paris is needed. And then we say, ‘Young man, you are prepared to face the world.’ And that is after they have spent perhaps one-third of their lives being prepared. We only prepare our children for less than one-tenth, or one-twentieth, of their lives. So, in that way, you should not see us as villainous.

In some cases, if we can sense something with an individual or young adult, we adopt or take in as wards or bring in foundlings and raise them as our own. In the distant and not-so-distant past, we had brought individuals, and if any had proven themselves worthy and up to the tasks and rigours, we would reborn them and set them out into and onto the world.”

“You bought slaves?”

“Slaves, serfs, peasants, indentured servants, call them what you will, almost at once we granted every one of them freedom. Because a man cannot flower, bloom, and reach their full potential under either heel or threat.”

Jonathan interjected. “Evelyn, as I have told you, we do not seek power, but often we influence those in power, and just fifteen years ago, we worked in the shadows, and that is how The Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 was moved through Parliament. We had no voice in the chamber but could whisper in many ears.” 

Alpaida continued, “Now, perhaps a full one-half of our number are ‘reborn,’ like yourself. And at your similar age. You can cut or change your hair, gain or lose weight and alter your appearance to age for a generation before moving to a new life.

Jonathan, tell your wife how many languages you speak and what skills you have?”

“At least nine, maybe ten languages. I have not used some for many years. And as you know, a goldsmith, banker and diplomat. But I have also been a cooper and a wheelwright. I have sailing skills. I have been both a brewmaster and a vintner. A butcher and farmer. And many times, I have been a soldier. I can adapt, and I learn.

As the female Devi has the gift of being aware in contact with other females over distance, our males develop a skill of learning crafts and trades, languages and arts at a seemingly accelerated rate.”

“Milady Collette, I have found this to be an amazing set of stories and a more amazing narrative. Well, since I have been in your presence, I feel more honoured, and I hope I am worthy of being a Devi and shall do the honour and justice.”

“That remains to be seen, and I will be watching you from afar as I sense something in you and the bonding between you and Mr St Croix.

But I must bid you adieu and ask you to leave before Isabel comes rushing in thinking that perhaps you have throttled me and have escaped with all this wealth.”

As they were leaving through another door, Isabel entered from the throne area and said, “Madame, you have matters to attend to this evening.”

Then they heard the Authentic regain her composed stature and say, “Yes, with this life, there are duties others cannot attend.”

Back in their chambers, Matheu was waiting for them. “It has been requested that I relay two messages to you. The first is that whatever the Authentic has said to you in her chambers, you are not to share that with any Devi. The second is that you are to move out of here immediately.

Arrangements have been made for your new accommodations, and you will find many francs there. Transit papers for America, a letter of introduction and such. It also includes a collection of trunks of clothing and items that would appear to an observer as personable belongings—papers of ownership for various properties in Philadelphia. Travel to Saint Nazaire is being completed as we speak, and you will be sailing on one of our ships from there to the port of New York. You will likely leave for Saint Nazaire in two days.”

Awaiting outside the Rue de Conte door was a classic three-horse-drawn Fiacre, which took them to their new location, the Hotel de Vendome. This was a little ironic and humorous to St Croix in light of their upcoming travel to America, the hotel as, until a few years earlier, the edifice was the official Embassy of the Republic of Texas.

“Jonathan, how can the Authentic accomplish so much in such a short time? We have not even been in Paris for a full day, and we have all that we need, and I am sure we have things that we would never have thought we would need.”

“Her organization is vast, resources are unlimited, and with aided communication, all is possible. That said, She or we as a group have contingency plans and existing stock of wares and materials for all events and circumstances.

I am sure there will be a price for all of this. At some point in the future, someone or some people will knock upon our door, as we did with Abigail O’Leary, and we will have to extend all possible aid and assistance to the needy party.

With that sort of tit-for-tat reciprocity, the benefits far outweigh the required duties.”