AN INTERVIEW WITH
DRIA ORDAN
Q: All right, let's see. It says here you're a princess?
DRIA ORDAN: Yes. [Gives a bow of her head] I'm pleased that you would interview me. Things like these don't happen every day.
Q: The pleasure's mine. It's not every day I get to interview princesses. Or dragons, for that matter.
DO: We call ourselves Itudaeians, if you please.
Q: I'm sorry.
DO: [Smiles] It's no problem. So now what happens?
Q: How about we start with a little bit about yourself.
DO: My mother was the empress regnant. Her family has ruled our people for over four centuries. She died early into her reign, passing rulership to my father. When my father steps down, I will be next to rule in my own right. For the time being, I serve as the chief priestess of the state religion, an office which is mine by birthright as the first daughter of the then-reigning empress. I also help my father with affairs of state.
Q: Do you have any siblings?
DO: [Shakes her head] No. It's just my father and I, and perhaps some cousins I rarely see.
Q: And what is it you do?
DO: Most people think royalty like myself sit around all day and do nothing. Were that the case I'd die of boredom. There's always something to do, especially nowadays with the threat of war looming. [Frowns] Our people are scared. The most scared among them is my father.
Q: Your father, the emperor? What's he so scared of?
DO: Much as he doesn't want to admit it, even to me, our people are in serious peril. There aren't enough of us to fight a wholesale war against the invaders. Our people have a centuries-long policy of isolationism. Unpopular as my views may be, I take the position that we've outgrown our seclusion. If we're to have any hope of surviving in this day and age, our people will have to join the world community and seek allies abroad.
Q: That sounds reasonable.
DO: Tell that to Chancellor Maldronigan. He thinks we can stay the course. If that weren't bad enough, anything he says my father does.
Q: We met Maldronigan.
DO: [Rolls her eyes] Oh, great. I don't trust him. He's got an agenda -- I don't know what -- and I don't like him.
Q: What do you do in your spare time?
DO: Spare time is hard to come by these days. I like to practice my sword technique. My mother used to chastise me that it wasn't ladylike and my father always went along with my mother, but fencing is in my blood. [Smiles, shows teeth] I'm pretty good at it too. I also read poetry.
Q: Really?
DO: Oh, yes. Romantic poetry mostly, from Avignary. Those Avignarian poets can make any girl blush. We Itudaeians have a rich literary tradition but our romance poetry pales in comparison. Most of our romantic poems make allusions to fish -- with reason, as it's a major foodstuff here on our islands -- but fish just aren't very romantic. In fact, they're pretty ugly, good as they taste.
Q: All right, I think that's enough for now. I know you're very busy, so I appreciate your time.
DO: You're very welcome. Goodbye for now.
DRIA ORDAN: Yes. [Gives a bow of her head] I'm pleased that you would interview me. Things like these don't happen every day.
Q: The pleasure's mine. It's not every day I get to interview princesses. Or dragons, for that matter.
DO: We call ourselves Itudaeians, if you please.
Q: I'm sorry.
DO: [Smiles] It's no problem. So now what happens?
Q: How about we start with a little bit about yourself.
DO: My mother was the empress regnant. Her family has ruled our people for over four centuries. She died early into her reign, passing rulership to my father. When my father steps down, I will be next to rule in my own right. For the time being, I serve as the chief priestess of the state religion, an office which is mine by birthright as the first daughter of the then-reigning empress. I also help my father with affairs of state.
Q: Do you have any siblings?
DO: [Shakes her head] No. It's just my father and I, and perhaps some cousins I rarely see.
Q: And what is it you do?
DO: Most people think royalty like myself sit around all day and do nothing. Were that the case I'd die of boredom. There's always something to do, especially nowadays with the threat of war looming. [Frowns] Our people are scared. The most scared among them is my father.
Q: Your father, the emperor? What's he so scared of?
DO: Much as he doesn't want to admit it, even to me, our people are in serious peril. There aren't enough of us to fight a wholesale war against the invaders. Our people have a centuries-long policy of isolationism. Unpopular as my views may be, I take the position that we've outgrown our seclusion. If we're to have any hope of surviving in this day and age, our people will have to join the world community and seek allies abroad.
Q: That sounds reasonable.
DO: Tell that to Chancellor Maldronigan. He thinks we can stay the course. If that weren't bad enough, anything he says my father does.
Q: We met Maldronigan.
DO: [Rolls her eyes] Oh, great. I don't trust him. He's got an agenda -- I don't know what -- and I don't like him.
Q: What do you do in your spare time?
DO: Spare time is hard to come by these days. I like to practice my sword technique. My mother used to chastise me that it wasn't ladylike and my father always went along with my mother, but fencing is in my blood. [Smiles, shows teeth] I'm pretty good at it too. I also read poetry.
Q: Really?
DO: Oh, yes. Romantic poetry mostly, from Avignary. Those Avignarian poets can make any girl blush. We Itudaeians have a rich literary tradition but our romance poetry pales in comparison. Most of our romantic poems make allusions to fish -- with reason, as it's a major foodstuff here on our islands -- but fish just aren't very romantic. In fact, they're pretty ugly, good as they taste.
Q: All right, I think that's enough for now. I know you're very busy, so I appreciate your time.
DO: You're very welcome. Goodbye for now.
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