I have a confession to make.
I don’t like politics. Don’t much like politicians, either.
In Real Life, that is.
In books, now, it’s a totally different matter. And when it comes to Yes Minister, I positively love politics. The reason
for loving Yes Minister politics should be obvious (and if it’s not, go watch all the seasons NOW), but the reason for loving book politics is quite different. I love book politics (in reading) because I like to see other peoples’ ideas and how their worlds fit together.
I love book politics (in writing) because I’m a megalomaniac who needs to be in control of my own little paradigm. If I don’t like policies, I can simply change ’em. So easy! So refreshing!
All of this is by the way, really, to introduce my topic, which is Politics & MASQUE: or, Who’s Who In The Triumvirate, or Why Does Lacuna Hate Everybody?
There’s a lot of history, political and otherwise, before Isabella sweeps onto the stage in MASQUE. This is because although it was written first, the events in MASQUE actually happen after the events of SPINDLE, BLACKFOOT, and THE STAFF AND THE CROWN (of which only SPINDLE has yet been published). In that time, a lot has happened. Civet and Parras, once uneasy neighbours, have become the amalgamated nation of New Civet. This has transformed the Three Monarchy alliance of Broma, Glause, and Civet into the Two Monarchy alliance of Glause and Broma. New Civet’s system of governance has changed into a two-party majority government system of competing Wizard Councils, and the minority parties of Old Parrassians and Royalists.
Governments rise and fall, as do monarchies.
In the years between the end of SPINDLE and the beginning of MASQUE, New Civet once more becomes a monarchy and allies itself again with Glause. Broma, on the other hand, sees the loss of its entire royal line in a violent attack by Lacuna, and the reins of government are taken up by Broma’s prime minister. By the time Isabella Farrah and her father are becoming known figures in Civet’s political circles, New Civet and Glause are making an effort to strengthen themselves against the threatening Lacunans on one side and the two sister nations of the Lacunan Triumvirate on the other.
As far as it goes, Glause is the country that has distinguished itself most by its solidarity. No coups, no open warfare, and no bloody history of death and destruction.
This could be said to be so because of the size of Glause: it is roughly twice the size of New Civet, three times the size of Broma, and much the same size as the Triumvirate combined. Those in the know, however, are perfectly convinced that Glause’s solid position is solely on account of Glause’s king. The king is much older than he looks, and he comes from a long line of clever, ruthless rulers who have not been afraid to serve their country in the swiftest, most merciless manner necessary.
Thus, when Isabella arrives in Glause as a part of New Civet’s entourage, her interests are many.
Most importantly, she has a military merger to negotiate; a merger whereby Glausian and Civetan soldiers will train side by side alternately in Glause and Civet due to significant differences in conditions. In addition to that is her usual interest in forming connections, her interest in the King of Glause–not to mention her interest in why he is interested in her–and her interest in Glause’s tenuous ties with the Triumvirate.
Then, of course, there is the small matter of a murder to solve…
And all of this is reckoning without Black Velvet. However, since most of my characters aren’t exactly sure who, what, or where Black Velvet is either, we can be excused from delving too deeply into the matter.
Well, that’s it from me today. As always this month, don’t forget to enter the MASQUE 1st Birthday Bash!
Also, feel free to message, comment, email or tweet me any questions you may have about MASQUE and Isabella: there’s still half a month left of MASQUE stories, posts, and giveaways…