vp fW 3w , tvidcc aef HAVE PASSED AND STILL QUEEN ALETA HAS NOT ASSUMED HER THRONE. SHE VISITS THE TEMPLES. GOES SHOPPING IN THE BAZAAR, ENTER TAINS AND, AFTER FOUR YEARS ABSENCE, NOTES MANY CHANGES NOT ALL FOR THE BEST. THE KEEPER OF THE LAWS READS TO HER THE MANY NEW LAWS THAT HAVE BEEN , ENACTED IN HER ABSENCE. TAXES HAVE BEEN RAISED, VAST AMOUNTS SPENT FOR, DEFENSE! SHIPS ARE BEING BUILT, AN ARMY AND NAVY CREATED ! MANY LITTLE THINGS, HEARD AND SEEN AND STORED AWAY BENEATH THE FRIVOLOUS CURLS, NOW ASSUME A DEFINITE PATTERN. THE LOVELY, PEACEFUL MISTY ISLES ARE TO BECOME A -WARLIKE POWER! mm t m rrr m. i it 1 r r .$ nu . n u u,. ifu Ul ,V inim j PtllSftrl UkA -,mj . ja'i niMiv THFCM DOES SHF TAKE HER THRONE.-AND HER SISTER, HELENE, WHO HAS BEEN REGENT IN. HER ABSENCE, STEPS DOWN AND STANDS BESIDE HER AMBITIOUS HUSBAND. AND THE WARRIORS WHO GUARDED ALETA5 JUUKNtr wum THE NORTHLANDS STAND BEHIND HER. THEN THE QUEEN SPEAKSs "THE MISTY TSLES ARE AS JEWELS TN A SAPPHIRE SEA, THE HOME OF CONTENT. WE HAVE EVER ENJOYED PEACE, BECAUSE OUR LAWS ARE WISE, PROSPERITY BECAUSE WE TRADE WITH OUR NEIGHBORS IN FRIENDLINESS. MAY WE ALWAYS LIVE SO' THE PEOPLE OUTSIDE CHEER LOUDLY BUT ALETA NOTICES THAT THE NOBLES WITHIN APPLAUD ONLY POLITELY. , '' ': AGAIN THE KEEPER OF THE LAWS READS. THE SENATE HAS ENACTED TWO NEW LAWS. TO' WIT, NO RULER MAY HIRE MERCENARIES OR SOLDIERS OF A FOR EIGN NATON. .AND. .THE NUMBER OF THE COUNCIL OF ELDERS IS INCREASED FROM TEN TV T rvcrf It. AND Aa THE NEW MEMBERS ELECTED ARE MILITARY MEN 1 BIT BY BIT THE POWER THAT HAS BEEN HERS IS BEING STOLEN AWAY - EVCN HER VIKING ESCORT HAS BECOME ILLEGAL! ' ' HER HAPPY LITTLE KINGDOM IS SLIPPING BiRP.hLHER "USERS; SHE IS HELPLESS TO SAVE IT. THEN HER CHIN GOES UP AND THERE COMES A DETERMINED GLINT . iN HER EYE. : next vwEKTJnhertkFiiPoIotisCnris. f p.