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| Heyne (German) 1981, Ciruelo Cabral |
- Queen Gloriana rules the great realm of Albion from her magnificent palace in the heart of London and, with the help of her advisors, helps maintain a sense of stability throughout the world. However, despite her lofty position, on a very personal level she is ironically unable to reach sexual climax (despite her best nightly efforts). Meanwhile, another, hidden society exists beneath the palace facade. A small, mysterious man named Jephraim Tallow sneaks out from passageways behind the palace walls to steal food leftover from the New Years’ Eve festivities and spy on various dramas unfolding amongst Gloriana's court members. Shortly afterwards, at the Seahorse Tavern in the lower quarters of the city, an Arab merchant named Ibram tries to recruit the roguish Captain Quire as a spy. Surprisingly, Quire claims to be offended by the insinuation that he would betray his country and challenges the Saracen to a duel. Finally, just off the mainland, Albion’s greatest naval officer (who also enjoys a bit of casual piracy during his patrols) Sir Thomasin Ffynne returns to London in the early hours of New Year’s Day.
- On the first day of the new year, Gloriana consults with her secretary and confidante, Una, Countess of Scaith. Later, she meets with her Privy Council and learns that the King of Poland is on his way to London under the mistaken impression that Gloriana is open to a marriage between the two rulers. The Queen's counselor Lord Montfallcon believes that the situation can be saved by maneuvering events so that the equally-ambitious Caliph of Arabia will arrive at the same time as the Polish King, thus causing their individual campaigns to neutralize one another. Lord Montfallcon also hears some troubling news about his henchman Captain Quire.
- After dishonorably murdering the Saracen Ibram in their duel, Quire seeks refuge in an inn in the lower city. While waiting for his aide Tinkler to obtain an alibi from his royal patron Lord Montfallcon, he threateningly teases a young serving girl names Alys Finch. Tinkler eventually arrives and gives Quire some unpleasant news: Montfallcon wants Quire to turn himself in and then plead innocence (as a victim of a conspiracy). Only then will Montfallcon fabricate an alibi to exonerate him.
- The court philosopher/magus, John Dee, has an audience with Gloriana, Una and Montfallcon, where he describes his theories of parallel worlds and the possibility of travel between them. However privately, Doctor Dee is distracted by an unquenchable lust for his Queen. Despite Montfallcon’s skepticism, Gloriana allows Dee further funds to continue his research.
- Montfallcon springs Quire from prison and gives him a new mission: kidnap the King of Poland while en route to London, and then hold him prisoner until he receives a signal from Montfallcon (this will delay the Polish King's arrival so that it will coincide with the arrival of the Arabian Caliph). Later, as Quire prepares for his mission, he is confronted by Phil Starling, Alys Finch's beau and would-be "knight". Quire disarms and seduces Starling with his nefarious charm.
Gloriana visits her secret chambers, a "seraglio" which features rooms where she can experience various sexual pleasures from around the world. She finally arrives in a room filled with "beast-men", but even intercourse with these brutes is insufficient to bring her to a sexual climax.- Quire and his men intercept the Polish King’s ship off the coast and lures it aground. Quire then captures the King himself by posing as a member of the local “coast guard”. Later, at a prearranged meeting place, Quire informs Tinkler that they have been instructed to only return their prisoner once the Court Masque has begun (on the Twelfth Night of the Yuletide).
- A "mad woman" who lurks in the palace behind the walls observes Montfallcon speak with the Arabian diplomat Lord Shahryar, who (correctly) accuses Montfallcon and Quire of espionage and manipulation regarding the missing Ibram. She later also sees Tinkler head towards an appointment with Montfallcon.
- Una informs Gloriana that the Polish King has been brought to London safe and sound (unbeknownst to her, released from Quire’s care). In short order, Gloriana and her royal entourage celebrate Twelfth Night in a greeting ceremony/party on the quay of the frozen River Thames. Later, during the Court Masque, the poet Wheldrake’s words recast Albion's greatest figures in the story of the Norse Ragnarok. During these proceedings, the Polish King and the Caliph of Arabia both fail to make an impression on Gloriana (as per Montfallcon's plan). In the meantime in more urban quarters, Quire leads a rabble of celebrants in a mockery of the Queen’s festivities (with the young Phil Starling boy now dressed up as a parody of Gloriana).
- Wheldrake and his frequently-inebriated lover Lady Lyst visit the scientific abode of the Thane of Hermiston and Doctor Dee. Thomasin Ffynne heads off back out to the sea, although Montfallcon first orders him to refrain from causing any diplomatic problems for Gloriana with his piracy. In private, the Tatar diplomat Oubachar Khan and the Nippon representative Lady Yahi Akuya discuss Poland and Arabia’s recent failed attempts to win the hand of Gloriana.
- With Alys Finch now firmly under his mental clutches, Quire leaves her with dance master Josias Priest, and orders him to train Alys so that she will be ready for performance at the royal court.
- During a diplomatic supper, Gloriana is forced to endure a conversation dominated by witty political talk, while internally she bemoans her own, more personal problems.
- While reporting to Montfallcon, Quire is offended by his patron's low opinion of his work and "artistic" achievements. Departing the palace in a foul mood, Quire is soon kidnapped by cut-throats and brought to Lord Shahryar, who desires to punish Quire for the slaying his nephew Ibram in the "duel". However, they end up making a bargain: Shahryar will now become Quire's new patron, and Quire’s new mission is to sow discord in Gloriana’s court. This will eventually allow the Caliph of Arabia to return as the Realm's "savior", with his marriage to Gloriana serving to equalize the balance of power between the two nations.
- On a whim, Una brings Gloriana on a tour of the secret world hidden behind the palace walls. There, they explore dusty hallways and cobwebbed halls, and eventually run into Jephraim Tallow (who does not recognize Gloriana in her "traveling disguise" as young man). Tallow shows them a ragged tent city occupied by the secret dwellers behind the walls. However, when they get a glimpse of the "mad woman", they become frightened and flee back to the lighted chambers of the palace proper.
- Montfallcon learns that Tom Ffynne has been captured while abroad (during a "misunderstanding") and frets over the many troubling rumors regarding the activities of the foreign nations surrounding Albion. He regrets having alienated his best henchman Quire earlier and wonders where the rogue has disappeared to in the last few weeks. Later, he tasks Tinkler with finding Quire and bringing him back into his employ.
- Gloriana and her court celebrate May Day, although rain causes the court's activities to be cut short. Lord Wheldrake delivers a stirring reading of his epic poem praising the virtues of the Queen and the Realm. However, the assemblage is soon interrupted by the Queen's Champion Sir Tancred, who has apparently murdered his lover, the Lady Mary Perrott.
- With Sir Tancred imprisoned and unable to speak sensibly, Montfallcon hopes to quell rising unrest by quickly placing the blame firmly at the Champion's feet (despite the lack of a clear confession). However, Doctor Dee believes Tancred to be innocent, and would rather try to put the murder on a “barbarian visitor from another sphere". Later in Dee’s quarters, the mage is visited by a mysterious figure who offers him the possibility of gaining his true heart’s desire (Gloriana), for a price.
- Lord Rhoone and his Lady discuss the continued imprisonment of Sir Tancred. They suspect that another outside force is at work, trying to undermine the stability of the Realm. Mary Perrott’s father Thomas Perrott disappears whilst searching for his daughter’s murderer, causing the remaining Perrott family to suspect Arabia and consider forming a naval force to punish them (and violently opposing the Queen's own wishes). Meanwhile, efforts are made to return Thomasin Ffynne back to Albion so that he may assist as an advisor.
- Gloriana and Una bemoan the increasingly desperate state of the Realm, but a brief moment of amusement (instigated by the visitation of a runaway “Harlekin” automaton, created by the court inventor Master Tolcharde) briefly gives her enough vitality to re-instill her Council with a sense of moral duty (despite their increasingly hawkish tendencies towards Arabia).
- Una discovers Jephraim Tallow in a chamber above her room, stabbed to death. In order to avoid causing more anxiety within the court, she has Wheldrake and his Lady help her dispose of the body in a well. However, Lord Rhoone’s family soon comes down with food poisoning, possibly as victims of further foul play.
- Lord Rhoone’s family is cured through the timely intervention of one of Doctor Dee’s otherworldly “seers”. Una decides to investigate the secret hallways behind the palace walls alone, but is soon tricked by a young girl into becoming captured by the underworld denizens, who have now become organized as a more dangerous mob under their mysterious new leader.
Heyne (German) 1981, Karel Thole - With Una missing, Gloriana struggles to maintain the course of the Realm. Montfallcon, his close friend Lord Ingleborough and Sir Thomasin Ffynne debate on how to proceed, especially with more foreign intrigue brewing abroad (in particular a conflict between Poland, Arabia and the Tatars). They decide that things might calm down between Poland and Arabia if Gloriana were to marry someone, but there are no suitable prospects.
- Gloriana does her best to maintain a positive mood during the Accession Day festivities (featuring a tilt), and the political situation seems to calm down a bit. During the final Masque (an enactment of the "Faerie Queen" legend with Gloriana as the titular Queen), Captain Quire suddenly appears in the role of the Queen’s Champion. Although the crowd is charmed by Quire’s ways, Montfallcon recognizes his former henchman and is enraged at his arrogance.
- In the abandoned throne room of Gloriana’s despotic father King Hern, Montfallcon meets with Thomasin Ffynne and Lord Ingleborough and accuses Quire of being a great danger to Gloriana and the Realm. Since Montfallcon is unable to advise the Queen of Quire’s true nature without revealing his own dark role in Quire’s espionage operations, he asks Ingleborough to warn Gloriana instead.
- Quire visits Ingleborough and reveals that he had been eavesdropping on Montfallcon’s small council earlier in Hern’s old throne room. He warns Ingleborough that the Lord’s beloved page Patch will die unless Ingleborough maintains his silence about Quire's true reputation. Already greatly weakened from gout, the stress caused by the dreadful choice he is forced to make causes Ingleborough’s death.
- With Quire now firmly lodged in Gloriana’s heart as her new lover, Montfallcon desperately tries to expose Quire as a threat to the Realm to all who will listen. However, Gloriana (and the rest of her court) are entirely skeptical of his claims, and Montfallcon's concerns are dismissed as a stress incurred by his friend Ingleborough’s sudden (but not unexpected) death.
- Quire meets with his patron Lord Shahryar and, despite the Arabian’s concerns, reassures him that all is going according to plan. Quire also instructs Tinkler to continue serving Montfallcon, but to report their interactions to Quire.
While Ingleborough’s funeral is held elsewhere, in her own grounds Gloriana and her supporters have an indiscreet lawn party at the palace. Montfallcon and his allies soon arrive and question the propriety of her behavior. Later, at a Privy Council, Montfallcon tells Gloriana that he intends to mount an expedition to go into the palace walls to seek out damning evidence against Quire. Gloriana passes this information on to her new lover, but Quire is unconcerned, as he has already made plans.
Marlow Edhasa (Spanish) 2011 - When Montfallcon returns from his expedition, Quire is the first to greet him at his re-emergence from the walls. Montfallcon’s mission to find evidence against Quire has failed, but Quire recognizes one of Montfallcon's soldiers as being a witness to his murder of Ibram, and thus one of the only people still alive who could identify him as a past murderer. He uses his power over Doctor Dee to obtain some poison (with which Alys Finch later uses to kill the witness).
- On a court hunt, one of Montfallcon’s remaining sympathizers, Sir Vivien Rich, falls off his horse and breaks his back, apparently the victim of a derelict groom.
- Gloriana hosts the Autumn Masque in her once-secret seraglio of sexual deviants. Although many in her court have finally begun to realize that Albion has been corrupted by Quire’s influence on the Queen, all of them are at this point under his power (or are compromised through their pathetic relationships with Quire’s amorous agents, Alys Finch and Phil Starling). Nonetheless, Tolcharde charms the Queen with a robotic Harlequinade. Later, Quire meets with Lord Shahryar to inform him of the progress he has made for Arabia's cause. However, when he returns to the Queen’s chambers, he learns that one of Phil Starling's victims (Sir Wallis) has killed himself, and with his last breath has unequivocally named Quire as the true villain behind the scenes.
- Gloriana begins to distance herself from Quire, and finally begins to see the true nature of their relationship. When Gloriana is led to believe that the rabble behind the walls are the ones guilty of murdering all of her friends, Montfallcon asks for and is given permission to cleanse the palace of “impurity”. Later that night, Gloriana’s seraglio (and children) are attacked by Quire’s own secret army, led by Tinkler. Tinkler explains that the attack was ordered by Montfallcon, and that Tinkler’s instructions had been to obey Montfallcon. Quire kills Tinkler on the spot, believing himself now to be fully implicated in the crimes by his followers (the underworld mob). Surprisingly, Gloriana accepts that, with Montfallcon missing and all of her other counselors dead, she now needs Quire more than ever. Quire's mission comes to fruition when she reluctantly acquiesces to Quire’s advice to marry the Arabian Caliph. However, a new twist emerges when Alys Finch betrays her master by liberating Una and Thomas Perrott from their imprisonment behind the walls and brings them to the Court. With his guilt fully exposed, Quire has no choice but to make a quick escape into the walls.
- Una describes her imprisonment with Lord Perrott, and informs Gloriana that she has decided to spend some time away from the palace. Gloriana herself feels that events have robbed her of being able to feel strong emotions anymore.
- With Quire and her seraglio both gone, Gloriana spends her nights alone. One night, she discovers a dying Doctor Dee, who confesses to his secret alliance with Quire. He tells Gloriana that Quire had given him a “simulacrum” in order to quench his desire for the Queen. Montfallcon suddenly appears and reveals that the creature Dee had been romancing was in actuality Flana, Gloriana’s mother and Montfallcon’s daughter. Half-mad with his mission to expunge "impurity", Montfallcon beheads Flana and then moves to kill Gloriana, but Quire suddenly appears and kills Montfallcon. Quire demands his chivalrous “reward”, but Gloriana accuses him of simply being evil. Back in her bedroom, Quire forces himself on Gloriana, although at the same time Gloriana raises a dagger to kill her former lover. However, Gloriana finally reaches a sexual climax and drops the dagger, believing them both to be "redeemed".
- The Realm is stabilized once again, as Quire is touted as having been a “secret ward” of Admiral Ffynne’s, and a secret nephew of Montfallcon. Quire (now Prince Arthur) joins Gloriana on a tour through their Realm.
- Revised Chapter 34 conclusion (written ca. 1993): Back in her bedroom, Quire tries to force himself on Gloriana. Gloriana takes Quire’s dagger and threatens Quire’s manhood. Empowered by her own sense of "self" for the first time, Gloriana reaches a spontaneous climax. Afterwards, she throws away the dagger and reconciles with Quire, believing them both to be "fulfilled" and cleansed of their past sins.
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| Phoenix 1993, Art: James Ward |
