Regent Tara does not like the Throne Room, a product of her mother's Brutalist phase and the centre of the Matriarchy during the ever more disastrous reign of Agrippina VII. Agrippina would often be flanked by her daughters during her audiences, but never invited their opinions and didn't thank Tara for the ones she volunteered. Yet the fact that Tara was known to have opposed Agrippina's crazier schemes persuaded the rebels to ask Tara to become Regent, when many voices advocated the abolition of the Matriarchy altogether. Tara handles far less business in the Throne Room than her mother used to, because the Matriarchy is much more democratic now. She invites Artemisia, her sister, to stand beside her, provided that she contributes to the discussions - no be-seen-and-not-heard policy at Tara's court. Artemisia is starting to recognise the wisdom of Tara's numerous reforms. Since Artemisia has been regarded up until now as something of a standard-bearer for the old Matriarchal ways, the new unity between the sisters is a healthy development. Tara has never understood why Agrippina positioned her throne with its back to a window overlooked by two ministerial complexes. The window is shielded, of course, and the palace facade contains about ninety-odd identical windows, to confuse snipers, but, even so... People say Agrippina was paranoid, but not so. There really were lots of people who wanted to shoot her. Her enforced retirement may leave her incandescent with impotent rage, but many of her opponents had much sterner fates lined up for her.