Schisms
Page 8
Chapter Eight
The royal proclamation was given throughout the land that the king was setting aside Queen Diti and that he sought a new woman as queen in the land, for she had not given him any sons.
- The Third Book of the Kings 17:32, Translations of The Holy Aishanna.
The last of Diti's possessions were being packed away and moved. Nearly everyone from her household had been taken away except for Zigal who came with her from Gamina, and a few from her personal guard. When the king had finally come in to tell her what she already knew she was serene and supremely composed and bowed to him, to his seeming relief. But what had he expected from her? She had always given him the utmost respect and never acted out of turn or in any disgraceful manner. She'd bowed to his whims graciously and with courtesy, mainly in order to help carry out the Divine Purpose.
Ten years they had been married, three of them very pleasurable, the rest saw her settling into her true reason for leaving the citadel, keeping an eye on the Ainash and their intrigues and reporting back to the citadel. Khalit satisfied himself with corralling every pretty and willing girl in his sight into his harem. It pained her at times that she did not bear children for him. Other times she was relieved. They would most likely be worshipers of the sun, especially if they were boys. Hec and his fiery consorts demanded death and blood through the games or death through war. Glory was everything and woe betide the able-bodied man who died from accident or illness. He brought dishonor to himself and his family. But could a man help it if he fell sick? No, she was content that she obeyed the needs of the Divine Purpose.
Fricka, sensing that something was wrong for many days now stayed very close to Diti, sometimes getting underfoot when servants came near to move furniture. She gave Diti at least some comfort. She was tired of the intriguing around her and told herself that this was an improvement. Norda, an older woman from the territories of the far north, was her only friend at court. Norda had died a few years ago from a fever while she and the king were away in Egi. Something the scions could have easily treated. She pulled on an elaborately embroidered shawl with the long, silken thread fringe Norda had given her as a gift. Dark and light blue with silver thread, rare colors and precious in this part of the world, it had the emblems of the woman's clan, wild boars. It was even more precious to her than the many jewels Khalit had given her. She wrapped it around her shoulders. At least when she walked to the House of Mourning she would give them all one last sign that she had been queen of this place. None of the concubines were permitted to wear blue. Only a queen. Cradling Fricka in her arms she held her head erect and swept from the room with Zigal behind her. The House of Mourning was north of the palace, proper, with its own separate gardens. The king's servants conducted her through the long, paneled halls and over familiar polished stone walkways. She was forced to pass by the rooms of the new favorites. They and their attendants would be watching the procession and whispering behind golden-latticed windows. Salayma was now foremost among the new favorites from what Zigal had told her. As soon as they turned the corner the brash rival who always tried to contend with her, Salayma, confronted her. Salayma was now very pregnant and had made sure everyone in the palace knew that she was carrying a son. Salayma's retinue was now larger than her own and she'd come to gloat over Diti's misfortune.
“There is nothing more pitiable than an old woman being put away like a useless mare. It is no wonder he did not do it years ago, Most Precious One.” She held her swollen belly and grinned. “See where he has been and weep old woman. If it were left up to me, you would not be allowed to stay in the palace at all.” Diti sighed. Salayma was never one for much subtlety or sense.
“Perhaps it has escaped your notice Salayma, but the king has already chosen his new bride, who I hear, is of high birth.”
“He put you away and you are a noblewoman.” She sneered. “So why not her? Besides, there are ways to prevent a woman from giving birth.” She grinned proudly. And it was true. Diti had known the taste of certain bitter herbs in her tea, her wine, her food and she was not fooled. She learned to avoid this most of the time by having her foods prepared right before her eyes and having her food tasted before she ate. Diti lifted a brow in disdain at the concubine. This one was a mere tool. It was too bad Salayma did not realize that she and her puppet-masters had wasted their time. Besides, the puppet-masters had found golden pastures in Egi. She fixed the concubine with a withering look.
“Good day Salayma and I do hope it is a son you are carrying. For your sake.” Salayma's laughter was loud and derisive as Diti motioned for her retinue to continue on. Salayma's servants did not move.
“Step aside!” Diti commanded sharply. Her voice sliced through the air like a sword. They all snapped to attention at this and looked at each other apprehensively. Even Uwain, the head of her personal guard was surprised at the harsh edge of authority in her voice. Finally, they obeyed. Diti turned to Salayma. Salayma's face turned bright red in anger.
“Until Her Greatness arrives in all the pomp and circumstance due a queenly bride, there are no queens here in the palace. You forget yourself, concubine.” Zigal glared at Salayma, offended at her open disrespect.
“Do not trouble yourself over her, Zigal. She is a fool. A fool should be pitied.”
“Yes, Your Greatness.” Zigal murmured. Salayma would need it, for if it had turned out that she was not carrying a son after all her boasting and demands, the king would likely have her thrown in the furnace. For all Khalit's generosity, he hated being tricked or lied to and he punished people savagely for it. Yet, tricksters abounded in his court.
And she the biggest one of all.