by Robin Roseau
They both snorted at that. "With Larien?"
"And Terél -- Terélmarestra. She's the other priestess with us. And less regularly, some of the others."
"My, my. Am I to gather this is why they have come with you?"
"No. That part is over," I said. "They are my tutors. Ralalta, I intend to embrace my role."
"I'm not surprised."
"And I have so much to learn."
"Ah. Of course. And so I should give up hopes for you to help with other projects?"
"No. The Goddess expects me to serve multiple roles. But I'll be pulled in several directions." I thought about the comment about divided responsibilities. "Ralalta, I would prefer if my priestesses were housed near me, if that is possible."
She frowned. There weren't really available rooms nearest Juleena and me. But then Juleena said, "Mother, I think you should move her room. I will have a petition for you later."
"And should I expect this petition to be well received?" she asked, looking at me.
"Yes, Your Majesty. And should I expect you to approve?"
"Yes," she said. "Congratulations to both of you. Have you-"
"No," I said. "I told her she must court me properly."
"Good for you. Make her work for it."
"The Goddess said those very words."
"Tell me about the maids."
I gave her the entire story, about how they'd been assigned when we'd first reached the capital, and how they had taken very good care of me while seducing anyone that didn't run away fast enough. She laughed at that. "But Vérundia told me they were spies for the queen. That was, hmm. Some time after I had arrived."
Ralalta nodded at that.
"They have vowed their loyalty to the high priestess," Juleena said. "But I do not believe this vow was given in the presence of the Goddess."
"You're not sure?" Ralalta asked.
"Only I can see her, but she's right. I don't know if I trust them."
Juleena explained a little more, and finally Ralalta nodded again. "I believe I have the picture." She paused for a moment. "Do you expect pilgrimages to this temple we are building?"
"No," I said simply. "It must be convenient for me, but the Goddess was pleased with the word Intimate."
Ralalta shook her head. "It is quite something to envision an actual, living Goddess. Will she visit?"
"She doesn't know if she will be able."
"Tell me about the statue."
"That was the most amazing thing I've ever seen," Juleena said. She described the entire process, including the delivery.
"How did you destroy the first one?" I asked.
"I sent all the old gifts back to Alteara," she said. "That one I smashed with a large hammer myself and then brought it to a smith to melt down. I'm not sure I would have done it if I'd realized the Goddess was real!"
"She seemed put out but got over it," I said. "I don't believe she holds a grudge, but if ever you meet, you may wish to apologize."
"That may be prudent," she said.
"Please tell me no one is doing anything improper to the new one."
"No, but I worried they would, so I had it moved into a locked storage room. Had it moved. Ha. Malta and I did it ourselves, and only she and I know where it is."
I laughed at that. "It looked heavy."
"Tell me about it," she said with a smile. "What else do you have for me?"
"I demanded the king and queen approach you in hopes of normalizing relationships. I do not require reparations, but I didn't know if you would for the insult to your household. Queen Ralalta, for me, if you need to make them pay, make them pay, but I would like both countries to return to their old friendship. I know this may not happen overnight."
"No one was seriously hurt," Juleena said. "It should be possible, but I expect it will take time."
Ralalta sat still for a minute, and I could see her thinking. Then she turned to me. "I need you to stay out of it now. You may state publicly you hope the differences can be resolved, and you may state you have forgiven them if you want. But you will not play politics. You're not ready for it, unless your hair comes with a lot of experience you haven't described yet."
I laughed. "No." Then I smiled. "But I find myself asking what would you do often enough, and I believe Vérundia wouldn't mind learning at your knee."
"All right, that's at least the third time you said that name. Who is she?"
So we explained about that, too.
"All right. Anything else I need to know?"
"Well, I'll be learning magic, but I don't know what yet."
"Oh, and you say that as an afterthought?"
"I thought the hair and the title 'high priestess' might have been a hint," I said. "Conversations with a Goddess, and a peace treaty as well. And then there's the entire statue delivering itself into the palace thing."
"Yes. Not something that happens every day," she agreed. "And any other tidbits?"
"Nooo," I said slowly. "None I can think of."
"Juleeena?"
"Someone is skipping something," Juleena said, looking at me pointedly. "Oh, it's a small something now, but it won't stay small."
"I don't know what you're talking about," I said.
"I'll give you a hint then," she said. Then she neighed like a horse.
"Oh, that," I said. "Pshaw. That's nothing. Horses get pregnant all the time."
"Zana is carrying," said the queen, making it a statement, not a question.
"So says the Goddess," I said. "A filly. She has blessed the birth."
"And..." said Juleena.
"And, what?"
"Someone else has promised to a similar experience."
"Oh, that," I said. "But she didn't say I had to hurry."
"Wait," said Ralalta. "What?"
"We didn't tell you that part?"
"You are particularly poor at this, Yalla," Juleena said. "You skip some of the most important details."
"Part of the treaty is I have children," I said. "At least two."
"And..." said Juleena.
"She said we were supposed to be brief."
"She lied," Juleena said. "Tell her the rest."
So I did. When I was done, Ralalta said simply, "Well. Congratulations I guess."
"If you want grandchildren that don't go traipsing all over two countries, talking to every Goddess they encounter," said Juleena, "you're stuck with mine."
"So I am," she said. "Have we overlooked any other details?"
"No, I don't think so."
"Well then. I have the picture. Now we should go meet with our new guests, and then we have just enough time for baths and dressing before court." She turned to me. "And you will wear a gown. Oh. Um. Are you supposed to wear priestess clothes or something?"
I laughed. "Can you envision them getting me to dress like that? A gown is fine. I wear the vestments only for the high ceremonies." I grinned. "When they pulled me before the king and queen that first day, I refused to wear anything but traveling clothes. And I didn't curtsey." My grin widened. "Imagine my surprise when they knelt to me."
"She's going to be impossible, you know," Juleena said. "What all with monarchs kissing her boots."
"Well, that won't be happening in my court, so put that thought right out of your head," Ralalta said. "And you will curtsey properly to me or we can revisit some of the experiences from your ten and eighth birthday."
I laughed. "Yes, Your Majesty."
Then she turned to Juleena. "There is, I believe, one detail that has been glossed."
Juleena gave me a look. I wasn't sure why she was blaming me.
"Am I to believe the situation looked hopeless, and you were going to throw yourself and your entire team away in vengeance?" The queen's voice grew quite dangerous with the last word.
Juleena dropped her eyes but said nothing.
Then the queen turned to me. "You offered to remain behind to prevent bloodshed."
"Yes, Your Majesty," I said quie
tly. "But-" I stopped when she held up a hand.
She snapped her head back to Juleena. "I suspect there are more details you have not shared."
"I couldn't come back without her," Juleena said quietly.
"Was there evidence she was being abused?" Ralalta said.
"It may as well have been a dungeon!" Juleena explained. "Deep underground, with no light." She looked up. "She is a woman of the air, of fast horses and wild landscapes. She couldn't thrive there."
"And you could not thrive in the grave," Ralalta said. "Furthermore, your squad members have families. Did you consider them? Did you consider me? Did you consider who would next run the country, when I am no longer able?"
"There are others."
"None I've trained since birth!" Ralalta yelled, slamming her hand against her leg in punctuation. Ah, that's where Juleena got it. I'd just never seen Ralalta this angry before. "You promised me a quiet infiltration, in and out, no one hurt."
"Your Majesty, it was the caverns-"
"It was your stubborn pride!" Ralalta yelled. "Wasn't it?"
Juleena didn't want to answer, and after a pause, I said, "Your Majesty."
"Quiet," she said, turning to me. "You wrote me that you wanted to come home, and that you hadn't given up, but that... what were your words? I believe you said I needn't worry for your good care."
"At first," I said, quietly. "Before I agreed to cooperate. It was different. But they let me tell you what really happened, and I agreed to cooperate. After that, they were willing to give me almost anything I wanted."
"And so we might have tried again, or continued diplomacy, or you may have found an opportunity. But in the meantime you were alive and healthy."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
She turned back to Juleena. "You found her. And you brought her home. But I take it the only reason I am not grieving the loss of both my daughters is because this Goddess, whose statue appeared mysteriously in my hall, intervened. Correct?"
Again, Juleena didn't want to answer, but finally she said, "Yes, Your Majesty."
Ralalta leaned over, clasped Juleena by the cheeks, pinching tightly, and lifted her face to look into her eyes. "You will never do something like that again. You are not dispensable. You will not throw yourself away in gestures, and nor will you spend the people who follow you in such gestures. Do I make myself clear?" The last question was said very coldly.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Juleena managed to say in spite of the way Ralalta held her.
"Good." She released Juleena's face slowly, then patted her cheek. "I love you." That was a caress, and then one for me as well. "Both of you. I do not want a another conversation like this."
"No, Your Majesty," we both said together.
"Good." Then she smiled. I thought it might have been difficult for her, but I also knew we wouldn't hear of this again. Well, unless Juleena did something similar in the future. "Let us go meet our guests."
* * * *
Our guests were waiting in the library, under guard, but they had been offered tea and a light snack, so they couldn't complain too much. We stepped in, unannounced, and the four of them turned towards us. Ralalta made a gesture, and the two guards inside the library stepped out through the doors, then closed them.
"My apologies for the delay," Ralalta said. "Welcome to Marport. High Priestess, please introduce us."
"Of course, Your Majesty," I said. I stepped forward, partway between both groups. I held out a hand and said, "Queen Ralalta of Framara, of course you already know Larien, priestess of the Goddess Yahamala. With your blessing, she is here to assist in my studies."
Larien stepped forward and curtsied deeply, holding it. "Your Majesty."
"I am not pleased with you, Larien," Ralalta said.
"I know, Your Majesty," Larien said. However, her tone was of respect and a certain amount of contrition. "It may be little consolation, but I did not lie with my heart."
"I find myself between the devil and the deep, blue sea," Ralalta continued. "For your lies to all of us, I find myself wishing to yell at you, publicly and at length. For your role in the way Yallameenara departed Framara over two years ago, I would suspend you by your thumbs for a much longer period."
Larien said nothing to this.
"I am deeply frustrated I am unable to do either of these. Instead, in just over an hour's time, and in full, open court, I must welcome you to this city. No. Not only the city. The palace. My home. I am not pleased."
"I am deeply sorry, Your Majesty."
"Oh, I'm not sure you really are. Do you know what hurts me the worst, that hurts me personally? Well, perhaps after being without Yalla in my life for the past two years? I'm sure you don't, so I shall tell you. Why couldn't you have been honest? Why was this subterfuge necessary? Do you know why I was so resolute that Yallameenara would not travel to Alteara?"
"No, Your Majesty."
"Because I knew."
I looked sharply, but the queen ignored my reaction.
"Oh, not all of it," she added. "I didn't realize she was your high priestess, but I suspected she was a priestess. I am not ignorant of events in Alteara, after all. How could I be?" She shook her head in punctuation, or perhaps disbelief of past events. "I was waiting for honesty, Larien. I was waiting for the real reason it was so necessary for Yalla to travel to Alteara. I was waiting for someone to tell me the truth. I imagine I should ask these questions of King Tradódid and Queen Mesenorié, but they are not here, and you are. Why could you not have approached Alteara's good friend in honesty?"
From her place near the floor, Larien didn't answer right away. But when Ralalta said nothing further, it was clear she expected some response.
"If she had only been a priestess," Larien said, "we could take the risk you would deny us. But she is far more than a priestess. She is our conduit with the Goddess. The Goddess does not show herself to all of us, only the line of the high priestess. That was once Yallameenara's mother, and now it is she. If you denied us, you would also be far more careful. We were quite desperate."
None of this was news to me, but Ralalta listened to this with little expression. She huffed. "I am dissatisfied with this explanation, but I do not believe there is a better one, and so I am forced to accept it." She nudged Larien with a toe. "Get up."
Larien rose slowly, although she didn't look the queen in the eye.
"Why are you here now?"
"I am to continue High Priestess Yallameenara's training."
"Why are you here? Surely someone else could have served as tutor."
"Oh." She offered a brief curtsey. "The Goddess selected me. I didn't ask why, but I could make guesses."
"Do so."
"I speak Framaran. I am the only one of us who does, excepting Yallameenara, of course. But it was I who taught her Altearan. And we have become... friends."
"I believe more than friends."
She glanced at me. "Occasionally, but I do not believe that is to continue."
"It is not," Ralalta said. "Yallameenara has forgiven you, I am told, and so I have little choice but to do the same. It is done grudgingly. I must also welcome you. This is also done grudgingly."
"I understand, Your Majesty."
"I may amend my attitude in the future, but you are now here as one of Yallameenara's tutors. I cannot tell her who she may befriend, but you will not be invited to the sort of events you enjoyed previously."
"I understand, Your Majesty."
"I would also counsel you to think very carefully before being seen about Marport."
At that, Larien nodded.
Ralalta turned to me. "I may someday begin to invite her to events. You will not do so in my stead."
"Of course, Your Majesty," I said with a little bob of a curtsey.
"Larien, step back."
She offered her own bob and then backed away from the queen. Ralalta turned to me as a prompt. And so I held out my hand again, but I said, "Unless she has been holding out on me like s
omeone I know," and I gave Naddí a short glare. "This next guest speaks little to no Framaran."
"Then we will use Altearan," said the queen in that language.
"Queen Ralalta, may I present Terélmarestra, whom I call Terél."
Terél stepped forward and offered her own curtsey, every bit as low as Larien's had been.
"Terélmarestra," said the queen. "Is that the name you prefer?"
"That or simply Terél, Your Majesty."
"Well then. It is quite the mouthful. You will need to speak carefully for me. Terél, what role did you play in Yalla being taken to Alteara against her desires?"
"None, Your Majesty. Most of us didn't know the daughter of our high priestess had been found, much less that she was joining us. We learned both only a few days before her arrival, and we didn't learn the nature of her travels until afterwards when she was clearly quite angry."
"I see. And what role did you play in keeping her from us?"
Terél paused.
"I require an answer," said the queen.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Terél said. "It was some time after she joined us that I was assigned as her tutor in the language of our Goddess."
"When was this?"
"Shortly before the summer solstice a year ago."
"And how does this answer my question?"
She explained the arrangements made, and how she had been responsible to bring me in and out without allowing my freedom.
"Why did you accept this responsibility? Could you have not taught her deep in this cave of yours?"
"She was wilting, Your Majesty. We all saw it. People do not thrive away from the sun." She glanced up. "We love her, Your Majesty. We can't help ourselves. It pained all of us to know she was miserable. Allowing that to continue would be counter to everything we believe."
Ralalta turned to me and said quietly, "I missed some of that."
So I translated for her, and she nodded.
"Then for your care of my beloved foster daughter, I thank you. Be welcome in our home."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Marport is not currently safe for Altearans," the queen continued. She turned to me and switched to Framaran. "I find my Altearan fails me. Please translate." I nodded. "Marport is not currently safe for Altearans. I do not believe your hair will protect you. Rather it is quite distinctive and is likely to make you a target."
