Bishop (The Pawn Series Book 2)

by Robin Roseau

  She paused at that point. "Duchess of Havenshade?" I thought. "Where did that come from?"

  Then Malta continued. "High Priestess to the Goddess Yahamala, the Lady Yallameenara of Arrlotta, Framara, and Alteara!"

  I paused at that. And the room was silent as well. But then I stepped forward and could see the entire room.

  It was full, absolutely full. Forward on the dais stood Ralalta and Juleena, both turned to watch me.

  The applause began slowly, and then equally slowly spread until the room was roaring and applauding at least as loudly for me as they had for Ralalta and Juleena. I paused another moment then stepped forward, walking to the queen.

  "Duchess?" I mouthed.

  She smiled, but we couldn't have exchanged words. I offered a curtsey, but I had barely lowered myself before Ralalta pulled me back up and into a hug. She held me tightly. And then Juleena was at my back, making a little sandwich of me. If it were even possible, the room grew even louder.

  They held me tightly for a while, and then Juleena stepped away and Ralalta relaxed, but she took one hand in hers and led me to the front of the dais. We came to a stop. She dropped my hand, but then she ran fingers through my hair.

  At that, the room grew quiet, not all at once, but over the course of ten or fifteen seconds.

  Then Ralalta pulled my attention and she gave me the signal that said, "Use your judgment."

  So I offered a return. "Are you sure?"

  She brushed fingers through my hair and then repeated the signal. Then she stepped away, leaving me alone at the front of the dais.

  I looked around. I looked over at Juleena, then the other way at the queen. They were both watching me. Ralalta nodded to me, and so I took a breath and spoke.

  "Thank you," I said loudly, projecting into the room.

  They began to roar again, but it was brief. I decided Juleena or Ralalta had quieted them through some signal, but I didn't turn to look.

  But I put a hand on my hip. "If you're going to do that, we won't get anywhere."

  That generated laughter, which was fine.

  I looked around again, seeing familiar faces. Then I turned a slow circle, giving them a look at me while I lifted my face towards the ceiling, holding my arms out. I did two circles in total before I came to face the audience, my arms raised for a moment longer before lowering them. Then I fingered my hair for a moment.

  I turned to Ralalta. She was smiling and nodded to me again. And so I came to a decision. I faced forward and then spoke in the language of the Goddess. "Prestainamatta, you are in my heart."

  There was muttering at that. Unless Terél or Larien were in the room, no one would have understood me.

  "There have been changes," I called out. I turned to look at the queen. "Duchess of Havenshade?"

  She laughed. "We'll get to that."

  I turned back. "Perhaps it was another title all of you found more surprising. High Priestess to the Goddess Yahamala." I fingered my hair. "This is the mark of the Goddess. All of her priestesses carry such a mark."

  That generated more muttering, and then more. But I spoke loudly. "I spoke the language of the Goddess," I said. "I told her she is in my heart."

  That didn't result in muttering. That resulting in, well, not quite growling, but far more than muttering. Far, far more, and I knew I wouldn't be heard.

  That was when Ralalta stepped up beside me. She held a hand up, and then she spoke firmly. "No!" she said. "It is the Goddess herself that returned our Yallameenara to us. I do not expect everyone to understand and accept at once, but Yallameenara is the high priestess. To welcome her into our hearts is to welcome the Goddess as well."

  They didn't seem much happier with that.

  "We all have much to learn," Ralalta added. "But we are a good, warm, loving people, and we will give this Goddess a chance. We will certainly give our high priestess a chance, won't we?"

  The muttering changed tone. Some remained unhappy, but others seemed unsure, and still others grew quiet.

  That was when Ralalta whispered into my ear, "There may be a few here you wish to greet, then we will sit."

  I nodded, and she stepped back. I took a moment to look around, and the muttering grew somewhat quieter.

  "When I was taken away," I called out, "I left friends behind. I will want to spend time with each of you in the weeks to come, but there was one who came to me in my isolation. Is she here now?"

  "She is," said the queen firmly. "Make a path for her."

  It took a little urging, but the people formed an aisle, all be it a narrow aisle, and then walking somewhat tentatively, Mellara stepped forward from the back. People must have known who she was, because I heard her name called a few times, and someone clearly said, "She's just a maid."

  "And I am just a girl of the Horse People!" I called out.

  Then I didn't wait, but I hurried down the steps from the dais, meeting Mellara as she emerged from the crowd, and we hugged tightly.

  I ignored the others after that, but simply held my former maid tightly.

  "You're back," she whispered. "Lady Yallameenara-"

  "Hush," I said. "Let me look at you." I stepped back and held her hands. She was clearly pregnant. "Oh," I said. "Soon?"

  "I was ready six weeks ago," she said, her hand on her stomach. "This brat wasn't, however."

  I smiled then knelt before her and said, "May I?"

  "Lady Yallameenara-"

  "May I?" I repeated.

  "Of course."

  I laid not my hand against her stomach, but my ear, and from inside I felt something, a connection, a life, and it felt beautiful. I couldn't have described it more than that, but I felt it.

  "Oh, Mellara," I said. I looked up to her. "She's going to be beautiful."

  "She?"

  "Oops," I said. "Maybe you didn't want to know."

  "I'm going to have a little girl? You can tell?"

  "Yes, I think so," I said. I laid my ear in place and just listened.

  I listened to my maid's stomach while the queen, the princess, and a hundred or more people looked on. And I didn't care.

  But finally I stood. There was something I wanted to do, but I wasn't sure how. I turned to Ralalta, and that was when I saw a fourth chair waiting. She was smiling to me. And so I took Mellara's hand. "Will you sit with us?" I gestured.

  "I couldn't."

  "Mellara, I don't know why, but I think this is important. Please."

  She didn't really resist after that, and so I helped her up the dais. The queen herself held the chair and said, "Sit, Mellara. Please."

  "Your Majesty."

  "Do what you're told," I said. "Sit."

  She sat.

  Then Ralalta gestured. Juleena and I moved to our places then waited for the queen to sit. Once she had, Juleena nodded to me. But I shook my nose fractionally. And so she sat, and then I did.

  The crowd roared their approval. Imagine that. Applause for sitting. Or maybe it was something else, but I wasn't sure what.

  But they stilled when Ralalta held up her hand.

  "Thank you," she called out. "Clearly there are some startling changes." She reached over and fingered my hair again. "We are not going to understand the extent of them today. Princess Juleena, thank you for returning our foster daughter to us."

  Juleena stood. "I could not have done it alone, Your Majesty," she said. "You have mentioned the Goddess, but I also had other help, including that of Mellara."

  I glanced at Mellara. She had her eyes down by the time I looked, and I thought she was uncomfortable with the attention. I didn't blame her. I reached over and took her hand, holding it for the next several minutes. But then I returned my attention to Juleena.

  "Perhaps, Daughter, you could present to us the others who helped you."

  "Of course," replied Juleena. She gestured, and at that, the back doors opened. A moment later her soldiers stepped into the room, their feet sounding together on the wooden floor. The crowd parted
, and the entire troop came to a stop before us. They were dressed in their best uniforms, shining and impressive, and I marveled at how they had managed to prepare. I imagined half of Marport had scurried around.

  Ralalta stood, with me only an instant behind her. But she waved to Mellara to remain seated. I leaned to her and whispered, "She's serious. Relax, Mellara."

  "But-"

  "The queen gave you an order."

  "Oh. Oh." And so, she sat.

  Ralalta nodded to us and then turned to the soldiers. Then, slowly and deliberately, she began the applause, Juleena and I joining in, and then the rest of the room.

  Then Ralalta stepped forward, descending the dais to the main floor. She went from one to the next, hugging each of them, and I thought she whispered something to each as well. Juleena and I continued to applaud the entire time, and so did the rest of the room. But finally Ralalta stepped away from them, climbed the dais, and turned around. Juleena and I stopped clapping, and then, slowly, the room settled.

  "You have done the crown a great service," Ralalta said. "And a great service to me personally. I thank each of you from the bottom of my heart."

  They each offered a small bow of their heads. But then Captain Allarain stepped forward. "Your Majesty," she called out in a clear, commanding voice. "We have only done our duty, and while we would not claim to be the most joyful in the room, we couldn't be more pleased to see the Lady Yallameenara standing beside you again." Then she raised her voice and thundered, "Where she belongs!"

  The room yelled agreement at those words, some stamping their feet, and everyone making a significant ruckus.

  Ralalta let it go on for a minute or two before holding up her hand. "Thank you, Captain," she said. "Duty or otherwise, you are each owed a gift from the crown. I hope you will not hesitate to approach the princess with your wishes."

  "It is our duty to serve," said the captain.

  "Nevertheless," said the queen.

  "Nevertheless," agreed the captain. And then she stepped backwards to join the others.

  Ralalta thanked them again, and then they retreated from the room. I thought they might stay, but I imagined they would rather visit their friends and families. I didn't blame them in the slightest for that.

  Ralalta returned to her throne, and then Juleena and I sat down again. Then Ralalta nodded to Malta, who called out, "The priestesses."

  That was all the introduction they received, but Terél and Larien stepped into the room, complete with an honor guard. I wondered if the guard were there for their protection. When I saw the looks the two women received, I was glad for the escort.

  The two approached and knelt before the dais, the guards stepping to the sides to flank them at a polite but watchful distance.

  Ralalta let the crowd mutter for a while before she said, "Rise and let me get a look at you."

  She'd already gotten her look, so I knew this was for form only. The two straightened, and then there was another pause before Ralalta said, "Welcome to Marport." There was little warmth in her voice.

  "Thank you, Your Majesty," Larien said. "From both of us."

  Ralalta tapped her fingers against the arm of her throne for a moment. But then she turned to me. "These are your priestesses, Lady Yallameenara?"

  "Two of them," I said. "And my tutors."

  "Present them to me," she said. She made another signal.

  "Of course. Terélmarestra, Priestess of Yahamala." I stood and held out my hand. "Step forward."

  She climbed the dais then approached until she clasped my hand. She curtsied again to the queen, but held it only a moment.

  "Your Majesty," I said. "Terélmarestra speaks little Framaran. I can translate."

  She nodded to me. "What does she teach you?"

  "She has been teaching me the language of the Goddess," I said. "I imagine she has more she intends to teach."

  Ralalta nodded. "Very good. And the other."

  "Larien," I said. "Priestess of Yahamala."

  Larien approached and curtsied as Terél had. Ralalta looked at her, her lips tight. Then she said, "Very good. I welcome you both to our lands and into my household."

  There was muttering at that. I asked the signal to speak, but Ralalta shook her head. Instead she stood and moved to the front of the dais. "We will not act in haste," she said. "We will carefully consider our choices. But I for one do not wish to anger a goddess, and I hope none of you do, either."

  That changed the tone of the audience significantly. Ralalta let them go on for a minute before shaking her head. "Seriously," she said. "You can all gossip on your own time." That generated uneasy laughter. "But I wish to be clear. Framara will do nothing to anger a goddess." She said this firmly. "I do not know how completely we will welcome this goddess to our lands, but we will certainly not anger her. I can imagine treating her priestesses with disrespect would be a quick way to cause ire. These two are now members of my household until such time as I decide they are not. We have our Yallameenara back, and that is what matters."

  I don't think they were happy about that, but no crossbow bolts found their way into the bodies of my two friends, so that was something.

  On her way back to her seat, Ralalta gave me permission to speak. I nodded understanding and stood as she sat.

  "Your Majesty," I said. "Could you indulge me?"

  "Of course, Yalla."

  I moved to the front of the dais. "Is there someone here who speaks fluent Altearan and Framaran?"

  "Other than you?" someone called out, which seemed to lighten the mood.

  "Yes," I said with a laugh. "Other than me."

  A few hands went up, and so I said, "Step forward. I require your services."

  The three had to edge through the crowd. I didn't recognize any of them, but clearly they knew each other. They seemed to commune with a look, and then two gestured to the third, a man near Ralalta's age, and so he stepped forward the remaining distance and bowed to me.

  "Would you be able to translate so everyone can hear what I say?" I asked him.

  "Yes, Lady Yallameenara," he said. "My mother is Altearan, and I have spent much of my life living north of our shared border."

  "Well then, please step up here and make sure you speak for the crowd."

  He nodded. Then as he approached, I asked quietly, "What is your name?"

  "Falorid," he said.

  "Thank you for your help, Falorid. Please translate anything you hear spoken in Altearan."

  He smiled and nodded. And so I turned back to Terél and Larien. "My priestesses," I said in Altearan. I paused enough for Falorid. "I require your assistance."

  "Of course, High Priestess," Terél said for both of them.

  I moved to Mellara and knelt before her. This time I set a hand to her stomach. Her eyes were wide, but she said nothing. Then I used my other hand to move one of hers on top of mine. "This is important," I whispered. At that, she nodded.

  "My priestesses," I said. "I do not understand, but I can feel this life."

  There was a pause, even after Falorid replied, but I watched Mellara, who was watching me in return. Then Terél said, "The magic of the Goddess grows in you, High Priestess. This is a good sign."

  "I wish for a healthy birth," I said, "and a healthy child. Is there anything I can do?"

  "Oh," said Larien. "Oh, yes. Maybe."

  I looked over my head. "Yes? Maybe? Which is it?"

  When they heard the translation, the audience laughed, somewhat nervously.

  "It will take years to train you, High Priestess," Terél explained. "But perhaps you can offer your blessing upon the child. If the Goddess helps you to sense the life, perhaps she will hear your blessing."

  I nodded at that and turned my attention back to Mellara. I whispered to her, "May I? I don't know what will happen if I do, but this seems important."

  She looked nervous, but then she nodded. "Yes."

  "Are there words to use?" I asked in Altearan.

  "It i
s perhaps the intent that matters," Larien suggested. "But you will need to speak in the language of the Goddess."

  "Do you need help?" Terél asked.

  I shook my head. "No. But will you translate quietly to Falorid for me?"

  "Of course."

  I looked until she had moved to the man, then I turned to Mellara. "Will you accept my blessing, and perhaps that of the Goddess, Mellara?"

  "The Goddess," she said slowly. She paused, and then nodded. "Yes." But she brushed a tear away. There was a lot of that today.

  "Very good," I said. Then I changed to the language of the Goddess. When I spoke, I gave Terél opportunity to translate, then Falorid after her. "The Goddess Yahamala," I said. "This woman was one of my first and truest friends when I came to Framara. She took very good care of me, and I love her from the bottom of my heart. If I am able, I bless this child. If you see it in your heart, perhaps you will also bless this child."

  Then I leaned forward and kissed Mellara's stomach, holding my lips in place for a while. And I could not have said if the Goddess heard me or not, but I felt a flare of the magic, and I thought a link formed between me and the young baby.

  I paused like that, ignoring everything behind me, but then I leaned away and looked up at Mellara. I spoke quietly. "I may have made things more complicated for you."

  "What must be, must be," she said.

  "I want to be there," I said. "If you'll have me."

  She smiled. "I'll make sure Pelor knows."

  "Your husband?" She nodded at that. And so I nodded and stood, smiling at Mellara for a moment longer. Then I said, "Thank you, Falorid. It is possible I will desire your services in the future."

  "Lady Malta knows how to find me," he replied. "I am pleased to have helped."

  I waited for him to melt back into the crowd before turning to Ralalta. She was smiling, nearly beaming, actually, and I offered a small curtsey. "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your indulgence."

  "Not at all. You and your priestesses are welcome in my home."

  "Thank you, Your Majesty."