by Robin Roseau
"Am I to believe you have a prepared sample of this speech I am to give?"
"We do," she said. Another attendant stepped forward, or maybe it was the same one. This was on ordinary paper, and it was passed to the princess, and then to me.
I read it through, only once this time. "Have you seen this?"
"Yes," said Margaletta.
"And you don't like it."
"It's too open ended," she said. "They could then argue your duty is to remain forever."
"That is not our intention," said the princess.
But I looked at the body language of the people I was facing, and they weren't telling me everything.
"I am not making any agreement," I said, "but if we come to an agreement, and I arrive in court this afternoon, when does this proclamation go out?"
"The first copies will go out overnight," said the king. "It will take some time before word spreads to the furthest reaches of the realm. Most people would believe what they currently believe for some time, but we anticipate they would have a more accurate view of your role by the summer solstice."
"Do you swear you won't make other efforts to dilute this?" I asked. "You haven't exactly used words like drugged and kidnapped."
"We will decline comment other than to admit it was an official proclamation," the queen said. "In time, people will begin to believe the rumors from Framara, but it won't be all at once."
I read their proclamation again. I didn't care for the language. "Margaletta, would you accept this?"
"I think you have gotten a taste of the type of person I am, Lady Yallameenara. If I had written it, it would be far more direct. But perhaps this fits your personal goals more closely. You have asked for healing."
At that, I nodded.
"Open court," I said. "This afternoon."
"In your most formal vestments," the princess clarified. "And we would rather you dressed in the palace."
"Do I even have formal vestments?" I asked.
"We have them for you," the queen said.
I sighed. "Juleena, have you seen them?"
"No."
"I do not care for outrageous attire," I said. "Perhaps you have noticed my usual style."
"You wore vestments for the summer solstice," said the queen. "And I was told you didn't fight about it."
"I have a feeling these are somewhat more ornate."
I heard someone behind me step forward. "Lady Yallameenara, if they have proper formal vestments, then they are the priestly version of gowns I have seen you wear. They are quite lovely, actually."
I turned to look at Larien. "How sure are you?"
"If they have what I believe they have, I actually think you're going to like them."
I nodded to her and looked at the queen. "Is Larien wrong?"
"I have not seen you in a gown," she said. "But I understood you looked quite lovely last night. Clearly you do not break out in an itch at appearing ladylike." She smiled when she said it.
I let her words settle without immediately responding, then decided she was attempting to lighten the mood. "If it's not ridiculous, I'll wear it," I said. "If I hate it, then you'll be satisfied with whatever I choose instead."
"Please, Lady Yallameenara," said the princess. "Not your leather."
"I have traveling vestments," I said.
"They are simple," Larien said. "Yalla, I don't think you're going to mind."
I looked into the queen's eyes, and then she said, "Agreed. In good faith." She held her hand over the table towards me.
I stared at it. "We're only agreeing about the vestments." I tapped the statement they wished for me to make. "I haven't agreed to this yet."
"The vestments," she said. "In good faith."
I reached across and took her hand. "In good faith," I echoed.
"Thank you, Lady Yallameenara."
I picked up the statement they wanted. I read it again then asked, "Margaletta, do you have your own draft?"
"I do," she said. And from behind me, an attendant slipped forward and gave her a sheet of paper. She slid it to me. I read it. It was as mealy-mouthed as the proclamation they were offering. I thought that was intentional.
"Her version is inadequate," said the princess.
"Whose version is this?" I asked, tapping theirs.
"Mine."
I read Margaletta's again, then slid it back to her. I leaned and whispered into her ear, "Did you really want me to read this?"
She turned and whispered back, "Does it sound like either of us?"
I barked a short laugh.
"I was making a statement," she added. "Don't reach final agreement without me."
I nodded to that. Then I pointedly slipped her copy back to her. "I don't talk like this, Lady Margaletta. I would rather not use your copy."
It disappeared without a word, and I would never see it again. I looked back to the princess. "This is my offer. I will appear in court, dressed as discussed. But I will decide what to say for myself."
"No," she said. "You must state you are the high priestess without equivocation."
I held up my hand. "Naddí?" And my maid provided a translation of that last word for me. "Thank you," I said. "Continue, Princess."
She nodded. "You must also state you accept the rights and full responsibilities of your position. We wish you to speak first in the language of the Goddess, and then in Altearan, and finally in Framaran."
"I do not see a copy of this text in either of the other two languages. Who will write them?"
Four sets of eyes settled on people behind me. I laughed again. "You would ask someone from my household to write these translations?"
"We would," said the queen. "We do not believe your character would allow you to ask them to subvert their translations."
I inclined my head at that.
"Lady Yallameenara," said Margaletta. "I would rather you not make this agreement."
I leaned over and set a hand on her arm, letting her know I was listening. "The four of you are keeping something from me. I will give you a choice. You will tell me what has been left unsaid, and we can continue this conversation. Or I will give my final offer, which is that I will write my statement myself, and you'll accept it, whatever I write."
"We are not attempting to change the terms of the agreement we all made with the Goddess," said the king. "Expecting to keep you in Alteara is at distinct odds with that agreement. You have and will always have full freedom to travel anywhere you desire within our borders."
"Including anywhere in the palace," the queen added. "The guard has been notified."
I smiled. "So I could wander around, and no one would stop me?"
"Correct, but I suspect you would quickly find yourself escorted, and we do not believe you are the sort to simply wander into private places."
I smiled. "You haven't told me everything."
"We want you to accept your full responsibilities," said the princess.
"I suspect there may be a difference of opinion what those responsibilities might be," I said. "I imagine past high priestesses have not been pulled in as many directions as I am. The Goddess recognized this and negotiated a compromise for all."
"She did," said the queen.
There was a trap here. I was sure of it. I turned to Margaletta. "Are you concerned about the nature of the responsibilities, or only that they would attempt more time than has been agreed?"
"It is the time," she said. "And..."
"And?"
"They haven't exactly provided a list of expectations."
"Have you asked?"
"Yes."
"Interesting. What is it you fear?"
"That they might force a child upon you."
I turned cold, but the princess immediately began saying, "No, no. Yalla! This came from me. I wouldn't do something like that."
I turned to study her. "Let us agree," I said slowly, "that any statement I make will recognize the divided nature of my responsibilities. I have r
esponsibilities here, and I have responsibilities in Framara. Let us also agree that my body is my own. I have agreed to at least two children, but it is a little soon to ask me to produce them. When I do produce them, I will not be pressured to accept a particular father, and I will certainly not be sleeping with the gentleman in question to produce them."
"We wouldn't demand anything like that," said the princess. "I swear it, Yalla."
"Your majesties, I do not believe the princess speaks for you."
"She does on this," said the king with nods from the queen.
"And my divided nature?"
"We could amend the statement," said the princess. "In recognition of your dual nature."
"That has been blessed by the Goddess," I clarified.
"Of course," she said.
I leaned back. I still wasn't satisfied. "I'm still missing something. Who is going to tell me what it is?"
The princess closed her eyes and furrowed her forehead for a moment. It was actually rather amusing. But then she opened her eyes again and stared directly into mine. "It is the duty of the high priestess to listen to the people, and from time to time accept their petitions."
"What does that mean?"
"Did you require a translation?"
"Clarification," I said. "Do you mean to imply I must grant their petitions?"
"No, no," she said. "Receive them and agree to consider them carefully. When she is conflicted, she consults with the Goddess. Sometimes the petitions are clearly a request to speak to the Goddess. Do you see?"
"All right," I said slowly. I leaned to Margaletta. "Is there a trap I don't see?"
"I don't know," she whispered back. "If that's all they want, it sounds reasonable. There must be more. They're being too furtive."
I nodded agreement.
"What else?" I asked the princess.
"We believe you will agree," said the queen, "that one of your duties is to guide the royal family."
"Which you cannot do when you do not accept our hospitality," added the king.
"Is that what this is about?" I asked, leaning back in my chair.
"When you are in Lopéna, we would prefer you act as a member of our family," said the queen. "You would share even private meals with us. If court is in session, you would have a seat of honor beside us. This is important to us."
I thought about it. I couldn't believe all this difficulty over where I slept. I huffed and then turned my gaze back to the princess. "What else?"
"That's all," she said. "But we do not wish your statement to be so specific. It weakens what you say and would sound like you are rejecting duties to the Goddess. If she asks you to do something, are you going to tell her no?"
"Of course not," I said.
"We do not wish you to make a statement that sounds as if it was written by lawyers or courtiers. We wish you to make a statement that sounds true to your heart, Yalla. But we need you to state firmly and clearly you are the high priestess and you accept your responsibilities. We'll accept some language addressing the divided nature, but please don't ask for more from us." She reached over and tapped the parchment in front of me. "This is going to be political trouble for us. Please give us this."
Again I leaned to Margaletta. "You've used the word gatekeeper with them?"
"Yes," she said, not bothering to whisper.
"All right," I said. "Unless Lady Margaletta has objections, I will appear in court this afternoon, dressed as we have discussed. I will draft my own statement prior to dressing and negotiate in good faith the wording with the princess herself. I will clearly and crisply state I am the high priestess. But I will also state I am a member of the Framaran Royal Household, and so I fully accept my divided responsibilities, performing them as best I am able. Will that do?"
"That will do," said the princess, not even consulting her parents. "If you don't weaken it further. And you will dress here."
"Yes. But now I have my own conditions. First, you will be on the dais with your parents." I looked to the queen, who nodded agreement. "Second. You will acknowledge that Lady Margaletta is the gatekeeper for diplomats waiting in Marport, for Princess Juleena herself, but also for me. You will not pressure me on any issue until she steps aside."
"You wish us to accept this in open court?"
"This is between us," I said. "An agreement in good faith."
"Then we agree in part," said the queen after a moment. "If you are presented with petitions from your people, you will accept them as we have already discussed."
"For my due consideration."
"Correct. And if any of them come from a member of the royal family, you will discuss them with the Goddess."
"You'll drop this business about where I sleep?"
"Until Lady Margaletta steps aside," said the king. "Although we will invite you to meals and hope you will accept some of them."
"I will accept Lady Margaletta's advice," I said. "And I assume the invitations will be somewhat encompassing."
"We'll have to see," said the queen.
I turned to Margaletta. She nodded to me but then held up one finger. I waited to see what she would say. But she turned to face across the table. "I believe we should come to one additional agreement. I do not care for Lady Yallameenara to partake in those negotiations, but I do not wish her to make this statement if we cannot reach agreement before court is in session." She turned to me. "I will come to you before court."
I offered an intent look. She, in turn, offered a blank expression. Finally I nodded. "Lady Margaletta is my gatekeeper," I said. I turned back to face the king and queen. "Do you know what she wants?"
"We believe we do," said the king. "Unless she is about to change her demands, we will reach agreement. We have a counter proposal for her, but we will not present it unless we have an agreement on this issue."
"Is that satisfactory, Lady Margaletta?"
"I will see you before court, Lady Yallameenara."
"Then I guess we have an agreement, pending this side issue." I stood, and a moment later, so did everyone else. I turned for the door, Alta mirroring me. Once we were past the end of the table, I let her take my arm, and together, we stepped from the room, my household trailing behind us.
* * * *
Once we were well clear, I slumped slightly.
"You did well," Alta said. "Thank you for accepting. This is very important to us."
"And personally to you, I gather."
She smiled at me. "Thank you for insisting on my involvement."
"Well, I certainly didn't want it coming from your brother. What is his problem?"
"Stress," she said. "He is full of bluster when negotiating from weakness. Plus he knows I am more popular than he is, which is why he works so hard to exclude me."
"I wish long health for your parents," I said. "I don't know how closely I am willing to work with him, if he continues to treat me like that."
"They are both very healthy, but I fear you won't be able to avoid him. I am sorry for that."
As we talked, she was leading us through the palace. We came to a set of doors, and I was surprised to see they were guarded. But as we approached, the guards opened the doors, and we stepped through.
"Oh, you have got to be kidding me," I said. "I remember this room."
"This room officially belongs to the High Priestess and her household," Alta explained.
"The windows are barred!"
"All the windows are barred. I understand if they weren't, we would find ourselves with visitors at all hours of the day and night."
"Thieves?"
"Supplicants. Would be lovers. The occasional assassin."
"Oh. So if I asked you to show me your room, I would find the windows there are also barred?"
"You would. Do I need to show you before you believe me?"
"No. But if ever I'm there, I'm going to look, and I'll be able to tell if they're new."
She laughed. "They receive frequent maintenance and occasional r
eplacement. Unless you're teasing, I'd rather bring you there right now."
"I'll believe you," I said with my own laugh. "Surely I don't need to begin dressing right away. Why did you bring me here?"
"Well, you need to decide if you'll wear the vestments we have for you. And you need to draft your statement, and then engage in a good faith negotiation with the princess. And then we must have a little something to eat before your maids begin to make you ready."
"And for you to be made ready as well."
"Would you mind if I had my maids see to me here, beside you?" she asked. She smiled. "You'd get to see me in my under things."
I laughed. "I don't mind," I said. "But no boys."
She made a face. "Certainly no boys," she agreed. "Vestments first, then statement." She gestured. Naddí stepped past us, heading to the closet. She returned after a moment, and I stared.
"Before I agree," I said after a moment, "I need to know if there is more. A ridiculous headdress? Anything like that?"
Alta laughed. "Shoes. Underthings. And there is a belt. It is equally tasteful."
"Then I'll wear this," I said. "Larien, you're right. It's beautiful."
I turned back to the princess. "I need a few minutes. I'm going to have to draft it first in Framaran, then I'll translate it myself. I may need help for that."
"Of course," she said. "But it is the Altearan version we negotiate."
"Agreed," I said. "But we aren't using any words I don't already know."
"Of course not."
There was a desk with everything I needed. I sat down and worked out my draft. It was not long. I made some adjustments then turned to the princess. I worked out my translation on the fly.
She frowned.
"What is it?"
"Your accent," she said. "Some of the words you have chosen sound perilously close to other words."
"She doesn't know those words," Larien said quietly.
I spun to her. "Have I been making innuendo without realizing it?"
