by Robin Roseau
"No, no!" she said quickly. "Well, maybe a few times."
"Larien! You did that on purpose."
"I didn't. I swear."
I put a hand on my hip and glared.
"But I might not have worked very hard to prevent it, either," she added meekly.
"Larien!" Then I paused. "You will teach me these other words, and if they make you blush, that is all the better." I spun to Terél. "And don't even try denying knowledge, either. I am refusing all other lessons until she teaches me these words I have been saying."
"You aren't saying the words," said the princess. "But your accent means you are somewhere between the words you mean and the words they haven't taught you."
I sighed. "Can you fix my pronunciation?"
"Frankly, Yalla," said Larien. "I've tried. I really have."
I sighed. "I'm going to need to use different words, aren't I?"
"Just a few," said the princess. She moved to sit beside me, our shoulders touching. She wrote out what I had said, and then we reworked it, changing the order of a few words to avoid one problem and swapping words in two other places to avoid the others. I knew one of the new words and accepted their explanation for the meaning of the other.
With us both satisfied, I first ask Naddí to help with my translation back into Framaran, and there were no surprises. And then Terél and I did the translation into the language of the Goddess.
* * * *
We had lunch, and then Alta's maids appeared. Standing nearly side-by-side, we let our maids undress us and then see to all our needs.
I stole looks, and I thought she did, too. She was much older than I was, but she had a beautiful body. I didn't mind looking at it.
She caught me looking. Of course she did. But she simply smiled and then looked me up and down pointedly.
"Yours is better than mine," I said.
Her face clouded. "Are you healthy?"
"Of course."
"I mean. Um."
"Oh. My first year here."
"Yes. I heard..." She trailed off. "How can you not hate us?"
"I did for a long time," I said. "But I could either hold a grudge or find it in my heart to forgive. As my most serious complaint was addressed, and I have been well treated since, I chose forgiveness." Then I smiled. "Have you been to the Heart of the Goddess?"
"Yes," she said. "But not everyone in the room has."
"Did I just say something wrong?"
"No, but you shouldn't talk more about it."
"Of course."
"We would have stopped you," Naddí whispered to me in Framaran. "Another reason we don't want you to be apart from us."
I reached back and we squeezed hands for a moment.
My clothing was far simpler than the gown the princess was to wear, and there was very little needed for my hair. When Naddí moved me to a chair, and they began on my face, where I would normally have objected, I let them do whatever they wanted. And if that part took longer than it did for the princess, the other steps were done far more easily, and so I was fully dressed long before she was.
And so I stepped away and collected my papers. I spent the next fifteen minutes slowly pacing around the room, practicing my statements in each of the languages. Finally I was interrupted by the princess.
"Why do you keep practicing?"
I turned to her, and if I hadn't watched most of the preparations, I might have gasped. She looked truly stunning, and I thought her gown had been selected to make a statement.
My vestments were simple, in a way. It was a robe with a simple, straight cut, belted high. And in that way, it was clearly a vestment.
But the material had a lovely shine to it, as if the light was reflecting, glittering off the thread itself.
It was made of a midnight blue, dark and rich and lovely, with white piping and a white belt.
Underneath they had fitted me into a corset, and so when belted, I had a womanly figure in spite of the straight lines. And there were matching shoes, delicate and with a slight heel, but not so much I couldn't walk easily.
My black and white hair hung long and straight. They had done almost nothing to it, but it was a striking contest to the dress. But then I realized the piping of the vestments was exactly the same white as the white of my hair.
Alta's gown, on the other hand, was white, and if it wasn't an exact match for the white piping, it was close. But her dress was adorned in midnight blue, and I was sure the adornments were also an exact match for my vestments.
"You're making a statement," I said.
"I had this gown made for this," she said. "By the same people who made your vestment. Yes, I am making a statement, and one that displeases my brother."
"I don't want to be involved in a squabble, Alta."
"Yalla, I will be presenting you with a petition."
"Excuse me."
"And a request you consult the Goddess about it."
"What sort of petition?"
"If granted, one that frees me from my brother."
"Do your parents know this?"
"Yes."
"Are you going to describe it to me?"
"No."
I sighed. "Today?"
"No. Before you leave for the Heart of the Goddess."
"All right," I said.
"It will be at dinner here in the palace, and the offer will not be as inclusive as you might prefer."
I glanced at Larien, the first set of eyes I could catch.
"If they are done," I said, "please send your maids away."
She made a gesture, and then we waited while they packed their things. It took time, but soon they were gone.
"Do you know the full duties of my maids?"
"Of course I do," she said. "They'll be invited. Margaletta and Princess Juleena will not. I cannot force you to accept our dinner invitation, but I'll beg if you make me."
"Will your brother be there?"
She paused. "If I say 'no', will you agree to accept?"
"I haven't spoken to my gatekeeper," I said.
"If she steps aside?"
I considered my reply and finally said, "Alta, I am still very naïve. My maids tell me there is intrigue everywhere I go, it seems."
"Lady Yallameenara," Féla said softly. We all turned to her. "As long as we are in attendance, we wouldn't want you to let what we told you prevent you from accepting."
"Do you know what she wants?"
She paused before answering, and then said, "No."
"You suspect."
"Yes, but please don't ask for our suspicions. We are comfortable with Princess Lásenalta. She is every bit as good and kind as she appears to be."
"All right," I said after a moment. "If my gatekeeper steps aside, and your brother will not be there, I will accept any invitations offered. But it is poor diplomacy to exclude Juleena excessively."
"Your gatekeeper may step aside for you but not as readily for the princess," Alta said. "I invited her last night, and I'll make a point of one more outing to include her."
"I may want one night on the town with only Juleena," I said, "Although she hasn't invited one yet. That is unlike her."
"Stress," she said. "This is a difficult time for all of us."
And so I nodded. "And so. My gatekeeper. She hasn't arrived yet."
"She'll be here," Alta promised. "You didn't answer my question. Why were you practicing so many times?"
"Oh. I don't want to have to read it. But I don't want to violate our agreement if I let the words change."
"I would rather you sound natural, Yalla. Try it once more without the paper." And so I did. She nodded for the version in Altearan, and when I was done, she asked, "Were the other versions correct? The Framaran sounded right, but I can't tell."
"The language of the Goddess was good," declared Terél. She smiled. "Thank you for making her do this."
I laughed at that, but both my priestesses looked pleased.
"Don't blame us," Larien s
aid. "There has been ambiguity. You're clearing some of it, and it makes us feel better."
"You should have asked," I said. "Don't hold out on me in the future. If you have concerns, share them."
"You've had enough to worry about," she said. "But we hear you, Yalla."
"Thank you."
"The Framaran version is slightly different," Naddí declared. "But she is speaking in three different languages, and none of them are the language of her birth. It's as close as I think she can get with the words she knows."
"Did you just tell me my Framaran is flawed?" I asked.
"Of course not, Lady Yallameenara. But your Altearan is, and you speak both languages with a deep accent."
I sighed. "I know."
"You speak four languages," Alta said. "Or are there others?"
"No. Just the four."
"Four. I speak two, and your Altearan is better than my Framaran."
"You should come to Marport with us," I said. "You could get all the practice you want."
"Is that an offer?" she asked immediately.
"Oh no," I said. "I can't make that offer! Not yet, anyway." I paused. "But yes, once I can make that offer, yes."
"I'd love to visit Marport," she said. "We will see what the future brings."
"I guess we shall."
* * * *
We made small talk for another ten minutes. And then there was a knock at the door, a pause, and then Margaletta strode in, the doors closing behind her.
"Ah, the gatekeeper," said Alta. "Will we all be attending court?" she asked Margaletta.
"I wish to review the statement," Margaletta said.
I'd set aside the copies. Féla grabbed them, looked at me until I nodded, then presented them to Margaletta. The top must have been the language of the Goddess, as she barely glanced at it before moving to the next. She read carefully, and then the third. Then she looked up. "Unusual wording."
"Is there a problem?" Alta asked.
"Not necessarily," she said. "But who wrote this?"
"I did," I said. "But I needed help. I am told my version left room for innuendo when spoken in my accent."
Larien said the words I had tried to use, but said more properly than I had.
"Altearan isn't my native language," Margaletta said.
"Perhaps you should say those words, Yalla," Larien suggested.
"You're setting me up, aren't you?"
"Maybe."
I sighed and tried to say the words. From Margaletta's twitching lips, I gathered she knew the scandalous words I didn't know.
"I think I understand," was all she said. "Princess Lásenalta, I would like to speak with Lady Yallameenara privately before she descends to court."
Alta turned to me. "Of course. Will this be a lengthy conversation?"
"Only a few minutes."
"Then perhaps you could wait briefly afterwards, perhaps ten minutes, before descending. These four can guide you."
I looked to Féla. "Am I allowed in court without you?"
She smiled. "Could I stop you?"
"They will enter with me," Margaletta said. "I require you to swear everyone is operating in good faith, Princess."
"I swear," she said. "I grieve for the lost trust, but I would not be party to any repeated episodes."
"Very good," Margaletta said.
Alta moved to me and we exchanged a brief kiss to our cheeks and a squeeze of our hands. "You are a beautiful woman, Yallameenara," she whispered. "Thank you for doing this."
"You're welcome," I replied.
And seconds later, she was out the door, and again they were closed.
"We aren't leaving, Lady Margaletta," Féla said. "You understand that, don't you?"
"I understand that," she said. "Yallameenara, did the princess tell you more?"
"She seeks an escape from her brother," I said. "You made the agreement you wanted?"
"I did. Their counteroffer was good, better than my first demand, actually. They solved problems I didn't quite see."
"You're not going to tell me, are you?"
She smiled and didn't answer.
"Very well," I said. "Was there more?"
"Yes. The king and queen will be making a statement after you have made yours. That is our agreement. I would like you to listen carefully and then be my diplomat for me. I will gesture if you are to accept or decline the offer they make in open court."
"Why?"
"I don't care to answer that."
"Full of mystery," I said. I shook my head.
"You agreed not to fight me."
"So I did," I said. "Fine. Sure. What else?"
"Tomorrow, people will wake up and see the proclamations. Assuming nothing has changed, I will be stepping aside as your gatekeeper. You may not make agreements binding upon Framara, but you may attend to your duties and your social calendar without consulting me."
"You do not wish to hold my cooperation in reserve?"
"No."
"And if they invite me to meals, or ask me to move into the palace?"
"Your decision," she said. "And your choice whether you consult with Princess Juleena. However, I remain her gatekeeper, and she will not be accepting meals or a bed in the palace."
"I understand."
"Thank you, Lady Yallameenara." She looked me up and down. "Were these the vestments they wished, or a compromise?"
"The former," I said. "What do you think?"
"Simple, but beautiful, in keeping with what I know of your Goddess."
"Will you be coming to the Heart of the Goddess with us?"
"No. My duties here won't have ended, and I do not believe the Goddess and I would get along."
I laughed. "Perhaps not."
We made small talk for a few minutes, and then it was time to descend.
* * * *
I stood at the doors, trying not to be nervous. Margaletta with the four members of my household were already inside, and I was waiting only for the doors to open again.
Under the watchful eye of the guards, I fidgeted from foot to foot.
And then the doors opened, and the hush from beyond them was palpable.
I stepped forward.
I wasn't announced. It wasn't necessary. Everyone knew who I was. And damn it! But they all bowed or curtsied to me.
At least they didn't kneel.
I stepped forward, shaking my head.
The royal family was upon the dais. At least they weren't kneeling. But then, as I drew near, on signal, they all lowered. And after a moment, the only people still standing in the entire room were Margaletta, Juleena, and I.
And Juleena was smirking.
I finished my approach to the dais. I didn't want to give my statement from the dais itself. I intended to pace. But I was going to put an end to this. And so I climbed the dais and came to a stop before the king and queen.
"Kiss my feet, and you won't like my response," I said in a low voice. Then I said more firmly, projecting as best I could, "The last time I stood here, I thought we had an agreement. It was a simple agreement. Wasn't I clear?"
"We aren't kneeling," said the king.
"It's a bow, or a curtsey," clarified the queen.
"Well, stop it."
"We are not bowing to you," said the king. "We are bowing to the symbol of the Goddess."
That stopped further protests. I could argue they shouldn't bow to me. But to the Goddess, or her symbol?
"I'll be talking to her about this, and if she tells you to stop, will you please stop?"
"If that is what she says," agreed the queen.
"Fine. You bowed. You curtsied. I am about to turn around and step from the dais. I'm not saying another word if anyone in the room is doing that, so if you don't want to watch me walk right on out, you know what to do."
And then I turned my back on them and stepped from the dais. By the time I made it to the main floor, most of the people, except the very slowest, were back on their feet. But I could tell s
ome of the more elderly had required help. And so I turned back to the dais and spoke as softly as I could, "The elderly. Please."
"Talk to the Goddess," the queen said gently. "Your mother used to accept the bows as her given right. Until the Goddess has spoken, please drop it."
"Fine," I huffed. I turned back to face the audience and raised my voice. "I have a statement. I think everyone here knows who I am." I began to slowly move around the front of the room, coming to a stop here and there. "I have been here once before, a little over two years ago. At the time, I wasn't ready to believe something."
I paced for a moment, pointedly fingering my hair. I let that make a statement by itself.
"I am going to speak first in the language of the Goddess, as best I am able, and then I will translate for you."
And then, speaking to the Goddess, in case she was listening, and as well as I was able to translate, I began to speak.
I am the Lady Yallemeenara, born on the Hippa, my father a man of the Arrlotta, the horse people, my mother Altearan, the High Priestess to the Goddess Yahamala.
I am her heir, now High Priestess to the Goddess.
But I am more than High Priestess. I am also foster daughter to Ralalta, Queen of Framara. I am a citizen of Framara.
As High Priestess, I have duties and responsibilities. As Ralalta's foster daughter and a citizen of Framara, I have duties and responsibilities.
I will, to the best of my ability and in consultation with the Goddess and my closest advisors, perform these divided duties and accept these responsibilities.
It wasn't pretty. It wasn't eloquent. But I was limited to the words I knew in three languages, none of them the language of my birth. And so it was the best I could do, and at least in my heart, it was good enough.
When I finished, I felt the link to the Goddess, and coming down I felt a rush of warmth and joy.
"I hear your words," she said to me. "Thank you."
And then she was gone again, but her love and joy lingered in me.
Slowly I turned to find Larien and Terél, searching until I found them, along the side. "Larien?" I said. "Are you here? Terél?"
They stepped forward, moving through the audience, and came to me.
"She heard me," I said. "She thanked me." I held my arms out, and they closed the distance. The three of us hugged for a minute.
"We know," Terél said. "We felt her, too."
"Could you hear?"
