by Chris Ward
‘Welcome to Ramos,’ the twins said in unison as though speaking in this manner was the most natural thing in the world; and of course they laughed heartily. And so Ramos embraced them.
All about were the sounds of the port. People called and animals complained. The cursing of barge captains demanding clear way came continually. The loading and unloading of craft was constant. Great piles of all manner of goods were stacked upon the wharves only to be removed into the town by horse drawn carts, loaded by workers who worked with a rhythm which only the practised know. Further downstream several bigger ocean-going craft lay moored together, their masts towering above the wharves, as yard arms used for swinging bigger cargoes on and off their decks creaked loudly to the calls of those who guided them.
When Rema and Andes had had their fill of taking in such new sights they collected their few belongings and thanked Ledjer and Sedjer for their hospitality. The two sisters laughed and hugged them both, although Andes got the best of it, much to Rema’s relief. Orcxyl was nowhere to be seen. The moment the barge was secure he had leapt ashore unnoticed and without a word disappeared into the throng. Rema and Andes looked for him but without success.
‘I am sorry for his haste to depart,’ Rema apologised on his behalf to the two women, ‘but he has little skill it seems in dealing with others.’
‘We are not offended,’ Sedjer replied as cheerful as always, ‘he means no harm and is perhaps consumed with his own quest, whatever that might be.’ And Ledjer nodded in agreement.
As she spoke Orcxyl looked back at the barge from where he found himself, on a street higher up above the port. He too was overwhelmed by the immensity of what was going on all around, and wished only to escape to a quieter place, but he halted in his silent flight for a moment and saw from a distance those with whom he had travelled, his keen eyes easily discerning them amongst the busy port.
Perhaps we meet again my friends, he thought. You Rema are a man I would like to know better, but I must do what I have sworn to do. My sister Freya will be avenged. This White Queen will pay for her evil. He took a deep breath and uttered a familiar chant, one which always went before the hunt and ensured success. Then Orcxyl turned and headed up into the city, a hunter in a strange land.
From far above the port, the White Queen looked down on her city and out over her realm. She stood as she had so often stood, upon the great stone balcony on the south east corner of the Palace. From here she could see in a great arc far to the east and north and of course out over the mighty Luminous River and to the south. She stood quite motionless and could have been counted as one of the many carved statues which adorned the parapets. Despite her years her eyes saw all things, for she knew Revelyn and loved it with a deep passion. She looked down upon the busy port and grieved for the changes in the land which were beyond her ability to control. The queen sighed.
‘Germayne,’ she called, ‘Come stand with me.’
A tall lithe woman immediately appeared from the deeper shadows of the chambers which opened onto the balcony. She moved with an easy fluidity which spoke of great physical ability. Her hair was long and straight and of the deepest black; held back in a single plait behind her head, hanging down to her waist. She seemed to tower over the queen, which indeed she did, a full cubit at least. Germayne came and stood to the queen’s right side, and little behind, as protocol demanded.
The White Queen shook her head sadly.
‘Germayne, the land sinks further. Look out there, the lake is larger now where the river has breached the south bank. The far shore reaches the trees to the south east. At last full moon it was half a league short of those.’ The tall woman nodded.
‘My Lady, I received news this morning that Ryhversend is now abandoned. Even the highest places there are now unusable. We will need to build a new port upriver to manage the ocean-going ships.
There was silence for a time.
‘And how long till such a new place will sink into the water,’ replied the queen sorrowfully. ‘Germayne I am at a loss. I cannot help my people in this and they know it.’
Germayne nodded but remained silent.
‘Is there any news of Rayven?’
Germayne had anticipated the question for it was asked each day.
‘None my Lady. There continues to be no news.’
The White Queen shivered imperceptibly as though a knife had pierced her heart. She nodded. Then casting another long look over her city she turned and smiled.
‘Germayne, what would I do without you.’ The tall woman bowed he head slightly in acknowledgement. ‘Come let us prepare for the Judgiem. I am sure it will be another full day.’ The White Queen left the balcony and in her chambers, dressed as she always did, in a long white gown and veil, assisted as always by Germayne. Her attire when completed covered her entire body; even her hands were hidden by a pair of the finest white gloves.
‘You look wonderful; most elegant,’ the tall women said sincerely when all was ready. ‘But if you would permit me My Lady, I am sure if you put the veil aside the people would understand in time if it was explained...’
‘Enough Germayne,’ the queen commanded sternly, interrupting, ‘You know how I feel. There is no question of this. Not now...’ She paused and then spoke more gently taking Germayne’s hands in hers. ‘And I think not ever,’ she finished, and sighed. ‘Now come, we have work to do.’
And so another day began for the White Queen of Revelyn.
Rema and Andes walked up into the city happy to leave the bustle of the port behind.
‘I have never seen so many people,’ said Andes. ‘I could never live in such a place. Give me the Highlands every time.’ He looked around as he walked, feeling uncomfortable, for his size seemed to bring guarded comments and stares continually. Rema shared his friend’s feelings but passed no comment.
‘We will find lodgings as close to the Palace as we are able, from there we will decide how best to gain an audience with the Queen.
‘A good plan.’ Andes mocked a little. ‘I like a simple plan. We travel all the way from home, nearly die several times by fell creatures and poisonous plants, escape the fire of, I think at last count...two volcanos and now all we need is a way into the most impossibly secure fortress I have ever seen.’
‘Which means Andes,’ Rema bit back, ‘we should have no problem, for to my mind what has gone before outweighs our next step.’
‘We will see,’ came the sombre reply.
In the end they found a respectable inn on a cobbled street right by the city square, close under the towering walls of the White Palace. Andes saw it, and commented somewhat sarcastically,
‘Here we are Rema, the perfect place; The Royal Inn. We might come recommended from such a place.’ Rema ignored him but agreed that it was suitable. They took a room above the street. It was sparsely furnished, just two rough beds and a single shelf on which stood an oil lamp, but the mattresses had fresh straw, the lamp was trimmed and all seemed clean. A solid lock upon the door promised some security which both suspected they might need in such a large and bustling city.
‘We cannot move easily about with our weapons so at least we can leave them here with some knowledge that they will not be taken,’ Rema said as he peered out the single small window above the street. He satisfied himself that only the craftiest of thieves could possibly gain entry from that direction and then sat upon his bed. ‘We have made it Andes. All the way to Ramos; think what we have overcome already, perhaps one day I too will write a book of our adventures.’
‘I trust that there will not be many more,’ Andes replied. He too lay on his bed; eyes shut, hands comfortably behind his head and two large feet sticking well beyond the bed end. ‘I figure we charm our way past the guards, talk to the Queen, find the Wise men, solve the problem of all Revelyn then back to Highton. This time next week we should be almost home. Ah Fryn will be so pleased to see me.’ He opened one eye and looked at Rema ‘She might even be talked into to giving you
that kiss Rema, under strict supervision of course...ow!’ he cried as the saddle bag Rema tossed at him found its mark squarely in his midriff.
They ate a simple lunch in the drinking room common to all inns. It was frequented by several men who seemed to know each other and they did not cast a single disparaging look or make a remark which was of any concern, although Rema heard a few talk of Andes’ size and one whispered to his friend,
‘That one has wolver blood, or I’m not the best mason in Ramos.’ His friend had smiled and could not resist the reply,
‘Well you’re right in one respect, Mulder, the other is clearly not proven by the facts!’ They had laughed and turned back to their drinks.
Rema called the innkeeper over and inquired as to the best manner in which to secure an audience with the queen. The man responded in great surprise.
‘You want to see the queen?’
Rema nodded. ‘That is right. I want permission to speak with the Wisden. I believe these men are considered able to understand deep things of Revelyn both past and present...’ and then added, ‘even the future.’ The innkeeper sat down at their table and looked about as if to see who was listening. For an innkeeper he was thin and rather gaunt as though his job did not well suit him, but to both Rema and Andes he seemed cheerful enough. The man took a deep breath, and stared hard at them, one at a time.
‘You’re not from around here are you?’ Rema and Andes retuned his stare and shook their heads.
‘No,’ Rema admitted, ‘we have come to see the queen...and her Wisden.’ The innkeeper shook his head.
‘My friends, this poses some difficulties. First, the queen has never been too forthcoming in mixing with her subjects. Make no mistake,’ and here he held his bony hands palm up before them, ‘she rules well, or at least whoever lives beneath that white gown and veil rules well, but she is a mystery that one. Always has been, long as I can remember.’ He took a breath and wiped his forehead with his ale-rag. ‘Secondly there have been no Wisden to speak of for many years, at least so I am told. Some say they never existed. I might be wrong for much goes on in the Palace which the likes of me would not know, but there you have it. I am sorry but you may have made a journey for nothing.’
Rema and Andes absorbed this news. Rema was shocked and puzzled in equal measure. He had never considered that the Wisden might no longer exist; or that gaining an audience with the queen was not possible, if approached in the right manner. In the Highlands, members of their Ruling Council were always accessible to the people. It was expected and something that as a people they were most proud. He frowned.
‘This is hard news my friend,’ he said at last. Andes nodded but said nothing.
‘All I can suggest is that you attend the Judgiem,’ the innkeeper said.
‘The Judgiem?’ Andes spoke at last.
‘Every third day the queen attends the public courts to judge on matters which her staff cannot deal with. In the end she gives a ruling. After all she is the Queen. It is quite a spectacle at times. People get mixed up in the most stupid situations. The Queen makes a judgement and that is that, and pity the poor fool who ignores her decree.’ Here the innkeeper smiled to himself about some private memory. ‘At the Judgiem you can’t get close to the Queen, but you will see something of her. Pity to come so far as you good folk and not at least lay eyes upon her...although,’ he paused and then chuckled loudly, ‘you will see no more of her than any of her poor subjects. White Queen she be, and no denying.’ He gave simple instructions to Rema and Andes as to how to find the public hall attached to the Palace in which the Judgiem was held, and then rose and went back to his bench to serve a new customer who had entered and waited impatiently, drumming his fingers on the timber as their conversation had played out.
The crowd wanting to enter the public hall where the Judgiem was held reminded Rema of the ants most common in the Highlands. They were called bumper ants due to their seeming inability to avoid contact with any of their kind. Life for such ants seemed to consist of rapid movements in different directions with myriad collisions which sent them off toward another similar interaction. The people of Ramos who had some business in the Judgiem seemed no different. The two newcomers found them loud and boisterous and unwilling to form queues or excuse themselves when offending. Andes had to restrain himself several times from physically throttling some whose rudeness angered him. There were well armed Royal Guards keeping order but they ignored most of the interactions between the people, caring only for the safety of the court officials inside the Hall. In the street outside it was quite a different matter.
They finally managed to enter and took seats in what was clearly a public gallery. The hall was immense, both in height and breadth. A row of guards stood facing the public, immobile like statues and staring straight ahead. This line split the hall in two. Any attempts by one foolish enough to make themselves obvious by uncouth behaviour or language and three burly soldiers removed them unceremoniously and threw them out into the street. Two such evictions happened as Rema and Andes watched in amazement, and then suddenly a quiet fell on the assembly. A group of trumpeters heralded the approach of dignitaries. A cry of ‘All stand for the Queen’, rang out, and all stood; those who did not were quickly encouraged by the guards to do so.
Five officials entered first and went to sit at their appointed benches. Each had their own guard. Then a small and energetic older man moved rapidly between the five as though to ensure all was ready. The trumpet fanfare sounded once more and the White Queen entered. Rema and Andes watched spellbound as she did so, veiled and clothed head to toe in white, with nothing of her body visible.
‘She is indeed the White Queen,’ Rema whispered and regretted immediately for one of the guards glared fiercely at him, prompting his silence. How do I get to speak with you, he thought. What is the key that will open the door? Do you, like me fear for the land...’ The queen walked regally to a small throne in the centre of the hall and seated herself. By her side was a very tall and beautiful woman, one who seemed most familiar with the queen and her needs, for they leaned together and spoke openly although their words could not be heard from the gallery. Rema was impressed that there were no other courtiers ; just the Queen and her confidant, who was far from the common image of a courtier, for she dressed plainly, not for show, almost as if she were to be leaving soon to ride or hunt in the country. Rema nodded in appreciation at what was before him and could not help but notice that Andes had a very long look at the tall woman standing so easily by the queen’s side. When all the officials had entered, the last being a judge of some kind, the public was ordered to sit, and proceedings commenced. Rema and Andes realised that the queen did not rule on all matters, but only involved herself when matters become heated or seemed unable to be moving to resolution. In this case the judge would stand and declare loudly... ‘referred to the throne,’ and the queen who had listened attentively to the matter would make a ruling. Rema realised that in this manner justice was seen to be done and all decisions scrutinised by any who might wish to sit in the gallery and observe. He was particularly impressed with the Queen’s handling of a matter involving an old man and his daughter. The two were estranged by some long history of hurts and selfishnesses. Now the daughter seemed intent on humiliating her father by seeking orders that he give up his home to her in restitution for perceived wrongs committed over many years. Her hardness of heart was clear to all, and the old father seemed a sad and broken figure who admitted error and did not know how to deal with his flesh and blood turned cold and vengeful. Officials argued either side for the two and each gave testimony. The daughter offered no room to move and so the case came before the queen.
She summoned them before her. They came silently knowing that her word ruled all, and the queen spoke to all when she did so.
‘We have here before us a sad case which is like a festering wound.’ The White Queen spoke in a beautiful voice. She was clearly heard throughout the Hall and her use of
words seemed to invite others to listen. She continued... ‘A man who has wronged his daughter by selfishness and insensitivity. A daughter who cannot see that he is not now the one he was when he wronged her. She wants his house. He does not know what to do, but offers apologies as his main defence. Think on this my people. You in their position. What would you want?’ She sat back then and allowed the gathering to whisper among themselves. When some allotted time had passed the Queen stood and stepped down from her throne. She invited the young woman up to sit upon it. This she did with great nervousness, clearly uncomfortable with all eyes upon her. The queen went to the elderly father and embraced him gently and quickly. Then she spoke again addressing the daughter.
‘It is a big thing you ask young woman, to want to judge so fiercely over this man. He is your father and you owe him life. He has wronged you, but he seeks forgiveness. You have rights under our law, but would it make you happy to see this man homeless?’ The woman shook her head and it was clear to the crowd that despite all her previous vindictiveness she was still able to feel love for her father. The queen turned and spoke to him.
‘You have hurt your daughter. She is damaged. She seems to hate, but there is a softness which still yearns for your love, as you do for hers.’ The old man was weeping now, and the daughter too was shedding silent tears.
‘My ruling in this matter is clear,’ the White Queen declared to the assembly. ‘To you young lady I give you your father. And to you old man I return your daughter. You will share the house, only each will decide together on how best to make the home fit for the other, before benefit to yourself.’ She paused. ‘Do I make myself clear?’ The two nodded and in that moment the young woman sprang from the throne and embraced her father. The White Queen smiled.
‘Take note my people. The law can do many things but it requires wisdom to live happily.’ She returned to her throne as the two departed together, the young woman now holding her father close, perhaps as she had not done since her earliest days. Suddenly the Hall was full of clapping and a few cheers rent the air.
