“Vala. You have done well but you failed in your last task. Still, we shall take care of this loose end once and for all.” The maidservant massaged her with oils as another squeezed out her hair and began to oil it and comb it. Eventually it was announced that the Lady Diti had arrived.
“Come.” Said the queen. A guard brought her in. Lady Diti bowed slightly, her eyes taking a flick across the room. The corners were obscured by steam.
“You bring me to your bathhouse, Your Greatness?”
“You will speak when spoken to. I will forgive the insult because you were once a queen. I called you here because there is a problem, Lady Diti and I believe that together we can solve it.”
“What problem, Your Greatness?”
“The problem of things falling into the wrong hands and being heard by the wrong ears. You see, I love the king very much and now that I have born him a healthy son,” she paused at this, stared pointedly at Lady Diti, then went on, “I am especially afraid. This Jhis is a wild and dangerous place. Would you not agree?” Lady Diti was not sure what she could divine from this so she kept silent and gave her a curt nod.
“Oh, I am so sorry. Please, sit down and relax yourself.” The queen motioned toward a divan and a small marble table across from her. A slender blue glass ewer of wine and a few glass goblets sat on the table. Diti noted the beauty in the intricate, delicate Egian glass work. Probably laced with poison.
“I have no need of food or drink. Thank you, Your Greatness.” Lady Diti smoothed her robes slowly and sat down, gazing levelly at the queen. The queen smiled but her gaze was hard as iron.
“Suit yourself. Bring me a drink.” She looked at one of her servants who immediately went to the table and poured wine and handed one of the goblets to her. Lady Diti could detect the faint scent of poison in the goblet. A snake venom. One she had been trained to detect by Instructress Matha before she was even married. She then realized the true danger in this woman before her, who could drink poison. To her wonder the queen swallowed it down before speaking again, as if to make a point. She threw the goblet aside, smashing it against the stone on the floor. Then she continued. Their eyes never left each other.
“Would you not agree, Lady Diti?” The queen's smooth voice was now laced with an iron edge. Vala hopped onto the queen's divan and settled herself around her feet, ears twitching.
“I would agree, Your Greatness. It is a dangerous place.” She finally said.
“Far more dangerous than your high citadel in Gamina. A queen must have her ways of finding out about things around her. You have done the same, I see. We live in a world created by and for men, do we not? The only way we survive and thrive is by the best way a woman can. Through her own wiles and wit. You understand that two queens cannot live under one roof.”
“There is only one queen, Your Greatness. Only and ever has there been one queen in Hybron, at a time.”
“You think so? Ah, but you see, there is always more than one side to everything. More than one thing in any situation. A thing that is seen and a thing that is hidden. Sometimes this is good and sometimes it is not.”
“Say what you mean.”
“I mean this: I cannot be queen while you are here.”
“But Your Greatness is queen already. There is no one but the king who can change that.”
“Not so. You have more power than I do. You see, many of the people here still regard you as queen over me. We both know this. Do not be coy with me, Lady Diti. We both have our means of finding out what we need. I have gathered enough knowledge to know that there can only be one of us in all the land of Hybron. Right now there are two. To be queen I must not only wear the crown but I must have their hearts.”
“And what makes Her Greatness feel as if she does not? When Her Greatness first arrived in Jhis she came in all fanfare and pomp and everyone has fallen in love with her.”
“But it is such a fleeting thing, Lady Diti. So fleeting. Now that the bloom of that has worn off we still have two queens who sit in Hybron, one in name and the other in hearts and minds. The hearts and minds of those who would go against their king. Who would rise up against his person and persecute even the people who worship the great god Hec. Who burn his temple, who would create mayhem at the behest of their beloved queen who was put away, who did not bear her king an heir. How is it that there were riots in the street before my coming? Who caused the people to do this? Was it on their own that they rioted in the street before the king's royal wedding? Or was it at your behest? Such power you have. More than the Ainash or the king himself realizes or will acknowledge. Let me be plain. I did not simply arrive in Jhis as a maiden who has not seen the light of day, coddled behind walls and palace caves but one who has come into the world through darkness and sees the world through darkness. I arrived with an army. I arrived with the intent to have a son and I brought forth a son. I arrived in power and I shall keep it from everyone. From you, especially. You are right. You do not wear the crown. But you rule here though many do not see it. I see it and I will have none of it. Your movements are restricted already. I ask you to restrict them once more. I will give you the dignity to do this on your own. The king is gone. You have no friends here in the palace. You were once a queen and I wish to give you your dignity as a gift. But if you cannot see my meaning it will go ill with you.” Lady Diti pulled in a sharp breath. The queen's gaze was unblinking and cold, her complexion, even in the hot steam was cold and bloodless. Lady Diti felt the blood draining from her face. After a long silence between them:
“May I go, Your Greatness?” Queen Taliat waved her hand. Her face was impassive and her dark eyes glinting with red lights. The cat was attentive, it's long tail curled around her mistress's feet. They stared at her, cold and menacing like shades in a dream she'd once had. But a thought came to her before she left.
“You speak of hearts and minds, Your Greatness. But the hearts and minds of the people are not taken by force. They are earned. They must love you and respect you. Not fear you.” Queen Taliat was silent and unmoved. Lady Diti gathered her voluminous robes and left the bathhouse. She new the queen's meaning. But she still had something left to do. A dream that had come to her for years that finally needed to be brought to life and born out in truth.
The eunuch of the women was brought to her later that day at her request. The king was only now just leaving the city. Lady Diti stared out of her window facing south. There was a forest of standards bobbing as they set off in a great cloud for war, hundreds on horses and thousands on foot. No such great gathering of men had she ever seen since her own wedding day gathered in Jhis. She heard the doors open. It was Ruz. He bowed low, his once smooth face heavily scarred and he moved with a limp.
“Please, do one last thing for me, Ruz.” He gave her a suspicious look.
“It is not for me that I ask but for the good of the kingdom.”
“What would you ask of me?”
“Tell Zigal that she must save the child, the queen's son. I have had a vision of his death.” She then chose her words very carefully. “Please – it may sound strange to you but listen to me! She must save him from certain death. She must watch and listen carefully. When she hears of the king's death, she must save the child.”
“The king's death? To even mention such a thing is treason, Lady Diti! I do not understand. . .”
“It is not for you to understand! Only just give her this message. Zigal will understand my meaning. I know that my last request caused you great punishment. I promise you this will be the very last time I ask anything of you. I beg you, please tell her.”
He bowed to her, still frowning. She lowered her voice so that only he could hear.
“You well know this new queen and the faction behind her is dangerous, Ruz. You saw what happened to poor Salayma.” She reminded him. Ruz swallowed hard and nodded.
“I know, my lady.” He said quietly. Then, “I do not understand, but as you say, she may understand the message and I percei
ved long ago that you are a seer. I will give it to her, Lady Diti.”
“Thank you.” She collapsed down in a chair and nearly began to sob. His expression softened but she waved him away. After Ruz left she felt as if a great weight had been lifted. Zigal would surely know what she meant. It was out of her hands now. Her greatest task was finished. She did not fear the queen, not truly. She was put here as a place holder and a protectress. God had seen all and guided her. But she regretted that she had not listened to Zigal, that she did not leave sooner but lingered here too long and now there was no way out but one.
. . .
As for the king, he sent out many letters to his officials and vassals in the land. One letter, the most important one, was sent out first and it commanded every vassal and official to send warriors to Jhis and then he made this speech before the gate of the palace with all his army and the people of Jhis:
“By the power of the Sun God who is mightier than all gods who exist in heaven or in this world or beneath it, I, Khalit-Aisu, who took power by my own mightiness from the hands of my enemies will once again show my might to my enemies. By the might of the One who made me King of Hybron I will make war on Zapulia for the peoples of Zapulia have rebelled against me and their king has made a boast of it. I have sent warnings to them and they did not listen to me. They have refused to stop their wicked deeds and heaped insults upon me in their boasting, accounting their absence of punishment to their demon gods that drink the blood of men. I shall make war upon them and bring them under my rule. I shall crush their gods into dust. I call upon the scribes. May it be written in letter, inscribed upon tablets and etched in stone, my word and my deeds. O Hec, praised.” And he then left with his army to the south.
Chapter Thirty
The king and all his host made south for Beth-Ayin and camped there and took the measure of the town. The reports there were disturbing. The raiders were headed to the coast to their ships. Upon entering the town he found the south wall undermined and near the town square a mass grave of hundreds of men. The raiders had not even spared the male children but had dashed them against the walls and thrown them in the grave. All women and girls of child-bearing age had been taken and those left were the old women. The weeping, wails and shrieks filled the air like a shroud. The king took six garrisons with him and left the foot soldiers and charioteers at the town and went chasing after the raiders. When they had caught up with them on horses they slaughtered all of the raiders there on the beach and carried the women and girls back to Beth-Ayin. He camped there for three days and drew up plans to have the town enlarged and a great wall built around it to fortify it and also the south border all along the coast to the rocky desert border of the far west, the High Lands. He left two garrisons there at the town to secure it and to make preparations for the fortifications. He then moved east to Gamina. And they took up the chant: “Death to the witches! By the Hand of God! Death to the witches!”
They arrived at the hill town after nearly nine days of marching, visiting villages in between Jhis and Gamina for supplies. The army encamped around the foot of the town. The gate was barred and locked. The high hill ringed with natural rock made a natural strong wall around the city.
“Set up camp for the night. I will send message to them in the morning. I give the witches two days before we break it down and annihilate everyone in the town and move on.” Said the king. In truth, he had far bigger enemies than these women holed up in the citadel. He would be merciful if they opened their gates to him and brought out the Mother of the citadel and her eldest attendants. The rest would be spared. He set about bringing up terms for their surrender. Then he sat back in his tent, thinking of all the things he had yet to accomplish. There was much to do and taking back Zapulia piece by piece, especially it's biggest seaport would be the most important thing in carrying out the rest of his plan. He dreamed of all the heaps of wealth that passed through the port city. He would commission another stela for himself and also a statue of fine marble of the queen to be set in the city square. Then his thoughts settled upon his son. My strong little Rafka. His mind was eased somewhat now that things were more secure but he would need more sons to secure his plans for expansion.
“Bring me wine and food and a game. Call my chief court officers, Zarammelech, my tartan of the left and Aquillam, my tartan of the right. Call Caina, my the herald! We shall play Hounds and Jackals!” The personal guard bowed and went his way. Khalit went to the opening of his tent and pulled away the flap. The sky was deepening pink and as the sun sank down it descended into a stew of hazy purple and deep red but there was no other omen he could see. The warriors' hearts were light and confident with a fresh, easy victory and the matter of Gamina would be another easy one. He saw his tartans and the herald approaching, merry with drink, even in the face all the evil omens. And why not? Khalit was convinced now from his council and even the word of the queen that these women in Gamina were the cause of these omens. Did not these desert holy men and woman perform great feats magic and power in the old days? They would not do so any longer while he was on the throne. Not from this temple and not without his say. Even the priests of the temple of Airend-Ur did not believe these things came from God but from demons. He would wipe them all away in a day and then he would deal with Temuz. He would bring Zapulia back into the fold and raise up its true, old name when it was rightfully under Hybronian rule - Ellah, the Land of Bounteous Blessedness.
“My lord king, when you arrive back in Jhis it is time you dealt with those lying priests at the temple.”
“It is interesting that you mention it Aquillam. Come! Tell me your thoughts.” They were sitting around the table in the king's tent at a long game. Zarammelech nodded eagerly.
“Here is what I and Zarammelech have discussed. That the current priesthood should be removed from their positions. The high priest especially Your Greatness is dangerous. I do not trust him at all! Or his father. And a tax should be levied against the temple. The Golden Temple owes much to its flourishing wealth to you, yet what do they do for the kingdom?” Aquillam urged. The king stroked his beard in thought. He glanced at Zarammelech who took the opportunity to bolster Aquillam's position.
“I agree lord king! And another thing – there are many dangerous people - snakes slithering around your court.”
“Are there not devious people in every kingly court Zarammelech?”
“Yes, but usually they fight one another in order to gain the king's favor. These snakes in your court plot against you, my lord king.”
“Snakes!” The king laughed.
“But it is a serious matter. And Bakku is at the heart of it. He is the sneakiest serpent of them all. I believe he is a spy for the temple priesthood. I would say this, not only should you remove the head priests and appoint those who would be loyal to the Hybronian throne but to make the matter secure you should create an edict in the land that all those officials living in the land must, at an appointed time, gather together in the city before you and bow down before you publicly as a son of the gods. Kiss your feet even. On the great holy day of the sun god you should declare it and all those refusing will be seen as traitors and must be put to death!” Said Aquillam.
“I like this plan. Furthermore, when I come back to the palace I will have Bakku and all the priests of Airend-Ur brought before me to present this new tax and I shall make the edict. I will see how far I can push them. How far will they go to worship their lord and king? To keep their positions? Interesting. Yes, they must do an act of worship to me in front of the people to prove their loyalty, to test them out.”
“And if that does not sift them out there are other ways.” Said Aquillam. The king stroked his long, luxuriant curled beard, the rings tied within tinkled together. He glanced at them both.
“Yes, Aquillam and Zarammelech, you both are speaking right, for am I not strong and is not my son a son of the gods? After this is over, you two must come up with all the details of the plan to test them all o
ut. Bring it to me and I shall sign it and put my seal upon it.”
“Indeed lord king!” Said Aquillam. “It is an excellent way to find those who are disloyal to you and of those there are many among the Ainash.”
They had only days left to prepare for a siege and now the army was approaching. They looked like a great crowd of locusts, ready to overtake the town. The people of the land had either fled into the desert or entered the courtyard of the citadel. People were stepping on top of each other with their livestock and meager possessions. Anet, Kaisha and the other younger girls were in charge of seeing about the people of the land who had come for refuge. The guardian scions were ready to take aim with arrow at anyone approaching the citadel. Torches and pitch were at the ready for flaming arrows and they wore tunics of metal over their robes and swords at their sides under their sash belts. Anything that could be used to throw down was piled up around in the courtyard and soon Anet was put in charge of this task for the guardian scions. They stood like grim sentinels ringed around the parapets of the towers.
“Can they get in here?” She asked fearfully.
“It is possible.” Said Lita. “But do not fear. God sees all and even if we do not win we have our reward for being true. Paradise.” Anet knew this but she still wanted to be here, at least for a little while.
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