by Ako Emanuel
Soku did not break the silence; she knew Barajini would speak when she had an answer to Soku’s question, or confirmation to her own suspicions.
“I see - pools of potential,”she observed slowly. Her fingers moved in the private language between them, I see a trend of support tendered to one of the Cat-kin Tribes. Tokia’s totem animal was the gila cat.
“Yes,” Soku said. Barajini took that as a prompt that she had found the topic the Queen wished her to think upon.
“Many of our Border and Lesser Sisters seem - restless,” she continued.They seem to be in unspoken support of her.
“Indeed.”
Ah, Barajini thought with satisfaction. That is what concerns my Queen. She turned over the matter in her mind.
“Not a good thing,” she said, tasting pineapple. Her tart was half gone.
“No, it is not. Not for such as we.”
Barajini now knew, at least generally, what the Doan Queen wanted to discuss. She was concerned about the possible division of power and the impact it would have on the smaller, less influential Tribes like the Doan.
“There are ways of - calming them,” she ventured, unsure if Soku were thinking of tendering support to Tokia. Ways of preservation?
“And most of them unsavory at best,” Soku said with distaste.
Barajini thought that over. Soku was not thinking of siding with Tokia, then. That meant that if there were a shift of power in the Weste and then a conflict, the Doan Tribe stood a chance of being destroyed. But Soku had said ‘most,’ not ‘all.’ Perhaps she had an alternative?
“Most,” Barajini echoed, testing her hypothesis, “but not all.”
“No, not all.”
“How may I serve you, my Queen?”
“I believe that we need to expand the Trade of our Western Border sisters,” the Doan Queen said, seemingly changing the subject in midstride. “Form a network that touches all corners of the Realm.” Her fingers said, There is the potential for a rift to form in the ranks of the Queens. This must be stopped. Tokia, for reasons known only to her and hers, has decided to take advantage of the confusion surrounding the ascension of the High Queen. We, too, might seize upon opportunity, to close that rift. But that depends upon the minds of our sisters. There must be others that feel as we do. We must watch for them.
“Yes,” Barajini replied to both statements, a slow smile touching her lips.
“Such a thing would be unprecedented. But it is time for a change, I think. The Greater Queens can not have full control of intra-Realm export forever.” The situation must be approached carefully.
Barajini understood fully now. Soku was proposing that she form her own Yakan’tsu that, on the surface, seemed purely concerned with Trade, but was really a counter measure to Tokia’s schemes. The formation of such a thing had to be done carefully, for Tokia would be watching for just such an attempt to foil her plans. The Ottanu Queen would have to be dealt with in such a way that she would believe that the Yakan’tsu was exactly as it seemed. And she would have to be persuaded that it was not in her best interests to join.
Too, Barajini understood the need for the double talk between herself and Soku. With the underlying unrest of the whole affair, any misspoken comment overheard could do incomparable amounts of damage. Av’tunning their thoughts was prohibited by ancient rites.
“It has been tried before, Majesty,” Barajini said. Which was true; many Lesser Queens had tried to change the system of Trade, but all attempts had failed for one reason or other. Her fingers said, We and others of like mind may be competing with Tokia for the same Sisters.
“Yes, I am aware of that,” Soku replied. “We will simply take a different approach.” There are those I know will not support her under any circumstances, and those who would not, given any other choice. Tokia would have to approach these Sisters carefully, sugar-coating her own proposition. They can simply say that they found a better arrangement. That is what we will say if we are approached.
“Excellent, my Queen,” Barajini murmured, leaning close and gesturing faintly as if to point something out to her Queen. She used the rustle of her silk garment to cover her words. Unspoken etiquette had been satisfied: with her initial approach many would immediately send listening ears to eavesdrop. By now most would have passed and come away none the wiser. Now they could speak in relative privacy as long as they kept their voices low. This was expected. “And when she approaches you to try to worm her way in, you might tell her that it would have serious political repercussions if you permitted her to join. Attack her ways of negotiation and business, divert her from bringing her suspicions of your intentions to the discussion. All know the Ottanu’s ruthless ways of business; this will not arouse her suspicions. Rather she will see you as an opportunity to sway many of the other Queens of Tribes such as ours that she would not otherwise have access to, if she can convince you.” She shifted and pointed out some other inconsequential thing.
“We must move swiftly to reach those of our Sisters who might be swayed by Tokia, but would rather have nothing to do with her. Go out and make overtures with some of the other neutral Lesser Queens. It is time to see how much weight my oath-claim carries. I will begin composition of a letter of intent to the High Queen.”
Barajini nodded, then added, “Tokia seems quite interested in you for some reason.” The Voice looked at her liege. “Could something have occurred that would lead her to guess our intentions, my Queen?”
“I believe Tokia is interested because I am the least of the Lesser Queens of the Weste,” Soku observed, waving a negligent hand as if making some trivial comment. “If others of greater rank see me endorse Tokia’s position, they may feel less trepidation, for they would not be in the position of influence. If Tokia can gain support from the bottom up, she can gather more sympathizers more quickly. Especially since I would be exemplary of at least one of her arguments.”
At Barajini’s askance look, cloaked by an amused smile, Soku outlined the short conversation between herself and Itil sul Moyi. Barajini nodded thoughtfully.
“We might even be able to use that to our advantage,” she said.
“Yes,” Soku nodded and smiled, still keeping up the appearance of a light, frivolous conservation. “And the Supreme One knows we need all the advantages we can get. Pen a note to the High Queen on my behalf, Barajini, requesting a private lorn. Then see it to her. Hopefully I may gain endorsement of what I do by telling her my full intentions. And Barajini, be - discreet.”
“Of course, Majesty. Always.”
the eve turned, darkness to darkness...
The High Queen gazed out at the activities of her subjects, and did not like what she saw. Dissension among the Queens had occurred before - it was to be expected. But never quite to the dangerous level that she sensed in the undertone of this Salaka. The Bolorn had not gone well, not as well as she had hoped, and now there was a very real possibility that the subtle signs of internal friction between the Greater and Lesser Queens could turn into outright civil war. Audola stifled a sigh, flexed her stiff and aching back with small movements. Perhaps she was being an alarmist. The signs she was seeing could lead to a number of possible outcomes, the very worst of which was internal fighting among the Inner and Border’lons. Her strategy teacher had always told her to assume the worst in any situation and then hope for the best, but in application she had to try and see every avenue, every possible and probable consequence and narrow it down to one course of action. Things might not be as bad as she thought, or they could be worse than she imagined. She really needed to consult with her advisors and take into consideration their opinions and thoughts on the situation. Then, she could worry.
The High Queen looked at the rich food being served on platters of gold and plates of sapphire and jadine. Her own plate was heaped with the most delectable culinary delights the royal kitchens could offer, but she found that she had no appetite. She was still desperately frantic over the missing Heir. And though her d
emeanor did not show it, the strain of keeping her face impassive was taking its toll, the weight of worrying and the chafing of frustration at not being able to act at once wearing away all of her reserves. The feeling, in the face of all her power, of being powerless to find her daughter, the anger at whomever was responsible for keeping the Heir from making her way home - all of these boiled dangerously close to the surface. And the worried glances she intercepted from Luyon were not helping either, just adding to the general confusion of things.
How she wished she could have cancelled the Bolorn’toyo the moment the Heir seemed to be in trouble! How she wanted to dismiss the Salaka and begin immediately with a Rite of Seeking! But these things were not possible, for once called, the Bolorn could not be rescinded unless the entire Realm were at stake. Once called, the tradition of the Bolorn could not be postponed and absence could not pardoned except in the most extreme cases of sickness or danger. Once called, attendance of all Queens was required, and Audola was subject to the same laws as all others, even laws that she made. She had called the Bolorn a third of a Season ago. Then eight turns before the gathering, the Heir had disappeared without a trace.
She had tried a low order Rite of Finding, and turned up nothing. The Av’rujo had turned up nothing. On top of all her duties during the preparations, she sought and sought. Finally, she put into motion the beginnings of a High Order Rite of Finding, a rite that required two turns of groundwork and six Rite-casters to perform. It was all ready.
And the rigid custom of the Bolorn’toyo and the Salaka, once called, kept her from acting. To cancel them would have been an unforgivable affront to the Ancestors, the Goddesses and the Supreme One.
The evening wore on. Audola kept a serene expression fixed upon her face and she smiled and conversed sometimes with those around her. Servants from several Queens brought her missives, which her Voices accepted and passed on to her. She glanced at them all and made the appropriate response. But the broil of her emotions kept resurfacing in her thoughts no matter how she tried to divert herself. By the end of the eve she was worn down to a thread.
The last of the revelers were struggling to get up and leave when a final servant not wearing Tribe colors nervously fluttered at her elbow. She took a deep breath and mentally shook herself, feeling as if she had been in a daze of pain. She waited while Luyon acknowledged the man, accepted the carefully folded square of papi’ras the servant presented to him. Luyon passed the note to her. Her eyes flickered over the words written there, then raised to search the last of the festive guests remaining within the Great Laine. A pair of eyes caught her own. She gave the slightest of nods, received only a slightly deeper bow from the other.
*:Mother?:* Rilantu’s ‘tunned voice whispered in her ear. He circumvented the Rite that prevented av’tunning one’s thoughts to another with ease. *:Who is it this time?:*
Audola did not admonish her eldest for his breach in protocol. The note had been delivered circumspectly rather than directly. To be seen in discussion immediately after receiving it would turn undue interest to the sender. Rilantu chose the lesser of two indiscretions, electing not to speak out loud. His handsome face, though showing traces of the fatigue they all felt, would give no indication that he was in secret conversation with anyone.
Instead she gestured in their private short hand not to pursue the matter, and that they would discuss it later.
*:Friend or foe?:* Staventu interjected from the side. That he knew and participated in what should have been a private and unapparent conversation did not surprise her. He and Rilantu, as twins, had always had a special link, ever since they were infants. To speak to one was to speak to both.
The High Queen looked again at the lavender and coral.
*:I don’t know.:*
the darkness of late eve turned to the darkness of early morn...
The High Queen had disdained both her palanquin and ‘tunning to get to her suite of lains. Instead she paced slowly through the high, long dim halls that tunneled through the great expanse of the Palace T’Av’li, still hiding her sickness of worry. They needed to make plans and she needed rest before attempting the Rite.
She did her best thinking on her feet, and moving through the cavernous passageways that had the illusion of the present eve sky imposed in the ceiling helped calm her thoughts. It was like walking through a wide and deep, ornate canyon that stretched on forever. Surrounded by such vastness and silence enabled her to think clearly without the apparent pressure of ceilings to hem her in.
Attending her were her twin sons, her Warru First, and her six Voices. They followed silently behind her, waiting patiently while she gathered her thoughts.
A sudden opening in the seemingly seamless hallway led to a miniature sitting lain with low, comfortably padded lounge seats following the concave, semi-circular space, all facing a low central chair. Audola drifted toward the arrangement of seats, sank into the center chair. The others settled around her, wondering if she were ready to talk.
“There is much trouble facing us,” the High Queen said after a time. “The Bolorn did not go well.”
“We had anticipated the objections to your ascension,” the sixth Voice Ashmisa stated. “Their protests were groundless. All know that your ascension is unavoidable.”
“But I had not expected to be challenged,” Audola said, an edge in her voice. “I am in the weaker position, and this I do not like. Tokia has supporters even though she bears my disfavor. I think this speaks more clearly than anything of the strength of my standing.”
“There is the possibility that we will be facing Turo’dan, the end of our golden age,” Otaga said placatingly. “Many are uncertain, afraid. They may feel betrayed, and may make rash decisions based on that feeling of fear or betrayal. Perhaps what we saw was just a symptom of this.”
“I disagree,” Sinyi said. “Fear or no, uncertain or no, Queens do not make such commitments lightly, at least wise ones do not. I think that they see Tokia as an opportunity to gain power once the Heir ascends. If the opposition she faces is strong, she will have to work hard to appease them.” Her voice was not quite derisive. “The Border Queens have always had a deep-seated resentment of the Inner Queens and the power they hold. I know - I served in the court of a Border Queen who did nothing but dream of being a Greater Queen and talked of nothing but being able to cut the Greater Queens’ power down. And now they see an opportunity to seize some of that power.”
“Perhaps the Border Queens are rightfully discontent with the way things stand,” Audola said, thoughtfully. “I have never liked the division of rank among the Queens. I have long wished for a way to correct it.”
“But one cannot just arbitrarily throw out a system that has been in place for thousands of cycles, Audola,” Luyon said. “The Greater Queens have bigger lons and can contribute more in the way of taxes, offerings and su’sus - therefore they have more say in the policies that generally govern the whole Realm.”
“And the Lesser Queens get the dim end of the lain,” Staventu muttered.
“It’s not as if the Lesser Queens are being neglected,” Sinyi protested, glancing at the Prince. “All Queendoms get equal su’sus proportional to their size, to maintain their lons and roads and homes to a certain standard. With the su’sus and the Pact of Sisterhood, the High Queen is able to ensure that all of her people are fed and housed, if they choose to live in houses, and that in times of disaster there is immediate aid forthcoming. But for some Queens that is not enough. Some are content with their lons and the weight their Voices are given in the Alorn council. But others, like Tokia, are not.”
“And before the threat of Turo’dan, there was little that the discontented Lesser Queens could do about it,” Jarisa added, putting in her voice. “But now, with the prospect of total obliteration of all we have ever known facing us, the ambitious and the clever see opportunities to elevate their standing and are pouncing like starving ke’nnu.”
“They would jeopardize the
Realm and its preservation in order to ensure their elevation in a new political system that might never rise from the ashes of Ava’Lona,” Sinyi said with conviction.
“Not all,” Staventu protested. “There are those who wouldn’t wish for the burden of a bigger Tribe or a bigger lon.”
“But there are those who do, and it is they that we must watch for,” Sinyi told him. “And Tokia seems to be in the forefront. As the Av’One said, we had not anticipated her attack, nor the subtle direction it would come from. With the simple act of questioning the Heir’s whereabouts in the manner that she did, she has effectively called into question the credibility and capability of the Heir to take the High Throne.”
“How can we be sure that it was an attack?” Thiam asked, taking his usual position of skeptic and devil’s advocate. “Perhaps she was merely curious. Or concerned.” His own argument sounded thin to his ears, but he threw it out anyway. All possibilities had to be explored.
“There is little doubt that her statement was an attack on the Heir,” Jarisa said calmly, not quite as vehement in her denouncement of the Lesser Queens as Sinyi was. “There was no respect or concern in her voice. We could all see that. Besides, the Av’rujo would not have expressed her displeasure if Tokia had merely been expressing concern. And the way she basked in the confusion she had brought about was positively obscene.”
“Such craftiness and ambition directed toward aiding our Realm could have been an asset to us,” Audola said. She shook her head, her crown heavy upon it. “But directed against the Heir and myself, it threatens the cohesion of our Sisterhood and possibly the security and unity of Ava’Lona when we need it most. The Heir’s continued absence only makes things worse. She has been, however wrongfully, challenged. That challenge must be fully answered in the proper way as to discredit the one who issued it. She will also have to regain the complete trust of the Realm or everything will fall apart when I ascend. In addition, we must address this matter of dissatisfaction among the Lesser Queens.”
