by Moose Tyler
To Amaria, the queen seemed at ease. Her legs were crossed, and her ankle made a slow, circular motion as she waited for someone to speak.
The room wasn’t exactly quiet, but no one really spoke either. Several whispered among themselves, and the queen tapped her fingers on the arm of her throne. “Does no one have a query, an issue, a concern,” she asked, “possibly a suggestion for improvements to this cycle’s Genesis celebration?” She continued to circle her ankles rhythmically. A heartbeat passed before she threw up her hands. “Well, if no one has a concern, let’s give thanks to the Great Mother and return to our sisters with the good news.”
Helen stood. “I have an issue, your grace.”
Helen had a lot of leather descending in color from whites, yellows, and browns to greens, oranges, and reds. She was not the most-decorated warrior. She didn’t have the necklace of talons, and there were no feathers in her hair. She also didn’t have any blue bands and definitely no purples, greys, and blacks, but she was experienced enough to bring forth an issue, which was why Amaria was surprised that she had wasted heartbeats putting a suckling like Ophea to the fire.
“I can always count on you, Helen,” said the queen.
Helen crossed the stage and addressed the chamber. “Sisters, the time is fast-approaching when we will be forced to face the old world. Bekos has seen it.” Helen turned to the sages’ table. Amaria thought she saw Bekos nod. The others sat like stone.
Helen faced the queen. “We must protect our tribe. We cannot wait for the old world to come to us. We must seek out the snake and sever its head.”
Some council members applauded. Others hissed.
The queen neither hissed nor applauded. “Is there another view on the matter?”
“Yes, my queen,” said Janus, approaching the throne, “several don’t agree with Helen.”
“I see,” said the queen. She addressed the council. “Those who grant Janus the right to speak on your behalf, rise and give testament.”
Many on the left stood with the exception of two. It looked as if they were crossing their arms, but Amaria couldn’t be sure because her view was obstructed.
“Aye,” the standing warriors said in unison. The sound of their voices vibrated off the chamber walls like music. They took a seat.
“Janus,” said the queen.
Janus bowed. “To willingly place our sisters in danger is absurd.”
Applause erupted from the left.
Helen, who had been as motionless as a snake in the rocks, lashed out. “What’s absurd is allowing eminent threats to gain momentum.”
The right side of the chamber applauded, but not as passionately as the left.
“We don’t know if there’s a true threat,” Janus said calmly, though Helen’s body had taken an offensive stance.
“If you are blind to this danger, you should not sit on this council,” Helen seethed.
Many women hissed. A few applauded. Janus’s voice was relaxed. “I do not question your qualifications to sit on this council, Helen, and I ask that you grant me the same respect. We are equals. If I have concerns, we must discuss it with civility. This is what separates us from savages.”
“It is savages who will come. They will come at night, as Bekos has prophesied, and try to conquer us, enslave us by taking our womanhood without asking. If we wait for this to unfold, we deserve the carnage.”
The right side of the room ignited. Many jumped to their feet and hissed.
“We must kill all who threaten the Great Mother!” Helen shouted. “They will fall on our swords, and our arrows will pierce their black hearts!”
The noise was deafening. There were too many voices and too many echoes.
“Order!” The queen’s voice rose above the chaos. “Have order here, or let our tribe fall!” Her voice softened as the clamor died down. “Nothing would please Hera more.”
A tingle spread through Amaria’s chest as the chamber grew quiet again. She adjusted her position to get a better view as the arguing warriors took their seats, all except Helen. Helen kept her fighting stance, and her passion was throbbing in her clenched fists.
The queen was off her throne in less than a heartbeat, crossing the floor towards her. “We all have a purpose,” she said calmly, though her stride was swift. “We are pieces of the Great Mother, goddesses who give life.” She came within an arm’s length of Helen. The two were locked in a stare for at least five heartbeats before Helen bowed. The queen continued her speech. “Death goes against our purpose. When we take a life, we should all feel the pain in our wombs.”
“That was many moons ago, your grace. This is now.” Helen spoke gentler, but she hadn’t lost her passion. “Men will spit on our wombs. To them, the Great Mother is nothing.”
“Men cannot change my belief, nor should they change yours. We are here to safeguard the Great Mother so that She can live on.”
“We are here because of Hera’s jealousy. No other reason.”
Whereas Helen’s voice was full of passion, the queen had reason. “That is one way to view our predicament,” she said.
Amaria adjusted her position again. She didn’t know council meetings were so intense. She had a craving for sweet crawlies or the figs given out at the live performances at the lagoon and the artists’ camp.
“It’s the only way to view it.” Helen’s voice fell flat at the end.
There was always more than one way to look at something. Even Amaria knew that. Helen just proved why her bands didn’t have the higher colors.
The queen took the advantage. “Well, you’ve chosen your path, Sister. You’re free to leave. Hera has made that clear. Return to the old world. We’ll pray to the Great Mother for your safe journey.”
When Helen finally spoke, her voice was defeated, worn-out. “I don’t want to return to the old world, my queen.” She bowed. “Please don’t mistake my passion to protect this tribe with an eagerness to leave it.”
“If you want to protect it, why do you want to invite war?”
“Because I believe it’s inevitable.” Her head drooped. Though Amaria didn’t like Helen much, she felt some compassion. It was clear she spoke from her heart.
The queen took Helen by the hands, pulled her close, and hugged her. Amaria looked at Penelope. She must have felt the stare because she looked at Amaria, and her eyes widened as she mouthed, “Great Mother.”
Amaria almost started giggling.
The queen forced her to refocus. “I’ve heard your opinion on the matter, Helen. Men are progressing. I’m not a fool. The sages have told us this is true, and we will fight to protect our tribe when war comes. There are many who need our protection, not to mention the Great Mother, but—,” the queen released Helen’s hands and clutched her face. It was almost a whisper, but her words were clear. “—I will not march our tribe into certain slaughter.” She let go of Helen and addressed the chamber. “Consider this matter settled.” She returned to her throne.
A ripple of chatter spread across the room as Olivia stepped forward. “I have another concern to bring before the queen. Helen, do you cede the floor?”
Helen nodded and sat down. Olivia was more decorated than both Janus and Helen. She had the necklace of talons. Few had a higher rank, but if you saw her at the common area or in the arena, you wouldn’t suspect. Some warriors were mean about their status, but Olivia never bragged, and she never made anyone feel small. She was the queen’s most-trusted advisor, and Amaria wanted to be just like her when she became a warrior.
She spoke directly to the queen as if they were equals. “We have a small situation with new arrivals.”
“Is the boat coming?”
“Yes, the raven brought news, but depending on how many, we will need to make arrangements.”
“The raven didn’t indicate the number?”
“No
. Just that it was coming.”
To Amaria, the queen seemed lost in thought. “Have the sages had visions?”
“Not to my knowledge.” Olivia motioned to the sages.
They were transfixed on the interaction but didn’t speak.
“Do we know how much longer?” asked the queen.
“I believe until the blue moon. The raven is swifter than the boat.”
The queen sighed loudly. “Let’s discuss this later.”
“What if the boat is full of men?” Bekos hissed. “What if the raven brings no news because there are no women on board?” She hissed like a snake again. “Danger is near. This could be the strike we’ve been anticipating. Hera has been plotting against us all.”
Another rumble rolled through the chamber as the council members and witnesses repeated Bekos’s words to those who didn’t hear what she had said.
“We must investigate,” shouted Helen. Chaos erupted again, and she yelled over the noise. “I call for the queen’s attention. Olivia, cede the floor!”
The queen was to the sages’ table in a heartbeat.
“Silence!” Olivia boomed, her voice grabbing the attention of the chamber. When the rumbling finally settled, she spoke calmly. “I do not cede the floor, Helen. My matter has not been resolved.” She turned to the queen. “Najah?”
The queen interrogated Bekos at the sages’ table. “Have you seen the boat?”
The old sage waited a few heartbeats before answering. “No.”
The queen looked at the others. “Have any of you seen this boat?”
Amaria thought she saw their heads move but couldn’t be sure from her location.
The queen walked to the center of the stage. “There have been no visions about the boat. I need three moons to consider this matter.”
Just as she was about to retake her throne, Telsa spoke. Her voice was quiet, but melodic like a reed. “I have dreamt about the boat,” she said. “There are men on board, in my dreams.”
The queen’s head snapped towards Telsa, and she rushed back to the sages’ table.
Wanje intercepted her. “She’s just a child. The Great Mother has not spoken through her directly.”
The queen lurched out of Wanje’s grasp. “What are these dreams you speak of?”
Telsa stood and bowed properly. “In my dreams, the boat brings the men with the strange words. They speak to me and teach me the talk.”
“You are not trained enough to understand how and why the Great Mother communicates through you,” the queen said. “You haven’t even had your first vision.”
“I believe the young one’s spirit is wise and pure,” said Bekos. “She might be having visions already. Who’s to say, other than Wanje?”
The queen looked at Wanje.
Bekos continued. “There’s only one way to be sure. You must send a warrior to investigate. There seems to be a volunteer.” She motioned to Helen, standing in the center of the stage next to Olivia.
The queen was quiet for a few heartbeats. “Do you volunteer for this mission?”
“Aye,” Helen said proudly.
“Choose three warriors,” said the queen. “You have until midday tomorrow. Meet me at the Great Field.”
Another rumble rolled through the chamber, but the queen didn’t bother silencing it. She turned to Olivia. “This matter will be settled later.”
Olivia return to the benches, but Helen was more reluctant. She lingered a heartbeat or two before taking a seat.
The queen bowed to the chamber. “May the Great Mother bless our efforts and guide our hearts in sisterhood.”
The council stood and bowed. “All in Her name,” they said in unison.
The queen left through a small passage at the back of the stage, and Amaria watched the processional of warriors exit in the manner in which they had arrived.
“Great Mother,” said Penelope, “the fires will be exciting tonight.”
She stood, but Amaria kept seated, motionless as she watched Telsa disappear through the dark hole in the back of the stage. She wanted to rush after her. She couldn’t shake the feeling that her sister was in danger, and that she would soon bear a great burden for the tribe.
“You coming?” she heard Penelope ask.
Amaria willed herself to stand up. “Yeah,” she said, before following Penelope to the chamber exit in silence.
Amaria and Penelope progressed towards the exit slowly. The chamber was crammed with bodies, and Amaria felt like game being led to slaughter. Her chest tightened as the citizens rammed into her from behind, pushing her into Penelope.
The tightness in her chest clamped down. “Move,” she said.
“I can’t.” Penelope motioned to the citizens in front of her. “We’re almost there.”
Amaria tried to inhale, but her lungs felt crushed. She pushed forward again. Penelope slammed into the ones in front of her. “Sorry,” she said, before turning around. “Breathe, Amaria.”
She felt her heart pounding inside her chest. Her body broke out in a sweat. She tried to exhale as she jostled down the steps, but no wind was in her lungs. When the witnesses blocking the exit finally spilled out onto the beach, Amaria rushed past the herd out into the open space, gasping for air. She hurried away from Queen’s Cliff. When she was clear of the crowd, she bent over and steadied her breathing.
Penelope approached cautiously. “You okay?”
Amaria looked up. “Do I look okay?”
“Not really. Your color is off. You’re as pale as me.”
A few citizens passed. “Is she okay?” one asked.
Amaria sat up as Penelope waved the spectators on. “She’s fine.” After they moved down the shore, she turned to Amaria. “Maybe we should find your mother.”
“What’s she going to do?”
Penelope shrugged. “Make you feel better?”
“How?”
“I don’t know how mothers make you feel better. They just do.”
Amaria trudged down the shoreline, and Penelope followed. Most of the citizens traveled to the fires via the main path, so she chose the eastern route. She’d get wet sandals, but she’d have privacy. “She looked so small up there,” she said, after they rounded the cove.
“Telsa?”
Amaria nodded. She took Little Blade from her calf and slid it in the crook of her back and kept moving.
Penelope walked alongside through the water. “What I don’t understand is the difference in a dream and a prophecy, and how they can tell which is which. It sounded like she’d had a vision to me.”
Amaria didn’t know the difference either. She shrugged. “I think she’s going to get in trouble with the queen.”
“Boar’s breath, that’s what sages do.”
“She’s not a full sage yet.”
“Close enough, and sages speak of their dreams. Or are they prophecies?”
Amaria smiled. “She sounded so cheerful.” She imitated Telsa. “I see them in my dreams, sometimes. And then there’s Bekos. Death and destruction are imminent. We shall all perish!”
“Great Mother, I know, and what was with Jasminth?” Penelope reenacted Jasminth being dragged to the queen. “Sister, get yourself together.” She imitated drinking from a cup. “Put the tea down.”
Amaria laughed.
Penelope got serious. “Sakina looked fierce though. I know she’s not the sweetest fruit in the bowl, and you’ve got the wrath for her right now, but she wore that armor with pride tonight.”
“Mother splurged.”
“She looked divine.”
Amaria and Penelope walked down the shoreline in silence for a few heartbeats. “What about the boat,” said Amaria, “to not have word of the number, has that ever happened?”
Penelope shrugged. “The boat has always been uncertai
n. Remember when none came.”
Hera didn’t send a boat to Themiscia for the entire cycle that Amaria and Penelope had taken their quests through the Great Ravine. How many boats had always varied, as did the number of passengers, but whether Hera banished a few or stuffed the vessel with fifty, the raven had always said how many were on board.
“But, it’s troubling to not have word of how many,” said Amaria. “What if Bekos is right and war is coming?”
“We’ve always been told war is coming.”
Amaria rolled her eyes. “Yes, but what if it really is? Not in the future. Now?”
“Then I will pray for us all. For now, I choose not to worry until there’s cause. I think we’ll learn more at the fires.”
Amaria looked in front of her past the eastern cove and saw the lights from the southern shore glowing in the distance. “Something feels strange,” she said.
“Physically?”
“No. I can’t explain it.”
“Try.”
Amaria didn’t know how to describe the uneasiness she felt. It wasn’t just that she was doing poorly in her lessons, or had been tricked by Sakina, or had the weight of her punishments heavy on her shoulders. There was a deeper unsettlement she couldn’t pinpoint the source of.
“I won’t tell anyone,” Penelope promised.
“I know. It’s just that I don’t know what’s wrong. Like Ursula, I’m worried for her.”
“Because of Zora? She’s not going to hurt her. She just said that to goad you.”
“No. I went to her tree today, and she’s into something.”
Penelope laughed. “Ursula is always into something.”
“Something serious.”
Penelope looked suspicious but interested. “How serious?”
“Making tunics from stolen military cloth serious.”
“What?” Penelope laughed before imitating drinking from a cup. “Put down the tea, Amaria.”
“Listen, P. Sakina had this cloak, and I got a piece of it.”
“How?”
“It was wrapped around my wrist. It doesn’t matter. The point is this girl, Shana-something, came to Urs’s tree, gave her the same cloth and asked her to make a tunic.”
