by Robin Roseau
They denied doing anything wrong.
“Of course they didn’t,” Juleena said. Then she gave orders to make a fire in the little stove and set the rest of her men as guards.
The Goddess didn’t waste time. She started at one end of the line. “This one. This one. These two were present, but did not actually touch my priestess. That one. That one.”
I relayed that to Alta and her captain. “I believe you,” said Captain Evestía, “but I sure would like some physical proof to go with it.”
And so, she ordered the Altearans to search the property. We left them to it, and it was twenty minutes later the captain approached us again. “Princess Lásenalta, you need to come with us.”
She and Alta disappeared into the house for perhaps ten minutes. When they returned, Alta was carrying two sets of vestments used by a priestess of Yahamala.
Again we gathered. “They’re certainly all guilty,” said Alta. “It’s going to take two wagons to bring to Lopéna everything they’ve gathered.”
“How long will that take? Can we use our sleighs?”
“They aren’t meant for such loads,” said Captain Evestía. “They are fast and light. Princes Lásenalta, if we are to present a proper case, we need to properly work the property. This is not something I’ve ever done.”
I stared at Alta. “Do we have to wait? How long?”
“A week or two,” said the captain. “Princess, what are your orders?”
Alta stared at the woman.
“What is the problem?” the Goddess asked me.
I relayed the conversation, finishing with, “I don’t want to wait here for two weeks.”
“Neither do I,” she said. “Ask for a solution.”
“Juleena, I want to go home,” I said. “Can that happen?”
She nodded. “Captain Evestía, would you trust your princess and these prisoners to my care? I can return to Veresta and collect the rest of our troop, including your other four soldiers. Do you want me to send them here, or should I take them with me?”
“You’re taking all the prisoners?”
“I am offering.”
The woman was torn, finally turning her gaze to Alta. “Princess, you are my responsibility.”
“Will you trust me to our friends?” Alta asked gently. “Would you feel better if I made it an order?”
“If something happens to you, an order won’t protect anyone.”
“Nothing is going to happen.”
The woman pointed at the prisoners. “That’s a lot of people to manage, and the nearest garrison of any size is in the capital.” She paused. “Princess Juleena, I hate to ask, but I believe we should use our combined forces to secure this location. We will need to send a rider to the capital.”
“I can go,” I said. “Trust needs a rest, but if I take two of the other mounts, I can be there by tomorrow.”
I was surprised. Even after I said it in three languages, no one said “no”.
“Who will go with her?”
“I will be far faster alone.”
Juleena didn’t contradict me. Of course, Naddí and Féla weren’t available to argue with me. When no one argued, I added the reason to argue.
“But I don’t know where we are.”
“I will guide us,” said the Goddess.
I translated that then waited. And waited. And waited. Then Juleena asked, “Are you sure, Yalla?”
“Daggarwind just ran three miles,” I said. “You can’t use him in a forced march. He needs to rest.”
“He’d be fine.”
“To trot for hours?”
She didn’t respond, which was answer in itself.
“She could borrow my horse,” Alta said.
“If I borrow, it will be two from the honor guard,” Juleena said. “Yalla, I’d feel better if you weren’t alone. Time is not that critical. A few hours either way won’t matter.”
“Juleena,” I said. “You need to remain with Alta. The two of you are still in command of this troop. You need all the guards. No one is going to bother me.”
“Attacks against a priestess are unheard of,” Alta said. “What does the Goddess say?”
“My Prestainamatta, what do you think?”
“This is our best plan,” she said. “Please ask Princess Juleena to assist Princess Lásenalta to secure this location and these prisoners. Ask them to notify our priestesses what is happening and ask them to make their way with their honor guard, to Lopéna. They will be safe.”
“We can send Naddí and Féla,” I said. Then I translated the request. Juleena considered it carefully and then nodded. “All right. Princess Lásenalta?”
She looked to Juleena and then her own captain. Then she said, “Thank you, Lady Yallameenara.”
“Goddess, will you be able to describe this location, or should we ask Captain Evestía to draw a map?”
“Perhaps a map is best,” she said.
We had a plan.
It lasted a minute and a half. I walked to Naddí and Féla and asked them to travel back to Veresta and help escort the remaining priestesses to Lopéna.
“And what will you be doing, Yalla?” Naddí asked with an arched eyebrow. “Will you be under the watchful eye of Princess Juleena the entire time? Perhaps you will simply be under Princess Juleena?”
“I am sure Princess Lásenalta is sufficient chaperone.”
“Perhaps she is. Answer my question. What will you be doing?”
“I have my own duties,” I said.
“Which are?”
“To take care of myself?” I definitely made it a question.
“You will come with us, and we will travel to the capital together.”
“I am the High Priestess. You are my maids. You will do as you are told.”
The two exchanged a look. “We aren’t letting you out of our sight. Now, are we remaining here, traveling to Veresta together, or is there some reason you’re trying to get rid of us?”
I sighed. “I’m traveling by the fastest route to the capital to summon assistance.”
“Right,” said Féla. “We’ll need six mounts and food for two days. Will we be resting over night?”
I sighed. “No. I’ll tell the princess to find another messenger.”
* * * *
I was done in by the time we reached Lopéna, but I felt pretty good. Féla had fallen asleep in her saddle twice, and Naddí would have fallen out of hers if I hadn’t caught her.
It was well after dark the next night when we pulled into the palace courtyard, surprising the gate guards.
“I am the High Priestess Lady Yallameenara!” I called in a firm voice after throwing my hood back. “Summon grooms. Send a messenger to the king and queen. I require an immediate audience.”
I didn’t wait, but the Goddess had to help me from the saddle, and then I nearly fell on my ass. Grooms arrived by the time I got to Naddí’s horse, and with their help, we got my maids out of their saddles and to the ground. “Have someone show you where we’re staying,” I said. “I don’t know how long we’ll be.”
I didn’t wait after that. A guard had the palace door opened by the time I arrived, and a page was waiting to lead me through the palace.
She led me into the private wing used by the royal family. We arrived at a well guarded door, but the door was ajar, and as we approached, the two guards came to attention but waved me right through.
The king and queen were waiting, both in dressing gowns. I hadn’t realized it was so late.
“Lady Yallameenara.”
“Yalla,” I said. “No one is hurt. It’s a long story. We made a raid on a bandit den.”
“What!” screamed the king.
“They attacked one of my priestesses!” I said. “I have a map. I need you to send forces to supplement the honor guard.”
“Summon our son!” yelled the queen.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” was the reply.
“Where?” the king asked.
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sp; “Outside Veresta,” I said. I pulled the map out and thrust it at him. He moved to a desk and pulled out charts. I moved over to stand beside him. He pointed to Veresta. I pointed with my finger. “It’s about here. The Goddess is with me if we need someone to describe better than this map.”
“She’s here?”
“Holding me up. I haven’t slept in two days. We rode straight through. Get what you need from me and put me to bed.”
“Right.”
“Mother! What’s wrong?”
I turned. Prodótar stood in the doorway. “Lady Yallameenara!” He cocked his head. “Begging your pardon, but you look like you rode all day.”
“I’ve been in the saddle since before dusk yesterday,” I said. I repeated everything I’d already said. Prodótar moved over and looked at the map.
“I can leave in an hour.”
“Let’s get what information we can,” the queen said. “Learn. Think. Then act.”
“But-“
“The situation was secure,” I said. “There were ten and six soldiers plus Princess Juleena guarding ten and one prisoners, two of them children.”
“Yalla, I know you’re tired,” said the Goddess. “Tell me what they are saying.”
So I began translating but Prodótar interrupted. “The Goddess is here?” He squeaked the last word.
“Son, you just interrupted the High Priestess while she is talking to the Goddess,” said the king.
He hung his head, but I patted his hand and finished my explanation.
“I would prefer Prince Prodótar learn what he needs to know and leaves as soon as possible,” said the Goddess. “Unless waiting until the morning assures a faster arrival.”
I repeated that. Prodótar paused. “Explain the situation.”
I told him how things stood, as best I could. He nodded. “We need to fetch Alta back,” he said.
“And the Framarans should come back,” I said. “But they shouldn’t be Alta’s honor guard. She’d be perfectly safe, but the politics...”
“Politics,” Prodótar said. “And everyone is going to be tired from watching the prisoners. Mother, I’d like to bring a full troop. Thirty and six. Once I have reviewed the situation, we should have enough to hold the site secure while returning everyone here.”
“I do not want the prisoners traveling with your sister or the Framarans,” the queen said. “Bring more if you need them.”
“Forty and eight, then, if we’re dividing for the return. It’s more than I need, but security in numbers.”
“Can that group move as quickly as six?”
He paused. “Not six of the best.”
“Are you the best, Prodótar?”
He paused. “For a ride like that, yes.”
I caught the Goddess up. She said, “Yes.”
“Prodótar, you are the expert. If you left with six, with the remainder to follow behind, would you arrive significantly sooner but be in any condition to assist if necessary?”
“It takes time to ready forty and eight,” he said. “Let me send a page to start the process, then I want to know everything.”
I nodded. “Set me on a sofa, please,” I said. “Naddí and Féla are somewhere. Is my report sufficient, or do you need theirs?”
Mine was sufficient, it turned out. Prodótar sent a message, and then the three sat down opposite me. I told the whole story, start to finish, leaving only some of the details out, such as my involvement in apprehending the fleeing woman.
“The Goddess identified six, and there were two sets of vestments in their things,” I said at the end. I switched to the language of the Goddess. “I am going to formally ask them to see to justice. Or do you wish to do it?”
“It is under my authority,” she said. “We are asking together, but you are my voice.”
I nodded. “King Tradódid and Queen Mesenorié, the Goddess and I are formally asking you to see to the necessary justice. I would rather not remain behind for the trial. But if you require me so the Goddess can speak, we will delay our departure.”
“If you can remain until the prisoners arrive, I would like her to identify the six for us,” said the queen. “I am sure Captain Evestía will have seen to that, but we would like to be sure.”
“Of course,” I said. “I must remain until the rest of my party arrives, anyway, and I’m going to sleep for two days.”
The prince asked me a few more questions. Then he collected the chart and the map Captain Evestía had drawn. Finally he nodded. “I’ll find it. Does the Goddess have further directions for me?”
“Yes,” she said. “Tell him to think before he acts.”
I repeated that, and he smiled wryly. “I’ll do my best.”
“Prodótar,” said the king. “No accidents.”
“You can trust me,” he said. And then he was gone, four of us looking after him.
“I don’t know where my bed is,” I said.
“We’ll show you.”
* * * *
They let me sleep until noon, and this time I know the Goddess stayed with me. I had her on one side and both maids on the other, but I barely registered either.
I felt terrible, and from the looks, Naddí and Féla weren’t any better. They offered to bathe me, but I said, “You rode just as hard as I did. Find someone to bathe all of us. And someone tell the queen what we’re doing. Maybe she’ll join us, either in the tubs or to talk while we soak. I intend to soak until I am shriveled.”
“Food,” the Goddess said. “You must eat. All of you.”
I sighed and relayed that.
“We’ll see to it,” Féla said.
The queen did join us in the pools, and she provided two bathing attendants for each of us. It was crowded, but I didn’t mind. I begged mine to bathe me four times over, and so they did before helping me into the soaking tub.
The Goddess didn’t climb into the water, but she stayed on the outside, touching me, not speaking, just happy to be with me, and only asking what we were discussing from time to time.
“She’s really here,” the queen said. “She’s right there, over your left shoulder.”
“She is,” I said. “But she told me to enjoy this time. I’m too tired to translate back and forth. We need someone to translate to her, and then I could translate back. I’m sorry.”
“It’s all right,” the queen replied. “I have so much I want to ask, but I don’t know where to begin.”
I told the Goddess that.
“I know,” she said. “And we won’t get to it this trip. Suggest she make a list, and we can do as much as we can.” Then she paused. “I already miss you, Yalla.”
“And I miss you.”
“I would keep you here, but what you are doing in Framara is too important.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“I know. It isn’t your fault, Yalla.”
* * * *
When the queen saw how worn out Naddí and Féla were, she assigned three of the girls from the bathing chamber to see to our collective needs, “At least until those two are recovered,” she told me.
Naddí and Féla smiled at that, and I wondered if the three the queen had assigned were old enough for what I sure they had planned.
We slept more that afternoon. There was a formal dinner that evening. I received an invitation but begged permission to skip.
* * * *
By morning, all three of us felt better. And I thought also that Prodótar and his entire force would have arrived. Assuming nothing bad had happened, I’d see Juleena and Alta in another day or two. I thought Vérundia and the others might arrive today or tomorrow. But I underestimated Juleena’s determination.
The Goddess and I spent the day with the king and queen. They reviewed, it seemed, everything that had been happening in the entire country for the last two decades. I’m sure it wasn’t that bad, but it seemed like it. The Goddess listened to all of it, commenting only occasionally. When they were done, she said, “That is all very
good. I wish to know of progress in returning to friendship with Framara.”
They read the final agreement with Margaletta. The agreement required ratification from Queen Ralalta, but they felt sure the queen would agree. Then more diplomats would arrive, and humanitarian trade could resume.
When I finished the translation, the Goddess sat quietly for a long time. Finally she looked at me sadly. “This could take a decade or even grow worse.”
“I know,” I said. “I tried to get more, but there are hard feelings on both sides of the border. The Framarans blame the Altearans, and the Altearans blame the Framarans.”
“I don’t understand.”
“They were left to believe Queen Ralalta knew the truth but forbade me from traveling. And they were left to believe I committed treason and sneaked aboard the ship that kidnapped me. That has been rectified, but some people will never believe anything else.”
“But you have forgiven everyone.”
“Almost everyone,” I said. “Queen Ralalta has not, and people always look for someone to blame for every simple misery. The Framarans now all have a common enemy in the Altearans, and the Altearans feel justified to hate Ralalta and all Framarans.”
“Tell them this. I require the closest of friendship between the two countries.”
“That is our top priority, Goddess,” the queen replied.
“We must not allow this to take decades. I require steady progress.”
* * * *
Juleena and Alta arrived with my priestesses the next morning, having caught up to them on the road. Everyone was road weary, but everyone was invited to housing in the palace. “Please, Juleena,” I said. “It will help with tensions, and I need to spend time here, anyway.”
And so she accepted.
We would remain a week, which was a week longer than originally intended.
* * * *
I gave them the remainder of the day to recover. The next morning I sent Naddí and Féla with messages to Juleena and Alta inviting them to my quarters for breakfast and a meeting with my household. They arrived shortly after, Juleena first, and Alta only a few minutes later. It was a full room, as I now considered Vérundia and Hastiá as members of my household, and we were including Hálameenisha until we departed Lopéna.