Rook

by Robin Roseau

  “I’d like that,” she said. And so she stepped away but let the queen take her arm.

  I looked at the altar, caressing the words for a minute. “We’ll begin here,” I said. “We will sing a song to our Prestainamatta, and then we’ll sing another song during the walk.” I paused a moment and then nodded and began to sing. My priestesses joined me.

  We sang the song through, and then I raised my hand. Without missing a beat, I flowed into a Framaran song popular during weddings. Then I gestured, and nearly everyone else began singing with me.

  And I stepped from the altar.

  And that was when Yahamala filled me. The singers faltered, but I felt her presence. “I do hope Malta and Parmeed don’t mind if I join you,” she said to me.

  “I’m sure they won’t mind,” I replied to her before joining the singers.

  As I stepped forward, I knew I glowed.

  * * * *

  We made our way into the garden. I took one path. Larien with Parmeed took another, and Ralalta led Malta by a third. All the others picked their own paths, but soon we reformed in what would be the center of the garden. We finished the song, everyone staring at me, Malta and Parmeed closest, facing me.

  I smiled. “We seem to have one more guest.”

  “She’s here?” Malta asked.

  “She is.”

  “Please thank her for coming. We’re deeply honored.”

  I nodded and switched languages. “Malta and Parmeed are honored and thankful for your presence, Prestainamatta.”

  “Is it a long ceremony, Yalla?”

  “No. Will you be able to stay? I’m sorry. I planned it in Framaran. If Vérundia translates, will you be able to hear her?”

  “Yes, but I’d like her to hold hands with Whitarmandi and Darnisom.” I repeated that and then waited for the adjustments.

  From there, we held what was, in essence, a traditional Framaran ceremony. I spoke very little and was there more to act as a guide, and from time to time, repeat some time-honored words.

  The important part was the exchange of vows. Malta and Parmeed each had written their own, and as long as they included certain phrases, it was entirely legal and binding.

  Then there were the blessings. Lady Reese acted on behalf of Parmeed’s family. She pledged the support of the entire family and offered her personal blessing. Feerie and Ralalta represented Malta’s family. I felt that was a little sad, but Malta thanked both of them when they were done.

  It was not traditional, but I also offered a blessing. I finished, and then Yahamala asked me, “May I use you, My High Priestess?”

  “Always, Prestainamatta.”

  She filled me far more completely than she already had. And then we opened our mouth and spoke, my muddled accent entirely missing. We offered a second blessing, spoken in Her words.

  And then I felt her diminish inside me. “I don’t think I’ll be able to be this close to you for a while. If you can, come early for the winter solstice.”

  “I’ll try,” I said, a half promise. And then I felt her leave entirely, and I slumped, reaching out for a moment. Malta and Parmeed were closest, and they both stepped closer to support me.

  “Are you all right?”

  “Larien,” I said. “Translate what she said.”

  “Yalla, you didn’t have an accent.”

  “They weren’t my words,” I said. “Please translate.”

  “Our Prestainamatta blesses this union,” Larien said firmly. “She wishes you love and joy.”

  No one spoke for a minute. I was a little done in, and so I said, “Ralalta, will you finish for me?”

  “Of course, Yalla.” There was a small shuffling. Larien and Terél collected me. Ralalta took my place. She spoke for only a moment, and then she declared Malta and Parmeed fully joined.

  “Tell Vérundia to lead the song,” I said softly.

  Solstice

  I was fine, only weak. They helped me home. Juleena now had two wives to fuss at, but only for a day before I was fully back on my feet. And so life moved on.

  But within Framara, our movement grew. Word got out that Yahamala had personally attended the wedding, which I didn’t think was quite accurate, but it was close enough. Attendance during our celebration grew, even as the winter approached. I worried I had made the temple far too small. We couldn’t hold everyone during harsh weather, and I knew it wasn’t long before we would want to close off the doors.

  “We’ll be fine,” Larien told me. “If we have to, we can hold more than one celebration.”

  Juleena and I took Alta for her checkup with the doctors. The woman examined her carefully and tsked. “Is something wrong?” Juleena asked, the worry evident.

  “Nothing is wrong,” said the doctor. But she turned to look at me. “Your wife travels back and forth to Alteara with you.”

  “She has in the past.”

  “She will not this time.”

  “I’m sure the goddess will take care of her,” I replied.

  “Your goddess is not here,” said the doctor. “I am. I want Princess Lásenalta on bed rest.”

  “What?” spat the woman in question. “That’s ridiculous.”

  The doctor smiled and looked Juleena in the eye. “Bed rest. She may lift her own water glass and nothing heavier. She may take short walks, but she may not climb or descend stairs.”

  Alta began muttering in Altearan, at one point using the phrase, “my dead body.”

  The doctor turned to her calmly and replied in the same language, “Do what you’re told, or it won’t be your body that we discover is dead.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?” Alta screeched. “Are you threatening me?”

  Juleena set her hand on Alta’s arm. “Darling, she’s worried for the baby.”

  “What?”

  “Bed. Rest.” repeated the doctor firmly, speaking in Altearan. “Is there another language I should use for you to listen?”

  Alta paused then said, “No.” Her lip began to tremble. “Is our baby going to be healthy?”

  “Your baby will be fine if you do what you’re told.” The doctor turned back to Juleena and returned to speaking Framaran. “Keep her quiet and calm. Make sure she eats.”

  “I’ll feed her myself,” Juleena promised.

  “I can feed myself!” Alta complained.

  “I want to see the princess every two weeks,” declared the doctor. “I will come to you.”

  “This is ridiculous,” Alta complained.

  * * * *

  We got her home. Juleena wanted to carry her up the stairs. Alta pointed out if she was perfectly able to climb them yesterday, she could climb them today. And then she practically ran up the stairs before Juleena could carry through on her threat to carry her. Juleena caught up to her, growling, and pulled her to a stop. “Alta, stop acting out.”

  “I’m not acting out,” Alta complained. “And you’re not my mother.”

  “Alta.”

  The two looked at each other quite intently. Then Alta turned her gaze to me. “This is your fault.”

  “Probably,” I said. “You know if you don’t let Juleena fuss at you, she’s just going to get worse. You may as well decide to enjoy it instead.”

  “Ridiculous,” she muttered, but she let Juleena take her arm, and they made the remaining climb at a very sedate pace. We got her settled into bed, with Alta muttering most of the time, but then Juleena offered to rub her feet. Alta muttered once more but slipped them out from under the covers.

  Juleena flashed me a brief look of victory but sobered and set herself to work.

  It was later, while Ralalta helped to entertain one very crabby princess, that Juleena said to me, “She needs me here.”

  “I know.”

  “I can’t stand it when you leave.”

  “What you mean to say is you can’t stand it when I go There. I thought you were over that.”

  “I don’t blame the goddess.”

  “You blame
our in-laws.”

  “A little. I blame that traitorous wretch a lot more.”

  We both grew quiet until I said, “Yeah. Me too. We need to go together next summer.”

  “We will,” she replied.

  * * * *

  Our departure was bittersweet. I couldn’t stand leaving Alta, and Juleena wouldn’t let her actually see me off. Alta and I shared hugs and kisses in bed. But then she did what she always did: she took care of me. She set her hand on my cheek and said, “You’re pulled in so many ways. Wife, mother, queen’s daughter, and high priestess. I am so proud of you, Yalla. You’re doing as much as anyone can ask not for just one country, but two.”

  “I hate leaving you here, especially like this.”

  “The doctor is being silly.”

  “But you’re going to do what you’re told anyway, aren’t you?”

  “Yes, yes,” she said. She smiled. “I know I’ve complained a lot about it, but do you want to know a secret?”

  “I love secrets.”

  I offered my ear. She cupped her hands and said, “Most of the complaining is for Juleena’s benefit. Instead of worrying, she can focus on taking care of me.”

  I laughed. We kissed and hugged again, and then I stared into her eyes. Then she laughed. “This is a switch for you, going off without either of us. Are you having separation anxiety?”

  “Yes.”

  “Poor baby,” Alta replied. She caressed my cheek. “I love you so much, my lovely girl of The Hippa. Kiss Yahamala for me.”

  “I will.” I climbed from the bed, but I couldn’t leave her.

  “Go,” she said. “Go on. You’re burning daylight.”

  “Right,” I said.

  My parting with Juleena was a little easier. She was strong for both of us, although it was hard to let her release me as we hugged. But then she took my hands and looked into my eyes. “I want to tell you how proud I am of you, Yalla. There are days I remember that scared girl I took from her mother.”

  “I’m still that girl sometimes.”

  “No. I’ve never told you what I was thinking when I took you away.”

  “You were thinking your mother would be pleased if the raids stopped.”

  “I was wishing I could help more girls like you.”

  I understood right away. “Life on The Hippa is hard.”

  “Yes. But your life here hasn’t been exactly easy.”

  “It’s been good, and far better than if you hadn’t taken me away. Thank you for picking me.”

  We stared at each other, and then she dipped her head and we kissed one more time. “Stay safe,” she ordered. And then she tucked my arm in hers and led me to the head of my security detail.

  A woman turned, and Keelara smiled.

  She was wearing captain’s bars. I stepped forward and fingered them. “Congratulations. I didn’t know.” I smiled. “So this is your operation?”

  “Thank you. No. As it is explained to me, you lead us. I’m your second in command.”

  I glanced at Juleena and grinned. “Really?” I said slowly.

  Juleena returned my grin. “And that chain of command lasts until your safety is at risk.”

  I laughed. “That’s about what I thought.”

  “In fairness, that’s actually more authority than Lásenalta has ever held.”

  I smiled at that. “Well, Captain. Are your soldiers ready?”

  “Yes, High Priestess.”

  “Gather them around. I’ll say a few words, and then it’s time.”

  * * * *

  Winter travel was always slower than summer. If I didn’t hate traveling by ship so much, that would have been faster, in spite of winter storms.

  I worried about the girls, although I’d been taking them for winter rides since before they could walk. They sat their mounts as well as anyone, and the Arrlottan horses were well suited to the weather. Of course, my honor guard consisted of the cream of the palace guard, and Captain Keelara was the only one who hadn’t made this trip with me before. And so we were able to ride long and hard.

  It was mid-afternoon that first day that she pulled her horse alongside mine. “I’d forgotten this about you. You were bred to this.” But she gestured. “And apparently, so were they.”

  I flashed a grin at her. “I’m proud of the girls. How are you doing, Captain.”

  “Don’t you worry about me.”

  “That oversized mount of yours doesn’t look very comfortable, and she eats too much.” Keelara laughed. “Seriously, Captain. Wouldn’t you prefer a mount closer to your own size?”

  “I might, but I don’t speak Arrlottan.” She leaned forward and patted her mount’s neck. “Zelda and I have been together a long time.”

  “Don’t you want to fit in with my household?”

  “I fit in just fine, and if ever I need to serve a role beyond ceremonial, you’ll be glad I’m on Zelda.” She paused, and her tone changed. “How is Zana doing?”

  “Zana has a few more good years in her,” I said. I looked over at her. “A lot has happened since the last time we rode together.”

  “You were a teenager trying to spread her wings,” Keelara said. “I was a lieutenant in the guard, clipping your feathers. Now look at you.”

  “You’re still following me around, keeping me out of trouble.”

  “Some things don’t change.”

  She offered a smile, but it was pained. So I reached over squeezed her arm. “I was being petulant.”

  “And I was being heavy-handed, which was entirely the wrong approach. You were more in the right than I was.” She shrugged. “You made me think about the entire custom.”

  “Ten and eighth birthday?”

  “Yes. When you’re born to something, you don’t necessarily question it.”

  “Ralalta and Juleena told me that most people don’t truly understand the custom. I can’t say I do, even now. Did you reach any conclusions?”

  “Conclusions? Only that my understanding had been flawed.”

  “And now?”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “We’re past that, Keelara,” I said. “Long past that.” I flashed a smile. “Do you wish you’d waited another few months before asking to join these expeditions?”

  She laughed. “I think the fact we’re riding into an Altearan winter may be why I was able to secure this post.”

  “I’m sure your qualifications had nothing to do with it.”

  “I’m not the only available person with the qualifications for this job,” she said. “It’s easy enough work.”

  “Until it isn’t,” I replied.

  “No one is going to harass this troop,” she said.

  “I imagine not,” I agreed. “I used to resent the guards. I felt like it was such a waste of their time, and frankly, we’re slower than I would like us to be.”

  “It sounds like some of that remains a current complaint, but you said you used to resent the guards, implying you don’t any longer.”

  “Having them along when I need to flex my muscles has helped.”

  “And there was that one mission, seeing to what had happened to one of your priestesses.”

  “And that,” I agreed. “How much do you know?”

  “About muscles and the past flexing thereof?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’ve read the reports and talked to, well, pretty much everyone. Except you,” she said, her eyes narrowing. “How could I have forgotten to talk to you?”

  “I’m small and easily overlooked,” I said with a grin. “So if I need to flex my muscles?”

  “Then you flex,” she said. “And if I need to keep you safe, I will do what I must. Will you fight me?”

  “I’d say ‘no’ now, but I don’t know. Keelara, it’s not just me you must keep safe, and I’m talking about more than my daughters.”

  “That I understand,” she said with a nod.

  I gestured with a nod. “Malta is more important than I am.”


  “I’m not sure that’s true,” Keelara said. “Malta doesn’t know it, but she and Parmeed have a small squad devoted to them, if it becomes necessary. High Priestess, do you have any special abilities I might care to know about?”

  “Yahamala is not a war god,” I replied. “And I won’t apologize for that.”

  “I wouldn’t want you to. So you can ride, and your daughters, although not as well.”

  “Not as well,” I agreed. “I mourn that, but I don’t mourn that we are raising them here rather than The Hippa.”

  * * * *

  We were lucky. While we encountered snow and cold, we didn’t face any actual blizzards. Parmeed and Malta had it the worst, being unfamiliar with the weather, but no one complained, or at least not in my hearing.

  Eventually we reached the base of the Heart of the Goddess. My heart was filled with joy at the sight, and I wanted nothing but to urge Zana, but that would have been a mistake. Instead, as I always did, I drew my troop into a circle, each of us still mounted.

  “We’ll make camp,” Keelara announced. “You may ascend in the morning if there isn’t too much snow.”

  I laughed. “Captain Keelara, neither the Framaran or Altearan soldiers typically ascend to the home of our Prestainamatta. However, you and Captain Evestía may both climb with us, if you like. I cannot promise she won’t send you right back down, however.”

  Captain Evestía nodded to me but then grinned before turning to look at Keelara. The Altearan had a better understanding of what would happen than the Framaran.

  “Lady Yallameenara,” Keelara said. “The shadows are long, and the footing appears treacherous.”

  “Zana knows the route by heart,” I said. “I bet about now you wish you’d accepted my offer of a more agile mount. Keelara, you can try fighting about this, but She knows we’re here, and She is waiting.”

  “Captain,” Evestía said, and then nothing more.

  Keelara muttered under her breath but then nodded.

  “Very good,” I said. “Parmeed, I want you to leave your mount here. Hamper is fresh for you.”

  “I’m perfectly fine aboard Clitus,” she replied.

  “Clitus is a fine mount,” I declared. “But he is not bred for the mountains.”

  “And that monster of the captain’s is? Furthermore, I haven’t heard of mountains on the steppes of Garneer.”