Men even stood out on the same cliffs and islands raising cups and flagons as the ship passed by. One man held a smiling and laughing young girl (bare breasted, of course) and shouted, “I’ll give you my fortune to marry my daughter!”
This continued as the ship sailed slowly for hours along the shores of the massive city. The music played on and the fireworks preceded and followed until the ship came near a large island in the deepest curve of the crescent. It was, at least five miles off the mainland and was shrouded in a thin mist until the ship came closer. A huge palace stood on the island with tall walls and towers. Banners waved in the wind along the battlements and a huge red flag with the emblem of the golden chalice rose from behind the walls. As the ship came closer, a white banner unfolded across the large gate in the center of the walls that read, “Welcome Kenner” in letters that appeared to be written in gold paint.
When the ship pulled into the dock, hundreds of men and women came running all screaming wildly. This sight disturbed Kenner and seemed to frighten even the mighty Shela who appeared to try and hide behind him. Children bearing flowers flooded the docks, all cheering and calling Kenner’s name.
“I’d say they’re happy to see you.” Terri said dryly.
The gangplank went down and Kenner and Terri followed the Captain and Darner down to the dock. Dozens of children with their flowers approached and surrounded Kenner and Terri. When Shela reached the bottom of the plank, most of the children backed away, but one little girl with curly blonde hair approached the big cat and held out a single small flower. Shela lowered her head to where her nose almost touched the child. She sniffed at her and pushed her head gently against the little girl who giggled.
“That is disgustingly cute.” Terri said.
Coming from the palace, Kenner and Terri heard the sound of drums approaching. They looked toward the sound and saw dozens of red banners on staffs held high and marching toward them. As the banners drew closer, the dense crowd around them parted like waves and Kenner could see the drummers, mostly children and youth with soldiers in leather armor the same scarlet color as the banners. Just behind them, barely visible, Kenner caught sight of the glint of gold and the hint of a blade. The drumming grew to an almost deafening noise in perfect rhythm as the procession drew nearer. Just before reaching Kenner and his company, the drummers and soldiers parted to set positions like a curtain drawing itself open. Two men in bright red and smart uniforms came close enough to Kenner as if almost being able to touch him. The bowed and then parted to opposite sides and then the drumming stopped.
Then stepping up to Kenner was a woman with fiery red hair under a three-cornered hat. She had bright, blue eyes like jewels and despite being short had a confident stance like she was standing on top of a mountain and smiling like she owned the world. Kenner looked to what she was holding in her right hand and his jaw dropped in awe. It was a spear that looked to be made of pure gold.
“As a matter of fact, this is the Golden Spear.” She said in a confident, friendly voice. “And it’s all mine.”
She stepped up to Kenner and threw her arms around him as if she’d known him all his life.
“Welcome to Sheyron!” She announced.
The crowd around her then erupted in cheers.
Chapter Twenty One
The short woman with the red hair led the procession back toward the palace with Kenner and his company following. The crowd continued to cheer and rain flowers on to Kenner, Terri and Shela. It was almost like snow, but the air was warm and moist like a perfect spring day. The high winds whistled over Kenner and pulled on his hair. Marching behind the woman, they approached the palace whose large, oak doors opened wide to receive them.
Behind the walls was a large building like a great house of a rich and noble family. It was mostly stone, like the outer walls, but the masonry was much more ornate and detailed. There were images of faces, ships of all designs and sizes, depictions of scenes with ships and sea monsters all etched into the walls. There were hundreds of large windows, both arched and square on the huge façade leading up to a piqued and sloping roof. Statues of men and women in grand poses stood on a ledge and on top of the roof was the tall flagpole with the huge flag waving gracefully in the wind.
There were what appeared to be soldiers on both sides of a stone path leading to the doors of the inner palace. Their uniforms consisted of scarlet frock coats with brass buttons on the lapels of both sides. They wore white trousers and highly polished leather boots. Some that Kenner assumed to be officers wore long, thin bladed swords with ornately designed hand guards and hilts (some appearing to be made of gold) and sheathed in equally highly polished leather on their sides. At the large doors of the palace were two men, as large as the giants guarding the throne room in Kallesh who pulled the doors open as the procession approached and passed within.
Kenner and Terri were amazed by what they saw just inside the doors. A long hallway with a polished marble floor was flanked by mirrors that ascended from the floor to the ceiling. Above them, a glass ceiling allowed the bright sunshine to pour down from above, filling the room with light brighter than the outside. The woman led them slowly down the hall where men and women lined both sides of the marble floor. The men were wearing suits of coats, waistcoats, frills coming from the cuffs of the jackets and sticking out under the vests, buttons made of brass, silver and some seeming to be made of gold. Some were wearing knee length white socks with shoes having large buckles. Others were wearing the same polished boots as the soldiers outside.
The women were wearing brightly colored dresses that were tight around the chests and waists, but with billowing skirts that fell to the floor. Neither Kenner nor Terri recognized the fabric, though. It appeared thinner than cotton or wool and had a soft sheen to it. They all wore jewelry of gold, silver and gems. Some of the stones, such as emeralds and amethyst Kenner and Terri recognized. But there were also stones of deep purple and bright blue that the sunlight seemed to dance off of. And there were diamonds. Kenner had only ever seen a diamond once in his life and knew them to be the rarest of stones. But here, he seemed to be surrounded by them. The men bowed and the women did a strange movement in which their whole body went down while their heads bowed, but their backs remained straight.
Terri felt as if she had entered a strange and frightening world that didn’t make any sense. The men and women she saw around her looked like the humans she knew from the world she came from; but their dress and manner were so different, they seemed like strange new creatures she was seeing for the very first time.
Terri pinched Kenner on his butt.
“Ow! What the hell was that for?”
“I wanted to make sure you weren’t dreaming.” She answered him.
Two more large men stood on either side of another large door; this one appearing to be covered in red velvet. They opened the door and another room opened up before them. It was a circular room with, what looked like the same velvet covering the floor as the door they had just passed through. (Why cover the floor in velvet, Terri wondered?) Surrounding the room were walls filled with books on shelves and large windows flooding the room with light. There were plush chairs and couches all around the room, but all facing inward and toward one chair larger than the others.
Kenner looked around and saw that only a few men and women from the hallway had followed into the room. A man dressed in a military style uniform motioned Kenner and Terri to two chairs near the largest one and they both began to sit, but then noticed that everyone else seemed to be standing at attention. The woman with the red hair and Golden Spear looked around confidently as if surveying property and then sat grandly in her chair. As all the others also sat, Kenner and Terri followed suit. Shela passed by a couch with two very nervous looking women and a chair with a man wearing a disdainful, but still fearful expression.
“Madam,” He said to the woman holding the Spear, “Since when have we allowed wild animals inside the palace?”
Shela growled at him and he leaned back frightfully in his chair. The woman who was now clearly in charge (to Kenner and Terri) smiled.
“Relax Edum,” She said in a bright and energetic voice. “She hasn’t bitten anyone’s leg off or pooped on their fancy dress; so I’d say she’s probably tamer than anyone in here.”
The men and women all laughed, sounding as if they were obligated to. The woman with the Spear then looked to Kenner.
“I’m assuming you are Kenner?” She said to him.
“I am.” He answered cautiously.
“Allow me to introduce myself. I am Janna…Admiral Janna of the great nation of Sheyron.”
Kenner bowed slightly.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you Janna…”
“It is customary to refer to the Admiral as Madam.” Edum said rudely. Shela growled at him again and then lay on the floor next to Kenner.
“Oh for goodness sake, Edum,” Janna reproached him. “Do you not know who these people are? The rather delicious looking young man there is Kenner, the bearer of the Black Sword and future King of the land Kingdoms. And his very tasty looking companion over there, I’m assuming is Terri, the wielder of the Blackwood Bow.”
“Why thank you, Janna,” Terri said. “You’re looking mighty tasty yourself.”
“How rude!” A woman seated close to Edum exclaimed.
“Lighten up, Tella. Just because you don’t have any fun, doesn’t mean I can’t.”
Once again, the men and women in rich clothing laughed as if obliged to.
Janna then turned to Kenner again.
“I think I know one thing that you’re thinking right now.” She said to him.
“This should be interesting.” He answered
“I bet you were expecting the Admiral of Sheyron to be a man, weren’t you?”
“Would I be in trouble if I said yes?”
“Of course not. I know what the history books say. Faraday made three men and one woman rulers of this continent and for five hundred years, it’s been sort of expected by most that it stay that way. But I don’t remember Faraday creating any law that said that it had to.”
Kenner thought there was something curious about the way she said “Continent” instead of “World”. A voice from the back of the room then spoke up.
“The Sacred Chronicles of the Lady say that the head of no woman should be higher than any man’s.”
Everyone turned to look. An older, large man wearing a solid, black suit and having long, white hair stepped out from behind a chair and stood facing directly opposite the Admiral. Kenner and Terri both noticed a tension build around the room.
“It’s a good thing I’m short, then isn’t it?” Janna answered him.
The men and women began to laugh again, but the older man interrupted them.
“This is no laughing matter, Madam. Your rule here is an affront to the Holy Scriptures and the will of the Lady. You bring shame upon this realm and tempt the wrath of the spirits. I implore you again as I have many times before to step down and give the Spear to a man before it is too late.”
“Well, you certainly don’t waste any time, do you Tulles?” She asked the man.
“Madam, I speak only for the good of this…”
“Kenner and Terri,” Janna interrupted him, “Allow me to introduce Captain Tulles; one of the more opinionated members of The Council of Captains.”
“You can ignore me as much as you want, Madam, but the fact remains…”
“The fact remains that we have guests,” Edum said angrily and cutting him off. “And this is not the Council floor.”
The old man then made a dramatic gesture of raising his arm toward Kenner as if pleading with him.
“My Lord, Kenner,” He began to say. “As the Great Lady has blessed you with the Black Sword, surely you are here to set right the wrongs of this nation.” He then dropped to his knees. “Oh ye who bares the holiest of relics of The Lady, I pray you have mercy on us poor sinners.”
Kenner couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
“I know you’re not talking to me.” He said incredulously.
Still on his knees, Tulles extended his hands toward Kenner as if praying directly to him.
“I know it is your holy mission to strike down the wicked who have defiled the sacred laws of the Lady, but I beg you. Spare the faithful subjects of The Lady who have kept her commandments. Use your wisdom to choose a worthy hand to bear the Holy Spear and lead our nation in this time of strife.”
Nearly paralyzed with disbelief, Kenner looked around at a room where all eyes seemed to be set on him; all except Edum who’s head was bowed, his eyes closed and he was gently rubbing his forehead as if in pain. Looking at Janna, Kenner saw an expression that seemed to be saying, “Well?” Terri, of course was fighting back laughter.
“I think the Spear’s in pretty good hands at the moment.” Kenner finally said.
“There!” Janna yelped. “That’s settled. The bearer of the Black Sword has spoken.”
She then tapped the Spear and two guards came in and tried to help Tulles to his feet.
“But my gracious Lord!” Tulles pleaded with Kenner, “You are the answer to our prayers. You have come to bring righteousness to a corrupt and decadent realm.”
“No I haven’t.” Kenner answered him.
“It’s time for you to leave now.” Janna said to Tulles. “If you don’t go of your own free will, I’m going to have to have these nice gentlemen drag you out…again.”
“But my Lord…”
The two guards put their hands under the old man’s shoulders, but he wrestled away from them and leapt at Kenner’s feet. He grabbed Kenner’s ankles and began kissing his boots. The guards pulled him off of Kenner, pulled Tulles to his feet and then hurried him out of the room.
“Please tell me you arranged that for our entertainment.” Kenner said, still bewildered.
He then looked over at Shela who seemed to be saying with her eyes and face, “What just happened?”
“I wish I could say I did.” Janna sighed.
“I don’t know why you tolerate him.” Edum said to Janna, still rubbing his forehead.
“Because he’s still a member of the Council and therefore entitled to speak his mind; until he gets on my nerves, that is.”
“That’s the problem with you liberals. You’re far too tolerant.”
“And you conservatives have no sense of humor.”
After that, the Admiral and her entourage took Kenner and Terri on a brief tour of the palace. There were long hallways with large windows, like they had seen leading to the library they had just left opposite walls that were filled with brightly colored paintings of animals, dramatic scenes with ships at sea; Kenner recognized Kallesh in one painting and even one depicting a boat going down a river with its banks flanked by black trees. There were statues of men and women in stone and bronze; plants and flowers; there were even tables upon which sat fruit, dried meats, cheeses and glasses of wine that Janna and others would occasionally pick from as they passed by. All of this was lit by the bright sunshine flooding the corridors.
Down another corridor and opposite the windows were paintings of men and women (mostly men) in grand dramatic poses and all wearing similar military uniforms as Janna.
“This is the hall of the Admirals.” She said proudly. “Every man and woman who has ever sat at the head of the Admiral’s Table is set here for eternity. While their bodies turn to dust, their images remain just as handsome and beautiful as the days that they ruled…except this one,” She said pointing at one. “This one’s ugly as sin.”
The floors of every corridor were the same marble and all polished almost to look almost like glass. Men and women in uniform stood at intervals of about every twenty feet of the corridors and all snapped to attention as the processes passed in front of them.
“Couldn’t help but notice that you seem to have women in your military, as well as men.” Terri observed.
“Oh absolutely,” Janna answered. “We deny no one the privilege of serving their country.”
“Though never in positions that might directly endanger their lives.” Edum added as if a reminder.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Terri questioned. There was something about the way Edum said it that she wasn’t comfortable with.
“Edum is still of the belief that women should be barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen.” Janna said with a grin.
“You know that’s not true, Madam. My wife is a serving officer in the fleet.”
“Her position is in administration and she’s never served on a ship.”
“That’s so she can be mother to our children, Madam. There is no higher calling for any woman.”
“If Edum had his way,” Janna said to Terri, “No woman would ever step foot on a ship.”
“Every woman that dies at sea means more children that won’t be born.”
“And men, of course have nothing to do with the birth of children?” Terri asked him sarcastically.
“The soil brought forth women to bring forth children.” Edum answered.
“Now you’re starting to sound like Tulles.” Janna teased.
“He’s not completely wrong, Madam. He simply takes his theology a bit too far.”
“So should women stay at home and only be wives and mothers?” Terri pressed him.
“It is a higher calling that we men are not worthy.” He answered. “The fact that they can fulfill other destinies only continues to prove that women are blessed above men.”
Janna giggled and whispered in Terri’s ear, “He’s probably been rehearsing that one for years.”
The Black Sword Trilogy: The Four Nations Page 11