by Ako Emanuel
Tokia looked nonplused at having her carefully woven logic torn to shreds. And there was something else, a flicker of something white hot, a screened, smoldering rage perhaps. Then her features snapped into a totally different expression, one begging indulgence, as if they had not been discussing something else just a moment before.
“Sister Doan - I believe that we can be useful to each other.” She paused, and Soku wondered just how she would phrase her petition to be admitted into the pending Yakan’tsu. Seeing, that is, that Soku had never really admitted to one existing. She could not prevaricate and say that there was not, nor would there ever be one - to sunder the truth was without honor. She could only do as she had, not admitting to its existence.
“The possibility has been raised that you perhaps seek to amalgamate some of our Lesser Sisters into a Yakan’tsu that would have control over their own cross-Territory Trade, and set up networks across the Queendoms. That is not so very different from my own goals - however that I went about trying to achieve mine the wrong way.” She sounded properly contrite, but Soku was not fooled. She had not rescinded the challenge nor made reparations for the damage she had caused; indeed she tried even more diligently to bring others to her banner. That was, in part, what this meeting was all about. “An agglomeration of our causes would greatly strengthen and broaden each, in a mutually beneficial relationship that has no draw-backs that I see - that is, if you do go to petition such a thing. If not, there is no reason why you should not now.”
Soku wanted to laugh. Tokia had abandoned all subtlety and was being as direct as protocol permitted. And then an insight came to Soku of why Tokia might desire this union so much. If the High Queen approved Soku’s plan, then it would have a legitimate base. And if it joined with Tokia’s, then Tokia and her cause would share that legitimacy, which might be of use in the future. The thought chilled Soku. If any others were to ally with Tokia, and bring her into a Yakan’tsu that won approval, then she would be twice as powerful and influential in her cause as she was now. Such a thing could not be permitted.
“And - what have you to offer - if I were to bring about such a petition - that could convince me to let you - with your present standing - merger with any cause I might advocate?” She permitted herself to be more direct than she normally would be, since Tokia had set the precedent.
A flicker of confusion crossed the other’s face, as if she had already made the offer, and Soku had missed it. Then realization dawned on Tokia. Power evidently was not the type of bait Soku preferred.
“Connections,” she said bluntly, on uncertain ground. A very bad place to be when negotiating any type of deal. “Concessions. Financial backing.”
Soku remained silent. These were the offers of one whose original bid had not made the easy hook expected. Tokia made several other offers, growing more and more prodigious until she was to the point of asking Soku what she wanted. No, subtlety definitely was not her strong suit.
“Sister Ottanu - ours has never Traded with yours, but the reputation of the Ottanu precedes you. Each has her own way of business, as well one might; each differs, and truly, what would Trade be without diversity? But some ways of business do not go well with others; those that conduct business and Trade one way may not wish to collocate with another of some other way. As you see, our paths, before now, have never crossed... and would not have, except for your coming here.” There, let her chew on that. Soku had effectively told Tokia that if the Doan were to form such an alliance, it would be composed of those Queens who conducted business and Trade similar to the way the Doan did. And that those Queens, like Soku, would be abhorrent to let one who conducted affairs the way the Ottanu did into their midst. She watched Tokia chew that over, the barest flickers of emotion flowing over the Ottanu Queen’s face. To Soku, those flickers shouted rage, outrage, and a deep, driving need to win Soku over.
“Sister -” it was not quite a growl, “think of how strong we would be! We would have the wealth and power to write our own laws and destinies with such overwhelming change upon us! We would be able to weather the final throes of Ava’dan and emerge as the new powers that be. Think, Sister! We are masters of Trade; there are those of us that surpass the Greater Queens in skill and oath-claim, but are constrained to our lot by laws and tradition! Together we could redraw the boundaries to our liking! All that we could want and ask for is there for the taking!”
Soku narrowed her eyes, showing her disapproval of Tokia’s words and her unseemly display of passionate emotion.
“Sister, what you say borders on treason,” she said coldly. “I will forget that you uttered these words in my presence.” Then she let her face soften, as though being charitable. “Sister,” she said, sounding truly contrite, “I do not think we will be able to do business.” It was a formal closing of all talks of Trade or any other thing until Soku lifted the edict. Tokia’s face went stiff and she formally rose out of respect, bowed. Soku rose also and bowed in return, and gratefully took her leave of the lain.
the turning of light was long, endless...
The turn had been long, and it was still not over.
Audola sighed as yet another server entered and bowed, representing yet another petitioner. She looked at the name and nodded acceptance.
It was the Doan. Remembering the last in a series of discreet notes, she perked up, interest piqued.
A terminus appeared. Soku stepped out of the av’tun, dressed in her finest wrap, the coral silk embroidered with the crest of the Doan Tribe along the hem in gold and studded with chips of opal and amethyst and red jadine. The audience chamber was simple and elegant, with creamy marble walls and a rich blue floor with swirling, abstract cream designs, covered with a fine rug that held two thrones of pillows. The High Queen awaited her, standing before one of the piles of sumptuous cushions.
Soku spread her arms wide and bowed very low, a bow of profound respect, almost to the point of genuflection. The High Queen and the Av’rujo were viewed as demi-goddesses; and here, alone with Audola, the High Queen’s presence commanded complete respect. Even Tokia would have been cowed.
“Rise, Daughter,” the voice of the High Queen said, also awesome in its quiet power.
Soku straightened, though she kept her head lowered.
“Sit,” her matriarch invited, gesturing to the place prepared for her. The Lesser Queen bowed her thanks, settled onto the plump, firm cushions across from her monarch. Servants scurried out to place low tables of fine golden malogan and ele’bon before the two Queens and lay out refreshments on platters of delicate porcelain. Honeyed gulu fruit juice was ceremoniously poured into small, handle-less cups.
“Peace and light, “ Audola intoned, holding the ritual cup in both hands.
“Peace and light,” Soku replied, imitating her superior. They drank as one, set the cups aside. “How fare you and yours?” Soku began, because of her lesser rank.
Audola reclined into the pillows at her back, looking relaxed and yet still in composed, alert correctness, her body betraying nothing.
“I and mine fare well, Daughter. How fare you and yours?” By Audola’s hand Soku glimpsed her note.
“I and mine fare well, Mother Queen,” she answered.
“You have said that your heart is without peace,” Audola remarked, delicately picking up the folded papi’ras. She used Soku’s words.
“Yes Av’One,” Soku replied, looking down at her hands. “It is.”
“Of what do you wish to speak, Daughter?”
Soku felt her mouth go dry. She had rehearsed her opening line all afterzen, and now it seemed all wrong, clumsy and ignorant in the face of such sophistication.
She poured herself a small sip of juice, knowing that her actions were transparent to the High Queen. But she needed to gather her thoughts.
“Mother Queen, I have come to speak to you on behalf of some of my Lesser Sisters and myself.” She drew forth the proposal and carefully laid it before her on the table. “The cross-Te
rritory Trade has long been held by the Greater Queens,” she said by way of opening. “Some of my Lesser Sisters and I feel that it is time for this to change, Av’One. We feel that we should be allowed to form an inter-Realm coalition that enables us to export directly to any lon within the Realm, without the use of any intermediary from the Center’lons. We formally petition the authorization to reserve this right and to establish Trade ports through which any in our coalition may export goods and services.” She ceremoniously inclined her head and presented the petition.
The High Queen took the scroll of papi’ras. Soku held still, her eyes locked on the table surface as though mesmerized by its gleam, as the other read through the proposal.
“This is a - most interesting proposition,” the High Queen said finally, putting the scroll down and turning eyes that seemed to be black, liquid fire back to the Border’lon Queen. “There is more here than meets the eye.”
Soku let out a breath she had not been aware of holding.
“Yes,” she answered.
“Tell me more of what is not written here, Daughter,” Audola said, clearly showing interest.
“Av’One, I have come to make you aware of certain matters that have been brought to my attention,” she said, unsure how to approach this somewhat delicate topic.
“We may be informal here, Soku. You may be as candid as you wish.”
Soku knew that the High Queen was trying to put her at ease and that made it a little better. Still, though, she hesitated.
“Av’One, I am not quite certain how to broach this tactfully...”
“Soku,” Audola sat forward, speaking in a low, calm voice, “here and now we are Sisters. You may say your piece without fear.”
“Av’One, I am here to talk of Tokia,” Soku plunged. The words came out in a controlled rush. “I have met with her and gleaned as much of her plans as I could without arousing suspicion. Many of my Sister Queens have also met with her and we have collaborated to compare thoughts. I came to inform you of our findings.”
Audola sat back, her face grave at Soku’s words. “Speak on, Sister.”
“We believe that Tokia plans to undercut your power, Av’One. She means to use the rumors of Turo’dan to unite the smaller Tribes of the Weste and the Este and the Norae behind her spear. Then she plans to directly challenge the Heir, who will by then be High Queen, to gain influence, perhaps even usurp the Throne.” And she repeated, to the best of her ability, the exchange between the Ottanu Queen and herself and reports from other Queens who had been approached.
“And Tokia plans to start with the smallest Tribes and the least of the Lesser Queens,” Audola said, finally.
Soku nodded. “It is my belief that she plans to play on the weakness of their positions, Av’One. Many of the Lesser Queens feel their voices should have more weight. They believe themselves to be the first line of Ava’Lona’s defense against the Hordes of the Lora’Lons. Tokia has been convincing them that they should stand above the Greater Queens now, using this as her argument. She plays upon their pride and skill in Trade. And they believe her. Even though she is in disgrace, still there are those who will support her. She believes that she offers them bait they cannot resist: power. More power than they will ever have under the present system. If they all united into one large Tribe, they’ll believe that they will have the power to challenge the High Throne - they may even think that they can challenge the Av’rujo.”
Audola did not immediately comment, but took a bite of guava cheese and a sip of juice. She set her cup down with measured intent.
“You are a Border Weste Queen also,” she said slowly, her eyes hard as old bone. “Do you feel this way?”
“No, Av’One. I am loyal to you.” Soku did her best to sound sincere. She bowed her head. “I am only a minor Queen, of a very small Tribe. I and mine do not wish to be caught in the intrigues of the more powerful, nor do any of the other Queens in my position. But we are given no choice - for after Ava’Lona, my first duty is to my lon and my Tribe. For their preservation, and the preservation of Ava’Lona do I come forward now. We cannot afford even the notion of civil war at a time such as this.”
“And you are so sure of Tokia’s intentions?”
Soku went tense with trepidation - she had not expected the High Queen to question her conclusions. Perhaps the High Queen did not see the situation as cause for concern? Or perhaps she had some other plans already impending to stop Tokia? Or perhaps Audola just did not like the fact that the loyalty of one Queen had been called into question by another, or the fact that it implied that her position as High Queen was not as secure as she might like?
The question could mean anything, and nothing in the High Queen’s demeanor hinted as to what. Soku took a sip of her juice, set the cup down, deciding to make her approach more cautious.
“Mother Queen, I can only report what I have seen and heard and concluded,” she said in a soft, carefully neutral voice. “These are my personal observations of the situation, and on advice from my Voice, I have brought this information to your attention. I can make no incontestable claims of any of these things, but I am as reasonably sure of my observations as I can possibly be without using more direct methods.”
“And you felt it necessary to request this very clandestine and private lorn to tell me of these observations.” Audola raised an eyebrow, making it a question to be answered.
“I felt it necessary to make you aware of things that I observe and suspect might endanger our domain, however unfounded, Av’One. This is my first duty as it is the first duty of all Queens.”
The High Queen studied her appraisingly.
“You speak as one walking a fine line, Soku,” she observed.
A sigh escaped the Doan Queen. “I do walk a fine line, Av’One. Tokia is a very real threat, not just to you, but to me and others like me. In her rush for power she will either absorb or annihilate Tribes smaller or weaker than hers. She can make living on the Border a death-trap, because life out on the Border can be very difficult. Sometimes one must rely heavily on one’s neighbors for continued existence, especially through lean times and times of drought or pestilence or plague. Earning the enmity of those neighbors is to consign one’s Tribe to a slow and painful demise. And if Tokia succeeds in uniting the smaller Tribes, I and mine don’t stand a chance. Any who oppose her will be eradicated.” Soku stopped before she began repeating herself. She had used most of her arguments, and the High Queen still did not seem convinced.
“Then why did you not choose to join her?” the High Queen asked mildly, her head tilted quizzically.
“I am loyal to the High Crown,” she said calmly, though her hands gripped the lap table so hard that veins stood forth. “To oppose the High Queen is unthinkable... it is an affront to the Goddesses and the Supreme One. It would shame my ancestors as they sit at Shalgo’s right hand and turn the heart of the Doan to dust that sees nothing but darkness. I would sacrifice my Tribe and my Family and all of their lons in the preservation of the Realm and its rightful ruler.”
Their eyes locked and it seemed to Soku that the High Queen weighed her very soul. Then finally she sighed and sat back. “I believe you and your loyalty.” She seemed to drop all formality. “The situation is as grave as you assessed,” she said, the tiniest bit of fatigue showing. “The information you bring is invaluable to us, and I thank you Sister. Now that we have some idea of Tokia’s aims we can set about stopping her.” Audola looked at her expectantly. Soku felt her heart lift.
“And that is the real reason behind my proposed plan, Av’One. It will be a safe-haven for those who would rather not be coerced into Tokia’s cause, but have not the will or skill to stand against her. And it would undercut her claims to power, by giving the Lesser Queens more power and control over their Trade. They would flock to our cause, even if Tokia managed to convince them of their supposed inferiority. And I believe we can accomplish two other goals at once. At this time I believe that the voices of the
Border Queens are rather important, if we are to cut the numbers of our enemies from the Lora’Lons down with as little Ava’Lona blood lost as possible. The Border Queens know their territories - this could work to our advantage.” Soku drew a breath. “I propose that we do the same thing Tokia is trying to do: unify the Border Queens, in the form of an advisory war council to the High Queen. Let all the Queens, Lesser and Greater, become the Warru Firsts of their territories, and the Heir, then High Queen, be Warru Supreme. We can pull Tokia’s structure from under her, and repair the impending rift between all of the Queens. I suggest that we begin somewhat covertly, so that Tokia will not have time to prepare a counter campaign.”
Audola nodded, considering her idea. “Your plan has merit,” she said. “Yes, I think we can use your plan.” She looked at the proposal. “I shall discuss this with my Voices; but I believe that we can ‘do business,’ Sister.” She smiled.
“I shall take leave of you, then, Sister, in order that you may consider my offer. And I am glad that we could do business together, Av’One,” she said, by way of traditional reply, mirroring the other’s smile.
Audola nodded, “You are excused, Sister. I shall take your plan to my advisors for refinement, and I shall call upon you again.” Audola rose. Soku followed suit. She spread her arms and bowed in farewell to the High Queen. Audola inclined her head, spread her arms.