It was time to begin making changes.
To that end, Keritanima stood on her dais, commanding everyone to rise. The satchel of papers stood beside her throne, guarded carefully by Azakar, and Jervis and Miranda stood behind her calmly. Both of them now fully knew what she had planned. It nearly gave Jervis a stroke, but in the end, he had to agree that what she was doing was probably better for Wikuna than the status quo. The court was populated with the rulers of the noble houses, but also in attendance was the mayor of Wikuna and many commoner individuals of the city with rank, influence, and learning. They needed to be here to understand what was about to happen, to explain things to those Wikuni not as well versed in political science, and to begin making the preparations to start shifting to the new order of things.
"I'm sure all of you have an idea of what we're doing here," she began. "You know that I'm nothing like what you expected, and half of you are probably wondering why you ever backed me in the first place. Well, be assured that you're going to hate me when you leave here today. Azakar, the satchel," she ordered, turning to the large human. He handed her the leather bag, and she opened it and withdrew a single piece of parchment.
"Before we begin with the very wild material, I have a few decrees. Firstly, and most importantly, the Noble exemption against taxation is hereby repealed. Nobles will have to pay their fair share of tax to support the kingdom, just as the common man does."
That caused one side of the room to go up in flames. There was a great deal of shouting and anger, and not a few swords were partially drawn. But the Vendari lining the walls raised their weapons and moved from their positions, instantly quelling the outburst. "We are exempt from tax because we are subject to the crown!" one noble shouted. "Our tax is paid with the men we have to provide to you during times of war!"
"I don't see us in any wars at the moment, Baron," Keritanima said calmly. "A great deal of the hostility that exists in the common population is based in the fact that the nobility dominates trade, because they don't have to pay taxes. It prevents the common man from making something of himself and keeps him in his place, when he would be much happier and much more productive if he were given the chance of pursuing his dreams. Just go walk along the docks, my noblility, and count the ships. You'll find that nearly all of them are owned by noble houses. Then go for a walk in the common sections of the city, and see the starving children, the worn shacks that so many of our people have to live in. All the wealth we bring in is held by an elite few, whom I can't have help pay for running this kingdom. That changes, effective right now. From this day forth, all citizens of Wikuna, even me, must pay the same taxes. In return for that, the requirement of providing arms and soldiers to fight for the crown is hereby waived. So you have no reason now to object to being taxed," she said flintily to the gathered people.
"Things here in our homeland have become fractured, my people," she said. "There's a rift between the nobility and the common population, a rift that will cause a violent revolution if we don't do something about it. And it's about time that all of you realized that this kingdom isn't here simply to make you rich and provide you with cheap labor to make you richer. The nobility has to get more in touch with the needs and the desires of the people who make up this kingdom, the common man and woman. If all of you don't recall, the crown and the nobility is here to provide for the people, not to use the people for its own ends! All of you have become blinded by your greed to the real needs and issues that confront our kingdom. You don't see the people starving in the streets because you're too busy counting your coins. You don't hear their cries for help because you're too busy plotting to gain even more power and wealth. Well, I have some very bad news for you. All that is going to stop, and it's going to stop now." She opened the satchel and withdrew a single parchment, then held it up for them to see.
"This is our new constitution," she declared loudly. "I've made some copies so you can read it and understand where it goes. For a few thousand years now, the power in Wikuna has rested in the throne and in the nobility. This constitution is going to change that order significantly. The crown and the nobility will still hold some power, but they will have to share it with the common population."
That created an instant storm of grumbling, gasps, and not a few shouts from the assembled nobility, but the looming threat of the Vendari prevented another outburst. "I did not give anyone permission to speak!" Keritanima boomed, making everyone quiet down. "This kingdom has suffered under the oppressive rule of my family for nearly five hundred years, and we've become less than we could be because of it. This constitution," she said, holding it out, "will create a new system where the crown will share power with a parliament, a congress of individuals consisting of both nobles and commoners. The crown will surrender some power to this parliament, and the parliament will have the ability to override the crown when necessary. This new system will require any new law to pass through parliament, where both the nobles and the commoners have to agree to its merit, and then it comes to me for final approval. This system will give everyone, commoner, noble, and monarch alike, an equal say in what laws govern our nation. The injustice that exists now will end, because the common man will now have the power to prevent or strike down a law that creates that injustice, or pass a new law that corrects it."
That created dead silence. The concept of a shared power system was totally alien to noble and commoner alike. "The term you're looking for is a Republic," she said with a gentle smile. "I've also taken the liberty of creating a Charter of Rights, a document of law outlining the basic rights possessed by all individuals, and a set of declarations to protect all Wikuni equally under the law. It will also create a standard of justice that will be applicable to everyone, even me, so that no one person may be held above another in the eyes of the law. This consitution will supersede all decrees of law that would conflict with them, but it will carry over those points of law that don't conflict with the constitution. Of course, Parliament can vote to repeal those decrees, once it's formed and established."
"Begging her Majesty's pardon, but how will this parliament work?" the mayor of Wikuna asked curiously.
"Simple, goodman," she smiled. "There will be two houses of Parliament. The House of Lords, and the House of Commons. The noble houses will send two nobles to the House of Lords to represent their houses, and commoners will be elected by the population to serve in the House of Commons. All points of law will pass through Parliament, first through the House of Commons, then through the House of Lords. If both houses vote to pass this point of law, it's sent to me, where I have final authority to approve or disapprove the law. If I approve it, it is law. If I disapprove it, it's sent back to the Parliament, who will vote on it again. If a two thirds majority of both the House of Commons and the House of Lords vote to override my disapproval, then it becomes law whether I want it to or not. Parliament will have some other powers, and the crown will have some other powers. Overseeing both of these branches of government will be the Supreme Barristry, which will have the power to cancel any law or action made by either the Queen or Parliament that they deem is outside the bounds of the constitution. Simply put, we can't do anything we're not allowed to do, because someone will be there to make sure we're doing our jobs right." She swept a tendril of hair out of her face. "These are broad generalities, of course. The specifics of it are spelled out in the constitution. What it does, however, is makes sure that nobody can run roughshod over the nation. Not me, not the nobility, not anyone."
"But your Majesty, you can't do this!" one noble objected.
"Of course I can," she smiled winsomely. "I'm the Queen. But if you feel that there's some legal block to my changing things, you're more than welcome to go look for it. I'll bet you ten thousand crowns that you won't find anything, though," she winked at the wolf Wikuni roguishly. "I've studied the law alot more than most of you, and I'm much more familiar with it than you'll ever realize. The power to change the basic operation of the kingdo
m has been a power that has never been restricted. Even being subject to common law, there's nothing stopping me from doing anything I please, because I am the Queen."
"What's to stop you from just changing things back?" the Mayor asked.
"For the first few years, nothing," she replied honestly. "That's a safeguard I put into the system so that if it gets somehow corrupted, I can change things back and try again. But once things are in place and they're running smoothly, I'll remove my own ability to change things. That will make the transition from the monarchy to the republic smoother and more secure for everyone involved, because at least everyone will know that someone is in definite control at all times. There will be much less confusion. Oh, and to let everyone know right here and now, this constitution states that if I die before the full enactment of this constition, it immediately becomes permanent law. It also states that there will be no more monarchs after me. All claims to the throne of Wikuna will be nullified except for my own. And if I die, a commoner will be elected to my position, and he will be called Prime Minister, with all the same powers as my own except for the ability to change the legal system. So, if all of you would like to prevent utter chaos, you'll keep me nice and safely alive," she said bluntly. "You can have a republic, or you can have anarchy. The choice is yours."
The full horror of that thought was clear on the faces of the assembled nobility. To be subject to a commoner! It was a thought that was like a thousand knives stabbing at them. Most nobles thought they were a breed above the common Wikuni, were a distinct class, nearly their own race. They felt they were superior to the common man, when the only thing that really made them different from a commoner was their title and the amount of money they had.
"I think if you go home and think about it, you'll find the idea to be not as repugnant as you think," Keritanima told the nobles reasonably. "You'll have to pay taxes and be more responsive to the needs of the people, but as the people prosper, so shall you. Instead of selling to each other, you'll find a new market in the common man, who will suddenly have money to afford the goods you trade. The nobility is tied to the prosperity of the land. What I'm going to do will only bring prosperity, because for the first time, all Wikuni will be working together for the betterment of our nation."
She held up the satchel. "I made ten copies of the full constitution," she said. "One copy stays with me. One copy goes to the Mayor, so he can read it and understand it. I want to see you tomorrow, Mayor," she told him calmly. "The remaining eight copies will be copied again, and each noble house will receive one, so you can read it and understand how things are going to work. We have alot of work to do before we can set up the Parliament. We have to build a building, for one, and we have to organize the means by which the commoners that will represent the people will be elected. That's something that all of us are going to decide. One week from today, I'm calling a gathering of the house rulers, myself, and some of the most learned and distinguished commoners of the realm, and we'll all sit down and hammer out the exact process by which we'll change over to the new system.
"And I think that's enough earth-shattering news for one day," she said calmly. "All of you go home and wait for the copy to arrive, then read it. Do more than read it. Understand it, see what it's trying to do and commit yourself to making it work, because more than your fortunes depend on how smoothly the new system operates. I'll see all of you again next week, when the real business of ironing out the details will get under way. This audience is concluded. You are free to go."
Keritanima left the noblity of Wikuna, and the commoners, completely astounded. Changing things so drastically had never crossed their minds, and the very idea that she would give up some of her own power seemed to be totally crazy to them, but they'd just have to wait and see.
What she was doing was for the best. In ten years, they'd look back on this day and thank her.
Her thoughts drifted as she walked off the dais, surrounded by her friends and advisors, thoughts of Rallix--she had plans for him, oh yes, plans indeed!--and of Tarrin. They had to be in Dala Yar Arak by now, and he had to be struggling to find the Book of Ages. And he was doing it without her intelligence to guide their actions, without her skill to aid them. She was trapped on Wikuna, for several more months, until she could get things running on their own and make things stable enough to allow her to leave for an extended period of time. She put her hand on her amulet, wondering if she should talk to him--it had been so long!--but fearing that doing so would make her dependent on the sound of his voice, would make her miss him so much that she got irrational. She had to keep her wits about her, she couldn't afford distractions. Between thoughts of Rallix and worries for her brother and sister, she had enough distractions. She couldn't make it even worse.
She could only hope for the best.
"Keep them safe, Goddess," Keritanima said under her breath, holding onto the amulet. For the first time in her life, she was praying, believing the words, not simply mouthing platitudes to appease expectant priests. "I can't be there for a while. Watch over them and keep them safe, please."
I have always watched over them, as I have always watched over you, a choral voice echoed in her mind, a voice with such power that it reverberated with its own magnificence. She felt her knees weaken when a sense of love flooded into her, through her, filling her with a sensation that made the sweetness of Sorcery seem like a candleflame compared to a bonfire. Keritanima's soul opened to that sensation like a flower receiving the blessings of the sun, basking in its warmth and beauty, feeling a part of her infused with it. You are my children, and I will always be here for you. You need only ask.
"Kerri, you're crying," Miranda said gently, putting her hand on her shoulder. "Are you alright?"
"I'm more than alright, Miranda," she said with a quivering voice as the sense of the presence of the Goddess faded, taking a little piece of her with it as it left. "I'm whole."
Chapter 17
It was a perfect day to do nothing but lay around.
Tarrin lounged in the highest spars of the rigging lazily, looking the hundred or so spans down to the deck with half-open eyes and little interest on the happenings beneath him. The summer sun beat down on him, making him drowsily warm, and a good breeze from the west pushed the gaudily painted ship steadily to the east, making time for Dala Yar Arak. As it was, they were just barely going to make it on time. They had lost too much time in Shoran's Fork, and Renoit had been forced to cancel performances he had booked in Arkisia. So the ship sailed out past the sight of land, heading towards the rugged peninsula that was created where the SandshieldMountains descended into the Sea of Glass, which marked the border of Arkis and the beginning of the desert. Tarrin lay there in complete security despite the gusty winds, only occasionally shifting when the healing injury to his chest found a certain position no longer comfortable. Head on his arm, one leg and tail dangling limply from the spar, he looked down to the deck and watched with only mild interest as the dancers practiced their trade near the stern, and a pair of jugglers tossed wooden duckpins to each other near the bow.
Tarrin liked it in the rigging, mainly because it was the one place where that infernal Amazon couldn't follow. He couldn't really fault Camara Tal, for she was only doing her job. To be honest, he respected her, and liked her just a little bit. But Tarrin didn't know her, didn't entirely trust her, and he found her continuous presence to be extremely aggravating sometimes. He liked being alone, or at least with only a few people, and the unknown Amazon woman was not on his list of acceptable companions. He tolerated her because the Goddess had all but ordered him to take her along with him, but that was about it.
It was almost frightening how much like his mother she was. If she had pale skin and blond hair, he would swear that she was actually Ungardt. She had that same bluntness, that same direct way of looking at the world and that same direct way of tackling life. Camara Tal wasn't very talkative. She preferred to stand in relative silence, going about the jo
b that was assigned to her with a cool professionalism that assured anyone watching that she knew exactly where her charge was and exactly how safe he was. In that respect, she reminded him more of Binter and Sisska than his mother. But the instant she opened her mouth, it was like hearing his mother's words in a different voice. And she wasn't afraid of him. That probably annoyed him more than anything else. Azakar had tried the same stunt, but he learned very quickly that there was a line that he didn't cross, and the big human had learned to respect that line. Camara Tal had no such reservations. She would order him around. She would boss him, she would command him, and for some mysterious reason, he wouldn't turn around and rip her arms off. He wasn't afraid of her. Impressive as she may look, she was still human, and there wasn't a human alive that he couldn't kill. It was the way she looked at him. She could order him with that gaze, overwhelming his resentment at being ordered around with one cool stare.
He knew that there would eventually be a reckoning between them. She would go one step too far, and her strange ability to dominate him would be broken, and he would turn on her and do something she wouldn't likely forget anytime soon. If she lived through it. The thought of killing her didn't really bother him that much, because he didn't really know her, but he knew that Triana would disapprove of such an act, so at least in that respect he thought about other things first.
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