Bishop (The Pawn Series Book 2) Page 21

  "No, Yalla," she said.

  "You get back," I said. "This doesn't have to be this way."

  I spun around. "My mother could live for several more decades. Life on The Hippa is difficult, but she was healthy when last I saw her." Then I screamed. "Get back!"

  They didn't move.

  I spun to Juleena. "Accept their offer. Kiss me and say goodbye."

  "No, Yalla," she said. "Don't do this. You know what my grief will do. You know me, Yalla. You know me as good and kind. But you also know I don't bluff. You know what happens if you do this. Put the knife down."

  "No!" I screamed. "No!"

  I spun back. The king and queen were watching.

  "If you die," said the queen, "The line will pass. Life on The Hippa is uncertain, but one thing is quite certain. Your mother is beyond the age to bear more children, and no one lives a long life on The Hippa. This is not what we wish, but if forced, we would accept."

  And then soldiers cleared an aisle, and I saw four bows, arrows knocked, aimed at my heart.

  I sank to my knees, and I changed languages. In my poor language of the Goddess, I spoke loudly. "Goddess, hear me. Please hear me. Stop this. You must stop this. I cannot."

  I went on and on. No one moved.

  And then there was a gasp.

  "Yalla," said Vérundia. "Your hair. It's growing."

  I looked down in time to see the tips turning white.

  Intervention

  "My child."

  A woman knelt down before me.

  "Your accent is terrible," she added.

  Around me, others spoke, but I didn't hear them. I also didn't feel arrows piercing my body, so perhaps that was a fair trade.

  She reached out her hand. I felt fingers on mine. "Put aside the knife."

  "I-"

  I looked around. Everyone was watching me. The bows were still drawn. The swords remained poised. Juleena had hers again, raised high over her head, and I knew Vérundia could die in an instant.

  I turned to the Goddess. "You're..." I searched for the word. I couldn't find it. "You're not here."

  "You see me. You feel me."

  "Make them stop." That I could say.

  "I do not have that power. Only you have that power. Set aside the knife."

  I struggled to understand her. "No. If I do-"

  She nodded and stood. "There is no-" and she said a word I didn't know. "There must be-" and then another word I didn't know.

  "I don't understand."

  She looked around. "Terélmarestra," she said. "Your teacher."

  "Terél," I said. I turned to Juleena. "Let Terél come to me."

  Her sword wavered. "No!" I screamed. "Let Terél come to me."

  Juleena froze. "Lower the knife, Yalla. Lower the knife, and I'll let her come to you."

  "You won't kill anyone," I said. "You won't!"

  "Lower the knife, and I will not be the first to begin violence."

  "Promise!"

  "I promise. Lower the knife."

  And so, slowly, I dropped it from my neck. Juleena nodded.

  They didn't untie Terél, but when she began to crawl to me, they didn't stop her. She was crying.

  "Is it the Goddess? Where is she?"

  "Right in front of me," I said. "Can't you see her?"

  "No, but we told you she was real. We told you that you were the high priestess. Oh, your hair is radiant!"

  "My child," said the Goddess. "There is no-" and then she said the word again.

  "I don't understand."

  "Say my words," ordered the Goddess. And then she said it again, but she said the last word very slowly.

  "Ve-dá-ra-"

  The Goddess had to prompt me through each sound.

  "Vedárashmíet," said Terél. "Is that the word? Vedárashmíet?"

  The Goddess repeated it, and I said, "Yes."

  "There is no-" said Terél in Altearan, but then she used a phrase with too many words I didn't know."

  "I don't know those words, either," I complained.

  "There is no solution acceptable to all," said Naddí in Framaran.

  "There must be-" said the Goddess. Again she helped me. Again, Terél offered a word I didn't now.

  "Compromise," offered Naddí.

  "Repeat my words," said the Goddess. And then she spoke very slowly. When I stumbled over a word, she helped me. Terél translated into Altearan when she understood. And then Naddí translated into Framaran.

  "There will be no violence in my temple. Tradódid and Mesenorié, you have bows pointed at my high priestess."

  At that, there was a hurried order, and the bows dropped off target and then relaxed besides.

  "Better," said the Goddess, and I didn't need help with that word.

  "Tradódid and Mesenorié, send your soldiers away. You may keep a small honor guard. Princess Juleena, untie my priestesses and send them to their rooms. Vérundia, Terélmarestra and Larien will remain here."

  Hearing the translation, Juleena answered simply, "No." Then she added. "We are leaving. Yalla is leaving with us."

  At that, the Goddess strode forcefully towards Juleena, and I scrambled to my feet and ran in front, spreading my arms wide. "Don't hurt her!"

  Then I realized I'd said it in Arrlottan.

  The Goddess offered a smile and caressed my cheek. "Speak words I understand."

  "Don't hurt her," I said, this time in the proper language.

  But at that, Juleena grabbed me from behind and thrust me backwards, her sword raised, but she wasn't even looking in the right direction.

  "Juleena," I said. I came up behind her, setting my hand on her shoulder. "She's a Goddess. Do you really think now is the time for your sword?"

  "She may keep her sword if she wishes," said the Goddess. I had to guess at the meaning of some of that. "Untie my priestesses and send them to their rooms."

  Again, translations went around the room, and again Juleena refused.

  "My dear Yalla," said the Goddess. "Come out from behind there."

  I slipped around Juleena. She might have stopped me if she could. As I moved past her, I could see the tension. She was practically quivering. I glanced at the Goddess but instead turned to Juleena. I set a hand on her sword arm. "Trust me," I said. "Please, Juleena, trust me."

  "She wants to keep you."

  From behind me, the Goddess said, "There must be compromise," and this time I knew the word.

  "Juleena, she's a Goddess. She is said to be very wise. If anyone can unravel this, she can. She is the only way this ends peacefully. Put your sword away and let the priestesses go to their rooms."

  She trembled, but slowly she lowered the sword, although she didn't send it home. "Untie them," she said.

  The words spread like a sigh of relief around the room. It took a few minutes, but slowly the priestesses were untied. Sergeant Jelsen stepped forward to see to Vérundia and Terél.

  "Say my words," said the Goddess. "Go to your rooms. Wait there." She turned around. "Send the soldiers away."

  Slowly, the soldiers slipped from the room, all but six. The priestesses didn't want to go, but Vérundia gave a word, and they slipped from the room.

  The Goddess made a small circle around the center of the room. "Better." She came to a stop in front of Vérundia. "Say my words. Vérundia, you have led well without my guidance, but you have made mistakes."

  At that, Vérundia lowered her eyes, then her entire body to the ground, kneeling at the Goddess's feet. She began apologizing over and over.

  "It is not me you have wronged," said the Goddess. "It is Yallameenara, but she has already forgiven you."

  I froze at that, and she turned to me. "Say my words, high priestess. I command you."

  And so, stammering, I repeated what she had said.

  "Your leadership will be needed a while longer," said the Goddess, facing Vérundia again. "But not forever. Have heart and know that I love you."

  At that, Vérundia's crying grew
louder for a moment, but then she slowly calmed down. The Goddess knelt down and caressed her, but I don't know if Vérundia felt it or not.

  "She is touching you," I said softly in the language of the Goddess. "She just kissed your head."

  Vérundia looked up, tears streaming from her cheeks.

  "Tell her it is not the first time," said the Goddess, and so I did.

  Then she stood and moved to the king and queen. "High priestess, say my words. I am disappointed. Queen Ralalta is a good woman."

  At the translation, the king said, "She refused to let Yallameenara come to us."

  "She wanted one thing, only one thing. Honesty. She would have helped. Framara has long been a friend to Alteara. She would have helped."

  The monarchs bowed their heads and said nothing.

  The Goddess moved to Juleena. "You risked much. It was foolish, but I see you had little choice."

  "Yalla goes home with me," Juleena said.

  "Yes, yes," said the Goddess. "I heard her." She moved to me and smiled. "What do you say, my high priestess?"

  I looked at her. I looked at Juleena. I thought of everything that had happened.

  "I don't know what to do."

  "What does your heart say?"

  "What does it matter?"

  "It matters, Yallameenara."

  I looked at her. I looked at Juleena. I thought of Zana and Hamper and Ralalta.

  But the Goddess was real. "I don't know what to do."

  "I know. You are torn in two. Born on The Hippa, a child of the horse people, but a child of my high priestess. You were born torn in two. You were taken from The Hippa, torn in two. You love your mother. But you love a second mother, and a sister and more than a sister. Torn in two. And now you are here, and while here, you were torn into more than two. And so, there must be compromise for everyone. For you. For me. For Framara. For Alteara. There will be compromise."

  She paused. "We start with you. You will never cut your hair. Never." I nodded agreement.

  She roamed the room for a moment, coming to another stop before me. "You must say my words. When you stumble, I will help you."

  I nodded.

  "You will accept my compromise."

  "Only if no one will die."

  "No one will die," she said.

  "Then I will accept your decision."

  She nodded. And then she turned to the king and queen. "Tradódid and Mesenorié, Yallameenara will be guaranteed free passage within Alteara, wherever she wishes to go, accompanied by anyone she wishes." Yes, she had to help me with the words, and so Terél had to also help, and Naddí provided translations back into Framaran.

  They bowed. "Of course, Goddess."

  "Good. That part was easy." The Goddess turned to me with a smile. Then she stepped to Juleena. "Princess Juleena, Yallameenara will be granted free passage within Framara, anywhere she wishes to go, accompanied by anyone she wishes."

  "Of course," Juleena agreed, smiling broadly.

  "She will be allowed to return to this place if she wishes, and you will do nothing to stop her."

  Juleena paused, and then nodded.

  "There," said the Goddess. "You see? This isn't so hard."

  "I don't think you've solved the real issue. You need me. They need me."

  "And you are torn in so many pieces. And that is why there will be compromise." She moved to Vérundia. "Vérundia, you will provide tutors to my high priestess, to be taught wherever she may reside."

  "Yes, Goddess!" Vérundia said immediately.

  And then the Goddess turned to me. "See? Very easy. But now the compromise. You will return to Marport."

  "But-"

  She pointed a finger at me. "Do not interrupt your Goddess, for I am your Goddess, am I not?" And she used the word I had been taught: Prestainamatta."

  "Yes, you are my Prestainamatta."

  "Good. As I was saying. You will return home, riding your delightful horses. You will build a life, and I suspect it will be with Princess Juleena, but that is between the two of you."

  I smiled at that.

  "But you remain my high priestess. You will bring these other two with you, and books from this library. You will let them teach you. And this is where I compromise. I would rather you remain here forever, but I allow you to leave. But you will return for the summer and winter solstice. You will arrive earlier than all others and leave later. You will help to celebrate the festival. And if ever I call you, you will come."

  I lowered my eyes. "Yes, Goddess."

  "I'm not done. You will have children. The girls will be tutored as possible priestesses to me. You will raise them as children of Framara but also children of Alteara. They will come here when you come. If I give any hair such as yours, from that day forward, they will spend no less than six months of each year here. When they reach the age of ten and four, they may decide if they will remain fully Altearan or split between both lands."

  "They aren't adults at that age."

  "They are old enough to make such a decision."

  I glanced at Juleena, but then I nodded. "Yes, Goddess."

  "Good. We're almost done." She turned back to the king and queen. "Bring the statue."

  Hearing the translation, the queen asked, "What statue?"

  "What other statue is there? The ruined statue of me."

  The queen didn't look pleased, and I didn't understand. But the Goddess turned to me and winked.

  "That will take them some time," she said. She looked around. "Say my words, Yallameenara. Naddí, find Féla and take Yallameenara to the baths. See to her needs and dress her however she wishes. Take your time. Vérundia, find paper and quill for Princess Juleena. Princess Juleena, compose a letter to your mother. Offer her my personal greetings and tell her you and Yallameenara will be coming home, but it may be a week or three." She smiled. "I will deliver the letter."

  Goddess

  It felt good to be clean.

  Juleena hadn't been happy to let me go, but I told her, "Everyone has agreed." And so she had released me.

  I felt bad she didn't get her own bath, but I thought perhaps if we could make peace, she might be offered one.

  Naddí and Féla were both quiet, but then Féla said, "I suppose you're not going to let us seduce you now."

  It took a moment, but then I laughed, and with it, much of the remaining tension faded.

  "You should have relented before all this happened," Naddí added. "It would have been fun."

  "I'm sorry," I said. "But you are a little worm, making like you didn't understand me. I could have used another friend when I first arrived."

  "You needed to learn Altearan," she said. "And I wasn't supposed to appear to be more than a maid."

  "But just so you know," added Féla. "We're both older than you are. Think of the lost opportunity. We were always adults even in Framaran eyes."

  "What could have been," I said. "If only you had been open with me."

  They both chuckled, as I smiled when I said it.

  But I let them dress me -- in my riding clothes. They spent time on my hair, and I think they were a little in awe. Then I asked them to take me to a mirror, because I wanted to see it.

  It was longer than anyone's. Black, white, black, white, long, straight, and full. Freshly washed, it gleamed, and when I ran fingers through it, it was soft and wonderful.

  "Well," I said. "And I've always liked it short."

  "You can always go tell the Goddess you've changed your mind."

  "Yeah, I don't think so," I said.

  * * * *

  Juleena was pacing and looked deeply relieved when she saw me. She yanked me into her arms and hugged tightly.

  "Yes, yes," said the Goddess from behind me. "There is food. You must eat. We are almost done with negotiations, then we must set my temple to rights. And you and I have more to say to each other."

  "She says there's food," I said to Juleena.

  "It's not much, but it's warm this time." She led me
to a table. I sat and ate slowly, Juleena beside me, touching me constantly.

  "I can't believe your hair."

  "Neither can I. Do you like it?"

  "It's beautiful. You're going to turn heads."

  "Maybe I'll start a new style," I said.

  "What did you tell her?" asked the Goddess.

  "Oh, I'm sorry," I said. "She complimented my hair. I suggested people might copy it."

  "I forbid it. It is illegal here, and it is now illegal in Framara. Tell her."

  Juleena laughed. "It will be difficult to enforce."

  "I will enforce it," the Goddess said. She smiled. "But you must make it illegal first."

  "As soon as we get home," Juleena agreed.

  "How will you enforce it?"

  "If I can change your hair, do you think I can't change someone else's? Orange, I think, and standing straight from the head whatever the woman attempts."

  "Oh, you won't have to do that too many times," I said, then translated for everyone else. That was getting old.

  But I ate and drank a little, and felt better still.

  The king and queen, with their guards, were hovering at one end of the room, watching and perhaps talking to each other. I looked to the Goddess. "Do we have an agreement yet? Your compromise?"

  "Almost all, and this last part is small."

  "May I have a minute?"

  "Of course."

  "Juleena, remain here." I got up and moved away before she could grab me. She chased after me, but she stopped at the barrier, now partly disassembled, and I stepped through.

  "Yalla!"

  "We have an agreement," I said. "Just relax."

  I turned my back and walked to the king and queen.

  "Is the Goddess still here?"

  "She's back at the table, well behind Juleena," I replied. "You will allow me free travel?"

  "Yes," they said. "You will return?"

  "Yes," I said. "The Goddess isn't done, but neither am I. I do not require reparations. I do not know what Ralalta needs. You will beg for peace. You will beg for a return to friendship between the two countries. If she demands reparations, you will give them to her. If she is unreasonable, you will ask me to intercede. I am speaking for myself, and not for the Goddess. Will you do this for me?"