The Woven End Page 7

  On the eve of her sixteenth birthday she made her way to her uncle's study, according to their custom. He was busy writing. She sat down and waited to be addressed. After a few minutes, the governor sealed his letter and looked up to her with a brief smile.

  "We are going to the palace tomorrow," he said.

  "Very well.”

  “You noted that I said, ‘We’?”

  Her eyes widened. “No, I didn’t notice. ‘We’ being you and me?”

  "I have been assigned for these four years to determine the cause of a particular problem of the king’s. I have since been on the trail of the solution. You are it."

  Her eyebrows rose in surprise. "How am I it?"

  "I have groomed you to be a queen, Sidita. You have excelled because of something I have not yet told you. I should tell you now, should I not?"

  "If you wish."

  "Your soul possesses a golden strand at the top, like a lock of hair. Women do not inherit this rare strand. You remember what the gold strand is, don’t you?”

  "Power."

  "Indeed, power. I have not felt it right to tell you of it until now when there is no more time to postpone it. I wanted you to face your learning with humility. I would not feed what the slyte told you, or you would become something that I could never present to the king. Knowledge of future glory often leads youth to arrogance, most unbecoming."

  Cova sat back in his chair and sighed. His eyes traced her form a few times, with a faint satisfied smile, he leaned with his elbows on the desk.

  "You have the king's power strand, Sidita. I am certain of it. There will be a test, and no harm will come to either of us if you do not pass it. It is simply to know. We must go to the palace for this test.”

  Sidita had many thoughts. The first that she found words for shot out of her mouth, "Queen Nuneh—"

  "I know what you're thinking. This is not the same. Review the story this star fall and you will see why. To be united with the king makes the power strand both of yours. You become one person when you consummate a marriage and, therefore, the power will be his also. When you begin to unravel, you must be treated as a male to secure the power strand to the inheritance of the king or his son, whichever is king at the time, making it as though it had never left the royal line.

  "Tell me Sidita. Have you ever suffered from an unexplainable, brief, but horrific headache?"

  The question came so quickly at the end of his talking that Sidita had to think for a moment before she replied.

  "I do not—" she stopped short as a memory came back to her, "Yes. The day apa died. It sent me to the ground."

  "And that is also the very day that King Trimos began his unraveling. Proof enough?"

  He looked toward his window, thoughtful.

  Sidita stared at her hands, folded in her lap. "Am I to leave you, then, Uncle?"

  Cova emerged from his thoughts and stood to walk around his desk and kneel before her. He took her hands.

  Tears welled up in her eyes at this news. What a fearful thing to leave Uncle Cova and to end the life she knew. What a terrifying thing to stand before King Persenimos as his potential bride. He who was twice her age and a man of great power, with or without his inherited power strand, who had seen many beautiful women vying for his favor. How could she sit on a throne beside him and be held up as an example for all the women of the Triland? To be the inspiration, the Star of the palace, to be what Cova trained her to be, and yet she knew so little of being?

  "My dear, dear Sidita, you've been like a daughter to me. I could not have asked for a more wonderful girl. Tomorrow you go, not to face what the stars gave you, but to face what destiny gave you. You have attained to a bright hope outside of the stars, and the king will be in awe of you for that very reason. You have nothing to fear, for he is a kind man," he said, finishing with a smile and a wink.

  As she rose, Cova slid a book out of his shelves. He brushed it off and opened it. His hand passed over a page before closing it and handing it to her.

  “Put your mind at ease and read of Nuneh and Lemanos again.”

  Sidita returned to her room, prepared for bed, and slid under the covers. She felt that reading would be impossible, but she must try. She found the story in question and proceeded to read.

  #

  King Lemanos was a just king who ruled well his kingdom. He stood above all others in stature, intellect, and wisdom. The Star smiled upon him, the Great Soul blessed him, the men reverenced him, and the women cherished the hope of being his queen.

  The Triland’s kings had ever rejected exploration endeavors, but when the governor of Tici proposed to the great King Lemanos that he prepare an exploration team to survey the sea and, perhaps, expand the reaches of the kingdom’s power and glory, the glorious king Lemanos consented.

  The bravest, strongest, and wisest of men were assembled for the task. A great vessel, greater than any the Triland had ever seen, was prepared by the most cunning boat builders. The ship was named “First Explorer” and was true and stable.

  Under the pretense of concern for the economy of Bos, the Bositian governor, an Alchemine, took umbrage with the great King Lemanos.

  “Great King! If we discover other lands, the island of Bos will suffer greatly. One-third of your kingdom will fall into a poverty it may never recover from. Over half of your food supply is supplied by Bos. What shall we do if we find new worlds with new vegetation and forms of life? Your supply will change. How much more will it change if people inhabit those shores! We may not send our own to cultivate the soil and work, but we will find that we must give our gold to other people! This is not in favor of your people. Do not allow your people to suffer for your pride.

  “Besides, who knows what manner of people or beasts we shall find. We are not prepared for a hostile greeting on our own shores.”

  The great king acknowledged the governor’s concerns, but insisted that the Great Soul would aid them, and the economics need not be worried about until the matter unfolded entirely.

  “But, sire,” the governor persisted. “What of hostility? The Great Soul favors none.

  “Doesn’t it?” Lemanos replied, dismissing the governor from his presence.

  A madness seized the governor. By the power of a slyte, he reached through the Sálverøld and tore the golden strand from the king’s noble soul. The king fell to the ground with a shout, holding his head, his body seizing. The governors of Tici and Sakat apprehended the governor of Bos. He harmed them not, but submitted, his work being complete. The governor of Bos was drawn and quartered the following day. May he be star fallen forever.

  The peasant woman, Nuneh, was an Alchemine of great skill. She wept with pity for the good king Lemanos and endeavored to find the slyte who took the king’s power. The king, she was told, would not survive the wound for long, for the theft tore from the center of his soul’s seat of thought. He was bleeding inside of his skull. Nuneh, with haste, wove her finest weavings to see beyond her range of vision and found the slyte with the cord. Bravely, she faced it, and by the Great Soul’s blessing, she retrieved the golden cord and gently carried it in her soul.

  She took it to the gates of the palace and, under heavy guard, was permitted access to the king. She entered the Sálverøld and repaired the soul of the king with his golden strand. She removed the blood from his seat of thought, bowed, and quickly left.

  Nuneh returned home to her life of lonely toil and set to the task of creating a mask. From the hard, black wood of the Susu tree, she carved a mask and wove into it the spirits of endurance and strength.

  The following day, she was visited by the king’s guard and summoned to the king’s presence. Ignorant of the purpose the king had for her, she requested permission to bring a gift for him. The guards inspected her gift and approved her request.

  Escorted to the palace in a royal carriage, she was immediately brought to the king.

  The king looked on the woman, beautiful beyond description in his eyes. H
e approached her and knelt before her.

  “Woman, you have saved my life. May the Star ever shine upon you.”

  Nuneh wept. “Good king, please stand. It is not right for you to kneel to me.”

  He shook his head. “Nay, good woman. Will you be my queen? I can think of no one I trust more.”

  She handed him her gift. “I am not fit to be a queen, but I offer you my help. This will protect you from those you cannot trust. They will never be able to reach through your soul to your golden strand again. It will also reveal to all what manner of man you are, whether they enter the Sálverøld or not. Take care not to permit knowledge of your soul’s shading to prevent your growth.”

  “I will accept it only if you will accept me.”

  And so the King married Nuneh. She became queen.

  “First Explorer” stands to this day as a memorial to the king and his queen.

  However, it was short-lived, for Nuneh was met with a serpent in the queen’s garden and unraveled under the power of its venom.

  #

  Sidita set the book aside. The truth of the matter, carried on orally by the Alchemine community, was very different. Nevertheless, it was enough for her to see what her uncle meant. The strand was never connected to the Queen’s soul as it was to Sidita. She never had to pay attention to those details before now. Now that she was about to live it, fables seemed very precious indeed.

  Chapter Seven

  At Star rise, Sidita's maid packed her things. Sidita sat at her breakfast table. A hearty breakfast of porridge with cream, an egg, salted roe, and a glass of fresh milk were laid out before her, but her nerves traitorously denied access to her stomach. She managed to eat a little, but it was useless. She had no appetite. After dressing and having her hair brushed, Sidita put on a hooded cloak to block out the early Star rise chill. As she stepped into the fresh air, she felt a twinge of something.

  What? She couldn’t identify the feeling. She was missing something, forgetting something, needing something? Uncle Cova urged her onward, and she submitted to him. She stepped into the carriage and seated herself, followed by Cova. After a few moments, the carriage rolled down the path.

  A cry pierced Sidita’s soul. She heard nothing with her ears, but her soul heard it. Before a second passed, a desperate scream came to her ears. She looked out of the carriage window and saw her siblings, barefoot, wearing only their gowns.

  “Stop,” she whispered. “STOP!”

  The carriage came to a halt. Sidita’s heart melted into her siblings. The wild look in their eyes reminded her of the old days on Bos. A tear rose to meet her feelings, but would not come out.

  “Sidita, Sidita… You are leaving. They have just told us. My sister, where have you been? And now you are going. Don’t go,” Tapa wept, holding Sidita’s face in her hands.

  “I must. I’m sorry.”

  Words escaped her. She looked on all their precious faces and realized they had never changed. Not really. They grew, but the distance she felt crumbled in one moment. Had the change been her own?

  The carriage continued with a word from Cova.

  Sidita looked at him. All feelings disintegrated as her intellect took hold. She had a duty, he reminded her. She had responsibilities and no time to look back on what did not fall into that category.

  Sidita’s few stars on Sakat left her feeling that she still knew nothing of it. She spent most of her time on her uncle's property and, only occasionally, went into town or to other locations on the island to participate in dances and social gatherings. She frowned at this thought as they passed by the numerous villages between the mansion and Nidita. She tried to think of that instead of her brother and sisters. It was a more comfortable regret to dwell on.

  Once in Nidita they reached the water's edge presently and boarded a reserved boat of considerable size. Judging by its paint and polish, this was not a common boat for common people.

  Sidita looked on Sakat one last time. It was a beautiful city at Star rise. Star light washed over the green hills and slowly flushed the darkness forward to the city until the light lent its glory to the bright colors of the murals, flags, and walls. Nidita resembled the lush, sweet appearance of a bush heavy with bright, ripe berries. Sidita swallowed hard and forced her eyes to turn to the boat before her, to the future—her future— and to attend to what life held for her.

  Her uncle stood with the boatman, giving him instruction as he lay bag of coins in his hand. The boatman was familiar to Sidita, so she drew closer to see him.

  He looked up at her. Once she saw that it was, without a doubt, the boatman she thought him to be, she half-wondered if he would recognize her. It was stupid of her to expect that. He saw so many people come and go over the last six stars, and she was so changed that she could not imagine a glint of recognition to pass by those kind blue eyes. He gave her a look up and down before a smile peeked out through his beard. He wore no hat, as the Star still rested low on the eastern horizon, but at a glance, she saw it lying at the back of the boat.

  He nodded his head to her and continued his discourse with the governor.

  "Less than an hour you say. That's a phenomenal time you intend to make on this size vessel. I hope your men will back your word up."

  "Best there is, governor. You know me! I've never taken longer, even on my own. It’s a good few men I have. Arms like mine.”

  He patted his arm like the back of a bridegroom heading home from his wedding with his new bride.

  With that, they parted ways. The governor sat on the bench at the side of the boat. They let loose from the dock and drifted away from Sakat’s colorful shores.

  "Uncle, do you suppose the boatman would be troubled if I went to speak with him?"

  Cova frowned, cranking his neck to get a good look at the boatman.

  "He looks to be unoccupied. I suppose you may go ahead, but whatever for?"

  "I think he is the same boatman who showed my family kindness in bringing us here. He brought us over at a very low rate, I recall. I want to speak with him."

  "Go ahead. Mind you, our business is of a secret nature. You mustn't tell him a thing. Do you understand?"

  She nodded her head and rose to her feet. She smoothed her tunic and approached the boatman. He stood at the prow, his hat on his head now.

  "Sir," she said.

  He turned to look at her. He eyed her appreciatively once more, smiled, and nodded.

  "What can I do for you, good woman?"

  He smelled the way she remembered.

  "I am certain you do not remember me, but I remember you quite well."

  "Oh?" He smiled. He could be entertained by anything that came from such a pretty, blush lalia mouth.

  "Six stars ago you brought my family from Bos to Sakat. We could not afford the fees of the other boatmen, and you gave us a decent price. You even gave my amar much, if not all of it, back. Do you recall?"

  He seemed to be thinking it over for a moment. He nodded. "I seem to recall. You were one of the children?"

  Sidita blushed. "This won't remind you, I'm sure. I remember feeling so gratified that you said we were pretty girls."

  A moment of recognition flickered in his eyes. "I do remember that. What a beautiful lot of children." He laughed. "Hah! Look at you now. I recall you all looked like paupers. Wondered where you got the trilas to head to Sakat. How is your ama?"

  "She is unraveled since four stars past.”

  His smile fell. "I'm sorry to hear it. The governor has adopted you, it seems?"

  "He married my amar and has educated us. I am fully reared, but my siblings are younger.”

  “I saw a bridal chest among your luggage. Is he taking you to your marital doom so soon?"

  "Possibly," she answered.

  "Hm, a good marriage of wealth and prosperity, no doubt. He's groomed and trained you well, I can see. I never would dream you to be of a farming pauper's family on Bos."

  "I hardly remember being one. It was so long
ago. My uncle, the governor, planted a great many things into my mind that have expanded it so far beyond Bos and what I knew there."

  "Ah, your uncle is he?"

  "Yes. I failed to mention that. My apologies."

  "Matters little to me, good woman," He said with a smirk. "Just a curious fact for the sake of conversation, see?"

  She smiled.

  "I won't bother you further. I'm sure you have duties to tend to. I just wanted to speak with you a moment to thank you for allowing us passage to Sakat in your boat. You truly saved our lives.”

  "And ensured your prosperity twice, it appears," he said, smiling. "Remember me for it, won't you? My heroics and generosity have to live on in somebody's mind. Why not a pretty one like yours?" He winked.

  She nodded her head, smiled, and left his side to take her spot beside Cova.

  "Was he polite?" He asked.

  "Oh, yes. He remembered me after a little while. He's not as large as I remembered him. I've grown, I suppose.”

  "Yes, indeed, you have."

  True to his word, after joining his two hired rowers, the boatman brought them to Tici's shores within an hour. A royal carriage met them. Green and silver liveried servants transferred the luggage to the carriage. While Cova discussed something with one of his men, the boatman approached Sidita.

  "Royal carriage, I see."

  "Yes."

  "Your uncle has high hopes for you, hm?"

  She smiled modestly, looking down.

  The boatman sighed a bit. "They say they've been trying to convince the king to marry. Everyone wants a queen. I hear a great party is arranged for a week from now. Some hope he'll catch a glimpse of someone he wants there."

  "Is that so?”

  "It is. He's a hard nut, I think. Rumor is that some advisor—no one knows who—has tells the king to wait." He looked at Sidita for a moment, and she met his eyes.

  He continued,"You hear interesting things boating people about, good woman."

  "Do you?"

  He nodded. "Persenimos' coronation was cancelled, yet he's still on the throne. They say his mask won't change color. It's as black as a spiritless Sálverøld. What's your theory?"