A Castrovel Adventure: Part 3, Chapter 49

In which Queen Taiase is held accountable for her ancient past deeds

From the Daylog of Vaeol-Zheieveil Yaranevae be’Son

8. Soelae, 24,542 - Son
Today something wordworthy happened. Queen Taiase stood before the Matrons, who tried her yesterly deeds, since our foremothers had toppled her as Son’s queen twelve thousand years ago. Now I better understand the worry she has broadcast, and also her shame.
At the trial came three lorewardens - Mistress Kameal, Master Horas, and Master Aesh - who read from the great histories and yearlog of the Sage-Queens about Taiase’s queendom, and asked her whether each deed bewritten was true. For the greater share, she yaysaid, though at times she faltered or even lowered her brow. I must shrive that, even against my high friendship for her, this tale crafted a wantsome likeness, at which I reminded her earlier word: ~Di shae olladayave~ - “I was not a good queen.”
Taiase had sat queen at a strife-ridden tide within the latter Time of the Sage-Queens, in which, by her own shrift, the queens were not so sage as our lorewardens have foreclaimed. Lost Valmaea and the Colonies had fallen to the Formians, and the lower Yaro Strath ateamed with brokenfolk who had fled over the Shattersea. The lower-strath cities, namely Qabarat (still an Elfburgh at that time) and Lost Reiefya, had often sought boon for food and stocks, while Son and the other upper-strath cities had watched their wealth drain southward. The meanfolk had most felt this burden and yelled for tithe-relief, while the Queenhall’s noblewives and great ladies feuded over the best path forward, and against any threat to their rights.
In youthtide, Taiase had fared over the Retaea to Lea on Mother-Arasene, where she sat as peacebode. She had taken a Retaean fathermate and sworn sisterhood with a Retaean clan-queen, and thus had garnered strong sway among the Moorland Clans. After her homecome to Son, when her mother Queen Aloye lay dying, she had stood forth as a canny heir, along with her elder sister Princess Riafe, who had forespoken to reshape the City’s reeveship and ease the meanfolk’s burden. Taiase had instead sworn to uphold the nobles’ rights and to withdraw Son from the southern cities’ help. Then she had called her Queen-sister from the Retaea, with her whole clanhost, and had strengthfully set her sister Riafe aside, and so was chosen Queen of Son.
Here I heard agape, for not only did I bethink my love with Lady Vosaeth, who even now rides the Retaea’s wide moors with Oshis’s babe in her womb, but also that, though this had happened yearhundreds earlier, this tale right foreboded the Thief-Queens’ rise, who overthrew Son’s queens, swept through the Yaro, and brought end to the Sage-Queens’ time. Also, while I overlooked the gathered matrons and other listeners, neither could I unmind the same thought written on their faces.
Afterward, followed the history, hallcraft both in the City and abroad had turned against Queen Taiase. A Queensmoot had chided her for withholding help from the southern cities and had set a trade-ban over Son. Her sister Riafe had fled to Mahyat and had outspoken Taiase’s queenship as unlawful. Strife had brewed within Son, for which her only answer lay in bringing her Retaean queen-sister’s warriors to shove it down. At last, the noblewives and folkdom alike had wearied of these outlandish reavers. Then they had uprisen within Son’s streets and even with the same heartyard right beyond the Matron Hall’s doors, and had outcast Taiase. Her Retaea allies had forsaken her and gone back to their broad moors, and Taiase had fled westward into the Stormshields, seeking hopeless boon of forbidden, whispered help, which had led to the Dale of Amaea, where even soon the Elves were scouring the Moqeva and all yestermind of her long-slept doom.
Thus the lorewardens ended their last read. Taiase stood on the lower floor; gaze downcast, like a bond-thrall awaiting doomword. Lady-Mother rose and gathered thoughtfully with the elder matrons, though what they had to reckon after so many days to overtalk Taiase’s tale I know not.
At last, Lady-Mother stood forth and sternly asked Taiase whether she witted the doom that had befallen Son and the Yaro’s other cities from the Retaea, merely four hundred years after Taiase’s queenship? At that word, Taiase shuddered. I watched a tear trickle down her cheek. She answered hoarsely that she has heard somewhat of this history, and enough to understand that her misdeed had begun our city’s doom. Then she raised her head with some yard of boldness, though tearfully, that I could not help but worship, and Istae beside me dug nails into my hand: ~O'omoni uthaea-shyaelf reasya trile-verru,~ - “You may lay this guilt upon my head,” she spoke softly.
Lady-Mother bowed as if this was the answer she had forelooked. Then she outquoth the Matrons have no wish to wrack anyone who has undergone so much as Taiase. Yet my mother asked that, if Taiase would have their forgiveness, what would she beseech? Here Taiase answered that in youthtide she had stood newlinghood at the Sun-Temple, which she outnamed a merrier, merer tide. ~O’ori heshya-ruaelm Noere o’hiadeni,~ “Let me again serve the Goddess,” she asked: ~o’romi il’Li zhianya-shyaelye.~ “and if She will, let Her forgive me.”
Lady-Mother looked over the matrons and, I guess, read their thoughts. Then she deemed that henceforth Taiase shall no longer be known as Queen, but instead as ~Matae Relesante~ - Worshipful Grandmother, for so she is to all Son, and Lady as kindliness. As such, the Matrons may have right to call and take her rede when they deem meet, and also she may freely go to Burning-Mother’s Temple and dwell there in service. Then my mother asked whether Taiase would take this doom.
Taiase knelt amidst the hall. Sobbingly she outquoth that she shall listen to these gathered ladies and serve our city.
A low buzz filled the hall, along with no few tears. My mother, no less besmitten, strode down the floor, raised Taiase, and asked to kiss her as our grandmother. Then they hugged. Afterward came all the matrons, who followed wise. Lady-Mother then led Taiase to the doors and the forestair, where almost the whole cityfolk was gathered and awaiting word. Lady-Mother lifted Taiase’s arm high, and outbade all to behold a hoardloom dearest beyond all other, our Elder Grandmother who was lost beyond time but again found, to share the Sage-Queens’ yestermind and wisdom. Then she bade that all may worship and make her welcome. The throng, and against all good dightliness, stirred forth. A team of stout Korasha lifted Taiase on their shoulders and bore her about the heartyard, and folk stretched their arms and lifted babes for her blessing.
The Matrons held another high mirthtide this eve, which happily went better than the last, though Remaue, Kaure, and I left early. Istae stayed, and I am unforecaught, for sometimes I have caught her sharing eyes with Taiase, and have wondered whether love may stir between. If it does, and they find gladness together, I will bless it.