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"Let me consider it, Dumalugal," St. Marie leaned up to look at me (?). Aya's hand sprang up over her head mimicking the action of a student seeking attention. St. Marie's eyes flickered down to Aya.
"House Ishara, how do you wish to handle that insult?" she addressed me.
"Insult?" I pretended to be surprised. "Messina behaving in a blindingly infantile manner is something we both expect and pity. If she ..."
"How dare you?" Messina simmered.
"If she knew anything about the workings of House Ishara, the sisters of House Ishara, or Runners in general, then her babblings might have some value," I continued. "She doesn't, so we ignore her as we would ignore any outburst from an un-casted."
"Blood feud," Messina stood up and snarled. Aya was bouncing up and down.
"Yes, Dumalugal?" St. Marie withheld her reaction in order to see what the princess wanted.
"Please, would you call me Aya? Being Dumalugal scares me enough without always being reminded about it. Also, I would like to avoid any blood feuds while the Host is locked in such a vital struggle."
"I would like it if five members of House Minerva and House Ishara battled each other in a melee to settle this manner. If House Minerva wins, Cáel Ishara should be compelled to make a public apology at the next Council meeting for rudely refusing to acknowledge the opinion of another Head of House."
"If House Minerva fails, then Messina of Minerva will forever forgo conveying any insult concerning Runners and former-Runners. Do you think that would be a fair decision?"
"You are very dangerous," St. Marie stated loud enough to be clearly heard to everyone. "Our enemies should tremble as the years diminish until your coronation."
"I plan to learn from the very best," Aya punctuated this by reaching out and putting her small hand in St. Marie's. In that instant, St. Marie was whisked back to the years when her own daughter was Aya's size.
"The Host will do it's very best to prepare you for the duties you will have to take up when the time comes," she promised in a much kinder voice. Go Aya!
"I am waiting for the next 'I would like'," the Golden Mare added.
"I would like Shawnee of House Arinniti, Rhada of House Meenakshi and Buffy of House Ishara to consent to being the three members of the Regency."
"House Arinniti is an established First House and Shawnee provides the gravitas, wisdom and experience of a House Head."
"Rhada is from a new House and brings the perspective of an Apprentice to the process. I would like it if we considered the fact that most of our warriors will be closer to her age than the age of House Heads."
"Buffy has the most experience dealing with Runners and will serve as a beacon for the Runners in the same manner the heritage of our Houses' histories inspire 'we' fortunate enough to be raised by Amazon grandmothers, mothers, aunts and sisters does." Aya had deftly avoided the use of the term 'full-blood'.
"Why don't we simply put the crown on her head now ... beyond the fact it would fall straight past her shoulders to the ground," the Head of House Bendis remarked rather bitterly. I had to think ...
"Her names is Klavdiya," Buffy filled me in through clenched teeth.
Aya's hand shot up again.
"I would 'like' to handle this one," St. Marie smiled down at Aya. Aya dropped her hand immediately. "Klavdiya, I have decided your lack of close proximity to Dumalugal Aya of Kururiyahhssi has clouded your perception of events. What you mistake as a usurpation of power is a little girl trying to avoid responsibilities beyond her experience."
"That wasn't ..." Klavdiya stared to defend her utterance. St. Marie held up her hand warding the Head of House Bendis to silence.
"Before you continue, pay careful attention to who her birth-aunt was." Technically, Aya had no family anymore. Kwen had exited the Royal House so that the Amazons wouldn't have to deal with her treachery.
"Our Princess grew up around a woman whose keen intellect we rely on to protect us from unseen enemies," St. Marie's voice became deeper and more threatening. "At the age of ten, she ..." St. Marie looked my way as my hand shot up mimicking Aya's identical plea for attention.
"Yes Ishara?" St. Marie chose to acknowledge me.
"She's nine."
"Fine. At the age of nine, she earned an honorific -- Mamētu mešeda -- which I didn't accomplish until my 19th year." 'Yes Ladies, I'm an epic bad-ass and I've been out-performed by a child'.
"She was kidnapped along with the Head of House Ishara. They tortured her by clipping off two of her digits -- one at a time -- then seared the damage with a blowtorch. She gave them nothing. At the end of the encounter, the two of them managed to defeat thirty Seven Pillar's commandos -- over fifteen she disabled personally."
"AFTER killing nearly half as many enemies as the 35 I have personally dispatched in my entire career, she crossed a mile and a half of barren rock in the midst of a Category 4 Typhoon. Cáel Ishara only helped her half of the way because he was engaged with the last two members of the Seven Pillar's team."
"I have utter confidence the madness here today, while assisted by House Epona and Ishara, was the brainchild of Krasimira. I say 'assisted' because Cáel Ishara spared Kwenhamai's life on the battlefield. Katrina Epona removed Kwenhamai from Romanian custody to keep her out of the hands of those who wished us harm. I was aware Kwenhamai was in New York, but not her precise location."
"My read on the situation is this:
"Aya of Kururiyahhssi was aware of Kwenhamai and Krasimira's plot to adopt her into the bloodline of the FIRST Amazon."
"She was not aware of Kwenhamai's plan to exit the Host in the manner she chose. I read the shock and pain in ... Aya's face."
"Our Princess has not given me a single order and I am the only voice here today that matters -- I am the Golden Mare and the Council has consistently failed to agree on a Regency."
"Krasimira -- why have you done this?" St. Marie abruptly asked for either a denial, or acquiescence of her perception of events.
"As directed by the Ancestors, the statute of a goddess of a First House was recast then returned to her perpetual spot. It brought new light to a dark, sacred and painful place. In that moment I realized that for the first time in nearly 3,200 years, the descendants of every Amazon gathered before the walls of Wilusa (Troy) had been reunited."
"I was troubled. Was this a portent the augurs couldn't divine? In their council (the augurs) the came up with the words 'speak to our eldest'."
Oh shit ... the rest of the Council was racking their minds trying to figure who was the oldest surviving Amazon. I knew for a fact they were overlooking the two top candidates.
"I sought out the eldest Amazon alive. They claimed to not have the answer for my worries. She had far more numerous things weighing on her mind such as her intimate demise. Though I hated sharing the same air with her, I asked her to tell me her greatest regret."
"I had given up on the Amazon Race until an Amazon reminded me, through martial effort, valiant spirit and a kind heart, I was wrong to abandon my faith with my people. Now I will die, unable to pass on my renewed hope because the one Amazon I would trust with my legacy is equally childless."
"I asked her the name of this Amazon she felt was worthy of her legacy. Then I informed her she was wrong and the Amazon in question did indeed have a daughter. She asked to meet the daughter ..."
"Last night I requested the presence of a female child residing with members of House Epona," the Keeper of Records looked up at the Golden Mare. "I provided neither the resident female (Caitlyn, Aya's Mother), or the House Head with an explanation."
Female child ... since my revival, Amazons were using 'female' child a lot more often. This meant ... Caitlyn had never told her daughter farewell. The true fate of Aya of Epona would never officially be recorded. She has been born, but never recorded as an Amazon of her House.
"The three of us met alone. The two embraced; mother and daughter. The eldest of us proclaimed she saw the light of Kururiyahhssi in her daughter's eyes. Words were exchanged. The child agreed to be adopted then departed. Further arrangements were made without the child's knowledge as we have recently observed."
"I testify that there is only one Amazon alive today who knows what transpired and I will take those conversations to my grave. Does that suffice?" Krasimira finished. I was already regurgitating my mental quandary with my Isharans. Was Aya really a daughter of Kururiyahhssi?
"I will leave it to the others to contemplate your ... bizarre actions, Krasimira," St. Marie frowned. "As for the rest of you, Aya has impressed me. If she has not impressed you, I do not care. I think she is definitely influenced by those two," St. Marie motioned to Katrina and me. "It is a given since Katrina was of her blood and she has risked much in the presence of a man she calls 'Atta' and he calls 'Duma'."
"Katrina is a cold, heartless snake and I am convinced she is one of the best 'First Bearer of the Sun Spear through the Halls of Night and Death' the Host been served by in a long, long time. Cáel is a fool who leads with his heart when he should let better women take charge. Fortunately for the rest of us, he is reliably successful despite his multitude of handicaps."
Was I upset about being insulted? No. The truth hurts and a Man needs to learn to roll with the punches. Buffy I could deal with. Katrina most likely appreciated being associated with a dangerous reptile. St. Marie hadn't forgotten Katrina threating St. Marie's daughter that was for sure.
"I am considering much of what our Princess would like me/us to do ... because it is based in keen insight and well-reasoned thought. She wishes to spare our sons so we will have more warriors in the fight. We have already added men to Havenstone and one to the Council -- as was the Will of the Ancestors."
"Let me see -- she wishes a bodyguard of fourteen (2 First House and 1 from Africa, Asia, Europe and North & South America -- the Amazon presence in Australia was minimal and I doubted they would bring someone up from Antarctica, plus the seven matching Runners) without removing permanent members of any House and allowing all Houses to have access to our future Queen. I approve. It is a fine idea and I wish I had thought of it."
"Should we add Runners directly into the Royal House? She doesn't think so and I feel this decision shows a remarkably insightful into the long history of our People and protects the Council's sensitivity on such matters. I approve."
"Placing our sons into the care of the Royal House? We need to free up as many sisters as possible. Men under the care of the Royal House will be tradesmen and help-mates. Not a single weapon will be in their hands. If none of you have realized herlike will take two decades to implement ... it only increases my eagerness to see her become 'casted'."
Aya's hand shot up again.
Yes?"
"I would hope the Council, or the Regents, will consider a 'like' which is not mine. It is a man's and it should be of no surprise the idea is Cáel's."
"If you feel it holds merit, Aya, tell us," St. Marie deferred.
"The 9 Clans have shown some interest in a children exchange programs among our youth as it would provide new techniques we can add to our arsenal an a new avenue to experiment with new ideas. I find the idea to be promising as the Host takes part in affairs beyond our own immediate needs. It would also supply partners between families to be shared for a season or two."
Translation: Amazon women could breed with men of allied Secret Societies to reduce our dependence on our own, much smaller, male population. In the short term, it would go a long way to rectifying the Host's child-bearing problems.
The Council's quarrelsome behavior was biting them in the ass big time. St. Marie was right -- the only opinion that mattered was hers until the Council elected a Regency. Had we not been at war, the Council would have ruled, but we were, so we took orders from the Golden Mare. Even if the High Priestess had been alive, she would have deferred to our designated War Leader on most things.
"Cáel Ish ... Cáel Wakko Ishara is a very dangerous and devious male, Aya. Be careful of any council he gives," St. Marie's caution was more playful than menacing.
"I'll be okay," Aya peeped. "He doesn't have sex with any woman until she is eighteen." That wasn't what the Golden Mare was cautioning her about. We all knew it. Aya was working to defuse a sticky bit of mental juggling -- listening to a man's advice.
"On that we can agree," St. Marie conceded. "Back to what I would 'like' to say. The New Directive is being implemented. I feel it goes beyond the purview of my mandate. I will leave it for the Regency to deal with. Katrina and Tessa have already invested in the groundwork in this endeavor, so I will endorse it if that is the decision of the Regency."
"I have ZERO desire to add a single Runner to the Security Detail. I will open up slots in the training program if that is what the Regency demands. Each House's policy for dealing with the First Directive is their business, not mine. If any of you wish to consider something the Princess considers to be important, so be it. The idea of 1,000 Isharans does not appeal to me. Look how much trouble their tiny numbers have already caused us and take heed."
Buffy began growling, which amused/worried the Houses on either side of us. Unlike me, Buffy didn't 'roll with the blows' and considered all manner of insults to me, House Ishara and her Isharan sisters to be answerable with violence. I loved her so. There was also no way I'd let her go after St. Marie. The Golden Mare would crush her; I had no doubt.
"The unwelcome blood feud: are both House Heads ignorant of my forbiddance of such things? Apparently so. Both defied me by tossing insults back and forth. Considering we are at war with two of the most powerful Secret factions, I am angered by both for their idiocy."
"The solution the Princess likes is rather novel," St. Marie was punishing both Messina and me with her low voice and fiery gaze. Krasimira coughed.
"Yes?" St. Marie suspended her anger.
"The suggested resolution is not without precedence," Krasimira spoke with a scholarly detachment. "In our early days, the Host settled such disputes in Spring and Fall gatherings by contests of foot speed, hunting, horsewomanship, archery and wrestling. If we revive the tradition, the competing Houses could nominate one woman for each contest to settle the matter. Only the hand-to-hand match would risk either contestant's health."
"I will consider it and render judgement before the Sun sets today," St. Marie nodded. "The final like pleases me greatly. Dealing with the 52 of you is ... Cáel?"
I was on the spot. I couldn't let down my fan base of one -- Aya. Perhaps it was five -- Buffy (who would never admit it), Daphne (who liked me), Katrina (because she liked fucking with my head) and Desiree (who was less likely to admit she found me funny than Buffy).
I felt I gave a decent effort.
"'A ginormous pain in my hemorrhoids?' the basic one."
"'More painful than having my cornea scrapped with a spoon?' more gruesome."
"'Enough to make me want to give Sakuniyas a surprise French kiss?' most likely to be fatal."
"'Worse than waking up to discover I'm related to Cáel Wakko Ishara?' most horrifying -- for both of us."
"'Inspiring me to toss it all away and take up Professional Bikini Mud Wrestling?' a personal fantasy of mine."
"Why do we put up with him again?" one House Head remarked.
"Because I am worried that one," motioning to Buffy, "will stab me in the elevator after a meeting."
"My First, are you acting psychotic around the Council members?" I looked over my shoulder at Buffy.
"Wakko Ishara, it is not an act. I am psychotic," she responded deadpan.
"Are you still packing that thermite grenade?"
"No Wakko Ishara. Daphne stole it from me and hid it," was her quick delivery.
"I love working with you two," Daphne whispered.
"What is it with you, your unsubtle sexual innuendo and me in a bikini?" St. Marie stared at me.
"I find the combination of brilliance and lethality sexy. Just ask Elsa," I grinned. Then I grimaced as Buffy stomped on my toes. The House Heads and Apprentices on either side of me noticed and clearly expected me to do something ... like to show outrage (because she was my underling), or start crying (because I was a guy).
"Prestige," Daphne hissed quietly. "Prestige." She was reminding Buffy that beating me up in public made the other Amazons think even less of me than they already did.
"I will go with (B) -- the cornea scrapping," St. Marie gave me a nod.
"Damn it," I muttered. I also got my foot out of the way before someone did any more damage to my phalanges.
'Best Daddy Ever,' Aya mouthed to me. Back to the main action.
"It is not my place to order the rest of you to elect Shawnee, Rhada and Buffy to be the Regency. I do admit I admire the mixture of candidates," St. Marie declared. I shot Rhada a quick look. She seemed really, really enamored of the idea of being part of the Regency, thus staying in New York for the next decade, or so.
"Before the idea is rejected out of hand, I suggest we ask the three people our Princess would like to be part of the Regency if they would accept the nomination," the Golden Mare continued. "Shawnee Arinniti?"
"I bow to the logic and reason of the proposal," Shawnee replied.
"Rhada Meenakshi?"
"I wish to join my sisters in battle, yet I accept the reasoning behind the proposal," Rhada nodded. "If my Head of House agrees, I will stay and do my part for our People." What was she saying to me? 'You are going to whip me, beat me, torture me, humiliate me and push me to beyond the limits of any pain I have experienced until I pass out ~ repeatedly'.
"I despair of finding any other compromise," Mahdi frowned. "If my Apprentice understands the greater difficulty she will face gaining prestige among her House-mates, I will consent to this proposal." Essentially a 'yes'.
"Buffy Ishara?"
"I was really looking forward to ripping the spines out of still living foes, but I would be a fool to go against Aya of Kururiyahhssi's smarts. If Wakko Ishara wants to walk out of this room unassisted, he will see the wisdom of this decision as well," she gave me a shark's smile. Daphne had surpassed her limit and punched Buffy.
"Hell ya, I agree," I exclaimed. "Now I know there will be certain times of the day when she isn't stalking me."
"I'll work more pain into our limited schedule," Buffy grumbled.
"Are we sure he is the House Head and she is the Apprentice?" Yet another House Head joined the 'shit on me' train.
It was telling of our group dynamic how we accepted the Pyramid of Pain. The underlings dispensed advice and violence as they felt necessary without their 'superior' getting pissy about it. Buffy felt totally justified hitting me and accepted being hit by Daphne ... who continued to act unimpeded as Buffy's rapid-fire translator.
"If I was House Head, I'd handcuff him to me," Buffy clarified for her.
"What she said," I pointed a thumb Buffy's way. I'd have used a finger, but she might have grabbed, twisted and made me scream in pain.
"Perhaps the Council can vote on this as their second order of business," St. Marie cloaked her command as a suggestion.
"Cáel Wakko Ishara, can I ask you a personal question?" Kohar of Marda caught my attention.
