Starlight Gleaming Ch. 21 Pt. 01

"Earlier this year, it came to the attention of Her Imperial Majesty that a senior officer at High Guard was involved in a murder attempt on the Black Orchid. She was quite angry that anyone would even consider such a base act. I was there when she contacted Lord Bantochi, the Air Marshal. I was present later, too, when she dispatched part of her personal Household Guard to arrest the man accused of the act and return him for direct examination."

That Voyacherno was involved in the assassination attempt was unsurprising. "The man who was arrested. Do you know what happened to him?"

Izel frowned. "I will share what I know with you, Lord Kandikan. However, I seriously caution you or anyone else here about sharing it with others."

I almost laughed. She was obviously unaware of Supay's actions at High Guard as of late.

"Go on," Janetta encouraged. "Tell us what happened to him."

"Two days after her company of household guards returned from completing their instructions, Minister Supay came to the palace and demanded an audience with the Empress. The Empress never calls him by name but instead refers to him as the Devil, and so do the rest of us. At this particular meeting, I and three others were in a nearby alcove listening in. The Empress had several of her guards beside her, and more guards waited in secret with us as we hid from the Devil's view. Even in her own suites, the Empress never allows herself to be alone with him. This time, he did not even acknowledge her status as Empress! Instead, after barging in without being properly announced, he said he knew she had an officer of the Air Service as her prisoner, and he demanded that as Minister of Imperial Security that she release the prisoner to his custody at once. The Devil's tone was entirely disrespectful to the Empress! And a man with lesser power would certainly have died for such insolence.

"By way of reply, she told him that televising the exploits of Commander Orchid had been an inspired idea, and she commended him for the invention. The dramas were popular with the common folk, and encouraged them to look to the Emperor for justice. Stopping the creation of new videos, therefore, had been a mistake. The Empress then revealed that she knew about his orders to murder all the women playing the Black Orchid.

"The Devil replied, 'Not Maretta, I didn't, and I resent your words. Maretta was loyal. Committed! The others were all traitorous, filthy whores unworthy to breathe the same air as their betters. Now, where is my cousin?' To which the Empress answered that the man he sought was nearby, in the commode, even as they spoke.

"Storming over to the bathroom, the Devil pounded on the door, demanding he come out. When no one answered, he opened the door. Then he shouted to the Empress, 'What game are you playing at? There's no one in there! Where is he?'

"The Empress stood and asked, 'Did you lift the lid, Minister?'

"He stepped into the room and then began yelling and swearing. There were loud crashes and the sounds of glass and ceramics breaking from within the chamber. The Devil destroyed many valuable items in his rage. Meanwhile, her guards drew their weapons, prepared for his return. At last, he stormed out, his face dark with anger, and he shouted at the Empress again. Can you believe it? The Empress! He shouted, 'You had no right! No right at all. Imperial Security is my concern, not yours!'

"The Empress told him coldly, 'How dare you! I am the Empress of Chimorro! I am the Emperor's Second in Command of all Imperial military forces! That man was examined under Truth Drugs by members of a military board of inquiry, found guilty of capital crimes, and paid the price. Do not ever presume to tell me what I can and cannot do, Minister!'

"The Devil snarled as he stepped toward the Empress, but her guards jumped between them, and it was then he saw the many weapons arrayed against him. Furious, the Devil stormed out of the room.

"I don't think she meant for us to hear, but before we were dismissed, she stared at the still open doors, saying, 'With the Devil loose among our people and the Black Orchid gone, it falls to an Empress to act as the Emperor's Vengeful Hand of Justice. And, by Inti, act I will.' The Guard Captain, however, cautioned her that the Minister was dangerous to antagonize and still had the Emperor's favor. She asked her mistress to be especially cautious when traveling, which she agreed to."

"He was inside the commode itself?" exclaimed Calia, obviously disturbed by the notion.

"Not the whole body," Izel replied. "Just the skull. It was affixed to the front of the bowl with the mouth open. Right after it was installed, the Empress insisted on personally using the commode. Afterward, she declared it made a mundane body function especially satisfying."

At Calia's troubled look, Izel explained, "It serves a practical political purpose. The man tried to kill someone favored by the Empress of Chimorro, and now his skull is in her commode. The Empress may not be able to issue edicts, but for those at Court able to perceive it, the lesson is loud and clear."

Janetta nodded in approval. "Just after he returned to High Guard, Kandikan did the same thing, Calia. Tonca hurt you and he tortured Ixma for days. After Tonca was killed, Kandikan had his body staked out on the shore to feed the birds and crabs."

"He... he was an evil man. I understand the necessity of his death," Calia replied sadly. "I'd just rather not focus on the end results."

Izel, however, gave me a speculative look.

Janetta raised her eyebrows at Izel. "Your story about the Empress makes me curious. If you're so connected, why didn't you appeal to her directly for help?"

"I'm known there, but I'm not part of her inner circle. Besides, the Empress has been in seclusion for the past three weeks, nearing the birth of her fourth child. In the last two months, in three separate incidents, food testers at the palace died from poison, resulting in increased security procedures. Compounding this, the Devil tried to pin two of the attempts on her personal guards, but the Empress has cameras everywhere to prove their whereabouts, and her guards always travel in pairs. Those accused also readily submitted to Truth Drugs under examination by the military and were proven innocent. Most of her Household Guard is either Atahualpan from Inharana or they are Quechuan, and all of them are fiercely loyal to the Empress."

I raised my eyebrows. "Her guards, do they by chance speak Atahualpan?"

"They do. Why do you ask?" Izel looked at me with interest.

"When her Household Guard traveled with us, I heard them say a phrase and I don't know what they said. It wasn't Quechuan. Now I wonder if it was Atahualpan."

"I speak the language passably well," she confirmed. "Her personal troops use the language for security purposes. But they also use their own sign language, which they are careful to hide from outsiders. To get by a checkpoint, you need to know both the daily password and the signed phrase. Only those deemed loyal enough are entrusted to travel alone within that part of the palace where the Empress resides. All others are escorted about by her guards."

"I believe the phrase was, Ha! Karana so ako kahn, Prosan Chaya!"

She smiled at me. "Ah, yes. I am familiar with that phrase. The word is eko, not ako. It means Attend! Our lives by your will, Empress Chaya! It's a phrase with a lot of historical meaning for the Empress and her guards. If you'll permit me to explain?"

I gestured for her to proceed, curious to learn more about the Empress, and indirectly, a bit more about Izel herself.

Janetta, her face stoic, folded her arms, and waited patiently.

"Nearly three centuries ago," Izel began, "the newly formed Empire pushed south, going to war with the tribes living in what is now Inharana state. The Harana, Metocanni, and Atahualpans met the Imperial forces at the battle of Simat Kor Talkai or Blood River Pass. After several hours of fighting, the Harana were overrun and the Metocanni were forced to retreat, leaving the Atahualpans and their queen defending the pass itself -- cut off and surrounded. Despite this, the queen's forces were entrenched and they fought fiercely, especially her personal guard, making the Emperor of Chimorro pay in blood for every inch of ground. Many of the Emperor's finest warriors were killed, and many of his advanced armored vehicles were destroyed as well.

"The Emperor called a temporary truce, allowing both sides to retrieve their wounded. He loathed the idea of losing more of his own men and his new war vehicles, but taking the pass was critical to his war of conquest. He was also on a timetable, for snow was expected, and the Emperor wanted to be at the lower elevations when that happened. The longer the queen's army kept them there, the greater the likelihood that other tribes would rally and join the fight, and force the Emperor to abandon his southern campaign.

"In spite of the setback, the Emperor found himself admiring the fighting spirit of the queen and her warriors, especially her elite guard. They were all women and were distinguished by purple dye on their chins and necks. The Empress' Household Guards wear purple uniforms in homage to those elite warrior women. Does this story sound familiar, Captain? No? It's worth knowing.

"The Atahualpans were greatly outnumbered, so the queen asked her people, what was their will? Surrender and become another conquered tribe serving the Empire? Or fight to the end, dying a free people? Our current Empress is the fourth named after that queen's fiercest warrior, General Chaya. Mortally wounded, the general answered her queen with 'Ha! Karana so eko kahn, kier Proka!' It translates to Attend! Our lives by your will, mighty Queen! With those words, General Chaya reminded her that she was their leader, while simultaneously calling on the Atahualpan warriors to uphold their sworn duty."

Izel paused a moment, letting the story sink in.

"The queen's warriors took up the chant, repeating it over and over until it echoed up and down the pass. After the noise died down, the Emperor realized their resolve, so he made an offer. He had queens and princesses to warm his bed, he said, but the queen of the Atahualpans and her warriors had impressed him. If she joined him, she would become his Empress and their people would enjoy a place of prominence in the Empire. Oaths were made, and she and her warriors joined forces with the Emperor. Atahualpan tradition says that on the morning after their impromptu wedding, there were bruises, scratches, and bite marks aplenty between them, as well as healthy respect. Less than a year later, she bore him a son and his heir."

Suddenly I nodded in recognition of the participants.

Izel continued her tale. "The new Empress did not stay at home but through the years she fought at his side, skillfully commanding forces in the field, forcing tribe after tribe to join the Empire. Twelve years later, in a rather famous event, the Emperor was fighting a campaign to conquer northern Je State when he was suddenly attacked by a new army on the field. A large contingent of Atlantean forces, bent on stopping the Empire's growth, had arrived to relieve the northern Je defenders, and the Emperor soon found himself hard-pressed between two hostile armies.

"The Empress learned of her husband's dire situation. While engaged in her own battle at the time, she efficiently withdrew her forces, prevented them from chasing after by blowing two important bridges and rushed to the Emperor's defense. Within two hours, leading her advanced forces, she engaged the Atlanteans in battle. After five long and bloody hours, the rest of her command arrived and began to reinforce battle lines with heavier combatants. The fresh troops turned the tide and scattered the Atlanteans, driving them from the field. Together, they forced the northern Je defenders to surrender. I'm sure both of you warriors recognize the names of the Emperor and Empress by now."

Janetta nodded. "Emperor Chambaca III, and Empress Tlilibasa. The battle of Su-Jon-Ree. She used that victory to end the requirement that women warriors be chaste."

"You seem well versed on the subject, Izel," I observed. "What exactly did you do at the Imperial Court?"

"I read reports, looking for trends and patterns, and when asked, offered options to problems. My lord, I will show you my worth by offering up two additional bits of information that may help guide you in the future. General Chaya's body was cremated where she died, and they added her ashes to the memorial built to commemorate both the battle and the alliance. Our current Empress makes an annual pilgrimage to the site, though for security reasons, the exact date varies. The second item is that the Empress listened with great interest to the events regarding your arrival here, Commander, including the attack by the Greys, the firefight with Voyacherno's men, and your duel in the temple with Captain Tonca. The person who relayed that information is the same person who sent me to you. Captain Abeeya Tsocotchi. She spoke of you with respect, my lord, saying you were a good man. For her, that is no small thing."

Calia raised her eyebrows. Janetta pursed her lips and took a deep breath, absorbing the news.

"You have a gift for telling a story," I told Izel.

Pleased, she gave a short bow. "You are too kind, my lord. Stories are grand and useful in their own way. Context helps us understand our current problems better, and perhaps help us avoid repeating past mistakes. I also hope that I have provided some measure of entertainment while making you more favorably disposed to my plight.

"I find I am compelled to remind you of my current situation. Please, my lord! The general lost his duel with you. You can claim me right now! I freely offer myself to you by right of conquest. Lady Tlacotli is a noblewoman. She can witness you taking me and making me your wife."

Izel dropped to her knees, desperation on her face. "I'll crawl if it will help persuade you. I'll beg. I'll kiss your feet and put your heel on my head! I'll do whatever you ask of me. Marry me and I will swear before the gods to look after your interests as if they were my own. I know how to be a good and loyal wife. Please, save me, my lord!"

I watched Izel struggle to maintain her composure.

Janetta, her arms folded, looked at me. "It's the same as yesterday. It's a win-win situation, Kandikan. You protect her from her brother and she brings you access to powerful people, land, and wealth. You should do this, Kandikan."

Sighing, I pursed my lips. "If left to my own devices, I would say no. Not that Izel doesn't deserve to be married, but rather because I already have five lovers and it bothers me that I do not do enough by any one of you. I am also concerned because I should discuss this with Cholan, Ixma, and Zinja, so that at the very least I can reassure them their situation will be unchanged. I love and trust you both. Janetta, the fact that both you and Calia want me to do this means a great deal."

I reached down and pulled Izel to her feet and looked into her eyes. "I want men and women to get used to the idea that both participants have a say in whom they have sex with. One day, I hope it will be illegal everywhere, regardless of station, regardless of gender, for anyone to rape another human being because both must have the right to consent."

Reaching out, I gently brushed my hand along Izel's cheek. She was startled by the gesture, but then seemed calmer. "Tell me, Izel. Did you consider suicide before deciding to come to me?"

Shocked, and then embarrassed, she looked away, her answer full of pain. "Yes, I did. But with me in charge, there are some lands and people that are safe from my brother's depredations. If I died, they would revert to him."

"I'm glad you chose to live," I told her, cupping and turning her chin back so that her eyes again met mine. "Changing the way people think takes time. Ideas are seeds that need nurturing until they become apparent and then become accepted as a given truth. When your friends told you your situation was a family matter, they lied to you, Izel. And, for the women who used that excuse to you, they lied to themselves as well. If you were a child that would be one thing, but even a child's call for outside help should be answered with an inquiry by the community.

"However, you are not a child but a fully grown woman with adult children of your own! And yet, because you are a woman who asked for help against a man who is your brother, they refused to get involved. Now that you are widowed, and I presume your brother is the eldest male, he assumes he can decide your fate without your consent because he is a man, and nearly everywhere it's the men who make family decisions. By his actions, he also implies that as a woman, you are unfit to decide for yourself. The excuses that your situation is family business is the false covering that hides their own, similarly helpless situation. If they help you, it threatens the power held by their husbands, and that cannot be allowed to be challenged. So they lie to you and themselves and thus preserve peace in their own household.

"Claiming a woman by right of conquest assumes a woman is not a person like a man but is instead property. Something to be owned by the man. If a woman is property, she can never be a partner and the word 'wife' is simply another word for slave. Property needs a man's protection and cannot object to intolerable situations. Sadly, our laws reflect this backward attitude. Under this type of thinking, a woman's rights and her happiness are at the sole discretion of the husband or the father -- and not based on her intrinsic rights as a human being.

"People strongly associate me with the Protection Order, a declaration that says that regardless of rank or power, sex must be consensual. The Protection Order indirectly implies that women are human beings, and therefore have feelings and rights on par with men. It also implies that both women and servants are not property. And that is why I must absolutely refuse to claim you by right of conquest. Izel, if I take you to be my wife based on conquest, I undo the moral basis of the Protection Order. I undermine the right of anyone to say no."

Janetta looked troubled even as she nodded solemnly. "You're right, Kandikan. I only saw the immediate benefit of adding a powerful ally to our family, and I was so eager to go along with Izel's plan, I did not consider the long-term consequences. Whatever else happens, I do not want to go back to what we had to endure before."

"Izel, we will be married in a legal ceremony officiated by a sanctioned priest," I told her, and her face was awash with relief, and tears spilled down her cheeks. "I will inquire with the Chaplain's Office later this morning to see who's available and what I can do to expedite matters. In the meantime, I can at least do this. House Computer, begin recording for a legal filing."

"Recording, Commander," the computer responded, the voice coming from speakers hidden about the room. "Timestamp embedded in the file. Please identify witnesses for the record."

Izel wiped her eyes and sniffed, her attention entirely on me.

"I am Ranji Kandikan, Commander, Imperial Air Service, assigned as commanding officer to the 602 Air Security Regiment, High Guard War Base. Present is Lady Janetta Tlacotli, Captain, Imperial Air Service, assigned to the 233rd Interceptor Group, Leader of 3rd Flight. Also present is Lady Izel Ocotépan of Nahua State. The fourth person present is Calia, my Personal Servant."