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When he was finished, Bovine dressed and left her there. He went to attend to some transport matters for some of December's delicacies. Heirleigh picked herself up off the floor. His Majesty was getting married, and not just another wife, this one was said to be special because he loved her.
Heirleigh was assigned to the cake. It was to have both of their names on it. But she didn't know the girls name. Finally she decided to ask Bovine.
"Her name is Washanna, my sweet. She has been by his side for some time now. She finally decided to marry him because her brother and her sister would be freed if she did. That's all I know. And that poor wench girl you say is your daughter, her death started it all." He said and smiled at her. "Back to work. Or I could devise something more fun" he said.
She went back to decorating. Washanna, her daughter, was marring that oink of a thing, December? And to save her sister and brother...then Scout and Safalina live! But Safalina was not captured by the raiders. She was in the attic. How could it be?
Just as she had finished her daughter's name, Lina came into the kitchen.
"My name is Lina. I am to take Heirleigh to be executed, where is she?" she said to Bovine.
"She is their, but under whose orders?" he asked, not wanting to give up his new prized possession.
"The Princess, Warianna's." Lina said and headed over to Heirleigh. She took her out and around the back of a building where Scout waited anxiously.
"Mother!" he said and rushed to embrace her.
"Safalina, what is happening?" Heirleigh said over Scout's shoulder.
"It's Lina now, and Scout and I were to be executed but Washanna saved us by agreeing to marry December. I heard your name by that oink in there, bragging about his accomplishments. Mother Watianna is dead, poisoned. That is how they found me. At first, because I had made so much noise, they thought I had shot her through with an arrow. They found now that it was the food she had been nibbling. Scout had refused to kill some people and had turned on his army, Warianna was going to have him killed. Washanna saved us all. Now we have to save her." Lina said quickly. "Where is Overrann?"
"Overrann is dead, he smuggled the poison that killed your sister to me, I'm sorry. It was meant for December, she ate it first. Why is it Lina now?"
"It's shorter. Listen never mind what else, we have to help Washanna, she has saved my life twice now and I have only caused her pain. We must get her, we must. I have an idea, December has her sleep by his side on the dais, we can get her then, everything else is already set up." she said, pleading that they would agree, they had to.
"Yes we must get Washanna, what a trouble she must be having. Tonight then, right now let us sleep." she said. Lina took them to a place she had found where they could sleep for a while.
They woke up a little after midnight. All three feeling much better.
"Now what?" Heirleigh asked. Both Scout and Lina looked at her like she was positively dumb. They had both been trained for battle, Heirleigh had been trained to cook.
"We sneak in and get her of course." Lina answered and headed toward the main section of the palace.
"But don't we need a plan or something?" she asked.
"We already have one, we're going to sneak in and get Washanna and then leave." she said.
"But-"
"Shhhhh!" They crept nearer to one of the Kings side doors.
"This should put us right behind her." Lina whispered. She quietly opened the door and crept forward. She shook Washanna's shoulder. Washanna opened her eyes and turned around. "We've come to get you, come on. We have to go." Lina whispered.
"Safalina-"
"Lina, now come on."
"Lina, I can't. If I leave he will search until he finds us all. He'll kill you and there's no telling what he'll do with me. No, escape while you can go." she whispered.
"But-"
December stirred. "Go!" Washanna whispered fiercely. Scout tugged on Lina's arm, guards were coming. "I love you all." she said loud enough that Heirleigh, in the back, could hear. December turned and made a sound. Lina knew when to take an exit she herded what was left of her family back outside and to a ship that had been waiting for her.
They traveled across the Great Soonee one last time. Heirleigh wept constantly, and kept saying it was her fault, her and her plan to poison His Majesty. When they finally came upon their own continent Lina guided the captain up the Azare. He docked the ship just outside of their hometown. A crowd had gathered to see what had happened to their warrior, Lina. They all cheered as they recognized Heirleigh stepping off the ship. Lina seemed to have accomplished her goal.
Lina had done her best to keep the property up. Heirleigh and Scout moved back in. She tried to persuade Lina to as well, but she said she loved her life the way it was.
The music played, the dancers danced, Washanna wept. She would never see her family again. She did love December, and she was honored that he would do so much just to marry her. He had waited seven years. He had let traitors, her family, live. He had given a slave, her sister, an honorable burial. He had been so kind, he did love her and it was obvious. And she would not become just another wife, she was to be a queen.
The wedding itself was beautiful. The cake, which she had been told was made by her mother was gorgeous. Her name had been printed with beauty and skill. December had made a good choice on the ceremony. She had been asked to promise her love and her life to him, but it had sounded wonderful the way it was said. He had kissed her and they had walked back down the isle together. Badgea, Decembers other queen, Abuv and Obuv, their other two daughters, and Warrianna had been given places of honor at the table. But this was Washanna's day and she was honored the most. The new queen, Queen Washanna.
She still did about the same things, just sat there, gave December advise, but he gave her a piece of his lands. It was a farmers community. They were overjoyed to find that the new queen was now their ruler. Badgea, she found out, owned a bit of land very close by. It seemed fitting, he loved them both, and so they were privileged.
Washanna became pregnant shortly. This made December very happy, he did not yet have any male children. If he never received any Warianna would have the kingdom, if the occupants would accept her. As it is they knew that she was the warlord.
Washanna gave birth to twin girls who, with Decembers permission, she named Safalina and Watianna. He was slightly miffed that they were not male but he loved them none the less. They had come from the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. And they were theirs. Badgea taught Washanna how to care for them, she loved the little girls too. She was their second mother. Just as Washanna was Abuv, Obuv, and Warianna's second mother.
Washanna loved her life, she had a wonderful one. Badgea had become her best friend. And she and Maline Ah got along wonderfully, he did whatever she asked like she was December himself, he even played with the girls. She got a chance to visit the land December had given her. They held a feast in her honor and dedicated the land to her daughters. They truly loved her. But she could not help wondering how her family was, what had happened to them.
Early one morning, when Watianna and Safalina were about three, a ship came out of the sky. It seemed to float on the air.
"We are from your sister planet, Solace." said one of the men that came out of the ship.
"How can this be that your ship flies? What is your name?" December asked.
"Extraordinary, you speak the same as us. What do you call your planet?" He asked.
"What do you mean? We call Oren by his name. Of course we speak the same. Did you expect us to bark like a woof?" He answered puzzled.
"And the planet up there" ,he pointed to Solace, "what do you call it?"
"We call Solace by her name of course, how can you say you are children of the Mother Solace yet not know her name. But yet you said it when you came. I ask again, who are you?" December said starting to get annoyed.
"Hmm? Oh, my name is Warshaw. I am the representative Solace sent to give you greetings. We are much farther along in technology than you seem to be. We chose to come to this continent first hoping to find at least a civilized people, and it seems we have."
"Yes this continent is very civil, I cannot say as much for the other. They live like barbarians, with no ruler and no laws." December shook his head.
"They are infinitely more civil than you." Washanna burst out. "We need no ruler, you do. Our laws are unwritten but that does not mean they do not exist. We live by moral laws. If it is wrong may you be punished by the rightful party. Pain for pain, life for life, possession for possession. We have far less troubles than you. We would have practically none but for your damnable raiders! I was stolen from my home, and kept here so as my family could flee. And they did not all make it. My sister and my father lie in graves on your soil instead of with the others of my family! You say you love me, but if you did you would have sent me home long ago. " she said to December. "Leave here, you will make Father Oren angry for showing favor on the unfavored and you will pay. Oren does not leave the guilty unpunished." she stormed back into the castle, not knowing what had caused her to react the way she did. She missed her family more than she had thought. Could she get away to see them? No she could not take her girls that far, and if she left them December might hurt them in her absence. His anger was a dangerous thing to play with she had learned that the hard way. But he was bargainable....
The leader, Warshaw, fell in love with Warianna immediately. She didn't mind the idea of becoming his wife, when a few years earlier she would have beheaded him for the suggestion. Warianna's weakness had finally been revealed, though she would never admit it.
Washanna became pregnant again around the time the visitors came. December, she knew, hoped very much that these two would be male, so as he would have an heir.
Warianna it seemed had decided not to wait for she and Warshaw to be married, she also was pregnant, and she did not like it. Washanna was tried to convince her not to kill the children, that she would care for them but Warianna would have to wait and give birth to them.
"From your own sayings, what does not kill us only makes us stronger. If it doesn't kill you, giving birth shall definitely make you stronger." she pleaded, trying to convince Warianna. Finally after a great amount of pleading and promising Washanna had convinced Warianna to have the children, though she still scowled at the thought of losing her figure, even for a few months. About in their eighth month Warshaw told December that he and his people must go back to Solace.
"We must report what we have found, we didn't think you would be so civilized. My people must know what is going on." Warshaw addressed December. Washanna looked away. To Warianna he said, "I promise I shall return. If I know my people, they will want guests made of a few from each continent on Oren." He left immediately without saying good-bye, Washanna supposed he had done that to strengthen the idea that he would return, but frankly it only made him seem heartless. Maybe that was what Warianna wanted, she didn't seem bothered.
About a month after they had left Washanna gave birth to twin sons. She named them January, after December's twin brother who had been king and then died of a plague, and Scotta, after Scouts twin who had died of the same cause. December was in tears when he heard what she had chosen. He had not been honored in this manner before. He now had an heir and his brother, his other half, was being honored constantly be his own blood. Now was the time to bargain with him. She could get him to agree to her taking a trip home in a few months. He knew she could not leave her children permanently.
"I will be miserable here after if I do not find out what has become of them. If you keep the children here you can be assured that I will return." she said.
"I know you would not resign your children to death just to stay with your family. I also know that they cannot be stolen. But I do not know why you love that barbaric world so. They are nothings, lost in a wilderness of their own ignorance and naiveté. You are enlightened. Why must you go slinking through those dangers again?" he asked.
"Ignorance! Naiveté! Dangers!! It is infinitely more safe for me there than here. I know how to care for myself among those people, they are my people. I must know what has become of my family." she knew anger was not the way to convince him. "I do love you December, how could I not after all that you have done for me? But if you love me as much as you say, then why do you deny me this?" she asked.
He looked at her for a minute. "I would see my love happy." He snapped his fingers and whispered something to Maline Ah as he came in response. "It will be arranged. I would beg you take guardians but I know you will not. If you do not return within the time limits set by Maline Ah your daughters will be killed, even if it is due to your death. That is my only safe guard for you life, I know you will fight withal if their lives are endangered. Leave me now love." he said. She quietly walked away.
Shortly after, Warianna gave birth to two sons of her own. Whom she named Warrunn and Shawrunn after their father. The day that she had them she had her slaves deliver them to Washanna's quarters. Washanna had hoped that the experience of giving birth would make her want to keep her sons, it had not worked. But Washanna resolved to love them and raise them like her own. The girls knew that they were cousins, but they saw the boys as brothers as well.
When the boys were about nine months old, and she could leave them in the care of Badgea and the other nannies, she made arrangements with Maline Ah to visit her family. Finally she was going home, and what stories she had to tell!
It took longer than Washanna had thought to cross the great Soonee. It was months before the other continent came into view. She knew she was missing important things in her sons' lives but she had to sacrifice it, she would make it up to them.
The captain had instructions to take her right up the river the Azare until Washanna told him to stop. Her town came into view.
"Stop here." she told the captain and went to gather her things.
"But there is no town here should you not wait until we reach that village ahead?" he called down to her.
"Your orders were to do as I say correct. I say you let me off her, I wish to walk into my town, not to be carried." She came up the stairs with her satchel. He let down a ramp for her to get to the ground.
"I will await you one month from now exactly my orders are that if you are not here exactly on time I am to report back to them, I would have to leave without you." He told her and started the ship heading back down the river to a more suitable dock.
Washanna made a great queen and a great mother. Loved by all. She raised Shawrunn and Warrunn like her own sons but she made sure that they knew Warianna was their mother. When they were about seven she began to teach them to fight. Washanna didn't like the idea but Warianna argued that they were her sons.
When the boys were fifteen, and the girls 18 and ready to be married off, Warshaw came back again.
"I have visited Oren's other continent and have gathered people to take with me from here and there. Now I have come for my children." he said.
Warianna shrank back and put her arms in front of her children. "Never." she said to him. Warshaw's people grabbed her from either side, catching her off guard. They overpowered her and she could not free herself. "No!" she screamed as the men took her sons to the ship. One of the men hit her on the back of the head with something and she fell unconscious. When she awoke she was in her bedchambers and Washanna and December were sitting next to her.
"I said nothing when you chose to desecrate yourself, and then became pregnant. But this man has taken these disgraces off of your hands, now you shall marry, if I must force you, you will marry." December said down to his daughter.
"Disgraces! Father they were your grandchildren! They are the flesh of Father Oren. He cannot take them to Solace, but he already has hasn't he?" she said and turned her face to the window. Washanna gestured that they should leave and Warianna, for the first time ever in her life, cried.
"December! Someone, help!" Washanna screamed. Everyone was occupied with trying to fight off the attack. December lay on the floor of the throne room in a pool of his own blood. He had been pierced through the heart by the prince who had once been his best friend. The prince was now trying to fight off an onslaught from January and Scotta. Despite Washanna's wishes Warianna had taught them to fight, which seemed to come in handy now. Darmus had become angry that December would not gamble her to him. He had wanted her so thoroughly that he had attacked, and so far he was winning.
January thrust the sword deep into Darmus' belly. He let out a scream and looked down at his wound.
"May you die slowly and painfully." January said down to him as he sank to the floor. He rushed over to Washanna. "Mother, is he...?"
Washanna could do nothing but cry. December was gone. January was yet unmarried, and new very little about how to run a kingdom. He would be His Majesty now. So much responsibility and no one but Maline Ah to show him the way.
Finally, later in the night, all of the intruders had been vanquished. They held a ceremony right then to crown January. His first order was to prepare a funeral for his late father.
Washanna spent all week searching through her records, she had been keeping a list of the girls who might make suitable wives for her sons. She had finally married her daughters off, but her sons were alone and January must have a wife now. Finally, she came upon the woman she had in mind. Her name was Emm Lea. January and she had seemed the perfect couple. She sent messengers out to find her and bring her back, and went to talk with her son.
"January, you need a wife. I have sent for Emm Lea. Do you remember her. She would be the ideal wife for you." she said to her son who was bent over royal records. He looked up.
"Emm Lea? Mother, do know where she is. I would gladly have her as my wife. She might actually be of help too, she knows a lot about the politics of this kingdom."
"The messengers are searching her out right now. Finally you will consent to being married, I thought I might have to force you." she rushed over and threw her arms around him.
Washanna made the preparations for the wedding, she planned it to be like hers had been, though without the deaths that resulted.
Washanna had found after she was married, that Warianna had killed a chef named Bovine just minutes before her marriage to December. It turned out that he had known about Heirleigh's plans to kill December, which had resulted in her own daughters death, and had not told the King. He had desecrated her before she was 'put to death' and was bragging about it all. Warianna had walked into the kitchen like the king himself. She'd pulled out her dagger, reft him of his manhood and, unsheathing her sword, had slowly cut of his head and left him lying in a puddle of blood in the middle of the kitchen. The poor cooks were left to clean up the mess. If the King had found out what a mess had been near his food all of the chefs would have ended with the same fate as Bovine.
It made her think of her mother. Had she killed herself for the disgrace? Was Lina leading a normal life or was she living the rogue life she had dreamed of growing up. She wondered what Soute was up to. Had he found love and happiness?
Emm Lea turned out to be the perfect person to marry, Washanna had descided after talking to her for a couple of hours. She would make a wonderful Queen, she’d probably make an even better king in fact.
"I do so love the dress, your Highness, I... it’s more than I could have hoped for." Emm Lea looked up at Washanna who was fixing her hair straight.
"Please, Emm Lea, call me Washanna. There everything looks to be in order. Are you nervous?"
"Oh, I... yes but its only because I’m thinking of all of the new responsibilities I’ll have. And please, if I’m to call you Washanna, call me Lea. Were you nervous at your wedding." She stood back and looked at herself in a length of polished metal.
"Please, Lea, lets not talk about my wedding. I’m not sure what the kingdom heard about it but it probably wasn’t true. And your responsiblities are things you are obviously capable of handling because they’re your choice to take on."
Maline Ah poked his head inside the door. "They are ready for you, your Highnesses."
"Above all, Lea, enjoy yourself. Remember this is your day. Don’t let anything take that away from you." Washanna kissed her one the forhead and lead her out to the waiting crowd. She couldn’t have hoped for a better ceremony. The two recited their own vows, from the heart, and afterward there was a reception where this time, thankfully, no one was killed.
Washanna stayed in the background for a couple of months, watching and making sure the younge King and Queen were prepared what they had gotten themselves into. She was still worried about Scotta and whom he would marry but he was much more independant than his brother. Washanna had a feeling that even if Scotta picked the girl he loved for him to marry be able to because he had not chosen her. So she left him to his own devises. Warianna had spent about a month in her chambers, probably crying. But now she was back to leading the HMA. There were a lot of boarder disputes with Darmus’ kingdom. His prediscesor, his brother Zarmus, was terribly angry at his brother’s death. His retaliation was fierce, but his army was depleated from the first battle.
Washanna quietly asked Maline Ah to book passage for her on the next ship leaving to cross the great Soonee. He asked how she would would get to her home once she was over there, but she told him that she could handle it herself. She told him to us a false name and to keep it all under his hat. He came back the next day telling her she was booked for a ship leaving on the first day of next week. Now she had to tell her sons, she didn’t think that that would be as simple.
"What do you mean your going on a trip. You can’t leave. You’re royalty. Mother, it would be too dangerous."
"I’ve done it before. It’l will be just fine darling. I’ll be back before you know it. Besides, you don’t need me around here. I’m just a bunch of dead weight."
"Mother, I can’t allow you to go. I forbid it as the King." Washanna gave him one of her most motherly, knowing, smiles.
"I understand that your worried. But, I’m going home. You have your wife and your brother hear. Let me go and see my brother and sister, and my mother if she still lives. Would you deprive me of them?"
"You know I can not. But, still I beg you. As your son, I ask you not to go."
"I’ll leave you to inform you brother. My ship leaves harbor at dawn tomorrow so I’ll have to leave tonight. I love you. Take care of your brother, and Lea. I’ll be back. I promise." With that, and a swoosh of her robes she dissapeared down a corridor to her rooms. January couldn’t imagine how he’d tell his brother. Scotta would be furious.
"My darling, I went to speak with your mother this morning and I found her room empty. Where has she gone to." Emm Lea came into her sleeping chamber and looked down at her husband still curled up in the bed sheets. He groaned and rolled over.
"Well, what kind of an answere is that?" She asked and walked over to the other side of the bed to be facing him. "What’s going on that I don’t know about?"
"It’s not you not knowing about it that I’m worried about!" Came his muffled reply from the cushions.
"Whatever are you babbeling about. Come on," she sat down on the bed, "out with it."
"Mother’s gone to visite her family across the great Soonee. They live in the barbarian country. She left me to tell Scotta, and he’s going to be furious. For someone who won’t listen to her he sertainly cares a lot about what she does." He rolled onto his back and looked up at the blood bug netting draped over the bed posts. "I wish he’d just marry and move out already." Lea grabbed a cushion and threw it at his face.
"Hey!" came his startled reply, and then he grabbed another cushion and made a move to hit her with it. She jumped up and headed toward the door. He quickly dissentangled himself from the bed sheets and chased her into the common room. He managed to tackle her onto one of the overstuffed sofa-chairs. She laughed with delight and he was bending his head down to kiss her when he noticed the puple skirts of Maline Ah’s royal gowns. He looked up in surprise and quickly got off of his wife. Her face was turning crimson in embarressement.
"Is there something that I can help you with Maline Ah?" He asked standing up and straightening his undignifying bed clothes.
"Warianna is waiting for you in your ready room sire. She has news of the battles."
"I wonder what it is, that she would come in person." Lea commented getting up off of the sofa.
"I’ll be there momentarily let me grab my robe." He motioned for Lea to get it for him and she rushed back into the sleeping chamber, returing a moment later with the garment in hand. She followed them as they left to meet with Warianna.
Halfway there she touched her husband’s arm. "Do you suppose it is something so awful that she had to come tell you herslef?"
"No, I think that if it were so awful she would have stayed behind to fix it. I choose to hope that it’s something good, that she was free to come in person." He kissed his wife on the forehead. She was such a pretty thing.