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Chapter 4

Alieah rushed onto the deck and jumped aside as sailors scampered up the gangplank carrying the last of Empress’ possessions, like ants hurrying to a picnic. Her first instinct was to run to Nakime’s side, but the sound of her Empress calling to the captain shocked the movement out of her. Nakime had broken tradition before, but only in private meetings with family, never openly and to someone of lower rank than the family.

“Come, Alieah. We must get out of the way and let these people do their work,” Nakime encouraged.

She joined the Empress against the railings and they both tried to stay clear of running men and flying ropes.

The next days left her more uncomfortable than she had ever been in her life. She could not eat or sleep, and only wanted to lie down and allow death to overtake her. Instead she found herself trying to see to the needs of the Empress between long periods of hanging her head over the rail. The ship moved constantly on the long swells and the sounds of creaking timbers, flapping sails and the gentle shush of water rippling down her sides only added to her unease. If it makes you feel this bad, why is a ship called a woman and not a man? she thought.

But as the days passed she became more accustomed to the motion and the strange noises. Nakime continued to talk with everyone on board as if she was not born to a higher station and Alieah found that she must change too if she was to be of service to her friend. While this situation continued her role as speaker for the Empress became redundant. More and more, she was becoming an advisor and confidant.

On one evening she followed Nakime to the bow to stand and admire the colours of the sky as the sun settled into the sea behind them. Below, the water tried to resist, but was forced to climb up the timbers and crash away from the relentless push of the ship. Alieah looked about. Only now, after days of illness, could she begin to appreciate the majesty of their transport, the deck of glowing timber polished by the feet of years, the masts climbing into the sky with the banner of Ortalia waving its red and white from the top, and the billowing mass of the sails. Nakime broke the spell.

“I hope Tyjan lives. I was beginning to grow used to him,” she commented wistfully.

“If it is your command to live, he will find a way. To die against your wishes would be dishonourable.”

“I hope you are right. Ortalia needs him now. We will need all our people now if we are to defeat the invaders.”

They went back to watching the sunset fade in the sky as the purple-black of night won over another day.

~

The smooth line of the horizon began to change. It became broken as darker shapes and shadows began to appear. Alieah stood again at the bow with the Empress when the captain approached beside them.

“What is that?” asked Alieah, pointing.

“We are approaching the coast of Frith. Over there,” he said, indicating something Alieah could not see “is the city of Hoate. That is where we will seek our berth.”

The other ships that left Mubiri with them were spread out over the sea behind like pimples on the face of the world. A few were visible but the rest still struggled to climb over the horizon. It had been clear from the first day that the fastest ship had been held for the Empress, the fastest ship and the best crew. Nakime turned to find a place to sit and Alieah was about to follow when she was told to stay and watch if she wished.

Over the next hours, the shadow grew into hills, and the hills became dotted with homes and trees. The city of Hoate had also appeared out of the blur. Nakime and the captain, who she now knew as Sawea, meaning fast water, joined her as they approached the harbour entrance.

“Alieah and I will go to the shore in one of your boats,” she heard the empress say. “We will take two warriors for our protection. You will hold your ship in the harbour and have the others wait offshore as they arrive. We will speak with Queen Fittoreah and tell her of the troubles in Ortalia. I will then send word about our next actions. It would not go well to give the impression we are invading when we need their help.”

Captain Sawea left to organise a longboat and sailors for the oars as his ship crept into the harbour under reduced sail.

~

Nakime wore a white kimono decorated with a finely stitched red dragon when she stepped onto the shores of Frith. Alieah and the two warriors joined her as the boat pushed off to hold clear and wait for orders.

An old man approached. His grey hair had not been cared for in days and his pale green shirt was stained with ink and the meals of many days. His weathered face was dominated by one narrow blue eye and a patch where the other should have been while he carried a board in his twisted hand. “Cargo?” he asked.

“What?” Alieah responded.

The old man put the board under one arm and looked over the group before him. “What cargo are you carrying? I need to know so I can organise messengers for the dealers.”

“We have no cargo,” Alieah reported.

The narrow eye widened momentarily before returning to disinterest. Without a cargo to log, he was not required. He began to turn away.

“Wait,” begged the Empress’ speaker. The man hesitated, unsure if he should listen and Alieah decided that some ceremony was needed. She put all her training into her next words. “This is the Empress Nakime, supreme ruler of Ortalia and speaker for the gods. She has chosen to come here to meet with Queen Fittoreah as a gesture of trust and honesty in trade and other matters. Dismiss her at your own peril. You will find a suitable carriage and driver to take us to the queen. In the meantime, you will show her somewhere comfortable that she may sit out of the sun and wait. I hope she does not wait too long.” There was a not very well veiled threat behind her last words.

The man looked back and forth at the strange arrivals, unsure of how he should react while Nakime stood unmoving, staring vacantly into the distance. Deciding that acceptance was the safest option, he ushered them to a nearby room to wait. It was a small and plain office and was as untidy as the man who worked there, but it did not matter. They would soon be taken to meet the queen.

~

Their carriage that stopped in front of the office was no more than a cart normally used to transport goods from the docks to the warehouses of the dealers. The sides were falling off and its seat rested atop a bale of hay. As they boarded, Alieah wrinkled her face to try and block her nose. It smelled of years of fish, vegetables and dirt. Their driver looked not much better and smelled worse.

Alieah watched the passing buildings as an excuse to turn her head away from the odour. Large store houses, shops, offices and homes fought for space, nudging each other aside in their quest for survival. To Alieah, they all looked the same with their greying timber walls and roofs. Small windows cut holes in the drab facade revealing an occasional movement within. It was nothing like the grand walled Houses of Ortalia, she thought, but as they passed out of the docks district and further into the city the buildings began to show more character. Timber walls were white-washed, structures were allowed to occupy their own spaces and even a few small shrubs and bushes dressed the entrances of the homes.

“It is a lovely city,” Nakime commented to the driver, who smiled his appreciation.

“Soon be at the palace,” he offered in return.

The driver turned onto a cobble-stoned avenue. They passed between rows of tall trees and flowering gardens to stop before a magnificent two-storey building. Six stone columns supported the covered entryway to a structure that spread wide on either side. The ground floor was built entirely of stone, all neatly mortared, while the timber first floor had been carefully oiled and maintained throughout the years. Six large doors, three set into the timber on either side, led onto private balconies overlooking the parklands opposite.

Alieah jumped down and held out her arm for support so the Empress could alight with dignity. A man stepped up to greet them and while the Empress was dignified, this man emitted the essence of dignity. He wore black pants and white shirt under a long black coat open down the front. The old man on the docks had obviously sent someone ahead with news of their arrival. The figure in black bowed deep. “Empress Nakime, I bid you welcome to the palace of Queen Fittoreah, matriarch of Frith.”

“Thank you,” replied Alieah. “The Empress wishes to pay her respects to your queen and to discuss matters of state affecting both our lands. Is this possible?”

He man lifted his head as he spoke. “Please follow me. Queen Fittoreah waits.” Even the man’s words were delivered with precision. He turned and pushed on the large timber double doors that seemed to flow open effortlessly at his touch. Alieah was surprised to see they led straight into the throne room. She had heard of, but never seen, a throne and the sight amazed her. A wide blue strip of carpet led from the entrance across a vast stone floor polished by the countless feet of generations and up to six steps. At the top rested the throne of Frith where Queen Fittoreah sat waiting. They followed the man down the long walk to stop at the base of the stairs. Then he announced them in a clear voice that seemed to echo off the walls of the empty room.

Queen Fittoreah smiled. “In all the years our two lands have traded, I think this is the first time the leaders of our kingdoms have met. It may be that this is the first time that two women of power and vision have ruled at the same time.” She lowered her head in a polite bow. “I welcome you to Hoate and Frith.”

Nakime bowed low to the throne. “Your country honours us by our meeting. I am sorry that those who came before me did not have the vision or the desire to come to your beautiful land.”

“It is I who am honoured to be the first leader of Frith to have an Empress of Ortalia visit our lands. We must see that this is not our only meeting and maybe I should take the time to visit Ortalia in the future.”

Alieah studied the queen as she talked. The woman was about thirty years old with her face powdered in the manner of an Ortalian companion girl, though Alieah realised that it would not carry the same derogatory meaning outside the Empire. The woman sat straight, appearing aloof, though Alieah thought it may have been her clothes that made her sit so. She wore what had been described to her as a dress, but it fitted so tight that Alieah wondered how she could breathe. The bright green cloth showed nothing of the woman other than her face and hands, and these were obscured with white lace. Her dark hair was pulled high above her head and decorated with jewels, like stars in a night sky. When she spoke, her voice was rich with accent and strong with confidence. Queen Fittoreah rose and came down the steps to welcome her guest as an equal. She moved with a silky smoothness that gave her the appearance of floating above the ground. “Come with me and I will have food and wine brought to my chambers,” she offered. “We can talk in private there. I will have Alber see that your staff are fed and made comfortable until we have finished.”

Alieah glanced at Nakime with alarm. It was not right that she allow the Empress to be placed in a position where she did not have her protection, or her speaker. Nakime ignored Alieah’s unspoken request.

“That is an excellent suggestion, and although my people would be happy to stand and wait for me, I am sure they would be most appreciative of your welcome offer.”

The queen signalled and the man in the black coat suddenly appeared behind them. “If you will follow me please,” he invited.

At Nakime’s nod, she followed the man she now knew to be Alber out a side door, trailed by the two warriors. They were led through corridors ablaze with colour. The white tiled floor was patterned with red and green, and the walls held artworks that left Alieah wondering. She could see no pictures or meaning in them. To her, it was as if the artist simply threw paint at the panels, or they were mementos of a very young child. Their guide must have noticed her interest because he stopped. “Do you like them? They are by one of Frith’s most famous artists.” He spoke proudly.

“I have never seen anything like them before,” she answered honestly.

“They are good, aren’t they?”

Alber moved on and Alieah followed deciding she would never see the beauty in the pictures. They arrived at a small dining room and were invited to sit while Alber spoke to a girl who disappeared through another door. She returned shortly after, leading a line of women carrying trays of food and drink. Secretly she hoped the food would prove better than the art.

~

“Our meeting went very well. The queen is a remarkable woman,” offered Nakime when they were together again in the rooms queen Fittoreah had provided.

“But is she going to help?”

“There is much more at play in the world than I realised. We will need to be patient.”

Nakime and Alieah continued to chat in the room provided by Queen Fittoreah. It was comfortable and well presented, but most importantly it contained a large, soft bed. After their days on the ship, Nakime was looking forward to a relaxing sleep in a bed that did not fall away from beneath her at regular intervals. But first she wanted to bring Alieah up to date. “I will give you a little of what the queen had to say. She gained this knowledge through people coming across the border seeking safety though I am sure she has her spies to keep her informed. The king of Arenia was overthrown by a man named Xavier and from what the queen has discovered he is a powerful leader. Not long after conquering Arenia he led his armies into Greche. He won there by taking advantage of the death of the king and a dispute between the sons as to who should take control.”

“So he takes the opportunities presented.”

Nakime nodded. “But I suspect the opportunity was of his doing. The king died at the hands of an assassin who was never found and the problems between the brothers were fuelled by a woman who has not been seen since.”

“Then how did he take Ortalia? I do not recall any strangers among us.”

Again, Nakime agreed. “They have knowledge of our rules of battle, and used them against us. At first I had assumed they had attacked the wall and gained entry but this knowledge indicates to me that we were betrayed. Someone within Ortalia took control of the gate and allowed them in.”

Alieah was outraged. “Who would do such a thing against the Empire and yourself?”

“There are many who would like to see me fall,” Nakime sighed.

“Then they must be found and punished.”

“If they still live,” answered Nakime idly.

“But we still return to my question, will the queen help you get your Empire back?”

“If it is possible she will help though I believe it is only to see our trade continue. But she is afraid this King Xavier will look east once he has rested. If she is correct Frith will be his next challenge. She already has troops stationed near the border but fears her preparations are too few to stop Arenia’s army. Even with the addition of my warriors she does not have the army or the equipment to make a difference and unless there is an unexpected rebellion in King Xavier’s people Frith will be the next to fall.”

Queen Fittoreah met with them again next morning to advise them that she had sent emissaries to Sardonel and Daire. They were to explain the situation and plead for help from the other two southern kingdoms. She had included that if they did not unite against King Xavier they would all lose their kingdoms one by one.

Now they must wait for replies.