Chapter 25
"What business have you in Rass?" one of the Mantids demanded.
Finnegaff planted Lebethtro Larra before him. Mia guessed by the Mantids’ reaction that they recognized what the staff meant. "We are Mia's Stand. We have in our midst the Carrier of the Book of Life and would seek audience with the great Queen Xyledes."
The two Mantids in front of them whispered between themselves for a moment. "What of the Centaur?" the spokesman addressed Finnegaff.
"The Centaur is member to the party that Carries, as commanded by Saa."
The two Mantids nodded to one another. One turned about, hopped into the air and into flight and was gone through the treetops. "This way!" the speaker directed as she spun about and guided them through the city. The other four Mantids, the ones flanking them, kept time with the group. They held their side positions diligently.
The escort to Queen Xyledes' palace did certainly draw attention. Mantids peered from buildings; those on the ground stopped to look. Had they been without Strongwind they would not have been marched to the Palace under guard; they would have only been given directions. But Centaurs were rarely seen in Mantadia, much less in the Capitol City of Rass.
Ten minutes of fast walking and they came within sight of the grand palace. The structure was huge, many stories, balconies everywhere. Exterior openings were without doors, yet the hinged windows were glassed. Vines entwined the base of the palace; ornate painted wooden statues of infamous Mantids of days past dotted among the artfully trimmed hedges of the grounds. Small ponds were everywhere, for the race held water in high regard for decor. Water, however, was only for decor, for as everyone knows, Mantids do not care to swim. But despite the frequent scenic beauty, the Mantid guards did not stop. They were, after all, not tour guides.
Mia sensed the feeling again, the feeling that they were being watched from above by a friendly entity. She looked up and saw nothing but trees.
If one considered the landscape of the exterior of the palace to be extravagant, they must have considered the interior multiply so. Unlike other buildings that were constructed of solid walls, stairways and halls, the queen's palace had trees grown close together, forming wide corridors. Twisted pairs of spiraling rails acted as stairs to access the upper levels. Sunlight streamed bright rays in places; fine plants were growing in open soil areas bordered by a concrete-like dark gray walkway. The group advanced down a corridor thirty feet wide, the ceiling being as tall, formed of trees that had been carefully trimmed to make an arch. The hall was long. The termination of it was a wall of wood, carved, sanded, polished: a masterpiece of artwork. The doors were guarded by two Mantids dressed (a rare sight) in gold embroidered coat-like apparels that resembled tuxedos. Mia might have found their appearance humorous had an armed guard not escorted them, and had she not felt herself somewhat of a captive.
Indeed the guards were a bit intimidating. But the dozen or so Mantadian hornets that clung to the walls above the sides of the doors were frightening. Wasp-like, they were twelve or more inches long, their black with yellow-banded stout abdomens flatly joined to a powerful thorax that bore a yellow on black diamond centered between two pair of long, narrow iridescent purple wings. Mia's eyes went right to the stinger at the very end of the throbbing abdomen, the only part of the insect that was moving. It was the size of an index finger and sharp as a sewing needle. Most intimidating, however, was the way they watched. With rapid jerks, they turned their entire bodies to face the newcomers head on, then freeze at attention. They would extend their six inch antennae forward over angry-looking unblinking emerald green compound eyes that glistened as abalone, sending a strong message to any they focused on. Chills ran down Mia's spine as she recalled the stories of Mantadian hornets, and of what they were capable. And here she was only a few yards from them.
The guards in tuxedos opened the tall doors to the queen's chambers with no noticeable prompting. The party's escort, the individual who had been the speaker, went into the room. Soon she returned.
"The great Queen Xyledes will see you shortly. Not the Centaur and the fairy. They must take leave of the palace to the grounds. Centaur! Fairy! Come! The rest wait here."
Mia could tell that Strongwind did not care for the manner in which the Mantid addressed him any more than she. He nearly retaliated but for Finnegaff lifting a finger to his lips. With a heavy sigh he and Belemeriath followed the guard back in the direction from which they had come.
Inside the chambers, Queen Xyledes lounged. Finnegaff, Mia, Carameth and Romessee waited, standing directly in front of the door to the queen's chamber. The tuxedo bugs made no move and even less conversation. The hornets were statically locked onto their targets, crouching as if ready to spring into flight to attack each time one of the company made more than a slight move. Truly, their presence made one quite nervous.
Inside her chamber, the great Queen Xyledes had absolutely nothing to do at the time. And that is precisely what she did for more than an hour before she granted audience to Mia's Stand, forcing them to wait in the company of her unnerving guard. Again without evident prompting, the tuxedoed bugs opened the doors and held them so. They stood aside. Their stance was most probably at attention, but they made no other invitation to enter. Finnegaff led the way.
One of the many Mantids present in the room sat at a table of varnished wood with a book opened in front of her, a quill in her foreleg, an inkwell beside. The court scribe, Mia guessed correctly. Another hung upside down from one of the branches of one of the trees, a favored rest position for Mantids. Still another Mantid was busy with a flat paddle-like tool, preening the wings of a Mantid stretched out on what would be a couch, if one were a Mantid. This unmistakably was the great Queen Xyledes, dressed in a white coat, also tuxedo in style, with gold embroidery, flows of lavish fringing, and a spindly curling silk material that bordered the sleeves. A small monkey was perched on the couch beside her. She stroked the contented pet's fur with her antennae.
She waved off the servant with one flip of her praying hand and stood to greet the party. Finnegaff approached in the lead, then Mia, Romessee and finally Carameth. "My dear!” the great Queen Xyledes buzzed. “How wonderful to see you again! It's been so long!" She extended a forearm in the manner of Mantid formality.
Finnegaff smiled. He offered his hand, palm down, as was customary. "Great Queen Xyledes! I am..." He was stopped short as the Queen bypassed his offered greeting. She went directly to Carameth. Finnegaff lost his smile as he turned to watch her.
"My dear Prince Carameth! I trust your mother is well!"
"Yes, your highness!" He formally took her outstretched claw and held it at her head level. Female Mantids were larger than males, much larger. Queen Xyledes was five and a half feet long head to tail, an average size for a Mantid. Some were six and a half feet or better. "Mother sends her regards and wanted me to ask you whatever happened with the broach?"
Xyledes laughed the strange, electric, rapid laugh of Mantids and waved her forelegs in the air. "Tell her I have it yet! Tell her the spider lost!" There was not one present, including Carameth, that knew what private joke it was that was shared between Queens Xyledes and Ronnameth.
"Finnegaff!" He again held his hand to her, but she did not take it. "You know that there has not been a Centaur in Rass in nearly four hundred years! Not a living one!" She was calm yet stern.
Finnegaff lowered his hand. "This is the Carrying of the Book of Life, as provided by Saa,” he began.
"Yet you attempt to bring that vile creature to my chamber?" she retorted. "And with the company of a fairy?!"
"They're out of the palace, queen!" He intentionally omitted her title. He regained his smile.
"Great Queen Xyledes, dear Finnegaff!" she corrected.
"Well, yes. Great Queen Xyledes," he sighed. "They're not..."
"I heard you, Lord Finnegaff. Now," she turned to look at the others. "Which of you Carries?"
"This is Miagaff,” F
innegaff began.
"I didn't ask you, wizard!" she snapped. Her voice turned sweet. Sweet, at least, for a Mantid. "I asked the Carrier." Finnegaff knew that Xyledes harried him so out of jealousy. She deeply resented that he was much more respected than she on Morrah as a whole. He did try to ignore her, but couldn't resist taunting her a bit every now and then. There was a silence. "Well?"
"Great Queen Xyledes, it is I, Miagaff, that Carries the Book of Life." Mia offered her hand as she had seen Carameth and Finnegaff.
Xyledes took her hand, bowing slightly. The chitin shell of her claw was smooth yet warm. "An honor, Carrier! Welcome to Mantadia and also to the comforts of my palace! I shall introduce Princess Riccid, my daughter." One of the other Mantids had since come to the queen's side. It was to her that Xyledes motioned.
"Great day, Carameth!" Princess Riccid looked, as Mantids do, at the Prince of the Elves. "I hope you brought me a present." She turned from him without waiting for a reply. "Mother, I am not travelling with a Centaur or a fairy!" Riccid snapped at Mia. "You will have to send them away. Mother, make them send it away!" She bounced after the same fashion of the unintelligent wild male Mantids. Mia formed an opinion of Princess Riccid rather abruptly.
The queen spoke directly to Mia, excusing her offspring. "Riccid is a bit anxious about representing Mantadia for this Carrying." Mia noted that the scribe was writing all of this down. "It is, of course, Riccid that Saa shall choose."
Mia was more than a little irritated. "Well, it depends on what Saa decides. It's not my choice who goes. I need to ask Saa about it." She crossed her arms over the hidden Book.
"Then ask," the queen demanded, "and ask now. I'm sure Saa will agree."
Mia closed her eyes, not that she needed to in order to invoke Saa's visions. Xyledes' arrogance, her demanding nature, fueled her anger. What an ego! she thought. This bug's really stuck on herself! She tried to invoke Saa and received nothing. She held her head high as she opened her eyes. "Saa does not answer at this time."
The queen pet the attendant monkey with one of her antennae. "Mia." She did not include her wizard's title. "Have you met Rokka, my beloved companion?"
Mia addressed the adorable little animal. "Hello, Rokka. How are you today?"
"Monkeys do not speak, ignorant human," Xyledes said. "Just stroke it, as you would a pet. And try to be gentle, for it is frail."
Mia glared at the queen as she pet the monkey, believing that Xyledes could not read her expressions any more than she could read Xyledes. Of course, she was wrong. One does not maintain the position of queen of a great nation for hundreds of years without mastering body language interpretation, even if from other races. Xyledes' antennae shot straight up in response to Mia's facial expressions, then crossed one another.
"Mother!" Riccid demanded the queen's attention. "Make her decide! Now!"
"Ask again," The queen commanded. "Tell Saa that I, Queen Xyledes, have, with my infinite wisdom, decided on our representative."
"It doesn't work that way," Mia sassed.
Queen Xyledes froze for a few tense moments. "I have decided that it would be appropriate that you ask of Saa a bit later," she waved a foreleg. "I find that it is not yet time for me to summon the power, that Riccid will be chosen later this evening. Come. My servants have prepared evening meal for us." She swung her unblinking eyes to Mia. "Don't worry, ignorant human. They know your diet."
Mia was boiling. She snapped an angry glance at Finnegaff, who nodded his head and smiled. "We'll be delighted, great queen!" His eyes shot to Mia, then back to Xyledes. It was then that Mia realized the queen was indeed aware of their emotion through facial expression and tone of voice, and if Finnegaff hid these things from Xyledes, she probably ought to as well.
"Please, Lord Finnegaff. It is 'Great Queen Xyledes'. Or your majesty. Try your hardest to get it right! Though I doubt you ever will." She stepped from the couch. Her gaggle of servants followed her as she regally strode to the door. Regal, at least, for Mantids.
"What about Strongwind?" Mia inquired about her Centaurian friend.
The queen stopped, but didn't bother to turn to face them. "What is a Strongwind?" She knew.
"Our friend you made wait outside." She didn't want to use the word 'Centaur'. "Are your servants getting something for him?" Mia had a hand on her hip, the other on Dielielle.
Xyledes spun at high speed. She covered the few steps to come inches from Mia's face in less than a heartbeat. "Your friend? That disgusting manhorse," her speech was faster than usual, "is alive only because of the Book of Life. He would be our supper if not for that. And you want me to accommodate him?" She laughed as she skittered from room. The others nearly ran to keep up. Out of sheer defiance, Mia decided that she would sneak some tidbits for Strongwind from the queen's table.
Evening fell as Mia's Stand, (less Belemeriath and Strongwind), Queen Xyledes, Riccid and a host of well-dressed Mantid nobles were seated at the long oval dining table in the brightly torch- lit dining hall. Some of the chairs were formed for humans. It felt good to at last be able to sit.
Chatter filled the room. Nobles met with the Carrier of the Book of Life and expressed their honor in having done so. They were contrastingly pleasant, considering the attitude of their queen. The meal the Mantadian cooks had prepared for their guests was decent, common foodstuffs. Mia was somewhat repulsed watching the Mantids eat the live insects they were served, often with the legs removed, which were placed on the side as tidbits. At one point in time, when Mia believed nobody was looking, she went to sneak an apple into a pocket of her tunic for Strongwind. Finnegaff, seated next to her on her left, bumped her with his foot under the table. He shook his head slightly with a noticeable frown. She had not seen that he was watching her, as he had been facing the other direction, engaged in conversation with Skallagaff, the Mantid wizard Advisor to Kings. Mia paused, then took a bite from the apple and looked around to see if any present had taken notice of her attempted thievery. Not a one indicated that they had, but Finnegaff's reprimand said otherwise.
The Mantid social event was short. Finnegaff was speaking with Skallagaff about the absolute necessity of showing honor to some Mantid tradition of "dining with the queen." Xyledes promptly interrupted them with the demand that everyone present pays her attention.
One of the tuxedo Mantids stood beside Queen Xyledes, seated at the head of the table. She beat rapidly on a small drum that when struck emitted a wheezy whistling noise. "All attend her Majesty! All attend her Majesty!" she called. She continued the drumming for a minute after all was silent. When the drum ceased, the queen was introduced. "Presenting her royal majesty, the great Queen Xyledes, Queen of Northern Mantadia and Overlord to Southern Mantadia; protector and mother to all Mantids; upholder of justice and chief advisor to the Wizard's Council." Chief advisor! That's Finnegaff's job! Mia's jaw dropped at the last one, which earned her another of Finnegaff's under the table reminders. She closed her mouth and forced an unpleasant smile.
The queen rose. She scanned her audience with nodding approval. "My dear friends and countrymants!” She looked at Finnegaff. “And other lesser races!” Queen Xyledes glanced at a parchment held before her by one of her servants. “We gather to pay honor to the eighth Carrying of the Book of Life, which is now in our time and, as you know, in our midst. Four hundred years have passed since the seventh, and as also you all know, our hour is before us. Finnegaff the Sorcerer and his stand, as they call it, have journeyed far and with cause; I know you will support this cause.
"When Lord Finnegaff first arrived in Rass, upon sighting me, he fell to his knees and begged my aid to which I said alas! but I must not interfere with the direct of Saa, as his must needs be met by that direct, lest I am blasphemous." Mia took another reminder from the wizard's foot. She fixed a phony smile on her face. She kept quiet, much against her irritation at the arrogant, repeatedly dishonest queen. "It was a year ago that I prophesied this coming; I..."
Xyledes we
nt on for an hour about herself, about just how great, how good she thought she was. As the queen droned on, it was all Mia could do to keep from showing facial expressions. Finnegaff listened tentatively through the whole ordeal. He smiled and nodded occasionally. It was some time later that Mia learned Saa could be invoked to block out unwanted noise, provisioned so to allow audio reception to resume when the subject matter directly involved the wizard invoking Saa. After quite some time it did involve him directly, and thus the spell was canceled.
Xyledes was getting to the point. "...As Saa be the great decider of the representative. I have met the Carrier, Miagaff," this time she did add the gaff, "and spoke with her at some length, and together we decided that Saa will choose after the evening banquet. Miagaff, Carrier of the Book of Life! Come forward." The great Queen Xyledes looked at her. She looked at Finnegaff. Finnegaff motioned for her to go. Mia approached the queen, who laid a fore claw firmly yet gently on her shoulder. "Princess Riccid, heir to the throne of Mantadia! Come forward!" The princess had not far to go. She was the first seated to Xyledes right on the side of the table. She stood beside her mother opposite Mia, bouncing that stupid, irritating bouncing habit, which Mia found quite distracting. Xyledes placed her other claw on her daughter's shoulder. Riccid still bounced.
She waited smugly for the murmur among the attendees to die down. "And now, Miagaff shall call upon the power of Saa and reveal the identity of the Mantadian representative of the eight Carrying!" It's not the power of Saa, Mia thought. It's just Saa. Idiot. She smiled brightly. Xyledes swiveled her head to Mia. "Now, Miagaff!"
Mia closed her eyes and tried to invoke Saa for the choice. She pictured in her mind blurting out an unknown name, the name of the Mantadian representative, but nothing happened. She was not going to choose Riccid unless Saa forced her to! She kept her eyes closed. With fear, she pictured Riccid in the Saa part of her mind as one of the members of Mia's Stand. This time she connected. The warm, soft flood of Saa overtook her in an instant, followed by a vision, a feeling vision that answered her question without doubt: Riccid was not to be the Mantadian representative. She would not accompany Mia's Stand on any accord.
Queen Xyledes recognized a wizard in communion with a vision of Saa. Her anxiety got the best of her and she started to bounce along with Riccid. Mia felt sick. "Well? Well? Speak now, and we'll be rid of the Centaur and the annoying fairy and be on with the Carrying!"
Mia, having sat through more than an hour of Xyledes' absolutely unnerving speech, felt a deep loyalty to Saa that until that very moment she realized had been shallow in comparison. She then spoke, her voice filled with clear authority. It was not Mia who spoke, but Miagaff the Sorceress, the Carrier of the Book of Life, strong in faith of Saa, loyal to her duty. She firmly planted the end of Dielielle on the ground and held the staff with both hands at an angle. "I have been with Saa, and do not have a representative for Mantadia. Not yet. But Saa directed me that, whoever might the representative be, it will not be the Princess Riccid, and when we leave she is not to accompany us." Her wording was clumsier than she’d wanted. But the point was made. She had been looking at Finnegaff as she spoke. He smiled and nodded his head. Mia only hoped to keep hers attached.
A lengthy silence screamed in the room. Queen Xyledes whispered. "This is not what we discussed, human!" The silence was so complete that all could hear. She tightened her grip on Mia's shoulder until it pained. Mia did not let the hurt show. "Carrier. Tell Saa that it is I, the great Queen Xyledes, that made the decision."
Mia boiled. She spoke through her teeth. "I did, and I was told that Saa does not put one being above the other, no matter who it is." And all present knew this to be true.
The queen spoke calmly as she made a strange twisting motion with her antennae."Obviously you'll need time to think about this.” Immediate was the response of her guards. They came to her side and snapped to attention. "Take this human and her host to the dungeon. Lock the Centaur and the fairy up with them!" The guards seized them.