The Queens of Ida

2

Princess Morkana watches as her wife, Queen Raya, enters the carriage. She frowns at her, but only for a moment, then goes back to the look of happy seriousness that she pastes on her face whenever she's visible to the commoners, which, with the door open, she is right now. She sneaks a glance out of the corner of her eye at her daughter. Emeline's chin is quivering uncontrollably, but Morkana can tell she is trying hard not to cry. Good. It isn't a good show if one of the cast breaks down. And this is quite a bit like a show, this parade through Meridia, and even though the commoners can't see them when they are locked up in this carriage, they crowd so close Morkana knows they would hear Emeline's sobs if she were to cry.

Raya sits down, her stiff dress rustling imperceptibly. Without a glance at the commoners lining the street, she closes the door, leans forward, and whispers to Morkana. "Everything all right with Emi?"

"Just a bit startled by your heartless violence, darling. You know she's never actually witnessed a death before," Morkana says, keeping her volume down too because of the crowds.

"Well, there's a first time for everything," Raya replies as she settles into her seat.

Emeline sucks in a deep breath, fighting back a sob. She shouldn't've started crying. Death of a commoner isn't something to cry about. She knows that. But still, as soon as they are past the wondering ears of the town and out in the countryside, she bursts out in tears.

"Shh," Morkana whispers to her, patting her back. "Shh, darling, it's all right."

"I know," Emeline says quietly. She sobs to herself for a moment, then looks up into Raya's eyes. "Aisha, did you feel bad when you killed that person?"

"No, honey. She was just a commoner. And she was being disrespectful to her queen. That is reason enough to die. " Raya says. She's laying back in her seat, her feet resting on her wife's lap.

"But you didn't feel bad at all?"

"No." Raya yawns, sits up, stretches, and grabs her daughter's hand. "Emi, do you remember last year when we had that big party–the Davoval?"

"Yes," Emeline responds, her eyes lighting up a bit. "That one where Grandpa came?"

"Yes, that one. The one Grandpa was at." Raya gives Morkana a wry smile, which Morkana greets with a pointed glare. "Do you remember the main dish?"

"Mm-hm, she tasted good." Emeline pauses, considering. "Though she looked furious. I wonder if she didn't like being eaten?" She laughs a little bit.

"Do you know who she was?" This time it is Morkana posing the question.

"Our enemy. She was pretending to be queen. Did anybody believe her? She didn't look at all royal. But maybe the commoners didn't know that..."

Morkana laughs. "Yes, she was pretending to be queen. But you know, we killed her, too, me and your aisha. Do you think we felt bad about that?"

"No. She was bad."

"Yes, and this woman was doing something bad, too." Raya says. She stares wistfully out at the rolling hills they are traveling past. "Of course, you don't kill every time someone does something bad. As you get older, you'll learn the balance."

"Hopefully you don't have to get quite as old as Raya had to," Morkana teases, reaching out a hand to tweak the ends of Raya's long, white hair.

"How old did Aisha have to get?" Emeline asks.

"One thousand and fifty two," Morkana says, "Then she married me."

"You're old," Emeline says wonderingly. "How do you live that long?"

"The same way you will, dear," Raya replies. "By laughing in the face of death."

"Magic," Morkana says. "You do it with your magic."

"No, it's a birthright," Raya responds. "I was born into a family of immortal gods."

"Like Grandpa?" Emeline asks, leaning forward so her elbows rest on her knees and her eyes focus solemnly on her aisha.

"Well, Grandpa's not actually related to me–by blood, anyway–but yes, like him. My father's actually more powerful–"

"He's not," Morkana cuts off factually. "But proceed."

"Well, regardless of power," Raya continues, speaking louder and attempting to stare her wife down, but Morkana isn't looking at her, but peeking behind the red curtain that covers the window. "Regardless of power, my family is also immortal. Hence my age."

"But that's not something we tell the people, right, Emi?" Morkana says warningly, turning from the window to make eye contact with her daughter.

"Yeah," Emeline agrees, sitting up quickly in a posture of extreme formality.

Raya laughs. "What's that pose, Emeline?"

"I'm being a royal princess. This is what Adi taught me to sit like. She said that I was really good at it," Emeline speaks, somehow sounding bubbly despite her stick-straight body and recent tears.

"Is that so?" Raya says. "And what does Adi know about it?"

"I'm sure your sister knows plenty more than you about correct posture, sweetheart," Morkana replies, putting a hand on Raya's shoulder. "You look very royal, darling," she says to Emeline.

"Of course she does. She's a princess of Ida," Raya says, leaning back and stretching her arms.

"Yes, a princess of Ida," Morkana repeats, she glances over at her wife. "It's getting pretty dark, Rye, maybe our princess should be getting to bed?"

"No!" Emeline protests, grabbing her mom's arm.

"Yes, we should all sleep." Raya agrees. "Especially me. I'm tired."

Raya gives a quick command, and the slaves at the reins pull the carriage over. Raya, Morkana, and Emeline make the transition to a covered carriage that before was near the back of their carriage procession.

"Much better," Raya comments after they enter. "Just feel that nonexistent air on your face..." She beams at the wall, closing her eyes as if a fresh wind is blowing over her.

"Oh, stop it," Morkana sighs. "Emi, let's get you into your nightgown."

"Why?" Emeline protests as Morkana begins to unbutton her daughter's dress.

"Because you can't sleep in this dress, that's why," Morkana responds.

"Why do these dresses have such an insane number of buttons?" Raya comments as she, too, begins to take off her dress.

"Because styles change, Raya," Morkana replies. "But I agree, this one's a pain."

"I mean, we brought Idean traditions back to Ida, why not Idean fashion?" Raya says.

"I don't know," Morkana sighs. "We will someday, maybe."

"Aisha?" Emeline says.

"Mm?" Raya replies as she struggles with her buttons.

"Can I sleep by you tonight?"

Raya surveys the middle of the carriage, which is cushioned to be like a bed. "Yeah, of course, dear."