The Matriarch's Daughter

Chapter Six: Peacocks in Senate Halls

The Senate Hall was not Thepa's favorite place. Like much of the entirety of the fourth level of Goldale, it exuded opulence. It was a place of luxury designed to cement the power of the elite over them.

Towering marble columns spiraled upward, their surfaces etched with what Thepa assumed were depictions of historical victories and long-dead leaders. Light poured through a domed ceiling of stained glass, its kaleidoscope of colors casting ever-shifting patterns on the polished floor. At the center of the room stood a grand oak table, its surface polished to a mirror sheen, surrounded by eight plush chairs, each carved with ornate detail and cushioned in deep crimson fabric.

Still, Thepa had a job to do. She would be the occupant's guard and protector; their first line of defense. From the people who filtered into the chamber, Thepa thought most could handle themselves in a fight, but duty was duty. She would remain until dismissed or summoned for something more, just as the Archduke's letter had implied.

The first to be seated was King Virran Starmoon, ruler of the West and the Kingdom of Clayborn. Or, as he said, the true ruler of the Youngling of the Stars. Unlike Goldale, Clayborn was truly an elven city, having locked out the other races long before Thepa had heard the name. The king himself was grayed but walked with a spring in his step. It was impossible to be sure, but Thepa estimated him to be many centuries old.

The Matriarch and Mistress Deeprabbit were the second and third guests to be seated. The Matriarch walked right past her without saying a word, while the Mistress gave her a slight nod, neither gesture surprising her.

The fourth guest to arrive was Gilde, the leader of the Free Nation of Swampspell. Thepa had never been to Swampspell but knew it was on the far side of the Island of Esha in the southern sea. If she had to guess, she figured he had traveled the farthest.

While all guests were allowed to bring a page, Gilde was the only one who had done so, accompanied by a young woman wearing a black top that stopped at her midriff and matching shorts that stopped at her thighs. She had a youthful face full of attitude, followed by pink hair and pale skin. Had she not had a strong resemblance to the Swampspell leader, Thepa might have assumed she was an escort. Somewhat concerned, she escorted the girl down the hall to the waiting room in silence.

The fifth guest to be seated was from the southern part of the western continent: President Bashan Skydane of the Republic of Lightmount. Of the five leaders Thepa met, Thepa liked Skydane the least, believing him to be sly, devious, and untrustworthy. It wasn't the first time Thepa had met the man, nor was she sure it would be her last.

The last person to sit was Archduke Leoxidor Elderfond of Goldale. As he entered and shut the door, he apologized to the others for his accidental tardiness. Thepa doubted that was true. The man was never tardy except by deliberate choice.

As Thepa stood watch, she tried to listen in. Minutes of pleasantries turn to petty squabbles. A few hours in, they accomplished nothing other than posturing. Skydane and Starmoon dominated most of the conversation, parading like male peacocks to non-existent peahens.

Things were going nowhere, and they were getting there fast. Thepa fought her best to keep her interest, knowing that even the slightest lapse in attention could cost her or her soldiers dearly. But no matter how hard she tried, her mind drifted back to the embassy; to the memory of the storm and the sea.

For the first time, Thepa could recall something about her biologic mother. A small fragment of comfort, words that danced across her heart:

Know that I will always love you.

Her eyes glazed over as the words repeated in her mind, refusing to leave.

But why did you give me up? Thepa thought. Did something happen? Were you forced to flee? If you did, why did you abandon me?