The Queen and her Ploughman

Part 14

"I must confess!" Libuše shouted, calling down to the gathered below. Her hands shook against the railing, her mouth was dry and she wanted to cry. Why would Přemysl demand this of her? Kazi, eventually, would figure out what was killing her children, and they would have a heir. Now, everything would be lost. She would lose him.

"I have lied to you! It was not in my intentions to harm anyone, but through my actions I have brought a curse down upon my family. The Gods have been killing my children, and in an attempt to please them, I must confess. I must confess. I implore you, please, understand that just because I lied about why, does not been the result had been any less great. I speak to you now in the greatest city in Czech - in Europe! We have wealth beyond imagination. Fertility to thrive on. Good bounty in all we do. Please, remember this."

"Many years ago, a young man came to the village we used to live in. I fell in love with him. Knowing that my sister, Teta, was spoken to by the Gods, and that Kazi was a healer, I took the chance to raise myself up as a prophet - I took advantage of your trust, and I forced my sister to abuse her powers."

Whispering broke out among the crowd. People glared at each other, making sharp comments and narrowing eyes. Libuše closed her own, sending a prayer up to the Gods that hated her that this might work.

"There was never a prophet. Teta never received message saying there would be one. And it's not me."

"What about Praha!" one man called. "What about the city that touches the stars? That even Gods bow to? Was that all a lie?"

"Look around you!" she called, desperately. "Look at the city we built! Is this a lie to you? Reach out, touch the buildings, feel the energy. I may not be a prophet, but I am a Queen! I am a Judge! I have brought you to this place without the help of the Gods and I will continue to raise you up."

The crowd seemed at a loss for what to say. Were they angry? Hateful? Accepting? Libuše clutched the rail and leaned forward, praying the people would vote fairly.

"Libuše!" someone called, and Libuše peered through the crowds to find the voice - a young woman she didn't really know. The chanting picked up.

"Libuše! Libuše! Libuše!"

Her breath came out in a rattle, and she slipped against the rail. This was not what she was expecting? Were they going to be alright?

She could see angry gazes out in the crowd, people snarling and fighting, but they were silenced by the young women and kids who cheered and roared with excitement. Maybe they liked the idea of a trickster leader - someone to face threats with a smart mind, not a strong arm.

Or, perhaps, they just liked the equality she'd permitted the women and children. Maybe they just wanted a leader who priced bread fairly. And didn't starve them with taxes.

Maybe they didn't have a better option.

"Was that so hard?"

She spun and faced Přemysl, who took her hand and held it tightly with his own. She leaned against him, letting the stress and anxiety of the speech drip away.

"They're all idiots," she muttered. "They shouldn't let a leader who lied for so long lead them."

"Maybe they're all very intelligent," he offered. "And recognize brilliance when they see it. You did orchestrate and entire city to marry me."

She smiled, finally. "Are you still going to leave?"

"Of course not," he scoffed. "Libuše, I love you. Plus, I have some good news."

"Good news?" she laughed. "I haven't had some of that in a while Tell me," she added, pulling away from him to look back to the crowd.

"The hazel tree is as healthy as can be," he said. "I can't see a mark or a bug on it."

"Nezamysl's going to be fine?" Libuše said, too wary to be genuinely hopeful.

"Well, fine is debatable - his father's a ploughman and his mother's a fake prophet."

Libuše shoved him back.

"You have to admit," Přemysl added. "We haven't actually had to raise a child yet. We've got that to look forward to. Any predictions."

She rolled her eyes. "We'll be fine," she said, glancing up at the sky - clear, blue, calm. She remembered the rainstorm when she announced the creation of Praha. How foolish she'd been to think it was nothing. She'd have to find Teta. Apologize.

She actually had a lot of apologizing to do.

"Come," she said, taking his hand again and leaving the chanting crowd behind. "I think I'd like to stay in my cabin for a night."