A Tale Of Queens

Puppets

Sa-Alti thought long and hard about any allies that would be able to help her. She went through documents in the royal archives, found official treaties and agreements with other kingdoms but concluded that this alone would not do. She needed people who had formed personal relationships or even friendships with her father or grandfather.

She almost wept with relief when it hit her that her father often mentioned the King and Queen of Yrsa, a small kingdom, who were always ready to render assistance without asking questions. She remembered her father making a few trips to visit them when she was younger and she was surprised that they'd even skipped her mind in the first place.

Sa-Alti hoped that the same kindness could be extended to her as well. There was only one way to find out.

She adressed a letter to the Queen, introducing herself, asking about her well-being, then outlining her problems with Geleu and how she had been strong–armed into an agreement. She requested an audience with her as she needed guidance from an experienced ruler. Although she did not dwell too much on her disagreements with her mother, she hinted at them. Hopefully, this would appeal to her sympathetic side.

A letter got back to her in three days. The Queen, now known as Queen Inuo was all too happy to grant her request. She even offered to send a complimentary carriage if it was necessary.

Before Sa-Alti sent a reply, she decide to call for a meeting with the council members without the knowledge of her mother. She needed to gauge where their loyalty lay because very soon, there would have to be a choosing of sides. She did not want to wait till the last minute to know who exactly would stand on hers.

*******

Sa-Alti sat at the table silently and watched the council members file in one after the other. She tried to ignore their curious looks when they realised that her mother was absent from this meeting. They all took their seats and she was greeted with a subdued ‘Hail.’

She was beginning to contemplate what her first statement would be when one of the women suddenly spoke, breaking her line of thought.

“My Queen, please pardon me. Is the Queen Mother not joining us today?”

It irritated her, this question, as did the patronizing tone with which it was asked. Still she smiled and answered her.

“No, I'm afraid not.”

“Is she aware that this meeting is holding?”

She did not bother to look at the person who asked. She twitched with annoyance.

“I must ask if it is necessary to drag my mother into every single meeting from this moment onwards. If my council members fail to remember, I  am now Queen. You have served my mother. And now, it is your obligation to serve me.”

Kafaldi cleared his throat.

“My Queen, of course we understand this. But you have just barely taken over. It is only wise to rely on the counsel of your predecessor.”

Murmurs of agreement buzzed round the and Sa-Alti held herself back from snapping at them. Counsel  indeed. It was abundantly clear that these people did not answer to Khelet, much less herself. The only person they answered to was Alti. One way or the other, her mother had succeeded in becoming their god.

In that moment, sitting on that chair, looking round at all those faces, it dawned on Sa-Alti that the entirety of this palace, pledged their allegiance to her mother. It was an unwritten contract, and perhaps it had been in existence before she was even born.

The sad truth was that no matter how she looked at it, she truly had no say in what went on around here. She was, without the backing of her mother, alone.

A bitter taste invaded her mouth.

“But of course,” she sneered at them, “You are all so tightly tied to my mother that you might as well be the straps of her sandals. Tell me, are you sure you have her permission to even be here?”

They were all quiet, obviously taken aback.

Getting sick of looking at their faces, she stood up.

“Well, it is evident that this was a waste of time. I will be leaving on an official trip to Yrsa in a few days. I have important business there. I trust that you will relay the message to my mother.”

“Queen Sa-Alti, don't take it wrongly–”

“Take what wrongly? That this council is full of puppets? Or that unless my name is Alti, whatever I say is irrelevant?”

More silence.

“I must take my leave now. Good evening.”

Sa-Alti walked out, leaving the room thickening with tension.

+*+*+*+*

That night, she wrote back to Queen Inuo, thanking her for her generosity and accepting her offer of the carriage.

She was going to make a detour to Noyn first and she could not risk any of her mother's croonies reporting on her trail.