A Tale Of Queens

Delibration

“We cannot allow this madness to take place in this kingdom!” Kafaldi proclaimed with his hands moving even more haphazardly than they usually did.

Voices of agreement rang out in the council room.

“It is simply preposterous! How do we allow this wet-behind-the-ears  Sa-Alti to endanger the lives of our people this way?!” The portly council member from the night of the feast enquired loudly, still embittered by what he perceived as her humiliating him in the presence all those guests.

More voices echoed this sentiment.

“Queen Alti? Are we going to let your daughter do this?”

For the first time since the meeting began, all were quiet, eager for the woman's reaction.

Alti said nothing for some long, agonizing minutes. Finally, when she spoke, she completely ignored the question and asked  her own instead.

“Where is Rwawa?”

The men and women looked around just now noticing that he was absent. Rwawa, one of the most prominent members, was never known to miss a meeting.

“He seems to be running late, my Queen,” someone offered.

Alti nodded stiffly. Of course, she knew where he was. She'd personally sent him to show that Jyaret where he'd put the swords in the stables. She only asked the question to distract these pests, desperate to get them off her back.

She was not in the mood to answer questions. She was not in the mood to discuss any issue. She was not in the mood to even be here.

For the first time in a very long time, Alti was actually tired, not from physical exertion but from mental fatigue. And she wanted to rest. Just for a while.

However, these parasites wouldn't let her be.

“My Queen... Please take no offense to this. But we have been curious... What Sa-Alti said about the swords... was it true?” A woman asked this. She was stick thin with pinched features.

Alti looked around from face to face. Faces that were hinting at slight suspicion. Faces that were treading on accusation.

And she was strangely amused.

These utter fools. These nobodies that she had given lives. These sheep had grown the guts to question her.

She laughed. She laughed long and hard.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Sa-Alti should be here to see this.

She had a feeling that her daughter would  enjoy this very much. The moment when the dog turns rabid on its owner.

The council members looked disturbed and a little afraid. They knew her all too well. There was nothing riant about this laughter.

Immediately, the woman tried to backtrack. “M-my Queen... We would nev–”

“Are you insinuating that I would foolishly drag my people to a lost battle?” Alti asked sharply, cutting her off.

All of a sudden, everybody had the need to clear their throats and the floor had become fascinating.

Alti sighed and her annoyance seemingly evaporated.

She was tired.

“I suppose you are correct to be suspicious of me. After all, I did not tell you about our troubles with the Emperor. That was my prerogative. However, be rest assured Vileytna was not taken by force as Sa-Alti would have you believe. No. I personally delivered her to the Emperor.”

There was shocked silence.

The council members breathed slowly, struggling to digest what they had just heard. Try as they could, no single person could could fathom the reason for her actions. They were well aware that Vileytna was a child of betrayal. However, they also knew that Alti saw Vileytna as her daughter. And she had raised her all these years as her own. Was this revenge? Punishment? And if it was, wasn't it a bit too late?

“My Queen,” a man started hesitantly, “Vileytna... you consider her your child.”

Alti shrugged.

“It seemed necessary at the time to prevent a battle,” she began glumly. “In retrospect, complete and utter waste of effort.”

From the depth of her soul, this rang true for her. Because what had she achieved? She had ruined her relationship with her daughters, lost their respect and torn Vileytna's family apart. Alti knew that many things could been forgiven in the name of blood but she also knew that her actions were not one of them.

She was tired.

And she was through.

“Well, I suppose that I must leave you to stew on that. However, I must warn you not to try to go against my daughter. Keep in mind that she has the people on her side. You will end up losing.”

She took a deep breath and stood up.

“Let us hope for all our sakes that Khelet is not completely damned. Now my council men and women, you must excuse me.”

She left the room.

The people were completely frozen in shock. After all, a bombshell had been dropped on them.

And rather than finding answers, they were now left with more questions.