"Have you ever heard where women dominate men and govern a domain?"
"Look over there! Beyond the seas, you can find them hiding…”
“Lord Gervðas! You are looking great right now! How have you been doing?” as the priestess-bishop confronts me in this oratory.
I just stare at her and surprisingly, ‘the cat catches my tongue’ where I get tongue-tied. Obviously, I don't want to offend the priestess-bishop in any ways I could think of. And of course, I do try to be as calm as possible. In a kneeling position, it is easy to remain in my composure since there is an extension on my knees that acts as a cushion. I break eye contact with her, as she finds my previous action to be of concern. Of course, I take a glance at her - she retaliates with her own version of her stare. There is a strife in the eyes of the priestess-bishop, it gives me a certain emotion that stirs as well my epidermis in the exterior and my muscles within my body. It is not fear. It is anxiety.
“Okay, priestess-bishop- -...”
She interrupts me by inserting her name: “It's Linila. Linila is my name, Lord Gervðas.” as she giggles afterwards.
“Alright, Linila. Here is the deal. You are just below me - hierarchy-wise. But in reality, you have the higher aptitude between us in terms of religious belief and Hrililal theology. That is for sure, I can concur with that.” as I explain the current situation between us.
“Meaning, Augur of the kingdom of Kehina - Lord Gervðas?” she entails me a stern glare as she nonchalantly voices.
“It means that you are the supposed-Augur in the inner circles of the council of Kehina and Lady Anda, am I right Lady Linila?” I reply with her title in her nomenclature.
“Yes, milord.” she approves of my sentiment.
“I should be the one whose label on my name as a de-facto religious head of the Hrililal faith. Not you. Otherwise, a matriarchal belief whose supreme judiciary and executive is a man downplays the entirety of the concept of being an enatic-leaning of the cause. Don't you think of that, Lady Linila?” I state where I do assume the priestess-bishop knows what I am saying too.
“I agree,” she shares the same sentiment as mine once more, “However and hence, Lady Anda exists.” which makes me squirm after she says her last sentence, as I withdraw from my kneeling stance into a sitting position on the oratory bench.
“Why do you think that way, Lady Linila? What makes it so spiteful to speak like this?” I protest, as I am as well defending the dignity of the chieftess and the queen of Kehina has.
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“The answer is plain and simple, Lord Gervðas. Everything she does is absolute. Her words are best described as just. Hence, Lady Anda governs Kehina based not on her arbitration but on how women discern men as equals. Whence, the Caliph-Grand Emperor of Inglovia sees Lady Anda's ideals as a threat to the Aslab faith. So that's why we are at war with the Inglovians. Capitalizing his temporal jurisdictional advantage.” she speculates, as she is trying to derive on her less-bigoted perception between the sexes.
“That's a good insight, Lady Linila! I am impressed by how sharp you are in this uptake.” I praise the priestess-bishop for her testament.
“Well, thanks. Socially, you are much more respected than I am, to be honest Lord Gervðas.” and as all of a sudden, she sends gratitude for my commendation for her then following with a shocking demeanor towards me. She utters an annoying tone when she indicates my current standing in the kingdom.
“Well, I dislike the tone of your voice, Lady Linila. Would you mind rephrasing those words for me, Lady Linila?” I retaliate with an aggravated and imperative passive mood.
“I'm sorry, milord. Forget everything that I have said.” she then retracts to her usual manner of speaking - a pristine model who is in the religious sector. A fine lady, as per agnatic stereotype point-of-view.
“I never meant to look myself prestigious! I did what I have to do! That's the requirement to be one of the consort of the Queen of Kehina.” I burst out, whereas raising my voice and echoing throughout this space. I overrule the protocol inside this prayer chapel.
“It is quite detrimental for the Kehina's queen's image… marrying an illiterate fool like myself. Thus, I prove to them - to you if I am fit to be really her royal consort. I strive to become competent to what I do, Lady Linila. Up until now, I am yet to convince myself if I am truly being the best choice for the slot inside the inner circles of the council.” I give my other insight about my struggle to life.
“Milord, I am not the enemy here. Who am I to judge a person whom I barely know? In addition to your prior statement; it is not easy as it seems since you had been homeschooled and took tutors. Grooming you into an appropriate husband for Lady Anda. It took years, and yes, I oversaw them all - your frustration, your determination, your failures. All in all, you made it to reach to your goal. Congratulations, Lord Gervðas. On behalf of Lady Anda's former religious head and my twenty-three (23) tenure years of service, we are proud of you.” she bows her head to me sideways while she is sitting beside me on the bench.
“To be honest, Lady Linila. I am aware those words you entailed to me are sincere. It's not that I am not getting any praises to what I do, no. What I mean is your intention is pure. Whereas I interpret it as it resembles to what Lady Anda's honor is bestowing upon me.” I follow, and the priestess-bishop presses her palm on top of my hand afterwards.
“You know what, milord?” Lady Linila trifles a question towards me.
“Yes?”
“Lady Anda was- -... Lady Anda has never been wrong about choosing you as her spiritual head. The title befits to your ideals and perceptions. Milord, you resume to be a proselytizer in lieu of ordering a myriad of missionaries, though, inexperienced. You took the first move instead. If you are unaware, several of the followers in our sect made you their icon. You are the epitome of Hrililal and yet you choose to risk your life in order just to spread the news.“ she claims so and after she speaks through her heart, she becomes so intimate when she clings me to my shoulder.