Usruldes, Mattamesscontess, Harvest Season, 5th rot., 5th to 10th days
What I saw on my trip into the heart of Mattamesscontess was horrific. The ruin of Toyatastagka was a scene of anarchy. The few who remained in the city, mainly the sick, the poor, and the elderly, were hollow-eyed and gaunt from lack of food. The bodies of the dead rotted in the streets. The Chem patrolled the waterfront and the main north-south road but left the rest of the city to spiral into chaos.
The villages and towns surrounding the ruined city were either deserted or had built stockades to keep the refugees out. Outside of the newly walled towns and villages, civil authority had broken down. The wealthy and the nobles had fled their holdings. The corpses of those who escaped Toyatastagka lined the roads in all directions.
Farther afield, many refugees bartered their labor for food during the harvest. However, the harvest was mostly over now, and the lower valley of the Mattaheehee River was full of homeless people desperately looking for food and shelter. I tried telling myself that these were the Cragi worshipers who did not heed the warning of a god-sent prophet and, therefore, deserved their punishment, but seeing their suffering as I flew over them left me with feelings of pity and helplessness.
I was glad to reach the west coast of the Gulf of Chipagawkpaw and the city of Shinakosettkut, which were in the hands of the anti-Cragi insurrectionists. The southwest coastal region was in the hands of the region's leaders who agreed to the dismantling of the Church of Cragi and the reinstatement of the worship of Vassu. Those leaders who disagreed were keeping the citadel's prison cells warm.
Not everything was orderly and happy in Shinakosettkut. On the outskirts of the city were large camps of freed slaves, both Cosm and Coyn, who did not want to return to their former owners for employment. The climate was mild, and the fishing was excellent, so no one starved or perished from exposure, but it wasn't a stable situation with so many idle people lacking homes and jobs. I realized we might see something similar in Foskos and Impotu before long.
The Chem navy had eradicated piracy in the Gulf of Chipagawkpaw, which left the Mattamesscontans of the west coast feeling grateful. The policing of the Gulf by the Chem eased the freeing of the Chem slaves, which was not the case on the east coast of the Gulf, where many villages and towns resisted.
The Chem I spoke to on both sides of the Gulf told me the same thing: they had had no news from the three hundred ships sent up the Strait of Weekapakwonk. I wanted to cross the Gungywamp Mountains to reach the Strait, but just when I decided to leave, I was grounded for three days while a tremendous storm blew through from the southwest.
The natives called their Harvest Season storms the Demon Winds. They blew so hard that the houses along the Gulf's east coast were stone masonry and built high above the waterline.
Once the weather cleared, I flew to the Republic of Alkinosuk, better known as the pirate nation of Mattamukmuk. I reasoned I might hear news of the missing three hundred Chem ships there. The place was now a vassal state of Foskos. All I needed to do was present my fire opal plaque to the city governor, and I would gain access to the information and any aid I required.
It had been twelve years since I was last in Mattamukmuk. From the air, the waterfront looked like it was swarming with ant-sized people as they cleaned up after the storm. I didn't even bother to count up the number of wrecked ships smashed into the shore by the Demon Wind. It was a compelling vision of destruction. As Mattamesscontan fish catchers were fond of saying, Sassoo must have been angry about something.
The storm damage wasn’t the most striking thing about Mattamukmuk. That was the city center, or maybe I should say, the lack of a city center. It was gone. The buildings I remember from my last visit were missing; the beginnings of new construction had taken their place. Last year, the overpowered monster known as the Queen of Foskos had turned the city’s official buildings into rubble, including the former Assembly Hall, City Hall, and Governor’s Palace.
The Temple to All Gods was gone, too. On the hill where the Temple once stood, only a crater remained. Work crews had cleared the ground and were busy excavating a new foundation.
When I landed in Mattamukmuk, the Assembly was in session. Until the city replaced its meeting hall, the Assembly of the Republic of Alkinosuk had moved to the dance hall at Mattamukmuk's largest food and lodging business, the Housen Inn. I decided to observe the Assembly in progress. Besides, that was where I would find the City Governor who I needed to speak with.
Cadrees made a flamboyant landing in front of the inn's front steps, and I leapt off. I was still traveling as a royal courier. I adjusted my dispatch case, put my herald's cap on, flipped the official green cape open to display the fire opal plaque on my belt, and walked in.
Two guards stopped me at the door to the inn's grand hall.
“Only members of the Assembly and government officials can enter,” said the older of the two guards, a middle-aged halfhair gal.
“I am a government official here on business. I am a royal courier and represent the King of Foskos,” I informed her while holding up my fire opal plaque. “Open the door.”
“I do not have anyone like you on the roster of persons authorized to enter, so—”
“Enough!” I cast stasis on both guards and opened the door with my mind’s hand. “A fire opal plaque with the King's sigil is all the authority I need. It is my identification as someone who can act in the name of your King. All Foskan royal couriers carry one. We are the hands of the sovereign of Foskos. Remember this for the future.”
I strode in leisurely, taking my time to observe the hall's layout. Seats for the Assembly were set up on long daises that lined the room's length, with two daises on each side. At the far end of the room sat the Speaker of the Assembly, the City Governor, the Admiral of the Alkinosuk Navy, and their staff.
The current City Governor was the Revered Othnay haup Gampff, a priestess justiciar of Galt. She led a delegation of ten additional revered clergy, one from each Shrine in Foskos. The King and Convocation had given these eleven priestesses and priests clear orders: to build proper Shrines, oversee rebuilding the city center, and shut down any remaining Alkinosuk pirate activity.
The eleven clergy were also charged with revising Mattamukan law to comply with Foskan legal principles, with allowances for local customs. For example, deliberately baring a knee is not a crime in Mattamukmuk. We'd have a riot on our hands on this side of the continent if we tried to fine every beachgoer a hundred silver for taking off their stockings in public before a swim.
A stern, black-eyed, grey-haired man was speaking from the middle of one of the daises. The cut of his dark green Mattamukan-style dress coat was elegant and of the best high-count linen. Everything about him exuded quality and refined taste. When I got level with him, he paused and glared for a moment before achieving a neutral expression.
“I say, young man, do you not know it’s bad manners to walk the aisle before a speaker is finished?” the man asked with just a touch of unhappy patience.
I stopped and replied directly to him, “I will answer, though it is a breach of manners not to greet my senior in precedence first." I nodded briefly at the Revered Othnay, who was watching with interest. Then I continued, "Sirrah, I confess I do not know about the custom you speak of. I am not from around these parts, which you might have noticed given that I am not dressed in what is currently in fashion for Mattamukmuk. I shall endeavor not to make such a mistake again, with one exception. Do you see this cape, Sirrah?” I held up an edge of my courier’s cape with its gold embroidery of interlaced wings.
“I do, Sirrah,” the man responded politely.
“This is the cape of a Foskan Royal Courier,” I explained. “We are the direct agents of Imstay King. As such, if I needed haste, I would walk this aisle to reach my goal regardless of who was speaking. Otherwise, I will take your instructions to heart and inform my companion couriers about this custom so we do not err again.”
I bowed at the man with a reverence deep enough for a noble. I did not wish to insult his effort to be polite. He had every right to be vexed with my unknowing mistake, but he chose a soft-spoken rebuke instead of a louder and far less polite response. I appreciated that.
I walked down the rest of the aisle until I was about thirty hands from the Governor’s table. I knelt on one knee to make my obeisance, court lord to twice-blessed clergy.
“May the blessings of the eleven gods be upon you, revered ones,” I placed my hand over my heart and bowed my head.
“And also upon you, courier,” a woman’s voice replied with an aristocratic Foskan accent so noble it made my mother sound like a commoner. “If I may, with whom am I speaking?” she asked.
I looked up at the handsome and sturdy Revered Othnay in her red justiciar's robes trimmed in white. Her face was stern, but I detected humor lurking in her eyes.
“I am not sure we have met," I bowed my head briefly at her. "I am Lord of the Court Irhessa hat Kas'syo haup Gunndit, royal courier and herald. My plaque," I floated my fire opal plaque to her so she could verify my aura and the grant of royal authority sealed into the plaque by Imstay King. She did make an effort to do the verification because I felt her examine my aura.
“Oh my," the Revered Othnay's eyebrows floated up, and she smiled wistfully. "We must have dinner together. My mistress has the most interesting things to say about you." She grinned with just a touch of mischievousness, "I'd love to know which parts are true. Besides, I have an excellent cook."
I wondered, not for the first time, if all the senior priestesses of Galt were gossips as bad as the Holy Kamagishi.
I bowed my head in acquiescence, “Your will, Revered One.”
“Pray, Lord Irhessa, what words do you bring from Imstay King?”
“Provide me with information and with aid in gathering intelligence if I need to do so. I am on a trip to inquire about the actions of the Chem fleet. Given that I have inadvertently interrupted the speech of that good gentleman with whom I just spoke, it would be appropriate for me to find a seat to observe the proceedings quietly so he can finish his speech with no more interruptions."
“The seat next to me is free, Lord Irhessa,” the Revered Priest Watermage Deoykoya stood and gestured to his side to an empty chair.
“Lord Irhessa, pray join us and observe until we recess for the day," the Revered Othnay ruled with an authoritative nod. I bowed my acquiescence and took the seat next to the Revered Deoykoya.
What I heard disturbed me greatly. The man I interrupted was a nohair named Boba Tattahotta. He had detailed information on the outcome of an accidental skirmish between a Mattamesscontan trireme and three Chem war ketches. The drawn-out battle was a draw because a Demon Wind storm rose during the fight and scattered the opposing ships. All four vessels were missing.
It was rumored that the Prophet Emily and the presumptive Empress of Mattamesscontess were among those presumed lost.
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Usruldes, Mattamukmuk, Harvest Season, 5th rot., evening of the 10th day
I was surprised when Boba Tattahotta followed the Admiral and the Speaker into dinner with the eleven clergy. The Revered Othnay caught my expression and tugged me to the side before I could sit at the table.
"Tattahotta is the retired Admiral," she whispered to me. "That makes him an official counselor to the Assembly.”
“Ah!” Realization crashed into my brain, “He’s the pirate king!” I whispered back. I remembered the trivia on how the Mattamukan pirates organized themselves. The retired admiral of the navy was both a counselor to the City Governor and the traditional head of the Privateers Association. If more than one retired admiral was alive, the captains voted on who would be the head. It was an unofficial position that carried significant clout.
“I don't know if he's a pirate king anymore, given that we've revoked all the privateer licenses and banned the practice," Othnay whispered. "We've had some skirmishes at sea with the Chem, who will board any vessel they suspect of piracy or the slave trade.”
“Have they harmed any innocent merchant ships?” I had to ask. Negotiating with the Chem over shipping could be difficult, especially since the Chem lacked the human sense of nuance in what was right or wrong.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
“Well, that’s the thing,” she grimaced. “It appears that every ship they stop has either carried slaves or illegal goods.”
“Illegal goods?”
“Charm gems, banned intoxicants, black market commodities," she whispered, watching the table and the progress of seating everyone. "Come," she took my arm and led me to the table, "Sit between me and Captain Tattahotta. He's the one who can best describe how things are with the Chem. All the captains speak with him."
I stood next to my chair until all the revered ones were seated. I noted but did not comment on the three Mattamukans who had seated themselves without waiting. My purposeful sitting last raised Tattahotta’s eyebrows at me.
"You appear confused by something, Captain," I asked in my best-mannered voice and a friendly smile.
“Why did you wait before sitting, lord?” Tattahotta asked.
“Ah!" I smiled. "It is a Foskan custom to wait for those with blessings from the gods to sit first. If the Prophet demanded it, which she does not, we would all stand until she was seated. After the Prophet, the revelators would sit next, followed by the Holy Sutsusum, our one high priestess with three blessings and a god mark. After her would come the rest of the high priestesses, since each has been blessed thrice, seated in the order of the founding of their Shrines. Then would come the revered ones physically touched by a god, but there are only two of those. One is a trainee at a Shrine, and the other is the Coyn general named Tom, who currently leads the Chem in their war to liberate their kin. After them would come the revered ones who are twice-blessed clergy, like the eleven priestesses and priests we are dining with."
"This implies, young lord, that there are those who are blessed once. Are those the regular clergy at the Shrines? Just what are these blessings, and how do they work?" Tattahotta picked up his first shallow bowl of rice wine, the preferred drink of the East Coast, and took a sip.
“A mage can only become a priestess or priest if a god approves,” I explained. “When a candidate for the clergy makes their vows, swearing while touching one of the great crystals in a Shrine, the blessing shows up as a light that surrounds and engulfs the candidate. To an observer, the light then becomes absorbed by the candidate. The newly blessed clergy's aura changes at this moment, and those who can read auras will see the first blessing as a glow coming from the heart."
“So, what are a second or third blessings?” Tattahotta asked with a look of deep interest.
"What? Did you not have the same happen here at the former All-Gods Temple?" I asked. "The temple made its own charm gems, which would not be possible without properly blessed clergy and great crystals gifted from the gods."
“Lord,” the old man smiled apologetically, revealing for the first time a more pleasant visage than his stern face from the Assembly meeting. “I’m afraid, as a man with no magic whatsoever, that I have little understanding of these things. Besides, the ceremonies the mages hold to make new priests and priestesses are secret affairs. Only other clergy can attend. This is the first I have ever heard of blessings from a great crystal in a Temple or Shrine that can be seen in an aura.”
“Wait,” Othnay sat forward, “are you saying, Captain, that the ordination of clergy is not a public ceremony?”
“It’s not a secret ceremony in Foskos?” gaped Tattahotta. “So, are these blessing things why you restored Ole’inapita to her office as Dean of the Temple but not Elryestra as High Priestess?” he asked Othnay.
"Yes, I thought I explained this to you," she sighed and shook her head impatiently. "Remember what I was saying about trust?"
It was his turn to shake his head, “Yes, one should trust. One should also confirm that the trust is worthy. Dear lady, this young man knows nothing of our conversations. When he mentioned blessings, I would have been a fool not to ask him about it. His answer was illuminating and confirmed all this folderol about blessings. Now, I wish to hear the rest of his explanation.” He turned his head to look at me, one eyebrow raised in invitation to speak.
"The induction ceremonies at our Shrines are public, and families and friends are encouraged to attend," I related. "Some induction ceremonies are so popular that attendance must be restricted. For example, this is the practice at the Healing Shrine of Mugash, where a trainee can invite only four family or friends to the ceremony, two of whom escort the trainee up to the great crystal for the swearing of vows."
“So, getting back to twice-blessed and thrice-blessed clergy?” Tattahotta circled back to his earlier question.
“On rare occasions, a high priestess may receive a command from her god to elevate a priestess or priest to revered status. During a special ceremony, that individual will swear a second set of vows on the Shrine's great crystal. The second blessing will manifest as a glow from behind the navel."
“So, that makes a high priestess one of thrice-blessed because they’ve been through the vow-and-light thing three times, yes?” Tattahotta guessed. “So, where does that blessing show up?”
“It’s a glow behind the forehead,” I explained. “Not all mages can see auras or blessings. Reading auras is one of the skills of healing magic, along with body clairvoyance and the mending charms."
“So, how is a high priestess chosen?”
“When a high priestess dies, all the other high priestesses will know who the next one will be. It just happens. The knowledge comes directly to the high priestesses from the gods.”
“Seriously?” he asked, his face full of questions and doubts.
"Will you trust me to show you what an aura looks like?" I held out my hand. "Take my hand and close your eyes, and I can show you."
His frown was sharp, but he took my hand firmly and closed his eyes.
I cast a charm Ud taught me years ago. I never knew I would use it other than to amuse my wife. Captain Tattahotta would now sense everything I would sense, including sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, aura reading, mind casting, and clairvoyance.
"Keep your eyes closed or you'll pass out," I warned. "I will now open my own eyes, and you should see when I see."
His gasp was all the reply I needed.
"Now, let us look at the Revered Othnay," I said. "As you can see, her aura is mostly yellow, meaning she is content, yet see the pale blue fringe around her head and hands? That's the mark of fatigue. If the Revered Othney does not take care to rest and works harder without recouping her vigor, the blue will darken and deepen as she grows more tired. Now, see the two glowing spots from the blessings?”
“Yes, yes, I do. That's amazing. Does the world look like this to you all the time?"
"No, only when I want to read auras," I replied. "It takes a lot of stamina, so I don't do it all the time. And now, I will stop, and the world should look much the same as when you are using your own eyes."
“Ah,” he said as the auras of everyone in the room faded.
I broke the contact between us, “It’s safe to open your eyes now.”
“My, how extraordinary,” he blinked and then smiled. “Thank you for indulging an old man.”
"Revered One," I looked at Othnay, "Did you know the temple ceremonies here were private?”
“I did not. We don’t have complete knowledge of how the All-Gods Temple operated. Part of our problem is that many of their clergy died when Aylem destroyed the Temple,” Othnay frowned so deeply I thought her forehead might crack. “We have a shortage of clergy-led labor because of this. We've been able to hire help for the city's four orphanages, but we need trained teachers and healers. We can find teachers. One does not need to be a priestess of Surd to be a teacher. But we must import healers and mages like adepts who can do healing magic. We do not have enough healers for the city. I have a communication ready to go that asks for more staff. You could take it if you will be returning soon or if you have a way to communicate faster than flying back.”
“Let us talk after dinner on this,” I offered.
“Good enough,” Othnay nodded. “So, young man,” she looked me over like I was a sunfish and she was a shark, "they say that Blessed Lisaykos's son is so busy running the King's errands that no one has been able to pry the details out of him about reuniting with his family."
“I see you are a faithful student of your mistress, Revered One,” I smiled and laughed. “I would much rather hear more about the Chem fleet’s actions in the Strait of Weekapakwonk in as much detail as you have. I am here on business, after all.”
My diversion of Othnay’s prying succeeded. I spent the rest of dinner listening to Captain Tattahotta and his complaints about the Chem.
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Usruldes, dinner in Mattamukmuk continued, Harvest Season, 5th rot., evening of the 10th day
“So, here comes this Chem ship with its funny sails," Tattahotta was a good storyteller, "right into the middle of the anchorage with Captain Skantee's ship in tow, with the whole crew tied up by the lizards. They put down an anchor and send a barge to the landing. Admiral Perry sent me a cab so I could watch the negotiation, such as it was.
"I arrived as the Chem were tying up. Their leader hopped onto the quay and said he wanted to speak to whoever took custody of criminals."
“That’s my cue,” Admiral Perry said from the other side of the table. He was a pleasant-looking halfhair whose smile hid a sharp mind.
"I told the lizard that I had the authority to take criminals into custody and to arrange for their prosecution," Admiral Perry continued. "And he said he had a ship's crew caught transporting prohibited goods. He wanted to turn the crew over for trial. He also wanted to turn in the charm gems the Chem found in the hold of Skantee’s ship. He specifically asked to give them to the Revered Priestess of Vassu, whom he knew was part of the delegation from Foskos. He then asked for a receipt for both the charm gems and the ship's crew.
"It was truly a difficult situation since Skantee had managed to get caught violating the new anti-piracy and smuggling laws. I don’t know what that idiot was thinking. He knew of the law change. He knew the Chem were sailing north into the Strait of Weekapakwonk. He knew the Chem took no quarter if one refused to surrender unconditionally. It was hard following the directions of a lizard man to arrest an entire crew, but Skantee, that moron, gave them cause."
“The situation is worse than it appears, Lord Irhessa,” Othnay weighed in, “because among the charm gems, half of which were dead, were active charm gems of compulsion.”
“But that’s...” I was gobsmacked. The implications were dire.
“We don’t know when these were made,” Othnay pointed out. "We're working on Captain Skantee to reveal his sources without destroying his mind first. My mistress will be quite upset when she learns of this. I am guessing these are old gems from before the time the Fated Shrine started keeping detailed records of the gems we made. The alternative is too terrible to contemplate. The theft of new charm gems of compulsion would require the involvement of at least four priestesses."
“What will happen to Captain Skantee and his crew?” I asked.
"As soon as he or one of his officers divulges his source for the charm gems," Othnay said, "We will send them to the quarries for ten years. The crew is already there."
“Is there an impediment to just taking the knowledge from him?” I was curious to know.
“We are on new ground,” Othnay said, frowning. “Mattamukmuk has no tradition of compulsion prior to trial. Only in a public court can compulsion be used.”
“That’s not too different from Foskan practice,” I noted.
"There's a catch, or so I'm told," Othnay glanced at Tattahotta. "Clear evidence must exist to go to trial."
“A ship’s hold full of black market charm gems isn’t clear evidence? Pray tell, then, what is?” I couldn’t keep my sarcasm in check.
“Skantee was carrying paperwork indicating he took on a cargo of healing gems, which are not illegal to trade. He claims he’s the victim here. So the evidence isn’t clear,” Othnay summarized.
“Well, I admit I'm happy it's your problem and not mine," I surmised. "I'm too simple a man to unravel all the nuances of conflicting laws."
“Out of curiosity,” Othnay gave me a funny look, “if it was up to you, what would you do, Lord Irhessa, if Skantee’s fate was your responsibility?”
“Me?” I didn’t want to say anything. I tried to keep my own opinions out of my job.
“Is there another Lord Irhessa I should know about?” Othnay asked with a chuckle. “So, what would you do if it were up to you?”
"I don't know," I shrugged. "I never thought about it. I mean, it's my job to represent the King and not my own views."
“Try us,” Perry invited. “We’re all adults here and we can tell the difference between your personal opinion and what you do for your work as a courier.”
"Alright," I sighed and thought hard. "I would question Skantee in front of a properly convened inquiry hearing. I have two justifications for this action. First, pre-trial questioning under compulsion is permitted under Foskan law so long as it is done publicly and lawfully in an inquiry hearing. This is not very different from how compulsion is used in Mattamukmuk trials. One could look at a Foskan inquiry hearing as a logical add-on to existing Mattamukan legal proceedings. After all, in Foskos, when an inquiry hearing reveals a crime, the hearing is then suspended so it can be converted into a proper trial.
"Second, the Prophet Emily has said that the innocent have nothing to fear from being questioned under compulsion; therefore, questioning under compulsion should be used when good reasons exist to do so, regardless of who must be questioned. I feel these two things are adequate justification for convening a properly conducted inquiry hearing. There may even be a Mattamukan equivalent we haven't identified or recognized yet. Better yet, ask the Assembly to design the equivalent of a Foskan inquiry hearing. Then, use it on Skantee. Hey, what's the look for? You asked my opinion."
“Now, that’s clever,” said Perry.
"I can work with that," Tattahotta nodded in agreement. "Assembly buy-in is the way to do this, and it gets around the trial loophole by creating a quasi-trial inquiry hearing. It has the lovely catch that all Skantee needs to do is confirm his innocence. As an innocent man, he has nothing to fear from questioning." The old man signed, "Too bad Skantee was too greedy for that one last questionable cargo. He made the mistake of transporting goods under the legal oversight of the Shrines. The eyes of both the Chem and the Fated Shrine of Galt are now upon us and we can not do anything other than what the law demands for this crime.”
“Shall we try that, then?” Othnay asked the Mattamukans in the room. “We talk the Assembly into crafting its own version of a Foskan inquiry hearing. Then, we will use it to inquire after Skantee's innocence, which will determine not just his own fate but that of his crew. This mess is bigger than one person's innocence or guilt, so it is fitting for us to confirm Skantee's proof of innocence. After all, those who are innocent have nothing to fear from the truth. Is this something you agree to? If so, I will ask you to start working on this tomorrow. Do we have an agreement?”
"I agree," Tattahotta said. "If the Admiral and the Speaker also agree, I will start speaking to my people immediately, this evening if there is time. Tomorrow, if there is not."
“I agree,” the hitherto silent Speaker of the Assembly spoke.
“I do, too,” said Perry, smiling thoughtfully.
"Damn shame about Skantee," Tattahotta scowled. "Waste of a good ship captain, but it can't be helped. If it weren't Skantee, it would have been someone else. It was merely a matter of time before a captain broke the new Foskan laws. Besides, this is a test for us by the Chem. They want to see how well we carry out justice. We must pass this test, especially with their fighting fleet sailing free in the Strait while our navy is caught cleaning up after the Demon Wind two days ago."
“I will be up at my usual time,” Othnay said, “so I will be available to entertain any petitions to reconvene the Assembly tomorrow evening or the morning afterward."
And now, young man,” Tattahotta grinned and finally managed to look like a real pirate, “you must come drinking with me and young Perry here, and I will tell you all I know about the Chem and Mattamesscontess.”
So I did. It was worth the hangover in the morning.