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The Matriarch

  Malanthea sat in the center of her fellow Matriarchs on a raised throne overlooking a continental map painted onto the floor. Little wooden figurines of castles, cities, and soldiers stood all along the map marking locations of strategic interest to the Matriarchs. Nyxea was embroiled in a war that spanned the entire continent, and their banners indicated they were playing a major role in it.

  “Hypatia, how fare your armies in the Elven Kingdoms,” asked Malanthea, leaning forward in her throne. Hers was the tallest in the room and it allowed her to look down upon her fellow matriarchs.

  “They fare well,” answered Hypatia from her throne on Malanthea’s right. “However, my clerics tell me that the Imunani have begun to muster in earnest. They have successfully crushed each of the armies that crossed the spine.” Hypatia frowned as she looked to where her forces sat dreadfully close to the mountains that made up spine of Elysimyra.

  Malanthea could tell her fellow Matriarch was worried. None of them wished to stay in the west for very long and an Imunani army marching across the spine could complicate that. Malanthea shook her head, sharing Hypatia’s anxiety. “That is not good news. Any word from our brethren from the north? Those dogs’ ought to be ahead of our soldiers.”

  “Only that they have moved south to lay siege to Anorsport. They plan on taking the city and establishing a sea route back to Hollsar.”

  “Hmm, smart. I would suggest you try and join them. Let me know what your plans are. And if you do, in fact, decide to assist in the siege; send word to me. I may spare a fleet in assisting your efforts.” Malanthea turned her attention to the south, where Bashur banners stood upon land previously owned by the Nyxeans.

  The real reason we decided to join this war, thought Malanthea as she focused her gaze on the city of Pleve. The blasted port sat across the Meridian Sea, acting as a staging ground for Bashur ships to raid Nyxean waters. The pirates were so good at raiding ships they had begun to put a serious strain on all of the Hollsari economies. This was the main reason why Malanthea and her fellow Matriarch’s agreed to join the Azaran alliance in their march west. With the plunder they stole from the west, they could fund their reclamation operation east.

  “How about you, Esther? How are things in the east?” Malanthea turned her gaze to the woman on her left. Her pale blue face was curled up in discomfort as she eyed the map.

  “Not well. The Bashari continue to raid up and down the eastern coast and we recently won a very costly victory at Scylia,” Esther bit her thumb. “Most of my navy was damaged in the fighting and we don’t have enough money to buy enough fire powder and cannonballs to contend with the Bashari ships.”

  “I’ll start increasing the taxes on the major cities in the gap. In the meantime, Hypatia, I need you to pillage as much loot as possible from the elven kingdoms and start bringing the bulk of our armies back east.” Helana turned her gaze toward the Vrythian states where the heathen lords sat in their walled cities. Surely, they were amassing forces large enough to crush all of the armies the Azarran alliance sent their way. Malanthea had the wit not to wait around and find out.

  “I’ll send word to my armies immidealty Malanthea,” said Hypatia. “I will urge my generals to converge on Anorsport. I think it best to try and take the port as quickly as possible, so that we can consolidate our forces and begin reconquering the land we lost to the Bashari.”

  Malanthea nodded, pleased. Her fellow Matriarchs understood what was truly important during these turbulent times.

  “Another matter, Malanthea,” began Hypatia clearing her throat. “I notice that you have secured a new prince for your family, possessed of a sorceress’s lineage no less. How is he?” Hypatia smiled at Malanthea.

  “I have given him to my daughter who now weens him like a baby into our ways. The oracle has told me he shows great promise.” Malanthea paused and considered her next words carefully.

  The planning and resources that went into abducting Laranthel had drained her war chest greatly. Further, many of the minor families that once served her family had been severely weakened during the initial invasion of the western kingdoms. Malanthea believed that Hypatia and Esther were doing no better at the current moment but wished to ere on the side of caution. She did not want to jeopardize her family or the country’s future by giving her fellow Matriarch’s a chance to coerce her into a weaker position by threatening to put pressure on her personal holdings within the realm. What is important now is to show strength, she thought.

  “The boy shows great promise,” began Malanthea. “My eldest tells me that during his capture he outfought one of our veteran soldiers with no prior battle experience. Further, he was resilient enough to shuffle over here in bondage. I have never doubted Nyxa’s wisdom, and I have been generously rewarded for my faith.” This, Malanthea genuinely believed. Laranthel would strengthen her family; how, was what she hoped to decide in the coming years.

  “Hmm, if the boy is so special why not show us? After all, he will be one of the few men with status rivaling that of a matriarch! Once he and Mythiara create a child, of course.” Hypatia moved her arms about in exaggerated excitement as she spoke, pointing towards the ceiling and stretching out her arms. She was trying to goad a reaction out of Malanthea.

  “When Mythiara produces a child or the two accomplish something of note I will bring them before us and we can bless them, b—,” before Malanthea could finish speaking, Esther interrupted her.

  “He needs to stand before us as soon as Mythiara is done with his weening.” Esther’s voice was stern and her face serious. “That a prince, an anamvos prince, could elevate to such a height in such a short amount of time is unprecedented. He needs to suffer the scrutiny of our judgement and then be sent to the Kynotoro with the rest of his people to prepare him for military service. That is the law and that is what keeps us in power.”

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  “Of course, Lady Orkon. I had already planned on sending the boy to the Kynotoro within the next two months. If the two of you wish to meet with him before he is committed, then so be it. I cannot resist the demands of both of my fellow Matriarchs.” Malanthea shot Hypatia a sideways glance after she finished speaking. The blue clad matriarch probably wouldn’t have demanded to see Laranthel on her own, but she wasn’t going to pass up on the opportunity Esther had just given her either. When this meeting was over, Malanthea would have to have a long word with Mythiara and Laranthel, as well as the rest of her children. Much was at stake.

  “That should conclude our business for tonight,” said Hypatia. “But do not expect to wait another month to meet. I will call for another meeting in a few weeks, after I have scried, wrote, and called my forces to begin their preparations to take Anorsport. My greetings to your families.”

  Hypatia rose from her throne, shook off the discomfort that had built up in her body from hours of sitting, and walked out of the war room, skirting around the map as she left. Malanthea rose shortly afterwards and began for the door. Esther called out to her from the top of her throne before she could exit the room.

  “Do you think that Mythiara and Laranthel will love each other the way you loved Cyrus? Can this society of ours stand another storm sent forth from the Goddess?” Malanthea froze, her gaze still fixed on the entryway to the spacious room that seemed at that moment to be endlessly large.

  “I’m not concerned with such a thing,” replied Malanthea tersely. “Like my love, I don’t think I’ll make it to the end of another journey, this old mind of mine grows tired.” Malanthea turned toward Esther and found the matriarch staring back at her, a determined look on her face, fire in her golden eyes. “You will never understand me. Never understand him. Never understand anything.” Malanthea turned and exited the war room, striding back to her compound with a scowl on her face. The wounds left by the death of her oldest friend were still fresh, a seething pain in her heart that still burned even sixteen years after his death.

  Malanthea wasted no time in summoning Laranthel and Mythiara to the chamber at the top of the Halana compound’s center spire. The family called it the “moon room” because the walls and ceiling were painted with constellations, but there was no actual moon in the room.

  “You are the moon my dear, and the stars and sun revolve around you here,” Cyrus would say to her an eternity ago, when this had been her room as a Princess. Esther was a cruel witch for pulling at Malanthea’s scars, but she had reminded her of the importance of her daughter. Now that the children of prophecy were together, her work had only just begun. Malanthea was certain that her actions now would dictate the fate of all Nyxea, not just the Halanas. Mythiara must understand the responsibilities I have handed down to her, thought Malanthea. And the boy must understand the consequences that will follow failure...

  She sighed, leaning back in the weathered old wooden rocking chair that sat in the center of the room. Nobody had been up here in years. Aside from the rocking chair, only the pleasant memories of a distant past remained. Malanthea allowed her mind to roam until her reminiscence was interrupted by three sharp knocks at the door. Her daughter entered the room, firm and confident, like her father. Laranthel stepped in from behind, quiet as a shadow despite his size. She quite liked how the pair looked standing beside each other.

  “Great Mother,” said Mythiara with a bow. Laranthel followed her lead, held his hand to his heart and tipped his head. Mythiara had been doing her job it seemed.

  “How are you enjoying my daughter, Laranthel,” asked Malanthea with a sly grin. Laranthel looked back at her, his expression neutral, eyes focused like he was wondering what to make of the Matriarch.

  “With the utmost respect Matriarch, Mythiara is a Princess and commands more respect,” Laranthel responded. His hands were tucked behind his back, his posture straight and tall. It was faint, but Malanthea could sense some despisal and defiance in the boy. He did well not to let it show in his expressions, but his language seemed too planned, his posture too purposeful.

  “A good answer,” beamed Malanthea. “You despise this place, don’t you? Very different from your home in the emerald coast, no?”

  Laranthel nodded, then sighed: “Indeed.”

  A sad look took the boy and the defiance in his stance faded away. He relaxed, defeated. Mythiara shifted uncomfortably, annoyed that her mother was messing with her toy. That mindset will need to be corrected thought Malanthea as she looked over at the couple. I think the boy has the strength to do it, but we shall see.

  “May I ask why you have summoned us here, mother,” questioned Mythiara. She peered around the room, her impatience clear.

  “No,” Malanthea teased. “That, you must figure out for yourself. It’s your second task as a real princess. You’ve done well with the first one, the boy is well mannered.” She gave Laranthel a nod and he bowed his head.

  “Thank you, mother.” Mythiara shifted, her eyes peering around the room anxiously.

  “I met with the other Matriarch’s today, they wish to meet Laranthel. I plan on sending you two together, but I suspect that will not be possible. Do you understand what this means?” Malanthea searched the couple’s faces for their reactions. Mythiara’s face furrowed in worry, Laranthel’s remained neutral, unreadable.

  “Were we not supposed to have Laranthel exposed to the rest of the families in two months? Why are the matriarch’s so eager to see him now?”

  “They wriggle and writhe under the Goddess’s favor of our family,” replied Malanthea sternly, tiring of her daughter’s impertinence. “They see the boy as a weakness they can exploit without jeopardizing their houses or the country. Should Laranthel not meet their expectations, they will make our lives a lot harder and there won’t be anything I can do about it. They know we’re all stretched thin right now and this is a string they can pluck without much effort. If they declare Laranthel is a threat, all of the minor families will rally to vanquish him, and sixteen years of work will be squandered.” Malanthea sighed.

  “I understand mother. I’ll speed up his education.” Mythiara looked at Laranthel, and they shared a nod.

  “I want to hear it from your lips boy, do you understand what’s at stake for us? For you?” Malanthea stared into Laranthel’s eyes, searching for a reaction on his placid face.

  “Make no mistake Great Matriarch,” Laranthel began. “I did not suffer two months of torture to come here and be slain. I will do whatever it takes to ensure my survival.”

  Malanthea nodded satisfied, it was easy for her to trust in someone’s own self-interest. “How good are you with a sword? I think for your debut we’ll put on a little expedition.”

  Laranthel and Mythiara exchanged curious looks with each other, then Mythiara looked at her mother perplexed. “You mean to have him introduced with a sword fight?”

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