Ganne


21 - Kissing The Shield.


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Marleena hesitated at the entrance to the Grand Audience Chamber.  The
vast space was mostly in gloom.  A grey light filtered in through the
gigantic stained glass window at the far end.  Below the arched window,
ensconced comfortably in the Audience Throne, was Karrellanne.

The High Ganne was still wearing her riding cloak.  At that distance, in
the bosky light, it seemed to Marleena like the ceremonial Drape of
Office, and that Karrellanne was the Queen holding Court.

At the right of the throne stood Beruth.  The plump woman was, as ever,
hovering in close attendance upon her friend.  Marleena did not like the
dark haired woman, always feeling somehow "unclean" whenever the woman's
gaze came to rest upon her.

Marleena ducked back out of sight, and stood wringing her hands in
indecision.  She did not want to enter the chamber, feeling that it would
be crossing a line into...  Into what exactly she was not certain; but if
it involved those two then Marleena really did not want anything to do
with it.  She ought to seek out the Lady Sehko, inform her of
Karrellanne's summons.  Of all of her travelling companions, Marleena felt
the least intimidated by the Lady Guara's First Minister.  The indecisive
child had just found the resolve to do so, when she felt the Ganne stir.
Her heart sank.  It was too late to flee.  She had been noticed.

Marleena drew in a deep steadying breath of the musty air.  She moved back
to the grand entrance.  The two women were looking straight at her.  She
stiffened her posture, put her shoulders back, and stepped onto the carpet
leading to the throne with a show of confidence she did not feel.  Under
her breath, she chanted a mantra learned during her deportment classes.
"Back straight.  Head erect.  Hands at your sides.  Measured steps.
Glide.  Glide.  Glide.  You are a Lady.  Never forget that you are a
Lady."

She came to a halt a few feet from the lower step of the throne.
Karrellanne's seated figure possessed such an aura of power that it took
an effort not to go down on one knee and declare: "At your Service, Your
Majesty."

Marleena fixed her gaze upon the cloak pin at Karrellanne's throat.  It
was silver, and wrought in the shape of two clasped hands.  She did not
dare to look directly into the older Ganne's face, knowing that if she
did, all her meagre store of courage would evaporate.  She asked, "you
wished to see me, Lady?"

"My, my, but what a deliciously demure little darling you are, my dear,"
Karrellanne cooed in a teasing tone.  She turned a lazy glance upon
Beruth.  "Don't you think so, Ruthie dear?  What a devinely respectful
little creature she is."

The wash of hostility from Beruth had a tangible presence in the gloomy
chamber.  Marleena shivered.  She did not need to see that fat face to
know that it was twisted with ill-concealed malice.

Karrellanne gave a light laugh.  "Oh Ruthie, you sweet thing...  I do
believe you are jealous.  You've no cause to be jealous of a little chit
of a thing like our Marleena here.  Although..."

The handle of a riding crop went under Marleena's down turned chin; it
forced upwards.  Marleena resisted only a moment, before she allowed her
face to be tilted up to meet the teasing scrutiny of the older woman.  The
riding crop stroked gently along Marleena's jaw line, then down the side
of her neck.  Despite her best efforts, Marleena swallowed.

"Although..." Karrellanne continued in her loaded tone, "she really is a
delectable little morsel."

Shuddering with distaste, Marleena attempted to draw back.  The riding
crop slapped her neck sharply.  "Stand still, child!"

The abrupt change in tome, as much as the crack of authority, froze the
girl in place.  Trembling with shame, Marleena endured the caress of the
riding crop until Beruth snapped, "Karrie, NO!"

The riding crop froze against Marleena's neck.  It stayed pressed to her
skin for a couple of seconds, then was withdrawn with a sudden
decisiveness.

"Quite right, Ruthie dear," Karrellanne said in mock contrition.
"Business first...  Pleasure comes later."

Karrellanne looked the girl over appraisingly.  Marleena cringed under the
intense scrutiny, which was now devoid of any trace of humour or teasing.
It was Karrellanne Bah Clovis as the High Ganne, all commanding and regal.
Karrellanne asked suddenly, "who am I?"

"Pardon, My Lady?" Marleena responded, not understanding what Karrellanne
meant by the question.

"It's a simple enough question, child...  Who am I?"

"Eh, the Lady Karrellanne Bah Clovis," Marleena ventured hesitantly.  She
was puzzled as to where this was leading, and afraid she might
inadvertently anger the High Ganne.

Marleena was rewarded by a cool smile, which did not reach the eyes.
"Correct, child.  And what does that make me?"

"A lady?"

There was no response.

"Eh, Matriarch of the Clovis Clan?" Marleena tried again.

Still, there was no response.

"Minister of State for the Army?" Marleena said after a thoughtful pause.
She was running out of ideas, and wished the woman would just tel her what
she wanted to hear.

Karrellanne's smile broadened.  "Warmer, child," she encouraged.

Marleena bit her lip.  She summoned every shred of her courage, looked
Karrellanne straight in the eyes and said, "Lady Clovis, I do not know
what you wish me to say.  Please tell me what you want of me?"

Karrellanne regarded her critically, as though trying to decide whether
the girl's failure to comprehend was deliberate, or whether the young Far
Speaker really was that slow witted.  In the fraught silence, a gusty wind
drove rain against the stained glass window above and behind the throne.
The staccato noise sounded loud in the hall.  Some drops blown through
where the glass had fallen out of the leading, sprinkled the trio.

Karrellanne spoke at last.  "The point which appears to have eluded you,
child, is that I shall be the next Chair of the Ganne Council.  What I
shall require of you, child, is your Pledge of Loyalty."

Marleena's heart sank.  It was as bad as she had feared.  She did not want
to betray her Queen; but she did not want to die either.  If she refused
to pledge herself, Marleena had convinced herself that Karrellanne could
not afford to let her leave the chamber alive.  What should she do?
Marleena had never been able to make up her mind over even the most
trivial of matters.  This predicament reduced her to helplessness.  Her
legs were trembling so hard it was difficult just to stand.

There was the sound of a Bayonne being drawn.  Marleena squeaked in panic.
She half stumbled back a step.  Of its own volition, her hand went to her
own Bayonne.  She managed to get it clear of the sheath; but her hands
were shaking so badly she dropped the long knife.  It made hardly a sound
landing on the dusty carpeting around the throne.  Marleena made no
attempt to retrieve it; she just stood there looking at it stupidly
waiting for the end.

Beruth tittered in amusement.  A burning shame replaced the fear in the
young Far Speaker's heart, at her involuntary display of fear.

"Come here, child," Karrellanne commanded.

Thankful to have an order to obey, Marleena approached the throne.

"Kneel, child," Karrellanne ordered.

Marleena, again thankful that someone else was making the choices for her,
knelt.  The grey steel of Karrellanne's Bayonne was before her eyes.

"You know what is required," Karrellanne said.

Hating herself for her cowardice, Marleena leaned forward and pressed her
lips to the Clovis Device etched into the blade just under the cross-hilt
hand guard.  A small flicker of golden light sparked along Marleena's lips
as the Ganne stirred.

"There now, child, that wasn't so terrible, was it?" Karrellanne asked.

Marleena remained kneeling, staring at the floor.  Karrellanne rose from
the throne and descended the steps.  Suddenly the riding crop was back
under Marleena's chin.  She was forced to her feet, and to look into the
smiling face of Karrellanne.

"Now that the business is out of the way...  It's time for pleasure.  You
are cordially invited to a small celebration in honour of your joining my
Government and to introduce you formally to the rest of my Cabinet.  Come
along, child...  And do smile.  You know your whole face lights up when
you smile.  It makes you so much prettier."

Taking Marleena's arm in a firm grip, Karrellanne led the unresisting girl
from the gloomy hall.


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