Tasmina's Tale

24. New Rules

Rikom

The next few weeks passed in a blur. Each day, there were more duties to undertake, more matters that needed urgent attention. Twice a week, we allowed the citizens of Zamee to enter the palace gates for the Period of Judgement. I could secretly tell that this was Tasmina’s favourite part of it all. There were still murmurs of witchcraft, but I had vowed to ignore them, for her sake. Although why she wouldn’t let me silence them once and for all, I didn’t know. 

My aim was to breeze through it, answer their questions as quickly as possible so that I could continue with my day. But Tasmina forced me to listen, no matter how fickle their concerns, whether it was a petty dispute over a yard of land, determining the correct owner of misplaced goods. She listened and her judgement was always without bias and just. 

Each night, we would go to our chambers and I would learn how to please her, mastering the techniques that made her body sing. What had begun as tentative had now become a language that we were both fluent in. Her body was no longer hesitant and welcomed me. Each night I spent with her was like returning home. 

While we seemed to fit together like lost pieces of a puzzle, there was no such luck with the dowager queens. It seemed they were determined to dislike her and nothing she or I did could dissuade them of it. Especially Salma. I had been betrothed to Sanaz from the day I had been born. A Gul woman had not been the Luna of Zamee for generations. When I had considered it my duty, I made no arguments of marrying Sanaz, even as I met her as a boy and decided I wasn’t very fond of her. But being mated to Tasmina had changed everything. 

We sat for breakfast and the dowager queens walked in sullenly. 

“Why are we here?” Banu asked. 

“The Queen spoke of a custom in her own home where everyone has three meals a day together. I thought it rather convenient, as opposed to the omegas cooking all day so that we may take food at our leisure in our chambers,” Mama said. 

“So we must eat at set times?” Salma said, bristling. 

“It doesn’t need to be regimented in such a way. The omegas can cook in the morning and serve breakfast between seven and nine. So you may come anytime between them - it will be similar for lunch and dinner, I thought I would ask you first what your preferred times were,” Tasmina said, smiling at them brightly. 

“Preferred time? Wait, so if I’m not mistaken, you’re changing the way we eat for the omega’s convenience?” Darya asked.

“Will the kingdom fall into ruin if they had some time off once in a while?” Tasmina said, snapping her neck in her direction. 

Darya’s mouth popped open as she searched for a retort, but Mama beat her to it. 

“Some of the omegas have families of their own, Darya. It is not entirely unreasonable to ensure they have enough time off. If this is Tasmina’s first act as Queen, I’d say it was very progressive.” 

I nodded at Mama gratefully as Salma sat back, huffing loudly. 

“Unbelievable,” she muttered. 

“I don’t see what’s so unbelievable about it,” Tasmina said, patiently. “They have lives of their own – they may work for us, but just like us, they have families they wish to spend time with. Which they cannot do if they have to prepare over nine different meals at three different times of day, as well as cleaning, assisting us with bathing and getting dressed and goddess knows how many other chores.” 

“It’s their duty!” Banu exclaimed. 

“It is unreasonable. Not even the king works that many hours in a day,” Tasmina replied. 

“This is what happens when you bring a commoner into the royal fold,” Darya muttered under her breath. 

Unfortunately for her, I heard. 

“My queen has spoken,” I snarled, glaring at her. “What she suggests is just, as well as wise. I am behind her decision. Additionally, it may do us some good to sit and eat together as a family. Especially since it seems I know some of you far less than I had thought.”

She had the decency to look suitably chastised. I reached for Tasmina’s hand and the sweet smile she gave me was worth standing behind any decision she made. Even the unjust ones. 

It was then an omega came into the dining chambers, bowing deeply. 

“My king, a message has come from the King of Nordicia,” he announced. 

“That old bastard. What does he want?” I grunted. 

We had been at war with the north for years. They were allied with the Kingdom of Varun, who generally tended to stay out of our battles, but friends of our enemies were enemies all the same. 

“He wishes to send an emissary to discuss peace.” 

A gasp went around the table and I raised my brow. 

“You may reply and tell him that we will receive his emissary peacefully. Thank you,” I said, dismissing the omega. 

He bowed and left the room. 

“This will be a great step for Zamee,” Mama said, nodding her head in approval. 

“I don’t understand why our men just don’t shift and fight in battle. They would have run scared for the hills. Iza could have easily added Nordica to our territory,” Salma said, rolling her eyes. 

“We do not shift against humans. It is dishonourable. We fight fairly and with honour,” I replied, sharply.

I saw her nose turn up in distaste, but I decided not to pursue a fight with her. Of all the dowager queens, she certainly rubbed me up the wrong way. Her son, Enzo, wasn’t so bad. But we were kept apart from one another, and hadn’t been able to grow a close bond. 

“You must also announce your Beta and your Gamma – now that you have found your Luna,” Mama said. 

Tasmina looked up from her conversation with her brothers, startled. Each time her title was used, she looked like a deer caught stealing from the campfire. 

“We can host the Beta and Gamma ceremony tomorrow. Why wait?” I said, raising my brow at Rodin.

He grinned, puffing out his chest. There was no doubt who my Beta would be. I wondered about my Gamme. Perhaps Enzo? Or perhaps my teacher, Coman, who had agreed to join me from Bulan to train my army.

Fifteen was young for a Gamma, but I half hoped that Goddess would choose him, if only to shut Salma up for a while longer. 

“I will take dinner with my family tonight… in their home, if I may,” she said, looking sideways at Mama. 

“Dear girl, you don’t need permission. You may dine where you wish,” Mama replied. 

“Since when does the Queen of Zamee not dine with the king?” Salma said, raising her brow. 

“I’m sure I’ll be fine without my queen for one evening, Salma. But I thank you for your concern,” I said, nodding at her sharply. 

We finished breakfast in silence. As far as our first meal together as a family, it most likely could have been much worse. Not by much, but at least food hadn’t been flung across the table. We would have to take the small victories wherever we could.