Thalia and Earth

Chapter 2: Changing of the Guard

Chapter 2: Changing of the GuardThe first meeting of the Guardians of the Realm after the Sisterhood's Rebellion had been temporarily thrown into panic when Betta, Guardian of the Realm, stood and announced, “I have grown eld. My decline starts soon, and I will nay sit in judgment of my lassie, Beauty.”

She held her white head straight, but her lips and skin were almost grey. She bowed to the minor House members, Tris and Abs seated in the tiers facing the rostrum. Then she bowed to the left and right where members of House were seated before leaving the rostrum and descending the stairs to exit the building.

Jolene, Guardian of Ayran, her brown eyes gleaming was ready and she spoke. “I think we should all thank Betta for her service, but we have much to do this eve. I nominate LouElla, Guardian of Flight.”

Cheers erupted from the tiers facing the Council members. A small smile played on the Maca of Don's face and amusement lurked in his dark eyes. Llewellyn realized Jolene was doing exactly as she had said and promised. She had also brought her Tri population with her to sit among the predominantly Don Tris and add to the cheers.

Ravin, Maca and Guardian of Rurhran, glanced to see who she could count on to nominate her, but Magda, Maca and Guardian of Medicine, was on her feet shouting, “LouElla, LouElla!” The promise of the Sisterhood that Ravin would be the next Guardian of the Realm forgotten.

The other stunned Council members voted for LouElla. LouElla appointed her brother, Lamar, Guardian of Don, as Counselor of the Realm, and her laddie, Llewellyn, Maca of Don, as Guardian of Flight. Llewellyn had no choice but to appoint Lavina temporary Guardian of Don. He could nay appoint his laddie, Lorenz, until the Claiming Rite had been approved and completed.

As soon as they were all reseated, LouElla began her speech. Her hair was graying, but her body was still a Warrior's body and her voice was firm.

“Guardian and Counselors of the Realm, I thank ye for this honor. As ye all ken, there tis much on the docket this evening. Our first duty tis to make Thalia safe for all again.

“Our first vote is to restore Thalia under our rules. Then we will reinstate Troyner as Maca of Troy. Nest the traitorous Sisters that fought to bring Don, Troy, Ishner, Brendon, and Ayran down will be sentenced. I suggest that Beauty and Belinda be tried separately and that the rest be adjudged by their own Guardians. Either way the labor force of Ayran will increase.

Once those issues are settled, Llewellyn, Maca of Don, will request the Claiming Rite for his Earth laddie, Lorenz, and then Llewellyn will be joined by Brenda, Maca of Betron, in a request to Walk the Circle. I'm told that once the reseating of Troyner as true Maca of Troy tis completed, he and Lady Marta of Medicine are making like plans. This tis truly a new beginning for Thalia.”

A few cheers and light clapping rippled through the crowd before the dull business of voting for the laws of Thalia, the names of the traitorous Sisters were read and sentenced to prison time and then as Abs for the rest of their lives. The seating of Troyner as Maca of Troy brought a few cheers.

The crowd leaned forward when Beauty and Belinda were brought before the Council of the Realm. Both had wires around their wrists. Beauty was six feet, five inches tall and heavily muscled as a Thalian Warrior. She held her head high and glared at all. Belinda was shorter, a softer round version of the House of Betron. She was bewildered and looking frantically for any ally, but saw nay in the Council. Even those from the House of Ishner or Rurhran refused to look at her and she knew they were doomed.

“Beauty, Lass of Betron and Belinda, Lass of Betron, ye are charged with rebellion and murderous use of force against fellow Thalians. Do either of ye have ought to say before we vote on your crimes and pronounce sentence?

“Ye may bring your lies against me, but Belinda was too devastated by her Mither's death to participate in our fight for freedom.” Beauty spat the words at them. “Ye are charging her because she tis my counselor, nay for what she did.”

LouElla eyed the couple below. Mayhap what Beauty said was true as Belinda had nay been with any of the Sisterhood troopers. She had been found in the quarters she shared with Beauty. LouElla turned to Brenda, Maca of Betron.

“Do ye find credence in her words?”

“Aye, all ken she tis nay a Warrior.”

“In that case, I suggest we turn her over to Brenda, Maca of Betron, or declare her an Ab.”

“How would her own House detain her?” The scornful voice came from Jolene.

“I hate all of ye. I will fight ye anyway that I can. Condemn me with my counselor; nay by myself. Ye, LouElla are the one that killed my mither Ye should be on trial.”

LouElla looked at her. “As ye wish. The confinement will nay be pleasant.”

“Do nay forget they both must be judged Abs. I suggest we do that ere we finish.” Jolene was impatient, and there was always the chance Beauty would be sent to her mines.

“That leaves the matter of securing Beauty, Lass of Betron and her counselor. Who kens such a place?”

“Why nay ask Troyner to confine them in that miserable hovel where they held him and my laddie?” Brenda's hatred of what the Sisters had done to her laddie was in her voice. “The House can take turns supplying troopers to guard her. My troopers could be sent as the first ones. Then the troopers or enforcers from the other Houses could rotate with them.”

For a moment, silence reigned among the Guardians of the Council and then Troyner spoke. “I intend to demolish that place.”

Llewellyn addressed the Council. “The cells at my Tower are capable of holding them till a place tis built or one refurbished to hold them. I suggest the holding place be on Don or Ayran. Arrangements for rotating guards from all the Houses would mean that all share in the expense.”

“Who would select such a place?” It was Raven, Maca of Rurhran.

“Why nay send her to the Justines.” Magda, Maca of Medicine spoke. It would be fitting since that tis where she made sure Llewellyn was sent as a youth.”

“That presumes the Justines would keep her. I doubt if they would oblige us even for a price.” Llewellyn's deep voice rumbled out and others nodded and began to offer suggestions.

LouElla banged her fist on the mat provided. “Enough. We'll vote on Llewellyn's suggestion of securing her on Don. Once all tis in place, we can make the decision as to who the guards are and if more containment cells should be built on each continent.”

The hope that this meeting would nay continue too long ended with Jolene's request to recognize Jarvis as Maca of Ayran and JayEll as Lad of Ayran. Once again the proceedings slowed.

LouElla smiled at Jolene, but she had to say what all were thinking. “Your lassie tis his elder. By tradition, she tis the Maca and her laddie, JayEll would be Laird.”

“She has renounced the title and her laddie.” Jolene snapped back.

“Nay before the Guardians of the Realm, therefore, I fear we need to postpone a decision till she stands before us and tis able to answer what we ask her.”

“I have provided for that.” Jolene smiled back. “She resides in Ishner's Ab section, but she tis here this evening. Call her and she will answer your questions.”

LouElla raised her eyebrows at Jolene before sitting back to call Jaylene.

“Jaylene, once kenned as Maca of Ayran, step forward.”

Jaylene stepped from the Ab section and walked to the center of the arena, and looked at the curving wall rather than up at the Council. Her stocky figure was hidden by the brown Handmaiden garment. She deliberately left her cowl over her head.

“Jaylene, your mither has stated that ye renounced your birthright and your laddie. Tis this true?”

A hard smile appeared on Jaylene's face as she lifted her head. “I am the Handmaiden to Martin, nay else. It tis my duty to care for the Abs and provide for them. I reject all other titles. As for the one I birthed, he refuses to listen to Martin. He wishes to be part of House. Ye profit from the hard toil of so many and give them nay. The Abs go hungry and need Medicine for their wounds, but ye let them die and suffer. Their lifespan tis reduced to but two hundred seventy-five years on the average by your cruelties. That one,” and she pointed to Jolene, “oppresses the Abs with a heavier hand than all Thalia uses. Ye are murderers all!

“As for the one I birthed, he kens all this and still he would be House. Ye are welcome to such a traitor.”

She did not bow, but turned and marched to Ishner's box to await her return ride to the Ab compound.

The majority of the Guardians and Counselors sat stone-faced. She was the traitor. It was the Abs who had refused Medical. Jaylene had nay even bowed to them. They looked at Jolene who was looking straight ahead, her mouth in a straight line. Silence had descended upon the onlookers.

LouElla said through tightened lips, “If there tis nay more discussion, we will commence the voting upon the requests of the Guardian of Ayran.”

The Council voted for recognizing Jarvis as Maca of Ayran and JayEll as Lad of Ayran. The rest of the voting and calls to order went on for another hour and LouElla began to wonder if being Guardian of the Realm was an honor.