Thalia - The New Generation

Chapter 2: The Maca's Home

Chapter 2: The Maca's HomeDaniel saw his counselor to be, JoAnne, Lass of Ayran, waving at him as he landed his fliv on the padport. Her red cape swirled around her. The ceremony uniting them was next week and she still wore the red of Ayran. He could see that Iolan, the Director of Construction, was walking toward her, the woman dressed in the dull black of the Sisterhood.

He hurried over to where they stood. He had noticed Iolan had sense enough to bow to the Lass of Ayran. Iolan turned to him, and her lips were stretched as though trying to smile.

“I am Maca!” Daniel roared. His chest and body seemed to expand.

Iolan's mouth dropped, and she tried looking right then left. There was nay escape or she would lose home and fliv, according to the Director of Iconda. She stepped forward to lay her head on his shoulder and realized she was almost a foot too short. To her horror, she felt his hands on her rib cage, and she was swung upward. The heat in his hands caused a sharp intake of breath as she performed the ancient ritual of first her head on one shoulder, then the next. She realized that she was trembling. She had just met a powerful Maca, her Maca. How could this be? Was the teaching of the Sisterhood all lies? Had she wasted her life and deeply hurt her own parents? She continued to shake as Daniel set her down. Dear Gar, if his beloved were not here, she would tear off her clothes if he demanded it or even hinted at it.

“My Maca,” she murmured and bowed. She looked up into the set face and hard, light-brown eyes that seemed to soften at her discomfort. Iolan was not fooled. This was Daniel, the StarPath finder and Warrior. She kenned she was about to agree to every demand he or JoAnne would make.

Daniel looked at JoAnne and smiled. They stepped together and hugged. “Have ye seen the inside?” he asked.

“Aye, and ye are correct. The bedrooms are hideous.” She turned to Iolan. “The main bedrooms are to be repainted in the medium teal as I wish to hang deep teal curtains as befits the Maca of Ishner. One bedroom will be red with royal blue drapery for any visitor from the House of Ayran or the House of Don.”

She did nay wait for an answer, but turned back to Daniel. “Who do I consult for the drapery?” A blank look came over Daniel's face. The Director of his Lad of Don home took care of such matters, and his face cleared.

“I will need to check and see who the Director of the Maca's Home tis. Was there nay to greet ye?”

“If there tis anyone in there, they are well hidden.” Her voice was sharp. “Tis totally strange. I need a list of other qualified Directors, or I shall bring my own.” Joanne was used to running Ayran since her mither was Guardian of the Realm and her brither, Jarvis, Maca of Ayran, was often away at the Warriors Academy or flying into space. Her elder, JayEll, Lad of Ayran, was too busy being the Counselor of the Realm or a Martin for any real assistance.

Iolan cleared her throat. “I believe the Director was detained by the Troopers. She was in Issac during the riots and joined a last-ditch stand at the waterfront.”

They were both looking at her. “I thought the rioters were all from Port Issac.” Daniel's statement was part question. “If nay, why was there nay more elites from the other cities?”

Iolan swallowed and licked at her lips. “Beauty was becoming too much of a liability. Ye canna run around murdering Thalians for nay reason. In truth, Maca, many of us kenned that Ilyan was nay a true Maca.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Many felt it was nay worth risking our lives for her or her position. Ishmalisa had changed too. All she cared about was Ilyan. It was a fool's errand for the Troopers of the Sisterhood to capture Ishmalisa and her counselor.” The last burst out, and Iolan realized she had resented the way the Sisterhood had progressed over the last fifty years.

Daniel had a tight smile on his lips, nodded, and turned to JoAnne. “Did ye wish to select the Director and Keeper, or do ye wish me to arrange for them?”

JoAnne shrugged. She was irritated at the absent help. “Mayhap ye best do so. If ye do nay have them within three days, I'll bring in someone from Ayran.”

Iolan winced. That meant if she did nay have this place and the Tower under her supervision, they would be bringing in workers from Ayran and Don. “If I could view what needs to be done, I can then bring in a crew. Will the credits be available?”

Daniel led the way inside. “I will pay for the work we require here from my Don credits, but the credits for the Tower will come from Ishner.”

* * *

Daniel looked at the assembled group. The meeting with Iolan had concluded in time for him and JoAnne to have caterers bring a lunch to the Maca's home ere she returned to Ayran. He had put off meeting with Issing, Lass of Ishner, till she finished going over the accounts. He assumed her report would be bad. He and Ishmael had met in the foyer of the Tower and rode the lift to the second floor where the meeting rooms were located.

Ilvina, Director of Iconda, stood as he entered, and she bowed. “Welcome, Maca.” She kenned the power he had and was nay about to dispute or deny him. Let the others be fools. She heard a couple of gasps from the seated Directors and Keepers.

“Thank ye, Ilvina,” Daniel replied. “Ye all ken why this meeting was called. As ye probably ken, the Director of Port Issac and the Keeper were arrested by Thalian Troopers during the riots. They have been sentenced to the asteroid mines. This tis Ivan, the new Director of Port Issac.”

He pointed to the man standing by the window. The man bowed and walked to the chair next to Ilvina's Keeper.

“Some of ye may remember him as he was Director ere the Sisterhood replaced him. Like ye, he has come prepared to list what needs to be done. He will select his Keeper.”

Daniel noted that the faces of some of the women became flushed while others looked puzzled. How had someone from Don found anyone connected to the House of Ishner and its former Directors?

“All of ye must ken Itillie, Director of Isling and her Keeper, Iltawnia.” He didn't bother mentioning that Iltwania was also her lassie. He nodded at the two at the end of the table and proceeded. “If ye dinna ken the names of the Directors and Keepers of the Centers, that tis fine. We need to proceed or we shall nay finish.”

“Do ye, Itillie, have anything to add to the list that Ilvina has given to all?”

Itillie stood. “We need that prohibition order rescinded,” she stated.

Daniel looked blank. “Uh, what prohibition order?”

“The one imposed on us when Beauty and Belinda were hiding in the Isomatic Mountains. That means nay come for the hiking and picnicking now that spring tis almost here, and will nay be able to come for the skiing when there tis snow. Even the personnel for the camps are f*******n. We need the people that can afford to visit us.”

Daniel looked at Ishmael. “Place that on the menu for tonight's cast.” He looked at Itillie, and his fingers moved over the circles on the desk in front of him. “The ban tis removed. Anything else?”

Itillie took a deep breath. “Thank ye, Maca, and, aye, I wish to bring my counselor back as the Keeper of Isling. He kens certain areas far better than I. If he tis there, our lassie can finish her education.”

Daniel frowned. “I thought it was already clear that ye had the right to replace the people at working with ye. Ye can also make recommendations for those at the Centers.”

“How were we to believe ye when we dinna even ken ye? We have heard so many rumors. Before, rules are made and then changed the next day. If what ye say tis true, ye must ken that the food delivered to our Center tis nay adequate!” Itillie voice kept getting louder. “They seemed to think because we did nay have people enjoying the mountains, we should eat less.”

Daniel looked at Ishmael. “How or where do I check the food poundage per population?”

Ishmael was blinking, and then his face cleared. “Issing, I shall ask her.” He pushed the com circle in front of him.

Issing's dark hair and eyes appeared on his screen and the far screen. He relayed the Maca's message. “Aye, a moment please.” Within seconds, she was back, and her contralto voice filled the room. “The people in Isling are receiving five pounds of supplies less per week than those in the other two cities. Should I increase it?”

“Aye,” Daniel snapped and them sat back. “Tis that sufficient for now?”

Itillie nodded. “Thank ye, Maca.” Her voice was almost a whisper.

Daniel took a deep breath. “Now, those of ye in the Centers, do ye have yere lists ready, and if so, why have ye nay submitted them to my office?”

All of the fifteen people shifted in their seats. Ileana, Director of Iconda's First Center, spoke. “My Maca, we need Tri clothes in the color of Ishner. Nay of our customers like the dull black of the Sisterhood, which tis all that was issued to us. We also need toys for the wee ones, and being allowed to have bakery items again would be a dream come true.”

Her counselor and Keeper of the First Center was on her feet screaming over her words. “How dare ye! What we have tis what tis necessary. Why have ye called that buffoon Maca?”

Daniel's blunt index finger went out, and he pushed a circle. “Issing, cancel Ilflora's right to a lift or a fliv, and the right to unlock or lock the First Center of Iconda.” He heard Ilflora's rage-filled words.

“Ye canna do that.”

“I just did. Ye are to leave now. If ye dinna leave, ye will be tossed out.”

“No!” She started towards him with her fists curled and then realized that Daniel towered over her as he stood.

“I am also rescinding yere right to the locks of the home where ye live. Yere counselor will have to tend to permitting ye in or out.”

Ilflora looked at him in disbelief and whirled to Ileana, her counselor. “Why are ye still sitting there? Are ye nay coming with me?”

Ileana swallowed. “I intend to run the First Center as it should be run.” She looked at Daniel. “My parents were Director and Keeper there till the Sisterhood evicted them. Now they are too old, but my sister should be my Keeper. She too worked there till the Sisterhood insisted I hire my counselor.”

Ilflora gasped.

A tight smile crossed Daniel's face as he asked, “And are yere parents still available to advise others?”

“Aye, Maca, as I intend to ask both how things could be better arranged.”

Daniel looked at Ilflora. “Do I call the Enforcers or throw ye out myself?”

Ilflora drew in her breath and stalked out. She was shaking with anger. She would need to use their boat to see Ilarmina, Director of Fisheries, but the boat was in Port Issac. She would need to wait for Ileana.

Those in the room had watched Ilflora leave and turned their attention back to the Maca as he took his seat. “Since I am nay hearing anything from ye, I will appoint Iandy as Director of Port Issac's First Center, and his counselor Ilmyra as the Keeper there.” He turned to Ivan. “Do ye have any suggestions for the Third Center that was closed?”

“I will, Maca, but first I must see who tis still alive or in Port Issac.” He cleared his throat before speaking again. “If ye will pardon me for asking, has Captain Ishmael told ye about the plating for repairs?”

Daniel eyed the man. “Ye dinna have to ask for pardon when asking a question and what plating? Ishmael, did ye nay say there was nay enough to repair your troller?”

“So I was told, Daniel, er, Maca.” Both Daniel and Ishmael were staring at Ivan.

“Where tis the plating located and who else kens where it tis?” Daniel asked.

“Any that listen to street rumors in Port Issac ken where the plating tis. It tis in the warehouse the Sisters were trying to empty and transfer everything from there to Captain Issaric's troller the night of the riots. I believe ye have reclaimed that plating from the troller.”

“Aye,” Ishmael responded. “Ikea reported that we were short but two sheets for a complete repair. I instructed him to find the welders and fitters and begin the process.” Inside, Ivan winced. Mayhap he should have waited for the Maca's approval.

“Why nay from the warehouse?” Daniel's voice was mild.

“We were nay sure the Sisters guarding it would let us remove any,” Ivan answered.

Daniel stood. “How many guard it?”

“Three or four, Maca. The other person tis just the attendant who accepts or signs for release. She tis younger and I dinna believe armed.” Ivan took great pleasure in reporting the Sisterhood's behavior. He wanted them gone.

“I take it the others are armed, tis that correct?”

“I would be surprised if they were nay armed,” Ishmael answered. “It tis why I spent most of my nights on my troller or in Medicine with Melanie and our wee ones.”

Daniel reached down and touched a circle. “Issing, dinna let any com calls go out of here.” He turned to the group staring at him.

He stood as this situation required a Warrior. He snapped out his orders. “Ye are to remain here till I give the clear signal. Ye may use the gym if ye wish. Ishmael, come with me.” He turned, and his wide body went swaying out of the room with Ishmael following.