Chapter Fifty Five – Absolution
They returned hand in hand to the small parlour seemingly crowded yet containing only eight people. It was silent and every face turned to them. Still Shuna's tea had not been drunk, Pazu gained the strong impression that no-one had spoken or moved in the ten minutes they had been outside.
"We have decided."
"My Lady, this is a very important decision, if you decide to give up your stone you cannot turn back, the decision is not reversible."
"I understand. It will avert war, Gondoa can remain at peace, it will allow us to be together. We have already decided that this is what we both want."
"And you understand what this will mean for your status?"
"It will be exactly what I want it to be. That of a wife."
Councillor Auyhonia smiled at her again. What it had once been like to be young. She had memories of that too, a long time ago. She at least understood the young woman's decision for those reasons. Youth and love were great motivators, among the strongest and best.
"Very well. We shall proceed in the morning."
"Can we not do it now?"
"Now? Tonight?"
"We are ready, both of us."
"Well, let me see. Councillors? What say you?"
"We are seven," one of the men said, "and represent at least three parishes, the minimum required for autonomy in civil decisions."(1)
"Have we the necessary protocols?"
"In my head, of course," muttered Kamaesa, "like all of them."
"Any who dissent?" asked Auyhonia
Sheeta looked around, the sweep of her gaze was met by silence.
"Let us proceed. My Lady, the ceremony of absolution can be done here, whether it be performed on public or private ground is not important. Then of course the Engine must be visited and the necessary words spoken there. After that the ceremony of transfer – Daughter stone to staff… and, hm, royalty to commoner."
"How long will it take?"
"The ceremonies themselves will take only thirty minutes but of course you have to go to the cavern, Lady, that journey and back will take all night."
"I go?"
"Of course. Who did you think would go?"
"I. Uhm… Well, I think I thought one or more of you would."
Auyhonia smiled kindly at her.
"Do we look like cave climbers to you, Lady? No, this is as much a personal journey as a physical walk. It has symbols beyond the obvious, Lady. You must go. You must touch the mother. Your hand and your heart must touch her. It is a communion and putting her to sleep will not be easy. When there you may even change your mind, it has happened. Any number may go with you but only persons actually holding the Daughter stone can enter the Engine chamber. The temperature down there is thousands of degrees, none who are not protected by a stone can approach."
really? Thought Pazu, it didn't seem that hot to me. I must have been shielded from the heat
"I know the way. I'll go with you," he said.
"Yau-taemo, Pazu. Shuna? Would you please come."
"I would be honoured, Lady. However, your guests here – someone should stay to be host in your absence."
Ever the practical man, Sheeta consented for him to stay and organize the sleeping and meal arrangements for the councillors. It would most likely be a very long night for them.
"I wish to go. At least to the mountain shore. If I may."
"Councillor Kamaesa? Yes, of course, as you wish."
Sheeta frowned. Why?
"Shall we begin?" Auyhonia spoke, "Do you wish to preside, Bellringer?"
Kamaesa waved a hand dismissively.
"Do I need to prepare at all? Formal clothes?"
Auyhonia looked at Sheeta.
"Prepare only your heart, Lady, for tonight it will be tested. Once this final journey begins, it ends at one destination only. Remember that. You will be afraid, I have stood in an Engine chamber once only and I have no desire to do so again. Be strong, strength is all you need. You also must be certain, absolutely know inside you that this is right. Once done, it is done, there will never again be royalty in Gondoa, that ending is wholly your decision. Over the centuries this act has been performed tens of thousands of times, hundreds of thousands. This will be the last, the last Engine, the last Daughter, the last Queen, after this it will be over. I need to make sure you understand this."
For a few moments Sheeta stood, eyes closed. She considered again the old woman's words. There was no choice, this would bring peace and it would bring him to her. She was also suddenly aware that, this being the last stone, this would bring an end to the attempts by Muska's people to use it for their own purposes. She felt relief at that. She opened her eyes and nodded. She realized she had known this within the first few seconds of her being told it half an hour ago, she had known it when she felt that first tiny spark of hope inside her. She still wore her outdoor clothes: the thick animal pelt coat, a Gondoan shirt and this day, riding britches in the southern style, and a knitted woolen overshirt. Under his coat Pazu wore a Gondoan shirt, leather riding skirt and leg wrappings. Both were still mud spattered from the days ride. Sheeta thought it would be a long day yet although she was not the least bit tired.
Auyhonia prepared the room. The six other councillors sat in a crescent facing the hearth, two of them with parchment and pens to transcribe the words that would be spoken. Auyhonia stood to one side, and Sheeta before the crescent, her back to the hearth, a cushion before her. Pazu and Shuna remained by the kitchen door, merely spares. For a time Auyhonia and Kamaesa whispered together. Then they were ready. The red-haired woman spoke in Oistrakh-Auera.
"Be it known this day forty one of Rhayadhirrin, in the Year of Blessing Five Thousand Eight Hundred and Seven, at this place of Bruaendell, parish of Suethelmae county of Duhum, this Land of Plenty Gondoa, that we are gathered here to commit to eternal sleep Engine Crystal number Two Seven Six Eight One One Laputa and to accept into secondary life Daughter Crystal number Two Seven Six Eight One Two Laputa, witness this our hand…"
The Councillor recited the names of those present, first the Queen, then the Councillors and finally the names of two commoners.
"Be it known we are seven Councillors of the Gathering recognized in law to preside at civil ceremony of Absolution type Nine Six.
"The carrier of the Daughter Crystal will answer the following questions. You are Qu-elle Lucita Toelle Ur Laputa, Queen of Gondoa?"
"I am."
"You are the legal and rightful carrier of Daughter Crystal number Two Seven Six Eight One Two Laputa?"
"Yes, I am."
Her coat was unbuttoned, Sheeta reached into the neck of her shirt and pulled out the stone on its old worn leather cord. As always, it was warm. As always a faint blue radiance played inside it. It rested outside her clothing.
come out, I want you to hear this
was her thought. In a small space around the stone, her shirt turned blue.
"You are the last of the royal line of Laputa? The last of the four royal houses of the Flying Kingdoms?"
"I am."
"Today your intention is to proceed into Engine Chamber Suethelmae and draw out words and put to eternal rest Engine Crystal number Two Seven Six Eight One One Laputa. Is that correct?"
"It is."
"You have been made fully aware of the consequences of this act? For your royal line?"
"Yes."
"It will end."
"I understand."
"You will become of common blood."
"That is what I want," she turned her head and looked at Pazu. He merely looked serious.
"Daughter Crystal number Two Seven Six Eight One Two Laputa will no longer bear primary life."
"I understand."
"Said Daughter Crystal will be given up into secondary life within the Gathering Staff of Councillor Kamaesa o-Bruaendell."
"Yes."
"You rescind all title and legal right to bear said Daughter Crystal, or to draw from her any spell?"
"I do."
"Councillor Kamaesa, do you recognize your right to possession of said Daughter Crystal?"
"I do," answered the ancient lady.
"And do you solemnly promise and undertake to use said Daughter Crystal's secondary life in the service of your community, your parish, your county and your nation?"
"I do."
"And for no other purpose?"
"I do."
Auyhonia took a step forward, as did Kamaesa.
"Qu-elle Lucita Toelle Ur Laputa, Queen of Gondoa, please kneel."
Without using her hands, Sheeta descended to a kneeling posture on the cushion, her thighs remained vertical, she knelt up.
"Please lift the stone away from your body by its supporting cord."
She did so, the stone hung blue in the air. Auyhonia and Kamaesa lowered their staffs so the steel round heads were at the height of Sheeta's shoulders, a little above the stone and to either side of it.
"By these words do we absolve you of your act of committing unto sleep said Engine Crystal. May your heart be strong and may she rest in peace. Uhmtuino Hyehtimanaeh Usur."
A spell Sheeta didn't know. A flicker of red smoke and light came out of the end of Auyhonia's staff. It coiled sleepily, lazily in the air and then extending into a tongue it languidly moved to Sheeta's stone, as though very weak and timid. It took a few seconds to close the short gap between it and the blue crystal. Just before it reached her stone, something startling happened. A blue tendril, much like the snakes of fire that had issued out the night Surun had been here, shot out of Sheeta's stone so fast, no-one saw it move. In a flash it struck the red tongue and the two colours whirled together in a spinning orb. This ball of mixed coloured light began to revolve faster and faster, burning brighter. Sheeta had to close her eyes it was so dazzling. Behind her closed eyelids she felt bright white light and warmth and then the light faded.
She opened her eyes and a purple smoking globe of light a few inches across hung in the space between her stone and Auyhonia's staff. This purple light began to move. It was a beautiful colour, rich and deep and glittering. Trailing both blue and red tendrils behind it, it rose and circled her head, once, twice, three times it floated around her and then hovered on the other side, between the stone and Kamaesa's staff. As it circled her Sheeta felt a strange tingling sensation, as though she had pins and needles all through her upper body. It was quite unpleasant. Then, with a second startlingly fast movement, it shot towards the staff and burst against it. The shiny steel head glittered for a moment and became dull. The light faded.
"The receptacle for the secondary life of said Daughter Crystal is ready."
To Sheeta, Auyhonia said, "Arise, bow your head."
Her queen complied. Both Councillors laid the heads of their staffs on her shoulders.
"Go forth from this place. May strength and resolve and wisdom beyond your years go with you. May Utomu and Konuguen(2) guide you. Go with the spirit. My Lady, go. Do your last duty."
The staffs were raised and the women stepped back. Kamaesa put a hand on her shoulder.
"Come now, let us go. Pazu, please ready a boat."
"Shuna," said Pazu, "I leave you in charge, help yourself to the larder and the ale store, use whatever you wish. I imagine the Councillors will be hungry. Bedding is in short supply but there are some straw mattresses in the equipment shed. It's all we have."
"Don't worry Pazu. I can get more from my farm. And as to needing a meal, I am not so sure. I think this will be quite a strange night. And Pazu," the younger man had turned to go, "be careful. And Utomu be with you."
He gave a small bow.
"Yau-taemo Shuna."
Crossing the lake was the strangest journey Sheeta had ever made. It was a cool night, it was still late winter after all, and there was a sharp breeze, and the water was choppy and running before the wind. It slapped against the little boat and made it shiver. The lake was as black as ink, no moons had risen. There was little cloud and some starlight but there came a point, in the middle of the lake when the far shore was not yet visible and she glanced over her shoulder to find the village shore had also receded into the dark. They seemed to be alone on a wide sea, miles from shore, blackness above and black below. Behind them they had come from nothing and ahead, were going into nothing.
She sat in the stern of the boat, Kamaesa in the bow. Sheeta didn't know why the old woman had come, perhaps she would say prayers, perhaps she just wanted to be nearby. Looking up at the stars out here in the perfect dark she could see thousands and thousands of them. She imagined up there, somewhere, Laputa still flying those silent empty skies. Was it here now, above her, at night with the birds and animals sleeping or was it on the other side of the world where it was day and the strange animals that inhabited it played in the pools and the ruined rooms? She imagined the last robot, picking flowers. When flowers came with the spring she would pick them, she would fill every room of the farmhouse with their beautiful colours and scents. She would open the windows and let the fresh air in, she would try and make her house like Laputa, full of life and air and colour. She wanted that future.
It was a slow climb up the other shore to the cliff. Councillor Kamaesa needed to rest frequently but eventually they reached the black maw of the cave.
"What I can do for you, I can do from here," Kamaesa said, "Pazu, would you build me a small fire please?"
He did so, gathering what he thought would be enough wood for the night. There was a lot of lightweight pinewood here and plenty had begun to dry out now. The Councillor sat on the edge of a flat slab of stone that had, in times past, fallen from the cliff face.
"I will stay here and pray. But before you go," she reached out a leathery hand and placed it in turn on each of their foreheads, and said this, "Utomu, be beside this traveler, guide their steps, hold their hand that they may they not stumble. Bring them home safe and wiser. If the journey should be difficult then by these tests teach them. Maehome."
"Councillor, we won't need our coats, keep them with you. If it is a cold night, make use of them."
"Yau-taemo Pazu, now, be off with you."
"But Councillor," Sheeta spoke, "what is the spell I need to know? Councillor Auyhonia didn't tell me."
Kamaesa sat down, open hands toward the fire.
"My Lady, there is no such thing."
"What do you mean? There must be."
"No. There is no spell common to this task, each Engine is different, each responds to different words. The Councillor said it would not be easy, and this is the other reason why the carrier of the Daughter Stone alone must do this. The words you speak will be the spell, your mind and heart will make the magic. Just be calm, be strong and be pure. Be sincere. Talk to her, she will listen. She will understand. She may have different desires and will talk to you but you know her already, through her daughter. In you there is the magic. And the words also are in you, you merely have to find them and use them, you alone can do this."
Sheeta was disturbed by this and thrown a little off balance. She felt a warm hand on her arm.
"Remember being chased by Dola's gang on the Ravine railway?"
She turned to him, "Yes," she replied
"Remember jumping like a mad girl off a flaming tower, knowing I would catch you?"
"Pazu, I do."
"And do you remember attacking one of Muska's men. And resisting his demands?"
"I do. I did that."
"He shot at you, several times."
"He did."
"And still you went on. You never gave up."
"Yes. I did all that."
"When we were on the train and were chased and shot at. You ran like the wind, such speed. You had such grace."
"I did?"
"Hm. And in that barn, the day it rained. You held out your hand to me and led me around that corner, along a path I'd never trodden. You did that."
"Hm. That was easy though," she smiled.
"You did. Don't be afraid. You can do this too. This is just a walk and a talk. And I'm with you. Just you and me, like before. Like always."
"Yes," she took in a deep breath, "Let's go."
Pazu had some bread, his knife, his lamp and a large skin of water. He had left the bailing twine behind. He remembered the route, once down a cavern or a mine, he had good recollection underground. They set off.
At the cave mouth Kamaesa sat looking into the fire. From under her robe she drew out a leather pouch and from it sprinkled some incense into the flames. The fire sputtered and there was a blue-green light and a sweet aroma. Holding her staff before her and bending until her forehead touched the round steel end she began to pray, praying like she had never prayed before.
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19 - 21 April 2007
(1) Each village has one Councillor, each settlement of over 1,000 souls (considered to be a town) has three Councillors. The capital, Penaerth, has seven. The 'three parishes' rule is in place to prevent seven Councillors from getting together from one or two places and settling civil cases by means of clique, a wider gathering of Councillors being necessary makes corruption and the serving of self-interests less likely.
(2) Konuguen is a spirit I have not yet mentioned. While Lucita is birth and growth and life and light and Maerth-dhu is age and disease and death and darkness, Konuguen is the king of the spirit world. If Lucita is the mother, he is the father. He is not her equal though, not her husband. He is more an arbitrator, his presence helps keep the eternal struggle between Lucita and Maerth-dhu in balance. Calling for his guidance is a last resort. That Auyhonia does so would probably scare Sheeta more than anything else, it tells her this is going to be difficult.
Please review. I'd like to hear from the many people reading this who have not yet reviewed the story. You don't have to review this chapter necessarily, some general feedback would do.
For author notes about Chapter Fifty Five, please see my forum (click on my pen name)