Chapter 45
Therxian was wary. The banquet to celebrate the seasonal marker of the returning rains came upon him unexpectedly.
Such celebrations were large affairs among the Vehal—who lived above ground—but he had no memory of it being on occasion of note in the shinara.
Or if it was, then it was only celebrated among the females, and juvenile males were excluded.
He certainly did not doubt the possibility.
Regardless, it was not the banquet itself that made him wary, but that he was once again thrown into the great throne chamber with the females of the court, their eyes watching him in a way that seemed significantly more predatory than before.
Though it put him on edge, he had to privately admit that it was truly an accomplishment, especially given that they were by no means subtle with their interest before.
“The atmosphere in the palace these days is like being thrown into the desert to feed the fazthal.” Therxian looked over to discover that an elderly female, her scales bone-white with age, squinting at him with a wry smile.
“You must admit they look ready to start gnawing at any moment,” she added with a booming laugh that drew stares of disapproval from many of the matriarchs.
Therxian smiled, some of the tension he had been subconsciously holding easing from him. “It had not escaped my attention,” he admitted in a low voice. “But I do not think everyone appreciates your observation, Matriarch.”
She huffed with a clicking laugh. “I am too old to care about such nonsense. I never did nest any males, just a pair of daughters, but that must have been Shangla being merciful on me or toward them, because I do not tolerate this nonsense. I have been saying for revolutions that the way we parade the males and treat them like lesser members of our society is indecent. More than that, it is shameful.”
A reluctant chuckle escaped him. “Do not say that too loudly, or else you likely will be ostracized from the council,” he murmured.
“It would not be the first time,” she huffed.
“I stirred things up more than once and have been reprimanded more than I care to remember because of my opinions. I was the disgrace of the mother-line until they realized that I had so thoroughly corrupted all my age-mates among my relations and the younger nestlings that they did eventually cease punishing me. They have all passed into Shangla’s embrace now, naturally, but my entire mother-line now has quite the reputation among the noble families.
” She clicked with amusement. “Fortunately, I am not the only one around here with some common sense.”
“Matriarch—” he began.
“Do not ‘Matriarch’ me. First of all, I know the risks I take with having my views, but it has never changed a thing about me over the revolutions, and I am not about to change now. I also have the sense not to say them too loudly. Second, I turned over the Goyu mother-line to my daughter—much to the relief of many in my family who think I am a bit too outspoken for the safety of our line—so I no longer have that particular burden. I am Gorgona, but seeing how some of the females would have heart failure if you dared address me that way, you may call me Elder Goyu.”
“Elder Goyu,” he murmured respectfully, his gaze drifting among the crowd of females feasting together with their mates and offspring. “You mentioned that others share your opinion. Do you happen to know which mother-lines are in agreement with you?”
Her gaze brightened on him, her mouth curling. “I see that cunning. You remind me of my dear Waena in his youth.”
“Then you are a female who knows quality,” Therxian teased. “When did your esteemed mate pass into Shangla’s arms?”
A bark of laughter erupted from the elder, startling him. “Pass?” she chortled. “He is not passing anything except the dessert table. He is right over there, heading toward us. He needed to excuse himself. As you know, the inner waterways do not work so well when we get to our age.”
Therxian’s gaze drifted over to the long, ornate table where an elderly male, more gray than white with hints of faded blue still remaining in places, moved around it with only a passing glance before turning his attention their way.
The male did not tense, but he did not linger by the table either.
He came directly toward them with a fond smile for his mate.
“Cease trying to scare the male, Gorgona,” Waena rumbled as he joined them. He leaned in to brush his cheek against his mate’s before straightening to smile fondly down at her. “I can feel your eyes boring into me while I was passing all the delicacies. I should be rewarded later for my restraint.”
“Hush, old fool,” Elder Goyu laughed as the male’s gaze shifted toward Therxian and regarded him with a faded, but steady, glowing green gaze.
“Ah yes, Therxian. Zathexa nested so many males that I never could keep her brood straight, and you do have a look similar to the youngest Slengral, but I see the size, broadness, and raw strength of your father in you. Vaoon was labeled a Vaheliska for his size and the magnitude of the power he contained, but he also possessed formidable willpower and discipline. A good male, a great hunter, and an effective consort. His death was a great loss, but I have no doubt that you possess similar character.”
Therxian faltered, uncertain how to respond as emotion welled up like a strong current through him, bottomless and without gentle eddies. He swallowed sharply and inclined his head. “I shall endeavor to live up to expectations.”
Elder Goyu smiled and warmly patted his arm.
“We have faith in you.” She sighed and looked over at her mate.
“Of course, I did have such high hopes for Slengral. Recall that delightful family of his, Waena? That little human was a sweet and adorable thing. They were so devoted to each other.” Her gavo flattened.
“Naturally, the council ate them alive.” Her gaze shifted back to Therxian earnestly, the multitude of beaded strands over her chest clattering as she swayed.
“We were so relieved to hear that she survived.”
“The Vehal received her... and her mates,” he confirmed.
“Good, good,” Elder Goyu murmured. “But now you were asking about the noble families.”
Waena glanced at her curiously. “What about the noble families?”
“Therxian was asking me which of the mother-lines held similar positions in regard to our social system.”
Waena’s face darkened. “If you are inquiring about that, you are certain to find yourself swimming in difficult waters.”
Elder Goyu hummed quietly in agreement, her gaze drifting over the court.
“There are many who want to see the system abolished, but few would openly support it. Many are afraid—and it is why not one of them uttered a word of protest or outrage when Vaoon was murdered. The upper noble houses hold too much power and have hidden supporters who do their bidding.”
“And others will do nothing because reform of the laws means addressing the other stain upon the shinara,” Waena grimly added.
“Vaoon’s death was not just because of his desire to repeal the Male Subjection laws; it was because both Vaoon and Zathexia had announced to the court that they were looking at repealing the Uralial Regulation Codes. ”
His mate looked at him sharply. “Indeed. Vaoon directly told Matriarch Shel that their house’s ‘enforcement’ of the codes around the shinara was a violation against Shangla herself and all the tenets we hold dear.
And you see what they did to him. Made an example of him is what they did, and forced the queen to retreat if she did not wish her whole mother-line wiped out. ”
Elder Goyu looked meaningfully at Therxian before looking away to observe the court. The council had threatened him. His life. And that threat was carried forward to the rest of her brood. The message was clear: behave or lose everything.
“Of course, that was never spread beyond the council walls. Not even the guards enter when the council is gathered. Another story was spun that Yilada had him killed for heretical behavior to overthrow the rule of the matriarchs. But the noble households know the truth. And few will openly align themselves to this purpose, whether because of fear or their own prejudice.”
“Uralial have been considered aberrations for generations,” Elder Goyu murmured in agreement with her mate.
“Any Uralial who operates within the shinara does so under strict regulations.
Only females may enter, and they must agree to sterilization in order to carry out their business.
This benefits the shinara without mixing blood and preserving the ‘superior true blood-line of the Seshanamitesh in direct line from Shangla. It is ridiculous,” she scoffed.
“But many believe it devoutly,” her mate rejoined. “Even to the point where some of the upper houses take great pleasure in exterminating ‘impure violators’ who dare to encroach into the Seshanamitesh caverns.”
Therxian’s gaze slid among the females as the elders talked.
The younger females sat coiled together as they giggled and exchanged gossip, while others swayed in dance to the music upon their long tails as the adults reclined with their mates, tails entwined.
And in the center of the room, his mother reclined with the families of the four upper noble houses directly surrounding her, drinking and feasting together.
Zathexa gestured, and Jathella approached, her head lowering to hear her instructions.
The captain straightened and bowed, her gavo snapping.
Turning, she proceeded from her station at the pavilion to a small group a short distance away, where servers were bringing in more food and drink.
The entire atmosphere was one of festivity and gaiety.
It was difficult to believe that females who were smiling, laughing, and talking amongst themselves with lighthearted ease held such ugly beliefs, or would engage in brutal hunts.
Just from looking at them, he would not be able to pick out from where the threat may come.
“Which houses are you certain of?” he murmured.
“Well, there is Goyu of course. My daughter is there with her family,” she nodded to a far side of the room where a reddish female sat with a doting mate reclined quietly at her side.
“Her eldest daughter has fortunately not yet reached the age of her maiden trials, so we were able to avoid all this madness. Then houses Sheem, Zha, Neerek, and Sard,” she continued, gesturing to each family in turn.
“They are not of high station, but will rally to aid you with their guards and those who are loyal to their mother-line.”
“Thank you, Elder Goyu. I may call on you for more adv—”
“Poison! Someone fed us poison!” A shriek went up through the room, drawing his attention to the royal pavilion in the center.
Several females from the four noble houses lay thrashing.
Ferinia’s mouth gaped and her body spasmed as she dropped in front of the queen.
Zathexa drew back from them, but her hand crept to her neck, and she began to convulse and thrashed forward as foaming vomit spewed from her mouth onto the pavilion.
Therxian’s heart leaped into his throat and flung himself forward, desperate to reach his mother’s side.
Grief constricted his hearts as he blindly pushed through the surge.
“Mother!” His shout was lost among the cries of panic, but Jathella heard him. Her head turned his way briefly as she fought her way toward the pavilion.
“Move,” Jathella shouted as she knocked away a female who attempted to fearfully cling to her.
Her jaw gritted with determination, she pushed her way through the panicked females recoiling away from those who had fallen.
Her head twisted to her sister fighting her way from her post at the other side of the royal pavilion.
“Kitanara, push them back away from the high queen.”
The other female nodded, and Buosoa dropped from above, her wings fanning wide as she herded several females out of the way, giving Jathella and Therxian the opening they needed to finally converge to the high queen’s side.
Zathexa thrashed, her mouth gaping as her eyes rolled wildly as she looked from him to Jathella, and back again. Her spine arched violently, and a strangled sound escaped before she dropped to the ground, unconscious. “Vaoon,” she whispered.
Dropping to his mother’s side, he gathered her into his arms and lifted her.
The other noble houses were not faring well.
It was almost impossible for them to move their fallen when the males were smaller than most juvenile females before their maiden period.
They tugged at them helplessly, but Therxian did not spare them more than a glance as he hurried away from the throne chamber, Jathella barking orders at his side as Buosoa and Kitanara cleared the way ahead of them.
“Hold on, Mother. It is not time for you to meet your Vaoon yet. Not for many more revolutions. There is still much to do,” he rasped as he carried her away to safety.