Chapter 23
“The trick to fighting with this style, maybe any kind of style, is not being emotional,” Shen was explaining to Arne. They held stick swords and there were opponents, waiting for them. “I am not picking on you. It is something I have yet to master. I get angry, I stop thinking. I get hurt, I stop thinking. It’s why I prefer magic or tech to close combat. You, Sir, get excited. The tell is you start relying on strength, not technique.” Shen tapped the floor with his stick. “Again, use your peripheral vision. Eyes on the destination point.”
They fought. Scoring hits on their opponents caused them harm, slowing them, or killing them- each to their own injury. In reality, no one was hurt; at the end of the match, they were reset. If Arne or Shen were hit, their suits restricted their movements. It was a blending of dance, Tai Chi, Wu Wei, and Jeet Kun Do. They made it across the hall. Arne was pleased and turned to Shen who was still frozen in the final pose, waiting for the next attack. Arne didn’t see that the floor had already been reset. Arne was tackled. Shen fought his way back to other side of the floor. He made their opponents go away. He waited for Arne.
“Just because you won, doesn’t mean you won,” Shen said. He made his sword go away. Ghost entered, peered respectfully from the corner. Shen motioned to them and they came out to the floor in ballroom style dresses and began dance to music that wasn’t audible to most people.
Arne and Shen could hear it. Arne was staring.
“You’ll get used to it,” Shen said.
“I don’t think I will,” Arne said.
“Put your sword back in the stone and renounce the tech,” Shen said.
“No,” Arne said. “How does the tech enable true sight?”
“Seeing ghosts?” Shen asked. “You don’t need the tech to see them. Most people don’t see them because… It’s complicated.”
“I am listening,” Arne said.
“Part of it is brain frequency. They operate at a certain level of awareness that most people don’t reach. In fact, I would say it is more heart sight than brain sight- you need heart and brain coherence. The witches see them. Those able to speak to trees see them. People who meditate frequently are likely to be able to tap into this range. Also, there is the problem of personality. Some personalities can’t see them because their personality doesn’t allow for it. Augmenting or changing a personality is likely the hardest thing one can do,” Shen said.
TL arrived and curtseyed. “Sorry to bother you, my Lord. But we have guests.”
Shen glared at her. “Call me that again…”
“And you’ll punish me?” TL said, amused. “Do you even have enough energy left after sparring with Arne and your wives?”
He turned to head towards the gate. Arne was amused, but followed.
“Where are you going?” TL asked.
“The gate…”
“The guest are at the drawbridge,” TL said.
“Really?” Shen asked. “Bring them to the Dome Room. Have them wait for me there.”
TL bowed and backed away before turning and hustling away. Shen watched her leave, more in thought than seeing, but his eyes tracked her exaggerated movement. She was flirting with him. He wonder how women always held such power over men.
“Who comes to the drawbridge but Irks?” Arne asked.
“My sister is here,” Shen said.
“You have a sister?” Arne asked.
“By birth, not genetically related,” Shen said.
“I am going to pretend like I understand you,” Arne said. “Do you want company?”
Arne looked to him. “Yes. You’re in charge in here.”
“No, you’re in charge here. I inherit this only when you’re dead,” Arne said. “And on my word, you’re not dying today, brother.”
Shen frowned into the distance. “Loxy, I would like Jerica to be present.” He waited for the private response and his frowned deepened when he received it. “You’re right. All the wives need to be present.” He closed his eyes and inner sight and waited for the spell of anxiety to pass.
“Oh, one of those kind of parties?” Arne asked.
The dome was the initial ‘airlock’ that allowed passage into the mountain from outside. Its construction was meant to allow the ritual of the circle he had experienced growing up in Midelay- modified in that a fire pit was in the center of the circle, under a roof. The fire in the circle was ingeniously employed, a tactic of keeping everyone on the circle; no one could be full center. The flames were low, coming up over glass rocks- multi faceted diamonds, and fueled by his the castle’s methane trap. His guest were warmly dressed, boots and coats of rabbits. Staying in this room would likely result in coats and capes needing to come off.
Candace was there, with staff- and foremost ‘present.’ She was raised to full priestess; the rank was earned, not privileged. Éliane and Talatu were with her. They held the signs of being Masters of the Light. With them were two other females, in their forties, and several men; the men held back to the periphery. One of the older women took to the circle next to Candace. Éliane and Talatu stood behind and to the right and left of Candace, staffs planted firmly on the floor.
Shen took the space opposite of Candace; they were 12 and 6 on a clock face, and his friends and family filled in the circle on his side. TL stood to his right and behind him. Jerica stood to his right on the circle, holding an infant. She handed it to him and he accepted, giving baby attention before his guests. There were four other women on the circle. Three were pregnant; one held a new born.
“Welcome to my light, Candace. I see you. If I am not mistaken, I also see Éliane, a Talatu. You all seem well. A little taller since I saw you last, a little weathered. This season has been hard. May I offer you food and drink before we continue?”
“No, thank you,” Candace said.
“I am not familiar with the rest of your company,” Shen said.
“You can’t own property,” the older woman to Candace’s right said, dispensing with, or at least interrupting civil discourse. “You can’t be the holder of the Light.” Shen bowed to her.
“I will not impede your departure from this shared light,” Shen said. “The egress is behind you.”
She flushed with anger. She opened her mouth to speak, but Shen interrupted her. “With all due respect, stranger, you are no longer in Midelay. Your customs don’t apply here. I keep this circle and this light as a tribute to your ways,” Shen said. “I may have sparked this light, but it no longer mine alone. It is here now, fleeting as the days, and owned by all. Welcome to Shangri-La…”
“You can’t own property or hold a Light. You have defied our ways from birth. You were exiled and yet you linger in a place you’re not welcome and now you allow foreigners to enter our sacred lands?! You are a traitor…”
“Your people exiled me. I survived solitude. I have prospered in solitude. I get to make the rules here,” Shen said. “As to foreigners, these are my friends. My wives. My family. That makes them your family, Candace.”
“So, you are not queer after all,” Éliane said.
Shen’s company were amused. Shen introduce them. He started with the baby.
“Ketill Shenson.”
“What kind of name is that for baby?” Candace asked.
“The committee assures me it is a great name,” Shen said. “Did you know there are rules for naming babies? It’s a group thing, not a parent thing. Children are not the property of the parents, but the community they are a part of. It’s almost as complicated as the naming of cats.”
“You have not changed,” Candace said. “You speak strangely.”
“Oh, you didn’t know that cats have three names?” Shen asked. He felt Loxy touch his shoulder to speed him along. “Never mind. Let me introduce you to the lovely lady on my right.”
Jerica, first wife. Master of the Light and holder of the keystones. To her right was Arne and his wife Aslog. To Shen’s left was 2nd wife Ásdís, holding the new born, by the name of Snælaug. Þuríður was also a Sister of the Light, specializing in herbs and medicines. Ciara had no titles, but her grandfather was an elder; she was adapt at music and poetry. Ashly was from the dragon Perch of Tilting, and a trained rider. Ásdís was the shortest one present at five foot ten. Orton and Erico stood back from the circle. Leaning against either side of the door. “You defile yourself with giants,” the woman said.
“I assure you, my friends are not giants,” Shen said.
“I will be the judge…”
“Excuse me,” Shen said, not wanting to argue with her. “Do you have a name?”
“Her name is Tulia,” Candace said. “She is a seer. She was worried by the growing presence here.”
“We’re not competing for resources,” Shen said. “This side of Shangri-La is nested in a pocket made available by the absence of Sleeper Trees. The only beings here that have right away are the Irks and the fire snakes. And you only see the fire snakes when they fall from the forest tops.”
“The elders see this as an invasion of our lands. The Great Ridge falls under the domain of Sinter. They are not welcome. You are not welcome,” Tulia said.
“I was apprised of my welcome status a long time ago,” Shen said. “Lanore gave birth to me. At the least, that makes me citizen of the realm.”
“You were shown kindness by being exiled…”
“No I wasn’t. No one expected me to live, much less live well,” Shen said. “You say I can’t own land. Okay, I don’t own anything here. It belongs to the women and children who reside here. I, and the other men, are only here by their grace.” “They will leave or there will be war,” Tulia said.
“Excuse me, Tulia,” Jerica said. “Have you seen my husband at war?”
“We have,” Talatu said. “He was a boy then.”
“He is still a boy, playing with things he doesn’t understand,” Tulia snapped.
“If I don’t understand, it is because you refuse to teach,” Shen said.
“Men can’t be trusted with the knowledge…”
“Then teach my wives. They can advise me while keeping secrets,” Shen said.
“Trust me. They have secrets.”
“All women,” Arne lamented with Shen. His wife gave him a look. “Most women. Some. Not you. Oh, and men, too. Shen?”
“You dug your own grave, Sir,” Shen said.
“You couldn’t keep a secret if I tattooed it on your butt,” Aslog said.
Shen smiled and returned his attention to his guest. Candace, at the least, seemed amused, and perhaps relieved by the banter. Tulia remained intensely angry, an anger that was fueled by more than just this gathering. “Tulia, your people are not equipped to go to war with me. I have access to tech. I have access to magic. I am a Seer. I speak to the trees, and if I wanted, I could tap into their stream of consciousness and be privy to all the secrets of Sinter. I have chosen not to out of deference to your ways. I would prefer to be invited. I consider myself reasonable and generous. You, all of your people, are welcome here. You may come further in and be housed and fed while we discuss things civilly. We can establish trade. We can help each other thrive…”
“We don’t need you,” Tia said.
“Then return from where you come. I ask that you respect my side of the forest,” Shen said. “Acts of aggression against me or any people in my domain will be seen as hostility and there will be consequences.”
“Kill him,” Tulia said. “And everyone here. We will take this place by force.”
Candace held direct eye contact with Shen. She was aware that neither he nor any of his people flinched. Her own Sisters were not so relaxed. Their grips tightened on their staffs. The other men and women in their company came to attention. The men were clearly scared, she saw that much without eyes. Only now did Shen recognize one of the men for a boy he once knew, fought with even. Spared. “What are you waiting for?” Tulia said.
“This is a circle of peace. We were invited into this Light in good faith,” Candace said. “Neither I, or those who follow me, will violate the sanctity of that code. Anyone who does, will sleep permanently. If you are declaring war, so be it. We will thank those here for their ears, and retreat respectfully, knowing the next encounter will not be friendly. I recommend we accept their offer of rest and nourishment, and civil discussion.”
“I am in charge here…”
“I recognize the Light of your authority; no one violate codes, not even you. Without that, there would be no way to end hostilities,” Candace said.
“Winning end hostilities,” Tulia said.
“No. It delays the inevitable dialogue,” Candace said.
“I told them you were compromised,” Tulia said.
“I am not. You had a vision. You convinced the Elders that it was worth exploring. I was chosen because of my judgment to explore a potential threat. I was chosen because my Sister Tree is near here. I was also chosen because if the threat was realized, that Shen is here, my relationship with him would allow opportunities for dialogue. Dialogue allows us to understand whether or not there is a threat.”
While Candace spoke, Orton tried to interject: “You had relations with your sister?”
Arne rolled his eyes. Jerica gave him a look that told him shut up.
“He uses tech! He uses weapons. He uses magic. He threatens our very existence,” Tulia said. “He is a necromancer.”
“I am not…” Shen said.
“You deny it?!” Tulia said, so angry spit left her lips. Her left hand was clenched, as if she were charging it with magic to hurl. She pointed with right index. His wives changed their posture as if they saw this gesture as a threat. “There were witnesses. Your own sister Tama witnessed it.”
There was information projected from Tulia in her words- and Jerica saw it clearly, the whole of it that had been collaged in her vision before broke out whole. She now knew who Tama was. “She is the one I saw,” Jerica said. “She can bilocate.”
“You,” Tulia said.
“We are Sister in the light, Tulia. Your ways are not the only ways,” Jerica said. “My husband speaks truth. He is a kind man. He is extremely generous, so much so, my people didn’t trust him. I have witnessed him put himself in harm’s way to protect others. I have seen him in combat with real giants. I have seen him go up against a battalion of old school warriors, with projectiles and explosives and killing machines. I have seen him use magic. I have witnessed him conversing with tree spirits. They come to this Hall daily. You will not beat him in war. And everyone one of us here would sacrifice ourselves to protect him. One word to my people, and there would be armies and ships here. We would have legions of dragon born riding about your skies. Sinter will fall. There will be death and suffering unlike you have ever seen.”
“You can’t get past the Great Ridge! Not with ships, not with dragons,” Tulia said.
“How do you think they got here?” Candace asked.
“I have a gateway,” Shen said. “I also have machines that can fly.”
There was quiet. Tulia was assessing the threat. She was assessing the man holding the child, the resolve of his friends. She nodded.
“Then there will be war,” Tulia said.
Shen handed the baby back to Jerica. “Withdraw from the circle and this room,” Shen said.
Jerica accepted the child, but did not leave. “We stand together on this circle. That’s it.”
His friends also held their ground. “Speak your mind, brother,” Arne said. “We are likely to be in alignment.”
Shen looked to the fire. He was frustrated they didn’t leave, but grateful, as it was likely the only thing tempering his response. A part of him wanted compliance, so he could be ugly without witness- ugly to the point of deadly. He sorted his feelings, first addressing his desire for compliance; these were free people and he had no right to command them as such. Wives had more right then the men to hold their ground because the man’s decisions affected them, it affected children; it affected everything. This was the one thing he had not learned growing up, compromise with a group because sometimes the group mind was more stable than the individual mind. He sorted truth and distortion. He then met Candace’s eyes with respect and sadness. He saw fear in the men’s eyes behind her- and he wondered what they saw. He then gave his full attention to Tulia.
“I don’t know how to deal with your level of insanity,” Shen said. “In the men’s world, if we disagree, we fight. Fighting usually sorts itself out, and it stops at that. Sometimes it escalates, but mostly, men who fight share a respect for each other and hostilities end. That type of conflict resolution doesn’t work between a man and a woman. Typically, a fight between a man and a woman results in woman being injured. You and I fighting would result in you being injured. You don’t have the muscle mass to hurt me. Even if you have some skill in combat, I only need one good hit to level you. So, in principle, in general, it is my opinion and practice not to hit a woman. Further, hitting you would not resolve the conflict. The more I subdue you physically, the further in I bury the grievance you hold- which will allow to manifest and bloom elsewhere, in the future with you, or in others. Ideally, it is best to sort this here and now and come to a mutual compromise.
“In the absence of physical strength, you’re more likely to employ duplicity. That is not a disparagement; duplicity and manipulation of social fact is a reasonable ploy when you lack voice or strength. You do not lack voice. You definitely have strength about you, and so you don’t need to manipulate appearances. You have free speech here. I find your words unreasonable. I find you unreasonable. That puts the onus is upon me to resolve this, because you won’t negotiate. So how do I contain your craziness? If I kill you here and now, the watchers will see this and there will be war. If I let you leave, you will rally the elders and there will be war. So, friend Tulia, how do we stop this here and now?”
“These foreigners will retreat from this place. We will occupy this fortress,” Tulia said.
Shen nodded, hearing her. “I can live anywhere. I could live on boat on the sea and be happy. I have liked it here, me and the ghosts, occasionally friendly Irks, but there was an emptiness. Now, I belong to a community that accepts me. My home here allows me the luxury of meeting the needs of many people. It allows me to continue my research, my exploration of the planet. I contribute to the wellbeing of the land. I could rebuild this anywhere; it would take up time I don’t want to use. Going to war is a waste of time, too- just a waste. Umph. War, what’s it good for? Absolutely nothing. I could leave, and I could take the mountain with me, I suppose. It would leave a hole in your shield against of outsiders. But even if I leave, I see a time in the future, assuming your people continue to prosper, where we will be here, again, negotiating for space and resources. So, let’s deal with this now. I am not leaving. My friends and family are not leaving. If the trees accept me, you can accept me. We breathe the same air. We share the same light. That’s it.”
None of Shen’s people added or subtracted from this impromptu speech. Jerica and Ásdís both placed hands on Shen, showing support and love. They as a group were resolved in this.
“If you care about people and the land as much as you say, you will leave,” Tulia said.
“I am not leaving,” Shen said. “I am not leaving this fortress. I am definitely not leaving tech with you.”
“We have tech, too,” Tulia said. “We can rain down a level of destruction that will level this mountain and kill everything for a thousand miles.”
“I do, too,” Shen said. “Bring it. I assure you, I will survive,” Tulia said.
Shen blinked. “You’re a tulpa,” Shen said. His eyes grew wide. “You’re a daughter of Hel. Persephone Plant.”
“That can’t be,” Jerica said. “They have a range for manifesting bodies.”
“Unless she is a half breed,” Þuríður said. “Daughters of Hel can breed, if the male is cultivated and in alignment.”
“You know nothing of our kind,” Tulia said. “My mother is the Light that holds Sinter. There are many of us. We rule, not humans.”
“I have met your kind and defeated her,” Shen said.
“You did not defeat her,” Tulia said. “You left her wet and hungry. She is hardly dog, compared to us. You can’t defeat us. Sinter belongs to mother. You and these others are not welcome. Now that you understand, you should leave.”
“I understand,” Shen said. “And I am still not leaving.”
“We accept your offer to remain and negotiate,” Candace said.
“No,” Jerica said.
Shen looked to her. The other wives were quickly and silently in agreement on that score. Aslog was in agreement.
“You may leave peacefully,” Jerica said. “We will respect the present arrangement of Sleeping Forest as the borders, from the inner ocean to the mountains, to the outer oceans. Easterly will be neutral territory, with caveats; if you attack us, we will own Easterly. Your chosen may continue to commune with the trees of the forest, of course. The air is always shared. We, too, are the children of trees and no one will be deprived of access to their ancestors. We are open to trade, but quite frankly, you have nothing we want. If you come at us aggressively, we will end you. We will occupy Midelay, and we will take Sinter. You may go now.”
Tulia opened her mouth to say something but Aslog cut her off.
“No speech, just go. We have heard enough from you, Tulia,” Aslog said. “You are not the only one of your kind. We, too, have sons and daughters of tree tulpas. You’re not special. You’re not a goddess or a giant. You are not like the Underworld people. You can die.”
“You are mistaken,” Tulia said.
Tulia backed out of the circle, and only turned her back when she was in the hall proceeding out. Her people went with her. The men hesitated, but they were instructed to go without word and they departed quickly. Candace and her Sisters lingered. “Candace, I have love for you,” Shen said. “Do not return. Do not oppose me.”
“I would like things to be different,” Candace said.
“I hear you,” Shen said. “Go, before there is more gossip.”
The three Sisters backed up as one. Candace turned her back to the circle first and walked out, passing between her Sisters, who only then turned to follow. Éliane presented evidence that she was seeing Shen in a new light. The wives recognized the look and seriously discouraged it with silent communication of their own. The guests gone, the friends and wives of Shen turned to him.
“We can have enough warriors here to hold the fortress and take Midelay before the end of the day,” Jerica said.
“The men will be reluctant to fight women,” Arne said.
“I am not talking about men,” Jerica said.
“Uh? Oh. Oh!” Arne said.
“You’re going to call the Valkyries?” Orton asked.
“We’re not really calling those sluts, are we?” Aslog said.
“I disapprove of that word,” TL said. “Women should be allowed to express their sexuality and have a high libido without being disparaged.”
Aslog nodded. “Of course. It’s just their appetites are as great as giants, and they’re more aggressive in pursuing their interests.”
“No one will fight my war. I will take care of this,” Shen said.
“You will not fight,” Jerica said. “I will not have it.”
One by one, they all agreed. Arne nodded his head in agreement with the wives.
“Brother, no one doubts your courage or your resolve. This is not your war.”
“How is it not? I will not allow others to go and fight and die when I sit here safe and do nothing,” Shen said.
“Women will fight women. Men will fight men. Magicians will fight magicians,” Ciara said. “Dragons riders will fight everyone. The job of the king is to hold the confidence of the collective. Your job is here, husband.”
“I do not want war. I want a solution,” Shen said.
“Call the Valkyries, then. If there is war, it will be short,” Aslog said.
Shen had an epiphany. “You acquired Boa’s service in a truce? She knows?”
“She does,” Aslog said.
“Would you bring her here? Would you allow me to return her to Midelay so she can communicate what she knows? Maybe she can tell them a truth and war can be avoided,” Shen said.
“She’s a good servant,” Aslog said.
“She is moody as Hel,” Jerica said.
“I don’t care about mood or attitude as long as work gets accomplished,” Aslog said. “She has not fulfilled her promise.”
“Let her go,” Arne said. “We no longer need her services and this act has the potential of serving the community.” Aslog nodded. “I care for her.”
“Mother, she’s an adult,” Jerica said.
Aslog pouted. “You may have Boa to do as you think best,” she said.