What an interesting proposition. As a lawyer, I have testified on numerous occasions, but never on my own behalf. Well, what is that ancient piece of wisdom – if you are your own lawyer, you have a fool for a client? I suppose that in my silence, I have de facto allowed Tarlach Tadgh to represent me. So my case has been argued by a talk-show psychologist in the court of public opinion. Somehow, I don’t feel any less of a fool.
Grounded in ancient Earth tradition, Skarsian law does not require you to testify against yourself. And so, for two years, I said absolutely nothing. And no one spoke to me – not until Tarlach emanated. It was as though I did not exist. We were all better off, or so we thought.
Now I will testify against myself. If I had spoken, I could’ve warned Tara about the coming troubles with Tasea. I learned much during the Dumati negotiations that I never shared. But neither this nor the violation of my loyalty may now be held against me. It was all part of a larger vision.
I have another new perspective on the loyalty issue, one which I did not share with Tara. The cult surrounding n’aashet n’aaverti is not completely driven by biology. There’s a strongly cultural aspect. This is proven without doubt by the attitudes of the Goliath emanations, who did not receive the same indoctrinations as the Atlas emanations. To them, the idea that a tree, traumatized by rape, might immolate or amputate a branch is as horrifying as it is to humans. To them, I’m clearly the victim, not the accused.
And, for the most part, Cu’enashti culture was designed by the Cantor. Many of her teachings were based on solid reasoning – the teaching about the abuse of alchemy as a threat to the economy of the Domha’vei, for example. But many of them were designed solely to allow the Cu’endhari to hide in human society during the Great Silence. What she couldn’t accomplish with indoctrination, she accomplished through a propaganda of fear.
But then, perhaps if the delicate situation was not handled in that fashion, a panicked humanity might have burned the forests. The secret came out at exactly the right time – when Dolparessan ethnic identity was at its peak – thank Whirljack for that – when we had CenGov as a common enemy, and when the 5th Matriarch was extremely unpopular for failing to respond to the Terran attack. The people of Dolparessa rallied around their trees.
The concept of n’aashet n’aaverti, however, I have to wonder if that was more personal. The Cantor was forced to spend hundreds of years apart from her Chosen, Wyrd Elma. Forced? Perhaps. But Elma spends much of her time on Eirelantra still. Elma is a lot more interested in her Gyre visions than in the Cantor. Elma plays with Elma’ashra when it suits her – and Elma’ashra is so docile she doesn’t even grow a second trunk.
That very hurtful thing that Tara said was the truth no one dared to advance: Elma’ashra, the Cantor, is a failure who can’t even fruit. How dare she judge I and I, the mighty Ashtara whose n’aashet n’aaverti is so strong that he became a god for the sake of his Chosen?
How dare she judge me?
And so, I prepared my case.
*****
Miranda had returned to Dolparessa with a party of K’ntasari. After the battle of Dalgherdia, her people came to the conclusion that immediate incorporation into the Matriarchy was not only desirable, but necessary. They were warriors, not weapons. Their rights as citizens needed to be openly acknowledged. To that end, I arranged to meet with Tara, the Cantor, Claris – as representative of the Cu’enmerengi – and Miranda. Lord Danak and the ubiquitous Clive Rivers sat in as informal advisors. As was the custom, we met in the sacred grove on Turquoise Head. It was the home of the Cantor Tree itself, whose enormous single trunk, looming over us, bespoke of her solid resolution. Just to the east was Court Emmere, beyond that the bustling streets of Capital City. Westward, further down the coast, it was impossible to miss the silhouette of the Atlas Tree, an ungainly caricature whose roots squatted on a mountain dwarfed by the towering giant. With its profusion of haphazard branches, it could not have been more different from the Cantor.
“Under the current Skarsian law,” I began, “the rights of all organically sentient beings are equally recognized. It was intended to apply to humans, hybrids, Arya and all Cu’endhari subspecies although it had the added commercial benefit of making the Domha’vei a very attractive trading partner for the Brrrrrrrrrrrrvvbh.” The situation was, in fact, quite advantageous for the Floatfish because Cybrids were banned everywhere except Eirelantra, which gave the fish an enormous edge over many IndWorld merchants who didn’t share the Domha’vei’s abhorrence of non-biological modifications. “So there’s no question of basic rights. Her Eminence the Most Sublime and Holy Matriarch has indicated her willingness to include the K’ntasari leader in her High Council. So the basic questions to be decided are whether the K’ntasari are to be included in the Convocation of the Forest, and then to devise a constitution for K’ntasari internal governance.”
“Ari is our ruler,” said Miranda. “We obey Ari the Wise and his voice as conveyed to us through his prophets. In his absence, Ari appointed me leader.”
“You understand that Ari is an emanation of Ashtara, who in the person of his Archons, is co-ruler of the Domha’vei? Will your people then pledge loyalty to the Archon and the Matriarch, and follow their law?”
“The K’ntasari recognize the Archons as prophets of Ari. As I recognize you. Is it the will of Ari that we pledge ourselves to the Matriarch?”
Her statement took me by surprise. I have been many things in my life – lawyer, businessman, pariah, the public face of victimization – but I would never have guessed I’d become a prophet. Yet I had seen a vision, and I knew what needed to be accomplished. “It is.”
Miranda nodded. “So be it.”
“Nevertheless, we’ll need to design for a successor in case something should happen to you.”
“What could happen? I shall rule as long as it suits Ari’s pleasure.”
Because she had the demeanor of a strong and confident young woman, it was difficult to remember that Miranda was only three years old. As such, she had the incredible naiveté and overconfidence of the very young – something I knew all too well from experience. “What if you were injured and had to revert to Nau’gsh form? Who would rule in your absence?” I thought it better not to mention the worst case scenarios: she was hurt away from home, went into stasis, and her body was unable to be returned – or it had been destroyed. Theoretically, that could happen if the damage inflicted was great enough to deplete all of the nul-energy it kept in reserve. The K’ntasari did not have the advantage of co-existing with a tree which provided a constant connection to an energy source.
Davy’s creations were mighty, but mortal.
I turned to the Cantor. “What is the will of the forest in this matter?”
“After much debate, we decided to accept the K’ntasari. Even though only half their life-cycle is spent as Nau’gsh, their interests still substantially match our own. We will require a K’ntasari emissary to represent them when Miranda is on her homeworld.”
“I shall select one from the current party,” said Miranda. “These are trivial matters. When shall we return to battle with the Terrans?”
Another surprise. “The situation on Dalgherdia is stable.”
“But, if I understand correctly, the Domha’vei is still under threat of the armada which lays in wait beyond Dumati. When will we engage them?”
“We’re still discussing our strategy,” said Tara. “I’m sure Admiral Whelan can find a use for your ample talents. Ross, perhaps the most efficient method would be for you to draw up a constitution and then have the K’ntasari review it.”
Miranda waved her hand impatiently. “If it is the will of Ari, we will accept it. Let the prophet design this constitution according to Ari’s great wisdom.”
Ari didn’t know compost about constitutional law, but Miranda didn’t ask, and I wasn’t about to freely admit it. Another thing I would never admit – Ari didn’t care what the K’ntasari did. He felt they were fine on their own, and he’d done his part. The K’ntasari were needed to serve Tara, and so he, like myself, had sacrificed to the greater goal. His attention now was focused only on her.
He was not created, like Ailann, to feel innate compassion. Neither was I. It just wasn’t necessary, and it seemed to cause Ailann a lot of stress.
It occurs to me that by human standards, I and I is extremely self-centered. Clive’s designation of “Ashhole” isn’t too far from wrong. I and I doesn’t care. He doesn’t care what people make of Him. He is only capable of caring insofar as the opinion of others affects Tara.
But there are some things that He does care about. “In that case, Miranda, I’ll meet with you once I’ve composed a draft. However, I do have a matter to raise with the Cantor.”
“I don’t want to hear it.”
“I want to put it to the Convocation.”
“What?”
“It’s a matter of Cu’enashti law, and it should go before the Convocation.”
“Your marriage,” said Claris. “Isn’t that personal business?”
“Marriages of state are never personal business, Lady Claris. But this case rests on a fine point of the law, and I believe a precedent needs to be set. Is a Cu’enashti marriage between a human and a Nau’gsh or a human and the entire Cu’enashti entity? I’ll argue the latter – how else to justify that a human is married to every humanoid emanation of a particular Nau’gsh?”
“Sheer sophistry,” said the Cantor. “The Convocation won’t hear the case.”
“If the prophet says that the Convocation should hear it, then it shall,” said Miranda. The Cantor’s face slowly registered her surprise. She was not used to being defied. Even I and I usually proceeded with respect for her importance to our culture. The Cantor was smart enough to realize that Miranda would probably back us, but it was clear that she hadn’t expected open conflict so soon. She had probably expected Miranda to defer to her elders, but Miranda was nothing if not bold.
“Ooooh, that would make me the deciding vote,” said Claris, clapping her hands happily. “So who do I pick?”
“At this point, even though the entity known as Ashtara may attach himself to one of two particular Nau’gsh, He is in full control of the emanations from both trees. Furthermore, the emanations may freely communicate with each other. Are there really grounds for denying the unity of this marriage? To do so negates the spiritual truth of our people – we are shaped by the vessels that contain us – human or Nau’gsh, but we are not identical to those vessels. We are composite entities, and we all know in our bones and branches what spirit moves us.”
“Law should not be decided on the basis of exceptional cases,” said the Cantor. “There will never be another situation like this. It is wholly unnatural. It exists only because of Ashtara’s arrogance, his…ambition. Ambition is a human trait. It has no place among the Nau’gsh.”
“I beg to differ,” I replied. “As recently demonstrated, the creation of the Goliath Tree allows us to extend our power and thus better serve our Chosen. It was an act of n’aashet n’aaverti.”
“If the K’ntasari had not been created – no insult intended to you of course, Lady Miranda – your recent demonstration of power would have not been needed. Ashtara’s ambition is solely responsible for plunging us into a war which has yet to be resolved.”
“It would’ve happened sooner or later,” said Tara. “Do you think that the appearance of a micro black hole in just the right spot to deflect the path of Dalgherdia and disrupt communications was an accident? I might just as well argue that it’s the fault of the Nau’gsh that the humans in the Domha’vei are threatened. CenGov was happy to ignore us until the existence of the Nau’gsh became known. And don’t think that there won’t be humans who will make that argument, if we don’t present a united front. Your people have faced remarkably little backlash because the entire system depends on Ailann to maintain the power grid, and because he’s managed to assume the role of a god. It’s not just his strength that protects us, it’s his personage. The little miracles he performs. His compassion.”
“The prison camp is going too far,” Clive injected. “We should just use the bastards for scrap.”
“Laying out the cards time,” said Claris. “Tara, I hate your guts. I’ve loathed you since we were girls together at Court Emmere. And when that pathetic puppy dog Daniel showed up and I realized he was Cu’enashti, I wanted to kick him in the nuts. In fact, I hate all the Cu’enashti. You’re all such whining martyrs. ‘My Chosen, my Chosen.’ It’s disgusting. But it isn’t just that you’re all as limp as a week-old bunch of cut weeds. It’s that bitch,” she indicated the Cantor, “who kept my people oppressed for years in order that the Cu’enashti could play house. I don’t give a rotten root whether your marriage is legal or not. There isn’t a Cu’enmerengi alive who wouldn’t say that marriage is the stupidest of all human customs. Circumcision makes more sense. Of all of you, I feel the most for Miranda. She’s going to be used by everyone, and she hasn’t wised up yet.”
“But here’s the thing,” she continued. “Under the 6th Matriarch, the Cu’enmerengi have it better than we ever have. As long as the humans worship the Archon, we’re safe and we’re free. It doesn’t make sense to do anything to undermine him, no matter how much I dislike him personally. The same should be true for you, Cantor. You do realize how he’s worshipped amongst your people as a folk hero, as the incarnation of the cult of impassioned loyalty? They get it, even if you don’t. Or maybe I see it because I know Tara. If he’s ambitious, it’s because she’s a total bitch. In your entire subspecies of slathering sycophants, the king of the pussy-whipped wins.”
“What an obnoxious woman,” said Miranda.
“She’s allowed to be obnoxious,” said Clive. “As long as she’s on our side.”
“Worshipped amongst our people?” raged the Cantor. “Have you seen the Atlas Tree lately? It’s a travesty. It’s covered in mushrooms!”
“Every pain, every humiliation is for Tara,” I say. “No one knows that better than me. Are you saying that you’re too proud to grow mushrooms if Elma needed it? Or even wanted it? What happened to your n’aashet n’aaverti?”
She’d lost, and she knew it. In fact, she’d played her hand extraordinarily badly by introducing such a trivial point. “Do what you want. You will anyway.” She turned her back on us and stormed from the grove.
“Don’t worry,” Claris said, laughing. “She’ll forgive you – she loves you. She raised you. She’s like a mother seeing her child defy her for the first time. Whereas I’ll never love nor forgive you. So don’t cross me.”
After Claris had left, Miranda turned to me. “Why do you allow them to treat you with such disrespect?”
“The Cantor taught us, Miranda, very much like Ari taught you. That counts for something. The Nau’gsh wouldn’t be where we are today if it wasn’t for her. Even when she’s wrong, we have to hear her out. But sometimes she is wrong. Miranda, it may be hard for you to understand now, but sometimes I’m wrong – sometimes Ari is wrong. It isn’t bad to learn to question.”
“Really,” said Clive, “wouldn’t it be more efficient to have her as an unquestioning and obedient soldier?”
Tara shot him a look. He was just being difficult. Clive hated unquestioning obedience – which was why he was perverse enough to argue against his own ideals just to spite me.
“I expect,” I said, “that the presentation of the case to the Convocation will be a formality.”
“Then do it as soon as possible,” said Tara. “Ailann and I should make an announcement concerning the K’ntasari. I’m thinking that we should hold a grand celebration, and I can formally introduce my new husbands. It could be good for morale.”
“A coming out party,” said Lord Danak. “Why not time it to coincide with Restoration Day?”
“More like branching out,” I said. “I’ll take care of the legalities, Tara. Of course, you’ll need others, like Driscoll, to arrange the ceremony. But when it’s done, I’ll be back. I still have more business to arrange.”
“Oh?” Tara looked at me quizzically.
“Like attaching General Panic’s head to a sewage maintenance bot,” I said.