Previously: It has been seven years since Zhou Yu was first transformed into a woman and brought to An. In order to solidify the peace between Thamud and Talos, her four year old son has been betrothed to the daughter of Princess Sabine of Talos [see Chapter 11].
Chapter 13 - Succession
[An entry from the Journal of Queen Zhou Yu]
Dear Reader,
My son's future mother-in-law arrived in Thamud barely six months after the betrothal in Talos.
It was a beautiful Summer's day and her disposition was that of a woman who had just returned home from a strenuous walk ready for the morning meal. There was not a drop of perspiration on her and she looked every bit the visiting relative; not the political exile that she actually was. This was the result of a typical Talosian succession battle which had been brewing over the past year. Allow me to explain.
The Talosian order of succession was largely commonsensical. Upon the death of the current King, the crown prince or his male offspring, would ascend the throne. Next in line was the Second Prince, Alaric, and his male offspring if any.
Then came, the Second Princess, Sabine, our guest of two months now, daughter of the ailing Emperor of Talos. Barring any protests or contests by the Talosian nobility, she was third in line to the throne. Obviously, she had my future daughter-in-law in tow and a small retinue of servants and bodyguards. Her husband had been killed in the last war between Talos and Thamud some four years back.
Others who had once been in the line of succession (since deceased) included the King's only brother and the first princess who died at the age of 10. Some strange events which had occurred over the course of the past year had led Sabine to this point.
First, the Emperor's eldest son, the Crown Prince has begun suffering non-specific symptoms of abdominal discomfort and loose stool, as well as subjective feelings of paraesthesia affecting his limbs. He seemed very much to be on his last legs – a sad ghost of a man or so my spies tell me. He could barely sit, much less ride a horse during the hunt organized in our honor at my son's betrothal some months back.
I had read enough mystery novels back on Ki to immediately consider foul play, but the symptoms could easily have stemmed from any number of gastro-intestinal diseases resulting in various forms of deficiencies. The Qin had long known of nutritional deficiencies and had been treating them appropriately for years, but they have yet to understand their underlying pathology. It was going to be a case of trial and error if this was the cause of his ailments. The Thamudian royal physician who had guided me through the births of both my son and my daughter concurred, and said that this was a likely cause and that any capable physician would consider the possibility.
There were other complications. The Crown Prince's two offspring had expired some years back soon after attaining the age of majority as defined by the Talosian legal code; and The Second Prince's only son had died of the pox at the age of five just this year. He of course suspected his sister or at least used this as an excuse to be rid of her. And who could blame him - members of the Talosian royal family seemed to be dropping like flies and someone had to take the blame. Hence her flight to Thamud, seeing as she was the future mother-in-law of my own son.
Sabine had all the airs you would expect of the most powerful woman in Talos. Some would describe her as an older woman and she had in fact given birth late in life by the standards of Talosian women, and only at the instigation of her father. I did wonder if she felt somewhat slighted by the fact that her only daughter would be married to a prince and possible future King of Thamud as a kind of peace offering; for she demonstrated in both action and speech that she thought Thamud a backward kingdom which should be thankful for her good graces.
For instance, on my last trip to Talos, she expressed surprise that any of us had ever partaken of the delicacies of the sea or even common Talosian game birds – almost all of which were part of the barter trade which existed across our extensive borders. I considered snidely remarking whether her tutors had lapsed in her geographical and economic education but decided that discretion was the better part of valor (on in this case, diplomacy).
A few days later, she turned her head away from me with disdain when I wore a pair of leather trousers to the hunt organized by the Crown Prince in honor of our visit. Pointing towards my clothing she remarked, “Is that really advisable for the Queen of Thamud?”
“They are practical, comfortable, and the King certainly has no complaints,” I replied.
“It is a bit lacking in decorum for a noble woman, don't you think?” she said clicking her tongue. “Did you actually expect to do any hunting today?”
The men and the women had clearly been separated during this part of the festivities, with the former directed towards larger game. I gathered I was meant to watch in wonder as the huntsmen brought me rabbits and game birds.
It is not as if organized or ritual hunting was unheard of in Thamud – it was regularly undertaken for estate management and occurred in conjunction with feast days when the food would distributed to the poor. It was simply that my husband would never think of separating me from the main hunt. Or if he had at some point in his life, he had quickly learned better of it – my accuracy with a bow was certainly better than his, as were my abilities with a light spear. And I was already thoroughly submissive and obedient to him in his bedchamber.
Sabine seemed to show more interest in me when I wore one of the flowing robes typical of one of the ancient dynasties of the Qin at the banquet the same night. At least she patronizingly stated as much to me. Like certain Talosian gowns, the dress showed substantial amounts of cleavage and flattered my figure.
As future members of the same family so to speak, we retired to the women's drawing room for drinks alone. Sabine bade me sit beside her on a large couch and plied me with spirits and unwelcome conversation.
“Is it true that you were once a man?” she asked with all the tact of a viper.
“I prefer not to speak on that subject,” I replied.
“You enjoy dressing this way now, do you? I've heard that former men often make the most feminine of women, though I assumed that was a lie until I saw you this evening.”
“This Talosian whisky is really quite fine,” I said, ignoring her.
“The men in my family feel that Qin women, in general, leave very much to be desired but I am of the opposite opinion. I have not detected any of the strange scents and odors said to emanate from your people – perhaps it is a question of the food you have consumed or rather not consumed in Thamud.”
“Have you never met a Qin woman in all your years?” I asked, a note of irritation entering my voice. It seemed that the woman was determined to be rude. She had been consuming copious amounts of wine and liqueurs throughout the evening.
“None as lovely as you, my Queen.”
She did not say this out loud but had leaned forward to whisper it in my ear. I smelled the acrid stench of alcohol on her breath. and almost jumped to one side in shock and mild revulsion. It is not that Sabine was especially hideous, but I was not in the habit of being seduced by my son's future mother-in-law.
“Please, stop,” I said turning to face her, restraining myself. If she had been some common man, she would have been lying on the ground unconscious at that point.
Instead, she grabbed my head and kissed me full on the lips, using her other hand to squeeze my breast through my evening dress. I pushed her away and stood back from the couch.
The princess flopped down on the couch and looked up at me
“Does that feel any different?” she asked, without a trace of remorse. “Please sit, I promise not to touch you again, or at least not without your permission.”
“Control yourself, Princess,” I said with an exasperated air as I sat across from her on a large cushioned chair. “Our children are to be married.”
“Your son - is he the type of person who is inclined to share? When my daughter takes her place in this world, she will want to exercise power with him.”
“Isn't this discussion somewhat premature?” I said guardedly, “He is only four years old. In any case, I have every hope that my son will be generous, dutiful, and respectful to his wife when he becomes a man.”
“It would be good if they had more time together as children.”
“I'm sure that can be arranged,” I replied non-committally.
Looking back, this seemed to be a premonition of things to come. Now some six months later, my son was spending many hours with his betrothed both at school and at play.
We left Sabine to her own devices for nearly a week.
When she was fully settled into the Second Princess' former chambers, I told my husband that I might have to do something unseemly but that it was necessary for the sake of our son. It did cross my mind that I might have to let that harpy touch me, though even the thought of this made me shudder.
He kept asking me whether it was completely necessary, in the way that men say to women when they think they know better. I told him to stop fussing and let a mother get on with her job. After all these years, he knew exactly what kind of woman he had married, and just kept quiet after that.
That evening I plied Sabine with all the vices the dinner table allowed, her wine glass was filled the moment it was half empty and she was provided with an array of spirits and absinthe once dessert was served. We soon found ourselves back where we once were some six months back - in a drawing room alone, except this time in my own house.
I decided to forego any small talk and simply asked her the most obvious question at once. “So before we carry on with our conversation, would you like to say for the record whether you did in fact having anything to do with the death of your five year old nephew?”
I was referring to the Second Prince's son who had died just that year - the likely reason for her flight from Talos.
“None at all,” she said without hesitation or any signs of deception. “Do you believe me?
“By the way, thank you for ridding me of that abominable man – my husband I mean. I always knew that Qin women could be conniving bitches but it definitely makes you more appealing in my eyes at least. I know perfectly well what you're doing but I don't care. You've seen me drunk before, and I have nothing to hide - everything I've done benefits Thamud. If anything you should be kissing me on both cheeks in admiration and gratitude.”
“I simply want to talk, mother to mother,” I replied.
“Your spies should be informing you quite soon of what nefarious deeds I am purported to have done,” she said, releasing an unladylike belch as she did so.
“Won't you save them the trouble and simply tell me?” I pressed.
“A powerless woman in exile can hardly be blamed for the misfortunes of her siblings. I have simply given my brother what he has always desired. Alaric is weak and undeserving of the crown – I have simply shown him the truth of these words. His proclivities will see him disowned within a year if not sooner. The only difference between my brothers and I is that they lack the will to do what is necessary.
“Have you done something to Alaric?” I asked innocently.
“It is already done. Do you think I would tell you about this if there was even slightest chance that it could be prevented? Oh my dear Zhou Yu, for someone who has personally arranged for the deaths of tens of thousands of men, you seem so full of scruples when it comes to the future of your son. I do not know what your husband thinks of you, but in Talos you are perceived quite differently. Do you know how?” she asked with a slight slur in her speech.
I shook my head to suggest ignorance but I knew quite well my reputation.
“A monster – a hideous beast and a butcher of sons and fathers.
“Our generals did wonder what had happened to the gallant prince of Thamud who would meet challengers in single combat on the field of battle, and would brook nothing which would stain his reputation for chivalry. Had he merely matured with the years and put aside childish things? They did not consider, at least at first, that slight female slave by his side.
“But I know what kind of woman you are, because I would have done the same given the chance. Incidentally, I know what you arranged in Albion despite the warnings of the emissaries of the Seven; why they seem so unenthused about joining us against Thamud despite our petitions.
“If they did not spit on you in Talos, it is simply because they did not have the chance [see Chapter 11]. They will never forget what you have done. Your son will need my daughter's help if he is to rule both Talos and Thamud in years to come. And if I do succeed, I will certainly become your son's best friend; for I have every intention of making my daughter the Queen of Talos and Thamud.
Sabine mumbled a few more indistinct sentences and was soon snoring on the couch. The alcohol had certainly made her more loquacious than ever but there were limits to its effectiveness. Still, her circumlocutory explanations seemed to suggest exactly what she had done and why she misguidedly thought that I would approve.
