Admyndral (The Matriarch’s domain) was situated in a city under the trees. The city was called Pelbradyn (on the Hill where Bradyn met his demise). The Matriarch’s Pavilion was the focal point, a circular canvas canopy situated at one end of the Peldyn (the hill of demise) at the very center of the city beneath the vaulted branches of a Fughari. The Peldyn was a low rectangular hill, long and flat across the top; Dani suspected it was a manmade mound, and in fact would learn later, from Januise of course, that it held the bones of their sacred dead. The central pole of the pavilion flew a series of flags and pennants. The topmost flag was strung on a strong horizontal pole to display its heraldry.

A boulevard of stone spiraled out from the pavilion and coiled like a sleeping snake to the surrounding hills interrupted only where it was dissected by the Peldyn. Single storied rambling houses with low angled slate roofs and brick chimneys, a few long houses, and several multicolored tents of varying sizes sporting colorful pennants spread out from the Peldyn across the shallow basin to the surrounding low hills. Among the hills on the outskirts of the city, a conglomeration of wigwams, igloo shaped sod houses with stove pipe chimneys, thatched cottages with neat gardens, and lesser tents, in size and affluence, jostled for space.

The duration of her visit to Admyndral et Pelbradyn (lit. the seat of Mother’s power at the hill where Bradyn met his demise) was short and it took Dani most of it to understand the way the city was laid out or that it was organized around the coiling snake road, but the image of the coiling snake was apt. It was a city of about two thousand, a burden caused by of all things the raid masterminded by Dreyden’s Disciple. Lowlandians living in remote outposts – especially those to the far south of the hill country had panicked, abandoned their settlements, and returned to Admyndral et Pelbradyn for comfort and security. But the numbers were ultimately greater than the ecosystem could support and a plan was in place to provided better defenses for the remote outposts.

Maddie’s team of sixty or so had split up into smaller groups for the journey back to Peldraydyn, leaving in staggered timeslots and each choosing their own way back burdened down with the fruits of the hunt and their labor until only Maddie’s group was left to break down the camp which meant dismantling the tent and securing it in three bundles in an underground chamber along with the cook pot and other items too large to be transported with reasonable ease across “open terrain.” Open terrain was a misnomer, of course, because with the canopy and the close forest there was no real open terrain where travelers risked getting burned to a crisp by the sun’s unhindered radiation.

The advance teams – the first left two days ahead of Maddie’s team – had plenty of time to apprise the Matriarch of the capture of Dreyden’s Disciple and that the Queen’s daughter was found. Within the hour the news had spread from the Center to the humblest wigwam, so when Maddie arrived on schedule and they came upon the first humble structures, the dwellers of those structures came out to greet them to get a first look at Dani and Theo. Many of these Lowlandians -- with tools in hand or small children in tow -- fell in behind Maddie’s team and followed them in silence to the Matriarch’s Pavilion.

Dani had anticipated more of the same abuse Theo had already suffered so the silence of the gathering crowd was subtly unnerving. Maddie, her group and her impromptu following walked to the Peldyn wending between dwellings following footpaths and narrow dirt tracks that intersected the cobbled boulevard a few times.

At the Pavilion a good sized crowd had already gathered around the base of the structure and across the length of the Peldyn’s flat summit. More than a few of them were dressed like it was Sunday morning. The crowd that had followed Maddie shredded and was absorbed by the whole. Only Maddie, Dani, and Theo as well as the two guards responsible for him were allowed to enter the Pavilion climbing the Peldyn by way of stone steps placed in the slope of the hill all under the silent but watchful eye of the gathered populace. Maddie lead them into the interior of the pavilion where the Matriarch stood on a raised dais at the center of the tent.

Isa was a shorter, older version of Maddie, standing at about five ten with yellow hair and cornflower blue eyes. She wore a green tabard of course linen over a fine white blouse both that fell to mid-thigh. The tabard was emblazoned with one large white fleur-de lis and the blouse was trimmed with silver embroidered fleur de li at the collar and sleeves. Her quality tan trousers were tucked into knee high boots of finely crafted leather and a matching leather belt cinched her trim waist and sported a long scabbard, etched with the fleur de li symbol repeated five times, the middle one a bit larger than the rest was mother of pearl inlay. Her only jewelry consisted of small silver hoops in her ears and a narrow beaten silver arm band on each arm.

Dani had seen her before in a portrait Mama had drawn long ago that was folded up and bundled with several portraits of other characters from her books and Mama’s notes, still safely tucked away in Dani’s backpack. Mama’s notes had said nothing about her, the Isa in the portrait was very much younger, a girl. The girl in the portrait had betrayed a spirited conceit in the curve of her smile and the spark in her eyes, but that girl was nowhere to be seen here. Dani knew immediately the Matriarch was the sort who saw everything, even the particulars a person might refuse to see in oneself. She saw unrelenting steel in the woman’s eyes and none of the friendliness that offered a counterweight to Maddie’s authority, making her approachable. Dani knew instantly the Matriarch was not to be crossed or ignored or challenged.

Behind The Matriarch stood four women identically dressed in off white shirts, tan trousers and leather boots, bearing side arms leather breastplates and copper arm bands. A body guard? They were an imposing group, tall and lean and intimidating despite their deceptively casual postures. Their eyes were watchful.

Men and women in livery stood at attention around the inside perimeter of the tent one at each pole, ten in all. Their uniform consisted of green linen shirts that hung loose to the hips over loose fawn trousers tucked into leather boots. Their tasseled cloth belts were dyed two each of five colors: white, red, blue, black and yellow and the familiar fluer de li pattern was embroidered into the border of each in silver thread.

Side panels in the pavilion were raised to let in light and to afford the gathered audience a view of the proceedings; brass braziers were arranged at regular intervals circling the dais. Strung across the radius of the dais were five evenly spaced flags with the center flag sporting a large white fleur de li on a blue field above several wavy bands stacked in descending shades of green. Aside from a couple of dozen men and woman of varying ages, mostly elder, the tent was otherwise empty, a broad circular space set upon the hill where, from any location on the streets below, a view of the interior could be achieved.

Maddie pulled Dani forward to stand at the Matriarch’s right hand at the foot of the dais, leaving Theo to stand alone in front of the Matriarch with two guards on either side of him. From the moment of their entry into the Pavilion all eyes had turned to Theo and remained so until one portly gentleman with white hair stepped forward and announced formally that the proceedings were to begin. The entire city was engulfed in silence. All the quiet chatter from the populace outside the pavilion died away, the only remaining sound the low hum of a gentle wind ruffling the underside of the roof and the crackle of flames in the braziers.

Isa looked to Maddie who stepped forward, extracted a bundle from her shoulder pouch and opened it revealing Theo’s Psalter and a flat brown leather pouch with a drawstring.

“When we searched the prisoner, aside from weapons and the usual survival tools, we discovered these items. The book is a prayer book; the pouch was found inside his second skin in his right armpit.”

The Matriarch ignored the Psalter but picked up the leather pouch and tested its weight by bouncing it lightly in her open palm. Even before the Matriarch opened the pouch and tipped it to let the contents slide out into the palm of her hand, before she unwound the several folds of cloth that engulfed the object, Dani knew what it was. So when the silver mounted sapphire spilled out into the Matriarch’s hand she felt no surprise, no outrage, she was not stunned, affronted or even left standing speechless. What she felt was profound relief, but even more so a sharp sense of satisfaction.

Dani had suspected this. Yes, she had resigned herself to the prospect that the stone was lost, but she had known deep down that it was not. When she had first put the medallion on back on earth she had tucked it inside three layers of shirts. The likelihood that it had slipped off was slim. If the cord had broken the medallion would have slid down inside her garments, not fallen off and gone floating off into space or been lost in the wood.

The sapphire brooded in the Matriarch’s hand for about two seconds until with a flick of her wrist she tossed it and caught the intact cord in her fist.

“What is this?” She addressed her question to Theo. “How is it that you have come into possession of this Stone of Power?”

Her tone was sharp.

What did she mean, Stone of Power?

“It belongs to me.” It was compulsion that made Dani step forward and make her claim, compulsion and the fact that she was the rightful owner of the sapphire.

The Matriarch looked at her, one brow arched, her eyes inquisitive.

“It was a gift to me from the King. I gave it to Theo for safe keeping.

“Oh did you, now?”

Dani indicated Theo with a brief gesture of her open hand. “May I?”

The Matriarch gave her shrewd appraisal and with pursed lips nodded.

Dani shoved the guard out of the way and peeled back the collar of Theo’s second skin on the left and retrieved the boyfriend’s note, the one that had accompanied the gift. Apparently in their search Maddie and her guards had missed it. She unfolded the scrap of paper and handed it to The Matriarch. Her memory flashed back to that moment in the cave when Theo had removed the note from inside his second skin and then later replaced it. Yes, even then Dani had suspected something was up, but she had been too vulnerable then, too uncertain of who he was and yet dependent on Theo for her very survival to confront him about the sapphire. In any case he would have persisted in his denial about it.

The Matriarch smoothed out the paper and read the note without a change in expression and without comment. She handed the note to Maddie who read it with the same reticent manner, a mirror image of her mother. Without a word, Maddie handed the slip of paper back to Dani.

Holding the sapphire by its silken blue cord, The Matriarch extended it to Dani. It spun, torch light captured in its dark depths and refracted by each facet, first one then another

“You may take it back now. It will be perfectly safe for you to carry it here.”

Dani’s first impulse was to snatch it back and get it around her neck as quickly as possible, but she resisted, she hesitated. The last time she put that thing around her neck it had brought her to Haven post haste. How did she know it would not work in reverse and send her back to Earth without Mama. Now wouldn’t that just spoil all her plans. And there was Theo to consider. She had to see him through this difficulty. She pulled her hand back.

“No. Theo has done an excellent job of protecting it. I want it returned to him immediately.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.” Dani had no idea what had come over her to make such a rash claim, but it felt right. She had never felt more certain about anything; the stone was meant to be worn around Theo’s neck.

For all she knew he had secured the sapphire and the stone to protect her identity. Much was being made of the stone and so far most everybody regarded her to be the King’s daughter, no matter how often Dani denied it. It made sense to hide the gem, but especially the accompanying note written in the King’s hand. Possession of both marked Dani as important to the king and therefore vulnerable to his enemies. She knew it was a thin argument in Theo’s favor – it did not explain why he kept her in the dark about it, but she was desperate to excuse his duplicity, and maybe, just a tinsy weensy bit, she wanted to put Theo on the spot.

“You have placed a remarkable level of faith in this criminal. You will discover it is misplaced.”

The Matriarch’s disapproval only solidified Dani’s resolve to follow through. Dani could barely contain her disgust when she said, “Theo has proved to be a trustworthy friend.” Yes, he placed a distant third when compared to Ethan and Barb, she thought grimly, but remaining adamant despite his deception Dani did consider him a friend.

“For such faith and trust and friendship the stone demands to be worn around his neck and not remain hidden in his armpit.” There was no denying the disdain in her comment or the challenge in her voice.

The Matriarch pressed the medallion on Dani. “It is your responsibility to give the stone to whomever you will.”

“Fine.”

Dani knew she had missed something, a hidden message in the Matriarch’s comment perhaps, a heavy cloak of folk lore and myth that was attached to the sapphire, but of which Dani had no knowledge. Warning bells might have gone off in her head had she been privy to that information. She took the stone, careful to touch only the cord. She felt again the compulsion to wear the thing and at the same time thick revulsion. Dani resisted the compulsion, rather preferring to keep the sapphire at a safe distance but still within easy reach. She stepped up to Theo. His torso was bowed by the weight of the branch.

“No.” There was no mistaking the alarm in his one word denial.

“Be quiet.” She ordered.

“You do not know what you are doing.” He kept his voice low but it was fierce with alarm.

Dani pitched her voice low so that only Theo would hear her.

“Oh yes I do. I am giving this to you. I am giving it to you freely – clearly you need it more than I since you have gone to great lengths to conceal it. Now, with you wearing it openly that will be one less secret between us.”

She slipped the cord over his head and the medallion settled perfectly in the hollow at the base of his throat. He sagged a little, as if the thing weighed him downl. He glared at her. The air felt heavy with anticipation when those in attendance leaned forward, drew in a long breath and held it collectively as if expecting something significant to happen.

“Take him,” Isa ordered breaking the spell after a few moments and the guard hauled Theo away pulling him along by the heavy log that secured his arms. Dani stared helplessly as they dragged him away while the remaining attendees broke apart and hurried to various points in the Pavilion where they exited without delay.

Dani turned on the Matriarch. “I want his Psalter returned to him.”

Maddie hissed, grabbed for Dani’s arm but Dani sidestepped out of her reach.

The Matriarch frowned darkly. Dani almost shied from the chill in those eyes, but she stood her ground.

“Do not assume that your relationship to the king and queen holds so much persuasion with me that you are free to make demands. I have already given you some leeway because of your ignorance and out of loyalty to the king.”

Dani glared at the Matriarch: who did she think she was to deny Dani her wish?

“I want the Psalter returned to him. It is my right to make demands on Theo’s behalf and about my relationship to the King and Queen – well - I have no delusions on their account.”

The Matriarch turned to Maddie her brows arched in silent accusation, as if Dani’s bad behavior reflected badly on Maddie.

“Very well,” The Matriarch said in a tight voice.

“Seeing as he is your In Between I will allow one request on his behalf, but do not think that your boon extends any further than this one creature comfort. He is our prisoner and he will face his accusers and take the punishment that is his due.”

Mollified, and since Uncle Martin spent the better part of the last seven years pounding it into her that discretion is the better part of valor, Dani backed down. She nodded her thanks and stepped back. With the exception of the body guard who stood stoic and silent and the liveried attendants who waited at the inside perimeter of the Pavilion, the three of them were alone.

Maddie turned to the Matriarch. “How long must we wait before the trial, Mother?”

“We are waiting for Ruby. Several days, I think.” Much of the severity in her voice had disappeared.

“Who is Ruby?” Dani later asked as Maddie took her arm and marched her from the pavilion.

“Ruby is the victim,” Maddie said through clenched teeth.

“I thought Sillie was the victim.”

“Sillie is the witness. Her sister is the victim.

Next Chapter: Interlude III