An instant hush fell over those assembled in the Well of Speaking; a collective breath-holding, waiting for the Princess to speak.
“It does this land we both love no good if we divide it in a power struggle over who is to rule,” the Princess said calmly. “One solution, of course is for me to abdicate, but . . .,” the Princess held up her hand, indicating she wanted it to remain quiet, “I am not willing to do that. You could arrange for my ceremony to be seated on the throne, but I am thinking you are not willing to do that, based on the lengths you have gone to maintain control, so . . .,” the Princess paused and turned to face those of us assembled, “. . . I call the Gylden Sirklene challenge.”
To everyone’s amazement the Regent began to laugh, a huge, from the belly, laugh. Some in the crowd nervously laughed along with the Regent, but most were just looking at him stunned.
“Is that the best you can offer?” the Regent shot back, once he had finished laughing. Turning to the assembled crowd, he addressed them. “Is this who some of you would chose to rule Sommerhjem? A young, untried, inexperienced lass who has shown absolutely no interest in Sommerhjem, and now thinks she has a solution to our dilemma by calling a challenge, which at the very best, is some obscure myth?”
It was at this point that I noticed a stir in those seated just a little to the left and above me. One of the most ancient men I have ever seen, stooped-shouldered with a large mostly bald head, except for a few wispy white hairs sticking out willy-nilly, stepped onto the stairs and began a slow descent towards the speaker’s platform. He was followed by a woman of equal age, who had more wrinkles on her face than a dried grape, and who descended the stairs with the aid of an intricately carved walking stick. As she passed by me, I was momentarily distracted from the drama unfolding before me by the carvings on her walking stick. The designs matched some in the book the Huntress had given me. It made me want to know all the more who these two were.
“A chance to speak on this matter, Your Highness, Regent,” the man queried. “As the royal historian, I can tell you that the Princess is well within her rights to call down the Gylden Sirklene challenge, and that it is not a myth at all. It is well documented in any number of books and ancient parchments, as the royal librarian can attest.”
Heads swung to look at the royal librarian, who stood just a little taller and straighter. In a voice that was both warm and rich, she stated that while the Gylden Sirklene challenge had not been used to select a ruler these last several generations, it had been the way rulers of Sommerhjem had been chosen previously, and there were rules to be followed now that the challenge had been called.
The Regent lost some of his swagger at this point. I knew he had anticipated that this might happen, since he had done things over time to eliminate, or try to eliminate, this possibility, but I think it caught him off guard that it was the Princess who had called the challenge. I wondered if he had been holding in reserve the possibility of calling the challenge himself. It would seem for all of his plotting and planning, having the challenge called by the Princess was not something he had anticipated or planned for, but I could almost see his mind working, plotting how he might use this turn of events to his advantage.
“So, royal librarian, if you and the royal historian, two of the most learned folks in Sommerhjem, say the Gylden Sirklene challenge is truth, not myth, who am I, a humble servant of our land, to dispute you? Is it not true that there are rules on how this challenge must take place? Have you found somewhere these rules are written down?”
I had the feeling that the Regent thought he already knew the answer to his question, for while he was trying to look very interested in the royal librarian’s answer, a smug look had swiftly crossed his face.
“The references in the royal library refer to a Book of Rules . . .”
“And have you found a Book of Rules?” the Regent asked, interrupting.
“I am reluctant to say that in all of my years as the royal librarian, I have yet to run across it.”
“And you, royal historian, do you know where this mysterious Book of Rules lies hidden?” the Regent asked dismissively, as if he already knew what he would have to say.
“I do not, but . . .” the royal librarian started to say, when the Regent cut him off.
“Well, that leaves us with a dilemma does it not, my dear Princess Esmeralda? However can we follow through with the challenge you called when the Book of Rules which governs this so called challenge is not to be found?”
“Your pardon, Regent,” the royal historian interjected, “I may not know the location of the Book of Rules, but I do know who does.”
The Regent had the good grace to look taken aback and stuttered just a bit when replying, “You, you do?”
“Seeker Eshana, would you come join us?” the royal librarian requested, and Seeker Eshana went to stand by her. “If you would be so kind as to hand me the book you showed me yesterday.” Holding aloft the small book, bound in very worn and faded leather, she showed it first to the Regent, and then turning and facing the assembly, she showed them the small book.
“That’s it, that little book is the famous rule book governing the most important challenge in our land?” the Regent scoffed, and a dismissive murmur ran through the Regent’s supporters. “Well, then, why don’t you read it to us?”
He was again looking like he was holding the winning hand, and I became very uneasy.
“I am afraid I cannot comply with your request,” the royal librarian stated. “It is written in a language that has been long lost to us.”
“Well, that’s a fine pickle, now, isn’t it? Maybe our Princess should have done some better research before she called down a challenge whose rules are in a book no one can read. How do you expect anyone to take you seriously?” the Regent scoffed.
Heads swung towards the Princess, many I am sure hoping she had an answer, and many hoping she did not.
“If I might comment,” the royal historian interjected. “While the royal librarian and I might not be able to read the language in the book, references concerning the Gylden Sirklene challenge suggest that the members of the Høyttaier clan have knowledge of the language.”
Once again, there was a great deal of talking among those assembled, and the Regent was again looking as if he had gained the upper hand. “That clan was always small in number, and I cannot recall if I know if any are still live this day, so . . .”
“Our numbers are still small, but greater than you have been led to believe despite your efforts to eliminate us, Regent Klingflug. Like the Princess’ grave illness, which was in no way true, the demise of the Høyttaier clan has been greatly exaggerated. We simply disappeared for a while or took on other roles for safety’s sake,” stated the woman I had come to know as Master Clarisse.
“How do we know that you really are a member of the Høyttaier clan and not just an imposter in a grand conspiracy to confuse the issues of an already contentious time?” asked the Regent.
“You do not,” Master Clarisse said simply, “but that is probably what has kept me safe all of these years. However, there is a way to verify I am telling the truth, is there not?” Master Clarisse asked directly of both the royal historian and the royal librarian.
“Why, yes, of course, it’s really quite simple,” the royal librarian stated. Noticing those around her were either looking confused or impatient, she went on. “All those born to the Høyttaier clan usually have a strawberry colored birth mark somewhere on their body.”
“Fortunately for me, I do not have to remove any clothing in front of this assembly to show mine,” Master Clarisse stated, lifting the back of her long hair up, revealing a jagged edged blotch about the size of a copper coin at the base of her hairline.
“This young woman’s birthmark is consistent with what I have read in the records,” commented the royal historian, “which would suggest that she is telling the truth. The next question should logically be, can she read the language of the text in the Book of Rules?”
The Regent was looking less and less happy with the revelation that Master Clarisse was indeed a member of the Høyttaier clan, and yet, I think while his mind must have been whirling at a rapid speed, there was really nothing he could do at the moment but let what was happening before him play out. All those assembled were now witnesses to what was happening, and he was wise enough to know that even with the royal guards at his command, he could no longer control the situation, which is what we had hoped for when we had talked about someone calling the challenge. What we had not decided was who should call the challenge, and we did know that we had only some of the elements for the challenge to actually happen. We knew Seeker Eshana had the Book of Rules, and Da had the small box he had brought back from the Shadow Islands, but none of us had known Master Clarisse was a member of the Høyttaier clan, or what else would be needed. It was only now that I had begun to realize what a very loose and incomplete plan had been cobbled together. We were not out of the woods yet.
Lord Hadrack, who had been quiet up to this point, stood up and addressed the Regent. “It would seem a challenge has been called which has great weight and tradition in Sommerhjem, and it has been called by the one who has, by more recent custom, more right to rule than you. Any way you look at it, your term as Regent has expired. I would think you would embrace the Gylden Sirklene challenge, since it leaves the door open to the possibility that your rule could continue should you win the challenge.”
There were many shouts of yeas and nays coming from the assembled crowd, which I noticed had grown bigger. Word must have left the Well of Speaking and spread through the fair, for more and more folks were crowding in to listen. The Regent must have realized that his original plans for this day and beyond were not going to happen. Always the opportunist, he replied to Lord Hadrack’s statement.
“I concede the Gylden Sirklene challenge has been called, and the lost Book of Rules has made a timely appearance along with someone who can read it. I would suggest we adjourn this assembly and retire to the palace so that I and my advisors, along with the Princess and this member of the Høyttaier clan, can study this Book of Rules and determine what to do next. Captain,” said the Regent referring to the head of the elite royal guards, “would you be so kind as to escort the Princess, the seeker, and the member of the Høyttaier clan out of here and take charge of the Book of Rules?”
“Thank you for your kind offer, but I must decline,” the Princess stated quite emphatically. “I think those gathered here are just as interested in what this book has to say as you and I are, so I think I’ll stay put here as well as the book.”
“I really must insist, Your Highness, if for no other reason than your safety and well being.”
“You really have no grounds to insist on at this moment, and I think the royal guards who surround me now are more than capable of seeing to my well being and safety, so once again we are at a stand off. I suggest we let this member of the Høyttaier clan, Master Clarisse, take a look at the Book of Rules and see if she can read it.”
“How do we know she even knows the language in the book or that what she would read is in truth what is written down?”
“The Høyttaier clan was charged with keeping the knowledge of the ancient language so far back in time that no one to this day can tell you the origin of the language, or why it was to be kept a secret. What I can tell you is that I began to learn how to read, write, and speak this ancient tongue as a very young lass, as did my siblings and my cousins. We are charged with teaching what we know to our children.”
“Yes, yes, that’s all very nice that you learned at your mother’s knee. How touching, but even if that is true, it still begs the question, is what she would read in truth what is written down?”
Once again, there was a great deal of discussion going on among the large crowd assembled, and it was clear that the opinion was divided and getting louder and more contentious.
“If I may address the assembly,” said what appeared to be a disembodied voice, and many of us looked around to see where it was coming from.
I noticed Seeker Eshana bend down and heard him ask someone permission for something. When he straightened, he had Shueller on his shoulder high above the surrounding folks.
“Thank you, Seeker Eshana. As I said, if I may address the assembly, I think I can resolve the problem of truth.” Suddenly all eyes were on Shueller, who even though he was sitting on Seeker Eshana’s shoulder and should have looked somewhat ridiculous, looked instead calmly dignified. “It is obvious I am a rover by my dress, but I am also quite apparently a man of the Günnary, a clan known for the mining and the seeking of rare gems. One of the rarest of the stones we have found is that stone known simply as a truth stone. No one knows why or how the properties of the stone work, but if in contact with someone who is truthful, the stone stays inert. However, if someone holding the stone tells an untruth, the stone sparks what some have described as akin to what they think a really small piece of lightening might feel like, thus the holder has a great deal of trouble continuing to hold the stone. Perhaps, Regent you would wish to test the properties of the stone yourself? I have one with me.”
“Ah, well, that might not be the most convincing demonstration, since I would certainly, well, since I am, well, it would be better if we picked several folks out of the crowd at random to, ah, um, test this stone out.”
I guess I could understand why the Regent was nervous about handling a truth stone, considering what he probably had to hide. In the end, it was determined that the captain of the regular royal guards and the captain of the elite royal guards would each pick one member from their patrols and a set of general questions would be asked such as name, rank, known favorite food, age, and color of hair. To the question of their name they were to answer truthfully, along with rank. As to the other three questions, they were to try to lie. It became clear to the assembly quickly that lying when holding the stone Shueller set in their hands was painful, and both the regular royal guard and the elite royal guard did not seem very happy answering the last three questions with lies.
Since it was now established that Master Clarisse could be held to the truth by holding the truth stone, she asked for the Book of Rules from the royal librarian, took the truth stone from Shueller, and carefully opened the Book of Rules to the first page. When she had finished reading the first several pages, the silence in the Well of Speaking was so complete that even the gulls flying overhead had ceased their crying.