Rebellion: The Gospel of the Keeper

By Patrick Heffernan

In Botusia, the realm is always ruled by the queen, and the gods in Botusia have long since ruled she has a commoner as her Keeper and Protector when she is the heir-princess at womanhood. Princess Elinia has just reached womanhood and the gods have anointed the stable-hand Artolo to be her Keeper. Soon, a rebellion is fomented in a duchy and Elinia and Artolo discover love and passion, and experience war and bravery and all the cruel kindnesses of the gods.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Patrick Heffernan
• Release date: Aug 21, 2011
• ISBN: 9781466121546

Patrick Heffernan

Patrick Heffernan lives with his family in the Houston-Galveston area. He is hard at work on more new novels.

Book preview

The Gospel of the Keeper

Book One

Rebellion

By Patrick Heffernan

Copyright © 2011 Patrick Heffernan

Cover image used under creative commons license from Flickr user Leszek.Leszczynsk

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Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Thirty

ONE

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The night Princess Elinia was born was a night that was long remembered, and almost all who bore witness to it thought the night ominous. Some saw it as good and powerful omen, but others saw it as dark and demonic. It was talked about often for many years to come as Elinia grew from baby to toddler to girl and on into her stages of womanhood. She was born in the dead of winter, and it came a fierce blizzard. Well, this was nothing particularly noteworthy. Late winter was always a brutal and fierce time, and blizzards in the season were not at all out of the ordinary.

But lightning, especially the fierce lightning that accompanied this storm … that was an entirely different matter altogether. The lightning struck several buildings, which burned to the ground, and in the palatial city of Okon, forty people that night would lose their lives to the storm. Outside Okon, in an ancient monastery, the thirteen oracles of the realm were in conclave, discerning the meaning of this storm with relation to the birth of the princess. Queen Arula had a rough time of it, and had undergone an emotionally difficult pregnancy since the death of her husband and Elinia’s father, King Juriah. Juriah was on a seaborne venture when the ship he was on caught fire. Survivors reported that he fought the fire bravely, putting his sailors and the captain onto rescue boats. He apparently thought he had more time, time enough to get on his own boat, when a huge wave rose up. It put out the fire, but destroyed the vessel, and Juriah was lost at sea.

This didn’t cause a great problem in the realm, because its leadership, by ancient Holy Writ, was matrilineal. The Queen was the absolute ruler of the land, and upon her death, her eldest daughter became queen. But the Holy Writings also laid out laws for the princesses of the realm and their raising. As the oracles in the monastery contemplated these laws and the Books of Secret Writ, they knew that tumultuous times were in store for the entire realm of Botusia. The Elder Oracle reluctantly stood and went into the catacombs of the ancient monastery, and returned bearing a small oaken chest that was ancient when this monastery was the brainchild of a priest and builder over a thousand years ago.

As the midwife tied off the cord and cut it with a silver knife, a ball of lightning formed high in the sky, straight above the castle, and thirteen bolts of lightning shot out from it. Whether the gods approved her birth or denounced it would be an item up for discussion for many long years to come, but all knew such a storm bore Holy Tidings of some sort.

The oracles noted this, and their Elder opened the chest with an ancient key, and took from it a clay cylinder that had been sealed ten generations before the oaken chest was crafted by a long-forgotten artisan. Nervously, the Elder Oracle set the cylinder on the table and uttered a fervent prayer before striking it soundly with the key and shattering it. Within was a perfectly preserved scroll, that some would say was written by the hands of the gods themselves. The Elder opened it, and she read from it to her companions.

Yes, fascinating and tumultuous times were on the horizon for the realm of Botusia, and its young princess Elinia.

TWO

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The first seventeen years of Elinia’s life weren’t particularly noteworthy. She had her good days and her bad days as she received her education from the finest tutors in all of Botusia. She enjoyed a good relationship with Arula and her consort Jeth, who had instantly stepped back into his role from the instant Juriah was reported lost at sea.

Jeth was an interesting man with an interesting story. Shockingly, on Arula’s eighteenth birthday, she had named him her consort. A cooper’s apprentice in the village, he was unlikely to have become her friend, much less someone of vast importance in the Royal Court, but then Arula’s mother, Queen Tanda, had by her side her consort Tindo, who had remained at her side from her own eighteenth birthday until she was wed to King Avistinio.

It had been such a long-standing custom that the queen gained a consort from the working class that few seemed to give it much attention. And so, when Elinia started learning to ride and seemed to have befriended a number of young men around the palace in relatively menial jobs, nobody took much notice of it.

On Elinia’s eighteenth birthday, she acquired her womanhood, and with it, certain rights and privileges. Among matters of her birthright, she inherited ten slaves to provide certain services for her. One of the slaves, a girl named Vina, came to the princess’ displeasure. In and of itself, Vina didn’t do anything terrible or malicious, but she was nervous and clumsy around her new mistress, and dropped a tray in the princess’ chamber. The tray was dented, and would have to be repaired by a silversmith, but Elinia was drunk on her new powers and authority, and had Vina dragged into the sitting room of her apartment in the palace, then stripped the poor girl, and personally whipped her until the girl passed out from blood loss.

Word spread all about the palace, and wherever Elinia went that day, people didn’t look at her, and any who could found business elsewhere in the palace or village, far from the reach of her whip. That afternoon, in the mood for a ride, she went to the stables where she met Artolo, the stable hand. She bid him ready a horse for her, and he glared daggers at her.

I heard what you did to Vina up there, he said balefully.

Yes, and if you don’t want to suffer that same fate, you’ll shut your mouth and ready my horse, she exclaimed. Before she could register what had happened, he grasped her in a rough and work-hardened hand, and shoved her toward a post, facing it, then used rawhide thongs to tie her hands, and fetched a quirt and began furiously lashing her back while she threatened him, and finally screamed and cried, begging to be set free.

Go, then, he said, untying her.

Humiliated and hurting, she dashed up to her mother’s apartment, and entered without knocking, storming into her mother’s bedroom. She reported in a fury what that impudent ass of a stable-hand had done to her while the queen listened impassively. Her face was unreadable as she sent a footman to retrieve the stable boy.

Twenty minutes later, they returned. Artolo still looked defiant, the queen noted with an inward smile, remembering a long-ago Jeth in the cooper’s shop. Leave us, Arula ordered her footmen, slaves and staff. The only ones allowed in here are the princess, the stable hand, Jeth and the queen. She’d already sent another footman for Jeth, who arrived a moment later.

I think he should hang, tomorrow, in the palace courtyard, Elinia said, after he’s dragged through town and horsewhipped in front of every tavern!

Well, that’s why it’s good that you’re not the queen, Arula said idly. She turned her attention to Artolo. Your name, young master?

Artolo, he said. I am the son of Dantho.

So you’re the one, Arula said, more to herself than anyone else. Jeth, meanwhile, slid a trunk from beneath the throne, and unlocked it, producing an ancient book.

Elinia, Artolo fulfills a prophecy for every princess of the realm since the days of Queen Culla and her daughter, Princess Fariane, the queen said. You know the Holy Writ well enough, but some of the Holy Writ was reserved strictly to the queen and the oracles.

Jeth opened the book and looked at Elinia. Much of this book will be taught you in times soon to come, he said. I’m going to read to you from the Gospel of the Keeper.

THREE

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In the days of Queen Culla, tumult and turmoil enveloped the realm. Culla had consorted with demons to extend her power, having not the wisdom to know the price demons require. The realm was cast into war. Brother against brother, fathers against sons, mothers against daughters. There was great misery and famine over the land.

The gods’ patience was tried, and the gods pitied the subjects of the realm and sent their messenger Anthos to face the queen, and her scarcely less wicked daughter. The gods decreed that the demons had caused the gods to curse the line of the throne, and that every princess of the realm would be assigned by the gods a keeper.

To humble the queens, to teach and remind them that they ruled by the gods’ favor over the common folk, it was decreed that the keeper of the princess, to be the keeper of the queen, would be a man of humble stock. While the queen shall hold sway over the subjects of the kingdom, her keeper shall be the queen’s lawgiver, and she shall be ever subject to his law. Such is the decree of the gods.

Princess Fariane rebelled against the law of the gods, who were weary of her wickedness, and cast her way far to the south. Never again was she seen in the realm, and the gods called forth Chinda, sister of Culla, and named her princess of the realm. Chinda, knowing the gods’ decree, asked, How will I know my keeper?

"He shall reveal himself to you before the moon is full," Anthos decreed. And ten days from then, Chinda grew angry in the village and decided to beat a villager. The blacksmith Ginlo stopped her, angry with her abuses, and whipped her before the entire village. Chinda’s guard rode in and arrested him, and bound him, then prepared to hang him from a tree in the village, when Anthos appeared.

"Release this man at once, Anthos commanded, or be doomed to Fariane’s fate! Know ye all that this man is to be Chinda’s keeper, until the end of her days. And know ye that every princess shall be granted a keeper who proves no fear of her on the day she reaches her womanhood, now and always. Such is the law of the gods."

"And Ginlo was freed, and was a hard keeper for Chinda, who ruled wisely and well for all her days."

Since then, the Line of the Keeper has been unbroken, the queen said to her daughter. Artolo holds no fear of you. If anything, he sees you, rightly, with contempt and scorn. Jeth bent me over a barrel and beat me with a stave the day of my womanhood, and so it’s gone every generation since Queen Chinda. You do know that Chinda is not your grandmother, yes?

I know well the lineage and its interruptions. Queen Wotla had no daughter, and her sister’s daughter Ariena became queen. Ariena’s line ended with Yorrana, whose grand-niece Herna became queen. Herna’s granddaughter Unevivea likewise had no daughter, nor sisters, and a distant relative became queen Loffota, who is our grandmother some ten generations gone, Elinia said, looking peeved.

They all had daughters, her mother said. "As will you, because such is the gods’ decree. Wotla had a daughter who refused her keeper, and Anthos came from Beyond to cast her from the realm. Yorrana’s daughter Uba tried to have her keeper killed by her guard, and the next morning was struck by Holy Lightning. Unevivea’s daughter was Jeralla, who also didn’t heed this gospel. She refused her keeper despite the pleas of her mother and all the oracles. She likewise disappeared, maybe to live out Fariane’s fate in the south.

I tell you this because you can indeed refuse your keeper, Arula continued. You will do so at enormous risk, the least consequence would be my banishment of you, which I will do today if you refuse Artolo. He shall live out his life without consequence, and my cousin Chera will become queen.

You wouldn’t, Elinia hissed.

The queen merely looked at Jeth and nodded, and Jeth produced a scroll from the chest and handed it to the princess, who gaped as she read it. It was indeed an order of banishment, lacking only the queen’s signature and seal.

Artolo, tell us when you were born, the queen ordered.

Majesty, I’m told I was born the night the princess was born, Artolo said. My mother told me many bolts of lightning burst forth as the midwife cut the cord.

As was Jeth, and every keeper, Arula said. All were born at the exact moment of the princesses who became their charges. Elinia, before you ask how long you have to decide, I’m going to answer that question, the very same way my mother answered me, and her mother before her. You will leave my apartment either bound to your keeper, or to a carriage that will take you far out of the realm. If you’ll look out the window there, you’ll see a heavy guard surrounding a carriage. Refuse Artolo, and you’ll be gone instantly. I don’t think that will save you, to be honest. But it’s all I have to offer.

So to be queen, I have to be subject to an unlettered and unwashed stable hand, she raged.

I have my letters, Artolo said hotly. I learned how to read and do figures from my mother, and even from the priests! He was gearing up to really upbraid her when the queen interrupted.

And any of us can bathe, she said. Jeth knew neither how to read nor write, and could barely do his sums when he became my keeper. And he interviewed every tutor you’ve ever known. Your arrogance … just like mine when I was your age … is the very reason you need Artolo. Womanhood for you means your decisions can often have lifelong results, all the more so as princess and eventually queen. Decide, or I’ll decide for you.

Majesty, may I decide to simply leave, Artolo asked. I whipped her because I despise her, and I’m hardly desirous of keeping her the rest of my days. Neither do I desire to be anywhere near this palace. I should prefer to leave Okon, perhaps even Botusia.

I didn’t want to be Arula’s keeper, Jeth answered for the queen. There are still times I’d be glad to leave it. I even tried once. I got to the edge of the village and my horse kept going. I didn’t. It was as though I’d plowed into a wall. I’m afraid your die is cast, lad. But it’s mostly a good life. The gods grant us a certain surprising wisdom in our dealings with our charges. The gods don’t ask us what we want, Artolo. You’ll learn soon enough that they simply tell us what will be.

I see, Artolo said, deflating.

Not yet, but you will, Jeth answered. With a bit of trial and testing, I’ve learned that the gods will allow me to be no further than one league from the queen.

What’s involved in accepting him, Elinia asked at length.

A special ceremony to be done tonight, Arula said. Jeth, will you prepare Artolo and see that he’s ready by sunfall?

Of course, Majesty, Jeth said, and escorted Artolo from the queen’s apartments. He walked the lad across the castle to the south wing and into an apartment on the second floor. The apartment was spacious and comfortable, easily four times the size of the hovel where Artolo had been born and raised, and probably ten times the size of the little hut he rented three leagues from the palace now.

Princess Elinia’s apartment is identical to this one, directly above you, Jeth said. This will be your home … well, for the rest of your days, I expect, although Elinia may well move to her mother’s apartment when she becomes queen, in which case you’d get my apartment directly beneath her.

You’d just be cast out, Artolo asked.

No, Jeth said in a sad tone. The keeper’s fate is bound to his charge, Artolo. No keeper has ever outlived his queen by more than an hour.

What of the girl she whipped so harshly, Artolo asked.

The queen has the girl being treated by her own physician, Jeth told Artolo, not adding that this had been only at Jeth’s insistence. Once she has healed, the girl is to be given her freedom and a sum of gold, along with a monthly stipend. It’s little recompense for a girl who’s unmarriageable, but she’ll not starve.

Unmarriageable, Artolo asked, surprised.

She comes from a duchy to the east of us, Jeth explained. They have odd customs, and one of those is that a woman who has traveled from the duchy may return, but may marry none from the duchy.

She cannot go elsewhere, Artolo asked.

In reality, no, Jeth answered gravely. Just then, a cluster of people entered the apartment. One of them used a cord and measured Artolo all over, penning notes with a quill. A proper suit for tonight would be ready in two hours, the tailor promised, and two more suits on the morrow, with a complete wardrobe within the fortnight. Another man measured Artolo’s feet, and took his own notes. He was the Queen’s Cobbler, he explained, and promised one pair of serviceable shoes to arrive with the first suit, and several other pairs in days to come. Two footmen went into a chamber off the bedroom, and Artolo asked Jeth who they were and what they were doing.

They’re your footmen, he said. Right now, it is to be hoped they’re preparing a bath for you, and one of them will give your hair a cut and shave you.

I can shave myself, Artolo objected. I’ve been doing it five years now.

The Keeper is part of the royal staff, Jeth told him. Your footmen would be shamed and would think they displease you if they’re not allowed to attend your needs.

I wonder if I took a stallion at full gallop if it would just kill me one league out, Artolo groused.

I was at full gallop, Jeth said. I’m afraid it didn’t even cause pain. I landed on my feet, and was still bound to the queen. Sit for a while with me, Artolo. We have much to discuss before your bath is ready.

Shocking Elinia, her mother walked the princess to the apartment directly above Artolo’s. Her whole life, she had never known her mother to have visited the south wing, and certainly never her apartment. We have preparations to make, Arula said in a kind tone. I know you’re unhappy, Elinia, and I won’t try to put a pretty face on this. I felt the same as you when Jeth came into my own life. Sometimes I still hate him when he inflicts his discipline on me. But the laws of the gods are unchanging, and we cannot resist or defy them. Your maids will be along soon to prepare a bath for you, and the tailor has prepared a dress for you on my orders.

Yes, Mother, Elinia answered.

Tonight, you undergo the Ritual of the Keeper, administered by the oracles at their monastery, Arula said. I need to tell you what the Ritual is, and what will happen, and what is to be expected of you.

FOUR

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That night, precisely at sunset, the queen and princess and their keepers entered a plain carriage. They rode without guard to the monastery, where Queen Arula, following the ancient ritual, rang the bell four times, then took four steps back. A moment later, the heavy oaken-and-iron-strap door opened, and a black-robed figure stepped out. She was hooded and her face was not visible, and Artolo became frightened, wondering if this was a specter, an unholy demon come to devour them.

Who comes here, the oracle asked in a quavering voice. She was over one hundred years old, and had been a young adept serving an oracle when Arula’s grandmother was bound to her keeper, had been one of the Thirteen when Arula’s mother was bound to her keeper Walstoro, and the Second Oracle when Arula was bound to Jeth. Now, she was the Elder Oracle, the oldest and wisest of the thirteen, and in that role had read the disturbing prophecies at Elinia’s birth,