Family Reunion (80 page)

Once married – Princess or not, her place was behind her lord. She could feel Manny's thoughts, the way he would see all that was taking place.

Catamon swallowed deeply, he did not care to give this white man
the prominence that was his through marriage, as his sister's lord but until King LuMaden corrected the matter, he had no choice but to make sure his position as her ruler was recognized.

Something uncomfortable within Manny rose to see Lena humbled, stepping behind him, this was a different world where his thoughts meant nothing. He knew he must accept their traditions; she was his wife, out of proper respect for him, honor was his if she appeared submissive and meek, accepting his headship over her. Manny must now face her brother without her between them.

The two men faced off as Catamon took in his form of dress, his white shirt, frilled collar, ruffled sleeves, black breeches, calf high boots and a sash fitting across his chest. The physical strength of the man was clear to see, such a physique was only sported by men of labor, not of the elite. This confused Catamon to see arms so thickly muscled. Although he and his men were similar in stature it was common with their physical training, so he could only wonder what sort of warrior this man was and from what world.

He thought he might be a pirate, with his hair cut as it was, short on the top and sides, long in the back and held in place with a black ribbon. The hard, square rugged features, the scar on his face, the moustache, tanned skin and long sideburns made Manny look every part the pirate; an earring in one ear finished off the look. As Catamon inspected him, he was not what his father had disdainfully described as an aristocrat.

"Maynard Ramsey Webster, are you aware that the woman you have claimed as your wife is our very own Princess Ceś alena?" Catamon asked with firmness.

"Very much aware, Catamon." Manny responded in equal strength of voice.

"I see, so her return and the outcome will hold for you no surprises." He replied. Manny's brow drew in, concerned, "We have journeyed here for one reason only and that is so that my wife may once again see her father. So that her father, King LuMaden knows that she is well. There is no other outcome." Manny informed him, just as the other two boats came ashore. With the nod, Catamon would not dispute his words; instead he turned to witness the disembarking people of the remaining two boats. To his surprise, from the second rose a man almost the size of Maynard Webster, looks clearly showing that he was his son. They wore equal colors, though the bottom half of the sash's color announced him as being a child of Ceś alena – once more, Catamon was stunned that she had been with this man for some time and had bore him a son.

From the boat, he assisted a woman
heavy with child as well as other children. The final boat came beside them and another young man appeared wearing colors indicating that he too was the son of Maynard and Ceś alena. Two sons! One by one, those who were family to Manny and Lena gathered before him. Looking them all over, Catamon's eyes came to rest on the young woman he knew was child to his sister. This one almost caused him to smile; she seemed reluctant to move behind the man whom was obviously her lord and looked very much like many of the original natives from the island, only a bit taller.

Lena looked over at her daughter praying she would glance her way, she'd forgotten to explain the way of her people. Finally, Hope did turn eyes to her mother, she had fire in her eyes and words on the tip of her tongue about to spurt forth when Lena's eyes widened in warning and she jerked her head sharply for Hope to come to her.

Joseph smiled, enjoying the customs of the island and crossed his arms across his chest as his wife learned her place. Hope, biting into her lip, grudgingly moved closer to her mother. As soon as she was close enough, Lena reached out from behind Manny and snatched her daughter close to her.

Catamon had to glance away to keep his expression passive, but already he could see in her, her mother. As a young girl Ceś alena also had a rebelling spirit against things she felt unfair, but his mother's strict rule over her kept her in line. Now her daughter's fire seemed to burn a bit hotter and might not be so easily cooled. Manny closed his eyes, hiding a grin at hearing Lena whisper behind him.

"Now Hope, I want you to listen to me-…"

"Why are you standing behind daddy like this, with your-…" Hope started.

"Hope! Be quiet, and listen. Ah ah ah! Listen little girl, here, things are not as you'd like them to be-…"

"Well that's for certain! I can tell all-…"

"Hope! Don't you dare cut me off again young lady! Now, while we are here, you must understand that men rule all. Therefore you must...must - keep your opinions to yourself! Speak only when spoken to! Hope! Let me finish…you must appear completely and totally submissive to your husband.
If
- you don't…here - he will be looked at as less than a man and not worthy of any respect if he does not have
yours
. Now please, be good, be quiet and remain behind your husband – at least in public before others."

A pained expression came across Hope's face. "Hope, I don't like the look in your eyes, promise me!"

With her bottom lip growing in
size, Hope leaned back away from her mother past her father's thick arm to look at her Uncle. The look she gave him was almost his undoing; he quickly snatched his eyes away, staring back at Manny who shrugged with a grin of apology. "Hope!" Lena snatched her back. "Oooh, I concede, but know this, I don't like it! Standing at his back like some witless-…"

"Hope!"

"I said - I'll be good." She promised, but the look on her face said loud and clear she was not at all happy with the arrangement, stepping over to her husband, she forgot already. Joseph looked down at her, clearing his throat and lifting a brow, nodding behind him for his wife to go there. Hope scowled but moved behind him, entertaining fantasies of kicking him in the rear.

With a sigh, Catamon allowed himself to smile at Manny, he too had a daughter exhibiting traits of independent thinking; with a nod he spoke up, "I see Maynard Webster, you too are cursed with an impetuous daughter."

Manny nodded, "Yes, she is that, her spirit is bigger than her being, our good fortune is that she has the proper head to deal with it."

Hope was on fire as she turned to look at Maria standing behind Mike, Maria put her finger to her lips, beseeching Hope to remain calm.

"I sure hope so. She is young, in time she will learn her proper place." Manny added.

Hope’s audible "Hmph!" was charitably ignored, even though Lena glared her displeasure.

"Maynard Ramsey Webster-…"

"Manny will be fine." He corrected Catamon, who nodded. "Very well, Manny - as for you and your family, you are welcome to our Island, our home. However, such a visit was not expected, therefore enough litters to carry your entire family to the palace are not present. Only two within the village are close by to carry your women and children."

Quickly at his word, eight of his warriors took off to fetch them.

Awaiting their return, Manny turned motioning some of his family forward, introducing each of them, Mike, Rory, Esteban, Papo, Felix and his son in-law Joseph. All of the women and girls were ignored. Hope thought she would burst into flames, as the men went into a brief polite discussion concerning her father's ships.

"The ships out upon the waters, they are also yours?" Catamon asked. "Yes they are, perhaps during our visit, you would like to see one up close?" Manny invited. "Perhaps." Catamon returned, having already seen many up close.

Just then his men returned with the litters. Lena, Sandra and Celina
were loaded on one - Maria, Hope and Lolita on the other and they were off, tracking through the thick jungle following a well worn path. Thirty minutes later, they reached the village and fifteen minutes after that, they reached the base of the hill where the palace sat high above the Island, the rest of the way the women would have to travel on foot.

* * *

"What news yah'bring this time boy! Calm'yah breatin'! I won't hav'yah pass out b'fore I know! Quickly now, speak up!" Austeao ordered the anxiously gasping youth.

"I go back to da'village … all is a buzz!!"

"A'buzz! What'yah talkin'bout?!" Austeao asked impatiently.

"Princess Ceś alena! She returns! A big white man ... he bring her ... she wear his colors! King LuMaden mus' know! His daughter lives ... she lives I tell'yah!"

With her hand to her heart, Austeao stood out on the second level of the palace balustrade where the young boy led her. With wide eyes she watched the approach of the princess as those from the village followed not far behind calling out her name,
"Princess Ceś alena! Princess Ceś alena! Princess Ceś alena!"
because all had been certain that they would never see her again; her greatness had risen in their eyes.

Gathering on the balustrade all around her were the servants, concubines and children of LuMaden, all eagerly waiting for their first glimpse of their returning Princess; all calling out her name and eagerly bowing before her, many in tears to see her again. Manny and his children could not believe what they were hearing and seeing.

The palace was built with three tiers in a pyramid like arrangement.

The base level was the largest, with each level decreasing as it went up. At every level there was a railing surrounding the external portico, where one could stand and see almost every point of the Island from the palaces high vantage point. Wide stone steps were embedded into the hillside with tropical flowers growing up beside them, leading the way to the primary entrance of the sun porch and into the interior of the palace.

Princess
Ceś
alena was given the lead ahead of her family, at the base of the hill, those from the village stood watching her ascend, calling out her name she could not ignore them, from time to time she stopped, waved and smiled at them and then carried on. All those surrounding Austeao gasped as the truth of the rumor was validated by her steady ascent.

Like wild fire, word of her return spread,
low murmurs broke out among the women who gaped, pointing at the white man who followed her, as well the others in their party said to be her children. They all knew they only need look at the sashes for the rapid fire rumor to be confirmed.

Lena climbed, inhaling the heady fragrances of the tropical flowers that grew in abundance surrounding her father's palace. Having been away so long, she'd forgotten the shear immensity of it. The entire palace was made of white glistening stone, an octagon structure with ninety pillars divided up into forty columns on the base level, thirty on the second and twenty on the top.

Each level was decorated with marble floors, brass and ivory inlays adorning the massive double doors, massive vase pots and palm trees decorated each enormous portico on every level. From the first level to the next level up were inner stairs, clinging to the walls going either way out on the portico or within the walls of the palace; which housed missionary teachers and the king’s English adviser. Located on each level, at the rear of the palace was a huge pool for the bathing of the concubines and their children. Only the king and his daughter the Princess had a private pool within their quarters.

Rory and Esteban both ascended the stairs in awe, puffing out their chests at the sight of so many young girls who had followed from the village; many giggling and pointing at them admiringly.

"Esteba-a-an, there's enough girls here to keep us wallowing in women to the end of our lives." Rory spoke softly to his nephew and friend. Esteban shook his head. "I don't think your father would approve, nor my own." Esteban responded, still a virgin but not for long if Rory had anything to do with it. "What's there to approve? Stevie, Stevie – I insist before we leave this island that you gain first hand knowledge of the wonders of women. Did you see'em, the way they looked at us, I'm telling you, we're right where we belong. Oooh the fun we're going have!" He muttered in heavenly bliss. Esteban cut his uncle a sideways glance, certain that he was well on the road to being a licentious rogue.

Hope was so stunned, all she could do was murmur softly, "Oh my God."

Sandra was amazed at the splendor but was not at all surprised. What her eyes beheld was easy for her to believe when it came to Lena.

Mike, attentive to his wife's careful climb only smiled, shooting glances at his father as they went up. And Manny, who walked before Catamon as he followed his wife, felt himself burn with shame. He had never imagined the importance and truth of her words spoken so long ago in the warehouse.

"What must I do to make you listen to me?! I am Princess Ce
ś alena!"
That day; and all the ones following, played out in his mind. To at last see the grandeur of her previous lifestyle, the actual extent of her wealth, it suddenly occurred to him, his wife had married below her station. How could she have so easily accepted her lowered lot in life? His guts twisted when it also occurred to him that he had taken someone like her and reduced her to his backyard bed-wench. Sadness gripped him, overwhelming horror registered at the thought that people such as she, who once lived free in their own kingdoms or worlds, whether as opulent as this or not, were brought down to such a lowly state of poverty - by those like himself. Manny wondered what price would have to be paid for such a crime. He thought about those at Webster Fields and other plantations, what damage had occurred by enslaving such a people, whom if observed, had dreams and aspirations no less than his own? How was such a proud people ever to recover their dignity, and he found himself wondering,
'God Amighty, how can this be reversed?'
Suddenly all the pride he once held now fell at his feet. Looking at the world of King LuMaden, Manny understood that he was not the only man to have grown an empire.