The Gypsy Queen (10 page)

  Bastion led
Yana
and the horses towards the city gates. They had work to do.

“Heh,” Pook said. “Look at this,” he said to his fellow gatekeeper, Gumi. Gumi shuffled over and peered out, seeing Bastion and
Yana
headed towards them, and the city gates. “Did you see them go out?” Gumi asked. “Nope. Musta been on your watch,” said Pook.

  “Well if I’d have seen them leave the city on my watch, I wouldn’t have asked you!” Gumi said.

  “Maybe if you hadn’t lost the telescope, you’d have seen them!”
Pook retorted.

  “Maybe if I’d have smashed it over your head, I’d have some peace and quiet around here!” said Gumi.

  Pook ignored the remark, and looked out on Bastion and
Yana
as they entered the city. “Something tells me that ‘peace and quiet’ is gonna be in short supply,” he said. Gumi grunted agreement, as he watched them pass.

Bastion brought the horses to the King’s livery, and
Yana
rushed in to see her horse. Kuta was looking beautiful, brushed out and likely well-fed, she figured. All the horses were back home, and the stable was active with workers tending to them, and making preparations.
Yana
whispered kindly to her horse in Romany, while Bastion was talking with someone. She looked over. It seemed it might be somebody important, from the looks of him. They looked over at her, and the two of them made their way to
Yana
and her horse.

  “Hello Miss Gypsy,” the man with Bastion said. His demeanor was friendly.

  “
Yana
, this is Otta, the King’s administrator, and my uncle,” Bastion clarified.
Yana
had heard of him.

  “Hello Otta,” she said, extending her hand in a gypsy greeting. He took it perfectly, as he was well-versed in diplomacy and culture.

  “We are pleased to see you in
Jedikai
,” Otta said. “Welcome.”

  “Thank you,” she answered.

  “Bastion has advised me of your news,” Otta said. “We are underway to give you every possible preparation for the Lower Reach.”

 
Yana
liked him. “Thank you,” she said again. “I hope we can put an end to these attacks.”

  “Aye. The people of the city are restless because of it. I imagine the gypsies feel it even more.”

  “We do, sir,” he said.

  “I am pleased to see you among the riders. The people of
Jedikai
may not be too fond of gypsies, but I understand you have shown valor,” Otta said.

  “Valor can arrive or
depart
just as sure as a gypsy caravan,” she replied.
Yana
looked at Bastion. “Bastion lends his courage freely,” she said. “It seems to show up everywhere he goes.”
Speaking well of Bastion came easily to her just then. She liked how it felt.

  “Then perhaps he will accompany us to the palace,” said Otta, looking
Yana
directly in the eye. “The
King has requested your presence
.”

__________________________

The Gypsy Queen- CHAPTER 6- “Hall”

 
Yana
entered the gates to the palace, grateful for this opportunity. She feared the King, being a simple gypsy girl, but she did indeed feel bolstered by Bastion’s presence. She knew she was safe with him.

  The palace was an impressive place.
Yana
looked around wide-eyed at all the sights. The structures were beautiful and commanding, and the fine silks and boots of the people were appealing.
Yana
always loved to watch the people when they went into the various cities where they traveled and did business, peddling their wares- baskets, fruits, fortune-telling, and the entertainment of song and dance among them.

  The city people were friendly enough, on some occasions, especially if they hoped for a good fortune to be told them. Too often, though, the city people were cruel, calling the gypsies dirty or worthless, and accusing them of thievery.
Yana
was always amazed by that, knowing that some city folk were every bit the thieves that gypsies could be, only in a different way. The gypsy clans were simply people, and she did not like to see people mistreated for no reason... and that was what she was accustomed to in some of her forays into the cities.

 
Yana
tried to win them over with pleasant music and dancing, even getting them to clap or dance along with them when she could. Alas, the city folk had some cause for their disdain- many gypsies did run afoul of them, and do them harm. She wished she could redeem her
people, but
it seemed things would always be this way. This disparity was a reality, a disharmony much like the one within her.

 
Yana
often felt scattered, as wandering just seemed to have that effect on her. She felt unable to get clarity sometimes, though she had always found an element of beauty to the uncertainty that life presented her.

  She felt that way now, she realized, walking with Bastion into the palace. She tried to think straight- think of what she might say to the King, or what he might say to her. The palace was quite lovely, even down to the stones laden on the earth beneath her feet.

  She looked over at Bastion as they walked, prompting him to look back at her with a smile reminiscent of their time years ago. Oh,
Yana
thought, how she loved the look on that darling boy’s face. She reached out and held his hand, and allowed him to lead her into the throne room.

  It was grand, though not as cavernous as she might have guessed. The King was not on his throne, but standing to the left, tending to a small simple garden of common periwinkle.
Yana
counted seven big planters. The throne was ornate but not overly so. The throne room smelled faintly of lavender, and something familiar she couldn’t quite identify.

  The King turned to them as they walked in.
Yana
was taken aback by his resemblance to Bastion, though she might have expected it.
Yana
had never met his family, as the caravan she was with when she found him as a child avoided things like kings and princes. Authority was not the preferred company for gypsies.

  The King allowed them to approach, saying nothing. He was so pleased to see his son, and curious of t
he gypsy girl that walked with
him. He nodde
d to his son, and then looked
at
Yana
.

  “So,” the King boomed, startling
Yana
, “this is the gypsy girl causing so much trouble?”
Yana
’s mouth opened just a bit. He was suddenly quite menacing to her. “This is the one,” he continued, “that has interfered with our riders and warriors?” He looked at his brother Otta, who said nothing. “A mere gypsy girl, an intruder who might steal the shirt from my back if she could?” 

 
Yana
was horrified and infuriated. “Yes sir,” she announced as boldly as she could. “I might steal the crown too, were it not so tightly screwed down onto your head.”

  She fully expected to be struck down for her rebellious tone.

  The King burst into laughter. Soon he was short of breath, laughing so hard that his eyes watered, as Bastion and Otta joined in on the joke.

The King leaned on one of the planters, holding himself up as he laughed heartily.
Yana
was not amused. Finally, he was able to speak.

   “Come,” he motioned, “I must sit.” The King shuffled over to the throne, and settled down into it. The rest of them came over and stood before him.

  “Father,” Bastion said, “This is
Yana
. The one who saved me when I was struck by lightning.”

  “
Yana
,” the King nodded at her, “You are due my gratitude. You have it.”

 
Yana
smiled. “Thank you, sir
,
” she replied. “The Captain does seem to be worth saving, even if he is not a gypsy.”

  “Worth saving,” the King mused. “Just as the gypsies and others who have been taken,” he remarked.

  “Yes,” she replied. “I have fought for my people. Bastion fights bravely for his,” she added.

  “
Yana
, the people of the
kingdom
and the people who wander through it, they are both important. The freedom of us all is at stake.” The King said.

  “The gypsies have strived for freedom even in spite of your own
kingdom
, and your laws, sir.”
Yana
said.

  “Yes. There has always been a
rift between us
,” the King said. “We clash because our freedoms come in different forms,” he explained. “The gypsies are free as they roam, avoiding any rule of law. The people of the city, and the villages are free
because
of the rule of law.”

  “How can one be ruled over, and yet be free?”
Yana
asked.

  “Order and structure... rules... bring harmony. Harmony brings security. Security brings peace. Only in peace, can we be free.”

 
Yana
opened her mouth to refute the King, but could not. She had not been in peace herself, even before Bastion had come storming into her life. She felt restless, in chaos. No loyalty to any cause or purpose. She realized suddenly that she had not felt restless since she had been striving to help the people in trouble. Striving to help Bastion... felt good.

  “Security,” said
Yana
, “the gypsy people may never know security, because they have no harmony with the
gaje
. Even if we strike down the slave dealers, still we face conflict with the
k
ingdom
.

  “I cannot see how it could be otherwise. We do not accept rule of law from any land, and the laws always work against us.”

  “Or could it be,” asked the King, “that it is the gypsies that work against the law? “

  “We will not trade away our freedom, sir,” she said, “and so, we remain a people without a King or
kingdom
.”

  “One might say that you are not really free, if you are never at peace,” the King replied. “It has been my wish, during my time on this throne, to resolve this dilemma,” said the King. “Perhaps my son will succeed where I have not, one day.”

  That sent a chill through
Yana
. Bastion’s father, the King, seemed suited for the throne. Bastion, however... she just couldn’t picture it. She did not want to picture it. She loved riding with him, or sitting at a gypsy campfire with him. The palace looked as if it could be a sort of prison,
Yana
thought.

   “We will succeed in the Lower Reach, sir,”
Yana
offered.

   “Yes. The Lower Reach,” Otta spoke up again. “Even now, preparations are being made for your departure.”

  The King addressed Bastion and
Yana
. “You must succeed. These dangerous missions are good strategy, but dangerous nonetheless. What would have happened, my son, had
Yana
not helped you against the Moldavians?”

  “If she had not helped me, they would still be out there capturing people as slaves,” Bastion said.

  “If she had not helped you, you’d be dead. Then what would happen to the throne? The
kingdom
relies on us for leadership; they cannot afford to lose you-
I
could not bear to lose you,” he said.

  “Yes
,
Father. But I must do my job. I am a Captain,” he said.

  “We will talk later,” the King said. “
Yana
,” he said, turning to her, “I know you are a leader of your people. Tell me, where is your caravan?”

  “We are in the west meadows, sir,”
Yana
answered.

  “Ah yes. The west meadows. Do you have any conflicts with the people of
Jedikai
, down there?”

  “Conflicts, yes. None more than usual.”
Yana
said.

  The King turned to Otta. “Send a patrol to the edge of the west meadow, and see to it that the gypsies there are not harassed. Make sure they have what they need. Make sure they are protected while she serves with the riders.” Otta nodded.

  “I am most grateful sir,”
Yana
said. She had taken offense upon meeting the King, as he seemed prejudiced towards gypsies like the rest of
Jedikai
. Now she wouldn’t have to worry about her caravan.