Thalia - The New Generation

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Thalia: The New Generation - book excerpt

Chapter 1: The New Maca of Ishner

“Have ye called in the ones who do the maintenance here?” Daniel asked Ishmael, his newly appointed Counselor of Ishner.

“Aye, Maca, but they refused,” replied Ishmael.

Daniel seemed to expand beyond his nearly seven-foot height. “Did they refuse because I am male?”

Ishmael flinched. “Aye, all those appointed by the Sisterhood are still in place.”

It was the morning after the Council of the Realm had sentenced the false Maca of Ishner, Ilyan, to a life of being an Ab. The Council then had her parents stripped of power in Ishner. Daniel had challenged all to deny him the title of Maca at the riots in Port Issac of Ishner. None had dared to take up the Challenge or deny that he was the Maca of Ishner. None of the Council of the Realm had challenged him either. Daniel wondered if those members of the Ishner Sisterhood left free after the riots had regained their courage.

“Tis there nay else to call to do the painting here and at the Maca’s home?”

“The Director of the City of Iconda tis Ilvina. She may ken who to call.” Ishmael’s voice sounded doubtful.

“Tis there nay a crew to maintain the city’s buildings?” Daniel hadn’t had time to check Ishner’s finances, but had a hunch they were in disarray. He was dressed in his Warrior’s suit of black as there were no teal clothing for someone his size on Ishner. Ishnerites tended to be slighter and shorter than the rest of the Thalians. They were normally around six-foot or an inch or two taller or less.

“Tis she also part of the Sisterhood?” Daniel asked.

“Well, aye, like all others in power, she tis female and probably one of those that agrees with the Sisterhood, to have been appointed to such a position.”

“If all in power are the Sisterhood, why did the Troopers leave them when they did their sweep of Ishner?”

Ishmael shrugged. “Maca, Ishner tis like Medicine. The Justine War left the Sisterhood entrenched in both Houses. Some say Rurhran tis just as bad.”

Daniel’s face became grim. “Very well, rescind the right of the entire Maintenance crew to the homes where they live and the rights to their flivs. Then make up a list of those that might be willing and competent to accept the employment. I shall contact Ilvina. If she tis the same way, have a list ready for those that would serve as Director of Iconda and the other two cities.”

He touched the screen and brought up the listing for city directors. “Either way, there will be a meeting this afternoon with all the city directors, whoever they might be.” He touched the face of the one called Ilvina.

The screen showed the broad face of a female Thalian that looked to be nearing three hundred years as there were slight wrinkles around the mouth and dark eyes. She appeared puzzled as she recognized Daniel.

Daniel’s voice rumbled out as though he were addressing his space crew. “I have just fired the maintenance crew for the Maca’s Tower and stripped them of their homes and flivs. I still need painters here and at the Maca’s home. My counselor to be, JoAnne, Lass of Ayran, will attend them at the Maca’s home and instruct them as to what we will expect. If they refuse, ye are to strip them of their right to the homes they have for dwelling and the right to drive the flivs they have been issued. Ye would then select someone else to take their place. Now hold for a moment while I contact the other city directors. Stay on yere com when I finish with my message to all.”

Daniel’s finger touched two circles, and two more female faces appeared. As soon as they had, Daniel continued. “There tis a meeting of all of Ishner’s city directors, their keepers. Also, the directors and keepers of all the cities’s centers are to be here. The meeting tis this afternoon at two o’clock. All of ye, plus yere keepers need to be here. Ye are to have a list of what needs to be done in yere city and how to create a decent place for all Ishnerites to dwell. If there tis a problem anywhere, it should be noted and what resources are needed to address the problem. Since I have nay idea of Ishner’s finances, I am assuming it will take time to accomplish all that tis necessary. Also, if any refuse, I will have someone ready to step in as the new Director of any city or any city center. I shall see ye all there.” He disconnected all but Ilvina, and he addressed his question to her.

“Now, what about the painters?”

Ilvina’s face had gone from angry, to stunned, and to bland while Daniel had spoken to all. “Of course, I’ll see what I can do about the painting. I do suggest the meeting of city directors should be tomorrow morning, though, so that all will be ready to respond.”

“Ye dinna ken what tis wrong with Iconda?”

“Tis nay that. It might take some time to arrange for painters. I shall need to go to the Maintenance Hall.”

“Hall? All are at the Hall? Are nay of them working? Why would ye need to go there? That tis what coms are for: to contact others.”

Ilvina wanted to shout at him, but realized it would be a good way to be kicked out of her home and lose her fliv. As long as Ishmael, Lad of Ishner, was supporting this creature from Don, she kenned anything at Ops could be changed. She did nay trust Issing, Lass of Ishner, either. Issing was Ishmael’s sib and would be in the Ops Room.

“I believe that tis where I will find their director. She has her office there. She would be able to direct the actual painters to the Maca’s home.”

“Make certain ye stress they are to be there at eleven o’clock when my counselor-to-be tis there. If any refuse, strip them of their rights to homes and flivs.”

“I dinna believe I have such rights.” Ilvina was wondering how long she could avoid calling this interloper Maca.

“Then ye are to notify Ishmael, my Counselor of Ishner, immediately.” He smiled, but his eyes were hard. “I have also kenned that ye have refused to call me Maca. Dinna make that error this afternoon.” He cut off the communication, took a deep breath and exhaled before turning to Ishmael.

“Will ye have a list of names for me by this afternoon? I will need names for replacing any or all of the directors and keepers of any city and any city center. Make sure there are males on that list. I also want them here and available this afternoon.”

“In the same room?” Ishmael was grinning. He had avoided participating in the politics of Ishner under Iylan by remaining Captain of a fishing troller and living with his counselor and family in Medicine when necessary while his troller was in port for maintenance. The House of Medicine also harbored the Sisterhood, but they did nay rule there. The new Maca of Medicine, Marita, wore the purple of Medicine, nay the dull black of the Sisterhood.

Daniel considered, and innocence filled his eyes. “Tis there nay a conference room here that large?”

Ishmael was puzzled by the question. All the Maca Towers were alike. “Of course, there tis on the second floor just like at the Tower of Don. Ye really need to tour the rooms here.”

“I shall inspect them later, but, aye, they will all be in the same room then.” He smiled and continued.

“Since the Director and Keeper of Port Issac were arrested by Thalian Troopers during the riots, those positions need to be filled.”

He turned back to the screen and pushed the button for Itillie, the Director of the city of Isling. Itawnia, her lassie and Keeper of Isling, answered. She was young, nay more than thirty or so, and her brown eyes were worried. It looked like she was forcing a smile.

“Aye, may I assist ye?”

Daniel stared at her. “Where tis Itillie?”

Itawnia took in a deep breath. “There was a bit of trouble on the waterfront, and she went with our Enforcer to make sure all was well. They have things under control.”

“If it was a riot, why was I nay contacted?”

“It was but a fight among some early morning drunkards. There tis nay else for them to do here.”

Daniel regarded her for a moment. “I did nay see Itillie when I called earlier and left a message. If ye listened to it, ye heard that I am having a meeting of all the city directors, their keepers, and the director and keepers of all the centers here this afternoon at two o’clock. I want a list of what needs to be repaired and how things can be improved.” He held up his hand as he saw Itawnia’s mouth drop and then start to protest.

“I ken there tis nay funds now, but list all things. We will find ways to start repairing Ishner.” He smiled at her. “And if ye both are nay here, there will be a new Director and Keeper of Isling.” He ended the call, sat back, and looked at Ishmael.

“According to the screen, tis only the Directors of two Centers in Port Issac that were arrested during the riot. That means I need new Directors and Keepers there. Have the list for me by noon. Now I’m going to call all the Center Directors, and those calls will nay be different than the last calls.” He swung around and glared at the screen. Finding StarPaths while in space was far easier than dealing with Thalians.