<h2>Planet 5 / Ch. 30: Social change</h2>


    Post contact report: thought-hearing anomaly, update


    Further to the early discussion on this, a potential evolutionary driver for not hearing, or at least, not paying attention to heard thoughts has been identified. On the main continent there are several predators with very acute hearing. Social calls would thus be dangerous. Several species of prey animals send out an almost deafening scream as the warning signal, but also make ''everything is fine'' mental shouts at regular intervals. There is also a predatory animal that mimics heard thoughts, in order to approach its prey without warning. This predator inhabits the same territory as the sun-bathing apes, and would be big enough to harm a young ape trying to follow its mother by her thoughts.


    In a surprising development, one person has been located who was able to hear our gifted friend Sebastian; a young woman called Evnela who has the darker-green appearance of those from the Isles or Caneth and who was delirious, adrift in the deep ocean aboard a storm-damaged boat was found by Sebastian and some others researching the sea creatures. She was badly dehydrated, and too injured to sail her boat, which looked like the coastal boats used in Tesk or the Isles, normally crewed by family groups. So far, we don''t know more details about her, except that Sebastian has found she does not have any close family alive.


    <hr>


    </a>Takeel''s parent''s home


    “Baron Jalay,” the officer of the imperial guard said, “You are not under arrest, but their imperial majesties require the presence of yourself and the baroness, without delay.


    Your daughter has also been informed she should attend.”


    “My daughter? Do you mean Takeel?”


    “Captain Takeel is on a foreign assignment. I was referring to Lady Baneel who waits outside.”


    “The baroness is not feeling well, officer.”


    “Is her condition life-threatening? Her presence is required.”


    “I understand. I will ask her to come down as soon as she can.”


    “My instructions state without delay, baron. If she is fully clothed, we leave immediately, if not, she has five minutes before you will both be arrested.”


    “On what charge?”


    “Disrespect for the emperor''s orders.”


    “I obey, officer.”


    <hr>


    </a>Home of the Kanugan Trader.


    “Lady trader Tangseng, their imperial majesties would appreciate it if you could make time in your schedule to pay them a visit tomorrow morning around ten.”


    “Have I somehow given offence?”


    “No, lady Tangseng. They hope that they do not give offence to you or your monarch. Until such time as your monarch confirms the posting or asks them to assign it to another, you are hereby recognised by their majesties as filling the post of ambassador of Kanuga to the Empire, with all the rights and honours that attend that noble position, at least from this end. Here is paperwork to confirm that to doubters. Their majesties consider that position to be equivalent to a fourth rank noble, though highly recommend you defer to ruling dukes and duchesses.”


    “And do they expect me to dress as a fourth rank noble?”


    “You may if you choose to, Lady ambassador, but you may also continue in your own style.”


    “The empire has never accepted foreign ambassadors.” Tangseng said.


    “The emperor has heard that Caneth and the Three Isles are considering sending one and felt it was time to change that policy. I am to deliver two more invitations today, Lady Tangseng.”


    “May I ask who to?”


    “To those their majesties were sure represented their respective queens.”


    “Only the queens of the leeward monarchies?”


    “The queens are consistent in sending messages via particular individuals, Lady Tangseng. The leeward kings seem to care little about such details and use whoever is coming. Messengers are preparing to deliver invitations via the empire''s ambassadors to send an ambassador once travel is possible.”


    “Travel is always possible.”


    “For a seasoned traveller, true.”


    “And may I think of my home here as an embassy, and not subject to the laws of Dahel?” Tangseng asked.


    “I think that such matters will be discussed at the meeting tomorrow, lady Tangseng.”


    “I shall be there.”


    <hr>


    </a>The heart of the empire.


    The Captain bowed to the Emperor and said “The baron Jalay and his family were at their city residence, Imperial Majesty. I present them.”


    “Excellent, Captain. Baroness, you have been told that you are not now in the central zone. You do not understand what that means.”


    “No, majesty.”


    “This is the source of patience and of change, the Heart of an Empire as big as ours must beat quickly. Things move quickly here once decisions are made. You do not approve of your daughter, captain Takeel''s decision to join my wife''s guard. You have reacted with destructive hatred towards her ever since. Your lies to Nulay and their consequences are known. It is not known if you will approve of her friendship with the cousin of Nulay, my son''s advisor. It is my ruling that you, baroness, will keep silent on the matter, or face consequences. If you lie about her again, you will face consequences. Do you accept your emperor''s ruling?”


    “I must, imperial majesty.”


    “There are alternatives; you could choose exile or death. The consequences of a failure to respect my ruling once accepted will be worse.”


    Trembling, the baroness said, “I accept my emperor''s ruling, imperial majesty.”


    “Good.”


    Empress Hayeela spoke next. “Lady Baneel, your mother did not give Takeel an opportunity to talk about her present mission. You will not see her for many months, because she is now in the windward country of Caneth. It is not something to brag about but you may be proud. In the company of another from the empress''s guard, my son and four of his attendants, she took a chest of money and jewellery to the duchess of Repink, whose title has just been restored to her after a miscarriage of justice. She and the other will be the duchess''s guards, and when my son ascends the throne they will be the new empress''s guard or at the very least we expect them to be her friends. And if, now that her mourning for Nulay ends and her heart heals, her friendship with Nulay''s cousin turns into love and marriage, she will expect to eventually wear the title countess. Is there shame in any of this, baron?”


    “No, imperial majesty, none at all.”


    “So why do you allow your wife to shame daughter and your mother?”


    “My wife grew up hearing many lies about the guard, majesty.”


    “And you do not correct her.”


    “I was not at home during Takeel''s last visit. I have tried to reason with her, majesty, but it seems an irrational hatred.”


    “As if it were part of her religion, perhaps?”


    The baroness blanched as the baron said. “It... it is possible majesty.”


    “Baroness.” The emperor said, “You will answer truthfully, and fully.”


    “Who taught you this hatred, and when?”


    “My parents, majesty.”


    “Your daughter Takeel follows the Way of Life. You do not, correct?”


    “Correct, majesty.”


    “How did she come to follow her faith?”


    “As a child, through my husband''s mother, and her friendship with Nulay.”


    “But you follow another religion?” the empress asked.


    Hesitantly, the baroness said. “There is no law forbidding parents from teaching their children their family''s traditional faith, majesty.”


    “But some religious practices are a death sentence, dum-semb, for instance.”


    “The death cult? May the gods of justice and the emperor''s law purge that perversion from the planet!”


    “Name your religion, baroness.” Empress Hayeela said. “You are not in the central zone where many religions are illegal, you are in the heart of the empire, where questions must be answered.”


    “I was raised to follow dum-kahenia, majesty. Translated it means the rule of light.”


    “You err, baroness kahenia means lights plural, as if there were more than one version of truth and reality. But if you claim to follow the rule of light, be aware that Jesus, the one anointed of God, said, ''I am the light,'' baroness, and in Him there is no darkness. Come! You will show me and your daughter that the markings on your back are those of dum-kahenia, and so convince me that you do not hate the guard because you are part of the death-cult that the empress''s guard was formed to destroy.”


    “You are well informed, majesty. I do not know if the tattooist was well informed, however.”


    “You mean you might have the tattoos of the wrong religion, baroness?”


    “I was a foolish teenager, and the tattooist claimed to have a book of patterns. Dum-kahenia is a private thing; we do not have a hierarchy, we do not have meetings. once instructed, the initiate needs none of these. I do not even know if there are other followers in the central zone.”


    “There are almost certainly followers in various jails of the central zone, Baroness, along with elsewhere. Lady Baneel, the law is simple to explain, Dum-kahenia has many apparent similarities to the death-cult, which makes it extremely suspicious. Also, followers, or at least certain followers of it, teach that a number of illegal acts are acceptable and normal for initiates, Instruction in the religion has also been a way for manipulative people to extort money from the unwary. Therefore, instructing people in it is seen as teaching rebellion against the laws of the empire. Your mother considers hatred of the empress''s guard a part of her religion, it seems. I have no doubt that she has her reasons, but I''m not interested. The empress''s guard does not just serve me as body-guard. It was formed to be a line of defence against corruption of the military: loyal soldiers who would never be sent off to war, with a separate chain of command. Its members also report corruption or those who teach it, even in their own families, if they witness it. Your sister has a high rank in a very noble organisation. There is no rule preventing marriage, but it is true that many men do not like the idea of a wife able to fight. You may ask a question or two as we go to a more private location for the examination.”


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    “If mother''s marks are not of dum-kahenia, but of dum-semb, what happens?”


    “Your mother will be arrested and placed on trial. You and your father will also be examined for marks.”


    “And Takeel?”


    “Takeel has already been examined, when she applied for the guard.”


    “She has two marks on her back, as do I. Mother did it to us when we were babies.”


    “This was noted, and the person who examined Takeel decided it was of no significance. It is not the normal practice of dum-semb to tattoo children.”


    “It is part of dum-kahenia that the mother applies those tattoos,” the baroness said.


    “Is it? Why did your mother not apply all your tattoos then? We will see your marks, baroness, and the marks you have placed on your daughter. And then we will return to the emperor and you will be questioned further. Guards, take the baroness on to the room. I will talk a little with lady Baneel.” After the guards had gone on, she asked Baneel, “You suddenly looked worried, lady Baneel, when I asked about your grandmother not giving your mother all her tattoos.”


    “Mother lies often, to those in and outside of the family, but I do not think she follows dum-kahenia. I remember her talking about something, a long time ago which sounded similar though. I''ve never heard of dum-kahenia or the way of light until today.”


    “Lying to the emperor is a foolish thing to do.”


    “I know. Mother should know too. But she plans her lies, and does not think, often. I was barely in school, but I remember her saying her mother had given her her tattoos, and she''d be happy to give us more as we learned each secret step of her religion. Takeel said ''Religions shouldn''t have secrets, Everyone should know the truth before they join, that''s what Nulay says.'' and mother said nothing more about her religion when Takeel was around, and to me she only said things like it being exciting to know things other people didn''t, and that you mustn''t tell, not even sisters. I would say I wasn''t good at keeping secrets from anyone, especially not Takeel. So I resisted my mother''s religion. Now... now I''ve chosen to follow the Way, the Truth and the Life, your majesty. Takeel is strong and brave, I am not, and I have not spoken about my timid faith until now, not even to grandma.”


    “Sometimes it is easier to tell someone you do not know. May God be with you, and enable you to find all the strength you need in Christ, Baneel. What you''ve said has confirmed some of my fears. Please pray for me also, that I will have the strength I need too.”


    <hr>


    </a>Caneth, Embassy of Dahel


    “Calling at one percent power. Good morning from Caneth.” Salay said.


    “Good evening from Dahel,” researcher Kahlel''s voice replied. “I will tell Naneela and the captain''s sister you are calling. Is the captain there?”


    “I am, yes.” Takeel said, as Salay ushered her into the seat.


    “Lady captain, I am told to tell you your mother is not of dum-semb, but she lied to the emperor, saying that she followed dum-kahenia, when in fact it is dum-sathenia that she follows. That is bad news. However, her markings show her to be an acolyte, not a novice or priestess; that is good news.”


    “And my father and sister know?”


    “I have called again, and they are coming. Yes, they know, captain.”


    “How is it that you are at the radio?” Salay asked. “I thought that we had heard Naneela had declared you fit, Kahlel?”


    “She has also pronounced me free to visit, highness.”


    “And is your visit work or social?”


    “I hoped to talk about something work-related, highness, but other things were happening.”


    “That can be frustrating. Perhaps you can talk work when Naneela gives the microphone to the captain''s sister.”


    “That is my hope also, highness.”


    <hr>


    </a>The Heart of the Empire


    “Naneela,” Kahlel said. “You said something rather ill-considered a week ago, and I will certainly allow you to retract it. But while Baneel is talking to her sister, I came because I wanted to show you this.”


    He handed her a circuit diagram.


    “Urm.” There were a lot of the parts repeated on the part that was showing. “You asked for ten filters, Naneela.”


    “These are fixed-frequency.”


    “The filters are. Open it out, please, my princess.”


    “What have you done, Kahlel? Tell me.”


    “I have given you what you asked for, my princess. I used mixing. The antenna signal is mixed with an adjustable oscillator to give a fixed intermediate frequency, which we can then filter and amplify efficiently.”


    “You''ve brought me a tunable radio with ten filters,” Naneela said in a quiet voice, “for which I promised you father''s daughter''s hand in marriage.”


    “Yes, my princess. I won''t hold you to your promise, it was said in frustration.”


    “Do you reject what I promised, Kahlel?“`


    “Princess?” Kahlel asked, confused. “You didn''t mean it, I know.”


    “Does the idea of winning yourself a wife in such a manner offend you? Or is it merely that you don''t like me?”


    “I''m pretty sure I love you, Naneela.”


    “That''s good. Mummy needs some happy news. You see, even if I didn''t really mean it when I said it, it didn''t sound that silly an idea, and having thought about it more I think I probably love you too.”


    <hr>


    </a>Caneth, Dahel Embassy, outside the radio room


    “Hayeel? Why did you suggest last night that I ought to convince Malene to stop keeping her secret hopes secret?”


    “Is her secret something else that was bugging Saval?” Gathal asked.


    “Just to tease her, really.” Hayeel replied.


    “Was that nice?” Salay asked.


    “Yes. She was feeling a bit ignored. But I wasn''t just thinking about her secret hopes; it was more about this culture of secrecy in the guard, her feeling she mustn''t ever say anything. She and Takeel had a good long chat last night, though. Speaking of Takeel, she needs support, excuse me.”


    Hayeel went into the radio room.


    “Father knew?” Takeel was asking.


    “Mother did your tattoos when he was away, and planned to do mine in the same way, but he came back unexpectedly, and found me screaming, you telling her ''don''t hurt her, mummy'' and the tattoo tools in her hand. She explained all about the religion and he said he would divorce her and denounce her if she had any more part in it or instructed us in it.”


    “But she tried to instruct us.”


    “He was furious to hear that. I''ve never seen him so angry, he hit her, a real punch, and he probably would have beaten her to death if the guardswomen hadn''t restrained him. Those are his words. The emperor has declared he will not allow the divorce. He says that father shares in her guilt by giving her opportunities, never checking, and being such a distant father.”


    “You should not think yourself responsible for this, Takeel,” Hayeel said.


    Takeel, however, pressed the transmit and said, “I knew you would be called to the Heart of Empire today. I heard yesterday of the marks of dum-semb, and worried aloud.”


    Baneel replied, “Mother did not know I have given my life to Christ, I was too scared. But she has been trying to lure me into her religion. Just yesterday I almost asked father to ask mother to stop trying to teach me her religion, but he was in a meeting. You have prevented more evil, my sister, thank you.”


    “Is father in jail?”


    “No. His hands are tied, but he is talking to grandma.”


    “That is good. I... I had hoped to ask him something.”


    “That''s a first! Sorry, Ta..sister. That wasn''t nice of me.”


    “Accurate though. Can you ask that he be allowed to listen?”


    “I will ask. What is it?”


    “I have a would-be suitor. One of the prince''s advisors, poor Nulay''s cousin.”


    “Nulay''s cousin? One he told you about?”


    “The one with the non-noble name, despite what awaits him.”


    “Who had the bees?” Baneel asked.


    “Yes, can you see if father can come? Or grandma?”


    “He''s there with you?”


    “The honourable lady ambassador to Caneth, Duchess Hayeel of Repink is here with me, he is outside the room, chatting to his imperial highness.”


    “And trying not to be nervous.” Hayeel said.


    “I''ll run.”


    “Don''t trip, you''d be really embarrassed to be muddy in the heart of the empire.”


    “I''m muddy already. I was on my knees pulling up weeds the gardeners had missed when the soldiers came saying we had to be there without delay. Captain Thadlay was apologetic about it, but said I had to be able to go as soon as he''d got mother and father.”


    “OK. Run then, no wait! How are you, other than muddy?”


    “I''m coping so far. Her majesty prayed for me.”


    “And life in general?”


    “I''ve told a certain boy to stop offering me gifts because while it was flattering I was certain it wasn''t going to go anywhere. And I don''t know if I''m ever going to find someone who follows Jesus and who will settle for the second daughter of an imprisoned baroness.”


    “The title will be yours.”


    “Pardon?”


    “I''m not going to accept the title, sister. I have enough responsibilities in the guard, and my would-be suitor is already lord sixth-rank, heir to the title count.”


    “Didn''t you tell me not to plan my wedding before the suitor had spoken to father?”


    “I did, yes. But even if we decide it won''t work, I''m still going to be too busy for the title and will have to renounce it. So don''t count yourself too low. Now run and get dad or grandma, please. Oh, if you see Thadlay, tell him my good news and ask him about churches you could go to.”


    “Are you matchmaking?”


    “He takes a real interest in the faith of his men and knows about churches all over the place.”


    “Oh. OK.”


    “And if he comes across as formal, that''s because he''s a bit shy.”


    “You are matchmaking.”


    “I''m providing you with information that might be useful. Neither he nor I are stupid enough to consider ignoring advice not to fall in love with someone in the other military command structure. But I''m pretty sure he won''t judge you by our parents, and if you''re looking for a potential husband, he''s a good man.”


    “Why hasn''t anyone else snapped him up?”


    “Because he''s shy, he''d rather charge an enemy outnumbered ten to one than turn up at a ball without an invitation, and his parents don''t like the city enough to keep a house there, so he''s not on anyone''s reciprocal invitation list.”


    “And he can''t reciprocate.”


    “Not in terms of location. Unless he gets a friend who could co-host one, of course.”


    “You''re being terribly transparent.”


    “I''m priming you with some subject matters to talk about, that''s all. Are you going to fetch father?”


    “He''s just coming.”


    “With grandma?”


    “Yes.”


    “I talk into this?” Takeel heard her father''s voice say.


    “Yes, father.” Takeel replied. “Has Baneel said why she is grinning?”


    “She''s looking thoughtful,” he replied after fumbling with the talk switch for a bit.


    “Father, outside the room I''m in with duchess Hayeel of Repink is his imperial highness and one of his advisors, who is waiting nervously to talk to you.”


    “What about?”


    “Me, father.”


    There was a pause. “I take it this is not a complaint?”


    “No, father. This is poor mis-informed Nulay''s noble cousin, who bears me no ill-will for mother''s lies.”


    “I''d better speak to him, then,” her father said.


    “Thank you, father.”


    “Are you expecting me to send him packing, daughter?”


    “I do not guess your plans, father, but would prefer you not to.”


    “This is a different side to you, daughter!” the baron said, surprised.


    “I have taken other life-changing decisions myself from anger and frustration and hurt, I know. I now try to do things rightly.”


    “Baron, this is duchess Hayeel.” Hayeel said, not letting Takeel lift her finger from the transmit switch. “Your daughter is technically under my authority here, but she asked me to place this decision into your hands out of respect for family ties. As I must by law lend my own authority to your decision, and given that there has been a history of unfortunate decisions made, I ask that you consider carefully and then explain your reasons to me, so that I may know you are thinking of what is best.”


    “What law gives you such authority, duchess?”


    “The laws that name me ambassador to Caneth, baron, and make me responsible for the actions of all here in service of the empire, and the laws, customs and orders that have assigned your daughter to be commanding officer of my guard, which all assume will grow and become the new empress''s guard, may God speed the day of my wedding and grant a long life to his Imperial Majesty.”


    “You will become empress?” he asked.


    “The future is in the hands of God, Baron. But with their imperial majesties'' approval, his Imperial Highness has untied my hair.”


    “And you approve of this relationship?”


    “Your daughter has my consent to ask for the approval of her family. I will give my own opinion if I feel that her family give or refuse approval without due consideration. I understand that your honourable mother knows the man in question.”


    “But you will not name him?”


    “Names are misleading sometimes, Baron. He is lord sixth rank, son of the duchess of Tenik, heir to that title, and shares your daughter''s faith in Jesus.”


    “Granddaughter!” an elderly woman''s voice came on, “What are you thinking of? He made twenty or more proposals before he left.”


    “He promised his prince that he would try to marry, terrified of the trip, and intending to see if I or my companion might accept him at such short notice. He had been unable to decide which of us he liked most. Then he heard we would both be guarding the duchess, and he realised he was more terrified that both of us might find someone while away from the empire than he was of travel. Rather than renege on the promise, he made a game of it, finding ways to ask that were almost guaranteed to get a refusal, for example asking a girl who scorned faith in Christ and enjoyed travelling if she would do him a favour and abandon her lack of faith and help him escape this trip to a barbarian country full of pretty Christian girls; not that he''d mind the pretty Christians it was just the having to leave home seeing new places he wasn''t keen on.”


    “I see” her grandmother said, understanding but not approving, “And then he decided on the way?”


    “No, grandma, it was only yesterday when the duchess demanded I speak of the pain that prompted me to join the guard that he realised I was Nulay''s archer-friend and I understood who he was.”


    “And suddenly he has proposed on those grounds?”


    “He has not proposed, grandma. But I do not feel comfortable accepting him as formal suitor without my family''s blessing.”


    “Why would you be so nervous, daughter?” her father asked.


    “Father, you know the accusations against me, surely? To accept me, he must openly speak of mother''s deception. It may be that you will be called upon to say why I did not speak to Nulay that last time he visited.”


    “You''d had a normal-sized argument with your mother and gone for a walk. Not like the one the next week, when you left for good. But I don''t know what you argued about, for all I know it might have been about you marrying Nulay. All I heard was you saying you''d argued with your mother again and were going out for a walk.”


    “Did I tell you where I was walking, father, do you remember?” Takeel asked.


    “Where you always did. Ah, I understand! Your mother''s lie is plainly contradicted, is it not? If you had no desire to see Nulay, why would you walk to his tree? I will be a witness to your total innocence, daughter.”


    “Thank you, father.”


    “Now, let me talk to your would-be-suitor.”