Today, though, Arabel was putting on a long, white robe, the same one she had received as a gift from An Ming. Lina was doing the same. For the most recent visitor to the colony, An Ming, Queen of the East, had arrived just this morning with her royal barge overflowing with gifts.
“They’re starting the music,” Lina said, and kissed Arabel on the side of her neck, just below her scent gland. “You look nice.”
“Thanks.” Arabel scented just a bit of love into the air.
“Shall we?” Lina stuck out her elbow.
“Let’s” Arabel smiled.
As they exited to the balcony, Lina spied An Ming who was just leaving her guest apartment next door. She was dressed similarly to Lina and Arabel in her robe of white, though also wearing what could easily be her own weight in gold jewelry. She bowed to Lina and Arabel, making a clattering jingle sound. Lina and Arabel bowed in return.
“Enough formality,” Arabel said. “It’s a party.”
“Coronation,” An Ming interjected. “Then a party.”
“Of course, Your Majesty.” Arabel smirked as An Ming winked.
The three joined hands, with Arabel in the middle. I and Yasmin exited their guest apartment and followed along until they all stood on the stage just forward of the musicians. The entire island was assembled on the lawn.
“Greetings,” said An Ming, “I am An Ming, Queen of the East. In the absence of your own queen, I have been asked by Priestess Arabel, or Bella as she is known to me, to officiate in today’s formal passing of the crown.”
There was a brief rustling, and then hush settled over the audience. A few scents of familial love floated on the air.
“I present to you, Lina,” An Ming said. “She has drunk the royal wine, made the transformation, and communed with the Great Tree.
“Look around you and you can see what kind of ruler she will be.” An Ming spread her arms wide. “In just a short time under Lina’s guidance, the people here have not only pulled back from the brink of collapse, but have learned to thrive.”
Nods from all around, and a few scents of familial love and reverence.
“If there is anyone here who believes Lina should not be crowned as queen, I bid you speak now or forever hold your silence.” An Ming surveyed the hushed crowd. All eyes were on Lina.
“Very well,” said An Ming. “Priestess Arabel, the crown please.” Beside Arabel, a child dressed in white from head to toe, held out a pillow with a golden crown resting on top. Arabel picked it up, held it skyward for a moment for all to see, and then passed it to An Ming.
“I hereby pass the burden of leadership to Queen Lina, Wise Queen of the West. Long may she reign.” An Ming placed the crown on Lina’s head and kissed her on the cheek. “You’ll be great,” she whispered while the crowd cheered.
“Thank you,” Lina said to An Ming, and then louder, to the crowd, “Thank you all, and welcome to my home. To your home. The old walls of the palace will not be rebuilt, but will be left standing in ruins as a reminder to me, and to all queens after me, that it is her duty to serve the people and not the other way around.” Lina spread her arms wide. “All are welcome here.”
A cheer went up from the audience.
Arabel turned to address the crowd. “Before we celebrate, we have one more piece of business to take care of, and that is to plant a new Great Tree to watch over our colony. An Ming was gracious enough to provide a sapling of hers, and we also have one that the children have been tending to as part of their gardening class.”
Lina noticed that Arabel conveniently left out the part about where the second tree came from and how she used to prune the flowers from it before raves.
“I suggest that the two saplings be planted together, side by side, and trained so that their trunks may intertwine, each lending strength to the other, just as we must do for each other, in this, our colony, and for the colonies of our neighbors. What say you to this?”
Another cheer went up, and the crowd parted to let Arabel come forward with the sapling from An Ming. As the shovel bit into the ground at the planting site, and a small vanguard of children approached carrying the second sapling, Lina caught the first whiff of charcoal smoke as the open-top grills were fired. A long, low droning note followed, joined by drumming and several more harmonizing pipes. And though it was a smaller band of musicians than had performed at An Ming’s island, they played with just as much enthusiasm, and very quickly the whole colony was moving to the music.
It was too early in the growing season for wine making, but there were other adult activities planned, and the children were soon being ushered off by their mentors, bellies full of delicious grilled fruits and vegetables, and dirt under their fingernails from tamping the soil of the newly planted Trees. Once the children were safely tucked in bed, the dancers took the stage, dressed in nothing more than intricate designs of bio-luminescent ink, and the party began in earnest.
Lina was the first to shed her robe. Arabel was next, which caused a stir from the crowd as the full extent of the golden tattoos covering every bit of her back was revealed. And then An Ming sloughed off her robe and jewelry. The three had already begun moving to the music as they stepped into the crush of the crowd. All around them, the others had shed their clothing.
Arabel proved almost as much as a novelty as Lina and the visiting queen from the East. People would find their way over to stare in awe of the artwork and scripture that decorated
