Anointing the New First Successor…
For many years, the ceremony to declare the First Successor had never been more than an announcement that the succession was secure. The title of First Successor was given to the oldest son of the Overlord when his wife produced a son; a son who was acceptable to the Keepers of the Blood. The custom of having at least three generations as successors to the Trono Donado was established back on Terra during a disturbed time when violence and murder were common. The Council of Houses insisted it be continued after the stranding. After all, NeoEspainia Mining Corporation needed stability to survive.
Ser Philipe Morales had assumed leadership when the director had died during the offloading. Ser Philipe’s oldest son Esteban was a small child. When Esteban matured and took a wife, the fight to survive was more important than any announcement. When Esteban son Francos had been accepted by the Keepers, his grandfather had invited the Council of Houses to dinner at the Residency. Philipe and Esteban assured the community, the future was secure. Francos assumed the title when Benitos was accepted by the Keepers.
Francos had three accepted sons when his father was killed by an angry bull on the hacienda. While the Morales succession looked secure, Francos was only in his late teens. His sons were small children. One by one, his first two sons were eliminated. Now, his youngest, Megal was eligible.
The ceremony to declare Megal as the official First Successor was essential for the family. The disability of his oldest brother was compounded by the death of his next brother. It had to be a public ceremony
Francos consulted with the Poh. After all, his research on the joining ceremony had produced a ritual that would stand for years. Poh Juan was thrilled. He dug into his records and let Francos know there were many liturgies he could draw on. How big of a ceremony did Francos want? How public would it be?
***
“It is fortunate that you called the meeting of the Council of Houses for the week after the harvests were done,” Poh Juan said. “The fall always seems to be pleasant for an outdoor event.”
“The harvest will help because the crowd will expect some sort of meal,” Serept said.
“The change of succession to be either gender, you have not officially announced that yet,” Poh Juan said.
“I had hoped to make several changes at the Council of Houses meeting,” Francos said. “That is an important one as the midwives have said Sarita carries a female child, but Megal and Sarita don’t want to know,” Francos was amused by their reluctance. “We will have several controversial items at the Council meeting. I am not looking forward to it.”
“The Three will give you strength, my friend. Your love of your people does you honor.” The Poh smiled and blessed them. Serept and Francos went back to the Residency to begin arranging for the ceremony and the meeting that would follow.
***
“Megal, what happened to your oldest brother? I have heard mention of him, but no one talks about what happened to him after his stroke,” Sarita had been sitting on the patio with the spinners blending the pod silk fibers with fine wool and spinning it to make stronger thread. The women of the harem insisted that her baby would need a new wardrobe. The very idea that the next leader of the Humanos Verdaderos would wear used, hand-me-down clothing was not acceptable, no matter what Sara Sarita said. She had given up arguing with the older women and joined in creating the cloth. As they worked, she had heard stories of Marta’s sons. It puzzled her that no one mentioned what happened to the oldest after his argument with his father.
“It happened after I went to live at Hacienda Bethal,” Megal said. “My father had arranged a marriage with a daughter of family Mendoza. It was one of the few families that we didn’t already have connections with. I have been told that Benitos was not happy about it. He didn’t want to settle down yet, but Papi needed a grandson.”
“Marta told me about the tradition and why everyone was so happy about our baby,” Sarita said. “Didn’t he understand how important it was?”
“He didn’t care. Marta will tell you that she didn’t have much to say about how they were raised. Her brothers took them to their haciendas and all they did was hunt and be lazy. Neither one of them was raised like I was.”
“So Benitos’ killed his wife like Marianel did?”
“Unfortunately, yes, and Papi lost his temper and caused him to have a stroke. It was like when my mother died, and Papi was punished for it.”
“But not when your mother died?”
“Women were not valued as men are, so, no, he was punished for damaging his heir, but not for killing one of his wives. But he did have to return some of the dowry to House Bethal.”
“I have heard about how your father has changed and can better control his temper, but what happened to Benitos?”
“He was able to recover some functions but is more like a small child now. He lives on Hacienda Morales and works with the herds. He does not remember much of his early life and is confused when people defer to him. Papi has people protecting him because he worries that someone might try to have him start a family and challenge us.”
“The politics of this country is more complex than I ever imagined,” Sarita said as they settled for the night.
***
The morning of the succession ceremony dawned clear with no breeze. It was going to be hot. Serept sent word to increase the amount of drinking water for the outdoor event. It would be needed.
“You will get a chance to meet more of the family,” Megal told Sarita. “My cousins have been harassing me to be sure that you will be at the reception. They were at the wedding, but we know how that ended.”
“Is there a danger today?”
“The security is tight, but I am not sure exactly what they are doing. Serept does not want to discuss it,” Megal said.
“I understand that my cousin has reached out to Serept to assure him, my family is supporting the Overlord,” Sarita said. “House Malfe caused that earlier incident.”
“Sadly, Ser Roberto won’t accept the consequences of his son’s actions, but today, we will take a step to the future, mi corazón. Are you ready?” Sarita patted her belly and laughed. “We are both ready.”
The young Poh was obviously enjoying himself. The ceremony was full of music and processions. He kept the readings and his sermon short saying that the celebration was for the people. Megal was anointed with fresh pressed olive oil much to the delight of the family who had been working to perfect the fruit from the slow maturing trees. They had set up a tent where they were offering samples of treated olives and oil for tasting.
Francos and Serept had decided it would be a fair and encouraged the families who produced unique products to set up displays of their goods with samples. They believed it would increase the trade within the settlement and show the many families what could be done if they just cooperated. Sarita noticed that Mandy had a tent with samples of the sea silk and the fancy baskets Port was making. Utopia was not represented. There was no representative sitting with Mandy during the formal blessing. Sarita suspected it was due to the rotation and the harvest, but saw that others noticed.
The heat was oppressive. When Rita found Sarita sitting in the shade of a building with some of Megal’s female cousins, she scolded them. At least two of the women were also visibly pregnant. She wanted the women to get out of the heat but was reminded that it was almost as hot inside.
“Momma, join us. It is cool here and we are enjoying watching the people,” Sarita said. Rita gave up and sat down with the young women. Sarita introduced her mother to her newfound friends and the group was soon chatting with the healer about how birth was handled in Utopia.
“We use the birth chair here also,” one of the women said. “It makes sense to be sitting up to push.” Rita agreed and explained an old Terran custom of having the woman on her back was for the convenience of the doctor, who in early years was almost always a man.
“It caused damage to the woman because she was usually unconscious,” Rita said. “The birthing chair is easier on the mother and faster for the infant. Thanks to some of the women in Trade City, we know about them in Utopia, but getting people to use them has been difficult. We are going to need it soon at the Residency,” she said as she smiled indulgently at her daughter.
“Mama, the earliest this baby might come is around Nativity feast and the winter solstice,” Sarita said. “That is weeks off. You will have rumors starting about Megal and I.” The gathered women all laughed.
***
The street celebration after Megal’s blessing lasted late into the night. The Poh had suggested the food be served slowly and the drinks be as nonalcoholic as possible. There were singing performances, dance demonstrations, and as the evening cooled, an area was cleared for dancing. The Poh and his wife led the dancing to encourage couples to come out. This was new for the settlement, but he had found it in the history of the community before they migrated. It was good exercise, he said. He and his wife began giving lessons. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Marta noticed Francos was tiring and they left quietly. Megal and Sarita followed soon after. The next day would be a hard one with the Council of Houses meeting.
***
As the next morning dawned, it looked as if it would be a repeat of the previous day, hot with no wind. Marta was worried about Francos. He had not slept well even with the doors of the sleeping rooms left open hoping to catch a night breeze to cool the rooms.
Serept ordered the ceiling fans hung and the small electric motors set up to keep them moving. The meeting room was large but had only small windows for light. He put jugs of cool water and cups along the walls in hopes the old men who came would pay attention to the heat.
“I wish I could have put this off longer,” Francos said as he surveyed Serept’s work. “At least the weather would be cooler.”
“And how many times have I heard someone say, why didn’t this room get a fireplace,” Serept teased. “Some believe the stories of climate control in the buildings is just a fairy tale, but the station had to have it, or we’d have died.” Francos laughed and returned to his office to gather his notes. He mused that he was getting old because he needed an agenda and notes. That was all the more reason to give Megal more responsibility.
***
“Ser Path have you read my demand for the Council meeting?” Roberto Malfe confronted the head of the House of Justice on the walkway in front of the Residency. “We have to remove control from the Morales family before they completely destroy us. You must support us and what we are demanding.” Simeo Path shook himself free of the man’s grasp. He surveyed the men following Malfe and noted that only those families that were supported by Malfe were represented. Roberto’s ‘we’ was a small group.
“The statement has been considered by the House of Justice, Ser Malfe. It remains to be seen how much support you have among the family heads.” Path turned and walked away much to Malfe’s anger.
“You know what has happened and it is wrong. They contaminate our gene pool with a woman of Utopia and allow damaged infants that will further pollute us. We are Humanos Verdaderos. We are the purest of the Three’s creation. This must be stopped.” A security guard stepped past the man opening the door.
“Ser Path do you need assistance?”
“Thank you, officer, I believe Ser Malfe may. Roberto, the meeting is for heads of family only, not your whole male contingent. The rest of you can wait in the plaza. The shade cloths are still hung. You might even be of help clearing the booths and trash.” The men following Malfe turned and began moving towards the plaza at the end of the hill. Malfe called them back, but Serept came to the door and reinforced what Path had said. Only the heads of families were to attend the Council of Houses meeting. As the men cleared the street, an aircar delivered two women who were now recognized as heads of their respective families. Malfe called out to Path.
“See what they have done, now our brain damaged women claim to be capable of being head of family. The Three will punish us with plagues and failed crops. We are doomed unless you stop this Ser Path. We are doomed.”
“What your family practiced almost doomed us, Roberto Malfe,” Catrina Carbajal said. “It will take generations to repair the damage.”
“You should be asking for forgiveness rather than demanding changes,” the other woman said. “Your evil ways have robbed us of sons for years and those who were not killed were raised to be fools and wastrels. You should be ashamed.” The two women climbed the stairs and greeted Ser Path. Serept bowed them in.
“Are you coming, Roberto?” Path called to Malfe. “Francos has a long agenda, and that room is always hot this time of year.” Malfe glanced at the empty street where his followers had been and joined Path on the stairs. Serept bowed them in and told the guards these would be the last. All expected were present.
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