Free The Age of Light (The Ava'Lonan Herstories Book 1) by Ako Emanuel Page B

more than the total value of goods one had to Trade. Soku was
one of the least of the Lesser Western Queens, but she was an established
player of the game. At times she even stood higher than many Greater Queens
with lons ten times the size of hers.
    The stakes for which one played was also a great
determining factor. This was based on one’s wealth and gift for Trade, one’s
ability to foresee the outcome of a business venture or a new enterprise, and
one’s ability to invest wisely in such ventures. As a mid-stakes player, Soku
rose slowly, but steadily, holding firmly to what ground she covered. High
stakes players were usually Greater Queens with much wealth but little
standing, seeking to acquire status quickly. These generally had resources to
spare, but were poor players or in bad repute as far as honoring their
agreements and concessions.
    Political affiliation also had a considerable impact
upon rank in the game. This was a wildcard of sorts, for the aspect of politics
was an ever-changing entity, political parties rising and falling in popularity
with seemingly little reason or rhyme. The views that one supported often
played a part in deciding the terms of a concession or the conditions of an
agreement.
    Last of all, time and region strongly affected the
position of a player. One always tried to deal generously with others of the
same region; however, in other regions a value crop might be scarcer, and
therefore more favorable terms might be had. Choosing where and with whom one
Traded helped set precedents or trends. And time, the great unifier, often made
and razed many a Trade agreement, for some goods did not have good shelf life,
and the art of refrigeration had never been fully recovered after the Yo’teng .
    Soku thought over the harvests of this Season. Her yoni’do herds were doing well, the calves already weaned and the younglings growing
strong. They would bring good prices in the Nor’Este Territories, in exchange
for thousands of hands of blugo , plantain and
green banana. Her sugar apple and sou’a’sap crops
were plentiful, large and sweet, fine to Trade in the Central Territories, in
exchange for wines, rums and leathers. And the rich olivine, jadine ,
malachite and emerald mines gave forth pure, unpolished stones for which silk,
salt, jasmine tea, bush tea, desi -reams, linens,
cotton prints and precious metals could be Traded with in the Estern Border
Territories. These were
the three mainstays of the Doan: cattle, produce and precious gems. The Doan
touched lesser markets with goods and crops like nutmeg and other spices,
embroidered and printed silks, finished leather products and wood products. But
these were mostly Traded on the local level, among the Western Territories,
though on occasion they were exported further for premium prices.
    Soku longed for papi’ras and stylus, but was loathe to break her pose, for tradition held that to break
it was to invite the la’ja’djin , the joumbi that brought bad luck, to take the vacated spot. She held her patience and
stifled a sigh, checked the wrap. It was almost dry on the outside, but not
quite. She cast a baleful eye at the orange-blasted veils of approaching Av’set .
She should have started much sooner; would have, had the Bolorn ended sooner, or should have put off the in-depth washing till the turn after.
It was generally considered bad luck to wash one’s hair, or to be caught drying
it, after Av’set .
    She let her thoughts wander to the High Queen’s
response to Tokia’s challenge. Her withdrawal had indicated insult to Family
honor. It said that the Heir was absent because of personal matters that tied
directly to the honor and welfare of the High Family, perhaps even at the
orders of the High Queen. Or the Av’rujo . And the
fact that Tokia had issued challenge was an affront to the High Queen and her
family and a direct challenge to the orders given the Heir.
    Soku frowned slightly. Slights to Family honor were
tricky