The Chronicle of Matahouroa Chapter 3: Letters

 
Your Majesty,

It has come to my attention that you believe  that I favor the Tohunga Ahurewa’s authority over yours. You appear to  believe that I am undermining your sovereignty, “in the most obvious  coup imaginable”, and that I intend to replace your authority with what  you call “a conservative puppet chaining the Empire to oppression and  antiquity”.

Rest assured, in at least this regard you are  mistaken. To these ends, I would like to have the privilege to justify  myself, in person.

Yes, I have in fact exchanged private letters  with Raiti - and as Raiti of the Pūhihi Kahuna, not as Tohunga Ahurewa. I  trust you have read them yourself, though a part of me cannot help but  think that you have used fallible second hand reports, as none of these  letters contain so much as implications of hostility towards you or your  regime.

Yes, I do have designs for the Invoking Moai, the kahuna  orders and the military outposts outside of Hinawahine. I should have  to, considering the former’s undeniable importance is matched by a  hilariously vulnerable location, the fact that three of the Empire’s  spiritual orders are an outright threat to civic security, and the fact  that you’ve made the military the political backbone of the Empire.

Yes, I did discuss these matters behind your back.

In  retrospect, yes, I should probably have talked to your beloved general,  instead of the person most fervently opposed to your rule. However, I  know for a fact that he would not listen to me, as he aggravates most of  the problems I needed to address. This left me no choice but to talk to  someone else, that could give me some insight on these matters.

As  I said, I talked to Raiti as a person, regardless of her agenda. I do  not have an interest in displacing you, or undermine anything you’ve  accomplished.

To these ends, I would like to talk to you in  person. I would like to prove that you have my loyalty, and maybe allay  my own doubts about these problems our nation faces. I would like to  prove that none of what I said are empty words, or lies.

I wait your decision,

Purūpī, Light of Hiriwa

***

Purūpī,

First  of all, let me just say how much I love your passive-aggressive  double-meanings. It’s really endearing how you take me for an idiot.

Second, permission granted. You have the privilege to decide when this meeting will take place.

Sincerely,

Prince Whēuriuri

***

Dear Aherenika,

Purūpī  and I conceded to have a meeting a week from now, just before the  Kahikole. I’m pretty sure he’s being cheeky, but given how it’s the  spring solstice I wonder if it’s timed around some ritual. I told Aata  to be careful, just in case.

The same goes to you.

Mura’s  still training, as always. Yesterday, though, he asked me if he could go  to Tīrarae, to join the Tahepuia and learn their ways.

I honestly don’t know how anyone will react to this.

Raiti  would preach about the degeneracy of our house, obviously, and I can  imagine some controversy brewing, but the Tahepuia have helped the  Empire grow, and frankly they’re the only kahunas that aren’t scheming  bastards nowadays. Violent, sure, but at least they’re content to stay  in the mountains.

I just want him to be happy, but I’d like to hear your opinion.

Stay safe,

Whēuriuri

***

Tianara Aata,

Another  Pouakai has been spotted around Hiriwapā. It didn’t attack us, but  combined with the previous seventeen reports we have good reasons to  think that they are gathering at key locations in the edges of the  Plateau.

We also have reports of an Alalā, first on the  northeastern coastline and now seemingly moving towards Kapongatakere.  We have no evidence of outright hostility, but several mangled corpses  found in the area imply its involvement.

Concluding, we need extra reinforcements in the east. We need the involvement of the Pirita Kahuna.

General Haki

***

Aata,

Yes,  we will comply to your request. Although we would prefer to leave the  Pouakai be, the Alalā vermin cannot be allowed to roam in the lands of  Tāme, let alone shedding the blood of the innocent we swore to protect.

If  they are conspiring, as you suggest, we will have to wage war on the  Pouakai, just as we have on the Kākākea, Kākāriki and Hoiho.

When I heard about this I told a joke to Korare that, one day, we would have all birds wiped out from the sky.

I feel terrible.

Whetu, Scribe of Karemauru

***

Light of Hiriwa,

The Pirita Kahuna have mobilized to the east, as you predicted.

Te  Hokioi is very pleased with your strategies. Earlier this morning he  was inspired to erect a statue in your honor, built solely from  Kōmarumaunga’s gold.

He - and I - still lament our need to work  in the shadows, let alone the continued survival of that Alalā, but our  faith in you grows stronger, just as the days lengthen.

May you rise in the Rāomārama.

General Kōurahou

***

Dear cousin,

I’m glad you told me this.

I  mean, naming your brother as they did your parents should have expected  for him to become a Tahepuia Kahuna. He always did seem like he would  grow up to be one to me, and I think you and Aata can see it too. You  can see the fire burning inside of him.

He shouldn’t leave in  fear of Raiti or anyone else. That horrible woman will get what’s coming  to her. She will fail to quench Mura’s flames.

Let him be free.

As for me, I’ll come to join you in the meeting.

As  Ariki of Karatakara I need to talk to Purūpī. Business is fine as  usual, but Hiriwa’s recent trade petitions might start to pressure  Karatakara to make up for it. I need to make sure my city can prosper,  so I sent him a letter.

Hopefully we can reach an agreement.

See you soon,

Aherenika

***

Kōurahou,

I’m flattered, but a statue of me is beyond unwarranted, not to mention a liability given how the prince suspects me.

Blow it up. You always said you wanted to watch Karatakara burn, did you not?

Purūpī