Well, Ernaldans are still Orlanthi (IYSWIM) so that still suggests that there are 15% of Ernaldans "breaking" these rules somehow - mothers who still worship Ernalda the Healer rather than Allmother, Queens who raise there own children, Post-menopausal women who have not changed from an Ernalda aspect to one of the Crones (and as someone else said, Ernaldan Leaders may be less likely to change than, say the clan Lawspeakers widow...)
Another thought occurs to me too. If an Ernaldan Queen or Chieftan's power is in some way dependant on her fertility, there may well be magical ways open to her to push back the menopause and maintain her cult status, and thus magical (and political) power.
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