by Robin Roseau
“Exactly the same?”
“No, not exactly, but she wrapped a scarf over their eyes as we crossed into Charthan, and she kept them that way until after we got here.”
“She took it off in the carriage,” I said. “Or at night after locking me in my cell.”
“I didn’t lock you in any cells!” Lisolte said with a laugh. “That was Yearly.”
“True.”
We teased each other for a few minutes, and then I heard someone say, “Everything is ready, Claary.”
“Excellent. Allium, it’s just around the corner. Two minutes. But we can take the carriage if you want.”
“A walk would be nice.”
* * * *
“Allium!” I heard running and then two people threw arms around me.
A moment later, lips found mine, and I was kissing someone. When she let me up for air, I said, “Hello, Dee and Bee!”
The other one kissed me, and then Dee said, “This looks good on you.” She fingered the leather.
“I’m confused. I thought they were taking me to Claary’s.”
“This is Claary’s,” Bee said. “We were with Olivia when she got Claary’s note, and she sent us here to help. Please tell us we may help.”
“I can’t turn you two down.”
They hugged me, and then we were walking through the house, our footsteps echoing. We turned into a room, and then the door closed. Claary turned to the slaves. “Dee, what orders did Olivia give you?”
“No playing. Baths only. And obey you or Lisolte.”
“Are you okay, Lisolte? I can give you some privacy. Bee and Dee know where everything is.”
“We’re fine, Claary.”
“Will I see you later?” I asked.
“Party at Olivia’s tonight,” Claary replied. “I’ll be there.”
“Is that when I’m going to learn about this custom?”
“I presume.”
“Assuming it’s still my choice, and assuming you’re still one of the people under consideration, I’d like to spend a little more time with you before I have to pick a guide.”
“Do you mind if I stay now, then? We can all bathe.”
“I don’t mind, but I hate destroying your day.”
“It’s hardly a destruction. Lisolte, do you mind?”
“Of course not.”
“All right, then. I need to step out for just a moment. The headpiece stays until I get back.”
* * * *
I blinked in the light. Dee stood before me, smiling. “Hello, my wife,” I said.
Her smiled widened, and then she threw arms around me. “That was so much fun,” she whispered. “Even if you thought I would cheat on you.”
I laughed and held her to me. “You feel so good, Dee, but I think I’m a little aromatic.”
“Do you think I care?” she asked. She tightened. “But let’s do something about that. You stand still and let us do what we want now.”
“Until you’re dressed again,” Lisolte said, “You’ll do anything Dee orders.”
I snapped my gaze to her, thought for a moment, and then said, “Of course.”
Bee and Dee squealed, and then they were little dervishes, undressing the three of us, a bit of clothing at a time from me, then Claary, then Lisolte. They bathed all of us then led us to a soaking tub.
And it was absolutely divine.
I lay back and closed my eyes. Dee wasn’t leaving me alone, but it was just simple pampering. I asked her, “Why didn’t you undress?”
“Don’t answer that,” Claary immediately ordered.
I sighed. “I’m sorry.”
“The resin is magic,” Claary said.
“Magic. Like. Um. Really magic? Spells. Magic. You’re serious?”
“Well, it’s not the resin that is magic,” Lisolte clarified. “It’s infused with magic. But yes. Real magic. We shouldn’t say more about it.”
“Right,” I said. “Ignorance is bliss.” Then I moaned. “Okay. What Dee is doing is bliss.”
“I’m glad you like it,” she replied. “We missed you, Allium.”
“I missed you, too,” I told her. I opened my eyes and looked around. Dee had possession of my feet, and her hands were at least as magical as her clothing. Bee had two feet, and then I realized it was a left and a right, but opposite; one was Claary’s and the other was Lisolte’s. “I want to say something, but I want to ask a question, and I would really appreciate an honest answer rather than a diplomatic one.”
Claary snorted. “I’m about the opposite from a diplomat.”
“I find that unlikely. You’re a business owner.”
“Fair enough.” She turned to look at me. “I don’t promise I’ll answer, but I won’t lie.”
“All of you have offered friendship,” I said. “It seems sincere.”
“You want to know if we’re luring you here for political reasons you haven’t figured out?” Lisolte asked.
“Or something, yes. I want to know if this is real friendship. Lasting friendship.”
“And you wonder about Olivia, too,” Claary said. “I’m just a barmaid, but she’s the duchess.”
“You and I are more likely to be friends,” I said. “I spend a lot of time at inns.”
“When you’re out and about for work?”
“Yes,” I said.
“From the day we met, Olivia has given me special attention,” Claary said. “In the early years, I was deeply uncomfortable about it. It was flattering, but it was also uncomfortable.”
“Is that how you felt about us?” Dee asked in a small voice.
“No. I’ve loved both of you from the bottom of my heart, almost from the moment we met.”
Dee didn’t say anything, but she nodded and focused on my feet. But then she said, “Olivia loves you.”
“I know she does, and I love her, too. We’re talking about eight years ago, and from the period before we met. I was a representative of the common people, an eldest daughter of twenty years old. I wasn’t comfortable with that. I was comfortable at the inn. But the council coming and telling me I had to go to that meeting? I wasn’t at all comfortable with that.”
“You saved that man’s life,” Dee said. “Olivia told us.”
“You saved someone’s life?”
“Very long story,” Claary said. “The head of the council was backing Olivia into a corner. He was a lying piece of shit, and everything that happened is entirely his fault. But he was backing her into a corner, and she was on the edge of having to demonstrate her resolve. I gave her another path.”
“She offered herself,” Bee said.
“To die?” I screeched.
“No,” Claary replied. “I don’t know what Olivia might have done with me, but I told her if she couldn’t get what she needed from them, she could keep me.”
“I imagine as her slave.”
“Probably,” Claary said. “Dee, I think you can understand why I might not want to continue to be in that sort of situation. Furthermore, I was worried about retribution from other Charthans if they decided I was collaborating with the invaders. Do you understand?”
Dee paused, then nodded. “But it all worked out.”
“It worked out,” Claary said. “My point, Allium, is that you shouldn’t be focused on this civil engineer and duchess thing.”
“I thought I was asking a simple question.”
“The simple answer is this: it’s real friendship, or at least that is all of our intention.”
“So it’s safe to say that the sorts of things we’ve done together we’ll continue to do together,” I said. “Lisolte?”
“Very safe to say.”
“That’s how I feel, too. The thing is, I’m afraid.”
“Of tonight?” Lisolte asked.
“No. This isn’t going to last forever. Assume this goes the way Olivia wants. She explains. I say, ‘Sounds like fun.’ I have these experiences. And then I go home.”
“Oh,�
�� Claary said. She turned to me. “Oh,” she repeated.
“No one has ever treated me like this.” I wriggled a foot. “No one has ever done what Dee is currently doing. And Dee, your hands are wonderful.”
“So are yours, Bee,” Lisolte added.
“Do you understand?”
“I think we should talk about it some more at dinner,” Claary said. “It’s going to be intimate. Unless she adjusts the list, Judge Jessla will be the only new face for you.”
“Jessla is coming tonight?” Bee asked.
“She is,” Claary said.
Bee turned to me. “She’s stern and can be intimidating, but we really like her. Please give her a chance.”
“I will,” I said.
“You can trust these two,” Claary told me. “It seems like they’re always full of joy and love everyone, and while that’s largely true, they have a very refined sense of judgment when it comes to people. Bee summed up Jessla perfectly, and better than I would have. I would have told you that she’s exceedingly ethical and that I trust her completely.”
“Which is also high praise,” I said. “Dee, could you teach me how to do what you’re doing?”
She giggled. “Yes.” She set one of my feet down and then offered me one of hers, making herself comfortable. Soon, with her coaching, I had her moaning her pleasure.
* * * *
Eventually we climbed from the tub, dried, and dressed. It was a little early for it, but I put on one of my cocktail dresses then asked for advice on footwear.
“Boots,” said Claary the same time Lisolte said, “Heels.”
“You two are so much help,” I replied. “Dee, will you see to my footwear?” She picked the boots, although she fondled my legs as she slipped them on for me. “Thank you, Dee.” Claary smirked.
“All right. We need to deliver you to Olivia.”
“She’s expecting us at Government House,” Dee said. “Can I put it back on her?”
Lisolte laughed and handed my headpiece to Dee. The woman didn’t need to ask but carefully pulled it into place. She did the buckles and the locks, and once she was done, she lifted my chin and gave me a delicate little kiss. “She’s ready.”
Dee helped me. The coach was outside, waiting for us, so we all climbed in.
Fifteen minutes later, Olivia greeted us warmly, including hugs and little kisses. Then she led me to a sofa. I heard everyone else take seats, then felt one of the slaves lean against my legs. I reached out and set my hand on her shoulder. She added her hand atop mine.
“Lisolte,” Olivia asked. “How much trouble was she?”
“None,” Lisolte said. “As expected, there were discussions, but not once was she other than perfectly sweet and obedient.”
“Allium, would you have given the same report?”
“Absolutely not. Lisolte is trouble, head to toe.” Both Olivia and Lisolte laughed. “It took me a little time to catch up to what was for me a change in plans, but I decided that spending time with Lisolte was precious and far more important than whether or not I got to see the farms we drove past.”
“Thank you for indulging us.”
“That being said, you’re a chicken.”
“Excuse me?”
“You left her to deal with it. You should have told me what you intended before you left Barrish, not forced Lisolte to manage me. You weren’t fair to her.”
“You know: you’re right. In my defense, I hadn’t fully thought through your trip here. Are you suggesting I should have waited for you?”
“No,” I said. “Maybe I shouldn’t have said what I said.”
“Well, you’re right. It wasn’t fair to Lisolte, especially as I don’t believe she feels I am right.”
“That’s between the two of you.”
“I’m still trying to figure out the best way to do this. You represent an experiment.”
“I think you’re making a really big deal out of something that doesn’t need to be a big deal.”
“There are aspects to the Ressaline way of life I didn’t want to explain to you until you arrived here.” She brushed at my face, intentionally reminding me of the leather.
“Blindfolding your guests, for instance?”
“No. That’s specific to you.”
“Why couldn’t you tell me in Barrish? We spent enough time together.”
“I wanted you more emotionally committed. It would be very easy to decide not to come. But you’ve now come all this way.”
“So I may as well see it through?”
“Yes. Not one person has come who knows about the custom unless she’s already experienced it her first time. Yearly and Tess both admitted they wouldn’t have come if they’d known, and they both nearly left.”
“But they didn’t.”
“I’d had Bee and Dee whispering into their ears for two hours,” she explained.
“And still it was close?”
“And still it was close,” she confirmed.
They let me consider that, and then I asked in a soft voice, “Is there some reason I can’t take this thing off?”
“Who has the keys?” Olivia asked. There was a rustling of cloth, and then she began to unlock me, gently removing the headpiece.
Once it was off, I turned to her, then I wrapped my arms around her. “Are you a true friend, or are you the duchess playing some sort of politics with me?”
“I’m trying to be a true friend,” she said. “But at the same time I am the duchess playing politics with you. I’m both.”
“Letting me hug you?”
“That’s part of being a true friend, Allium. Do you have doubts about that?”
“Do you blame me for them?”
“No. I don’t know how to help you put them aside.” She paused. “I made another mistake. I should have come with Bee and Dee, but I understood you wanted to primp before seeing me.”
“You didn’t know I was feeling a lack of confidence,” I said.
She leaned away and looked into my eyes. “It is friendship that brought you here, Allium. Politics just made it easier.”
I nodded. “Okay. Olivia, I want you to make me do it, even if I freak out. Is it something you can force on me?”
“Physically? Yes. But the queen has been very, very clear. I am allowed to cajole and to soothe. I am encouraged to ask Bee and Dee to whisper into your ears. But you must come to this entirely of your free will and unclouded mind. I will even be very careful how much wine you may drink before making your decision. After that, if you agree, but you are frightened, there are things I can do to help remove your fear, but I may apply them only once you have clearly registered acceptance. I will point out that the citizens of Charthan were not given a choice.”
“So if I freak out and run away…”
“The queen has ordered me to let you leave.”
“Has she ordered how quickly you let me leave?”
She laughed. “On your way south by noon tomorrow.”
“So you can hold me overnight and continue to whisper.”
“No. If you give a clear ‘no’, you may change your mind. You may even change your mind next year. But the terms change. I will explain tonight. But no more whispering.”
“This is a crappy plan.”
“I’m not sure I wish to tell Queen Lisdee that.”
“I’m sorry,” I said. “You’re right.” I nodded. “When do you tell me?”
“After dinner.”
“What are we doing until then?”
“Well.” She leaned down. “You two are damp.”
“They helped bathe us.”
“Which is why I sent them,” Olivia said. “But they’re going to grow uncomfortable. Claary, why didn’t you undress them?”
“They aren’t my slaves to undress.”
“In the future, you may use your judgement.”
“I will,” Claary said.
“I’m sorry to be trouble.”
“You aren’t trouble,�
�� Olivia said. “Dee, how do you feel about all this?”
She looked over her shoulder at me. “I’m glad you let us bathe you,” she said. “And it’s fun bathing while still wearing the resin. We’re fine, and we had a good time.”
“But now it’s time for you to go home,” Olivia said. “You may undress and dry each other then take a nap in my bed. Claary or I will be along to help you dress a little later.”
“Yes, Olivia.”
They both started to rise. As they did so, Olivia said, “You may offer goodbyes before you go.”
And so they worked the room, hugging and kissing the four of us before slipping from the door. I stared after them. “Olivia, are there many slaves like those two here in Ressaline?”
“Those two are unique,” Claary said. “There are no other slaves like them.”
“Did you want two of your own?” Olivia asked.
“That’s not where I was going. I wanted to know if it’s common to share them the way you do?”
“Ah. I only share them when they want to be shared,” she explained. “We have a few hours. I thought we could spend them together.”
“I’d like that.”
“Lisolte, I imagine you’re anxious to see to your home.”
“And I’d rather change clothing,” Lisolte said.
“Could you come early?”
“An hour and a half?”
“Perfect. Claary?”
“The same?”
“Perfect.”
* * * *
Olivia blinded me again and held my arm for a pleasant walk. Reaching her home, she welcomed me and helped me with my cloak, and then unlocked the headpiece. Then she took my arm and gave me a tour of the lower portions of her home. “This is beautiful,” I told her.
“When we invaded, you understand we evicted the men.”
“I’m aware.”
“All businesses and property followed our laws. If we could determine the rightful new owners, we passed things to them. This house had no female heirs, as did a number of others about town, including Claary’s. They transferred to the duchess, and she passed them out as best suited her needs. Claary received hers as a citizenship gift.”
“That’s quite some gift.”
“It made more sense to put people into houses than to leave them vacant,” she explained. “I have reserved a small handful of the remaining, best houses. Some I use for guests. Others I am reserving for future gifts.”