by Robin Roseau
“That is going to be hard for me.”
“I know,” she said. “But you cannot give them thirty years of education in a single meeting.”
“I know,” Serenity said. “Thank you, Vendart.”
Pippa brought us to the stable and “taught us” how to clean horse hooves. Serenity taught us how to saddle the horse. Pippa did a better job, even though Serenity’s command of the language was better.
We made it home, and they were both quizzed a while longer until finally Luradinine said, “I believe I am done. Margotain, did you wish any further tasks for Pippa?”
“I am done,” Margotain said. “Maddalyn, did they win their challenges?”
I turned to Serenity and said, “You tell me. What did you do well? What did you do poorly?”
“I have more to learn,” she said. “And I need practice with patients.”
“True.”
“But I believe I did as well as could be expected.”
“Comments, anyone?”
There was a pause, and then Luradinine said, “She could improve her accent. It isn’t a problem now, but if she speaks quickly to people who are unaccustomed, they won’t understand.”
“Did you understand that, Serenity?”
“Yes. Margotain, will you help me?”
“Yes, Serenity.”
“Serenity, did you pass?”
“I think I did.” She began to grin.
“Luradinine, do you agree?”
“You are the judge, Maddalyn.”
“But judging would be so much easier if you agree with her,” I said with a grin. “Will you admit you are to be a bath girl for a day?”
Luradinine nodded. “I will be a bath girl for a day.”
Serenity grinned and then ran over and hugged Margotain.
Pippa was looking down when I turned to her. “Pippa, how did you do?”
“Not very well.”
“Oh? Were you understood when you spoke?”
She switched to English. “I struggled to find words. I can’t even answer your question in Talmonese, not really. I have a pounding headache, and I just want to go lie down for a while.”
“Were you understood when you spoke?” I asked in Talmonese.
She paused. “Yes,” she replied in the same language.
“When you didn’t understand someone, were you able to get them to speak more carefully?”
“Yes.”
“Did you, even once, until just now, need anyone to translate into English?”
“No.”
“Did you have fun this week with Luradinine?”
“Yes,” she said firmly. “And we’re here for another week, aren’t we? Luradinine, am I still yours?”
“You are,” Luradinine confirmed.
“I’m not fluent,” Pippa said. “I can’t teach yet. Serenity could do her job. I couldn’t do the one you want me to do.”
“Not yet, no, but should that be the standard? You’ve been here barely a month.”
“Six weeks.”
“So you understood that?”
“Yes. And no, it shouldn’t be the standard.”
“Did you win?”
She looked down. “I don’t know. I made other mistakes, but I don’t know what.”
“Your first task was a trick,” I said. “You picked an absolutely lovely gift, and you presented it perfectly. However, it is not the Talmon way to give gifts to thank someone.”
“Margotain tricked me?”
“She did. She said testing culture was part of this test.” I turned to Luradinine. “I cannot judge if that was a fair task, Vendart.”
Margotain said nothing. Luradinine said, “Pippa, did you pass? If you did, then Margotain will be a bath girl beside me. If you did not pass, then you will, and I will be a bath girl a second day.”
I knew Pippa had a confidence problem. She looked at the floor then walked to Luradinine. “I do not know if I passed. But you taught me as well as you could. If Maddalyn declares me as losing, then I will be a bath girl with you for both days. If she declares me as winning, then I will still be a bath girl with you one day.” Then she leaned in and kissed Luradinine’s cheek. “Thank you for teaching me, Vendart.”
Margotain was grinning broadly. I looked around, and everyone was. And I decided, “Pippa, joining your partner and vendart is a very Talmon thing to do. I believe you have won, but I am not going to make Margotain be a bath girl. If the vendart feels the first task was unfair, she may do so.”
“Margotain, how do you feel about your first task to Pippa?”
Margotain paused then said, “I shouldn’t have tricked her.”
“It’s all right,” Pippa said.
“It was clever,” I said. “But was it too clever, Margotain?”
“It is not the Talmon way to wonder if someone is tricking us,” Margotain said. “And I shouldn’t teach you that it is. I will be a bath girl, too.”
“Now that is the Talmon way,” Luradinine said. “Pippa and I will be bath girls tomorrow. Margotain, three days later.”
“I will be a bath girl with Margotain,” Serenity said immediately. “Partners.”
“Did everyone have fun?” I asked.
“You know,” Pippa said. “Yes.” She moved to Luradinine’s side and leaned against her. “I have a great partner.”
Serenity agreed, sliding an arm around Margotain’s waist when she said it. Then, as a group, we all turned and looked at the twins. They looked at each other, grinned, and Vessatine said, “You may test our Talmonese any time you want.”
“There is a parlor game called Chickens and Foxes,” Luradinine said. “Do you both know it?”
“Yes,” Farratain said.
“Good. After dinner, you will teach the star people to play, speaking only English.”
Vessatine set a hand on her hip. “And how will we judge if we are to be bath girls?”
“We have four star people here,” she said. “Two will play as partners against me. Two will play as partners against Darratine. Two out of three games, and you may coach between games. If the star people win, you are safe. If they lose, you will be bath girls three days after Margotain and Serenity.”
“That not enough time. Won’t play well.”
“It is a simple game,” Luradinine said.
“Will play. But will lose.”
“What do you propose?”
The two communed, then Vessatine said, “Four players. May help during game. I help two. Trallafain help two.”
“No hands,” Luradinine said. “You must sit on them. And you may explain ideas, but not exact moves. Do you understand?”
“Yes. Good test. Will be fun.”
The girls taught us after dinner. They did a good job explaining the gameplay and the rules but a poor job explaining concepts. That was a factor of their youth combined with their experience with English. But we played a couple of practice games, and then Luradinine declared it was time.
We drew lots to determine matchups. For the first game, Pippa and I were coached by Trallafain, and I played against Margotain. Trallafain struggled to coach me. She wanted to tell me how to play rather than what concepts were important, and as she grew more frustrated, she lost her English besides. I lost, and fairly badly. Pippa’s game with Farratain lasted longer, and as best I could tell from watching, it was a close game. In the end, Pippa won by a tiny, tiny margin.
We shuffled, drawing new lots. Again, I was coached by Trallafain. My first draw had me playing Margotain again, but Luradinine said ‘no’, and I redrew to get Luradinine instead.
We all sat down. I turned to Trallafain. “Take a deep breath and relax. This is all in fun.”
“If you lose, it means we taught you poorly.”
“No. If I lose, it means Luradinine set you up.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Luradinine gave a very hard test. She is teaching you something.”
“What is she teaching?”
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“That ideas are complicated.”
Her eyes widened, but then she smiled. “This simple game. Are you a fox this game, or will you be the rabbit?”
I looked across the table and laughed. “Luradinine won’t let me be a fox.”
“Then be a rabbit,” she said. “Do not fight to be a fox.”
I nodded. And in my game with Luradinine, I played much better. She tried very hard to catch me, but I was able to avoid her, and in the end, I won. It was a small margin, but I won. “That was better, Trallafain,” Luradinine declared.
My score was one-one, and so I would have a third game. Mama had won both of hers. Serenity had lost both of hers. Pippa was also at one-one. And so she and I would both play. We drew lots. I got Kalorain, and she got Luradinine. I think Kalorain manipulated the draw, but I didn’t catch her at it.
We decided that I’d been coached twice by Trallafain, and so I got Vessatine, and Pippa got Trallafain.
Vessatine did well with me. She and her sister were both learning quite well, and I thought if I could keep them long enough, they would both speak fluent English. Plus I really liked them. They were cheerful and fun.
But the truth was simple. Kalorain out-smarted both of us.
I was sure she would take the role of fox, but I decided to try to convince her I wanted it, too. And so I played ambiguously at first. And I thought she was, too, but then she snatched the role of rabbit and ran.
It took me three moves to become the fox, and then I never got close to her.
I lost not due to poor coaching, but because I tried to guess what Kalorain would do, and she used that against me. We laughed at the end, and I congratulated her on fooling both of us so well.
The other game wasn’t remotely the same. Luradinine became the fox and then entirely dominated the game. The loss for Pippa was quick. And again, I didn’t think Trallafain even had a chance to help and couldn’t be blamed for poor coaching.
Kalorain leaned to me. “Do you want me to make it an order?”
I laughed. “I will be a bath girl with my friends.”
Serenity and Pippa both said, “We’re already going to be bath girls once.”
At that, Vessatine said, “And that is enough.” But they turned and hugged me. “We did our best.”
“Girls, you are both doing very well. I am going to be sad when I must return you to Mallishta. I would rather keep you.”
“You would?”
“Yes, I would. But for now, you must continue to improve your English.”
“We will.”
* * * *
Over the next week, we served as bath girls in our turns. I took a massage from Luradinine and another from Margotain. Kalorain got one each from Pippa and Serenity, and seemed quite pleased by it. Then when it was my term to serve, she told me I would serve as I was told, and so I did.
Two days later, Cecilia contacted me. “So. How are things in Beacon Hill?”
“Quite well,” I said.
“Do you have any startling news to share?”
“I don’t think so. Our students improve. Serenity has been spending time with your grandmother. They’re simulating patient meetings. Everyone else is sitting in as patients.”
“Oh, I want them to do that with Sartine and me,” she said. “Anything else?”
I’d already told her about the other notable events, so I shook my head. “Not that I know.”
She smiled. “Well. Send Mordain to Indartha to collect Sartine and me. You still have my jumper. She can bring others along for the ride as long as there are two open seats. Is there any reason she can’t leave within the hour?”
“I’ll check and get back to you.”
“Thank you, Maddalyn.”
Mordain was more than happy to go. “If I can use your jumper, the twins could go along.”
The twins were happy for that, so we waved them a temporary ‘goodbye’, and I let Cecilia know. “See you tonight,” she messaged back.
They arrived after dinner, and ten minutes later, Cecilia and Sartine disappeared with Luradinine. Twenty minutes after that, Sartine appeared and spoke quietly to Kalorain, and then Kalorain headed off with Sartine.
The rest of us talked quietly. I had no idea what was going on, but I knew they’d tell me when they were ready. I was just happy to have Mama and my friends there.
Eventually, the four appeared. Everyone turned to them. Cecilia stepped forward. “There is a Talmon tradition. At times, a particular couple may enact a fresh Galatzi raid. It reaffirms their relationship.”
Farratain perked up and whispered something to Darratine, who said something back.
“I learned about this tonight, and I believe I will let the vendarti explain further.”
She stepped aside. Sartine and Luradinine stepped into place. Sartine said, “This is not something we have done at Indartha, and so I knew of this tradition, but I have never seen it.”
“The villages each make their own traditions,” Luradinine said. “Indeed, each couple may make their own traditions. And this raid may be performed as part of a real Galatzi raid. Instead of catching only one new Galatzi prize, perhaps there will also be a few extra prizes captured. I have also heard of established non-Galatzi couples becoming involved for the fun of it, the captured partner spending a period as a Galatzi prize herself.”
“Are we to have one of these raids, Mother?” Darratine asked.
“Don’t jump ahead, Daughter,” Luradinine said. “I have heard that an existing Galatzi prize, hearing of a planned raid, could offer herself, with or without permission of her wife. I have also heard of it the other way, the wife offering her Galatzi prize to be captured a second time.”
I glanced at Kalorain and wondered what she had decided to do. Would she wait long enough for me to volunteer? I thought it unlikely she wouldn't want to capture me a second time.
“It may be there are extra rules,” Sartine added. “There could be additional incentive for the potential prizes to be especially elusive.”
“Are you going to let the governor catch you this time?” Serenity asked.
“I am not,” Sartine said.
Margotain stood up. “Indartha Vendart. Sudden would propose an unusual Galtazi agreement.”
“Would you?” Sartine asked.
“Furthermore, we would like the raid to be hosted here, with support from our friends of Beacon Hill. What say you, Beacon Hill Vendart?”
“Beacon Hill would support Sudden’s raid,” Luradinine said.
I snapped my head to watch Serenity. She was watching Margotain.
And it wasn’t with suspicion.
“Indartha Vendart, Sudden would like to claim Doctor Serenity Grace in a Galatzi trade.”
“And what does Sudden offer in exchange?” Sartine asked.
“Like Indartha has with the governor, and like Sudden has with Maddalyn, Serenity’s wife would fully support her role as a doctor of the rejuvenation center. We will continue to teach her English and support her in other ways as necessary. Furthermore, we will share our relationship and our duties to both Sudden and Indartha.”
“Your potential Galatzi prize is a star person,” Sartine said. “And thus is subject to modified Galatzi rules as defined by Governor Grace. Specifically, she must understand our tradition and she must accept the trade. Indartha will accept Sudden’s offer, subject to this stipulation.”
Cecilia stepped forward again and spoke English. “Serenity, did you understand?”
Serenity didn’t take her eyes from Margotain. “Yes, Governor. I understood.”
“Explain it to me.”
“Margotain asked me last night. I told her I’d answer her this morning. I told her ‘yes’.”
My jaw dropped. I knew Margotain was interested, but I didn’t realize Serenity would even consider it.
She turned to me. “I know. But if your relationship and Cecilia’s is any measure, then I think coming home to Margotain after the kind of days I
’m going to have will make all this that much better. I’m not in love, but I really like her, and I’ve known her longer than most Galatzi wives know their spouses before their raids.”
“I believe Serenity understands and has offered consent,” Cecilia said. She stepped back.
“Indartha accepts this arrangement with Sudden and welcomes an arrangement with Beacon Hill to host a raid.”
“Beacon Hill would love doing so,” Luradinine said. “Serenity, come to me.” Serenity stepped over, and Luradinine said, “I am holding the potential prizes in a wing of the manor until the raid. Your things will be moved for you. If you attempt to escape my control, you will not like my response.”
Serenity laughed and nodded. “But I have questions for you, Beacon Hill Vendart.”
“Of course.”
“I understand these raids can be varied. But from what is being discussed, I think you’re planning something elaborate, and you don’t want me to simply walk over to Margotain and offer my wrists like someone I know did a few years ago. I have also the impression that raids are not fake. It is a real raid, but friendly. People struggle not to be caught.”
“All that is true,” Luradinine said. “You wonder what happens if you escape the traps.”
“Yes. It isn’t my nature to play to lose, but this is something I’m not sure I want to win, either.”
“Let me ask this. If you win, will you still consent to be tied in the Galatzi fashion, and become Margotain’s Galatzi prize?”
“Yes, I suppose that’s what I’m saying.”
“Then you win if you are able to present yourself to her in the fashion of your choosing rather than the fashion of mine.”
Serenity laughed. “And if that happens?”
“You wish your own prize?”
“Yes.”
Margotain stepped forward. “What do you want?”
“I don’t know,” Serenity said. “This isn’t my tradition.”
“If you win,” Margotain said, “then if you wish, you may also call me your Galatzi wife, which is not the tradition. And you may from time to time tie me the way I will tie you.”
Serenity smiled. “Agreed.” She turned to Luradinine. “What are the rules?”