by Robin Roseau
She smiled. "Everyone, this is Racinártiera."
"I know that name," I said. I stared at the woman.
"You do," agreed Alta. "Do you remember why you know that name?"
"Oh," I said. "Oh. Alta. You little fox." Alta began to grin. "I bought a sculpture of yours. A girl with her horse."
The woman's jaw dropped, and she stared at me. "You bought it, High Priestess?"
"It sang to me," I said. "I had to have it."
"High Priestess," she said.
"Please, call me Yalla," I said. "I don't believe I can reproduce your name."
"Call me Tiera," she offered. "You bought one of my sculptures."
"I love it," I said. Then I looked at Alta. "But what are we going to learn today? She can't teach us to make something like that."
"Ah, nothing so fancy," Alta said. "Tiera teaches classes in pottery. We're going to get dirty with clay today."
"Oh," I said slowly. I began to smile. "I've never done that. Clay is heavy, and we use animal skins. Well, the Arrlottan did. Is it hard?"
"I guess we'll find out," Alta said.
I looked around. "Are there other students?"
"Today only you, High Priestess."
"Yalla."
The woman nodded. "Yalla," she said, but it was said a little shyly.
"Well," said Alta. "Let's get started. I can't wait!"
Tiera gestured, and we all turned around. There were chairs sitting in front of little tables, and some sort of wheel turned sideways on each. I didn't understand it, but she moved us in that direction.
"Can we do this as partners?" Alta said.
"If you want," Tiera said.
"I do," she declared. "But perhaps not everyone does?"
"I'd accept a partner," I said. "Or two, if that's how it works."
"I'd do this with a partner," Larien said.
Soon, everyone agreed it would be more fun to make partners, and I could immediately see they also assumed who their partners would be, but Alta wasn't having any of that.
"Larien, perhaps you could pick someone who doesn't have black and white hair to be your partner."
Larien laughed. "Féla, will you be my partner?"
"I'd love to."
"Terél, your turn."
"I bet you're going to be upset if I pick you," Terél said with a grin and a glance at me.
"Of course not. If I wished to assign partners, I would have done so."
Terél considered carefully, looking at Naddí, Alta, and me, one after another. Finally I said, "Pick, or I will."
"Naddí?"
Alta laughed and moved to my side. Then in twos, we each sat at one of the tables. Tiera sat at one in front of us, and then she began to explain how we would make a small vase or bowl, finally demonstrating the use of the wheel, and how to form the shape we wanted. Then she passed out pieces of wet, grey clay.
"You can't help but get your hands dirty," she said. "So it is best just to dive right in. I'll move between you and help if you have trouble."
I turned to Alta. "You are absolutely brilliant."
"I know," she said with a grin. "You know I am going to make sure you are very, very dirty."
I laughed. And then, together, we spun our wheel and worked the pedal.
We worked together. Tiera told us to just play with the clay for a while to get the feel of working with it, encouraging us to keep our hands wet as we worked. And so, with both our hands together, that is what Alta and I did, spinning the clay and then watching what shapes we could make.
"This is fun!" Naddí said. "Thank you, Alta! Thank you, Tiera."
"You're welcome," they both said. "I'm glad you enjoy it," Tiera added.
"How long do we have to make something?" Terél asked.
"All afternoon," Alta said. "We make our vase or bowl today, and then when you come back through, we can paint them."
"Oh, wonderful," I said. "We can take our time."
Alta was naughty. Of course she was. We worked on the clay for a while, my hands over hers or hers over mine, and that was quite fun. But then she slid her hands up my arms, coating me in dirty clay water to my elbows.
"Hey! You brat. You're supposed to be the mature one," I said.
She giggled but didn't apologize. It was cute. I considered returning the favor, but that was too obvious. So instead I leaned over and kissed her ear and said, "Paybacks are a bitch, but it won't be today."
"I look forward to it," she replied. And then she caressed my cheek with one of her hands.
"You! You!"
And then from another table, Terél screamed, "Naddí!"
I looked over, and she had a streak of clay right down her nose.
"All right," I said. "If this goes on, it's going to get out of hand, and then we'll make a mess of Tiera's shop."
Tiera laughed. "I teach children sometimes, and you wouldn't believe the trouble they can cause."
"But I want to make my vase, and I just know these five," I said. "Incorrigible, each and every one."
"But look what she did," Terél complained, pointing to her nose. "I should be able to do it back."
"Larien!" Féla said. "The High Priestess just said we weren't supposed to do that."
Alta and Tiera began laughing. When I looked, Larien had hold of Féla's wrists, barely holding Féla off from some sort of clay retaliation to Larien's face.
"Alta, look what you started."
"It looks like fun," she said. And then she reached for my face, and I barely captured her wrists before she added clay to my other cheek.
"Stop it!"
Around me, the entire class turned into chaos. I struggled with Alta. Féla and Larien struggled. Naddí and Terél took to flicking clay-water at each other. And all Tiera did was laugh.
Soon I started giggling, and I wasn't the only one. That made it even harder for me to fend Alta off, but I was stronger than she was, and I managed to make her brush the backs of her fingers against her own cheek, but she flicked her other fingers at me, splattering my face.
"Stop this," I ordered. "All of you!"
"But I owe her!" Terél complained. "Feisty maid is stronger than I am, and she cheats besides."
I looked over, and Terél was a mess. Naddí wasn't necessarily pristine, but she wasn't remotely the mess that Terél was.
"Naddí," I said. "You do know who is going to be left cleaning up after the baths."
She froze, and to the other side, so did Féla with Larien.
"That's not fair," Féla muttered.
"And you," I said to Alta. "If I'm a mess, I can't possibly come to dinner."
That resulted in Alta freezing, and slowly she relaxed. I released her wrists, but watched her carefully.
"That's better," I said. "Alta, our vase is terrible. Look what you did to it."
"If you had accepted my touches, it wouldn't have slumped while we struggled," she replied.
"Cute," I said. "Are you going to behave?"
"I won't be the one to start it back up," she said. "Promise."
"All right then. The rest of you can do what you want." And then I set hands back on the clay, and a moment later, Alta's were over mine.
* * * *
I didn't notice the beginning of the mutiny. In fact, I was so absorbed in the clay, and the feel of Alta's hands on mine, or mine on hers, that I didn't notice anything until I felt four sets of hands -- very dirty, clay-water-covered hands -- grab me.
"Hey!" I complained.
"You guys hold her," Larien said. "And I'll paint her."
"Hey!" I complained again. "Stop it."
Alta began laughing. I struggled with my captors, but they were able to pull my arms behind my back, and then Larien approached with her hands out, moving slowly.
"No!" I said. "You're going to ruin my vase!"
"She's right," Alta said. "Someone will bump it for sure, the way she's struggling. Pull her backwards and pin her to the floor first."
"Hey!" I compl
ained, but darned, but if that wasn't what they did. Then, with Tiera laughing, it wasn't just four of them, but all five of them that took turns holding me down while one of them stroked me with clay-wet hands.
I struggled for a while, but slowly I relaxed and let them do what they wanted. It actually felt nice, and once I was so dirty...
I closed my eyes and let them do whatever they wanted.
And they coated every exposed piece of skin they could find, and got quite a bit in my hair besides.
"You know," I whispered. "It's going to take one amazing bath before I'm willing to go to the palace for dinner."
"We don't mind," Féla whispered back. "This is fun. Someone open her tunic."
"Hey!" I complained.
They opened it, but only a little, not so much Juleena would be upset. Or at least not too upset. But that gave them more skin, and I continued to let them do what they wanted.
"Surely you're done," I said.
"I don't think I can stop," Larien said. "Yalla, you're tugging on our link."
"Oh no," I said. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be," she said, and then I was sure she was the one who painted my nose with more clay.
But I opened my eyes. I was flat on my back with Alta sitting on one leg. She'd pulled my boot off and had spent a great deal of attention on my foot. It had felt nice. Féla had done the other. Larien and Naddí held one arm pinned, each, and were stroking my face. Terél knelt at my head and was running fingers through my hair. And I was sure they'd been shifting positions, each of them enjoying herself.
"All right," I said gently. "Don't you all want to finish your vases?"
"I suppose," said Terél. "I want to know what sort of paybacks we can expect."
"As long as it washes out, none," I said. I smiled. "No. Wait. You each have a choice. A kiss, right now, or expect future paybacks."
"Kiss," Naddí said immediately. She didn't wait but lowered herself. I closed my eyes and received a sweet kiss. It wasn't long, but it wasn't a peck, either. Then she pulled away, and I saw she had fresh clay on her face, where we were touching. Then she stood up and stepped away.
But then I held still while she refreshed the wet clay on my face, ready for the next to kiss me.
They each gave me kisses, one after another, then released their hold to return to their own tables. Alta was last, and she took her time.
It was a sweet kiss, no longer than the others, once she actually began to kiss me, and then she slipped away, but she held out a hand, and I accepted help getting to my feet.
We were all subdued after that. Tiera moved from group to group, helping us with our final shape, adding her hands to ours, making us do it, but guiding us all the same. Then we pulled our hands away, and I looked at our vase.
"I like it," I said.
"So do I," Tiera said. "You have a good eye, and this shape should handle firing. I'll take care of everything, and then when you come back, we'll see how they each did."
"If any break," Alta said, "We'll share the ones that made it through the kiln."
"Yes," I agreed. "A lovely plan."
* * * *
Before we left, we talked a little with Tiera. She was sweet, and I really liked her. It was Alta who asked her, "Do you make a living through your art, and these classes?"
"Not hardly," she said. "I have to sell pieces just to buy material for more pieces. I work at a tavern for free meals. And I pay for this place partly through the tips I make and partly by working for the owner whenever he has work for me."
"Making things?"
"Oh, no. Cleaning his shop. Cleaning his house. Doing his laundry. He's half blind, and his children are ingrates, as he calls them. He has someone else who does his cooking. I do the things that don't need doing every single day, as my schedule isn't as steady."
"What do other artists do?" I asked.
"When they're as new as I am, pretty much the same sort of work," she explained. "Same story, different details. I've love to be free to do nothing but create, but that requires a patron. And then you have to make whatever the patron wants you to make."
And at that, Alta's eyes flashed at me.
And whether it was intended or not, a seed formed.
* * * *
Juleena and Margaletta were back at the townhouse by the time Alta dropped us off. Five of us stepped inside, giggling, but stopped at the stares we were receiving.
We sobered, and then even more as Juleena stalked closer to me. "Do I want to know what happened to you?"
"She fell into some clay," Naddí said. "We had a hard time getting her out."
"If she fell in clay, there would be more in her clothes than there is," Juleena said. "That's clay?"
Slowly, I nodded.
"You're all filthy, but why are you the worst?"
"They ganged up on me," I said. "But there's a penance."
"You promised no paybacks!" Féla complained.
"We can't ask Margaletta's staff to clean up after us," I said. "And I'm not doing it. Guess who that leaves."
"Down to the laundry room," Margaletta said. "You're not tracking clay all over the house. It will get into everything." And then she stepped ahead, clearing a path for us, and once we were in the laundry, she even stepped forward to move two baskets of laundry aside. "This room better be spotless before any of you leaves," she said.
"Yes, Lady Margaletta," we intoned together. And then as soon as she was gone, we burst into fresh giggles.
* * * *
I was nervous. Naddí and Féla swore up and down they got every speck of clay, and then they dressed me in a gown besides.
"No, no," I complained.
"Princess Lásenalta told us what she wanted you to wear, and you promised to dress how she asked," Féla said. "Stop fussing."
And so I let them do what they wanted. Again. And it was nice not to worry about something for a while.
But now I was nervous as we were led through the palace. The page brought us to the library and announced us, and then we stepped inside.
The royal family -- minus the prince -- were all dressed as formally as we were. They all looked amazing, especially Alta, who smiled tentatively at me when she saw me.
I exchanged hugs with the king and queen, and a hug and cheek kiss with Alta. A few other greetings moved around, and then the queen said, "There will be no talk of business or politics until later. This time is to be a time of comfort between friends and family."
Of course we agreed, and then the king poured wine for each of us.
"I understand your afternoon was enjoyable," said the queen. "My daughter came back to us looking quite the fright."
"I looked far less a fright than the grey High Priestess," Alta said with a smirk in my direction. "Oh, I want to do that again."
I smiled. "Maybe it should be your turn next time."
"I will point out," she replied, "I promised I wouldn't be the one to start the misbehavior, and I wasn't. Have you questioned your household, Lady Yallameenara?"
"I am afraid to," I said. "I believe they would all accept credit, and I wouldn't know who was lying."
There were snickers at that, but no one confessed anything.
"Your Majesties," I said. "I have a question."
"And you're being formal about it?" asked the king. He sighed dramatically.
"I'm sorry. Tradódid and Mesenorié, have you ever been a... Alta, what word did Tiera use?"
"Patron."
"Right. Have you ever been a patron for an artist?"
I'm sure everyone knew it wasn't a casual question. But the queen smiled. "We're more likely to support artists by buying works we like or commissioning a piece."
"Would it be expensive?" I asked. "I don't know what the expectations are."
"It varies widely," replied the king. "It depends on the arrangements."
"What do you mean?"
"Imagine we're talking about a sculptor, Father," Alta offered. Yeah, I didn't think I was be
ing subtle.
"Well then," he said. "He may wish you to buy marble for him, and require a large space to work on it. He may have rich tastes and expect you to support him in style. He may be a difficult person. Many artists are. And so it may be expensive to soothe ruffled feathers when he alienates the neighbors or a landlord. If you keep him on property you own, he may damage the property."
"I can't imagine wanting to be a patron to someone who would act like that," I said.
"Or he could be a kind young man," said the queen. "You may support him in exchange for only one or two pieces a year, and he is free to sell everything else he makes. This may keep him in materials, and he could be quiet and respectful."
"I see," I said. "So you're saying, it varies."
"I believe that is what I said," said Tradódid with a twinkle in his eye. "Is this a casual conversation?"
"You can perhaps guess not," I said. "How would one approach an artist?"
"I find 'hello' works," Alta said, "followed by 'I love your work and would like to make your dreams come true'."
I laughed. "Maybe not those exact words."
"Maybe not," she agreed.
"So, how much would it cost, if she is sweet and polite?"
"It depends upon whether you must rent a place for her to live and another place for her to work," Mesenorié replied. "You have land, and you probably have vacancies. You would need to ask Prodótar, but you could provide a place on your lands, and that would cost you nothing. Then it is food, clothing, and materials, and of course, spending money."
"That is so far from the city," I said. "What if she doesn't wish to relocate so far?"
"Yalla," said Alta. "The woman is making ends meet as a barmaid and housekeeper. You couldn't support a hundred artists without noticing the cost, but you could certainly keep one."
"She won't cost more than we do," Naddí said. "Unless she starts sculpting in marble. But I didn't see any there."
I turned to her. "Do I even pay you?"
"We take it from your purse," Féla said. "You don't even notice."
I knew she was kidding, and we smiled at each other. I'd taken care of those arrangements once we arrived in Marport a few months ago.
"Am I being silly? Am I letting my new titles go to my head?"
"Yalla," said Mesenorié, "in the queen's household, how many people are there who see to a portion of your needs every day?"