by Robin Roseau
"Could I... um."
"Yes?"
"Could I have a bath first? I would really, really like a bath."
"Of course," the Vendart said. "My daughters can immediately take you to the communal baths. It would be somewhat longer if you require privacy."
She looked back and forth. "Will they... stay with me? I don't want to be alone."
"Of course we will," said Darratine. "Sister, why don't you show Farratain our rooms and collect fresh clothes?" She eyed the girl. "She seems closer to your size than mine. Perhaps you would loan her some clothes. Bring a change for me, too, and I'll meet you at the front door."
"I have clothes," Farratain said.
"I'm sure you do," Darratine said. "But have you ever borrowed clothes? It can feel so good, and Kalorain has the best clothes. Perhaps you'll let her pick for you."
"All right," Farratain said. "Thank you."
"Come on, Farratain," Kalorain said. She led the girl from the room, and Darratine hurried to close the door behind them. She turned to us.
"What happened?"
Luradinine looked at me, and I nodded, so she offered an abbreviated version of the story. "Daughter, you know how she needs to be treated."
"We'll take care of her," Darratine said. Then she turned to me. "Are you offering her to us?"
I repeated what Farratain said to me, but then Luradinine suggested the girl might change her mind, "if she trusts she will be treated well."
"Before you go, Darratine, I must tell you one more thing."
"Yes?"
"I am almost sure that any galatzi prisoners we take with us will be learning English to help the new Governor."
Her eyes grew wide, and she exchanged a glance with her mother. She looked at me again, then back at her mother. "Vendart, will you be offering a choice of your children?"
"It will be the choice of my children," she replied. "I cannot allow all three of you to go. Your eldest brothers have little interest in becoming Vendart."
"So one of us must stay," said the daughter. "And she-"
"Or perhaps he," interjected Luradinine.
"Will eventually become Vendart."
"I must warn you," I said. "That could be a very, very long time from now."
"Oh?"
"You do know the Governor is over one hundred years old. The reason the galatzi prisoners will learn English is to help in the rejuvenation center. I am sure you can envision the implications."
Luradinine laughed. "When my successor is ready to become Vendart, I will happily set aside my title. Perhaps I will learn English and assist the Governor."
"I imagine she would welcome you with open arms," I replied.
"I had better go," Darratine said. "Chaladine, I would speak more with you later, while our charge is sleeping."
"I want one of you with her at all times," directed the Vendart. "She gets privacy in the water closet, but otherwise I want one of you with her."
"Of course, Mother," the girl said. She offered a bow of her head, and then she slipped from the room.
I turned to the Vendart. "We have much to discuss, but I must see to the needs of my people, and then I believe a bath and a bed would feel divine. Would this stretch your hospitality?"
"No, Chaladine. Would you allow me to join you?" She caressed my arm.
"For the bath or the bed?"
"I was thinking of the bath for now, but perhaps you would allow me to soothe you to sleep. I think perhaps you could use it."
"I could," I admitted.
* * * *
I let Luradinine arrange everything, standing by only to show solidarity with her plans. We showed everyone to the rooms they would have, and then we offered a bite to eat, baths, and beds.
After verifying with me they could all relax, half our number headed straight to bed after breakfast. The rest of us collected clothing, and it amused Luradinine to offer me her own clothing to borrow. She was perhaps a tiny bit taller than I was, and so I accepted with thanks, as amused by the offer as she was.
Beacon Hill was not as large as Sudden, but the communal baths were large. As they were in Sudden, they were divided into a men's side and a woman's side, and so we bid a brief farewell to our male counterparts. The Vendart's daughters took full charge of Farratain, helping her at every stage, and I saw she was well tended.
But I was surprised when the Vendart offered to bathe me. I hadn't been bathed by anyone in a very, very long time. Her overtures were obvious -- and I realized, deeply comforting.
"I place myself in your hands," I said.
She bathed me carefully and gently, then quickly bathed herself before taking my hand and leading me to the soaking baths. There was one large pool, but it was divided so that bathers could sit together in one large group or divide into smaller groups. Darratine and Kalorain separated our four galatzi trade offers to one side, taking one of the smaller group areas. The Vendart drew me to another small cove in the pool, just barely large enough for two, and I found myself pressed against her. Under the water, she trapped one of my legs with hers, and barely above the water, she turned me so that I lay against her with my head resting against her shoulder and her arms around me, cradling me.
She bent down and whispered into my ear. "I know I am being very forward. I will not be offended if you ask me to back off."
I looked over my shoulder at her. "We are only here for a few days, and then I will be leaving."
"I understand. I shall not ask for more than you are willing to offer."
"I place myself in your hands while we are here, then."
"Good," she whispered, and she kissed my ear.
I closed my eyes and allowed my thoughts to drift. But then I spoke. "I have made mistakes in the past," I told her quietly.
"We have all made mistakes."
"I keep playing last night over and over in my head. I don't know what I should have done differently, Luradinine."
"This was not your fault. It was the fault of the man involved, and then also the fault of his vendart, for allowing this behavior. If he has done this once, you can almost rest assured there have been other complaints. If there have not been, it is only because the entire village knows the vendart will do nothing."
"I am going to make it my life's mission to assure no one ever makes another galatzi trade with Melaratine's Cove. And I have a great deal of influence for the daughter of a vendart."
"You have the ear of the Governor herself."
"I do," I said. "As well as the ear of two influential vendarti."
"Now three," she said. "Chaladine, I do not believe you did anything wrong. Neither did Farratain. Perhaps there are things you can do to keep your charges safer in the future, but this is not how Talmonese think. This is not the sort of people we are. For now, know that you are safe here, and I want you to let me take care of everything for the next few days."
"Thank you, Luradinine. You are exactly what we needed."
She tightened her arms around me, and together, without further words, we soaked together in the warm water. I accepted the soothing warmth and her soothing touches.
Later, Luradinine took care of everything exactly as she said she would. She ushered everyone from the water, made sure everyone was well dried and had help dressing, and then, like a mother duck, she herded us back to her home.
"Who is managing the men?" I asked her.
"Pshaw. They can handle themselves." She grinned. "My youngest is there as guide, and the men from your party will see to it no one gets into trouble."
We got everyone settled, and then she led me to her room. Once inside, I found myself in her arms again, nose to nose. I smiled shyly.
"I wish to be clear about something," she said. And then she cupped the back of my head and pulled me into a kiss.
It was a lovely kiss, and I immediately found myself melting into it. She maintained control the entire time, and then she released my mouth.
I didn't open my eyes, but I could hear he
r smile. "Let me put you to bed. I will rub your back while you sleep. I would stay with you, but I must attend to the details. Venture forth when you are ready, but if the day grows late, I will come in and wake you."
I let her pull her clothes from me, setting them aside where I could find them later. She didn't offer night clothes, and I didn't ask. A moment later I found myself in her bed. She sat beside me as I lay on my stomach.
"May I touch you for a while?"
I nodded. And so she slipped a hand underneath the covers, and she began to stroke my skin in long, smooth, soothing strokes.
"Sleep, Chaladine," she whispered to me. "Let me take care of you."
And so, after a while, I did.
Comfort
I slept far longer than I intended, and I woke to Luradinine's touch and gentle voice.
"It is late afternoon, my sweet," she whispered to me.
But her touch was lovely, and I found myself helpless underneath her hand. At first, she sat on the edge of the bed, but then she lay down, slipping under the covers with me. She was dressed, and so I knew she didn't intend to seduce me, not quite yet. Instead she continued to stroke my body.
"You spoil me," I managed to say.
"Do you enjoy it?"
"Yes."
"I enjoy doing this," she said. "And so we both become spoiled." She continued to touch and stroke, gently at first, but then her touches became more playful, and I was sure that was intentional. I squirmed, and she giggled.
I rolled away from her, then slipped back next to her, lying on my back but with my head turned in her direction. I was covered under the sheets, but she was underneath with me, and after a moment, her hand found my skin again. I closed my eyes as she teased me, her fleeting touches caressing my sides, my stomach, the cleft of my breasts, and then my breasts themselves, teasing the nipples until I knew they were erect. I squirmed again.
But she didn't linger. Instead, her hand moved again, teasing my cheeks, my lips, my neck, then moving again, here, there.
"For now," she said, "I am only teasing you awake."
"I know."
"Later, I intend to tease a great deal more."
"Good." I opened my eyes and faced her. "I feel selfish."
"We both need it this way right now," she replied. "Do not feel like you are being selfish. I will take what I want. Will you let me?" And I nodded. "Then we will both get what we want."
I let her tease me for a while longer, and then she teased me further, pulling me from the bed until I was sitting on the edge. She dressed me herself, brushed my hair, and then pulled me to my feet. We kissed, but briefly.
"Will you tell me how things stand?"
"Dinner is soon. Some of your people have been awake for a while, and I have assigned some of the people of Beacon Hill to serve as guides and see to their needs."
"You do so much."
"Would you do less? Would your father?"
"No, of course not. We would be honored by your visit."
"My son is fond of building things, and I believe he has recruited your two galatzi offers to assist him. They had not emerged by the time I came for you, and we will undoubtedly need to retrieve them from whatever castle they have built in his rooms."
I laughed. "That sounds like fun."
"My daughters have taken charge of your four girls. They are all getting along well, and my eldest reported to me that Farratain has had nurturing company while she slept. I believe they have made one large nest upon the floor and sleep in one confused pile, all of them touching."
"Thank you," I said.
"It is nothing," she replied. "Dinner tonight is simple. Warm, comforting stew with fresh bread. We have warm cider from our own orchards. I can also offer apple wine, but I would prefer caution, especially with Farratain, and so perhaps we can save the wine for a night."
"Again, I bow to your wisdom, Luradinine."
"I think music after dinner would be nice, and informal dancing, just with the household," she said. "And perhaps stories as well. Happy stories. We will make a happy, easy, soothing time. By morning, all will be right as rain again, and tomorrow we will show your galatzi trade offers the village. We will show them their home, if they should decide to stay. Tomorrow evening, we will have a more formal event, and we shall see if any matches make themselves."
At that, she was ready to draw me from the room, but this time, I pulled her into my arms. "Thank you," I said. I kissed the corner of her mouth. "You have rescued us." I kissed the other corner. "And you restore our faith in the people of Talmon." And that kiss was serious, quite serious, and neither of us carried any doubt how we would spend the latter part of the night.
We broke the kiss by mutual agreement, and we were both breathless.
And then she led me from her room, her arm around my waist and my head resting on her shoulder.
* * * *
Over dinner, everyone was subdued, and perhaps worried about Farratain. But the girl in question was alert and perhaps somewhat flattered by the attention she was receiving. Both of Luradinine's daughters doted on the girl, seeing to her needs, and one or the other was always touching her.
"They seem to know what she needs," I whispered to the Vendart.
"They should," she said. "They've had practice in the past. They'll take good care of her. Will it bother you if she receives good night kisses?"
"You should ask her that, not me."
"My daughters will know if she desires a good night kiss. We can trust her with them."
I watched carefully, but I decided that Farratain was as safe with the daughters as I felt with the mother, and I didn't unduly worry.
The boys seemed pleased with their afternoon, even though Wenelopid was somewhat younger than either of them. I watched all of them, the daughters, the son, and I whispered to Luradinine, "Sudden would be pleased to accept any of your children in a trade."
She laughed. "I thought Sudden might. Tomorrow you will meet others, as well, and then we shall see. If we come to an agreement, I will allow a raid, although I know you will only take the sons and daughters that have offered themselves."
"Of course," I said. "And I find myself in need of a story to tell."
"Should you save it for the fire later?"
"No. This story is for your ears only." I told her Cecilia's story.
I was halfway through the story before she said, "Wait. You traded the imperial envoy, the woman who is now our Governor?"
"We thought she understood," I explained. I finished the story. "As you can imagine, we are far more blunt than we used to be. I believe I would prefer to hear the people say, 'I wish to go to Sudden as a galatzi prisoner'. Those exact words would be lovely."
She laughed. "I think perhaps we are diverting further and further from the tradition."
"I believe happy people is more important than tradition."
"As do I." She smiled. "Are you sure you won't offer yourself?"
"I'm sorry. Um."
"Oh, I know that expression," she said, holding her hand under her chin and using one crooked finger to point at my face. "Someone has a confession."
I told her of my agreement with Cecilia. When I was done, I asked, "Does this change which bed I return to tonight."
"No," she said. "We shall share what time we have, and find joy in the sharing. You told me when you arrived you would not be staying, and I thank you for your trust in the complete explanation." And under the table, she squeezed my knee as she smiled.
Dinner was warm and lovely, and we moved to her dance hall afterwards. She had a large fireplace along one wall, and there was a hearty fire waiting for us when we arrived. Luradinine gave a short speech about new friends then invited me to speak. I thanked her and her children for their hospitality. Then I turned to Luradinine.
"I told you we needed to talk. There are things going on that you should know. But I think perhaps I should share hints of it here with everyone. Do you mind?"
"Not at al
l, as long as you save the best parts for my hearing alone."
Everyone laughed.
And so I told everyone some of the things Cecilia had said, making sure they understood she was speaking as the Imperial Governor. I told them about the need for people who speak English, and gave some of the reasons why.
"Beacon Hill wishes to be involved," said Luradinine. "Chaladine, do you have the authority to invite me to Sudden?"
"I do, but the governor and the Vendart of Indartha are away to Centos Four, the Governor's homeworld. I do not know when they will return. You could speak at length with father. Or I could see that you are retrieved when the Governor returns."
"Am I welcome now, and then again later?"
"You are," I said.
"Well then," she said. "When you leave, I will depart with you, if your answer remains unchanged."
"We welcome you, Luradinine." I paused. "That's all I had." I gestured, and Luradinine stood back up, but she gestured to the love seat we were to share for the evening, and I sat.
"Tonight, I wish to relax. And so I am going to ask my children to orchestrate tonight's entertainment. "Darratine, will you get us started?"
And so the daughter stood up, leaving Farratain to Kalorain, and I found myself wrapped in Luradinine's arms as we sat on the sofa.
"All right," Darratine said. "Tonight we are to have stories and music. You may tell embarrassing stories about yourself, but you must not embarrass anyone else here. If you play an instrument, we will fetch one for you to borrow. We will have a few stories, and then my brother and I will play a song we can all dance to." She smiled at Wenelopid. "My brother plays the piano beautifully, and I so enjoy playing with him."
I thought that was sweet.
"Who would like to tell the first story?"
We received two stories, and then Darratine said, "Well, Wenelopid. It is our turn." She gestured to a large piece of furniture set to the side. Upon it sat a violin, and beside it a flute. The boy rose to his feet and moved to a bench on the other side of the furniture.
"What is that?"
"What is what?"
"That odd table he sits behind."