by Robin Roseau
"On the other hand, going to Sudden is an adventure, and doing so hints at adventures I cannot promise but strongly suspect."
"Quite so," Luradinine replied. She pursed her lips. "I believe there is no wrong answer. Do you agree?"
"I do. We are left between two good choices."
"You made a great many promises in this room tonight. Are you going to be able to keep them?"
"Yes, but I cannot be quite so encompassing for everyone else you may offer."
"I understand," she replied. "Do you have an opinion either way?"
"No. We are deciding between two good choices, if you are sure neither of your daughter secretly has a desire one way or the other."
She smiled. "When we finish our conversation, I intend you to send my daughters back in and take Farratain back to the party, but don't you dare let anyone else have her!"
I laughed. "She is smitten by your daughters. Both your daughters."
"I think... I think Darratine is a better choice. She is a little older, and I believe a galatzi trade works best that way. But I wish to speak to my daughters, regardless."
"Of course. I will happily accept your wisdom, Luradinine, and I cannot imagine a happier choice."
"Very well. Kiss me quickly, and then you may send my daughters back in."
I moved into her arms, and I would not say we kissed quickly, but we definitely kissed. I moved away from her slowly, and then composed myself before opening the door.
"Darratine and Kalorain, your mother would like to speak to both of you before making her final recommendation. You can go back in. Farratain and I will return to the party."
"Not without one of us to protect our claim," Darratine said. She wrapped an arm more tightly around Farratain.
"If you both kiss me once more," the girl responded, "I shall be too stunned to even notice anyone else, and I will be safe in Chaladine's care."
I chuckled, and that was exactly what they did, and I thought these kisses were better than the first pair.
Darratine then led Farratain to me before heading into the room to speak with her mother. Before the door closed, I heard her ask, "Did the two of you really talk, or did you spend the entire time with your lips pressed to hers? She is still flushed from whatever you were doing to her."
I managed not to blush, but it was a close thing.
"Chaladine?" Farratain asked as I led her back to the party. "Am I making a mistake?"
"No, honey," I said. "You would be very happy here."
"And you would stay with the Vendart, if you could, wouldn't you?"
"I would," I agreed.
We reached the party, and I could tell there were others wishing to speak with me, but I thought it best if I made them wait. I didn't think Luradinine would be long.
"It is very strange," she said. "We knew each other before, but you are so much older, and we have never been friends. And then just in these few days, I feel we are friends, but for such a brief time."
"We will always be friends," I replied. "We may rarely see each other, but we will always be friends."
She smiled at that.
"Do you really have no opinion which you would prefer?"
"They are not the same," she said. "But I would be happy with either of them. Do you know which will claim me?"
"No, but we will learn in another few minutes."
"Will there be a raid?"
"Yes, although Luradinine and I will work out the details."
"It will be easier for me. They only need to take me from one side of a room to the other side."
I laughed. "I suspect we will make it a little more than that. It might be from one side of Beacon Hill back to this home."
She smiled. "So it will not be tonight?"
"No. It will be tomorrow or the next night."
"All right. Will we have another slumber party tonight, or will you take us away?"
"Unless the Vendart wishes another arrangement, there will be another slumber party. But you understand, you must not do more with either of them than you already have. You can kiss and cuddle, but no more than that until you are her galatzi wife. I can trust you, can't I?"
"Yes, Chaladine."
"Good." I smiled. "Would you care to dance with me?"
"I would."
* * * *
In the end, we did not tell Farratain what was decided that night. We told her only that there was a decision, and unless she changed her mind, she would remain here. And so, the girls had one more slumber party, and while the daughters knew which would be keeping Farratain, and which would travel to Sudden with me, they kept it from Farratain, and they both showered her with healing attention and affection, as did the other girls at the slumber party.
I let Luradinine orchestrate everything. In the morning, after breakfast, my group gathered in the ballroom. A half hour later, Luradinine appeared with six of her townsfolk, Darratine amongst them. They came to a stop, Luradinine two paces in front of me, with her townsfolk in a wide line behind her, all of them facing us.
"Chaladine, eldest daughter of the Sudden Vendart, and leader of this galatzi trade mission, I greet you."
"Luradinine, Vendart of Beacon Hill, I thank you for your greetings, and for the fine hospitality you have offered us. This week, Beacon Hill has become a dear friend of Sudden."
"We are heartened by that," Luradinine replied. "Is it still your intention to offer a galatzi trade with us?"
"It is."
"And do all six of the people behind you wish to remain here in Beacon Hill, if a suitable trade can be made?"
I turned to them, and one by one, I asked them first if they wished to remain here. They each did.
Luradinine didn't actually tell me if she was going to first present her offer or make her claims, and so I turned my attention back to her. "Yes, Vendart of Beacon Hill. All six have met at least one person who pleases them, and they hope for a suitable match."
"Very good," she said. "I have brought the six who wish to claim their galatzi prize. If this is not entirely suitable, I was forced to make a few choices, and so it is possible we can make adjustments. But these are the six I believe would make the best claims here today. Will you hear their requests?"
"I will, but a final decision cannot be reached until we have reviewed the entire offer."
"Of course," she replied. "This is tentative, but hopefully not for long." She smiled. Without turning around, she said, "Rendorid, step forward and state your desire."
One of the boys took one step forward. His eyes settled on one of the girls behind me. "I would claim Lanaine."
"Lanaine," I said. "Have you met this man who would claim you?"
"I have," she replied. "I accept his claim. I will be his galatzi prize." Then I heard her smile. "I have not decided how hard I will fight when they come for me."
There were a few chuckles, and Luradinine smiled briefly. "Rendorid, do you wish a more complacent galatzi prize?"
"What would be the fun of that?" he asked.
"We accept this portion of the trade," I said.
"As do we," Luradinine agreed. "Yorudano, step forward and state your desire."
The next boy in line took one step forward. "I would claim Bellatarn, if she would have me." He grinned. "I'm not afraid if she fights." He shouldn't be. He was huge, and Bellatarn was a tiny thing, nearly as small as Cecilia.
"Bellatarn, what is your response?" I asked.
I heard Bellatarn step forward, and she stepped up until she was beside me. "I would ask a question of the Beacon Hill Vendart."
"Of course," Luradinine said.
"Yorudano is a big man, but he seems very gentle. Will he treat me and our children gently?"
"Yorudano is indeed, very big," Luradinine said. "And I have seen him rescue spiders from a house, setting them free in the woods where spiders should live. Twice in his young years I have seen him risk his own life to save animals that would have died without his intervention. The first was hi
s own dog, and perhaps it is not remarkable that a man would save his own dog. But the second was a wild fox, trapped by a flooded river after a storm. The fox bit him savagely, but Yorudano was gentle and moved the fox to safe ground. Yorudano is a gentle giant, and I have every faith he would treat you as gently as any being could be capable."
"You have a dog?" Bellatarn asked.
"Three," he said, and he looked a little sheepish about it. "They're good dogs, but they sleep inside. Um. Sometimes on the bed."
"I will accept Yorudano's claim," Bellatarn said. "And I believe it would be futile to fight when he comes. I will not fight. I hope I do not disappoint you when I meekly cross my wrists."
"You could never disappoint me, Bellatarn," the man said. And I knew this would be a good match.
"We accept this portion of our galatzi trade," I declared.
"As do we," Luradinine said. "Nuraopid?"
The last remaining boy stepped forward. "I would claim Iradain."
"Iradain?"
"I accept this match," the girl said. "And you'll have to wait to see if I fight."
The boy grinned.
"Sudden accepts this match."
"As does Beacon Hill. Claraine?"
The first of the girls stepped forward. "I would claim Leeradano."
Leeradano was a sweet boy. He was quick witted but kind, and a hard worker besides. I had barely met the girl in question, but she had seemed pleasant. And so I thought we had another good match. "Leeradano, do you accept this match?"
And from behind me came silence.
I didn't quite know what to do. Luradinine eventually raised an eyebrow to me, and I turned to see the boy fidgeting from foot to foot.
"Leeradano, you are not obligated to accept this match," I said gently. "We would not force nor even pressure you."
"It's not that," he said. "I liked Claraine." But then he looked past me. "But you didn't like me. You spent all your time talking to Toropid. I don't understand."
"Leeradano," the girl said. "You are both right and wrong. I spent my time with Toropid. He is quiet and difficult to draw out, and it took me time to decide how I felt about him. I did not think it was right to make a hasty decision. But you made me laugh the moment we met. And even when I was talking to Toropid, I heard you. You made others laugh, but you were never mean. I spent my time with Toropid, but only to be sure I wasn't making a mistake when I chose you."
The boy blushed.
"Toropid," the girl said, "I liked you, too. But you are better for Suzain, and Leeradano is better for me."
"Leeradano, do you accept this match with Claraine?"
"I do. I-" He lowered his eyes. "I don't want to fight a girl, but I don't know if I could let myself be tied without fighting."
"Leeradano," the girl in question replied. "You do know when I come for you, I won't be alone. I'll have my brothers, and two cousins, and I don't know who else." She grinned. "You can fight if you want to. You'll be mine in the end, regardless."
He gulped and nodded, and I saw the blush again. It was sweet.
"We accept this portion of our trade," I declared.
"As do we. Suzain, I think we know what you're going to say."
I turned to see the girl in question step forward. "Toropid, are you going to fight when I come for you?"
"You want me?" he asked in a quiet voice.
"Yes," she said. "I do."
"Really?"
"Yes. Are you going to fight me?"
I turned to watch him. He fidgeted, and then he looked to the floor. "No, Suzain. I'm not going to fight."
"Good," the girl said. "I didn't think so."
She had enough confidence for both of them, but I was worried. "Beacon Hill Vendart, this match strikes me as unbalanced. I have concerns."
She frowned, then looked between the two of them. "I understand. Suzain, do you understand what Chaladine has said."
"She's afraid I'll walk all over Toropid and won't treat him very well."
From behind me, Toropid said, "Please, Chaladine. I liked her."
I turned to study him for a minute, and he pleaded with his eyes. But I turned back to the girl and folded my arms.
"Walking all over Toropid would be too easy," Suzain said. "It was really hard to get him to talk, but the entire time I tried, he was drawing on a piece of paper. Finally I asked him what he was drawing. At first he didn't want to show me."
"I was afraid she'd laugh."
"Finally, I figured out why he wouldn't show me. I promised not to laugh, but if I did, I promised three really, really embarrassing stories about myself, said loudly enough for everyone in the room to hear."
"She didn't laugh. She said she liked it. And then she asked questions."
"He answered, too. He had three drawings, all of them of me, and they were really good. Chaladine, my family makes jewelry. I told him that and asked if he thought he could design a ring or pendant. So he drew a ring, and it was beautiful. I showed it to my grandmama when I got home, and she said if I didn't claim Toropid for myself, she was going to come down here today and do it for herself."
"I'm fairly certain I'd have objections about that," I said.
"I don't have an artistic bone in my body," the girl went on. "But I have the business sense in the family. But the rest of my family are all artists, and they can't wait to meet Toropid. He couldn't fit my family better, and I will take very good care of him. I promise he'll be happy." Then she grinned. "But Toropid, you know you'll be obeying me."
"I know," he said in a small voice. "I don't mind. I've never made jewelry though. Do you think I could learn?"
"I think you'd be stunning at it," the girl said.
"I am sorry, Luradinine," I said. "I should have trusted your judgment. I withdraw my concerns. We accept this match, if my doubts have not spoiled it."
"Suzain?"
"I want him."
"Beacon Hill accepts this portion of our galatzi trade," Luradinine replied. "Finally, my daughter. Darratine? I don't think this is going to be a surprise, either."
"I want Farratain. I promise to treat her well."
I didn't have to ask. Farratain immediately said, "Yes. I want to stay with Darratine. I don't have to fight, do I?"
"No, Farratain," Darratine told her. "You do not. We will be very gentle, but I will have to tie you."
"I know," she said. "I won't fight."
"Beacon Hill Vendart," I said, "Sudden accepts this half of our galatzi trade, if we are satisfied with the choices you present in exchange."
"Beacon Hill would make one more claim," she said. "Chaladine, I would claim you, if you would allow it."
I looked down. "I am sorry. I must decline."
She paused. "I know, but I wanted it said." She paused a moment. "Is there anyone here who would claim from amongst my choices?" she asked.
"No. We would take them to Sudden with us."
"I do not want them to spend the entire ride after crossing the Remla River tied as a galatzi prisoner."
"They will be tied, and they will be prisoners, but we will not tie them in the traditional fashion until we draw very close to Sudden itself."
"Well then, I wish to present our offering, but we do not require everyone here in attendance. Please send away anyone you do not need."
We cleared the room, leaving only Luradinine and me. We eyed each other. Luradinine smiled, but there was some strain in her lips. "This is harder than either of us expected, I think."
"There is a great deal of responsibility," I agreed. "I think that part was easier than the next part. You are offering your friends and sons and daughters to us without knowing who we will give them to. You have only my word."
"I am glad you recognize this, but I believe we have the mettle of each other." She paused. "How will we do the raid?"
"I don't know. What do you recommend?"
"I believe if you cluster together, it is too chaotic. I wish to present proper raids, however."
&nb
sp; "We do not know where any of your offerings live. We would never find them."
"I would not want our agreement sullied with these difficulties," she said. "But we must have proper raids."
"I do not believe it is possible to hold twelve raids in a single night, even if most of them do not involve a struggle."
"We can either capture more than one in a single raid, or we need more than one night."
"It would be horrible to share your bed an extra two or three nights," I said.
"You snore," she teased.
We both laughed.
"Normally, we would retreat after our raid," I said. "I cannot host a raid or two, then run away to Sudden, only to return a few days later."
"That does seem ridiculous. I have never seen a galatzi trade this large."
"Nor have I."
"I believe we will need to do this over two nights. We will raid you first, and you will raid us the second night." She grinned. "In the first night, we will capture our seven."
"Seven?"
She grinned at me. "Maybe I don't get to keep you, but maybe you would let me capture you for a night."
I laughed. "As long as we both know it is only a night."
"I will tie you."
I laughed again. "And on the second night, do I get to capture you, and then take you to Sudden with me?"
"You may capture me, and you may tie me as well, but in the morning, you must free me, and I do not arrive in Sudden as a galatzi prize."
We grinned at each other.
"It is still too chaotic to take six or seven at once. Do you mind camping out for the night we raid you?"
"No."
"Then this is what we will do. You will establish a camp, but you will come to dinner here. Your group will leave in three groups, with two of your offers in each group. The first group will linger here, and we will ambush you in the streets. The second group, the biggest group, will visit one of the inns for an hour or two. The third group will head to your camp, and we will capture them there. Then we will wait for the middle group to arrive."
I smiled. "And will you be tying everyone in the first two groups, or just the prisoners?"
"We will tie everyone, but as we depart, we will take only our seven prizes, and we will leave several tied only lightly. They will be able to free themselves, and then others, but it will take some time."