Galatzi World (Galatzi Trade Book 2)

by Robin Roseau

"That's not what you want."

  "No, but that's the nature of the game, isn't it?"

  "Ten minutes."

  "What?"

  "I want you to give me ten minutes when we begin to struggle. If I can have you bound within those ten minutes, you'll allow us to leave by the front door. I won't gag you. Furthermore, I will let you have me any way you wish during your visit in Sudden, if you desire."

  "You want me quiet for ten minutes, but if it takes longer, or if I escape from you, then I'm going to win everything, Chaladine."

  "I know. I know a few tricks. I won't have you completely tied in that time, not in the galatzi fashion. But I will have you fully subdued, and there will be no doubt."

  "I will give you your ten minutes, but if you lose, then you become my galatzi wife, willingly. I will let everyone else go, and they may take their prisoners, but you remain mine forever. I will allow you to send a letter of apology to the Governor, and if she has already made arrangements for you, I will find an alternative for her."

  "Agreed," I said. "My ten minutes starts when you begin to struggle."

  She laughed, and then she exploded into action.

  Misopid and Tarsorid would have heard the entire negotiation. I held tightly to Luradinine, and they both crawled out from their hiding places. Luradinine didn't realize I wasn't alone until she felt Misopid's hands on her legs. Tarsorid helped me to hold my prisoner tightly, and Misopid bound her legs.

  She struggled fiercely the entire time.

  We worked our way up, capturing her hands, and tied them behind her back. Finally I removed the blanket from over her head.

  She glared at me. "You tricked me. I thought you were alone."

  "You're right. I did." I smiled.

  "I am not bound properly."

  "I told you that I would have you subdued, but not bound properly. We can bind you while you struggle, but I have won our agreement. Do you agree?"

  She struggled with her knots for a minute before looking back up to me. "I get you however I want while we're in Sudden."

  "Yes."

  "However I want."

  "Within the bounds of good taste."

  "I could stay for a very long time."

  I laughed. "You could, but I do not believe you would neglect Beacon Hill."

  "But I could."

  "You could, and I would remain yours during that time."

  She sighed. "I'm not done trying to convince you. You have won, for now. You may tie me properly, and we will leave by the front door. My village will allow you safe passage."

  I kissed her, and then we tied her properly.

  * * * *

  The mood leaving Beacon Hill was jubilant. My raiding party was actually surprised to see us, and I knew then they thought Luradinine would beat me. Instead, I praised Luradinine for a well-played game and admitted she could have beaten me if not for her refined sense of fair play.

  "Behind us, we leave Beacon Hill with six that were once our own, but now belong to Beacon Hill. We will miss them, but we know they could not have been left in better hands. Luradinine, Sudden thanks you from the bottom of our hearts. You gave us refuge and warmth when we most needed it, and we know you will provide a good home to the former villagers from Sudden."

  Luradinine smiled. "You are welcome, Vendart's Daughter. I thank you for your company this day, your trust, and a fine trade. And, of course, I thank you for a well-played game these last two nights, and the promises you have made to me as well." She grinned.

  "Sudden has a new friend in Beacon Hill," I declared loudly.

  "And Beacon Hill has a new friend in Sudden," Luradinine declared, even more loudly. And from the distant darkness around us, I heard a cheer.

  My party startled, but Luradinine said, "Your Vendart's Daughter has negotiated safe passage for all of you from our lands. My village will not impede your progress." Then she called more loudly. "Will they?"

  "No, Vendart!" a few cried back, and that resulted in numerous chuckles.

  "Let's ride!" I called out.

  * * * *

  We traveled for an hour before I called for a halt. I had no idea if we were being shadowed. We helped everyone from her mount, and then I turned Luradinine to face me. "Beacon Hill Vendart, I do not judge us as entirely free of Beacon Hill's influence."

  "You have my guaranteed safe passage."

  "You have been tied for a bit longer than an hour, but some of our prisoners have been tied longer than this. I would offer relief if I could."

  "You must leave me bound in this fashion for another hour," she replied. "But I otherwise declare you free of Beacon Hill influence, and you may treat them as prisoners, but perhaps gently-treated prisoners."

  I offered a small bow to her. "Thank you, Beacon Hill Vendart."

  "You are quite welcome, Vendart's Daughter."

  And so we retied each of them, one at a time, all of them except Luradinine. Some were still reasonably comfortable, but several were clearly relieved for the relief. We didn't release gags, and I declared they would remain in place until we untied their former Vendart, but we received nods of thanks, and two brushed cheeks with me as well. I gave each of them a brief hug.

  At the next break, we removed gags, and I entirely untied Luradinine. But we traveled another hour before I called for a longer break. "We will rest for several hours, and then we will be on our way again."

  We assembled tents, fed everyone and saw to their needs, and finally got everyone settled. I climbed into my tent with Luradinine.

  "Vendart's daughter," she said to me. "You are taking an unusual route to Sudden."

  "We're following the coast. What could be more natural?"

  "We will reach Larotia in another two hours or so of travel."

  "I wish to tell the Vendart of events in Malaratine's Cove."

  "Ah," she said. "I wish to negotiate a modification to our agreement."

  "Oh, I don't think so."

  "Hear me out. I am going to tell you something that you will agree is very, very important to the success of your mission. Furthermore, doing so is at, I believe, a significant loss to me. In exchange for this largess, when I return to Beacon Hill, you will return with me, extending our agreement for an additional two weeks."

  I stilled. "You play an intriguing game. Who decides if you have won this wager?"

  "You do. I will accept your judgment."

  "The information you give me speaks directly to the success of a mission that I have already won, and if telling me, you take a significant loss? That is the wager?"

  "I would not phrase the first part quite the way you have. I would not say you have already won. But yes to the rest."

  "And what am I offered if I judge your information as trivial?"

  "Nothing. First, I am going to win, so it is not worth negotiating. And second, I can keep my mouth shut, and you won't know what I was going to tell you."

  "You are a tough negotiator."

  "Take it or leave it," she added, and I laughed.

  "I must modify it slightly. When I left Sudden, the Governor was gone, away to her home in the stars. But if she has returned, and if her game for me is in motion, or if she needs me for other purposes, I am not free to return with you."

  "And if your father does not wish to loan you to me?"

  "He will honor any agreement I make."

  "Then we have agreement," she declared. "You have safe passage away from Beacon Hill, and I cannot reclaim your prisoners. I wouldn't, anyway, as we came to agreement in my room a few hours ago. But you have won free of Beacon Hill."

  "I know this."

  "You must now reach Sudden with your prisoners, but they can still be taken from you."

  "No one would do that."

  "If you pass well clear of Larotia and Fessen, they probably will not even notice your passing, but even if they did, they would most likely allow you to pass unhindered. Sudden has good relationships with both villages, after all."

  "We do."


  "However, they are not obligated to allow safe passage through their territory. And while they may turn a blind eye if you pass along the edges, if you traipse through the center of their town, you are in effect challenging them to take your prisoners from you."

  "Oh hell. But I don't see how telling me is a loss for you."

  "They are also allowed to take anyone from the raid who is a legitimate target. That means you, personally."

  I laughed. "I could tell them I am in a temporary but exclusive relationship with you, and that protects us both."

  "I am not wearing a galatzi sash. I am already protected. And I would give them permission to claim you. And they would."

  I didn't say anything at first, and I tried to stare at her through the gloom of the tent. Finally I asked, "Why would you do that?"

  "First, I do not believe the temporary nature of our relationship should be used as a shield for you. You are the leader of this raid, and you should accept the personal risk involved."

  I sighed. "I suppose I agree with that, but we have an agreement, and I wouldn't want to cheat you. Nor am I ready to be away from you."

  She reached out and caressed me. "I am pleased to hear that. Second, I would encourage them to take you, and then I would immediately offer a trade for you. I am sure I can find something they want enough to let me have you, especially as they would already be getting seven from Beacon Hill, freely delivered right into their laps. And once I had you, Chaladine, I would keep you. That is the source of my loss."

  I rolled onto my back, considering. "Why did you tell me?"

  "Because I do not want to claim you that way. I want you to give yourself to me, freely. I might take you this way if I were sure I couldn't win, but I believe you would be angry."

  "I'm not sure I would be, but I would have broken my promise to the Governor."

  "I do not believe you would have, as you would have had no control over the situation. I would be breaking your promise for you, and I just might be willing to do that. However, I would offer the Governor someone else, if she had already set her own game into motion."

  "You know I won't break my promise, even with the extra two weeks you have won from me."

  "I know, but I'm not going to stop trying."

  "You can't make any more of these extensions, Luradinine. It is going to hurt too much already."

  "I know, and this may have been too much for both of us, but I couldn't just give you the information." She reached over and caressed me. "I had to make you pay for it."

  "I thank you for that."

  "We should sleep," she said. "But I know what would make sleep far more pleasant."

  She certainly did.

  Home

  We bypassed Larotia and Fessen. We crossed the Remla River marking the northernmost edge of Sudden's influence, but we kept our prisoners tied comfortably. We were under no obligation to tie them in the galatzi tradition until shortly outside the village itself, and that wouldn't be until tomorrow afternoon.

  We stopped frequently, but everyone was pleased to be approaching home. Even our prisoners agreed to keep riding, which heartened me, and I accepted Luradinine's wisdom to travel until past dusk before calling for camp.

  We set up tents again, made a cooking fire, and I made sure everyone was well fed and attended to.

  Our prisoners were in good spirits, and my party even better. After dinner, we built up the fire further, and we told stories for perhaps an hour. But then I declared, "We leave early, and so it is time for us to take to our beds. Who has the watch?"

  "Will you be taking the Beacon Hill Vendart to your bed, Chaladine?"

  "If she wishes to share it with me, yes," I said.

  "And so you will remain awake for a while?" Tisarine taunted. "You lead by poor example."

  "She leads by very good example," Luradinine said, rising to my defense. "She shows you the joy of life."

  A while later in our tent, I offered Luradinine a massage, immediately accepted. I pulled her clothes from her and set my hands to her skin. She was effusive in her moans of pleasure.

  And then, before we slept, we shared mutual moans of pleasure.

  * * * *

  We reached Sudden without incident, binding our prisoners properly once the village was in view. Luradinine was atop her own horse, taken from her stables, although we had pulled the horse behind us when leaving Beacon Hill. I turned to her. "I wouldn't suppose you'll let me tie you, too?"

  She laughed. "You realize it is only a favor to you I do not consider the terms of our agreement as meaning I could bind you."

  "You wouldn't!"

  "Of course I would. But I won't."

  "Thank you."

  "If."

  I laughed. "What now? Another two weeks."

  "No. First, do you admit I have this right?"

  "Yes."

  "Then I will not interfere in the completion of your mission, and I will not interfere with any duties you have upon our return, but otherwise, until your time with me is over, you belong to me, from this moment forth, and you will obey me."

  "Agreed."

  "Kiss me."

  And I did.

  We arrived in Sudden amongst significant attention. Our galatzi prisoners were not exactly subtle, after all. We rode straight to the from of the manor, and everyone, and I really mean everyone, was waiting by the time we came to a stop in the courtyard.

  "Vendart," I called out to my father. "Our mission is successful, and more successful than envisioned."

  With mother at his side, he strode forward. I climbed from my mount and embraced them both, then Father spoke. "You left with six to trade, and unless I have become senile in my advancing years, I count seven tied as galatzi prisoners, and if I am not mistaken, the eighth, riding beside you so closely, is Luradinine, Vendart of Beacon Hill."

  "As you can imagine, we have stories to share," I said. "Some are better stories than others. Father, I have made a variety of promises in your name. I hope I have not overstepped my bounds."

  "We will honor your promises, if they are not too egregious," he promised with a short laugh. "I would not send you forth and then gainsay you. You haven't offered all of Sudden to Beacon Hill, have you?"

  "Nothing so grand as that," Luradinine called out. "The majority of her promises address the treatment of my former villagers. The remainder are of a more personal nature."

  "Well," said Father. "We should see that our new prisoners are settled in. Did they fight?"

  "They did, each and every one, and we need to be especially wary with two of them. They are sisters and deeply crafty."

  The two of them chuckled.

  Luradinine climbed from her own mount and moved to stand beside me. She clasped hands with Father and Mother, but then she took my hand. Mother and Father noticed this, and Father smiled. "I see we have many stories to here. Well, let us help our prisoners from their perches, and we can all step inside. We must discover who you have brought us, and determine what is to be done with them."

  It took perhaps ten minutes to get everyone inside. Luradinine refused to release my hand, and when I glanced at her about it, she said simply, "Mine. Do not struggle."

  So of course, I didn't.

  We assembled in the dining hall. My raiding party managed the prisoners, two per prisoner when Father and Mother realized we hadn't enough people to properly manage all of them. They took Kalorain between them, and I wondered if they knew who she was.

  We lined the prisoners up, and I whispered to Luradinine, "Did you want to introduce them?"

  "It is your honor."

  "You would do a better job. I would like my Father to properly know who we have."

  And so she released my hand and stepped forward. She provided introductions, saying a little something about each person. She came to her own daughter last, and the love was evident. She hugged Kalorain before stepping back to my side and reclaiming my hand.

  "I sent six away, and my daughter ret
urns with seven." But then Father looked pointedly at our clasped hands. "But perhaps I sent seven away."

  "It is a long story, Vendart," I said. "Father, each of our galatzi prisoners volunteered. We engaged in lengthy interviews, and during those interviews, I made promises. But I also said it has been your custom to invite new galatzi prisoners into our household. I did not make this as a promise, but I suggested I felt it likely this was your intention. Was I mistaken?"

  Father glanced at Mother, who nodded to him. She ran the household, after all. And so Father said, "You were not mistaken, Eldest Daughter. That is, indeed, our intention." He moved away from me and came to a stop in front of our prisoners. "I do not care to treat a galatzi prize as a prisoner any longer than necessary for the tradition. I welcome each of you to Sudden. And I will welcome each of you into my household for a time, until your matches are made at least. But I require a vow from each of you. Do you now declare this place your home, and me your Vendart? You would answer to me and to my eldest daughter, who frequently serves as my right hand. And my wife manages the household. With so many of you, I am sure she will recruit assistance. What say, each of you?"

  Kalorain stepped forward immediately. "I am Kalorain, second daughter of the Vendart of Beacon Hill. I am here of my own free will and desire, and I declare Sudden to be my new home, and you my new Vendart. However, your daughter made us promises, and I expect them to be kept."

  Father stepped forward and hugged her briefly. "Then be welcome." He began untying her bonds immediately. Then Mother stepped up and said, "I will see to her."

  One by one, our prisoners stepped forward. Their speeches were all very similar to Kalorain's, each of them reminding Father of the promises he hadn't even heard. And once they gave their vows, the members of my raiding party that was managing them began to release their bonds.

  The sisters were last, and they stepped forward together. They gave their own vows, but then Reannaine said, "Your daughter made the same promises to us she made to the others, but she also said we would be kept together, or close together at least."

  "Then you shall be, as much as is possible to us," Father declared. "Valtine, how shall we arrange our new sons and daughters?"