by Robin Roseau
In that sentence I was reminded why I loved my parents so much, and Luradinine squeezed my hand for a moment besides.
Mother stepped forward. "We have two choices. We can either extend the household by acquiring a nearby property. I am not fond of this choice. Or each of you can share a room. We have enough space if you double up. But I see we have an even number of girls but an odd number of boys."
Technically, they weren't boys; they were men, at least in Talmonese eyes. But the meaning was clear. Mother counted again, and then she turned, and I could see her counting spare rooms.
"We are short one room," she said.
"Are the available rooms large or small?" Kalorain asked.
"They are somewhat modest," Mother said. "Two would be comfortable, but more might be cozy, especially if they are the size of some of these men." She gestured.
She glanced at me, holding hands with Luradinine, and I could see she considered putting two of the girls in with me. I offered another solution.
"Mother, I have a suite."
"In keeping with your position as eldest daughter," Father said.
"Perhaps, but this problem is of my creation, and so I would not object if you moved me to one of the smaller rooms and offered mine to the girls. It wouldn't be the first time we slept this many for an extended stay."
"Before we agree," Kalorain said, "Could we see this suite?"
Mother frowned at her, but the girl didn't back down. I glanced at Luradinine, but she kept a blank expression.
"Let us show all the rooms," Mother said, "and then we can make a final choice." She didn't wait, but she swept from the room, and I could tell Kalorain had annoyed her. But Kalorain hurried after her, and catching up, I caught the tail end of an apology. I didn't hear all of it, but mother smiled and hugged her.
Mother led us all on a tour of the entire house, Father, Luradinine and I taking the tail. Father kept glancing at Luradinine and me, shaking his head, but he said nothing further.
We ran into Margotain. She'd been in the courtyard earlier, but she was hovering outside her room when we arrived.
"Youngest Daughter," Mother declared. "Your assistance will be needed shortly. For now, see if you can find your brother, as we will also need him."
"Yes, Mother," she replied, dashing off.
We arrived at the door to my rooms. Mother stopped then turned to look at me. "Am I going to be embarrassed by the state of your room?"
I laughed. "Have I ever kept a messy room?"
"You could have picked up a new habit, perhaps one that involves breaking promises to others."
Oh, oh. She was angry.
"She hasn't," Luradinine said. "She has been quite scrupulous, I assure you."
Mother didn't say anything, but she opened my door and stepped in. "This is my eldest daughter's room," she said.
The four girls moved in and spent a moment looking around. Finally they nodded together. Kalorine approached mother. "Is this to be our room, Vendart's Wife?"
Mother glanced at me, then said, "Yes, I believe it is. I hope you will be comfortable. As you can see, there is a bed for guests, but closet space may be tight for four of you."
"We didn't bring that much," Kalorine said. "We know you need to speak with your eldest daughter. Would you like us to move her things for her?"
"Yes," Mother said. "Follow." She led the way out, several of us barely getting out of the way, and she led the way to the bedroom across the hall, which was little more than a closet. She stopped at it, then she glanced at me. "This room is smallest, and it is for whichever of the men does not share."
Instead, I got the room next door to my old one. Mother made the remaining assignments, then turned to the men. "Do you need me to decide which of you shares, or will you decide amongst yourselves?"
"Boldaropid and I will share, if that suits you, Vendart's Wife," Rendodano said."Mororid may have the room alone."
"Very good. Your things should be in the foyer. My... Ah, here are Margotain and Rordano. They will help you all to get settled. They will explain the rules of the household. We expect them followed meticulously. We will have an informal dinner tonight. I require two of you to volunteer to assist in the kitchen. We will discuss household chores tomorrow. Everyone helps." She looked at Luradinine. "You are exempt. Beacon Hill Vendart."
"I would choose to share Chaladine's duties," Luradinine said, "if you do not mind, Vendart's Wife."
"I do not mind at all. Thank you. That is very gracious." Then Mother turned to Father.
"All right. All of you may settle in. This is your new home, and I hope you will all be happy. And I believe some of us need a longer discussion."
Father grabbed Mother's arm, and he set a path towards the central staircase, Luradinine and I following behind.
"Is your mother always this brusque?" Luradinine whispered to me.
"She thinks I have broken my promise to the Governor."
"Oh. I'm sorry. I didn't think of that. But I'm not letting go."
"You don't have to. We'll explain, and she'll be fine."
Father led us one of the sitting rooms. He offered refreshments, but Luradinine said, "Perhaps later." Finally we all sat.
"I haven't broken my promises to Cecilia." I held up Luradinine's hand. "This is temporary, and there is a long story. Please wait to judge."
"Of course," said Mother with a scowl. "When have we been hasty in our judgment?"
"I think perhaps, Wife of Mine, I may risk a night on the sofa, but I believe about a half hour ago."
Mother elbowed him, but she said nothing further.
I told our story. When I explained what happened in Malaratine's Cove, they both grew tight-lipped, but they did not interrupt. It took some time to tell the entire story.
"Farratain is all right?" Father asked.
"Luradinine's daughters took very good care of her," I said. "The kind refuge we were offered, and the kindness heaped on Farratain is how this happened," I said, holding up the hand that Luradinine still held. "Father, I severely overstepped my bounds, but I declared us friends with Beacon Hill."
"Nonsense. You did just the right thing. Luradinine, I don't know how to thank you for the help you rendered."
"Chaladine has been quite effusive with her thanks," Luradinine replied. "I do not believe we did anything you wouldn't have done. But I am quite happy at the closeness that has been achieved, both between our towns and perhaps our families. Vendart, I wish to discuss how Beacon Hill can be involved in the things you do for the Governor, although I understand today carries more urgent priorities."
"How long will you remain our guest?" Mother asked.
"If I am welcome, a few days, or perhaps longer if Chaladine is not free to return with me instantly."
"Chaladine will have duties to her mother in the running of the household," Father said. "We will have a reception tomorrow for our new family members to meet more of the village, and she will be needed to help arrange that. But I will place no other responsibilities upon her until you release her from her obligation to you."
"It is hardly an obligation," I said with a smile directed at Luradinine. She squeezed my hand.
"Quite," Father agreed. "Daughter, I wish to know why this is a temporary arrangement. It seems like you are both happy to be together, and from your telling, I imagine Luradinine was not bluffing when she threatened to keep you forever."
"I wasn't," she said. "I am not done working on her resistance. I would keep her, if she would let me. I will offer you a second galatzi trade right now if you allow me to keep her."
"It is her choice," Father said. "I would not force her. Chaladine, what say you?"
"I made an agreement with Cecilia. I am allowed temporary engagements. But unless she tells me she cannot arrange what I asked, I must remain free."
"You know she would release you from that promise if she saw the two of you together."
I looked down. "I know."
"She wants you to be happy, Chaladi
ne."
"I know," I said, not looking up.
"Baardorid," Luradinine said, "I would happily keep Chaladine, if she lets me. But she does what she does for good reasons. She wishes to serve Talmon, and Talmon is going to need her, with the new education and understanding she will acquire when the Governor takes her away from us." She used her free hand to lift my chin towards her. "I am not done trying to change your mind, but I do not believe I will be successful. But if the Governor is unable to create this opportunity for you, or when this opportunity is over, perhaps you will remember me. Perhaps you will return to me. Or perhaps you will find a new love amongst the stars, and this is the full duration of our time together."
That was the moment I knew I was in love with her.
Sobs
Father and Luradinine came to agreements. I sat quietly throughout the discussions, although both of them solicited my opinion frequently.
I took Luradinine out to the embassy. And, speaking in my halting English, I introduced her to the staff. Most of them spoke far better Talmonese than I spoke English, but I was proud to show off, at least a little. It was Hatchet Face herself who updated Luradinine's tablet with the English language lessons, but she asked me to teach Luradinine how to use it.
No one knew when Cecilia would return. Hatchet Face was actually helpful and said, "This is the soonest she could have returned, if they went through rejuvenation therapy." She had to use a mix of Talmonese and English to say it, but I was able to understand her.
Finally we turned to go, but she called out, "Chaladine."
I turned back to her.
"I sorry," she said. "I rude you time first come. I sorry."
I offered her a hand clasp. "It is forgotten," I said slowly, even more slowly than the way we used to speak to Cecilia. "You were doing your job."
"No," she said. "I mad. At I. Talmonese hard. Learn slow." She looked more frustrated, then she cocked her head, and I knew she was using her implant. Then she said. "I sorry. Please wait. Madge come."
"Of course."
"What's going on?" Luradinine asked me. I brought her up to speed. "I remember the Governor speaking with a thick accent, but she speaks as well as any of us, or nearly so."
"She's been here longer," I replied. "This woman is related to Cecilia's boss."
"Oh. I suppose everyone has a boss."
It was just another minute before Madge arrived. She greeted me warmly, and I introduced her to Luradinine. Then Hatchet Face spoke quickly, and she wasn't speaking English. Madge replied to her before turning to me.
"What language was that?"
"German," Madge replied. "Maddalyn speaks English, but it is not her first language. German is. The Talmonese lessons she studies are English to Talmonese, and we do not have a German version for her. So she is struggling, which frustrates her deeply."
I turned to Luradinine. "Cecilia said the best way to learn a language is to be immersed in it."
Luradinine smiled. "Invite her."
"Maddalyn, perhaps you simply need more exposure to native speakers." Madge translated. "We're going to lunch and then we're going to do a little shopping. It's just an easy day together. If you have no duties here, you could join us. You shouldn't struggle too hard to understand. We'll talk slowly, and you'll understand some. You won't understand others."
Madge finished the translation. Maddalyn's face filled with emotion, and she said in her poor Talmonese, "You invite me?"
"We do," Luradinine said. "Please come."
Madge translated that. The two spoke back and forth for a minute, then Madge said, "Maddalyn would love to join you. She has money and has purchased no Talmonese clothing yet. She wonders if you would help her buy an outfit or two, especially outerwear and a pair of boots."
"We'd love to help," I said. "Formal or casual""
Madge asked and translated Maddalyn's answer. "Casual, for a day with friends."
We had a lovely afternoon. We took her to my favorite inn. We ordered two plates to share between us, along with an assortment of side dishes, and then we taught her the words. She remembered the words we taught her, and I was sure her implant was helping.
We spent hours shopping. At the first shop, Maddalyn didn't know how to bargain, so I bargained for her, but I made her count out her coins so she would grow more accustomed to the money. After that, Luradinine and I alternated who bargained for prices.
She bought two outfits, not one, two cloaks, gloves, two pair of boots, and a pair of dance shoes. She spent the entire time smiling and thanking us for our help.
But finally we returned her to the embassy, helping her with all her packages. She gave us each a warm hug and a kiss on our cheeks.
"Maddalyn," Luradinine said. "Can you call Madge?"
Maddalyn cocked her head, then frowned. "Sorry. Madge gone. Everyone gone."
Luradinine turned to me. "I want to invite her to Beacon Hill. For our nights, you belong to me, and I do not share, but during our days, she could join us."
"She's never going to understand."
"Can we leave a note?"
"Maddalyn," I said. She'd been trying to listen, but I knew she didn't understand. I switched to English, but my English was about as good as her Talmonese. "We ask you. Um. Hard say. Paper. Madge read."
She nodded. "No paper." She looked at Luradinine. "Tablet?"
"I leave a note on the tablet? When will I get it back?"
"Let's see what she wants," I said. "We can share mine for a day or two." So Luradinine pulled out her tablet. She handed it to Maddalyn, who did something with it then said, "Write note here." She tapped the screen.
So I wrote the note and handed the tablet back to Maddalyn. She did something for a minute or two, then smiled, handing the tablet back to Luradinine. "I give note Madge," she said. "I tomorrow answer?"
"We must go," Luradinine said. "Your mother has expectations for dinner."
* * * *
Maddalyn accepted our offer, somewhat modified. She would join us for the last few days of my return trip to Beacon Hill, taking a jumper to us, and then she would fly me back so I wouldn't have to travel alone.
Luradinine stayed another day or two, and then we made our return, riding double atop her horse. And so it was on the return that we passed through Fessen and Larotia, explaining events there and staying at an inn in each town.
We were perhaps an hour from Beacon Hill when she brought our mount to a stop. "Rest break."
"All right." I slipped from her horse, then caught her as she jumped down. She wrapped his reins around a convenient branch and then rummaged through her pack. When she turned to me, she slipped a white sash over her shoulder.
"What do you need that for?"
Then she held up a section of rope.
"Please," she said. "You can say 'no', but I'd like this."
"It's temporary."
"It's temporary," she agreed. "Please."
And so I laughed before holding my wrists out to her.
She tied me, and she was very thorough. I laughed louder when she produced a red cloak. "How did you get that in there and I didn't notice?"
She grinned.
She slipped the cloak into place, and next was the gag.
"I don't think so," I said.
"I do."
She waved it at me.
"We didn't gag our prisoners upon arrival to Sudden."
"And I didn't get to gag you leaving Sudden," she said. She stepped closer. "Open, Prisoner. You promised to obey me. Open."
And so I opened. She filled my mouth and then tied it off. But I got a kiss before she pulled the hood into place.
Then we discovered just how difficult it is for someone to mount a horse without the use of her hands. Eventually Luradinine found a downed tree for me to use as a step, and still I half fell as she pulled me into the saddle in front of her. I grumbled into the gag, but she wrapped her arms around me and said, "Thank you."
I leaned into her, and that wa
s how we arrived back in Beacon Hill.
We weren't expected, and arrival confused everyone. Luradinine said nothing until we reached her home. Then she said, "Chaladine is only staying for a short visit, but she lost a few wagers to me, and this is the result. She is my temporary galatzi prisoner, but I will have to release her eventually.
She led me into the house and straight to her bedroom. Then she began to undress me without removing the gag. I complained, and she turned me to face her. "Are you truly upset, or was that a playful complaint?"
I lowered my eyes then leaned forward to brush against her.
"Thank you, Chaladine. I'll remove the gag eventually. Oh, and you may struggle if you want to."
I laughed, and then I struggled. It did me no good at all.
She didn't let me leave her bedroom for three days, and when finally I did, I walked in an odd fashion for two more.
* * * *
I remained two weeks in Beacon Hill. We spent nearly every moment together. During the days, she saw to her duties, keeping me nearby. Later, we studied English together, although I was much more advanced than she was. We cooked meals together, and I got to know Darratine, Farratain, and Wenolopid better. They took my arrival in stride, and I felt quite at home.
I would have stayed with her, but I knew I had duties, and they weren't in Beacon Hill.
Most nights, she tied me, and I loved everything she did to me. The nights I wasn't tied, she told me what she wanted me to do, and I did it all, gleefully did it all, loving every minute, no matter what we did together.
Maddalyn arrived, and we shared our days with her. It was too cold to go forth on the ocean, but we went riding in the hills around Beacon Hill, did more shopping in town, or taught each other games to play. Maddalyn's Talmonese improved only marginally, but marginally was better than not at all.
Our last full day together arrived. Both Luradinine and I had been growing less joyful as my last days drew closer, but it wasn't until that last day that she really went to work on my commitment. It started with innocent comments. "My son and daughter like you." Or "If you stayed here, you could help me lead Beacon Hill".
For dinner, she passed Maddalyn off to Darratine and Farratain, and I wouldn't see any of them again until morning. Luradinine took me to an inn for dinner, and the villagers all treated me very well. From time to time, one or another came forth, asking Luradinine's advice, and she always asked me to comment first. Many of the villagers thanked me.