by Robin Roseau
Ah, I didn’t blame her. I didn’t blame her at all. I missed my mother, too, the only thing I missed from Frantzland.
The two hugged tightly. I smiled for a moment, then saw to shutting down the jumper, giving them more time.
Darratine was there, too, and Farratain and Wenelopid. I gave the family time before finally climbing out and moving towards my wife. I waited until finally she turned to me. Kalorain pulled me into a tight hug of my own. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Thank you for bringing me here.”
“I love you, Kalorain,” I said.
She pulled away and turned sideways, wrapping an arm around my waist. “Everyone knows who this is, but I want to introduce you. Mother, this Star Woman is my Galatzi Wife, Maddalyn Herschel, now Maddalyn of Sudden. Maddalyn, my mother, Luradinine, Beacon Hill Vendart.”
Luradinine smiled and pulled me into a hug. She kissed my cheek and whispered, “I couldn’t be more pleased the two of you have each other.”
“She makes me so happy, Luradinine.”
“Good,” she said. “You deserve that, Maddalyn.” She pushed me away, her hands on my shoulders, and looked me in the eye. “My daughter-in-law. Oh, the day Chaladine stumbled into Beacon Hill has been the start of something so grand for all of us.”
I was reintroduced to the rest of the family. Kalorain knew we’d met previously, but she wanted to do it herself. It was times like this that reminded me of something: she was proud of our relationship. She was proud of me. That was such an unusual feeling for me, that I wrapped myself up in the happy emotions
Finally we collected our bags and carried them up to the house. Luradinine led us into the house, leading us to the same room I’d used before, but Kalorain seemed to know which one we were to use, and I wondered how her mother had signaled that to her.
Then I realized something. “This is your room.”
“It is our room,” she said.
“No. Until you left, this was your room.”
“Yes.” I began laughing. Luradinine looked on in amusement. Kalorain finally asked, “What?”
“This was my room when I visited,” I said. I laughed again. “We shared a bed even before we knew each other.”
“So we did,” she agreed.
I turned to Luradinine. “Were you and Chaladine already making plans for me?”
“No, no,” she said. “We only offered friendship and help learning Talmonese.”
Kalorain wrapped her arm around my waist, and we smiled at each other. Luradinine beamed. And Wenolopid wandered off muttering about girls.
* * * *
We stayed for two days. Luradinine hosted an event at her home the second night, with music for dancing, and half the town as guests, or so it appeared. Kalorain, Darratine, and Farratain took turns helping teach me the proper dance steps, and after that, I found myself with a steady supply of dance partners. My wife was, of course, my favorite, but her sister was also quite an enjoyable partner.
Luradinine took me to the dance floor late in the evening. “I would like to speak with you in private. I have already asked permission of your wife.”
“Of course.”
We danced, and then she led me to the library, pulling the doors closed. We took seats facing each other, and then she said, “Do you know of Chaladine’s promise to Cecilia?”
“Do you mean a Galatzi trade?”
“Yes.”
“I am the Empire’s half of that trade,” I said.
“Oh. I didn’t know. So Chaladine is gone.”
“No,” I said. “I do not know the details. Cecilia Grace has not discussed this with me. But I imagine she will eventually send Chaladine away. I do not know if her future wife will come here first. Luradinine, I am sorry.”
She said nothing for a minute, looking down. “There are two related issues,” she said. “One is not hard. I do not know about the other.”
“Shall we discuss the easy one?”
“Wenolopid,” she said, looking up. “He is still too young, but when he is older, I would offer him for a Galatzi trade.”
“Oh,” I said. “All right,” I added slowly. “Luradinine, you understand I cannot speak for Governor Grace.”
“I understand.”
“Do you know? We are not all from one place. I am from a place called Frantzland. Cecilia is from a very different place called Centos Four. In many ways, her home is far closer to Talmon than to Frantzland.”
“No.”
I nodded. “It is complicated. We don’t speak the same language. Frantzland is very, very different. And our views are not always the same. The people are different. Do you see?”
“I think I might, in general principle, anyway.”
“Yes. So Governor Grace thinks differently than I think. You see?”
“Oh, yes.”
“But this is something I know: there are other places where the people have unusual marriage customs, including some that resemble a Galatzi trade, although are still quite different. However, Frantzland does not do this, and I do not believe Centos Four does.”
“No one would want Wenolopid.”
“I didn’t say that. I said that the arrangement would seem quite unexpected. There are other arrangements. I do not understand why Chaladine asks for a Galatzi trade. There are other arrangements.” I thought about it. “If the goal is to obtain an education for Wenolopid, there are other ways to do it. If you were to approach me, I would suggest you consider fostering him. The earlier he starts, the earlier he learns. But I can understand if neither of you wish him so far while he is so young. You would not see him for a long time.”
“When our children leave for a Galatzi trade, we understand we may never see them again. Even Sudden is so far, the way we see it, and we are not as casual with travel as the Star People.”
“I understand, Luradinine. We bring such changes to you. Some are better than others.”
“Bringing my daughter here is a good change,” she said. “And this home now has electricity. And hot water.”
I smiled. “There is a danger. Public bathhouses are uncommon in the empire. As more homes can so readily provide their occupants with easy baths and showers, the public bathhouses may suffer. This would harm Talmon society.”
“I believe that what will happen is simple: Talmonese will bathe more often, but the public bathhouses will still serve as a social center, and they will not suffer at all. Indeed, Tendorid and Yelsine are quite pleased to have the new water heating system.”
I smiled. “I imagine so. Luradinine, regarding Wenolopid, you must decide if it is a Galatzi trade you wish, or if you simply seek to provide an advanced education for him. You do not need the one to achieve the other.”
She looked away, and I realized it was more complicated than that. “Do you believe Governor Grace will complete a Galatzi trade for Chaladine?”
“Yes,” I said. “I do.”
“And she will leave Talmon.”
“Yes, for a decade at least, and perhaps longer.”
“Galatzi trades are to be permanent.”
“Another change we may bring you,” I said. “Permanent for us is two hundred years. Five hundred years. We don’t know.”
“But Chaladine will come back,” she said. “A decade. Two decades.”
“Yes. A long time to wait.”
Her eyes flashed to me, and I knew I wasn’t off the mark. But she gazed at me. “If Chaladine can take a long but not permanent Galatzi trade, perhaps I can take one as well.”
“You wish to also be traded.”
“No. I wish to trade my son, and I will receive.”
I stared, then leaned back. “You still love her, don’t you?”
“How could I stop? But as you say, it is a long time to wait. I don’t want her to know we’ve discussed this!”
“I won’t tell her,” I said.
“I want you to do nothing,” she said. “Nothing! You are my daughter’s Galatzi wife, and on this, you must obey m
e!”
I held my hands up. “This conversation is between us, but I am not the one you should approach. I cannot do this for you.”
“No, but you are the only person I can talk to about it. I can’t talk to the governor. Not yet.”
“There are other arrangements,” I said. “There are other arrangements for Wenolopid, and there are other arrangements for you.”
“Maddalyn, I am Beacon Hill Vendart.”
“I know.”
“My first responsibility is to my family, and then Beacon Hill, and then Talmon. Do you see? I am fighting for Beacon Hill. I am fighting for the town in which your wife was raised, her first home. Do you see?”
“You hope to bring a Star Person here.”
“Is that terrible?”
“Luradinine, when I realized my new wife was your daughter, I couldn’t have been more pleased, because I know what sort of woman you are, and I could imagine the sort of woman you would raise. I was right, by the way.”
She smiled and inclined her head.
“No, it is not terrible. I even know women I would introduce to you, but they are not here. I don’t think I could explain this custom to anyone and convince her to come.”
“Because Talmon has nothing.”
“No. Because she would not understand the custom. All right, it is intimidating to come to a planet with very little technology. There are fears. What if I get sick?”
“We have doctors.”
“I know you do, but do you want to compare?”
“No.”
“I love this planet,” I said. “I love the people. I begged Governor Grace to let me stay. Do you understand?”
“But it is lying to ignore the ways other planets are better.”
“How do I explain the people here? How do I explain the beauty? How do I explain how I can walk down the street in the middle of the night, entirely unafraid?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“I know you don’t,” I said. “And that is part of what makes this place so amazingly perfect. I know three different women from a planet called Tarriton. They would love it here, but I don’t know how to bring them here. I can’t afford to pay for it, and I don’t think they can, either. I could come because I agreed to work for Cecilia’s boss for thirty years.” I didn’t need to explain about implants.
“You did?”
“Yes. It’s more complicated than that, but yes.”
“You can’t do this for me.”
“No. I can’t. But Governor Grace may be able to.”
“I don’t want to talk to her about it until Chaladine is gone.”
“If Chaladine doesn’t go,” I prompted.
“Then I will offer anything necessary so I may take her as my Galatzi wife, and this time, I’m not taking ‘no’ for an answer.”
I laughed. “Good. What do you want me to try to do, Luradinine?”
“For now, nothing. But if Chaladine leaves, will you tell me?”
“Yes. Do you want to know before she leaves, or not until she is gone?”
“I-” She looked away. “After might be better. It will hurt.”
“I know. I am so sorry, Luradinine. We bring so much change.”
“Most of it is good.”
“This part is not.”
“No. But this part is necessary, and while my heart aches, it soars when I see you with my daughter.”
I smiled. “That’s a nice thing to hear.”
“You are a good woman, Maddalyn,” she said. “No one would suit Kalorain better. Now, come dance another song with me, and I will return you to your wife.”
* * * *
In the morning, we descended to the jumper. While the others waited, I pulled it from its storage room, checked the systems, and made sure it was safe. Then I opened the storage space and help stow gear.
Luradinine and Kalorain then entered some negotiations. As best I could tell, Luradinine insisted Kalorain’s rightful place was in front, beside her Galatzi wife. Kalorain insisted this was a seat of honor, and it should go to Beacon Hill Vendart. They went back and forth.
And so, while they were distracted, Darratine led her Galatzi wife into place, insisting Farratain take the front seat. Neither of the other two women realized until Farratain was fully seated. I said nothing and had no intention of claiming Pilot’s Authority to resolve the dispute.
Once they realized what had happened, both Luradinine and Kalorain began to sputter. Darratine kissed her Galatzi wife’s cheek and whispered something to her, then climbed into the rear seat, taking the center. “Are we leaving?”
Kalorain considered the situation and then said, “Farratain, give your seat to the vendart.”
Farratain stiffened, but didn’t move, and that was when I said, “Pilot’s Authority. Do not put either Galatzi wife in the middle. The three of you work this out.”
“She’s right,” Luradinine said immediately. She then climbed in beside her eldest daughter. “Are you getting in, Kalorain?”
I managed to avoid smiling as my wife climbed into the seat behind me. I waited until she declared, “We are all buckled back here,” before I began moving us forward, coming to another stop near the water. I explained what would happen and then asked each one if she was ready, Farratain last.
It was clear the girl was nervous, but she looked at me and smiled, nodding.
“Here we go.”
They were all quiet as we accelerated and then lifted into the air. I took us south until we were at 500 meters, and then I said, “If everyone feels good, we can circle Beacon Hill.”
“Sudden is the other direction, Maddalyn,” Luradinine said.
“I know, but I do not want to startle you.”
“I would like to see Beacon Hill from the air. Farratain, are you all right?”
“I am good, Vendart,” she replied. “This is a little frightening, but it is so exciting. We can see so far! Maddalyn, how high are we?”
“500 meters,” I replied. “Kalorain, my wife, and my sister-in-law, Darratine, how do you fare?”
“I would like to see Beacon Hill,” Kalorain said. “And could you show us other places, Maddalyn? Will Governor Grace mind?”
“As long as we return the lander by lunchtime so that Blaine may use it, she won’t mind,” I said. “Darratine?”
“Can you be gentle, Maddalyn?”
“I can. I am going to make a wide turn to the right, further to sea. We will turn around entirely, cross over the coast, and then circle once with Beacon Hill on our left. If everyone remains comfortable, I can show it to the right as well.” I began the turn then said, “If we circle the city, we will lean much further to the side. Or we can fly past if leaning further is too frightening.”
“I am not scared,” Farratain declared.
I kept our speed down, well above the minimum safe speed, but otherwise relatively slow. We turned back towards the coast, crossing over the beach at an angle, five kilometers north of Beacon Hill. I turned us to parallel the coast, three kilometers inland. We approached the town, and as we arrived, I began turning. “If this becomes frightening, say something.”
No one spoke, and so I circled once until we were out over the water and heading northeast. Then I leveled us. “Once more?” I asked.
“Yes,” said Luradinine. “If we may.”
I waited a minute and then turned right. I swept us over land, three miles south of the town, then held the turn, steepening as we circled their home. I could see people in the streets, watching us. I did a full circle before pointing us south, following the beach.
“Now we’re heading to Sudden,” Luradinine said.
“Yes,” I said. I looked over at Farratain, who was watching the trees. I touched her arm, and she turned to me. I couldn’t read her expression, but it wasn’t fright.
“Brave girl,” I thought. “Very brave girl.”
* * * *
We circled Sudden. Farratain clapped in glee. “My hous
e!” she said. “There is my house!”
“Which one?” Darratine asked.
“It’s back there now,” she said.
“No matter,” Darratine said. “You will show me this week.”
“The embassy,” Luradinine said.
“Yes,” I agreed. We circled the airfield and then headed back, passing north of Sudden and turning south again. It was only minutes later before we approached the place that would become the rejuvenation center, if Cecilia could bring us equipment and doctors.
“This is where we met,” Luradinine said. “This is where we held the First Planetary Congress! All the vendarti from all over the planet met here. Cecilia Grace explained what it meant to join the empire. We voted. We all voted. And this is where we bamboozled her into remaining governor.” She laughed at that.
“I can imagine no one better,” I said.
“Could we stop, Maddalyn?” Luradinine asked. “And walk around?”
“We could,” I said cautiously.
“No,” Kalorain said. “We must return the jumper. But we can come down. We will make a picnic. There is a road.”
“That would be lovely,” Luradinine said.
“Maddalyn, could we bring the ground vehicle?”
“If we wait for a time it is available,” I said.
“I think,” Luradinine said, “That we should invite Sudden Vendart and his family. And we should tell Governor Grace. She may wish to join us.”
“We will do that,” Kalorain said. “As soon as we have landed. My Galatzi wife, take us to the airfield now. We do not want Blaine to grow upset.”
“Of course, Kalorain,” I agreed, turning us north.
* * * *
We didn’t annoy Blaine at all. The ground vehicle was waiting for us, with no one in sight. I parked the jumper. We transferred our bags to the ground vehicle, and then I drove us to the embassy, parking in front. As the others climbed out, I used my implant to query Blaine’s location then ran to the storage building.
“Ah, you’re early,” he said. “I thought I heard you.”
“Kalorain did not want to risk you waiting.”