by Robin Roseau
“That is kind. How was it, Maddalyn?”
“An excellent trip. Blaine, could I introduce my wife’s family?”
“Oh. Sure.” He set down whatever he was working on, wiped his hands on a rag, and then followed me back outside. By the time we arrived, others from inside embassy had stepped outside, and I was able to provide introductions.
Luradinine was gracious, of course, and everyone was a member of a diplomatic mission. In other words: they were all diplomats. And so introductions were easy. Kind words were exchanged, and a few thanks besides.
“I have been posted to many planets,” Sunny said. “And of them all, Talmon is my favorite. It may be that Tarriton is more beautiful, but the warmth of the people here more than make up for it.”
“She’s right,” said Danver. “Normally they rotate us. None of us want to leave. I am due for a fresh rejuvenation, but I am holding out here, hoping we get things going.”
The Talmonese beamed with pleasure.
“There is something I wish,” Luradinine said. “I wish to have guests to Beacon Hill more than I have. Is that possible?”
“Oh, that would be lovely,” Erica said. “I love going to Beacon Hill. It is just up the coast, but it is so lovely.” She turned to Mallory. “What do you think?”
“I think you want an excuse to see me in a gown.”
Erica laughed. “That, too. Will there be dancing at these events, Luradinine?”
“That could be arranged, if it would improve the chances you could come.”
We chatted for a few minutes, and then Danver offered to help hook up the carriages. Kalorain and I saw to Ristassa behind my cabriolet. And then I saw that Baardorid, or more likely Valtine, had sent the Vendart’s landau. My poor, little cabriolet paled in comparison.
“We don’t need two vehicles,” Luradinine suggested. “We can all fit.”
“We could,” Kalorain said. “But probably not in my Galatzi wife’s lovely cabriolet.”
“Oh,” said Luradinine. “This is yours, Maddalyn?” She stepped over.
“Maddalyn clearly declared her intentions to remain on Talmon,” Erica said. “The rest of us share the horses of the embassy, but Maddalyn bought her own and this cabriolet as well.” She stepped to my side. “Which Mallory and I borrowed for a night at the theater. We felt quite grand.”
“I’m glad,” I said. It was such a simple thing, but I loved my little carriage. I had never owned my own vehicle before, and to have something that was so elegant pleased me. I was happy others enjoyed it as well.
“Well then,” Luradinine declared, “Unless my daughter overrides me, I will ride beside my daughter-in-law.” And she promptly climbed up, not giving Kalorain a chance to protest. Amused, I climbed into position and then waited for the landau to be ready, complete with our bags. Kalorain tried to take the lead, but Luradinine took the reins from me and moved us in front.
“You are naughty,” I said. “I hope your daughter does not believe I am driving.”
She laughed then said, “You continue to surprise me, Maddalyn. Why did you purchase this?”
“I was advised to spend more evenings in Sudden, and I was living here at the time. I wished to be able to wear dresses, and I did not want to ride a horse.”
“But you could take the star carriage.”
“We don’t use them in town,” I said. “They cause a stir. And besides, I didn’t want to coordinate with other users. I am the least of the staff, and I felt I should leave the vehicles we have for others.”
“And so you solved your problem and sent a message at the same time.”
“I only thought of one thing. I liked thinking of myself as a good Talmon girl.”
She smiled broadly at me. “My daughter could have done no better, Maddalyn, no better at all.”
“I had great fun buying Ristassa and my cabriolet,” I said. I told her the entire story. Then I paused. “Why did you choose to ride with me?”
“We are friends, Maddalyn. That is all.” But she bumped me with her shoulder.
* * * *
We showed them our home, getting them settled into their rooms. Moments later, Darratine and Farratain disappeared outside, borrowing the cabriolet. They would spend the afternoon with Farratain’s family, although we were all invited to dinner with the vendart.
I left Luradinine with Kalorain, the two of them chatting happily. I used the time to return the landau to the vendart’s stable. It was my first time away from Kalorain since our rather unusual wedding, and it felt weird. Rordano saw me leading the landau and joined me in the stable. “Welcome back.”
“Thank you.” I began to remove the horse from harness. He stepped to the other side, lending a hand. “Thank you,” I said again. “I don’t know if I can move this by myself.”
“It’s kind of heavy, but there’s a trick when there are two of us.”
We saw to the horse and then gave the landau a quick going over with a damp towel, just to take care of the dust. Rordano showed me the trick, which involved one on each side, rolling it backwards by pushing on the wheels. “If it gets stuck,” he said. “You can stand on a spoke, but you have to be really careful so you don’t break it.”
“I think if it’s ever that bad, I’ll leave it for someone else,” I said. “I wouldn’t want to break the Vendart’s carriage.”
Together, we got it put back in its stall, facing out and ready for the next use. “Thank you, Rordano,” I said again.
“You’re welcome.” He leaned across the landau facing me on the other side. “You surprise me.”
“How do I do that?”
“You didn’t grow up like this.”
“No. Quite the opposite.”
“But you jump in.”
“Does Chaladine jump in?”
“Yes, but…”
“I may not be accustomed to the labor,” I admitted. “But I will never shirk my duty.”
He grinned. “Are all star people like that?”
“Oh, certainly not,” I said. “I don’t want to say most.” I paused. “Most do no more than they must.”
He laughed. “You said you didn’t want to say ‘most’.”
“On the technological worlds,” I explained. “No one has to work. No one has to do one thing.”
“Because of the machines.”
“Yes. There is food, clothing, a home, and the other things people need to live.”
“So no one works.”
“Not true. You get the basics. But if you want more, you work.”
“Oh,” he said. “And you want more.”
“No. I want to feel fulfilled. I want to contribute my share. I want to be proud of what I am able to accomplish.”
“That’s not what everyone wants?”
“Some people are proud if they can win the latest tablet game.”
“There’s nothing wrong with being proud if you’re good at a game.”
“No,” I said. “You’re right. But if it’s all you do, well… That’s not my path. But it doesn’t need to be a job. Some people produce amazing art, and they have every right to be proud. Some people focus on being a good parent, and they have every right to be proud.”
“Mom and Dad are good parents,” he declared, “but they do a lot more than that.”
“They do,” I said. “And I have a lot to learn from both your parents.” I smiled. “I must return to Kalorain.”
He nodded, and together we walked from the stable. At this point, he could have gone in one direction while I went the other, but he stepped into place beside me.
“Maddalyn?”
“Yes, Rordano?”
He grinned at me. “I’m glad my sister arranged this Galatzi trade.”
“I am, too, Rordano.”
* * * *
From the looks, I thought perhaps Kalorain and Luradinine had been talking about me. “We thought you became lost,” Kalorain said.
“Or had run away,” Luradinine said with a
grin.
“Kalorain knows I couldn’t be happier anywhere else,” I said.
And then my wife was there before me, kneeling down to attend to my feet. Luradinine looked on with what was clearly an adoring look. “This is our ritual,” Kalorain said as I stepped out of the first boot. She looked up at me. “One we never skip, even when my mother comes to visit.”
“One we never skip, even if my mother comes to visit,” I echoed.
“Oh, wouldn’t that be grand!” Luradinine said. “Bring her to Beacon Hill and convince her to call me ‘vendart’. We’ll see she never leaves.”
I laughed. “I’ll think about that.” And while it was said as a joke, a seed was planted, one that would germinate for some time.
Kalorain finished with my boots. She had already taken hers off, but I knelt down and gently washed her feet, taking my time. Finally I stood, and we embraced and kissed before setting aside the towels. My wife took my hand and led me to the sofa. They had a pot of tea waiting, and we sat down facing Luradinine. “What were you discussing?”
“You,” Luradinine said. “Your Talmonese is so much better.”
“When you speak carefully.”
“That is no chore,” she replied.
* * * *
The three of us chatted easily.
Darratine and Farratain eventually came home. Farratain seemed quite overjoyed, and she thanked Darratine and me repeatedly. It was quite cute, but I could understand the sentiment. It was barely 100 kilometers to Beacon Hill, but the forest was dense, and it took two or even three days to travel that distance. I could understand why Farratain might believe she would rarely, if ever, see her family again. And so it felt good I could do something about that.
We changed for dinner and then presented ourselves at the Vendart’s. Rordano admitted us, speaking English, then led us to one of the sitting rooms where the remainder of the household waited. Kalorain immediately stepped forward and addressed Baardorid in English.
“Vendart, my Galatzi wife is not allowed English.”
It was Valtine who responded, and she spoke Talmonese. “It is decided: when Maddalyn is in this home, the only language spoken is to be Talmonese. This rule will be reviewed periodically.”
I didn’t say anything. I felt embarrassed I was disrupting the household, but there was little I could do about it. On the other hand, that would make an easy evening for everyone else.
Valtine looked at me then asked, “When was the last time Maddalyn accepted a point?”
“Three days ago,” said my wife. “I am very proud of her.”
“As are we,” Valtine declared. “Kalorain, is it time to become strict regarding pronunciation?”
“Within the limits of her accent, yes,” Kalorain replied.
“Very good,” said Valtine. Then she pointed around the room. “However, do not believe all of you escape easily. We must all speak clearly and carefully, or we also risk a point. Did you hear me, Husband?”
Baardorid laughed. “I did, Vendart’s Wife.”
It was mid-way through the meal that I mangled the pronunciation of a word. That is, perhaps, a harsh description. While answering a question from Beacon Hill Vendart, I misplace an accent. Not everyone had been looking at me while I spoke, but suddenly everyone slowly put down her silverware and turned to look at me.
And then some looked at Kalorain while others looked at the vendart.
“I have been lax,” Kalorain said quietly.
“The results speak well,” Valtine said. “But we agreed it was time.”
“I don’t understand.” Kalorain repeated the word I said. “Okay,” I replied. “That’s what I said.”
“No. You misplaced the accent.” She said it the way I had. Then she repeated it the way it should be spoken.
I set down my own silver, stood, then moved around my chair. I lifted it and recited the easiest of the poems.
“No,” Kalorain said when I was done. She also stood, and she had a poem for me, a new poem, one I hadn’t seen before, and it was full of words I rarely used and undoubtedly would pronounce poorly.
“Kalorain,” I whimpered. She responded by shaking the paper once. And so I read it carefully.
My wife didn’t pass judgment. Instead, as I continued to hold the chair, she asked, “Valtine?”
“The third word in the second line,” Valtine reported. “And the second from last in the final line.”
There was a stir, a shifting as Luradinine moved in her seat. Kalorain noticed and prompted, “Beacon Hill Vendart?”
“I thought the first word in the final line was also spoken incorrectly, but that could have been Maddalyn’s accent, which we have agreed to forgive.”
Kalorain said the first word I had mispronounced. I repeated it. It took three more tries before I said it correctly. She did the second word Valtine had identified, which took four tries and several more repeats from me. And then she said the word her mother had identified.
Yes, I had mispronounced it, and it wasn’t simply my accent.
“This chair is heavy,” I said.
“Then read carefully,” Kalorain said. “Begin.”
It took two more readings, but at least she didn’t produce an even harder poem. My arms sagged the instant she nodded. She gestured me into my seat, and a minute later, under the table, she took my hand.
But I grew quiet.
I got away with it for the rest of the meal, but before Valtine released us from the table, she turned to me. “Maddalyn.”
“Vendart’s Wife,” I said softly.
“Do you find our lessons harsh?”
“No, Vendart’s Wife,” I replied.
“You have become very quiet,” she observed. She was right, but I wasn’t going to admit to sulking. Or perhaps I was simply avoiding additional embarrassment before this many people. It was bad enough when Kalorain corrected me privately, but to be called out publicly had been far worse.
And the chair was heavier than the one Kalorain normally made me use.
“Do you wish to comment?” Valtine said, when I remained quiet. “Or should I come to my own conclusions.”
“I did not wish to become a distraction to the conversation,” I replied.
“And you felt if you spoke, you would?”
“I already have, twice over,” I said. “So yes, I found it likely.”
“Perhaps you are a welcome source of distraction.”
“I am to be tonight’s entertainment?”
“The star people are viewed as quite literally out of this world.” Even I had to smile at that. “It is refreshing to know they do not know everything.”
“People are people,” I said. “We all make mistakes.”
Valtine stood, but gestured the rest of us to remain where we were. She circled the room to come to a stop behind me. I craned my head to look at her. “Perhaps you feel, as well as you are doing, that you do not deserve punishment for a partially misspoken word.”
“I offer no criticism, Vendart’s Wife.”
“I would prefer a more honest response, Maddalyn.”
I looked down, saying nothing for a minute. Everyone watched me, which was even worse.
“Perhaps you feel we should not have changed the rules tonight,” Valtine said. Again I didn’t comment. “Maddalyn!” I snapped my head to her. “I require a response.”
“I offered no criticism. Vendart’s Wife,” I repeated. “I do not know what you want.”
“I want you to honestly tell me what you think.”
“I believe, Vendart’s Wife, that I have been told my progress is insufficient. I have also been told my best is insufficient.”
“No, Maddalyn, that is not what you have been told. You have been told you are doing exceptionally well. But you are also told we will not allow you to rest, either. And what is your opinion of being punished tonight?”
I stood and turned to face her, stepping around the chair to look her in the eye. “Perhaps this is
a better conversation in private. I’m sure everyone would rather continue the conversation the vendart was leading a few minutes ago.”
“Perhaps they would,” Valtine said. “Could you tell me what that conversation was about?”
“Not really,” I said.
“I didn’t think so,” she said. “We’ll come back to that. Do you believe your punishment tonight encourages you to renewed energy?”
“No, Vendart’s Wife, I do not.”
“Neither do I,” she said. “And yet, you will remain a potential target of correction. Furthermore, if you grow quiet again, I will make a point of doing something about it. Am I clear?”
“Yes, Vendart’s Wife.”
“Good. Tell me why you don’t know what my husband was discussing.”
“I’d rather not.”
“And yet, you are going to anyway.”
“Baardorid is a passionate man,” I said. “The topic seems of great interest to him.”
“I would agree,” she said. “And yet, in spite of his passion, you didn’t pay attention?”
“Valtine, please don’t do this.”
“Oh, I think I will. Tell me honestly, Maddalyn. Why can’t you tell me what my husband was discussing?”
“Valtine…” I whined.
“Or pick up the chair. I believe I can produce more poems for you.”
“That is hardly fair.”
“You can avoid this by answering my question. I already know the answer, after all.”
“It is possible the topic is so deeply rooted in Talmon culture, that I simply didn’t understand.”
“It is possible, is it? Is it possible that in his exuberance, my husband returned to normal speaking patterns?”
Baardorid began to howl, and around the table, the others laughed.
“All this was not an excuse to call him on that!” I said somewhat hotly.
“Of course not. I also had to be sure of two other things.”
“Oh?”
“That you knew we are all very pleased with your progress, but we are not going to let you rest.”
“I see.”
“And to remind people you took your turn holding the chair, and now it is to be my husband’s.”
Baardorid howled again.
“Husband dearest, do you deny the charge?” Valtine asked, continuing to look at me and not him.