Tiara- Part Two

by Robin Roseau

  “Very good, Princess,” Mariya said. “To that end, I’d like to discuss something with you.”

  “Now, or later?”

  “I think now actually would be quite good,” she replied. “We took an all-women team initially because we were to travel through Ressaline. We took the same team because, again, we were going to Ressaline.”

  “But you think maybe that isn’t a good precedent?”

  “Actually, I was wondering if I had authority to continue that plan?”

  “Unless someone with more authority than I have interferes, yes, you do. Why?”

  “I like the dynamics of the team we have. Adding men always confuses that. To that end, I would also like to introduce the few other women from the royal guard. I don’t anticipate needing them, but I would like us to train with them, in case we go somewhere we need a larger force, or for ready replacements if someone decides she wishes to transfer out of this team.”

  “Whatever you feel is best, Sergeant.”

  “Two of those women outrank me.”

  “You lead this team,” I said. “And as far as I’m concerned, there are exactly two people who can order otherwise. Neither of them will do so. If you invite these women to train with us, I will be quite clear about it. If they don’t like it, they don’t need to join us.”

  She nodded. “Thank you, Princess.”

  “Was there more?”

  “Breakfast,” she said with a smile. “And I am now on duty.”

  “Very good, Sergeant,” I said. “Gionna, we are well-served, are we not?”

  “Exceedingly well,” she agreed.

  * * * *

  We reached the Verlies River. I was excited to go home, but it was sad at the same time. Claary, Bee, and Dee would be turning around, Major Bess and a few others helping to ensure their safety. I didn’t know when I would next see them, but when I hugged Claary and told her that, she said, “There’s no way Olivia is coming without me. I’ll be here for Ahlianna’s birthday. And you know Bee and Dee will come with us.”

  I’d forgotten that. Knowing this wasn’t permanent, or even all that long, made it easier. I hugged her, and then I hugged and kissed Bee and Dee.

  “I love your hands like this,” Dee said. “Are you going to keep it?”

  “For a while,” I replied. “But I’ll probably have to take them off once I get home. They won’t be fitting for formal events, and I imagine it starts to get itchy.”

  “You can wash normally,” she said. “I don’t understand it. It stays wet, but it’s not like gloves. Nothing gets underneath. The only reason we ever change is because it takes longer to dry, but hands dry quickly.”

  “Well then,” I said. “I’ll keep them for a while, and we’ll see.” I stroked her cheek. “It’s so much more sensual.”

  She kissed the palm and smiled. “We’ll see you for Ahlianna’s birthday. Maybe, even if you can’t come all the way to Charth, you could come this far, maybe to greet us, maybe to bring us halfway home, and we could have a little festival right here.” She grinned. “You’ll be out of practice by then.”

  I laughed. “We’ll see what fits schedules, but I’d like that. I love you, both of you. Kiss me once more then I’m going to try not to cry.”

  They did, and in spite of my efforts, I did cry, a little, but that was all right.

  At that, Allium, Gionna, and I clasped hands and headed for the bridge. Behind us, our households followed, most of mine still in resin, and Valsine as well.

  Part Six

  Barrish

  Ahead of us, I saw the city, so beautiful in the late-morning sun. I rode, my arms around Shalendra, and I was as happy as I could be.

  Last night, I had freed most of my household. They were doing well, although still showing lingering signs of bliss. I’d heard lovely sounds from here and there, and I was pleased.

  Tess, Shalendra, and Valsine remained enslaved. We had traveled this far with their resin on display, simply telling people they were temporary slaves from Ressaline, and explaining little further. They’d drawn attention, but as I was recognized, so did I.

  This morning, the three had dressed. Up close, you could see the resin, and we hadn’t made any adjustments, so their hands remained encased. We wouldn’t necessarily fool anyone, and we wouldn’t try, but we’d take a little less attention for it. I kept the resin on my hands, but I remove the symbols from my cheeks. I felt a little naked for having done so.

  I had considered moving into the carriage, but it was a beautiful day, and I wanted to ride. I’d offered Shalendra choices, and she asked to ride in front of me. Valsine was with Allium. Tess was rotating around at each stop, and currently rode with her sister, which I thought was sweet.

  “Home,” I called out. “For some of us. For others, at least it is our destination. We’ll be free to climb from these fine mounts. We’ll have lovely, hot baths, good food, even better company, and later, soft beds.”

  “And for some of us,” Allium added, “Even softer bedmates.”

  I laughed. “Just so.” I gestured. “That is a good opportunity for a trot, but I’m not trotting with someone in my arms. What say you, Allium?”

  “I’d love a final trot, and my lovely companion can ride her own horse for a while.”

  “We can’t trot through the streets,” I said. “So we can shift about at the gates.”

  We had mounts waiting. Shalendra didn’t complain. We got everyone settled, and then I said, “Sergeant Felist.”

  “Set the pace, Princess,” she replied. “Keep in mind you’re one of the finest horsewomen here, and on one of the finest mounts.”

  “And it’s the end of a long trip, Sergeant,” I added. And then I urged my mount.

  * * * *

  We stayed as a group, opening only slightly as necessary for the increased pace. It was so tempting to ask for a run, but my mount was tired. I thought she appreciated the trot, but I didn’t want to stress her.

  And so, we closed the distance to the city, riding around the other traffic. It was not my way to expect others to clear the road for me, but Henra rode ahead, reaching the gates well ahead of me. The guardsmen would recognize her uniform, and so no undue alarm was sounded.

  We slowed as we approached the city gates. Not even I would break the laws about riding at faster than a walk through the city. Laws could be broken with good reason, but happiness at being home was a particularly poor excuse.

  I was a little surprised, however, as we rode into a larger troop of Royal Guards, and I recognized Major Hollsard himself. “Are you here for me, Major?” I called out.

  “Just so, Princess Darfelsa,” he replied. “Welcome home!”

  “Thank you, Major.” I rode directly for him, coming to a stop facing opposite directions, and I spoke quietly. “This is important to me. Supplement Sergeant Felist, but I wish her to remain in authority over her squad.”

  “We will provide a third ring,” he replied. “This is common, and I won’t undermine her authority, Princess. Trust us.”

  “I do,” I said. “I only wished clarity. I wish to speak to you and Father about her rank.”

  “Good, but I’ll ask you to say nothing further until we are behind closed doors.”

  I nodded. He nodded. And then he said, “Sergeant Felist, we will provide your outermost circle.”

  “Thank you, Major,” she said. “Troop, let’s tighten up. The streets are narrow.”

  We’d be taking the widest streets, but she was right. We moved closer together, all of us. And then I found Shalendra beside me. “Please.”

  “Of course,” I said.

  She wasn’t the only one to transfer, and so I had my lovely companion back in my arms, and then we were moving towards the palace.

  * * * *

  Clearly, word had reached the palace well ahead of our arrival. Mother, Father, and Ahlianna were waiting on the palace steps when we rode in. Everyone else dropped back once we were inside the palace gates, leaving me
at the fore. I stopped early, helped Shalendra down, then dropped myself. A groom hurried forward.

  “She’s tired,” I told him.

  “We’ll see to her, Your Highness,” he replied. “She looks quite pleased with herself.”

  “Wait here,” I whispered to Shalendra, then nodded. Renishta stepped forward and put an arm around Shalendra’s waist.

  I stepped forward, curtsied, and then ran up the steps to Mother. We hugged tightly, and she whispered, “These are the most unusual gloves.”

  I brushed her cheek. “Do you like them?”

  “I’m not quite sure.”

  I laughed. “I have so much to tell you.”

  I greeted Father, but by the time I turned to my sister, she screamed, “Gionna!” and took off running down the steps.

  Well, I guess I knew where I rated.

  “Princess Gionna?” Mother asked. “She’s in leather!”

  “And quite warm for it, but she wanted to arrive like this. She has become a citizen of her country!”

  “Oh, congratulations are in order, I presume.”

  “Just so. I have so much to talk to you about.”

  “And that’s Allium!” Mother said. “Why are they waiting over there?”

  “They’ll come when I call them,” I replied. “Please don’t override me. Father, make Ahlianna come hug her sister. She can bring Gionna if she wants.”

  It wasn’t Father who said something; it was Mother. “Really, Ahlianna,” she said.

  “Oops.” But she hooked arms with Gionna, and the two ascended the steps.

  “Gionna,” Mother said. “Welcome, and congratulations.”

  “Thank you, Ralifta.”

  Ahlianna stepped to me. We hugged. “What’s going on? You have more surprises. What’s with the resin?”

  “Long stories,” I said. I pulled from her. “I have several things, quickly. Father, I need time with you, soon. Mother, and with you. Ahlianna, you for both of those. I have nothing but good news, or so I think, or at the worst, interesting.”

  Gionna snorted at that.

  “Your mission was successful.”

  “It wasn’t entirely successful,” I replied. “But it was good. Things will take time, but there’s a lot to talk about. We have something I need to say first. Valsine is with us.” Ahlianna shifted at that, but she didn’t say anything. “You may notice, Sister, that she is wearing red gloves.”

  She looked and found Valsine in the crowd, but she was hiding her hands. “Like your interesting gloves?”

  “She’s in resin underneath her clothing.”

  “I thought she seemed rather bundled up for the weather,” Mother said. “Why is she not greeting us?”

  “Patience. She is a temporary slave, as are Tess and Shalendra.”

  Ahlianna began grinning. “She is, hmm? Whose? Yours?”

  “No, no. Allium’s. All three for another two weeks from tomorrow morning, unless we decide that’s a really, really bad idea. We can go inside and free them right now, if that’s better.”

  “Oh, no,” Ahlianna said. “I’m more than happy with things the way they are.”

  “Be nice,” I said.

  “What about your hands?” she asked. “Interesting colors.”

  “They’re a long story. I can take these off any time I want, but once I do, I can’t put them back on without returning to Ressaline. The border would be sufficient, but I can’t imagine traveling that far for a fashion statement.”

  Mother took one of my hands. I let her look. “Interesting.” She brushed along the resin.

  “We discussed whether I should get rid of them sooner, but I wanted you to see.”

  “We’ll discuss this inside,” Mother declared. “Leander, I would prefer to attend all the conversations.”

  “As you wish, Ralifta,” he replied. “Is that a problem, Daughter?”

  “Not at all.”

  “Do you have more surprises?” Mother asked. “Or may we meet our guests?”

  “I wanted you to know, is all,” I said. “It’s so good to be home!”

  * * * *

  We offered greetings. Ahlianna seemed quite pleased to see the resin that Valsine was wearing. If she was catty about it, I didn’t hear it.

  We shared greetings, and Father and Mother made a point of saying something to absolutely everyone, including my guards.

  It wasn’t the custom to introduce slaves, and Gionna wasn’t going to do it, but Mother asked, “Is she yours, Gionna? She’ll be living in the palace with us, yes? I wish to meet her.”

  And so Gionna provided that introduction after all. Then Mother asked, “Do I assign her a servant’s quarters?”

  “No. That answer might change in the future. She will stay with me, Ralifta.”

  “You will have your old quarters, if that pleases you.”

  “That will be lovely.”

  “Allium, your quarters will be prepared by the time we arrive. I imagine baths are in order.”

  “Baths are definitely in order,” I agreed. “Father, walk with me only a moment.” I took his arm and tugged him to the side. “It’s going to take a week to catch you up,” I said quietly. “We have a small order from Lisdee, and we need to handle it promptly to beat the snows.”

  “So that went well.”

  “About as well as we could hope. Some rocky moments.”

  “There always are,” he agreed.

  “So dealing with that is somewhat critical, but we can discuss further tomorrow. We’ll want Rosaniya and Lyeneru for that, plus portions of my staff. Can we make room?”

  “I already told Bellard to adjust my schedule.”

  “Thank you. The other issue I have is simple. Sergeant Felist has vowed herself to me, personally.”

  “She did that in Dennaholst.”

  “She has reaffirmed it. I want to talk about her rank. I’ve already warned Major Hollsard.”

  “We’ll do something about that, but we’ll have to talk first.”

  “Is it a problem?”

  “No.”

  “Okay. I only wanted you to know it had already come up. She has no idea.”

  “Which is best,” he said. “But it won’t hurt, one way or the other, if it waits a few days.”

  “No. The only other thing you need to know: Gionna is now assigned to, well, call it foreign relations with us. We’re going to see more of her, assuming she’s as welcome as I assume she is.”

  “Of course,” he said. “That is good news, I believe.”

  “I think so, too. She wishes to stay until my birthday. She and Olivia both wish to attend Ahlianna’s. I’ve offered invitations in your name, but I did so informally. Other than Shalendra, everything else is less pressing.”

  “Something I should know?” he asked.

  “I’m going to ask for permission to marry her.”

  “Oh,” he said.

  “Is that a problem?”

  “Not necessarily, but we should probably have that discussion this afternoon, and I will be present at the beginning before running away.”

  I laughed.

  * * * *

  We got settled. We got baths, our slaves attending to us. No, that’s not a euphemism, but it could easily have been, if we hadn’t also had a significant audience.

  Mother found room for everyone, with a little doubling up for some. No one seemed to mind. She asked me about Tess.

  “She’ll double with Renishta,” I said. “There may be some movement between their rooms. I’d rather you ignored it.”

  “None of my business,” she said immediately. “When are you going to tell us about these gloves?”

  “Darfelsa,” Gionna said. “I am more comfortable with the current audience than if we include any men.”

  “All right,” I said. “Then how about if you tell it?”

  “All right,” she said. “I will.” And she did.

  Mother and Ahlianna, from seats nearby, listened, saying little. Midway throug
h, Ahlianna stood and stepped close to me. I offered my hand. She held it, stroking the back of my arm for a moment.

  “I can get rid of them,” I said. “I wanted you to see them, and, well, it just feels good.” I stroked Shalendra for a moment.

  “I imagine,” Mother replied, somewhat aloofly. “What do you want to do?”

  “I want your advice.”

  “And I will tell you, after I hear your thoughts.”

  “I probably can’t keep it this way.”

  “But you’d like to, a little longer.”

  “Yes.” I sighed. “Maybe just until morning.”

  “I think that’s a good plan, but if you wanted to keep them until the next time you’re about to dress in a gown, I would not gainsay you.”

  “I think until morning is best,” I said. “I’m going to need to talk to people, and I don't want to explain.”

  “Leander is going to ask. What do you want me to tell him, Gionna?”

  “Tell him that his daughter seems especially capable of manipulating the resin.”

  “If you tell him it’s a girl thing,” Ahlianna said. “And imply a little more, he won’t even ask for any details.”

  Mother laughed. “You’re right. I will handle this. Now, let us talk about your attire, Gionna. Your leather is quite distinctive, but you looked quite uncomfortable. I won’t have it.”

  Gionna laughed. “I brought my Barrish clothing.”

  * * * *

  We had an informal lunch with everyone in attendance, including four slaves. And Mariya had settled the rest of her squad but attached herself to me. I ordered her to sit with us, however, and so she did.

  After lunch, most of us went one way; my immediately family headed for Father’s office. “Give us an overview,” Father said.

  “I want longer conversations,” I said. But I provided an overview. He nodded. “We’ll give Rosaniya and Lyeneru a quiet evening in the palace and hold more formal conversations in the morning.”

  I repeated Gionna’s plans, and then we came to Shalendra. I paused, looked around, and then asked, “Mother, has my list been expanded?”

  “No, and yes.”

  “Which is it?”