Encircled

by Robin Roseau

  Lisbon immediately said, “I nominate Claary and Gigi to negotiate on our behalf.” That was approved, and then Gigi broke out a bottle of alcohol.

  * * * *

  I made arrangements to visit with both Jessla and Olivia. We couldn’t arrange something during the day, but Olivia offered her home the next evening. I collected Gigi, and we walked over together. We arrived first. Dee showed us in, eyeing Gigi. She led us to the parlor, but then put her hand on my arm. I sent Gigi in, and Dee asked, “Are you here to ask for a permanent challenge with her?”

  “No, Dee,” I said. “We’re making a group.”

  “Oh.” She smiled. “Good. Are you sure you don’t want to ask Olivia for a permanent challenge?”

  I smiled. “If I do, you and Bee will be at least half the reason I do so.”

  “Kiss me.”

  I did, and then I followed Gigi into the parlor.

  We made small talk until Jessla arrived. She came in and demanded alcohol, promptly provided. Then she plopped onto a sofa. “I need my feet rubbed. Please. Someone. Or bring Dee in. I don’t care.”

  I knelt on the floor before her, removed her shoes, and saw to her feet. She worked on her drink. Finally she patted the sofa beside her. “Sit up here, but keep rubbing. Why are we here?”

  “Because you love me.” I moved onto the sofa and helped her rotate. “Gigi formed a group.” I let Gigi explain. Jessla waited and then opened her eyes and looked at me.

  “You owe me a favor.”

  “I do.”

  “Eleven of you?”

  “Yes.”

  “It’s about time. I have four more to add to your group.”

  “Charthan or Ressaline?” Gigi asked.

  “Ressaline. They’ve all had their first time, but no practice challenges. One is the granddaughter of a very good friend.”

  “Do you see why that’s a big favor, Jessla?”

  “Your group is currently all Charthan. And now you’re worried I’m sending in ringers.”

  “Yes.” I considered my reaction. “You know I’m not the one organizing this group. I am one of eleven. Even if I’m okay with it, I’m not sure I want to devote much effort to convincing the other eleven.”

  “You didn’t say ‘no’.”

  “I can’t say ‘no’ to you, Jessla. But I don’t have the authority to say ‘yes’, either.”

  I looked over at Gigi. She was watching both of us. “Judge, are you telling us that you won’t help us if we don’t agree?”

  “Absolutely not,” said Jessla. “Frankly, that would undermine everything we’re trying to do here.”

  “This is the sort of thing that warms our hearts,” Olivia said. “Gigi, Claary, I hope you’ll consider Jessla’s request, but it is far more important to me that this group succeeds than Jessla’s four women join the group.”

  “Claary,” Jessla said. “If your new group does not agree, then I have a counter favor. I will form a second group, and I would like you to join. I would also like you to invite as many from your current group who would be willing to join a second group.”

  “I can’t spend my entire life doing practice challenges,” I said.

  “We can make it work,” Gigi said. “I am willing to meet these women, but I don’t know that I’m willing to belong to one for a week right at the start.”

  “We don’t need to make the risk even,” Jessla said. “It could be 24 or 48 hours if one of them win, at least for the first few events.”

  “Jessla, you said you had something in mind when we agreed I would owe you the favor. Is this it?”

  “Yes.”

  “That was months ago. You waited?”

  “I waited,” she said.

  “I would like to speak to Olivia alone. Do you mind?”

  “Not at all.”

  I stood. Olivia followed me from the room. We stepped into the corridor and walked down the hall a short distance. I turned to her and leaned against the wall. “You promised me honesty. I want to know what you think. If you’re opposed, I won’t let Jessla know how you swayed me.”

  “I don’t know the women in question,” she said. “I actually agree with your concerns. Jessla didn’t talk to me about this, and I wish she had, and I wish she’d given me a chance to meet them. Claary, I want your group to be successful. That is more important than whatever she’s doing.”

  “I owe her consideration.”

  She nodded. “Then agree to meet the women, but don’t promise more than that.”

  I nodded. “All right.” Olivia led the way back. She took her seat. I sat back down on the sofa and pulled Jessla’s feet back into my lap. “I would like to meet them. I would prefer Olivia being there as well. I’m not sure I want them to know why we’re meeting.”

  “Of course,” Jessla said. “Thank you. Perhaps I could host an event for your entire group, say in two nights?”

  “They may not all be available,” Gigi said. “But we can bring as many as can make it.”

  “Thank you,” Jessla repeated. “Let’s talk about your first event.”

  I let Gigi handle that conversation, but I agreed to the things they decided. I actually liked the plan, although it was definitely going to be chaotic.

  And I was sure I was going to lose. That was fine.

  * * * *

  I’m not sure how Gigi did it, but she got the entire group to attend Jessla’s dinner. It may have simply been the promise of free food paid for by the judge. She warned everyone that we’d be meeting four more women and shared what we knew. She also indicated both she and I were unsure about the plan but had agreed to give them a chance.

  We dressed for the occasion. Lisbon bought a new dress, and she looked quite nice and very grown up. When had that happened, anyway?

  Olivia asked if she could bring Lisbon and me with her, and when she arrived, she had Dee and Bee with her. That resulted in hugs and kisses, and then we climbed into Olivia’s carriage for the ride to Jessla’s home. Dee held my hand and petted my arm for the ride. Bee gave attention to Lisbon. Olivia seemed amused.

  “Should I ask?”

  “I want to see how Jessla’s friends treat them,” Olivia said. “And they asked to come.”

  “We like you two,” Dee said. “Please come home and play with us after.”

  I looked at Lisbon and Olivia. I didn’t want to suggest to the sisters there was anything wrong. It wasn’t my place to cast my views on them. Olivia saved me, for the moment. “If we make that agreement now, then it will confuse you over dinner. You may pay attention to Lisbon and Claary now, but I want you to pay attention to the new women once we arrive. I need to know how you feel about them. Can you do that? Can you help me protect Lisbon and Claary?”

  “Yes, Olivia,” Bee said.

  “But you know they’d be happiest if they come home with us,” Dee added. She turned back to me. “You should let Olivia claim you. We could play all the time.”

  “Dee,” Olivia said. “I want Claary to become a citizen. I need her help to run the city.”

  “She can help you even more if she’s your slave,” Dee insisted.

  “She can help me in different ways. Dee, Claary isn’t going to become a citizen next week. We’ll talk her into spending more time with us.”

  She pouted, but she didn’t bring it back up again. It was a little like dealing with a young child, although a very well-behaved young child.

  * * * *

  We pulled up to Jessla’s and climbed from the carriage. Dee took my arm, and Bee took Lisbon’s. I was fairly certain Olivia told them to flirt with us. She certainly didn’t put a stop to it. It was Vi-vi who met us at the door. She was in blue tonight, and when I saw the other members of the household, I discovered everyone else I met was blue.

  She and I exchanged a hug and little kiss, though. And then she led us to the ballroom. It was the only room large enough to host a gathering. Otherwise we would be standing room or required to separate into different rooms.r />
  Jessla was already there along with about half our group. Gigi stepped over. “New slaves, Claary?”

  “Gigi, this is Dee,” I said. “That is Bee. They are Lady Olivia’s.”

  “Girls,” Olivia said. “You may accept hugs and brief kisses from anyone who offers, but no more than that.” And so they both hugged and kissed Gigi. Then Olivia said, “Now, I want you to go mingle. Lisbon, would you introduce them around?”

  “I’d love to.”

  Gigi gave Olivia a brief hug and then moved to my side. “Lady Olivia, I would ask you a question.”

  “Of course. How can I help?”

  “Do you feel great responsibility all the time?”

  “No. Sometimes I’m asleep.” It took Gigi a moment, but then she laughed. “Seriously though,” Olivia added. “I wouldn’t say all the time. I take it you are feeling the responsibility of your position in this group?”

  “Yes. Frankly, it’s more than I wanted. When they were all women I knew, that was okay. That was great, actually. But we’ve added three more I don’t know, and now Jessla wants to make it seven, four of which give me significant pause.”

  “I am going to tell you what I told Claary. I want your group to be a success. I do not want you to risk that. If this is too much for you, you may tell me, and I can step in.”

  “Jessla doesn’t seem to be one whose requests one should decline,” Gigi observed.

  “Jessla will accept a counter proposal from me,” Olivia said. “She’s already suggested a separate group, and I wouldn’t have any trouble filling it.”

  “She wants Claary in the group.”

  “She does. And she also wants the women from Ressaline outnumbered. I can accomplish that.”

  “I can’t be an active member of two groups this big,” I said.

  “You could if the second group only held events quarterly.”

  “Could we invite them only quarterly?” Gigi asked.

  “Yes. You can do whatever you want. That is a reasonable compromise.”

  Gigi frowned. “It means they aren’t full members. I don’t know how I feel about that.”

  “Neither do I,” I said. “Frankly, I want to see how they treat people.”

  “And they might be horrible.”

  “Anyone can be on her best behavior for a night,” I pointed out.

  “We should bring up politics,” Gigi said. “That’s always divisive.”

  I laughed. “We should. With the duchess in the room. Oh, I like that plan.” I smiled at Olivia. “I can’t imagine any issues that wouldn’t be controversial or reminders of controversy.”

  “It’s easy to remember controversial issues,” Olivia said.

  “Isn’t the point to cause controversy, and see how they handle it?” Gigi asked.

  “Perhaps,” I agreed. “But I don’t want it to be us against them, so it would have to avoid differences between Ressalines and Charthans. Good luck.”

  “Feeding the poor,” Gigi said. “That’s universal, right? Some people think we should help the poor. Some people think the poor should find jobs and ignore the fact that not all can.”

  “Sure,” I said. “We can talk about people starving to death.” I watched Olivia to see what she would say.

  “What a lovely dinner topic,” Olivia said.

  “Let’s talk about mining rights.”

  “An even better topic,” Olivia said with a snort.

  “School funding?” Gigi suggested.

  “School funding,” Olivia echoed. “That has possibilities.”

  “I’m going to wander,” Gigi said. “But Lady Olivia, if this gets to be too much for me?”

  “Then you see me, and you and I will find a solution.”

  “Thank you.” She squeezed my hand and stepped away.

  “Was I out of line?” I asked Olivia.

  “Your comment about people starving? No. There are things we discussed I’d rather you not share, but that’s not on the list. It’s not good dinner conversation, though.” She sighed. “In my conversations, not a single one of you recognize the effects your trade policies had on Ressaline. Not one.”

  “I’m sorry, Olivia. I’m just a simple barmaid.”

  “I really wish you would stop saying that.”

  “But it’s the truth.”

  “It’s a form of the truth, although not a very complete form at that.”

  “Still. How was I supposed to know about that? I didn’t even know enough to know to ask questions. It wasn’t like I ever traveled. I’ve never been more than a few miles outside Charth.”

  “I don’t blame any individuals, Claary.”

  “Well, I think you should talk about it tonight. I think you should tell people about it.”

  “Not over dinner.”

  “Why not?”

  “I don’t want you bringing this up.”

  “Then I won’t, but this is an opportunity.”

  “I want to float something else by you. How would you feel about an event tonight with a two-hour duration?”

  “With you?”

  “No. With the sixteen of you.”

  “So a big, massive orgy? You’re going to watch?”

  “Sure.”

  “Come on, Olivia.”

  “I don’t have a plan. I was asking how you felt.”

  “Sure, but I think you and Jessla should play.”

  “I wanted one of your original nine to get a chance to better meet the remaining seven.”

  “Nine equals seven plus two. We learn that in school.”

  She snorted.

  “It might be fun,” I said. “I’ll go along. I don’t want to be a leader tonight.”

  “Like you can stop yourself,” she said.

  “I can!” I insisted. “Got any of the pacification juice with you?”

  She laughed. “No.”

  “I bet Jessla has a whole batch.”

  “Behave.”

  “You don't like it when I behave,” I said. “My misbehavior is why you spend so much attention on me. Loan me Bee and Dee for a few days.”

  “Why should I do that?”

  “Because I’m asking, and they’d enjoy it.”

  “All right. Sure. When?”

  “Just like that?”

  “Sure. Why not?”

  “Why would you loan them to me?”

  “Because you asked, and because they’d love it.”

  “Olivia?”

  “We’re friends, Claary,” she said. “I wouldn’t loan them to just anyone. I’d loan them to you. I know you’d take care of them.”

  “I don’t really want you to loan them to me.”

  “Why not? I would.”

  “I believe you. And because it’s far more fun at your house, especially if I’m dressed properly.”

  She laughed. “I know how to make that happen.”

  “Soon,” I said. “Am I ever going to beat you?”

  “If I give you a fair chance, you could. What are the chances.”

  “You’d enjoy belonging to me, as long as you told Bee and Dee to obey me if I win.”

  “I’ve done that every time we’ve played.”

  “Really?”

  “Well, not the first, but since then, yes.”

  “I’d go home with you tonight,” I said. “Until morning.”

  “I’d like that,” she said. “But you have responsibilities here, and I’m going to look for a chance to claim one of these girls. But if the evening ends and we’re both still free, I’d like that.”

  “Then we have a deal,” I said. “Make me obey the three of you.”

  “I will. What if I claim someone else, too?”

  “It depends on who it is,” I said. “I don’t want to be forced to obey anyone I don’t know very well. Gigi would be okay, or Lassa.”

  She nodded. “What if I don’t make you obey her?”

  “Then anyone,” I said. “Sure.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind. Go min
gle. Meet people.”

  * * * *

  We met Jessla’s friends: Mellta, Bernadette, Lisolte, and Aresht. Mellta was the granddaughter of her friend. They were all about near my age, 18 to 22, or thereabouts. They were well-dressed and well-spoken, and the first Ressalines I had met who didn’t wear leather. Instead, like the rest of us, they were dressed in evening gowns.

  They each had something special about their appearance. Mellta was short and very, very cute. She had dimples when she smiled. Bernadette was amazingly tall, towering over the rest of us. Lisolte had the most amazing, red hair. And Aresht had vibrant, violet eyes. Physically, they were all attractive.

  We talked for a while, and then sat to dinner. And then Olivia said, “I’ve been taking an informal survey. I’d like to know what the people in the room think. I’m going to ask this two different ways. I want you to think of your answer but not react until I finish explaining. Remember, think about your answer. Those of you born in Ressaline, how often do people living in Charthan die from starvation. Those born in Charthan, how often do people living in Ressaline die of starvation. Think about your answers.”

  She waited, and then she said, “If your answer could be summarized as ‘every hard winter, or even more often, raise your hand.” Jessla and Olivia didn’t raise theirs, Jessla’s young friends did, and I did.

  “Why aren’t they raising their hands?” Aresht asked.

  “Put your hands down. Same question but about your own country. Every harsh winter, or more often?”

  This time, six hands went up.

  “That’s ridiculous,” Lassa said. “Sure. Sometimes people struggle, but they find food somehow.”

  “In Charthan, that is true,” Olivia said. “In Ressaline, hundreds die of starvation every harsh winter. Fewer die during easier winters.”

  “That’s ridiculous,” Lassa said. “There’s always food. And if we had bad harvests, Flarvor is always willing to sell more to us. It might be rice and more rice, but you can make rice last a long time.”

  “When is the last time you saw someone with scurvy?” Jessla asked.

  “What’s that?” Lassa asked.

  “It’s a disease you get from a lack of certain foods, especially fruits and some vegetables. It’s characterized by bleeding gums and poor healing of wounds.”