Encircled

by Robin Roseau

  She nodded. Gigi and I both turned to her. Together, we partially undressed her, touching and kissing. And then we each took turns receiving the attention. It went around and around until none of us wore any clothing. We didn’t pull any shifts on.

  Gigi helped each of us move into position before settling into hers. “Begin,” she said.

  * * * *

  It took me perhaps five minutes to realize something. In this game, we could play to win, or we could put our support into one of the others. I had decided to help Mehgra. I thought Gigi would come after me. Instead, she was also helping Mehgra.

  I’m not sure which of us realized first. It was probably Gigi. But we glanced at each other and nodded.

  Mehgra claimed us both, and soon Gigi and I were bright red. She laughed happily and kissed then told us the rules. They were simple. We were to make her feel very, very good.

  We led her to the bedroom and played by the rules.

  * * * *

  She released us in the morning, and then we lay together. “You two let me win. Did you plan that?”

  “No,” I said. “We were several minutes into the game when I realized Gigi and I were both helping you.”

  “Why?” she asked.

  “Because you thought we were setting you up to be picked on,” Gigi said. “And that wasn’t it at all. We both prefer when there are two or even three slaves, and we decided we like you. There’s someone else, too, and we’ll do other combinations.”

  “I won’t hesitate the next time you ask me,” she replied.

  “You won’t win next time,” I warned her.

  “That’s all right,” she said. “Let’s face it. I’m going to end up a slave. I’m not going to win a fair challenge unless I find someone even more…”

  “Don’t sell yourself short.”

  “I’m not sure I want the responsibility,” she said. “I’ll play all you want, but could you let me win a few more times?”

  “Sure,” I said. “We were right about you. You’re every bit as sweet and kind as we thought you were.”

  “And smart,” Gigi said. “Don’t forget smart.”

  “I’m not, however, aggressive,” Mehgra said. “But this was nice. This was really nice.”

  “I thought so, too,” I said.

  * * * *

  Lisbon spent two days belonging to Lassa. I think Echeesh was involved, too, but I didn’t ask.

  Gigi set up an event with Mellta and me. Mellta kicked our asses. It wasn’t even close. We belonged to her for 24 hours, but she was very playful, and I deeply enjoyed it. Afterwards she asked, “Are you going to kick me out of your group?”

  “Why would we do that?” Gigi asked.

  “I didn’t realize it, but I think maybe you were right. I’m kind of a ringer.”

  “Maybe, but I didn’t mind,” Gigi said. “Cee, did you mind?”

  “No. I didn’t mind at all.” I kissed Mellta. “Do you want to do this again?”

  She smiled. “Oh, yeah. I do.”

  “Good.”

  Lisbon and I coordinated. I gave myself to Olivia for two nights. Dee and Bee were quite pleased. Later, I told her what was going on. “Jealous?”

  “No,” she said. “Bring some of them with you next time.”

  And so I would.

  We held our next big group event, this time with a two-day duration. It was to be another free-for-all. Jessla called begin. Lisbon turned to me and said, “I’ve been bribed again.”

  I laughed. “Going to accept?”

  “Are you going to get mad if I do?”

  “No.”

  “Good.”

  It was six to one. Six. They bound me easily, all of them laughing. And as soon as they were done, five of them grabbed a very surprised Gigi and bound her right beside me. I found that funny as hell. It was even funnier when four of them grabbed Lisbon and pulled her to the other side of the arena before binding her.

  In the meantime, the four Ressalines had each partnered with one of the other Charthans. They caught and bound the others and then went after the ones who had tied Lisbon, Gigi, and me. They let their Charthan partners make their claims, and I found myself falling to Slip. She seemed deeply pleased and whispered, “Thank you. It’s my first win.”

  The Ressalines did their own claiming. It was Lisolte who claimed Gigi, right beside me. And then everyone eyed everyone.

  And the Ressalines worked together, binding the four Charthans. Lisolte claimed Slip and then reclaimed me.

  The Ressalines made a clean sweep of it.

  But Lisolte was just as kind as Mellta had been, and the reports later were that Aresht, Bernadette, and Mellta had been equally kind with their slaves.

  * * * *

  Gigi and I talked about it later. “You were right.”

  “A bunch of us were right,” she said. “But they’re not mean after they win.” We both smiled. Lisolte had not only been kind, but very clever.

  But we asked for a meeting with the four of them, Olivia, and Jessla. We met at Jessla’s. I opened things. “You knew they were ringers, didn’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Teaching us something?”

  “Yes.”

  I turned to the four of them. “Did you know you were part of this plan?”

  “Yes,” Mellta said. “But we haven’t lied. We aren’t any more experienced than we indicated. And we need this experience. The confidence doesn’t hurt, either. Are you kicking us from the group?”

  “You’ve all be very kind after winning,” Gigi said. “Is that an act?”

  “No,” Lisolte replied.

  “I need to know the message has been received,” Jessla said. “And I rather believe while the two of you understand the full implications, I’m not sure your entire group does. Do we need to see this happen a few more times?”

  “That will destroy morale,” I said.

  “They didn’t answer me,” Mellta said. “Please don’t kick us from the group.”

  “That’s not why we’re here,” Gigi said.

  “Why didn’t that happen for the first one?” I asked.

  “I expected to beat you,” Lisolte said.

  “And I was just having too much fun,” Bernadette said. “We’re not impervious. I got lost to it.”

  “Aresht?” I asked.

  “I flat out let Gigi win.”

  “Mellta?”

  “I wanted to see how I’d be treated,” she said. “If I were mistreated, I’d be planning now, and you wouldn’t see it coming.”

  “You weren’t mistreated.”

  “No, I wasn’t.”

  “We’re so outclassed,” Gigi said.

  “I am not interested in that,” Olivia said. “There are members of your group who will not become citizens, but there are several who I need, the two of you the most.”

  “We can take a handicap,” Mellta said.

  “No,” Gigi and I said together. “But do you have to team up?”

  “It’s not that we’re necessarily any less susceptible to what is going on,” Bernadette said. “The magic takes everyone, more or less equally. But in group events, there are several basic strategies. In one, you identify the worst threats and neutralize them, typically by teaming with smaller threats. In another, you partner with the worst threats and hope there isn’t betrayal. The last is to try to appear like no threat at all and hope everyone else is focused, and then you can pounce. Are you asking us to do less than our best? What happens then?”

  “If the four of you win significantly more than your share of events,” I said. “We’ll have a morale problem.”

  “And if we don’t, some of you are going to grow arrogant,” Mellta said. “If you want to become a permanent slave, challenge someone born to this. It will be over quickly. You need to all know that.”

  “We’re not average. We’re certainly not exceptional. We’re every bit as young as you. Imagine us in five years.”

  “We should do some
different combinations then,” Gigi said. “Some one-on-one. There are only four of you. That means you can only claim four, and then there will be four of us who still win.”

  “Lady Olivia,” I said. “What are your plans for the house you keep loaning us?”

  “Well, I can’t give it to anyone who isn’t a citizen,” she said. “What do you think I plan to do with it?”

  “You’re giving it to one of us?”

  “No, Claary,” she said. “I’m giving it to you, or possibly Gigi if you give up and decide to become hers.”

  “We’re not doing that,” Gigi said.

  “And in the meantime?”

  “It’s available to borrow any time you want.”

  “Then this is what I suggest.”

  * * * *

  We held a dinner party, two weeks after our big event. It was the sixteen of us plus Bess, Olivia, Bee, and Dee. Sarala and I saw to the preparation. Bee and Dee arrived early to help prepare. We had a nice dinner then collected in the ballroom.

  “No one is obligated to play,” Gigi said. “We’re going to do one-on-one with 24-hour duration. Olivia made these markers for us.” She scattered them on a table. They were white resin, hardened, and with our names on them, our real names on one side, our slave names on the other. She passed them out, and then she set two hats on the table and erected a small cloth around the hats. “One-by-one, if you want to play, you step up and put your name in one of the hats. If you are willing to play with anyone here, put your name in the right hat. If you are somewhat particular, the left hat. Claary and Lisbon do not play together. If you are nearly entirely open, but you have one name you wish to avoid, use the right hat but whisper to me.”

  “What about them?” Rondi asked, gesturing to the Ressalines. “They won last time, and they made it look easy.”

  “Four of them; twelve of us. The most they can win are four of us. If you aren’t willing to have one of them beat you, use the left hat.”

  “Fine,” Rondi said. “I’m not afraid of losing sometimes, but I like to feel I have a chance.” She stepped forward and wasn’t even subtle. Her name went into the left hat.

  Eventually, everyone set her marker in one of the hats. Some hesitated at first, but they did it.

  Gigi looked through the hats and nodded. “There’s no shame or insult in wanting to feel like you have a chance. There’s no insult if there are a few people here you just don’t like.”

  “I don't mind if they win me sometimes,” Rondi said. “I had a nice time. But I want a chance tonight. I might go another way the next time.”

  Gigi nodded. “The four of you who used the left hat, I want you to pick two people you’d like to play with.”

  “Two?” Rondi asked.

  “One of them is going to be taken away from you. Or the four of you can just partner up, if that’s what you want.”

  Rondi stepped forward. She paused, and then she grabbed Lassa’s wrist before turning and grabbing mine. We let her pull us to the side. Slip grabbed Becksta and Lisbon. Sareet and Echeesh partnered.

  Gigi nodded. “I’m going to draw names from the other hat, one at a time. As I draw them, you may pick an opponent. You may choose from someone who is free, or you may pick one of the two people Rondi or Slip have claimed. If I am not claimed, I’ll take whoever is left. I like all of you.”

  She rummaged around. “Mellta.”

  Melta stepped over to Slip. “I would like one of your choices. I like them both. But I only want one who volunteers. Will you allow this?”

  Slip nodded. Lisbon and Becksta eyed each other, and then Lisbon said, “Sure.”

  I ended up partnered against Sarala, as she took me from Rondi. Rondi seemed perfectly fine with Lassa.

  I won my event with Sarala. The four Ressalines all won. Gigi went home with Aresht. Sarala and I went home with Olivia, although I wasn’t enslaved. Five of us had a lot of fun. I presume everyone else did as well.

  * * * *

  Four days later, Bernadette unexpectedly arrived at the inn, Captain Bess with her. She asked if I would talk to her. We sat down in the corner, mugs of cider in front of us. “What can I do for you?”

  Captain Bess slid several pieces of paper to me. I recognized the top one: a Practice Challenge agreement between Bernadette and me with a two-week duration. “No,” I said.

  “Why not?”

  “We know who will win, and I can’t be gone from the inn that long. I’ll give you 24 hours next Monday, if you want.”

  “Read the rest,” she said.

  “Bernadette.”

  “I’m here on a direct request from Queen Lisdee, written in her own hand and delivered to me from the hand of the duchess. It was a request, not an order, but one does not ignore her requests. Please read everything.”

  That took ten minutes. The top sheet was the Practice Challenge agreement. The remaining pages defined the challenge itself. Finally, I looked up at her. “Either you’re offering me a sucker’s wager I don’t recognize, or you’re handing yourself to me.”

  “I am fulfilling a request from Queen Lisdee,” she said.

  “Do I even have a choice?”

  “On the off chance I win,” she added, “we will remain here and I will help you to operate the inn.”

  “If I win, we’ll stay here and you’ll help me to operate the inn,” I said. “I don’t understand.”

  “She wants my report,” Bernadette said.

  “Would you tell me if she’d asked you to do this with anyone else?”

  “Probably not, but she hasn’t. I won’t answer that in the future, so don’t ask.”

  “Do I have a choice?”

  “You don’t want me?”

  “I didn’t say that. But I’m feeling backed into a corner.”

  “You are,” she said. “But it’s your inn. That’s not my fault.” I realized she was making a snide remark about where I was seated.

  “Tell me that phrase means the same in Ressaline as it does here.”

  “Queen Lisdee wants a report, Claary. What do you want it to say?” She gestured. “I don’t know how to give you a better chance without pacifying me first. Is that what it’s going to take?”

  “Of course not.” I collected the quill from Bess and signed the agreement. “Were you hoping I’d be difficult?”

  “Why would I want that?”

  “So you could blame me and wouldn’t have to give yourself to me for two weeks.”

  “Ah. No, I was not hoping you would be difficult. I would rather have an honest competition with you. I think it would be interesting to see if you can beat me, at least in some events.”

  “The queen basically ordered you to be a slave for two weeks.”

  “So? It’s not like I won’t enjoy it, and it’s only two weeks. I’ll learn something about running an inn.” She grinned. “Even if all I learn is how to wash feet.”

  “Heard about that, did you? How are you going to feel if that becomes a portion of your duties?”

  “I’d be your slave, Claary. When it’s a night, it can be all fun and games, but no one keeps that up for two weeks. I’d rather wash feet than feel neglected. That’s my only request.”

  “You didn’t need to make that request. That’s one I make. When?”

  “Tomorrow, Government House after your lunch hour. Please make arrangements for someone to cover for you for 24 hours. If you win, don’t haul me straight here. Give me some fun first.”

  “So two requests,” I said with a smile. “I’ll talk to Lisbon. If you win, just work with her. We don’t need to be here every day, as long as you work with her.”

  “I’m not going to win, but if I do, then I’ll coordinate with your sister.”

  “Thank you.”

  * * * *

  It was an extreme handicap. I didn’t need half of it.

  We played for three days, one of those with Olivia, Bee, and Dee. Then I began bringing Bi-bi to the inn. I kept her out of the kitchen, but
I taught her the other jobs.

  I enjoyed having her, but by the time we were done, I knew she was more than I could properly handle. I released her then spent one more day with her. We thanked each other. I told her how I felt about her.

  “That’s what happens when someone is clearly slated for becoming a citizen,” she said. “It’s intimidating.”

  “Yeah.”

  “I had a good time.” She caressed my face and kissed me. “I’m going to go.”

  “You’re all right?”

  “Sure. Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “I turn really needy for days afterwards.”

  “Ah. I was like that after my First.”

  “You’re pretty amazing, Bernadette.”

  “Would you let me return this favor sometime?”

  “I don’t know if I can do two weeks.”

  “Shorter?”

  “Sure.”

  “Work out timing with Lisbon?”

  “Sure,” I said.

  * * * *

  We began seeing more slaves, people we knew were permanent slaves. It wasn’t necessarily that half the people walking the streets was a slave, and we’d grown accustomed to seeing temporary slaves who had lost a practice challenge. But now they were permanent, although it wasn’t necessarily obvious.

  I accepted and lost a challenge with Gigi. She then brought me to Olivia’s and lost a challenge to the duchess. Olivia took her time reclaiming me, and we spent two days as hers. Bee and Dee loved it. So did the rest of us.

  We held our next big event, this time with a one-week duration. The original eight gathered together ahead of time, and we plotted. We would team together until the four Ressalines were bound and claimed. That plan lasted fifteen seconds into the event.

  They plotted with the other four, and so it was effectively eight on eight. However, they were better at surprising us, and while it began eight on eight, it turned into eight on six almost immediately and then four and then two, and that state lasted no longer than it took to bind us. Then they let the other four work at overcoming our resistance.

  Slip almost lost to me, anyway, but then I tripped over and felt the magic wrap around me. She had enough to realize it was done and bent down. “Tell me you’re mine. Say it over and over until someone takes me.”

  Then she stayed right there until Mellta stepped up behind her. She didn’t even bother binding her. She took her right there, and it only took her about thirty seconds.