Encircled

by Robin Roseau

  * * * *

  The next month, twelve of us met. And so finally we captured the four. Lisbon attempted to claim Mellta but became lost. Mellta ordered Lisbon to release her, and then the two dragged Gigi from Bernadette. They bound Gigi and released Bernadette.

  The four won again.

  And then things began to change.

  Sister Challenge

  I received a note inviting me to Government House tomorrow after the breakfast rush. It advised me to make arrangements for lunch to be handled. I tried to find Lisbon without luck, and she hadn’t appeared by morning, so I asked the staff to manage the inn. “I’m not sure how long I’ll be gone.”

  At Government House, I was escorted to one of the court rooms. I wondered if I had done something. But there was a conference table. Jessla and Olivia were there, as were Lisbon and Lassa. I came to conclusions, but those would be shattered. “I looked for you,” I said. “I wish I’d known not to.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said.

  “Please sit, Claary,” Olivia said.

  I took my place facing Lisbon, Lassa at her side. Olivia and Jessla were at opposite ends.

  “Claary, I want permission to trade half of my share in the inn to Jessla.”

  “What? Why?”

  “She’s going to trade two of her slaves to us.”

  “You and me?”

  “No.”

  “Oh.”

  As I said, my conclusions were shattered, but it turned out that that was only the beginning.

  “The writing is on the wall,” Lisbon said. “We’re scared.”

  “Scared?”

  “We want to be together.” She lifted her hand, and I saw she was holding Lassa’s.

  “All right.”

  “Please don’t fight us, Claary.”

  “I haven’t said a word.”

  “You’re about to. We’re going to have a real challenge. We’d like your blessing and help.”

  “My help? You hardly need my help.”

  “You could make it harder,” Lisbon said. “This can go one of two ways. I win, or she wins. Either way, we’re together. If I win, I’m going to take over running the bakery. If she wins, then I’ll help at the bakery, but we’ll see how well I do on the jobs she doesn’t like.”

  “You’re not satisfied with what I’ve been doing, Lassa?” I asked. “I wish you’d said something.”

  “I am,” Lassa said. “The bakery has been in my family for four generations. I don’t want to sell it.”

  “And I don’t want her to, either,” Lisbon added. “I can do some baking, but I’m not brilliant at it, not like she is. But you’ve taught me so much.”

  “So, how does this work?”

  “We want you to let me trade half my share in the inn to Jessla.”

  “It seems to me that if I refuse, I’ll own your entire share in, what? Four hours?”

  “No, because I’ll immediately offer it for sale. You’ll have to either let me sell my share, or match the offer. You don’t have the cash. You’d have to borrow it. Do we need to continue this discussion?”

  “Tell me the rest of your plan.”

  “You’re going to inherit the other half. Jessla will own twenty percent. You’ll own 80.”

  “We’ll reach an agreement,” Jessla said. “Silent partner. You need to keep me apprised of the decisions you make, and we’ll meet from time to time. But you do not need to talk to me before making decisions.”

  “So I won’t get hauled here and enslaved for bypassing you?”

  “No.”

  “So you want twenty percent of the take?”

  “I want twenty percent of the income, which is what’s left after you pay all your bills.”

  “I’m going to have to go back to working 16 hour days, and now you want twenty percent of my effort. The agreement with Lisbon assumed we both worked there. Neither of us gets paid a salary. We get paid from profits, but she earns her share.”

  “We have several staff members who can do my job,” Lisbon said. “Can we come back to this?”

  “Fine. What?”

  “We want you to relinquish your share in the bakery to me,” Lisbon said. “In exchange for the other half of my share of the inn. But we want you to help your sister, whom you love, as she settles into her duties running the bakery.”

  I turned away. A tear crawled down my cheek. I wiped it away. “First Mama, and now you,” I said. “This was a family inn. It’s always been a family inn. It began as a family inn, and it’s stayed that way until they came.”

  I climbed to my feet and walked away, standing near the judge’s bench and leaning on it, my back to them. I stared for a while, trying not to break down into full crying. “Whatever you want, Lisbon.”

  “We’re in love, Claary.”

  “You’ve been in love since you set eyes on each other,” I replied. “What do I have to sign?”

  They had the papers ready. Jessla walked me through everything, making sure I understood and agreed. I signed where she pointed. When we were done, Lisbon and Lassa thanked me. I said something about how they were welcome. I don’t remember.

  “When?”

  “In about two hours in the arena. There are some practice challenges going on. We’re last.”

  They had Bernadette waiting in the wings, so to speak. Olivia handed me into her care, and she brought me to the arena. We took seats in Olivia’s box, right over the main entrance. I watched the events with little reaction.

  Then Gigi was there, and a few others. Not everyone. Sarala made it. Mellta was there. And I didn’t know at the time, but Rondi was there. She didn’t sit with us.

  Olivia conducted the event, and she seemed quite pleased. I could see both Lassa and Lisbon were deeply excited. Olivia called begin.

  Lisbon did her best, but she was entirely outplayed by Lassa. I could have told her that was how it would go. She wasn’t ready. And so I watched as Lassa claimed my sister, changing her into a red and orange resin coating. The audience roared its approval. I stared as my sister was carried from the arena.

  Those closest to me were supportive of the competition, although Gigi sat quietly and held my hand. When it was over, she asked me, “Do you want to go home with me?”

  “If I do, it will severely damage our relationship,” I said. “I’m in a foul mood. Please come see me in a few days.”

  “This part can be hard,” Bernadette said. “But they’ll be happy.”

  “I don’t really want to hear from any Ressalines how happy my sister is, now that she’s a slave,” I said. I got up and walked from the arena, pushing through people quite rudely as I did so.

  * * * *

  Dee opened the door and began smiling brightly. I held my hand up. “I would like to speak to Lady Olivia, please.”

  “Come in,” she said. “She’ll be happy to see you.”

  “No, she won’t,” I said. “Please ask her to come here. I’ll wait outside.”

  “Cee?”

  “Please don’t call me that right now. Please tell your lady I am waiting here.” Then I stepped away from the door and turned my back.

  Olivia was a few minutes. I heard her. I didn’t trust myself. I glanced once to be sure she was there. “Send the slaves away. I don’t want them to hear this.”

  Olivia spoke quietly to them and then said, “I know you want to scream.”

  “I’m not going to scream.”

  “Please don’t burn bridges, Claary.”

  I turned to her. I hadn’t intended to. But I turned and looked at her. Her face was filled with anguish. At the time, I was sure it was an act. “You destroyed my family. Not you, the Ressalines. You, Olivia. You destroyed my family. You got exactly what you wanted, at least so far. You wanted Mother a slave, and now she is. You wanted Lisbon a slave, and now she is. And don’t argue that this is what they wanted. It’s not remotely what they wanted before you came. I don’t know if you manipulated them into this or not, but don’t
deny it, because I won’t believe you. You did this. You destroyed my family. I hope you’re proud. Is this how you’re repaying us for a century of watching your families starve? You’re destroying our families while the rest of us watch? You broke up marriages. You sent children from their mothers. You’ve indicated virtually every one of our mothers is going to be enslaved while the rest of us look on, helpless to stop you.”

  “I didn’t know you were starving!” I screamed. “None of us knew. Maybe the council knew. I didn’t know. But I’m paying the price. We’re all paying the price for your vengeance, wrapped in intoxicating pleasure. You’re punishing people who didn’t even know, and many of us weren’t even in a position to do anything about it, not even with our votes. I’d voted once before you arrived. Once! And the person I voted for lost her election. But this is my fault? Is that what this is about?”

  “No, Claary. No one wants anyone here to suffer. No one wants vengeance. We’re not leaving, because we’re not willing to let you let us starve any longer. Maybe we could have worked out something else, but we came here due to the actions of your council. And we stayed because it was in our bests interests to stay. But no one is suffering. Your mother is happy, which you would know if you would accept one of Giselt’s invitations. Lisbon is ecstatic, which you know without seeing them. You’re justifiably upset.”

  “You did this!” I screamed. “You, Olivia. You did this.”

  “You’re right, at least in part,” she said. “But it’s not vengeance. I know you hurt. I’m very sorry for that. But it’s not vengeance, and I didn’t manipulate either of them. I tried to convince both of them to wait, that they were not in danger. But Lassa said Lisbon enjoyed belonging to Mellta too much, and that frightened both of them. Claary, they were going to do this eventually, and you know it.”

  “If they waited, Lisbon might have had a better chance to win.”

  “Perhaps, but I rather doubt it, and so do you. Claary, your good friend, Lassa, is now a citizen, the first in your group. That is a momentous event. Your sister, whom you love more than anyone else, is with the woman she loves, and she’s stupendously happy. Furthermore, she will remain that way. Your mother is equally happy, and from what I can tell, she hadn’t been for years, perhaps never. And she will remain that way. You have something you’ve always wanted, even if you weren’t willing to admit it out loud: full authority over the inn.”

  I didn’t argue the point, but I asked, “At what price?”

  “They’re insanely happy, Claary! The only one who is upset is you. I don’t blame you. I really don’t. You haven’t lost your mother and sister, but you’ve lost seeing them every day, and you’ve lost the sort of relationship you had with them. Now, if you choose to have a relationship at all, it will be dramatically different. I know that hurts, Claary. I’m sorry about that.”

  I stared at her then said, “If I’m ever ready to see you again, I will let you know. I want you to leave me alone.”

  “No.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I’ll give you some time. How much do you need? A few days? A week?”

  “I don’t see as how this is your choice.”

  “We are going to agree on a duration. And if you don’t present yourself for dinner the next day, I will have you picked up, pacified, and enslaved. I will keep you so blissed out you won’t remember your old name.”

  “You wouldn’t dare.”

  “Oh, please,” she said. “I will pour it down your throat myself. Maybe I’ll invite Gigi to play. Maybe I’ll invite Mellta. I hear she’s creative. Maybe I’ll invite the rest of your group. We can have the biggest, most hedonistic orgy this house has ever seen.”

  “That’s not funny.”

  “I am not letting you go, Claary,” she said. “You hurt, but you don’t want to walk away or you already would have.”

  And that was when the tears began flowing. She opened her arms, and I ran to her, sobbing. She pulled me into the house and pushed the door closed with her foot.

  Three women were waiting barely inside, all of them in red. “Well, it’s about time,” Gi said. “We’ve been waiting for you.”

  “What?”

  Gi, Bee, and Dee stepped forward. They spoke soothingly and began pulling me deeper into the house. I barely noticed as my clothing began to litter the floor. Gi pulled me into a deep, deep kiss as Bee and Dee added restraints. Then they took turns getting me worked up until Olivia stepped up and finished claiming me.

  She kept me for three days that time, and she only sent me home then because there was a crisis at the inn.

  * * * *

  I held Rondi as she sobbed. “I love her,” she said. “I love her.”

  “I know.”

  “She doesn’t love me back.

  “I think she does.”

  “I challenge you, Claary. A real challenge. I don’t want to hurt anymore.”

  “You’re being overhasty,” I said. “I don’t blame you.”

  “I told you a long time ago that I want it to be her or you. Now she has Lisbon. Please, Claary. It’s not like you can’t take other slaves, too. I know you and Gigi are destined.” I didn’t say that might be true, but not this way. “You could be a citizen. You know I won’t be a challenge for you. And I know you’ll treat me well.”

  “I want you to stay here tonight,” I told her. “You can sleep in Mother’s old room.”

  “Not with you?”

  “Not tonight. I’ll make an appointment for us tomorrow.”

  “You will?”

  “Yes. We’ll have to talk to Lady Olivia and maybe Judge Jessla. Then we’ll have to do what they say.” I hugged her and gave her a small kiss. “I want you to go clean up. Do you think you would like to help with the inn tonight?”

  “All right.”

  “Go clean up. I’ll write a note to Lady Olivia, and we’ll see if we can make an appointment.” I sent her upstairs; she knew the way. I went into Mother’s office. Would it ever be mine? I didn’t know. I went into Mother’s office and drafted a note. It didn’t say quite what I suggested to Rondi it would say.

  I got someone to deliver it. An hour later I received my response.

  * * * *

  We met with Jessla and Olivia. Rondi was somewhat better, now that she had a plan, but she had basically given up. That was clear to everyone. I let her do most of the talking, but I got her talking about how she felt about Lassa.

  “You must hate Lisbon,” I said.

  “I don’t hate her. I really like her.”

  We talked for a while. Olivia and Jessla listened. So did two others.

  Eventually there was a noise, a kiss, and then the sound of shoes. I turned to see Lassa and Lisbon rise from behind the judge’s bench. Rondi stood, too, and together, we stared.

  I’m sure we stared at different people.

  Lassa walked to Rondi. Lisbon walked to me. But Lassa said, “This is Li-li.”

  “Hello, Li-li,” I said. I was proud of myself. My voice didn’t catch.

  She pulled me into a hug. “Thank you,” she whispered, then kissed my cheek.

  “You’re welcome.”

  “Please be happy for me.”

  “I’m trying.”

  “I know. Try harder.”

  “I will.”

  “Did you forgive Olivia yet?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. Forgive her again.”

  We separated to see Rondi and Lassa hugging. After a minute, Olivia got us seated. Jessla passed several sheets of paper to Lassa. Lassa examined them and then turned them around and slid them to her friend. “Rondi, this is a petition for a Real Challenge. If you sign it, then you will face both Li-li and me. You will almost certainly lose. I actually don’t believe I need her help with you, but I’m not taking chances. If you can beat us, then you deserve it. After I win, you will wear red. We’ll take you home, and we’ll do wonderful things with you. You will join my household and share our bed. During the day,
you will work in the bakery. At night, we will play.”

  “Yes,” Rondi said. “Yes.”

  “I’m not done,” Lassa said. “You will love Li-li. If you cannot love her every bit as much as you love me, or at least nearly so, I do not want you in my house. I would take you as a blue house slave, but that is not what you want. If you cannot love Li-li, then you should accept the other offer.”

  “What other offer?”

  Jessla slid stack of paper to me. I looked through them and then signed them. I then turned them around and slid them to Rondi. “I like you, but I do not love you. I believe you like me, but I do not believe you are in love with me.

  “This is a petition for a Real Challenge. As neither of us are citizens, if you sign this, then you and I will meet in the arena in an even match. I believe, but I could be wrong, that I will win. You will become my slave and join my household. Initially, you will wear red, but I believe you will wear blue more often than red. I may grow to love you. I don’t know. You will love me. I will take good care of you, and you will be happy.

  “Your life may not be what you would prefer. I will continue to play with others, especially Gigi, but probably, if she wants, also Lady Olivia and maybe others. I may include you when I play with others; I may not. As my household grows, I will allow you to play with others, and I will encourage all my slaves to love each other.” I thought for a minute. “That’s all I can think of.”

  Rondi looked back and forth between Lassa and me, settling on me. “If I pick you, then you’ll be a citizen.”

  “Rondi, you’re in love with Lassa. There are two reasons you should pick me over her. The first is if you can’t stand knowing she loves Li-li as completely as she does. The other is if you can’t love Li-li.”

  “There is a third,” Olivia said. “If you wish to be a citizen more than you wish belonging to Lassa, then you have a better chance with Claary, although I believe even that chance is small.”

  Rondi picked up the pen and pulled Lassa’s offer to her. She signed the indicated places. I thought she was making the right choice.

  They did it right away, right in Government House. Gigi and some of the others were there, and we applauded when it was over.