Encircled

by Robin Roseau

  Lassa walked over to me. She smiled. “Do we have a hugging relationship?”

  “I hope so,” I said. “You’re my sister-in-law, as far as I’m concerned.”

  “I like that thought,” she said. We hugged tightly. “Thank you, Claary.”

  The Visit

  Within our group, there was one additional change. Becksta offered challenge to Mellta, which was tantamount to flat out surrender. I wasn’t present for the conversation, but it was a good event. I applauded at the end.

  Mellta remained in the group. She brought Becksta to events as an observer, but winning Mellta also meant winning Becksta.

  Gigi and I continued to play, and we frequently offered ourselves to Olivia. We also took any other challenges that came our way, if the duration was short. Except when playing against the Ressalines, I won more than my share. Between Gigi and me, she won slightly more often than I did, but I usually let her pick the events, and she picked to avoid my strengths.

  In our group events, The Ressalines stopped cooperating with each other and instead were competitive. They had learned what they wanted to know: they could beat our best, or what appeared to be our best, and they could do it against overwhelming numbers besides. I would have won more than my share, but the others tended to team against me. It was frustrating, but I took it as a compliment.

  I took to challenging the Ressalines, always with a short duration, sometimes very short, sometimes until morning. I lost every time. I asked Olivia how I had possibly beaten Bess.

  “Because Bess enjoys losing and doesn’t manipulate the event, and she’s not as good as the others.”

  * * * *

  “Olivia!” I said in surprise. I hurried forward to offer a hug and a kiss. “Was I expecting you?”

  “You tell me,” she said. “If so, it’s a surprise to me.”

  “Are you here for dinner?”

  “Could we speak privately.”

  “Please tell me this isn’t bad news.”

  “It’s not, but it is private news.”

  I nodded and led her to the office. Mother’s office. Okay. I could say “the office”, but it was Mother’s office. We took seats, and then she asked, “Do you have any commitments after tomorrow?”

  “I presume you mean other than managing the inn.”

  “Correct.”

  “Then no.”

  “I’m about to tell you something, and I don’t want you to tell it to anyone else.”

  “All right.”

  “Queen Lisdee is coming for a visit. She will arrive in approximately three weeks. She is interested in meeting you. She may be interested in visiting The Baby Blanket. I don’t know.”

  “I imagine this is somewhat below her.”

  “No, it’s not. She is a leader of the people. She will be annoyed if you put on airs. I don’t want you to do anything to prepare for her.”

  “We’re always doing maintenance. I was thinking of challenging Slip and making her paint the sign out front.”

  “Awfully cocky.”

  “Sure,” I said.

  “You must be free of all commitments no later than ten days from now. I do not want The Baby Blanket smelling like paint when Queen Lisdee arrives. I do not want you putting up new decorations or anything else. Do not stock up expensive wine. Nothing like that. Am I clear?”

  “Yes, Olivia.”

  “Good. That being said, you need new clothes. I will bring you. Don’t argue.”

  “Yes, Olivia.”

  She smiled. “Good. Thank you for making this easy. Queen Lisdee may wish to see your group hold an event, but I want you to hold off on that.”

  “What do I tell them?”

  “That I’m putting together something special, and I want all of you fresh.”

  “All right. But I want the sign painted.”

  “I want you to have some fun with Gigi.”

  “All right.”

  “And me. Not at the same time.”

  “Is this a last time?”

  “Probably not, but she’s been known to see someone and decide she wants them.”

  “That seems…”

  “Corrupt?”

  “You said it, not me.”

  “She is almost certainly going to challenge you with a temporary duration. To that, you do not decline, and you accept whatever terms she defines. If she wants you after that, she’ll free you and then smile. You’ll fall to your knees and beg to belong to her.”

  “Right.”

  “I’m serious,” Olivia said.

  “I believe you.”

  “You have ten days. What is your plan?”

  “I’d do Slip and Gigi together, but Gigi beats me too consistently, and I want the sign. I’ll have to do Slip first.”

  “Not necessarily. Gigi wins because you let her choose the event. This time, I’m going to, and for once, it will be to your strengths, not hers.”

  “We can try that,” I said.

  “Let me worry about that,” she said. “When we’re done here, make arrangements to bring both of them to Government House either tonight or tomorrow. Just warn me which.”

  “Anything else?”

  “Make arrangements to be flexible, and please give yourself to me.”

  “She’s coming in three weeks.”

  “She likes to push her troops hard and will arrive early,” Olivia said.

  “Five days with Gigi and Slip, if they’ll accept, and then you may have me until you think you should free me.”

  “Thank you,” she replied.

  * * * *

  I sent notes to both Slip and Gigi. I told them I wanted a three-way challenge with a 5-day duration, and I wanted to do it tonight. I suggested they come to the inn for dinner, and we could go to Government House afterwards. Slip responded, “Sure.” Gigi said, “I can only do 3-days. I’ll be there.”

  I fed them, and then we headed to Government House, laughing and teasing each other. Gigi commented on the short notice. I shrugged. “I missed you.”

  We met with Olivia and Jessla. I apologized for the hour. “This is what I propose. A three-way event as devised by either Olivia or Jessla. As Gigi has a three-day limit, if Slip or I win, we’ll let her go on the third day. If she wins, she’ll let us go at three days, but I would then have a second event with Slip for the last two days.” Gigi pouted but agreed.

  We all signed the agreement, and then Olivia presented the challenge. Gigi’s eyes flashed at me. “She had that ready, and you’ve always let me pick. I should have smelled something was up. Why do you want to win so badly?”

  “I want to see how you do,” Olivia said. “Much of this is my influence.”

  “What are you going to make me paint, Claary?” Slip asked.

  “The front sign,” I said.

  “Oh, cool. I’ve been eying it myself lately. But I better be allowed to play or I’ll pout.”

  “You’ll be purple, but we’ll play.”

  “I like being purple.”

  “I know you do.”

  They tried to double team me, but the event definitely fit my skills. I overwhelmed both of them, and it wasn’t that hard. Slip looked amazing in purple, and Gigi always looked good in red.

  We had an amazing three days. I felt bad that I had to let Gigi go. We cuddled for a few minutes, and then she said, “So what’s going on?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Suddenly, with no warning, you insist on 5 days. We’ve never done five days. And you’ve been a little desperate. If this is some sort of goodbye enslavement, I deserve to know.”

  “I’m planning a lifetime of playing together, Gigi. Are you?”

  “To the best I can tell, you’ve never lied to me, and I’ve never lied to you.”

  “Discounting misdirection during challenges.”

  “Right. But you set me up to lose, too.”

  “That was Olivia,” I said. “But I wanted Slip to paint the sign. I think I mentioned to you I was going to
do that.”

  “She did a good job. So why did you add me this way, and why the weird duration?”

  “Gigi,” I said. “I love you. I’m planning to do this for the rest of our lives. I think in a few weeks, we should begin lulling someone into accepting real challenges with us.”

  She studied me. “Still not lying, but you haven’t said ‘nothing is going on’.”

  “Did you hear everything I just said?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m sworn to secrecy. Can you please stop asking?”

  “Ah,” she said. “When do you give yourself to Olivia?”

  “I’ll probably walk over after taking Slip home.”

  “And how long will you belong to her.”

  “That isn’t entirely determined. Possibly five days, but she might extend it a little further.”

  “So something is going on, and she thinks you might be leaving when it does.” She sighed. “Queen Lisdee is coming to visit and will be here in a week.”

  “To the best I know, Queen Lisdee is not due in a week. Can you please stop fishing for information? I’m sworn to secrecy. As is, I’m going have to tell Olivia you’re far too perceptive for my own good.”

  She ignored my request. “Hmm. She’s letting you go a little early. Queen Lisdee is due in roughly two weeks then, give or take. Olivia fears she’s going to take an interest in you.”

  “I’m not answering any more questions, Gigi.”

  “I won’t tell anyone,” she said.

  “That’s a pretty wild guess on little information,” I said.

  “I admit it’s a guess, but it fits the known facts, and I can’t think of anything else.”

  “You have a terrible imagination.”

  “I do not.”

  “I can think of three other explanations.”

  “Name them.”

  “No.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because one of them might be what’s going on, or maybe you guessed correctly, and being willing to list other choices is proof to you that they aren’t it. Gigi, I made a promise. Do you want me to break promises to you?”

  “No.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I just want you to break them to Olivia.”

  I snorted. “No, you don’t.”

  “Yeah,” she said. “No, I don’t. But I still think Olivia thinks this might be our last time, but isn’t sure. If you asked someone for a Real Challenge, I’m going to be very upset you didn’t talk to me first.”

  I sighed. “Fishing again.”

  “I’m just saying…”

  “Imagine someone went through her for it, and for some reason I have to accept, but for some reason it has to stay secret. She thinks I’m going to win, but she isn’t positive. Now, should I have talked to you first?”

  “So that isn’t it, or you would stonewall.”

  “Go home, Gigi.”

  “Don't be mad.”

  “I’m not mad. I’m afraid Olivia is going to lock you in the Government House dungeon for making up rumors about Queen Lisdee.”

  “I haven’t made up any rumors!”

  “You told me you think she’s coming here in two weeks.” We spent a few minutes teasing each other, and then I sent her on her way.

  * * * *

  “That’s fine,” Olivia said. “I’ll just pick her up and toss her in the dungeon for making up rumors.”

  “Funny.”

  * * * *

  Olivia, Dee, and Bee had fun with me. She kept me a week before sending me home. Yes, I loved it.

  * * * *

  Four days later, Gigi waltzed into the Baby Blanket Inn. “Terrible imagination, hmm?”

  “I can’t believe you guessed.”

  “I’m good that way. I want to meet her.”

  “I am not the one to talk to about it. I can forward your request if I get a chance, but I can’t imagine I can simply pop by Olivia’s house right now. And she’s got her hands full, dealing with a royal visit.”

  “When do you meet her?”

  “It has not been confirmed I will,” I said. “I imagine I’ll find out when a team of guards shows up to haul me away, but they might give me more warning than that.”

  “You’ll have to have time to clean up and change into that new dress you bought.”

  “Olivia bought me new dresses,” I said.

  “I bought a few, too. If you get a chance, I’d like to meet her.”

  “If I get a chance, I’ll forward your request. You could send your own note.”

  “I did. Last week.”

  “All right then.”

  She kissed me then whispered, “I’m going to hate her if she takes you from us.”

  What could I say to that?

  * * * *

  My summons came in the form of Captain Marda, although it looked like there was a major I didn’t recognize actually leading the troop of ten soldiers. Ten, just to collect me

  “Sorry for the short notice.”

  “Ten of you?”

  “I offered to fetch you myself. You have time to clean up. Is twenty minutes enough?”

  “Are you saying I need to clean up?”

  “You’ve been in the kitchen. You have soot. Your hair is a mess.”

  “I’m teasing. Twenty minutes is fine.”

  Twenty minutes wasn’t fine, but I did what I could. The guards barely let me out of their sight the entire time. It was ridiculous. “Where am I going to go? When have I given any of you one bit of trouble?” I asked. “Seriously.” I shook my head but let them lead me from my own inn.

  They had carriages waiting. I rode beside Marda and opposite the major, who still hadn’t introduced herself. Finally I smiled and held out my hand. “Claary Rosebush.”

  She looked at my hand and didn’t move.

  “Huh,” I said. “I haven’t been shackled, but wow.”

  “Don't mind her,” Marda said.

  “I’m fairly certain the insignia she’s wearing means I have little choice. I’m also fairly certain it means you shouldn’t dismiss her, either.” I looked the major up and down. “You invaded my country, enslaved a portion of our population, kicked the men out, and have permanently annexed us. And yet, here I am, offering a friendly hand, anyway. I don’t know what your problem is, but whatever. I’m going to look out the window. Sliding aside the curtain is not an escape attempt.” And so I did just that.

  “I had a child,” said the major.

  “Had. I’m sorry.”

  “She’s dead because of you.”

  “A major in the military, and you didn’t have first access to food and medicine?”

  “I wasn’t in the military then. I was 20 years old.”

  “Ah.” I looked her up and down. “I’m 22 years old. From the looks of you, you’re at the least 15 years older than I am, and perhaps more. So this happened when I was at most 7 years old. But you’re blaming me. Wow.”

  “Not you. Charthans.”

  “Ah. So lump us in together. Right. Bigot. Got it. I had nothing to do with it, but if it helps you feel better to blame me, go ahead.”

  I ignored her after that.

  We arrived at one of the side entrances to Government House. I let Captain Marda direct me but intentionally ignored the major. Marda didn’t say anything about it. They led me to the main doors to the ballroom, currently guarded by four fierce-looking women. We came to a stop, and the major stepped over to the guards, presumably telling them who I was. She came back a minute later. I tried to ignore her, but she stepped in front of me. “I bet you don’t have a clue how you’re supposed to behave.”

  “I can wing it.”

  “Fine. Perfect.”

  “And when she corrects me, I’ll happily say, ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t know.’” I smiled.

  “You walk straight in,” she said. “You come to a stop two arm-lengths from her. You do not kneel. You look her in the eye. You’re in a dress, so you offer a brief curtsey. Do yo
u know how?” I demonstrated my refined curtsey techniques. Refined. Ha.

  “That was terrible.”

  “Do we have time for lessons?” I asked.

  “No. She does not like false modesty or false compliments. If she asks a question, she does not like to work obtaining an answer. However, you should speak only when spoken to, and you should be brief. If she wishes you to speak at length, she will indicate.”

  I nodded.

  Then we waited for another ten minutes before the doors opened. The major took my arm and led me to the door, although she wasn’t rough about it. Still, I smoothed the dress. Someone in a firm voice announced my name. The major said, “Go. Walk, not run.”

  I nodded and stepped forward.

  * * * *

  It seemed like a long walk. The room was full, all of them Ressalines, or so I thought. I wondered if I was the first Charthan the queen was meeting. I thought that unlikely. At the far end was a dais. Olivia sat beside a woman a few years older than her, and there was absolutely no mistaking this woman.

  Oh, she wasn’t bedecked in gems. Yes, she wore a few jewels, but they were subtle. And she was in leather, black, but decorated in silver piping.

  But there was something about her, and I couldn’t imagine not knowing who she was.

  I walked with confidence. I didn’t try to put on airs. My feet clicked on the floor, and then, perhaps five steps from her, I lowered myself to one knee and bowed my head.

  There was muttering from behind me, and even one curse from well in back. Then the room grew silent.

  “Rise,” said the woman. “Come closer.”

  I stood and closed the distance, but I kept my eyes aimed at her shoes, and then her belt, not her eyes. But I came to my second stop perhaps two steps from her. When she spoke this time, it was much more softly. “You should have been counseled to behave differently.”

  “I was. I thought I was being set up.”

  “Ah.” She paused, tapping her nails against the arm of the chair. “She has cause for her cold behavior.”

  “As best I can tell, she blames me for something that happened when I was in pigtails. Do you blame me for my concerns? Kneeling to you would offer less insult if you didn’t care for it than not kneeling if you did.”