Encircled

by Robin Roseau

  “That’s not what I meant,” she said. “Why would you want me, that way?”

  “Because I have plans for you. Now, there are rules. I can’t, for instance, cut your hair.”

  “You want to cut my hair?”

  “I do,” I said. “If you want me to compete for you, then we need to go talk to someone who can register you’re giving me more permission. Or you can tell me ‘no’, Hannah.”

  “Okay,” she said.

  “Okay, let’s go talk to someone?”

  “Yes.”

  I took her hand and led her to one of the guards that was handling the registration. I identified myself, which wasn’t necessary, and Hannah, which was. I told the guard we were to compete, but that Hannah was giving me permission to cut her hair and to see to a few other little touches. Hannah didn’t ask for clarification. The guard shouldn’t have let me be so open-ended, but she nodded and registered Hannah had given permission.

  Two hours later, Hannah was mine for the next two weeks. That night, Gigi asked me ‘why’.

  “You’ll see.”

  As promised, I’d made Hannah’s outfit a mix of Blue and Red. And then I treated her very well, like I did anyone who became my slave. We played. Of course, I let her pamper me. I also let her play with Slip and Sarala. And then on a whim, I gave Tivesh to her for a night. From what I could tell, they had both enjoyed it, although I bet Tivesh would rather I’d given her the authority instead of Hannah.

  I took Hannah for a cut. She wasn’t a disfigured mess. She just didn’t know how to present herself well. I bought her a better pair of boots. And I gave her a reason to smile, to laugh, to find joy. I thought it was the first true joy she’d ever had.

  The two weeks passed quickly. The day came to release her. She begged me not to. “I have to. It’s the law.” And then I did, but I held her afterwards, the way I always did. I held her, and I kissed her.

  She cried. “You don’t want me.”

  I helped her calm down, and then I introduced her to Hessey. “She’s the cook here. You’ve been eating her food, along with Sarala’s meals. She’s worked for my family since before I was born.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “I went there last weekend to find a woman closer to Hessey’s age. I was going to make her blue and red, like I did you. And then I was going to give them to each other at night.”

  “Instead, you changed your mind.”

  “No. There weren’t any women Hessey’s age.”

  “So why did you pick me?”

  “Because I wanted someone whom I could talk to, someone I thought might enjoy being mine for two weeks.”

  “I still don’t understand. You could have given me to Hessey. I probably would have liked it.”

  “I know you would. Hannah, I thought about seducing you so you would ask to be mine. I thought about accepting, and then making you look very nice. I think if I do this correctly, I could find someone who would want you, someone who would trade me two women closer to Hessey’s age. But I can’t trick you like that.” I kissed her again. “I’ll show you out.” But then I didn’t move.

  She dropped her gaze. I watched her think. Then she said nothing, but she stood up. At the door, in front of everyone, I gave her one more, smoldering kiss. And then I sent her away.

  When I didn’t see her for a week, I thought I’d have to try again next month. And just when I’d put her out of my mind, she showed up on my doorstep. Slip escorted her to my office, and I invited her to sit.

  “You can trade me,” she said by way of greeting. “I know she won’t want me for, you know. But if you make sure she’ll treat me well, you can trade me.”

  “Are you sure, Hannah?”

  “I’m sure.”

  “Because if you’re not sure, you should tell me.”

  “I’m sure.”

  “All right then. When?”

  “Why not now?”

  “Why not, indeed?”

  That was a trip to Government House. We had to wait, but Judge Jessla’s schedule had room for appointments, if one were patient. She interviewed Hannah and signed the papers. Soon I had a fresh slave.

  I took her home and gave her to Slip and Sarala and told the three of them to have fun. I let the three play for three nights before Olivia had time to see me. I brought Hannah with me. When Olivia saw her, she raised an eyebrow. “You’ve been busy.”

  “Olivia, this is Nah-nah.” I spoke about her for a minute or two.

  “Yes, yes,” she said. “What do you want, Claary.”

  “I want to trade Nah-nah.”

  “You just spent several minutes telling me what an unexpected treasure she is, and now you want to trade her?”

  “I think I can get two slaves for her.”

  “A treasure, indeed.”

  “Kind women, age 45 to 60.”

  She raised an eyebrow again. “Interesting. Why?”

  “So Hessey isn’t alone.”

  “Oh, Claary,” she said. “I’m so proud of you.”

  “I’ll work them. You know that.” She smiled. “But I’ll make the three of them blue with their own red piping. They’ll be free to find pleasure in each other. Hessey served my family well for decades, Olivia.”

  “I get it,” she said.

  “And it has to be someone who will treat Hannah well. She gave permission for this plan. She didn’t even ask if I’d keep her for myself or for other needs. I told her about Hessey. She went away and came back. She deserves to be well-treated, but she knows that doesn’t necessarily mean she’ll dress in red. If you can’t help me find that, I’ll keep her. She’s a good worker. Slip and Sarala like her. She’s kind, and she’s been fun for them. I’d give her to Hessey, but Hessey wouldn’t feel good about it. She’s protective of people young enough to be her children.”

  “And yet you gave yourself to Jessla.”

  “Can you find a trade, Olivia?”

  “Come to the house tonight. Dinner. Bring Nah-nah. Bring Slip, too.”

  “I will.”

  * * * *

  I wasn’t the only one. Jessla was there, Emmy and Tee dressed in red. Slip wore purple and red, of course, and Hannah was in her blue and red. Dee and Bee were there. And there were three other women I didn’t know. They hadn’t brought any slaves.

  We set the slaves to seeing to our needs. Over dinner, Olivia said, “I think we should shake things up. Jessla, do you mind?”

  “I don’t know. Do I mind?”

  “I’d like those of us with slaves tonight to have them serve someone they don’t typically serve. Dee, could you see to Vespar? Bee, please help Tispa. Claary, may I?”

  “Of course. Slip. Hannah. Please follow Olivia’s orders, or those of whomever she assigns you to.”

  They nodded. Slip went to Pendi. Hannah served Jessla. I got Tee, and Olivia got Emmy.

  Olivia flirted with Emmy. I followed her lead and flirted with Tee, who seemed to enjoy the attention. Slip, Bee, and Dee received more than flirting, but it wasn’t over any limits, and they seemed to enjoy it.

  Jessla didn’t seem to know what to do with Hannah. But Hannah was good for her, then knelt beside her with her head in Jessla’s lap. The judge absentmindedly brushed at her hair, but she gave me a look.

  I said nothing.

  We continued after dinner. Eventually it was time to go home. Olivia asked Jessla and me to remain behind. The other guests hoped to take their slaves home with them, but we recalled them instead.

  “Well,” Jessla said as soon as the door was closed. “What was that about?”

  “Did Hannah take care of you?”

  “Of course.”

  “She’s not really your usual flavor,” Olivia said. She turned and led the way back to the parlor. Then she said, “Claary, I promised Dee and Bee some fun. Would you let them play with Slip and Hannah?”

  “Of course.”

  “You’re new at this, so I’ll coach you. Tell them to let Bee and Dee do
anything to them they want to do.”

  “I don’t know,” I said. “Maybe mine should have free rein with yours.”

  “Hmm.” She smiled. “Bee. Dee. How would you feel if I ordered you to do anything Hannah tells you to do?”

  “That sounds like fun,” Bee said.

  “Do anything Hannah tells you to do.”

  “Yes, Olivia.”

  I turned to Slip. I raised an eyebrow, and she simply nodded. “Slip. Do anything Hannah orders you to do.” I turned to Hannah. “You may do anything you want to anyone in this room, and you may order the other slaves as you feel is most pleasing to everyone.”

  And then I saw to drinks.

  The girls played together for a few minutes, then Hannah whispered to Dee. Dee whispered back. Hannah whispered to Bee and Slip. Slip crawled to me, took my drink from me, and passed it backwards. Hannah took it and gave it to Olivia. And then the four jumped on me. They dragged me, laughing, onto the floor. And then they took my boots off and went to town, tickling me like crazy.

  Olivia and Jessla thought that was terribly funny. Jessla said, “Emmy. Tee. You may do anything Hannah tells you to do.”

  Hannah heard and immediately ordered them to help hold me down. I developed a case of the hiccoughs, and Hannah immediately told everyone to stop. Then she gathered me in her arms and held me but looked over at Jessla.

  “Judge Jessla,” she said. “You probably would get mad if we tickled you.”

  “There is no probably about it.”

  “But maybe you’ll let us do other things.”

  “I find that unlikely.”

  “Oh, Jessla,” I said. “Be a little daring. If they annoy you, I’ll give myself to you for a week.”

  “Two.”

  “I can’t afford two. But if they annoy you terribly, it can be two one-week periods, but only if it’s terrible.”

  “Excellent.”

  “Hannah, go for it,” I told her.

  “Collect the judge,” Hannah ordered. “And bring her here.” She helped me up. I returned to my chair. By the time I was seated, the judge was nestled in their arms, and they were stroking her. A minute later, she closed her eyes.

  They didn’t seduce her, but they pampered her for a half hour. And who could hate that? Eventually she added Olivia to the mix, and I didn’t resist when they pulled me in.

  Finally Olivia said, “That’s enough, girls. Claary.”

  “Hannah, order them to put us back in our chairs, gently.” She did. They did. Then I said, “Order them to do something sweet, but nothing that distracts us from talking. You will see to the judge.”

  “Everyone pick a foot,” Hannah said. “Remove boots or shoes and massage the foot.” She crawled to the judge. I got Bee and Emmy. I closed my eyes and let them do what they wanted.

  “What’s going on?” Jessla finally asked. Olivia told her. Jessla began laughing half way through. “This is a sales presentation?” Olivia finished.

  “Jessla,” I added. “If you really don’t think she’s worth two twice her age, we can discuss another arrangement. Maybe you don’t want her at all. But she’s kind. She’s smart. She works hard.”

  “You should be setting up for your future,” Jessla said.

  “I should give a good life to someone who has served my family for thirty years.”

  “Let me have her for a few days. I’ll let you know.”

  “Hannah, do you want to go home with Judge Jessla?”

  “Yes, Claary.”

  * * * *

  Jessla showed up at the inn two days later. She had two women with her. Both were Charthan, and she hadn’t had them when last I’d belonged to her. The younger was upper 30s. The older was 55. She had paperwork.

  “Did you ask them?” I asked.

  “I did, actually,” she said. “I gave the choice to four. Two asked to remain with me for the rest of their days. These two offered.”

  “Thank you, Jessla.” We signed papers. I didn’t need help reclaiming them. I put them to work on the main part of the inn for a while, watching them, then after dinner I brought them to Hessey’s room. I told her, “Come with me.” I led the three of them to Mother’s room. “This is now your room.” I stepped over to Hessey and changed her colors, giving her streaks of red. Hessey stared, I thought unsure what I was doing.

  “The three of you will give each other pleasure as you like, but you will share evenly. And you will share this bed, but if sleep is difficult, we’ll adjust. At night, as long as you do not disturb others, you may play however you mutually agree, but you must be in bed and asleep by Hessey’s normal time, as she works early.”

  I didn’t make them share pleasure. It was their choice.

  They shared, and they each told me they couldn’t have been happier.

  Seduction

  In the end, I acquired every inn, restaurant, or tavern that was in operation the day the Ressalines came. I own half of some, and I need to deliver on expectations to own more.

  There were two I gave back as soon as I saw them. They were in such ill repair, and I didn’t want them. Olivia had them inspected herself and then had them torn down to the ground and the land cleaned. They are each a small park now.

  Gigi took ownership of the Fairstreet Club. I helped. At the time, the club was owned by two cousins, their mothers having been enslaved a year previously, and the other owners being enslaved without proper heirs. Both cousins went into the monthly event together. Gigi got one. I tried to get the other, but someone else beat me to it. Instead, I took the owner of an import company and then begged Olivia to let me have it.

  Three days after we claimed them each permanently, Mellta came to me. “You’ve annoyed Bernadette. She wanted your slave.”

  “She can have her.”

  “Oh?”

  “I want the one you took.”

  She laughed. “Do you?”

  “I bet Bernadette just happens to have one you want.”

  “She has two.”

  “I don't want to stay on Bernadette’s bad side, so I’m not letting you arrange this behind my back.”

  “You did this on purpose.”

  “Did you know that Gigi and I wanted those two?”

  “I thought perhaps that was the case.”

  “So don’t blame me,” I said. “You play this game better than we do, but I thought we were friends.”

  She paused, then smiled. “Let’s talk to Bernadette.” We brought my slave with me.

  I’m fairly certain I got played, but I didn’t care. Bernadette agreed to trade one for the one I had. Mellta wanted two. Mellta was being unreasonable.

  “If I’m giving up two, I deserve two,” Bernadette said.

  “I tell you what,” I said. “Gigi and I can do this without your slave, Mellta. Bernadette, I wanted to stay on your good side. We’re friends. But Lady Olivia will let Gigi have the club. She’s worked there for years. No other citizen can say that. She doesn’t care who owns it as long as it’s run properly. And I don’t think either of you want to do it.”

  I stood up and began to walk out, calling to my slave. But Mellta moved into my path. “I’ll agree to one.”

  “Well then,” I said. “Excellent.”

  “If.”

  “Ah, here it is. What is it you really want?”

  “What I really want is two. I’ll take one, and you belong to me for a month.”

  “Ridiculous. I don’t need your slave. You heard me. Yes, I want her as a present to Gigi, but I don’t need her for Gigi to get what she wants.”

  “We all want to make a deal that works.”

  “I have a slave Bernadette wants. You have a slave I want. Bernadette has two you want. It seems to me that you should negotiate with Bernadette, not me. How about I trade my slave to you, and then the deal becomes much easier for both of you. Find out what else she wants and give it to her for the second one.”

  “She knows what I want,” Bernadette said. I turned to look at
her. “I want you for four weeks.”

  “And I want you for four weeks,” Mellta said.

  “So now you’re suggesting I give up eight weeks plus my slave.”

  “I’ll throw in a second slave,” Mellta said. “Mine is from Ressaline. She is the eldest daughter of a Ressaline tavern owner.”

  “Why can’t we make this a separate arrangement?” I asked.

  “Because right now, we have leverage,” Bernadette pointed out.

  “You could be the only Charthan to own a Ressaline woman.”

  “I don’t want the attention that’s going to bring me. There are some of you who think we should all be enslaved. The idea that I own a Ressaline woman is going to incense some of you, and the queen might be one of them. No, thank you.” I tried to step around Mellta, but she stepped sideways, blocking me. I raised an eyebrow.

  “Two weeks each.”

  “I don’t want your slave. If you give her to me, I’ll be looking for the first chance to get rid of her.”

  “Oh, I get it. I dropped that part of the offer.”

  “I have one slave Bernadette wants, and she wants her more than I want the one you have. Negotiate with her. We can all walk away happy.”

  “I need both of her slaves.”

  “Then negotiate with her. Find something else she wants.”

  “She and I spent hours on this, Claary. She wants you for a month.”

  “She wants to punish me for stealing the slave she wanted. And you think you can get another month. Based on what?”

  “Claary,” Bernadette said. “No. It’s not like that. I swear.”

  I studied her then said, “I bet my slave is worth more than the two you’re holding.”

  “She’s not,” Mellta said. “The two are a set. I want them.”

  “If they’re worth this discussion, then a month with me doesn’t cover it, either.”

  “No, but two months does,” Bernadette said. “Mellta has something I want that is a partial payment. If I get the month I want, I’ll do it.”

  “And they’re worth more than your slave,” Mellta said.

  “So if I give Bernadette her month, and then we trade slaves plus whatever this other thing is, everyone is happy.”

  “No.”

  I sighed. “Why not?”

  “Because I want you for a month.”