by Robin Roseau
"And I think she really wants to ride your horses."
"I think her big sister might enjoy it, too. Do you go to school?"
"Yes," she said. "It's in town."
"What are you learning?"
"Oh, you know. Reading. Writing. Numbers."
"Music?"
"There isn't money for that."
"All right," I said. "I'm going to see Betsa gets riding lessons, but she is going to have to speak properly for them. That's the deal. And if you want riding lessons, you may have them as well."
"Really?"
"Really," I said. "But here's the deal. You'll write me letters and tell me how it's going. If you address them to Yalla at the palace, they'll get to me. I'm sure someone at the school can help you with that part." She nodded. "And here's the second part. If the teachers offer to teach you more than reading, writing, and numbers, you'll do what they ask. Am I clear?"
"Yes, Lady Yalla."
"Good." And I rode over to Juleena.
After that, the grooms saw to the horses. I knelt down and opened my arms, and Betsa moved to me. I took a hug from her, then I led her to Racine.
"Racine, Betsa here has a question for you. I told her she had to ask properly, or you wouldn't be able to teach her."
Betsa looked up at me, and she looked worried.
"You can do it," I told her. "Can't you, for something you really, really want."
She nodded slowly then turned to Racine. "May. I. Learn. Ride?"
Racine looked at me. That wasn't exactly proper, after all. I knelt back down and turned Betsa to me. "That was close," I said. "And a lot better than pointing and saying 'Horsie'. But you can do a little better. Racine, will you teach me to ride?"
And then darned, but, speaking one word at a time, Betsa turned to Racine and repeated my words. At that, I nodded.
"I would love to, Betsa," she said.
"But Betsa." I turned the girl to me again. "You need to learn to speak properly. No more pointing and demanding to get what you want. And there might be chores. You won't just learn to ride. You'll have to learn to take care of the horse, too, and some parts of that aren't as fun as others. But that's what it takes to ride horses, so if you want the good parts, you have to take the bad parts, too. And really, they aren't all that bad, once you learn how. Some of them are really nice, actually."
"What?"
"Well, horses like to be brushed. And I find it soothing, even if it takes time. Things like that."
"Okay," she said. "I brush."
"And anything else Racine teaches you to do. Right? That's the deal."
She nodded. "Yes. Yalla."
"Good girl," I said. "All right. Go to Lizzie now." I turned the girl and sent her to her sister. Then I stood, and Juleena was beside me.
"Racine, perhaps we can talk," Juleena said. She threw an arm around my shoulders, and Racine led us away.
* * * *
"What did you think?" Juleena asked. "Could you use a few of the Arrlottan horses?"
"The people who send their children here aren't going to be impressed with them," she said.
"Oh, I think there was a girl or two who might have a different opinion," Juleena replied. "Don't you? How many schools can say they are teaching to ride such an exotic mount, from the queen's own stables, no less, and of the breed favored by Lady Yallameenara?"
"Well, there is that," Racine said slowly. "Are you asking me to buy them?"
"I'm asking if you can put them to work, and how many?"
"You're not asking me to buy them?"
"They remain the queen's," Juleena said. "As do their foals."
"You're trying to offload their care."
"Frankly, yes, I am. But Lady Yallameenara, what did you say earlier today?"
"They're getting fat and need to be ridden," I said. "These are horses bred not for their looks or to sit in a paddock all day, every day. They are sturdy horses accustomed to traveling for hours, day after day."
"I suppose I could take a few," Racine said. "And see how it goes."
"Ten?" Juleena prompted.
"Ten is good," Racine said. "Are you going to give more to another school?"
"We have thirty or thirty and two," Juleena said.
"I'll take all of them," Racine said immediately.
"Changing your tune, Racine?" Juleena asked.
"I presume you're not going to disperse them throughout Framara," Racine said. "I don't want another school competing with me, and one closer to Marport than we are."
I looked back and forth between Juleena and Racine. Juleena had her little smile on, the shitty little smile that she used when she accomplished something.
"You heard what I said?" I asked.
"We'll work them," she said. "What if someone wants to buy some?"
"That's a conversation with the queen," Juleena replied.
"Some parents don't want to use borrowed mounts."
"For most of your kids, these are starter mounts," Juleena said.
"Lady Yallameenara's influence is spreading," Racine said. "I'm starting to get requests for barrel racing." She turned to me. "No one here ever considered such a thing before you got here."
"You did well for something new."
"My course, and it wasn't even close."
I laughed. "That was the closest race I've had in months. You did well."
"Thank you." She turned back to the princess. "Well? Do I get them all?"
"Maybe," said Juleena.
"Maybe? Do you need to speak with the queen?"
"No. You would be getting thirty horses. We picked the gentlest today. Can you handle the more spirited mounts?"
"Of course. Do they fight?"
"No," I said. "Well, not each other. I don't know how some of them would do if you tossed them in with others. I suppose you'll see."
"Were there conditions, Your Highness?"
Juleena smiled and looked at me. "You made promises, Yalla."
I laughed. "Racine, would it stretch your capabilities to teach girls like Betsa and Lizzie? There might be others? They're orphans."
"Oh," she said. "No, we can teach them. Are you sending me others?"
"Possibly," I said. "Their parents were soldiers. I don't know if there are more. I want you to teach them more than riding."
"You want me to take them on."
"If they show promise," I said. "Lizzie and Betsa need to be kept together, and they're attending the school." I paused. "I know they look strange to you, but I was there the day the princess accepted those horses. They were amongst the very, very best the Arrlottan had to trade. The queen is offering them for your use as long as you see to their proper care. This is a good deal for you. A very good deal."
"I suppose it is," she said.
"If there are other girls, you will teach them. We won't send so many as to strain your resources. I don't know how many such girls there may be, and I don't know how many would be difficult for you. I do not wish difficulty."
"If the number grows beyond our ability to absorb, I'm not afraid of hopping a horse and talking to you," she said. "If I can expect to be received."
"You can," said Juleena.
* * * *
We were back on the road shortly after. I was quiet for a while, but finally I asked, "Juleena, did you know about Lizzie and Betsa?"
"What about them?"
"They're orphans. Their parents were in the army, or so Lizzie said."
"Ah. No, I didn't."
"How does that work?"
"How does what work?"
"They're going to school. Someone is paying for it. An aunt? Who?"
"Oh. Probably the queen."
"Herself?"
"Well, no. You know what taxes are."
"Funny. How many such children are there?"
"We haven't had a real war in two generations, only skirmishes."
"Like the ones that led to my coming here."
"Perhaps bigger skirmishes than that, b
ut yes. But without war, the army doesn't lose very many people."
"Something Lizzie said suggested the mother died in childbirth. I didn't ask about the father."
"Ah. I'm sorry, Yalla. I don't have the exact number. This sort of thing doesn't really rise to my level."
"All right. Lizzie said she's learning reading, writing, and numbers. Is that sufficient?"
She was quiet for a while. But finally she said, "I suppose it depends upon what is to become of them."
"In other words, not really."
"Given that Betsa seemed unwilling to even speak, perhaps reading, writing, and numbers was all they could hope for."
"And for Lizzie?"
"I think perhaps Lizzie doesn't let her little sister out of her sight. I think perhaps it's not just Betsa that was hurt when their parents died."
"Oh. She was only six. I suppose you're right." I thought about it further. "I want to help them."
"That is clear."
"And I want to know if there are other such girls. Who should I talk to? Lady Malta?"
"No. She runs the castle, and she's deeply focused on that. Start with Lieutenant Keelara. She won't have the answers, either, but she'll know who does."
"I want to visit the school."
"I wish you'd said that twenty minutes ago."
"Fine. I want to talk to whomever runs the school."
"Ah, that I can arrange without backtracking."
"Will you be there?"
"If you want."
* * * *
The next morning, I presented myself to the guardhouse. It grew quiet when people realized who had entered. "Is Lieutenant Keelara available?" I called out.
There was a clatter from in back, and then Keelara stood and looked at me warily.
"Lieutenant," I said. "Could I have a few minutes of your time? Is there somewhere we could speak?"
She nodded then collected a cloak, and we stepped outside. It was blustery, though, so she led me into the castle, and we found a quiet corner. "What can I do for you, Lady Yallameenara?"
"I have two things," I said. "First, I am sorry my actions proved a difficulty for you. I shouldn't say I didn't consider that the queen might send people looking for me, but I didn't really think of it as causing trouble. You didn't deserve her ire because I wasn't easy to find."
Her eyes widened, and then she nodded. "I did not approach the situation well," she said, and then curtsied to me. "I am deeply sorry for my actions, Lady Yallameenara."
"Please get up, and don't do that again," I said. "I'm still feeling a little raw, but I'm happy to blame the situation and not the people. How about you?"
"I think I could do that," she said with the ghost of a smile.
"Good. The second thing."
I told her about our outing, and the two girls. She let me finish, and then she said, "I knew about the outing. I asked for a report when you returned. I admit: I don't know anything about these two girls."
"I don't know whom to ask," I said. "The princess suggested I begin with you."
"I'll look into it, Lady Yallameenara."
"No," I said. "You're a busy woman. I'm not. If you can just tell me where to go next."
"I don't know, not exactly. I know whom to talk to, but it will be easier for me to have a chat than to have you running back and forth after this lead or that lead."
"I didn't come to give you work, Lieutenant."
"Let me ask you something. If Princess Juleena came to me with this same question, do you think I'd give her a name or two and let her walk away."
"I'm not the princess."
"Leave this to me, Lady Yallameenara. I'll have your answers in a few days."
"Lieutenant, if everyone does everything for me, how am I going to learn anything?"
"If you want to learn something, go apprentice yourself to Lady Malta. Lord knows she could use the help."
"Why can't I apprentice myself to you, at least for this?"
"Ah. I'm sorry, Lady Yallameenara, but you can't."
"Why not?"
"For the same reasons I can't teach you how to fight."
I stared for a moment. "Oh. Oh. Lieutenant, I'm sorry. I didn't see it that way." I was embarrassed.
"This is not hard for me, Lady Yallameenara. Leave this to me. It's a big part of the reason I'm here."
"All right. Thank you, Lieutenant."
* * * *
Everything came together ten days after that, all at once. Over breakfast, Juleena told me, "We have appointments today at mid-morning. Wear whatever Mellara picks for you."
"Yes, Your Highness."
I found things to do for an hour, and then, dressed in one of my more casual dresses, Juleena collected me. She led me through the castle to the queen's court, which surprised me. "What's going on?"
"Simple meeting," she said. "This is an easy place to meet, and it was available."
Waiting inside we found Keelara along with a man of about fifty years, dressed in a military uniform, and a matronly-looking woman of a similar age. Keelara introduced me to Colonel Geist. Juleena already knew him. And the woman was Madam Harper.
"I can imagine what the Colonel does," I said, "But I cannot guess what you do, Madam Harper."
"Call me Wetta," she asked. "I am the headmistress at Rotaren Boarding School."
"Oh," I said. I began to smile.
"We're waiting for one more person," Juleena said, "so we can make small talk."
It was perhaps two minutes later before the back doors opened, and Ralalta stepped in. I should have expected it, but I didn't. We dropped to curtsies, and Ralalta said, "Knock it off. This isn't a formal setting. Grab seats. Keelara and Yalla, bring a table over."
Soon we all collected around a table set up in front of the dais. "Everyone has met, yes?" Ralalta asked.
"Yes," Juleena said. "But we didn't start."
"Well, Yalla. You called this meeting, so you may conduct it," said the queen.
"Me?" I squeaked.
"You," she said. "For meetings like this, we do not stand on formality. That means we aren't bound by titles. I am Ralalta."
I nodded. "All right. Does everyone know why we're here?"
"No," Juleena said. "Start from the beginning, but perhaps you won't need to offer details unless asked."
"All right. About two weeks ago, Juleena and I brought a small team of horses to a riding stable near your school, Wetta."
"Ah, yes," she said. "I heard."
"While we were there, we met a variety of students, including a pair of sisters named Lizzie and Betsa."
"Ah."
"Colonel," I said. "Lizzie is the elder. While speaking with her, it came out that both her parents were soldiers. I believe the mother died in childbirth to Betsa, but I am not sure. She said they were orphans. Do you know anything about them?"
"I do," he said. "Yes, Captain Leemara died giving birth to her second daughter. Her husband, Sergeant Yendis, died tragically during a bandit raid only six months previously."
"Please tell me the bandits weren't Arrlottans, Colonel."
"No, no. This was in the far northeast, but nowhere near Garneer."
"Thank you, Colonel. As I understand it, the queen is paying for these girls to attend school."
"The crown," Ralalta said. "It isn't me personally. Do you see the difference?"
"It comes from a budget assigned to the families of soldiers killed in the line of duty," added the colonel.
"There is a similar budget for guardsmen," Keelara added. "I checked."
I nodded. "I see. Colonel, do you know offhand how many children there are similar to Lizzie and Betsa?"
"Soldiers get killed," said the Colonel. Then he nodded to Keelara. "As do guardsmen. Usually there is the spouse, or after the spouse, family. Aunts, uncles, grandparents."
"I understand," I said.
"The fund helps all of them," he said.
"How many children, Colonel? Do you know?"
"Not m
any. Six hundred ten and three. It has been dwindling."
Six hundred was 'not many'. Six hundred was more children than all the people living on The Hippa.
"Children are dying?"
"Children are turning ten and eight," he said. "They are then adults and receive one final payment to help them get started."
"Oh, I see," I said. "Thank you for explaining. Lizzie and Betsa have no other family?"
"No," said Madam Harper.
"Then you are their foster mother?"
"I am their guardian," she said.
No foster mother. No one to tuck them in at night and to sing them to sleep. I nodded.
"Colonel, do you know how many of your six hundred children have no family at all?"
"No. It is a small number. I'm sorry. I should have anticipated that question."
"You and I have a different definition of small numbers. Ten. A hundred?"
"Oh, not a hundred. Something well less than that, but probably more than ten others."
"Are they also your charges, Wetta?"
"No. Only Lizzie and Betsa, but we have four other orphans. But not the children of soldiers. You met two of them."
"Oh. I didn't know. Who is paying for them?"
"The crown," she said. "Two of the four have other family, but conditions there were not good, so the children were sent to me."
"Does anyone know how many orphans there are in this country?"
"Far too many," the queen said. "But most have other family."
"How many is the crown supporting?"
"Counting Larden's six hundred and Keelara's twenty," Ralalta said, "Not many."
"I am fairly sure you and I have a different understanding of that phrase, too."
She smiled for a moment. "Nine hundred. And what Larden hasn't told you is that the amount is different when a child has no other family at all. Most orphans are taken into the homes of family, and the crown does not help. We make arrangements for children that have no such options, and we provide some assistance for the children of soldiers killed in duty."
"But not soldiers killed in other ways?"
"It becomes a judgment call."
"Whose judgment?"
"Mine," said the colonel.
"All right. I start to understand. For girls like Lizzie and Betsa, how much support do they receive?"
"A warm bed," said Wetta. "Meals, clothing, and their basic needs, and an education."