by Robin Roseau
I was happy for my friend. I was very happy for my friend, but I knew the writing was on the wall. Or I thought I knew. Governor Grace was rejecting me as her assistant, and I knew what that meant.
We reached the airfield. The governor’s jumper was there, parked in the morning sun. I parked beside it and was the first one out. I opened the storage compartment and had the backpack out about the same time Cecilia opened the compartment on the jumper. So it was a short walk to move it from one vehicle to the other.
At that, Chaladine thanked me with a hug and a kiss, and I could feel her excitement. Cecilia was climbing into the jumper, so I led Chaladine to the passenger side and then reached in to do her buckles for her. She laughed. “I can do it.”
“I want,” I said.
I finished, then I straightened and said in careful, and perhaps a little cold German, “I have succeeded in my job.”
“Hmm?” Cecilia looked up to me.
“I finished two decades early,” I said. “You have learned to delegate, just not to me. Aunt Anna will be pleased.” But I looked at her coldly.
Cecilia returned my look, and her expression carried confusion, not anger. Then she looked at Chaladine. And then she said a word I hadn’t heard from any lips except my own in nearly three years.
“Scheisse!”
“Scheisse, indeed,” I said. “Thank you for telling me you had given my job away. I am sorry I didn’t learn my duties sufficiently well. I have tried.”
Then I turned to Chaladine. I kissed her cheek. “I love you,” I said in German. I let my tone speak for itself.
Then, with as much dignity as I could muster, I turned my back and walked to the ground vehicle, entirely unsure what I was going to do for the next four months while I waited for the shuttle to return, and Governor Grace could send me away. I was inside and had powered the systems by the time Cecilia stepped in front of the vehicle, setting her hands on the front. I stared at her, and she slowly walked around to my side. I hadn’t closed the roof, so she was able to talk directly to me. “Get out.”
I thought about a caustic response, but I shut the systems back down and slowly climbed from the vehicle. Cecilia grabbed my arm and pulled me to the side, well away from the two vehicles and Chaladine. She turned me to face her.
“I understand,” I said. “Everything you said the day I arrived was right. I am sorry to have been such trouble for you.”
“No, Maddalyn,” she said. “You do not understand. All right. You’re right. Nearly everything I said was right. But everything you said was right, too.”
“Except you don’t need me. You need someone who knows the planet. And that is almost anyone on the planet except me. I understand, Governor Grace.”
“Well, you half understand. You’re right. First, your aunt yelled at me.”
I dropped my eyes. “I’m sorry.”
“I deserved it.”
I froze, then slowly looked up.
“I try to do everything myself. It’s too big a job for one person. Well, Anna White yelled at me.”
“And you found someone you could count on.”
“Stop it,” she said. “Chaladine is the future vendart of Sudden, the most important town on the entire planet. She needs to learn to speak fluent English. She needs to understand everything I am doing and everything I am trying to do. For now, she needs to be my interface with her father and the other vendarti. She needs to become comfortable not only cautiously using our technology, but using it casually, without thinking, as easily as you or I do.”
“I understand.”
“And you,” she said, poking me in the chest, “were built for Talmon.”
“What?”
“How many of our delegation have taken to wearing Talmonese clothing?”
I thought about it. “Erica sometimes.”
“Sometimes.”
“You.”
“And you,” she said. “I’ve heard that you are telling people that Talmon is your home. You and I are the only ones saying that.”
I started to cry. “You’re not going to make me leave?”
“No, I’m not going to make you leave. Listen to me, Maddalyn. I’m not going to explain why, but this job for Chaladine is temporary. You need to keep learning. That’s your main duty. For now, you are my assistant here. You’re going to be busy. I promise you. And when Chaladine is no longer my assistant, I’m going to be counting on you. I’m sorry, Maddalyn. I was an idiot. I was thinking about everything but you.”
“Chaladine and Luradinine.”
“Yes. And everything else. I should have talked to you last night, once this was settled, but it didn’t even occur to me. I am sorry.”
“You are a busy woman,” I said. “I’m sorry I was rude.”
“You were rightfully upset, and I don’t blame you. Maddalyn, I don’t have one assistant, I have two. For now, one travels with me, and one stays here. I’m figuring things out, but there will be more duties for you.”
“Keep learning.”
“Keep learning.”
I nodded and scrubbed at my face. “Yes, Governor Grace.”
“Good. Now, I could have had this conversation in at least fourteen languages, although with several of those perhaps not until I’d been speaking them for a few days. You are able to have it in one. I need you able to have it in three. Make it so.”
“I will.”
“Do you go into Sudden in the evening?”
“Not often.”
“Begin,” she said. “Find the theaters. You won’t understand much. Hell, I don’t understand much. Go anyway and just let the words flow past you.”
“All right.”
“Keep practicing your riding, and learn to drive a carriage.”
“I’ll need someone to teach me.”
“Do you have a plan to find someone, or do you need me to make a suggestion?”
“I think I’ll go to lunch, maybe tomorrow, and then I’ll announce loudly what I must do and see if anyone offers an idea.”
She laughed. “I was going to suggest Rordano, but I like your plan better. Now give me a hug.”
It was our first hug.
Transportation
I missed Chaladine, but I knew she was helping Governor Grace, and that was more important than if I had a friend.
I began going into Sudden in the evening, once or twice a week. At first, I wasn’t sure what I would do, but then I took my own advice. I went to lunch, and once there, I stood up and asked for suggestions. Then it was the waitress who helped me assemble the suggestions into a usable list.
I never, ever would have done something like that on Frantzland.
I learned to drive a carriage. I learned one could buy horses, and so again I went to lunch, and again I stood up and said, “I wish to buy a horse. I don’t know how or what they cost.”
I received a gentle education, with the laughing waitress helping me assemble it, as everyone in the room had an opinion, and all of them spoke too quickly for me. But it was at the end of the lunch that a woman named Masalarn stepped over and sat down at my table. I smiled at her. “Hello, Masalarn.”
“You met fifteen people and you remember my name?”
“I have trick,” I said. “You remember my name. I should remember yours.”
She smiled. “My sister has horses for sale.”
“And other things?”
“If you want to buy new, I can show you.”
“I want simple and comfortable,” I said. “For horse and me.” I rubbed my bottom, and she laughed. “You tell where sister?” I pushed paper and pen to her. She pushed them back.
“No. I’ll bring you. Did you want to go today?”
“I trouble for you.”
“No, you are not,” she said. She smiled and patted my hand. “This is Talmon.”
I laughed. “Talmon,” I said. “Good people. Yes. Horse expensive?”
“It depends on the horse,” she said. “Do you want a fast h
orse?”
“No!” I said. “Friendly horse. No bite.”
“A sweet, gentle horse.”
“Yes.”
“My sister will have a good horse for you. If not, she will help you find one.”
“She do this?”
“And then she’ll tell everyone Maddalyn bought a horse from her.”
I laughed. “That and five dollars will buy lunch.” I had already paid for my meal, so I finished my tea.
* * * *
Masalarn introduced me to her older sister, Tressain. She, in turn, introduced me to her eldest daughter, Blessine. Masalarn and Tressain spoke rapidly for a minute or two, and then Blessine hurried off. She came back a minute later leading a beautiful, brown horse.
“Oh, it is gorgeous,” I said.
“You will look very Talmon atop her back,” said Tressain. “She is sweet and gentle.”
I made to step forward, but glanced at Tressain. She nodded, and we walked up together. Then she slipped me a carrot. “Do you know how to feed her?”
“Yes,” I said. I placed the carrot on my hand and held it out. The horse reached over and nuzzled it off my hand. “She tickles.”
I stepped closer, looking into one eye. “You are a lovely horse,” I told her gently. I looked at Tressain. “I am not a good rider.”
“You would keep her with the others at the embassy?”
“Yes. I don’t know if I will give her enough riding.”
“Let us make sure she is the right horse,” said Tressain. “Do you know how to check her health?”
“No. This is Talmon. You would not sell me a poor horse.”
She nodded, and then she examined the horse herself, speaking the entire time. I didn’t understand most of it, and when she was done, I admitted that. “Still learning.”
“We all are learning,” she replied.
“She is pretty. Is she good horse?”
“If you want a gentle horse, she is my best choice. If you want to ride across the world, I have other horses.”
I shook my head. “Just here to embassy. Maybe to rejuvenation center. You know?”
“South.”
“Ja. Yes. Maybe horse. Maybe ground vehicle.”
“Star carriage.”
“Yes,” I said. “Star carriage. Not often, but sometimes.”
She nodded. “This is a good horse, but this is what we will do. Do you understand?”
“If you speak slowly.”
“Let us see what saddles I have.”
“Yes.”
“And then let’s get you on top. You’ll give her a gentle ride, and we’ll see if she suits you.”
“Understand. Yes. Good plan.”
She spoke to her daughter, and then we turned back to the stable. They had a rack of saddles, none of them new, but all in good repair. “Why different?”
“They are for different uses,” she said. She set her hand on one. “This is a good saddle for you, but not perfect.”
“Why not perfect?”
“The perfect saddle exactly matches both the horse and the rider.”
I thought about that. “Perfect for horse. Perfect for rider.”
“Right.”
“Must make perfect.”
“Right.”
“More expensive.”
“Yes, but all new saddles are more than a used saddle.”
“I will not ride much. This is a good choice?” I set my hand on the saddle.
“If you want a basic saddle, this is a good choice. Perhaps you want something fancy.”
“No. Simple is good.”
“Let’s see you saddle her. I have new blankets here.”
I picked a blanket and saw to the horse, even changing the bridle. Tressain watched the entire time, and I was glad to have her check my work.
“Good,” she said when I was done. She offered me a hand up, and then I sat atop the horse I was already beginning to think of as mine. She surely was a beautiful creature, and I felt myself growing possessive.
“Let me adjust the stirrups,” Tressain said. “They are too long for you.” She saw to it, and it felt much better when she was done. “There.”
“This is better,” I said. I hadn’t even realized I was using stirrups that were too long.
“Take her for a little ride.” She gestured, so I clucked to the horse, and we did a slow walk around the yard. “You can go faster than that.”
“No, I can’t,” I said. All three women laughed, but I didn’t blame them.
I rode the horse for a few minutes then brought her back. “You show faster?”
“Blessine,” said Tressain. She spoke for a moment. I climbed down. Blessine climbed up. And then she trotted my horse around the yard.
My horse. Yes. She would be my horse.
If I could afford her.
“What is her name?”
“Ristassa,” Tressain said.
“Does that mean something?”
“No. Just a name.”
I nodded. “Pretty horse.” I turned to the stable owner. “More questions.”
“Of course.”
“Is a carriage expensive?”
“It depends on the carriage,” she said.
“Can Ristassa pull a carriage?”
“It depends on the carriage,” she repeated. “Do you know what kind of carriage you want?”
“For people,” I said. I looked out to the street and pointed. “Maybe like that.”
“You can find a better carriage,” Masalarn said.
“Okay,” I said slowly. “What is wrong with that carriage?”
“That one is old and in poor repair,” she said.
“Bad carriage?”
“Not bad. But you are star person, Maddalyn.”
“No. I am Talmon girl. Want carriage for a Talmon girl.”
“We would not let you buy a carriage like that one,” Tressain said. “But we could help you find a good carriage that size. Ristassa would pull it for you.”
“I do not want fancy,” I said. “If want fancy, use star carriage.”
They laughed. “A good carriage for a good Talmon girl,” Tressain said. She paused. “Maddalyn, we will teach you words. There are different types of vehicles.”
“Yes.”
“That is a cart.”
“A type of carriage.”
“Yes.” She pointed. “That is a coach.” I followed her gesture and found myself looking at a very large carriage, and I thought it required more than one horse, and maybe more than two.
“Too big.”
“Yes, and no one would say carriage. They would say coach.”
“I understand.”
“A wagon has four wheels and is for carrying heavy loads.”
“Like hay for horses.”
“Yes. What do you want to do with your carriage?”
“For night. I come Sudden in dress, not this.” I gestured. “Dancing. Theater. Maybe have friend.”
“Maybe shopping?” she asked.
“Yes, but not big. Not ask Ristassa pull big.”
“What you want is a cabriolet,” she said. “It is light. You won’t need help. Two people and a little room, or three women if not big and friends.” I smiled at that. “It has a cover.” She gestured with her arms, holding them over her head in a curve, a little like wings or an umbrella.
“No cover.”
“Yes,” she said. “The cover folds backwards.” She dropped her hands behind her so her hands were directly behind her head. “Do you understand?”
I looked around the streets. “I don’t see one.”
“No, but that is what you want. We will help you find one.”
“A simple one,” I said.
“One for a good Talmon girl,” Masalarn said. “In good condition. Or did you want a new one?”
“No. Are horse and cabriolet expensive?”
“That depends on what you think expensive means,” Tressain said. “First price. You understa
nd?”
“Bargain.”
“Right. The first price for Ristassa with the saddle, blanket, and bridle is five hundred dollars.” From watching Chaladine and Luradinine, I knew that meant I should expect to pay between half and two thirds of that price.
So I nodded. “And cabriolet?”
“That depends,” she said. “First price for a used cabriolet in good condition? It will depend on what we find, but more than Ristassa. Perhaps about twice.”
So I nodded again.
“You have other costs,” Tressain said. “You must feed Ristassa.”
“I can feed her with the other horses,” I said.
“New shoes and other care,” Tressain said. “And maintenance on the cabriolet.”
“Maintenance? Not know word.”
“Ah. Pay someone to care for it.”
“Oh. Understand. Fix break.”
“Or fix it before it breaks.”
“Understand.”
“Per year, it will cost about as much to keep Ristassa as to buy her. Well, that is with food, so perhaps half.”
“First price?”
“No. Final price.”
I nodded. “I want. For Ristassa, saddle, blanket, bridle. Two-hundred and fifty dollars.” Then I smiled. “And I poor rider. Want lessons.”
“Oh, ho,” she said with a laugh. “Blessine,” she called out. “Maddalyn wants riding lessons.”
The girl trotted the horse over then jumped down, holding the reins easily. “What did you tell her?”
“We are negotiating,” Tressain said. “She asked for lessons as part of the sale.”
The girl nodded and looked at me. “What type of lessons?”
“Simple lessons,” I said. “And how to use cabriolet.”
“We don’t sell those,” she said.
I turned to her mother. “And you will help me find a good cabriolet.”
She laughed. “That’s my sister,” she said, hooking a thumb.
“I will help you, Maddalyn,” the woman said.
“Thank you. I ask different question. I learning good Talmon girl. Still star girl, too.”
“We understand, Maddalyn.”
“On star worlds, I pay for help.”
“And you will,” she said. “You didn’t ask what my business is.”