by Robin Roseau
I wasn’t a stupid woman. I understood. I understood less Talmonese than I would have liked, but more than anyone realized. And I understood other things.
I stepped closer to Chaladine. I had seen her looks earlier, and she’d been offering tiny kisses my entire visit. I had seen her looks. And I saw the way she looked at me now. I stepped closer still, looking into her eyes.
“It is my last night here,” I told her.
“Yes.”
“In two weeks, you will give me to another woman.”
“Yes.”
“You have belonged to another woman yourself.”
“Yes.”
“You do not belong to her now.”
“No.”
“There are other women you wished were yours, or you were hers.”
She turned away a moment. “Some things aren’t to be.”
“You are here, and you belong to no one. I am here, and for now, I belong to no one.”
She turned back. “Maddalyn.”
“Please kiss me, Chaladine, a real, proper kiss. And please do more. It is one night. We both know it is one night. Tonight, we may be lovers. Tomorrow we are again friends. I want one night. It is the only one we may have. Do you want one night, knowing it is the only one we may have?”
“Yes,” she said. “Maddalyn.”
“One night,” I whispered. I moved into her arms, and my lips found hers.
We kissed. We kissed and we touched. We were dressed for bed, but then we were both undressed for bed. She took me, drawing me after her, and I went willingly.
Berdine had taught me; she had taught me quite well. And I had lovers since. And so I knew how to please a woman. And Chaladine enjoyed the things I knew.
I pressed her backwards, firmly to the bed, and then I began to stroke her body. She writhed to my touches, to my kisses. Her body told me what she liked, and she was deeply responsive to everything I did.
I climbed atop her, my hand between us, and I captured her eyes as my fingers found her. I slipped into her, and she bucked and moaned.
I lifted her passions, and as I did, I spoke to her, softly. “You are an amazing woman,” I said. “Strong. Soft. Sweet, Loving. Kind.” I went on and on.
She drew close, and then, as she began to shudder, I told her, “I love you, Chaladine. I love you, my friend. I love you, my lover.” I smiled and said, “I love you, Vendart’s Daughter.”
She shuddered and whispered my name. I felt her wring herself out, and then slowly I lay down beside her as she panted, lost to what we had done together. I lay beside her, cuddled against her, happy for now. In the back of my mind, I knew I was losing her, but I knew she would give me a great gift before she left, and I would be happy. She would see to it.
Finally she turned to look at me. She tried to speak, but I stretched forward and kissed her instead. I intended to soothe her, let her bask, and then we would sleep like this, neither of us dressed. I wondered if I would wake and find my fingers back inside her.
Or maybe she would wake, and decide to play with me.
But, apparently, she was impatient, my Chaladine. She rolled on top of me, smiling. “You know a thing or two,” she said, then she kissed me.
My body, already heightened, responded. My emotions, well, they were wild. I had pulled them under control, but they loosened themselves, and it took moments before they burst free, overwhelming my mind.
Like I had, she spoke. She called me her Galatzi prisoner, and I found my arms rising, almost of their own accord, to rest with my hands at the back of my neck. They would stay there until later. No rope was necessary.
She did things to me, some of them the same as I had done to her, some different. She called me her good Talmon girl, and my heart swelled at those words, just like they always did.
I had enjoyed my time with the women of Tarriton, but I had not been in love. I had been in love with Berdine, but I do not believe she ever loved me.
But I knew Chaladine loved me, every bit as much as I loved her.
And so for the first time in my love, I didn’t have sex. I made love.
I called out her name at the end, shuddering and crying.
* * * *
We spent the night in each other’s arms. I couldn’t have been happier. Well, that’s not true. I could have been happier if I were to be hers forever, but I was hers for a while, and that would be enough.
We woke together. Neither of us spoke, but we looked at each other. I’m not sure which of us began touching first. But this time we touched together. We kissed and licked together. And we came to pleasure together, I thought me just ahead of her, but it was together, which was rare and so special when it worked.
Afterwards, each of us facing in opposite directions, with me hugging her legs, she began laughing.
“What is so funny?”
“I am thinking of tickling your feet.”
“I will win,” I said. “And that is not why you are laughing.”
She turned around, crawling up my body, and we faced each other. “I’ve thought about a night like this with you.”
“I know you have,” I said with a smile.
“And you’ve thought about it with me.”
“Ja,” I admitted.
She smiled. “I wanted to belong to Cecilia.”
“I guessed,” I said. “You planned all this. Tied me.” I smiled. “Did you know how you felt?”
“Yes. Oh, Maddalyn,” she said. She rolled onto her back. “I’d keep you forever if I could.”
“I would let you, if you could.”
“We both want the same thing.”
“Yes,” I agreed. “But you like Chaladine say; Maddalyn do.”
She laughed. “True.” She turned her head. “But you understand.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll give you to a very good woman, Maddalyn.”
“I know.” I leaned forward and kissed her. “Once we climb from bed, we are friends.”
“I know. I don’t see you getting up.”
I laughed. “Neither are you.” Then we both lay back, staring at the ceiling. “Chaladine.”
“I do love you, Maddalyn.”
“And I love you.” I turned my head to look at her. She was already watching me. “Thank you. I was so unhappy.”
“I know. No longer. I’m here for a while, maybe a long time.”
“Why?”
“Cecilia needs to find the right trade for me. That is much harder than finding one for you.”
“I suppose.” I thought about it. “I wouldn’t even know where to begin. I’m glad it’s her responsibility.”
“I trust her.”
I nodded. “And I trust you.”
She tapped my nose with a finger. “I’ll be here for a while. I’ll make sure you are treated well, by everyone. Not just your new wife. Do you understand?”
“Yell at Blaine?”
She laughed. “If I have to. No more bad names.”
“Thank you.”
She grinned. “And once we take you, you will be Maddalyn of Sudden. Do you know what that means?”
“Not sure.”
“Means you say Vendart to my father.” My eyes grew wide. “It means one day you say Vendart to me, a very, very long time from now.”
“Chaladine say; Maddalyn do.”
“That’s right,” she said. “That isn’t changing.”
“Good.”
We lay together, grinning. Then she sighed. “We should get up.”
“I want to say one more thing.”
“Then we get up,” she said.
“Yes, Chaladine. You my first.”
“Your first what?” she asked.
“I have…” I paused. I didn’t have the Talmonese words. “I share bed other women. You know.”
“That woman who hurt you.”
“Her. Some on Tarriton.”
“So I wasn’t your first.”
“You were this way. Was Luradinine the
first woman you loved?”
“No. I thought I loved someone long ago. It was infatuation. I love Cecilia.”
“But you never share bed.”
“No.”
“Luradinine not first bed.”
“No,” she said.
“But first bed with someone you love, who loves you.”
“Yes,” she said. “And you are my second.”
“And you are my first. I loved Berdine, but she didn’t love me. Doesn’t count. Not in love in Tarriton. Doesn’t count.” I reached out and clasped her hand. “You first.”
“And then I will give you to your second,” she said.
“In five minutes, we are friends,” I said. “But you are my future Vendart’s Daughter, and I belong to you until you give me away.”
She laughed. “I think I like that plan.”
“Good. Kiss me one more time.”
She did.
Part Three
The Age of Kalorain
Taken
The restaurant grew still. I didn’t notice immediately, but then Chaladine sat down in the chair opposite mine. She was dressed in dark clothing, and she wore a white sash over one shoulder and around the opposite hip. I knew what it was immediately.
“I told you a story,” she said. “The night in Beacon Hill.”
“The night Luradinine took you.”
“Yes,” she said. “You have a choice, Maddalyn.”
“I gave you that choice.”
“Ah. That’s not the choice I offer. You have a choice. You can run, and we’ll chase you. We will find you, too. We will catch you. We will tie you.”
“Or?”
“Or you can walk outside with me.”
“And you will tie me.”
“Yes. And we will tie you.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I think you do,” she said.
“I don’t understand why choice.”
“Ah. Understand. Galatzi raids are planned.” I nodded. “Much planning. Much fun. Everyone gets excited.”
“And?”
“We talked about you for hours and hours,” she said. “Maddalyn, if you run, it is one game. If you come with me, it is a different game.”
“You made big plans. If I don’t run, your plans are wasted.”
“Maddalyn, this is the start of your new life. The plans are in case you run. We didn’t know. You could run the moment I sat down.”
“When I saw this.” I reached over and fingered the sash.
“Yes.”
I leaned closer. “What do you want me to do?”
“I want you to be happy.”
“Chaladine. Please tell.”
She shook her head. “This is your choice.”
I leaned closer, as close as I could. “I don’t want to run, but I think that is what everyone else wants.”
She smiled and caressed my cheek. “Maddalyn Herschel,” she said firmly. “I am Chaladine, Sudden Vendart’s Daughter. This is our Galatzi raid, and you are our target. Come with me.”
I looked up at her. “I haven’t paid my bill.”
A woman ran over. I realized then absolutely everyone was watching. I recognized the owner. “Maddalyn,” she said. “Congratulations. Go. Go. This is our small gift. Go.” I stood slowly. “Go,” she said.
I eyed Chaladine. I glanced at the door. I looked to the back. I knew there was a door there. I laughed. “Door guarded.”
“Maybe it is,” she said. “Maybe we would chase you for an hour. Maybe we would push you into our trap.”
“Trap?”
“To catch you.”
I didn’t quite understand, but I understood enough. I smiled then turned for the front door. Chaladine stepped past me and opened the door for us. Then I followed her from the restaurant as behind me, everyone began applauding.
There was a crowd on the street, most of them watching. It seemed like half of Sudden was there. But there was a big, open circle on the street, with more women dressed as Chaladine was waiting on the far side of the circle. Chaladine came to a stop then turned a slow circle, her arms out, gesturing at the people watching. So I stopped, too, three meters from her, and I did my own circle.
I saw Blessine, and then with her, Tressain and Masalarn. Masalarn blew me a kiss.
And then in another spot, I saw Cecilia. Sartine and several from the embassy were there. When I looked at her, she stepped forward, but gestured the others to remain where they were. She stepped to me and pulled me into a hug.
“Are you sure?” she asked in German.
“Ja.”
“There are different traditions,” she said. “You could run.”
“I wouldn’t get far.”
“You could fight.”
“I am a lover, not a fighter.”
“You are trained.”
I thought about it. “You fought, the first time. Did you fight the second?”
“No. You could ask your vendart to fight with you.”
“Is that what you want?”
“Tonight is about you, Maddalyn.” She laughed. “If you fight, she will hold you more strongly. If you do not fight, you are telling her you will obey and not fight at all.”
“She won’t tie me?”
“Oh, she’ll definitely tie you.”
“I don’t want to fight, Cecilia. Do I have to?”
“No, Maddalyn.” She kissed my cheek and then stepped backwards, watching me, but glancing back once or twice until she backed into Sartine’s arms. Indartha Vendart wrapped arms around her own Galatzi wife, and I turned to Chaladine.
I walked to her and looked her in the eye. She smiled then stepped aside, gesturing. I stepped past her. Chaladine followed behind me as I walked to the waiting women.
There were eight in all. I walked to them, and four grabbed me, too per arm. They turned me around, Chaladine turning with me to remain behind me. I thought she would begin to tie the harness, but instead she spoke to me. She spoke soothingly, like she did the first time she had tied me this way.
But she did not tie me. Another did, someone hooded. I couldn’t see her face, not enough; it was shaded by the hood. But she spoke, and my arms were lifted, my wrists crossed. The woman worked slowly and carefully, tying my wrists while Chaladine soothed me.
I understood only some of her words. She was telling me I would be loved. She was telling me I was now a citizen of Talmon and a resident of Sudden.
I began crying. The woman tying my wrists faltered, but Chaladine spoke softly, and after a moment, she continued.
I looked over my shoulder at my dearest friend. “My friend,” I whispered.
“Real Talmon girl now,” she said. “Real girl of Sudden.”
I nodded.
The woman finished with my wrists. She asked for more rope and began tying the harness, working carefully. She tied it snugly and neatly. And then the four on my arms bent them, forcing me to reach over my head, and my hands were secured.
I didn’t stop crying.
I wished my mama was here. I wished Aunt Anna was here. But Cecilia was here, watching intently.
The woman tied my legs, using three separate pieces of rope. Then they added the red cloak.
Then there was a gag. I stared at that. “Open,” said the woman.
“Wait.”
“Open!”
“Wait. Please.” I looked around, a little wildly. I couldn’t identify Chaladine. There were eight women here, but they all wore the same clothes, and she had pulled her hood back.
But then one stepped forward again, pushing her hood back. She spoke then stepped closer. “Maddalyn.”
“Who you give?” I asked. That as the best I could do, my words almost nearly gone. That I could even say those was something, and I almost babbled in German. “Who?”
The woman who had tied me pushed back her own hood. “I am Kalorain,” she said. “Second daughter of Beacon Hill Vendart and now daughter of Sudden Vendart by my own Galatzi tra
de. I will take very good care of you, my Galatzi prisoner, but you will obey me!” She held the gag up. “Open.”
“Luradinine’s daughter?” I began crying harder.
“I told you I would make a good match,” Chaladine whispered.
Slowly, I opened my mouth.
Kalorain filled my mouth with the cloth. Another woman stepped behind me and tied it off with a second cloth. Kalorain and Chaladine both pulled their hoods up. And then, all together, the eight women picked me up. I made no struggles and even laughed -- while also crying -- as they loaded me into my own cabriolet.
Kalorain climbed beside me and collected the reins. She swished them, but then she did two tight circles inside the larger circle of people, now all of them cheering. As we made our second circle, I saw the rest of the raiders climb aboard horses and follow along behind us.
Kalorain brought us to a stop directly beside Cecilia. She pushed her hood back again and my own. The crowd stilled, and Kalorain raised her voice.
“I am Kalorain of Sudden!” she said. “I have claimed this woman in our Galatzi trade.” She reached over and caressed my cheek. “She is mine from this moment forth.”
The crowd cheered. Cecilia and the others remained still, but Cecilia and Sartine were both smiling.
“As is my duty,” Kalorain continued, “I will care for Maddalyn and see to her needs. This is my joyous duty.” That was another cheer. “But this woman is unique, now a woman of Talmon, a woman of Sudden, but she remains a Star Woman as well. I will teach her. I will teach her our words. I will teach her our ways.”
Then she turned me further towards her and kissed my cheek. “I will hold her, and love her,” she said, looking into my eyes.
Then she shifted her gaze, and from that moment, she spoke partly to Cecilia and partly to me. “Maddalyn will obey me.”
“Yes,” I said, a gagged whisper and a nod.
“And Maddalyn will give children to Sudden.” That was a cheer, and any response I might have made was drowned out. “But this woman is unique, and for the good of all of Talmon, she has duties to Cecilia Grace, Imperial Governor of Talmon. And so we will share her, you and I, embassy and Sudden, Empire and Talmon. We will share this woman.”