by Robin Roseau
And so Fodorie offered me a significant handicap and beat me easily. Gibslen offered me a larger handicap, and at first I thought I was doing well before being overwhelmed. Then I had a choice of Nissault or Trellen and chose Nissault, but assured Trellen she’d get another chance.
And then there was a small change, and a not so small change.
* * * *
I’d been given a very large handicap, but I think Pandary did this to herself at least as much as I did it to her. Perhaps she had simply wanted to lose, either for her own reasons or to give me the experience. Perhaps she had felt overwhelmed by the size of the handicap. But shortly after beginning, she’d entirely lost control of our event.
I was red past my waist, and that was at least half my own doing, my own excitement watching Pandary.
But she was red to her neck. I was stroking her while moving the device in and out, slowly, deliciously, and she’d been completely lost to it for a while, gasping often and shuddering a little, but the magic wasn’t quite done capturing her.
“Allium.”
I turned my attention to Nissault. “Is she faking?”
“She’s entirely captured,” Nissault replied. “If you continue like this, it will be over in a few more minutes. You’ll have her, but lightly.”
“Like you did to me the last time.”
“Yes.”
“What if I want her deeper than that?”
“Right now you’re being very sweet. Sweet isn’t what got you here. There’s nothing wrong with sweet, but if you want her deeper, then you need to be more commanding.”
“I can do that,” I said.
Two minutes later, she gave a wordless scream, her hands over mine, and I could feel the magic take the last remaining control over her. She shuddered heavily, then held still, although stiff, before collapsing. I pressed the device heavily, letting her ride it out a little longer, then smiled.
As I said, something small changed.
I watched her. It was while I watched my slave that I heard a voice from outside the guardhouse. “Hello? Hello! Someone? I’m looking for Allium Cuprite. Hello?”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered.
“I’ll see what she wants,” Malstar said. “See to your slave, Allium.” She stepped from the room, and I set my attention back on Pan, as I’d decided to call her.
“What do I do?”
“Say her name,” Nissault said. “She may respond.”
“Pan,” I said. I lowered my lips to her ear. “My slave, do you hear me?”
“Yes,” she whispered. She opened her eyes and smiled.
“Answer honestly, Pan,” I ordered. “Did you let me win?”
“The handicap was more than I expected,” she replied. “And you were… commanding. I like it.”
“That’s a sweet girl.” I patted her cheek.
And that was when Malstar stepped back in. “Allium. I’m sorry.”
I turned to look. “Something bad happened?”
“No. It’s Ms. Lazuli. She has a dispatch for you, and she seems rather urgent about it. She won’t let me see it.”
“Tell her I’ll read it tomorrow.”
“She is rather insistent it is urgent.”
“How urgent?”
“She threatened to force me to arrest her before she’d leave without seeing you.”
“Sweet goddess,” I muttered. “Now?”
“Trellen is with her and will keep her from coming in,” Malstar said. “Allium, we’d rather not have to lay hands on her, but she can’t see this.”
“I know,” I said. “Go buy me time.”
“Until morning?”
“Long enough to get dressed.”
“Right.”
I turned back to my slave. “Pan.”
She smiled. “You’re so pretty.”
“Nissault, help me get her out, please.”
“Perhaps remove something first.”
“Right,” I said. I was gentle about that.
“Leave it there,” Nissault said. “I’ll take care of it.”
“Pan,” I ordered. “Give me your hands.” She was quite obedient, and she let me pull her to her feet. “I don’t want to track resin.”
“She won’t,” Nissault said. “Order her to step out of the tub.”
“Pan,” I said. “Step from the tub.” Nissault intercepted her, and we got my slave seated. Nissault turned to me and guided me through leaving the remaining resin in the tub. She helped me step into a robe. “I should dress.”
“Might I suggest you let your employee believe a partial truth,” she said.
“Oh,” I said simply. “You’re right.” I knelt down in front of Pan. “I need to see what Ms. Lazuli wants. I’ll be back to see to you. Stay with Nissault.”
“Yes, Allium,” she replied. She smiled. “Please hurry.”
I patted her cheek. “You’re more with it than I’ve been.”
“She’s done this more than you have,” Nissault explained. “And you didn’t push her that deeply.”
“Right. I’ll be as fast as I can.”
* * * *
I headed for the door and slipped out. Ressie stood with Malstar and Trellen, but her look of relief was evident when she spied me. She pushed through them and then came to a stop, looking me up and down.
“I’m sorry,” she said, her tone subdued. “There’s a dispatch.”
“It would have waited,” I replied.
“It’s not a standard courier,” she said. “He’s wearing the king’s personal colors.”
“He?”
“Trellen wouldn't let him past the middle of the bridge,” Ressie explained. “And she wasn’t happy letting him on the bridge at all, but I wasn’t going to get in the middle of that.”
“Did he share any news of the capital?”
“He’s amazingly tight-lipped,” Ressie replied. “I’m sorry, Ms. Cuprite.” I held out my hand. She looked at it and said, “He wouldn’t give it to me.”
“You’re kidding.” I sighed. “You’re not kidding. And no clue what it is?”
“I’m sorry,” she said for the third time.
“It’s not your fault.”
“He seems rather impatient. He refused to wait until morning. When he heard you were probably over here, he tried to come himself.”
I turned to Trellen and Malstar. “What would you have done?”
“Given him one chance to retreat and then arrested him.”
I sighed again. “Fine. Just.” I shook my head. “Fine. I’m half a mind to meet him like this.” I gestured to my clothes.
“Tell me you’re kidding,” Trellen muttered.
I made a small growl. “Give me five minutes. Wait out here.”
“What’s going on in there that’s so secret?”
“We’re conducting dark rituals. They were about to sacrifice my maidenhood to the Ressaline goddess of hedonism.”
Trellen snorted, and Malstar said, “You did that months ago.”
“Give me a few minutes, Ms. Lazuli. Do you believe the courier is going to do something foolish?”
“Not immediately, but I wouldn’t make him wait.”
“Right.” I sighed and headed back inside.
I found Nissault at the door. Malstar followed me inside, although I heard Ressie and Trellen talking in subdued tones. I knew Trellen could handle Ressie. “What do I do?”
“Change clothes and see what the courier wants,” Nissault said. “Pan will be waiting for you.”
I stepped past them to my waiting clothing. “Can one of you stay with her and the other come with me?”
“Of course.”
I dressed quickly. I didn’t bother checking my appearance in a mirror, although Nissault stepped to me and brushed her fingers through my hair for a moment. I sat, and then Pan was there with my boots. I smiled as she helped me into them. Once she was done, she laid her head in my lap. I set my hand on her back, looking down at her.<
br />
“I don’t know what this is about,” I said. “I’ll hurry back.” I looked at Nissault. “Will she be all right?”
“She’ll be fine,” Nissault said. “Malstar will stay with her. I’m going with you.”
“All right.” I bent down and kissed Pan’s head. “Be a good girl, my darling.”
She wrapped arms around me, but she didn’t fight as I pulled away. Then Malstar was there, seeing to my slave.
* * * *
Outside, Ms. Lazuli’s tension was obvious. She and Trellen both turned, and I strode forth quite purposefully. “Trellen,” said Nissault. “You are on duty.”
“Yes, Corporal,” Trellen said immediately.
“Ms. Cuprite, I would prefer if you remained three steps on our side of the border.
I turned to her. “Why?”
“Because then it’s our fault if we don’t let the courier take you away before you can… See to lingering responsibilities here.”
“What responsibilities?” Ms. Lazuli asked.
“Responsibilities the king knows about,” I said. “Ms. Lazuli, I require you with me for this. You will flank me here.” I gestured over my right shoulder. “But if our friends return me to Ressaline, you will not interfere.”
“I don’t understand.”
“If that is required, how long a delay will there be, Corporal Nissault?”
“If there is urgent need, it takes little time,” she said. “Although that is somewhat harsh.”
“I understand. Thank you. Let’s go.” I stepped forward.
They were good. Ms. Lazuli flanked me as I’d asked, and she kept her mouth shut besides. The Ressaline soldiers provided an escort, and while I didn’t particularly care for some of the implications, Nissault was right.
We crossed to the halfway point. The courier saw us the moment we stepped onto the bridge, although he maintained what I thought was an indolent pose until we nearly reached him. As we drew closer, I realized it wasn’t disrespect; it was weariness.
“Five more steps,” Corporal Nissault said. I nodded. “Here,” she said, and I came to a stop.
“I am Allium Cuprite,” I said. “What can I do for you?”
The courier looked at the halfway marker before looking up at me. “I have a dispatch for you, Ms. Cuprite.”
“You may give it to Ms. Lazuli, and she may hand it to me.” I gestured, and Ressie stepped forward.
“I am to place it directly into your hands and then wait for you to read it,” said the man. “After I verify your identity.”
“Do you know the contents?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I looked over my shoulder, then past my escort at the guardhouse, still visible in the dwindling light. I turned back. “I presume there is some reason this couldn’t wait until morning.”
“Madam, I have my orders.” He looked pointedly down. “I was threatened with dire consequences if I stepped forward. Please, ma’am, could we retire to our side of the bridge?”
I sighed and stepped forward, coming to a stop right against the border. “What is your name?” I asked in a low tone.
“Misten Garnet, ma’am, Royal Courier.” He lowered his own voice. “Ma’am, I must verify your identity.”
“How do you intend to do that?”
“I have specific questions to ask you, and I would prefer to ask them without prying ears.”
“So mysterious,” I said. “How long is this going to take, Mr. Garnet? I left something cooking.”
“I’m sure someone else can see to it,” he said.
“I require an answer, Mr. Garnet.”
“It will be a while, ma’am.”
“Ten minutes?”
“Longer, ma’am.”
“An hour?”
“Longer.”
“Why can’t you give me a straight answer?”
“Because I have not verified your identity.”
“This particular cooking requires my personal attention to turn off.” I raised my voice. “Corporal, can someone else see to that lingering issue back at the guardhouse?”
“I would strongly prefer you to see to it directly, Ms. Cuprite.”
I sighed and turned away, moving to the railing. I stared at the water for a minute. “Mr. Garnet, are you sure this cannot wait until morning?”
“I’m sorry, ma’am.”
“Can you tell me if there is some sort of national tragedy in Barrish?”
“I’m not sure I know what you mean.”
I turned to him. “Has someone died?”
“Not that I am aware, ma’am.”
“Has a major building collapsed?”
“No, ma’am.”
I shook my head. “If I suggested this is a very inconvenient time, what would you say?”
“I would suggest that I am a Royal Courier.”
“And?”
“Do you understand how many people can dispatch me?”
“No.”
He stepped closer. “Only two people,” he said very quietly. “And one of those two people has never sent any of us this far.”
“Oh,” I said. “You’re not from the Ministry of Transportation.”
“No, ma’am. I am not.”
“The king wants something.”
“I cannot say more until you confirm your identity.”
“You already have, haven’t you?”
“I am somewhat surprised you don’t know as much as I’ve told you,” he replied. “I rather thought everyone did.”
“Clearly not,” I said. “Mr. Garnet, I am about to do something I very much do not want to do. If your dispatch does not require my immediate attention, I am going to be vexed.”
“I’m sorry, ma’am.”
“But you’re not backing down until morning?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Is something terrible going to happen if I return to Ressaline for perhaps ten or fifteen minutes?”
“I’d rather you didn’t. Please, ma’am. If you must see to the cooking, could you do so after I have verified your identity and you have read the dispatch?”
“You just told me this would take some time. I cannot let the cooking burn.”
“Ma’am, you will be free to see to the cooking shortly.”
“Fine.” I raised my voice again. “Corporal, I will return forthwith.”
“Ms. Cuprite,” she said.
“On my word,” I added. “Ms. Lazuli, please remain here.”
“Yes, Ms. Cuprite.”
I gestured with my head. Part of the reason I liked my job is that I normally avoided this level of drama. But I stepped across the border. Mr. Garnet stepped in beside me. We traveled perhaps thirty steps before I turned to him. “Is this isolated enough?”
“Yes, ma’am. Ma’am, last autumn, the king showed you a list with several names on it. Do you know what I am talking about?”
“I do.”
“How many names were on that list, ma’am?”
I considered. “How do I know you are who you say you are?”
“No one would dare impersonate a Royal Courier,” he said. “But I am assured there is nothing terribly secret about the questions I am going to ask you.”
“I could have told others.”
“I have several questions to ask you.”
“Fine. There were three names. Mine was first. The new Minister of Transportation was the third name.”
“Very good, ma’am,” he said. “Who argued most against the first name being raised to Minister.”
“That’s tricky,” I said. “One could say I did. One could suggest the king himself did. He had already made up his mind by the time we met.”
The man nodded. “Who required convincing?”
“The queen.”
“During the same meeting, another position was discussed. Do you recall?”
“I was told I would also not become ambassador to Ressaline,” I said. “A suggestion I found even more ridiculous. Th
ere was a third position discussed.”
“Tell me.”
“The queen’s friend.”
He smiled. “Please do not be offended, Ms. Cuprite.”
“I’m not. Are you satisfied?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said. He unlimbered his satchel, opened it, and withdrew an inner satchel. That he handed to me.
I looked at it. “You are familiar with the contents?” I confirmed. “Should I open this somewhere it will be safer to do so? We’re on a bridge over a river. I would rather not retreat to shore if you can summarize.”
“You are being recalled to Barrish, ma’am. We are to leave tonight. I have a fast coach waiting.”
“You’re not serious.”
“Members of the Royal Courier service do not have a reputation for joking on duty, ma’am.”
“No, I suppose they don’t.” I turned away, holding the satchel to my chest while staring out at the river again. “Tonight.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Am I under arrest of some sort?”
“No, ma’am,” he said. “They don’t send us for something like that, and they don’t send satchels. They send guardsmen.”
I turned back and thrust the satchel. “I must see to my cooking. I will meet you at the Verlies View Inn.” I pointed. “It is there. I will find you in the common room in perhaps forty minutes.”
“No, ma’am. I am to remain with you.”
“Mr. Garnet,” I said. “It would cause a significant problem for me if I do not see to this cooking myself. The cooking cannot come to me, and you cannot pass the halfway point of the bridge.”
“How significant a problem?”
“Frankly, I am not sure, but I believe if I do not see to this cooking, the next time I step foot inside Ressaline, I could be arrested.”
“Very unusual cooking.”
“Very,” I agreed. “I will take responsibility for this, but unless you are about to arrest me, I am unsure you carry the authority to stop me.”
“Please promise you will not delay.”
“I will see to this cooking as efficiently as I may,” I said. “Mr. Garnet, why am I being recalled to Barrish?”
“It’s in the dispatch, ma’am.”
“I think we both agree this would go faster if you just tell me.”
So he did.