by Robin Roseau
“Olivia, I will work with you on anything you want,” I said. “But I will not blindly agree to your schemes if I think they’re a bad idea.”
“You will work with me to improve them,” she said. “If in the end I insist, then we will negotiate only as to how closely you will align yourself with my goals.”
“Fine,” I said.
“And.”
“You keep adding to this deal.”
“This is something you have already said you intend. I only wish clarity.”
I sighed. “Fine. What?”
“You will personally continue to take challenges.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
“You will accept challenge from anyone I recommend.”
“No,” I said. “But I will listen when you present someone.”
She paused. “I may, from time to time, make unexpected recommendations. You have a tendency to dismiss things out of hand. You will promise to keep an open mind, and if we cannot come to a complete agreement, then you’ll agree to give it a little test.”
“Overnight?”
“I was thinking two hours.”
“If I have very good reasons to turn you down, you will accept that ultimately this is my decision.”
“It will always be your decision. I only truly ask you to maintain an open mind and to trust me even when you are unsure.”
“I’ll try, but I can’t promise more than that.”
“That’s fair,” she said. “And you will also encourage your staff and any other visitors from Flarvor to also accept challenges. You do not need to be pushy about it. Gentle encouragement.”
“Only when I actually believe it’s a good idea, and in my own way.”
“But we’re agreed in principle.”
“I believe, yes.”
She smiled. “I want Zee to be returned not to her mother, but to the palace, into the loving care of her cousin’s family.”
“That is hardly my decision.”
“We’re going to ask her, only after she has recovered, if she will help us. If she says ‘no’, we won’t push,” Olivia said. “We are going to ask her to talk about her experiences. We want people in the palace to hear it from her. We want you to help give her that opportunity. You are free to tell the king that’s what we’re doing. Tell me: do you think the royal family should have a better understanding of our ways than they do? Do you really think I’m making an unreasonable request, one that is bad for either of our countries?”
“I don’t know,” I said. “I’d like to think about it, Olivia.”
“Of course,” she said. “Tell me. Do you think the relationship between our countries would be enhanced if the princess were to visit under these terms?”
“I think the people of Flarvor would be quite upset if they discovered their beloved princess was turned into a pleasure slave to a Ressaline woman.”
“That may be true,” she said. “That would be a short-term price with long-term gain.”
“Olivia, I don’t hear you making a reverse offer. You want our future queen to subjugate herself to someone here, but you aren’t making a similar offer. Perhaps you should offer yourself under similar terms.”
“You could win our challenges.”
“Oh, please,” I said.
“The risk exists.”
“You are asking for a sure thing and balancing it against an unlikely event. Furthermore, it would be here, which doesn’t really give anyone in Flarvor the chance to see it.”
“That’s fair,” she said. “Perhaps I should offer a princess for a princess.”
“Excuse me?”
“I could offer Gionna to a Flarvorian citizen of sufficient stature and experience,” she said. She looked at me pointedly. “She is the queen’s daughter, so she carries stature, but she is not guaranteed to be our future queen, so I admit the offer isn’t entirely balanced. To balance it, I could offer her for a longer period, long enough to visit Barrish with her. We could make a friendly cultural visit. I enjoyed my last visit.”
“You’re offering the princess to me. Is that what you’re saying?”
“You would need more experience than you have had,” she said. “It would need to be a proper challenge, but we could apply a significant handicap. She is a half year older than your princess, recently celebrating her 18th birthday. She was raised to this, but you have significant experience as a leader.”
“Does the queen know you’re making this offer?”
“The princess herself made the offer, if it would help relationships between the two countries. She was willing to offer herself to your queen, and we could do that only if your queen acquired experience. We won’t give a slave to someone who hasn’t had that experience. We could do it here, under our supervision, but not for such an extended period and away from home.”
“You’re serious.”
“Yes, Allium, I am. Clearly, this isn’t a whimsical conversation. Tell me what we need to make this happen.”
“You’re crazy, Olivia,” I said.
“How do we improve the odds? Allium, do you think it’s a poor goal?”
“No, but I think it’s an unachievable goal. We’re going to spend effort and reputation and lose in the end.”
“How much would doing so hurt your reputation?”
“What reputation?” I scoffed.
“Allium, tell me you think the overall plan is poor.”
I stared at her then stood up and paced the room for a while. I turned finally. “I want something. It’s entirely personal.”
“You only need ask.”
“Give me to Bee and Dee for a day or two.”
She laughed. “Of course. When?”
“I don’t know. Sometime soon.”
“In between,” she said. “Two days next week. Your staff will either be off your hands by then, or enroute back to Barrish. But the current slaves will not be yours yet.”
“Yes,” I said.
“Would you like it a challenge?”
“Me against the two of them?” She nodded. “Sounds like fun. And I want some short challenges as well, schedules befitting.”
“Absolutely,” she said.
“Thank you. Olivia, do you recognize the difficulty arranging any of this?”
“Of course I do.”
“Perhaps the princesses should meet somewhere that would have less baggage involved.”
She smiled. “Do you think you can arrange for an official invitation? I would actually prefer it to come from Princess Ahlianna than from the king. And I would prefer she be invited into the royal household, so a letter from the queen would be appropriate.”
“You know I’m going to have to tell King Leander about most of this.”
“Of course you will,” she said.
I shook my head. “That’s going to be one hell of a letter.”
“You’re sending him very good news,” she said. “He’s going to feel very receptive. Are you staying for lunch, Allium?”
“I think, Olivia, that I have a very difficult dispatch to write.”
“Gigi is expecting to collect you. I don’t think you should put that off.”
“You’re right.”
She stood up and came around the table. We looked at each other. “We’re not screaming at each other.”
“No, we’re not.”
“Our dance, two nights hence, and dinner here for your entire delegation the night after that. Put your staff to work on it with my staff to plan the dance. It will give everyone something to do.”
“I can’t believe we’re hosting a dance on such short notice.”
“Oh, please. I’ve planned it for weeks.”
I roared with laughter. After wiping the tears from my eyes, I told her, “Please let my staff do something.”
“Of course. But they’re young. They don’t know anything. We’ll teach them.”
“That, Olivia, is my responsibility.”
“Fair enough,�
�� she said. “We’re agreed? Give me a hug.”
* * * *
“We reached agreement,” I said in the hallway. “Back to the embassy. We’re hosting a dance in the evening, two nights from tonight, in conjunction with the duchess. Viella, you will take lead for us.” I turned and began walking, and they settled around me. “The duchess has already engaged in advanced planning, but it is at our embassy, so don’t let them push you around.”
“Yes, Lady Ambassador.”
“I know it’s short notice, but we’re not really inviting anyone. Olivia is. But I want invitations going out. Everyone who is to receive one already knows, but I want proper invitations, and I will sign each one. It may be that Olivia will also sign them.”
“Is there time?”
“If not, tell me,” I said. “I’ll be out for a portion of the afternoon. The rest of you: I need you to support Viella.”
“Of course, Lady Ambassador.”
“Ressie and Wesla, I want a review of the status of our embassy. If anything is in need of repair or maintenance, I want to know. It’s not a bridge, but you should both be able to handle it. Use Liessa as appropriate.”
“Yes, Lady Ambassador.”
“Assist Viella as she requests.”
“Of course.”
“I will have a dispatch for King Leander, possibly tomorrow, more likely the day after. Viella, find out how we send it. It needs to go by diplomatic pouch.”
“We may need to rely on Lady Olivia’s courier service,” she said. “Or send a member of the household.”
“No. Coordinate with Lady Olivia’s staff. Will they respect the sanctity of our pouch, or should I just hand it to Olivia to read before I seal it?”
“I’m sorry, Lady Ambassador,” she said. “I don’t know.”
“Find out what the arrangements can be, and I’ll talk to Olivia about it as well.”
“Very good, Lady Ambassador.”
“We’re returning to the embassy. Her staff will arrive shortly after lunch. Let us go see what Mendari can put together.”
Chapter Twelve
“Everyone is having a good time.” I looked over to see Jessla at my side. “Your first official event at the embassy. How does it feel?”
“None of this has caught up to me,” I replied. “I think the next event will feel more like mine. This was really Olivia’s doing. We just provided a dance hall on short notice.”
“Your staff did a good job on short notice,” Jessla said. “They’re so young, but the report is they’re very professional.”
“Thank you,” I said. “I hope so. We’re all in over our heads.”
“If it’s any consolation, that feeling doesn’t ever entirely go away.”
“Thanks for telling me,” I said, hoping she heard the sarcasm through our disparate accents.
“The duchess wants to know if you want the hunter/prey dance.”
I grinned at her. “I had fun the last time.”
“Everyone has fun,” she said. “Will it scare your staff?”
I smiled. “They don't have to play if they don’t want to, but let me introduce it.”
“Of course.”
I moved away from her, circling the room and avoiding being asked to dance. I reached the musicians and said to their leader, “We’re going to play the hunter/prey game. Do you know what I’m talking about?”
She nodded.
“I’ll need a break to introduce it. My countrymen don’t know anything about it.”
She nodded again, and I waited for the current song to end. There was light applause, and then I stepped forward. “Lady Olivia!” I said, projecting to be heard.
“Ambassador Cuprite,” she replied.
“The first time I attended a dance you hosted, there was a game at the end.”
“I remember it well.”
“Looking around, I imagine perhaps a third of the people here have no idea what I’m talking about.”
“I imagine you’re right.”
“I believe you and I should offer a brief explanation, and then we could have a tiny demonstration.”
She moved onto the floor, and our guests gave us room. We had everyone’s attention. “A demonstration?”
“Yes. I believe that you shall be the prey.”
She laughed. “And you think you can hunt me?”
“No. I thought Bee and Dee could.”
At that, far more laughed, but Olivia inclined her head. “Who will they steal me from?”
“Me. As I said, it would be a very brief demonstration.”
Bee and Dee clap happily, and others laughed. Olivia gave another small bow of her head. “Are you sure you prefer that role?” she asked.
“Oh, I want the other role when we begin to play,” I said. “But perhaps in the coming weeks, I could learn both roles. Could we arrange that?”
“We could, my friend,” she said.
I turned a circle. “This is an assumption, but I believe every Ressaline in the room will want to play. Olivia, will that include all the slaves?”
“If we invite them.”
“I think that would be nice.”
“As do I. We will allow them to choose their desired roles.”
“Of course,” I said. “So that leaves the Flarvorians. This game is unexpected, but I find it quite a lot of fun. The rule is simple: if you remain in the ballroom, you are playing. I hope you will all choose to stay. The rules are slightly intimidating, but it’s all in fun.”
Working together, Olivia and I explained the game. She did a good job making me look like I understood better than I did, but the result was that by the end of the explanation, I did understand better. Then I said, “Olivia, do you believe a newcomer to this game can effectively serve as hunter?”
“She can always try,” Olivia said. “If she is comfortable leading. However, it wouldn’t be terribly difficult for her to be transformed into prey. That can happen to even the most experienced of us, although it is more difficult. The last time that happened to me, it took four women working together, two of them my own slaves.”
Bee and Dee both giggled at that. I imagined Claary was one of the others but I wasn’t sure who the fourth was.
“If there are any Flarvorians who intend to attempt to be hunters,” I said, “then we should demonstrate how a hunter becomes prey.” I looked around. “Does anyone feel a demonstration is necessary?”
“Maybe the next time we play,” Wesla said when no one else spoke up.
“Very good,” I said. I moved to Olivia. “May I have this dance?”
I held out a blindfold for her. She smiled as she tied it in place. After that, I was a poor lead, and she had to back lead a little. But we danced for a moment before Bee and Dee were there. It took them a scant two measures to cut Olivia away from me, and they giggled while they did it.
I lifted my hand, and the musicians ended. Then I turned to the slaves and offered a curtsey while clapping. I was joined by the others, and a few women turned a little raucous, which was in keeping with the spirit.
“Very good,” I called out. “I will be playing as prey. I really hope everyone else chooses to play. Lady Olivia?”
She laughed. “I will be a hunter.”
“Then will you direct us from here?”
“Of course. If you wish to be prey, collect a blindfold and hand it to someone else.”
“Olivia,” Dee said. “Could Bee and I begin as hunters?”
“Of course, my darlings,” she said. “However, you have won Allium before, so I want you to set your vision elsewhere.”
“We will,” Dee said.
It took a minute, but I was pleased. I passed out hugs to go with the blindfolds, then watched as my household let themselves be blindfolded.
“Very good,” Olivia said. “Musicians, if you please.”
The music started. Two measures in, hunters approached and began peeling prey from the middle, dancing them away. I found myself facing Li-li,
Claary’s sister. She laughed at me and handed me my own blindfold. Once it was in place, she danced me away. “Lassa is prey!” she giggled. “Bee got her.”
“Thank you for helping with our event tonight, Li-li.”
“Everyone is so glad you’re here, Ambassador.”
“We’re dancing together, Li-li. Could you call me Allium?”
Still dancing, she kissed my ear. “Claary told us you’re going to accept challenges.”
“I am, once things settle down a little.”
“If you challenge Lassa, you’ll get to work in the bakery, but at night, we can play.” She gave me a complicated step, one I barely could follow, and I found myself taken away.
“You stole me from your own sister,” I whispered to Claary.
“She offered you to me,” Claary replied.
We danced for a minute. “You feel good,” I whispered.
“It is customary to pass you around,” she said. “Maybe I’ll catch you later.” She spun me out, and I was immediately caught by another hunter.
* * * *
In the end, while I didn’t dance with absolutely every hunter, I think most of them held me for at least a few minutes. Then I found myself with Olivia. “Getting greedy, Duchess?” I asked.
“My own slaves just stole Lassa from me,” she said.
“So I’m the consolation prize?”
“You are one of the most coveted prizes here,” she replied. “Which you know.” We danced for a minute, and then she said, “There are no hunters who look like they intend to steal you from me. Bee and Dee gave Lassa to Bess and are stealing Corale from Gigi.” Then she began laughing.
“What?”
“They gave Corale to Li-li, and they just went after Gigi. She’s in trouble.”
I began laughing, and then Olivia laughed again. “Claary just cut off Gigi’s retreat. Bee and Dee have her.”
“Will she get away?”
“Only if they let her, or if someone comes to help her.”
“What are the chances?”
“Very slim,” she said. “Is there anyone in particular you want me to give you to?”
“I’m happy in any arms, Olivia, yours most especially.”
We danced, and then she said, “Interesting. Lisolte just surrendered to Aresht.” Then, two measures later, she said, “They’re moving this way. I wonder if this is a ruse.”