Immunity, page 11
And then I made a new game. I found Otter and Brush. They let me pull them to the middle of the room, and then I made a point of covering my eyes and waving my hand around.
I don’t think they understood, but the Khaleesi did. She spoke in Persian. A moment later, my friends grabbed me and began turning me around and around until I was entirely disoriented and snapped my fingers.
They stopped, and then at another order from Rhosani, they brought me to a woman. I climbed into a lap and took a kiss even before I opened my eyes.
We had a very, very nice time.
* * * *
The Khaleesi summoned me. I was led to the library. I knelt to her, and she sent the guards away. She kept me there for a minute before stepping to me. When she offered a foot, I kissed it. She said nothing until she pulled her foot away. “Did you want to talk?”
I knelt upright and offered her a hand. She helped me stand, but I turned away. I shelved my books then found a new one. I took my place on the floor near her feet.
I read for a while, but I wasn’t really reading. Eventually I shoved the book aside, sat up, and laid my head in her lap.
“Time to talk?”
I shook my head. And so I stayed there for a while as she stroked my hair, now much, much longer than it had been when I’d first arrived.
“Do you know what you’re doing?” I shook my head. “Still thinking.” And I nodded. “Do you want to stay here?”
I was about to shake my head, but I realized that question could mean two different things? Did I want to go back to Earth? I hadn’t decided. But I suddenly wanted something. I stood and took her hand. She let me pull her from the chair. I tugged her to the door. “You want us to go somewhere?” I nodded. “This would be easier if I remove the muting spell.” I shook my head and pulled her to the door.
But she stepped in front of me. “We’ll do what you want, but you’re not leading.” I smiled and nodded, then pointed.
We held hands and walked side-by-side. She figured out I was leading us to the front door. “Outside?” I nodded. She flagged down a servant and spoke briefly. The human scurried off. “I sent her for shoes.”
At the front door, we didn’t have to wait long, only a minute or two. The woman found us, running up and then kneeling before us, pushing a pair of sandals forward. Rhosani spoke to her, so she knelt up then helped me into the sandals. Once done, I leaned forward and touched her cheek for a moment.
We stepped out into the sun. It was glorious, although hot. “We won’t stay out long. You’ll burn.”
We strolled, just through the courtyard, but it was under the sun, and I lifted my face. We only stayed outside for five minutes before Rhosani brought me back inside. I hugged her tightly, and then she led me back to the library. I pushed her towards her chair, and then I knelt before her, kissing her foot for a minute. She leaned over and caressed my back. “I don’t think you hate me.”
Ya think?
* * * *
I looked at the waiting glass of juice. I grinned. Rhosani was looking at me, and I nodded. She waited until I was well squirmy before she asked, “Did you have a new game?” And I nodded again.
She gave me the rest of the juice and then said, “If you welcome Snow Dove, make a lap for her.”
She helped me to stand. I worked the room, touching a few elves, kissing a few. And from one of them, I pulled a silk scarf she was using in her hair. She grinned at me, letting me take it. I kissed her, a sweet kiss, before moving on.
I collected Otter and Whisper, pulling them to the center of the room, then I handed the scarf to Otter and turned my back on her. She laughed and blindfolded me. I lifted my hand, and the two of them turned me around and around until I snapped my fingers. They led me around the room and to a lap. The woman in question kept the mystery, disguising her voice so I wouldn’t recognize her. Eventually, the scarf dislodged.
Laerdya and I both froze. I smiled broadly, hugged her tightly, and then squirmed down her body again.
* * * *
Otter found me staring at the punishment bench. “Snow Dove,” she said, stepping to my side. I leaned against her. We stood for a moment, and then she grinned at me.
I didn’t resist as she moved me onto it. She bound me there, and then she crouched down where I could look into her eyes. She was still grinning. The clothing we wore could all be removed without pulling them up or down. One need only untie the various ties. Still grinning, she began working on the tunic, giggling. I looked into her eyes until she moved behind me.
She pulled every stitch from me, rubbed my bottom for a moment, the moved back where she could look into my eyes.
And then she made finger-scrunching gestures. She was threatening to tickle me. And then I realized she wasn’t threatening; she was offering. I nodded.
She tickled the shit out of me, giggling the entire time. We gathered an audience, and I think some of the other women wanted to help, but Otter said something, and no one joined her. But she was merciless, and she didn’t stop until I was gasping, struggling to breathe.
She let me catch my breath before releasing me. But then she pointed to the ground before her and pushed me down. I knelt to her, kissing her feet until she giggled and pulled away.
It was the closest to a little hanky and a little panky we’d ever done.
I stood and hugged her tightly.
I definitely loved her.
* * * *
The harem door opened. We all scrambled into our places. The Khaleesi strode forward, surveying us. It was the first time I’d seen her here.
“Otter,” Rhosani said. She spoke a command or two. Otter stood, and the two walked in the direction of our bedroom.
They didn’t stay there long. Otter gave the Khaleesi a tour. And then my friend was back to kneel beside me. “Snow Dove. Come.”
She had the sack ready, and during the walk, she turned me this way and that, still keeping me confused on our path.
But she brought me to the front door. There were two servants waiting, and they rubbed all my skin in oil. “Sunscreen,” Rhosani said, “one of the products from Earth that works here.” She had sandals for me, and I laughed soundlessly when I saw the parasol.
Our walk was longer. We roamed the streets of Algonae for an hour, Rhosani keeping me in the shade wherever she could. She brought me to a café. We shared a snack and a carafe of sangria.
We walked past a construction site. I stopped us. We watched the workers for a while. There were several elves, but they appeared to be foremen. I didn’t know what species the workers were, and Rhosani didn’t offer. “This will be a private home,” she said. “But we’re building a large, public library on the other side of the palace. Electricity, steam engines, and explosives don’t work here, but purely mechanical devices do. We have manual printing presses.”
She sighed. “Earth has very little we covet. We don’t envy your smart phones and high speed lives. Our medicine is at least as effective as yours. And because our numbers are so much lower, we don’t require farming. But paper. I’d trade for paper.”
She brought me back to the palace. In the library, she inspected me carefully. “You didn’t burn,” she said. I could have told her that. She’d been exceedingly thorough with the sunscreen. She let me select more books then sent me back to the harem.
* * * *
She began summoning me more often, sometimes to the library, sometimes for a walk. One day, we went riding, and she brought me to the shore of the lake, where we shared a picnic.
One day, a week after our first long walk, she said, “I’m going to destroy the punishment bench.” I shook my head. “What do you mean, no?”
I stood up, and then I carefully bent over as if I were bound to it.
“Yes, yes,” she said. “I know what it’s used for.”
I shook my head again, and then I switched places, so to speak, stepping to the side, and mimed tickling the bound me. It took her a moment before she realized what I was doing. “You’re using it to tickle each other?” She laughed. “Seriously?”
I shook my head. She had it half right. I set my hand to my chest then bent into position again.
She cocked her head. “You’re the only one being tickled?” And I nodded. “And just who is tickling you? Otter?” I nodded. “Anyone else?” No. “Should I be jealous?” Of course not.
“Maybe I should tickle you.” I considered then dipped my head to the side, a non-answer. “Maybe I should watch.” I held back a smile and dipped my head again. Let her figure out what that meant. Good luck with that.
I collected a book and lay down at her feet. We read quietly for ten minutes before she asked, “Are you and Otter lovers?”
I sat up and shook my head. But I used my hands in a heart shape, then pressed my hands to my chest. “You love her, but you’re not lovers.” And I nodded. I was ready to go back to reading, but she set fingers under my chin. She stared into my eyes for a moment. “You’d let her seduce you, though.” And I nodded under her touch, but then I made a pleading gesture. “I won’t interfere,” she said. She dipped my head down then kissed the top.
Then she tipped my chin back up again. “When are we going to talk?”
I pulled away then bent down and kissed a foot for a minute. I collected my book, but she said, “Snow Dove, I don’t understand what you want.”
Since when did what I want matter? She gave me little things, but I was to believe she suddenly cared what I wanted on the big things?
“This is frustrating.” Her hands shifted, cupping my neck. I felt her pull the muting spell away.
“Put it back,” I croaked. “I will tell you when I’m ready to talk.”
“Kneel,” she ordered firmly. Automatically, I scrambled to obey, and when she slid a foot into place, I kissed until she pulled it away. “I think I’ve broken you, Amelie.”
“My name is Snow Dove,” I said. “By your order.”
“I will call you what I want.”
“And I’ll answer to Snow Dove.”
“I don’t understand what you want. The only thing that makes sense is you’re acting. You seem honestly pleased every time you see me. You openly offer affection. But I don’t detect any guile from you. I never have, not once.”
“I’m not acting,” I said. “And it’s offensive for you to suggest it.”
“Oh, get up,” she said.
“I don’t want to talk about any of this.”
“I do.”
“You don’t always get what you want.”
“Get up and sit in a chair. Talk to me.”
“Yes, Khaleesi,” I said. I rose and picked a chair as far from her as I could, facing another direction besides.
“Amelie-”
“Snow Dove!”
“Fine. Snow Dove.”
“I’m not talking to you if you are going to keep confusing me even worse.”
“I am entirely lost in this conversation. Pick a chair and pull it closer so I can look at you.”
“Yes, Khaleesi,” I said. I obeyed, but when I didn’t pull the chair close enough to satisfy her, she leaned forward and yanked it towards her, so close our legs were intertwined. I glanced down at it and was sure it was entirely intentional.
And that part didn’t bother me in the slightest.
But I looked up. “I don’t want you to use those names right now.”
“Will you please explain why?”
“Because I can’t be that person right now!”
“I don’t understand. I don’t understand any of this.”
“If I made it two and a half years, you won’t die over something that barely affects you.”
She shook her head. “The moment I remove the muting spell, you turn angry.”
“You expect me to clear up your confusion. I can’t even clear up my own. And frankly, I don’t understand why you care. I’m just another human. You own dozens of us.”
“That is false!” she said hotly.
“Oh? The palace is filled with servants.”
“Paid servants.”
I froze for a moment and then inclined my head. “So you only own ten humans?”
“I don’t own you.”
“Then what do you call it?” I looked up. “Maybe, just maybe, I believe that you’d free me if I asked. There’s a smaller chance that I could ignore the orders I’m given, as long as I live in your harem. But until you free me, I am owned. And so are the others.”
“I already told you several petitioned me.”
“And you also told me several are daughters and granddaughters of the former rulers here.”
“Elves have long, long memories, and some are deeply vindictive.”
“And killing the innocent is somehow justified?”
“Not to me.”
“Fine,” I said. “For two and a half years, you owned me. As far as I’m concerned, you still do.”
“And you haven’t asked me to free you.”
“Not since you laid out the reality of my situation,” I said.
“You could ask right now.”
“And then what?” I spat. “Go back to Earth?”
“You could stay here.”
“In what capacity? I could become a different sort of property. Maybe the servants covet the positions here. Is that what you see for me? Take me from the harem but move me to a servant’s quarters somewhere else? It’s not like I have a single skill to survive outside this palace. I couldn’t cook a meal without burning it. I certainly couldn’t hunt my own meals. I wouldn’t last ten minutes on my own. Can you imagine? A professor of elven studies? I could hold classes. It would be the ultimate in mansplaining, a human teaching elves about themselves.”
“So ask me to send you back to Earth.”
“I don’t want to!” I spat. I took several breaths. “The life there. Sure. I like teaching. I like speaking at conferences. I miss that. I don’t miss the politics of academia. And I don’t want to leave Otter, but I can’t take her with me. She’s happy here. She’d be miserable there.”
I dropped my gaze. “And you should figure out the rest.”
“You don’t want to leave, and it’s about more than Otter.”
“I will tell you when I’m ready to talk about any more of this,” I said. “Now put the damned spell back. And stop confusing me.”
“Put your chair back,” she said. “Then kneel.”
I did as ordered, kneeling up. She set her hands on my neck and renewed the muting spell. Then she held me there. “I will be removing the spell when we’re together, but you will decide what we’re talking about.”
I nodded to that. She gave me a little push, and I lowered my head to the floor. She gave me a foot to kiss, and I did, slowly calming down.
A New Normal
A new form of normal was established, with only small changes. Once or twice a week, Otter locked me in the punishment bench and tickled the shit out of me. It was therapy, perhaps for both of us. She giggled for both of us, and she giggled more when I kissed her feet afterwards. But otherwise, our relationship was unchanged.
I had no idea how she felt about me, and I was too afraid to ask.
I spent time with Rhosani, not quite every day. Some days she retrieved me herself, although usually she had me summoned. One day, she arrived as Otter had just started tickling me. Otter spun to kneel to her, but Rhosani stopped her.
And then the Khaleesi watched as Otter tickled me just as relentlessly as she always did. Finally, though she released me. I slipped from the bench and knelt, then crawled forward to kiss Otter’s feet, then moved and did the same to Rhosani.
That day, she brought both of us with her, and she didn’t remove the muting spell. We went for one of our walks and then sat at a café together. Later, Otter clung tightly to me, eventually moving to our bed and lying with her head on my shoulder, holding hands.
After that, Otter joined us about once a week. Those days, Rhosani didn’t remove my muting spell.
All the other days, she did. The first time, I told her we weren’t talking about anything important. “And if I turn bratty, put it back and make me kneel.”
“If that’s what you want, Snow Dove.”
“It’s what I want,” I said.
We spent time together. I learned more about what kind of person she was. She asked about me, about my childhood. She asked about Earth.
One day, she gave me a pouch of money, and we left the Old City, walking through a section outside the wall. The humans had their own market, many of the stalls attached to various trades shops. The humans eyes us warily, but they didn’t flee, and they relaxed when we spent a little money.
“They’re wary of you,” I said in English. “But not outright afraid.”
“It’s taken time,” she explained. “They trust me to a certain degree.”
When we returned to the palace, I led us to the library. I pushed her to her chair, and then I knelt, my head in her lap. “I hate the fear and hate.”
“So do I.”
I looked up. “Something bad happened to you.”
“Yes.”
“Don’t tell me today,” I said. But I told her something else I wanted her to do.
“If you’re sure,” she said.
“I’m not, but do it.”
* * * *
Yes, I’ll explain, in my own way.
She continued to share me with the other elves. Sometimes she picked my partner, but we’d had a new game, not necessarily the blind pointing game, but letting me make a game. A game within a game, or something like that.
Elves were as debauched as anyone could imagine, and in my time there, I’d experienced a portion of it. I say only a portion, because no male touched me, not once. There weren’t many to visit the palace, anyway, but there were some.
Very few of the elves who came to dinner actually lived in the palace. They had their own homes, or were visiting. But when they took someone from the palace, they also used one of the rooms there. No one ever took any of us away from the palace.
