Heir, page 12
part #5 of Ressaline Series
“Oh.”
“It’s fine. I was being stupid.”
“Sorry? Okay, so you’ve been caught, nice, lovely prey that you are. Your hunter gets to take you somewhere, and it’s good form to give her your attention for at least a half hour, although some people go home with the woman who catches her. Also, if she wants kisses, it’s good form to let her have them, but you don’t have to do more than that. Even if it’s, oh, I don’t know. Jessla, maybe. She probably wouldn’t take many kisses, but a few token, anyway.”
“Sure.”
“If you want to do more, and she does, that’s up to you, but you don’t have to. Now, did I scare you off?”
“If there were a bunch of disgusting men there, you would have,” I said. “It sounds like fun.”
“It’s a lot of fun. Okay, that’s all I wanted to talk about. I want to do something for a few minutes, then I’m going to go. Don’t fight me.”
I didn’t fight, but I giggled as she worked on pulling my slip entirely off me. I cooperated, and then she rolled me onto my stomach and set herself to caressing me, up and down my back and my bottom. It felt absolutely wonderful, and I let her do whatever she wanted.
That was all she did, but it felt really nice, and I squirmed a few times.
Then she kissed the back of my neck. “We’re going to do things like this to each other the next time I get you naked, but I just wanted to give you things to think about.”
“Thank you, Gionna.” I rolled over as she got out of bed, then I watched her. “Do you need help?”
“I’ve got it. I hope you don’t mind but anyone who sees me is going to come to conclusions.”
“This entire town is full of debauched women. They can hardly judge what we do.”
“I’m glad you recognize that.” She grinned. “I’m glad you came, Ahlianna.”
“I am, too. Thank you, Gionna.”
“Thank you for inviting me. I’ll see you after lunch.”
“See you.”
* * * *
I sat down opposite Allium in her office. “I thought you should know a few things.”
“Sure.”
“Gionna and I made some decisions.” I paused. “Well, I decided I didn’t want my first time with a woman to be during my First.”
“It would be fine if it were.”
“I don’t care. It’s not going to be,” I said. “And I’m not going to go from my first kiss to sex in one night.”
“So, last night?”
“We did more than kissing, but not a lot more, and she stayed the night.”
“Okay.”
“My First may not happen as quickly as Olivia would prefer, but if it’s delayed, it will only be a few extra days. Gionna said she would talk to Olivia about it. I thought you should know.”
“Thank you.”
“Next, I asked her to be at my First, so we’re going to do that first.”
“She could be there, anyway.”
“As your slave.” I shook my head. “Is this a problem, Ambassador?”
“No, Ahlianna. Whatever you think is easiest for you.”
“Then she’ll be there, and then the two of you can do what you’ll do, after.”
Allium nodded. “All right.”
“Thank you. Will you be a hunter tonight?”
“Probably not. I frustrate Olivia, but most of the time, my staff are the prey, and I’m not going to go down that path. If there is sufficient prey otherwise, then I’ll try to be a hunter, but so far, there hasn’t been.”
“Okay. Gionna suggested the two of you could be a hunter pair.”
“Bee and Dee do that. They’re killers at it.”
“I imagine.”
“The same thing applies, though. Even if there are a few other people who are prey, there’s no promise I could focus on them. I’d be one of the weaker hunters.”
“Ah. That makes sense.” I paused. “I know we talked yesterday, but if you were a hunter, and you caught me, it wouldn’t remotely have the same implications of hunting your staff.”
“You’re becoming Ressaline faster than I am.” She smiled as she said it.
“I don’t think that’s the case. And it’s not like you have to kiss me, do you?”
“I suppose not.” She looked away for a moment, and I could see her gathering her thoughts. Finally, she turned back. “That game is one of the reasons I love it here, Ahlianna.”
“If you have a chance to play, you want it to count.”
“Yes.”
“Well,” I said. “I think Darfelsa may not be the only one with a girl crush, but the difference is this girl is an adult.” I stood up. “Are there things I can do when my social calendar has openings?”
“A few. Your sister drafted this.” She pushed a hand-bound set of notes closer to me. “It discusses the differences between our two societies. It’s good reading.”
“I may have this?”
“Consider the embassy a library.”
“Got it,” I said.
“If you have comments on that, make separate notes, but I want Darfelsa to manage changes.”
I nodded and took the report with me.
* * * *
“Ahlianna?” I looked up to see Renalla in the doorway to the library. “You have a caller.” She stepped aside, and Gretchena appeared. I stood and waited for her. She crossed the room and offered a Ressaline style of greeting.
She was dressed as I might for a summer day at the track, and I was glad of my own somewhat warmer but otherwise similar choices. “I’m so relieved,” I told her.
“Relieved?”
“I wasn’t sure what to wear.”
“You look very nice. Mother helped me pick this. I was going to dress for lunch, but she pointed out we’d all be meeting to travel to the arena afterwards.”
“Will she be joining us?”
“Yes. I think you’re going to have an entourage.”
I smiled and took her arm, then got us moving. “Where are we going?”
“It’s a nice day; do you mind walking?”
“Not at all.”
“I agonized over this decision, too. You know Claary.”
“Yes.”
“She owns every public inn, pub, tavern, and restaurant in Charth.”
“Seriously? How did that happen?”
“I’m not entirely sure. I thought I should take you to one of the fancier places, but Mom told me that I should take you somewhere easy. So we’re going somewhere called The Baby Blanket Inn.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah. Your sister likes it.”
“It’s going to take some getting used to my sister knowing things I don’t,” I said. “I was just reading a report she wrote about the differences in our cultures. She left a lot of unknowns, but it seemed rather thorough.”
“She and I talked about that report for hours,” Gretchena said. “It’s written for people like you, but when she comes back, Olivia wants her to write the reverse report, talking about Flarvorian culture for one of us.”
“Oh, that would be interesting,” I said. “So the food is good?”
“It’s a pub, but Darfelsa always picks one of the stews.”
“Sounds good.”
We made it outside. She gestured, getting us moving in the right direction. “Okay. I bet you know a lot about me; I know very little about you.”
“Checking out whether I’m a suitable friend for your sister?”
“No, I’m getting to know someone who is already her friend.”
“Sure,” she said. “Mother is a glass blower. She came here as part of the military, and when she decided to stay, she came back and got me. It was difficult at first, because I left my friends behind, but I like it here now.”
“Are you following in your mother’s steps?”
“So far.”
“Am I taking you from duties?”
“If I weren’t here with you, I would be helping to direct the slaves, but they know their work.”
And that illustrated the difference in our societies. I paused, but I didn’t want to talk about that, so I asked, “Do you do everything?”
“We start with the raw materials,” she explained. “And when we’re done, we can provide any sort of glass someone may need, be it window glass, bottles, or lenses for spyglasses.”
“Do you like it?”
“It can be hard work, but yes,” she said. “I enjoy making stemware the most. I’m still learning, though, so most of the time I’m assisting Mother or overseeing the slaves. Darfelsa thought it was fun.”
“Directing the slaves?”
She laughed. “No. Mother taught her how to make a bottle. It turned out a little lopsided, but she did pretty good for her first try.”
“I think I saw that bottle when Allium gave me a tour of the embassy.”
“She keeps it in her room,” Gretchena said. “I was going to make one for her, but I decided not to.”
“I think she would have liked it if you had.”
“Maybe, but…”
“But hers turned out more than a little lopsided, and you don’t want to make her feel bad about it.”
“Yeah.”
“So, make one that’s different. You make different shapes, right?”
“Lots of shapes.”
“Make one really different; she’ll love it.”
“That’s a really good idea. I’m going to think about it. Do you know when she’ll be back?”
“Probably some time during the last half of the summer. It depends on whether she stays in Barrish until I get home, or if we cross at the border. Father won’t let us both be gone from the country at the same time.”
“Sure.” She pointed. “We’re going there.”
We drew closer. “It’s cute.” Then I saw the sign. “You weren’t kidding about the name.”
“I think it’s sweet. We’re early enough we shouldn’t have to wait for a seat.”
“Excellent.”
* * * *
She was right. We easily found a table for two along the wall. We were barely seated when a women, dressed very similarly to Bee and Dee, but in blue with red piping, stepped to the table. “Welcome to the Baby Blanket.”
“Marsta?”
“I am called Sta.”
“Of course,” Gretchena said. “How did this happen?” She gestured to the slave.
“Claary took me at the monthly event,” the woman replied. “She said if you come to lunch today, I should retrieve her. Do you know what you want to drink?”
“Do you have cider?” I asked.
“Two ciders,” Gretchena said.
“I’ll be right back.”
The slave turned and hurried from the room. I turned to Gretchena. She smiled. “I am beginning to recognize that expression.” She gestured to my face. “You don’t have a clue what just happened.”
“I get it she’s a slave, and the two of you know each other.”
“I wouldn’t say we’re friends, but yes, we know each other. Do you know about the monthly event?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
She spent a few minutes talking about a mandatory event, held once a month. “If you weren’t born in Ressaline City, once you’re 21 and have had your First, then you are obligated to offer yourself twice a year. There aren’t very many people who still have to offer themselves, but they’ve kept the events going, and they’re popular.”
“So, your friend offered herself, and Claary won.”
“Right. It’s for two weeks.”
“And she’s not a pleasure slave. That’s what the blue means.”
“Claary can give someone two colors. You saw the red. That means her primary duties are working here, but she also can enjoy duties as a pleasure slave. Not everyone can give their slaves two colors.”
That was when Claary grabbed a chair and sat down at our table with us. “Good day, Princess.”
“I’d rather you used my name,” I said. “Good day, Claary. I like your inn.”
“Thank you. It’s been in my family for generations. Ahlianna, am I welcome this afternoon?”
“Of course. Is there some reason you shouldn’t be?”
“None I know, which is why I asked.”
“You’ve seen the arena.”
She smiled. “I have, but I haven’t seen it with you. It’s a nice day, and I want an excuse to get out for a while.”
“Did you want to travel to Government House with us?” I turned to Gretchena. “Is it walking distance?”
“Everything is walking distance,” Claary said. “It’s not far, and yes, I’d like to walk with you unless the two of you wanted that time.”
“I’m just getting to know my sister’s friend,” I said.
“All right. Your sister likes the stew. We have rabbit today. But Sta knows the menu.”
“I’ll try the stew,” I said.
“We can share a small pot,” Gretchena said. “Next time, we should have the smothered chicken.”
“Oh, what’s that?” I asked.
“It’s the spiciest dish we serve, but it’s not at all spicy compared to some of the things in Barrish,” Claary explained. “It’s chicken served over rice with a very fragrant, thick gravy.”
“Okay,” I said. “Which do you prefer, Gretchena?”
“We can have the stew.”
“Which do you prefer?”
“I loved the smothered chicken.”
“And we could share that?”
“Sure, if you want.”
Claary laughed. “We’ll get started on that. Welcome to the Baby Blanket. I’ll come back out when you’re about done, or were you going to linger?”
“I don’t want people to have to wait for us,” I said.
She nodded, and we watched her walk away.
“Why did you switch?” Gretchena asked.
“This was advice Mother gave me,” I explained. “She said I should actively experience things that are different from home. I can get stew anywhere.”
“The stew here is really good.”
“I imagine it is. But I want to try this chicken dish. Do you see? Gretchena, are you intimidated by my title?”
“Yes. You’re not just a princess, like your sister. You’re the crown princess. Unlike Gionna, you’ll be queen after your father. That makes you someone important. I’m just a glassmaker.”
“Well, I hope you can try to forget most of that. I want to ask you a personal question.”
“Okay.”
“Things here are different than they are at home. People form relationships different than they do at home.”
“Darfelsa explained some of that.”
“Darfelsa said the two of you exchanged kisses, a lot of kisses.”
“Are you about to warn me off?”
“No. I am going to ask how you see your relationship.”
“She says your mother won’t let her do her First until she’s 18.”
“The age of consent is 18 in Flarvor, and Mother is very Flarvorian.”
“What else would she be?” Gretchena asked rhetorically. “I don’t really understand. I mean, I do, but I don’t.”
I waited, and she didn’t say more, finally I prompted her. “You’re going somewhere with this.”
“We’ve talked about doing practice challenges together, once she’s allowed. Maybe I shouldn’t have told you that.”
“You definitely should have, but you should definitely not tell my mother or father.”
She laughed. “I think I understand.”
“So, the reason I asked is this: you expect to be in Darfelsa’s life for a long time.”
“I hope so.”
“Which means I want us to be friends.”
“I’d like that, too.”
“I want to be clear. Friends. Not kissing friends, and definitely not challenge friends. I don’t want to tell my sister that you and I kissed or anything like that.”
“That’s kind of like your mother being Flarvorian,” she said. “But I understand.”
“But, I want us to be friends. So, imagine you come to Barrish for a visit.”
“I’d really like that.”
“You won’t know your way around. You won’t know about our foods or even know what clothes to wear. Which means you’ll want help. You’ll get most of it from Darfelsa, but I bet you’d like some from me, too.”
“I think I would.”
“But when I’m here, I don’t know the foods, or the right clothes.”
“Oh!” she said. “So, I should have told you about the smothered chicken.”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
“You would have liked the stew.”
“And maybe I’ll have that next time. But if there are opportunities to show me things I haven’t seen, or to try things I haven’t tried, I hope you’ll make sure to point it out.”
“I will,” she said. She smiled. “Have you ever seen someone make glass?”
“I’ve seen people blow glass, but I haven’t seen it from the beginning.”
“I’d have to coordinate with mother, because we don’t make glass every day, but if you’d like to see, you could.”
“I’d like that. Can you arrange it?”
“Sure.”
“Thank you.”
Sta brought our lunch. Switching was definitely the right choice. It was quite good, and later, I asked Claary to compliment the chef.
“We’re lucky,” she said. “We have two amazing head chefs here. I’ve tried to move one to one of our other restaurants, but she’s begged to stay here, so that’s what we do, except for special events. Then I move people around as necessary.”
I paid the bill, and a minute later, the three of us stepped outside. We made small talk for the walk to Government House, and I got to know them both a little better. It was a nice walk.
* * * *
We came to a stop under a portico beside the arena, the exterior walls soaring above us. I thought it was smaller than the similar arenas in Barrish. “This is an ancient structure,” Claary explained. “Prior to the arrival of the Ressalines, it was only used for smaller events, but we’ve kept it for historic purposes. Now it’s the perfect venue for our current uses.”
“We have other fields for equestrian sports,” Olivia added. “That’s actually not something traditional to Ressaline, but the Charthans taught us.”
