Heir, page 13
part #5 of Ressaline Series
“There are four entrances,” Claary continued. “This is considered the main gate.”
We stepped through the large doors. It was a short walk and then a flight of stairs. We stepped into the sun, then moved forward and stood at the inner railing. I got a good look at the playing area.
It was grass, although there were several shallow trenches dug. “What are those for?” I asked, pointing.
“They’re used for many of the events,” Olivia explained. “We don’t host other games here anymore, so we maintain this strictly for the challenge events.”
“I’ve explained about the resin,” Allium said. “On event days, the trenches are filled with resin.”
“The bottoms are lined with cured resin” Olivia said. “So the trenches act like pools. We can walk down in a few minutes.” She gestured. “This is my box.”
We stepped in, and she encouraged me to sit down, right in the front row. She and Allium sat down on either side, and the rest of our group took other seats.
“Okay, so. Can someone explain. If I were sitting here, what would I see?”
“Well,” Allium said. “You’ll see, but there are two levels of rooms below us.”
“There’s an amazing amount of space,” Olivia added. “We use about a third of it for storage of the various things used here, various structures, casks of the resin, and the like.”
“If you were competing, you would register downstairs and wait in one of the rooms,” Allium continued. “There are four entrances; you can see three.” She gestured. “The fourth is directly below us. There are about a hundred different events, so after that, the details vary significantly.”
“For example.”
“For example,” Claary said. “I would enter from one side, and you would enter from the other. Allium and Gionna would be hosting the event, and so they would wait for us, maybe right in the middle, or maybe somewhat closer to Olivia. We would walk to them as they introduce us. Then, in front of us, they would explain our event. We may already know what it is to be, or we might be surprised. Or we might know, and still be surprised if someone changes our rules. Then we have our event, and after you’re wearing red resin, I carry you from the field.”
I laughed, “Cocky.”
“Deservedly,” Olivia declared.
“So she beats you?” I asked with a grin.
“Of course not, but if I were willing to compete to her strengths, she would readily win.”
“I don’t see Olivia when I want to win,” Claary said. “I also let Gigi have her way on events, so she wins more between us than I do.”
“How full will this be on Saturday?”
“When everyone knows you’ll be here, probably quite full,” Olivia said.
“Just because I’m here with you?”
“Yes.” She gave a little laugh. “Even though they know better, frequently we have surprises. If you’re here, it’s possible you would become one of the surprises, and no one would want to miss it.”
“To be clear,” I said, “I don’t care to be surprised, and you’ve promised my First is far more intimate.”
“I wouldn’t do that. They should know better. Discarding criminals, we’ve never hosted a First here. They’re always quite intimate. I don’t like doing someone’s First Practice here, either. I don’t believe it’s a good idea until someone has had several practice challenges, although we’ve had a few people run afoul of their twice annual commitment, and they’ve competed here earlier than I consider wise.”
“You could give them an extension, I bet.”
“I don’t give extensions for that,” she replied. “The Flarvorian women are immune from that particular requirement.”
“Although I’ve competed under those rules,” Allium said, “But I can’t afford a two-week commitment, so we made them shorter events.”
“I think I understand. Is there more to show me from here?”
“We can give you a tour of the inner rooms and take a walk upon the field,” Olivia offered. “This way.”
We descended, and I found the route into the less private rooms. They showed me a changing room and the shifts the challengers wore. I said nothing about that. Then they led me onto the grass. We came to a stop beside one of the pits. I knelt down and felt the bottom. “This is what Dee and Bee are wearing?”
“Similar, but we mix it differently, or it would soften and be absorbed with the liquid resin during events.”
I nodded. We walked around for a minute, and then I brought us to a stop. “That is your box?” I pointed.
“Yes,” Olivia confirmed.
I looked around a little more. It seemed so ordinary. Yes, it was different from our arenas in Barrish, but not markedly so. I don’t know what I expected. Slave pens, perhaps. I don’t know. Finally, I turned to Olivia. “Thank you. Is there more to show me?”
“Not until Saturday, unless you want to start your First right here and now.”
I snorted. “No, I think I’ll wait a little longer. Am I giving you extra work, Olivia? You didn’t need to come out here today.”
“You do notice that we have quite a few people who didn’t need to be here today,” she said, gesturing. “It’s a nice day. It’s fun to come out when it’s quiet. It’s peaceful, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is.”
Chapter Six
The carriage dropped Allium and me at the embassy. I thanked Gretchena for a delightful lunch and everyone else for the tour. Allium and I then headed inside, and once the door was closed, she said, “Let’s chat for a minute.”
I followed her to her office. She closed the door, and we took seats. “You seem calmer today than yesterday evening.”
“I am,” I said. “Shouldn’t I be?”
“I didn’t say that. Did you want to talk about it?”
“Only if you want to, Allium. I feel like I have a plan. I wish we had more time for this. Everything feels rushed.”
“I’m sorry,” she replied. “I know what you mean. Do you want me to talk to Olivia and slow everything down?”
“No. Will you help me pick a gown?”
“Of course.”
* * * *
I wore shimmering white. Allium wore one of her asymmetrical gowns, this one purple. She looked amazing.
Olivia sent her carriage for us, so we rode in style to her home. At the front door, Bee and Dee squealed happily, offered very friendly greetings, then each took an arm to lead us to the ballroom. There were two more slaves manning the doors. They opened them for Allium, and she stepped through. Bee and I waited in the corridor. I heard Allium announced, with resulting applause. We waited another minute before the slaves opened the door for Bee and me. Before we stepped forward, I leaned over and kissed her cheek.
She smiled at me. “I knew you liked me.”
“Nothing about this trip seems real to me.”
“I think I understand,” she said. “Ready?”
“Ready.”
She led me forward. One of the slaves called, “Ahlianna, daughter of King Leander and Queen Ralifta Cinnabar, Crown Princess of Flarvor.”
To applause, Bee led me on a small circle of the room, ending at Gionna, Olivia, and Allium. Allium curtsied to me, and here and there, the present members of her staff did the same. Allium rose, then the others. I offered Ressaline style greetings to Gionna, Olivia, and Allium. To my disappointment, Bee slipped away. “Aww. I thought she was mine for a while.” I grinned at Olivia.”
“I lost Dee as well,” Allium said.
“You’ll see them soon,” Olivia said. “You look lovely, Ahlianna.”
“Thank you, Olivia. And you’re in a gown rather than leather. Is there a protocol?”
“No, not really. We’re actually more aware of style here in Charth than in Ressaline City. We inherited the local dressmakers, and those born here are frequently more comfortable in dresses than in leather.” She gestured, and I saw Claary talking to someone. Claary was in a gown; the other woman was in leather.
“I understand. You know, Olivia, I am at a loss.”
“Oh?”
“This is perhaps the first event of this nature where I haven’t had a single duty.”
“I could assign several, if it would make you feel more comfortable.”
“Quite all right,” I said with a laugh.
“I imagine if I let you, you would spend the time on Gionna’s arm, but instead, I want you to get to know a few others more comfortably. We have the ballroom here for everyone, and dinner is shortly, but the other rooms on this wing are available for more intimate conversation.”
“Olivia, we’re trying to do too much at once. Perhaps this is hubris, but I rather suspect everyone here hopes for at least a little time with me. Perhaps they came for the free food and couldn’t care less than I am here.”
She laughed. “They would have come, because it is a formal event I am hosting. However, you are right; they do hope for some of your time, and you might find a few who approach you to discuss some formal matter. But unless you want me to choose your First for you, I think you need to focus on that.”
“I intend to have my dates, Olivia.”
“And I would prefer that you narrow the list for me.”
“Ah. I can do that by one right now.”
“Someone has displeased you?”
“No. My sister has a close relationship with Gretchena. I would enjoy a friendship with her and her mother, but unless one of you tells me I am making a significant mistake, I do not want Holliahta for my First.”
“She would be very kind.”
“I imagine all the women you have selected would be kind,” I replied.
“In different ways.”
I turned to Allium. “You were the one who put her forth. You must believe she is a better choice.”
“I think she would be a good choice, and I don’t think she’s had many opportunities. But I understand your position. The other choices are quite good.”
“Would it be a problem for you if Lisolte remains on the list?”
“No,” she said.
“Ahlianna, I would prefer after dinner that you were on the dance floor,” Olivia said. “So how about if Gionna pulls you to another room, and I’ll cycle a few people in for you to visit.”
“Whatever you think is best, Olivia,” I said.
At that, Gionna took my arm. We wandered the party for a minute, but she deftly maneuvered us from the room and across the hall. We left the door open but took seats. One of the house slaves followed us in and offered wine. After serving us, she took a place in the corner. Gionna and I took seats, me on the sofa and her on one of the chairs. We made small talk for a minute or two, and then Dee was there, Lisolte with her. Gionna and I stood to greet the other woman, and then Lisolte and I sat down, the others leaving.
We smiled at each other. Neither of us spoke immediately until I laughed. “This feels like some sort of interview.”
“We’re just here to get to know each other a little better.”
I briefly considered what I was wearing, and then said, “Well, I want to do it a little differently.” Then I turned around and moved backwards until she was holding me, her arms around me, cradling me partway across her lap. “Is this too forward?”
“No,” she replied. She lifted her free hand and caressed my face. “Is this?”
“No.” I closed my eyes. “I don’t know what I want to do. I think I just am trying to feel comfortable.” I gave another laugh. “Mother would be appalled if she saw me in such an informal position while dressed like this.”
“I imagine your mother would be appalled regardless of what you were wearing.”
“I tease Darfelsa that Mother still sees her as 8 years old.”
“How old does she see you as?”
“Certainly not 18,” I replied. “Perhaps 15. Father does better, but he struggles as well. Lisolte, I imagine you are deciding if you want me for my First as much as I’m deciding if I do.”
“No,” she said. “I’ve heard of people turning someone away, but nearly always it is because the woman feels she is a poor choice. It is always an honor to be invited. It is the most joyous of responsibilities.” She stroked my face. “You do understand what you’ll be doing for me.”
“Probably not the details, but I suppose I do.”
“I don’t keep pleasure slaves. When I want one for a while, I either propose a practice challenge, or I attend the monthly event and win someone, although that has gotten harder.”
“As people have gotten better?”
“No. There are now more people who wish to be challengers than there are people to challenge. When Queen Lisdee first implemented the rule, many of the women of Charthan had become citizens, and there were several thousand. But over time, more and more of them have since become slaves.”
“Why?”
“It was intentional on Queen Lisdee’s part. She set it up to be very alluring.”
“I thought that was the entire idea.”
“Well, it is. You need to understand. The people of Ressaline City had been losing people to starvation for generations, and the economic policies of Charthan severely contributed to it. And then they did two more things. They tried to annex an especially rich portion of our country, a portion that we would use to help pay for food. If they had asked for rights, we might have come to an agreement, food for timber, and we might have let them keep the entire valley for silver and tin mining as well, for a permanent end to the tariffs they charged for trade, or at least for trade of food.”
I tried to imagine the situation. It was as alien to me as any of this.
“But they didn’t, and they ignored Queen Lisdee’s supplications for a peaceful ending. When we then sent a small force to deal with it, we discovered much of their army was now occupying our land, and you don’t send that many people if you don’t have plans on more land. Those forces captured most of our small force, and they were… unkind.”
“Do I want to know?”
“There were rough men, and we’re all women.”
“Lisolte.” I opened my eyes.
“I’m sorry. A bad story.”
“Finish it.”
She nodded. “My countrywomen were very angry and scared, all of us. If Queen Lisdee had not dealt decisively, she may have been deposed. I don’t know. I was young and not fully aware of the politics, but I was acutely aware of the sentiments. We emptied the city. Every woman of Ressaline City of an age to fight lifted weapons, but then we didn’t go directly against them.”
“What did you do?”
“We took their force partly through overwhelming numbers of small groups, but more through guile. We then enslaved them and used them to supplement our own numbers as we took the rest of the country.”
“And that’s how a small country annexed a much larger one?”
“Yes. My point is this: most of my countrywomen were quite angry, and we wanted everyone in Charthan enslaved. Everyone. Queen Lisdee and Lady Olivia felt that was a mistake, because we didn’t have sufficient numbers to run a country of slaves. One woman can only manage so many before the bonds become weak. The slaves become miserable without direct attention, and ultimately, deep down, we knew most of the people here were innocent of directly hurting us. But the sentiments were torn between enslaving most of the country and all of the country. The monthly event was designed to alter the natural balance. It would have been somewhere between half and three quarters, but the monthly event saw to it that only a very small number of women remained citizens.”
“Like Claary and Gigi.”
“Yes. Something more than half of the women were enslaved in the same fashion that I could have been. It was on its way to three quarters, as some of the new citizens hoped for more than one slave, and so one remained a citizen, and one citizen became a new slave. But the rule for the monthly event is that someone can be invited to a permanent challenge three days after being released, and after two weeks of being a pleasure slave, three days isn’t enough to shake the effects.”
“Oh,” I said.
“Which is why you won’t be taking practice challenges for months.”
“Allium explained that part.” I nodded then collected her hand and pressed it back to my face, closing my eyes. She laughed and returned to stroking.
“There are those who feel we went too far, and we’re suffering the economic effects from it. However, we solved the main problem. There is no starvation. But it will take a couple of generations before the ratio returns to a more natural percentage, and probably longer than that before we could consider Ressaline as vibrant.”
“This is why you are pursuing a relationship with Flarvor.”
“It’s part of the reason, and part of the reason Queen Lisdee and Lady Olivia wanted you and Darfelsa to visit. They’d love if your mother did, too.”
“That is, shall we say, unlikely.”
“We know. We know how vibrant Charth was before we arrived, and we know how vibrant Barrish is.”
“I can’t walk the streets of Barrish without guards.”
“Allium has talked about that, too,” she said. “Some of our ways are better than yours.”
“It’s very odd to me having no men around. I miss my father, but otherwise, I could grow quite accustomed.”
“So, I got sidetracked. It isn’t about whether people have gotten better. I don’t do this very often, but sometimes I offer myself on the other side. I then play under those rules.”
“Is there some sort of handicap?”
“Yes. The challengers choose the event. They may not choose an event that has an actual handicap, but they can choose events that play to their strengths or away from the strengths of the woman they are challenging.”
“Ah.”
“And what I said about a handicap isn’t entirely true. Some events appear to begin with one of the participants deeply handicapped, but it’s not as deep a handicap as it appears.”
“Such as?”
“One of them may begin tied into one of the trenches you saw.”
“That seems like a very, very large handicap.”
