Immunity, page 13
“France,” Rhosani supplied.
“France pastries,” someone said. “Those aren’t bad. Is that the right word?”
“France is English,” Rhosani said. “It refers to the region. Francais, in the local language.”
They took turns talking about things from Earth, some good and some bad. I agreed with most of their list. And then Enania said, “You’re all skipping the best thing to ever come from Earth.”
“What’s that?” The Khaleesi asked.
“Snow Dove.”
I turned to her, then ran around the room to kiss her cheek. A number of other people agreed with her. It was sweet.
“What about you, Rhosani?” Enania asked.
“Me? Well, I agree with you regarding Snow Dove.”
“We should import more Snow Doves!” someone yelled. Everyone laughed. I waved my finger at her.
“I think our Snow Dove is a unique commodity,” Rhosani said. “If we were going to import anything, I’d choose something simple. Paper.”
“Paper?” several asked.
“For us, paper is a process. The clothing our Snow Dove is wearing would trade for enough paper for a dozen books.”
“She’s nearly naked,” Teriani pointed out.
“Just the way we like her,” Bellaluna yelled. They laughed at that.
“A bolt of our silk would be nearly priceless, if used to buy paper for books.”
“We have an expert,” Bellaluna said. “Snow Dove, what do you miss most?” I shook my head and gestured to my throat. “Someone must have some of that Earth paper,” she said. “Get her a scrap. She can write, can’t she?”
“She can,” Rhosani said.
I shook my head, but I wasn’t that surprised when someone gave some paper to Bellaluna. She invited me over.
I made a show of it, bending over right beside her. I know she looked at my backside. I dipped the pen then very carefully wrote:
Endless hot water for showers
The respect of my position
I set the pen aside and blew on the paper before handing it to Bellaluna. “I don’t understand either of these.”
Her neighbor leaned over. “It’s perfectly legible.”
“Ah,” Rhosani said. “Is it in English?”
“No, it’s not English,” Bellaluna said. She read what I’d written.
“Ah,” Rhosani said. She explained about hot showers. “Some Americans bathe, but many take showers.”
“I don’t think I care for this custom at all,” Bellaluna said. “Bathing should be an experience. This is part of the way humans are always going so fast.”
I took the paper from her, set it down on the table, then jabbed my finger to the word hot, jab, jab, jab.
“Yes, yes, I see,” she said. “Hot. And?”
“Perhaps,” Rhosani said, “this is a luxury one should experience before coming to a conclusion.”
I tapped my nose and gestured to the Khaleesi. Then I was going to take my paper and put it in one of the braziers, but Bellaluna snatched it from my hand. “What about this other one?”
“Our Snow Dove was in a highly respected profession,” Rhosani explained. “One of the top in her field. She traveled all over Earth, being invited to speak in front of hundreds of her colleagues. She was deeply respected in a profession filled with respected individuals.”
I tried to take the paper from Bellaluna, but she held it away from me. “That’s your list?”
“You are hardly one to dismiss a desire to be respected,” Rhosani said. “And while most here enjoy her company, that is the first time anyone here has asked her opinion on any topic since the day I claimed her. And then you dismissed what she wrote.”
“You’re right. But water? We have water here.”
I shook my head. This time, when I lunged for the paper, I surprised her and pulled it from her. I grabbed the pen and underlined hot several times.
“Fine. Hot water. How hot?”
I looked around. Syvis had tea. I stepped to her and picked up her cup. It had cooled somewhat. I cradled the cup before setting it back down and pointed at it. But then I grabbed the pot and added a little more of the steaming tea.
“No,” Bellaluna said.
I smiled at her, then stepped over, grabbed the paper again, and added, “Try it before dismissing it.”
She read my words then said, “Fine. I see this is important to you. But that’s all? Not the food?” I shook my head then caressed her pointed ear. “You prefer elvish food?” I nodded. “Automobiles?” I made a face. “Moving pictures?” At that I shrugged, but it reminded me of one more thing. I added a word to the paper.
Music
“We have music here,” she said.
“Humans don’t need musicians for music,” Laerdya said. “Some humans listen to music all the time, from the moment they rise in the morning, and the style is significantly more varied than ours.”
Again, I tapped my nose and gestured, this time to Laerdya.
“I don’t care for all Earth music, but some of it is good,” she added. “They have a much wider variety of instruments to play, and the quality can be exceedingly high.”
I turned to Bellaluna and kissed her cheek. She caught me for a moment, and I held still. “I am not trying to belittle you.”
I brushed my cheek against hers and drew away.
* * * *
And the fourth?
The Khaleesi had a glass of the fruit juice for me. I knelt to her for a minute, but then I stood and took the glass. She cocked her head. “A new game?” I nodded. “Very good.”
I lifted the glass, moving around the room and into the center until I had attention. Not every conversation stilled, but many of the elves were watching me. And once they were, I moved back outside the ring of tables, walking around the room until I stood behind Bellaluna. And then I stepped to her, knelt, and gave her the glass.
She took it, staring at me for a moment. “You think so, do you?” I nodded. So she offered the glass to me, holding it while I sipped.
She gave me a lap for my head, and through the meal, she fed me and gave me more of the juice. But then she sniffed at it. She lifted my chin. “Is this a joke?”
“There is no joke,” Rhosani said. “Our Snow Dove is true. If you are not interested in her offer, give the glass back to her.”
She didn’t give me the glass. She did sip at it, and then over the remainder of the meal, she gave me the rest.
And as soon as it was polite, I pulled her from the room. We found one of the available quarters, and I moved into her arms, pulling her to a kiss. She let me, but then she pushed me away. “You know it is only juice.”
I set myself to her clothing. She let me, and she watched as I removed my own.
I made love to her, hungry but gentle love. Unlike Enania, she wasn’t entirely passive, and I received my own joy, but primarily, the evening became about pleasing her.
Later, we lay together, and she said, “I don’t understand you.”
I smiled, gestured to myself, and then made a talking puppet motion, going on and on. “Yes, yes,” she said. “You talk endlessly. We’re agreed on that.”
I snuggled in, pulling her arms around me, and I traced my finger across her breasts. It was a particularly lovely pair, but then, all the elves had lovely pairs.
“What are you doing, Snow Dove?”
I smiled, wet my finger, and went back to what I was doing, paying particular attention to the nipples. “That wasn’t what I meant, and I think you know it.”
I smiled, wet two fingers, and reached much lower. She let me change the topic.
A New Abnormal
I struggled to free myself from the punishment bench, although I knew I wasn’t going anywhere. Otter and Rhosani were giggling like mad while tickling the crap out of me. They didn’t stop until I began hiccoughing. At that, they quickly released me, and I slowly got myself under control.
“This is an unexpected reaction, Snow Dove,” Rhosani said. I reached over and patted her hand then finally turned, looked at her, and knelt, Otter joining me.
“Get dressed,” she ordered. “I wish you to attend me during a meeting.”
Otter helped me, fixing everything that was disheveled.
She brought me to the audience room, which was now arranged as a large conference room. There were palace servants, but Rhosani kept me at her side. “Pay attention to the conversation.” I nodded.
It took me about five minutes to become puzzled. I had no idea why I was there. Over the course of the next two hours, they discussed a variety of topics. I listened carefully, and I also saw to Rhosani’s needs. Eventually, the meeting ended. I stayed beside Rhosani and remained puzzled why she’d brought me.
She took me for a walk, and then it was time for dinner.
* * * *
That became a new normal. She was far more likely to collect me nearly every day, and I shadowed her during her duties. If she had free time, she might have Otter brought to us for a walk about town. But it was only in private that she returned my voice to me, and I didn’t ask why I was suddenly attending meetings with her. Nor did she ask my opinion on any of the topics discussed.
I learned more about the overall working of Algonae, but that was about it.
Until Bellaluna said one day, “I find something interesting, Khaleesi.”
“Oh?”
“You have begun bringing your human pet to these sessions.”
“The room is filled with servants.”
“Only one that kneels at any of our sides throughout the meeting. And only one I think who truly understands the conversations. The others probably know some words, but if they speak Elvish, I don’t know it.”
“Do you fear Snow Dove is a spy for the Earth humans?”
“No. The part that puzzles me is that you have not mentioned trade with Earth in some time.”
“Many in the room are opposed to such trade,” she said.
“You aren’t.”
“I would trade cautiously,” Rhosani admitted. “Very cautiously. My position is not that far from yours.”
“You would trade silk for paper.”
“Yes.”
“Magic?”
“I don’t know. I feel far less comfortable with that. We have other differences, Bellaluna.”
“You would integrate the humans. You would give human females fresh laws.”
“Yes, I would.”
“You would free the women of your harem. You would free Snow Dove.”
“I’m not sure I’d go that far,” Rhosani said. Several others chuckled. “The humans have a saying. If you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you, it is yours. If it does not, it never was.”
“You would set Snow Dove free to fly away, to return to the land of endless hot water and professional respect. Do you believe her fine clothing would lure her back?”
Rhosani gazed down at me. “I would give her endless hot water, if I could. And I would find a way to give her professional respect.”
There was a pause, and then Bellaluna said, “You would put her on this council, if we let you.”
“Yes, Bellaluna,” Rhosani said. “I would.”
No. I tugged on Rhosani’s arm, rather frantically, and gestured to my throat. I tugged and I tugged.
“Your pet seems to want something, rather urgently,” Bellaluna observed. “Is she choking?”
“Only upon unspoken words,” Rhosani said. “Do we wish to hear what she would say?”
“Why not?”
“Why not, indeed.”
Rhosani freed my voice. I took her water and drank from it, then stood up and refilled it. I drank a little more, and then I croaked a few words. I drank a little more water, and then said, “I decline.”
They were silent a moment, and then Bellaluna said, “Excuse me?”
“You don’t need to have that discussion. I decline. I have no desire to join this council.”
“She can speak,” Bellaluna said. “When you allow it. I think perhaps you are ruining your lady’s plans for you, Snow Dove.”
“She has a habit of making plans without consulting me first,” I replied. “Or even later.”
“I am fairly certain if you were a member of this council, you would also have more autonomy in other ways.”
“And am I fairly certain that you can find worse choices than me, but you could find far better choices.”
“Unlikely.”
“Oh? You don’t think everyone with a voice in this room should also be less ignorant than I am?”
“Ignorance can be cured.”
“Stupid is forever,” someone else added.
I looked around the room and smiled. “It’s a rhetorical conversation, anyway.”
“Why is that?”
“Because there’s no way even a simple majority of the elves present would vote for me. I would never receive an invitation. I spoke only to prevent anyone spending political capital on the issue.” I turned to the Khaleesi. “You may mute me now.”
“Not just yet,” Bellaluna said. “I believe we should test your guess.”
“What guess?”
“Who believes we should invite Snow Dove to join this council as a voting member?” Bellaluna asked. “Green is to extend an invitation, White is a vote against. If the results are unclear, then the conversation can continue over time.”
“Wait,” I said. “I already declined.”
“Call for the vote, Khaleesi,” Bellaluna said.
“Wait. Just wait!”
“You don’t get a vote yet,” Bellaluna said with a smile. “The Khaleesi prefers a two thirds majority, but if it is close, she prefers further discussion. Call the vote.”
“She doesn’t even want it,” Shaerra pointed out.
“That makes her an ideal candidate, someone who doesn’t yearn for power,” Bellaluna replied. “I wish only to see how accurate her prediction is. Call the vote.”
Several others added their voices to call the vote, and so the Khaleesi nodded. “Green or White.” She lifted a stick with a round piece of wood attached, painted green. Around the room, there were far, far more of the green placards than white, far more.
Some of the elves were slow to vote, Bellaluna one of them. I turned to her. Of the people who had voted so far, there was the two-thirds majority to invite me, but there were enough who hadn’t yet voted to stop this nonsense.
Bellaluna picked up her white sign, but she didn’t lift it. She studied me a moment longer before setting it aside and lifting the green.
Several more voted green, shortly after she did. There were a few more white, but the measure passed by a fair margin. I looked around the room, and I’m sure horror showed on my face. “This is ridiculous.” I spun back to Bellaluna. “This makes no sense.”
“Find a chair,” she said.
“I am a harem slave!” I exclaimed. “This is ridiculous.”
“You have a gifted mind,” she said. “And a unique perspective. You are accustomed to navigating politics. And unlike myself, you manage to convey a great amount in very few words.”
“That’s because I literally couldn’t speak!” I smiled. “I am a professor,” I said. “I can drone for hours.” I smiled. “Besides. I declined.”
“Do you want to see us vote again, asking whether we’ll let you decline?”
I turned to Rhosani. She was smirking. “How long has this been your plan?”
“Years.” She spoke in Persian, and one of the servants brought a chair besides hers, the elves making room.
“No,” Bellaluna said. “She should not sit beside you. She’ll vote however you tell her to vote.”
“You don’t know me at all,” I said. “I want to know why.”
“Because,” one of the other women said. “We all believe we will eventually invite a human representative. One vote isn’t enough to matter. Most who voted white did so not as a statement about you, but because they do not feel now is the time.”
“I’m a lousy human representative,” I said. “Any of the servants in the room would be a better choice.”
“Would they?”
“Yes.”
“A member of this council should understand the issues being discussed,” Bellaluna said.
“Agreed.”
“And be able to take her own notes.”
“All right, sure,” I said. “And be able to communicate with the other humans. I can barely make the most basic requests known.”
“You might find they speak more Elvish than they let on,” said the other woman. I wracked my brain for her name. Myrrh. That was it. She smiled. “Girls, one time only. Please vote on this topic.”
And all of the human women looked at the woman sharply, then schooled their features.
“Vote if you wish,” Rhosani said gently.
The one who had brought me the chair stepped forward and lifted Rhosani’s green sign. Two more cautiously did the same. They didn’t all vote, but most did, all of them voting green.
“I think about two of them understood, and the rest are just going along.”
“We understand,” said the closest. “Vote you.”
“You would agree, Snow Dove, that the human representative should understand the conversation here,” Bellaluna said. “I admit, the point I was trying to reach has been diluted, but not entirely.”
“Apparently, they understand just fine.”
“Did she sound fluent?” She smiled. “Do you believe any of them read or write?”
“I bet some of them do.”
“Elvish? Perhaps you feel we should hold these meetings in the language of our former oppressors.”
“We vote you,” said the woman again. “Fair points. Outside palace, less Elvish. Need aide.” She lifted her sign again. “I vote Otter.”
“Green for Otter,” Rhosani said. “White if you prefer someone else to serve as Snow Dove’s emissary to other humans.”
They all waved their green signs with some exuberance.
“You can’t disappoint Otter,” Bellaluna said. “Khaleesi, she is not my harem slave.”
