Heir, page 16
part #5 of Ressaline Series
“I don’t know.”
“Allium, just ask.”
“I want you to consider quietly telling Olivia she should use her judgment.”
“In other words, if she doesn’t like my reactions, she’s going to get a bunch of people to hold me down and drug me.”
“It won’t take that many.”
“That’s your plan? And then what?”
“And then you’ll have your First.”
“With whom?”
“If it goes that way? Probably Olivia herself.”
“And if I sit there calmly?”
“Then we’ll have a final discussion, and you’ll begin your First as soon as you’re ready.”
“As in, ten minutes later?”
“Oh, I was thinking some time in the next few days.”
“But if she drugs me, you’ll haul me out into the arena and do it there?”
“If she drugs you, you’ll sit quietly beside her, and then we’ll bring you to her home and see to it there.”
“Are you going to be one of the women holding me down?”
“Olivia has asked Gionna and I to host today, but if you need one or both of us with you, she can get someone else.”
“No,” I said. “That’s fine.”
“I can stay with you.”
“I’ll be fine, Allium. You have very little faith in your future queen.”
Her eyes widened, and then she dropped into a deep curtsey. “My apologies.”
“Oh, get up,” I said. “Please don’t do that.”
She rose slowly, but she wouldn’t meet my gaze until I set a hand on her cheek. I tried to decide whether she was trying to manipulate me. But I held her gaze and said, “I’ll talk to Olivia. I’m not sure what I’ll say, but I’ll make sure you know, so you’ll know if there should be an international incident.”
She smiled somewhat wryly. I slowly withdrew my touch. “Why did you do that?”
“I wasn’t thinking of you as my future queen,” she replied. “I was thinking of you as a young woman under my care, and I’d begun treating you like a member of my work crew. I needed that reminder.”
“Well, it’s fine,” I said. “Allium, we’ve talked about this. I need you to speak plainly with me. If thinking of me as a member of your work crew makes that easier, that’s fine. I wasn’t putting you in your place. I was reminding you that I’m not a delicate flower, even if I can put on the appearance of one.”
“It’s a delicate dance.”
“Sometimes. You can handle it. And I can handle the truth.” I paused. “Do you really think I’m going to bolt?”
“I think you’re going to have a difficult afternoon. I think doing this blindly is a better plan.”
“Yes, well. That would be an international incident. Was I being dismissive of your concern?”
“I wouldn’t say that. I would say… I’m not sure what I’d say. You weren’t planning for a contingency.”
“You’re right,” I agreed. “And putting it that way helps. I will tell Olivia not to let me back out.”
“You don’t have to, Ahlianna. I only wanted you to decide while your head is clear.”
“It’s clear, and I have no intention of backing out.”
“All right.”
“Hug?”
“Hug,” she agreed. We did, holding tightly for a minute before releasing.
* * * *
Olivia collected us. In her carriage there were the five of us, as she brought Bee and Dee with her. “Where is Gionna?”
“She went ahead,” Olivia said. “She’ll see us there.”
I nodded.
We rode quietly. It was as we passed out of the gates that I looked into Olivia’s eyes. “You have some sort of tonic with you.”
“Yes.”
“Would you use it without permission?”
“It would depend on what was happening.”
“If you do not like what you see from me, you may use it,” I said. “But you will ask if I’m all right, and if I tell you ‘yes, I’m fine’, you’ll back off.”
“And if you try to leave?” Allium asked.
I thought about it then nodded. “Fine.”
“You’ll begin your First that way,” Olivia said.
“I understand. This is a moot point. If this is beyond what I am willing to watch, you and I will reach a polite agreement.”
“We’ll start with that premise,” she said.
“All right then.” I shifted my gaze. “You two look quite happy.”
“We’re always happy,” Dee said. “Some things just make us happier.”
“That’s not entirely true,” Allium said. “They are sensitive to upsetting issues, but they recover well.”
“That part is true,” Dee said. “Allium is always very kind to us. But we especially like the event today. Sometimes we get to play.”
“Do you?”
“They can be part of the games,” Allium explained.
“I bet those events are especially popular.”
“It only happens now and then.” Dee cocked her head. “Usually because of something Allium suggested.” Allium and I both laughed. “Are you going to host today, Allium? Because we’ll be right up in the stands if you need our help.”
“You know I don’t plan the events. I just introduce them.”
“You make playful suggestions as often as anyone,” Olivia countered.
I got Bee and Dee to talk about some of Allium’s suggestions, and we were all smiling as we reached the arena. I was first from the carriage, but then I waited, and when Bee appeared, I took her arm. She smiled at me. She set her hand atop mine, but when Olivia alighted, she took me from her slave.
We turned and strode through the gates.
The stands were already half full. There were slaves moving about, offering refreshments. “No alcohol for me,” I said to Olivia, and so she ordered several pots of tea and a small cask of cider.
I gave greetings to people as they arrived: Lisolte, Jessla, Holliahta and Gretchena. She took me from Olivia and said, “I’m so excited.”
“Are you?”
“This is my first event since my First,” she said.
“Are you competing?”
“I wish I were. I can’t for a few months. Some of my friends are here, though, and they see me talking to you.”
I laughed. “Do they know who I am.”
“Everyone knows who you are,” she said. “I love the hat.”
“Thanks.”
And then Gionna was there. We exchanged a hug and cheek kisses, and she complimented my appearance.
“You and Allium are hosting today,” I said.
“I can stay here if you need me to.”
“I’m surrounded by people. I’m fine. Go host. Spank a few butts or something.”
She laughed. “We don’t really do that, but maybe I’ll find an opportunity to spank Allium’s.”
“You can try, but I bet she can take you.”
“She can, and has. I owe her a public spanking.”
“Really?”
“Yes. She spanked me during our first event.”
“Well you were probably naughty, knowing you.”
“Knowing me. I’m sorry, if I’m going to host, I need to grab Allium, and we need to go.”
I hugged her once more and then intercepted Allium. “I’ll be fine,” I whispered to her. “If you see a chance for me to help or something, I won’t be offended if you take it.”
“Was that a request?”
“Mother and Father are constantly getting pulled into stuff. I’m only saying if you do, it’s fine. No, it’s not a request. I think I’m going to be up here with my knuckles in my mouth. Well, no, I don’t. I think that’s what you think.”
She laughed. “I guess we’ll see. I should go.”
“Have fun.”
“You, too.”
Allium turned away. Before I could go anywhere, Olivia was there. “I want you beside me,” she whispered.
“All right.”
“I’m going to keep you surrounded,” she added.
“You really have so little faith in me. Really, Olivia. I’m going to spend the next ten minutes deciding if I should be offended.”
“How about you tell me after the third event.”
“Is there something special about the third event?”
“I have no idea, but I’m giving you a chance to calm down after the first one.”
“Funny.”
We sat, and then other people filled in around us. Claary and Gigi sat immediately behind me. Holliahta was beside me. Lisolte was close, and others filled in as they could. I turned and saw Gretchena somewhat behind me and to my left. I waved at her. She waved back.
“Why isn’t your daughter beside you?” I whispered to Holliahta.
“Her choice. She gets exuberant. She may disappear and go sit with her friends. If so, she’ll try to be subtle about it. Olivia wanted others close at hand.”
I looked around. “Several of these people look like they might be military officers.”
“Funny, that,” Olivia replied.
“Are they here for our protection?”
“No.”
“They’re here in case I’m more trouble than anyone expects.”
“No; they’re here in case you’re every bit as much trouble as everyone expects.”
“I’m definitely hurt,” I said. I leaned the other way. “Hurt, I say.”
“Tell me that in another half hour,” she replied. “This is a mistake.”
“No preemptive drugging,” I told her. “I think you owe me if I take everything in stride.”
“Sure. What do you want?” Olivia asked.
“Something silly. You’ll humor me over something.”
“What?”
“I have no idea. It won’t be anything you’re actively opposed to.”
“Sure. And if you react like I’m afraid?”
“Then you’ll drug me and I’ll spend a month humoring you, I imagine.”
“That part is true.”
“You can do it right down there, in front of everyone,” I said with a gesture.
“I wouldn’t do that to you, Ahlianna,” she said.
“Because it’s my First?”
“Well, yes, but because this isn’t some sort of conquest.”
“Of course it is.”
“No. First is not a conquest, and many other events are not, either. First is a sweet, poignant moment, and I don’t intend to treat it any other way.”
Then Gionna and Allium strode onto the grass. Allium took off her hat and waved it as the two did a large circle of the arena, each traveling in opposite directions. The audience went crazy for them, and I heard both their names being called out.
Bee and Dee were as loud as anyone. When they came together in front of Olivia’s box, I stood up, clapping loudly and calling out their names in turn. The others nearest me joined me, and it was only a few rounds before the entire arena was saying their names in unison, clapping as one.
It was pretty amazing.
They both turned and waved, and then Gionna blew a kiss in our direction, so I sat down. Gionna helped Allium put her hat back on, and then the two raised their hands. It was only a moment before the audience calmed down.
“Welcome, everyone!” Allium called out.
“Thank you for coming,” Gionna said. “I think this is a record turnout for a non-monthly event.”
“It’s because you’re here, Princess!” someone yelled.
I stood up. “Which Princess. I’m sure you meant me.”
The audience laughed. Gionna waited until she could be heard and then said, “I’m sure everyone knows who that is, Princess Ahlianna of Flarvor. Wave to everyone, Princess.”
I did, and I blew my own kiss down to her before sitting down again.
“All right,” Allium said. “We have nine events today. There are no permanent challenges, but we have two small group and one large group event. We’re starting with about the simplest event we hold.”
Gionna gestured. The doors at the far side of the arena opened, and a low wagon appeared, pulled by two horses. It traveled onto the arena. On the cart was a large, low tub. The cart came to a stop, and then workers came forward. The wagon could tip, and they slid the tub onto the ground. Then the cart drove away. Two more workers came forward bringing chairs, which they very carefully set into the tub.
“The chairs are locked into place,” Olivia said. “So they can’t tip.”
“And our contestants!” Gionna called out. “Our first is Selishia. She is originally from Ressaline City, but has been living here for several years.”
She gestured, and a woman stepped from the door to our left. The crowd began applauding, hooting, hollering, whistling, and otherwise acting quite raucously. The woman strode forward, waving, then came to a stop at the edge of the tub.
“And our second contestant,” Allium said. “Sorette is a craftsman from Flarvor. This is her fifth event, and her first in this arena. Sorette came to Charth to help repair farming equipment, and she says she never intends to go back.”
She gestured, and another woman, clad in the same style of thin white shift as the first woman, appeared from our right. She also waved, but she kept her eyes on her opponent. She stepped forward, coming to a stop on opposite sides of the tub.
“Everyone here knows this event,” Gionna said, “Excepting perhaps the person seated with Lady Olivia, and she can watch and learn.”
As the audience made noise, Gionna and Allium hugged each of the contestants. Then Gionna offered Sorette her choice of something from a tray. I couldn’t see what it was, but she took the device to one of the chairs. Selishia did the same, moving to the other chair. When they were done, there was a, well, a handle sticking up out of the center of each of the chairs.
That was when I realized what was about to happen.
Two workers came forward. Allium and one of the workers moved to Selishia. They guided her to the chair that Sorette had prepared, helping her carefully into place. Gionna and the other worker assisted Sorette. Both women squirmed around a little. And then I watched Allium and Gionna lock the feet of each women down into the tub, slightly in front of them.
Allium and Gionna both stepped out of the tub. The two workers stayed close, one near each woman, as did Allium and Gionna. But then nothing appeared to be happening.
“Okay,” I said finally. “Now what?”
“It takes time,” Olivia explained. “The magic is working on them. You may see them talking, but we won’t hear them from here. I believe Sorette has her eyes closed.”
“You’re right. But they’re just sitting there.”
“Not entirely. They’re both squirming. Ah, and there’s the resin.”
“Where?”
“Climbing Sorette’s legs.”
I stared. “I’m really lost.”
“It’s a thick liquid, almost like honey. Well, not that thick. The resin responds to the game.”
“So Sorette is winning?”
“If you define winning as drawing closer to becoming a pleasure slave for a week, yes.”
“She’s losing?”
“I don’t think she considers it losing,” Olivia said. “She’s becoming a resin slave.”
Claary leaned over. “That’s someone who surrenders to the resin, someone likely to ask to be made a permanent slave.”
“They’re… um… With the chair?”
“Yes. They’re um,” Olivia said. I looked over, and she was smirking.
“Hey, I might not be keeping up, but I’m not running away screaming.”
“Not yet.”
I gestured. “It looks like Selishia is trying to catch up.”
“Selishia is not very experienced, either,” Olivia said. “Both women are beating themselves more than the other doing it.”
* * * *
It didn’t take long, less than ten minutes. Selishia actually pulled her own shift off. Gionna ended up doing the same for Sorette.
The women began moving, more and more, with Sorette actively working up and down on the chair, pushing up and lowering herself, and I could hear her moan a few times.
The red resin climbed up to cover both of them to their necks and down to their hands. But it was Sorette that cried out, then again and again. Gionna and the worker supported her as she slumped, panting heavily.
“Congratulations, Selishia!” Gionna called out.
But then we waited, as Selishia was lost, as well, and she gave out her own cries.
“They both lost?” I asked.
“There is a winner and a winner,” Olivia said. “But Sorette belongs to Selishia. The magic knows. Watch.”
As Allium and the other worker supported her, the resin dripped from Selishia’s body and back into the tub.
“Why aren’t Gionna and Allium coated?”
“It’s the nature of the magic. I imagine Allium’s feet are red, and probably Gionna’s, but it will drip off as they step out.”
They freed the woman. Selishia needed a little help, but she eventually moved to her new pleasure slave and knelt down, looking up into the woman’s eyes. Then, again with a little help, she picked up the woman, still naked herself, carried her from the arena, the crowd cheering loudly, many of them on their feet. I sat in place, saying nothing. Olivia sat beside me, for now, quiet.
There was a second event, also in the tub, but this time both women sitting up, propped in place. I couldn’t see what they were doing, but I realized they were using the devices on each other.
The third event was quite different. They left the tub in place. Instead, the event began right in front of us, ten steps from the edge. The two women grappled, one finally catching the other. She dragged her, a little at a time, to the nearest trench, but upon arriving, the second reversed everything, capturing one wrist and wrapping rope around it. The two struggled, and it took several minutes, the crowd screaming the entire time, but one woman tied the other into the trench, her arms and legs spread, most of her body in the resin.”
“It’s clear.”
“It is the intention of the contestants, mostly the winner, that determines the color,” Olivia explained. “Claary could give you several colors, if she were sufficiently ahead to focus on it. Otherwise she would add color after you succumb.”
“Allium, just ask.”
“I want you to consider quietly telling Olivia she should use her judgment.”
“In other words, if she doesn’t like my reactions, she’s going to get a bunch of people to hold me down and drug me.”
“It won’t take that many.”
“That’s your plan? And then what?”
“And then you’ll have your First.”
“With whom?”
“If it goes that way? Probably Olivia herself.”
“And if I sit there calmly?”
“Then we’ll have a final discussion, and you’ll begin your First as soon as you’re ready.”
“As in, ten minutes later?”
“Oh, I was thinking some time in the next few days.”
“But if she drugs me, you’ll haul me out into the arena and do it there?”
“If she drugs you, you’ll sit quietly beside her, and then we’ll bring you to her home and see to it there.”
“Are you going to be one of the women holding me down?”
“Olivia has asked Gionna and I to host today, but if you need one or both of us with you, she can get someone else.”
“No,” I said. “That’s fine.”
“I can stay with you.”
“I’ll be fine, Allium. You have very little faith in your future queen.”
Her eyes widened, and then she dropped into a deep curtsey. “My apologies.”
“Oh, get up,” I said. “Please don’t do that.”
She rose slowly, but she wouldn’t meet my gaze until I set a hand on her cheek. I tried to decide whether she was trying to manipulate me. But I held her gaze and said, “I’ll talk to Olivia. I’m not sure what I’ll say, but I’ll make sure you know, so you’ll know if there should be an international incident.”
She smiled somewhat wryly. I slowly withdrew my touch. “Why did you do that?”
“I wasn’t thinking of you as my future queen,” she replied. “I was thinking of you as a young woman under my care, and I’d begun treating you like a member of my work crew. I needed that reminder.”
“Well, it’s fine,” I said. “Allium, we’ve talked about this. I need you to speak plainly with me. If thinking of me as a member of your work crew makes that easier, that’s fine. I wasn’t putting you in your place. I was reminding you that I’m not a delicate flower, even if I can put on the appearance of one.”
“It’s a delicate dance.”
“Sometimes. You can handle it. And I can handle the truth.” I paused. “Do you really think I’m going to bolt?”
“I think you’re going to have a difficult afternoon. I think doing this blindly is a better plan.”
“Yes, well. That would be an international incident. Was I being dismissive of your concern?”
“I wouldn’t say that. I would say… I’m not sure what I’d say. You weren’t planning for a contingency.”
“You’re right,” I agreed. “And putting it that way helps. I will tell Olivia not to let me back out.”
“You don’t have to, Ahlianna. I only wanted you to decide while your head is clear.”
“It’s clear, and I have no intention of backing out.”
“All right.”
“Hug?”
“Hug,” she agreed. We did, holding tightly for a minute before releasing.
* * * *
Olivia collected us. In her carriage there were the five of us, as she brought Bee and Dee with her. “Where is Gionna?”
“She went ahead,” Olivia said. “She’ll see us there.”
I nodded.
We rode quietly. It was as we passed out of the gates that I looked into Olivia’s eyes. “You have some sort of tonic with you.”
“Yes.”
“Would you use it without permission?”
“It would depend on what was happening.”
“If you do not like what you see from me, you may use it,” I said. “But you will ask if I’m all right, and if I tell you ‘yes, I’m fine’, you’ll back off.”
“And if you try to leave?” Allium asked.
I thought about it then nodded. “Fine.”
“You’ll begin your First that way,” Olivia said.
“I understand. This is a moot point. If this is beyond what I am willing to watch, you and I will reach a polite agreement.”
“We’ll start with that premise,” she said.
“All right then.” I shifted my gaze. “You two look quite happy.”
“We’re always happy,” Dee said. “Some things just make us happier.”
“That’s not entirely true,” Allium said. “They are sensitive to upsetting issues, but they recover well.”
“That part is true,” Dee said. “Allium is always very kind to us. But we especially like the event today. Sometimes we get to play.”
“Do you?”
“They can be part of the games,” Allium explained.
“I bet those events are especially popular.”
“It only happens now and then.” Dee cocked her head. “Usually because of something Allium suggested.” Allium and I both laughed. “Are you going to host today, Allium? Because we’ll be right up in the stands if you need our help.”
“You know I don’t plan the events. I just introduce them.”
“You make playful suggestions as often as anyone,” Olivia countered.
I got Bee and Dee to talk about some of Allium’s suggestions, and we were all smiling as we reached the arena. I was first from the carriage, but then I waited, and when Bee appeared, I took her arm. She smiled at me. She set her hand atop mine, but when Olivia alighted, she took me from her slave.
We turned and strode through the gates.
The stands were already half full. There were slaves moving about, offering refreshments. “No alcohol for me,” I said to Olivia, and so she ordered several pots of tea and a small cask of cider.
I gave greetings to people as they arrived: Lisolte, Jessla, Holliahta and Gretchena. She took me from Olivia and said, “I’m so excited.”
“Are you?”
“This is my first event since my First,” she said.
“Are you competing?”
“I wish I were. I can’t for a few months. Some of my friends are here, though, and they see me talking to you.”
I laughed. “Do they know who I am.”
“Everyone knows who you are,” she said. “I love the hat.”
“Thanks.”
And then Gionna was there. We exchanged a hug and cheek kisses, and she complimented my appearance.
“You and Allium are hosting today,” I said.
“I can stay here if you need me to.”
“I’m surrounded by people. I’m fine. Go host. Spank a few butts or something.”
She laughed. “We don’t really do that, but maybe I’ll find an opportunity to spank Allium’s.”
“You can try, but I bet she can take you.”
“She can, and has. I owe her a public spanking.”
“Really?”
“Yes. She spanked me during our first event.”
“Well you were probably naughty, knowing you.”
“Knowing me. I’m sorry, if I’m going to host, I need to grab Allium, and we need to go.”
I hugged her once more and then intercepted Allium. “I’ll be fine,” I whispered to her. “If you see a chance for me to help or something, I won’t be offended if you take it.”
“Was that a request?”
“Mother and Father are constantly getting pulled into stuff. I’m only saying if you do, it’s fine. No, it’s not a request. I think I’m going to be up here with my knuckles in my mouth. Well, no, I don’t. I think that’s what you think.”
She laughed. “I guess we’ll see. I should go.”
“Have fun.”
“You, too.”
Allium turned away. Before I could go anywhere, Olivia was there. “I want you beside me,” she whispered.
“All right.”
“I’m going to keep you surrounded,” she added.
“You really have so little faith in me. Really, Olivia. I’m going to spend the next ten minutes deciding if I should be offended.”
“How about you tell me after the third event.”
“Is there something special about the third event?”
“I have no idea, but I’m giving you a chance to calm down after the first one.”
“Funny.”
We sat, and then other people filled in around us. Claary and Gigi sat immediately behind me. Holliahta was beside me. Lisolte was close, and others filled in as they could. I turned and saw Gretchena somewhat behind me and to my left. I waved at her. She waved back.
“Why isn’t your daughter beside you?” I whispered to Holliahta.
“Her choice. She gets exuberant. She may disappear and go sit with her friends. If so, she’ll try to be subtle about it. Olivia wanted others close at hand.”
I looked around. “Several of these people look like they might be military officers.”
“Funny, that,” Olivia replied.
“Are they here for our protection?”
“No.”
“They’re here in case I’m more trouble than anyone expects.”
“No; they’re here in case you’re every bit as much trouble as everyone expects.”
“I’m definitely hurt,” I said. I leaned the other way. “Hurt, I say.”
“Tell me that in another half hour,” she replied. “This is a mistake.”
“No preemptive drugging,” I told her. “I think you owe me if I take everything in stride.”
“Sure. What do you want?” Olivia asked.
“Something silly. You’ll humor me over something.”
“What?”
“I have no idea. It won’t be anything you’re actively opposed to.”
“Sure. And if you react like I’m afraid?”
“Then you’ll drug me and I’ll spend a month humoring you, I imagine.”
“That part is true.”
“You can do it right down there, in front of everyone,” I said with a gesture.
“I wouldn’t do that to you, Ahlianna,” she said.
“Because it’s my First?”
“Well, yes, but because this isn’t some sort of conquest.”
“Of course it is.”
“No. First is not a conquest, and many other events are not, either. First is a sweet, poignant moment, and I don’t intend to treat it any other way.”
Then Gionna and Allium strode onto the grass. Allium took off her hat and waved it as the two did a large circle of the arena, each traveling in opposite directions. The audience went crazy for them, and I heard both their names being called out.
Bee and Dee were as loud as anyone. When they came together in front of Olivia’s box, I stood up, clapping loudly and calling out their names in turn. The others nearest me joined me, and it was only a few rounds before the entire arena was saying their names in unison, clapping as one.
It was pretty amazing.
They both turned and waved, and then Gionna blew a kiss in our direction, so I sat down. Gionna helped Allium put her hat back on, and then the two raised their hands. It was only a moment before the audience calmed down.
“Welcome, everyone!” Allium called out.
“Thank you for coming,” Gionna said. “I think this is a record turnout for a non-monthly event.”
“It’s because you’re here, Princess!” someone yelled.
I stood up. “Which Princess. I’m sure you meant me.”
The audience laughed. Gionna waited until she could be heard and then said, “I’m sure everyone knows who that is, Princess Ahlianna of Flarvor. Wave to everyone, Princess.”
I did, and I blew my own kiss down to her before sitting down again.
“All right,” Allium said. “We have nine events today. There are no permanent challenges, but we have two small group and one large group event. We’re starting with about the simplest event we hold.”
Gionna gestured. The doors at the far side of the arena opened, and a low wagon appeared, pulled by two horses. It traveled onto the arena. On the cart was a large, low tub. The cart came to a stop, and then workers came forward. The wagon could tip, and they slid the tub onto the ground. Then the cart drove away. Two more workers came forward bringing chairs, which they very carefully set into the tub.
“The chairs are locked into place,” Olivia said. “So they can’t tip.”
“And our contestants!” Gionna called out. “Our first is Selishia. She is originally from Ressaline City, but has been living here for several years.”
She gestured, and a woman stepped from the door to our left. The crowd began applauding, hooting, hollering, whistling, and otherwise acting quite raucously. The woman strode forward, waving, then came to a stop at the edge of the tub.
“And our second contestant,” Allium said. “Sorette is a craftsman from Flarvor. This is her fifth event, and her first in this arena. Sorette came to Charth to help repair farming equipment, and she says she never intends to go back.”
She gestured, and another woman, clad in the same style of thin white shift as the first woman, appeared from our right. She also waved, but she kept her eyes on her opponent. She stepped forward, coming to a stop on opposite sides of the tub.
“Everyone here knows this event,” Gionna said, “Excepting perhaps the person seated with Lady Olivia, and she can watch and learn.”
As the audience made noise, Gionna and Allium hugged each of the contestants. Then Gionna offered Sorette her choice of something from a tray. I couldn’t see what it was, but she took the device to one of the chairs. Selishia did the same, moving to the other chair. When they were done, there was a, well, a handle sticking up out of the center of each of the chairs.
That was when I realized what was about to happen.
Two workers came forward. Allium and one of the workers moved to Selishia. They guided her to the chair that Sorette had prepared, helping her carefully into place. Gionna and the other worker assisted Sorette. Both women squirmed around a little. And then I watched Allium and Gionna lock the feet of each women down into the tub, slightly in front of them.
Allium and Gionna both stepped out of the tub. The two workers stayed close, one near each woman, as did Allium and Gionna. But then nothing appeared to be happening.
“Okay,” I said finally. “Now what?”
“It takes time,” Olivia explained. “The magic is working on them. You may see them talking, but we won’t hear them from here. I believe Sorette has her eyes closed.”
“You’re right. But they’re just sitting there.”
“Not entirely. They’re both squirming. Ah, and there’s the resin.”
“Where?”
“Climbing Sorette’s legs.”
I stared. “I’m really lost.”
“It’s a thick liquid, almost like honey. Well, not that thick. The resin responds to the game.”
“So Sorette is winning?”
“If you define winning as drawing closer to becoming a pleasure slave for a week, yes.”
“She’s losing?”
“I don’t think she considers it losing,” Olivia said. “She’s becoming a resin slave.”
Claary leaned over. “That’s someone who surrenders to the resin, someone likely to ask to be made a permanent slave.”
“They’re… um… With the chair?”
“Yes. They’re um,” Olivia said. I looked over, and she was smirking.
“Hey, I might not be keeping up, but I’m not running away screaming.”
“Not yet.”
I gestured. “It looks like Selishia is trying to catch up.”
“Selishia is not very experienced, either,” Olivia said. “Both women are beating themselves more than the other doing it.”
* * * *
It didn’t take long, less than ten minutes. Selishia actually pulled her own shift off. Gionna ended up doing the same for Sorette.
The women began moving, more and more, with Sorette actively working up and down on the chair, pushing up and lowering herself, and I could hear her moan a few times.
The red resin climbed up to cover both of them to their necks and down to their hands. But it was Sorette that cried out, then again and again. Gionna and the worker supported her as she slumped, panting heavily.
“Congratulations, Selishia!” Gionna called out.
But then we waited, as Selishia was lost, as well, and she gave out her own cries.
“They both lost?” I asked.
“There is a winner and a winner,” Olivia said. “But Sorette belongs to Selishia. The magic knows. Watch.”
As Allium and the other worker supported her, the resin dripped from Selishia’s body and back into the tub.
“Why aren’t Gionna and Allium coated?”
“It’s the nature of the magic. I imagine Allium’s feet are red, and probably Gionna’s, but it will drip off as they step out.”
They freed the woman. Selishia needed a little help, but she eventually moved to her new pleasure slave and knelt down, looking up into the woman’s eyes. Then, again with a little help, she picked up the woman, still naked herself, carried her from the arena, the crowd cheering loudly, many of them on their feet. I sat in place, saying nothing. Olivia sat beside me, for now, quiet.
There was a second event, also in the tub, but this time both women sitting up, propped in place. I couldn’t see what they were doing, but I realized they were using the devices on each other.
The third event was quite different. They left the tub in place. Instead, the event began right in front of us, ten steps from the edge. The two women grappled, one finally catching the other. She dragged her, a little at a time, to the nearest trench, but upon arriving, the second reversed everything, capturing one wrist and wrapping rope around it. The two struggled, and it took several minutes, the crowd screaming the entire time, but one woman tied the other into the trench, her arms and legs spread, most of her body in the resin.”
“It’s clear.”
“It is the intention of the contestants, mostly the winner, that determines the color,” Olivia explained. “Claary could give you several colors, if she were sufficiently ahead to focus on it. Otherwise she would add color after you succumb.”
