Heir, page 5
part #5 of Ressaline Series
“And you think Valsine will come and make her own bed?” I asked.
“Find an excuse to send her here as an envoy from your father to me,” Allium replied. “And let me talk to her. Maybe we’ll accept her as another guest for a few weeks and ship her back. She doesn’t need to know we had this kind of discussion.”
“Not as long as I’m here,” I said.
“Do I detect animosity?” Olivia asked.
“Let’s just say that I think she’s a poor choice,” I said.
“I wasn’t there,” Allium said. “How was she when she got back last year?”
“She wasn’t up to her normal tricks, but anyone can be well-behaved for a few weeks.”
“Or her experience here changed her,” Allium offered. “Give her to me and let me find out. She can’t be worse than what I’ve dealt with in the past, and I can easily get rid of her.” She smiled. “Olivia, do you believe Claary would rent her a nice room for a couple of weeks, at a rate I’m willing to cover?”
“I believe that could be arranged,” Olivia replied.
“There is no expectation that the embassy is also an inn,” Allium pointed out. “After two weeks, if she wants to stay, she can pay for the room herself, if she hasn’t asked for a permanent challenge.”
Everyone snorted, then I nodded. “We’ll send a note to Father with our next dispatch,” I said. “But I don’t want Valsine here until I’m gone.”
“That’s fine. It will take a little time, but I’d like to get Ms. Gyrolite, if she’s interested in coming. And I want you and Leander looking around to see if there’s anyone else you should send me. I’ll find some way to keep people busy.”
Olivia and I turned to each other. She nodded. “Our countries are trying to be friends.”
“I hope you feel we’re succeeding,” I said.
“I feel it’s a process,” she replied. “Admittedly, our customs interfere. Our economic insecurity doesn’t help, either.”
“Fair enough.”
“And we as people are trying to be friends,” Olivia said.
“And you feel that is also a process?” I asked.
“You and I barely know each other,” she said. “You and I are not friends, Ahlianna. You are the princess and I am the duchess. But we’re working on friendship as well.”
“Fair enough,” I repeated.
“Friends help each other. I believe I am in a position to offer experience to some selected women of your country, women who may or may not become central to your government in future decades.”
“And you want something in return?”
“Only friendship,” she said. “Friendship between our countries. Friendship between the Duchess of Charthan and the current and future monarchs of Flarvor. Friendship between those monarchs and Queen Lisdee. And personal friendship with you and your sister, and if we can arrange it, your parents.”
“I’d like that,” I said. “That’s why I’m here, after all.”
“When this began, I thought we had little to offer you,” Olivia declared. “I have grown to realize that isn’t entirely true. We’ve given opportunity to some of your citizens. That opportunity is going to be good for them, good for us, and good for Flarvor. It will mean we have more to trade with you than our silver and tin, which is limited. It makes us a stronger trading partner, which is good for both of us.”
“Agreed,” I said.
“But it never occurred to me that our ways here also represent opportunity for you. Oh, after I met Allium and saw how she responded to simple friendship, I began to realize our ways could benefit individuals, but I didn’t see how they could benefit your country, or you specifically.” She turned to Allium. “Is there truly no one in Flarvor who can offer what I can?”
“I could, to a lesser extent, but the Ministry of Transportation isn’t really the right place. The Minister of Culture is a woman.” There was something in Allium’s tone that indicated she felt similarly about the particular woman as I did.
“Why is Darfelsa here if she could have stayed home?” Olivia asked. “Well, you know what I mean.” Allium and I looked at each other, and then she turned to look out the window. Olivia saw this and asked, “Do you want me to withdraw my question?”
“Allium can’t answer you, but I can,” I said. “But friends would never repeat what I’m about to say.”
“Of course,” Olivia said.
“The Minister of Culture is quite adept. The arts in Barrish have flourished under her leadership, which you have witnessed yourself.” I paused. “She has her own methods.”
“Methods Allium disapproves of.”
“I don’t know the woman,” Allium said.
“Clearly you know of her,” Olivia pointed out.
“She has a reputation.”
“Why are you dancing around it?”
“She slept her way into her position,” I said.
“Which they aren’t going to really understand,” Allium added. She sighed and turned back to face us. “I have not met her, but I presume she was once exceedingly attractive.”
“She still is,” I said.
“And while it is not true of all men, there are enough men who will trade a portion of their power to a woman who shares their beds. I don’t imagine you have the same problem here.”
“No, not really,” Gionna said. “And I don’t think I understand.”
“That's because you’re a debauched princess,” Allium said.
“Hey!” Gionna complained, but she smiled.
“Are you willing to do the things you do with a man?”
“Well, no,” she said. “But I take it the women of Barrish are more open to the idea.”
“More open, yes,” Allium said. “But it’s entirely different. The expectations are for a woman to remain chaste except with her husband. Clearly that expectation is not entirely followed. A woman willing to use her body can find men willing to give her a portion of what she wants. And every woman who does that makes it that much harder for women like me.”
“The implication, if you don’t know Allium, is that she did the same things to reach her position,” I said.
“Ah,” said Olivia. “Which not only implies you might do it again…”
“Netting attention I don’t care to deal with,” Allium said.
“But also suggesting you don’t have the skills to hold the position otherwise,” Olivia finished. “Tell me this woman didn’t reach her final position by sleeping with someone in a greater position of authority.”
“She did, but not with Leander,” Allium said. “She convinced the previous minister to name her as his successor.”
Olivia swore. “And when your previous minister did the same with you?”
“Absolutely everyone would have assumed the worst of me,” she replied. “Which everyone knows, but of course, we wouldn’t normally talk about it.”
“I met Minister Heliodor,” Olivia said. “He seemed quite ethical.”
“He is,” Allium said.
“And I saw how he looked at you, Allium,” Olivia said. “Like a daughter, not a lover.”
“I resemble his deceased wife when she was my age,” Allium replied. “But never, not once has he ever treated me as if he expected any sort of physical favors.” But then a look of horror crossed her face. “No.” She said. “No, no, no, no, no!” She began rocking in her seat.
I immediately scooted forward and grabbed her hands. “Allium, that’s not why. It’s not!”
“Of course, it’s why!” she said, her despair evident.
“Do you honestly think her friendship is false?” I asked firmly, not releasing her hands.
“I’m nobody!” she wailed. “She has her pick of friends throughout Barrish, any of whom would suit better than I do.”
“What’s going on?” Olivia asked.
“She thinks the only reason Mother befriended her is to protect Father’s reputation.”
“Of course, that’s why!”
“It’s not!” I said firmly. “Mother has never done that, but she has put her foot down when some woman thought she was going to curry favor with Father. Everyone knows it.”
“I don’t understand,” Olivia said.
Allium turned to look at her. “Ralifta befriended me so it wouldn’t start rumors if the king did anything to help me.”
“What rumors would that start?”
“The ones we were just talking about,” Gionna said. “Except instead of sleeping with the Minister, she’d be sleeping with the king himself.”
“Instead, he’s doing them because Ralifta is asking for favors for her rather unexpected friend. What is everyone thinking?”
“Why do you care?” I asked. “Allium, why do you care?”
She continued to rock, but she didn’t try to pull her hands from me. But when Gionna tried to put her arm around her, Allium shrugged her off.
“Let her rock,” Olivia said. “Ahlianna, how sure are you she’s wrong?”
“Positive,” I said. “Mother is a good actress, but she prides herself on never lying to Darfelsa and me. She loves you, Allium, and she looks forward to her time with you. She says you’re a refreshing breath of fresh air, and everyone in this coach knows exactly what she means.”
“Allium, consider this. Do you think my friendship with you is false?”
It took a moment before she looked at Olivia. “No.”
“Mine?” I asked.
That seemed easier for her. “No.” Darfelsa? “No.”
“Me?” Gionna asked.
“No,” she said, probably the most firmly.
“If all of us can value your friendship,” Olivia asked. “Why is it so hard to believe Ralifta can?”
“Because…” Allium said. Her rocking had slowed, but it hadn’t stopped. “Maybe she likes me, but that’s not why they did it.”
“No,” I said. “It’s not. You were there when they came up with that plan. You were right there. Father thought of it right in front of you, and he was crowing about how brilliant he was later.”
“He wasn’t.”
“He absolutely was, and Mother seemed especially pleased with him, too. He couldn’t give you a thing, not one thing, but Mother could offer friendship, and if she led the way, that meant he could, too. And I also know some of the other things Mother has said to you, especially how you’re the only person who can help my sister. Do you think she’s lying?”
“No,” Allium said carefully.
“Do you think I’m lying?”
She looked at me. “No,” she said finally. But she pulled her hands away and turned back to the window. At least she had stopped rocking. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“May I hold you now?” Gionna asked gently. It took a moment, but Allium nodded. Gionna moved closer, pressing against Allium’s back and partially wrapping around her.
“What must you all think of me now?” Allium finally asked.
“It’s not you that we disapprove of,” Olivia said. “On issues such as these, the Ressaline way is better.” Allium gave a snort, but didn’t otherwise answer.
“I haven’t fallen apart like that in years,” she said. “I thought I’d long outgrown the whole…” She gave a little rock. “Please don’t tell Ralifta I doubted her.”
“Of course not,” I promised. “Frankly, I’m touched.”
“I think I’m the one who is touched.” I realized we meant it differently.
“You value Mother’s friendship that much,” I said. “Which only reinforces everything else we’ve talked about. But perhaps we should talk about something easier for a while.”
* * * *
We stopped for lunch. Climbing out of the coach, I looked around. Our entire troop had pulled into a farmyard, and Olivia was already greeting a woman in leather. It looked like they knew each other.
It was Gionna who offered an arm to me. She tried to tug me to the farmer, but I pulled her in the other direction. She offered a look, but she let me pull her away. I didn’t take her far, just far enough we wouldn’t be overheard.
“I think this is a longer conversation than the time we have,” I said. “But I need to talk to you about something.”
“Oh?”
“Darfelsa.”
“What about her? She’s coming back, isn’t she?”
“Unless something changes Mother’s mind,” I assured her as best I could. “Which I don’t expect.”
“Good. So, what about Darfelsa?”
I looked at her pointedly, hoping she would guess what I wanted. Her puzzled expression turned into one of alarm, and she pulled away, holding her hands up defensively. “I haven’t touched her any more than I have you. She’s fifteen.”
“I wasn’t even asking,” I countered.
“Then maybe you better spell it out a little more carefully.”
“I’m hoping for you to keep guessing until you tell me what I want to know.”
“Nope,” she said. “I’m not playing that game.”
“Please?”
She folded her arms and slowly shook her head back and forth.
“Please?” I asked again.
“Ask me what you want to ask me.”
“I don’t want to ask you a thing,” I said.
“Don’t be a child, Future Queen,” she said. “Tell me what you want. I can stand here all day, although it’s more likely I’d go have lunch. I figure you have another thirty seconds.”
“Fine,” I said. “I want to know your intentions.”
“What?” she spat. “Are you serious? She’s fifteen. Maybe on this side of the river, that means she’s fair to, ahem, admire in another several months, but I have no intention of landing on Ralifta’s wrong side. I haven’t done so much as look at her that way.”
“And when she’s eighteen?”
“That’s two and a half years away. My turn. Why are we discussing this now?” I turned away. At that, she stepped closer and set her hand on my shoulder. “Just tell me.”
“I feel like an idiot.”
“You should,” she said, “but I bet we have different reasons why.”
“My sister is fond of you.”
“Ah,” she said. “I think this is edging into a difference between our cultures.”
“Possibly,” I admitted.
“Why are we discussing this?” she asked.
“Because if you are fond of her, we should cancel our date.”
“Ah,” she said again. “This is definitely a difference between our cultures. You want to know if I am fond of your sister.”
I turned back to her. “Yes.”
“I am fond of her,” she said. “As a friend. Because this is Ressaline, in three years, it could be that I would be fond of her the way you mean. That is three years away.” Then she stroked my arm. “I am fond of Darfelsa’s sister now. And I think perhaps Darfelsa’s sister is fond of me.”
“I think Darfelsa’s sister isn’t sure what she wants.”
“She wants a date,” Gionna said. “It seemed important to her that she get her first romantic kiss from me.”
I looked into her eyes. I don’t know what she thought, but she smiled. “I think you’re thinking like a Flarvorian.”
“I know I am.”
She stroked my arm again. “I’m fine with that. We should greet people now, but if we have to talk more, we can.”
“I don’t know,” I said. “I’m a little new at all of this.”
“I’m looking forward to our date, Ahlianna.” Then she took my arm and led me to Olivia.
* * * *
“Have you always been a farmer, Clieda?” Her name was pronounced as Clee-aa-dah. I’d never heard a name quite like hers before. She was a sturdy woman of forty years, with rough hands but a pleasant voice.
“No. I learned farming when I came here. My slaves are still teaching me. Lady Olivia said you wished a tour, Princess.”
“A small tour,” I said. “If it’s no trouble.”
“No trouble,” she said.
“I do not know if it is wrong to ask this,” I said. “But could I also meet some of your slaves? How many do you have?”
“Three.”
“The four of you run the entire farm?”
“No, of course not.”
“Perhaps,” Olivia offered. “The proper question is: how many people live here?”
“Ah,” said the farmer. “They’re all waiting to meet you.” She gestured, and then we followed her. As we walked, she explained about the farm. “I came with the invasion force, helping to secure the southern border. It became my turn when we reached here.”
“Your turn?”
“Some people accepted us,” she said. “Some tried to fight. Those we pacified, if we could safely catch them. The men and boys we sent across the border. The women we enslaved. One of my slaves owned this land, and so it came to me.”
I didn’t say anything. But then we reached the barn, and everyone else was waiting. I met Clieda’s three daughters, seventeen, seven, and four years old. The four-year-old was shy and hid behind a slave I guessed was about twenty-years-old. The slave was clearly pregnant.
In total, there were three slaves. In addition to the one with child were two older women, forty or so years old, and four teenage daughters of the two older slaves. “Ma-ma,” Clieda said, gesturing to the pregnant slave, “Is Arr’s eldest daughter. She offered herself to me if I let her carry children.”
“Who is the father?” I asked.
“Father?” Clieda asked. “There is no father.”
“There are no fathers in Ressaline,” Olivia said. “Only mothers.”
“How does that work?”
“Magic.”
“I told you about that once,” Allium offered. “Clieda, is the child yours?”
“Mine and Ma-ma’s,” she said. “My last, I am afraid, but when my daughters are citizens, they will use Ma-ma for their daughters.” The slave in question smiled broadly.
I didn’t really know what to make of any of this. I had hoped to actually talk to some of the farm slaves, but I suddenly realized I had no idea what I’d want to ask. Instead, I asked, “What happens to the other girls?”
