Immunity, page 7
And so, I smiled, and I asked simple, polite questions, paying attention to the answers. And I didn’t ask the questions I most wished answered.
And the servants were guiding us from the room. We filed out, one of the elves taking my arm for the short walk to the dining hall. My servant found me and directed me to a particular place at a particular table. I found myself with fresh company.
Dinner was lovely, truly lovely. I ate carefully, trying to avoid the faux pax of spilling upon my gown. I believe I succeeded, but only through care.
A few times, my companions warned me off a particular dish. One of them said, “I wanted to watch her reaction.”
“You already know her reaction,” said another, Aleratha. “She would lose her carefully-maintained poise, perhaps so egregiously we wouldn’t see her again tonight.” She turned back to me. “And I wish to dance later.”
“I do not know your styles.”
“I believe it will be the simple styles this evening, and we’ll teach you.”
There were no speeches, just a lovely meal surrounded by stunningly beautiful women. I had a better time than I would have at any academic function.
And then we all moved back to the audience room. An orchestra had set up, and at a gesture from Rhosani, they began to play.
Most of the elves formed partners and stepped into the dance. Aleratha took my arm and drew me to the side. “We’ll watch for a minute, then I’ll take you to the hallway for lessons.”
She was right; it wasn’t a difficult style. She spoke quietly of the connection between lead and follow, then pointed out it can switch. “I don’t know if I’d want to do that tonight.”
“As if we would let you.”
But having it explained helped me understand what I was seeing.
Then she drew me out to the hallway. Hillary was already there, three elves teaching her. Two more followed Aleratha and me, Aniyah arriving with three of her own.
They taught us. It was actually danced as two couples, and there were ways to trade partners. I didn’t have to worry about that but simply go with the flow.
It was nice, and it wasn’t long before they danced us back into the ballroom to join everyone else.
I danced the remainder of the evening, my partners changing off. A few times, Aniyah was the other follow in our two-couple pairings, but Hillary disappeared early. And I never danced with Rhosani, but I paid it little attention.
It was a lovely evening.
* * * *
Rhosani was true to her word. Beginning the following morning, all three of us began receiving invitations, sometimes together, sometimes apart. I was taken on a walking tour of Algonae City, and then we reconnected with Aniyah and Hillary for a picnic on a green beside the lake. We returned to the palace, only for me to bathe and change clothes for an evening with another elf.
A woman named Azariah told me she was an artist and asked if I would pose for her. I tried to demur, but I found myself escorted to her home, anyway. And then she set her servants on me, changing me out of my clothing into almost nothing, but with a wrap around me, leaving my shoulders bare, and far more of my chest exposed than I might prefer.
But at the same time, I was flattered, and Azariah largely ignored my protests, putting me where she wanted me. She worked in charcoal and pencil, and we talked while she worked.
Finally, she said, “I’ll spend more time on it, but it’s ready to see.”
I covered a little more then rose from the settee where she’d placed me. I came around.
It was quite good. She didn’t hide my age, but she did make me look alluring. “That’s amazing,” I told her.
We shared a meal before she sent me back to the palace.
And then everything changed.
Part Two
A Fall From Grace
It was late morning. Both Hillary and Aniyah were out. I was bored and unsure what to do with myself, so when a guard entered the quarters and told me the Khaleesi wished to see me, I was more than ready.
As usual, there was an honor guard of four elves. They brought me to the audience room. And there would be an audience for my meeting with the Khaleesi, twenty-five elven women plus a number of guards.
Rhosani’s dais was back. She was seated alone. The guards led me to a place before the dais, leaving me to face the elven ruler. “Greetings, Khaleesi,” I said.
“Dr. Newman,” she said formally. She looked annoyed, and her tone was cold. I wondered if I had done something wrong. I thought back but couldn’t think of anything.
“You have been learning a little of our culture here,” she said, her tone not warming even the slightest. “We are a young society, still learning our way. This land was previously ruled by human men, descended from a great society from Earth’s antiquity.”
“So I understand.”
“They had laws,” she said. “They had one set of laws that applied to human men, a different set of laws for human women, and a third and fourth set that applied to elven men and women. The laws for elven women were very similar as for human women.”
“Upon regaining our rightful authority, we immediately eliminated the laws that applied to elves.”
“A happy day?” I asked.
“Quiet happy,” she agreed. “To keep things easy, we applied the laws previously assigned to elven men but instead to human men.”
“I see.”
“We have not changed the laws regarding human women. We may in the future, but as I said, we are new, still finding our way.”
“I think I understand.”
“Good. I have a question for you. If you were a diplomat on Earth, are you expected to follow the local laws?”
I suddenly realized where this was going, although I had absolutely no idea what I might have done wrong. “Yes, although official diplomats would be granted immunity from prosecution. A diplomat who seriously violated the laws of another country would expect to be expelled rather than face punishment.”
“Even for the most egregious violations?”
Frankly, I had no idea. I stared at her. “I don’t know,” I admitted. I glanced around. Neither Hillary nor Aniyah were here. “Has there been an egregious violation?”
“Not by any laws elves would apply to themselves,” she said. “Nor by any laws you are likely to encounter on other fae worlds.”
“Carefully said.”
“If a foreign diplomat were to, oh, I don’t know… murder someone, perhaps, do you feel he or she should be exempt from punishment? I’m not asking what Earth laws are; I am asking what you feel.”
I couldn’t lie. “There are reasons for diplomatic immunity.”
“Are there?”
“It reduces the likelihood a diplomat or his family would face contrived charges, levied as a bargaining position between two countries. An American diplomat in China can safely do his job without worrying his child would be charged unjustly.”
She studied me. “That is a fair point. And in the case where the evidence is not contrived, with multiple trustworthy witnesses, and perhaps even an uncoerced confession?”
“I believe the principle remains, although I admit the protection makes me uncomfortable for a sufficiently egregious crime.”
“Let us consider a less egregious crime,” she said. “Choose something as an example.”
“Singapore is a small but important country on the other side of Earth from the United States. It is illegal in Singapore to chew gum. It’s a normally harmless activity, but a lot of people dispose of their used gum in a poor fashion.”
I found it unlikely very many in the room knew what I was talking about, but Rhosani might.
“A good example,” she said. “And if you were a diplomat in Singapore?”
“Chewing gum isn’t something I’ve ever really done,” I replied. “But I would honor local laws.”
“And what should the Government of Singapore do if a diplomat chose to flout this law?”
I really didn’t know what laws I’d broken. I wish she’d get to her point. She was clearly annoyed with something. “Khaleesi, if you’re upset with me, we can work it out. I wouldn’t knowingly break your laws.”
“Anyone would break laws under the right conditions,” she said. “Everyone in this room has broken countless laws. Answer my question.”
“I’m not a career diplomat. I don’t know what the official answer is.”
“How do you believe it should be handled?”
“All right. To avoid making a political mess, I’d ensure the diplomat in question was aware of the law and how it came about.”
“And if she continued to flout the law?”
I thought about it. “I’ve been to Singapore. I understand the reasoning behind the law. It’s not frivolous. Singapore is a thriving city, in part because they have very low tolerance for breaking any laws. Punishments are, by western standards, severe, but not egregious.”
“So you would punish the diplomat?”
“No. Diplomatic immunity applies. If a subtle approach didn’t work, I would ask the diplomat’s superiors to resolve the situation. If that didn’t work, I would evict the diplomat from the country.”
“You would not allow her to flout the laws.”
“No. I would probably evict her in a fashion that suggests she was a poor diplomat. Khaleesi, to the best of my knowledge, no one of my team has broken your laws.”
“That isn’t entirely true.”
“If we’re talking about the incident with your city guard, you also agreed to set that behind us. Is that what this is about?”
She shifted in her chair. “No.” She looked around the room. I didn’t know what she was searching for. “It has come to my attention that, during your travels here from the Earth portal, that all three of your party accepted attention from a female.”
“If that was illegal,” I said, “then the fault is not ours. We didn’t instigate a thing.”
“It wasn’t illegal for them.”
Several things clicked into place. There were four different sets of laws, and they hadn’t changed the laws for human women. Those laws had been set by human men from a region not known for their progressive views. I didn’t know the attitudes from ancient history, but I thought it might be safe to make assumptions.
“I see,” I said. “I would point out you have been to Earth. You are aware I am from a country that does not consider that activity illegal. The activities were instigated by your representatives, not my team. If it was illegal, it was your responsibility to inform us. Furthermore, I claim diplomatic immunity, but I will ensure my staff is aware of the laws.”
I looked around the room a moment. I couldn’t read anything from the audience. This had been a highly public discussion, which I thought was entirely inappropriate if she wasn’t going to take this on a very, very poor path. I turned back to her. “You are clearly angry. If we have offended you so egregiously, then either we should work it out, or you should provide a suitable escort back to the portal.”
“Algonae is not signatory to any agreements regarding diplomatic immunity.”
“This is a poor precedent, Khaleesi,” I said in a low voice.
“I have not decided how I feel about the concept.” She lifted a finger. “However.” And suddenly, I wondered if this was all a setup for some sort of horse trading. “That law has not been enforced under our rule. The law is inconsistent with the views I hold. I propose, here and now, the law be retroactively struck. I believe I can safely call a vote. If there is significant dissent, we can take time to discuss the issue. Who believes we should strike this law?”
Every elf in the room called out, “I do.”
“If there is any dissent, I would like to hear it,” the Khaleesi said. She looked around. “Anyone?”
Not a single person spoke.
“So be it,” she said. “We’ll draft a formal announcement. I imagine most people have assumed the law would never be enforced, but it is best to state so officially.”
I stared at her. What had all this been about? I didn’t understand the game she was playing, but I didn’t appreciate it.
There was a moment of quiet conversation around the room. I watched the Khaleesi. And when she returned her gaze to me, her eyes hardened, and the room quieted again.
“There is another issue?”
“Let us speak less abstractly, Dr. Newman.” Ah, we were still being formal. “If you are violating a law I do not choose to strike at this time, what do you believe I should do?”
“Communicate.”
She inclined her head. “And if, after I communicate, you inform me you will not or can not conform to the law?”
“We’re not speaking hypothetically any longer.”
“No, we are not.”
“One of us is still being kept ignorant, leaving her at a disadvantage in this conversation. I accepted your invitation in good faith, but I do not believe you are treating me with similar courtesy. I have made significant effort to learn what I can, but you have blocked my efforts, telling me perhaps that can be a future conversation. If we’re violating your laws, tell me.”
I shook my head. “You’ve refused to explain why you specifically invited me. And now you’re playing this game with me. I don’t know if I somehow insulted you the first time we met, but if I did so, I apologize. However, if I remain ignorant, it is not due to a lack of effort on my part, but deliberate deceit on yours.”
Oops. I probably could have found a more diplomatic word.
She barely reacted, but then, she was still angry about something, so perhaps she was holding further reactions in check.
“I can ignore the law, which I do not wish to do. I can enforce compliance. Or I can return you to Earth.”
“I don’t know what you think I’ve done, but I claim diplomatic immunity and should not face consequences for a law you won’t even state.”
“I am undecided regarding diplomatic immunity, but in this particular case, I am willing to waive punishment, but I will not waive enforcement. Preventing continued violation is not punishment.”
“Fine,” I spat.
“Then we agree,” she said. “And we are also agreed you are legally an adult.”
“For some years, yes.”
“You are in public, and you are not accompanied by your father, your husband, a brother, or an adult son.”
My eyes widened, and I gaped. “You have to be fucking kidding me.” I closed my mouth and hardened my gaze, then looked around pointedly. “There are twenty-five other women in this room. They all appear to be adults, and I don’t see a single male.”
“Yes, but I already told you we cancelled the human laws that applied to elves.”
“You’re the one who evicted the men on my team.”
“True. Was one of them a husband or brother?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “If he was, you should have returned to Earth with him.”
“I see.” I folded my arms. “When do I return to Earth?”
“I have agreed to waive the punishment for your transgression,” she said.
“Which means you’ll be returning me to Earth. I presume you will provide a sufficient honor guard to ensure I arrive safely. You know, if you weren’t interested in further diplomatic discussions, there are less insulting ways to tell me.”
“The law is quite clear. An unaccompanied woman shall be remitted into the custody of the local authorities. Unless claimed by an appropriate male relative, she becomes a ward of that authority.” She made a vague, one-handed gesture. “Take her.”
Several elves converged on me. “You can’t do this!” I screamed. I didn’t try to fight them physically. I had never fought physically in my life. Words were my weapons. “I don’t know what game you’re playing, but the president isn’t going to ransom me.” One of the elves yanked a sack over my head while others held my arms. “You’re clearly angry about something, but you could try a little honesty. Khaleesi! I don’t deserve this treatment.”
If she answered me, I didn’t hear her. The elves pulled me backwards, and they weren’t gentle about it. I scrambled to keep my footing, but they had much longer legs than I did, and they largely carried me, my heels dragging.
“You could let me walk!” I complained.
They didn’t answer me.
Indignity
I didn’t know where they took me. We didn’t leave the palace, but I lost all track of the turns. I protested the entire way.
There was a set of doors. They brought me just a little further, turned me around, and steadied me as I got my feet underneath me.
“Be quiet,” one said in front of me. “Or we’ll make you. And don’t fight us, or you’ll learn how ill-behaved females are punished.” They didn’t wait but began undressing me.
It took me seconds to realize what they were doing, and at first, I fought with my words. “Stop it! Leave me alone!” I began to struggle with them.
“I told you to be quiet,” the one repeated. A moment later when I opened my mouth, no words came out. “A muting spell,” she explained. “It lasts until someone cancels it.”
I went insane. They tolerated it for about three seconds. And then I was yanked off my feet, turned, and dragged forward. I screamed wordlessly while attempting to struggle. They pushed me up against a piece of furniture, sturdy, and it felt like leather against my hips. As I kicked, they yanked my upper body forward. Two tied off my legs, well spread, and two others tied my arms, well out in front of me, holding me in place.
I felt hands at my hips, pulling the dress up above my waist. “No!” I tried to scream.
“I warned you,” the one said. “This stops when you are done struggling.”
There wasn’t a pause. There was a swish and then a loud crack across my bottom. I yelped soundlessly. There was another strike, and another, and I struggled to free myself, screaming with no more sound than wild panting.
