by Jay Boyce
Looking down at her thoughtfully, he gave the smallest shake of his head before enlightening her. “Not really. I’m also helping with the etiquette lesson after.”
“Etiquette lesson?” That went along with her plans, but she hadn’t heard of it happening. She didn’t even remember if she’d mentioned it to anyone.
He nodded, his eyes tracking the dancers as Camille and the teachers began the lesson. She watched them too, eating her food as she memorized the patterns they were moving in, matching it in her head with the new music the artists started playing. “Yes, with the delegations arriving tomorrow, it was deemed necessary to have a quick etiquette lesson for those expected to interact with them who haven’t before. It’ll be a general lesson of do’s and don’ts, for the most part. Most of them just need to get through the ball without offending anyone.”
Pausing, he glanced at her. “We’ll go through more with you after, since they’ll likely be asking for you quite a bit.” Again, that’s what she wanted, she simply hadn’t known they’d been planning it out for her. She wasn’t sure how to feel about it, but then shrugged the thought off. They were trying to help her do things she’d been thinking of doing anyways. How was that a bad thing? It wasn’t like she made other plans. There was no need to be irritated that they were making plans for her without consulting her. If she had a problem with it, she could always say something…
Quieting the inner stubbornness that tried to rear its ugly head before she could say something she regretted was sometimes harder than she thought it should be. The irrational part of her that wanted to throw a fit because she hadn’t been consulted fought incredibly hard against the rational side of her that said people were just trying to look out for her as best they could. The rational part of her reasoned that they rearranged their schedules at her request and she could easily do the same, especially when it was for her benefit. The irrational part of her tried to point out that they could have at least run it by her before they invited a bunch more people to participate. She’d already told them she would reserve the afternoon for them, so why would they need to consult her on something she’d already agreed to?
Thankfully, rationality won her mental war before Victor could realize she was struggling against her apparent need to micromanage things. She realized she’d become spoiled by people dropping what they were doing to accommodate her, and silently vowed to try and be better. More understanding, less demanding. There had to be a happy medium somewhere, and she was now determined to try and find it. The behavior that got her comfort in the hospital had consequences much more far-reaching in this world. She was fighting against eighteen years of habits built for self-preservation.
She quietly finished her plate of food as they watched the dancers, setting it aside as she smiled at Victor and stood. “Thank you for doing this for me. Shall we join them now?”
He seemed a bit lost in thought, then quickly jumped to his feet and offered his arm. She took it, and as they started to walk out to join the rest of the couples on the floor, he spoke softly, “Jade, you saved my little sister and brothers. There’s only so much we can say ‘thank you,’ but we can at least show our gratitude in other ways. It’s not something we’re likely to forget anytime soon.”
She chuffed a little ruefully. “I’d say we’re more than even, then. Your family has made sure I’m fed, sheltered, given anything I need or desire. Taught me anything I asked. Welcomed and treated me as your own. Trained the people who saved my own life. I wanted for nothing long before I did anything to deserve such treatment.”
He laughed softly, the warm notes loud to her, but unnoticed above the music to everyone else. “I guess you could say our ancestors would call it ‘investing in the future.’ Sadly, we can’t do for everyone what we’ve done for you. We try to elevate those who show the ambition to rise above their stations, to help out where we can. Being a traveler, however, automatically puts you in a different category.” His eyes dimmed slightly as he finished, “We learned that lesson the hard way. It’s not something we talk about much, and the general public has all but forgotten when we failed the travelers.” He obviously caught the question in her eyes as he shook his head, glancing at the dancers.
“Not here. I’ll take you to the library sometime and let you read for yourself. For now, we have a dance to teach you.”
She was itching to unravel the mystery. What Victor spilled was obviously juicy gossip...and a serious warning story for her. She had a feeling that the books he was referring to were something that came with the platinum library card. Letting go of her arm to place her fingers delicately into his outstretched hand, she murmured softly, “Lead on, then.”
She had walked, run, and even flown her way through this world so far. Now, it was time to dance the night away! Or at least the afternoon.
Chapter Twenty-Two – Dissemination
Nearly an hour later, the music finally came to a halt and sweaty bodies collapsed gratefully onto the couches where they’d previously been eating. While almost everyone there was in decent shape, there was a difference between normal exercise and dancing. “I forgot how much I hate dancing. If I didn’t get these muscles from training, why should I need them for prancing around at a ball?” Jackson’s voice wheezed out mournfully as he draped over the couch armrest next to her.
Jade was in slightly better condition than those around her, but that was mostly because her fitness level was so much higher than theirs. Even she felt the pleasant ache that came from a good workout. The dances of this world reminded her of ballroom, though the steps were way different from what she’d seen on all of the dance shows she used to watch. She wasn’t sure if that was because the people from tv were showboating or because dance simply developed differently here. It felt more like an intricately orchestrated combat.
Still, learning all the different steps made her feel somewhat like she’d stepped into an old Disney princess movie. You couldn’t be a Disney princess unless you knew how to dance. It was like Princess 101. Must be able to dance and sing, and then maybe sleep for a hundred years until the prince got here. Although it did seem that they upped the expectations as the years went on. The shift from ‘wait for my prince to save me’ to ‘I can save myself’ wasn’t all that bad, after all. They’d even started to make fun of themselves, what with the whole questioning the morals of people who got married after knowing each other for a day.
She laughed at that. Who fell in insta-love? Disney perpetuated this idea that once you overcame whatever obstacle X was, you got married and lived...happily ever after. But really, that’s when most stories actually started. It wasn’t all peaches and cream. It was hard work to keep a relationship going, especially when kids came around and turned your life upside down by having to be hospitalized 24/7. In the hospital, she saw all the different types of families come through, providing her interesting views on love and family.
There were the old lovebirds, where you could tell that as soon as one went, the other was sure to follow because they were just THAT into each other, even after decades together. They told awesome stories of love letters and keeping their love’s picture close to the heart during the war. How they knew they had to survive, because they wanted to go home to their heart. Then there were the struggling couples. The ones who couldn’t handle their other half being sick, and sometimes blamed them for making life hard. They were so angry, not always at the person, but sometimes at God or at the doctors for not being able to do anything. Those ones were the hardest to watch, mostly because she saw the happy faces they tried to portray to people, and the silent rage that came after when they didn’t think anyone was watching. They had the same faces as her parents.
They tried so hard to be cheerful for her… “Jade, you in there?” Fingers waving in front of her face, she startled back, looking with wide eyes up at Camille. Once she realized she had Jade’s attention, she gestured to a man who was standing in front of the group looking at them with disapproving e
yes as they slumped on couches. Camille plopped down next to Jade, whispering, “Etiquette time.”
Sinking back to the couch in understanding, Jade made herself comfortable as she studied the man in front of them. He looked vaguely familiar to her, though she couldn’t determine why because she was certain she’d never seen him before. He was tall and reed thin, and his light brown hair was severely combed into place and held there so perfectly she’d have called him a helmet head made of gel if it’d been on Earth. He held himself rigidly in his perfectly wrinkle free clothing, and his chin never lowered in the slightest as he looked down on them.
It was the self-righteous air that finally made it click in her mind, and an image of a self important girl declaring her father was the minister of trade appeared in her mind. It seemed she’d found Samantha’s father. It was just her gut feeling, but his words proved her right a moment later.
“For those of you who don’t know who I am, I’ll introduce myself. I am the Minister of Trade, Alejandro Castillo. Now as you know, we have three very important delegations arriving tomorrow, all of which Caoi trades with. Because we have long-standing relationships with these countries, it’s imperative that they are treated with respect for their customs.” His assistant was hastily putting up a large map of a different style from the one used in Jade’s geography class the week before. They were obviously done by different cartographers, because she could see tiny changes, even though the basics were the same. She absently pondered which map was more accurate.
Pointing up at the islands in the north, he began. “The first delegation we’ll talk about comes from the Islands of Niloi. Their capital, Leanoi, is on the furthest island and completely closed to outsiders. Osilanus and Sluaich are only slightly more welcoming, with Aillte serving as the main trading headquarters on the mainland.” He paused, his lip curling only slightly in apparent disgust, as if something rotten was placed beneath his nose.
“The Niloi are a matriarchal warring society, ruled by their current queen, Zenobia. She has been queen for the last two years, ever since she fought and won against the previous queen, Aylin. She will remain queen for the next eight years, barring any accidents. The queen trials, as we call them, occur every ten years. Aylin will be the delegate coming, as the old queen becomes the next ambassador to the outside world. The correct term of address for her is Ancestor Aylin. Don’t let the title fool you; she’s still young, but you will accord her with respect.”
He glared at them for a moment as if he thought they were going to make some huge social faux paus and treat Aylin like a child. Just how old was she if he needed to warn them about it? With a sense of resignation, he went on in his explanation for this delegation. “The Niloi delegation consists mostly of people your age. They are highly competitive, but perhaps the most important thing to know about them is that they do not believe in marriage. They may choose a partner for a time, but usually they view it as choosing the best partner for creating the next generation. If you prove to be strong enough to impress them, it’s quite likely they will proposition you. They know our customs are not the same, but if you accept such a proposition, you should be aware that they are attempting to create a child with you to take back to their land. Customs dictate that the mother has full power concerning the child, and the father has no say in how the child is raised unless it is given by the mother. To be propositioned is the highest form of a compliment that they can give, because it designates you as worthy to seed the next generation.”
The distaste on his face as he spoke of their customs was obvious, and Jade couldn’t help but label the Niloi as some sort of Amazons in her head. Maybe they weren’t on an island surrounded by magical clouds that could live forever and were the children of gods...but hey, it seemed at least half of the customs were similar. Lost in comparisons, she almost missed the next part. “They are highly skilled in polearms, water magic, and hand to hand combat. Their home is also one of the only places where platinum is found. Aside from that, their major exports are the bounties of the ocean and the insect chitin from their native monsters, as it has proved to be one of the strongest and most malleable forms of armor we know. Do not underestimate them, and never suggest that the women aren’t fully capable of doing anything.” He almost looked a little green at that, like he’d personally experienced some related trauma.
Sighing, he pointed to the western part of the map, tapping the capital city on the other side of the mountains. “To that end, we try to keep them away from the Resaigh delegation as much as is humanly possible. The Resaigh are the plains people, and the guardians to the western continent. From their capital of Carraigh, they control both passes through the mountains to their cities Racstra and Cagleann. They also have Chlaidaigh at the coast and Fanaichta as the last stop before entering the Forest of Madul.”
Tapping on Carraigh, he went on, “While they have permanent cities, they are mostly underground, while above ground is reserved for their tamed animals. From a distance, it looks much like an enclosed city of tents until you find an underground entrance. The reason they must be kept separate from the Niloi is because it’s a patriarchal society, and women are treated as lesser beings who live to serve their men. One man will usually have several wives and concubines who are expected to take care of the house chores and raising children. The men are fierce fighters, but you must always remember that above them all is their ruler, Udar Akil Faris. Udar is the official title, and the Faris family has been in power for hundreds of years. They rule their people with an iron fist, and any achievement is an achievement of the Udar.”
He glanced at Jade and the other girls in the room as he went on quietly. “In their culture, it is customary that the women do not speak unless spoken to. If a woman is allowed to eat with the men, it is considered a high honor to her. Again, they know that their customs are not valid in our country, but it would be wise to not strike up a conversation with them or eat if one of them is trying to talk to you. It is also best you young women do not find yourselves alone with any of the men of their delegation. There is some safety in numbers.”
Jade was sitting stiffly on the couch right now, and it was only Camille’s gentle hand on her arm that caused her to relax slightly as she looked at the older girl. Camille muttered to her, “They’re cretins, but we have to play nice, and so do they. We can only trade with those beyond them if they pass through the plains.”
It seemed Alejandro heard at least part of Camille’s comment, because he went on sharply, “They are most known not for their own wares, but for their trade. As I mentioned before, they control access to the west, and they are very good at trade. Unless they escort a caravan through the plains, it does not make it. They are very adept at contractual magic, and supply many beasts to our farms, as well as some of the finest weaving we know. Racstra and Cagleann are also very successful mining towns, with their proximity to the mountains.”
Glancing over at Camille, Jade shook her head. “They sound horrible.” Camille patted her hand reassuringly and nodded.
“A’Udar Jamil Faris, the eldest son of Udar Faris, is leading the delegation. You will address him only as A’Udar Faris unless he tells you otherwise.” He paused, again looking at the girls. “While A’Udar does have several concubines, he does not yet have a main wife, and it is likely he seeks to strengthen ties with us by making a political marriage.” Well that was a warning and a half, and Jade vowed to stay as far away from the A’Udar as was physically possible. The Niloi might be matriarchal and a little behind the times on letting the woman have full control of the kid, but at least they didn’t seem to totally treat the men as second class citizens. She supposed only time would tell, and was especially grateful that of all the countries she could have been sent to...she was brought here.
Tapping the map, he pointed south to the other side of the Basaigh Woods. “Saibreh culture is the closest to what we have here. The capital city of Kathaire is deep in the Forest of Draiocht, while Idir, Tranglam,
and Abhanna are situated around the edges of the forest. They also have Onnas at the base of the mountains, which is where most of their metal supplies come from. The Saibreh people are ruled by King Collin Kearce and Queen Teagan Kearce. They’ve got three children, and their oldest son is Prince Lochlann. There’s not much you have to be aware of from them, since their culture doesn’t differ much from ours. However, their specialties are excellent woodwork, teas, and alchemy. They have quite a few nature mages and a very large respect for plants. They value respecting nature above most things.”
Clapping his hands, he surprised Jade by stopping there. “There are plenty of books at the library explaining more on these countries, but that’s the basics of what you need to know. I do suggest you do some reading before Wednesday. You’re dismissed.” That was obviously addressed to just about everyone but her. She was going to be expected to be in the thick of things, most likely. People were getting up and stretching, a good deal of them nodding or waving to her as they started drifting out.
Turning to her, Camille spoke softly enough that the other students wouldn’t overhear, but Jade had no problem picking out the words. “What he didn’t say is that they’re all coming for you. We know they have spies, and Saibreh has an oracle. They’ve gotten word of you and your exploits, so don’t be surprised when they cajol, bribe, challenge, or proposition you. Any country with a traveler always advances faster than any of its neighbors, so they won’t like the fact that you’re here and not in their countries. They’ll try to change that.”
“Understood.” She wanted to reassure Camille that that wouldn’t happen, that she’d stay here...but she couldn’t. She wanted to see the world! Sure, she’d probably come back. No one wanted to wander forever, and this was where she was setting down her roots. But traveling...that was on the docket for sure. She’d always wanted to see the ocean, to swim with dolphins. She wanted to know if a city in the forest was like one of those old fantasy movies where they made their homes in the trees. She was even a little curious about the underground city and how they made it work, though she wasn’t actually all that keen to visit that one. No need to put herself in a situation where she might get trapped or kidnapped.
