by A. S. Etaski
Maybe they’re just not those you can see.
Expression left my face when I saw the formidable, aged Davrin sitting straight-backed on the onyx and basalt throne. The crown woven into her blonde hair was elegant gold laced with diamond and amethyst, integrated with a few rubies. Her robes wound about her body in shimmering, bright bands of gold and purple; her long neck, shoulders, and a hint of cleavage exposed but otherwise, all skin from Her wrists to Her black-slipper feet here covered.
She was much older than the Red Sister Prime, with similar wrinkles at her eyes and the corners of her mouth. At the moment, She looked as stern. Unlike the Red Sister Prime, however, I could tell the Queen had been a beauty in her prime. Even now Her presence filled the room, drawing all eyes to Her.
I had been instructed on how to bow to Her fifteen turns ago upon coming to Court, though I hadn’t needed to very often. It had been at large balls or congregations where She made an appearance, and the Court or the public would bow together in a massive wave of white-haired heads and colorful fabric. With only three Red Sisters directly before Her, I was much more self-conscious. I must have been passable because nobody seemed to notice me specifically.
After that all-encompassing moment, I glanced at movement in my peripheral right. A group of robed attendants stood nearby with two Priestesses I didn’t know, one with her Sathoet, and several non-Davrin slaves were face down on the ground and averting their gaze.
“Our Greetings, Elder D’Shea.” The Valsharess’s rich voice filled the chamber, though I’d have almost thought it distracted.
The Sorceress bowed deeply again and gave a more extended greeting, acknowledging our Queen’s power, titles, and a prayer of continued longevity. I had a hard time focusing on the exact words, for when prayers lasted longer than three flicks and could be interchanged with pandering, I thought about something else. Old habit.
I nearly missed my cue when the Valsharess gestured, and we stepped to the side opposite of the small entourage. D’Shea remained beautifully still, and I was not sure how she did it. Gaelan and I could only flank her like rigid statues. We waited long enough that the Valsharess audibly sighed just before the door opened again and a larger group of Red Sisters came through: Elder Rausery, Lead Qivni, Lunent Agalia, and three others I did meet once but needed a prompt. Forty-something naked caits all look alike from below.
Elder Rausery bowed with her five as well, gave a similar greeting as D’Shea had, and at the Queen’s acceptance, stepped to the side to join us while a few Priestesses arrived just behind her. The Elders mostly ignored the Sanctuary females, and Rausery was close enough for me to hear her say out of the corner of her mouth, “Only the two starters, D’Shea?”
My superior smirked, looking straight ahead as the Priestesses gave their own dance before the Valsharess. “Spry enough to hit their mark on time. Were you napping?”
Rausery snorted softly. “Finding errands for your ass-scratchers. I hope you don’t need them any time soon.”
A delicate shrug. “Jaunda likes it outside of the city. It was her turn.”
I wasn’t sure whether this was good news or not. I’d heard D’Shea instruct Jaunda to go find Rausery to “help.” Perhaps the intent had been to delay Rausery so D’Shea would reach the throne room first? But then Jaunda would be gone for longer than this meeting. Maybe Rausery being late would have happened anyway, given the first time I’d met the Elder inside the Cloister.
It did tell me something interesting, at least. Rausery took her leadership seriously enough to task all Red Sisters who came to her, even D’Shea’s most loyal and even as far as being late for a royal meeting. Politics and appearances didn’t drive her the way it did a Matron or perhaps my own superior. And she had mentioned something about “the test of the streets.”
Plus, she must be able to get away with it.
I supposed all that mattered was how the Valsharess interpreted it. She had sighed with impatience but said nothing. What followed was an overview of the upcoming Worship Ball, and for which the entourage on the right had been preparing for as long as I had been scrambling to make it back to civilization. I had missed a lot of what was going on in Court being fucked and tested in the Red Sisters’ secret Cloister.
Doesn’t matter. You’re not a Noble anymore. You have no House.
It would be a formal ball, and there would be a feast and dance with fertility rituals at which all present would gawk. The season’s Royal Consorts would be exchanged or re-gifted, with the introduction of any new ones coming out into society. Those “virgins” would be premium; new blood and beauty traits not yet introduced to the Houses; young buas ready to quicken Noble wombs and trained to attain multiple erections in one session.
Aside from imagining the altar sex, I found the details excruciating in their fastidiousness. A lot went into these events but thank goddess it wasn’t my responsibility. I had been to only one ball at Court, for these happened every five to ten turns, but had sneaked off quickly enough with some Noble sons willing to play.
What I hadn’t realized then was that the Red Sisters had been present but invisible, except for a handful. The visible ones were to assist the Priestesses and keep the peace, to remind the Nobles of their manners. Elders D’Shea and Rausery had brought the next handful from which the Valsharess would select the visible red uniforms at this new ball.
Understanding this, Rausery’s objection when she first walked in made more sense. Why would D’Shea have only brought the two of us, the two youngest, with one still in black leathers, no less? Weren’t we called the Red Sisters for a reason?
The Queen won’t choose me. I won’t match the decorations.
Our Valsharess rose to her feet when She had finished with the entourage to the right of the throne. She approached us, and we stood at attention and silent.
“Volunteers, step forward,” the Queen said, and we all did except for D’Shea and Rausery.
She scrutinized each of us in turn, face impassive as She inspected the six in red with a pause in between. She said nothing, gave no indication whether they were selected or not. Then She reached me and paused again. I was looking straight ahead and over her shoulder. I heard only the murmuring of the celebration planners in the chamber; the Queen said nothing, and yet I felt an unrelenting urge to look up at Her face.
I resisted.
“Look at Us, Red Sister.”
My heart skipped, and my eyes flicked to the most consequential Davrin face in Sivaraus. I stopped breathing. The Valsharess’ eyes were strange. A pale, tawny yellow, as if they should have been bright copper but had become faded with Her immense age. Somehow still those eyes were enhanced by Her blonde hair and golden crown. Her gaze was glassy and eerie, however, her thoughts unreadable, and I was not pleased that She paid particular attention to me. I was sure it was because of my eye color.
To the Abyss with blue eyes.
The Valsharess reached up to touch my chin. I couldn’t believe it. For an instant, I wanted to break away and run. I felt a quiver pass through me and remained at attention. The barest touch of spun silk brushed my jaw, breathy in its contact yet with a spark of magic. I froze, pure fear surging as I struggled to swallow my heart back down out of my throat. Sweat popped out at my temples, the pounding in my chest making my balance seem wobbly.
Goddess, so powerful.
I thought of Elder D’Shea, of her confidence in me.
I will not break.
The corner of the Queen’s mouth twitched once. The age lines were noticeable this close.
“Hm,” She grunted and turned away, taking that suffocating presence with her. I was grateful. She didn’t speak until She was seated and, even then, we had to wait.
“All of them are selected,” She announced. “Acceptable, Elders. You are dismissed.”
We bowed as one—myself slightly behind—and left the audience hall. My knees felt like water, and I relearned how to breathe
in measured draws. It was not until we’d reached a different passageway and entered through a new hidden door that either of our superiors spoke. It was Rausery who spoke first.
“Eight spans, D’Shea,” she whispered, growling even then. “Blue Eyes isn’t in her reds yet.”
“She is acceptable, our Queen said so,” the other replied. I was curious why she sounded smug about it. “This is not a difficult duty for a novice. Why did you bring your Lead and Lunent if you did not expect Her to select them, too?”
“You didn’t bring enough selection,” the warrior rumbled. “That’s why She took the black, too.”
Both leaders fell silent as they realized how hard we were listening to their whispers. I wasn’t quite following, but it was interesting to me all the same. I shared a curious look with Gaelan, who only smiled. She couldn’t see my anxiety, but Qivni could sense it and spoke up.
“Sirana does not know enough about these Balls, Elders,” the Lead said. “What are the consequences if she embarrasses us?”
“Are you volunteering to cram that education in two cycles, Lead?” Rausery tossed over her shoulder, and while Qivni hesitated, it was barely noticeable.
“If you command me, Elder, I will.”
“Noted. Might be a good idea.”
D’Shea’s reply was smooth. “It would be my decision, Rausery, not yours.”
“And what would you ‘decide,’ D’Shea? Not to unroll the scroll, but do you have the time to squeeze the novice in?”
Someone behind Qivni snorted, and the Lead darted a look at the Sister, who fell silent. Meanwhile, the challenge had risen to a real debate.
“You were late,” D’Shea replied. “What do you care how Sirana makes us look? The Prime wasn’t even there, why should you be? You both prefer being on the rough grounds and leaving me to the goings-on of the Sanctuary and the Palace.”
Rausery shook her head once. “It’s your talent, but I’m also not stupid. I know the Palace duties count as much as anything else. I was only late because you sent Jaunda to me at just the right time.”
“Oh, yes,” the irony was audible. “I planned that perfectly, didn’t I?”
“You sure as fuck did. What game are you playing?”
“Nothing. It was my Lead’s request for all she’s done. You and the Prime approved, and you selected the time. You could have waited until after the Ball, Rausery.”
The older Davrin narrowed her eyes. “Right. I know you well enough by now, Sorceress.”
D’Shea huffed a breath as a laugh. “Think of it this way. Most present at the Worship Ball will be yours. You will have more eyes and ears there than me.”
I could have sworn Elder Rausery had rolled her eyes, even as I stared at her back while we walked. “Those reports are boring as fuck.”
“Then trade them to me when you need what Jaunda brings back.”
Rausery considered that all of two flicks. “Slippery Sorceress.”
We’d reached the Cloister through the maze when Rausery stopped and stared hard at D’Shea as if trying to pierce her with her eyes. My superior calmly looked back, and all of us lowbies were enjoying the frank back-and-forth even as we also knew the two talked about plans outside our imminent scope. I stood at the Sorceress’ left shoulder while Gaelan was on her right, and it was only as I glanced at the two of them that Rausery moved.
I knew the eldest warrior was fast, but I still wasn’t used to it. Her hand closed tight around my forearm, holding me when I tried to pull away. Next D’Shea’s hand caught my opposite elbow, gripping not quite as hard, but I was still pulled between them.
“Rausery,” my Elder warned.
“We will prepare her,” Rausery said. “I can make the time to do some Palace work. ‘Bout time I got to know the new blood, anyway. You will get her back in two cycles with a clue how to act at these things.”
“No. I have need of her.”
“You may have two of mine for the interim. Any of them have more experience than this one.”
Suddenly the Sorceress looked sly. “You’ve sent my best team on duty I know not where. What if I said I think you owe me more than two?”
“What?” Rausery chortled. “That was your suggestion to give them to me.”
“Was it? Maybe you should ask the Prime.”
The contradiction and delivery were perfect to stop the momentum. Rausery didn’t seem interested in the suggestion. She went direct.
“How many you want?”
D’Shea smiled. “Thirteen should suffice. For Jaunda and her team, adding Sirana, specifically to be trained for the Worship Ball. They’ll give their reports to you as well when I release them, whether you offer any reports to me.”
I stared at them in disbelief, and Qivni’s mouth opened before she snapped it shut again. Even my ego couldn’t think D’Shea was concerned about getting a high price for me. She was playing a game. On top of this, Qivni and I both saw Rausery was considering the trade despite knowing that.
The Elder nodded. “Done.”
My lips parted without sound as I felt my elbow released.
“I want these five,” D’Shea indicated Qivni and the others chosen for the Ball, “plus your teams Three and Four.”
After another moment of stern-faced observance, Rausery nodded again. She turned and jerked her head at Qivni. “Find them.”
Qivni’s expression was complex. She hated being traded away from Rausery to D’Shea for me, and she was baffled why her superior wanted to train me at all when D’Shea could do so. At the same time, if Qivni was genuinely worried about me embarrassing them at the Ball—which seemed the case—then it wasn’t to be D’Shea who prepared me, but her own Elder whom she obeyed and trusted. If the job was done right, how could the Lead complain?
My Collector bowed briefly to them both and left with one other Sister. Rausery dragged me down another hall, and D’Shea, Gaelan, and the rest moved in the direction of her quarters. Gaelan and I glanced at each other, and maybe we both thought the same thing.
Still no time to take turns with the Feldeu.
I’d had more sex and play those first two spans after Gaelan dragged me away from the Consort than I’d ever had before or since.
Once all the others were out of sight, I focused on keeping up with the stubborn, fast pace of the older female. Rausery’s gloved hand was tight enough that my fingertips tingled as we weaved through the Cloister.
“What is D’Shea up to?” Rausery asked me. “She likes to make things complicated.”
“I don’t know, Elder,” I answered, knowing that wouldn’t be good enough, even though it was the truth.
“You know more than that, you just don’t know it,” she said flatly.
“No, Elder. I don’t.”
“We’ll see.”
CHAPTER 9
The Elder Red Sister took me for a run outside. It was just her and me panting and sweating. Before too long, I realized this was a natural obstacle course; not only running, but climbing, crawling, swimming, and jumping through grit, water, silt, mud, and rubble.
*Come on, novice, move your ass!* she signed our silent tongue.
Elder Rausery didn’t make me do anything she did not demonstrate herself first. Her dexterity and strength were incredible, and I gaped at her sometimes. I knew this didn’t prepare me for the Ball specifically, but she put my mind where she wanted it. I was holding her back; she was capable of so much more but was waiting for me. She protected me in the outskirts of Sivaraus, keeping her eyes out for threats as I showed her how much I could handle, where I stood in my training, and by the time we made it back to the Cloister, I felt small and appropriately pliable, submissive and even admiring, without audible word or a rough hand from her. As with D’Shea, I wanted to believe this was real, but if it was, I still didn’t grasp all that it told me.
The Sisterhood was different among ourselves than how I’d seen them as a Noble, and yet an
ticipating what that meant was beyond my experience. I had to keep going to find out.
We reentered the Cloister. I was trying to breathe a stitch out of my side when the Prime came around the bend; adding to my discomfort, she seemed to notice me as much as Elder Rausery. The thought crossed my mind that I’d been nude but bathed the last time the Prime looked at me and wondered if being dressed, ripe, and filthy was what gave her pause.
“Rausery,” she said, dressed in uniform and motioning with her hand.
The Elder strode up to her, stopping an arm’s length away. I didn’t have to be told to stay close and just behind her. “Prime.”
The gaze of the oldest Red Sister drifted to me again as I ignored the ache and looked only at the wall behind her.
“Where’s Lead Qivni?” she asked.
“With Elder D’Shea, Prime.”
The Prime sounded annoyed and maybe surprised. “Doing what?”
“You’d have to ask her, Prime. I don’t expect to see them for at least two cycles. Although D’Shea gave me Jaunda and her team in exchange, and for much longer. I sent them where you said.”
There was little interest in those old eyes, such that I wondered if who actually “said” might have been the Valsharess and the Prime the mouthpiece. She grunted. “D’Shea gave her over, huh? No whining?”
“I didn’t speak directly with her, Jaunda came to me.”
“Pff. Sulking. But at least she did it.”
The other warrior’s face was placid. “You could have informed me you wanted Jaunda to lead this one alone, Prime.”
“I could have,” the older female said. “I didn’t. More interested in seeing what the Sorceress did. Not surprised she snatched your Lead as a crutch.”
