by Robin Roseau
“Internal prices fluctuate,” I said. “Canned fruit can last for years, but whatever we send will be from this year.”
“Could we save money if we took older?”
“If you have an agent operating for you,” I said. “You could probably find stores. That might be a question for Rosaniya.”
“I’m not asking you to search the back shelves yourself,” she said.
“Here’s the problem. By law, all food must be labeled with the date on which it was canned, as well as the company that canned it. Some companies use higher quality supplies, although the best fruit is typically sold fresh. However, when buying last year’s fruit from some unknown seller, you don’t know the label is honest. They can be replaced. It’s illegal, but it happens. That won’t happen when your source is direct from the producer. I can’t guarantee last year’s fruit. But I stand by the growers in Lorafar.”
“Then we’ll trust your judgment.”
“If their warehouses include last years for a reduced rate, you would accept it?”
“Yes,” she said. “But not a more expensive fruit, discounted but still more expensive than something else we could get instead.”
“Then we understand each other, Queen Lisdee.”
“We expect jars packed for transportation. We do not expect you to pack for travel on any roads worse than the road to Charth. We will take that responsibility.”
“Good. We don’t have that expertise.”
“We do.”
“Note that jars can be reused, so if you develop an abundance, you’ll have to decide if they’re worth returning to us. Offered pricing was in the papers I gave you.”
“We’ll have to see. We may hang onto them. We do our own canning, and jars break.”
“As long as they aren’t wasted,” I replied.
“Good. Next, I have asked Lady Olivia to oversee a possible change to our policy regarding the requirement for Firsts. This is a trial plan. We will continue to require a First, but we’re taking your suggestion, with a twist.”
“Oh, interesting. Yes?”
“Any woman recommended by your embassy may have a two-week First. However, if she continues to spend time inside our borders, then she must periodically accept practice challenges at least until she has spent two months as a slave. Someone who visits briefly every year or two may only spend three days enslaved per visit; someone who chooses to live in Ressaline must complete her two months within two years of arrival. We’ll start with that and adjust if we’re not satisfied.”
“Two weeks may not be enough for someone to truly appreciate what we’re doing,” Olivia said. “And we don’t really have anyone we can ask. The Charthans didn’t really embrace our lifestyle that quickly, and many of them had short periods. I’m not convinced two weeks is long enough, and I’m not sure three days is a sufficient duration for a first practice challenge, either.”
“I have given Olivia authority to oversee this program as she sees best,” Lisdee said. “She is to give me reports, but I will trust her judgment. I expect it to take some time before we come to a final, updated plan.”
“I think this will help,” I replied.
“We are torn regarding the monthly event,” Lisdee went on. “My councilors hated the idea of making it mandatory here.”
I laughed. “I’m not surprised.”
“I considered overriding them, but it just isn’t important to me.”
“I can understand that.”
“This next part is not to be shared outside this group. To Olivia I offered to make it optional. She asked me not to make the offer.” I laughed again. “She tells me it is quite popular. However, for some reason, she didn’t offer to make the rules more expansive.”
“Not a surprise.”
“But I agree that we should protect the participants,” Lisdee said. “And so, that is what we will do. Currently, someone can be approached for a permanent challenge three days after they complete the monthly event. We are changing that to a month.” She discussed other details, and I found myself smiling. “We no longer need this event for its original purpose. I would be even more protective, but I would rather not, as it begins to intrude on personal choice.”
“If someone wants to offer herself, she should be allowed to do so.”
“Yes. Olivia is going to monitor this, and if we see abuse, we’ll address it.”
“Thank you for explaining to me.”
“Two more things. Regarding land grants. We’re taking your suggestions, effective immediately.”
“You are?”
“Don’t act so surprised. Olivia will oversee the program. There will be performance requirements, but we understand not all land is equal. Lease terms will continue to hold a ten-year limit, but they renew if the performance goals are kept, and we’ll also accept renewals even when underperforming, but the person will be experiencing what you did, Darfelsa.”
“Olivia can do that?”
“She couldn’t. She can now. Well, not exactly the way I can. But she can put a slave in white.”
“As long as we have the land, and as long as a woman is doing what she can to make the land productive, she can keep it,” Olivia said. “If she agrees to become a subject, she’ll be granted the land, subject to the same conditions, or she can transfer to a daughter or granddaughter.”
“What about a daughter who isn’t a subject?”
“If the original woman dies or otherwise needs to vacate the lease, but she has a daughter or granddaughter who has been working the land with her, we will allow a transfer of the lease.”
“In other words, you applied a few details to my suggestion?”
“Yes,” Lisdee said. “I think you should be pleased.”
“I am,” I said. “I think it will help.”
“We’ll also do what we can to give people the support they need to get started,” Olivia added.
“Even timber, for rebuilding,” Lisdee said. “We want this to be a success. I do not believe we will be able to sell you much timber, Princess.”
“See to your own needs first,” I replied.
“We are going to see if we can send some to you,” she added. “But it’s not easy to transport except by barge.”
“Which isn’t always possible.”
“Exactly. Last, I have held lengthy conversations with my daughter. And then I asked if she would like to directly oversee continued relations between our countries. She has agreed, working directly with Olivia.”
“Invite me to Barrish,” Gionna said.
“Princess Gionna, my family would love if you came to Barrish with me.”
“I’d love to!” she said, giggling.
“I understand you train every morning with your Sergeant Felist,” Lisdee said. “I’ve watched you.”
“I didn’t see you,” I said. “Most mornings, not necessarily every morning.”
“You are quite intently engaged,” she said. “Do you believe your sergeant would accept a second student?”
“Would you mind asking her directly?” I asked. “One of you? I think it would mean something to her.”
“Then we’ll ask together,” Lisdee said. “You don’t mind?”
“I don’t mind at all. Gionna, you’re going to get beat up.”
“I’ve seen some of your bruises, and I’ve been watching. It was my idea.”
“I want to ask something, Darfelsa. Why don’t you carry a weapon?”
I smiled. “I’m carrying several right now. Would you like an inventory?”
“I think I would.”
“One moment.” I stood and went to the door. Mariya was outside. I invited her in, which puzzled her, but she came to a stop facing Lisdee’s conference table. “Sergeant, please draw the sword across your back.”
“That is problematic, Princess,” she said.
“Then I will.” I spun around behind her, grabbed my epee, and drew it, continuing the spin. “One,” I said, laying it on the table.
“That one is yours?”
“Yes,” I said. “It’s far too dainty a weapon for Mariya. Two.” I pulled my own knife, practically a short sword itself, adding it to the table. Then I bent and drew both boot knives, hidden from view. “Three and four. My fists are five and six. Elbows. Feet. Knees. My head.” Then I spun, stealing Olivia’s knife from her belt. I think this is something like fourteen.” I moved around the room, quickly pulling a wide variety of things I could use as weapons, a bottle, a heavy candlestick.
Allium started laughing, then the rest, as I piled the table higher and higher. “That’s my girl,” she said. “I think you’ve made your point, Darfelsa.”
“One more,” I said. “My brain.” I looked at the table. “I’m sorry. I made a mess.”
“You gave a good lesson,” Lisdee said. “But now you get to put it all back.”
I laughed. Gionna got up to help me. My sword was last. Mariya was smirking. “Sergeant Felist, Queen Lisdee and Princess Gionna have a request. You have my support, whatever your answer is.”
She nodded, but offered a puzzled look.
“Sergeant,” Lisdee said. “My daughter will be traveling to Barrish when you go.”
“That will be lovely. We’ll take care of her.”
“I know you will. Gionna and I wondered if you could take on a second student.”
“Oh,” Mariya said. She grinned. “Do you know what you’re in for, Princess? Don’t come to me if you think I’m going to go easy on you. Unless you have skills I’ve never seen, you’re going to get spanked.”
“There’s nothing wrong with a spanking now and then,” Gionna replied. “I’ve watched you train with Darfelsa. I want the same. If you would rather not, then perhaps you will help pick someone from here.”
“Queen Lisdee, accidents happen.”
“Are you suggesting my daughter could get killed?”
“No. But she could get hurt. Accidents happen.”
“I’m aware of the risks,” Gionna replied.
“I don’t want an international incident.”
“We won’t blame you, Sergeant.”
“Then I can take a second student,” Mariya agreed. “But Darfelsa doesn’t complain, and I work her very hard.”
“I won’t complain, either, Sergeant.”
“I don’t teach her pretty fencing. If that’s what you want, hire a fencing instructor.”
“You teach brawling.”
“I teach her to survive long enough for me to get to her,” Mariya countered. She smiled. “Sometimes, though, the best defense is a long knife sticking into the right belly.”
“Or, apparently,” said Lisdee. “A writing implement.”
“Those don’t do much to a belly,” Mariya countered. “They’re really good in an eye, though.”
“Oh, Sergeant,” Lisdee said. “You are a woman after my own heart.”
Mariya shifted her gaze. “You’ve seen. I don’t give her easy opportunities. I put her up against people better than she is. When we’re home, that includes men from the royal guard, and they get chewed out if they’re easy on her.”
“I’m not sure how soon I’ll be ready for that,” Gionna said.
“Princess, if you ever need what I’m going to teach you, do you really think it’s going to be against another woman? Do you want the first time you face a man to be in a real situation?”
Gionna gulped. “We’ll do it your way, Sergeant.”
“All right, then. Beginning tomorrow?”
“Yes, Sergeant. Thank you.”
“You need your own weapon, and I don’t necessarily want to carry another one. Do you already have something?”
“I’ll bring my own honor guard,” Gionna said. “When we figure that out, I’d like you to talk to them.”
“I believe, Sergeant,” Lisdee said, “That you have better opportunity to find just the right weapon if you see to it in Barrish. The princess will have funds.”
“She can train with my epee,” I said. “And we have my practice epee. It’s probably not the right size.”
“It’s grown too small for you,” Sergeant Felist said. “I want you to consider something heavier when we get home.”
“You’re the expert,” I told her. Then I grinned. “And the one stuck carrying it most of the time.”
“Thank you, Sergeant,” Lisdee said.
“I’ll wait outside.”
She slipped away. Lisdee was smiling. Everyone was smiling. “We grew sidetracked. Related to Gionna’s trips to Barrish, Olivia will also bring her household, although perhaps not as often.”
“She’s welcome whenever she wants to come,” I replied.
“I have one more thing,” Gionna said. “Mother knows about this. There is an event tonight.”
“That seems last minute,” Allium replied.
“I’d really like all of you there. Allium, I want you to sit with me. Olivia, can you please bring Bee and Dee?”
“Of course,” Olivia said.
She turned to me. “And Shalendra should be there. I’d ask more widely than that, but I don’t want to invite too many.”
I cocked my head. “What’s going on?”
“I’ve accepted a permanent challenge.”
Challenge
I was scared. I didn’t say a thing to anyone, but I was scared.
I didn’t really know what to expect. In Charth, they held some permanent challenges on Saturday at the arena, but I knew they could be held anywhere, provided there were sufficient witnesses and a judge. I guess I was surprised when they brought us to the Great Hall inside the palace.
Shalendra and I were dressed formally. Allium also wore a gown. Most of the other people were in their most formal, dashing leathers. Gionna and her challenger were already in white shifts.
There were chairs arranged in two arcs. We sat on one side with a clear break between us and the other side; Gionna’s challenger and her supporters sat on the other. I didn’t know any of them, and I didn’t know a thing about the woman Gionna would be facing.
Shalendra and I sat together at the far left. Allium was to my right, then Gionna. Beyond her were Olivia then Bee and Dee.
Then Lisdee entered with another woman. They came to a stop facing a table, several places from where the challenge would occur. We all stood for the entrance, but no one knelt. Lisdee gestured, and we sat back down. Then she smiled. “This is both a solemn and joyous occasion. I imagine many of the people in the room are nervous. I know that I am. This is Judge Erissa. She will oversee the legalities.”
“Good evening,” said the judge. “Gionna and Amode, please approach and bring your witnesses.” Gionna and Allium stood. From the other side, two other women stood, and the four approached the table. “Please introduce your witnesses. Amode, you first.”
“This is my older sister, Tasili,” Amode said.
“This woman is Ambassador Allium Cuprite,” Gionna said.
“I have authorized Ambassador Cuprite to serve as a witness,” Lisdee said.
“Very good,” said the judge. “Have either of you served as a witness to a permanent challenge.”
“No.”
“There isn’t much to do. I will be asking you each a few questions. You will cosign some of the papers, and then sign again at the end. You will also inspect the challenge arena to satisfy yourself the challenge is as agreed. Do you both feel qualified to do so?”
“Yes,” Allium said.
“What if I think my sister is making a huge mistake?” Tasili asked.
“Well, that’s actually one of the questions I’ll be asking you. Do you feel that you can serve in your role as witness?”
“Yes, I suppose.”
“All right. Let us first discuss the terms. Amode, I believe you had requests.”
“Yes,” Amode said. “This was my idea. I approached Princess Gionna. I asked for a simple event, one without clear advantage to either of us, disregarding our own abilities, and one
without grappling.”
“Yes,” said Judge Erissa.
“If I lose, Your Highness, then I will become a permanent member of your household. You will treat me well. You will never trade me, sell me, or neglect me.”
“Agreed,” Gionna said.
“Furthermore, you will either make me a pleasure slave, or at least a partial pleasure slave.”
“I am not very good at adding extra colors,” Gionna said. “If I win, you will initially wear red. Mother will add piping for me, probably both blue and black.”
“Agreed,” said the woman.
“It may be in the future, I will change the mix, but there will always be red piping.”
“That’s what I want,” said the woman.
“I will be traveling,” Gionna said. “I do not expect the travel to be arduous, except possibly when closest to Ressaline City. However, I will probably be here infrequently.”
“You won’t leave me here, or I won’t do this.”
“No, Amode,” Gionna said. “You will travel with me.”
“Where would we go? Assuming you win.”
“Charth and Flavor, initially. I am escorting Princess Darfelsa to Barrish.”
“Barrish. That’s the capital of Flarvor.”
“Yes,” Gionna said.
“They won’t take me from you, will they?”
“No,” Allium said. “Some people may ask if you want your freedom, but no one would force you.”
“That’s all right, then,” Amode agreed.
“Did you have other requirements, Amode?”
“Yes. Gionna, when it’s time to have children, you’ll let me help care for them. And it’s not a requirement, but a request that you let me carry at least one.”
“Amode, you can count on helping to care for my daughters. I cannot promise you will be able to carry one, but I will remember it is what you want.”
