Encircled

by Robin Roseau

  “Okay, let me think for a minute.”

  “You don’t want me?”

  “That isn’t at all true, but I want what is best for you. You are not fully recovered, and so I have responsibility for you.”

  “Maybe, but I know my mind. I don’t get to bake anymore.”

  “Who is running the bakery while you’re gone?”

  “I did what I could ahead, and the other employees are running it, but I bet I get back, and everything is a complete mess. I hate having employees. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.”

  “All right,” I said. “First, I want to point something out. First your request to work for me may be left over from spending ten days as my pleasure slave.”

  “I know.”

  “Furthermore, it may be that letting you come to work for me is a bad idea, because you might not get past having been my pleasure slave. I don’t know. Which means if we pursue this, we need to talk to Bess and maybe Judge Jessla and see what they say about it. If they say you need distance from me, then I can’t hire you, at least until they say it’s okay. I’m looking out for you. That’s my responsibility. Okay?”

  “Okay,” she said, her voice small.

  “So that’s one half of this. The other half is this: there are solutions. You want to bake. A bakery is a great place to bake. And frankly, I don’t want your bakery to close. So I want to at least consider another solution. What if you brought in a partner?”

  “How would I find someone I could trust?”

  “Maybe the right answer is to trust me,” I said. “But I’m not letting you make that decision while you’re still influenced by the last two weeks.”

  “You’re overworked already.”

  “Maybe I can find more help at the inn, and I can manage both the inn and your bakery. This would be even better if instead of doing our baked goods here, you did them at the bakery. However, this might be a bad plan. I bet I can find someone we can trust.”

  “Talk to Bess?”

  “Probably talk to Lady Olivia,” I said. “How do you feel about that?”

  “I don’t know,” she said. “Right now, I want to work for you, but I know what you mean. That might be remaining effects.”

  “You shouldn’t make decisions like that right now.”

  “I hate running the business.”

  “So let’s try solving that, and maybe a partnership is perfect.”

  “I really, really liked being your slave, Claary.”

  “I liked having you.”

  “Do you hear what I’m saying?”

  “Pretty much the same thing I said to Olivia,” I said. “Yep. I hear you. But you need time to recover. And you need to win one of these and see how you feel about it.”

  “You taught me how to treat a slave.”

  “I taught you how I liked treating the five of you,” I said. “But you heard what I said if you only have one. It has to be different.”

  She nodded. “All right. But I want some sort of solution or I’m closing the bakery. I was already thinking about it.”

  “Don’t close the bakery. Let’s see what we can do. Okay?”

  “Okay.”

  “I’m simpler than that,” Sarala said. “My older sister inherited, and she’s a bitch. I want out. If you don’t hire me, I’m going somewhere else.”

  “Has she had her first time?”

  “Not yet. She’s putting it off. She thinks they’re bluffing.”

  “Do you know what is going to happen if she continues?”

  “She’s going to hit the 21-rule in another two years.”

  “And you’re going to be the one to turn her in.”

  Sarala began laughing. Gigi then said, “We’ll help you, but you get the money, Sarala.”

  “Which restaurant, Sarala?”

  “The Golden Tulip.”

  “Oh, my,” I said.

  “I don’t want to run the entire restaurant. I want to be the head cook, eventually, but I’m not really ready for that yet. Tivesh wouldn’t be that bad, but authority sits poorly on her. She was probably the best waitress we’ve ever had, but once she hit Head Waitress, it all changed. Claary, I’m not working another two years for her. I’m not.”

  “All right. I want you, but we have to do what is best for you. Okay?”

  “Okay.”

  “So we’ll ask people who know more than we do.”

  “Okay,” she said again.

  “How about the rest of you?” I looked around. “The world changed last year. I’m still getting used to it.”

  “So am I,” Gigi said. The others agreed with her.

  “What do you do, Gigi?” I asked.

  “I’m the reservations manager for The Fairstreet Club.”

  “Oh,” I said. “Nice. Do you like it?”

  She paused then said, “It’s okay. Rondi works there, too.”

  “I work for the events manager,” Rondi explained.

  “Sareet?”

  “I work for my aunt,” she said. “She’s a pewter smith. I’m a terrible smith, but I’m good with customers. And I do a lot of the other stuff. I handle shipping and working with suppliers. Claary, I’m going to go back to her, but I might be looking for a change.”

  “Then come see me if you want, and we can talk about it. If nothing else, I can introduce you to people, although maybe you have your own contacts.”

  “They aren’t as good as yours,” she said.

  “Do you guys know if you intend to become citizens?”

  “Are you asking if we want to be your permanent slaves?” Gigi asked with a grin.

  “No. I’m curious.”

  “I want to win a challenge. In fact, I want to win two or three people, and then decide.”

  “Maybe that’s what we should do,” Lassa said. “We could take turns.” She smiled at me. “Would you let us win you?”

  I smiled. “I’m definitely interested in more Practice Challenges. However, I have no intention of throwing the event. And five at once was a lot of fun, but a lot of responsibility, too. Also, I can’t afford the risk of losing until after Lisbon and Mother had have their First Time. One of us needs to run the inn. We could fit shorter ones in, but they aren’t as satisfying, or I don’t think so, anyway.” Then I smiled. “There’s something else we can do.” I explained what Judge Jessla intended. “We could use that idea.”

  “Oh, that would be fun,” Lassa said.

  “But each of you needs to think about something. First, you have to decide if you’re willing to be a slave for everyone else here, plus anyone else who gets added into this mix.”

  “Like Bess?”

  “I wasn’t thinking of anyone in particular,” I said. “And second, you have to look around and decide whether you would be a kind owner to everyone here. I’m not interested if anyone is going to treat one of us kind of mean, even if she likes it at the time.”

  “You’d want us to treat everyone like you treated us,” Rondi said.

  “Not necessarily. That was my style while dealing with five of you. I couldn’t possibly give proper attention to five of you, and so I set it up for the most mutual happiness and pleasure. But you might have a different style, Rondi, and mine might not work for you.”

  “Still,” she said.

  “Right. Still. And then there’s this. You nearly beat yourself. You had Lassa tied and helpless, and if you’d had one of the devices in you, she would have beaten you. Think about what that means. You’re going to lose, and probably a lot, unless the event is very catered to your strengths. And I don’t know if I want to play if I don’t have a fair chance of doing well. I don’t have to win, but I want a fair chance, and I don’t want to have anyone take a handicap.”

  She looked down for a minute then turned to Lassa. “You and I make terrible friends.”

  “We fight.”

  “We’re too much alike but too different at the same time.”

  “Yeah.”

  “We’d b
e even more horrible as girlfriends.”

  “Oh, yeah.”

  “But I have wanted you since the day we met.”

  Lassa laughed. “The feeling isn’t entirely one-sided.”

  “That’s part of the reason I want you. You were the first person I found attractive who looked at me the way you did that day we met. Oh, I’ve been looked at, but not by someone who I wanted to look at me.” She paused. “When I have my Real Challenge, I want it either with you or with Claary. Win or lose, that’s what I want.”

  “We wouldn’t fight if you were my slave,” Lassa said with a grin. “And you heard what Claary said.”

  “I don’t think you can beat her in a fair competition,” I said. “But I don’t really know more than anyone else here.”

  “I was a little excited when I realized I was going to have my dream come true,” she said. “Thank you for letting us play so much.”

  I laughed. “You’re welcome.”

  She turned back. “How do you feel, Lassa?”

  “I don’t know if I can right now,” she said. “I’m still pretty caught up from belonging to Claary. I think having you would be pretty good, but right now, I can’t imagine belonging to anyone else but Claary.”

  “Aren’t you the one who suggested we trade?” Gigi said. “Or do you only mean you are willing to trade if we’re going to lose to Claary again?”

  “I don’t think I lost,” Lassa said. “I didn’t want to be the first caught like that, but wow! What Rondi was doing to me…” She smiled. “I was so out of it.”

  “You were,” I said. “I think Gigi has a fair question.”

  “I’ll trade,” Lassa said. “But I liked how Claary treated us.”

  We talked about it a little more. And then Bess arrived. She stayed with the others as one-by-one, I took my girls home.

  Family’s Time

  “I’m scared.”

  “I know, but Lisbon, you’re going to absolutely love it. I promise.”

  “Are you sure you can be without me.”

  “Yes. Sarala is great. Tarce is good, too. The kitchen now runs itself. And we have the others for the front room.”

  “And you’re off at the bakery half the time.”

  “Not hardly,” I said. “A few hours three times a week. And business is up. People love Lassa’s pastries, and we have awesome desserts now.”

  “We keep selling out. Tell her to make more.”

  “She’s making as much as she wants,” I said. “I’ll offer to buy more if she wants to make them, but she doesn’t want to hire more staff.”

  “She needs a couple of slaves.”

  “You could have offered to her instead.”

  “Yeah. No.”

  “Olivia will take care of you.”

  “Bee and Dee are amazing. Oh. My. God. They gave me a massage last time and then, while I lay there, they began doing other things. The little vixens. All Olivia did was laugh.”

  “You realize she told them to or at least gave permission, which is nearly the same thing.”

  “I know. Is it one big sex fest?”

  “Yep. Enjoy.”

  “I intend to,” she said. “Will you go with me?”

  “Do you want me to hold your hand, too?”

  “Would you?” She grinned.

  “Sure. And then Olivia will make you give me a massage.”

  “And then she’ll make me seduce you. She has a thing for sisters. And then when you’re vulnerable, she’s going to do that thing she does, and she’ll have both of us.”

  “She has a thing for sisters,” I said. “So not happening, Lisbon. What are you really afraid of?”

  “That she’ll be disappointed.”

  “Because you do absolutely everything she wants you to?” I snorted. “Sure.”

  “I’m not you.”

  “Hardly any experience at all,” I said. “Probably don’t have a clue what to do.”

  “Probably.”

  “She was my first woman, Lisbon. You know that, right?”

  “Deenie was my first-first. You know that, right?”

  “She was? Not you and what’s-his-name?”

  “Yeah, can you think of anyone I’ve brought around?”

  “Denny Roundbough.”

  “Who? You mean Lenny Greatbow?”

  “Yeah, him.”

  “I was seven, Claary.”

  “Kids these days.”

  “Claary!”

  We grinned at each other. “You’re stalling,” I said. “You know, if you’re late to your own enslavement, they’ll make you Do Things.”

  “Funny. I can’t believe this.”

  “I know.”

  “A month. I can’t believe this.”

  “The withdrawal sucks, and you’re going to be somewhat, hmm. Focused on her for a while.”

  “You’ve told me a dozen times.”

  “When you get back, don’t do anything stupid, Lisbon. You’re young. You’re still figuring things out.”

  “I want a challenge with Gigi.”

  “Get your own,” I said.

  “I like her, Claary. I’m being serious this time.”

  “She’ll eat you alive.”

  “Sounds like fun.”

  I shook my head. “I won’t get in the way, but I’d rather you found your own, especially as we sort of have a plan.” I told her about our group thing.

  “I could do that the times you won’t be there. You said it won’t be all of you each time.”

  “That’s fine if you lose. Oh, wait. You’ll lose. Sure.”

  “Funny.”

  “Find your own, Lisbon.”

  “If she offers, are you going to get mad?”

  “No, but I’m not going to feel good if you have them here as your slaves. That’s just weird. Seriously, Lisbon. Find your own.”

  “Fine, fine,” she said. “Lassa’s cute.”

  “You’re a snot. You know what? You can join the group.”

  “I can?’

  “Yep. But when I beat you, you’re going to be blue, not red.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “I think blue is a maid, but I might have the wrong color.”

  “I’m not going to be your maid!”

  “You’re not going to be my pleasure slave.”

  “You’re old. I’d beat you.”

  “Nice try.” I pointed to the door. “Go. Or do I need to grab one of the soldiers and have you escorted.”

  “I’m going,” she said. “Slave driver.”

  “No, I’m pointedly not driving the slave. Go.”

  * * * *

  She went. I didn’t see her for five weeks. When she got back, she was very subdued. Mother and I both gave her a lot of attention, but she remained quiet. Finally I asked her about it.

  “I can’t stop thinking about her, Claary.”

  “I know. I still think about her.”

  “I would have let her keep me.”

  “I know.”

  “If she showed up right now, I’d bend over for her.”

  “I know.”

  “She doesn’t want me, does she?”

  “The law requires you to have sufficient time to get past her,” I said.

  “She can override any law she wants.”

  “And then she can have people accuse her of corruption,” I replied.

  “She wants me to wait before I take any practice challenges.”

  “She told me that if you jump right into them, you tend to lose, and quite possibly rather willingly. And then you start looking for a permanent arrangement. You don’t give yourself a chance to really decide if you want to be a citizen. But I don’t want to run the inn without you, so I’d have to go get one of my own and then trade for you. You’re not worth much, though, so I could probably get some cash for the deal, too.”

  “No way. You’d have to offer two to get me,” she replied. “And I’m not being your pleasure slave.”

  “I know
. You’d be blue.”

  “Funny. I couldn’t believe how good it felt.”

  “I know.”

  “I want to join your club.”

  “It’s not operating yet, or if it is, not with me. I can’t risk losing yet. And the inn can’t risk us both gone at the same time.”

  “I suppose,” Lisbon said. “That wasn’t ‘no’.”

  “Sure,” I agreed. “Maybe I’ll make you my pleasure slave after all. Your duties could be to wait for me to come home and then kiss my feet clean.”

  “Funny. I really liked how she treated me.”

  “I know.”

  “I was kind of a shit to you.”

  “Yep, but only a little bit, and I probably deserved it.”

  “That’s why they have us do it, to learn what it’s like.”

  “I think that’s why they do all the Practice Challenges, too. You win a few; you lose a few. You have time to be on both sides and decide what kind of person you’re going to be.”

  “I don’t think I can win any challenges,” she said.

  “You’re 18,” I said. “I’m 21. Those three years matter. Plus I had 17 years of bossing you around to help me.” She smiled at that. “Give it time, Sis. Maybe let yourself lose one or two, for the experience.”

  “And the fun.”

  “And the fun,” I agreed. “But really, you can wait. Think about it.”

  “Yeah.” She sighed. “Does it get easier?”

  “Yeah. And that’s one reason to let yourself go lose one with someone else. Belonging to Bess helped.”

  “I bet winning five people in one day helped, too.”

  “Yes, it did.”

  She nodded then hugged me.

  * * * *

  “I’m scared.”

  “I know, Mother.”

  “Are you sure this is a good time?”

  “Mother, if you wait any longer, it’s going to be four months, not two.”

  “But-”

  “But it’s time. Do you want me to go with you?”

  “Would you?”

  “Yes, if that’s what you want.”