by Robin Roseau
“I understand.” I gestured. “This is my street.”
“I want to take you past my house so you know it.”
“All right.”
We walked for another two minutes, talking about easier topics, until we came to a stop before a very nice house. They were all very nice houses. “That is Lisolte’s,” she said, pointing across the street and down two houses.
“I recognize it.”
“This is mine. Tour?”
“Next time,” I said. “Duties.”
“See? You would have had time if not for Fiarleen.”
I laughed. “Be kind to her.”
“I’m kind to everyone,” she said. “Allium, if I ask for a challenge?”
“Yes,” I said. “But not while you also own one of my staff. And I will probably only take short duration challenges.”
“Those are fun,” she said. “I’ll walk you home.”
“I can find it.”
“Are you turning me down?”
“Saving you a walk.”
“I want my kiss on the embassy steps,” she said. She tugged my arm.
It was a good kiss.
* * * *
I caught up with my staff at lunch. Everyone was there. “We have dinner with Lady Olivia this evening,” I announced. “Attire is cocktail.” I paused. “None of you should assume you’re coming back tonight.”
They all grew still. It was Mendari who said, “Good. The anticipation is killing me. But who will see to you while we’re all gone?”
“I am quite capable of seeing to my own needs,” I said.
“I will be most vexed if I come back to a messy kitchen,” she said.
I laughed. “If you are dissatisfied with the condition of the kitchen, I will offer myself as your kitchen girl to set things right, around my other duties.”
“Fair enough,” she said with a smile. “Does that include if your organizational methods are different from mine?”
I thought about it then said, “Yes.”
“Perfect.”
“Does anyone wish she hadn’t agreed to come?” They were silent. “All right. Viella, I will finish the report for the king in another hour. How do I request an audience with Lady Olivia?”
“I will see to it.”
“I know, but I think I need to know how you will see to it, as you cannot leave the embassy grounds.”
“Oh. Her staff left for their own lunches, but they’ll be back in another half hour. I’ll tell one of them.”
“Mendari, could we have fed our guests?”
“Of course, Allium,” replied our chef.
“They had errands,” Viella said. “Or so they claimed.”
“All right. We’ll see what patterns are another time. Are there questions for me?”
“Will we be safe?” Renalla asked.
I didn’t have to ask what she meant. “Yes,” I said. “You will be treated very well.”
She nodded. “Were you afraid?”
“Yes.”
“But you’d do it again?”
“Oh, yes.”
“Who will take us?” Penelody asked.
“I don’t know, and Lady Olivia has asked me to let her manage that.”
“I’m doing it,” Viella said. “I was nervous about it at first, and I’m probably still a little bit nervous. But I had an amazing time at the dance last night, and this is going to be even better.”
“I’m doing it,” Mendari said. “But I don’t want to be some sort of kitchen slave.”
“What are you talking about,” Tarleet asked.
“We aren’t necessarily pleasure slaves,” she said. “They have all kinds of slaves. You can ask to be a specific kind.” She looked back at me. “Will Lady Olivia let us be the type of slaves we want?”
“I don’t know,” I said. “I think I’ve been making assumptions. You don’t want to be a pleasure slave?”
“I’d be just fine with that. I’d be fine with a few other kinds, too, although pleasure slave sounds like the most fun. I just don’t want to be a kitchen slave. Claary told me that people are pretty out of it during their first time, and I don’t want to be in the kitchen if I’m not at my best. Claary said the first few times, women tend to be out of it.”
“That seems to be true.”
“After a while, you settle into it, although she said that depends, and I didn’t understand what she meant after that.”
“I’m fairly certain that if you offer yourself to Claary, you’ll be working at one of her restaurants.”
“Then I want someone else,” she said. “Please, Allium.”
“We’ll talk to Lady Olivia,” I said. “I can’t imagine she’s going to do a single thing to make this harder for anyone.”
* * * *
I read my report one more time. It was long, and I would rather have delivered it in person. I’d written it fairly briefly, just two pages, but then I had addendum after addendum. I mentioned that the existing enslaved women couldn’t just be sent home, then referenced the addendum about it, which was four pages long. All told, it was a thick stack of paper, and I’d had to draft and redraft all of it, and then produce a final draft in a careful hand.
I wasn’t satisfied, but it would have to do.
I carefully signed the introductory letter, then embossed the page with the seal of my office. I stared at that for a while. It was the first official use of my new seal, and I was overcome for a moment.
But then I set everything into a diplomatic pouch. That, along with a few other things, went into an outer satchel, and I stepped from my office.
Viella was across the hall, in her office. Living quarters were on the second floor, but our offices were on the first. She wasn’t alone. There was a black-clad slave standing at the edge of the room.
“That is so uncanny,” she said. “That’s Cha. She’s a government slave of some sort. She’s mine for another hour, if I have any additional errands.”
I stepped to the woman. She looked straight ahead, but I said, “Cha.” She turned to look at me and offered a smile. “Is this what you do? Stand here until someone sends you on an errand?”
“It is what I do today,” she said. “I am normally one of Lady Olivia’s secretaries.”
“You have a Charthan accent.”
“Yes, Ambassador,” she replied. “I was born two days west of here, but I was living in Charth when the Ressalines arrived.”
“And you’ve belonged to Lady Olivia since?”
“No,” she said. “Only a few months. I belonged to someone else before that.” She paused. “I would rather you didn’t ask more questions like that, Ambassador.”
“I’m sorry. Is it uncomfortable for you?”
“I am only a slave, Ambassador. I don’t know what questions I should answer. I can answer questions like the others you have asked.”
“If I ever ask a question that strays into poor territory, would you tell me, Cha?”
“Yes, Ambassador.”
“She’s not at all like I expected,” Viella said. “She’s been helping me.”
“Were all of Olivia’s staff slaves?”
“No. Cha and two others. The last was dressed in leather.”
“That was Melistara,” Cha offered.
“Cha says she likes being a slave,” Viella said. “But she won’t talk about it more than that.”
“Please don’t ask,” Cha added.
“Of course not,” I promised. “Do I have an appointment, Viella?”
“Lady Olivia expects you at Government House whenever you arrive. If it were to grow near dinner, then she would ask you find a different opportunity, but it’s barely mid-afternoon. Allium, I’ve done everything I think I can do for now. Is there more you want?”
“No, Viella,” I said.
“I’m supposed to dismiss Cha when I’m sure I won’t need her.”
“Cha, where will you go when you leave here.”
“Government House
, Ambassador.”
“Perhaps you would walk with me.”
“Of course, Ambassador.”
“Viella, I won’t be long. Can you quietly see how people feel?”
“I already have,” she said. “Do you mind if I begin getting ready? I want to look good.”
She didn’t want to discuss it in front of Olivia’s slave. I nodded. “I’ll find you in your room, then.”
“Thank you, Allium.”
* * * *
Cha showed me to Lady Olivia’s office. As soon as we greeted, she disappeared. Olivia offered a seat.
“Duchess,” I said. “I do not have my own transportation network.”
“Not yet, no.”
I withdrew the diplomatic pouch and set it on the coffee table between us. “It’s not sealed.”
“Sealing it is customary, Ambassador.”
I stared at it for a minute then said, “You know I’m new at this.”
“And friends forgive mistakes,” she added.
I looked up. “If you’re going to read this, I’d rather you did so openly.”
“Ah. Allium, if you hand that to me unsealed, I will happily read it, if that’s what you want. If you hand it to me sealed, it will reach your king, still sealed.”
“Your courier would bring it all the way to Barrish?”
“Yes, actually. It is how international incidents are prevented. My courier will accept only a sealed satchel, and she will prefer it directly from your hand. Unless she hands it directly to the king, she will demand a receipt after an inspection of the seal.”
“I didn’t know any of that.”
“When I arrived here, neither did I,” she said. “I was quite surprised the first time one of Queen Lisdee’s couriers arrived. She was vexed with me for not properly sending my dispatches, and I received a lesson.”
“Is that some sort of euphemism?”
“No, no. Lisdee isn’t like that. I think she was frustrated with whomever should have educated me first. An oversight, and no real harm.”
“Thank you for explaining.” I opened the pouch and withdrew the first three sheets. I set them on the table between us. “The rest are addendums with details.”
“You don’t need to let me read that,” she said. But I gestured, and so she picked them up. She read carefully, smiling. “I can practically hear your voice,” she said halfway through. Finally, she set it back down and nodded. “It seems brief.”
I picked the pouch back up and dropped it from several inches. It made quite the thud. “We’d miss dinner if you want to read all of it.”
“No, thank you.”
I collected the papers from her, replaced them in the pouch, and then withdrew everything I would need to carefully seal it. By the time I was done, Olivia had summoned a woman.
“Ambassador Cuprite,” Olivia said. “This is Ms. Variend Baygrove. She is one of my couriers, and I trust her completely.”
“Thank you, Lady Olivia,” said the courier.
“Ms. Baygrove, I personally witnessed Ambassador Cuprite seal the pouch. You saw the last few steps. Please inspect this for her. Ambassador, is this the first time you have done this?”
“I had a little practice, but yes, it is.”
“May I, Ambassador?”
I stood and handed the pouch to the courier. She spent a minute at it, inspecting it carefully. Then she smiled. “I accept this diplomatic pouch, Ambassador.”
“It is for King Leander,” I said. “He will be anxious to receive it, but there is nothing that will rot if it takes a little time to arrange an appointment. Will you be allowed to deliver it directly into his hands?”
“I have in the past,” she said. “And those were from Lady Olivia. I imagine little trouble. Do you expect a reply, Ambassador?”
“I don’t know. Perhaps ask the king.”
“I will,” she said. “Ambassador, is there any reason to believe I require an armed escort while carrying this missive?”
“Have you been escorted in the past?”
“I’d rather hear your response without knowing that answer.”
I gestured. “If anyone attempts to take that from you, do not risk yourself over it. While I would prefer it be delivered directly to the king, there’s nothing in it that’s worth someone’s life. If that were the case, I’d travel myself. That being said, you’re one woman traveling through Barrish. I have done so alone before, but I am far more comfortable with a few other people.”
“Charthan used to be like that, too,” she said. “Now I travel back and forth to Ressaline City with nary a care in the world.”
“Lady Olivia, I feel this is somewhat ridiculous. How many people will be involved in transporting that to King Leander?”
“I understand what you’re saying,” Olivia said. “But it’s not really something that should go by general post.”
“Although we’ll take the post with us,” said. Ms. Baygrove. “There isn’t normally much, and we won’t take any that would require us to meander along the way.”
I turned to Olivia. “I do not know how I compensate Ms. Baygrove for this service.”
“You don’t, Ambassador,” said the woman. “This is my duty to Ressaline.”
“Allium,” Olivia added. “You provide a pouch, carefully sealed, and then you let others do their jobs.”
I inclined my head. “Very good, Lady Olivia. Thank you, Ms. Baygrove.”
“Ms. Baygrove, unless King Leander tasks you with a return pouch, feel free to enjoy a few days in Barrish,” Olivia said.
“I will, Lady Olivia,” she said. “That will be nice. If there is nothing else.”
“Thank you, Ms. Baygrove,” said Olivia. Together, she and I watched the courier exit the room, closing the door behind her. Olivia set her hand on my shoulder. “Congratulations, Ambassador.”
I turned to her. “I wish a brief discussion on other topics, Olivia, if you have a moment.”
“Of course.”
“I have been asked questions regarding tonight.”
“And you told them you would talk to me.”
“I did.”
“I want them to ask me themselves. This is important to me, Allium.”
I nodded. “All right. Could I tell you one request?”
“Yes, but I’m not going to respond to you about it. The woman asking must ask me.”
“But you won’t turn down advance notice.”
“Of course not.”
“Mendari knows she isn’t guaranteed to be a pleasure slave.”
Olivia snorted. “Barring strong requests, Allium, they’re all going to be pleasure slaves.”
“More than pleasure slaves?”
“I don’t know what you’re asking.”
“Mendari understands there are many types of slaves but has specifically asked not to be assigned to a kitchen.”
“She’s your chef.”
“And she doesn’t want to go near a kitchen when she’s not fully herself.”
“Ah,” Olivia said. “I don’t blame her. I don’t want you talking to them about this. Please.” I nodded. “They’re all going to be pleasure slaves, but it may be that some of them will have other duties. Claary is the only one who would want to shove her into a kitchen, but it is common in smaller households for slaves to serve other duties. Bee and Dee used to cook for me, but I’ve expanded my own household enough they no longer need to.” She smiled. “Claary owns all the best cooks in the city, though.”
“Well, can you please see to Mendari’s request?”
“Of course, but I want her to make it to me directly. Please.”
“I’ll tell her.”
“Thank you. Did you have anything else?”
“Yes. This is even more personal. Did you have particular plans for my schedule?”
“I have plans. I think you’re asking something quite specific.”
“I am finding myself at the center of some attention. I do not know what your plans are
, so I do not know how free I should feel to accept other offers.”
“Ah,” she replied. “Let’s see how tonight goes. Or do you already have offers?”
“I expect an invitation or six waiting for me when I get back.
She laughed. “Put them off, just a day or so.”
“I can do that.”
“Thank you. I should go, unless you had anything else.”
“Not now.”
We stood. We hugged. She kissed my cheek. I groped her bottom, and she laughed before sending me on my way.
* * * *
Everyone was clearly nervous, and I was shocked I still hadn’t lost anyone. We arrived at Olivia’s home and were escorted inside. The doors closing behind us sounded ominous.
Waiting inside we found Olivia. She greeted me with a hug and kiss and the others with, “Welcome to my home. We’re doing something a little different tonight.” She gestured. Around the edge of the room were slaves. Some were in black, some in blue. Bee and Dee were the only ones in red.
“Tonight, I am going to partner each of you with one of the women you see waiting. I will be making assignments. The particular assignment will serve as no indication about how the evening may end for anyone. These women are here for a specific reason, which I will explain once we have made partners.” She turned to me. “I am giving you to Dee.”
Dee clapped happily and hurried to my side, taking my arm. I grinned at her then leaned over and kissed her cheek.
“You can do better than that,” she said. “Later.”
I laughed.
Olivia made the rest of the assignments. Everyone from my delegation found an arm clasped by one of the slaves. Olivia smiled and said, “I want all of you to indulge me. The slaves have their orders. Those orders do not include obedience to you.” She paused. “I want each of you to do as your slave guides you.”
“Excuse me?” I asked.
“Like you mind,” Olivia said with a laugh. “I have more guests waiting for us. Your slaves will be forcing each of you to mingle. If she tugs you from one conversation to another, you will let her. That is all I mean.”
I smiled. A few of my friends looked at their companions, some with smiles, some more hesitatingly. But that was when Viella stepped forward, pulling Cha with her. “Lady Olivia.”
