by S. K Munt
‘Oh my God…’ Karol whispered.
I swallowed, and there were tears in my eyes now. ‘I know that you and Kohén are in love, and I know that one day, you will believe it will work out and sometimes, I think it could too. Sometimes, I watch you and Kohén play and think that the world would have been a perfect place if it had been you and he alone in the Garden of Eden, for your souls shine so brightly when you are together that it can blind even the shrewdest mind into believing that it has seen a miracle,’ my voice broke but I went on. ‘I do not question why he loves you dearly, for I love you dearly, and your ability to maintain your self-possession all of these years while being Kohén’s clear favourite has inspired me. Truth be told, were it not for you, I would have given up the books and taken up the lipstick long ago, but if the ugly duckling can become a swan, maybe the smart girl can learn to have faith in more than mathematical formulas.’ My voice wobbled but I breathed past it. ‘But listen to me carefully Larkin; if our kind king could talk to me the way he did, then there are no limits to what these so-called angelic Barachiels are capable of doing in order to maintain control, so if I do vanish off the face of the earth and find this please, don’t take it to any of them- they cannot be trusted, not even Kohén for he has more to gain from your imprisonment than anyone, even if he does not feel that way right now. Make a copy of it, hide it somewhere, and then go to King Elbert, or Elliot Bronx, for they will be the most desperate for it. And then get the hell out of there before my influence rubs off on you, and you become too smart to survive within a man’s paradise as well!’ I looked up again and Karol had his face in his hands. ‘I must go now for Coaxley is coming for my things but please Larkin, try to laugh this off if you find it after I write you to tell you I am fine, and do not judge the king too harshly for making such awful threats. These men carry the world on their backs, and God’s faith in mankind and they must do it while closing their hearts off to love and being besieged by energies that we cannot fathom as pure mortals. I am probably only being foolish, but if I’m not… think the absolute worst, and save yourself.’ I wiped at my nose. ‘Love always, your best friend, Martya L.Rice.’
There was an awful silence after I’d finished, but Karol’s laboured breathing could not be mistaken.
‘Is there a room in a harem where a girl could be expected to scream in pain masquerading as pleasure?’ I asked.
‘Yes.’ Karol looked up at me, and his eyes were brighter than any emeralds. ‘Did you make a second copy of that formula and hide it before you came up here?’
‘Yes,’ I said.
‘Are you going to give THAT one to me?’
‘Are you going to get Lindy out of here? Coaxley and their children too?’
‘Yes.’ He paused, as I wilted in relief, studying me gravely. ‘Do you believe that I will? You must know that I can’t agree until you give me that book: letter, formula and all to protect my family.’
‘I know,’ I said.
‘But your best friend, who did die en route to St Miguel just told you not to trust me. Opting to save your friends instead of yourself would make her most unhappy- and for all you know, I could have you killed the moment that book is in my hand, or them.’
‘I trust you,’ I said, lifting my head.
‘But not Kohén?’
‘No.’
‘Why?’
‘Because you’re not in love with me,’ I answered simply. ‘And for all the sins man can commit in hatred- the ones they will do for love are the worst.’
Karol stared hard at me. ‘But… but you could save yourself with this!’
‘That would be selfish.’ I moved towards him. ‘And not the smartest choice for me. If I stay here there’s a chance- a real chance- that I could do something great with my life. But Lindy… family is her only happiness, and I can’t bear to see her go through what my mother did.’
‘So that’s it?’ he demanded. ‘You throw away your only chance at freedom to save a middle-aged woman who treated you kindly?’
‘No, not just that. I do have one more stipulation.’
Karol narrowed his eyes at me. ‘And that would be?’
I handed him the book. ‘That you share the formula. If you open a factory to produce it in large quantities then yes, I expect you to sell it. But you will do so at production price with one coin extra- money that will go the Given Corps to make their lives a little more comfortable until the caste is eradicated. But only they will profit from this- not the crown- not at the expense of all of those hungry people that third-borns are being sacrificed to save.’
Karol’s mouth opened slightly wider before he said: ‘My father will throttle me! This is the most valuable secret in the world and King Elbert would no sooner share it than my father would, not for nothing!’
‘So be better than all of them, and prove that your family name is as worthy now as it was six hundred years ago. Besides, it’s one copy of the most valuable secret in the world- and the other is in the last place you’ll ever think to look for it- and with someone who will benefit even more than you will, by revealing it.’ I said quickly. ‘If you don’t share it, I will have it mailed to the newspaper, but if you do, you’ll not only prove what that skeleton of yours is made of, compared to your father’s, but you’ll earn my trust and the nation’s respect.’
‘I… I don’t think I can go behind his back like that!’
‘You will be acting regent, so it won’t be behind his back but as your duty! And you will be so worshipped for curing this problem- with Martya’s name credited for it, of course: you have to say that she left this for you to find- that he won’t be able to touch you.’ I stepped closer into him, feeling nervous for the first time for I knew that as strong as a man could be, his parents opinion of them and his people’s would always count more than his own. ‘Karol please- I know this is scary but take it from a girl who lost her God-given right to be a mother yesterday for your pleasure… things can be scarier.’ I swallowed hard as I prepared myself to twist the key into the lock and seal my fate. ‘Do this- save the world from hunger and if you do… and if in five years from now, Lindy’s family is alive and well and this cure in effect… I will show you my gratitude.’
Karol’s thick eyelashes lifted. ‘What?’
‘When I’m released at twenty-one, whether it as Kohén’s used whore or a free woman who he no longer has need for… prove me right in trusting you and I will come to you before I leave, willingly.’
‘You’ll…’ he pushed his dark hair off his forehead. ‘You’ll lie with me? Willingly?’
‘It will be my pleasure,’ I whispered, ‘and my promise.’
He frowned at me, but his eyes were practically misting over from the sudden humidity wafting off his countenance. ‘You think if you get out of here unmolested, Kohén won’t want you for himself?’
‘He can’t have me for himself,’ I said coldly, remembering Emmerly wearing only a sheet, and he wearing her lip-gloss. ‘Law states that the future queen or duchess must be fertile, and I will not be. Kohén has big dreams for us, but you and I both know that that is one thing that will not change.’
And as he gave his virginity to someone else, I will do the same if I can!
‘Is that the reason why he can’t have you?’ Karol asked slowly. ‘Or is the fact that he had someone else last night the reason?’
I returned his gaze steadily. ‘You Barachiel men have the right to dictate who I can give myself to and when… but with Kohén’s graciousness, I get to say why. It will be for true love, or because I know that it is the only option. True love doesn’t turn to a whore, and I’m fairly certain that the only thing that will motivate a man like you to do the right thing by me for the next five years to follow through on your promises, is the promise that I will come to your chamber.’
‘But if you give your virginity to me, you won’t be eligible to be married until you’re thirty!’
‘I won’t want to be married if I leave here without Kohén’s
love, and he’s already lost mine so…’ I swallowed back tears, knowing that was true- how could I ever love anyone now that I’d known a boy like Kohén? Not even Kohl would compare. ‘So I will lie with you.’
Karol took my arm and pulled me to him, widening his knees to let me in. ‘Do it now!’
Something cold kissed the base of my spine. ‘What?!’
‘We already know that you’re going to break his heart for breaking yours already, and I suffer from impatience as he does… so do it now!’ He stroked my piggy tail. ‘Take off that dress, celebrate this with me and I will give you my word that Lindy and her family will be safe and that this cure will be shared for the benefit of the world.’
‘No,’ I said, shaking my arm loose.
‘Why? If Kohén gets to you first-’
‘He promised me that he would not!’ I hissed, trying to sound angry so he wouldn’t hear my fear. ‘And he’s proven himself honest so far, even if it’s broken my heart to watch him seek out other options! I gave him my word to stay and to be faithful to him, not just when I moved in here and signed that contract, but several times since- to my best friend! I won’t betray him for you, the nation or myself so do not ask it of me Karol.’ I poked his chest. ‘Besides, what sort of idiot hands over her chips before the hand has been dealt? If I slept with you now the only threat I’d have left is to tell everyone who will listen that your father murdered Martya five years from now-’
‘You don’t know if that is true!’ Karol looked white again, and his knees released me reflexively. ‘She said it could have been an empty threat, and the people who attended the scene said it had been an accident, and father hasn’t used that room for years!’
‘Very interesting points!’ I hissed. ‘Shall I go downstairs and discuss it with the other girls in the harem to see what they think? Or shall I just wait and bring it up at the next town meeting in front of Shep?’
He blanched, but the light in his eyes remained on. ‘You haven’t told anyone this?’
‘Outside of you, no! Why would I? If I was wrong, discussing it could be seen as slander against the crown, and that could get whoever I told banished as well as me!’
‘That’s… right.’ He blinked, looking dazed.
‘It was in the guidelines, along with the picture of the woman being held by her ankles.’ I said sassily. ‘Besides, I wanted to know if that room was true before I breathed a word of warning. By the way- that’s to be mentioned in harem training from now on, and a full tour of the vicinity needs to become standard from here out- because it’s just icky and immoral to surprise us with whips and chains!’
Karol gave me a speculative look. ‘Would you like to write down your increasing list of demands?’
‘No!’ I said brightly. ‘I trust you to remember all three of them, by the rewards offered for each if nothing else.’ I ticked off my fingers ‘One: Take Lindy to safety in exchange for the formula. Two: Share the formula or know it will be forwarded to the King of Rabia in exchange for safe passage out and three, keep Lindy safe and include the dungeon training in our syllabus, and if you do- I’ll come to you in gratitude when I am released.’
Karol’s eyes narrowed to slits. ‘And we thought Martya was the clever one!’
‘No one thought a damned thing about me aside from my ugliness until I showed up in that swan dress,’ I growled. ‘Now I’m TELLING you what to think and you’d better listen Karol. I don’t know if your father killed Martya and I really don’t want to believe it’s true. But the threat is enough to blacken his name, the formula is enough to save the country to your credit, and the offer to come to your chamber hopefully appeals to the darker side of your nature enough for you to give the good in you focus enough to function for the next five years and leave me alone. So think very carefully before you try and haggle me down, because after what I went through last night I am already at rock bottom, got it? I’ll start slinging mud from hereon out!’
Karol stared at me for a long moment but then finally shrugged and said: ‘Fine.’
I blinked, breathing heavily from having given him what-for. ‘What?’
‘I was testing your loyalty to Kohén, and the worth of your word,’ he explained calmly, turning away. ‘Now I’m satisfied, so go seek out your friend and tell her to- very quietly- have her and her children’s family’s things packed for departure tomorrow morning. And while you’re doing that, I’ll let mother know who I’m taking with me.’ He closed the book on his desk and when I saw the title Gone With The Wind, my eyes almost popped out of their sockets. ‘And by the way, I need you to attend the judgement with me this afternoon after services.’
‘With you?’ I asked. ‘Why?’
‘So you understand why those cameras are there- and so you’re close enough for me to grab you by one of those fetching piggy-tails if you try to scamper off.’
‘Okay…’ I stared at his back, still feeling off-balance. ‘That’s it…?’
‘Unless you’d like to kiss me farewell,’ he said, glancing back at me and smiling cheekily when I screwed up my face. ‘By the way, if you pass any of my family on the way out, let them know that I summoned you to alert Lindy please, or Kohén will have me by the throat too tightly for me to be allowed to leave.’
‘Yes, your highness,’ I said, turning to open the door. ‘And, um… thank you.’
‘Thank me? You may have just saved the world.’ My face heated up and then he said: ‘Larkin?’
I glanced back at him. ‘Yes?’
‘You were meant to be here. I know that at times, our traditions may seem… cruel, but there are worst alternatives to being the object of two princes’ affection, you know.’
‘Objects of erection is more like it,’ I muttered, and Karol smiled a beautiful, bright smile that made him look Kohén’s age. Not that there was much telling the difference between their ages now that the twins had shot up so.
‘You amuse me a great deal,’ he said. ‘What are you going to do if I fall in love with you and try to prevent you from leaving?’
I smiled sweetly. ‘Probably kill you like I would Kohén.’
He laughed. ‘I thought so. Good thing that I’m cold-hearted, huh?’
‘You’d be cold either way,’ I teased and closed the door between us, wondering if he knew how deadly serious- and well-trained in the art of self-defence- I had been thanks to his thoughtful request that I be encouraged to be the most fascinating little whore that I could be! As I passed the dining room table again I removed the serrated bread-knife that I had taken from it on my way in from the gold clasp at the back of my gown, put it back beside Elijah’s place-setting and then walked off with hips swaying.
I didn’t like Karol, but I was glad that I hadn’t needed to use it all the same!
3.
The Shepherd services were as entertaining for me as they’d always been. I adored Shep, who was a tiny little old man with a long white beard braided with silver, and I loved watching him tell stories because he got so excited about God that he’d jump up and wave his arms, caught up in the thrill of his own tale. It was better than attending a play, especially that day when he was so excited over the statue.
On that Sunday, we learned about the horrific times that followed after Miguel left Eden, and how the Native American people that he left behind began to fight one another for land- only to lose it to white settlers who came through and all but wiped the ancient races off the face of the earth. Karma was the moral to the story, and though we weren’t supposed to recycle old theological terms like that, it did seem as though God had charged the universe with that sort of power. What you sent out, you got back, threefold, only in this case, the punishment did not fit the crime. For all the anguish some of Miguel’s tribeswomen had given Satan- they’d loved the land and had deserved to keep it, so it was sort of poetic that the Barachiel family in charge of the land now had Native American blood in their blue veins.
The other people in Eden had always gotten as
caught up in the Sunday service as I had, but I would have had to be made of stone not to notice that things were off that day. At first, I was just aware that I was the recipient of odd looks and that didn’t surprise me too much. Karol saved me a seat beside him on the marble steps beneath his father’s throne, and with a hostile look in his eye; Kohén had sat on the other side of me, but closer. The Given girls were obviously looking at me with interest because of that- and at Emmerly who’d sat next to Kohén and made a show of admiring her bangle right through service, but it wasn’t just the girls I’d grown up with who kept shooting me little looks, but the queen and the king too.
It must be the outfit- the make up, the curls… you’re not yourself today and they’re wondering who you will be from hereon out. Or maybe they’re just waiting for you to either start bragging about the statue, or to claim Kohén’s knee back from Emmerly’s grasp. Just ignore them and be attentive to Shep- no one in this room has the right to know what’s on your mind OR in your heart!
Service ended and though a few people stood to shake Shep’s hand, a sort of strange, thick tension swirled about the room in the absence of his irenic voice and it made the back of my neck feel sweaty. I made no move to rise, but leaned down and tapped Kohl on the shoulder, who turned to smile blandly at me.
‘Are you staying for the judgement?’ I asked.
‘Yes,’ he said, frowning a little. ‘I’m not looking forward to it, but I have not seen one in many years and I suppose I must.’
‘Come sit by me then,’ I said moving aside and nudging Karol along with my hip so he’d get the hint. ‘Karol wants me to stay for it too.’
‘I know,’ Kohl said quickly, moving to sit beside me- but he did not look at me and I frowned slightly, wondering what was going on. I wasn’t going to be judged, was I? ‘Hey Karol… what was that thing about the…’ Kohl turned away to make conversation with his older brother and I sat there, staring behind his back to the hem of the king’s faux-bejewelled golden robe and biting my lip, feeling stung. Was this the same boy who’d handed me a jar of fireflies the night before, or had they twin-switched again? I wanted to turn to Kohén and ask him if I’d done something to anger Kohl, but then I thought on it and my stomach filled with anxious acid. The letter I’d left him! Had he found it already? No! I would die if he had, and if this was his reaction to it. I’d counted on him being back in Pacifica before he read it! Oh no! Maybe this judgement WAS for me! My legs filled with nervous energy and tensed, prepared to flee, but a soothing feeling swept down my back.
