Changing the World: All-New Tales of Valdemar

After that, she withdrew completely from the conversation and just steamed silently, until Jesrin led her up the marble stairs, long after the men had retreated, to a frilly, dainty, girly room. It was very lavish, of course. See how well the Amar treats even a daughter of a trader?

“If you need,” Jesrin said, “That cord will ring a bell below. I’ll hurry right up.”

“You won’t sleep yourself?” Riga asked.

Jesrin seemed confused by Riga’s accent, or perhaps the question itself.

“Of course, I’ll wake up. It’s my duty to serve. If I’m not available, then Aysa will come.”

“Thank you, though I’ll be fine. You’ve been so gracious.”

Jesrin replied with a demure bow. “Thank you, all I do is on behalf of my lord.”

Riga couldn’t wait, so asked, “Jesrin, would you like me to look at your shoulder? I may have a salve that will help.”

“Oh, Miss Riga, you are gracious, no. The house-mistress is taking care of it. I will be fine.” The poor girl seemed embarrassed and ashamed just to discuss it.

Girl. Jesrin was easily a year older than Riga’s seventeen. Yet Riga was a woman among her people, able to run her household, sign contracts, travel freely or as mistress of a mission. Jesrin seemed younger, frailer, helpless. She could manage any number of chores, but she had no voice, was illiterate, a glorified pet. Riga could give orders to laborers and warriors. Jesrin wouldn’t know how even if she could.

With nothing else to offer, Riga said, “Then I shall retire. I hope to see you in the morning, and please rest. You’ve made me most comfortable, thank you.”

“A blessing on you.” Jesrin bowed and withdrew with what looked like a happy smile. It made Riga shudder.

The next morning, Riga awoke to sun peeking through chiseled piercework in the shutters. The weather was wonderfully mild. The bed was silken over feathers, with a very fine cotton sheet.

Riga would gladly give it all up to keep her status.

A breakfast of fruit and pastry sat on a tray near the door. She snagged a couple of fat strawberries and a roll, partly to quiet her stomach and partly to be polite to Jesrin and the other servants. She didn’t care what the Amar thought and was pretty sure he wouldn’t even ask how she’d fared. She rebraided her hair, threw a scarf over it to appease local customs, and opened the door.

No one was around, so she crept across and tapped on what she hoped was Father’s door. She could hear his voice, and Erki’s, and that brightened her mood a lot.

He swung the door open and said, “Welcome, Daughter! I’m sure you’re dreading returning to the Sea Fox.”

“Oh, yes, very much, Father.” Please get me out of here now, her mind and face said.

Once downstairs, she stood back while Father, Erki, and the Amar exchanged bows. She wasn’t expected to participate, for which she was glad.

A few minutes later they were striding down the broad, dusty street toward the port.

Erki said, “I’ll be glad to eat normal food. I got sick of the rich, fancy stuff very quickly.”

“I enjoyed the food. Not the company. I wish I could have. Jesrin seems like a nice girl,” she said.

“She does. He sent her to my room an hour after bed last night,” Father admitted.

“Oh, Father, you didn’t!” she exclaimed.

“Of course I didn’t,” he replied with a grimace and shiver. “Gods, she’s barely older than you, girl. Ugh.” He cringed again. “I bade her sit and talk for a while, gave her some medicine for the pain and some herbs to help heal. They don’t do that here, either. Herbs are the work of the devils. She wasn’t easy to convince, but I promised her I’d never mention it. Then I made her sleep on the divan. She seemed both grateful and put upon.”

Riga wasn’t sure she parsed that, but no matter. “Thank you,” she replied.

“For what? Not bedding a child? I need no thanks for that.” He sounded annoyed.

“I wish we could help her. Buy her, perhaps?”

Father leaned up and back and met her eyes.

“I know you mean well, but no. Her looks make her highly prized.”

“You could ask,” she said. “I have my share to pledge against the cost.”

He sighed and looked uncomfortable.

“Riga, His Beneficent Excellency was struck by your stature and eyes. He offered me a sack of saffron and your weight in gold for your hand for his son.”

Riga choked and stared wide-eyed. Great gods. That was more than both their ships were worth. They might do that gross business in five years.

Feeling nervous ripples, she asked, “And you told him . . . ?”

“I said you were to be betrothed to a wealthy merchant in our lands, but his offer was most generous and thoughtful. I thanked him for the compliment he paid me as a father and merchant.”

Seeing her sunken expression, he added, “Riga, she’s got good food, a warm bed and shelter. Her lot as a free peasant would be no better in this desert. It would be worse. You can’t save everyone. Remember the birds? And the rabbit?”

Yes, she’d tried to save injured animals when younger.

“You stewed them,” she said accusingly.