Bound in Blood

[Retroboy]

Apophe had returned to Zakuul to meet with her cousin. These days, she seemed to shuttle back and forth between Zakuul and New Satramand quite frequently, caught up in administrative duties that came with being a monarch. It was exhausting, but it was good busywork all the same. Thankfully, they were close enough together that not too much was lost in travel time. That made it possible to be efficient in her bouncing back and forth and kept her from worrying that she was wasting too much time.

She had ostensibly come for business, but the reality was that there was a conversation she had with Amelia that was weighing heavily on her mind. She had been incredibly close to Arsolyn MehYahm when they were children, being one of the only two children close in age at the time. From 6-10, she was probably even closer to Arsolyn than she was to Lazzis. But now she had come to realize in their adult life Apophe knew very little about her baby cousin, and more than that, was often annoyed at Arsolyn's many demands. She didn't want that. She wanted to be close to Lynnie again, like they used to be.

But there came the hurdle. She had gotten serious with Amelia. Very serious, and she knew that Arsolyn wouldn't like that. 'Wouldn't like that'. She'd be livid. If it were almost any other person, Apophe would just order her to get over it. But this was her Lynnie, not any other person. She knew what would happen if she didn't handle that delicately. Apophe knew, on some level, if she lost Arsolyn she'd probably never recover emotionally. This girl had been her best friend growing up. She had to make an effort to play this as gently as she could.

She fumbled with the engagement ring on her finger. She should have come to Arsolyn with this sooner. She sighed through her nose. She had a plan, though. If Arsolyn got violent, she wasn't going to engage with her. She'd just let her work it out of her system.

Apophe stepped off the carrier, dressed in finery. A long fur-cape hung from her shoulders, and she was dressed in a silken red tunic. A golden circlet curved around her head, giving her that Imperial air that helped her feel more comfortable. She had her hair in a single pig-tail, like she used to wear when she was a little girl.

She descended, overseeing the temple that Arsolyn was building. Even now, control of Zakuul was not a given, but monuments like these would helpfully help convince the enemy that they had been thoroughly vanquished by the Void Serpents. She progressed amongst the rocks, her eyes peeled. Finally, she saw her.

Arsolyn MehYahm, looking as imperious as ever. Apophe smiled, and drifted up to her.

"Hey, Lynnie" she said.

@Vinn Esper

 

[Vinn Esper]

Arsolyn was well into the process of completing the inner compound. The slaves had begun to readjust nicely. Each day they were becoming more and more productive. Of course, rumors of planned uprisings were plenty. They had been since the beginning. Most of the Zakuulians capable of generating enough sway to convince the rest to fight were still locked up, or had died from torture. Those that gave in and worked were watched carefully. Things were well underway now.

Arsolyn stood upon a large rectangular patch that had been cut into the earth in the center of the compound. It was cut to lay the foundation of her new church. Arsolyn stood inside of the dirt rectangle, seeing what did not yet exist. She stood praying, asking for the guidance of the Will. There weren't any slaves working on the church at this moment.

Instead, they were positioned at four or five different locations around the church site. Each group seemed to have its own instructions, and it's own Yahm overseers. The slaves themselves, who had been so resilient, now worked productive rates. Most were quiet, but some had taken to singing. When this had first manifested, Arsolyn thought to put a stop to it. Instead, she allowed it. Arsolyn realized that the best way to break the slaves was to balance reward and punishment. Allowing them to sing had begun to pay off, as the productivity of the slaves had increased slightly.

Suddenly Arsolyn's thoughts were interrupted from behind. "Hey, Lynnie," sounded a voice she immediately recognized as belonging to the queen. She spun around quickly and smiled. No one had given her word to expect the queen, but since childhood Arsolyn had always been happy to see her. In simpler times they had always been together. Now, it seemed they hardly saw each other. The time, distance, and unintentional neglect had done nothing to diminish Arsolyn's love and respect for her cousin.

"Apophe!" She said, excitedly. "It is so nice to see you. No one sent word of your arrival, or I would've been present to receive you. You know, I love our new home, but I also sometimes miss being cooped up inside of the Ashes, or on the Yahmsborg. I miss being able to take a short walk and see you. Anyways, how are you, and what can I do for my Queen."

 

[Retroboy]

Apophe responded to Arsolyn's greeting by hugging her tightly, something she didn't do often. She gave Arsolyn a kiss on the cheek, customary among the Yahm in greeting, before pulling back and smiling at her in return. There was a pit in her stomach forming. She wanted to just tell her now, but she knew she had to give it time. Get Arsolyn into a good mood before she laid down any sort of bombshells. Maybe then things could go smoothly and Apophe could lead it into repairing their relationship.

"Well, that's by design, 'Lyn," she said. "I wanted to surprise you."

She ruffled Arsolyn's hair and then stepped back. Was she being too touch-y? It was hard to tell. She hoped it wasn't too obvious that she was nervous. She had worked hard to cultivate a queenly mask of composure over her years - at least, a mask to hide when she was nervous, when she was angry or displeased less so - as Imperatrix but around her family it had a tendency to slip. Even with the distance that had formed between Apophe and her cousin, it was entirely possible that she could lose the mask here too.

"But you can do nothin' for your Queen," she said. "You can do a lot for your cousin, though."

She gave a goofy smile.

"You been doing okay out here? I've been so busy I've barely gotten to see you," she said. "Heck, I've barely seen my mama, it's gotten so bad"

Among her family, Apophe was well-known as a mama's girl. Many had accused Mara KeYahm of babying her youngest daughter, and some did even now. Apophe practically turned into a child again in her presence.

 

[Vinn Esper]

Arsolyn smiled as Apophe embraced her and returned her affection. "Surprise me," she said inquisitively. "You haven't tried to surprise me in years." Her cousin messed up her hair. She didn't smile about that. It was one thing she hated, she fought a battle every time she woke up to get her hair to fall in an organized manner. It was an obsession for her.

Had it been almost anyone else, Arsolyn would've been very angry, but her cousin got a pass that had nothing to do with her status as royalty. "You can do a lot for your cousin though," Apophe finished her reply to Arsolyn's question with a smile.

Arsolyn smiled back, "it would seem this is a social meeting then. I am always happy to help my family, especially my cousin. I have a cabin built not far from here. One of the few buildings the slaves have completed. It's nothing special, but it will provide us with privacy if you would like. We could also go for a walk in the woods. Of course, we can talk right here too."

 

[Retroboy]

Apophe shrugged. Arsolyn was right, of course, she hadn't. Then again, Apophe had never been good at surprises. Her idea of a surprise was showing Arsolyn something neat in the water and then pushing her in... She remembered that time pretty well. They had invaded a planet not entirely dissimilar to Zakuul, and the two girls had snuck off to find a lake. Apophe told her she saw something shiny on the docks and then pushed her in. She laughed so hard, until the dock gave way and Apophe fell in herself. She couldn't have been older than 12 when that happened.

"Yeah, well, I thought I'd make a change," Apophe said nonchalantly. "Mix things up a little."

Her eyes went over the woods, and around the people. It would probably be best to handle things in private. She could only imagine what might happen if Apophe and Arsolyn got into a screaming match and someone tried to intervene. She imagined they might get fried or smacked just a little hard and then they might have a riot on their hands. Not to mention it would look incredibly bad to the slaves to have their monarch and their mistress yell at one another like that.

"Let's go to the cabin," Apophe said. "Would love to see what they cooked up for you."

She didn't imagine it'd be much, but it would be something. It also gave Apophe a potential place to stop Arsolyn from storming off on her. Get her in a room and she might be able to manage this.

 

[Vinn Esper]

Arsolyn lead the way to the cabin. It was located within a group. There were four small cabins. Each was indistinguishable from the other. From the outside, they appeared to have four walls, a door, a window, and a roof. On the inside, no walls existed between the two rooms which were a bedroom and a recreation area. The furniture was simply constructed and consisted of a bookshelf with books, a table with a lantern on it, a sofa, a small bed, a rack with some of Arsolyn's clothing on it, and a night stand.

The Sword of the New Age lie on Arsolyn's bed within its sheath. Arsolyn moved slowly in a circle with her hands out. "Here it is, my temporary living quarters until the church is constructed. Opulent, isn't it."

She moved over to the couch and took a seat. Arsolyn glanced up at her cousin motioned to the empty space on the couch next to her. "Sorry about the lack of furniture, I don't usually entertain company here. Anyways, what did you want to speak about?"

 

[Retroboy]

Apophe found the little cabin charming, in its own way. Arsolyn was such an interesting creature, making a grand temple and yet living in a cabin like this. It showed the contrast, in some ways, within her personality. Ambitious, but pious to a fault. It was admirable, even if it did make her a pain in the tucus sometimes.

"Well, it's not too bad" Apophe said. "Better than our rooms on the Fang."

Apophe took a seat next to Arsolyn, briefly noting just how much room her butt was starting to take up. The new foods from Zakuul were starting to add a bit of weight to her, clearly, now that the bulk of the fighting was done. Her eyes wandered back to Arsolyn and she felt her heart break a little. She could lose this so easily.

She looked away, and then sighed.

"Lynnie, I was talking to somebody, and I realized something," she said. "I don't really know anything about you anymore. I don't even know what your favourite colour is, or if you like food a lot, or what you do as a hobby, or even whether you like guys or girls. Nothing..."

She looked over again at Arsolyn. "It bothers me. I want to be close, because, well..." She hugged her cousin again. "Like, I dunno."

 

[Vinn Esper]

Arsolyn was caught off guard by Apophe's statement. Not because it was surprising. After all, the two women hadn't often seen each other in the last few years. It was perfectly logical that Apophe wouldn't have this information. She was caught off guard because she realized that she couldn't immediately answer any of those questions.

She smiled and looked down. Arsolyn was oddly embarrassed by her inability to instantly share such trivial information upon request. Finally she began to respond, "Life is funny."

She paused before continuing, "when we were young, we used to spend so much time together. It got to the point that we mostly knew what the other was thinking. I always thought that when we got older, whatever we did, we'd do it together."

Arsolyn paused again, "Then my parents died and I inherited my position, and you became Queen. I devoted myself to the Will as I was expected to do. At first I had so much to do and to learn and your absence was lost on me. Then, I suppose I became acclimated to it. I just kept giving more of myself to the ministry until it became a part of me."

"I guess you could say my ministry became my hobby, but to me it feels deeper then that," Arsolyn finished, "I really feel like the Will is moving me to fulfill Narhut's wishes. Also, my favorite color is purple. It's so dark, but it shines at the same time. I don't really know whether I like boys or girls. I haven't really thought about anything of that nature. Romance is something I never really made time for."

"What about you," Arsolyn asked, "being the Queen must get lonely. Have you seen anybody recently? I'm sure any Yahm would be honored to court you. Then I imagine romance is difficult for you, always wondering whether the other person is interested in you or your crown."

 

[Retroboy]

Briefly, Apophe wanted to throw up. Here was the question she knew was coming, but she still felt so unprepared for it. Rather, she was unprepared for the consequences. Her hands tensed a little and she could tell her answer was written on her face already. But she needed to say this. If she could just say the right thing, maybe she could salvage this.

"Arsolyn, I..." Apophe said, her words catching in her throat. She made a face as though she was trying to catch the words with her mouth. "I've been nervous about telling you this, because I love you very much and I'm terrified what I'm about to say is going to hurt our relationship and I want you in my life. I don't think I could deal without having you around."

She steeled herself.

"I have been seeing someone. Her name is Amelia, and she isn't Yahm. She... She proposed to me. I said yes."

She frowned.

"You're the first person I've told," she said, looking at her cousin, tears welling up in her eyes. "She makes me so happy. Please don't hate me for this."

 

[Vinn Esper]

"I have been seeing someone," Apophe said, "Her name is Amelia." Irritation begin to gnaw at Arsolyn as she got up and began to walk back and forth. That dishonest conniving bitch, Arsolyn thought to herself about the pirate she brought back from Thyferra. Apophe continued speaking, "and she Isn't Yahm." Arsolyn knew that, but none the less the irritation changed to anger.

"She proposed to me, I said yes," Arsolyn moved over to the bookcase. Her anger was now rage. She grabbed the top corners of the book case and rocked it back and forth with speed. As it slammed into the wall behind it, several of the books fell to the floor around Arsolyn. Arsolyn was letting out a sound that was a sustained frustrated sigh with increased volume. She only caught a few of the rest of the words Apophe said, "First person told. She makes happy. Don't hate me."

Arsolyn picked up the bookcase, now mostly empty, and threw it towards a wall with a scream. As a testament to the slaves, the wall held. However, the bookcase had been hastily and cheaply constructed. As it hit the floor it fell apart. Now Arsolyn turned back to her cousin, who was crying.

She felt a small pang of sadness and shame. She didn't enjoy seeing her cousin cry, and no doubt her actions had contributed to making her do so. Even these feelings were quickly consumed by the rage. Arsolyn found words, "I know exactly who you speak of! The pirate woman I brought back from Thyferra, really? Just because it is hard to find someone who's interest isn't in your crown doesn't mean you should give up and go for someone who is obviously only interested in your crown!"

Arsolyn knew there would be an objection at this point, but she raised her finger, indicating she wasn't done before continuing, "I brought her back, so I know how long she's been here. She hasn't even known you long enough to be a good friend! What are you thinking? You like Markus, right. He's not a Yahm. Marry him, at least that makes sense!"

Arsolyn could've continued ranting, but instead she paused wanting to hear what Apophe would say. She was surprised by the fact that she had just told Apophe to marry Markus. That marriage wouldn't have been one she would've supported either, but she knew Markus wouldn't betray her cousin.

 

[Retroboy]

Apophe stared at Arsolyn for a moment in shock. Markus? Really? He was her best friend! On some level Apophe felt that the statement was meant to hurt her. So, she responded in kind.

"Markus?" Apophe said, rising to her full height. "I am not attracted to Markus. I did not fall in love with Markus. Love isn't something you just turn on whenever it's convenient for you, it just happens. It's not like I was trying to pick someone who wasn't a Yahm."

She started to pace herself, her talons occasionally balling into fists and then unclenching. She ran her fingers through her hair, as though she was trying to process some great math problem. Occasionally, she would look at Arsolyn, then shake her head, and then go back to pacing. Finally, after some energy was spent, she was finally able to speak.

"I have known her for seven months," Apophe said. "We've been dating for six. Yeah, maybe a little quick but you know what? I love her. I don't care that it's quick because for once in my life I'd like to prioritize me. Every little fraggin' thing has to be micromanaged or given up for the good of the tribe. Well maybe I would like to do something that specifically benefits me, that's what I want. Amelia makes me happy. Isn't that enough?"

She sighed.

"She's not after my crown, she doesn't even care about that," Apophe said. "We just... We like doing things with each other. We cuddle, we talk about things..."

She looked over at Arsolyn with a sad expression.

"I don't..." she said, her voice getting low. "I don' wanna fight with you, Lynnie. I've spent the last few weeks terrified I'm gonna lose you over this. Be mad, tell me I'm dumb, but please don' abandon me."

 

[Vinn Esper]

"You're half Yahm yourself," Arsolyn said accusingly in response to the last sentence in Apophe's statement about love. Arsolyn composed herself, she hadn't meant to say that. It was irrelevant to the conversation and held no merit. "I'm sorry," she said, "I didn't mean to say that."

"I have known her for seven months," Apophe said. "We've been dating for six. Yeah, maybe a little quick but you know what? I love her. I don't care that it's quick because for once in my life I'd like to prioritize me. Every little fraggin' thing has to be micromanaged or given up for the good of the tribe. Well maybe I would like to do something that specifically benefits me, that's what I want. Amelia makes me happy. Isn't that enough?" Her cousin sighed sadly and Arsolyn felt bad, but she wasn't ready to stop protesting just yet.

"I don't doubt your feelings for her," Arsolyn said. "Well, perhaps a little," she back peddled, "that's not my main concern. My main concern is her feelings for you. How do you really know they are what she says they are! You can't know! You deserve something for yourself. I have always stood with you. Many of the Yahm didn't want to follow you in the beginning, I did and I convinced those I could to do the same. Some of the things you've done made that really hard to do, Apophe. Do you know that? How am I supposed to legitimately be okay with this? This woman is using you. She has to be."

Arsolyn waited as Apophe said what she had to say to her arguments. It was clear to her that she couldn't change the Queen's mind in this. The last part of her response struck something buried inside Arsolyn. Though she didn't show it and nobody knew of it, Arsolyn had long felt abandoned. Her parents died and left her alone. Her cousins had become busy with ruling and whatever else they did. Her sense of abandonment was the true reason she devoted so much to her cause. She knew that as long as she remained faithful, the Will would never abandon her.

Arsolyn responded in a voice that was much different from her previous voice. It was quiet and soft. "I'm mad, you're dumb. I can't tell you how to feel. We all have things that guide us. If your guide is telling you to do this, then follow your guide. I don't know why you think I would ever abandon you. You are my Queen and my Cousin. I have always loved you and I have always stood by you."

Arsolyn began to walk towards the door, trying hard not to cry. A single tear defeated her will power and slid down her cheek. "I have to go see to the slaves. I should be done with them in three months. Thank you for coming to see me."

 

[Retroboy]

Apophe looked at Arsolyn, feeling her heart sink. She rushed across the floor, not wanting to let her cousin go yet. She held her very tightly, giving her cousin no chance of escape unless she wanted to get aggressive. Apophe hoped she wouldn't, especially after her admission that she wouldn't abandon her.

That was the hardest part. The realization that Apophe had been fearing this for nothing. Arsolyn was going to have her back no matter what and Apophe doubted that. She understood now that she had made a terrible mistake in doing so that had hurt both of them. She had to find a way to mend things now, to make things better. She wanted a happier relationship with her cousin.

"I'm not going to wait three months to see you again," Apophe said, still holding Arsolyn close. "I want to spend time you with now."

She frowned, and wiped her eyes with her left hand.

"I love you and I'm sorry we drifted," she said. "Please... work with me to fix this. Lemme stay here in the cabin with you for a few days. I can help around. You'll be the boss, I won't get in your way."

 

[Vinn Esper]

Arsolyn allowed Apophe to stop her and embrace her and after a few seconds embraced her in return. "We can spend time now," she said in the same quiet voice in response to the first part of Apophe's statement.

"I love you too and I understand why things happened the way they did. That's not your fault," Arsolyn said as she gently pushed Sponge back so she could look at her while she spoke. "I don't want to be the boss. That is your job and I think doing things your own way has worked out well for all of your subjects, myself included."

Arsolyn paused for a moment. She wanted her cousin to stay and there's something she was going to do that she could use the help with. "There's something you could help me with. We could work together," Arsolyn offered, "If you're a leader, you should personally see to the foundation of whatever it is you're leading. Everything rests upon a foundation. I guess that's a huge part of my concern."

"Even if your feelings, and her feelings are legitimate, there is no foundation," Arsolyn said. "Perhaps you would help me build the foundation and floor of my church. I, originally, was going to do it myself, but I think it would be good for us to do together."

 

[Retroboy]

A slow smile crossed Apophe's face and she kissed Arsolyn on the forehead. There was something to work with here. It was something small but it was something to build upon. Even having that much was a big step in her mind, something she was more than glad to have.

"I'd love that," Apophe said. "I wanna work with you."

The idea of some hands on work seemed good. She wished she had brought some more functional clothing, but she could have some made up for her in a jiffy. That or she could just work in her fancy clothes. She wouldn't mind - she could always get new stuff once everything was taken care of. Yes, this all sounded good. Get some work in, get closer with Arsolyn again, and then maybe her cousin might start to get comfortable with her planned marriage.

Maybe Amelia could even come visit.

 

[Vinn Esper]

Arsolyn smiled back at Apophe and hugged her again after she kissed Arsolyn's forehead. "Great," she said in response, "but you can't work in that. The lumber we need isn't going to be available until tomorrow. So, that should give you enough time to get different clothing." The sun was about three quarters of the way finished with its daily journey across the sky.

"It's only a few hours until dark now," Arsolyn said, I do need to attend to some things before it gets dark. There isn't much you can do to help me immediately. You're welcome to come with me anyways, of course. Alternatively, you could return to the Ashes and get anything you might need to be down here a few days. No one yet occupies the other three cabins. You are welcome to occupy one for yourself, or stay here."

Arsolyn turned a bit awkwardly back to the door, and once again intended to leave the cabin. Apophe decided to come as she attended to the things she needed to get this done. She didn't want to be trying to lock down the camp after dark.

Arsolyn walked across the camp. One group of slaves was lined up in front of four rectangular buildings they had just finished constructing. The Yahm overseer stepped up to the pair. He bowed low and spoke, "Queen Apophe, Priestess MehYahm, the slaves have constructed suitable housing for the one hundred and twenty kept here. Four buildings, thirty beds each as the priestess instructed. We finished the last one a half hour ago. I went to get you, but I heard loud voices and thought it best to wait."

"Well done, Overseer," Arsolyn replied, "I am going inside to inspect it. When I go in, lock the door." Arsolyn went into the recently constructed building. In front of the door, was an open space. Along the walls were a total of eleven sets of bunk beds. Two narrow walkways separated them from eight single beds that were bolted to the floor. Each single bed had metal bars on either side of it. They were meant to shackle the slave's hands while they slept.

The bunk beds were different. Above each one we're wrist shackles on chains that were connected to the frames of the beds above them or to the ceiling. It was exactly as Arsolyn had instructed. She began testing the chains to make sure a slave couldn't pull them free. "Apophe," she said, could you test the bars that are bolted to the floor next to the single beds, make sure they won't give if a slave tries to pull them up?"

 

[Retroboy]

Apophe arrived on the scene in toe with her cousin. She tried to keep a regal bearing, to make it less obvious that she had been blubbering. The last thing these slaves needed to know was that their Imperatrix was a big crybaby. That would probably do a lot to sour their opinion of her and make them more bold in their defiance of the Void Serpents. That was the last thing Apophe needed.

At the very least, the Overseer seemed to be giving Arsolyn the requisite respect. That was good. It was unfortunate that he had heard them fighting, however. That was more than a little embarrassing to Apophe, who liked to keep her family life private, especially when they fought. There was a certain image she had to cultivate as a monarch with regards to her family and showing off any sort of disunity or disagreement tended to lead to seditious thoughts and doubts in the strength of the nation.

She merely remained quiet as Arsolyn spoke to the Overseer, and followed her into the building. Privately, she wondered why exactly the door had to be locked behind her, but it didn't concern her too much.

She followed Arsolyn's instructions, and began to tuck on the bar. Knowing that slaves could be quite strong, she gave it her all. She pulled and tugged, and found that the bars were quite firmly in place.

"Looks good to me," Apophe said.

 

[Vinn Esper]

Arsolyn was finishing checking the chains on each bunk. All of them seemed to be acceptably constructed. "Everything would seem to be in order, then," she responded to Apophe.

"The slaves will naturally try to pull their restraints free anyways," she continued speaking as she glanced over the rooms. The slaves who sleep in the single beds are secure. I don't anticipate them ever being able to pull those bars up. That only accounts for thirty two of the slaves. The other slaves will be in the bunk beds, as I'm sure you deduced. None of them will be able to free themselves very quickly. However, unlike the slaves in the single beds, if this were going to be used over time the other slaves could eventually free their bonds. So given enough time eighty eight slaves could escape these beds. At which point they would find a way to free their friends in the single beds."

Over time, all bonds can be broken. That is why the door locks with a heavy bar and a padlock on the outside. Even if the slaves did escape their bonds, they certainly couldn't break through the door. So, whoever controls the door controls the slaves. What do you think about that?"

After Sponge gave her response Arsolyn would quickly inspect the remaining buildings and find they were all in the same condition. Once that was done, she would tell the overseer to see to the feeding and lock up of his group. Ever since Arsolyn's initial contact with the slaves they had mostly behaved as expected. So she wasn't anticipating any problems.

After that, she would see to the remaining two work groups that were on site. The other work group was away in the woods and would return in the early morning. One of the other groups was constructing storage buildings. They were given a quota of six buildings, but had only completed four. Arsolyn inspected their work and condemned two of the buildings as inadequate. Arsolyn instructed the overseer to see to their lock up without dinner. There would be further repercussions but they would come in the morning.

The last group had been assigned to begin construction on two hydro electricity plants positioned behind the church itself. This group had made an acceptable amount of progress towards their assignment. The overseer was instructed to see to their feeding and lock them up.

Arsolyn turned to Apophe, "That completes most of my duties this evening. All that remains is a perimeter walk after the slaves are locked up. We could return to the cabin, or we could get something to eat if you're hungry. We don't have exquisite food here yet, so we eat what the slaves eat. They eat pretty good for slaves. Three course, healthy meals. They'll be dissapointed when they're assimilated into the slave work force you keep."

 

[Retroboy]

Apophe grinned. "Food sounds great," she said.

Eating with Arsolyn and other Yahm was a very different experience than with Amelia. There weren't as many expectations. Apophe could eat with her hands as she liked and she presumed she'd probably get away with belching no problem. She never got the hang-ups of the other peoples of the Galaxy. It was food! It was meant to be enjoyed, not to be some ridiculously formal affair. Not everything had to have such strict rules and conditions to it.

She was good to walk the perimeter with her cousin as well. Doing work like this was rewarding in its own way. It certainly beat listening to dignitaries chatter on and on and on and on...

Her eyes wandered back to her cousin.

"So you've really never thought about romance ever?" Apophe asked. "

 

[Vinn Esper]

"Well," Arsolyn replied, "maybe once or twice for a fleeting moment. I'm not really the ideal wife. I suppose I think about it happening in the future, but even then I only consider it to serve the needs of the church. I have to have a kid to take over. I don't want to just have a kid with someone, then they leave either though. My parents always seemed to have something more than the church, even though they trained me to take over more than they raised me."

During the time she had been speaking, she had been walking towards the place where they would eat. Arsolyn finished, "I guess maybe I just think that the Will will guide me to it when the time is right. Sometimes, I think I sound like a nut case because I am always mentioning the Will or the church. Who would want to listen to that on a regular basis?" Arsolyn giggled at herself and her own question, trying to cover up some of the underlying and unspoken insecurities Apophe's question had invoked. The two cousins arrived at the designated eating area.

The area consisted of several tables which could be moved to suit the needs of whomever was using it. There was seating for a hundred and fifty people. Also, there was a building about the size of two of the cabins where Arsolyn was staying. It served as the kitchen and cleaning area and was staffed by Yahm rather than slaves. "I was originally going to have a mess hall built, but I would have had to tear it down later. Also, I've always thought that eating under an open sky is delightful."

The picnic style tables currently remained in the same configuration they were put into for breakfast, which was two separate lines. The slaves, their overseers, and guards occupied about half of one line of tables. There was plenty of room left for Arsolyn and Apophe to sit at the same table, or they could sit at the other line of tables, which sat no one else. "So where do you want to sit, cousin?"