Valentine

I continued to doze as Wally guided us through the foothills and up into the pass as we went to meet the others.

He drove the van, the one modified for him by Agamemnon's people, rather than the carriage. It was a fact I was glad for, as the seats in the van were far more comfortable than the wooden benches present in the carriage. Simon had added some cushions, as a merchant or noble might have fitted to one of their carriages, but I knew from experience how poor such accommodations were.

I lay across the front seats with my head in Wally's lap and my arms around his waist as he gently stroked my hair. I felt utterly relaxed. It was as if I'd been poured across the seats. Not that I'd given Wallace that impression, giggling under my breath as I stumbled bow-legged to the van and wincing exaggeratedly as I sat down.

Constance only rolled her eyes when she saw me hamming it up, but she smirked all the same when she saw Wally blushing like a little girl.

Not that I thought all this was necessary. Wallace would have been happy to let me stretch out without all my antics, but then I wouldn't get to see Wally's beautiful face turn bright red or listen to his irritated grumbling.

I lounged about for as long as possible but found myself sitting up once we caught up with Regina and Amity. Wallace had mentioned off-hand that the van once had three rows of seats, but part of the modifications that made it suitable for him to drive meant removing one of them, and to fit Regina in the back, we had to fold down another. This left Wallace, myself, and Amity sitting three across while Regina reclined in the vehicle's rear.

"Wallace," Amity began slowly, once Wally had finished explaining the details of his plan.

Wallace sighed, an exasperated but slightly grudging grin on his face, "What?"

"I appreciate the sense in sending me with Valentine, but if Regina is to accompany you, how do you intend to meet secretly with this Sprite resistance? Even assuming such a thing exists, subtlety is not the first thing that comes to mind when I look at the two of you."

"She may have a point," Regina observed.

"Short of sending Amity alone, I'm not sure there's a ton we can do about that,” Wally admitted, “Sorry Val, but I just don't see the sprites talking to you."

I shook my head, "No, you're quite right."

"I might not be the most subtle, but I also look the most like a sprite. I'd hardly be the first person to draw the connection between sprites and humans. I've also got the advantage that they may be predisposed to see humans as allies, given Simon's views on slavery. But, yeah, you're right. Actually getting a meeting will be kinda tricky."

"You have no idea how to make contact," Amity said flatly.

"That's... an oversimplification."

I put a hand to my forehead, "At least no one will think you a spy. No one could possibly be so foolish as to send over a ton of man and sphinx to infiltrate, well, anything really. But I somehow doubt the sprites will be keen to draw attention to themselves by contacting you."

"There are other concerns," Amity added, "Aside from being noticed by the fey, and aside from the sprites wishing to avoid notice, Temerity is likely to be in Pelignos. Doubtless, she will be keen to have words with either or both of you."

Wally's expression became thoughtful, and he brought a hand to his chin as he kept his eye on the road ahead, "You're sure?"

"We saw her riding out with a large retinue," Amity explained, "At first, we thought it was her usual galavanting, but once we realized she wasn't coming back, it occurred to us she'd not been wearing the armour you described."

"Hmm, I can work with that," Wally mused.

"I cannot possibly imagine a situation where Temerity's involvement makes this mess easier. We already have Simon to contend with while attempting to manage a revolution. This mess does not need a third point of complexity."

"Sometimes, when you have two problems, you have a problem and a solution."

"And what exactly is Temerity the solution to?"

Wally tilted his head to the side, indicating Amity, "She was just asking how we're supposed to get in with the sprites. Temerity is how."

"You believe she's in contact with the sprites?" Amity frowned, "Our last meeting did not give the impression of the sort of person who would show the sprites any kindness."

I realized I'd begun to play with my hair absently, and I looked down at my hand, and the purple locks twisted between my fingers. I'd long since figured out how to cut the ultra-durable strands but had resolved to leave them be. With my jumpsuit on, it was easy enough to manage my hair, despite the fact it was long enough to pool on the ground at my feet, and with the jumpsuit off... Well, it was a part of the game I'd come to enjoy.

"It's not kindness," Wally insisted, "Temerity is, well, it's tricky. Trying to map modern political philosophy onto medieval actors doesn't really work. But she talks like your typical strong-man authoritarian. She's got as much of a problem with slavery as Simon or I do, but for very different reasons."

I frowned thoughtfully. I'd known Temerity took a dim view of slavery. It was part of the reason I'd dealt with her. But I had never really given her reasons much thought. After all, why object to slavery if not for those reasons that appeared self-evident?

"To hear Temerity tell it, the wrong people are slaves," Wallace continued, "She went on this big tirade when she was trying to get me to stick around, talking about how Simon was doing the right thing because he was making sure the right people were in charge."

"What did she want you to do about it?" Amity frowned.

"At the time? Nothing. No, she wanted me to help out in Parabuteo, reasoning that if things kept up the way they were, Simon would leave them behind. It was more of the same nonsense, with her complaining that the Baroness's weak rulership would doom the city. I guess it would have been my job to help her oust Constance, though she seems to have managed just fine on her own."

I suppose that explained why she'd never broached the subject with me, however...

"I've yet to hear how she'll be any sort of help," I commented.

"She approves of Simon's methods, but she sees him not as an ally, but a rival. That's particularly the case now that she has Parabuteo, and knows Simon is strengthening his hold over Pelignos. She's going to have her own contacts among the sprites, some way to support them against the fey, even if it's just to screw with their economy. "

I nodded slowly, I didn't like it, but I could see where Wally was going with this, "She may be convinced to assist us."

"Oh, I'll convince her," Wallace agreed, squeezing my shoulder gently, "I haven't forgotten about last time."

My face flushed, and I suddenly felt very warm under the jumpsuit, as much from embarrassment as anticipation. I only wished I could be there to see it.

I coughed to clear the huskiness from my voice, "I should be able to manage with my kin. I can start with Vivian. Hopefully, she'll be willing to help."

"Damn you," Vivian shouted, slamming her fists on the table, "How could you have done this?" Vivan swooned, "How could you have..."

Vivian's eyelids fluttered. She slumped in her chair and began to fall to the side.

Amity caught her before she could hit the floor and lifted her easily, carrying her over to one of the palatial sitting room's many lounge chairs.

I rose from the table and came to the chaise lounge beside hers, sitting on its edge as I waited patiently for her to regain consciousness. I might have called for some smelling salts, but we'd sent the sprites out of the room before we started due to the nature of the conversation.

"Well, this hasn't gone as I expected," I muttered.

Amity took a seat beside me and shrugged her many shoulders, "You're destroying her life," the gynoid pointed out, "Or at least, Wallace is."

"Some life."

Vivian came to within a few minutes and set her arms behind her to push herself up, regarding me with a less than pleased expression.

She shook her head to clear the hair from her eyes and gritted her teeth, "How could you have allowed this? And you didn't even think to consult me?"

"Consult you?" I demanded, "I wasn't aware that whether or not to free the sprites was your decision to make."

"I live in this bloody city, dammit!" Vivian fell back against the lounge chair and wiped the back of her hand across her forehead, "This affects all of us, except you're happy to throw out the baby with the bathwater without even setting foot here."

I jerked my chin at her, "And who or what exactly is the baby in this situation?"

"I was making real progress," she snapped, "If you'd only been patient, or consulted me-"

"To hell with your patience. How many more sprites will suffer and die while you make them wait. And this assumes your ploy ever pans out. You could spend your whole life at this and still be no better off than where you are today."

"Just what do you expect to happen when the other families find out?"

"They will be furious," I sighed, "With Simon."

"You intend to pin this on him?" she demanded, "Gods, but he would be stupid enough to attempt such a thing."

"Are you referring to Wallace or to Simon?" I asked tiredly.

"Both the humans, damn them."

I put a hand to my forehead. Wally had left the choice of how to tell this story to me. While we'd be giving the others the impression that Simon was the one responsible, he understood I may not want to lie to Vivian, particularly since she might eventually find out the truth on her own. But now I wondered if I hadn't made a mistake.

"Wallace is in the city?" Vivian continued, "I would speak with him."

"He won't undo it," I warned her, "He's not even sure it can be undone."

"Nonsense, it's an enchantment. If he cannot undo it, then he'll explain to someone else how it's constructed and they shall undo it."

"You're not listening, Vivian," I said, shaking my head, "Wallace views slavery as I do. There are no reforms to be made. Nothing that could justify its existence, even in a lesser form."

"And you're suddenly happy with this state of affairs? You seem to understand exactly what will happen once the sprites realize what has happened to us."

"Nothing about this is sudden. Except perhaps that the theoretical has become possible. And Wally knows as well, and in truth, I think it scares him more than either of us."

Vivan threw up her hands, "How can that possibly be true? He's not astride this mess."

"Vivian, there hasn't been a slave revolt in living memory. And we both know how well they turned out for the sprites. Not to mention how propagandized such accounts are. All that's left of any true historical record are stories to frighten children. Wallace told me tales of revolution from his own world, only a few, but it was enough to paint a clear image. Not just of the struggles to succeed in the first place, but the turmoil and backsliding that comes after, and he's going to do everything he can to make sure that doesn't happen."

Vivan shook her head slowly and slumped back into the chair, "All this turmoil he fears could have been avoided if only he'd come to me with this."

"Don't be foolish, Vivian. You play the political game better than I do and should know better. You can't excise slavery from this system by working within it. Sell what can be sold, move what can be moved, and get out of the city."

"I thought Wallace was supposed to keep things tidy, isn't that where he is now, off seeing to the sprites? But still, I must run?"

"However formidable, he's only one man, and he understands who can and can't be protected. Fey in general, Wally hopes to protect, to give some place within the new system. But he knows that trying to protect the fey nobility is a lost cause. No matter how kindly you've treated your slaves, slaves they were."

"So I am to live life as you do then? I take my money to Caniforma or Parabuteo, purchase some estate, and eat, drink, and screw the days away?"

I rolled my eyes, "You act as if that's somehow undesirable. It's a better life than most get."

"And what if I want more?"

"Then do more, dammit! Wally's taking away your ability to own people, not cutting off your bloody arms. If you want adventure, I know for certain that Wallace would welcome you to the hotel. If you want someone to fuck you until you can't form complete sentences, then I'm friendly with the management at The Blushing Maiden, and if you want to do anything else, you still have more money than most families can accrue over generations."

Vivian was quiet for a long moment until her eyes finally slid over to Amity, "And what about you?" she asked, "you've said little enough since coming here."

"What is there to say?" Amity asked, "I was a slave. Wallace freed me. It was bloody, but what would you have either of us do? Should I, or Wallace, have negotiated? Should I have sought permission to go free from the creature that claimed to own me? That permission would not have come, not ever. Some things can only be taken."