The Compass Rose

The man argued with the captain. They did not shout, but spoke quietly through clenched teeth and glared lightning bolts at each other. It amazed Aisse that he would dare to argue, but dare he did and without any apparent fear of punishment. She did not understand. But that was not all that confused her.

Aisse had thought the man did not make any demands for sex because he belonged to the captain. And he did in some way, but she did not know what it was. They slept side by side, their bodies touching, and they did not have sex. The man did not touch the captain save for when they slept and when he tied up her hair. He did not grope, squeeze, fondle, or anything at all.

The captain touched him sometimes, on the hand or arm, or perhaps laid a hand on his shoulder. But not often. It didn’t make sense. Did she want the man or not? Did he want her? If he did, maybe Aisse could stop worrying over having to do sex.

She was trying to puzzle the matter out when one of the boatmen approached her, the one who had ordered the others to bring her bath. He sat in the chair beside her, speaking his pretty language. She shrank into a smaller ball, struggling to pick out a word or two. She could not remember what she had learned. He was too close. He frightened her.

“He means no harm,” the captain said. “He’s only saying how sorry he is you were hurt and that you must be very beautiful indeed, for even now you are beautiful.”

Aisse made a face. Much good beauty had ever done her. Captain Varyl laughed. The boatman spoke again and she translated. “He says if there is any service he might do for you, you have only to ask.”

“I want him to go away,” Aisse said, surprising herself with her bravado. “I will not do sex with him. But I want to say it myself. What are the words?”

The captain had to have her man give the words to Aisse. The boatman did not look angry or frustrated when she said them, merely sad as he rose to do what she ordered.

“He was not looking for sex,” the captain said. “He’s one of the boat captain’s iliasti. Didn’t you see his anklets?”

Aisse looked as the boatman climbed the stairs to the foredeck and saw a pair of narrow gold bangles encircling one ankle, and three more shining from the other. “They mean he belongs to the captain?”

“And she belongs to him and both of them to the rest of their ilian.”

That word was in Adaran, like the other strange words she used. “What is that? Ilian?”

“It means they are—are mates. Oathsworn to each other in the temple, joined by love in a family to raise their children. They all belong to each other.”

Aisse shook her head. She was confused by more words than just ilian. Love was what a person owed the Rulers. How could love join someone? Family—that had to do with children, she thought. Aisse had no children, would never have them, so she wasn’t sure of that term. She understood swearing an oath and belonging. But one person belonged to another and the one who was owned could not then own the one who owned her. Could she?

She frowned. “The boatman and the boat captain…love?”

“Yes. And their ilian. It has six members. Didn’t you see? He wore five anklets, three on the right and two on the left. Three women and two other men. The captain wears five bracelets, two on the right and three on the left. They belong to their ilian and do not—don’t have sex with anyone else.”

“Your man does not have an anklet.”

The captain sighed. “Torchay is my bodyguard. Not my ilias. We are not bound in that way.”

“Then who does he do sex with?” Should she worry after all?

“Whoever he wishes, I suppose.” The captain’s face turned pink, but Aisse did not understand the reason for the blush. “And if she wishes it as well. Sex must be agreed to by all involved.”

Aisse nodded. She could like that rule.

The captain’s blush faded and she turned thoughtful. “He’s never taken a lover though, not for more than a night or two.”

“Have you? Taken lovers?” Aisse needed to understand.

“Yes.” The captain’s face was pink again. “And I believe this conversation has ended.”