CW:

Talk of people being sex slaves. Talk of being sold into sexual slavery at a young age, and children being unable to consent to things.

“It’s good to see her finally sending an Envoy to one of these Conclaves. Lady Boletii.” I reply, refusing to use her title from before.

A not-so-subtle sign to her that she has little authority here.

“The House of Rell has been busy ensuring the future of Arudia is kept safe.” The older woman rests elbows on the table while her Murtaziq stand on either side. “I could toss about more fancy words and dance about the conflicting interests, but I’m not young or patient enough for that. So I’ll be blunt. The Matron has, in her care, the remaining fertile men in Arudia. The House of Rell is ready and well equipped to resume the work that the Academy did for hundreds of years without delay.”

My glare must be a scary thing, because quite a few women seem to lean away from me as Boletii’s Murtaziq shifts to rest palms on their weapon’s hilts.

“But as Arudia’s High Duenna, I forbid your Matron from doing so.” I state evenly. “And gave very clear instructions that have been pointedly ignored.”

Boletii nods. “Sun Spoken Inamatorii here would have them left to wander the Paths as any woman can. But ill prepared and–”

“They would have guardians, Lady Boletii.” I cut her off. “And none of them would be required to go anywhere. Homes would be gifted to any wishing for it. What I demand is their freedom. Both in general and from the obligations Arudia claims is their duty.”

“Ah. Yes.” Boletti sighs, so very much like my… my Sangoma would when she felt I’d said something stupid. “Free to piddle about in seemingly endless luxury gifted to them, while our lands stop bearing Children and Arudia dies. Wonderful.”

The room shuffles uncomfortably, plenty of women even having the courage to nod in agreement to her.

“As opposed to you and your Matron forcing them to fuck any woman willing to pay your house its dues?” I spit, and others wince and seem to bubble with distaste and support to my harsh words for her.

She doesn’t smile but… I can see her eyes glimmer in such an odd way. “No, actually. The House of Rell has been reviewing the policies and procedures of the Academy. Found them quite… lacking. Inefficient. Instead of donations being used as a means to gain a child, the Matron is proposing a flat cost to any wishing to bear a daughter, and unadjusted waiting lists. The wealthiest Matron would find her family has to wait just as long as any woman. The corruption of old cut out of the process entirely.”

I go stiff as the room stares at her in surprise.

Everyone expected the House of Rell would clutch them close while extorting powerful rivals into submission. Use this to solidify their house as sole rulers of the lands. I’d hope to use that as a chance to gather others' support. But…

“You expect us to believe that your Matron sent her Murtaziq to snatch them all up out of some kindness?” An older woman to my right asks. “How does Veletross mean to profit from this, Lady Boletii? If we’re trusting you to be blunt?”

I keep my appreciation for this woman’s critical words tempered by her lack of supporting my demands.

“She's shown her House as the only of the five to actually remain in full and devote their resources to this. All others fled, or huddled down to pick at the corpse as Arudia lay in turmoil.” The Lady replies easily. “Not all profit is in coin, Kelipa, and the loss of even a single one of the males would have dire ramifications to our land's population in the coming decades. The House of Rell is not lacking in wealth or daughters, but knows well how the second is the most important of the two. Without future generations growing up about us even her house would crack and shatter at this loss.”

Everyone sits in shocked and contemplative silence while I struggle to keep my rage balanced with the ever close command. Its bite hovering just shy of thoughts ready to tilt into sympathy that would hint at monsters and parasites being…

“What is this flat rate?” Another asks.

And the answer given quiets the room. Leaves everyone stunned while my anger boils. A price any woman could pay.

And she doesn’t stop luring them forward with just that. Quickly but patiently adding just as most would begin to speak up. “There would be assessments to ensure the woman is healthy and able to keep her child well, and the House of Rell is already seeking to support and donate a great deal of resources into the traveling healers.”

Women like Kque and Tasii’s mothers.

“But they would be public? These assessments and requirements” Is the first question that rises from a few bubbling up about us. “Changeable?”

Boletii nods, turning to this woman but I can tell her focus is still on me. “Of course. And the Matron urges the re-making of some sort of Conclave with authoritative power. A rotating mix from all across Arudia to speak for their cities and communities. Too many groups have drifted away due to the Academy’s enforced workings, but without the Obelisks we can change that. Ensure the women now can build a better Arudia than existed before.”

I want to snap that she was the Doyan overseeing the old but… her deft mention of the Obelisks and their nature gives her their sympathy. Like she was unable to change anything, and could only just… manage it well. And from her connections and long time as Grand Doyan… many believe she did a good job of it.

I’ve kept my expression a blank thing, contemplative but not accepting. Anyone who knows me would see the anger, probably. But… Fuck. I… I need to…

“Which… leads me to a question from my Matron to you, High Duenna.” Boletii prompts, moving along as if my wordlessness is acceptance or compliance. “What word does the Zeridii have on the growing of new Odlock Gemstones?”

What? This absolute cunt thinks to sit here and casually talk of the… the violation of…

Thoughts skip over the word as the command needles me. Hurts, but less.

…Then have the fucking audacity to expect me to help her keep doing it!?! Convince the healing Zeridii to grow more of the very tool they would use to turn a…

Again, move past it. Endure the bite.

…Into a fucking tool. A thing. Less than a person. And no ability to escape.

I let out a huff of a sigh instead of the hissing growl I so very much want to direct at the women here. Find conflicted solace in the expressions of those that agree with my perspective and the wretched nature of the things Boletii is proposing.

“They won’t give you any.” I reply as evenly as I can.

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The room goes still.

“Pardon?” Boletii tilts her head, looking genuinely confused.

“The Zeridii won’t grow any more of them for Arudia.” I repeat.

The Lady narrows her eyes. “And… why is that?”

“Because, they love those they help change into their ideal selves.” I start off softly, but let the growl rise to turn my words sharp. “And while their connection isn’t always clear, they do feel the pain of those they’ve gifted the Odlock Gemstones. And now that they have me to ask, the Zeridii knows what Arudia does to them. How they are used.”

“You’ve sabotaged us?” She replies, flatly. And the rooms seems to bubble in sudden worry and… even anger.

“It asked why they were in pain, why their Dreams bled sorrow. And I answered. Gave them…” I trail off, remembering Delphian and Ophrit’s advice. “Gave them the truth.”

“Pain?” A woman scoffs. “The men aren’t treated poorly, High Duenna.”

“OH!?!” I snap, let my glare roll over the room. “And how would you know? How would any of you know? The Academy, and now the Matron, mean to treat them worse than a fucking Quelekita. All after Arudia stripped away their rights as they fought to gain a body they can be comfortable in, then offering this as one of the only options to the very lucky and very young.”

“Arudian men can now bear all the rights denied to them. And all but two of those granted fertility agreed to–”

“CHILDREN CANNOT CONSENT!” I shout, letting my anger billow out. Caring so little for the flinches of terror and touching of cold obsidian blade’s hilts. “I’ve seen the reports. Spoken to those who do know how Arudia gained optimal subjects who could breed as long as possible. The age they were lured into this. Young boys very early into their change. Old enough to know and communicate who they are, but too young to understand what the Academy means to use them for, and mothers willing to sell their children. And do the women here know about the two non-transgender ones? How both were torn from mothers’ care? Stolen?”

The room shuffles uncomfortably at that. Both at my anger but… also my claims. Some who seemed to lean toward Boletii’s goals balking in open horror at this, even.

Boletii takes a deep breath, and levels a look that reminds me so much of an old stupid Sun Spoken. “High Duenna, I can assure you that the men in our care are happy and healthy. Bouts of anything else tended to quickly and with compassion.”

The lack of a denial is not missed. And the room seems to… well, maybe tit toward my demands? So I push the conversation harder.

“Can they leave? Or even refuse?” I spit.

She spreads her hands, “They are doing their duty for Arudia. Fulfilling their oaths.”

Such a wretched answer. And all but a few of those openly agreeing with her perspective look away in discomfort.

“Oaths made as children, freshly changing, and threatened with a life devoid of equal rights if they don’t accept.” I spit back. “And you're either lying, stupid, or worse. About them being kept happy and healthy.”

“And… how would a woman of the Paths know this?” She asks with far too much calm. “Last I was told, you never even visited the Fertility Wing of the Academy, nor visited the new lodgings Matron Veletross has provided. Both were and are open to your in-person inspection.”

I shake my head, refuse to look away. Even as I see a glimmer of what I refuse to believe is provocation over a secret she’s been told about. “It's not… It won’t matter how nice you think you’re being to them. The lack of option to leave, or refuse, is the problem. If any woman here found out their daughter was being kept and used endlessly, without the ability to deny, none would hesitate to see it as such a cruel thing.”

“Then… What’s your plan?” A woman to my left asks after a long silence. “Our population balances on a knife’s edge as is.”

I sigh and look across the glimmering map. Trying to… to find the words…

“While I meant what I said, about the Zeridii refusing to make more Odlock Gemstones for the Academy, that doesn’t mean they aren’t willing to grow more.” I murmur gently, but the quiet room carries the echo to everyone here. “They… it’s hard for me to convey the depth of their love for… for people like them.”

Have to stop, dig into ever ounce of my Hetaera training to keep the revulsion and violent urge to vomit crushed beneath my resolve.

“They’re spreading out. Searching. Exploring. And when they find someone who wants… wants to change. Both in big and small ways. Gender and otherwise. They’re going to do everything they can to help. It won’t be quick, but it’ll be faster than it has for nearly a thousand years. That’ll include fertility if someone wants that.”

“They’ll grow more Odlock Gemstones for random Arudian men they find in the wider world?” Boletii asks, eyes widening in surprise.

“Yes. Maybe. Sort of. That Gemstone takes a lot of focus and time and understanding.” I sigh. “But they also refuse to be used. Or harvested like before. They want to share themselves, but this feels to them too much like the Obelisks. Worse even, with every passing day! I’m not just trying to protect them, I’m trying to protect all of you too.”

The older woman lets her concern tint her voice. “You think they’ll attack?”

I run hands through my hair. “No. Because I’m here. I’m pushing for what you all know is right, and I have the Weaver willing to help us fix things.”

“And… we’re just supposed to take your word on all this?” Another woman speaks up. “Just… tell the thousands of women who yearn for daughters that none will be given?”

I lean forward on the table, and turn a hard look at the speaker. “Given, seems a soft word when you mean to coerce and force over a dozen others into offering their bodies for this. But yes. That is exactly what you can tell them.”

“And… if we don’t agree to this?” Boletii asks.

I’m considering how best to phrase my threat. What words to place in the right order to minimize all this mess they just… just can’t seem to…

A chittering growl sounds from my shoulder, the meanest thing I’ve ever heard from this one, and I can’t stop the smile that touches my lips at this little friend’s exclamation. At the shocked and worried looks that roll through the room for this very loud punctuation to my words.

“Then we’ll convince you.” I murmur as the echo fades. “Because bearing a child isn’t something the women of Arudia are owed, not while it comes at the abuse of others. But…”

Inspiration bubbles. Nothing solid. Nothing usable. But… the makings of a Dream I can feel tittering behind and beneath everything…

“But?” Comes a sharp angry question.

I don’t answer her fury with my own. Too distracted by the thoughts tumbling through me as I look up to Boletii. “I was recently made aware that the Odlock Gemstone wasn’t a thing of body transformation. Can you tell me what exactly it does?”

She seems just as taken off guard by the question as the rest of the room, so much that what might have been a rebuke turns into a thoughtful answer. “No. It isn’t. Or wasn’t. Why do you ask? Can’t you have the Zeridii show you this?”

I shake my head. “The way they define the Gemstones is different, and… I only just recently discovered this. Seems kinda stupid that no one told me before.”

“I’ll…” She suddenly seems very nervous. It’s a small thing, and everyone else probably doesn’t notice it. “I’ll see about requisitioning the relevant records. Try to convince my Matron to impart them as a show of good faith in hopes of you adjusting your expectations.”

“Why were they not public?” I ask. “Wouldn’t that have helped more people find them?”

“Arudia couldn’t risk untrained sorts wasting them on a failed working or otherwise keeping them hidden.” Boletii replies. “There are some who think that’s why we’ve not seen one for nearly fifty years.”

“Huh. Well… they’re wrong. The Zeridii stopped making them. Or… no. That’s the wrong idea for why none appeared.” I tip-tap the table with my nails. “This is my scheme, if it’s not obvious. Find alternative ways for children to be born. Methods that don’t need Odalisque or slaves.”

“But… in the meantime?” The former Doyan prompts. “Or if you can't find sufficient replacements?”

I sigh, hoping to sound a bit like Kque when we say we're gonna do something dumb while still recovering from a twisted ankle or fresh cut or bruise.

“Everyone everywhere was already feeling the degradation of birth rates. Their final generations. Forcing anyone to continue to serve in terror to that instead of looking for real solutions is what got us here. And…” I turn hard eyes back to her. “I told you and your fellow Doyans this already, Lady Boletii, I’m not negotiating here. Simply telling you what I expect, and asking nicely. If you keep refusing me, then my Patron and the now freely awakening Zeridii will be the next to speak. And trust me, they will be much less patient than I’ve been.”

“And when most, if not all of Arudia stands against you?” A woman asks. “What then?”

Actually seeming confident that they will… and that I’ll have no answer to this.

I give her my most easy and casual shrug and smile. “I mean… I might be able to ask the Zeridii to keep the Gemstones working. But good luck getting enough wood up the mountain to the Academy in this blizzard. Much less across the frozen lake if they stop keeping everyone warm.”

And that… Is what does it. I think. Fills them with understanding for how serious I am.

Because everyone felt it when the Zeridii woke up and the Gemstones just… stopped. Warmth and water and all kinds of really important things starting to struggle or totally cutting off until I talked with Rahdian’s little cutie and got things glowing again.

Plenty of them still burn with all sorts of anger at me. But… Well, people could have tried to fix this long before I got here! And I wish I could believe this was the hard part. Convincing all these women just getting out of our way.

But between making sure Arudia doesn’t just… flip back to how they were, helping Rahdian with her changes, dealing with… with the temple back in Lyttoral, and trying to sing some good memories from prosibbly dangerous nightmares. I’m pretty sure this might be the problem I’ll get the most help in solving!