they wish to gather together to darn their husband’s socks, organize to petition the king for better royal patronage of orphanages or say, any reason. In return, I will grant freedom to all bounden of Mar-el after five years of service.”
“In a time where women were allowed assembly, they used that right to plot and connive and thousands of men died,” Gallienus reminded the Mar-el king.
“They did indeed,” Aramus agreed.
“Further, our women are not bounden,” Gallienus spat.
“Are they not?” Aramus queried.
“An Airenzian woman does not have to marry her husband. She does not have to take his coin in return for cooking his food and cleaning his hearth,” Gallienus retorted. “She chooses to and it is our custom that a man rules his house as he sees fit.”
“Does she? Choose to, that is,” Aramus asked.
“Of course!” Gallienus returned.
“I would not choose to clean anyone’s hearth,” Aramus noted. “I would do this only if I had to do it in order to eat.”
“She has choices,” Gallienus sniffed.
“Yes,” Aramus agreed. “It’s my understanding girls in your realm cease education at age twelve. They do this by royal edict. Hence, they are not allowed to be doctor, midwife, lawyer, teacher or merchant. So they do have choices. Service. Or whore, prostitute, doxie. Or wife, which is much the same depending on if her husband has some coin, much coin, or is a sailor.”
Cassius and Mars both chuckled.
True clenched his teeth.
“You find this amusing, my son?” Gallienus asked.
Cassius, who had his eyes closed and was facing the ceiling again, turned his head his father’s way. “Which part? You demanding the Mar-el free all bounden? Or Aramus defining the different types of working girls based on the men who use them?”
“Our women, indeed all our people, are paid if they serve,” Gallienus declared.
“Barely,” Cassius muttered. “Especially the women.”
“And I’ll point out, none of my wives are whores,” Gallienus spat.
At that, Cassius straightened in his chair.
Bloody hell.
Cassius fully engaged in this conversation did not bode well.
“All of your wives are whores,” he replied.
True was correct.
This did not bode well.
“You say this of your mother?” Gallienus demanded.
“My mother is dead. And I’m thankful for that for her. Entirely,” Cassius returned.
Gallienus’s face was getting red.
True looked again to his father.
His father was studying his lap.
There was nothing for it.
“Men,” True said.
Everyone looked to him.
He looked to King Aramus.
“It was not presented well, but it is something to reflect on. No lands on this earth, since all in the Southlands stopped practicing it decades ago, except the Mar-el, carry on with enforced servitude. Your grandfather did a brave and noble thing. It was also wise. Change for the good, but not so much it would throw a nation into dissension. Perhaps the time is nigh for another change.”
Aramus held his eyes a moment before he slowly dipped his chin.
True turned his attention to the rest of the table and continued speaking.
“However, there is much to concern ourselves with in the now. Changing ways of life and incurring strife inside our realms when the Beast awakes is not wise.”
He looked to King Gallienus.
“But in the face of a danger that could destroy all realms, we all should take this opportunity in the calm before a storm to reflect on how we can better the futures of our people once we traverse that storm. All of our people. We can take the threat of the Beast as a warning. And we can take our current circumstances as more than mere coincidence. Instead as a lesson. We’re in a realm that has faced decades of change. And with it, decades of prosperity.”
“And Mars also faced three coup attempts in his first two years on the throne. And his sire was assassinated,” Gallienus retorted. “I do not wish to face that.” He tossed his hand to Cassius and carried on, “Or my son to do the same.”
“It is your kingdom, Gallienus, it’s not for me to say,” True murmured.
“No, it is not,” Gallienus agreed.
“Though, the last time one of your line, when your subjects were restless, who didn’t listen to wise counsel or consider changes that were sweeping other lands, saw thirteen thousand of your males having their throats slit,” True finished.
“Yes! Murdered in cold blood!” Gallienus cried.
“I could not imagine,” True shook his head, “given no choice but to take a life in order to make my own livable.”
Once he said this, he felt the increased focus from Aramus, Mars and Cassius.
“Son,” his father joined the conversation by speaking one syllable tremulously.
“You