Wine Between Women

"The wind's just awful, isn't it? Here, come to the gatehouse. It'll be easier for us to talk there," said Rachel. She rubbed her hands over her arms under the fur.

Onwen looked back toward the camp. The men left behind by the other knights were watching her, Rachel could have guessed. If they resented their commanders she was all the worse. All the hateful things about being a woman and a knight at the same time. But it was obvious that rather than allowing their disdain for her to straighten her back, the woman tried to make good with them, to be as respectable as her peers. She would never be respectable, thought Rachel. It wasn't through any fault of hers. The world simply had no esteem for women. It was in large part what had brought her to the deep gods, and next to Ughelor.

"It'll only be a moment. Lord Cador's drunk in bed. He won't be ambushing the camp today," she promised. It's much too soon for that.

"I'm more worried about what they'll do than what he will," she said with a chuckle about the soldiers. "Ah, not really, though. I promise they're good natured."

Rachel smiled. "Of course," she said. The first good natured army in the history of the world. "Come along, there's even wine."

Onwen didn't refuse her. When they arrived at the gatehouse Rachel asked her to stay a moment, so that she could see that there was no great mess. Inside, she conjured one of the finest bottles from Cador's collection: a red made from the blood of imps. Its magical effects were few, but it was so delectable that it made the soul drunker than the body. "Come in," she said, and the woman entered. "It's not much of a reception, but it gets us out of the cold."

"It's perfectly nice," said Onwen. She looked around the room.

"Reconnoitering the enemy?" said Rachel with a laugh.

Onwen choked on her tongue. "No, milady," she said. "I'm sorry, I-"

"I only tease, Onwen," Rachel promised. "Please, have a seat." There were chairs that the guards liked to sit on when they were hiding from their responsibilities. She cracked open the bottle of wine and filled two of the cups someone had left behind ages ago.

"Gods in heaven!" Onwen said in disbelief when she had the wine. "This is the best I've ever had."

Rachel glowed. "You flatter me. It's only that you're relieved from the cold, I think. But there are much more important things to talk about. Tell me about yourself! A woman so accomplished and beautiful all at once. I simply must know all of it."

A red blush bloomed across Onwen's face. "No, milady! I'm nobody at all."

Rachel tutted at her. "The goddess of wisdom doesn't appear to just anyone! Just because you can't see it in yourself doesn't mean it isn't there. You're truly an exceptional woman. Look at yourself! And the fine figure you cut in that armor." Her words weaved through Onwen's body like a a needle through wool; she had no defense against them. For endless hours people had been cruel to her, if they didn't dismiss her. She could see Onwen's eyes glowing in the darkness, both proud and bashful. _I could have her now, if I wanted, _thought Rachel. But the stew that simmered long was all the richer for it.

They talked an hour longer, with Rachel asking Onwen to tell her of her childhood in Darenne, how she was taken in by the church as an orphan and became beloved by the goddess of wisdom. Of the day Breselia had blessed her and told her to join the knightly way and her battles since. It all flowed over Rachel like rain over cobblestones, absorbing none of it. The point was to make her say the words and to pretend to hear them. Onwen was already looking at her like a god's image on the wall of a church. She didn't need to remember the details to tie her up in her webs.

At the end of the hour she yawned and stretched, allowing Onwen to see for just a second her neck and the curve of her body. She pretended she didn't see how the woman ogled her. "I'm so sorry, Onwen! So rude of me. But I think it's a sign I must go to bed. You're so much more interesting than the other knights. I only wish you were staying with us, too. Tell me I can speak to you again. I'd hate if this is the last time we talked."

Onwen nodded vigorously. "Whenever you want to, milady! I'm your eternal servant."

We'll see about that, thought Rachel. "I'm so happy to hear it."

"Tomorrow night. Or later. It must be so busy with all the men, and Cador... I can't imagine how you stave off his advances." It was a slip that revealed how irresistable she found her hostess. She reddened and slouched.

"Oh, he's a gentleman," said Rachel. "You really shouldn't be afraid of him. Not any of you. To talk again tomorrow night would be perfection. Sleep well, my darling! I really should away." She guided Onwen back toward where they'd left the rope tied to the wall and helped her down. Until the woman was back on the ground she didn't withdraw from there, watching her retreat like she was oh so concerned for her wellbeing. Onwen stared up at her with her mouth open. The light from the castle behind her made it impossible to see her face, which made the woman want to see her all the more.

"Good night, milady!" she shouted.

Rachel said nothing and smiled. Then she left.