Laura
“Women are equal to men in all areas.” My sensei spoke in a soft tone, but her aura of authority made the small woman’s words stand out as a universal fact.
I shook my head. “Not where I come from. In the Northlands women are limited. We don’t work or hold powerful positions. We women are nothing but prized possessions of strong and powerful men.”
“And yet you wish to return there.” Lennie’s dark eyes expressed that it puzzled her. We were sitting opposite each other on the floor after we’d just practiced a round of aikido.
I leaned back. “Someone has to change things in the Northlands. That’s why I’m going back.”
“To do what exactly?”
“To fight for equal rights for men and women. I’m not trying to turn the Northlands into the Motherlands, but there has to be a middle way.”
Lennie wasn’t a very expressive woman; her face remained almost impassive. Her tone, however, was one of concern. “How do you know your husband won’t mistreat you? You could end up in a worse situation than before you left.”
“Magni never mistreated me,” I pointed out. “He acted like any other husband would in our culture. I always considered myself lucky that he was my champion.”
“But he didn’t let you work and you said he refused to teach you how to fight, even though you claim he’s the best in the world. If you go back, he might oppress you again.”
Resting my palms on the floor behind me, I leaned back. “I won’t let that happen. I’m much stronger now.”
Lennie looked thoughtful. “He won’t make it easy for you.”
“I know.” I looked down, well aware that Lennie was right. Magni was used to getting his way and he wouldn’t like me standing up to him one bit. “If you worry that much, you could teach me some jiu-jitsu or Krav Maga.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I told you, Laura. We don’t practice those sports anymore. They are aimed at causing harm to your opponent. Aikido on the other hand will give you the ability to defend yourself without causing injury to your attackers.”
“But what if I wish to injure my opponent?”
Lennie’s lips disappeared in a thin line as if my words disturbed her. “I didn’t teach you to fight for you to turn violent. Use what I’ve taught you to turn your attacker’s momentum against them. And be careful when you do the forearm return move. Your attacker can easily be brought off balance and may break his wrist in the process.”
“Got it.” I didn’t tell her that I had no problem breaking a man’s wrist if he attacked me. Motlanders were pacifistic by nature and Lennie would never understand the culture I’d been raised in. “What’s wrong?” I asked when I sensed there was something she wanted to say.
Lennie looked down at her hands and took time before she spoke. “Laura. These past six months, you’ve grown stronger both physically and mentally. I have never seen anyone become so skilled at fighting in such a short time.”
“But? You can say it, Sensei. I know Motlanders don’t like to criticize, but we Northlanders prefer straight talk.”
Lennie met my eyes. “I worry about you.”
“Why?”
“Because you are missing some fundamental communication skills. Nobody can blame you, of course. It’s not your fault that you grew up in the Northlands and haven’t been exposed to many emotionally intelligent people.”
I lowered my brow. “People aren’t dumb in the Northlands.”
“I never said they were. It’s just that you have pointed out yourself that expressing emotions, and developing empathy, isn’t as valued in the Northlands as it is here. I worry about what will happen if you go back too soon. Who will teach you to set your boundaries and communicate in a healthy way?”
“If someone doesn’t respect my boundaries, I can kick their butt.”
Lennie wasn’t amused. “The point of teaching you to fight was to empower you to rise above any drama and conflict in your life.”
“I know that was your goal, but to be honest, I like a little drama once in a while. Magni throws some explosive tantrums, but often they morph into amazing sex between us.”
Lennie wrinkled her nose. “That sounds horrifying.”
It was always weird talking about sex with Motlanders since in general they didn’t see the point of it. To the majority of them, sex-bots were considered a more hygienic solution to fulfilling any physical need.
“It’s not horrifying at all. I wish you’d try sex for yourself.”
Lennie had told me that there were sex clubs for naturephiles who had a fetish for the human experience. I’d been curious to see it for myself, but Lennie didn’t see the point when I admitted that I wasn’t interested in having sex with anyone. Using strong words for a Motlander, she had let me know that the poor naturephiles weren’t there for my amusement.
Lennie tilted her head to one side as if she needed to get a clear view to see if I had a hole in my head or something. “I’m not interested in sex, and may I remind you that you complained about Magni being domineering and controlling.”
“That’s true. He orders me around as if I was one of his soldiers. It’s fine in the bedroom, but outside it’s driving me crazy.”
Lennie made circles on her knee with her index finger. “Why would you go back to a man like that when you can stay here with us?”
I drew in a deep breath, and released the air in a slow exhalation. “The Northlands is home to me and I miss it. Not just Magni, but my friends and family too.” Tapping my lower lip, with a thoughtful expression I pondered out loud. “My dilemma is how do I change the most stubborn man in the world?”
“I can’t help you with that.” She placed a hand on my knee. “Laura.”
“Yes?”
“Promise me that if he mistreats you, you’ll come back here.”
I lit up. “That could work. I’ll tell Magni that unless he treats me as an equal, I’ll move to the Motherlands permanently. He won’t like that.”
“Ultimatums should be avoided,” Lennie said in a soft voice. “Are you sure you wish to threaten him like that?
I pushed up from the floor with determination and dusted off my hands. “It’s the only leverage I have. Cross your fingers that it’s going to be enough.”