the Leathermines

Back to Chapter 5

The morning was early for Laun.  The sky had started to lighten and she was able to crawl out from between...  She could not remember who had been in the bed the night before.  She had bathed and been scented and dressed in something simple, but that didn’t last long.

She remembered going through the Great Hall, the food having been gone for a while, but the singing and stories continuing.  She felt good.  Her back had a few warning twinges, but her energy was up and she did not even have to think about keeping the waddle out of her step.

Fount was there at her side as she went through the Great Hall.  She could smell the horse he had ridden under his own sweat and it was good.  Edgar excused himself from a discussion at the head table and when he stood, several others in the room stood and went to Laun’s side.  She may not have been aware of what she was projecting, but many in the room saw how she glowed and had that certain smile and tilt to her head that meant that she was willing to accept offers.

And she had.  Laun had been treated kindly, but with how sensitive she was, most of what she remembered was the almost continual peaks that the fingers and tongues had been giving her the night before.  

She smiled as she thought of Edgar, laying on his back, holding his hands up so that she could balance while she was using her leg strength to wiggle back and forth just on the head of his manhood.  She watched him as he was trying to hold himself off.

She had slowly speared herself on him and his head had gone back, his hands clenching hers.  He had drawn in a deep breath and then, as she felt her own body come back up from it’s plateau, his throat held an animal growl ready to be released.

She fell slightly forward as her own orgasm took her.  His hands went to her hips and Edgar thrust up into her in time with his own peak.  Laun’s hands were on his chest, holding her up until the last crash from her contractions wiped out the energy she had.  She had lain on his chest for a few minutes as they both brought their breath under control.

Ali had been there, gently putting a hand on Launs ass to ask if she could have the honor of cleaning them.  Laun had moved her hips, making Edgar’s head go back and his manhood pop out of her.  Laun held herself up with arms on either side of Edgar’s chest and watched the pleasure on his face as Ali cleaned him off with her mouth.

Before Laun had the pleasure of the learned tongue of the stablehand, she felt a changing of the guard behind her.  She looked back and saw Fount, very erect and very ready behind her.  He seemed to be watching her ass, looking at the roundness that had come to it, stroking her hip as he stroked himself.

Edgar’s hands went to Laun’s breasts and she felt a relief she had not expected.  Her breasts were close to twice the size they were before she became pregnant.  Hanging down over Edgar, they had been straining her skin and back.  Taking the weight of them, she felt the sensations of his fingers on her nipples, but also a rush of pleasure when the low level pain was taken away.

Fount had carefully entered her, bringing a jolt through her that Laun felt to her toes.  He slid in slowly, Edgar’s seed lubricating and being pushed out at the same time.  Laun had closed her eyes at the feeling of being entered.  She opened her eyes and looked into Edgar’s smiling face.  Laun also smiled, but it was taken away by a gasp and her eyes were closed again.

Her younger man was trying something different.  Fount was trying to delay his own ending pleasure by drawing almost all the way out and waiting for his own sensations to calm before pushing slowly in again.  It was something he had tried before, but Laun was always so wonderfully responsive that even that technique that had been taught to him by the tutor his father had bought for him barely delayed things.

With the exhausted Laun laying on top of Edgar, she was still enough that Fount was able to last for quite a while.  The moment was for just the moment, not getting to the peak.  He had waited until he knew she was exhausted from her orgasms before he had approached.  She still sighed and gasped, but her hips were holding her and the baby up, not rocking with him to set him off.

Until- Laun had felt something touch off inside and she had lost the use of her arms.  Edgar had Laun crushing her breasts into him and her ass was wiggling as she was starting to peak, the motion and angle change forcing Fount to speed up his strokes so that he could match her.  His hands went from her hips down to the front of her thighs as he leaned over her and thrust.  He heard a series of gaspy breaths from Laun and then felt her contract around him as he came in her.

Fount fell forward over Laun, his arm reaching out and holding Edgars’ in a warriors’ grip, palm to elbow.  Laun had reached back and found Fount’s other hand and had grasped it, feeling the slight tremor he sometimes got after they had made love.  They had moved away from each other slightly, but her men had surrounded her as they lay in the bed, Ali gently cleaning their fluids from them and curling up at their feet.  It had been a good night.

As Laun stood by the window that early morning, remembering the night before, she had one regret.  She had missed Silar since he had walked away from her.  She had not seen him in days and was worried.  She wanted to talk with him.  Wanted to know what she had said that was so upsetting.  Needed to let him know that he had become part of her, that she needed him.

Laun could see where there may have been embarrassment.  Being rejected in public like that would be hard for anyone.  She did not know how the physically strong man would handle something like that inwardly.  Laun sighed.  He was handling it, by staying away.

She could feel the activities from the night before in her legs.  She stretched out and did part of a weaponless form she and Silar had been working on.  She had started to bang the wooden practice swords into her belly during practice.  Not good for her, or the baby.  Without anything in her hands, she was less likely to do any damage to herself or the heir to Salam-Dir.

She stopped.  She looked at her belly.  In the low light of predawn, she traced the stretchmark on the top of her belly.  The thought of what it meant to produce an heir to a title she had received in blood, not through her blood.  She hadn’t really thought of what was to come.  But she had to.

There was still time.  Laun continued with her form, warming up and stretching out for the day.

There was still energy going through her.  She had been exhausted for weeks, sleeping when she wanted to be doing things.  She did not know how long this energy was going to last, so she wanted to make the most of it.

Laun grabbed a tunic off a hook in the wall.  Her slippers were below and she left the body-heated room as quietly as she could.

There was one protector on the other side of the door, knelt down a pace from the door, meditating.  His head went up when he heard the door open and nodded at Laun as she went past.

She started with the privy.  She was not the only one there, another of the pregnant women tiredly sitting on the split bench, straining slightly to clear herself out.  They did not talk, but they exchanged commiserating glances in the low lamp light.  Laun left before her companion did, a slight shake to her head for the woman, and what Laun had yet to endure.

It was chilly on the walkway.  The colors of the sky were coming up and it was going to be a clear day.  She could see the thickening of the canopy, it was not just branches and twigs any more.  An early bird somewhere called, and she could hear the cooing of the pigeons in the tower.  Laun stood with the protector team for as long as she could before the chill had worked it’s way through her.  She thanked them for being there and went back inside.

The pigeons were sleepy.  A few raised wings as if they were going to flap, but then just went back to sleep.  Laun stepped into the cage, carefully closing the wire door behind her.  She saw how few they had left after the winter.  She picked up one of them off the perch and stroked it’s sleepy grey head.  She replaced it with just a little bit of a flap, and looked into one of the nests.  The bird on the nest was not entirely happy, but Laun saw that there were indeed eggs already.

She stepped out again, making sure the door was closed.  She had been the one to leave it open in the middle of winter and they had chased the birds around the tower for several days after.  The ones that were chased outside immediately flew around and went back in through the holes in the tower back to the cage.  But there had been a few who did not want to be caught or chased out any of the doors or openable windows.

Laun was very careful about the door, now.

With visiting the pigeons, her mind started to work on lists for the household.  With the birds above replenishing their ranks, she hoped that the chickens were doing the same.  She knew the geese they had would not try to lay for another month or so, if they lasted that long.  And with their standard ‘take one, leave one’ policy for the eggs, the baker was going to be very happy to be able to have fresh things to use.  He had been grumbling about how the yeast he had was good, but everything tasted the same.

Laun was always delighted with everything he did.  He was still young, one of the wardsmen who had come back with them from the Festival.  He had been put to work as the rest of them had and Orgia had found that he had the touch with baking.  The household all appreciated him for his skills.  It was his fruited smallbread that she had taken with them to the meeting with the messenger.  Now Grace looked for the smell of bread when Laun approached.

Horses with brains.  Laun smiled as she walked along the corridor.  Sometimes she thought Grace had more brains than she did.  Grace would pull on the layers of Laun’s clothing until she found a treat or was smacked on the nose.  Laun was getting used to having clothes on all the time.  She just wasn’t used to the need to be careful of them.  She did miss her boots.

Laun stopped and looked at the slippers she had on.  They were big, bulky felted wool slippers.  They were comfortable, but floppy.  Not easy to glide in.  But had kept her feet warm in the cold of Winter.  She wondered if she would be able to wear the sandals from the dancer’s clothing when it warmed up.  She thought about it and put it towards the back of her mind to think about for later.

There were more people awake and going through the keep.  Many of them stopped and greeted Laun, touching shoulders or offering a warriors grip.  Only a few people touched her belly, and that was only after they had asked.  The baby was being active that morning, having as much energy as Laun did.  A few household items were brought up, Laun asking for the item to be mentioned to another particular person or noting it away for another discussion.

There were always things that needed to be done.  Today, Laun decided that a group needed to go to the fishing stream and suss out how the winter had treated the banks and water.  The trip would take people past several of the cereal fields and one of the vineyards that the bandits had not destroyed.  If anything were amiss, they would see it.  And if they were able to catch any fish today, that would be a welcome change.

Laun felt the acid burp before it had a chance to come up.  Her stomach had woken up and it was time to appease it.  Laun had not been able to get the hang of milking the cow herself, but she knew where the milk being settled out for the cream was.  In the kitchens, there was a large metal pot with a lid that stood by the kitchen’s cistern most days.  It was cold there and when Laun tapped the side of the pot, she felt the sloshing heaviness inside.

Orgia came up behind Laun and harumphed at her.  “What, little lady, do you think you are doing?”

Laun had a mug part way into the thick layer of cream floating at the top of the pot.  She looked guilty and said, “Checking the quality?”

Orgia shook her head but smiled.  “Stomach still bothering you?  I would prefer if you would use a ladle.”  The chatelaine put her hand on Laun’s back as she stood back up.  The mug was part cream, part milk, the chunky cream floating on the top like clouds.

Laun made a face and sipped on it.  Laun was surprised at how good it tasted.  “Oh, no.”

Orgia turned back to Laun from the table she had gone to.  “What’s wrong?  Sour?”

Laun shook her head.  “No, I think I am starting to like milk.  It tastes good.”

There was a nod.  “The cream will do that.  I have been giving you half-milk, not the whole milk.  Need the butter, after all.”

Laun was serious as she thought about that.  “We only have the one producing cow right now, right?  Have you been able to put up any cheese since she calved?”

Orgia shrugged.  “A few rounds, but most of the time, it gets about three days old and is eaten.  We have a hungry lot here.”

Another thing to put on her list of outside resources they needed.  Laun licked the trailing cream off the side of the mug and made her way through the Kitchens.  There hadn’t been bread trenchers for close to two weeks for evening meal, and that was one of the things that had been a staple of many morning meals.  The carpenters and woodworkers had been making bowls and wooden trenchers through the winter at Laun’s suggestion, the carving and shapes becoming much more consistent and smooth.  Laun was amazed she had washed all of them the night before.

Without the bread trenchers, the morning meal had been sketchy at best.  Lots of herb teas.  Some dried fruits.  Some porridge.  Some mornings a treat of dried or smoked meats.  There had been better food for a while after the harvest houses had been dug to, but it was getting poor again.

At least they had food.  If there was fish for that night, tomorrow there would be fish broth to help with breakfast.  Not her favorite, but she also had never seen just one stock pot on the hearth before.  There had usually been at least three: fowl, cow and pig.  Orgia had to mix them as the bones and vegetable scrap that went into the pots were far between.  Laun knew the chatelaine had used most of her imported spices over the winter to try to make what they had as tasty as possible.

The Great Hall was about half full when Laun entered.  Wood was being brought in, ashes hauled out.  Handwork of all sorts were being done in the morning light.  Laun found a place near the middle of the room to sit and had people offer her porridge and fruit leather.  She accepted a small bowl and broke off some of the dried fruit before handing it back to the wardsman.  She felt guilt enough having the milk in her mug, taking more of the food from her people was not something she could handle.

Jake and Nan walked in and made their way to Laun.  Well, Jake walked.  Nan, being almost eight months pregnant and looking it, was waddling the most of all the pregnant women.  She sat next to Laun and was breathing heavily.

“I haven’t seen you for a few days.  Are you well?”

Nan held onto Jake’s belt and said, “As well as anyone, I suppose.  Since I seem to be having some sort of beast trying to kick it’s way out.”  She shifted on the bench.  “Lucaris tells me that the last part is the worst.  I have no idea how she would know, since she has never had a child.”

Laun saw the sense in that statement, as well as the frustration.  “They both know much more than we do about such things.  But listen to your body as well as our shamen.  You are inside you, not them.”

Nan winced and put a hand on her belly.  “Not just me, Laun.”  Laun could see the movement under the cloth of the tunic.  Nan was not having a good time with the kicks from inside.

Jake put his hand on Nan’s shoulder and rubbed a little.  “We wanted to talk to you about something...”

Laun had been expecting this since they had been paired up in the protectors.  Nan had already been pregnant, but Jake and Nan had stuck together as more than weapons partners.  “Yes.”

Jake blinked and said, “But we haven’t said-”

Nan shook him by his belt.  “Remember, this is our own Laun.  Master information gatherer and our leader.  She knows everything.”

“I’m just surprised that you haven’t asked before this.”

Jake blushed slightly and looked at Nan’s belly.  “I know he isn’t mine...  But I would like to give him a name if I can.”  He looked into Nan’s face and smiled.  “And her.”

Laun nodded.  “The tent is still up, we can arrange a few things with Orgia and let the banns be known.  It doesn’t take long around here.”  Laun could already hear the circulation of the news around them.

Jake held his hand out to Laun and the warriors grip was strong.  Laun leaned over and kissed Nan.  It was just a little friendlier than a simple peck, but Laun backed off after a moment and had to burp.  Nan put her hand on Laun’s belly and smiled.

“We will be getting lots of practice before yours comes.”

The two went off, Nan needing to find a padded bench to sit on.  A line of the pregnant women was on such a bench by one of the fires, all seeming to be sewing on various small versions of clothing.  Laun winced at that, thinking of the sewing she perhaps should be doing for her own child, but the lack of actual skill had been keeping her from considering it.  That and being asleep most of the time until then.

Most of the household was there.  Laun counted almost one hundred and twenty in the Great Hall.  Some people were in the kitchens, some on patrol.  She looked at all the faces, remembered names, knew talents and resources each held within.

“Good morning!”  The call came back strong.  “Yesterday was taken up by something that many of us would have liked to avoid.  At least I would have liked to avoid it.”  There was a chuckle that went through the people.  “Kell, where are you?”

He didn’t even try to stand up.  He moved his foot and his bell rang.  There were a few laughs, but most people just gave him a cold stare.

Laun tilted her head towards the noise and smiled.  “Thank you.  But that was yesterday.  Today, there are a few things that need to be dealt with, most of them water based.  I would like a group to go out to the-”  Laun continued, setting people tasks.  Several things were brought up, including the trading post schedule.  Almost all the people in the keep had been to the trading post, but the rotation of protectors that manned it was a small group.  One team wanted out of the rotation.  Laun accepted their needs and said that she would need to check with Edgar before making a decision.

It did bring up a point to Laun that she needed to discuss with the people she used as advisors.  The trading post had been somewhat profitable, both with goods as well as information.  What were they going to put in it for this next season, Falmir and his threats aside?  That would have to be discussed later.

“...and, please, as always, keep your eyes open.  Not just for signs of outsiders, but of the crap pits.”  She saw the face on the one staff who had not watched where he was going and had stumbled into the defense a few days before.  There was good natured laughter and the morning meeting broke up.

Laun sat down.  It had not been the longest morning meeting, but it had started to tire her back out.  Ali brought her a fresh mug of tea and sat next to her on the bench.  “Lady, I was wondering if I could go with the group to the stream.”

Laun nodded and said, “Whatever you want.  I know you have been cooped up with me for far too long.”  Laun put a hand on her boy’s cheek, receiving a kiss on her palm.

“Thank you.  I wanted to ask.”  Ali’s eyes went worried for a moment.  “If you need anything-”

“I have people around me.  I can take care of myself without you.  I like being taken care of, now, but I know how to do it.”  Laun leaned forward and they kissed, lightly.

Most of the people who had been in the Great Hall had left to go to their household duties or to sleep for the day.  Laun spotted Silar standing near the kitchens.  It looked like he had just come out and was holding something close to his body.  Laun had missed him, both over the last few days as well as him coming into the meeting.

He seemed to be nervous about something.  He was looking at her and seemed to be deciding something.  Laun tilted her head and smiled at him, reaching a hand out to him.

Silar came to Laun and presented her with a spring flower.  It had slightly wilted already, but the purple of the crocus was vibrant against his dark hands.  “There is a whole grove of them.  I was wondering, if you would not mind, if I could take you to see it?”

Laun was happy.  Silar had worked out whatever he had to and had come back.  She took the flower from his hand and tried to sniff it.  It really didn’t have a flowery smell, but it did smell fresh and of spring.  “I would love to.”

“May I suggest some heavier clothes?  And a shawl?  There is still snow on the ground and you may catch a chill.”

Laun nodded at the practicality of the man.  She looked up to his dark face, the almond shaped dark eyes.  She saw...sadness?  “I’ll be right back.”

Laun ducked into the laundry and put on a few more layers with a long cloth wound around her like a cape.  The slippers would have to do as they were the only things she knew would fit.  Orgia had a basket to hand to Laun as she went through the kitchens, a knowing smile on her face.

Silar was waiting by the door and took the basket from Laun.  He had on his full riding leathers, including a curved sword at his hip.  He was looking quite handsome.

Out in the courtyard, there was one of the small wagons hooked up to a mule and one of the horses waiting.  Silar motioned to the wagon that had some pillows and sheepskins in it, saying, “I know you would rather prefer walking or riding Grace, but I heard...”

Laun sadly nodded.  “I’m not riding any more.  At least not until this cow comes out.”  Laun rubbed her belly through the many layers of cloth.  She let herself be lifted into the cart and settled in.  The basket was beside her and the padding around her was welcome for the trip.

The ride was not very long, but with the Spring potholes, a little tiresome on her back.  The cart went through some trails that Laun did not recognize until the mule stopped.  Silar helped Laun out and held the basket.  He had her on his arm and led her along a smaller trail until they came out to a clearing through the brush.

There were purple and white croci everywhere there wasn’t snow, and some places there was.  Some snowdrops peeked out and the red tops of fireweed blazed here and there.  Silar had been planning this as there was already a rug down in the middle of the clearing.  Laun saw some rope peaking out from under and smiled.

Silar pulled back the cloth from over the basket and said, “I wonder what Orgia put in here for us.”  He went to the edge of the rug and set the basket down, pulling items out.

Laun looked around and loved what he was doing for her.  It was Spring, and it looked like Spring.  Just the two of them together, a little food and some beautiful weather.  Laun was glad he mentioned a shawl, though, for in the shade, it was still chilly.

Silar had poured drinks.  It looked like Orgia had slipped some of the last of the cider into a crock for them.  Laun accepted the tankard and drank, looking over the metal lip at Silar.

He also kept his eyes on her, taking a sip and then putting the tankard down on the rug next to him.  He held out his hand and she sat on his lap.  He took her tankard away from her after she’d had more of the slightly bitter cider and put a hand on her cheek.  He just looked at her as his arm supported her back, her legs draped over his cross-legged ones.  He looked at her, drew his thumb down along her nose and to her mouth.  The feeling was wonderful and comforting to Laun.  His fingers went along her forehead and drew down on her eyes.  She closed them and reveled in the feeling of his hand on her skin.  His fingers trailed down past her mouth and down her neck, her head going back.

She heard some liquid being poured on the ground and tried to open her eyes again.  The sense of comfort had turned into a sudden sleepiness.  Her eyes did open, but her vision was blurry.  There was a kick in her belly and then nothing, alarming Laun.  She tried to talk, but nothing would come out.  Then darkness.

 

The kidnapping continues in Chapter 7.