the Leathermines

Beginning of the whole story in Chapter One of The Slave Warrior

Back to Chapter 22 in The Slave Lady

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Laun walked into the room and saw there were envelopes and a few boxes on the small writing desk.  She put the flowers on the pile.  She paused and poked at one of the boxes before going to the bathing room.  There were a few women servants waiting for her, a bath drawn.  Laun thanked them and let the clothing she had borrowed be taken from her.

The color was washed from her face and her hair was brushed from the braid.  The lavender scent from the soap washed the nervous feeling and smell from her and she felt her back relax as the soap was being used as lubrication for the servant’s hands.  She was helped into the tub.  The little pains she had been ignoring came out and she breathed through it, deeply and with concentration.

The servants did not let her fall asleep in the copper tub.  She was happy about that, but also wistful as she stood and the weight of the baby was full on her back again.

They dried her off and put her into a different garment.  A robe that tied around her with room to spare, but without the length to trip her up as the white dress had.  Her hair was held up by a pin and her feet were in soft, shapeless slippers.  She ignored the men kneeling at the edge of the bed and went to the writing desk.

She opened and looked at and categorized the messages and little trinkets that had been sent.  Several others came in while she was at the desk, making Laun frown.  Most were invites to have a meal.  One was an invite to go see the harbor, and the man’s ship.  There were little pots of perfume that Laun put off to the side.  A small silver necklace was in one box, from the man who told her of his trip up the river.

And there was the paper from around the flowers.  Laun unrolled it and found a block printed flyer for a traveling troupe.  Laun expected that it had been the entertainers that had been hired for the evening.  There was a small scrawl that Laun could make out saying, “Ask for Adelmar.”

None needed to be answered right then.  It was far past first bell and Laun thought that anyone who expected an answer before the next day should wait on principal.  She was tired, but she felt she had something to do.

She turned and was surprised.  There were three kneeling at the edge of the bed.  All were waiting for her, eyes on the floor.  They all wore different livery.  And one was a woman.

Laun pushed herself up off the chair and waddled slightly to in front of the three.  Hazalam was looking tired, his eyes half closed, but still trying to be attentive.  Silar, still in the dark green from the wrestling performances earlier, the color of Salam-Dir.  The blonde in the red and black, a black and blue mark showing along one cheek as she passively knelt as the other two beside her.

Laun went to the screen and said, “If there are any more messages in the night, hold them at the door.  Get out.”  All the other servants left, the door closing quietly behind them.

Her hands were over her face, rubbing some of the tiredness and stress away.  She felt a little of the soap still on her skin, and when she rubbed, the lavender was released.  She took in a breath and sighed.

She walked and sat on the bench.  Her butt hurt from sitting so long, but her back was starting to hurt more.  She looked at the three.  Assassins.  The three, different masters, or mistresses, for the most part.  One, she had taken and turned and now depended on.  One had come freely into her home, taken her trust and shattered it.  The third...

Laun said quietly, but so that they could hear her from across the room, “Girl, what name have you been given?”

“I have not been given a name, yet, Mistress.”  She did not look up, she did not flinch.  Her red eyes stayed on the piece of floor and did not blink.

“Strip her.”

They were on her and pulling off her clothing before she could move.  Her red and black tabard was off, her belts pulled without unbuckling them.  She called out as the close fitting tunic was taken from her and the man-style breeches pulled down.  The soft boots were off and the long stockings off and thrown to the side.

There was a bruised and battered girl prone on the rug at Laun’s feet.  Her hair was long and trailed along her back and on the floor.  Laun could see where there were fresh cane marks along the girl’s back, the welts oozing blood even though there weren’t actual cuts.

Laun had a pulse of sympathy go through her.  She could not let it come fully out.  She looked at the men and motioned, their hands taking their layers off immediately.

Laun waited and watched as there were silent sobs going through the girl.  The men were naked and Laun waved to the girl on the floor.

“Stand her up.”

They were not entirely gentle as the girl was taken from the floor.  Laun saw where there had been punches to the stomach, finger marks on her arms.  And the bruise that was spreading on her cheek.  Silar had a sour look on his face.

Laun motioned and they stepped her forward until she was a pace from Laun.  “Does the Blue Master still have your contract?”

There was panic in the girls’ eyes and surprise on Hazalam’s face.  Silar nodded at Laun.  The girl looked at the floor but her eyes were searching.  She did not say anything.

“Did she take your blade?”  The girl nodded.  Silar’s face became concerned, Hazalam’s had pity.  Laun tilted her head and looked at the girl shivering before her.

She was about Laun’s age.  Not as worn and not as learned in some things.  She was scared and tired and Laun saw a resignation in her posture as she was being held up by the two men.

“Were you sent here with a warrant?  With a kill order?”  The girl shook her head again and a tear was going down her cheek.

“Turn her.”  Laun looked at the stripes that had been applied to the girls legs and back.  They were uneven, an anger in the strokes.  The punches she could see were not hesitant, but not deep, either.  Laun saw several scars on the girl, not all from the ceremonies Laun had been told about.

“Face her.”  She was looking at the bruising and the cane marks on the girls small breasts.  One of her nipples had been hit and was slowly trailing blood down the underside of the breast.

“Why did she leave you alive?”

“Sh- She said that I wasn’t worth the trouble.  I hadn’t learned enough with her.  That if a tongueless whore like you could see me for what I was that you deserved to train me.”

Laun heard the words, thought about them and smiled.  Silar looked confused under his anger and Hazalam looked frightened.  “I didn’t know she respected me that much.”  Laun motioned and the men released the girl.

The blonde hair swung with her body, the shock Laun saw setting in and making her even more shaky.  “Have you renounced your Master?”

The girl nodded and burst into tears.  It looked like her legs were going to go out from under her, but she caught herself before she went down.  Laun let the tears flow and saw a change in the girl as her hands came up and held her arms to her sides.  The crossed arms across her chest were not for modesty.

Laun stood.  She had read something about this in both the etiquette book and one of the history books.  The words were going to be different, but it was going to be appropriate.  She put her hand on the girls shoulder, gently.  Laun waited until the girl looked up and into her eyes.

“Respect that which you have been taught by the last Master.  Remember the life you had before.”  Laun put her other hand on the girls forehead and said, “Do you come to me willingly?”

Laun felt the nod before it could be seen.  “Yes, Lady.”

“I take you as learner to the knowledge I may have to teach.”

“As you will, I do.”

Laun smirked.  “I accept your word and your blood as mine as you accept my hand as your Mistress.”  She pulled the girl to her and hugged her.

It was not what the girl was expecting.  She started to bawl into Laun’s shoulder.  Laun stepped back and sat on the bench, gathering the girl onto her lap and holding her.  Laun motioned her head to the pile of horse blankets and one was around the girl.

She cried until she could not cry any more.  Hazalam had knelt at Laun’s feet, watching as Laun held the girl, stroking her face and whispering to her.  Silar had to turn away and was leaning against the wall.

The girl was down to just sobs again and Laun was having problems keeping her on her lap, even though the bench was holding the girls’ legs.  Laun motioned for help and Hazalam put his arms around the girl and helped them both to stand.  Laun held the blanket around the shivering girl and looked into her eyes.

“Are you well enough for your first assignment?”

There was sadness in her eyes, but she nodded.  “Anything, Mistress.”

“Good.  Fold up and bundle that which you arrived in.  If you need something to tie it with, there are ribbons and string in the bathing chamber.  Go.”

She sat again and held her head.  It hurt, but more for the responsibility she had just been given than anything else.  It was very late and she was tired.

Laun looked up at Silar and motioned to him.  He came and knelt at her feet.  She put her hand on his cheek, remembering how the same action had sent the wrong kind of shivers down her back just hours before.  “Thank you for the message.”  He nodded.  “You will have to leave tonight?”

“Before dawn, Mistress.”

“You are leading the supplies home?”

He nodded and there was a hurt look on his face.  “I am sorry-”

Laun leaned in and kissed him, stopping his apology.  “You may have saved the household.”  She kissed him again and he raised up to put his arms around her.  She felt a twinge of hatred, but let that melt away as they kissed.

She closed her mouth and he pulled back.  “Lady...  Mistress?  Laun?  May I spend the night?”  She nodded and he kissed her again.  His hand went to her belly and then back around her as his embrace changed, became more possessive.  Laun liked the feeling and let it happen for a moment.

Laun pulled back and Silar went to his knees in front of her.  Laun looked and the girl had done as told, sitting next to the clothing and holding the blanket around her.  Hazalam was kneeling, his eyes on the floor, but Laun could see the streak of jealousy that was going through him.

“Hazalam.”  It had been the first time she had called him that in front of others.  He snapped his head up and looked at Laun.  “Tend to my girl’s wounds with cold cloths.  Make a bed for you two of the pillows and blankets.  Comfort her tonight.”

“Girl, come here.”  She was on her feet and at Laun, shaking, but there.  “My man will tend to your wounds.  You will be in his arms tonight.”  Laun read a slight fright in the girl and said to both of them, “You may not do anything but sleep.  I do not want you to have sex.”

Both nodded.  Hazalam stood and took the girl into the bathing chamber.

Laun leaned forward and held her head again.  She sighed and closed her eyes.  Her body was screaming at her in pain and fatigue.  Her mind was racing ahead with information she had and needed and plans and lists...

She really did not want to be there.  Who was she to try to be a teacher?  To be a Mistress?  She had taken on the forced responsibility, even though she deep down suspected that it was no more than a trap.  Too many levels of deception.  Too much that she had guessed at.  She felt herself changing even more and she did not like it.

Silar put his hand on her knee.  “Laun, can I comfort you?”

She nodded and sat up.  “I want you to fuck me until I pass out.  I also want your wonderful body to make love to me all night.  I want to rip your heart out and place it on a spike.  I also want to hold you and love you and know everything is going to be right again.”

Silar had a lopsided smile.  “I will try for some of that.”  He stood and escorted her to the bed.

Onto Chapter 24