Back to Chapter 30. Please consider keeping the WebMistress in chocolate by visiting her Tribute Page.
Gem had pitying looks from some of the servants as she went to see what could be had for dinner. She played it up, holding her arm as she was escorted to the kitchens again. She was glad to have the escort as the building had been added onto so often that it was difficult to keep track of all the levels, hallways and doors from one place to another.
It was a skeleton crew at the estate. Even with the few servants sent from the Palace, there seemed to be just a few people here and there doing the jobs of dozens. In the kitchen there seemed to be just two.
Gem came into the kitchen with her escort to see the two people there wrestling with an oversized leg of meat. They didn’t seem to know which way either of them was going and seemed to be dropping it more than moving it.
“Hey! The Lady wants dinner. Is she going to get any?” The household servant yelled and waved his arms to get the other servants attention.
“We only had a day to get ready! We still have some of the bread from a few days ago and some preserves, but, if she wants anything else, she is going to have to wait for it like the rest of us.” The harried servant was smeared with blood from the meat they were manhandling.
“Look,” the servant who had escorted Gem stepped towards the two kitchen people and lowered his voice. “She has a bitch of a mistress and I don’t want to send her back without something.”
Gem looked at the floor and knew that the others were looking at her. She glanced to the sides to see more of the layout of the kitchen than she had seen before. She stepped slowly away from the door and looked into an open barrel. It had what looked like root vegetables stored in sand, but the sand had gotten wet. The smell was not obvious until Gem was right above the barrel.
Gem did not know much about cooking or running a household. Before she had come under the thumb of Lady Engrid, she had been taken care of and taught to be a quiet girl, not to do anything. She looked up and saw the others looking at her. She saw the disuse that had happened over the last year and knew that her Mistress was not going to be happy. The assassin put a frightened look on her face. “I guess I will bring her whatever is available.” The tremble in her voice made the one kitchen servant’s face drop.
“Oh! Honey! Is she that bad?”
Gem remembered something Laun had said. Always tell the truth when you can. People will only hear what they want. “No! I love my Mistress!” Gem put perhaps a little too much emphasis into that. She quieted and said, “She just... Sometimes...” Gem looked back down to the ground and rubbed her arm.
“Just what we need, a sadistic noble.” He put his hands on his hips and looked angry.
“Please... Could I just have the bread and preserves and go?” Gem kept looking at the floor.
There were some grumbles, but a platter was put together for Gem to take back to Laun. Gem smiled at the kitchen servants before she left and now understood why Laun had always done that with everyone in the palace household staff. It made them feel more important.
Gem was escorted back to the room, the male servant holding the platter most of the way. She thanked him at the doorway and smiled at him, seeing more of the mask melt away.
Laun was on the couch in the room looking at the darkened windows onto the courtyard. The sun would be down soon and the courtyard was already in shadow. Laun was looking good and happy, though she had a calm face on for their watchers.
“Mistress, I was able to find some more bread and some preserves in the kitchen.”
Laun waved at her and the platter was brought around for Laun to see. She made a face, but reached for one of the pieces of bread already sliced. “I know they must have had more than this.”
The platter was on a side table as Gem said, “It looks like there will be meat for tomorrow, Mistress. The cooks said that they were not given enough notice of your arrival.”
“Hmmm. That is odd.” Laun tilted her head. “Father really did just rush me out of there. I wonder if the ambassador truly knows where I am.”
“I’m sure he does...” Gem smiled under her hand.
Laun glanced up without meaning to. “Are the soldiers gone?”
Gem shrugged. “I haven’t seen any of them in the hallways. Would they have left already?”
“I have a feeling they were on their way to Salam-Dir.” Laun smiled. “I think I put the fear of my people into Captain Leon.”
Gem glanced up, too. She thought she had heard something above them. “Shall I spread, Mistress?”
Laun saw that she was pointing at the bread and preserves, but had a wide grin on her face as she tilted her head and looked at Gem. “I thought we had already done that today.”
Gem turned bright red. “Mistress!” Her eyes went to the bed and then to the grating above them.
Laun shook her head slightly. “You need to control that. I know it is difficult, but it is part of... what I have asked you to learn. Do you need to be punished?”
Gem blinked and did not know how to answer. “Only if you think it is necessary, Mistress.”
Laun smiled. “I’ll save it up for later. Just be careful you don’t anger me too much. The licking you will get might take a while.” She ran her tongue over her lips at the assassin.
Gem had to turn away, but said, “As you wish, Mistress.” There was an edge to her voice that could have been interpreted as fear, if the smile and blush on her face was not seen.
They ate some, they talked some, Gem rubbed Laun’s swollen legs some. It was an early night, even with the nap the two of them had earlier. The night lamp was the only light in the room and it was next to the corridor entrance.
“Gem... Do you want a question tonight?”
The blonde raised her head from Laun’s shoulder and looked into her Mistress’ eyes. “Yes. But if I get it to your satisfaction, we don’t need to do anything. I know you are tired.”
Laun smiled and stroked down Gem’s face. “Lets see, then...” Laun looked like she was thinking. “Apprentice. What is misdirection?”
Gem pressed her lips into Laun’s shoulder and thought. “Being able to keep someone’s attention away from something you do not want them to see?”
Laun nodded. “That is most of it. Did you use misdirection today?”
Gem nodded. “The paper. I played injured to gain sympathy - is that the same?”
“Yes. It obscures what is there with something you want them to see.” Laun kissed Gem on the forehead. “With the base you and I have laid in the household staff, do you think I could force my way into wandering the halls? For exercise?”
Gem shrugged. “There aren’t too many servants here. I have a feeling they would give you a wide step. They think you beat me...” Gem smiled as she looked up to Laun.
Laun smiled back and said, “You know I don’t keep score.” She pulled the blonde to her and kissed her deeply, starting another round of gentle lovemaking for the night.
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