the Leathermines

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The men were beaming.  There were a few cheers from the gathered household and the other soldiers present were all standing at attention behind the four.

Laun held up her hand and most of the noise subsided.  “And even though it was a game, it did show me that these men, thrown together to look after their defenseless Princess-”  There was loud laughter from many people.  Laun waited and put up her hand again for attention.  “To protect me, they worked well with each other, used their fellow company and, in the end, almost caught me before midnight.”

“I should have won that bet!”  There was laughter again.

Laun reached into the basket the growing babies were in and pulled out four small ribbons, looped and pinned.  “I have little to give you for recognizing your talents.  Please accept this token from my hand.”  Laun went to the Corporal at the end of the line and started with him, pinning the green ribbon onto his collar with one of the straight pins from her unused sewing chest.  He stood straight and saluted as Laun stepped back.  Laun saluted in return and stepped to the next man.  Each was pinned and saluted until Laun stepped back from the Private.

“Now...  You caught me.  We found out after that it was past time, but I think, for your tactics, you deserve my reward.”  Someone from the crowd hissed, quickly stopped, but laughter rolled through the room.

Laun turned and Hazalam came forward with a small folded cloth.  Laun took it and opened it in her palm.  The Private tried to not look down, but his curiosity betrayed him.  Before she held it up, he glimpsed a small green crystal wrapped with a piece of silver wire looped so it could be put on a thong or chain.

“You gave me a run, and I am sorry that at least one of the men you recruited fell for our traps.”  Laun saw several grimaces in the men behind the Private.  “But you outsmarted me and tapped me without me seeing you coming.  This comes from the land and it comes from my hand.”  Laun picked it up and held it so more people could see the crystal pendant.  She leaned forward and whispered to him, “And if you sell it once you are back in civilization, I will understand.”

The Private had the sideways smile she was starting to recognize on him as he said in a strong voice, “Ma’am, thank you.  I hope to live up to your regard.”  He held out his hand and Laun put the pendant in the palm.  He quietly said, “I would never sell a royal reward, Ma’am.”

Laun stepped back, her face turning red.  She cleared her throat and said, “Thank you for your attendance.  You are dismissed.”

Lieutenant Senri stepped forward and saluted, followed by the rest of the soldiers present.  Laun saluted once again and there was a small cheer from the men as they grouped around the four.

The Lieutenant stepped to Laun and leaned in to be heard over the clamor that had started in the Great Hall.  “That was good.  Where did you get the stone?  I never see you with jewelry.”

Laun stepped away from the soldiers, Senri following.  “As I said, from the land.  I wasn’t expecting to have to do a ceremony...”

They had made their way to the chair and benches by the one fireplace.  Gem held the basket with the babies, Silar handed Laun a mug of tea sweetened with honey and berries.  Laun sat and looked up at Senri who had fallen into parade rest.

“Oh, please!  Sit!  Do you want my neck to break looking up that high?”

He nodded, a smile on his lips.  The bench across from her had not been filled yet and the Lieutenant was able to sit directly across from Laun.  “Princess, you are going to have to get used to things like that.  Your hand makes any gift, any trinket, into a royal reward on some level.”

“My hand...”  Laun’s head tipped to the side as her mind started to furiously work.   Senri had a frightened look on his face even after the sightly glazed look on Laun’s eyes cleared and she started smiling.

“My Princess, please...  I don’t think I like what you are thinking.”

Laun’s eye went to her mug and she smiled behind it as she sipped.  She looked over the edge of the mug at the officer and said, “You have no idea what I am thinking, Lieutenant.  But, yes.  You should be concerned.”  Gem looked up from the babies with her light eyebrows knitting together.  “Yes, you too.”

Laun would not talk about what she had just thought of.  That scared those around her even more.  The morning meal and meeting had passed, the ceremony that Laun had to do because of her request of the soldiers being there had been done at the end.  Laun sat at the fire, lightly talking with those who came to her, feeding the babies as they needed it until almost mid day.

She took the apple and small bread offered to her by the large Klemner with a smile.  There had been some tension in the kitchens, but not over relationships.  It had been over who was in charge of the kitchens, Klemner not being used to not being in charge.  It had not gotten too out of hand, but Disa had to put her foot down and tell them that something had to change or else neither of them were going to be allowed back into the kitchen.  He still looked a little abashed, but happy.

The babies were asleep and Laun had an itch to get out of the keep.  Silar took the baby watch and Laun headed out with the other three assassins in tow.  Laun knew that Edgar had assigned a protector team to her above and beyond the four man team from the soldiers.  She wanted a particular training because of the soldiers that had been assigned to her that day, and they all were going to help.

Laun stopped by the stables in the courtyard and caught Ali’s attention.  The stablehand came to her Lady and leaned on the doorpost.

“How are you feeling today?”

Ali shrugged.  “Like my chest is itching from the inside and my feet want to swell to the size of Falmir’s head.”

Laun laughed and then put her hand over her mouth for a moment.  Ali saw a glint in Laun’s eye and squinted.  Laun nodded and said, “I am in a mood to get a workout, and I am going to make my followers here help me.”

“How can I help?”  Ali’s arm went around Laun and Laun felt the strength that was still there.

Laun half-closed her eyes and sighed.  “It may lead to that.  I can always hope.”

Ali took a chance and leaned in for a kiss.  She was slightly hesitant, but Laun tilted her head up and reached the rest of the way, giving and getting a good wet kiss.  Laun reveled in the feeling of Ali’s arms and body as they pressed together.  They parted and Laun’s breathing was a little ragged.

“It has been too long, Love.”  Laun swallowed and said, “But I was hoping to borrow a few things from the stable for the workout.  Including you, if your duties have been covered.”

Ali smiled and made a low, masculine laugh.  “We have enough people here to deal with these pampered mounts.”

Laun nodded.  She looked around and listed off ropes, blankets and such, as well as Grace and a few other horses.  Laun then asked if Ali had seen Wanda.

There was a nod.  “She’s been spending time with the healers.”

Laun turned and before she could say anything, Hazalam made a curt bow and ran off.  Laun blinked and had a small shiver go through her as she saw the power and control she had, at least over him.

“We will need to grab a few of the chargers, too.”

One of the soldiers stepped forward.  “Ma’am, you want equestrian training today?”

Laun nodded.  “I guess I do.  What would you suggest?”

His eyes went from side to side and he looked at the other soldiers.  “Well, it depends, ma’am.  General horsemanship you already have better than Willis here-”

“Hey!”  There was laughter.  “Highness, I am a class three dressage trainer and I think I may be just a bit...  Pardon my words, ma’am, but I think I am better than anyone in this squad.”

Laun tilted her head and smiled.  “That was what I was hoping for.  Your knowledge is what I am after, at least today.”  The Sergeant took a moment before he started to turn a bit pink while the others around him chuckled and laughed.

The Corporal who had spoken first said, “We don’t have a good training paddock here, ma’am.”

Laun shrugged.  “I was thinking the fallow North field.  It was barley last year but the harvest was poor.”  Laun’s face dropped and her voice became quiet as she said, “That was one of the best fields, though.”

Ali pulled Laun to her.  “It is better this year, Lady,” Ali murmured into Laun’s hair.

Laun nodded and sighed.  “Well, if this is going to happen, we should do it.”

It took a while to get everything together, everyone assembled, before they headed out to the field.  Silar brought the babies after Ash woke and insisted on being fed and would not take to one of the other mothers.  Hunter and Fount found out that there was going to be horsemanship and had to be there.  Several household staff were sent out with food and stools and other supplies when Orgia found out.

Laun had not wanted that much of a production for a simple training.  But it had started and would not be stopped.

The group was quite large that assembled at the field.  The grasses were knee high and starting to turn tan and beige.  Some of the household staff set up a small area on the edge of the field, some went out into the field and harvested stray stalks of barley and wheat and rye that had come up.  A swath of the grasses was hacked at to clear a space, the bundles of stalks piled at the edge of the field for the horses that had been brought.

Wanda was wondering why she was there.  She sat watching the adults create a practice area and Laun was standing in the shade pointing or nodding as others came to her.  The Princess stripped off her tunic and was down to a halter and loincloth as she seemed to be waiting for something.  Laun stretched, several others starting to follow her lead, as Wanda sat and watched.

Something happened and Laun nodded.  “What I am interested in is something that occurred to me as I was on Thunder last night going over the garden wall.”

The Corporal who had been at the wall was in the group, proudly sporting his ribbon on his tunic’s collar.  “I didn’t see you, ma’am.  Really.”

There was some low laughter as Laun continued.  “I did a damnedably dangerous thing and I want to know how to do it better.”  Laun stepped out to the sun and brought Grace with her.  “I know how to ride bareback, ride with a blanket, ride with a saddle.  I should have had my helper make a rope harness for me and I want to learn.”

Many people started to talk at once.  Laun raised her hand and pointed at Wanda.  The girl stood, brushing her butt off and stepped past the line of big men.  She waited and the men looked at the twelve year old, many not knowing she had been there.

“Your troupe did a few things while they were here, and I know you helped with the rope work.  It’s called...rigging?”

Wanda nodded.  “For the tightrope and the trees and...oh!”

Laun smiled.  “Yes.  The acrobats on the horses.”

Wanda took another step forward and then looked at the men around her, tall and frightening.  “I don’t know what I can help with, Laun.”

“I saw you do a harness on one of the horses.  It is the type I want.  Could you do it on Grace for me?”  Laun stepped away from the bay and looked expectantly at the child.

Wanda shrugged.  She spotted several lengths of rope and took them, putting them over her shoulder while looking for something else.  “Does anyone have a metal ring about this size?”  She held her fingers out to show what she needed.

A household staff took his belt off and handed his belt rings to the girl.  She was still feeling timid, but the looks on the men’s faces had changed, seeing that the girl had knowledge and that Laun trusted her to do this thing.  Wanda approached Grace and was able to start on the harness in just a few minutes of touching and stroking the palfrey’s sides and legs.

Laun raised a hand when she heard someone take in a breath before speaking.  She wanted to see the girl complete the harness before others tried to put in their opinions.  Two rings and two lengths of rope later, there was a harness on Grace that was sturdy enough to be used as if it were a saddle.

Laun motioned and there were questions for the girl, hands gently tugging on the rope and knots, overwhelming the ward and making Grace shy sideways a step or two.  Laun had a knee up onto Grace and she swung the palfrey around to the cleared space.

Laun used the reins for the first pass of just walking, getting used to where to put hands and knees and feet with the rope.  The second pass around, Laun used just her knees and called out commands to control Grace.

Wanda was showing several of the men the harness on another one of the horses, Ali holding some of the rope for the girl as she demonstrated.  Other horses were having other rope harnesses or just blankets put on them as the people in the field started to see what Laun wanted to learn and have learned.

Laun stopped Grace in the middle of the clearing and took a deep breath.  Wanda stopped talking when she saw Laun starting to stand on the back of Grace.  Laun had one foot under the rope harness and one foot on the flanks of the horse.  Grace moved slightly and Laun sat back down.  There was a surge towards her, but both Hunter and Fount held onto arms and shoulders, while still keeping an eye on their Love.

She had to figure it out for her self.  The night before, it was all instinct.  It was also a larger horse.  Laun kept her foot under the rope, but moved her other leg around so that she was kneeling, not trying to stand.  It felt more stable and Grace did not seem to object.

A click and the palfrey started to go around again.  Several other riders joined Laun.  One of the soldiers turned around on his mount so that he was riding backwards.  He saluted to Laun as he passed and she laughed.

The riding and ropework went on for several hours.  Laun had to stop to feed the babies, but kept trying new things with both Grace and then Thunder, once Hunter felt comfortable with having Laun try some of the things on the large charger’s back.  It was easier on the larger horse.

Grace was curried down when Laun changed to Thunder.  Ali took the lead and started with using some twisted grasses for the first rub-down.  Grace still wanted to work, to play.  Ali smiled and Wanda was suddenly on the palfrey.  Laun stopped Thunder and sat on his wide back, watching carefully as Wanda had the same thing happen to her as had happened to Laun.

Grace was not as skittish as she had been in the rain and mud.  Wanda gripped the rope in front of her and closed her eyes until she knew she was not going to fall off.  Ali led the Palfrey around the clearing once and then let go.

Laun moved Thunder to pace with Grace.  Laun held out a hand to Wanda and the scared child hesitantly reached out and touched Laun’s fingertips.  She pulled her hand back immediately, grabbing the rope again.  It was going to take some time, but Wanda had the balance and had not fallen off, mentally or physically.

“You wanted to know how to ride.  Do you still want to?”

The child nodded, but had a scared expression on her face as she quickly glanced over and back.  Laun tried not to laugh and moved the charger away from the smaller horse.

Laun found out the reason for the many thongs on the horsemen’s belts.  The rope of the harness on the charger started to work loose, not from the knots, but just by stretching.  Several people saw it at the same time and stopped Laun where she was.  Practiced hands pulled thongs from their belts and tightened the rope harness within seconds, leaving Laun to wish she had been able to do that for herself.  She made a mental note that she needed thongs along with the knives and saps and halter in her base clothing.  Laun put hands out and touched the heads of the Corporal on one side and Ali on the other before riding again.

It was a good time for all who were there.  Some of the people changed because of other duties and word being spread about the gathering.  While the soldiers and protectors were on the horses, many of the household staff went through the wooded area and the rest of the fallow field to glean what they could.  Even with the caravan of food having come in, any extra was gladly harvested.

It was getting close to time to head back to the keep or the military encampment for evening meal.  The sun was going to still be up for several hours, but there were clouds coming in from the West from down the side of the old volcano.  Rain was coming and it might be strong, if the other storms of the season had been any indication.

Bundles of the grains and grasses were tied to the horses, some gathered apples and early nuts getting tied into blankets and secured with some of the rope on the horses.  Wild herbs and mints scented the air as they readied the return to the keep.  Laun felt a bit of a sunburn on her skin over her scars, but did not make any mention of the stinging as the men and women around her gave warriors’ grips and slapped her shoulders.

Disa didn’t miss the pain at all when Laun came into the Great Hall in the middle of chattering people.  She saw how Laun was trying not to move her arms in the tunic to keep it from chaffing on the red skin before she saw the red nose on her Mistress’ face.  Just a few words to kitchen staff and Laun was being dragged out of the group and through the kitchen to the bathing chamber.

Some of the other mothers were there, all bathing themselves and the babies.  A look at Laun’s red skin when it was exposed, and they all knew that Laun needed to have help right then.

The scars were the brightest reds and pinks.  The shoulder scar blazed as the heat from her skin could be felt a fingerwidth away.  A sour willow and tanzy tea was forced onto her, some going into her, some being poured onto her skin.  Mineral salts and some of the mud from the Grey was mixed and slathered onto Laun’s skin, a whimper coming from her before a sigh.

The babies were washed, with much fussing by Sable, and bundled in clean cloths.  They were set with the other babies as Laun was tended to.  Ash fell asleep when she was placed next to another sleeping baby, Sable continuing to be awake and needing attention to keep her calm.

There was a knock.  One of the other women went to the door and checked who it was.  She stepped back and Fount came inside followed by Lieutenant Senri.  The others with them paused and declined to come in, not just because it was getting slightly crowded.

The Lieutenant had a slightly raised eyebrow as he came to attention.  “Your Highness.”

Laun waved a mud covered hand at him to make the man relax his stance.  “Yes?  Did I wear out your men today?”

He smiled and Fount sat, taking Sable into his arms.  The men glanced at each other and Senri said, “I was told of your equestrian training today, ma’am.  I also heard of the girl who you had do your rope tack.”

Laun finished the chug of the foul tasting tea and made a face most people could not see under the mud.  “Wanda.  She is my ward.”

He nodded.  “I saw the harness she did on one of the chargers as it came into camp.  She’s good, and it is a better style than we are trained to use in the military.”

Laun smiled, feeling the drying mud crack around her mouth.  “That is surprising, Senri.  I thought the Midlands had the best training of all the military might on the continent.”

His eyebrow went up again and several chuckles went through the group.  “Well, I thought so.  Ma’am, may we borrow Wendy-”

“Wanda.”

He nodded.  “Wanda tomorrow?  I want to see how she used the rings on the other harness.”

Laun nodded, saying, “Ask her directly.  I am certain she had a good day today and would be willing to show what she knows.  I think she learned more today, too.”

Senri came back to attention and saluted.  Laun made a weak attempt at saluting and the officer left.

Laun had a bucket of warm water poured over her to get some of the soothing mud off.  She liked that feeling, but when the soap lather was pushed and scrubbed on her skin, she sucked in her breath, sounding like a snake to keep herself from cursing.  She stepped into one of the tubs with cool to her water and sank into it, feeling the water and the herbs in it drawing out the pain and heat.

Fount was making little noises and strange faces at Sable.  He looked up and saw that Laun’s head was against the side of the copper tub and her eyes were on him.

“You seemed to have a good time out there, too, Love.”

He nodded, slightly pink, but not from the sun.  “I haven’t been through that kind of training in several years.  I hadn’t realized that I missed working with other horsemen that much.  You were looking good on the backs of the horses, Laun.”

Disa poked Fount and asked, “What was going on out there that she was using rope and getting burned?”

There was laughter in the bathing chamber, sharply bouncing off the stone walls and floor.  Laun smiled and let Fount try to explain, not doing too badly of a job, but getting teased by the other women when his eyes would catch Sable’s and his face or voice would change.

Laun drank more of the tea and felt a slight fever coming on.  The last time she had been sunburnt, it had been on the road trying to find the raiders and then the Festival.  She did not know if she had been running a higher temperature then, but it would not have surprised her.  Her skin was not feeling as tender, but it was going to be a few days before she was ready to wear full clothing.

Sable was getting larger, though had not caught up with her sister.  It took both of Fount’s hands to hold the baby when it had been enough for one just a month or so before.  A month.  Laun could not remember exactly how long ago it had been, but if it had only been a month, she was worried that she had adapted so easily to having the babies around.  No, not easy, and she had the household to help her.

Laun ducked down into the cloudy water and came back up with wet hair.  She stood up and found the air felt a little warm to her.  She waived off a cloth to dry with and dripped onto the stone floor.  Fount’s face scrunched up when he looked at her.  Laun was thinking that she looked horrible with the sunburn and turned away so she did not have to see his disgust.

“Love, do you want another bath?  That looks very painful.”  Fount’s concern was heard by everyone and quieted them down from their last verbal barb to him.

“I don’t know.  I wasn’t paying attention and...well.  Maybe a day in the Grey tomorrow.”  Laun looked over her shoulder at her Love and child.

Fount held Sable to his shoulder and had more of a pained look on his face.  “I should have made you sit in the shade or something.  At least put your tunic back on.”

Laun felt the sunburn more as she dried in the air of the bathing chamber.  “I did it to myself.  I wasn’t paying attention, and you know my pain tolerance.  Though, I think this may push it.”  Laun tried to lean against the tub and found the side of her thigh was tender to the touch, though not the backs of her thighs.

Disa was looking at two bottles in her hands.  “I think that this one will be good for tonight.  You will smell strange, but it will keep the pain down.”

Laun stood in the middle of the floor as several of the women tried to spread an oily salve over Laun’s burnt skin.  Laun stood her ground, but tears started to flow down her face and then sobs came from her as she could not suppress the reactions to the pain.

The lightest fabric that could be found in the stores was the slave skirts.  Laun tried not to laugh as the peach colored skirt was put on her, not because it wasn’t funny in an ironic way, but because her face hurt when she did so.  Laun put a halter on to help support her breasts, and to keep her breasts from touching any of her burnt skin.

More of the salve went on skin that had soaked it in quickly, including Laun’s face.  Laun still had tears on her face as she went from the bathing room and through the kitchens to the Great Hall for evening meal.

There were a few whistles as people saw Laun, but not the usual sexual calls.  No one tried to touch Laun, but many people put out their hands as Laun passed, their Princess lightly touching their palms with hers.  Others who had been out in the field also had red noses and arms, but no one was as bright and hot as Laun.

She sat on a bench that night for evening meal.  She could not lean against anything for more than a moment before it was too much, but she could sit, as long as no one was too close.

All three of the healers approached Laun with things they thought may help Laun with her pain.  Pillar brought an oil that he had a small phial of.  He spread a little of it on her face as she sat on the bench, a tear coming from one eye.  Laun could feel a slight relief even as Pillar was being shouldered away buy his wife handing Laun a large mug of a tea.  Laun drank it, tasting some of the bitterness from the willow, but there were more things in the tea and Laun felt a slight heart burn a few minutes after drinking the tea, but again, the pain and the tension in her muscles was going down.

Kell waited until the evening meal was over and people were heading out to duties and beds before approaching Laun.  She had a small cup of something and held it out to Laun.

“I know what the others have given you.  It is good stuff and I do not want you to stop using theirs.  But...”  Laun took the small cup of thick, brown liquid and sniffed at it.  “Yes, it will knock you on your ass, Laun.  It will make you be able to sleep or not care about the pain for a while.”

“Should I nurse the babies first?”  Laun put her hand on one of her breasts and felt the fullness there.

Kell nodded.  “I know your metabolism.  You will wake as you usually do.”  The healer put her hand out and Laun put her hand into Kells’.  “May I stay in your room tonight to help when you have pain?”

Laun smiled, the creases only tingling a little.  “Yes, please.  You are welcome any time.”

A gaggle of the mothers were around the fireplace on the other end of the Great Hall.  Hazalam had the babies and was sitting behind the bench the women were on.  Laun was given a little more room than most of the other women for nursing and then sympathy as Laun had to suppress some sobs as the babies kicked a bit.

Laun handed the babies back as they were full, not even trying to burp them.  She felt her breasts and looked at the other women.

“This is an odd thing to say, but, since I have been leaning on you for nursemaids, do any of your ba-”

Nan held up Tiss before Laun could finish.  “He has drained me dry today.”  There was laughter.  The almost three month old was handed over and took to Laun’s nipple with little prompting.  He did take everything that Laun had from both breasts, falling into a sleepy stupor only after he had been on the second nipple and had sucked Laun dry.

It gave Laun a chance to talk with the other mothers.  And to thank them for helping so much with Sable and Ash.  The women all understood and were supportive, though the hugs that they wanted to give had to be saved for later.

Laun was escorted to the tower room by the soldiers and protectors, one of the protectors being one of the mothers she had just been sitting with.  Hazalam carried the babies, more of a struggle than it had been just the week before.  Only a few people were in the room when Laun walked in, everyone with breeches or tunics on.

Laun drank the brown liquid and handed the cup to Kell.  The healer took the cup and nodded.  More of the oils and salves were put on Laun’s skin, but she had a wave of the strong knock-out medicine go through her and she did not care about the pain she did feel.

She was helped into bed, the middle being given entirely to her for the night.  Laun knew the feeling of the drug and welcomed the deadening of the pain.

Chapter 24 Laun ventures out into the sun again