the Leathermines

Back to Chapter 26

 

The torchlight from the military encampments made the tents glow in the fields below the keep.  Laun was on Erin’s arm as they walked around the perimeter of the keep, her face turned to him though seeing more than just he.

The wind had come at dusk, cooling the Summer evening and making the trees hiss.  The night sky went from the blazing hot oranges of sunset to the cool purple velvet of night, clouds floating singularly across the waxing moon.  Stars blazed in the dark sky above, but they could not shine brighter than Erin.

He was not looking where he was walking in the cooling evening.  His eyes were only for the woman on his arm.  Her eyes glinted of gold as they passed by torches, her mouth naturally pink and soft as the roses he grew.  He was not really paying attention to the small talk, the mention of weather and phasma flies.  He nodded and smiled as she smiled.

She had come back from the bathing chamber in what she was wearing now.  Light and flowing and a silvery sheen to the linen that glowed against her tan skin.  The three pointed crown above her hair, a simple braid that came down her back, tied with the thong that had been on her wrist, the silver bell dangling soundlessly there.  He watched her come in and curtsey to him, use his honorific and tilt her head slightly to the side.  He had wrapped his arms around her and kissed her deeply for several minutes.

She reminded him, gently, that he needed to wash himself, also.  He tore himself away from her and almost ran to the bathing chamber, cursing himself for having it so far from the bedroom he had chosen.

Derrik had been there, waiting to talk with him.  Erin rushed the servants into cleaning him, shouting at his council to say what he was going to and not play with words.  Erin did not like what Derrik had to say and looked out to the darkening world outside trying to ignore the older man.

He was being pushed, again.  Derrik wanted her out of the keep, out of Nestwood.  She brought danger with her and would delay the troops moving against Salam-Dir and then North.  Derrik kept using the words “your plan” and “The Kingdom’s needs”.  The fifth time the councilor used “your plan”, Erin stood from the copper tub and bellowed, “It was never my plan!  It never will be!”

The anger changed to determination.  Derrik had pushed Erin, but not in the direction he had wanted.  Now that Erin had made up his mind, he was calm and felt as though destiny had brought Laun to him three days before they were supposed to move the troops, keeping him from making a terrible mistake.

Laun had said something to him.  He was not sure what it was and she giggled at him, putting her fingertips lightly on his chin.  “I’m sorry, my Lady.  I was thinking of earlier.”

Laun turned and blushed.  “I hope I did not make a spectacle of myself.”

He stopped and turned her to him.  She seemed so small right then, so young and vulnerable.  She looked up to him and he saw her lower lip caught between her teeth.  Appealing and sensuous and yet innocent.  He brought her hand to his lips and kissed the knuckles before he turned it and kissed her palm.

“A spectacle that I would not have missed, my Lady.”  He wanted to pull her into his arms, grasp her and kiss her and throw her down on the ground and fuck her.  But he knew there were eyes on them.  Always eyes on them and he was brought up as a noble and would not do that to her.

An unfamiliar female giggle came to them from the fields of tents.  Laun recognized Nan and smiled.  Erin’s eyebrows started to come together and a flash of something close to anger came to the surface.

“Please, let them have a little fun.  I am certain that she is helping to relieve some tensions in the men.”

It was his turn to blush.  He nodded and turned to lead her around more of the cleared perimeter of the keep.  “We haven’t had women in camp for months...”  He glanced to her and tried to read the small smile she had.

“Well, I hope they don’t tire her out.  I will need all of my people to gather me together for the trip back.”  Laun felt his arm tense under her hand.

They walked for a few more minutes.  He slowed and then stopped.  He turned to her again and then forgot himself as he drew her to him, kissing her in the evening air.  She felt right in his arms, seemingly an extension of himself as he moved.  He gently released her, her arms still around his neck when propriety took over.

“I will not ask you to stay more than the night.  But, please, will you come back?”

She nodded, rubbing her forehead along his cheek and putting her head on his shoulder.  “If I can.”

He wanted to tell her of his decision.  To do that, he would have to tell her of his Aunt’s plans.  He would have to reveal the treachery that he had been training the men on his land for.  He felt as though telling her would break her heart and after loosing his brother, he did not wish to do that to her.  He wanted her to be happy wherever she was, but mostly, he wanted her to be happy in his arms.

“That will be enough, Highness.  I can wait for your return.”  He kissed her hair and smelled flowers and currying soap and her musk.  He smiled at the thought of her being lathered up with soaps from the stables, but it felt right with her.

There was a sound a few paces away.  Laun turned and looked before Erin did.  One of his servants was there, trailed by one of hers.  “Excellency, we have evening meal laid out for you.”  The servant waited for any small acknowledgment from his Master.

Erin sighed.  “I hope that I will not chase you away with what the kitchen here makes.”

Laun laughed.  “I haven’t been chased away yet.”  She gently withdrew her arms from his neck and back to his arm, waiting to be led to the meal.

Erin was not used to entertaining.  He was truly not used to entertaining a woman.  He put all of the time he had waiting for her to come from the bath into thinking of how to please her over the evening meal.  He had been inspired by the pride he had in his garden.  Laun stepped into the courtyard and giggled, her hand going to her mouth as she looked around.

The servants had taken what he had asked for and had gone further.  They had not seen their Master this distracted, or happy, for almost a year.  He had come to the Nestwood in a mood and had only lightened slightly over the months.  The servants that had come with him from Rosemond to the Midlands years before knew that he had been happy before and wanted to keep him that way.

Candles and lamps dotted the greenery, clumped around the flowers and brought the fish to the surface of the water.  A table had been brought in, draped with anything that seemed fine and delicate the servants could dig up from the keeps stores.  Glass and silver and gold sparkled, more flowers picked and laid on the table between the place settings.

Laun moved through the garden and smiled, the wonder that she felt showing clearly.  The smell of the roses and other flowers was heavy in the air.  A butterfly and phasma fly danced above the candles and through the fruit trees.  She saw the work they had put into it, and she saw a few details that her people must have suggested.

The babies were in their basket a little ways from the table, Gem and Hazalam both sitting on the ground with them.  Laun saw a small cashe of cloths near Gem, a washbasin by Hazalam.  She knew it was not for the babies.  Laun smiled and let herself be led to the bench at the table.

There were quilts and pillows on the bench, a small amount of padding, but it showed thought.  Laun sat and waited for Erin.  A few subtle hand signs from Gem and from Hazalam told her that they were ready for anything Laun wished for that evening.  Laun signaled thanks and a cryptic ‘big!’ as Erin came to the table after talking with his servants.

He seemed pleased.  Whatever he had asked from his staff seemed to have been delivered.  He sat next to her, his hand tentatively placed on her leg.  Laun put her hand over his and he seemed to relax more.

The food was not spectacular.  Quickly roasted small birds, Laun assumed pigeon, but it tasted slightly different and slightly bland.  There were small loaves of bread for them to share, an herbed butter to spread on it.  Cider and tea and water to drink.  Desert was provided by Erin himself.  He cut several apple sized fuzzy fruit from the trees around them and cut them in half, exposing the wrinkled pit inside the yellow flesh.

There was a clotted cream brought to the table, a sweetened thick dairy mix that Laun remembered from the Palace.  Laun smelled the fruit as Erin cut and placed it in a glass bowl for Laun.  It was sweet and she almost recognized the scent, but not quite.  She tasted a slice of the fruit without the cream and then, after making little happy noises that brought smiles to more than Erin’s lips, tried some of the clotted cream on a slice.

Laun had just found her favorite thing to eat.  Ever.  Sweet Milk had been good and had kept her fed while pregnant and with heartburn dogging her.  She liked the apple compotes Orgia made, especially when made into pies.  She missed the rose petal jam that they had not been able to make that year.  This fruit and clotted cream was far above any of those.

Laun restrained herself from eating all of the fruit he had cut for her.  She looked at him and squose his hand.  “What is this?  I don’t think I have ever had this fruit before.”

He beamed.  “I brought them from the South of Rosemond.  They normally don’t grow this far north, even there.  They are peaches.”

Laun snorted.  She laughed.  Gem and Hazalam both caught the joke but did not voice it.  “Oh! I am sorry.  I used to be called Peach.  I hadn’t ever had one until now.  It isn’t even the color I expected.”

His face had dropped but he snickered as she took another slice and sucked the juices from it before biting into it.  “You are full of surprises, Laun.  Who called you peach if you had never had one?”

Laun tried to keep her smile but failed.  It faded as she said, “My Lady Hellon.  My Mistress had given me that name as I grew at Salam-Dir.  I was even dressed in the color called peach for years.  She had spent time in Rosemond when she was younger.”  Laun picked up the last slice, but she could not eat it while thinking of Lady Hellon and why she had been in Rosemond, and what must have happened to her under Lady Engrid.

Erin felt the tension that rose in Laun.  He took her hand and kissed it.  “You must miss your Lady terribly.  I am sorry to bring up such memories.”

Laun waived as if dismissing the memory.  “It is the past and I cannot do anything about it now.  I am full of such memories, Erin.  The good come with the bad, too.”  She smiled and slid the peach slice into her mouth, soon to be followed by Erin’s lips.

They sat and kissed gently for a while, the evening breeze playing over them.  Laun could feel the nervousness of the household servants standing in the shadows.  She felt the calm presence of her assassins, the cooing and murmuring to amuse the babies in the basket.

Laun subtly took charge.  She leaned on Erin’s shoulder, looking up at him as he drew his hand down her cheek.  “Excellency, shall we have the table cleared?”

He nodded and looked up behind his shoulder.  “Reven, clear this.”  He turned back to Laun and ignored the men who swarmed around, carrying the table it’s self off after the delicate plates and utensils had been taken off.

Laun’s hand went down his chest and brushed against his leg, touching his manhood.  She smiled at the slight jump.  “Your excellency, you seem to be nervous.”

He shook his head.  “No, my Lady.  Thinking of what may come tonight.”  He kissed her gently and pulled back to be able to look into her eyes again.

Her hand went to his groin, tracing the length of the ridge under his tunic made by his manhood.  “You will split me in two with this, your excellency.”  She felt his body shake as she gently handled him through his clothing.  He pulled her closer and kissed her, not roughly, but strongly.

Laun’s hand went for the hem of Erin’s tunic, her fingernails going up his leg as she went under the tunic.  His eyes closed and his head went slightly back.  He drew in a quick breath as she reached his loincloth, the fabric hardly holding his aroused manhood inside it.  She watched his face and felt him loose some of his concentration as she found the head of his manhood and scratched through the fabric where a slight wetness already had stained the fabric.

“Your excellency, please, I must share this.  You cannot make me think that only one woman could handle you, let alone satisfy you.”  He blinked and looked down at Laun.  Gem had heard her cue and had moved silently from the basket to Laun’s feet.  She looked at the ground as Laun petted her blonde hair.

Erin was not sure what to do or say.  To have this beauty in his arms be so forward… Erin had not experienced such things before and did not know what to do.  He finally went with the feelings that she was creating with her delicate touches and said, “If it pleases you, my Lady.”

Gem looked up, seeing a slight nod from Laun.  Gem tugged on the closed collar of her dark green tunic and the hook let it’s catch go, letting the assassin pull the top of her tunic down and away from her.  It slid off her shoulders and Laun saw Erin’s mouth slightly open when he saw her pale skin and pink nipples.  Laun caught sight of an ink stain on one of Gem’s hands, but did not think Erin would see it, or know why it was there if he did.

The loin cloth was exposed, Laun pulling Erins tunic up far enough that she could get to the tie on the side.  She pulled on the knot and Erin’s own manhood pushed the fabric out of the way.  The noble smiled at the wide eyes of the servant kneeling in front of him as her Mistress brought him out into the evening air.

“M-Mistress?”  Gem did not have to fein disbelief with a tinge of fear.  Laun nodded and pulled Erin’s head around to kiss him.  Gem knelt at the noble’s feet and took ahold of the manhood in front of her.  She glanced at Hazalam, her brother assassin shrugging at her.

Laun felt when Gem’s mouth had gone around Erin’s head.  He breathed in from her mouth and a slight tenseness was in his neck.  His head went back slightly and he could not concentrate on both women at the same time.  Laun’s hand went to his belt and it was on the ground behind the bench.  She leaned him forward slightly and he found that his tunic was off of him before he could stop her.

The lacings on the front of the pale dress were easily undone, exposing Laun’s breasts for Erin.  She knelt on the bench and pressed his head to her, his mouth taking her nipple easier than Ash.  Laun was starting to learn what cues to give him to get the sensation she wished, a steady but gentle hand on his head to direct him was what he needed.  The Barons’ blue eyes were mostly closed and Laun could tell he was not seeing anything outside of himself.

Hazalam came to the women and took their clothing off of them as they paid attention to the man between them.  He folded the clothing and set it to the side before going to the doorway of the courtyard to check in with Evan.  The assassins were tasked with keeping the other servants out for at least half an hour.  Hazalam came back, standing in the shadows and watching.  He had a small heartache as his Mistress and sister assassin were with this Rosemond noble, but he once had contact with the man, through his council, and had little sympathy for him if he misstepped with the women.  Hazalam smiled at the thought of the Baron being flayed if he did not please them.

Erin was being given a respite.  A tankard of water was in his hand as he watched the women kissing.  The dark hair and tan skin of Laun contrasted against the long blonde hair and pale skin of Gem as they knelt in front of Erin.  They knew each other so well that they could play at seduction, look like they were entirely paying attention to just each other as they watched the man on the bench.  Signals went back and forth as interest in an action was noted or a lack of reaction made them not try that again.

Laun laid back on the cloth that had been spread beneath them and Gem was between her legs.  The blondes head was down as her ass was in the air, pointed towards the Baron.  It was an invitation that the man could not turn down.  Laun saw his intentions and tapped a warning to her girl.

Gem’s hands went under Laun’s ass, her elbows digging into the ground for support.  She wiggled her ass at him, but she was steadying her legs with the motion.  She felt his body behind her, his hand on her back stroking her and then going to her womanhood.  She kept moving her head but pulled back from Laun and readied herself for his thrust.

Fingers spread her and entered her.  He was not gentle.  His arm moved to thrust his fingers in and out of her, going faster as her own lubrication slicked him.  She groaned and gripped Laun from below, Laun’s hand on her head to give support.  Erin did not wait for Gem to get to an orgasm before he used what slickness he had on his hand to stroke on his manhood.  He pushed the head of his cock into Gem, his hands on her hips.

Laun was up on her elbows and watched Erin as he pulled Gem onto himself.  He was not concerned with her, just what she was doing for him.  She heard Gem gasp.  The hands under her gripped and showed how much pain Gem must have been in as he did not take time to ease into her.  Laun moved to help her assassin from being ripped in two.

There were breasts for him to suck and lick and fondle.  Laun stood next to Erin and distracted him from his conquering of the blonde.  From predatory to content, Erin did not know that he was being controlled with his own lusts.  His hands went to Laun, going around her and pulling her closer as his mouth sucked on one of the nipples offered him.

Gem relaxed and started to move, her small thrusts bringing some reactionary thrusts from the noble man, but half hearted as he could not split his attention.  Gem started to use him instead of being used, one of her hands going to herself to pleasure herself more than just his manhood could do.

There was a rise in the assassin’s voice, the full voice coming from her soon after her fingers started working on herself.  Laun knew that the girl was going to orgasm soon.  Most of the keep probably knew if they had been with a woman before.  Laun tried to keep Erin’s attention split, but it was hard to not pay attention to the woman enjoying herself on his manhood.

He was not even within three fingers of being all the way into her.  He tried to lean over to make it easier to get all of him in the pale woman under him.  Launs mouth went to his neck as she stood behind him, her hands going around him and playing with his nipples.  His head went back and he was distracted enough that Gem was able to peak and start to come down before the man could finish himself off in her.

A hand pushed Gem away from Erin and Laun came around to in front of the man, taking ahold of his shaft as it pulled out of Gem.  He was so conflicted from all the sensations that he followed where she led.

First on one knee and then down on both, Laun took Erin into her mouth to make him focus on her and then laid back onto the cloth, her legs held together.  Erin’s hand went to Laun’s knees.  He slid his hand between and put some pressure on one leg.  Laun let her legs part, though she did turn her head slightly as he came down on her, pressing his cock to the lips covering her womanhood.

“Please, Excellency, be gentle with me,” Laun whispered.

Erin took his hand from his manhood and turned her face to him.  “I would not do anything to hurt you, Highness.”  He put his arms to either side of her and bent to kiss her lightly on the lips.  “Anything.”

Laun smiled.  She heard what was behind the tone of voice.  Her hands went to his shoulders and she said quietly, “Make love to me, Erin.”

She saw his eyes change, almost flutter.  “Yes, Laun, My Lady.”

It did not hurt, but the sensations were so intense that she heard herself call out and then grey out.  She came to as Erin was on top of her, his mouth on her breast and his shaft being drawn out slowly.  Laun looked and saw Gem, a concern on her face.  Laun signaled that she was well and started to moan as Erin started going back into her.  Her legs went up and around his back, encouraging him without speeding him up.  She shut down the part of her mind that was trying to tell her to keep awake and aware so she could just feel the man in and on her.

She moaned and gasped and panted as he sped up and went deeper into her.  Her fingers went into his shoulders and then her fingernails gripped him.  Her legs came off of his back and started to push her up into him.  She could not fake those reactions to what he was doing to her.  She had the feelings, the energy flow through her until she felt she was within moments of going over the edge.

Her script popped into her head.  She moaned and panted and then started to call out, a part of her knowing what to say even if most of her was lost in sensation.  “Please!  All of you!  Right now, I want all of you.”  She gasped and her back arched, a wave of pleasure crashing through her.  “Yes!  Please forget what I asked.  Don’t pull out.  I want this to last.  Make it last!”  She started over the edge.  She could not stop herself, but she did direct her body as the contractions hit her.

He had to hold her down to stay in her.  His hands held her by her hips, his thumbs in the crease of her legs.  Laun knew how to use that and brought her legs up, flattening her back to the ground.  She had his hands caught, his balance a little off.  She called out, her voice more growl than words.  She felt him react to her thrusts and contractions, his own voice starting to rise.

She lifted one leg in the air, the other curled and then thrown to the side.  He felt himself slide mostly out and tried to push back in as his orgasm hit.  The thrust was only partially successful and Laun played her contraction again.  He was all the way out and swearing as he rubbed along her fur and stomach as he came on her.

She released his hands by relaxing her legs and he fell forward, her body still shaking from her orgasm.  He gasped and panted into her chest, her hands stroking his dark blonde hair at the back of his head.  They rolled slightly and Laun’s arms were around his head and shoulders, his arms around her waist.  He nuzzled into her breasts and sighed heavily.  His breath changed, a deepening sound as he almost instantly fell asleep.

Laun wanted to laugh.  She had worn him out, with the help of an eager Gem.  Laun signaled that he was asleep and the quilt from the bench was drawn over them.  Another signal and the door was released, the waiting servants trying to quietly come in and not be heard by their Master.  Gem was fastening the collar of her tunic when the household servants came in, completely covered, but obviously had not been recently.  She stepped to the servant men who came in and directed them as to not disturb their Master.

Almost twenty minutes later, Erin roused himself.  Ash was nursing happily and Sable was in the process of being burped by Gem.  Laun did not care who saw her naked, and the vision of her nursing as Erin woke, his head in Laun’s lap, the quilt around him, softened the hearts of several of the servants standing in the shadows.  Their Baron looked up, seeing the loving look in Laun’s eye for her child, and then looking down at him and having the same look.

He turned slightly, raising his hand to the back of the child, feeling her warmth.  Ash started turning her head away from the nipple and Laun handed the baby to Hazalam who took her to his shoulder without hesitation to burp her.  Erin’s hand was still raised and Laun took it and kissed the palm.

Erin had not expected that and felt a deep shiver of pleasure at the touch of her lips.  He sat up, a slight lightheadedness coming over him.  A tankard of clear water was offered and he took it, draining it without hesitation.  He looked around and saw that there were others in the shadows, hating that there were always others around.  Another tankard of water was brought to Erin, the servant’s soft hands lingering slightly, her blue eyes blinking as he looked at her.

He sipped on the water, watching how efficient the two dark green dressed servants were with the babies.  Laun went to get up and the blonde stood, holding the dress that Laun had been in earlier.  No modesty, no hurrying.  Dressing her Highness as befit her.  He glanced at the three pointed crown and, yes, it was still there, had been there through the entire session.

She was tied and fitted in her dress and she knelt next to him.  Her hands were in her lap, her head slightly bowed, waiting.  The pale dress reflected the light of the candles and lanterns around them, the shimmer making her seem almost unreal.

Erin stood, nothing but his boots on him.  He looked around and his tunic and belt were folded neatly on the bench.  He reached for them and his servants took just a little longer than they should have to come to him and dress him.  He was not as good with being seen naked, but he kept his eyes on her and found he could ignore everyone else around them with ease.

He held his hand to her and she took it.  He helped her up and kissed the back of her hand.  He started to lean further over, to pull her hand up, but changed his mind and just pulled her into his arms.  He did not kiss her.  He held her and put his face into her hair, smelling her.

He felt her relax.  Her head went to his shoulder and he felt her sigh through the linen of the tunic.  He felt he needed to say something, but the only thing that came out was a mumbled, “Always...”

They made their way slowly through the keep, arm in arm, hand in hand.  Laun smiled up at him and Erin smiled down at her.  She had conquered him, he knew it.  She had shown him something that he did not know existed, did not know he missed, just to have it taken away.  She would spend the rest of the night and be gone in the morning.  He would say farewell to her and hope to see her, soon.

Right then, he was happy.

Onto Chapter 28, gathering to go back to Salam-Dir.