the Leathermines

Back to Chapter 29 - Please consider Tribute - The beginning of the story is in the first chapter of The Slave Warrior.

 

The noon sun was hot.  Several of the guards on the barrier wanted to know why there had been extra guards and watches when the only thing of note that morning had been a wild dog that had chased a rabbit past and back into the underbrush.

Their answer was shown to them as a call from the road came to them.  The rescue mission was back.  With a guest.

The gap was open for them when they arrived, call and response telling them that all was clear on both sides.  The group went through, the gap closed and the horses kept walking, knowing where their food and water was.

The soldiers stopped at their encampment, Erin and Edgar dismounting so the Baron could see his men.  The rest went to the keep, tired and sore from all the riding and work at Nestwood.

Gem was helped down off the back of Grace, Laun waiting until she was clear before climbing down and finding she was in Ali’s arms.  It had become a tradition for the farewell kiss and the welcome kiss, and one Laun heartily loved.  She felt a movement from within Ali’s rounding belly and smiled.

Orgia and Disa both were in the Great Hall, waiting with the staff with water and cider for the group.  Laun sat, several of the protectors helping to take off her boots, much to the chagrin of those directly downwind of them.  Laun liked sitting without moving.  The water was gone and replaced several times before she brought her legs up and lay back on the bench.

“Orgia...  I warn you that the Baron is here.  I give you permission to smack him in the head if he displeases you.  Though not too hard.  He is injured.”

“As if I need your permission, Laun.”  There was a smile in her voice and Laun also smiled.

“Give me a few minutes here and I will be heading to the bath, if there is hot water available?”  Laun turned her head and saw Disa nod.  “Thank you.  I will be leaving again as soon as I can.”

Orgia tisked her tongue.  “You need to rest.  There is nothing so pressing-”

“Other than the security of this damned Kingdom, Orgia.”  She saw Klemner bringing out a full platter of breads and meat, his large arms steady under the weight of the pile.  “And you, if I may ask your indulgence, may be going with me.”

The cook put the platter down on one of the tables, pulling away as the hungry people around him swooped in to grab what they could.  “I have had a good time here, but, you are right, Laun.  I need to get back and make sure my kitchen didn’t collapse while I was here.”  He grabbed a smallbread and threw it at Laun.  She missed catching it, but someone else did and handed it to her.

Pillar came in, looking for his wife, a glide changing to a leap as he found her in the people.  He caught her in his arms and kissed her strongly.  Disa went to them and the three of them talked in low tones, kisses and touches freely going between the three.

Edgar escorted Erin into the Great Hall in time to see the shamen and their third going through the kitchen doors, but not to work.  The head wardsman shook his head slightly but understood what it was like to be away from those loved, even for a day.  Orgia turned and used her full disapproval on the new man, Erin feeling as though he was going to be gutted at any moment.

Laun turned her head on the bench and saw why the room had become quiet.  “Orgia, this is Erin.  He is good in the garden, so once he is better, that may be where you will want to put him.”  Laun saw whispers behind sleeves of some of the women.  “If he has the stamina, that is.”

The Baron looked around and saw the glances, the predatory looks he was being given by the women around him, even the ones with babies being held to their breasts.  He stayed near Edgar as they went through the room, wondering if he should have stayed at Nestwood.  Edgar saw the man’s nervousness and whispered to him, “They will leave you alone until you are better, but do not take offers lightly.  Once refused, they will not ask again.”  Erin looked around and swallowed hard.

Laun saw and welcomed her babies.  Ash made happy noises at the sight of her mother, Sable mewling cries.  Laun’s upper clothes were off in a few moments, both of the babies on a nipple as she sat.  No one seemed concerned or surprised, Laun looking as though the pressure in her breasts had been tough to bear, the babies taking as much as they wanted and falling asleep still on the breast of their mother.

Erin drank his water, his eyes hard to drag off of Laun.  He had seen her nurse several times after the garden, each time was different, but he could not see enough of it.  He wished he was suckling too, hoping it would lead to other things.  It wasn’t just that.  She had let him play with her breasts, lay his head on them and suck on the full, wet nipples.  It had been comforting as well as arousing.  He felt a pulse and had to look away, concentrating on relaxing the manhood that had been awakening.

The babies were gently raised to shoulders, their father taking Ash as Nan took Sable.  Wet burps came out without waking the babies for more than a moment.  They were placed next to other children on a mat in the Great Hall, most asleep.

Laun looked tired. She leaned on her knees for a few minutes, her eyes partially closed.  Her chin started to dip down and she opened her eyes, popping her head up to look around.  “Love, perhaps a nap?  I know you want to go, but can it wait til morning?”  Edgar sat next to Laun and put his arm around her.

Laun leaned her head on her Love’s shoulder.  “It cannot be delayed too long.  It takes days to get there.  We have to ride hard and warn-”

As if a small prayer had been sent out and heard, Hunter came into the Great Hall.  He had a mission in his step, his eyes only for Laun.  “Laun!  I was told of some-”  He stopped when he saw the blonde guest sitting among them.

Laun felt heat from Hunter, even paces away.  His shoulders went up and it was as if she could see his helmet length black hair start to bristle out.  “Hunter!  This is Erin.  He is a guest until he decides if he is going back to Rosemond.  Do not kill him.”

The Baron’s face dropped and looked back and forth between Laun and Hunter.  He saw the hair, the eyes that were so like the other love of Laun’s.  The black hair and the grey eyes.  The black and grey in the babies.  From on the painting that had been in one of the old bed chambers in Nestwood.

“Fuck,” was all Erin could say.

Hunter towered over the man, trembling with the effort to not tear his head off.  There were so many reasons.  Being on Nestwood land and claiming it for his own.  Being from Rosemond.  Being with Laun.  Hunter started to raise one of his fists, but turned and strode back out to the courtyard before he could loose his temper.

Erin looked at the stone floor beneath his feet.  He would not look up.  He heard Fount run after his brother and a few whispers in the Great Hall.  He saw feet come to within his vision and looked up to the riding leathers.  His eye kept on going up and he saw Laun, topless and her arms crossed under her breasts.

“Perhaps we should find you a place to rest out from the flow of things.  Orgia?”

Laun stepped back and the large older woman took her place.  Erin felt as if he were a small child under the chatelaine’s gaze.  She motioned and he stood, one of the kitchen staff going under his arm to support him as he hobbled behind.

Laun relaxed and felt very tired.  Her resolve to take a bath and get back on the road was fading, though the bath still seemed like a good idea.  She turned and headed for the kitchens’ door, Edgar close behind her.

The pants and blood soaked loincloth were off and being tended to as Laun just leaned on the edge of the tub.  She was bone-tired, ached and many of her joints were threatening her with swelling.  Edgar stripped down himself and stood behind Laun, a hand on her shoulder as a few staff set up the bath and then left.

Laun was tired enough that she did not know that they were alone until Edgar had started to lather her and clean her, his hands treating her as a thoroughbred being curried.  His hands used the lather as if it were oil, smoothing along Laun’s skin and muscles.  Laun remembered the first night with him, with Fount, and the way she was cleaned before they introduced her to sex.  She hoped he did not want to do anything as her back and legs hurt and she was getting cranky.

There was dried blood down Laun’s legs.  Edgar was concerned, not for the blood, or what it came from, but that Laun was unconcerned about it.  She normally would hide that she had her monthly bleed, at least before the babies she would.  She was in pain, he could see that, and she was very tired.  She didn’t even turn her head in some embarrassment as he lathered her womanhood, the white bubbles turning pink.

Water went over Laun and rinsed most of the lather from her.  She started to lather her hands, approaching Edgar.  “Love, you are dead tired.  Why don’t you soak and I’ll get myself.”

She shook her head.  “I depend on you for so much.  I should do more for you, even this little thing.”  Her hands touched him and it felt good.  She started on his shoulders and worked her way down his back, her hands not as strong as his, but finding knots and sore places that could be eventually worked out.  She knelt to get his legs as he leaned against the tub, his head bowed as he enjoyed the sensations of being taken care of.

A hand gently pulled at him to turn around and Laun looked up into Edgar’s groin, his erectness hard to miss.  She worked her way back up, soaping all of him but not lingering.  His eyes were closed, his lips pressed together as she worked her way up his body and back to his shoulders.  He looked down and saw Laun with a small smile.

She reached for the water, but Edgar gently put his hand on hers before she lifted the bucket.  “Love, I can rinse myself.  Get into the tub and let the hot water relax some of your cramping.”

Laun nodded and climbed into the tub, lowering herself into the hot water as quickly as she could.  She leaned her head against the side of the tub and watched as Edgar continued to use the lather on his body to lubricate his hands over muscle knots in his legs.  He had let his manhood lessen, the slight droop a little sad to Laun.

There was a scratch on the door before Fount came in.  He had a tired and unhappy face, but seemed to lighten up slightly when he saw Edgar.  He did not look at the tub immediately and Laun was able to see Fount’s eyes as he took in the head wardsman’s body under the soap.  He stepped to the older man and looked like he was about to offer a hand when he saw Laun, her eyes bright as she looked at him.

“Fount, you need a hand to wash, too.”  Laun’s voice was soft and tired, the suggestive statement something that could be taken many ways.

Edgar heard what Laun wanted, something she had been hinting at for a while.  He held his soapy hand out to Fount and the younger man took it.  The two men embraced, Edgar’s arms leaving wet streaks on Fount’s tunic.

A rumble came from Edgar, the voice that could not be denied.  “Our Lady wishes to see us.  I for one do not wish to disappoint her.”  Fount closed his eyes as he felt his body respond to the older man’s voice and touch and nodded.  “Good,” Edgar rumbled into Fount’s neck.  “Let me help you with your clothing.”

Fount stood and had Edgars hands all over him as tunic and breeches and boots were taken off.  Edgar dipped his hand into the hot bathwater and lathered himself more before bringing Fount into his arms again.  Their hands were roaming over each other, the slippery sensations bringing both men fully erect as they moved across each other.

Laun saw them kissing.  She knew each of their mouths, their tongues, and knew how good each could be.  Fount’s head went back as he gasped, Edgar rumbling something Laun could not quite catch as Fount tried to breathe.  She saw hands go to each other’s manhoods, a practiced hand on each.

The actions, being together, was not new to them.  Even after Laun had been back, they had spent time together, meeting and loving each other in private.  It was different with Laun watching.  She was not going to join in as Ali had, or as Silar had once when he had stumbled across them.  The secret was out, and the awareness that they were performing for her made the experience different.

The soap started to dry on their skins.  Water was poured over each other and they became slick again.  Edgar held onto Font’s ass, pushing himself into the younger lover’s stomach, Fount’s cock fighting to stay upright between them.  Edgar knew he could last, but a flash of someone stepping in at the wrong moment made him quicken his thrusts, forcing the heat between them.

Fount’s knees wanted to give way.  He backed off slightly and led Edgar to the side of the room, to the bench so they could sit.  They held each other, stroked in the ways that they had learned from each other.  Edgar’s foreskin slid up and down, exposing the head at each down stroke.  Fount liked a stiff hand around his manhood, the soap helping to make each stroke slide over strongly and swiftly.

Edgar started to kiss Fount, holding his lover so that his noises would be muffled.  Fount felt the pulses under his hand and his own body responded.  Edgar peaked first, a suppressed bellow into Fount’s mouth.  Fount let himself go and soon their fluids mixed with the soap, leading to the need for more cleaning.

The men looked into each other’s eyes.  There were smiles and a few low words of love and appreciation as they sat holding each other.  Edgar looked over at Laun and smirked.  She had a smile on her face, but her eyes were closed as her head leaned on the edge of the tub.  He did not know how long she had been asleep, but she had seen enough and seemed happy.

It took a few minutes for the men to recover enough to stand, to wash off what they had just done.  They wrapped long cloths around themselves and opened the door, asking for help from the staff who were sitting on the bench.  Laun was groggy and not quite completely asleep, but did not put up any fuss as she was dried and partially dressed in a new loincoth and rags before Fount carried her out.

Laun had her arms around Fount’s neck and whispered, “Thank you.”  He raised her up slightly and kissed her cheek as they made their way to the tower room.

 

Chapter 31 The next day the group traveling to the Capitol City hit the road