the Leathermines

Back to Chapter 37

“I have exotics here, General.”

Laun held onto the General’s arm and seemed to have eyes only for him through her veil.  Alsen looked down into Laun’s eyes and smiled.  “She is a gift for the evening, Olwin.  But you know me, I have to have your girls.”

The man in the small receiving hall in the house nodded.  “Haven’t had you miss a night more than one in a row for a month.  Your usual room?”

Laun saw many hallways with many doors as they went through the large building.  The slave that led them through kept his head down but agilely went around other slaves as he walked.  The room was ahead and the slave opened the door for them.

The General caught himself before he bowed to let Laun in before him.  He brushed an imaginary thing from his leg as he bent over, Laun waiting for him to go in before her.  He straightened and went into the room, Laun bowing her head and following.

The door closed and the General looked around the room.  “No one else, yet.  Here, High-”

Laun raised her hand and went to his side.  “You were right, sir.  This is a beautiful view,” she purred.  She looked at the building that was about twenty feet away and a story down.  There were some lights lit, and Alsen pointed to one light in a window.  Laun nodded and looked as close as she could from where they were.

The curtains were mostly closed, but people were in the room, moving past the window a few times as she was looking.  Nothing too useful right then.

Laun inspected the plain room and the connected privy.  Bed, chairs, tables.  The room was not quite white, as if it had been whitewashed a few years before and the color had come from age.  She saw two places that she suspected were peep holes like the ones in the Winter room in the Manor.  She did not hear anyone behind the walls, but she was certain that would change soon.

There was a soft tap on the door and a girl stepped in.  The door was closed behind her softly and she curtseyed to the General.  Her clothing was simple, her red scarf much less intricate than Laun’s.  Laun saw the pale skin and the brown hair as the veiling was drawn back and then saw the eyes and thought she was looking in a mirror.  The nose was wrong, or more precisely right for her face, and Laun could see a reason for Alsen to choose this red scarf.  Laun was caught by the actions of the girl before she could look over and see the flash of embarrassment on the General’s face.

The scarf came off and was draped over a small shelf near the door, a stack of money the General had set there deftly without Laun noticing covered with the plain red gauze.  It was a practiced move and Laun saw how the girls’ training went.

She continued to strip her few layers, until she was down to just a small hip-skirt.  Not even as much cloth as a loincloth, but it emphasized her small waist and made her walk more seductive.

Laun felt the girls eyes on her.  Laun was still clothed and she was supposed to have stripped by then.  Laun was not used to playing the formal games, the rituals of the red scarves.  She turned to Alsen and he shrugged.

“Mimi, my gift is shy.  Help her out of her things.”  The General sat on an armless chair and watched.

The girl stepped to Laun and went for the red scarf first.  There was a hand signal that Laun caught but did not know.  She signaled back a sign for ‘different house’ in the signs she knew.  The girl squinted and they knew they would not be able to communicate that way.

Laun untied the red scarf and was not sure where to put it.  She did not have a stack of coins to put it over.  There was a footboard close and she draped it over that.  Mimi touched it and smiled, trying to let Laun know that she saw the difference in rank in the scarf.

The yellow silk was unwrapped, Laun’s face being exposed.  The light in the room was brighter than she had thought.  The pearls that weighted down the twisted silk slipped to the floor.  Mimi looked into Laun’s eyes and blinked, seeing her eyes reflected back.  The eyes caught her, but she saw the hair the same color and the same shape face, though the dark color of the tan was not Mimi’s.

Laun kept looking at the girl and found the end of the ribbon around her middle under the leather jerkin.  She untied it and let it fall to the floor.  She started to pull the leather off and Mimi’s hands were on her shoulders, under the leather and gently helping the garment to slide from Laun’s arms.

The girl felt the straps under the arms of the tunic and Laun saw the question.  Without the common signals, she could not warn her companion.  Mimi’s hands went to the hem of the tunic and started to pull up.  Laun dipped down a little in her knees and let the girl pull the tunic off of her.

There was a gasp.  Laun’s head came out of the tunic’s neck hole and she saw that the girl was looking at Laun’s scars.  They were not as visible as they had been, but the shoulder scar was bright on Launs tan, the slivery traces of the harness scarring showing between the skirts and the garment around Laun’s breasts.

There was another smaller gasp as Mimi saw the knives strapped to Laun’s arms.  Laun saw fright in those eyes.  The tunic landed on the floor next to the leather jerkin and Laun put her arms around the naked girl.  She was bigger in the arms, bigger because of the babies, bigger because of her work in the field.  She felt as though she could snap the girl in two if she tightened her embrace.

They kissed, Laun feeling the talent and training of the girl in her arms responding to the passion and need that Laun found inside of herself.  Mimi’s arms went around Laun, her palms going to Laun’s shoulder blades.  She was warm and willing and Laun liked how soft the girl felt in her arms.

They parted and both of them looked to the General, one for approval, one to check in.  The General was watching and smiling, enjoying his show.

Laun unstrapped the blades from her arms and put them next to the bed.  She started to unstrap the garment around her breasts and Mimi’s hands were there to help.  The light fingers traced the tanline as the garment was taken away.  Laun felt the heaviness of her breasts and the slight coolness on her nipples telling her that she needed to be nursed, again.  She hoped that would not be a problem.  Laun turned to Alsen who nodded in approval.  Mimi’s hands were on Laun’s breasts, holding them and wiping some of the dampness away with her fingers.

Laun sighed.  It felt nice being held and stroked gently.  So many of her partners tried to go fast, tried to be rough.  It was exciting to have a hand that caressed, not gripped.

The over skirt came off and then the lighter colored underskirt was undone from it’s tight wrap as her leggings, the thigh blades exposed.  Laun took those off and saw that there was blood on her boots.  She looked and remembered the blade on the floor of the bathing chamber.  The sheath was still in the boot.  Laun winced at the thought but with the peep holes, the knives she had would be enough to keep them interested anyway.

Laun tried to not look at the peep holes when she thought of them.  Her head turned and she kept turning, making it look like she was showing off her body to Alsen.  Her hand went between her breasts, past the pearl drop she was still wearing, and down and around her ass.

Laun had a pang of self doubt.  She knew she still had her belly and her ass was big.   Her tan was fading but the paleness from where the loincloth and halter had been was still very visible.  There wasn’t anything she could really do about it.  She stood, naked in front of the General, the red scarf and whoever had installed themselves behind the wall.  She tried to calm herself, but the hands of Mimi were going over her skin, touching each of the scars, getting closer as she circled.  The touch was light but exciting.

There was a smile that Laun caught from the girl to Alsen, his own smile back familiar and friendly.  Laun knew that this girl was his favorite.  She tried not to smirk.

Mimi started to slither over to Alsen.  Laun followed suit, trying to have the seductive glide she used to have.  The General stood and the women’s hands soon had him naked.  Laun saw that Mimi was stroking his body, not just to please him, but to check on him.  Laun started to do the same thing and found that he winced when she touched a certain part of his back through the fur he seemed to cover him.  She would not have known that he had back problems without that touch

Mimi was on the floor, kneeling.  Laun knelt beside her and felt that this was more than honoring the man.  This was part of the ritual.  Laun remembered the look on Falmir’s face when she knelt to him and said...  She smiled up at Alsen and said in a soft tone, “How may I please you tonight, sir?”

Mimi’s eye flicked her eye to Laun and seemed to color slightly.  She looked back up to Alsen and said, “I am yours tonight, sir.”  Laun heard the difference and knew she had played that Stick well.

The General sat in the chair again and motioned to Mimi.  The girl went between his legs and his hand held her head at his manhood.  He grunted and closed his eyes for a moment.  Laun stood and went to Alsen’s side, offering her breasts to him.  He put an arm around her waist and pulled her to him, his head going between her full breasts at first and then to one of the moist nipples.

Laun saw his eyes widen and then close as he suckled.  It fascinated Laun how men reacted that way.  As if part of their brain that remembered being a baby came to the surface and took over for a while.

He had to stop suckling and breathe as the girl between his legs was making his manhood get very close to his peak quickly.  He pulled on her hair and she stopped, looking up into her client’s face.

“Sit on me.”

Mimi stood and draped one leg over his, a hand holding onto his stiffness to aim it.  She sat on his lap, his manhood inside her and her legs wrapped around him and the back of the chair.  Mimi’s arms went around Alsen’s neck and she started moving.

Alsen put his hands on the girls hips and helped her move.  Laun stepped to in back of the girl, looking at the firm, small backside she had and again having flashes that her own body would never be small and tight like that again.  Her hands went to the girl’s breasts, a light touch rubbing her palms over the girl’s nipples.  Laun heard a small intake of air from the girl leading to a moan.

There was a noise behind the wall.  She was certain they were being watched.  Laun tried to play up what she was doing for whomever was watching, but there was not much she could do behind the bouncing red scarf.  Laun moved around and offered her breast again to Alsen, the old soldier taking to it as it brushed his cheek.

He was making the jerking movements Laun knew he did right before he was going to peak.  She moved and started kissing him, tasting her own thin milk on his tongue.  The grunting as he came to his peak in the girl on his lap went into Laun’s mouth, his breathing labored as he was very still and tense for the last of his orgasm.

Laun put her arms around Alsen’s shoulders, Mimi’s arms slipping from him as she stood from his lap and went to get a cloth to clean him and herself with.  She did not have much time, so she whispered into his ear, “Do anything you wish to me, but come on me, not in me, General.”

He had been leaning his head partially on her shoulder, enjoying the support as he recovered from his peaking.  He pulled back from Laun and looked at her, squinting slightly.  He nodded and was about to say something when Laun forced a kiss on him.

Mimi was back between his legs, wiping and sucking and cleaning off the limp manhood.  Alsen smiled at the sensations, bringing Laun back to him to suckle just a little more.

There were gentle hands on Laun.  Mimi was next to her, tracing the harness lines and stroking Laun’s back.  It felt nice.  Laun put an arm around the girl and drew her in, kissing her softly.  Alsen saw the attentions the women were giving each other and sat back to watch.

A rush went through her, a need to have the girl.  Laun led the girl to the bed and pushed her back on the edge, going down her chest with kisses until she was at Mimi’s lower lips.  She smelled of perfume and Alsen, tasted of oil and Alsen and herbs.  Laun thought before she went in, trying to think of the ways the lovers she had best pleased her.  Laun had a plan, almost a battle plan, as her fingers and mouth went to work on the woman laid out in front of her.

There was a small moan and then a surprised gasp.  A hand was on Laun’s head and the girl’s legs pulled up, spreading her for Laun.  The girls own juices started to come through the other fluids, sweet to Laun’s tongue.

The girl started to move her hips, gasping and panting in rhythm to Launs fingers and lips.  There was a slight tremor through the girl’s insides and Laun changed her tactics.  Laun did the two finger stroke she had first felt from Ithian, pushing up and along the inner ridge she felt in the girl until her fingers caught and the girl called out.  Laun felt the orgasm starting, the girl’s hips were starting to buck and Laun had to clamp down to follow through until the girl’s legs fell to the side.

“Thank you, sister,” she whispered as her hand stroked Laun’s head.  One of the feathers caught on her hand and Laun felt the braid start to come down from it’s coil.  She pulled the quills out and Laun’s braid came down, the solid silver bell hitting Mimi on her leg.

Laun found that Mimi was pulling at her, bringing her onto the bed to cover the girl.  The red scarf’s hands started to move over Laun’s skin, fingernails lightly trailing lines in her tan.  Mimi looked into Laun’s eyes and smiled.  A real smile and not the one she had given Alsen.

Laun found the touch and the soft, warm kissing was more than enough to put fire to her womanhood.  She wanted to push it faster, harder, but reminded herself that she was there to be with Alsen that night so that she could see the meeting across the alley in the morning.  Part of that was acting the part of the red scarf, not the warrior Laun was finding just below the surface.

Fingers made their way down Laun’s body as they kissed.  Their legs were intertwined, crotches on thighs as they moved against each other.  Laun felt Mimi’s fingers go between them and try for what was below Laun’s fur.  Laun moved slightly, raising herself up to let Mimi’s hand between them.

A sigh and a smile showed that Mimi had hit just the right spot the first time.  She had a talented hand.  Laun gasped, her head going up, breaking the kiss with the girl.  A part of her mind was trying to pay attention as most of the rest was enjoying the sensation.  Laun started to move her hips, to thrust against the red scarf as if she were the one fucking the girl.

There was more than just wetness on Laun’s thigh.  She could feel the movements of the girl under her as she repositioned herself to be able to rub her thigh against Mimi better.  Her hands went from tenderly stroking the pale breasts to holding the girls hips as she moved against the girl.  It wasn’t even for the pleasure she was getting from Mimi.  It was the power, the use of her strength as she felt the girl respond, not just play at passion.

Laun felt a hand on her ass and she knew it was not Mimi.  Laun was presenting quite a target for the General and he had found his weapon of choice was well prepared.  Laun felt his fingers go into her, touching Mimi’s briefly.  He moved his fingers around in her and then in and out, finding and spreading the fluids hiding inside.

Alsen’s manhood pressed against Laun’s lips and she moved slightly back and onto him.  He tried to enter her slowly, but he clenched and thrusted, a grunt coming from him as he hit as far as he could go in.  Laun made a growl of a moan as Alsen pulled back out.  She saw the pale neck of Mimi under her and put her mouth where the girls shoulder met that beautiful neck.  The red scarf yelped and her back arched as Laun’s teeth scraped along her skin, her hands trying to push Laun away and pull her in at the same time.

The ass that Alsen was holding was one he had held before.  What he had watched that ass do had been better than any recuperative potion sold on Fulsom street.  He had not seen Princess Laun with another woman, even in his fantasies.  She knew how to make anyone moan under her hands.  He flashed to the woman that Laun had killed just hours before and slowed down his thrusts.  He had seen her flush just like when she was under him in the Manor as she gutted the assassin.  He had not seen bloodlust like that in anyone for years.

He pushed into Laun and reached around for a breast, any breast.  She was a mother, had brought life into this world.  She became Death with that damned jeweled blade in her hand.  At least she had shown some emotion after she took the woman’s life.  He had not expected vindictive revenge from the forgiving Princess.

Laun’s hips started to wiggle under him.  She felt his pause and was trying to encourage him.  She was so warm and willing right then.  The cold heart he had seen was well covered.  The motions drew him back into the pleasure that the women below him were having.  Mimi was making more noise than Alsen had ever heard from her, the glimpses he saw of her face showing sensations going through her that he had not given her.

The General felt himself react to the sounds, to the motions, to that ecstasy he could see in Mimi.  He was not going to last long.  He sped up and then he remembered.  He had to follow her orders, even in the bed of a red scarf.

A slap sounded and Laun turned to look at Alsen.  A red handprint was on her ass and she felt the welt sting and heat up.  “On your back.”

He pulled out and stroked himself as Laun rolled off Mimi and onto her back.  She opened her legs and he was very tempted to just ram back into her and let loose in her.  He pulled on her arm and she moved around so that she was hanging her head off the edge of the bed.  Her mouth opened and he pushed into her willing lips.  He watched Mimi roll over and into Laun’s groin.  Laun moaned around his shaft and he could not keep himself back any more.

He grunted and pulled out of her mouth.  Her hand went to him and stroked, pulling more streaks of his seed from him and onto her breasts than Alsen could have.  Mimi heard the grunting and moved from Laun’s groin to her breasts, licking them clean before sucking on one of the darker woman’s nipples.

It was as if there was no stopping the women.  They were kissing and fondling each other again, the heat not dissipated with the orgasm Mimi had earlier.  Alsen sat on the bed, catching his breath as the women blended before him.  Laun had been a pleasure to conquer at the Hawkwell manor, even with the rush to get out without being caught by her father.  He smiled, thinking of that night, remembering that he had not had a woman for quite a while before that.  She had awakened something in him and he had wanted to keep it awake.

The desire to continue right then was strong in Alsen, but his manhood was spent.  The beautiful women who looked so alike, acted so differently, moved and moaned together on the bed with him, heating each other up and enticing him to join.  He moved as soon as his arms and legs stopped trembling to beside the Princess and pulled on her leg.

Laun pulled herself from Mimi’s kiss to look at the soldier beside her.  He was breathing hard and could not speak clearly so he made a sign for ‘open and divide’.  Laun looked at him, confused for a moment until he slapped her leg again.  Laun put her hand on Mimi’s cheek, kissing her on the lips gently before pushing her slightly away so that Laun could open her legs to the man.

Alsen laid his body so that his head was on Laun’s thigh, one of her legs over his back.  The lamplight was well reflected off the white walls and he looked at Laun’s womanhood.  He could see the scar between the holes, a ridge raised and slightly lighter pink than the rest.  Her fluids were shining on her skin and fur, the slightly foamy stuff from their activities caught on the edges of her lips.

He felt her move, react as his fingers went into her.  He heard her sigh as his mouth went to those wet lower lips.  A hand was on his head as he did something she liked, encouraging him to continue.  He looked up past the slight fat ridge above her fur and saw that Mimi was getting something similar done to her by his Princess.

Laun was giving and taking and loving it.  Having the man between her legs was good.  He was better than he had been at the Manor, but he still was not in the same league as some of the people she had been with.  Laun was hoping that Mimi was not play acting her reactions to what Laun was doing to her.  The tanned hand that was going in and out of the pale girl’s womanhood was not as trained, but had enough practice to get things done.

There was a primal need in Laun right then to have the girl, to bring her to her peak again.  To...control this beautiful mirror image of her and let her have the pleasure Laun knew she deserved.  Laun paused for a moment as she thought about what would push that need, the pitiful moan from Mimi bringing her back to what she was doing with her hands.  Her mind still ran full speed thinking of why the fire in her needed that control of the girl, the giving of the pleasure.

Laun felt another orgasm starting in the red scarf, her voice louder than the last time, her movements much more pronounced.  Laun had to hold on with both hands around the girl to be able to keep her mouth on the lips between those soft thighs.  Flawless, pale thighs.

She was trying to possess herself.  Laun followed through with the girl until there was gasping for air and she had collapsed.  Laun looked up past the slightly rounded stomach to the hazel eyes that were unfocused in the pale face.  Yes.  That was it.  It was not the need to show off to an actual red scarf.  It was not performing for Alsen.  It wasn’t even the need for her own pleasure that was driving it.  It was the need to possess what she had been by having this girl.

Her own pleasure.  Laun looked down and Alsen was making vague motions at her between her thighs, but he was being overtaken by the need for rest, the need for sleep.  Her scarred and tanned thigh was being his pillow and his eyes were also unfocused and mostly closed.  Laun put a hand on his head and he stirred.

“I think I am going to get some rest, Highness.”

Laun felt a shock go through her.  The people behind the walls would have been able to hear that clearly, and Mimi was right there.  She pulled herself from under him, a pillow being pushed under his head and a light sheet draped over him.  The fake red scarf was against the headboard looking at the man who had just told them who she was.

Laun suddenly felt trapped.  Mimi crawled slowly up to Laun and laid against her, head on a breast.  She sighed into Laun’s skin and then looked up, smiling.  She whispered, “He has a thing for some royal.  He calls me Princess all the time.”  Mimi snuggled in and Laun could feel a contentment in the girl as she relaxed against her.

Alsen’s snore started and both Laun and Mimi giggled.  The red scarf moved and sat crosslegged next to Laun, keeping a hand on Laun’s arm.  “Sister, what should I call you?”

Laun smiled.  “I have had many names, but I like Laun.”

Mimi leaned over and kissed Laun.  It felt ritualistic as her lips were pressed closed and it was brief.  “I thank you for your talent, Laun.”

Laun was not sure what to do.  She put a hand on the girls’ cheek and leaned in, giving her a similar kiss.  “I thank you for yours, Mimi.”

Mimi was slightly confused.  “But I didn’t bring you to peak...?”

Laun shook her head.  She glanced down to Alsen snoring at the end of the bed.  “You have been keeping him happy.”

“You’ve worked with him before?”

Laun pulled on her braid, bringing it around to the front.  She fingered the solid bell as she said, “Several times, sister.  But not always in bed.”

There was a giggle from the girl.  “Where are you from?”

Laun looked over to the wall with the closest peep hole.  “My Home or my House?”

She shrugged.  Mimi’s finger started to trace the scars again as she said, “Either.  I have been in this house for just over two months.  Before that, the house of Dumonde for almost a year.”  She looked at the peep hole herself, a little more openly than Laun had.  “I don’t want to think of before that.”

“I am from up North, near the old volcano.”

“I was from the North, too.  Most of the red scarves in this house are.”

Laun nodded.  “It has been hard for my family up there since the coup.”

Mimi’s eyes flicked to the General and back to Laun.  “You shouldn’t talk about that here.  He is in the King’s army.”

Laun tilted her head slightly and lightly drew her hand along the girls arm.  “I understand.”

“What house are you from?”

Laun wasn’t sure how to answer.  “I am under the protection of Mistress Peach,” Laun said quietly.

Mimi looked confused.  “I haven’t heard of her.  What family runs her house?”

Laun smiled.  She could have said just about anything, but she did not know the intricacies of the red scarf world to be able to fake it further.  “She is not with an established family or house.”  Laun raised her braid and Mimi’s eyes finally focused on it.  “She runs a different type of house.”

Mimi’s hands went to her lap where the person behind the wall would not be able to see and tried to make some signs.  Laun caught a few obvious ones but shook her head, not understanding what the girl was trying to say.  Mimi was slightly frustrated.    She leaned close and put her lips on Laun’s but whispered instead of kissed.  “Clapperless bell that fucks?  I thought you were too good with your fingers for how you looked.”

Laun was insulted.  “I used to look like you, you know.  Until I had twins.”

Mimi caught the anger and pulled back.  “Sister!  No!  That...”  She moved and put a real kiss on Laun’s lips.  She sat back and looked at Laun and put both her hands on Laun’s arm.  “Those who dress as exotics don’t usually know how to do anything.  They use their darkness or shape or hair to excite the men enough to push them over the edge.  It is getting rare that you find a red scarf woman who knows how to do anything with another woman.”

Laun looked down and put her hand over one of Mimi’s.  “I’m sorry.  I have been getting edgy about how I look.  I’m-”  Laun looked at Alsen who’s snore had just deepened, telling her that he was not just napping. “I’m surprised my Mistress gifted me to him tonight.  But he really liked my eyes, and my breasts.”

Mimi put a hand on Laun’s breast and cupped it.  “You must charge well for that.  Lindy had a child four months ago and isn’t in your shape and still gets half again as much as I.  But then again, she is taking herbs to keep her breasts ripe and her clients get more than her boy does.”

Something in Laun’s mind made a big note of that.  “I have not dealt with the money for a while.  My Mistress has been keeping me while I recuperate and when I do go out, I am a gift for some important man or woman.  It isn’t always this enjoyable,” Laun purred to the girl.  “I usually have a different...specialty, but this has been fun.  I haven’t been able to send anything to my family for a while.  My Mistress keeps me safe enough.”

Mimi put her other hand on Launs other breast, softly moving her hands around, holding the weight.  “The house here takes half, but it is still enough to stash some away.”  Mimi looked over to the peep hole and then to Alsen.  “Though some of the new family try to take more.”

Laun leaned into Mimi’s hands.  She put her fingers under Mimi’s chin and went in for a light kiss.  She stayed there and whispered, “The new ones always try to make a mark that way, don’t they.”

She smiled at Laun and nodded.  Mimi traced the scars she could reach, a small furrow in her brow.  Alsen turned and started to take up more of the bed.  Laun watched Mimi’s face as she looked at Alsen.  She was deciding something.

“Let’s get cleaned up and I have something to show you.”  Mimi went off the bed, trying to not bounce or move the mat.  Laun followed, pushing another pillow against Alsen that he grabbed and held to his chest in his sleep.

There was a water pitcher and a few bathing preparations in the privy.  Laun motioned to Mimi and the red scarf washed first, getting any place that had become wet with a dab of scented lather and a cloth.  Laun did the same, the breasts getting more than just a cleaning as Mimi licked at a smear of Laun’s milk which led to her handling and sucking on Laun’s breasts for a few minutes.  Laun encouraged it and felt that her fires were still going in her groin.

They checked on Alsen and Mimi started to get dressed.  Laun was not sure if she would be able to do the same as she had before, so she didn’t even try.  Socks and boots first with the undergarments next.  The lighter colored skirt and the tunic.  One length of the yellow silk twisted around her head and tucked under her chin, leaving just a little loose to bring across for a veil if needed.  Laun strapped on the knives and put the long strand of pearls with the silver sunburst on, the smaller pearl drop on the silver chain hiding under the tunic.

Mimi had put her scarf on, leaving the money on the shelf.  Laun put her red scarf on her hips and looked at Mimi.  The girl had put her plain layers on quickly and had been waiting for Laun.  Laun had an apologetic smile and said, “At least it isn’t the full velvet dress I wear to the noble’s occasions.  That one is much more complicated.”

There was a returned smile and Mimi went to the peep hole, her hand covering it.  There was a slight noise and the door opened from the outside.

Mimi held out her hand and Laun took it, a flash of uncertainty and fright going through her.  Laun saw that the girl nodded to the large man and Laun did too as she passed.  He had an amused look on his face and pointedly looked at where Laun had her knives.  He had been the one in the wall and he was not concealing his thoughts on how ridiculous a red scarf with weapons was.

Mimi led Laun through the house, pausing several times with her head bowed as clients went past.  Laun mimicked the red scarf, pulling her veil across her face.  The slave-led clients would pass and Mimi would pull Laun along again.

“Riton, do we have any toughs waiting?”  Mimi was talking to a man behind a screen that looked out to the small receiving room.

“One that came in about half ago.  I was going to try to give him to Yui- Wait.  You don’t do them.”

Mimi pointed to Laun and said, “I think she could handle one, brother.”  Her hand went to her neck where Laun had bitten her and smiled at Laun.

The black-dressed man looked Laun up and down and then a note of recognition came to him.  “You came in with the General.  Is he done?”

“He’s asleep.  Be out for a few hours.”  Mimi nodded to confirm Laun’s words.

“Well, this is a tough and he wants more than the usual rope and fuck.  He’s been in before and I’m having problems getting the girls to work with him.”

Laun looked at Mimi and back to the man.  “I am usually the one holding the rope, not bound by it.”

He nodded.  “How much experience do you have taking toughs down?”

Laun smiled and thought of Silar dripping with his own blood.  She saw the man react to the look in her eye, a twitch below his eye starting as he tried to not show that he had seen the bloodglint in Laun’s eye.  “I have some, Brother.”

He nodded and looked to Mimi.  “You going with her?”

She nodded.  “The old man will be out and not miss us.  Can he pay for a double?”

“He didn’t negotiate for one, but I don’t think he will complain.”  He moved a little flat disk around from green to red on the wall next to him.  “Room five.”

Mimi nodded to the man and Laun did also.  Laun put a hand on Mimi’s shoulder when they were down the corridor a bit and said, “I have to make sure.  He is the one I give my house cut to, right?”

Mimi nodded.  “He’s the best one.  I hope this works out, sister.”

The watcher was outside the door, waiting for the girl who was to be with the client.  He looked confused as the two red scarves came up.  “I thought Yui was going to get this one.”

“I am standing in for her, and since I am new to the house, Mimi is with me.”

He looked Laun up and down.  “Well, he has been in there a while and is getting antsy.”  He started to open the door and said, “If you need help, I’ll be there.”

Laun put her hand on the man and smiled.  “Thank you, brother.”

Onto Chapter 39 - Laun uses her other training from Silar come out