the Leathermines

Back to Chapter 14 - Looking for something more... modern for your erotic stories?  Try Mistress In 12B

 

Storms rush across the world, pushing destruction before them.  The calm after a storm can be eerie, the most quiet nature ever gets.

Laun was awake and had more energy than she thought she should have.  She had slept more on then beside the Commander, once they had slept.  The Lieutenant was snoring on the floor, several pillows and a blanket making a slipshod bed for the worn out man.  She listened to them both as she woke, realizing that their snores were the loudest things she could hear.

The storm had passed.  Light was coming around the board over the window, a paleness to it telling her that is was still very early.

She grabbed one of the uniform tunics from the floor and made it to the latrine, not announcing herself and not caring who saw her almost covered butt.  The Guard at her door was the same man as the night before and he watched as she wandered down the hall, a sigh coming from him as she disappeared into the latrine.  The non-commissioned officers in the room turned away from her as she found an empty stall and sat, though many of them knew that she had been part of the sounds they had heard in the night.

Laun was still sensitive from her play with the men the night before.  It was only a few hours since she had collapsed from exhaustion, happily twitching as the Commander held her close.  Laun had a full bladder and had to hold herself still as the urine stream went past things that made her gasp.  Her hands were on the half-walls to either side of her, her lip between her teeth to keep her self from letting more than the first gasp out.

She had to remember to breathe.  It had been intense just to relieve herself.  She wasn’t sure how she was going to be able to go through the rest of the day.  Especially with pants on.

Laun wiped carefully with the common rag, another pause and held breath before she was able to move without a call of almost pained ecstasy.  She had a smile on her face as she passed the next man waiting for a stall, an appraising look on him until he remembered who she was.

The door to the deck was not easy to open, but the scrape of the driftwood on the door did not rouse the men in the room.  She dragged the wood and other debris from the doors and cleared a space on the deck large enough for her to work out on.  There was a bit of destruction that Laun could see from the cliff, but none of it too bad from where she was standing.  There was a slight washout in the path down to the beach, but it could be stepped over, if she wished to go down there.

Laun took off the tunic.  She tossed it back into the room and felt the fresh, scrubbed air go over her.  She stretched and found that her body was slightly achy, but nothing really hurt.  The wounds were healed enough that she could touch without wincing.  The bruises were faded enough that she could move without care.

The sun was up over the partially damaged protective wall on the East side of the barracks' deck.  Laun had been doing long stretches, exaggeratedly slow movements to test all of her body, and to keep the friction in her crotch to a minimum.  Another scrape of a door through the drifted sand on the deck and Laun heard a small intake of breath.

She turned and saw one of her staff standing in the doorway into the office.  She smiled and kept moving, the slow sweep of her foot drawing a circle in the sand.  He tried to close the door again, but the sand built up under the door made it hard to do.  He left it open and turned sideways, looking at the silhouette of the damaged wall.

“Ma’am, um...  Do you need a uniform?”

Laun smiled and said, “As a matter of fact, I do.  At least a uniform tunic and a clean loincloth.  I seem to have torn and soiled what I had last night.”  She kept moving, the slow reach with her arms forward languid instead of deadly in the kata.

“Yes, Ma’am.  Should I wait for the Lieutenant to requisition them?”

Laun giggled.  “Sergeant, he already knows.  Don’t wait.  I have a feeling the Commander will not be pleased that I am exposing myself to the troops this morning.”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

The Sergeant moved into the office and Laun heard a foreshortened snort of a snore from her room.  She could not tell which of the men it was, but she smiled, turning and lifting a foot as if she were pushing a door closed, or a man over.  She turned again and saw the Commander in the doorway of the room, no clothing on and leaning against the doorframe.

“Ma’am, if I heard right, I’m glad you are exposing yourself to the troops.”

Laun drew herself up, almost to attention as she saw his eyes go up and down her body.  In the sunlight, Laun liked more of what she saw of the officer.

“I’m surprised you are up and moving, sir.  The protective detail was hard on you last night.”  Laun’s eye flicked to the open door into the office, a few faces turning towards their voices, then turning back to their duties.

His hand went over his mouth but it did not cover the laugh.  “Ma’am, I guess you just proved to them that I’m human.”  He held out his hand and she scuffed through the sand to him.

Laun’s head tilted slightly and she looked into his eyes.  “The daylight doesn’t change things, does it?”

He drew her hand up to his mouth and then her body to him.  “It changes somethings, Laun, but nothing I deem important.”  They kissed and Laun felt his hands going down her back, grasping her ass and pulling her into him.

There was a clearing of a throat and Listas turned, a growl coming from him.  The Lieutenant was almost dressed and was blocking the open door to the corridor.  “Sir, there is a consul from Hamlis waiting for you in your office.”  Beau buckled his belt on and waited for a response from his superior officer.

“Fuck it.  Twelve hours.  All I ask is twelve hours.  Half a day!”  Listas kissed Laun deeply and then saluted her before he started to pull his own clothing on.  He threw his belt over his shoulder and held his boots under his arm as he turned to Lieutenant Beau.  “Keep her happy, boy.  And get a shave!”

The Lieutenant seemed stricken.  He sat on the bed and started to pull his boots on, a worried look on his face.  He did not want to look at Laun, but he could not but glance at her in the outside doorway.

Laun called out, “Close that door, please,” and walked into the room.  They were alone and Laun stood next to the Lieutenant, seeing him not looking at her.  She went to the small travel case she had and pulled out the red and black dress.  It was what she had left of the few clothes she had brought.  She pulled it on and sat on the chair, finding the brush and starting in on her truly tangled hair.

Beau looked up and watched her brush her hair, looking at the way the tips flowed through the bristles and her hands moved.  His eyes followed the motion of the brush and how it looked like she was petting her own hair as the tangles grew less and the hair became glossier.  He glanced up and saw that she was looking at him, openly and with a small smile.

“Highness, I... I hope last night...”  He looked away and clenched his hands into fists around his knees.

Laun stopped brushing her hair and took in a deep breath.  She let it out slowly and smiled.  “Beau, I hope that you can remember me after all the other women I know you will pleasure in your life.”

His head snapped up and he blurted out, “I love you!”

Laun started to brush her hair again, smiling and looking into his eyes.  “You wanted to make love, Beau.  You touched me tenderly and you helped to bring me to many exquisite peaks last night.  Your hands and body made me sing into the storm.  It is right that you love the woman you are with, that you are making love to.”  She flipped her hair over her shoulder and she stood holding her hand out to him.  “I will ever have you in my heart, dear Beau.”

He went to one knee and held her hand in both of his.  His mouth covered most of her knuckles as he pressed himself into them.  His eyes were closed tightly.  He moved her knuckles to his forehead and said, “I shall ever be yours, Highness.  As you will, I do.”

Laun smiled down at him.  “I accept your word unto me, Beau, as you accept my word unto you.  Your body and blood are mine and as you live, as you raise in rank, remember that.  You are my man and as such, I expect you to live and love as I would want you to.”

His eyes were raised to hers, tears rolling down his cheeks.  “I shall only ever love you, my Princess.”

Laun smiled and shook her head slightly.  “I will be gone in a few days.  Matters of state and household call me.  Do not pine for me, do not wait for my touch.  If love presents its self to you, embrace it and live fully.  Do not turn away from what is offered to you because of your love for me.”  She started to lift her hand and he stood with it still in his.

“You are my true Love, Laun.  But, I promise, if I am shown anyone who has even half the brightness of the heavens in her, I will accept her as you will it.”  He pressed his lips to her knuckles again and looked deep into her eyes.

Laun felt her face flush.  She put her other hand on his cheek and he turned into her palm, kissing it.  “My dear Beau.  I fear I have completely distracted you from your duties.”

“You are my duty, Highness.”

Laun tilted her head and ran her thumb along his lips.  She chuckled and said, “I guess I am.  Well, Lieutenant, there is one thing that I do need from you, if it is not too low of a duty.”

He nodded and said, “Anything, Highness.”

“May I please have a clean tunic?  I feel this may be a bit formal for the compound.”  Her hand fell from his face and brushed along the deceptive cleavage and lacing of the half-red and half-black bodice.

His eye twitched down and back up.  “Very good, Highness.  I will be back at your side shortly.”  He dropped her hand and saluted, waiting for her return response before turning and almost running through the door before opening it.

“He is quite smitten, isn’t he.”  Laun was in full blush as she turned to Verat in the doorway to the deck, holding Sable.

“I have a feeling that the storm did not cover last night as well as I thought.”  She held out her arms and her baby was in them.  She stepped back out into the sunlight and saw that there was a crew already taking down the shutter boards and cleaning the deck area.

“I could have picked you out from any gale, Mistress.  I am glad you had the opportunity.”  His voice was calm and had little inflection, letting Laun put in her own as he spoke.

Laun could not stop her flush on her face and was grinning widely.  “There was something about the earnestness of him, and the Commander...”

A raised eyebrow proceeded, “I was wondering if the young man was truly that energetic.”  They were on the edge of the cliff, looking at the beachcombers below picking up things to keep and sell.  “Mistress, are you well enough for more Guild lessons?”

He was expecting a sigh and an excuse, delaying and putting it off.  Laun smiled widely and said, “As long as there aren’t any dire interruptions, we should start.  Hmmm.”

“Mistress?”  A knowing smile was on Verat’s lips, the thought that Laun was trying to put it off still on his mind.

“Before my tunic arrives, perhaps a review of the other day, and then first meal.  I feel as though I could eat a whole sow.”

His head bowed and he said, “As you wish, Mistress.”

Chairs were put along the edge of the cliff and Laun listened and learned from Verat, the man she had taken as an apprentice herself.  Ash and Sable changed in her arms as they talked, strokes and kisses for the assassins the only pause in Launs’ focus for quite some time.

There was a clearing of a throat and Laun turned.  Lieutenant Beau was there, a respectful three or four paces away.  “Highness, I chose and brought some things for you.”

Laun stood, Ash reaching for her own feet around Laun’s arms.  “Thank you, Lieutenant.  Perhaps I should dress so we can go get something to eat.  I know it is past...”

Laun had walked into the room and she stopped cold.  The Lieutenant had taken liberties, not just for her requisitioned clothing, but for the items in the room.  The bed had been changed out for a larger one and there was a full General’s uniform spread out on it.  Laun touched the Blacks and felt her heart skip a beat.

Ash patted Laun’s cheek when Laun did not pay attention to her for too long.  “Ma?”

Laun kissed her child on the forehead and bounced her in her arms.  “Yes!  I’m your mama.  Good girl!”  Laun was overwhelmed and hugged her child tightly causing the girl to wiggle and squeek.  The child was put down on the floor and crawled towards the outside door, going between the Lieutenant’s feet and to Hazalam behind.

Laun could not yell at the man.  He was providing what he thought she needed.  And the uniform was wonderful.  The cut was an officer’s cut.  The rank plackets with the golden birds that she had seen on Alsen only at official gatherings.  There was even the cording that Laun had only seen on Alsen when she met Ifyhed the first time.

“Ma’am.  I checked with the Commander, and he confirmed your warranted rank, Ma’am.”  He moved into the room and motioned to a bag on the floor next to the bigger bed.  “I also requisitioned new armaments for you.  Your servant noted what your preference was...  I remember one myself, Ma’am.”  His hand went to his throat and he looked down briefly.

Laun stood straight and looked at the Lieutenant.  “Thank you.  This is excellent work.”  She smiled and tilted her head slightly.  “Do you wish to help me change into my uniform?”

He took in a shallow breath and he stood up straighter.  “If you wish, Highness.”

She nodded and he stepped further in the room.  He did not close the door behind him as he started to pull out things from the bag, putting things next to the uniform.  Laun looked at what was there and looked for her leather and metal undergarment.

He was all business as he dressed her.  His hands did not linger, his eyes snapped to where they needed to be.  Laun felt as though she was being armored up for battle, a ritualized layering of the clothing and weapons as she stood in her room.  Laun could see the forms of Gem and Hazalam keeping an eye on Laun and the Lieutenant, when the children were not taking all of their attention.

The Lieutenant insisted on one last item, even though she had taken the actual rank insignia off the uniform.  She sat in the armless chair as he wound her braid around his hand and then pinned it down in several places.  She did not have a mirror to see the cap go on her head, but she could feel how the one side went up and the other sloped down, a metal pin of some-sort on the flat part.

Laun stepped out to the deck and the soldiers there came to attention, one dropping the hammer he had in his hand to do so.  Verat turned and smiled.  Gem had both children in her arms and Sable reached for Laun.  Laun saluted the men and told them to carry on, a smile to them as they all seemed to be stunned.

Baby in her arms, Laun whispered to Gem, “I don’t know how I look, but I feel like I could take on a company by myself.”

Gem grinned.  “I always did like uniforms, Mistress.  He chose well.”

There were some undignified sounds from Laun to her children, new hand signals being shown off and Ash saying, “Ma!” to get Laun’s attention.  There was a loud grumble from Launs stomach that made Ash giggle, and Laun put a hand over her black leather jerkin.

The Lieutenant was still standing several paces away, a loose parade rest and a watchful eye.  Laun nodded to him and they went to the office, Verat trailing behind.  Several of the nobles were yet again trying to get Laun out to their homes for meals and such, even after the storm.  They all had a negative reply, Laun telling the scribe to put in something about giving her portion of any meal they may want to give her to the needy made homeless from the storm.

There was also another message from the merchant.  Laun read it and tore it in two, not commenting on the pages that fell to the floor.  She could hear him with his thick accent even in his writing, and that accent was whining.  She did not want to think of the crown that She would have worn as Queen Consort of the Midlands, and why it was still in the kingdom.

Laun was escorted out of the barracks, crisp salutes coming from the soldiers and sailors who saw her coming, sloppy make-up salutes from those who were surprised by her approach.  It was between first meal and nooning, but the mess hall was always open.  Laun went to the officer’s room and smiled as the few men jumped at the sight of her.  She saluted back and sat at a table halfway down the room.

The Lieutenant was on one side of her, Verat sitting on the other when Laun motioned to him.  The Corporal for the table had wide eyes as he approached, telling of the selections for the day.  The three made their selections and the Corporal scooted down the empty room to the kitchen doors.

Laun had an impulse to follow, but she knew that would disrupt things, and there was no need.  She was visiting, she was not in charge and the men knew what they were doing.

There was a pause.  Laun was not sure why, but both men were both looking at her and not looking at her at the same time.  Laun had a flash that this was the only time in her history that she wished she had some hand work to do, just so that she had something to focus on that were not the men.  She brushed invisible crumbs off her sleeves and her hand went to her head.

“I shouldn’t be wearing a hat inside, should I?” Laun whispered to the Lieutenant.

He leaned slightly closer and said in a low tone, “One of your rank does not have to follow such protocols, Ma’am.”

“It seems to me that the rules should apply equally.  Though...”  Laun smiled and had a laugh in her voice as she said, “I don’t always pay attention to the rules, anyway.”

Verat turned slightly and spoke quietly, saying, “A Royal does not take off her crown depending on if she is inside or out, does she?”

Laun thought on that and shook her head.  Her hand went to the metal on the sloped hat.  She did not know the emblem that was there, having it placed on her without her seeing it first.  Her finger went under the leather brim and the hat was off and in her hand.

There was a smile on her face and a slight sigh as she looked at the gold, green and black symbol on the cap.  It was a three pointed crown with a gold bird in flight above, the enameled surface between the raised gold the bright green of the Midlands, and Dreng.

The food was served, Laun’s smoked ham smelling like the best food in the world to her.  She put her hat in her lap and held her tongue for just eating until she felt she was close to being full.  She sat back and watched her Lieutenant eating his creamed fish thing for a while.  He slowed down and she watched for the right moment to start talking with the man.

“What does the pin mean?  I know the Midlands colors, they are the Hawkwell colors.  I can see the crown, and I accept that it is for the noble rank I have been raised to.  What does it mean, all together?”

Lieutenant Beau swallowed and took a sip from his tea, delaying more than clearing his mouth.  “Ma’am...  It is the symbol of the Prince Commander.  Your Grandfather was the last to wear it, and it is...technically...the rank you hold.”

Laun turned to Verat and he nodded.  Laun drew a thumb over the gold and enamel pin on the leather trimmed wool hat.  She smoothed her hair back down and tried to put the hat on, but the Lieutenant shook his head and adjusted the hat, pulling it so that the lines were crisp.  He nodded, mostly to himself, and turned back to his food.

“There are so many things that I just don’t know that I should.  I’m amazed that the stores would have it in stock...”  Laun saw the Lieutenant wince and turn slightly from her.  She turned to Verat and raised an eyebrow.  He also raised an eyebrow and nodded.

Laun put a hand lightly on the forearm of the Lieutenant and he jumped a little.  “Lieutenant, where did you get the pin?”

His eyes were on his food as he said, “It was available in the compound, Ma’am.”

Laun turned more towards the man, her hand still on his arm.  “Available.  That is an interesting word.  I could say that ale was available in the compound, but that would go against regulations.”

He was not eating but was still looking at what was left on his plate.  “Yes, Ma’am.”

Laun slid her hand up to the Lieutenant’s hand, putting her fingers between his.  She could feel a slight tremble, a moistness as her fingers wrapped around and touched his palm.  “Where did you get the pin?”

His breathing was rapid and shallow.  He turned his head enough to be caught by her eyes.  Lieutenant Beau blinked under Launs’ unblinking stare, worry lines creasing his forehead.  “The Assembly Hall, Ma’am.  The Hero’s display.”

“I accepted the oath of a broken key?”  Laun had a smile as she spoke, though her eyes were cold.

His eyes went wide and he tightened his fingers around the ones Laun had slipped between his.  “Please, Ma’am.  It should be worn by the person it belongs with, not crumbling away on a wall that no one pays attention to.  It was not stolen if it belongs to you.  I would not dishonor my Love.”  He started to look like he was going to faint with the way he was breathing.

Laun took in a big breath and held it.  The saw a twitch in the man and she let out the breath, a sigh ending it.  “Good.  Thank you.”

He blinked and looked like he had lost use of his arms as they dropped to his side, taking Laun’s hand with them.  “Ma’am, I’m sorry.  I didn’t think anyone would miss it.  How did you know?”

Laun leaned back, bringing his hand up to her own lips before she said, “That is why I have the warrant, Lieutenant.”

The man’s eyes went to the few others in the room, all with their backs to them.  “I will put myself on report, Ma’am.”

She shook her head.  “Do not bring attention to something this trivial.  I would like you to show me more of the compound after we eat, including the Assembly Hall.”

Their hands had dropped to Laun’s leg, still entwined.  Her Lieutenant raised her knuckles to his forehead and whispered, “I will try harder, Highness.”

Laun smiled and said nothing.  She stroked his ear lightly before turning back to her plate, pushing it away to signal she was done.  The Corporal came in and deftly took the plate and mug from in front of her and was gone.  

Laun stood, putting a hand on the Lieutenant’s shoulder when he tried to rise.  “I am going to walk the other mess hall.  When you are finished, join me.”  He nodded and began picking at his food again.  Verat pushed his plate away and stood, joining Laun after only a moment.

“Mistress, that was very well done.  I am not sure I have anything else I can really teach you.”

Laun stopped just outside the common mess hall and leaned against the wall slightly.  “It was obvious.  Ash could have seen it.  And, no, you will always have something to teach me.  I just wonder what I am teaching you, other than baby care.”  Laun smiled.

“Patience, Mistress.  You are teaching me patience.”  Laun lightly punched Verat in the arm and they both chuckled.

Laun motioned with her head towards the few soldiers in the mess hall and said, “Any bets to how many of them have to change uniforms after I walk in?”

Verat smiled and shook his head.  “After you, Ma’am.”

The men were starting to come into the mess hall for nooning meal.  Laun signed ‘no’ to the man who first saw her and had stood, a deep breath in coming out as a cough, not a call to salute.  Laun stood with the man for a moment and talked with him, asking his name and his duties before going down the tables along the outside of the room and doing the same with the next group of men.  There were a few frightened looks, a few shaky half-salutes, but then there were smiles and laughter as Laun drew the men into short conversations.  She would make sure they were smiling before she moved down the filling tables, stopping at each group and doing the same.

The Lieutenant was standing at Launs’ right shoulder, Verat at her left as she came up the other side of the room, stopping and talking to the soldiers who were sitting for their meal.  Laun noticed that there were some officers crowding in with the unranked soldiers and gave them as much attention and time as the common soldiers, and no more.

The crush to eat at the first sitting was high and Laun, trailing her men behind, was at the door, trying to get out, but talking briefly with all who passed by her until she decided it was just time to move on.  She nodded to the men coming in and pushed her way out, doing a walking salute to the man holding the outside door for them.

Laun headed to the Medical building and asked if Surgeon Captain Maddoc was available after she returned the salute of the Private at the door.  He nodded and an orderly escorted them to another floor and made them wait.  The Captain came out, a slightly bloody rag wiping his hands.

“Ma’am.  Do you wish to see your friend?”

“That, and the elixir we had spoken of yesterday.  Did you check in on it’s availability?”

Maddoc smiled and nodded.  “Yes, Ma’am.  If you would follow me, I will get it while you are visiting.”  He motioned for Laun to go in front of him down the corridor, escorting her from behind until they were at Liam’s bed.

Liam was not awake, but roused as Laun sat next to him on the bed, taking his hand in hers.  He blinked and then smiled, a fine sweat on his upper lip and a flush across his face.  He grasped Laun’s hand and said, “You clean up well.”

“I had some help.  How are you doing?”

He shrugged and winced at the motion.  “I still feel as though someone tried to kill me.  I can’t seem to do anything but sleep and I dream disturbing things.  I’m not asleep now, am I?”

Laun shook her head and put her hand on his chest.  “Liam, I hope you don’t hate me.  I brought the trouble to your house and-”

Liam shook his head and sucked in his breath.  Laun watched and waited as Liam tried to bring his pain under control.  “Laun...  It happened.  I have had to deal with others like it.  Though I hadn’t nearly died before.”  He smiled and Laun saw his strength fading.

“I should let you get back to sleep.  Do not trouble yourself about the ‘Midnight Hour’.  The fees are paid for a while and your men are having a good time in town.”

“Thank you, Mistress Pe-”  He sucked in his breath and continued with, “Perhaps I can get you to bring me something to read?  While I am awake, I am bored.”

Laun saw the flush across his face at his slip, his embarrassment and anger at himself plain to Laun.  “From your ship or from here in the compound?”

“Either.”  He was struggling to keep his eyes open.

Laun leaned over him and kissed his forehead, feeling him relax and fall into sleep.  She tucked him in more and waited until his breathing was even before getting off the bed.

Maddoc was standing at the end of the bed, concern on his face.  He led Laun by motioning her in front of him again.  In the corridor, he handed her a small vial and said, “He is responding well to treatment, though I am not sure how much more flushing and cleaning we can do of his wound.”

Laun had taken the stopper off the vial and had sniffed it.  It smelled of the woodsy Mother’s Bane.  She made a face at the medic and downed the vial of liquid.  Her face looked as if she had bitten into a bad lemon for a few moments, not even a breath coming out as she trembled with the effort of not swearing loudly.  There were tears in her eyes as she handed the empty vial back to Maddoc.

“Ma’am, do you want something to wash that down with?”  Laun nodded to the medic and they followed him down the corridor.  There was an alcove behind a curtain that held jugs of cider and pitchers of clear water.  Laun waved off the cider and drank down several tankards of water.

“Used to and like to are two different things, Captain.”

“You could see what I was thinking, Ma’am.”  The medic tossed the tankard into a bin in the alcove separate from the clean tray next to the pitchers.

“I doubt that, Captain.  Thank you.  Last night should not come back to haunt me, now.”  Laun stepped back from the alcove and the curtain hid the refreshments from the flow of people again.

“I mixed it up after you mentioned it, Ma’am.  I put a little few extra things in, to protect from other potential...infections, too.”

Laun nodded, signing and saying, “Good.”  She did not see the flush across the Lieutenants face, but the Surgeon Captain did.  The group moved slowly down the corridor, Laun and the medic in the lead.  “I will most likely be leaving in a few days.  How much can... No.  Can Liam be moved?”

The Captain shook his head, crossing his red-clad arms over his chest.  “He has only been under our care for a few days, Ma’am.  He has several weeks before I would try to have him even try to get to the latrine by himself.”

Laun grimaced.  “The Commander has made it clear that he cannot stay here after I am gone.  Is there any place in Hamlis that you would trust?”

He shook his head.  “Other than a noble’s estate, I cannot think of any place outside my ward that would help, not hurt.”

Laun walked with the men around her, but not paying attention to them.  She stopped in the middle of the corridor, her head tilted to the side.  Captain Maddoc tried to touch her to move her and Verat stopped him.  The clapperless bell had seen Laun do this before and knew that to disturb her thinking would bring the not so nice side of her out, and not to play.

There was a nod and Laun looked around at the men.  “I think I may have someplace to have him recover.  I am uncertain if it would work.”  Laun looked Beau in the eyes and said, “The Mayor...whatever his name is.  He has wanted me to come and dine with him ever since I arrived.  Well, he has wanted me to stay in his home, to be more precise.  If you could, I would like to send another message to him today.  I am a woman and can change my mind with little repercussions.  I wish to dine with him tonight.”

“Very good, Ma’am.  Anything else?”

Laun smiled.  “There is always something else.”

 

Chapter 16 has a bit of Intrigue, and a failed seduction