Back to Chapter 6 - The comments on these pages are turned off because of attempts to hack into the web page. You can send messages to the Web Mistress on Twitter @leathermines .
“I wasn’t expecting this much fuss over me...”
Laun had been helped up out of the yurlodge and to a space outside that had been arranged for the evening meal. Carpets went over the sand, pillows and a low couch brought for people to make themselves comfortable with. Four tall poles held a simple fabric shade to keep the lowering sun from harshly lighting the area, and to keep their skin from burning as they ate.
Then there was the food. Three large silvered platters that had their own stands making them tables. Each mounded with food enough to stuff every one in the group several times over. With water, wine, and a mint and rose petal concoction that Laun decided was the best thing ever.
There were servants that were sitting along the outside, watching as they were not allowed to get close to Laun. The several companions and concubines, on the other hand, had been sent to attend just Laun and would not allow anyone to do anything for her.
Laun lay back on the low couch, being fed by one of the red scarves as another was dancing to yet another’s small pipe. There was laughter and a good mood in the Peaches. It was good to see, even with the guest who had decided to come to the small feast instead of attending the larger formal Royal dining tent for evening meal.
The Marquis had heard that Laun and her people were being treated to a separate dinner and went to see. Laun had seen the tension between Silar and Silver while traveling, but she did not know the history between the men and would not have really cared if she did. She offered the Marquis a pillow several people away from her and relaxed back into the silken couch.
He had not come empty handed. He had a small bowl of shelled nuts that had been coated with sweet spices and sugar. There were a few looks shot at him as he offered Laun and Edgar the bowl, but he took one without looking, making those under the shade relax some.
Laun sucked on the nut in her mouth, finding that she liked the sweet and the nut, just not at the same time. It went well with what Ifahyd had sent them to eat, making Laun suspect that the Marquis had been given time to plan.
She watched him as the dancers in the Peaches joined the red scarf. His eyes were on them, but he pointedly looked over at Laun several times. He still wanted something and it disturbed Laun, but she was in no condition to think upon anything more than what from the platter before her she was going to taste next.
The sun touched the horizon and it did not seem that the group was going to break up any time soon. The heat was going and everyone’s energy was picking up. The drink helped, too. Even Edgar was being tempted by the lithe form of one of the concubines crawling about the carpeting, his eye watching as she reached out to one of the platters to take a grape, her ass barely covered by the skirting and belled red scarf around her hips.
Laun put a hand on her Husband’s arm and pointed with her chin. “If you want her, take her. I am in no condition, and I know-”
He took her hand and kissed it, his breath hot on her skin. “I know I love you, Laun. She ish tempting me, but you are the one I want. Always.”
Laun smiled. “I love you, too, my Love. I insist. You are not going to be in any condition soon and I don’t want that cock of yours wasted.”
There was laughter. He looked shocked and then down at his crotch. Even the heavy Midland’s clothing could not hide that he was very ready. “Yes, My Love.”
There was more laughter as many people rose, some to help Edgar from the pillows, some to join in as they disappeared into the tent. There were still people in the temporary tent, eyes on the Marquis more than on the clear night sky.
He moved to beside the couch, propping himself up on several pillows. Laun looked at him, seeing both danger and comfort in him. It confused her, but she put it to her drugged state.
“Highness, you seem to be doing better.”
She nodded and smiled in the fading light. “I am told that you were the one to find that healer. Thank you.”
He bowed his head slightly but did not loose eye contact with her. “The travel must have been very hard on you to get you to such a state. I hope you recover quickly.”
Laun did not stop what first came to her mind, saying, “Recover? So that you may chase me around for your Mistress more?”
She saw his jaw clench. “She was my teacher more than a decade ago. She is my Dam in the guild and I honor her by being here, as she has requested. Her Excellency is still powerful, even having been in exile for years.” He visibly relaxed his face, closing his eyes. “She may be the reason I have come to the Royal Estate, Highness, but I would like her not to be the reason I am staying.”
Laun blinked slowly. “Marquis. That is a sweet thing to say. If you are saying that you wish to be here because of me.”
He nodded, even though she could not see it for a moment. He saw how tired she was, and the differences in her eyes showed him that the drugs were affecting her deeply. He smiled and started to talk in a low tone, a comforting tone.
“The night is dark, but it is nice having the light of your eyes to see by. Highness, you are one of the most interesting women I have met in a long time. The way we have met here is destiny. You were meant to be on this journey and I was meant to meet you. Together, there are things we can explore-”
Laun had shifted and her eyes were open and looking at Marquis Blaque. “I don’t believe in destiny, Marquis. I don’t believe in fate. I believe that we can influence what is around us, but then we have to hope that things go our way.”
He had lost his train of thought, the words he wanted to use to try to get to her mind while she was drugged. She was too sharp, even with the opiates he knew were in her. “Highness... Laun. If I may be so bold-”
He took her hand and kissed the back, turning it over and finding a slight thickness in the skin as if from years of hard labor, though the fingers were delicate, the nails well groomed. She watched him, a smile visible in the lantern light being lit by servants. He kissed up the inside of her wrist, feeling differences in the texture of her skin. She sighed and let the feelings he was causing to wash through her.
He was on his knees, his face close to hers. He leaned over and paused before he was able to touch her lips with his. A cold line had pressed it’s self into his throat and he knew to stop. He hadn’t felt her move, hadn’t seen her move and yet, there was a thin blade in her hand threatening him.
She whispered, her voice light and having an almost dreamy quality to it. “Silver, I do not trust you. I have dealt with your people in the past, most fairly when I could. Thank you for your attentions, but this is something that should be negotiated in the daylight.”
He saw her open her eyes, the core of stone in her clear even as he had been certain that he could use the drugged state. “I understand, Highness. I hope we have the opportunity to continue this, perhaps not with the weapon.”
Laun withdrew the blade and nodded, pushing herself up on the couch. “I should let my people put me to bed. Sleep will make me less cranky, if you wish to find me in the morning.”
He watched as people appeared at her side from out of the evening dark. Hands were there to help her stand, the pain she was in obvious, even through the drugs. The Marquis bowed his head to her and she nodded back.
With the Princess gone, the remaining people went away, to duties in the main building or into the yurlodge to be with her. The Marquis took a few minutes to watch the tent’s few moving shadows and to think before leaving, the last person from out of the dining area. He was off the carpet and the servants started clearing everything away.
Justin needed to get into her mind. It was not just a flip of fancy, though she was turning out to be more of a challenge than he thought she would be. There were things in her mind that he wanted to know. She had been difficult when she was a child, too, and if they hadn’t been interrupted then, he would have been able to have her under his control.
He stopped and looked up at the sliver of moon in the deeply black sky. He missed Hellon. He still had the locket of hair she had given him before she had banned him from the Salam-Dir lands. He had loved her. No pretensions of rank or beauty or anything like that. He had loved her and her choosing the bastard child over him had soured him to opening his heart for a while. But looking back, he was not sure if she had even known of his love.
He started to walk to his chambers within the walls of the Kings house. One of the other nobles in her escort was to sit with Her while the others were able to go to dinner. Justin was awake and wanted to think about how to get to her Highness. He changed into something heavier for the night and walked through the courtyard to Lady Engrid’s room. It was cold in there and the man he replaced was glad to be gone.
She stirred and looked at the Marquis under heavy eyelids, all her age showing plus the disease that was ravaging her body. The voice that came out was dry and thin and would have broken if it had not been from the great Lady.
“Out whoring?”
He smiled and thought of the reputation the Princess had, Mistress Hawkwell. Even if he could not get her to open her mind, it would be interesting fucking her. “Having dinner, Ma’am.”
There was a cough of a laugh. “Ma’am? We once were past that.” She closed her eyes, but kept talking to him, saying, “You smell of food, but you also smell of women in heat.”
He resisted putting his hand to his nose. Yes, the Princess had an oder that was intriguing, and part of what made him want to try to...seduce her. Drugging had not worked. Perhaps after fucking her he could get her to open to him. “I have not had a woman since I got here, Enny. You are taking more time than-”
She coughed, but it wasn’t just a spasm in her gut. It calmed down and she had her milky blue eyes on him and her remaining teeth in a smile. “Liar. You could have disappeared into the Estate to wait until I died.”
He took the hand on her pillow, ignoring the extreme dryness as he kissed the fingertips. “You were once much more to me. I would not be able to just wait, Enny.”
She smiled. “Liar.” Her voice was quieter, but he heard the mind of Blue Master still working in her. “Keep your eyes on her. She is slippery like you. I’m glad she is here. It will make things easier...”
She had fallen asleep, her eyes still partially open, but not seeing the man holding her hand.
There was nothing more she was to say that night. He was surprised that the ceremony to transfer her lands to her undeclared heir had not happened that day. The schedule was going along for her, not the rest of them. They all needed to rest, she needed to be aware enough to let someone take the title and lands she had not been able to use and see since she had been exiled to the Island Principality. She had held out until then, not declaring an heir. He sighed as he put her hand back down, covering her from the chill.
It was not a bad watch to have, but Silver would have rather been working on something else. Or rather, someone else.
That would come.
Onto Chapter 8, The call to transfer Lady Engrids titles and property is delayed
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