the Leathermines

Back to Chapter 9 - Just coming into this series now?  Start with The Slave Warrior

 

King Ifahyd’s rooms seemed to be not more nor less than any of the suites Laun had seen in the large Estate.  Except that there were guards along the corridor and his rooms were the only ones occupied opening up to the courtyard.  Word had been sent and, as Laun was escorted to Ifahyd’s room, slowly and with many pauses to let her catch her breath or just not look at anyone, a well appointed meal was laid out in the main room.

There had also been time to have Edgar called to attend his Lady Wife.  He had others of the Peaches with him, quick signs and words telling some of what happened.  Edgar looked around and did not see Gem and was told she was with the people who had been in charge of the Baroness’ lands.

“Lord Edgar, please.”  King Ifahyd motioned to the low couch next to where Laun was already sitting.  A glass of lightly flavored water was handed to him and Ifahyd took a glass himself.

Laun was seeing those around her, hearing those around her.  She just was not reacting much.  She sipped on the drink in her hand, a measured amount as she had learned when being around the Clapperless Bells as they were the ones most likely to poison, and be poisoned.  Verat saw her being cautious and stood behind her, quiet, but attentive.

Ifahyd took something from the platter and sat back.  It was a signal that others could eat and many did.  Edgar took several things and tried to give some to Laun, but she did not accept it.

It was not her normal thinking stare.  It was not what she looked like when her darkness would come up and turn her mind against her.  She just was within herself.  She did not want to react, interact or exist beyond herself right then.  That would mean accepting what had happened, and she couldn’t.

The King still did not know why the object of his desire would be brooding.  To him, it raised her status even more to have one who had been in her household brought up to a suitable rank, with lands and stipend to go with the title.  He knew that Laun was not one to hold ones’ past against those around her.  His eye went to the Prince from the other continent, knowing stories of how he was the one to betray her to her father.

It was not silent, but there wasn’t conversation.  Ifahyd was uncomfortable having people to entertain in his room and not having conversation.  He turned slightly and smiled at Edgar.  He caught the younger man’s eye and saw a start of a smile, though the worry underneath was plain to read.

“Lord Edgar, how have you liked your stay at the Estate so far?”

Edgar straightened up and turned more to face the Rosemond King, but still could see Laun.  “I had been warned about the heat, but this is more than I was expecting.  I’ve been with the baby most of the last two days and she is not reacting well to the heat.”

There was a small crease in Ifahyd’s brow.  “Baby?  Ah, yes.  Yevette was carrying her.”

Edgar’s face was all confusion until he saw a sign from one of the Peaches that indicated Gem.  “She is still nursing and she wanted to come along.”

“It worked out well, then.  With Yevette inheriting Lady Engrid’s titles, the child will be well cared for.”  Ifahyd bit into a small fruit and smiled.

The jaw muscles in Edgar’s face worked hard a couple of times even though he was not chewing.  He took a gulp of his flavored water and looked over at Laun.  “It was unexpected.”

There was a nod and Ifahyd said, “Things seem to have worked out well.  I was hoping that the caretakers would be the ones to inherit.  Jasu and his wife have been very good about the Barony and the accounts.  I am sure they will understand.  There had always been a rumor that my Aunt had a bastard, but this was the first confirmation I have seen.”

Edgar stared at Ifahyd for a moment and then looked back to Laun.  Her eyes were now looking at the food, but he was not sure if she was really contemplating eating or just looking in that direction.  “She is good at hiding things.”

There was a chuckle from the monarch.  “I am sure there is still more up her sleeve.  She always has been a layered individual.”

Edgar did not know what to say.  He was not bad at some small talk, at intimate talk.  He relied on Laun and her way of seeing what people did not want to talk about to lead conversations.  He thought of what he would like to know, but Edgar just didn’t know how to ask.  So, Lord Salam-Dir stayed quiet.

There were a few minutes of quiet.  Many of those in the room were looking at Laun, who seemed to be looking at nothing.

“Lord Edgar, your Lady Wife has asked to stay with me for a few days.”

Edgars head came around and he did not hide his anger.  “If that is what she wishes to do, I will not stop her.”

The heat behind the words surprised Ifahyd.  He did not think before saying, “She chooses to be with me.  Perhaps you would like-”

“She is her own person.  What ever will make her happy.”  Edgar looked away and could not look at either of them.

Ifahyd leaned forward and motioned towards Laun, saying, “If you wish to be with her, there is-”

Edgar was not listening.  His frustration with the trip, with the heat and with Laun came out as he said in a tone that was his dangerous rumble, “We have our own lives, your Majesty.  I will let you two be until she decides to come back.”

Laun roused at the tone, hearing some of what was beneath, and hearing the rising tension.  She did not say anything, listening to the anger in her husband.

“Our Lady is always free to do as she wishes.  She is always welcome to be with whomever, Lord Edgar.  Right now, she is here, where she is safe.”

“Safe.  With your Aunt here, no one is safe.  Laun least of all.”  There was a movement in the Peaches but nothing said.  They rarely saw this side of Edgar and it disturbed them.

Laun raised her hand slightly and both men turned to look at her.  “Love, I need to think and balance myself and I don’t think I can do that in the middle of our people.”

The edge was bare in Edgar’s tone as he said, “So you run to the highest ranking man you can find-”

Laun’s jaw clenched, saying through her teeth, “He is a friend, Edgar.”

The sneer was on his face and in his voice.  “You gather your ‘friends’ around you like building stones and hide behind-”  He looked at Ifahyd and changed what he was going to say to, “your rank and your bedmates-”

Laun straightened up and looked Edgar in the eye.  She was both looking hurt and looking stony as she said, “You haven’t complained about your rank, Lord Salam-Dir, Royal Companion, Warrant of the Oak and member of the Order of the Hawk’s Talon.”

The frustration of being with Laun, tending to her and dealing with her oddities was bursting to the surface.  Edgar never let anyone see what he was feeling if it was not good.  He could not stop himself as he lowered his head, took in a chest-puffing breath and said, “At least I got something out of you catting around-”

Laun stood.  She was furious.  There was a glance to the amazed Ifahyd before she crossed her arms under her breasts, her fists clenched and held against her sides.  “Fuck you, Edgar.  If that is how you feel, I release you from all bonds-”

Edgar stood and stepped towards her.  “Laun!  No!  I want you as my wife.  I-You are being unreasonable-”

Laun’s eyes went big and her head tilted to the side.  “I?  You never have said anything about this.  And now that my world - YOUR world has changed, you are blaming me for what I am?”  Laun’s mouth was still open, but she could not say what was rushing through her mind.  She tried to step back and stumbled, landing back on the couch.

Edgar stepped forward again and loomed over Laun.  She was looking him right in the eye, scared, confused, but not backing down.  “You are...  You-  Arghhh!”  He turned and nodded to their host before storming out, most of the Peaches leaving with him.

Wanda sat beside Laun and reached out but did not touch her Mistress.  Girl sat on the floor and looked up into Laun’s face.  Both did not know what to do.  They had seen Laun in controlled rages before.  They had seen her in deep depressions, usually after they had to take a life needlessly.  They did not know what to do with Edgar being in a rage and the way Laun was glassy-eyed was different enough that neither could predict what Laun may do next.

Ifahyd motioned and the servants who had been quietly standing in the room took the plater of food away.  He sat on the low table in front of Laun and looked at her.  He saw the outward stillness, could not see the rush her heart and head were going through.  He saw the slight tremble of her hand as she clenched her fist, but he could not see how her world had just completely turned.

“Highness...  Please.  I am sure it was just the heat getting to him.  He will calm down.”

Laun looked up and stared at Ifahyd.  He leaned back at the intensity and saw her motion something with one hand, both of the girls leaving, with a small scramble from the one on the floor.  The door closed before Laun said, “Temper is one thing, Majesty.  That had been building for a while.  I know it and I cannot blame him.”  She looked away to the floor and said, “He has terrible timing, though.”

Ifahyd nodded and held out his hand.  He did not take hers, he did not force himself on her.  She looked back up to the hand stretched out to her and lightly placed her fingertips on his palm.

“My Midlands Rose.  Please be comfortable in my rooms.  There is anything you wish at your call.  Unfortunately, I have a matter that was already scheduled for this afternoon.  I will be back.”

Laun looked up and smiled wanly as the Rosemond King bowed over her hand, touching his forehead to the fingertips in his palm.  He stepped away and saw her look back to her hand and then the blankness took over.

Laun did not know that time had passed.  She looked up at the slight jingle of a coined hip-belt and saw a beautiful man standing there.  He had a transparent tunic and ballooned pants on, the red hip-scarf was under a copper metal belt that almost matched his hair.

He smiled at her and knelt at her feet.  Laun looked at him and sighed.  It always came back to sex.  She liked sex, it was how she was able to get many things done, gather information about many things.  Comfort and reward those around her.  But there was yet again a red scarf at her disposal.  All she really wanted was a bath.

She sighed.  “Thank you for your attendance.  Brother, is there a bath around here that I may use?”

His nose twitched slightly when she called him Brother.  He smiled, flicking his eye to her plain metal belt and back up again.  “Sister, there is the place we gather.  If I may show you?”

He had an accent as everyone in Rosemond did when they spoke her native tongue.  She stood, finding she had a small cramp in her back from sitting badly without paying attention.  He motioned to the doorway and held out his arm, his fist loose but there to hold her hand in a formal manner as they went.

The guards nodded to her as she left but did not follow or delay her.  The man she was with walked at a pace comfortable for her and she realized that it was slow for him.  She accepted his help, his kindness, and they went a ways into the estate.

There was an offset archway with a small run of corridor that he turned into.  Beyond was the bathing chamber, different as the walls were solid and only seemed to have the one entrance.  The companion waived his hand at one of the others in the courtyard, her hair being braided by other red scarves as they sat by the large, clear pool that reflected the blue of the sky above.  Others murmured things, many Laun could not understand.  She tried to hold a smile, but could not.

“Highness, please use this place as you will.  All is available to you.”  She caught the twinkle in his eye before he had said, “All.”  He brought her hand to his lips and brushed his lips along her knuckles, the sensuous kiss feeling good, but not entirely breaking through Laun’s barriers.

The area was yet another courtyard with the desert air flowing down through, over the bathing pool and the semi-naked bodies of the women, and men.  Light fabrics were held over a few of the low couches, a few large columns that held torches during the night casting a thicker shade on the people below.  The consorts, concubines and companions were all beautiful.  Laun felt out of place, but all she saw were smiles when the red scarves turned her way.

She watched but declined being drawn on with semi-permanent cosmetics.  She liked the designs, but did not want them to concentrate on her body after she saw how perfect they all were.  She was starting to regret going into the midst of the red scarves, her body just reminding herself how messed up the rest of her life was to match.

Laun turned and could not find a place where they would not be able to see her.  She sighed.  Laun stepped to the edge of the pool and dropped the few garments she had by the shallow stairs down in.   Laun went into the bathing pool by herself, being reminded of the spring fed pool on the Salam-Dir lands.  It was a bitter sweet remembering.

She looked at the sky above, the wisp of a cloud lingering in the bright blue sky she could see.  She was submerged to her chin in the water, knowing that it was clear enough for people to be able to see her if they really wanted to, but keeping turned so that she did not have to see the lithe figures in the open room.

“Highness, would you like me to wash your back?”  The dark yet blonde man slid into the pool near Laun, his voice soft among the twitters and giggles of the others around them.

Laun did not cover herself up, though she had a flash of running from this beautiful man so that he would not see more of her scars than he already had.  She stood up in the water and looked him in the eye.  She kept her eye on his as she slowly turned and leaned against the edge of the tiled bathing pool.

There was a smile on his face as he reached for a large sea-sponge.  He wet it in the water and wrung it out over Laun’s back.  The water was not cold, but where it dripped and flowed on her skin made Laun shiver slightly.  She let out a little gasp and felt his hand touch her shoulder before running the sponge up and down her skin.  He was light with his touch, not hesitant.

Laun had to close her eyes.  She saw the others in the open room were staring at her.  She thought she had gone past what she looked like, but she knew that the scars and stretchmarks she had would always be one of her vanity failings.  She had not gained any more real scars for over a year, but the ones she had did not fade, did not lessen over time.

There was a light touch on Laun’s forehead.  She opened her eyes to a stunning dark woman with emerald green eyes.  No, not emerald.  Emeralds were pale in comparison to the green with deep flashes that looked at her.  Dark rose lips were a breath away from her own pale pink ones and she could taste the fruit the woman had just eaten as she said, “M’iness, may h’i wa’ you fro’t?”

Laun barely nodded before the woman slid over the edge of the pool and started to draw a cloth up Laun, wetting both the cloth and Laun’s chest.  The sensations were gentle from both of them, just the luxury of being cleaned by others coming through Laun’s self loathing.  Her eyes closed again and she allowed the moment to just be.

Water was drawn over her, some of the strongly scented bathing gel being smoothed onto Laun’s skin.  It was a bit powerful and she wrinkled her nose at it.  She opened her eyes when she felt a dry cloth being dragged along her skin taking the dripping gel from her.  The dark woman looked slightly worried, her green eyes under pushed together eyebrows.

“I-”  Laun had to clear her throat to continue, not realizing that she had such a thickness in her mouth.  “The scent is strong, but if you just use a little, that will be good.  You don’t have any plain soap, do you?”

There was a smile on her dark face.  She nodded and motioned to one of the other people in the room.  A small case that looked like it was made of thin shell was opened and a small grey cake of soap was carefully brought out.  “Mi’La’s soap.  Spec’l.”

Laun laughed.  The companions around her looked shocked and confused.  Laun took the tallow soap laced with volcanic mud and held it to her nose.  She could smell the kitchens in the Keep in that soap.  She might have helped to gather the mud from the grey or milled that cake in the keep alongside her family.

“I came to another kingdom to use soap I made.”  Laun laughed again and the woman in front of her caught the humor and started to laugh, also.

The pumice in the soap smoothed away the slight dryness on Laun’s sun-exposed skin, the soap taking the oil that the desert heat had brought out.  The gentle fingers of the man and woman who had come to her made Laun relax into the strokes.  They were attentive.  They were watchful.  When Laun felt one of her barriers go down, they saw and the touches changed.

Laun loved being made love to in the water.  From the sunken trench in the Castle to the watercress spring at Salam-Dir, it had always been both a thrill and a luxury to Laun.  Having these beautiful people touching and stroking and holding her without having to be directed, and not having to be asked, was both wonderful, and a little frightening to Laun.

Another set of hands was on her and she turned to see a pale redhead with a thin drape still over her shoulder next to her in the water.  Laun could have chosen to step away from them, to not have their gentle hands and now mouths touching her.  Laun decided that, to help her forget the troubles she had in her own mind about Gem, Edgar, and Engrid, she would let them do what they would with her, to help Laun push what she did not want to think about away.

It was as if every time Laun relaxed or decided to accept what was happening, another of the companions in the outdoor bathing chamber would come into the group, those with her being more forward.  She found lips on hers tasting of honey and nuts.  Hands that once held cloths or sponges now held her, stroking and gripping her.  Laun’s own hands went to skin smoother than milk and stroked and felt along folds of skin until she could hear a gasp from the woman.

The group held each other in the water.  Laun was the center, but she could feel the others around her joining and fondling each other.  It was good.

The group moved to the tile beside the pool.  The air warmed and dried them even as moistness was being brought out of the women, being encouraged by the men.  Laun only cared that the woman straddling her face was moaning, that the lips on her lower ones were gentle and yet talented enough to make her gasp.  It did not matter who was touching whom, or what Laun looked like.  It was the moment that mattered, and the next flash of feelings that went through her.

There were moans and gasps from around her.  Laun felt the passion flowing around her, some through her.  She did not feel like she was going to come to her peak, even with the pile of people around her.  That was all right for her.  She was enjoying the moment.  And those around her.

Laun found that she was being cuddled by several of the concubines and companions as they slept on the tile in the bathing courtyard.  The spontaneous sex had washed through them and now the heat of the afternoon was lulling most of them into sleep.  It was...comfortable.

She was not clean and was sure that some of the dampness she felt was not sweat.  It did not matter.  It had been a distraction and she was feeling, if not happy, content.  The man who had approached her first was behind her, his arm draped over her hip as his breath went past her shoulder.  He had not tried to enter her, other than with his fingers.  None of the men who had joined had tried to use their manhoods on any of the women.  Lips and tongues and fingers were enough.  It seemed to be the way of the place, and Laun appreciated it.

There was a small bell sound and several of the people around her groaned.  They started to peel off the pile, stretching and looking like they really did not wish to move.  The man behind her drew his hand up her hip and side, reaching her shoulder, the light touches telling her that he was tracing some of the scars.  There was a dry kiss on her shoulder and he moved, the air drying the sweat that had been between them within moments.

Laun rolled onto her back and looked up to the blue of the sky.  She must have been asleep for a while as the shadows were more angled than when she went into the pool.  She sighed as she thought of why there would be a bell in the courtyard.  It was full of the men and women who kept the nobility entertained.  Laun sighed again.  It was what she was there for.  She may have titles, some gifted, some fought for, but she was ever going to be the distraction of whomever she was with.

That was not as comfortable.

The companion that had been in the yurlodge the first night helped Laun up, a dry kiss on her lips before he went off to have one of the others draw some of the kohl across his eyes, expertly picking the right color for him to make his brown eyes even more becoming in his beautiful face.  Laun watched more of the red scarves around her ready themselves and had more of a flash of her doubts.  It didn’t sting as much as they had accepted her as one of their own and had comforted her and each other as they knew how.

Laun was able to draw damp cloths across her body with a little of the scented gel on them and then went into the pool, swimming under the water as she had taught herself to do for one of their missions.  She came up at the other end rinsed and was helped out by many hands.

The air was dry enough that, other than the dampness from her hair, she was dry within minutes.  The clothing she had been in was still where she had left it, but the concubines around her would not let her wear the layers, even though they had been light enough before.  Laun was dressed in a long, sheer tunic and hip scarf to be taken back to Iffy’s quarters.  She didn’t even have the halter on, but the looseness let the air past her skin and the thought of the restrictive halter right then did not seem right.

One of the women made Laun sit on a large pillow and combed out her hair.  It felt good and it brought a tear to Laun’s eye that flowed as she thought of Gem and what they had shared with the simple ritual of brushing each other’s hair.  The brown hair was twisted up and pinned, a light cloth wrapped around her head a few times and secured with a clasp that had a pearl drop on it.  Laun was shown how she looked in a hand mirror, but she could not face herself past seeing the head wrap that had been done.

Most of the people in the bathing courtyard were dressed, cosmetics applied and jingly belts and anklets creating a not so soft music as they moved about.  Laun had one of the concubines come to her as she stood, watching all the beautiful people, a bow and a hand held out to the Princess.

Laun took the hand and walked with the woman back through the rambling Estate to Ifahyd’s quarters.  He was not there.  A kiss on her cheek by the female concubine who walked with her comforted Laun as she was left in the room.

One of the noble men was there fussing with the garb Ifahyd was to wear to dinner that night.  He ignored her as he placed and replaced things on the low bed until he believed it was right for his King.

Laun looked around the room and saw that nothing of hers was there.  Even her clothing and blade had been left in the bathing room.  She sighed and went to the open door into the courtyard off of Ifahyd’s room.

It was as if a piece of the desert had been carved out and placed there.  Laun knew that it took much more than that to create such a simple looking area.  Erin had been trying to show and teach her things about growing plants and arranging things aesthetically for...years, now.  It was not something she could do herself, but could appreciate when others could.

There was a noise from inside the room.  Laun did not turn to see as she sat on the stone bench, looking at a small, brightly colored flower that was the only thing on what seemed to be a stick shoved into the sand.  There were voices and then the slight scrape of a shoe sole on the soft sand at the doorway.

“My Midlands Rose.  I am sorry that I was taken away by the Ambassador.  I hope I do not have to negotiate with him any time soon.  Or play a game of chance...”

Laun had barely turned while he was speaking.  He went to her and sat beside her, taking her hand in his and bringing it to his lips.  “Laun...  Are you well?”

Laun turned and did not hide herself under any mask or veil.  She was tired.  She was confused.  She was frightened.  “I will be, Iffy.  I just... Have to work a few things out.”

The monarch of Rosemond leaned forward and paused before pulling her towards him to kiss.  She was responsive as always, but Ifahyd felt that she was not feeling any true passion.  He kissed her on either cheek and looked into her dull hazel eyes.

“Do you wish to come to dinner?  You had meals with your household in the guest house since you arrived.  I would like you to come and have a proper dinner with me.”

Laun shook her head and tried to smile.  “I do not want to be a burden to you, Ifahyd.  I made a scene and I still need to think about things.  I’ll just stay here for now.”

He straightened and clenched his jaw for a breath.  “As you wish, my sweet.  I do not have that luxury.  I have to be dressed and paraded in front of the nobility within the next bell or tradition and protocol will have them wagging their tongues about my absence.”

Laun nodded.  “My absence will not be felt.  I am, as you said, an Exotic, and as such easily overlooked.”

He tried not to wince.  “I will miss you at my side, Laun.”  Ifahyd stood and looked down on Laun for a second before turning and going to the noble waiting to dress him that night.

Laun turned back to the flowering stick and looked at it.  Her concentration changed and she was soon not seeing the bright purple and white and red of the petals.  She was thinking of what had been before.  Silver had unlocked something when he had tried to go into her mind.  She was seeing flashes of things that had been covered in her mind before.  She was seeing the things she should have seen in Gem over the last three years.  Her mind wandered further and she wondered whom else had such secrets that were so close to her?

The sound of a door closing brought Laun’s head around, but slowly.  The King and his noble had left.  She was alone.  She frowned.  She did not like being alone, even though she often felt it even in groups of people.  The Darkness would often come up and tell her things.  Things that colored everything.

She narrowed her eyes as she looked into the shadow near the open door into the room.  She was not seeing anything there, she was thinking about her darkness.  She was sad.  She was frightened.  She had gone past the anger.  But, she did not feel the usual deceptive thoughts that her Darkness would bubble up with and burst onto her mind.  Laun was sure it would still be there, but it had not ventured out of her depths.

It concerned her, but Laun accepted that what she was feeling was real.

Laun moved and found another small place to sit, the closed door into another suite of rooms near her.  She looked at the different shadows and the small insects that were busily going up and down a certain plant but not any of the others around it.  She looked around when there was a small scrape of a sound and she could not tell where it had come from.  There was movement in the room past the open door, someone in loose tunic and billowing pants walking around, a slight jingle to the movement.

The small redhead came to the open door and smiled.  She was holding a tray and came to Laun after a motion of Launs hand.  There was quiet between them as the tray was set on the ground at Laun’s feet, the freshly sliced fruit and smallbreads surrounding a bowl of honey.  The redhead made a set of motions, touching her forehead, lips and chest before bowing her head to Laun and turning to leave.

Laun did not want her to go and made a small noise, stopping the dainty companion.  Laun motioned and stood, bringing the lips of the woman up to hers in a dry kiss.  There was a small flush and the woman ducked her head slightly, curtsying before backing up to go, saying, “Behean oir, buioch tu. Eh...  Bueno.”

It was even another language.  The accent was not the same, the tone rough.  Laun knew that she needed to learn languages to be able to work in Rosemond.  Her head tilted and the companion took it as permission to leave.  Laun sat, thinking of making sure the children of Salam-Dir knew more than the Midland’s tongue.

The sun moved, the shadows grew long.  Laun nibbled on the bread and fruit, dipping some into the honey, though it was all fairly sweet without it.  She thought.  Plans for the household when she was back.  A need to ask for some of her things from the guest house.  A few tears and sighs over things that had changed, and not only on that trip.  Laun looked up as a servant went through Ifahyd’s rooms, lighting lanterns before coming out to the garden to sweep the sand away from the doorway.

There was a squeak of fright from the servant when Laun moved.  The rough cloth over her hair kept the dark hair back out of her face, letting Laun see the flush of emotion go across the swarthy complexion.  Laun smiled and motioned to the tray before stepping into the room.

Laun looked about and saw that the lanterns made some of the room glitter with their light.  She smiled and then sighed.  There was a shelf with folios and books that she went to, pulling out one of the only ones that had the language she knew.  She pulled out another book after having pushed it to the side, looking at the multiple languages in list form within.  She took the books to the bed, laying with pillows propping her up in one of the best pools of light.  It was enough to be alone and reading.

The formal Royal Estate dinner finished, Ifahyd declining the various offers for his time as he left.  A few words with the guard at the door told him that Laun had not asked for anything, and not tried to leave.

The King’s dresser for the evening followed him into the room, not even casting a glance around the room as he opened one of the wardrobes to put the unsoiled parts of Ifahyd’s garments away.  The King looked about, first to the dark courtyard, the door out still open to the night.  Then he looked to the bed and smiled.

Laun had fallen asleep while reading one of the books from his personal collection.  The long tunic she was wearing had ridden up, charmingly showing her leg, but nothing else.  The turban that had been wound about her head had slipped, the pearl from the fastening pin resting in the palm of her hand as her head rested on her forearm.  Her face was lax, a small snore coming from her open mouth.

Ifahyd smiled.  He went to his noble and let the layers be taken from him, some being put into a pile to be washed, some being put away in the herb-scented wardrobes.  The noble paused, waiting for the customary dismissal, but saw that his King was entranced by the sleeping Exotic.  He bowed and left, knowing his King did not care he had left.

Laun woke to the cloth that had been wrapped around her head being pulled from her.  She opened her eyes and saw Ifahyd, his blue eyes blazing in the lamplight.  He continued down to the hip scarf, un-knoting it and leaving it loose around her.  He moved down her body to be able to reach the hem of the tunic, pushing his fingers up along her skin to move the garment.

He was already naked.  He was ready for anything that might happen in his bed.  Laun had been in the Royal Estate for days and this was the first time they had been able to be together alone.  Ifahyd remembered the few hours they had in the Midlands Royal Palace, the complicated woman having her large coterie around her, the need of many to fulfill her disconcerting.  Having her in his bed, not even a servant in the room made touching the woman with him even more exciting than he had imagined.

Laun found the attention to be nice.  Not exciting, but nice.  Ifahyd pushed at the hem of the thin tunic until he came to her womanhood.  She saw him part his lips slightly and his touch trembled slightly as he touched her stomach above her fur.  She moved and she saw his eyes follow her crotch as she turned more onto her back.

A gasp went through Laun and the room.  Ifahyd was face-first into her fur, her legs around his head as he lapped at her slit, tasting her and wanting more.  His hands were on her hips, his arms surprisingly strong as he held her to the bed.  Laun’s hand was in his hair, the length easy to grab onto as he made yet another push into her with his tongue.

She did not fake.  She did not embellish.  He was good.  Her sleepy mind was aware enough of him and his wants before he had started to set a few limits in her own mind.  Many of those were gone as it felt like Ifahyd had nothing on his mind but pleasing her.  He was enthusiastic, but was taking as much time as he could.

One of his hands started to stroke up her side.  He found one of her breasts under the tunic and held the side of her breast for a while as he continued to lick and nibble on her lower lips.

There was a pause and he looked up her body.  He raised to his knees and pushed at the tunic, not bothering to wipe her juices from his chin and nose.  He uncovered Laun’s body until he found what he had felt with his fingers.  Gold rings with small peridot chips set as the captured beads.  Then he saw the new to him carving on the scar he had seen before.

Laun had a flash of embarrassment go through her.  She started to turn onto her side, her hand covering the Peach flower carved into her flesh.  Ifahyd didn’t see it as embarrassment and took her tunic the rest of the way off, pushing her further onto her side as her arms were drawn out from the last of the garment.

His hands roamed her.  He rolled her back so that he could see the gold rings, one hand gently rolling the breast and nipple around as the other stroked the edges of the leaves on the breast.  He leaned in and held just above her skin, breathing warmly on Laun right before he took the nipple into his mouth.

The gold clicked against his teeth.  She felt his tongue circle the jewelry, his breath warming and cooling as he breathed over and around her.  He was enjoying the nipple rings.  Laun was not expecting that, did not know what to expect.  Her eyes closed and she moaned as both breasts were given more attention than she thought they ever had had.

He was above her.  She opened her eyes and for a flash, he was Ithian.  She had not thought of that pair of striking blue eyes for months before coming to Rosemond.  The hair was not the same, the skin darker on the King poised to take her.  But he was close enough.

“My sweet, may I make love to you?”

Laun nodded and gasped into his mouth as his long manhood pressed in.  He was slow, but did not stop until he was deep within her.

He held himself inside her.  He closed his eyes, calming himself.  He berated himself mentally for having the urges of a youth, the want to just let himself go on the first stroke strong within him.  He could feel that Laun was holding herself still, though a soft moan came from her and a small motion from her hips made him start back out of her again.

Laun felt his control.  She tried to stay still under him, but there was something about how he was filling her that made her want more regardless of the consequences.  She moved and moaned and gripped his arms as the slow rhythm did more for her than she was expecting.

Ifahyd saw the need within Laun change and rise up.  He withdrew and kissed his way down her until he was face first in her fur again.  She was wet and sweet.  She grabbed his hair and pressed him to her.  He could hear the rise in her tone, the moans starting to become growls.

He kissed his way back up her and slid into her, the arch in her back pushing him further in.  Her legs went around him, encouraging him more.  He went to his elbow and slowed down again, holding her head as they kissed.

Something moved just right and Laun felt her peak near.  She grabbed the pillow behind her head and took a deep breath.  It was almost enough warning.

He felt her tighten around him, the deep breath taken partially from him as they kissed given back as he felt her whole body writhe and her throat give out a deep, visceral sound.  He moved with her as she peaked, barely able to stave off his own.  He remembered her rules and started to pull out when he felt the pulse of his own orgasm vibrate through him.

Laun’s eyes were open, an animal beneath him and not the Princess he had known.  She held him tight, her fingernails marking him and her legs not letting him move away.  She was making it clear that she wanted him, his seed.

There was a controlled grunt and then Ifahyd could not control himself any longer.  He let out with a bellow as he stroked into her, long and deep.  Each stroke was a pulse of him into her, the wetness even more for each thrust.

He fell partially sideways, his cock still in her as he tried to catch his breath.  She was happy and held his head to her shoulder.  Her own breathing was fast and shallow, a small burn at the back of her throat telling her she was not used to the altitude.

A sheet was pulled up over them as the heaviness of sleep went through both of them.  They were wrapped around each other as they fell asleep in each other’s arms with the sound of the desert wind coming to them through the open door.

 

Onto Chapter 11, Where Laun meets one of the messengers from the greyworld.