the Leathermines

Back to Chapter 11

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The dinner Laun was escorted to was in an outlying large tent on the Estate, a tent that was put up and taken down every day for the pleasure of his Majesty and his guests.  King Ifahyd chose the spot for the evening each morning, the servants obeying the King’s whims.  There must have been a hundred people under the tent, the low couches and piles of pillows propping up most people.  Food had been brought on the large, silvered trays for those attending, the low furniture around them made for laying back and sharing the bounty of the Royal house.

Ifahyd was already in the tent, several of the noble women bunched around him, calling out to him loudly and trying to feed him from the large table-like platter set before him.  The other groups of people seemed to be circled around him, some people walking between and moving to the next to talk and share tidbits.  Laun’s escort waved towards his Majesty and stayed on the outside of the tent.

Laun slowly, and as quietly as she could in the flowing garments and silver jewelry, walked through the tent along the outside of the groups of people.  She pulled down the veil slightly and found a good way in towards Iffy from the back and threaded her way to a small pile of pillows behind his couch.  She spread the pink skirts around her slightly by doing a slight spin before sitting, the yellow over tunic flaring out slightly, too.  There was a jingle as she sat, but Ifahyd was being distracted by the loud women around him and didn’t hear.

Laun looked around and saw the bright colors, many of them ones she saw in the blooms of the desert plants or the streaks of color in the rocks and reproduced in the garb and upholstery under the canvas.  Everyone seemed to have jewelry on, bright and flashing in the lamplight under the wide tent.  Laun leaned into the large pillow next to her and watched the women around Ifahyd purr and shift around him, talking loudly when they wanted his attention.

A few minutes passed and one of the companions that Laun had bathed with came to her holding a small bowl of fruit.  Laun smiled and motioned to the pillows, offering a place to sit.  He smiled and sank down to his knees on the carpet before leaning into one of the pillows, his eyes never leaving hers.  He reached over and pulled on the veil wrapped around her face, showing the light cosmetics Laun had put on her cheeks and the artificial rose color of her lips.  He lifted a small berry to Laun and she took it from his fingers, her teeth scraping lightly on his skin.  His own teeth bit his lower lip as his eyes closed some.  Laun picked up a berry and dragged it along his lower lip until he opened and took it from her fingers with the tip of his tongue.

They quietly fed each other for a while until another one of the companions came, holding a goblet filled with a pinkish liquid.  Laun took it and motioned to the other side of her.  The new companion joined them and shared the berries and cold juice.

There was nothing said, nothing more than light touches between the three as they enjoyed the scented breeze coming through the crowded tent from a flowering orchard.  There was light music coming from somewhere, the sound of conversation flowing around them.  Laun caught the beat of a drummer over the talking and the female companion smiled as Laun taped out the rhythm on her leg.

One of the Royal Bastards came over and sat on the carpet, looking at Laun.  She reached out boldly and touched Laun’s wrist on the rope scar.  Laun held out her arm and pulled the loose yellow gauze back, showing more of the scars that were there.  There was a little fright in the girls’ eye, but more for the pain that must have caused the scar than for the social awkwardness she might be giving Laun.  Laun kept her arm exposed for the girl just as if one of her own children wanted to see.

Another of the companions holding a tray with a small cooked hen knelt behind Laun and then put a hand on her shoulder.  Laun smiled back at the woman and motioned for her and the food to be brought around.  Laun shared the cooked but only slightly warm meat with the others around her, liking the quiet of those around her next to the clamor of those around Ifahyd.

One of the noble women with Ifahyd saw Laun’s small group and had a wicked smile.  She said something in the noble language and there was a small laugh from some of the others around Iffy, his head shaking slightly.  The people around Laun had various shades of embarrassed flushes on their faces, even the Royal Bastard.  Laun could only guess it was about her as the man next to her put a hand on her shoulder and shook his head once.

Laun sighed.  She said in a low tone, “Please, what was just said?”

Perhaps a little louder than she should have, the Royal Bastard said, “You are a slave and should not be with his Majesty.”

Laun saw the head of Ifahyd start to turn before one of the noble women deliberately caught his attention.  Laun nodded and said, “She is right.  I did start out a slave, but I am the head of a household and heir to a Kingdom, now.”  Her head tilted slightly and she continued with, “I wonder if she has two companys worth of Rosemond Regulars at her command.”

Laun’s companions smiled and the man covered his mouth before he laughed.  The Royal Bastard laughed out loud and said, “I like you.”

Laun tore off a little of the meat from the hen and offered it to the girl, the bastard Princess taking it from Laun’s fingers without any hesitation.  The girl talked a little lower when she heard comments directed at Laun said in the other language.  It was interesting to hear what the noble women thought were insults, and what Ifahyd did with each.  He would not say anything on most of the comments, though when the legitimacy of Laun’s crown came up, he put a finger on the woman’s lips and said two words.

The girl colored and would not say what the King had said.  At last, with a few low words from the others around her, said, “It does not translate well, Laun.  I think that, ‘golden womanhood’ may...”  The girl looked away, not wanting to continue.

Laun looked at the man next to her, seeing the tinge of embarrassment on him.  “You have seen.  Would you call it that?”

He flushed deeper and nodded.  “Highness.  It might be translated as your Royal Womanly Stature, too.”

Laun smiled.  She did not know the language that the noble women were speaking around Ifahyd, but it was nice to have people around her who were not entirely embarrassed to tell her what was being said.  “I would accept either.  I am a dues paying red-scarf, after all.”

The hands over the mouths of the people around her did not hold back the laughter, even with the Royal Bastard.

The laughter caught and held Ifahyd’s attention.  He moved the arm of one of the noble women to be able to see over the back of the low couch to the group behind him.  “Jewel, who are you entertaining back there, little love?”  His voice was light and Laun loved how he addressed his daughter.

“Pater, your Midlands favorite.”

There was a slight change in the groups around them.  Some of those not with the King thought it had been a small gathering of the Kings concubines and companions behind the Royal couch.  The noble women knew who Laun was and had been keeping her from him, knowing that he would ignore them once she was within sight.  Knowing that the Rosemond-dressed woman was the Midlands exotic brought a tremor in the conversations around them, but quieting to hear what might be said.

Several of the other companions stood and drifted through the tent towards the foreign Princess as they heard her say clearly, “Your Majesty, I did not wish to intrude.  When you wish my attentions, I will be beside you.  Until then, it looks as though you are well in hand.”

Iffy smiled.  “My Midlands Rose.  You are gracious as ever.  I was wondering if you were hiding yourself in my quarters again tonight.”  His smile grew slightly as he heard a small comment from one of the women with him, her head turning away from both her King and the Princess behind him.

Laun slightly bowed her head.  “Your Majesty, after being dressed so luxuriantly, I could not just wait in the Royal bed for you.  But-I am keeping you from those who wish your attention.”

He looked at the women around him, all of them seeming a bit put off now that he was talking so openly to Laun.  “Keep yourself occupied, Highness.  I hope to have you beside me before we go back to my bed.”

Laun smiled and saw a wicked glint in Iffy’s eye before he turned to the women still around him on the couch.  She leaned back into the pillow and giggled lightly to herself.  It was turned into a slight gasp as one of the concubines had taken Laun’s sandal off and was working fingers between toes.

Jewel crawled up and put her head on Laun’s shoulder as one of the companions started to feed Laun from another platter of fruit.  The Royal Bastard snuggled in and Laun stroked on her covered blonde hair, a small chime sounding on occasion when the jewelry on either of them moved.  It was warm and comfortable, making her both miss and smile happily at the thought of the children back at Salam-Dir.

There was a whisper and then another hand was on Laun.  She knew the touch and put her hand on his hand, bringing it to her cheek.  “My Prince...” she whispered.

Silar put his face next to her ear and whispered, “The messenger came back to us.  There are a few things we need to talk about, Mistress.”

Laun turned slightly, a laziness having settled in, but her eyes sharp.  She motioned to the fruit and a piece was in her hand.  Laun put it against Silar’s lips and he sucked on it for a moment as she quietly said, “About the Blue or about Yevette?”

He bit into the fruit and chewed.  One hand was visible from how he was laying and he made a few signs that Laun read as, “Track and trail underway.”  He swallowed and said out loud, “Yevette misses you, Mistress.  But she will not approach until you call for her.”

Laun nodded and pushed the rest of the fruit into Silar’s mouth.  They were very close, close enough that they could have kissed.  Laun knew that even with the women hanging onto Ifahyd, a kiss would be too much under the Royal tent.  “I regret not knowing.  I do not regret her.  Please tell her that.  I am still not ready to talk.  Soon.”

Silar reached for a chewy confection from an ornamented box that had been placed within reach and drew it along Laun’s lips.  “I will tell her, Mistress.  I also miss you.”  His breath was hot on her as he pushed the sweet in between her lips, but he also stayed his kiss.

Laun put her thumb on his lips, her fingers along his jaw.  She could not speak with the sweet in her mouth, but she did not have to.  He nodded and moved away, another concubine taking the place he had warmed on the pillow.  There was a sigh from the Midland’s Princess before she turned and drew her fingers down the sleepy face of the Rosemond Princess.

Laun saw that Ifahyd had his eyes on her.  She smiled and made a kiss on her fingers that she reached out to him.  They were too far away for them to touch, but he kissed his finger and reached for Laun over the back of the couch.  They smiled at each other and turned back to their own people.

It was comfortable.  Laun understood this.  It was regimented, according to rank and relation.  But it was relaxed according to who you wanted to talk to, to share with.  Or flirt with.  Wanda was dressed in one of the long, loose gauze robes over her lanky form and found her way to Laun’s side, crawling in and onto Laun’s other shoulder.  Laun would have welcomed the ward at any time, but with the Princess on the other shoulder, it made her feel protective of the tumbler.

Even though Wanda seemed to be sleepy, she was wide awake.  She whispered to Laun several things, some from the Peaches, some from herself.  Laun turned her head and kissed the fourteen year old on the forehead.  Wanda settled in further and relaxed as Laun seemed to be humming to her.  Laun was using a form of the whistles, but in a low tone, to communicate to her ward.

Laun looked like she was being maternal, holding the girl children to her and lovingly humming to one to make her sleep.  Laun’s mind was racing, the humming telling Wanda that she understood what the Peaches were doing to track the known Blue girls seen in the Estate.  And to comfort Wanda in her confession that she missed Laun, but not just as her Mistress.

Wanda understood and hid her face in Laun’s armpit after confessing what she knew Laun knew already.  Wanda was scared, being out of the Midlands, away from everything she knew.  She needed to tell Laun, just in case something happened.  She smiled when she heard the low signal that meant love or affection.  It was followed by a kiss on the tumbler’s forehead, a hidden smile into Laun’s clothing.

A duenia came and took the young Rosemond Princess away after a while.  She was not quite awake as she was gently pulled from Laun’s embrace, a mumbled, “... Madre...” coming from her before she stood and was escorted through the winding path between the groups.  Girl saw the opportunity to come and retrieve Wanda, though the tumbler did not wish to move from her Mistress and youthfully declared Love.  Girl touched Laun on the shoulder and smiled at the light touch of Laun’s before she took Wanda through the tent to where the rest of the Salam-Dir people were.

Laun turned over and watched where her people went, seeing her Lord and Husband in the center of the group, several of the younger Rosemond noble women at his side, trying to tempt him.  He saw that she was looking at her and she almost saw what he had signed.  She did not want to assume, but she lifted her hand and kissed it and reached for him, a small wave of a symbol making him smile.

She knew he was going to have fun, but she wanted to make sure he knew she wanted him to.  They had argued, the first in over a year and the most heart rending ever, but she still loved him and depended on his calm patience.  She hoped that what had bubbled to the surface could be talked about once they were finally together again.

She saw that not all of her people were in the group on that side of the tent.  She made a point of looking for and signing to Yevette who was along the outside of the Baronesses’ new entourage with her child.  It was the sign they had developed for Gem, and Laun put her fingers to her lips before trying to turn over again.

It was difficult to move.  While she had been on her stomach, draped over the large pillow, her other sandal had been taken off and both of her feet were being rubbed.  Her head went into the pillow, the spicy scent of the herbs used to keep the insects away sightly overwhelming at first.  Laun kept on her stomach, turning her head and smiling at the companion next to her.

The thought of the pampering she was receiving while a supposed formal dinner was going on amused Laun.  If it had been a slightly different group, she was sure that at least one of the people with her would have been head first into her womanhood.  Laun smiled wider at that, seeing the smile returned.

The hands on her feet started to stray up her legs.  There was a glance around and a hand went over her bottom, a slight squeeze before it went up to her back to lightly stroke up and down along her spine.  She had not done her routines for several days and found that even the light touch seemed to make her usual sore spots call for attention.  The hand went back down and held Laun’s asscheek, the fingertips pushing the light material between before trailing down her inner thigh dangerously close to her womanhood.

Laun liked the feeling.  It was teasing, testing.  It was not tentative, but she could tell that the hand was being cautious.  Too many eyes were around, the small propriety held over the concubine keeping him from seeking further in.

She blinked.  Him.  She turned a little onto her side towards the male concubine and smiled.  He seemed slightly embarrassed and drew his hand away.  Laun reached out and held his hand to her thigh.

His voice was low as he said, “I didn’t mean...  I am sorry, Highness.”

She shook her head before saying quietly, “If it was not here, you would not have stopped.  I would not have stopped you.”  She saw something in the way he looked at the back of the Royal couch.  “You...  Have something you want to ask?”

He nodded and lay next to her on the large pillow.  His hand went to her back, stroking lightly and making the charms on the hip scarf jingle slightly.  His eyes were open and looking at her with little shame as he said, “You have caught our Majesty’s attentions.  He has not been with any of us since he knew you were on the Mainland and has turned the nobles away, too.”  He looked down and then back up to Laun’s eyes.  “Highness, I am not an exotic as you.  But I have been a favorite.  I was just wondering if he had...  Taken you as he takes me.”

There were conflicting things running through her head.  She smiled gently and put her hand on his arm.  “I would be afraid of being ripped in two.”

There was a giggle from the man that changed to a laugh, even with the slight flush over his face.  “Si, Domina.  It is hard to be trained for one such as he.”

Laun slid her hand up his arm and placed her fingertips on his cheek.  “Every time you are with someone, you are learning.  I learn every day something I did not know before.  It is the way we know how to please them.”

He nodded slightly, his hand pausing longer on the round of her bottom as he said, “He is no hard to please, but I do miss being taken.  He call me names as he is in me, of people I have heard about before I was gifted.  I am there for his pleasure...but...”  His eye drifted to above Laun’s head, a look of not seeing what was before him on the concubines face.

She had to push.  Laun’s voice was low, the fine edge of the rumble in her tone.  “You are for his pleasure.  Gain from it and live for it.  He may think of others, but know that he chose you to be his vessel.  Be who he wants you to be and you shall ever be a favorite.”

The tone was right.  Laun saw his eyes close slightly, a tremble under her fingers.  “Yes, Highness.”  She drew her fingertips down to his mouth and breathed on him as she traced his lips.  He closed his eyes all the way and smiled.

Laun did not have a chance to push more.  There was a laugh from the Royal couch, the female tone telling Laun that the noble was pushing something onto Ifahyd to keep his attention.  There was also a sound that she now recognized as a low level frustration from the monarch.

Laun whispered, “Be well, Brother.”  Laun saw the smile before he opened his eyes.  She started to move and found she needed the help of those around her to get up off the pillow, and to settle the garments and accessories that had shifted.  She stood when she knew she could without her head wanting to be laying down again.  Laun thought to her self that being pampered made her energy go away, but she liked the touch.

One of the noble women looked up and frowned.  Ifahyd followed his companion’s gaze and smiled when he saw Laun behind him, still and watchful.  He reached for her and they clasped hands.  He pulled on her and directed her to be beside him on the couch.

Ifahyd’s hand went to Laun’s shoulder and then to the back of her neck.  She resisted slightly, making him pull just a little harder before she moved with him.  Her veiling obscured them, but it was obvious that Ifahyd was kissing the foreign Princess in the middle of the tent.  A rumble went out thru the people under the canvass, the step over the normal limits scandalous.

There was passion in his kiss.  He was not censoring himself because of the people around him or the normal protocols.  He wanted Laun and had been enjoying the other noble women’s attentions as they had tried to turn him from her.  Laun felt that he was ready to go back to the royal quarters, and she felt ready, too.

She pulled away from him and did something no one expected.  She took his hand and kissed the fingertips before bowing over his hand.  She saw the reaction from Ifahyd, the smolder turning to a flame in his eyes, his breathing quickening.  She heard the wave of comments as they saw her submission to him.  She kept her eyes on his as she dropped his hand and stood.  She held out her hand to him and he paused for a breath before taking it and standing.

Laun led him out of the tent, no words between them, many words between those still in the small groups as the foreign Princess led their King out into the desert night.

Onto Chapter 13  The Assassin gets too close