the Leathermines

Back to the revelry of Chapter 51

 

Again, Laun was awake before most of the others in the room.  A few people were picking their way through the bodies by the light of a few guttering lamps, trying to find some sort of clothing, whether or not it was what they had come in with.  Laun waited until they had made their way out before trying to get up herself.

The bed was covered with people, the mat on the floor lined with more.  Edgar was still next to her, Fount turned and wrapped around someone else.  She moved Edgar’s arm from her and crawled out, trying to put the covers back over him.  He grasped for her in his sleep, but did not seem to wake.

Laun’s head was buzzing.  Not like before she became ill, but buzzing with ideas, with feelings.  Her body was stiff, but most of the back and shoulder that had been a problem was down to a dull throb.  She needed to make herself do the morning exercises.  Even with the people in the room, she had to push the embarrassment back and just do it.

The sideboard had been removed at some point.  Laun thought she remembered a glimpse of Orgia while she was between her men.  Laun flushed, hoping that she had not been too much of a spectacle.  Then again, as Laun looked around the room at the people spread about, she would not have been the only one.

She stepped past heads and feet and went to the arming tree.  There were several of the wooden practice swords that had fallen to the floor.  Laun smiled to herself as she thought of all the motion in the room probably vibrated them over.  She picked up one of the swords and went to her rug.

Something went squish on the rug as she stepped on it.  Laun flicked her foot, hoping whatever it was did not hit someone in the face.  She paced the rest of the rug, finding a few things that she moved over or off the rug before she started.

It was just about dawn.  The light was pale outside the windows, a slight pink cast to it.  Laun stretched while looking at the colors and light, seeing wisps of clouds reflecting the colors in the sky.  She turned and picked up the sword, the weight not too much different from the actual sword she had had on her hip the night before.  It occurred to her that it was the same weight as it always had been, but felt lighter now than when she had first been given the sword.

She thought and started on one of the cane dances that she had used while on the road.  She heard the beat in her head and tried to slow it down.  Her body was not up to doing the fast moves, though she knew it took more strength to do the movements slowly.  She went through one iteration and stopped, trying to catch her breath.

A figure was standing to the side of the rug, watching.  Laun started as she had blocked out everything but her dance.  It was Silar, a cloth loosely draped over his shoulder as he watched her.

She nodded to him in the twilight and he nodded back.  For some reason, she became nervous around him.  It was his physical expertise.  She knew that of all the fighters in the keep, he was the best.  He had training that was more than any of the other wardsmen had ever gone through.  He had moved quickly up to beside Edgar and the Dance Master in training the protectors, knowing how to use each person’s strengths.

He surprised her again by quietly saying, “Teach me.”

She motioned to the wooden swords and he went and got one.  She went to first position for the dance and waited.  The cloth fell to the ground and Laun did not have to see him to remember what was next to her.  She paused, gathering herself and started the dance.

She went through each move and stopped.  Silar followed through and waited for each step.  They were through the routine and Laun was not the only one panting at the end.  He motioned and they went to the beginning and started again, faster.

That was the last time through.  Laun was fully awake, her body warm from the effort.  Her breathing was deep and she felt she had to stop doing the dance.  She put a hand on Silar as he looked like he wanted to start again.  She shook her head.

Silar’s hand took hers and he stepped into her.  The wooden sword in his hand was threatening and she put hers up, blocking.  He let go of her hand and stepped through with her as she backed up with the leg sweep of the dance.  The turns, the lunges, the sweeps - he matched each, creating the other half of the dance, the balance kata.  The swords barely grazed each other after the first block, the flow almost perfect as he was able to move against her, make her use the movements against him, not just dance them.

As they ended, Silar stepped into her again, but this time, instead of threatening, he put his arm around her waist and pulled her into a kiss.  She leaned into it, though made sure he realized that the sword in her hand would have gutted him if it had been real.  He smiled in the growing light and panted, “Well done, my Lady.”

Breathing hard, Laun dropped her wooden sword and pulled him to her.  His practice sword also hit the rug.  His arms were around her, feeling for the scars on the soft skin.  He had no difficulty being aroused as he had been so before he had asked for her to teach him.  The flow of the dance she had done was better for her body than the kata he had seen her do the other morning.  It looked so simple, but he felt how it used more of his body than most of the katas he knew.  The balance kata came to him and he had to press the advantage.  She was not up to pure form, but he matched her, made it flow and took her to him.

Though, the slight mark he knew was in his stomach was a reminder of what he should have been concentrating on at the end.  She was a quick learner and knew her body.  He wanted to know more of her body.  His hands were on her back as she pulled him to her, the lines of scars tempting him as much as the curves they were on.

She was leading him down to the rug, pulling on his shoulders.  He went to one knee as she went to her back on the rug.  Her legs were not open, making him work to gain entry.  His hand slid between the soft thighs, feeling the ridges of the fading scars.  He hit her fur and found she still was very wet from the night before.  He rubbed and her thighs gripped together tight, holding his arm until she relaxed.

She was playing with him.  He knew it, but there was a fierceness in the play that was much more exciting than the soft women in the cities usually tried.  The ones who saw him as an exotic conquest.  Playing at strength.  Laun was not one of the soft ones.  She was weakened, but not weak.  The scars showed that her strength was there and just needed to be brought out.  The way she was loved, revered by her people was stronger than even that.  But there was a bloodglint he saw in her eyes that morning, a dark passion he had not seen before.  It excited him.

Laun hooked a foot behind his back and took him off balance onto her.  He let out a small chuckle and sank into her.  He pushed and she lifted her hips, flexing and forcing him into her before he thought she would be ready.

There were fingernails in his shoulder, but she did not cry out.  She looked up into his eyes and he saw her need, a passion the so-called civilized people in the room with them would not understand.  He started to thrust and she closed her eyes, the pain and pleasure flowing through her together.  She moved with him, holding herself up with her legs, her hands digging into his shoulders.

She looked into his eyes in the gloom, almost as if she was seeing into him until he saw a change and her head went back.  A gasp caught in her throat.  She turned her head and found his forearm.

His head went back as the pain of her teeth into his flesh made him pause.  He tried to not call out, waking anyone who was not already awake.  He flattened on top of her and her teeth went from his arm to his shoulder.  He felt the rush of the pain and used it as his Lady made it clear that he was bringing her close to a peak.  She convulsed under him, clenching with her teeth.  He felt his own climax and muffled his own need to roar in her neck, his teeth barely being controlled from biting into her soft flesh.

They were both panting heavily while lying on the rug.  She released her grip, both with her hands and her teeth.  He felt the sting of the air and the trickle of the blood and knew she had marked him.  He had found someone who was not afraid to mark him.  He wondered if he could mark her.  Not right then.

He rolled slightly off her and her breathing became easier.  She was smiling, the dark line of his blood around the outside of her lips.  He leaned in to kiss her and paused as she shuddered.  Her eyes closed briefly.  Her smile was wider as her eyes opened again.  She put her hand on his cheek and they kissed.

She licked her lower lip and first seemed to savour the taste, but then a look of panic opened her eyes as she looked at him in the morning light.  Her eyes went to the wound she caused and the fingers lightly went over the tooth marks.  He wiped his thumb over her lips, catching some of the wetness and put it into his own mouth before kissing her again.

There was less worry in her eyes, but it was still there.  Her voice was low as she said, “It was good for me...  I-I didn’t know I was-”

Silar moved in and kissed her again.  He found the taste of his own blood on her lips to be like honey on apples.  “My blood is yours whenever you want it.  My Lady.”  They kissed and Laun was smiling when he lifted from her.

They heard a small sound, a throat clearing.  Laun turned slightly and saw Ali sitting at their feet.  Laun motioned to her and Ali was between her thighs, cleaning her.  There were other eyes brightly turned in their direction and a sight embarrassment went through Laun.

Laun cleared her own throat and said softly, “Sorry to have woken you.”

There were a few giggles and a sigh from those awake.  Laun could hear other noises soon and was happy that they were enjoying each other.  Her own sigh came out as Ali was past the cleaning and was trying to excite her Lady.  Laun turned back to Silar with a happy look on her face and contentment in her eyes.

“You truly enjoy others.  Not just like us now, but-” he looked to the movement in the morning light, “what they are doing.”

Laun smiled, baring most of her teeth.  “It makes me happy knowing that they are happy.  It is part of me.”  She shrugged and made a wince.  Her hand went down to Ali’s head and stroked it to get her attention.  “There are some juices I don’t think you want.”

Ali had to think about it for a moment but gave her Lady one last lick and sat up.  Silar rolled all the way off of her and Laun sat up.  She took Ali’s face in her hands and kissed her, tasting Silar and she mixed on her boy’s lips.

“Be gentle with him.”  Laun winked and glanced over at Silar.  Ali blushed and nodded in Laun’s hands.  Ali tentatively put a hand on Silar’s bare leg as Laun stood.  Ali was being encouraged by Silar’s hand as Laun wrapped the cloth that had fallen around her.

Laun made her way past the bed and the mats, most of the people now awake and active under the covers.  She saw two sets of eyes looking at her from the bed and made a sign for privy.  They nodded and she saw at least one female arm come over and distract one of them.

The Protectors on guard were playing Sticks on the floor on the other side of the door.  They were startled, but their Lady was not unexpected.  She carefully made her way through the playing field, using the heads of the protectors for balance.  They saluted her and smiled as she made her way down the stairs.

The privy was a huge relief.  She had known since before she had started to dance that she had to pee.  And then the wonderful dance on the floor.  But when Ali started, something caught and she suddenly knew that it was necessary right then.  Not that what Ali was doing was bad.  If it hadn’t been for her body getting in the way, again, she would have loved to have Ali take her to another peak.

The cloth was barely enough against the chill morning.  It made her think of the prisoner.  Instead of going back up to the room and the wonderful warm bed and people she knew were there, she went to the Chamber of Death.

They nodded as she approached.  “Any news from inside?”

A half-shake from one of the protectors.  “The last shift put the bowl of water in there as you asked, but he refuses to drink or talk.”

Laun nodded.  “I’ll only be a few minutes.”

The door opened and closed.  The light had been replenished since the last time she was there and the candle was tall and bright.  She stepped forward on the cold stone and looked at him.

He had the blanket between him and the floor, some wrapped up onto his legs.  The bowl was directly in front of him, full of water.  His eyes were closed and she was not sure if he was asleep or meditating.  Laun walked around him, making very little noise.  She was in back of him and dropped the cloth around his shoulders.

He made a start and looked around.  He saw her as she walked to in front of him, the warm cloth with her scent, and the scent of her lovers, over his shoulders.  He pulled it to his face and breathed in.  He looked up and went to prostrate himself, but his legs would not work.  He smacked his head into the stone, bruising and cutting his forehead.

Laun looked at him and went down to one knee on the other side of the water bowl.  He went to his knees and looked at his hands placed in front of him on the stone.

He was no longer shivering.  The blanket had helped.  The cloth that she had draped on him was barely anything against the cold, but it was something.  She could see that he was waiting.  For something.  For her.

She took a chance and said, “Good.  You may use the water.”

He looked up and saw her smile.  It was not a large one, but the smile was enough.  He had pleased her.  “Thank you, Lady.”  He crawled to the bowl and put his face in it, sucking at the surface and then lapping at it like a dog.

She stood and watched him.  She walked around him, looking, keeping her distance.  She took a look behind the altar and found it was clean.  The chamber was still clean.  It had been days.  And it was clean.

She continued her circuit and stood on the other side of the bowl again.  She went down and put her hand on his head.  He stopped and pushed up into her palm.

“I am going to have a bucket put in here for you.  Use it.”  She felt the nod under her hand.  Her hand went to his cheek.  “That is, if you wish to live today.”

He nodded again, his face turning into her hand.  He almost brushed her palm with his lips, but it was gone.  He watched the fingers go past and looked up into her face.  She seemed content, happy.  That made him happy.

She stood, naked, a small trail of wetness coming down the inside of her thigh, glistening in the candle light.  His body, cold and malnourished, reacted.  It hurt, but he could not control it.  He stayed on his hands and knees over the bowl and hoped she did not see.  But she seemed to see everything.  Her head tilted to the side and she smiled.

“I will be back later.”  And with that, she was out the door.  

He pulled the cloth she had dropped on him to his face and tried to find a place that just smelled of her.  He found it and breathed in.  He dropped his hand and tried to get himself under control.  He started to shiver.

He turned and went to the blanket.  Kneeling, he held himself as rigid as possible trying to think his erection down.  He still held the cloth in one hand at his side and he knew she was on it.  He put the cloth over his shoulders and her scent on his face.  He took ahold of his erection and started to stroke.  He was very dry, but he had to.  The Lady had allowed him to drink after testing him with the full bowl, had rewarded him with the cloth covered in her scent.  Something in the back of his mind tried to tell him to stop, but without having food for days and meditating keeping him awake, the lust took over.  He rubbed and pulled and thought of her, dressed with the sword at her hand and undressed with the knife at his throat.  The runnel of wetness...  On the Lady’s thigh...  The scent from her...

The two Protectors looked at each other as the prisoner made a pained sound.  They shrugged and figured they would check on him when the offal bucket was put in.

Laun went back up to the tower room, unconcerned that she was naked as she went back past the protectors and their continuing game of Sticks.

The room was full of activities.  Several of the men were standing by the window discussing something.  Lucaris was slid down on one of the chairs, Ali between her legs.  There was a tangle of arms and asses and legs on the mat closest to the door.  Kelli was bouncing on Fount, one of the other women kneeling behind her and supporting her.  Several women were holding up a sleeve of the red dress, deep in conversation at the arming tree.

Laun was enchanted by all of the things happening around her.  She made it around the pile of people, did not get dragged into bed and made it to the window.

“...with the late season, we can hope that we can get the defenses up before any deep snow.”

Edgar nodded at Gismar and turned to Jake.  “Being from the South, are there any defenses your people prefer that may be effective up here?”

Jake shrugged and said, “Most of our defenses are port side.  The docks have barriers, we have the ballista pointed that direction...  Lady, are you well?”  He made a small bow.

Laun smiled and nodded.  She smiled, not just at the man, but that all of them were naked and calmly discussing matters of household defense.  “I am doing quite well.  My mind is clear and my body seems to be doing well.”

Edgar put an arm around her shoulders and whispered into her ear, “My Lady Love, your display this morning made me jealous.”  She turned to apologize, but he continued with a rumble, “We have not danced like that, swords in hand, bodies lunging, stepping between each other-”

Laun’s back was full of the tremors he gave her when he spoke in that tone.  She found that her head was to the side, her eyes closed as he described the dance, the movements, the exchanges they could have.  She opened her eyes and bit her lip lightly as she looked up at Edgar.

She turned to the others at the window and said, “He may be back later.  And I want in on this conversation, too.  Later.”  She took his hand and led him to an empty spot on the other lower mat.

“You do that on purpose.  I know you do.”  He smiled, not saying anything in either direction as she pushed him down on the bedding.  She kissed him and then trailed kisses down his chest and belly until she came to his manhood.  It was twitching to life and she helped it with a kiss.  A very deep, wet kiss.

His hand was on the back of her head and he let out a small growl.  He felt her scrape her teeth along his shaft and he couldn’t breathe.  She pulled her head back and looked up at him.  He relaxed and started breathing again.  She looked concerned.

“Good... It was good!”

She went back down on him and he felt her experiment with the pressure until he could not hold back any more.  He pulled at her and caught her hair in his hand to make her stop.  “Either-”

She did not let him finish as her head was back down on him and he found that he was orgasming so hard that his back was cramping.  He finally was allowed to relax and Laun crawled up to lay next to him.  His arm went around her shoulders and he caught his breath.

“You...  My Lady...are dangerous.”

Laun smiled.  “I hope so.”

Edgar was slightly frightened at not the words but the tone.  He looked down and saw just the top of her head as she snuggled into him.

Laun was not tired, but the contact felt wonderful.  Her mind was already running ahead on the day, who she needed to talk to, who she needed to catch up with, what needed to be done for the household.  She drew lines on Edgar’s stomach, thinking of the roads and the paths through the Salam-Dir lands.  She wondered if the privy still had the potential overflow problem as there was a ditch along the main road that was too easy to get across with horses.  If it was deepened and filled with some of the crap, it would catch those unawares and back others off.  And then there was the harvest house on the South glen...

Edgar felt his Love drift away.  She was making plans and her light mind-drawings were starting to tickle on his stomach.  She never seemed to see how she put things together.  She had little confidence when it came to the mental part of her.  But put music in the air, or any sort of physical pleasure, and she flowed with it until everyone was happy.

He stroked her head and felt her breath on his skin as she sighed happily.  But he knew she was still in the depth of planning.

Next, Chapter 53.