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The Slave Princess Chapter 10

November 19, 2019 / Miss R posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

The Great Hall was full for morning meal and meeting. It was hot and stuffy even before the over one hundred people crammed into the room. The rain that had come the day before had wet down everything but had gone without giving enough water to feed the fields. It had been just enough to make a little mud and then float back into the air making the heat worse with the humidity.

The messengers were being sent back out that day. Not all of them, but the ones that had been kept overnight in the outlying tent, a squad of the soldiers on duty to keep them...safe.

The false king’s men were being sent back out with scrolls denouncing the false kings and copies of the documents reinforcing Falmir as King of the Midlands with Dreng as the Council Commander. The noble was not happy, but he was doing his duty to the man he thought was the right King, as appointed by the three people left of the Kings’ council. It had been pointed out to him that not only was the council not Mildands people but the man they had appointed was himself half Rosemond on his mother’s side with only a shade of Midlands nobility in him. He left, much to think about on his journey back.

The other false king’s man was not surprised when he was given the scroll to take back. He had been a servant pressed into the role of a messenger and he had not thought it was a good idea. He did it and he was happy that he had his own life, and his own horse, as he passed the night and readied himself for the journey back. He even confided in the Princess that his master had heard rumors that his son was of Hawkwell blood, but now that the servant had seen the Hawkwells, there was absolutely no resemblance.

The Ambassador’s man was sent out with a token payment of a gold coin. It was a Rosemond struck coin and he saw the irony in it. A message to the current Ambassador from Rosemond asked for just a little time to sort out the problems with the other claimants. A hint was dropped about the massing of the troops and the man was surprised when it was mentioned. He seemed apologetic and said he would bring it up with the Ambassador as soon as he was back at the Embassy. »Read More

The Slave Princess Chapter 9

November 6, 2019 / Miss R posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to Chapter 8

The room was cold. One candle burnt on the wall and some light came in under the one wooden door, but the light was enough to see around him. No windows, a few columns and... He turned on his back onto his tied hands and bumped into a wall. No, not a wall, part of a stone box.

An altar. His head spun, but he was able to bring himself to his knees and then his feet. To look around.

It was cold and he shivered as he paced around the stone floor, seeing nothing that could be used to cut the rope that bound his hands together and his arms to his body. He stopped at the door and heard a slight scuff of someone trying to stay awake while on guard.

There was little he could do. He still shivered and could not tell how long he had been asleep. She had drugged him. He smiled at that. It seemed as the poison had been working on her, she stepped around his defenses and took him down when he was not looking.

Blue Master had not given the Princess that much credit. The old lady had given him the paper already tainted and some information before the half payment. It seemed to go very well, even with having other messengers to travel with for the last day. They all had been derisive of King Falmir and the whore daughter he had found. It was rumored that she was pregnant, but it was not something that Blue Master had mentioned. »Read More

The Slave Princess Chapter 8

November 2, 2019 / Miss R posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to Chapter 7

There were soldiers standing in ranks around the tent as Laun rode up to it. There were servants under one of the trees in the verge several leagues from the tent, milling about but looking as if they could be ordered at a snap of a finger. Laun guided Grace to beside the other horses and sat for a moment, deciding.

There was a call to salute and Laun looked up. She saw that it was for her so she saluted back. She unhooked her knees and pushed herself slightly back in the saddle. She held out a hand and several of the soldiers came forward to help her down.

She had just her tunic and loincloth on, the straps for the sheaths plain on her legs. She swung her leg over and let the men help her down, a knee from one of them kneeling supporting her as she stepped down. She motioned to the pack that was strapped to the saddle and it was untied for her.

Laun pulled on the skirt that she had draped over the font of the saddle and it fell into her hand. She pulled it up and tied it and settled herself, bringing her braid to her front with the clapperless bell tied to the tail.

“Please,” Laun said quietly, “tell Falmir that his Thorn is here for his pleasure.” »Read More

The Slave Princess Chapter 7

October 30, 2019 / Miss R posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to Chapter 6

The other two messenger teams came back, also with all their members and with extra supplies purchased.

The morning meeting was going on when the teams arrived. A small cheer was led as they came in, their packs and cloaks dragging on the stone floor beside them. The riders were tired and looked like they had all been riding hard through the night. The meeting was opened to the reports of the messengers and it was mostly happy reports made.

There had been a road washed out for one of the teams which delayed them. The other had been delayed after they had been stopped at the gate into the Capitol City, the guard suspicious when multiple teams had come through saying almost the same thing. The soldier of the team was able to convince the commander of the watch that all had been real and that it was just a precaution because of weather and possible rebels. After most of a day.

The salt pigs that each of the messengers carried back to the keep were heartily accepted by Orgia, the few oils and spices brought back also with an open hand. They had not taken much with them as far as monies went, but the salt and oils were going to help keep the household running for just a little bit longer.

One of the protector teams handed Laun a small pouch, a few baked goods inside. Laun saw the grey ribbon and the claperless bell sewn on the end as the tie of the pouch. Laun nibbled on one of Marie’s travel cakes and offered some to those around her until Geralk was able to take the last, and the pouch with the sewn coded message in it. There was a finger under Laun’s bottom lip for a flash, a responding one back from Geralk, telling her he knew it was to be kept secret, whatever the message was. »Read More

The Slave Princess Chapter 6

October 28, 2019 / Miss R posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to Chapter 5

Three teams of messengers had been sent out. Each had a soldier and two of the Salam-Dir protector teams on horseback. With the rain and unknown machinations from Rosemond, each set of messengers had the same messages to go to the same people, but were going different routes.

It took a week, but the first of the messenger teams came back, all messages delivered and supplies purchased. Nothing was reported back publicly to commanders or nobles or the King as nothing had really been amiss on the journey. The messengers had a few boxes of supplies that had been purchased for the kitchens. Disa took the tea and oil with her back to the kitchen, a smile on her face.

Lady Beatia had sent just one message back with the first team to contact her. Laun was able to read the message before Selene was presented it and found that the noble Lady was far more understanding than she thought she would be. Selene was not disowned. Beatia thanked her daughter for telling her where she had gotten to, and that she was safe with the King. She did say that if Selene did not get back to their home before the season was over, there would be consequences, but those were not listed.

Selene and Lin had taken over one of the tents in the troupe’s wooded area for several days and both seemed happy as they emerged. The young noble seemed to have shed her upbringing in more than her clothing. The troupe accepted her into them and the two seemed inseparable, for the moment. »Read More

The Slave Princess Chapter 5

October 25, 2019 / Miss R posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to chapter 4

Laun’s eyes were open and looking at the beams in the ceiling of the room. The night lamp was putting out just a little more light than the morning light through the windows. She moved and Edgar’s arm flexed around her, the sleepy movement making her feel loved and secure.

There were other people in the room, all on the lower mats. She could hear breathing and could not ignore the snore of Fount. Laun was not sure how to think about Fount right then. He had brought yet another of the women from the troupe into the room and into her bed. That was not unusual, but he seemed... Put off by her that night.

Edgar had been wonderful. His skills and tenderness had brought out more than pleasure. She had found herself at her peak, her body releasing as he took her from behind and then she was crying into the bedding, releasing the frustrations of the day. As other bodies were moving around them, Edgar had held her, their low whispers about the meeting leading her to talk to Edgar about Hunter. Laun asked if they could talk about the older brother of Fount in the daylight, but Edgar’s rumble made it clear that he wanted to talk about anything that troubled her right then.

Laun had looked into Edgars eyes and had told him that without he and Fount, she had needed others, and at the Manor, one of those had been Hunter. Edgar had a troubled expression and Laun wanted to tell him that he was not replaced by Hunter. Edgar had kissed her deeply and held her and rumbled into her ear that he knew that. He had been concerned about her while she was gone and was glad she had been well taken care of. It had been the rumors that Hunter had given up his post for her that concerned him. »Read More

The Slave Princess Chapter 4

October 20, 2019 / Miss R posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to chapter 3 - Tribute

There was relief on several faces in the steamy Great Hall as Hunter carried Laun in from the storm. They both had blankets around them and warmed honeyed wine in their hands as room was made at one of the benches.

Laun was not going to argue with Disa as her maid stood over her to make sure Laun drank what she was given. It did taste good and warmed her core as the wool blanket first sucked up the water from her and then warmed with the steam created from her body, relaxing her back and legs.

The rain outside was leveling off to a steady rate after the first of the storm had pushed through. They had been able to prepare, but the mud was still up to the knees on some people in the courtyards, not quite that far on Hunter. He had carried Laun most of the way from Hellon’s Hill, against Laun’s wishes at first. It meant that he was coated with the splash and mud up past the top of his breeches.

Disa, taking the emptied mugs, looked at the mud on the legs sticking out from under the blanket wrapped around Hunter. Laun caught the look right before Disa handed off the mugs to another kitchen staff.

“You need to strip.” Disa had been practicing her Matron stare and even Laun cringed as Orgia’s second crossed her arms while waiting for the large man to do as she said.

Hunter looked at Laun. She nodded and said, “She means it. I wouldn’t go against her.”

The boots were slick but finally came off. The blanket hardly covered his bare chest and he looked around as he tried to hold the blanket over his shoulders and undo his breeches at the same time. Laun started to giggle and knew that she was going to need to strip down, too. She was not as muddy, but the few layers she had on were almost transparent from the rain. »Read More

The Slave Princess Chapter 3

October 16, 2019 / Miss R posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to Chapter 2

There were storms on the Western horizon when the gathered people woke. Everyone on the grounds saw it coming and brought what could be into the keep and tied down everything else.

The first night had only one major thing that happened within the gathered people. The two soldiers who had found a small stash of ale and had drained it were now regretting starting a fight, as they were hauling wheel barrows full of human waste to one of the far crap pits under the eye of a protector team.

The winds started to pick up, cooling the land and the people but telling everyone that it was going to be a hard storm. It was cool enough that the archers still stationed on the walkway at the top of the keep were wearing capes against the weather. They could hear the swearing of the soldiers as they were being loaded with their third load of crap from the privy in the keep.

Laun was walking through the paths in Hellon’s Hill to make sure nothing was left behind from the revelries the night before. She could hear the swearing of the soldiers as they were being led down the road and smiled. She had held the usual morning gathering in the Great Hall, more people pushed into the room than she had ever seen. The fight was brought up, the soldiers standing at parade rest in the moving mass of the meeting. Falmir was going to break their rank. The Captain was just going to have them work in the mess kitchen. Laun leaned over and whispered to Dreng who smiled and nodded. Those of the household waited for Laun to speak, seeing the slightly wicked look, and when Falmir heard of the punishment, he roared with laughter. »Read More

The Slave Princess Chapter 2

October 14, 2019 / Miss R posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to chapter 1 - Start at the beginning of the series with Chapter one of The Slave Warrior.

It was still sticky. The crowd of people made it hot in the Great Hall, but the celebration was more than just a welcome feast. It was a needed show that the Hawkwell family, once divided by many things, was now together and standing at each other’s backs.

There were too many people. The Great Hall was not large enough for those who had been there before Laun had come back. With over two hundred more people, it was the nobles and top officers and a few entertainers that wedged themselves into the stone and beam room.

A calf had been roasted in hunks, plattered and passed with as much ceremony as the household ever was able to do. Fine breads were tossed from the head table as wheaten largesse. Sweetened tea was had by most, cider and ale by a few. It was a fine feast inside the Great Hall.

About an hour in, Laun excused herself from Falmir’s side and kissed Dreng’s head on the way past, putting her fingertips on the cheek with the scar. She touched the shoulders of many of those seated, some for the first time. She worked her way through the crowd until she was at the door to the courtyard.

It was cooler, even though the night winds were not licking down into the walls as Laun would have liked. There were a few people in the stables, a smile for their Lady as she paused to wave to them. Laun saw people along the roads, getting some of the night air, and talking. She started to walk towards the soldier’s encampment, a few people asking if they could walk with her as she went.

Her sandals let through most of the heat of the road, reminding her of her first walk from the safety of Salam-Dir, but the thin leather did protect her from the stones that were lying in wait. She had on more layers than she really wanted, but the skirt and tunic were both very light and let through most of the cool air pushed down the slopes of the old volcano. She even had let Disa put up her hair to show off her Aunt’s crown, but had refused any coloring on her face.

She was on the arm of one of the nobles that had come with Falmir, one of Dougals men on the other side. A Private was behind her on the right and one of the women protectors was on her left. A good selection of who was in the household right then. Several soldiers along the outskirts of the camp stood and saluted as Laun and her escort approached. She stopped a few yards away and saluted, asking, “May I enter?”

“Yes, Ma’am. Do you need directions or escort?” »Read More

The Slave Princess Chapter 1

October 11, 2019 / Miss R posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

The scout yelled at the top of his lungs as he came into the Great Hall, “They are an hour away!”

There was little time to do anything else but make sure the bread wasn’t burned and check on the archers on the walkway. Laun wasn’t going to do either of those.

Laun Dresden, Lady of Salam-Dir, was handing a stack of paper and parchment to Geralk to clear the head table as Orgia looked with a disapproving eye at them from the kitchens’ door. Laun had wanted to have a meeting with the people who could give input, but it was going to have to wait, and Laun was going to have to play the next few hours by ear. She was used to that, but it would have been nice to get solid information and some opinions before Falmir had arrived.

She actually missed Falmir. She was scared shitless to what was going to happen once he found that she had been harboring his father, her grandfather, at the Salam-Dir keep. Falmir had created a coup backed by the neighboring Kingdom of Rosemond just over a year before and Laun had been a thorn in Falmir’s side ever since. King Dreng was a big hurdle, but not the only one with the first visit King Falmir was having to Salam-Dir.

Laun pushed herself up off the bench and settled her tunic around her growing belly. She had been woken far earlier than usual by the babies in her belly seemingly to dance along her ribcage, and on her bladder. The trip to and from the privy that morning had been a welcome familiarity and had made the last few days seem more real than the last few months. Going back to bed in the morning dim was well worth being woken by the babies.

Having been kidnapped had not been as pleasant. Especially when it had been by someone she had trusted in her bed and with her sword. But he had taken the ransom Falmir had offered and had bought enough supplies and hired enough men to help keep the Salam-Dir lands impenetrable while Laun had wormed her way through the political scene in the Palace, and into Falmir’s heart. »Read More

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