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Slave Warrior Chapter 46

November 7, 2018 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to the last chapter.

 

Laun thought of the last few days, and nights, as she went through the early morning of the keep of Salam-Dir.  She had not slept in the chamber that held the recovering people for several nights.  She had taken a nap in the sun the day before on Lady Hellon’s Hill after doing some preparations and had been awake most of the night on the top walkway on duty with a team of protectors.  Laun had an energy that drew from the plans for the next few days, and the cascading lists of things that needed to be done that would not quit in her mind.  She found she liked the air at the top of the keep, the pinpoints of light, and the thought of rolling something wet down the wall onto someone’s head.  She finally gave up early in the morning and tagged off with a protector at the sleeping chamber door.  She looked in and saw the patients were asleep, Lucaris looking haggard but awake in the chair.

Lucaris made a good motion three times and Laun backed out.

She went to the Great Hall and wrapped her cape around her.  She was still bundled up, laying against the wall when Orgia tapped her toe inches from her head several hours later.

“Lady, missing something?”

Laun ran her tongue over her teeth and said, “A gargle?”  She got up and followed Orgia into the kitchen.  There was already tea and Laun held the mug between her hands to warm them.  A fresh tunic was forced on the Lady and a piece of dried duck meat found it’s way into her hand.

Orgia was having a low level grumble until Laun said, “Orgia, is it possible to reappoint Lady Hellon’s room?”  Orgia’s outlook was much different after that. »Read More

Slave Warrior Chapter 45

November 5, 2018 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to Chapter 44

 

It only took a few minutes to spread the word that Laun would like to have a meeting on Lady Hellon’s Hill of certain people.  Laun rode Grace to the Hill and only dismounted after the people she wanted were there.  She had asked for certain protector teams to join them and had them positioned far enough away that they would not be able to hear everything said.

Laun was shaken to her core.  The internal recriminations that sped through her were getting bloodier and bloodier in her mind.  The things she should have done.  The things she should not have done.  The things she should have known.

The bird had been put back in the coop.  Geralk pointed out that it was slightly too big to get out the fly-hole.  It probably saw the other birds, came in to eat and could not leave.  The messages were copied down, the originals given to Laun to keep.

Laun did not even bother to put another tunic on when she rode out of the keep.  It was warm enough for her and she was concentrating so hard on not breaking down in front of anyone that she did not even think to cover herself. »Read More

Slave Warrior Chapter 44

November 3, 2018 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories, Uncategorized / No Comments

Back to Chapter 43

 

It was a different morning for Laun.  The sounds around her were different.  The smells were different.  The bedding was different.

The arm was the same.

Laun listened to the snores around her.  Almost all were very loud and very masculine.  Though there were times that the dancers could get very loud while sleeping.  She smiled and she found someone’s finger was gently tracing her lips.

She did not open her eyes.  She let the finger trace her lips, go up the ridge and bump on her nose and smooth her eyebrows.  The finger went down her nose again and she pursed her lips, the finger stopping to get kissed before it started to trace down and around her chin.

The eyes she woke to were more familiar to her than her own.  Fount was looking at her from under a veil of his own hair, but the grey eyes were unmistakeable.  She moved her hips slightly and the reflexive hold on her from Edgar pulled her closer to him.  Laun smiled again and worked her hand out from under the blanket to touch Fount’s face. »Read More

Slave Warrior Chapter 43

November 1, 2018 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to Chapter 42

Laun ended up having several days worth of fever.  It was low for a day or so and then spiked as a huge rainstorm rolled over the land.  Laun was not sure if the hissing she heard was inside or outside her head and her mouth was thick so she could not ask.  The coughing stopped after the fever broke, letting Laun sleep for most of a day.

Three more came down with the same illness.  They all were tended to in Laun’s chamber to keep them out of the general population.  Unfortunately for Disa, she was one of them.

When Disa woke from her first restful sleep in several days, she found that roles had been reversed.  Laun was not well enough to leave the chamber for great lengths of time, but she was well enough that she was slightly restless.  She volunteered to look after the people who had been in the sickbed with her.

Disa sat up.  Laun was in the chair, a candle burning on the table.  The brasier was set with enough coals to warm the room and the kettle on it.  Laun saw that Disa was awake and carefully climbed around the others to get to Disa’s side.

A hand was on Disa’s forehead and Laun smiled.  “Feels like it broke and you are on the mend.”

The hand maid looked at either side of her at the other two who were still sick and in bed.  “I feel better, I think.”

Laun held out her hand and said, “If you are anything like me, you really have to go to the privy.”

“I didn’t until you said something.” »Read More

Slave Warrior Chapter 42

October 30, 2018 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to Chapter 41 - Need to refresh yourself about what is going on?  Scan through the chapter list to find ones you may have missed.

 

Cold, cold rain pushed by cold, cold wind kept everyone who could stay inside by the fires.  It had been almost a week since the twenty new arrivals had come in.  It was getting crowded in the wardmans’ bunk and some people started to sleep semi-permanently in the Great Hall.

The household was bustling with activities big and small, but all important.  From the people who were still clearing and fortifying the keep and castle to the ones who were mending the clothing for the upcoming winter, all hands were as busy as they could be.

The days were becoming long as the light grew shorter.  The morning meeting was now the only time that everyone tried to be together.  It was the time to check in with each other.  It was the time to make sure the jobs of the day were laid out, the priorities now openly made clear and not chosen by the people who wanted to do things.  The protector patrols and guard shifts were called out in the morning, everyone to know where the protectors were supposed to be and when.  And the food was the one meal that everyone tried to have, even though evening meal usually had more variety, more people were now on patrols or busy when evening meal was set out.

Laun was master of none of the skills it took to run the household.  But she was mistress of the household.  She found herself on the back of Grace going from defense to guard post most afternoons, even though Lucaris would wag her finger when she saw.  The palfrey had such a steady gait, and they knew each other well enough that Laun felt most comfortable riding instead of walking.  At least once a day, Grace felt Laun start to hurt and went to her knees so her Lady riding could get off and lay on the ground for a few minutes.  The warmth of the horse next to her, even when it was threatening another gale, was enough to keep her warm. »Read More

Slave Warrior Chapter 41

October 26, 2018 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to Chapter 40 - Just found this?  Start with the chapter listing page.

 

 

The group was outside in the dim daylight, sitting on Lady Hellon’s Hill with a small fire going in one of the firepits from summer.  It was a small group, only about ten of the one hundred and five in the household.  It was sometimes a heated discussion, sometimes tears were shared.  Laun was mentally and physically tired, but she persevered to last through, to not walk away.

Geralk had been cleaned up and forcefully put into the tub that morning.  Orgia oversaw that he was cleaned and comforted and clothed before he was allowed to leave on his own.

Kelli had been a surprise to Edgar, waking with the young woman in his arms instead of Laun.  He had been dreaming of pleasant activities and tried to calm certain portions of himself when he realized the skin and breast he was stroking was not his Lady Love’s.  Kelli was awake and put his hand back on her breast when he had pulled away.  Laun woke and watched the tears flow, but the physical feelings created by the man behind her pushing them out and out of the way.

First meal was somber.  Many people were still up from the night before, coming in to eat and participate in the morning meeting before heading off to sleep.  Laun did not really say anything to anyone before she stood and turned, the usual signal for quiet and attention.  She looked at the faces, counted, knew some people were on patrol outside, some stuck in the kitchens.  One hundred five. »Read More

Slave Warrior Chapter 40

October 24, 2018 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments
A pencil drawing of a rose, the petals loosening from the bud, The stem was cut just below the first thorn.

A drawing of a rose

Back to Chapter 39

 

War council.  There had been gatherings, meetings before.  That morning, after the morning household gathering and meal, many people stayed in the Great Hall for the news and serious business of the day.

Dreng was in charge.  There was no doubt about that.  He had taken a white sheet from the laundry, since he knew where it was, and put it on the floor.  Starting from the middle of the Midlands, people were creating a map.  Charred sticks from the fires were used to mark mountains and rivers and cities.  The land around the Salam-Dir  household was well marked and the different wards tried to put their blood households on the map, too.

It took close to an hour for the map to come together.  Some discussion happened between those marking and those observing.  The map was fairly complete and attention started to drift, so Dreng stood and paced the outside of the map.

“We have here the kingdom that we live in.  It is made of land and water and mountains.  But more importantly, it is made of people.”  Dreng stood on the mark for the Capitol City.  “Right now, people who are led by my son are in control.”  He turned and pointed at Jake.  “You have the most current news from outside.  Tell us.”

Dreng went back to his bench seat and drank from a mug handed to him by the laundress that had been his escort the day before.  Laun noticed the hand on her leg and smiled. »Read More

Slave Warrior Chapter 39

October 22, 2018 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to Chapter 38.  That was a good party.

 

From the many people who had asked to be in Laun’s bed that night, she picked a fairly large amount of bodies to be with her.  She may have been tired, but the enthusiasm of the people around her made up for it.

One of the young men, the stablehand who had petitioned her, sat at her feet and rubbed her legs as she sat in the chair.  It felt wonderful and the relaxation made her energy level go up.  Laun watched as several of the people kissed and fondled and rubbed.  It did not seem to matter if they were standing or lying down.  Laun had been helped out of the velvet dress, unarmored more to the point, but still had the under dress and boiled leather corset on. The corset had helped her keep her back from hurting, but it was rubbing slightly in places her mother had not had.  The hands on her were wonderful, and she was glad she had delayed having him with her so she could enjoy it more.

She stood and hands were on her to take the corset and underdress off.  With every layer and binding removed, she felt lighter and freer.  She stood naked before her people and felt the most her self.  Cool cloths with soap and water were dragged across her skin, cooling her down and freshening her.  

The stablehand took his own clothing off down to his breeches and washed himself.  Laun noticed and said, “If that is how comfortable you are, I respect your choice.” She leaned closer and said, “I’m not so sure about the other women.”

He shyly smiled and deeply said, “I said I wanted to be in your bed, Lady.  What happens after that is up to you.” »Read More

Slave Warrior Chapter 38

October 18, 2018 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to  Chapter 37 - If this is the first Chapter you have seen, start back at Chapter 1

The day was promising to be a good one.  Quiet preparations for Dreng’s birthday were underway, the celebration to be during the household dinner that night.  Dreng must have known something was up, but he was busy helping one of the young female servants carry some of the laundry from the rooms he and his men had taken back and forth to the keeps’ laundry, keeping him busy for most of the day.

Laun had been out on the horse several days in a row, learning from both the mare and Fount how to ride.  The training for the palfrey was subtle, the way the beast moved under her and felt the directions sometimes even before Laun thought she had given them.  Her back and legs were tired, but she was settling into the role of rider.  This had been after a session with the protectors, learning and re-learning movements that were both dance and weapons-work.

Word came from the protectors that there was someone with mules coming up the road.  Laun paced Grace back to the stable and headed for her chamber.  She sent out word to the household that they had a possible ally coming, and they were not to mention her by name, or gender.

Edgar was the one who greeted the man.  He was kept in the Great hall as the evening’s preparations were made around him.  He had hot tea and fresh bread in his hand and his stomach.  Neils sat next to him and, for once, drew out stories from the man instead of expounding upon his own.  Orgia sized him up and offered him a basin with water and a cloth to clean himself with.  He was comfortable and drowsy from the fire at his back, the food in his belly and the welcoming companionship letting him relax. »Read More

Slave Warrior Chapter 37

October 16, 2018 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to Chapter 36 - Please consider a full membership or looking at sending something from the Tribute page.

 

Laun had not been in Lady Hellon’s rooms since being back.  It had started to be stripped out because of her death, but it still had much in it that Laun remembered.

Gismar went right to the hidden area.  Laun remembered something about it from when she was very young and almost remembered the latch.  Gismar showed her where it was and Laun unlocked the door.

The chests in the small room were stacked to the rafters.  Some had different noble devices on them, some were painted with plain colors.  None seemed to have actual locks on them.  Gismar was kind and pulled the chests and containers from in the small area out into the room.

“I know you are already doing this, but if you could inventory everything for me...”

He nodded.  And then he opened one chest in particular to show Laun.

She recognized the clothing in there immediately.  Her mother would wear it when Lady Hellon insisted that she be at her side for something.  It was beautiful, a deep red velvet with trim that made it look like flames were going up the sleeves.  And it was heavy.  Laun took it out of the chest and saw for the first time that it had a light warnetting sewn into the inside.

“I remember seeing your mother once in this, right before she died.”  He put a gentle hand on Laun’s arm.  “No one else ever wore it after that.” »Read More

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