the Leathermines

Back to Chapter 46 of The Slave Lady

 

Laun was almost to her room when she saw the Noble and her daughters approaching.  It looked like they had just been turned away from the door to her room and the mother’s face went from hateful to pleasant within a fraction of a blink.

Laun stopped and waited, knowing that she was not going to like whatever it was the Lady was going to say or do.

“My dear!  I just had word that the engagement is off!  I was surprised when the Council General mentioned it on her way past and I wanted to come and console you.”

Laun looked into the eyes of Beatia and wanted to punch her.  “My Lady, I am well.  The Ambassador and myself were rushed to a decision and my Father has agreed that it may not be time for this.”

The greedy eyes looked to the basket for a moment and waited for Laun to continue.  Not getting anything else, the noble said, “Down in the kitchens, Lady?”

Laun did not want to play games.  But she had to.  “No, Lady.  I just came from my Father’s rooms after discussing some business of the realm.  It is hard for me to carry things with only one hand available to me...”

Lady Beatia narrowed her eyes and her hand went to a heavy chain necklace at her cleavage.  “Ah.  It is nice that our King asks your opinion of matters of state.  It does make one feel important.”

Laun sighed.  “Yes, it does.  And now that the wedding is off, I am sure we will need to find something for you and your beautiful daughters to do.  Father mentioned that I should...entertain you.”

“Oh, really?”  Laun saw a twitch in the older noble’s face, and a few false smiles among the daughters around her.

“Yes, Lady.  In fact, I was hoping to invite you and your daughters to have tea and such with me out under the tent this afternoon, if you do not mind.”  Laun looked at the one young Lady who had been interested in the acrobats and said, “I can have the troupe entertain us with song and dance and perhaps the contortionists...”

There was a small something said from several of the daughters under their breaths and behind hands to their mother.  The one daughter frowned briefly.  There was a small sneer as the Lady said, “Send your servant to tell us when and we will be glad to join you, Lady.”  There was a small curtsey from her and her children before the gaggle tried to glide off.

Laun caught the eye of the one daughter, wishing she remembered the name, and winked.  There was a blush and the daughter followed her family.

Laun sighed and kept going down the hall, but to the library, not her room.  She opened the accounting book she had in the basket and wrote in it, “accounts balanced.  Princess Laun.”  She blew on it until the ink was dry.  She put the various things away that should go in the Library, and then looked around at what was around her.

Yes, there was a seal.  It was in the bottom drawer of the desk, a hard lacquer case around it.  Laun took some sealing wax and a piece of paper and made an impression of it to put in with her collection.  Laun put the seal back and put a piece of pulp paper over it.  A few items went onto the paper, weighing it down and covering the seal.  It was not entirely hidden if you looked under the paper, but to the casual glance, the paper was the bottom of the drawer.

Laun stepped to the corridor to walk to her rooms.  She heard military boots just before they turned the corner.  Laun did not know how jumpy she was until she released the grip she had on the blade on her forearm.

“Lady, news is that the wedding is off.”  Hunter strode to within a pace and stopped, looking like he wished to follow through and take her into his arms.

Laun had a small, tired smile.  “I have made a commitment to him, but it is true, I will not marry him.”

“Commitment?  Laun, what do you mean?”  His shoulders rounded and she could see that he was starting to have nasty thoughts go through his mind.  He looked very much like his father when he did that, a flash of the brief time in Helmic’s presence a melancholy one for Laun.

Laun held out her arm and he supported her as she walked to the door of her rooms.  “There are many forms of commitment, Hunter.  The one Ithian and I have is between he and I.”  Laun stopped and turned to the large man at her side.  “I am not one to be chased to a corner.”

He smiled.  “I have seen that, Laun.”  He started walking with her again and they looked into each other’s eyes until Laun knocked three times on the door to her sitting room.

It took a moment, but Gem was at the door, a smile on her face.  She looked up and her smile did not exactly fade, but was diminished as she caught the last lingering look from Hunter to Laun.

Laun turned to Hunter and looked back up to his eyes.  “I think I need to talk to you about a few things that may be coming up, Sergeant.  Please come in.”  She heard a small noise from her bedroom as she spoke.  Laun gestured to the couch and went to the curtain between the rooms.  “I will be back.”

Hunter bowed and sat, watching Gem pop through the curtain behind her Mistress.

Laun smiled.  Ithian was in his tunic, kneeling on the floor at the foot of the bed.  She held her hand to him and he stood.  He kissed her knuckles and then paused before coming closer.

“My love, did you and Gem have a good morning?”

Ithian smiled and nodded, his arms going around Laun and his lips still tasting like the blonde.  “Thank you.  I had wanted her...”

“She had wanted you, too.  I am glad you are happy.”  She kissed him lightly on the lips and brushed his hair away from his face.

Laun drew away and put her hand on his cheek.  “I need to use the privy.  I would suggest getting dressed as there is company in the sitting room.”  Laun turned to the bathing room and heard him scramble for his clothing.

She had only been up for about four hours, but Laun was tired.  She took her time in the privy, cleaning herself with paper and then a wet cloth to make sure.  She washed her hands and face and then wished she had a brush and comb in the bathing room.  The one mirror showed her that her braid had pulled some and it annoyed her.  But she did not really care as much as she thought for she turned from the mirror and forgot about it when she went through the door into the bedroom again.

Ithian was tidying himself up at the vanity, his hands going to the various pots with a practiced hand.  Laun watched and smiled, knowing that he had much more interest in his looks than she ever really did in hers.  She wanted to have him show her how to use some of the cosmetics.  That would have to wait for another time.

Laun held out her hand and Ithian stood.  He kissed her hand and escorted her out to the sitting room.

The Sergeant stood when he saw the Ambassador and saluted.  Ithian had a moment where he was not sure what he should do, but in the end of his hesitation, saluted back.  Laun sat in one of the chairs and Ithian sat in the chair next to hers.  Laun motioned to the couch and Hunter sat again.

Hunter looked between them and then saw the thin leather with the metal clasp.  It was not exactly hidden under the tunic, but the presence of the collar on the Ambassador explained what Laun had said.  And unnerved Hunter.

“Sergeant, have you met Ithian?”

“Sir, Sergeant Hun-Kan, at your service.”  The men nodded to each other.

“Good.  Now that the formalities are done with, Hunter, I am going home.”

He was surprised.  “Home?  To Salam-Dir?”

Laun nodded and saw the same surprise on Ithian’s face.  “Many things happened this morning.  Not the least is an agreement between Falmir and myself that ends our stalemate.  It was even witnessed by her excellency.”

Ithian shook his head.  “She wouldn’t accept anything like that.  It is against the plans.”  He looked at Laun and became quiet.

“My love, it was too late for her to do anything but sign as a witness.  But besides Engrid, it means that I am hoping to be able to leave this...prison and go back to my home.”

Ithian’s voice became small as he said, “Shall I go with you?”

Laun held out her hand to him and he took it.  “That is up to you and should be discussed.  That is not for right now.”  She turned to Hunter.  She saw some confusion, some jealousy, and some happiness.  “What I would like to ask of you, Sergeant, is if you can lead a squad to escort me there?”

He was about to nod, but he stopped himself.  “I have the seniority, but several other officers are going to have preference for such a duty.”

“Do they know the river road or the cut along the Gray?  No, they don’t, and because of that, I would much rather have you leading the escort than someone not familiar with the land we will be going through.”

Hunter nodded and then made a sloppy salute.  “Lady, I would be honored.”

Laun bowed her head to him.  She turned to Ithian and said in a gentle voice, “I need you to know that Hunter is one of my lovers.”

The dark blonde head dipped down and he looked at the floor.  “I had guessed, Mistress.”

Laun squeezed Ithian’s hand. “I am transparent on many things.  Remember, it does not diminish my commitment to you.”

He looked up to Laun and then to Hunter.  Laun saw an appraising look in Ithian’s eye and then acceptance.  “I hope that she hasn’t worn you out, too much.”

Hunter laughed.  “Sir, even pregnant and hobbled, it is hard to keep up with her.”

Some tension was gone.  Laun smiled at the men and felt that if they could come back to Salam-Dir that they would be accepted, too.

“I still need to talk to Falmir about going home.  But with what has been done today, I think that it will happen soon.  And...”  Laun tilted her head and scrunched up her face some at Hunter.

“Laun?”  He became weary.

“I hate the prospect of riding in the carriage for several more days.  Can I beg an indulgence of using Thunder?”

Hunter had a wide grin, but a sarcastic tone as he said, “That is why you slept with me?  My horses!”

Laun grinned and shook her head as she said, “Nah.  I like my mounts verbal.”

The cheeks on the Sergeant started to bloom with red.  He looked at his hands and cleared his throat.  “As you wish, Lady.”

“I’m sorry.  I am in a mood.  Was that too much?”  Laun’s voice and face turned serious.

Hunter looked up with his eyes past his brows.  “I would say not enough, but the Ambassador...”

Ithian raised his hands palm up and said, “She is her own person.  And, I have to say, I do have some things to wrap up.” Ithian stood and bowed to Laun.  “If I have permission, Mistress.”

Laun stood and put her hand on his cheek.  She looked into his eyes and lightly drew her fingers down his cheek and jaw.  “Do what you need to.  I hold the reins lightly and may not expect as much from you as you do yourself.  Plans are still changing, but I hope to see you again later.”

Ithian’s eye flicked to Hunter and then he leaned in.  Laun leaned in the rest of the way and they kissed.  It might not have been as long or deep as Ithian wanted, but it made him feel secure and happy right then.

Gem opened and closed the door for Ithian, a small smile on her face as he passed.  Laun got the distracted girl’s attention and signaled for food, mainly by rubbing her rumbling tummy.  Gem nodded and was gone.

Hunter stood and held his hands out to Laun.  She stepped into his embrace and put her head on his chest.  She sighed and heard his heart and lungs under her ear.  It was calming, though his heartbeat was speeding up.  She thought she felt other things coming up, too, with the pressure she felt growing against her belly.

Her face raised to his.  His lips met hers.  There was a kiss and then the kiss deepened.  She raised her hands, sliding them up along the leather of his uniform.  Her arms were around his neck, her hands at the back of his head, feeling the day’s worth of stubble on this scalp.  He started to rub down her back, pressing almost exactly where she hurt the most and relaxing her back.  He turned his head to nuzzle at her ear and saw the harnesses on her arms as the tunic sleeves had fallen back.

“I know this is close quarters, but I didn’t know you were into that...”

Laun had a little bloodglint in her eye for a moment, but controlled herself and brought her arms back down his chest.  “That is not something we have explored, Hunter.  But, yes.  Among other things.”  She put her forehead on his chest.  “Those are for my protection.  There is danger and I trust...” she looked up at him, “very few people.  Not even myself on occasion.”

“My Lady, I hope to gain your trust and affection.”

“You have.”  Laun found that his lips were pressed to hers and he leaned down and she was up in the air in his arms.  It took her breath away and she laughed.

“Then we should work on your trust of yourself...”  He kissed her as he held her, her arms going around his neck again, the holsters pressing against his skin.

Laun pulled back and started swearing.  Hunter looked hurt until he heard the voices and footsteps in the hall she had.  The Sergeant had a few choice words to say too as he put her down.  Laun sat in the chair, smoothed out her tunic and was ready as the scratch came on the door.

Hunter opened the door and turned to Laun.  “The Bishop would like a word with you, Lady.”

Laun gripped the arms of the chair and closed her eyes for a second.  She relaxed and said in a calm, low tone, “Please, let him in.”

The Bishop was dressed in his finest ceremonial garb with the gold and jewels on his cowl and mafor held against his shoulder glinting against the white and red of the silk cloth.  The priests with him were wearing the traditional brown of their order, but the cloth was not more than a few wearings old, silken rope belts with metallics threaded through at their waists.  The Bishop passed the Sergeant as a nonentity in the room and went to Laun, towering over her.

“Lady!  I hear you refuse to marry!”

Laun tried to smile but her voice was more monotone than she had wanted as she said, “Word does get around quickly in society, doesn’t it.”

The Bishop’s voice dropped and he was soon booming at her.  “Shall the offspring you carry be damned for all eternity without a father and husband to guide them?  Shall your own soul, already led astray, wander in the night without the proper road to follow?  Will the light that shines from above...”  Laun let him majestically yell at her for several minutes, not even trying to interrupt or make any moves more subtle than moving her foot or raising an eyebrow.

He was winding up his monologuing sermon and Laun took in several deep breaths.  He stood over her, the mace-like mafor almost threatened to be used on her as she sat beneath him.  Laun took one more breath in and as he paused, finished or not, Laun started.

“Sir, you have not said anything about my love for Ithian or my commitment to Ithian or if I even want to marry Ithian.  You have gone on about my soul and the souls of my children and the need for a husband, regardless of who it may be.”

“Love has nothing to do with marriage!”

Laun’s voice raised and several of the lesser priests around her stepped back when she said, “Love has everything to do with if you wish to commit yourself to the same person for the rest of your life, sir!  If you cannot see when someone loves another person, then I know why you went into the priesthood!  You didn’t even bother to ask if I believe in your God!”

“All people of the Midlands believe in our true god!”  The Bishops hand went up with the gold and jeweled mace and he looked up to the heavens.

Laun’s voice dropped.  She forced her command voice out of her tired throat as she said, “No they don’t and the Great Dragon to which I serve has more compassion in her Six Winds than your God has in his litany!  Get Out Of My ROOM!”  Laun pointed and Hunter opened the door.

The Bishop was stunned.  The priests scattered as their gilded leader stepped back.  “I will talk to the King about this and you Will be married before the day is out!”  He turned and stepped through his men before stepping into the corridor.

Hunter turned back and saw Laun strangling an invisible throat between her hands.  He stepped close, but not close enough for her to be able to reach him.  The anger that she was silently venting into the neck she was visualizing diminished and she relaxed, dropping her hands to the sides of the chair.  She took in a breath, all of it coming out in a frustrated sigh.

Laun looked up at Hunter, her eyes both dry from anger and red from frustration.  “... fu...  sh... IF I...  Damn him to his own hell!”  Laun looked down and breathed in a few times.  “I have to pee again.”

The large man held out his arm and helped her up.  She limped out of the room on her own, but there was no masking that she was in many types of pain.

Gem was back, carrying a tray of food and drink and with a slightly wild eyed expression.  She saw the direction Hunter was looking and started towards the bed chamber, but Hunter stopped her.  Gem was about to ask why when she heard something crash against the tile in the bath and then a swearing and a low scream.  Gem nodded and set the food on one of the tables in the sitting room.

There were a few minutes of quiet.  Both Hunter and Gem were getting worried.  Laun stepped through the curtain, calmer, but with a disgusted look on her face.  A slightly sweet smell came to them and Laun said, “And now I smell like dead roses.”

Gem went to her Mistress and held her, Hunter wrapping his arms around both of them.  It took a while, and some food, but Laun was feeling better with their attentions.

“I promised tea to Lady Beatia and her daughters later.  In the tent.  I really don’t feel like it, but this whole charade still has to go on.”

Gem brightened sightly.  “Not for too much longer.  Bl-”  Her eyes flicked to Hunter.  “Lady Engrid is packing to leave and should be gone soon.”

Laun smiled.  And then she didn’t.  And then she smiled again.  “She is not beaten, but she knows she cannot win anything here.”  Laun clapped her hands together a few times as if she had just seen a perfect backflip or bubbles floating in the air.  “This makes things much better.”

 

Chapter 48 has the young noble Ladies in a gaggle for tea.